Huangming

Chapter 219 Shenyang's Iron Wall, A Brilliant Strategy to Break the Stalemate (Bonus Chapter for 800 Monthly Tickets!)
"Alright, alright, Second Brother, why scare the Prince Consort?"

Huang Taiji raised his hand in a gesture of slapping down, his tone gentle, but his gaze subtly swept over Li Yongfang.

Although Li Yongfang was a Han Chinese, he was the first Ming general to surrender to the Jin dynasty.

There's a saying among the Han people: "To buy a horse's bones for a thousand pieces of gold."

Even if Huang Taiji looked down on this surrendered official in his heart, he still had to put on a show of respect and courtesy.

not to mention……

This man enjoys the deep trust of his father, the Khan, and commands eight Niru (units) under the Bordered Red Banner. His Han Army Firearms Battalion is a powerful weapon for conquering cities and fortresses!
If one could gain his support, it would be equivalent to gaining the support of these Ming generals who had surrendered.

As the Jin dynasty continues its conquests, the power of these people will inevitably grow.

Now is the perfect time to place your bets.

Dai Shan clearly failed to see this point.

now.

He snorted coldly, glancing sideways at Li Yongfang kneeling on the ground, and said sarcastically:

"This prince didn't name names, but some people... seem quite guilty!"

Li Yongfang pressed her forehead to the ground, her inner shirt soaked with cold sweat.

He certainly knew why Dai Shan was targeting him at every turn!
The eight Niru under his command were the "Fushun Han Army" bestowed by Nurhaci, specializing in firearms and siege equipment.

Daishan, who was in charge of the Bordered Red Banner, had long wanted to annex it, but Li Yongfang, relying on the remaining power of the old Khan, refused to hand over military power.

'A stubborn, unyielding lackey!'

Dai Shan's knuckles cracked as he clenched his fists.

Since you refuse to obediently hand over your military unit, don't blame me for treating you like a "secret agent of the Embroidered Uniform Guard"!

Huang Taiji took in Daishan's aggressive behavior towards Li Yongfang, and a barely perceptible sneer appeared on his lips.

'No wonder my second brother was stripped of his position as heir apparent…'

He lowered his eyes and sipped his tea, concealing the cold light in his eyes.

With such stupid and dull behavior, it would be strange if he wasn't dismissed!

Li Yongfang was the first Ming general to surrender the entire city to the Jin dynasty!

The title "Fushun Prince Consort" was bestowed upon him by his father, the Khan, so that all Han generals in the world could see that those who submitted to our Great Jin would enjoy boundless wealth and honor!

But Daishan, that scoundrel, dared to publicly threaten meritorious officials for the sake of a mere eight Niru.
'If Father Khan finds out, he will surely beat my second brother until he's covered in blood.'

Huang Taiji tapped the teacup lightly with his fingertips, as if he could already hear the furious sound of his father Nurhaci's whip.

but.

He suddenly narrowed his eyes, his smile deepening.

fair enough.

The eldest brother, Chu Ying, was executed; the second brother, Dai Shan, was deposed…

Another obstacle has been removed from the chessboard of this struggle for succession!

Although Amin was the second beile, he was the second son of his uncle Shurhaci and was not qualified to compete for the Khanate.

As for Mangultai?

What right does a beast who killed his own mother have to compete for the Khan's throne?
The position of crown prince is his right now.

Huang Taiji was immersed in his visions of the future, his thoughts racing like wild horses.

In a daze, he felt as if he were inside the Khan's tent of Hetu Ala, wearing a golden crown and a dragon robe, looking down at the ministers who were prostrate at his feet.

The taste of power thrilled him, and a smug smile unconsciously appeared on his lips.

However, Dai Shan's rough voice abruptly interrupted his reverie.

"Old Eight!"

Daishan frowned, his tone revealing a hint of anxiety. "Father Khan ordered me to clear the outskirts of Shenyang as soon as possible, but in the current situation, a direct attack would be suicide! In my opinion, it would be better to let Amin and Mangultai lead the charge, and we can reap the benefits. What do you think?"

Huang Taiji's eyes darkened, and he sneered inwardly.

His second brother was indeed short-sighted, only knowing how to play petty tricks that couldn't be brought to the table.

He slowly raised his eyes, his gaze sweeping across Dai Shan's face, which was slightly distorted by anxiety, like a blade, but his tone remained calm as he said, "No."

Dai Shan's expression changed drastically, a hint of displeasure flashing in his eyes: "Why not?"

Huang Taiji took a sip of tea, his fingertips gently tracing the rim of the teacup, as if he were carefully considering his words.

After a moment, he spoke slowly and deliberately: "Second Brother, our every move is under Father Khan's watchful eye. If we retreat now, wouldn't that be tantamount to cowardice? How would Father Khan view us?"

Upon hearing this, Dai Shan's face grew even more gloomy, and his fists clenched involuntarily.

"But there are many fortresses outside Shenyang. If we launch a direct attack, wouldn't my warriors be sent to their deaths in vain?"

Huang Taiji smiled slightly, a shrewd glint in his eyes.

"Although Shenyang is a fortified city, it is not invincible."

Daishan was taken aback, then a spark of hope ignited in his eyes.

"Tell me quickly! What is your best plan?"

Huang Taiji suppressed his smile and said seriously, "In my opinion, Shenyang City has three major flaws."

He held up one finger and said, "Firstly, the Ming army's forces are scattered, with soldiers stationed in numerous forts. Our army only needs to concentrate its forces and defeat them one by one to break down their defenses."

Dai Shan frowned, clearly still having doubts: "But if our army attacks one bastion, and the defenders of other fortresses come to reinforce it, wouldn't we be surrounded instead?"

Huang Taiji smiled confidently: "This is Shenyang's second weakness."

His gaze was deep as he slowly said, "The Ming army has a complex number of units, including the Liaodong Army, the Sichuan Army, the Zhejiang Army, and the Huguang Army, and there are many conflicts between them. The local Liaodong Army and the visiting army do not trust each other, and the visiting army is also scheming against each other."

The Sichuan soldiers complained that the Liaoning soldiers were cowardly, and the Huguang soldiers cursed the Zhejiang soldiers for being arrogant! We'll specifically attack the three eastern forts garrisoned by the Zhejiang soldiers; do you think the Sichuan soldiers in the west will come to their aid?

Upon hearing this, Dai Shan's eyes flashed with a look of sudden realization, and his tense face relaxed.

A greedy glint flashed in his eyes, and he couldn't help but grin, his laughter revealing a hint of impatience: "Old Eight, you're right! So what's the third flaw in Shenyang?"

Huang Taiji's lips curled slightly, a cold, calculating glint in his eyes. He slowly said, "The third weakness is that although the Ming army has many fortifications, most of them were hastily constructed and have unstable foundations. These newly built fortifications appear sturdy, but in reality, they are all bark and no bite. If my three banners' elite troops launch a full-scale attack, we will surely be able to break through them in one fell swoop!"

Even with Zhu Youxiao's unwavering support for Liaodong and Sun Chengzong's tireless efforts in building fortifications, the situation remained unchanged.

But the time was too short.

Whether the hastily constructed bastion can withstand a powerful offensive remains to be seen.

Upon hearing this, Dai Shan's brows remained furrowed, and a hint of hesitation appeared in his eyes.

He thought to himself, 'Even the easiest fortress to attack will ultimately cost me my warriors. These Niru are my foundation; if they suffer too much loss, how can I stand before my father, the Khan?'

Huang Taiji saw through his thoughts at a glance, his smile deepened, and his tone became even more composed.

"Second brother, there's no need to worry. I've already gathered nearly three thousand surrendered civilians. These people can be used as cannon fodder to feed the arrows and consume the Han army's artillery and gunpowder. In this way, our elite troops will suffer fewer casualties."

A glint flashed in Dai Shan's eyes, but he was still not completely at ease.

"Even so, a direct assault on the bastion will ultimately come at a price..."

Huang Taiji's eyes flickered slightly, and a meaningful smile curved his lips.

"Second brother, I have another plan in mind that can not only preserve our Eight Banners elites, but also wipe out the outer defenses of Shenyang in one fell swoop and fulfill Father Khan's mission."

He paused, a sharp glint flashing in his eyes.

"If planned properly, we might even be able to take advantage of the situation and capture Shenyang!"

Upon hearing this, Dai Shan's pupils suddenly contracted, and his breathing became somewhat rapid.

"Eighth Brother, is this really true?!"

(End of this chapter)