Huangming

Chapter 418 Stockpiling Grain and Forming Defenses, the Golden Camp Fortified

It was already April of the second year of the Tianqi reign.

Spring has arrived in Liaodong as well.

The chill had dissipated, but a menacing aura had settled over the land.

This atmosphere is hidden in the ridges of spring plowing, wrapped in the dust of the logistics team, and even more so in the "Bear" banner fluttering outside the White Tiger Hall in Shenyang.

As the day of the war to destroy the Jin dynasty drew ever closer, the war machine of Liaodong was in full swing, with every gear meshing precisely, grinding towards the goal of "determining Liaodong in one battle".

In the fields on the outskirts of Shenyang, military households are busy with spring plowing, their feet glistening with morning dew.

Everyone knows that planting this crop is the signal for the army to set out. Only by planting the seedlings as soon as possible can they feel at ease following the laborers to support the front lines.

On the ridge of the field, the junior officer in charge of supervising the plowing shouted at the top of his lungs:
"Keep up the good work! In ten more days, once the rice planting is finished, we can join the army and go to Hetu Ala to see what the Jurchens' hometown looks like!"

"If we can wipe out the Jurchens, His Majesty will reward us handsomely!"

As soon as he finished speaking, the shouts from the fields grew even louder.

Hearing about the reward, the farmers swung their hoes even more vigorously.

at the same time.

Logistics supplies from Liaodong were continuously being sent to Shenyang and Liaoyang.

The shipping fleet departed from Dagukou, carrying grain from Jiangnan and breech-loading cannons made in Beijing. After several days of tossing and turning in the waves of Liaodong Bay, it finally docked at the pier of Gaizhouwei.

The land transport mule caravans set off from Shanhaiguan, each with a hundred mules and horses, carrying ironware from Shanxi and cloth from Henan, heading towards Liaodong along the newly built post road. The caravans stretched for miles, raising dust into the air, and even the distant beacon towers could see this "flood of supplies".

Outside the granaries in Shenyang, the garrison soldiers were leading laborers to carry sacks of grain into the granaries, while the grain official loudly checked the ledgers.

"The 3,000 shi of rice from Tianjin and the 2,000 shi of wheat flour from Henan have all arrived!"

Every time Xiong Tingbi passed by the granary and saw the grain sacks piled up to the roof, his tense brows would relax a little.

An army marches on its stomach!
Last year's failure to wipe out the Jurchens was largely due to attacks on supply lines and insufficient military pay; we must not repeat the same mistakes this time.

To protect the grain route, Xiong Tingbi spent half a month dismantling the thousand-mile grain route from Liaoyang to Hetu Ala into three sections, and built three "grain protection forts" in each section.

These fortified villages were built with rammed earth mixed with lime. The walls were two zhang high and one zhang wide, with a watchtower at each of the four corners. Inside each watchtower were two breech-loading cannons, with the muzzles pointed towards the grain route.

Five hundred soldiers were stationed inside the fort, half of whom were infantrymen responsible for guarding the fort, and the other half were cavalrymen who patrolled within a ten-mile radius of the fort.

Every three miles between the forts, a beacon tower was built, with wolf dung and torches prepared on it. Once the Jurchens were discovered to be harassing them, the wolf dung would be lit.

When the black smoke rises into the sky, the neighboring beacon towers will immediately relay the message, and within half an incense stick's time, the garrison along the entire supply route will be ready to fight.

"With this iron wall protecting our supply lines, it will be difficult for Huang Taiji to cut off our retreat!"

After securing the supply lines, Xiong Tingbi led his personal guards to Zhenbeibao, outside Kaiyuan City.

That place was the border between the Ming Dynasty and the five tribes of Inner Khalkha. He was going to meet the leaders of the five tribes to finalize the matter of borrowing troops.

Three days later.

On the grassland outside Zhenbeibao, a huge tent was erected. The leaders of the five Inner Khalkha tribes rode on horseback and waited outside the tent with their personal guards. The leader was Chaohua Taiji.

soon.

Then Xiong Tingbi arrived.

His entourage was extremely imposing.

In front were two hundred armored cavalrymen, in the middle were personal guards carrying the banner that read "Managing Liaodong", and behind them were minor officials carrying the annual reward documents.

Upon seeing Xiong Tingbi's entourage approach, the leaders dismounted.

"We pay our respects to the General."

Xiong Tingbi, expressionless, waved his hand and said, "Come in and discuss matters!"

Once inside the tent, Xiong Tingbi sat in the main seat and got straight to the point:
"I have come here today to request the assistance of the Five Ministries in suppressing the Jurchens."

After the matter is accomplished, the Ming dynasty will reward the five tribes with an additional 30%, and will also set up three more trade markets outside Kaiyuan City. Your horses and furs can be exchanged for grain and ironware at a price 30% higher than when sold to the Jurchens.

Furthermore, since your unit was killed in battle, you will receive a pension of five taels of silver.

As he spoke, he instructed his personal guards to hand over the annual reward documents and the trade regulations.

The leaders passed the document around, and their faces gradually lit up with joy.

Among these leaders, only one had a furrowed brow.

That's stir-fried flowers.

Chao Hua wanted to keep to himself, neither wanting to offend the Ming Dynasty nor anger Huang Taiji.

Therefore, no matter how favorable the conditions were for the Ming army, he was unwilling to get involved in the war.

The Chahar tribe, which had previously been involved in the conflict between the Jurchens and the Ming army, had already fallen apart. He did not want the five Inner Khalkha tribes to suffer the same fate as the Chahar tribe.

Before Chaohua could even open his mouth, the leaders of the other four departments had already taken a liking to him.

"Thirty percent of the annual bonus is no small sum!"

"Once the trade market opens, our tribe will no longer have to go hungry!"

"This is a good thing!"

"Moreover, the Jurchens are like lambs to the slaughter. They will receive benefits and compensation for joining the army on this expedition. Why don't they send troops?"

The leaders chimed in with their own opinions, and Chaohua glanced at the attitudes of those around her, then at the reflection of the Ming cavalry armor outside the tent.

The Ming army is currently at its peak; if we refuse, we may not even have a chance to remain unscathed.

After a moment of silence, Chao Hua finally stood up, bowed to Xiong Tingbi, and said:

"My lord, the five tribes of Inner Khalkha are willing to send 10,000 troops to help the Ming Dynasty annihilate the Jurchens!"

Seeing the flower's submissive appearance, Xiong Tingbi smiled slightly, a weight lifted from his heart.

He stood up, laughed heartily, and said, "Taiji is a wise man; from now on, the five tribes and the Ming Dynasty will be allies."

At this moment, Xiong Tingbi finally felt relieved.

On the grassland.

The Khorchin had already submitted to the Khorchin, and the five Inner Khalkha tribes borrowed 10,000 troops, greatly reducing the threat.

With the Chahar tribe being held back by Khuntu Taiji, Huang Taiji lost all his steppe allies.

With the grain supply lines protected by fortified outposts, the soldiers' spring planting went smoothly, the conscription of civilian laborers was imminent, and the 80,000-strong army was ready for battle...

All worries vanished, leaving only the thunderous blow against Huang Taiji.

此战
Huang Taiji, what do you have to offer to win?
the other side.

Hetu Ala.

The dark clouds of war have already loomed over Hetu Ala.

Huang Taiji had just received news from his spies at Fushun Pass:

The Ming army's vanguard cavalry had reached within 30 li of Fushun City, and grain carts stretched endlessly along the official road from Liaoyang to Shenyang.

"The Ming army will probably attack within a month."

Huang Taiji's Adam's apple bobbed, and a barely perceptible hint of tension flashed in his eyes.

Although he knew this day would come, when the Ming army was about to attack, the weight of the "life and death of the Great Jin" on his shoulders still made his breathing become a little heavier.

The current Daikin is no longer what it was a little over a year ago.

With the loss of Kaiyuan and Tieling, the grain supply route to Liaodong was cut off, and even the Mongol tribes turned to the Ming Dynasty.

The grain reserves in the granary were only enough to last for three months, and the number of Jurchen elites capable of fighting was less than 20,000. Even half of their armor consisted of repaired old armor.

And what about the Ming army?

Xiong Tingbi commanded a large army, and was aided by Mongol cavalry from the Khorchin and Inner Khalkha regions. His muskets and cannons were piled up like small mountains.

If he makes even the slightest mistake, the city will fall and the country will be destroyed, and he, the "Tiancong Khan," will only end up with his own death and the extermination of his clan.

but
He had been making preparations these past few days.

Huang Taiji took a deep breath, suppressed his anxiety, and turned to look down at the city.

The outer city moat has been almost completely dug. Three ditches, each three zhang wide and two zhang deep, lie across the outer city wall like three black scars, with sharpened deer antlers densely stuck in the bottom of the ditch.

Behind the ditch, several hundred Han soldiers wearing old Ming army armor were squatting behind the earthen slope, wiping their muskets. Most of those muskets were captured from the Khorchin tribe last year. The barrels still had bullet marks, but they were polished to a shine, with the muzzles pointing southwest.

That was the only open area without the Suzi River blocking its way, and the Ming army would definitely launch its first attack from there.

"How's it going on the other side of the dike?"

Huang Taiji's voice regained its composure, and his gaze turned towards the upper reaches of the Suzi River.

"Reporting to the Great Khan, it is complete!"

The guard bowed and replied, "A two-zhang-high embankment has been built with rammed earth, and three gaps have been pre-designed. As long as the ropes are broken, the river water will flood the open area outside the southwest city within half an hour!"

Huang Taiji nodded, then turned his gaze back to the inner city.

The eight cannons on the city wall were already set up. The cannons were made of brass. Although there were only eight of them, they were the only heavy firearms in the Great Jin Dynasty. The gunners were squatting behind the cannons checking the touch ports.

Gunpowder was extremely scarce for the Jin dynasty.

He only had a few hundred kilograms of gunpowder, and even fewer shells.

Most of the gunpowder was seized from the Khorchin tribe, while the remaining small portion was smuggled from the military forces in Liaodong some time ago.

However, after Xiong Tingbi reorganized Liaodong, this channel was also lost.

That was all the gunpowder and shells Da Jin had.

In a corner of the inner city.

All twelve wells were covered with stone slabs, and the Imperial Guards of the Plain Yellow Banner stood guard beside them with swords in hand, and tokens reading "Liquidity and Feed Guard" hung from their waists.

The grain in the government granary has been distributed according to the number of people, with each person receiving two liters of rice per day. Private hoarding is strictly prohibited, and even he himself is no exception.

The granary was locked with three iron locks, and the keys were kept by three different grain officials. All three had to be present at the same time to retrieve the grain.

At this point, Huang Taiji was not only afraid of the Ming army, but also of unrest breaking out within the city.

Even after doing so much, Huang Taiji still felt it wasn't enough.

He walked to the corner of the city wall and looked at the distant, continuous Longgang Mountains.

Although the mountain could block the Ming army's flanks, it also trapped the Jin army's retreat route.

In addition, the loyalty of the Han soldiers is an unknown quantity. Those men were forced to defend the city. If the Ming army launches a fierce attack, will they defect?

Huang Taiji's eyes flickered.

It's time to summon everyone and discuss how to fight the next battle.

Huang Taiji immediately ordered his men to summon the banner chiefs of the Eight Banners and several important officials.

It didn't take long.

The banner chiefs of the two Red Banners, Amin, the banner chief of the Plain Blue Banner, Ajige, the banner chief of the Bordered Blue Banner, Bayala, the banner chief of the Bordered White Banner, Dudu, the banner chief of the Eight Banners of Mongolia, Engeder, the banner chief of the Han Banner, Tong Yangxing, as well as the veteran minister He Heli, the newly appointed official Jirhalang, the Han minister Fan Wencheng, and others rushed to the hall.

However, once everyone entered the hall, they did not whisper among themselves.

Instead, they all stood silently below the steps, even their breathing was extremely soft.

Rumors in the city have been spreading like the spring floods of the Suzi River.

Some people say that the Ming army of 100,000 men has been arrayed outside Fushun Pass, and their muskets can pierce the sky.

Some say that the five tribes of the Inner Khalkha have sided with the Ming Dynasty, and the Jin Dynasty's escape route has been cut off.

Some soldiers even whispered among themselves that Hetu Ala's granaries wouldn't last more than a month.

Everyone knew that this battle was unavoidable, but faced with the overwhelming momentum of the Ming army, even the most valiant Amin lost his confidence. The silence in the hall was like a boulder, making it hard to breathe.

"Hahaha! Hahaha! Hahaha!"

Suddenly, three hearty laughs rang out in the hall, breaking the deathly silence.

Huang Taiji stood up from behind the desk, placed his hands on the table, and glanced at the people below.

"What? You're already scared before you've even seen a glimpse of the Ming army?"

Amin quickly stepped forward, knelt on one knee, and her voice was a little strained:
"Your Majesty, please calm your anger! It's not that we servants are cowardly, but the rumors circulating in the city lately are too rampant, even the veterans in the banners are talking about it in private..."

"Gossip? They're just afraid!"

Huang Taiji abruptly interrupted him, his tone suddenly turning stern.

"You say we're in a desperate situation now?"
When the Khan started his rebellion with thirteen suits of armor, he faced a million-strong border army of the Ming Dynasty. Was that considered a desperate situation?

Before the Battle of Sarhu, the Ming army surrounded the Jin forces from four directions. The Jin army, at most, numbered only 60,000. Wasn't that a desperate situation?

He walked down the steps, stopping in front of the crowd. His gaze swept over Amin's face, then over Bayara and Dudu, finally settling on Engeder and Tong Yangxing. His voice gradually deepened, yet carried a penetrating force:

"We still have 40,000 troops."

Twenty thousand elite Jurchen troops, ten thousand Mongol cavalry, and ten thousand Han soldiers.

We also have the fortified city of Hetu Ala.

We still have the Khan's Mausoleum here, our ancestral land is here!
"Although the Ming army is numerous, they have come from afar and have long supply lines. As long as we hold the city and hold them off until their food supplies run out, we may not necessarily be defeated!" He suddenly raised his voice at the end, slamming his fist heavily on his chest.
"And we must not lose! If we lose, the Khan's tomb will be dug up, our ancestral land will be occupied, and we, the descendants of the Jurchens, will either die or become slaves of the Ming people!"

Engdel was the first to react, taking half a step forward and deliberately raising his voice:

"What the Great Khan says is absolutely right!"

Last year, Xiong Tingbi also led his army to attack. The Ming army besieged the outer city for half a month, but they couldn't even cross the outer city. In the end, they ran out of food and returned defeated.

This time, with our fortified city, our troops, and the Great Khan in command, we will surely repel the Ming army once again!

Tong Yangxing chimed in, "Yes, Great Khan! Although the soldiers have concerns, as long as the banner leaders take the lead, they will definitely fight to the death!"

The seriousness on Amin's face gradually faded. He stood up, cupped his hands, and said:

"Your Majesty is right! This servant was just out of control!"

Seeing the renewed fighting spirit in everyone's eyes, Huang Taiji's tightly clenched lips finally curled up slightly, and he raised his hand to signal everyone to stand up.

However, he also knew in his heart that these words were only meant to temporarily calm people's hearts.

after all.

The strength of the Ming army is far greater than it was last year.

But right now, he has to convince everyone that Da Jin still has a chance of winning.

Otherwise, if morale collapses before the war even begins, what's the point of fighting?

Huang Taiji snapped out of his reverie, looked at everyone, and finally got to the point.

"Xiong Tingbi is attacking with all his might, and we cannot sit idly by and wait to be killed. My dear ministers, in this great battle, shall we defend the city or launch an attack?"

As soon as he finished speaking, Amin stepped forward.

"Great Khan!"
Defending cities has never been our Jurchen people's forte!

Back then, the wise Khan relied on cavalry raids to conquer Liaodong without being defeated. Now, if we are trapped in the city, how are we any different from those Han people who only know how to hide behind the walls?
Even the fortified city of Hetu Ala cannot withstand the daily bombardment of the Ming army's artillery. It would be better to send out elite cavalry to find an opportunity to exploit their weaknesses!

Dudu, who held the Bordered White Banner, immediately echoed the sentiment, his young face filled with fighting spirit:

"The Grand Prince is right! Although the Ming army is large, most of them are infantry. When our cavalry charges, they simply cannot stop them!"
Simply defending the city will only wear down the morale of our brothers!

After Daishan died in the Battle of Sarhu, Huang Taiji re-established the order of the banner leaders upon ascending the throne. Amin was promoted from the third beile and commanded the elite troops of the two red banners, making his words carry the most weight.

but.

No sooner had the two finished speaking than a steady rebuttal came from below the steps: "The First Prince and the Third Prince are mistaken."

Everyone turned to look, and there stood Fan Wencheng, a Han Chinese strategist.

He was dressed in a blue official robe, bowed respectfully, and spoke in a calm yet clear tone:
"While a surprise attack outside the city is certainly an advantage for our army, most of the soldiers in the army right now are newly recruited."

Half of them were Mongol herders, and the other half were Han Chinese from Liaodong. These people hadn't experienced many tough battles. If they were sent to fight the Ming army in open battle, they would likely collapse on the spot if the engagement went poorly.

"These new recruits must remain in the city. Firstly, it will strengthen the city's defenses, and secondly, with a strong city to rely on, they will dare to fight desperately."

As for the elite cavalry, they should naturally leave the city, but not all of them; a portion must be left to guard the inner city, preventing the Ming army from taking advantage of any weakness in the city.

The hall fell silent for a moment as everyone pondered Fan Wencheng's words.

indeed.

The Mongol soldiers who surrendered last year may seem brave and fierce, but they might not be reliable when it comes to a head-on confrontation with the Ming army.

The newly recruited Han Chinese soldiers were particularly wary of the Ming Dynasty and were very likely to defect in field battles.

Huang Taiji nodded slowly, a hint of approval flashing in his eyes:
"Fan Qing is right. We can't gamble with our family's savings."

The elite cavalry will leave the city, but they will split into two groups: one to harass and the other to provide support; the defense of the city will be left to the new recruits, Han soldiers, and Mongol Eight Banners troops.

He turned to look at Amin, his gaze sharp:

"Great Prince, you shall lead five thousand elite cavalrymen of the Two Red Banners to the north and hide deep within the Longgang Mountains."

The area was densely forested and deep in the valleys, making it difficult for Ming scouts to find them.

Remember, do not actively seek battle. If the outer city is under attack, send reinforcements from the flank.

If the Ming army splits its forces, then take the opportunity to attack their flank, making sure to preserve the mobility of the cavalry and avoid getting bogged down.

Upon hearing this, Amin immediately knelt on one knee, placed her right hand on her chest, and spoke in a loud voice:
"Your servant obeys!"

Hiding to the north may seem easy, but in reality, it requires keeping a close eye on the Ming army's movements and being ready to rush to their aid at any time; the responsibility is no small matter.

but
Amin breathed a sigh of relief.

after all
It's more dangerous in the city; going out offers a glimmer of hope.

at this time.

Huang Taiji then looked at Ajige, who was standing next to Dudu.

"Fourth Prince".

Huang Taiji's voice deepened.

"The Ming army of 100,000 men relied entirely on this route for supplies. It was a mountain road of more than 200 miles, and that was their Achilles' heel."

You will lead three thousand elite cavalry, specifically tasked with harassing supply lines.

Only act at night, avoiding the Ming troops guarding the grain fortresses. Burn the grain carts and leave, do not linger in battle, and do not be greedy. After each successful attack, retreat immediately, and never allow yourself to be pursued by the Ming cavalry.

A fierce glint flashed in Ajige's eyes. He abruptly stood up, clasped his hands in a fist salute, and said loudly:
"Your servant understands! We will not return to see the Great Khan until the Ming army is burned to the point of starvation!"

He loved this kind of job that involved rushing and fighting, and his voice was full of excitement.

After arranging the two cavalry routes, Huang Taiji's gaze swept over Tong Yangxing, the banner chief of the Han Army Banner, and Engeder, the banner chief of the Mongol Eight Banners, and his tone softened.

"Tong Qing, you will lead 5,000 Han soldiers to guard the southwest gates of the outer city."

That's the main direction of the Ming army's attack. Without the Suzi River blocking the way, set up those five hundred arquebuses on the city walls, and have the soldiers prepare plenty of rolling stones and logs. If the Ming army dares to approach the moat, give them a good beating.”

Tong Yangxing bowed and replied, "This servant obeys the decree."

He knew that the southwest gates were the Ming army's main targets, and defending them was a matter of life and death, but he had no other choice at the moment.

How could I possibly disobey orders?

"Engeldel".

Huang Taiji then looked at Engeder.

"You will lead 3,000 Mongol Eight Banners troops to guard the east and north gates of the outer city and keep an eye on the Suzi River. If the Ming army tries to cross the river to attack the city, report to Bayara immediately, and he will go to breach the dike and release the water."

The dikes on the Suzi River were Huang Taiji's backup plan, which might prove surprisingly effective in a critical moment.

Engder nodded quickly: "Your Majesty, rest assured, this servant will keep a close watch on the east and north gates."

Finally, Huang Taiji looked at Bayara, the banner chief of the Bordered Blue Banner, and said in a deep voice:
"Bayala, you will lead 10,000 Jurchen soldiers to guard the inner city, and send 500 personal guards to watch over the granaries and wells, and strictly prohibit the private hoarding of grain."

The inner city is our last resort. If we lose the inner city, Hetu Ala is finished.

do you understand? "

Bayara's face was solemn as he knelt on one knee: "This servant understands! Even if we lose our last man, we will never let the Ming army set foot in the inner city!"

After giving these instructions, Huang Taiji slowly exhaled a breath of stale air.

"At this stage, things are as they are. I hope that everyone will fight to the death so that we can win a glimmer of hope for the Great Jin."

"If the Great Jin Dynasty still existed, you would all be its heroes. I will never forget your contributions."

Upon hearing this, Amin and the others immediately declared, "We swear to serve the Great Khan to the death!"

After saying these words, the crowd slowly dispersed.

However, Huang Taiji left three people behind.

They are He Heli, Tong Yangxing, and Fan Wencheng.

"Everyone, take a seat."

Huang Taiji said in a calm tone.

After the three had thanked him and taken their seats, he slowly began to speak, without any preamble, going straight to the point:
"Rumors are flying everywhere in Hetu Ala now. Do you know how many Ming soldiers are hiding among them?"

The moment the words were spoken, the air in the hall seemed to freeze.

Tong Yangxing's body stiffened abruptly, and he subconsciously looked up, only to meet Huang Taiji's gaze, which had suddenly turned towards him.

That gaze was like a blade chilled to the bone, sending a chill down his spine and making him catch his breath.

"I had already received the news."

Huang Taiji's voice deepened further.

"Tong Qing's grandson, Tong Guoyao, is the one you strongly recommended to be placed in the Han Army's firearms battalion, in charge of two hundred musketmen. He is a person planted by the Ming army."

"Pfft!"

Tong Yangxing could no longer sit still. He suddenly slid off the armchair, his knees slamming heavily onto the blue brick floor with a dull thud.

His face turned deathly pale instantly, and his voice trembled noticeably:
"Great Khan! This old minister...this old minister truly knows nothing!"

That rebellious grandson... This old minister had no idea he dared to collude with the enemy and betray the country!

"I beg Your Majesty to have mercy and give this old minister a chance. I will immediately go and bind him, and personally execute this traitor who betrayed his country, to prove my loyalty!"

As he spoke, he kowtowed repeatedly, and blood quickly seeped from his forehead, flowing down his cheeks, making him look extremely disheveled.

Huang Taiji understood that Tong Yangxing might not have been unaware of the situation. Han Chinese families have a tradition of "not putting all their eggs in one basket," and Tong Guoyao might have been a backup plan he had prepared for the fall of the Jin Dynasty.

However, at this moment, he didn't care about any of that.

He stepped forward and helped Tong Yangxing up.

"Tong Qing, get up. I don't want you to kill him."

Tong Yangxing was stunned. When he looked up, his face was full of confusion. Blood was still flowing from his forehead, but he forgot to wipe it away.

He looked at Huang Taiji and found no anger in the other's eyes, which puzzled him.

"Traitor, won't the Khan kill him?"

"Not only will I not kill him, but on the contrary, I want you to give him an important position."

"Benhan gave him men, put him in charge of more firearms battalion affairs, and even sent him to make contact with several garrison commanders in the outer city."

For example, Mengatu was in charge of the southwest corner tower, and Tokto was in charge of the west gate.

"You're telling him to incite these people, that once the Ming army enters the city, they'll be spared, and they'll be promised hereditary official positions and thousands of acres of fertile land. This will incite them to rebel and open the gates to welcome the Ming army into the city."

Tong Yangxing suddenly realized what was happening. His knees were still trembling, but his tone was clearer, and even his breathing became more steady:

"Is the Great Khan... planning to use a scheme against us? To lure out the Ming army through that traitorous grandson Guo Yao, and then ambush and kill them?"

"good."

“The Ming army’s pawns also have their uses; at crucial moments, they might have a surprising effect.”

Then, Huang Taiji turned his gaze to He Heli, who had remained silent to the side.

This veteran minister, who had followed Nurhaci in battle for over thirty years, was looking up with eyes full of satisfaction.

"Heheli, I entrust the task of investigating spies and collaborators within the army to you."

"You don't need to touch Tong Guoyao. Just keep an eye on everyone he comes into contact with. Make a note of those who are truly wavering, or those who are spies planted by the Ming army. Figure out their contact methods and agreed-upon codes."

"When the day of war arrives, if these people want to open the gates to meet the enemy, we will set up an ambush behind the city gates in advance."

What they brought was not a path to survival for the Ming army, but a death knell.

"The slave obeys the order!"

He Heli stood up, cupped his hands in greeting, and spoke in a deep and firm voice, without the slightest hesitation.

Fan Wencheng, who was standing to the side, finally raised his head and looked at Huang Taiji with more awe.

The Great Khan was not only able to stabilize the morale of his army in times of crisis, but also to turn the enemy's pieces into his own.

Without alerting the enemy, and with the help of an inside man, he was able to set up a deadly trap. This cunning and decisiveness was far beyond that of ordinary tribal leaders.

perhaps
It's uncertain whether the Great Jin can truly survive this battle.

"Fan Qing, you should stay in the palace at all times. If I have any questions, I will consult you."

"Slave, you obey!"

Fan Wencheng, with a joyful expression, kowtowed to express his gratitude.

After giving all the instructions, Huang Taiji felt completely at ease.

"The rest is to strengthen the city's defenses and wait for Xiong Tingbi to arrive."

"If he wants to fight, then I, the Khan, will fight him."

but.

Xiong Manzi.
Whether this battle will end in victory or defeat remains to be seen!

(End of this chapter)