I really don't want to be emperor at the end of Ming Dynasty

Chapter 376 Isn’t there still a prince?

Chapter 376

In Huang Taiji's eyes, Cheng Shijie had always acted unconventionally. It was not that the Ming Dynasty didn't have artillery, but whose artillery could blow up a large area at once?Whose artillery can soar into the sky and roar like a fire dragon. Once it falls into the military formation, whether it is a white-armored soldier or an armored slave, the result will be without exception, with corpses strewn across the field and rivers of blood flowing.

What is even more difficult for Huang Taiji to understand is that the fire guns of the Ning Navy are different from those of the Ming Army. Fire guns have appeared on the battlefield since the Yuan Dynasty, but the real reason why they have not replaced the bows and crossbows for 300 years is actually that It's simple. The firing range of the fire blunderbuss is too short. Since there is no rifling, it has no accuracy even thirty steps away.

This is why the British lobster soldiers had to rush 20 meters in front of the enemy's formation despite casualties and start the thin red line tactic, which netizens jokingly called queuing to kill.

If the equipment of both sides is similar, they are both firecrackers, and they are both trying their best not to fire, risking their lives and bravery, then it is not a big problem, but the problem is that the Ming Dynasty is a full-system battle formation, and the distance is three to five miles away. Hongyi artillery, there are Folang machine artillery within two or three miles, tiger squat cannons and bowl-mouth blunderbuss within two to three hundred steps, crossbows within 150 steps, and bows and arrows within one hundred and fifteen steps.

In the face of the Ming Army's multiple arms from far, middle and near, it is simply impossible to adopt thin red line tactics. This is why the tactics that the British can adopt are simply not feasible in China.

The Thin Red Line tactic actually does not have much technical difficulty, and is not even as good as the three-stage attack invented in the early Ming Dynasty. What gave Huang Taiji a huge headache was that the overwhelming artillery and the continuous firecrackers under Cheng Shijie were not there at all. The way is to use human life to resist.

But the problem is that the princes and Baylors of the Manchu Qing Dynasty do not have a clear understanding. They think that defeating the more than 30 Ming Dynasty's Northern Expeditionary Army is a sure victory, but Cheng Shijie and his Ning Haijun hang on the Qing Dynasty's head. Sharp sword.

Huang Taiji actually discovered that Cheng Shijie would bring a large number of carriages every time he went to war. Those carriages numbered thousands each time. Thousands of carriages were naturally used to transport supplies. He would rather stay in Shengjing than go south. Even if you miss the opportunity, you have to wait. If Cheng Shijie doesn't agree with Tong Tulai's win over, then he will fight Cheng Shijie in Shengjing, a place more than 2000 miles away from Liaodong.

The supply line of more than 2000 miles will also give Cheng Shijie a very headache.Just like in Lanzhou last year, Ning Haijun's nearly 2000 troops traveled thousands of miles to help Lanzhou. Huang Taiji specially sent people to Lanzhou to collect intelligence. At that time, Ning Haijun also used firearms for more than a month, causing a large number of casualties to the Jungar people. After running out of firearms, they relied on their flesh and blood to fight the Jungar people.

If it weren’t for the fortified city of Lanzhou, and if the Ming army hadn’t supported Lanzhou with a large number of troops, the outcome of the Battle of Lanzhou would have been hard to say. Of course, in this battle, the Ning Navy suffered unprecedented losses, with more than 1 people killed and thousands People were injured, and more than 100 people were killed alone.

In Huang Taiji's opinion, Ning Haijun's hundred-general level is equivalent to Niu Lu in the Qing Dynasty. If he loses more than 100 Niu Lu, he will definitely be heartbroken. Cheng Shijie is probably about the same. Cheng Shijie has not moved until now. It was impossible that he had not received the news. The only possibility was that Cheng Shijie was analyzing the gains and losses and whether to join this national war.

Mang Gurtai's son, Prince Maiheli, shouted anxiously: "Your Majesty, even a cooked duck can fly away! We can't just let it go. I'm willing to lead the Zhenglan Banner to capture the hot spring in one fell swoop. Valley, look where they are going!"

Hauge said: "Yes! Emperor Ama, I am willing to lead Xianghuang Banner to Hot Spring Valley to take the heads of Zhu Youjian and Lu Xiangsheng! The elite Ming army in the Northern Expedition has suffered all casualties, and the Ming army that broke through to Hot Spring Valley is also short of men and horses. , there are many injuries, but you can get rid of them with just one drum.”

Before Hauge could say anything, Ning Wan took a step forward and said, "Your Majesty, I think this slave should not tangle with the Ming army any more in Hot Spring Valley!"

Hauge's eyes suddenly became bigger than a cow's egg. He glared at Ning Wan and shouted: "You mean we won't attack Hot Spring Valley anymore and let Zhu Youjian and Lu Xiangsheng go? It took so much effort to force them into a desperate situation, but you actually Want to let them live? Bachelor Ning, what are your intentions?"

Ning Wan and I formally said: "Prince Su, I think it doesn't matter whether Zhu Youjian's son is dead or not. The top priority is to take Beijing! As long as Beijing is taken, the Qing Dynasty will be able to replace the Ming Dynasty. With the help, change the dynasty and become the orthodoxy of China, and even form a overwhelming momentum against the leaderless Ming court!"

Fan Wencheng walked out of the queue slowly and said solemnly: "What Scholar Ning said is absolutely true. Zhu Youjian's life and death has nothing to do with the overall situation. Entering the pass is the most important thing! After Guan Ning's army changed its banner, the Qing Dynasty gathered 30 elites. By the way, a large number of muskets, artillery and firearms-wielding talents were captured in this battle, coupled with the powerful bows and angry horses of the Eight Banners, who can defeat them on the Great Plains?"

Huang Taiji really wanted to say, Cheng Shijie, but the problem was that the words came to his lips but he didn't say them out. This hurt morale too much.

Fan Wencheng continued: "As long as we have a firm foothold in Beijing and Tianjin, Shandong and Henan are within our reach. Looking at the world, the only one who can compete with the Qing Dynasty is Ning Haijun! However, now the weather is cold and it is far away from the Bohai Sea. There is not much time left for the ice to freeze. Once the Bohai Sea freezes... Your Majesty, this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. God's will is clear, and it will be given to me with those thousands of miles of beautiful rivers and mountains. If I don't take it now, let's wait until later!"

Huang Taiji is still silent. Last year, the Bohai Sea was frozen. But the problem is that the Ning Navy used ice boats to transport [-] to [-] elite troops to the Central Plains, as well as a large amount of grain, grass and ammunition. Although the Bohai Sea was frozen, it had an impact on the Ning Navy. The problem is, the impact is really not big.

Fan Wencheng looked at Huang Taiji's hesitation and said in a deep voice: "Your Majesty, if you don't accept it, you will suffer chaos. If you hesitate any longer, I'm afraid you will miss this great opportunity!"

Huang Taiji said: "How do you say this?"

Fan Wencheng bowed deeply: "Your Majesty, please don't forget that Cheng Shijie is the prince's teacher. At this time, the Ming Dynasty is in chaos inside and outside the country. No one remembers it, but they will soon come to their senses and make the prince the new king to command the world, Huguang, Sichuan If we unite to respond, hundreds of thousands of troops will be available soon, and if Ning Haijun is the core and goes north, the Qing Dynasty will be in great trouble!"

Huang Taiji was horrified and moved, but Fan Wencheng was not an alarmist. The Ming Dynasty was famous for its toughness. Yingzong was captured during the Tumu Fort Incident, and they immediately appointed Yingzong's younger brother as the new king. They continued to fight with Wa Ci, and finally let Wa Ci in Beijing was defeated and fled in embarrassment.

The 30-strong army was almost wiped out, and Chongzhen's life or death was uncertain. Under such circumstances, it seemed natural for the local governors of Huguang and Sichuan to appoint the prince as the new king!With the financial resources of Huguang and Liaodong, the tenacity and toughness of the Sichuan Army, and the sharpness of the Ning Navy, once they come to their senses and vow to fight for the Northern Expedition, it is hard to say who will win!
Now he has to race against time to capture the entire North China before the Heluo New Army, the governors of Huguang, Sichuan, and even Shaanxi and Shanxi who are loyal to the Ming Dynasty react, and capture Dayi first!As long as he can capture Beijing and the North China Plain, with the powerful fighting power of the Eight Banners and the vigorous advocacy of the literati from the south of the Yangtze River and the north, the Qing Dynasty will be invincible.

All the generals fell to their knees and said in unison: "Your Majesty, please enter the customs as soon as possible!"

The banner owners of the Manchu Eight Banners and the Mongolian Eight Banners simply yelled: "Enter the customs! Enter the customs! Enter the customs!"

Kneeling on the ground under the court hall, every sound, every sentence, is to enter the customs.Huang Taiji, who had been insisting on resolving Chongzhen and Lu Xiangsheng before talking about entering the customs, finally wavered, and nodded heavily.

"Entry!"

At this time, Huang Taiji was worried about two things. He was worried about delaying the opportunity to fight and missing the best opportunity to enter the customs. But he was also worried about making a wedding dress for Ning Haijun.

If the Manchu and Qing Dynasties entered the pass and captured the capital, the world would definitely be shaken. The Ming Dynasty was not a dynasty that compromised easily, and Huang Taiji was not the first person to attack the capital of the Ming Dynasty. Once Cheng Shijie used the banner of expelling the Qing Dynasty, there would naturally be some People participated enthusiastically.

When Huang Taiji led the army to arrive in front of Longjing Pass, he received news that Cheng Shijie led the Ning Navy to conquer Jinzhou. In the entire Liaoxi Nine Guards 48 Fortress, except for the resistance from Ningyuan City, there was almost no resistance from other cities.

Huang Taiji put the news he received in front of Fan Wencheng: "Fan Qing, what do you think now?"

Fan Wencheng sighed and said, "The problem is troublesome!"

"Trouble?"

Fan Wencheng smiled bitterly and said: "We have always been betting that Cheng Shijie has no ambition, but now we see that Cheng Shijie's ambition is not small!"

"This is not like his style!" Fan Wencheng sneered: "It is impossible for people to be without ambition, and he is no exception. It is only a matter of time before Zhu Ming is finished. As a feudal official with a strong army, how can he not have other ambitions?" His idea? He probably wants to wait for the Qing Dynasty to capture Beijing and destroy Zhu Ming, and then send his troops north to destroy the Qing Dynasty, and then he can take over the country, which is justifiable."

Huang Taiji was a little confused: "Is this possible? He doesn't look like this kind of person!"

Fan Wencheng cupped his hands and said: "Your Majesty, you may have been deceived by his disguise! Even if he does not have such ambitions, it is impossible for his subordinates to be without him. In the face of such changes, even if he does not want to be the emperor, his subordinates will do the same thing again. The story of the yellow robe! A slave dares to bet his head. What Cheng Shijie is most concerned about now is not Beijing, but how to hold the prince in his hands or make him evaporate! "

Huang Taiji sighed and said: "In this case, he is really no different from those Ming generals! Fan Aiqing, in your opinion, when will Ning Haijun continue to go north?"

Fan Wencheng said: "After our army captures Beijing!"

Fan Wencheng's judgment made Huang Taiji feel a little embarrassed.If his judgment is correct, it means that all his calculations are within Cheng Shijie's calculations. He went through great pains to drive Chongzhen to the remote place of Sanshen Mountain, recruit Guan Ning's army to surrender, and capture the city of Beijing. In the end, it is very likely that he is making a wedding dress for Ning Haijun!
This makes Huang Taiji a little unbearable. He has always been the only one who plots against others. When has he ever been plotted against from beginning to end?He looked calm on the surface, but the fists hidden in his sleeves were already clenched.

Huang Taiji said slowly: "Fan Aiqing is really my Chen Ping and Zhang Liang. If you hadn't seen the opportunity first, I'm afraid that I would have made all my efforts to make a wedding dress for others without realizing it, and I would have ended up in the end of my life and my country's destruction!" Na Ning's navy's layout is extremely clever, and they have grasped the key to all aspects. I know that this is their trap, so I can only bite the bullet and jump in... According to Fan Aiqing, how should I respond?"

Fan Wencheng said solemnly: "It's actually not difficult to break Cheng Shijie's game. Just capture Beijing!"

Huang Taiji was startled: "Didn't you say that the day when the Qing Dynasty captured Beijing was when Ning Haijun sent his troops to the north? Why do you still want me to capture Beijing?"

"Your Majesty, capturing Beijing is extremely risky, but the benefits are also enormous! Beijing is both the gate and the capital of the Ming Dynasty. If we capture it, the Qing Dynasty will gain great benefits, both militarily and politically! Not to mention anything else, the money and food accumulated by countless noble families in Beijing alone amounts to hundreds of millions. With this money, what can't be done?"

Fan Wencheng smiled faintly and said: "After taking Beijing, the Qing Dynasty used Beijing, Tianjin and Tang Dynasty as its advance base. It was backed by mountains and seas and the pass, and its flanks were protected by mountains and seas. When entering, it could sweep across Youyan with the overwhelming power of Mount Tai, drink horses in the Yellow River, and when retreating, it could return to the desert. To defend the north against the dangers of the desert, even if there are millions of soldiers facing the dangers of the desert, they can only cry out helplessly. This is the fundamental reason why the Liao Kingdom and the Northern Song Dynasty have not fallen behind in the century-old struggle for supremacy!"

Huang Taiji nodded slightly.The significance of Beijing is not just as simple as the capital of the Ming Dynasty. Its gains and losses directly determine the ownership of the North China Plain!The land of Youyan is known as the "backbone of North China". Without the land of Youyan, the central dynasty will not be able to straighten its spine, and Beijing is the most important part of this spine. If it is lost, the spine will be broken. Got it!
The Northern Song Dynasty had been fighting fiercely with the Liao Kingdom for more than a hundred years, and had been in the dilemma of being passively beaten. The most important reason was that it could not recapture Beijing, which was called Yanjing at the time. If it could not recapture Yanjing, it would be impossible to drive the Khitan people back to the northeast. The North China Plain was thousands of miles of fertile wilderness. , everywhere is an ideal battlefield for the Khitan cavalry to gallop freely. The Song army, which is mainly infantry, will be damned if it doesn't get beaten.

If the Qing army can capture Beijing, with nearly 10,000 Qing troops plus [-]+ Guan Ning troops and tens of thousands of cavalry, no matter how powerful the Ning navy is, they will probably have no choice but to face such a terrifying cavalry group on the Great Plains. You are determined to kill the enemy, but you are unable to save yourself, right?
"Furthermore, there are a large number of gun and gun bureaus, gunpowder bureaus, and weapon bureaus in the capital, which can continuously produce artillery and muskets. Our Qing Dynasty has sufficient firearms. What Ning Haijun possesses is nothing more than artillery. With Why should Ning Haijun worry about Ming Dynasty's firearms?"

Fan Wencheng continued: "Furthermore, Beijing is the capital of the Ming Dynasty. The capture of Beijing means the demise of the Ming Dynasty. The Qing Dynasty replaced the Ming court. This is status! With this status, plus surrender The propaganda of the civil servants of the Ming Dynasty made the scholars in Shandong and Jiangnan respond. Even if Cheng Shijie supported the new emperor in the Northern Expedition, the general trend was our Qing Dynasty, and he would not be able to take advantage! If the emperor re-employed some scholars who had enmity with him, he would not be able to take advantage of it! If he sits back and watches the Qing Dynasty's dirty deeds of destroying the Ming Dynasty spread out, I'm afraid that before the Northern Expedition, he will already be in the eyes of thousands of people, and everyone will betray their relatives and leave! Not everyone is qualified to sit on the mountain and watch the tigers fight!"

Huang Taiji gave a high-five and said repeatedly: "Okay! Ai Qing's words made me enlightened! It seems that the key to breaking this situation lies in Beijing!"

Fan Wencheng said: "Your Majesty is wise! Whoever wins Beijing will win the world. Cheng Shijie was so smart that he gave up the opportunity to God. This is God's blessing for the Qing Dynasty!"

……

Just when Huang Taiji and Fan Wencheng were discussing going north as soon as possible to seize the capital, Cheng Shijie was actually not far from Beijing, just outside Shanhaiguan, more than 600 miles away.At that time, Shanhaiguan Commander-in-Chief Gao Di led more than [-] Guan troops. Instead of letting Cheng Shijie go, he used Guancheng to fire artillery shells at Cheng Shijie's troops.

Cheng Shijie mobilized Ning Haijun to attack Shanhaiguan, but Ning Haijun's artillery was deflated for the first time.

Ning Haijun's artillery and rocket launchers belong to the category of howitzers, and their attack capabilities are actually not as good as solid artillery shells. The attack was frustrated. Cheng Shijie was also thinking about a question, whether to save Emperor Chongzhen first or save Beijing first. In fact, Cheng Shijie was not like Huang Taiji. As Fan Wencheng analyzed, sitting on the mountain and watching the tiger fight, no matter what, Cheng Shijie could not give up the capital of the Ming Dynasty to Huang Taiji.

Seeing that Ning Haijun's attack in Shanhaiguan was frustrated, Ning Haijun, with the help of his navy, divided his troops into two groups and attacked Funing Port and landed in Tianjin at the same time.

Under the banner of King Qin, Ning Haijun did not resist the Tianjin Dagu Fort and Funing Port. Ning Haijun successfully landed directly. Cheng Shijie did not mobilize the troops in Liaodong this time. Instead, he mobilized Wusongkou and the garrison of Da Yuan and led the army. The generals are Wu Sheng, the commander-in-chief of Wusongkou, and Chen Dayong, the commander-in-chief of Wusongkou.

Chen Dayong led his troops to Tianjin. He immediately surrounded the three Tianjin guards without any concealment, disarmed the three Tianjin guards, and reorganized the three Tianjin guards. Some of the old, weak, sick and disabled were sent to the fields of Da Yuan. The young and strong and those who volunteered to join the army were Will receive on-site training from Ning Haijun. At the same time, Cheng Shijie awarded Chen Dayong the designations of the [-]th and [-]th brigades of Ning Haijun.

Wu Sheng led Wusongkou to land in Funing, and also operated on the Funing Guards. Like the Tianjin Guards, the old, weak, sick and their family members were actually sent to Dayuan Tuntian. As for the young and strong, they were co-organized with Wusongkou and Chongming Ning Haijun to form the Ning Army. [-]th Marine Brigade.

After receiving the information that Wu Sheng had occupied Funing Guard, Cheng Shijie bypassed Shanhaiguan and returned to Funing by sea.

Wang Chengen watched Cheng Shijie join forces with Ning Haijun's [-]th Brigade and directly send his troops to the west, preparing to attack Yongping Mansion. He was shocked: "Your Majesty, don't you care about Long Live the Lord?"

Cheng Shijie sighed and said: "Eunuch Wang, do you think that even if I kill the Three Gods Mountain at any cost now, long live my life now?"

Wang Chengen was silent.He had already wasted more than 20 days. Even if Cheng Shijie led the cavalry to reach Sanshen Mountain, it would probably be more than a month. And they didn't even have half a month's food at that time. They didn't need to fight with slaves, and they would all starve to death. What's more, the Ming Dynasty's Northern Expeditionary Army wore summer clothes, and only a small number of soldiers had cotton-padded clothes.

Wang Chengen's tears flowed down: "The emperor is old, I am incompetent, I deserve to die, I will go to accompany you right now..."

As he said this, Wang Chengen took the dagger and stabbed it towards his heart.

Wang Chengen didn't look hesitant at all, with a look of determination.

Cheng Shijie raised his hand and said: "Stop!"

Li Dingguo, who was beside Cheng Shijie, whipped the dagger from Wang Chengen's hand.

"Don't be in a hurry to die yet!"

Cheng Shijie said: "Even if Long Live Lord is unlucky, doesn't there still be a prince? Are you willing to let the prince be lonely too?"

(End of this chapter)