Autumn of the 17th year of Chongzhen

Chapter 271 Wu Sangui dispatches troops and generals

After the Qing Dynasty went south last year, it was supposed to be due to the hot weather. The Eight Banners and other tribes returned to the north one after another to escape the heat, leaving the south of the Yangtze River empty of troops.

Xiangyang is located in the northwest of Hubei, south of the Huaihe River in the Qinling Mountains, so it can be regarded as a place in the south in terms of its location.

It is now the end of June, and the south is gradually entering the hottest season. The Qing soldiers under Azig's command are not used to the southern climate and the increasing number of mosquitoes.

It was difficult for the Qing army to fall asleep, and they were disturbed by the Ming army, so they lost all sleepiness, so they all took action, lightened the losses, and prepared to attack the city to avenge the robbery of the camp.

When the Ming army robbed the camp, Wu Sangui probably had several Ming troops leaving the city at the same time, so he guarded the camp tightly and did not lead his troops out of the camp, so there was no loss in his account.

The biggest loss of the Qing army was the Han Banner. Nearly 1000 people died, including one Jialazhang Jingwu Shoujin and nine Niulu. Most of the camps were burned, and the most important gunpowder was almost completely destroyed. The red-clothed cannon became a decoration, but the Ming army only killed more than 300 people and captured 100 people.

When Azige got the report, his violent temper was ignited immediately, and people blamed Tong Tulai, Li Shutai and many other officers of the Han Banner.

When Wu Sangui heard that the gunpowder was lost, his heart sank, and he immediately went to Azig and said, "My lord, the cannons don't have gunpowder. Although there are some in the humble army, they can't support the consumption of the siege. I think it's better to postpone the siege. Building warships and building siege equipment is the best policy!"

Hearing the words, Azige knew that what Wu Sangui said was reasonable, but he couldn't swallow the anger in his heart, and he also wanted to test the basic situation of the defenders in Fancheng, so he refused: "The siege of the city cannot be delayed. This king is not limited to Pingxi. The king is going to destroy the city today, and I will not interfere with how King Pingxi wants to fight, but within seven days, Fancheng must be captured, and within one month, this king will stand at the head of Xiangyang City. As for whether to build ships or not , Whether to make equipment or not is entirely up to King Pingxi to decide."

After a scuffle at night, Azig realized that there seemed to be some unspeakable changes in Gaoyi Gongbu. If he was not good at it, he simply handed over the siege to Wu Sangui.

"Zha~" Wu Sangui slapped Qian'er, and then withdrew from the tent.

Standing outside the tent, he couldn't help straightening his back, with a look of relaxation on his face. He was very grateful that Azige was able to delegate power to him to command the siege.

What he is most afraid of is that Azig commanded blindly, causing his soldiers to lose their lives in vain. Now that he has the power of command, he can save the lives of his soldiers, but Azig stipulates that within one month, He was about to break through the two big cities of Fancheng and Xiangyang, but it made him frown slightly.

Xiangfan is a fortified city, and it is not easy to attack, and the shortage of gunpowder in the army will undoubtedly increase the difficulty of attacking the city again, but fortunately, he has a large number of soldiers and horses, which are more than three times that of the Ming army, and he already has a care in his heart.

When Wu Sangui returned to the camp, more than 30 capable generals Yijing came to wait in the tent. They saluted together, and the iron armor on their bodies rattled.

In this world, one who is used to fighting can be called a famous general. He Wu Sangui is called the second. Even the kings of the Qing Dynasty dare not say that he is the first. He was 53 cavalry back then, and he was among the [-] Manchurian troops. The peerless existence that rescued his father.

Wu Sangui is not even afraid of the Eight Banners, let alone an ordinary Ming army?

In his opinion, although Xiangyang is difficult to fight, with his ability, it is not impossible to break the city within a month.

"Where is guerrilla Guo Yunlong?" Wu Sangui walked to Shuai's case, pulled out a command arrow from the case, and shouted solemnly.

"The last general is here!" A middle-aged general in his 30s stepped out and knelt on one knee.

Wu Sangui nodded: "This king ordered you to bring two thousand soldiers, three hundred craftsmen, and ten thousand people to Niushou Village, fifty miles upstream, to collect ships and urge the people to build ships."

"The last general takes orders~" Guo Yunlong clasped his fists in response, then got up to receive the command arrow, and retreated to the side.

"Go and do it right away!" Wu Sangui waved his hand slightly, Guo Yunlong immediately retreated out of the tent respectfully, and Wu Sangui continued to shout: "Where is General Hu Shouliang?"

"The last general is here!" Another general stepped out, knelt down on one knee, and waited for the order.

Wu Sangui took out another command arrow, handed it to him and said, "You can collect the gunpowder in the camp and send it to the Lianghan Banner, and then lead two thousand soldiers and horses, one hundred craftsmen and ten thousand people to build ladders, Rush cars, tank cars, siege towers and other equipment."

"No~" Hu Shouliang took the command arrow, and immediately withdrew from the camp.

"Where is General Fang Xianting?" Wu Sangui continued to issue orders. Seeing him kneeling down to accept the order, he immediately handed out the command arrow, lowered his body, and said: "For the army to fight, food and grass come first. This king ordered you to be the food supervisor and lead five thousand soldiers." Horses are stationed in Xinye to strictly prevent the Ming army from harassing the grain roads, besides this, this king wants you to send a message to Luo Xiujin, governor of Henan Province, to prepare a large amount of gunpowder for this king and send it to Xiangyang!"

"The last general will do it!" Fang Xianting took the command arrow and immediately went to prepare.

"Where is the deputy general?" Wu Sangui continued to order.

Yang Kun is Wu Sangui's most confidant general. During the Battle of Piece of Stone, he was the one who went to clear the camp for Wu Sangui and asked Dorgon to send troops, and finally defeated Li Zicheng's troops.

At this time, he heard Wu Sangui's words, so he strode out and saluted: "The last general, Yang Kun, obey the prince's orders!"

"After dawn, you can lead [-] infantry troops and drive [-] civilians to fill up the moat!" Wu Sangui immediately said to the rest of the people: "The rest of the generals, return to the camp to rest, and obey the call at any time!"

"No~" All the generals responded in unison.

Wu Sangui ordered the generals to disperse immediately, and he was about to close his eyes and take a nap, but the guards came to report that Azig had something to ask, so he had to go to the Xianghuang Banner camp again.

In Fancheng, the Ming army did not expect that their robbing of the camp would make the Qing soldiers sleepless all night. After Gao Yigong and others climbed up the city wall from the rope ladder, they went to rest in the tower, and prepared themselves for the attack of the Qing soldiers after dawn. attack.

At the dawn of the day, the soldiers of the Ming army guarding the city of Fancheng suddenly shouted: "Come on, look, look, what are the Qing soldiers doing there!"

The voice of the soldiers caused nearby soldiers to run up the city wall one after another, wanting to see what happened, and Gao Yigong, Liu Tichun and other Ming army generals were also awakened by the soldiers.

When they came to the city wall and looked at the Qing camp, they saw Qing soldiers lined up below the city, but they didn't look like they were about to attack the city, they just rode quietly on their horses, not knowing what they wanted to do.

At this time, a Niu Lu of the Qing army rode his horse to the foot of the city and said loudly: "My Prince Ying of the Qing Dynasty, I invite General Gao, General Liu, and the soldiers of the Ming army in Fancheng to watch a good show."

(End of this chapter)