Ming Empire

Chapter 144 Prepare to Withdraw
However, Dorgon soon received some other bad news. The 5 troops of Shanxi General Zhou Yuji had already set off from Taiyuan and headed for Datong.The 8 or [-] troops of the Jiang brothers in Yulin and Guyuan also showed signs of rushing to Datong for help.There is also the Cao Bianjiao tribe in Liaodong, which is quickly coming to Datong for reinforcements.The news of the continuous returns made Dorgon, who had strengthened his confidence, suddenly hit hard.

The troops of Zhou Yuji, the General Soldier of Shanxi Province, and the men of Jiang Rang and Jiang Xiang brothers are not mobs, they are quite capable of fighting.The 10,000+ Ming army can be said to be the most elite troops in Daming other than the Datong Army and the Cao Bianjiao Department. Of course, this is not what Dorgon fears the most.The Ming army that he fears the most is of course Cao Yue's troops in Datong City, as well as the troops led by Cao Bianjiao in Liaodong.

It's all right now, the most powerful troops of Ming Dynasty are all assembled in the direction of Datong.

The Qing army originally had an advantage in numbers, but now it is better, and the advantage in numbers is gone.Cao Bianjiao's Department, Zhou Yuji's Department, Jiang Rang's Department, and Jiang Xiang's Department combined surpassed the Qing army, and the current Qing army has suffered heavy losses, with tens of thousands of losses and low morale.

After receiving the information, Dorgon immediately summoned his most trusted brothers, such as Duduo and Azig, to discuss the military situation.

It was already midnight when Dorgon sent people to summon Duduo and Azig. The two brothers had been full of anger for the past few days. The battle was too useless, and they were in a bad mood.When they went back, they both wanted to vent their anger, but before they could find a way, Dorgon sent someone to pass it on, so they had no choice but to come over right away.

After hearing Dorgon's briefing, both Dodo and Azig changed their expressions.

If it was changed to before, they would never take the 10,000+ Ming reinforcements seriously, and even hope to see the arrival of Ming reinforcements, so that they can surround the points and destroy the vital forces of the Ming army.But now, their mentality is completely different. In the process of fighting with the Datong army, the troops under their command suffered heavy losses, but they can't help Datong.Cao Bianjiao's men and horses have also tasted their strength. This is also an army equipped with a large number of firearms. In the Battle of Songshan, they caused great losses to the Qing army.

The Ming army led by Cao Yue and Cao Bianjiao brothers is the most elite Ming army recognized by all Qing generals today.The Qing army was bruised and swollen under the city of Datong. Now that Cao Bianjiao's troops have come to reinforce them, the pressure on the Qing army will be even greater.

The three brothers all looked worried.

The world has changed. Today's Qing army is no longer invincible. The Ming army equipped with a large number of firearms is the invincible army in the world.Both Dorgon and Duoduo believed that if the Ming army in Datong City had sufficient ammunition and inexhaustible ammunition, then the Qing army would have no chance of winning.Nearly 20 reinforcements from the Ming Dynasty came, and it was impossible for Datong City to form an encirclement circle. The raw materials for making gunpowder could also be continuously transported into Datong City, and there would be no shortage of firearms and ammunition in Datong City.

If this is the case, how can this battle be fought?
Dorgon and Duoduo had the idea of ​​retreating almost at the same time.

But it is impossible for Dorgon to bring this up on his own initiative. Duo Duo is also very smart, and immediately understood the purpose of Dorgon calling him to discuss the matter so late, and said in a low voice: "Brother Fourteen, I think this battle cannot be done." If we continue to fight like this, we will not be able to capture Datong this time. Cao Bianjiao’s tens of thousands of horses are only three days away from Datong, and Zhou Yuji, Jiang Rang, and Jiang Xiang’s troops can reach Datong in only two or three days. With the arrival of 20 Ming troops, we will face the enemy!"

Azige is not as clever as Dorgon and Duoduo, he has not fought well in the past few days, and he is very angry.According to his personality, he would throw his arms away and fight to the death with the Ming army, and he would never retreat until he was the last man.

Just now Dorgon assigned a new combat mission for tomorrow at night, and Dodo proposed to stop the war and withdraw his troops. He was immediately annoyed and shouted in a thick throat: "Fifteenth brother, what are you talking about? When will our Qing army learn how to fight?" What is the 10,000+ of the Ming army? No matter how many Ming troops are in front of our Qing army, they can only be beaten and run away. The fourteenth brother, don’t listen to the fifteenth brother, how can we withdraw the army like this ? If the troops are withdrawn in this way, then the reputation of our Qing army will be wiped out, how will we control the Mongols and Koreans in the future?"

What Azige said is quite reasonable, and this is what Dorgon is most worried about.He knew very well that several reinforcements from the Ming army came towards Datong, including Cao Bianjiao's elite troops. The Qing army suffered serious setbacks.But he was afraid that if the Mongolian soldiers, the Han army, and the Korean army mutinied after the withdrawal, it would be troublesome.

Duo Duo and Dorgon get along the most, and the two brothers almost know each other. From Dorgon's expression, Duo Duo can understand the complicated thoughts of his fourteenth brother, and he immediately refuted Azige: "Ten Second brother, although what you said is good, but my younger brother thinks that if you insist on continuing to fight under the city of Datong until a few reinforcements from the Ming army arrive, the situation will be even worse, and the Mongols, Han troops, and Koreans may cause chaos The sex is stronger. The younger brother thinks that we can continue to attack the city tomorrow, but only let the Han army, Koreans, and Mongolian Eight Banners attack. We Jurchen elite cavalry only watch the battle and do not participate in the attack. Let the Ming army consume the Han army, Korean army, and Mongolia The strength of the Eight Banners. When their strength is almost exhausted, it will not have much impact if there is another chaos."

Before Azige could refute Dodo again, Dorgon spoke up: "Brother Twelfth, Brother Fifteen is right, we really can't fight anymore now, before we find a way to crack Ming army firearms, If we fight again, the price we pay will definitely be very high. Even if we win, it will be a tragic victory. Our Qing army has exhausted its strength. How can we defend Liaodong and rebuild the Qing Dynasty? The Han army, the Korean army, and the Mongols The strength must be consumed, and the power of our Jurchen must be preserved. Let them fight with Cao Yue's troops tomorrow. We are ready to retreat. On the way to retreat, we will walk in the direction of Beijing, and the spoils of war will be guaranteed. Bring some back to make up for our loss!"

Azige was still unconvinced, but before he could open his mouth to argue, Dorgon said again: "Brother Twelfth, let's make it so. I will call all the princes, county kings, and Baylor to announce the matter tomorrow morning. , we will evacuate from Datong. But one thing to remember is that before evacuating, we must not leak any news, otherwise we will bear heavy responsibility!"

"Okay!" Azig could only agree in the end, but he was still unconvinced in his heart, and planned to lead the army to fight a good battle tomorrow to express his heart.

(End of this chapter)