Ming Empire

Chapter 223 Fan Wencheng's Proposal
Dorgon still attaches great importance to Fan Wencheng.In the past few years, Fan Wencheng has given him many constructive ideas, and these ideas have also helped Dorgon achieve a lot. Just like the move to treat the Han people well and win the hearts of the people implemented some time ago, Dorgon Having tasted the "sweetness", the support from the officials and common people in the Beijing area was beyond imagination.

"I really didn't expect that Cao Yue would lead the army to the Northern Expedition at this time. I also didn't expect that the current Remnant Ming would actually have the strength to make the Northern Expedition!" After self-criticism, Fan Wencheng said: "Master, now Beijing On the front line, our troops in the Qing Dynasty are seriously insufficient, especially in the Shandong area. If we do not send reinforcements, the area around Jinan Prefecture and Tianjin Wei will soon fall into the hands of the Ming army. The Ming army’s navy is far stronger than Our Qing army is strong, which can be seen from the fact that Cao Yue led the navy to snatch Chongzhen's body from Li Zicheng's siege of Beijing, rescued Empress Zhou and Chongzhen's sons, and Liu Zongmin's troops who wanted to intercept were severely injured. If If Jinan Prefecture and Tianjin Wei are recaptured by the Ming army, then Beijing will be in danger, and the Ming army navy can sail directly outside Beijing."

Tianjin Wei was occupied by Li Zicheng's peasant army shortly after Cao Yue led the navy and warships to leave. drop.After Jiannu attacked, they returned to Jiannu.Today, Tianjin Wei, like Jinan Prefecture, is occupied by Jiannu. There are 3000 Jurchen Eight Riders stationed there, as well as the Mongolian Eight Banners, a Han army, and the surrendered Ming army.In the past, there were nearly [-] troops guarding these places, including nearly [-] Jurchen cavalry. Dorgon and Fan Wencheng didn't worry about the guards there at all.But after being defeated by Cao Yue's men several times and having tasted the power of the Ming army's firearms, Dorgon no longer dared to underestimate the enemy.

Jinan and Tianjinwei are the gateways to Beijing. If these two places are captured by the Ming army, the road to Beijing will be opened. The Qing court, which has just moved its capital to Beijing, may not be able to stand in Beijing and have to retreat. In Shengjing, the situation is even more dangerous. "Master, this slave thinks that more troops must be dispatched to defend Jinan Mansion and Tianjin Guard. If the troops are insufficient, they can only call back Prince Yu's troops."

After a pause, Fan Wencheng said with some trepidation: "However, the regent, the servant feels that forcing the Qing Dynasty to recall Prince Yu's army is the most important purpose of Cao Yue's hasty leadership of the Northern Expedition."

Fan Wencheng's words shocked Dorgon.It's not that he hadn't thought about this issue, but he didn't think it firmly. He felt that Li Zicheng destroyed Daming and forced Emperor Chongzhen to death. The entire Ming Dynasty would definitely regard the rogues as sworn enemies, and most people would support the destruction of the rogues. , the Qing army pursued and suppressed the rogues, and everyone in the world would recognize and support them, and everyone in the Ming Dynasty would definitely hate the rogues.But what Fan Wencheng said made Dorgon change his mind involuntarily, but he didn't express anything immediately, but let Fan Wencheng continue to speak.

Fan Wencheng saw the change in Dorgon's face. He knew that what he said just now touched the regent of the Qing Dynasty, he was relieved, and continued: "Cao Yue doesn't want to let the bandits perish. The army’s hasty Northern Expedition must be to force the regent to transfer Prince Yu’s troops back to Beijing to give the rogues a chance to revive. If there are rogues to contain our Qing army, the remnant Ming* court should not worry about being attacked by our Qing army Attack with all your strength. If Li Zicheng's troops have a chance to survive, they will definitely counterattack frantically after they regain their strength, and they will never give up with me, and this is exactly what Cao Yue thinks."

"It makes sense," Dorgon agreed with Fan Wencheng's analysis, "I really didn't expect Cao Yue to have such thoughts."

Dorgon thought that under the banner of avenging Emperor Chongzhen, he could gain more people's support. He believed that many officials of the Remnant Emperor would also approve of the Qing Dynasty's move, and some even proposed to unite with the Qing Dynasty to eliminate the bandits It's all possible.As long as a minister thinks this way, debates in the court are inevitable.The decision of the Northern Expedition was definitely not the idea of ​​those pedantic ministers, it could only be Cao Yue.

Cao Yue has a deep-rooted hatred for the Qing Dynasty, which Dorgon can fully understand.But Dorgon didn't expect that the final strategy adopted by the Canming Xiao* court would be that it could lead the army to the Northern Expedition under such circumstances, and also wanted to use the bandits to contain the Qing army and keep the south safe for the time being.

At this time, Fan Wencheng continued: "Prince Regent, Cao Yue led the army to the Northern Expedition, although it is very bad news for the Qing Dynasty. But from this point of view, Cao Yue did not fully grasp the imperial court of Remnant Ming, Otherwise, they don’t need to worry about my Qing army going all out to attack the south. They hope that my Qing army will fight to the death with Li Zicheng and Zhang Xianzhong’s troops and consume their strength, which shows that the imperial court of Remnant Ming is still very weak and unable to face our Qing army independently Attack, that's why Cao Yue made a hasty northern expedition, forcing the regent to slow down the attack on Li Zicheng's remnants, and sent Prince Yu's troops back to rescue Beijing. They need time to recover, so they want to give the rogues a chance to make a comeback, as long as the rogues are not killed If it is completely wiped out, the war between the Qing Dynasty and it will continue, and Remnant can continue to consolidate the rear without any worries as long as he guards the two natural dangers of the Yellow River and the Yangtze River."

After hearing what Fan Wencheng said, Dorgon suddenly stood up and paced back and forth in the hall with his hands behind his back. After a while, he stopped, turned his head and asked Fan Wencheng seriously: "Mr. We can't send Prince Yu's troops back to aid Beijing, but let him continue to destroy Li Zicheng's troops? Cao Yue led the army to the Northern Expedition just for show, the purpose is to force our army to withdraw from Shaanxi, to buy Li Zicheng breathing time, let them There is a chance to make a comeback? His army is not strong yet, as long as we are ready, he will retreat soon?"

Fan Wencheng nodded and said: "Master, this slave thinks it should be so. As long as we send heavy troops to guard the fortified cities on the canal, Jinan Mansion and Tianjin Wei, and prevent the Ming army from capturing these gateways leading to Beijing, everything will be fine. No worries. In addition, we can send people to Nanjing to lobby the ministers of the court and tell them that the Qing Dynasty is going to unite with the Ming Dynasty to fight against the bandits and avenge the Chongzhen Emperor. Let them stop Cao Yue's Northern Expedition and find a way to capture Cao Yue As long as Cao Yue loses his military power, the Regent will no longer have to worry about the threat of Remnant Ming. Zuo Liangyu in Hubei, we must step up our efforts to fight for it. As long as Zuo Liangyu rebels, the court of Remnant Ming will definitely be overwhelmed. It is certain that Cao Yue has to retreat. Also, if the remnants of Datong want to take this opportunity to flee south and join Cao Yue, we will let them go, so as to eliminate the hidden danger near Beijing."

"Sir, let this king suddenly understand! Cao Yue really has a strategy, he even thought that the bandits should not be destroyed, let Li Zicheng continue to contain our Qing army, buy time for the remnant to stabilize the rear, hmph, this king will not let He succeeded." Dorgon listened, and his frowning brows relaxed, and his mood suddenly became happy, "then I will follow my husband's suggestion and not send Prince Yu's troops back to help. Only the army in the Beijing area will rush to help." Jinan Prefecture and Tianjin Wei also loosened a hole in the siege of Datong, giving Cao Bianjiao a chance to escape to the south."

"The regent is wise!"

(End of this chapter)