Ming Empire

Chapter 226

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Although Cao Yue's analysis did not convince all the generals, they also could not come up with more sufficient reasons to refute Cao Yue. In the end, Cao Yue made a decision and targeted Liaocheng to besiege the city and fight for aid.

As long as Jiannu dared to send reinforcements, he would concentrate his efforts to destroy the reinforcements.If Jiannu abandons Liaocheng and does not send reinforcements, then he will capture Liaocheng, and then attack Cangzhou, Dezhou, Jinan Prefecture, Daming Prefecture, and Tianjin Wei to try to regain this line.If Jiannu hasn't made any bigger moves, then consolidate in this area, don't act blindly, and continue the northward attack after the military supplies arrive at this line.

"It is impossible for Jiannu to sit back and watch our Ming army fight to the front line of Beizhili and Shanxi!" This is a point that Cao Yue and all the generals agree with.

At the end of June in the 17th year of Chongzhen, the Great Ming Northern Expedition led by Cao Yue, with a total of more than [-] people, arrived beyond Liaocheng.

Jiannu, who was afraid that the Northern Expedition of the Ming Dynasty would attack Beijing, also responded quickly. Dorgon urgently recruited [-] Mongolian cavalry from Monan, quickly entered the pass, and dispatched [-] Jurchen Eight Banners from outside the pass to enter the pass.Subsequently, Dorgon left [-] Jurchen Eight Banners, [-] Mongolian Eight Banners, [-] Han troops, and [-] Korean troops stationed in Beijing. , the Korean army and the former Ming army marched south to Liaocheng, preparing to fight to the death with the Ming army in Liaocheng.

Now that he had seen through Cao Yue's strategy, Dorgon decided not to recall Duoduo's men, but personally led the army to march south and fight Cao Yue to the death.

Dorgon did not recall Duduo and Wu Sangui's army, but personally led the army south to rescue Liaocheng. The main force of the slave building was still fighting the bandits in Shaanxi, which was somewhat unexpected to Cao Yue.He also knew that Dorgon must have seen through his intentions and didn't intend to give the dying bandits a chance to survive, but he still wanted to wipe out all Li Zicheng's troops and occupy the whole of Shaanxi.Dorgon personally led an army of 10,000+ to go south to reinforce Liaocheng, which also showed another layer of Dorgon's accident, and wanted to use this battle to decide the fate of Jiannu and Ming.

For this reason, Cao Yue also responded immediately. He ordered Cao Jie's First Guards to speed up their actions and attack Jinan Mansion as soon as possible, without waiting for Liaocheng to be captured before encircling Jinan.At the same time, he ordered the follow-up troops to catch up with the rendezvous as soon as possible, and prepare for a decisive battle with Jiannu on the front line of Liaocheng.Then order a part of the navy advancing by sea to capture Tianjin Wei as soon as possible.

The number of Daming Navy that Cao Yue can control is not many, and now there are only more than 22 people.Only more than [-] sailors and [-] warships and transport ships accompanied Cao Yue's Northern Expedition, including [-] large warships equipped with artillery and [-] medium-sized warships.At this time, Cao Yue regretted that he didn't bring more sailors. He knew that the naval warships that didn't have to go ashore would be a sharp weapon to restrain the slave cavalry.

Large naval warships are equipped with newly developed rifled cannons with a range of about five miles.In addition to large-scale artillery, there are also various Franc cannons. This kind of fast-firing artillery, together with muskets, can form a tight firepower net. Such a firepower net, for Jiannu who is mainly equipped with cold weapons, Almost insurmountable.

Cao Yue has temporarily given up attacking Liaocheng. After he led his army to the front line of Liaocheng, he did not order to attack the city immediately. Instead, he built fortifications in the south of Liaocheng, built a defense line relying on the canal, and prepared to meet Jiannu.His own shaft was placed on the edge of the canal. In front of the shaft, several wide juma ditches were dug and water from the canal was drawn into it.There is a large battleship behind it. If there is any accident, you can withdraw to the battleship at any time.This battleship has a watchtower more than ten meters high. From this high watchtower, you can clearly see the movement of building slaves on the top of Liaocheng City. The surrounding scenery of more than ten miles is also revealed under the telescope. This time it is Cao Yue who is commanding the battle. place.

Of the five guards that accompanied Cao Yue, except for Cao Jie's No. [-] Guards, who were on the front line of Qingzhou, the rest of the troops would all gather at the foot of Liaocheng before the arrival of the Jiannu army, and set up their formations.Each guard division has built artillery and musket positions, ready to meet the incoming Jiannu.

Cao Yue knew that if the Ming Guards took the initiative to attack, the advantage in equipment would not be clearly reflected in the battle against Jiannu, who were almost all cavalry.After all, artillery and infantry equipped with muskets cannot move quickly.But relying on the position, the combat effectiveness is completely different.He was ready to wait for work, waiting for Jiannu's initiative to attack.

Cao Yue also knew that Jiannu would not fight a protracted war with the Ming army. They could not adopt the same strategy and wait for the Ming army to take the initiative to attack.The logistics supply of the Ming army is very abundant, whether it is weapons, ammunition or food, they can be continuously transported through the canal.However, for the slaves who do not have enough food, everything they need has to be shipped from Beijing. Even if they collect food locally, there is no way to meet the needs of 10,000+ sergeants.Therefore, it must be Jiannu who can't afford it, not the Ming army.

Cao Yue's strategy of waiting for work with ease won Huang Degong, Gao Jie, Liu Liangzuo, and those under their command who were temporarily deprived of their leadership qualifications and only served as staff officers to watch the battle with the army. Li Benshen, Wu Shengzhao, Gao Jinku, Li Chengdong, Liu Konghe, Liu Hongji, Li Hua Whale and other generals recognized.Cao Yue's deployment is methodical and dispatched well, which is what a qualified commander should have.

Although the war has not yet started, Cao Yue's ability has been recognized by them. Of course, this is due to the influence of Cao Yue's previous victories, but if Cao Yue's strategy is not so well-organized, then these veterans in the army Cao Yue will definitely be underestimated.

Huang Degong praised Cao Yue's point of view in front of all the generals: He said: "As proposed by the governor, building deep ditches and high fortifications, and fighting a war of attrition with Jiannu, is an excellent strategy. Jiannu has many soldiers, and every day The amount of food and grass consumed is huge. As long as it takes time, they will definitely not be able to hold on, and they may collapse without a fight. At that time, the opportunity for our Ming army to take the initiative to attack will come."

Among the former Ming generals and their subordinates controlled by Cao Yue, Huang Degong was the most sensible one.

Originally, he admired Cao Yue's character and military exploits, and he was the first person to respond after the imperial court ordered several of their generals with heavy troops to serve in Beijing.However, Huang Degong supported Cao Yue. Some people thought that he was a flatterer in order to gain Cao Yue's credit and reuse.

But Huang Degong didn't think so. He was an upright person. He felt that Cao Yue's strategy was correct, so he expressed his support in public.Of course, he also has his own selfishness. As a general, it is his eternal dream to lead an army in battle, not to mention seeing Huang Degong, who has been fighting on horseback all his life, with such a well-organized military appearance and such excellent equipment. A leading addiction.

He knew that only with Cao Yue's appreciation would he have the chance to lead the army again.Therefore, whether in public or in private, he expressed absolute obedience to Cao Yue.

(End of this chapter)