Haisheng Mingdi

Chapter 307
"To guard the river, we must guard the Huai River. We should rely on Huai Si and fight the Tartars here."

In Qinghe City, where Huai'an City faces across the Yellow River, this is the residence of the former governor of the river course, and also the administrative office of Huaiyang Dao.

After Hua Maliu surrendered, the deputy commander-in-chief stationed here naturally surrendered immediately. Anyway, this deputy commander-in-chief was an old acquaintance. Qin Dapeng, who was originally stationed in Taizhou, had fought against the Ming army on Jingjiang Island.

It was not Liu Liangzuo and his Five Tiger Generals who proposed to defend according to the Huai River, but Huang Binqing, the admiral of the Zhezhi Navy, who opposed the abandonment of important places such as Huai'an, Qinghe, and Sizhou.

"Huai'an and Sizhou are at the two ends of Hongze Lake, and they are also connected to the Huaihe River, the Yellow River, and the canal. This is a favorable terrain suitable for our navy. It connects the river and the sea, and the water and land will help defend. We will stop the Tartars here and prevent them from going south."

"Liu Qing's opinion?" Zhu Yihai asked Flower Ma Liu.

"It's true that you must guard the Huaihe River to guard the river, but there are also prerequisites. If you occupy the land of Jiangnan, Huaiyang, and Huaiyang, then the Huaihe River is the front line. It is inevitable to guard the Huaihe River. The rear is stable and can be used as a support. But now there is no such condition. Jiangbei's Qing troops are still stationed in Fenglu, and the upper reaches of the Huaihe River and Xuhai in the upper reaches of the Yellow River to the north of Huai'an are under the control of the Qing army."

"Not to mention Jiangning Susong and other places in the south of the Yangtze River. Huguang has just heard the news of defeat. If you defend Huai now, you will be surrounded by siege."

Huang Binqing said, "Don't be afraid. The Tartars don't have sailors. Jiangning's soldiers can't cross the river, and Huguang Anqing's soldiers can't cross the river. Even Fenglu and the upper reaches of the Huaihe River can't pose a threat to us."

Liu Liangzuo didn't want to stay behind. Tan Tai, He Luohui, and Kong Youde, the three Shun kings, led [-] elites to the south. This is not a [-] green battalion. Huama Liu followed Duoduo to the south. How did the four towns collapse? , He knows very well how to sweep Jiangnan.

"Su Lubo, guarding the Huai River is not just guarding Huai'an City, but the Huainan River Basin from the north of the Huaihe River, from Xuzhou in the north to Yangzhou in the south, relying on layers of vertical and horizontal water networks.

However, the shortcomings of the Huaiyang area are also obvious. It is too flat, flat and lacks the protection of mountains. For the Tartars in the north, it is easy for them to break through and go south.

It is true that they have no navy now, but the width and depth of a river like the Huanghuai River is actually far less than that of the Yangtze River or the sea. It only needs ordinary water boats or even wooden rafts to cross the river easily. Tan Tai only needs to recruit water from the upper reaches. Merchant ships, as long as they are given some time, it will not be a problem to mobilize tens of thousands of ships. "

"At that time, there will be countless boats going down the river. How can we prevent it? Besides, winter is coming soon, and it has been getting colder every year in the past few years. The Huai River and the canal are frozen three feet every year."

"Besides, the Huanghuai River is no different than the Yangtze River. The Yangtze River has several important crossings, and the river can be crossed everywhere here. It is hard to guard against."

Although Liu Liangzuo was afraid of death, he was still an old soldier after all, and he started his career as a guard in Lu'an area of ​​Fengyang, so he definitely knew the Jianghuai area better than Huang Binqing.

The so-called guarding the Huai River must guard the Huaihe River, not the Huaihe River, but the strongholds of Xuzhou, Sizhou, Huai'an, Fengyang, Shouzhou, and Yangzhou in the north. Relying on these strongholds, it is actually divided into three lines of defense.

In the west, Shouzhou, Hefei, and Hezhou are used as a line of defense. His main role is to connect the Jianghuai River and prevent the north from breaking through the Huaihe River from Henan.

This line of defense is to ensure that even if the northern army breaks through the Huaihe River, the southern army can still have a line of defense.

Since ancient times, Hefei has had an important geographical location, which is why.

Huaian, Sizhou, Xuzhou is another line of defense. It is a frontal defense against soldiers and horses coming south from Shandong. This line of defense focuses on Xuzhou.

The last line of defense is Yangzhou. Once Xu Huai falls, the northern army can drive along the canal to the Yangtze River. Yangzhou can be said to be the last gateway to the east of the river, especially because there is Guazhou Ferry here.

Once these three lines of defense are lost, even though the river is still locked across the river, the Northern Army can choose where to cross the river at will.

Whether it is the Eastern Jin Dynasty, the Southern Dynasty or even the Southern Song Dynasty, if you want to prefer to settle down in the south of the Yangtze River, you must keep the Huai River.

But the problem now is that both sides of the Yangtze River are in the hands of the Qing army, and the Ming army went around the enemy and defended the Huai River. Isn't this a little baffling?
How can you defend Sizhou in Huai'an alone? Not to mention the upper reaches of Shouzhou, Hefei and Fengyang, Xuzhou in the north is also in the hands of the Qing army, and Jiangning in the south is also in the hands of the Qing army. How can you defend here? Not self-encumbered?

The so-called advantageous location of rivers, lakes and seas is not a big threat to the Qing army. After all, these rivers and lakes are not insurmountable.

"Your Highness, I suggest that before the Tartars reach Xuzhou, send troops northward along the canal to rob Xuzhou, and station a navy in Huishan Lake, so that the canal can be cut off, the Qing army's supply line can be intercepted, and it can also be used as a countermeasure to the north of Xuzhou. Soldiers." Huang Binqing still persuaded.

Weishan borders Xuzhou on the south, Yanzhou on the north, Nanyang Lake and Dushan Lake on the north, canal and Yellow River on the east, and Jining on the north.

The waters of these large lakes are very wide, and there are many lake islands such as Weishan Island in the lake. It is no problem to send a navy, but it can threaten the canal and support Xuzhou.

Zhu Yihai looked down at the map in front of him.

It is true that he went north to trouble the Qing army, but he did not come to confront the Qing army head-on, and he does not have the strength yet.

Liu Liangzuo's surrender was unexpected, but it didn't affect the original plan. With his few thousand cowardly soldiers, Zhu Yihai could take him down before the Qing army went south.

"Hongze Lake, Weishan Lake, and even Gaoyou Lake, etc., can indeed arrange for some naval ships to enter, send some soldiers to establish base areas, mobilize the surrounding people to resist the Qing, find opportunities to harass the surrounding Qing troops, and harass their transportation lines, etc. But you can’t put the cart before the horse.”

"Our plan to go north is very clear. Before Tan Tai goes south, we will first clear the Xuhai Huaiyang line along the canal for him. All the cities that can be demolished will be demolished, and all the money and food that can be transported will be transported away. , All craftsmen who can be taken away are taken away, and after we have cleaned up and demolished, we will go out of the Yellow River and go to Yuzhou Island in Haizhou."

Yuzhou Island is the later Yuntai Mountain in Lianyungang. It was connected to the land in the Qing Dynasty, but it was still an island at this time. Haizhou has Yanhe River and Lianshui, which are connected to Qinghe Town and Shuyang on the north bank of the Yellow River.

Haizhou Bay has a coastline of more than 300 miles, a deep-water harbor and many islands.

In Zhu Yihai's view, the location here is very important, especially this island, which he values ​​more. It can be taken down to station the navy and become an important frontier fortress that threatens the Qing army's Shandong and Xu Hai's rear.

Just like when Mao Wenlong set up Phi Island in North Korea, it was a headache for Hou Jin. The victory of Haizhou Bay and Yuzhou Island will not be less strategic than Chongming Island.

Going north can threaten Denglai Peninsula, landing can directly threaten Haizhou and Xuzhou, pointing south is Haikou of the Yellow River, and going along the river is Huai'an and Sizhou.

The area around Haizhou Bay is also an important salt-producing area in Huaibei, which is not much less important than the salt production in Huainan.

The most important point is that Yuzhou Island is a big island in the middle of the sea, which is not something that can be crossed easily like the Huaihe River and the Yellow River.

Zhu Yihai insisted on demolishing Huai'an, Qinghe, and even Xuzhou, because demolition of cities is easy and difficult to rebuild. After demolishing these important strongholds on the Huanghuai Canal, it will be difficult for the Qing army to protect water transport. Without a strong enough fortress, it means With the Ming army having a stronghold in Haizhou Bay, they can come and visit at any time.

Even if the Qing army regained the Huaiyang area, it would be very painful in the future, unable to protect the canal and their grain, salt, and goods.

"We have to take the initiative. If we stay and defend the city, we will be the ones who will be in trouble, but if we destroy the city and evacuate now, the Qing army will be in trouble."

"We have the advantage of being a naval force. We can base ourselves on Yuzhou Island in Haizhou Bay, and we can also leave some soldiers and ships in the big lakes of Hongze. We will not fight the Tartars head-on, but only wreak havoc on the Huaiyang side. No matter how strong the Eight Banners of the Tartars are, they still need food, drink, and food, and you have seen the situation in Huaiyang now, it is very dilapidated and has not recovered at all."

"As long as we continue to destroy and destroy, it will be difficult for the Tartars to station troops here. They cannot station enough soldiers, so they don't want to tax the grain from the south of the Yangtze River and transport it to the north. This is a lifeline. If we get stuck here, we will strangle them. Throat."

"If we demolish their cities, block their canals, and control their salt fields, then this vast land of the Yellow River and Huai River will become a hunting ground for us to come and go freely."

"If we really want to defend the city head-on, then why should I come here? We are directly in Hangzhou, can't we play in Shaoxing, or even retreat to Quzhou and other places to have an advantage.

The time has not come, please wait a moment! "

After the meeting, Zhu Yihai divided his troops into several routes. He personally led the route along the canal north to Xuzhou, and the other routes to attack Fengyang and Shouzhou in the upper reaches of the Huaihe River, and Haizhou in the northeast.

Zhu Yihai's request is also very simple. Take advantage of the emptiness of these places and sweep them along the way. If the resistance is fierce, go around. Anyway, there are not many Qing troops in the city, so they will not pose a threat. In the towns that have been conquered, organize the people to tear down the city walls, block the moats, and divide them. The money and food in the government treasury were thrown away, and even the files and books in the yamen were transported away, and all the officials were taken away.

Completely paralyzed the local area, even if the Tartars regained it, they would not be able to rely on it, let alone restore their rule in a short period of time, collecting money and food from the local area.

This is a big sweep against the Tartars.

Since you can't keep it, then don't keep it at all. If I don't keep it, don't think about it.

In the future, anyone can come and go freely in this place.

It is easier to destroy than to build.

In the past, the Tartars invaded every year, looting and destroying everywhere, but now that the Tartars occupy the Central Plains, it's Zhu Yihai's turn to deal with him in his own way.

Governing a country is not just about being able to fight.

The core thing is actually a word of money.

Money is the foundation of national governance. The salaries of officials, the expenses of the palace, and the support of the army to fight wars are inseparable from money and food. These are not solved by those soldiers who can fight, but by ordinary local people who cultivate and manufacture slowly. turn in.

Jiangnan has been smashed, and Huguang has been smashed, and now it is Huaiyang's turn.

As long as this place is also smashed, the Tartars will fall into a deep predicament just like Chongzhen.

In the middle of the Ming Dynasty, the losses caused by pirates in the southeast to the Ming Dynasty were no less than the three major Wanli expeditions, so don't underestimate the damage, sometimes it is more powerful than a frontal battle.

The food from Huguang, the salt from Lianghuai, and the money from Jiangnan, without these, the Tartars could no longer be arrogant.

(End of this chapter)