Before hanging himself, Chongzhen lifted the table

Chapter 237 I can’t figure it out even if I break my head

Everyone knows how strong Liaoyang City is, and Emperor Chongzhen is no exception.

Attacking a fortified city will usually result in a lot of casualties. Especially when it is heavily guarded and there is no shortage of food and grass, if you want to capture a strong city, you will have to suffer heavy losses and it will take a long time.

Whether it was heavy losses or protracted, it was not what Emperor Chongzhen wanted. Therefore, when preparing to attack Liaodong, Emperor Chongzhen had already thought about how to deal with such fortified cities.

His idea was very simple. He wanted to lose less, and he also wanted to win quickly and kill the enemy on a large scale. History has proven that there are only two ways, not to kill with swords and guns, but to kill without mercy.

Most of the cities are flooded, but the conditions for flooding are required. The other one is setting fire.

Under normal circumstances, it would be extremely difficult to set fire to a city. But Emperor Chongzhen just met the conditions.

First of all, this is Liaodong, and Liaoyang is mainly a plain. There is wind, but the problem is that the wind is strong and the wind is light.

Secondly, Emperor Chongzhen had the Longwei Battalion, which was composed entirely of sharp archers selected from the army. Under the cover of night, it was easy to shoot and clear out the defenders on the top of the city, and it was not difficult to shoot out the visible torches.

The existence of Longwei Camp provided the conditions for the catapult to be placed close to the city wall.

After being prepared, Emperor Chongzhen asked the army to carry a lot of kerosene. Cans of kerosene were first thrown into the city with catapults at the upwind point of the city, and then trebuchets were used to launch 10,000 enemies.

The so-called enemy of ten thousand people was actually a firearm invented in the early years of Chongzhen. It is probably a ceramic jar fixed in a wooden frame, which is filled with various things such as gunpowder and acid. It is ignited and then projected. This enemy of ten thousand people spits fire and smoke, rotates, and kills the enemy with fireworks. It is generally used for city defense.

Now it's just right that if you throw thousands of enemies into the city, the fire and smoke can ignite the kerosene that you put in before, and produce toxic gases without affecting the outside of the city.

Although Liaoyang City was a big city, it could not stop Emperor Chongzhen from preparing sufficient supplies.

Taking advantage of the artillery in advance, they forced the Manchu and Qing troops in the city to block the city gate, and then set fire to it in the middle of the night. The fire took advantage of the wind and burned the entire city of Liaoyang at once. Under the thick smoke, even the urban areas that were not burned were still burned by the thick smoke, and the lethality was no less than that of direct fire.

The officers and soldiers of the imperial court outside the city looked at the blazing fires in Liaoyang City and the inaudible shouts of the captives all over the city, and they all looked indifferent.

There were originally more than one million Han people in Liaodong, but now, there are not many left. Not to mention, Jianlu invaded the pass many times, burned, killed and looted. Not only did they kill unknown Han people inside the pass, but they also looted many outside the pass and used them as cattle and horses. There are not many Han people around today.

The burning of Liaoyang was a sacrifice to heaven and the souls of the dead, and it also let everyone in Liaodong know that the good deeds done in the past would eventually be punished.

The rebels in Liaodong brought untold disasters to the Ming Dynasty, causing many tragedies in which families were destroyed and people died. If they want to say that the person they hate the most in the world is Jianlu.

That is to say, the emperor is merciful. Except for the Jurchens in Jianzhou, other tribesmen can also be pardoned.

I believe that after the burning of Liaoyang, the resistance of Liaodong and North Korea can be burned away. The power of the heavenly soldiers is not something they can resist!

The sky slowly brightened, and the fire in Liaoyang City was still burning. The smoke caused by the burning almost enveloped the whole city.

From beginning to end, the blocked Liaoyang City Gate was never opened. There were quite a few Jianlu who panicked and jumped directly from the top of the city.

However, Liaoyang City was not only strong, but also tall. Basically, few of the Jianlu who jumped from the top of the city could still stand. They all fell to the ground and howled.

The officers and soldiers of the imperial court, who were originally in a tight formation to prevent Jianlu from opening the door and rushing out, passed a night without firing a shot or cutting a sword, and just watched Jianlu being burned in the middle of the night.

However, in the camp of the imperial army, some soldiers had already received military orders and set off after eating to march towards Shenyang.

The fight in Liaoyang, which I thought would last for a long time, ended just like that!

The officers and soldiers of the imperial court, including the generals, were not only shocked but also regretful.

However, there is still a battle in Shenyang, which is the capital of Jianlu, and there is still military merit to be achieved.

Emperor Chongzhen left 50,000 troops in Haizhou to garrison the important grain and grass land, and 3,000 troops in Anshan Posthouse. Now that they were finishing up in Liaoyang, another 50,000 troops were left behind, and the rest of the army marched towards Shenyang.

………………

On the Shenyang side, Dorgon had just received news from Duduo that after the Ming Dynasty army stayed at Anshan Posthouse for five or six days, they suddenly launched a gunpowder package offensive at night and captured Anshan Posthouse. He had already made preparations in Liaoyang, but it is estimated that the Ming army was ready to come this time, so Dorgon needed to send troops to attack him after he exhausted the Ming army's vigor.

Dorgon agrees with this.

Although it was a bit unexpected that the Anshan Inn fell so quickly, Liaoyang could hold on for a few months no matter what.

Think about it, the 150,000 Qing regular troops, plus the local troops originally stationed in Liaoyang, can almost be regarded as an entire military city. The city was so tall and strong that no matter how talented the Ming emperor was, he would not be able to capture it quickly.

Dorgon was a little worried that Duduo would be impulsive and go to a duel with the Ming emperor and suffer a big loss, which would cause problems with his strategy.

For this reason, before leaving, he repeatedly told Duduo not to think about killing the Ming Emperor to take advantage. Nowadays, many rumors have proved that the Ming Emperor is invincible in shooting, and if he goes to a duel, he will die, unless the Ming Emperor agrees not to bring a bow and arrows!

However, the two armies are fighting, and both sides are life-and-death enemies. How could they agree not to use bows and arrows?

While he was thinking about these things, he saw Bumbutai coming to find him.

"Your Majesty has worked hard day and night, and it is very hard. I boiled this ginseng myself, and I will replenish it for Your Majesty."

Seeing Bumbutai take a small bowl from the plate brought by the palace maid to his desk, Dorgon frowned and said, "I dare not bother the Queen Mother. This kind of thing will not be necessary in the future."

Since this year, Bumbutai's little tricks have begun to increase, and he actually sees them all.

He knew very well that as Fulin grew up, Bumu Butai was afraid that he would become the regent and become the real emperor of the Qing Dynasty, and would not return the power to her son.

But what Dorgon didn't know was that in the original history, in this year, he fell from his horse and died when he went hunting. He was only thirty-nine years old. Fulin ascended the throne, and then vented his hatred for him.

Looking down at the bowl of ginseng soup and the woman in front of him, Dorgon only felt pain in his waist.

"Your Majesty, is it important that the Emperor of the Ming Dynasty comes to attack?"

When Bumbutai asked again, Dorgon had no choice but to reply: "Liaoyang is heavily guarded by Duduo, so it's no problem. I'm worried that on the other side of the Great Wall, the Ming Dynasty's 50,000 cavalry may break through at any time. Then It’s hard to deal with it.” Having said this, he paused and said, “Perhaps, we should just harvest the crops here in Shenyang, and don’t worry about these few days.”

"Your Majesty is wise and powerful, and he does things safely. I am the most trustworthy." Bumbutai said, and then changed the subject and added: "If your Majesty is too busy, Fulin is now older, so you can handle anything." Let him do it so he can get some exercise."

When Dorgon heard this, he immediately looked at her sideways.

For him, there were many women, but there was always only one daughter. This woman is also fertile, but why can’t she give birth?

Thinking about this doubt, he looked down at the ginseng soup and felt his back hurt again.

At this time, Bumbutai saw Dorgon's expression and said quickly: "Your Majesty is really in his prime. I understand, I understand, then I'll leave first!"

Dorgon never spoke. After watching Bumbutai walk out of the palace door, he couldn't help but wonder, could it be that she had taken medicine afterwards? Otherwise, if I have been so diligent in the past few years, why wouldn’t I be there?

I'm afraid this woman's thoughts have never changed!

While he was thinking, suddenly a man in a yellow mantle hurried into the house and reported: "Master, traces of the Ming Cavalry were found outside the city!"

When Dorgon heard this, he was immediately startled. He couldn't think about anything else and immediately asked: "Is it a detective horse or a cavalry army? Where are you coming from?"

Now the Ming army should be preparing to attack Liaoyang. It is normal for Tan Ma to come to Shengjing.

"I don't know at the moment, but the cavalry of Zhenghuang Banner have already left the city and driven away."

Hupiyi, between Liaoyang and Shengjing, is also garrisoned with 3,000 troops. The possibility of a large-scale cavalry attack is low. Therefore, Dorgon was worried that the Ming cavalry who appeared in Shengjing came from the grasslands.

If this is the case, he will be restrained by the Ming cavalry and will not be able to support Liaoyang at the right time.

But, as it turned out, his worries about coming from the grasslands were in vain. Because soon another news came: "Your Highness, it's the cavalry. There are at least tens of thousands of cavalry coming from the direction of Liaoyang."

When Dorgon heard this, he was shocked on the spot and rushed to Shenyang City to watch it in person.

At this time, all the gates of Shenyang City were closed. Some of the captives who had not escaped into Shenyang City were crying outside the city, begging for the door to be opened.

However, the Ming cavalry had also appeared outside the city in large numbers. How could the Jianlu in the city dare to attack?

Dorgon didn't pay attention to those people locked outside the city, but stared into the distance.

Sure enough, everywhere he looked, there were Ming cavalry troops with many flags, and they could be seen belonging to different generals.

Suddenly, Dorgon couldn't help but ask: "What's going on? What's going on? The Emperor of the Ming Dynasty sent all the cavalry troops to Shengjing. Doesn't Liaoyang need cavalry troops?"

Although the cavalry will not attack the city directly, the army besieging the city must also have cavalry. The cavalry is needed to prevent reinforcements from surrounding enemies and to intercept and kill possible enemy breakouts in the city.

Judging from the size of the cavalry outside the city and the still dusty situation in the distance, it is obvious that there are more cavalry on the way.

No one can answer Dorgon's question!

It didn't take long for Dorgon to discover that there were about 40,000 Ming troops outside the city, and they directly blocked several city gates in Shengjing. Judging from their intentions, it seems that they want to besiege the city.

However, with these 40,000 cavalry troops, it is impossible to besiege the city anyway, and infantry is necessary. Is it possible that the infantry of the Ming Dynasty will come later? But, if this is the case, what should Liaoyang do? Did the Ming army bypass Liaoyang and attack Shengjing directly?

Thinking of this possibility, Dorgon felt it was even more ridiculous.

To transport the grain and grass supplies needed by hundreds of thousands of troops from Haizhou to Shengjing, it must pass through Liaoyang. If Liaoyang is not captured, even if Liaoyang is not as heavily guarded as it is now, it will never be possible to transport large-scale supplies. Food and supplies!

Unless the Ming army has captured Liaoyang and can guarantee the transportation of grain and grass supplies, the army will appear in Shengjing!

When he thought of this, Dorgon didn't understand.

Because it is absolutely impossible to explain that the army has captured Liaoyang.

Yesterday, Duduo also reported that the army had just arrived in Liaoyang. Even if Liaoyang had no city walls and nearly 200,000 troops were stationed there, no matter how much the Ming army attacked it, it would be impossible to capture Liaoyang in one day.

Not to mention, Liaoyang was the strongest and tallest city wall in the entire Qing Dynasty. Not only was the city heavily guarded, Duduo's leadership ability was also trustworthy.

It would be impossible to believe that the Ming Dynasty's army had captured Liaoyang and killed him!

So, Dorgon really couldn’t figure out what was going on!

The emperor of the Ming Dynasty led the army, he really didn't follow the rules, it was too difficult to predict!

For now, all we can do is wait and see! Let’s see if the infantry of the Ming Dynasty will appear. If the cavalry of the Ming Dynasty does not have infantry, will it retreat soon?

Thinking of this, Dorgon had no idea at all and wanted to immediately gather his troops to break out.

Emperor Chongzhen was afraid of him, but with a high probability, this was impossible.

Not only was Shenyang the capital of the Qing Dynasty, and whether it fell or not was of great importance, but also because Shenyang had no way of getting news from Liaoyang.

Because Liaoyang City was blocked, one or two of the Manchu and Qing troops inside could not escape at all, so they were naturally unable to report the news. Otherwise, if Dorgon knew the situation in Liaoyang, he would definitely break through and escape as soon as possible.

In other words, Emperor Chongzhen's strategic goal of annihilating the Manchus in Liaodong can be achieved with a high probability.

Is it easy? Seems easy!

But this ease was based on the huge comprehensive national power of the Ming Dynasty and on the knowledge that Emperor Chongzhen was four to five hundred years ahead.

When a time-traveler can time-travel into the body of an emperor who owns an empire, the butterfly effect brought about by this is absolutely unimaginable.

No, by the evening of the next day, when Emperor Chongzhen personally led the infantry to arrive outside Shenyang City, everyone from the "wise and powerful" Dorgon to the ordinary Jianlu were stunned.

How could the main force of the Ming army appear outside Shengjing City? What about Liaoyang? What did the Qing army in Liaoyang do for food?

I can't even think of it without breaking my head, it's really hard to grasp the idea.

(End of this chapter)