Autumn of the 17th year of Chongzhen

Chapter 556
From the north of Wanxian City to the foot of the Wushan Mountain, the stretch of mountains and forests has become a battlefield, and there are a few fires scattered everywhere.

After the two armies were disturbed, the soldiers soon discovered that if it wasn't for a large group of people, they would basically seek death if they raised the fire.

The battles that took place in this area, although there was no confrontation between the big establishments, the Ming and Qing armies were in a mess, there was me in you, and you in me, and the battles were scattered among the mountains and forests, but they were not easier than ordinary battles. On the contrary, it was even more tragic.

The entire battlefield can only be described by the word "chaotic". In the darkness, it is difficult to distinguish between the enemy and the enemy. In addition to the Ming and Qing armies killing each other, their own people often fight together, and the torches in the mountains and forests and beside the roads are often extinguished. .

The biggest misunderstanding among them is that Wu Guozheng, who had broken the heir for Wu Sangui, mistakenly killed Guo Yunlong, a guerrilla of the Guanning Army, and made a big oolong.

Judging from the goal of this battle, the Qing army was to evacuate, while the Ming army was to pursue and annihilate the Qing army. Therefore, from the beginning of the battle, the outcome was basically doomed. The only problem was that the Qing army lost more and lost less.

As time passed, when the battle reached dawn, the troops from Zhongyong and Zhongzhen, who had been waiting all night, began to enter the battlefield, and the battle became clear quickly.

Although Guan Ning's army was well-trained, battle-tested, and extremely powerful, when the Ming army all over the mountains came from the south, those Guan Ning soldiers who were scattered in the mountains and forests were divided into countless strands and fought with the Ming army all night. The Ming army finally had no way out. Many people chose to surrender, but the soldiers of the Ming army did not accept it, and a large number of surrendered soldiers were killed.

The Superintendent and Loyalty armies that attacked last night may not be very clear. Wang Yan has always wanted Guan Ning cavalry, and these soldiers can be formed into an army with a little rectification. Why did Zhongyong and Zhongzhen wantonly kill the prisoners?However, when the Ming army occupied Wanxian last night, they found that the entire Wanxian had become a ghost town, with dead bodies scattered all over their feet, and the soldiers of the Ming army were outraged and took revenge.

This kind of massacre lasted for a long time. All the Qing soldiers found in the mountains and forests were almost killed directly. Yang Kun, the deputy general who was once sent by Wu Sangui to rescue Dorgon outside Shanhaiguan, led three hundred defeated troops to stick to a hill. They wanted to surrender to the Ming army, but they were all killed.

It wasn't until Wang Yan's military order was issued that the Ming army stopped killing prisoners, but a series of beatings was inevitable.

On the entire battlefield, the Ming army was crushing all over the mountains and plains to the north, searching for people and moving horses, and the momentum was like a rainbow. Behind them, tens of thousands of civilians, also holding poles, shovels, and bamboo guns, dozens of people in a team, beat gongs and drums Search the mountains and forests all over the mountains and plains, and catch the fish that slipped through the net.

The Ming army pursued, and the Guanning army was in chaos. Wu Sangui did not stop his footsteps, but buried his head and continued to break through and escape to the north.

He knew very well in his heart that if he stayed at this time, even if he succeeded in blocking the attack, or defeated the pursuers with an ambush, once dawn came and Wang Yan's main force pounced on him, he would be completely finished.

Wu Sangui was flustered and kept beating his horses. Dozens of soldiers followed him. The Guan Ning army on the road threw away their helmets and armors, and some even threw away their horses and rice.

At dawn, they finally left the battlefield gradually, and the shouts of killing became farther and farther away. The Qing soldiers ran away all night, and many of them took off only their single clothes. Hu Guozhu caught up behind and grabbed the reins of Wu Sangui's horse, "My lord, chase after me!" The soldiers are gone."

Wu Sangui was still in shock. He straightened his crooked helmet, took a few deep breaths, and looked at the exhausted soldiers and horses. The mighty Guan Ning army was in such a mess. Those who heard it were sad and cried. He waved his hand and got off his horse. , Let the army rest for a while.

Wu Sangui looked at the front and back of the team, and he could see the beginning and the end at a glance. His heart sank to the extreme. More than 3 Guan Ning troops made a round in Kuizhou, and there were probably less than 5000 left. What face do you have to see the elders of Liao Town?

In fact, there are still a large number of Guanning soldiers who were not killed or captured. Instead, they ran away from the main force. I don’t know which ravine they went around. But these stragglers are actually no different from dead. Wu Sangui definitely has no time to gather them. The army is defeated.

These stragglers either starved to death in the mountains, fell to grass on the spot, or went down the mountain to surrender to the Ming army. There was basically no other way to go.

Wu Sangui looked down and felt melancholy, waiting for the generals around him to comfort him, but Hu Guozhu and others beside him also looked miserable, and the Qing soldiers around were all downcast. With the remnant soldiers defeated, he thought to himself that if this continues, Guan Ning's morale might be ruined.

Seeing this, Wu Sangui quickly put away the melancholy in his heart, and had no choice but to encourage him: "You don't have to worry. Although this time the loss was heavy, there are still more than 5000 people and their strength is still there. After returning, we will recruit some young and strong men. Guan Ning will be back soon." It can restore strength, and the Manchu Eight Banners are overwhelmed. If the Qing government wants to deal with the Ming Dynasty, Dorgon must reuse this king. Don't worry, this king will be able to make up for today's loss sooner or later."

Everyone's eyes are very melancholy, they can only hope so.

At this time, there was a sound of horseshoes from behind, and a cavalry team of more than ten people was chasing up. The leader was General Gao Dejie of the Wu Army. Come up, run quickly!"

The Guan Ning soldiers who were lying on the side of the road were shocked when they heard this, and their wits disappeared. They all panicked and boasted on their horses, and all fled forward.

Although I walked all night, but because of the complicated terrain, I couldn't see the road conditions clearly, so it was not far from the city, only more than 20 miles away. Now at dawn, the distance of [-] miles, the Ming army chased them naturally and arrived overnight.

Wu Sangui also hastily praised his horse. At this time, Gao Dejie had arrived beside him. His armor was damaged, and there were still a few feathered arrows stuck in the gaps between the armor plates.

"Where is the Ming army? Is there still Guan Ning in the back?" Wu Sangui asked while urging his horses.

Gao Dejie's face was very tired, he shook his head, and said sadly: "Yang Kun surrendered and was killed, Guo Yunlong died, Wu Guozheng was beheaded by Li Dingguo, and now there are more than 200 people in Guo Zhuangtu, surrounded by Liu Wenxiu, it is probably not a battle. To die is to surrender, and the low-ranking killer made a bloody road to escape, and most of the officers and men of Guan Ning behind surrendered or fled into the mountains. The Ming army is now only five miles away from us."

Wu Sangui's heart sank into the abyss completely. The soldiers can be recruited when they die, but once the general is gone, Guan Ning loses half of his essence, and it will be difficult to recover. , Hurry up and get rid of the Ming army."

(Thanks to the two-month pass for the prelude, and thanks to gdrthg for the reward)
(End of this chapter)