The Rise of Ming Dynasty 1646

Chapter 709 More Flowers

The next morning.

Surrounded by the imperial camp, Zhu Linmi entered Yangzhou City through the north gate.

He raised his eyes and looked around. Although the streets were deserted and deserted, the buildings were basically preserved.

Zhang Jiayu followed the holy driver on horseback. Seeing the holy look, he hurried forward and said, "Your Majesty, according to the confession of the captives, the captives wanted to set fire to the city before they left, but they were too lucky to do so because the city was destroyed too quickly." .”

Zhu Linmi nodded slightly when she heard the words, Yangzhou Mansion was too badly damaged, with the seed of Yangzhou City, and with this as the core, there is hope for reconstruction.

Zhang Jiayu continued: "Your Majesty, the captive officer also mentioned that Dorgon wanted Obai to hold on for a month. As expected, nearly ten thousand shi of grain and rice were found in the two granaries in the city, and they were all safe and sound."

"Give it to the people in the city." Zhu Linming ordered, "The army rests in the city for half a day, and then immediately continues to go north."

Since yesterday's battle intensity was too low, even the daily training of the Dragon Guards was not as good as it should be, so a little trimming is enough.

When it came to the matter of entering the army, Zhu Linmei asked again: "By the way, where is the supply line at the moment?"

"Return to Your Majesty, according to the news sent last night, a camp has been built in the south of Baoying, and grain and grass are being transported there."

"Baoying?" Zhu Linmei said cautiously, "This place is only seventy or eighty miles away from the Huaihe River, so beware of captives and thieves attacking my food and grass."

Zhang Jiayu hurriedly replied: "Remember, the general. In fact, the front team has General Li leading a swift battalion, and there are three dragoon companies guarding it. We will send more people in the end."

"How's the situation with the captives?"

"Returning to Your Majesty, it is said that more than [-] people have gathered in Shanyang, Suzui and other places on the south bank of the Huaihe River. There are not many captives and boats, and they are driving them across the river day and night."

Zhu Linmi couldn't help reining in her horse, and looked back at Zhang Jiayu, "Since Li Dingguo and the others are only seventy or eighty miles away from these people, they should go to help them."

Zhang Jiayu was a little embarrassed: "Your Majesty, there are still more than 1000 captives under Chen Bangxuan on the south bank of the Huaihe River. General Li has only [-] troops under his command, and he is still responsible for guarding food and grass..."

Because the supply line has not been fully paved, the striker can only maintain the scale of 500 people for the time being, which is already a bit difficult.

Zhu Lin smiled and shook her head, "It doesn't take many people, 400 people are enough."

"Your Majesty, 400 troops may not be able to..."

"Yuanzi forgot, there are still 10,000+ Daming people there!" Zhu Lin said, "Order to send the response officers to Shanyang and other places from the Propaganda Department. Also, choose from the military weapons captured yesterday Some good ones, send them together."

Zhang Jiayu's eyes lit up when he heard the words, and he hurriedly saluted, "Yes!"

Soon, the imperial camp arrived at the location of the Yangzhou government office. Zhang Jiayu chose this place for the emperor to rest because of the slightest artillery fire.

However, Zhu Linmei seized the time to summon a group of officers, held a simple staff meeting, and sorted out the specific arrangements for the main force of the Liming Army to go north.

"The speed of the Paoying is too slow." Zhu Linmi tapped the map and said, "Allow more civilians to the Paoying, and don't miss the decisive battle because of them..."

As he was speaking, Shi Lin walked quickly into the room, handed over a lacquered letter box, and said in a low voice, "Your Majesty, Bei Zhen just sent it from the north bank."

Zhu Linmi opened it to see that it was a secret report from Jin Yiwei.

He only read two lines before he couldn't help frowning slightly, "Jinyiwei reported that Hauge's troops had arrived in Pei County, with about [-] soldiers and horses. Dorgon ordered two earthen walls to be built at the Huai River ferry. It is more than four feet long, and there are many cannons placed side by side."

All the generals sitting here have solemn expressions.Although they were confident that they would face each other head-on, and it would not be a problem to defeat Dorgon's [-] Jianlu, but the Huaihe River was surrounded by natural dangers, and with fortifications and cannons, they did not know how much time it would take and how many casualties it would take to capture it.

The tent fell silent.

After a while, Huang Qishou broke the silence and said harshly: "Isn't it just a river? The final general is willing to lead his troops to be the first to attack!"

His words aroused everyone's agreement, "Yes! When have we ever been afraid of captives?!"

"Let Dorgon know how powerful he is!"

Zhu Linmi looked at the upper reaches of the Huaihe River on the map, and pondered: "We may bypass the Huaihe River and attack the enemy north from Xuzhou."

Zhang Jiayu immediately whispered: "Your Majesty, Xuzhou is nearly [-] miles away, even if it is [-] miles away from Shanyang. Now that the roads and villages along the way have been destroyed, if the army goes there, it will not only take time, but also food and grass, I'm afraid it will be difficult to transport the luggage."

Zhu Linmei squinted her eyes, "What if we only need to transfer 1000 troops? Send [-] swift battalions."

Zhang Jiayu thought for a while, but still shook his head, "I'm afraid there's not enough fodder..."

In order to prevent the Ming army, Jianlu cleared the south bank of the Huaihe River and cleared the fields, and it was the end of winter. In this case, the horses had nowhere to find grass to eat.Therefore, compared with the rations of soldiers, the amount of forage needed by war horses is ten times heavier.

In fact, as far as the supply line of the Ming Army’s Northern Expedition was concerned, a large part of the transportation force was consumed by [-] horses—in order to reduce the pressure on forage transportation, a large number of Ming Army infantry had to abandon their horses and walk.

Zhu Linmi was unwilling to give up, "Each person has four horses, and carries rations with him, and three horses carry bean cakes and bran as feed for the horses."

All the generals were stunned, and someone said cautiously: "Your Majesty, you can definitely bypass Xuzhou in this way. However, this kind of operation is very costly, and there are only 1000 troops, so I am afraid it will be of limited use."

"No," Zhu Linmi said decisively, "It's definitely worth it to break through the enemy's depth." He looked around and smiled, "Jianlu is now shrinking on the north bank of the Huaihe River, and he does not hesitate to destroy Yangzhou and other places in order to delay time. Waiting to breathe a sigh of relief. But it also shows that they are all soldiers, and they are afraid to fight me decisively.

"The more they want to take a breather, the more we have to tighten their necks!"

Zhang Jiayu thought for a moment, then nodded vigorously and said: "The general understands His Majesty's deep meaning. The general will then arrange for the quick camp to go west!"

"By the way, there is also Shanxi." Zhu Linmi continued, "I ordered Jiang Xiang, no matter how prepared he is, to launch immediately. First feign an attack to the east, and then turn around and head west as soon as the Jianlu troops are mobilized. Cooperate with the Sichuan army to recover Shaanxi, and provide relief to refugees in Xi'an Prefecture and other places."

The imperial court had already contacted Shanxi General Soldier Jiang Xiang more than a month ago, and he, like in history, immediately agreed to raise troops anyway.The first batch of weapons and other items to support him have also been secretly sent to Datong.

Although Zhu Linmei didn't know how Jiang Xiang was preparing, but right now Jianlu had gathered all the soldiers and horses from all over the country except Henan on the Huaihe River line, and Jiang Xiang's side would definitely not encounter too many obstacles.

"The more Dorgon concentrates his forces on the Huaihe River in order to stop our Northern Expedition, the more I want to blossom, so that he can't take care of both ends!"

(End of this chapter)