Chapter 293: Different intentions

Hauge knew that Dorgon was taking the opportunity to attack, and he might take the opportunity to deprive him of his position as the leader of the Zhenglan Banner once he was convicted. So he was filled with anger, but he didn't dare to vent it. He just said: "This is not a crime of war. The enemy troops who were stationed in front of us were defending according to the danger. It is natural that they could not take them for a while."

He added: "As long as you give me some time, the front guard will be defeated."

Haug had something in his mind. In his opinion, after these six or seven days of continuous attacks on the city, the firepower of the former garrison had begun to exhaust. In just one or two days at most, there would definitely be no more artillery fire in the city. One shot. When the time comes, with the superior force, won’t it be easy to break the city? !

Huang Taiji had just died, and Dorgon didn't want to go too far. After hearing the words, he pushed the boat and said: "Okay. I believe in Prince Su. Then set a time, three days! If you can't take the front guard in three days, you will be punished. !”

Hauge thought that three days should be no problem, so he said without hesitation: "Three days is all. But I have a request."

Dorgon said: "Prince Su has a huge military advantage, what else do you want?"

Hauge said: "I want thirty cannons."

Of course Dorgon knew why Hauge wanted cannons, but he refused: "Qiantun Guard City has small walls and short walls, while Shanhaiguan City has high walls and thick walls, so we won't give them."

Hauge had no choice but to retreat.

Dorgon nodded with satisfaction. Like Hauge, he also felt that if many days passed, it would not be difficult to capture the former garrison guard. But not giving Haug artillery was also intended to weaken Haug's strength. It's the best of both worlds.

Then he said: "All generals must be ready for war and listen to my king's orders at any time. When the time comes, Shanhaiguan will be captured. The flowers and mountains in the Central Plains belong to me, the Qing Dynasty!"

After dismissing the generals, Dorgon left behind Hong Chengchou, Fan Wencheng, Ning Wanwo and other Han officials.

These people are also noble in the Manchu and Qing Dynasties. Especially Fan Wencheng and Ning Wanwo are the most popular. But they have no actual military power. For example, Fan Wencheng was nominally the leader of the Eight Banners of the Han Dynasty, but the strength of this banner was in the hands of the Manchus, and so was Ning Wan.

Among the Eight Banners of the Han Dynasty, only generals such as Shang Kexi, Geng Zhongming, and Kong Youde were able to control military power. Because these people led the troops to surrender. Fan Wencheng, Ning Wanwo and others were just scholars and had never led troops.

Their position is closer to that of counselors. Whether it is Huang Taiji or Dorgon, they will discuss important matters with them, but they have no power to make decisions.

"I wonder if you gentlemen can predict the reaction of Shanhaiguan when my king marches into Sizhaibao?" Dorgon said.

Hong Chengchou remained silent, and Fan Wencheng stood up and bowed: "To my master, seizing Sizhai Fort is nothing more than a test of Shanhaiguan. There are two reactions: one is to send troops to fight for it, and the other is to turn a blind eye."

Dorgon said: "How can we say that we send troops to fight for it? What can we say if we don't pay attention?"

Fan Wencheng said: "Sending troops to fight has only one meaning, and that is to test the Qing army without fear."

Dorgon nodded.

You must be happy and not afraid before you send troops. Otherwise, the troops would have been stationed in the fort long ago, and it would not have been left vacant, allowing Dorgon's army to come.

Dorgon wants to test Shanhaiguan, and Shanhaiguan may not have the same idea.

Such a war often starts with a trial, gradually gains the upper hand in the trial, and finally the final battle determines the outcome.

"As for not listening and not asking, that's the answer." Fan Wencheng said: "If you don't listen and look on coldly, one is full of confidence and not afraid, and does not even need to test. The second is fearful. Extremely, just like the Ming Dynasty, when the Qing Dynasty came to attack, the Ming Dynasty did not dare to fight in the field and only defended the city."

He said: "If Xia Thief doesn't even use the test, the master just has to hold back and wait for the opportunity. If you are extremely frightened, you can try to attack Shanhaiguan."

Hong Chengchou, Ning Wanwo and others could clearly hear the conversation between the two, and they all took it seriously.

Dorgon said: "What Mr. Fan said is absolutely true. If the Xia thieves are full of confidence, they don't even use tests, which shows that they are rampant. I will stay put and wait for countermeasures to create opportunities for my king. Once Horqin and Tumut have achieved results, , Shanhaiguan will definitely be shaken. It's time for my king to send troops to attack and break through the city. But I am most afraid of delay."

The last half of Dorgon's sentence was quite a bit of a sigh.

It sounds nice to say nothing, but hundreds of thousands of people eat horse chews, which consumes a lot of food. The Manchu Qing Dynasty has a shallow foundation, and the climate in recent years has been really disgusting. Although there have been no major climate disasters in Liaodong, the grain harvest is still tight.

If the delay is too long and food is exhausted, the army will collapse without a fight.

What he looks forward to most now is that Horqin and Tumut can make great achievements quickly. Once Horqin or Tumote breaks through the defense line of the capital, and the elite soldiers enter the pass and approach the capital, the Xia thieves will not be able to sit still, and the Shanhaiguan will be shaken.

If we can go one step further and cut off the supply line of food and grass supplies to the Shanhaiguan defense line, we will be done.

Later, Hong Chengchou and Ning Wanwo each made some suggestions, suggesting that Dorgon could dedicate some troops to attack other pass cities along the Shanhaiguan Great Wall. See if you can find any loopholes.

If a flaw can be found and the situation is opened from other Xiaoguan cities such as Qingshankou, Shanhaiguan will also be shaken.

Dorgon certainly knew this principle, but he did not adopt it immediately.

He said: "This battle is about the fate of the country, and we must gather strength." He added: "It would be great if we could know the total strength of the Xia rebels. If the Xia rebels have few soldiers, I can divide the troops. If there are many soldiers, not so." "

He added: "Hauge's attack on the former garrison, if successful in three days, can be used to test and attack other pass cities along the Great Wall along the Shanhaiguan Pass."

...

Shanhaiguan, Zhu Bingkun and others accompanied Ying Yi to check combat readiness. Soon we arrived at the city gate tower.

Ying Yi raised his eyes and looked around, only to see a narrow area outside the pass, which was several miles away before it opened up. Shanhaiguan is built close to the mountains and the sea, so it is very dangerous. When Ying Yi came across the sea and quickly captured Shanhaiguan, he never stayed here longer. At this time, it seems that it has another taste.

Today, there are 24,000 troops stationed in Shanhaiguan. Including the 6,000 former garrison guards, that is 30,000 troops. Compared with the hundreds of thousands of Donglu troops, the difference in numbers is immeasurable.

However, the difference in numbers does not determine the difference in combat power.

Not to mention the steep terrain of Shanhaiguan, which is easy to defend but difficult to attack. Even if he only took the 24,000 soldiers in the pass to fight in the field, Ying Yi would not be afraid at all.

At this time, a scout came to report that the Tatars had sent out troops, and the troops were pointing directly at the four strongholds including Yinzhang.

Ying Yi called to inspect the horses and asked, "How many troops will the Tatars send? What is their strength?"

Tan Ma said: "The Tatars sent troops to four forts at the same time, each with about 10,000 troops. Judging from their attire, they are not soldiers from the Jiannu or Tatar headquarters."

"Oh." Ying Yi waved his hand and backed off Tanma: "Tan again."

Then he smiled at Zhu Bingkun and other generals and said: "Dorgon's main force is stationed in the Sanshan Camp, and the battle line is established with four fortresses such as back shade barriers. It is a steady and steady advance."

Then he said: "Generals, how should I respond to this?"

The generals each pondered, and after a while Zhu Bingkun said: "Dorgon sent his vassal soldiers and horses to occupy the Sizhai Fortress and established a battle line. It was nothing more than a test. He had to be cautious when he came to attack Qingguo this time. There are many ways to try it. Let’s test your reaction.”

Ying Yi nodded: "It makes sense. How should we distinguish it?"

Zhu Bingkun said: "Going back to the emperor, with the strength of our troops, we don't have to worry about what the Tatars think. According to the last general's opinion, we may be able to train troops in this way. The Baibu generals, the Mabu generals and the newly arrived school captain are all in the system." They are not elites. Now that the troops are well prepared, they will be dragged out to compete with the Tatars for the four strongholds, so that the new soldiers can see blood in preparation for the decisive battle in the future."