Southern Ming Rebel Army

Chapter 370 Northern Expedition (1)

In Jinling City, various preparations for the war were in full swing. In the shogunate, messengers were rushing back and forth, and orders stamped with the seals of shogunate officials were sent to all directions. The clerks counted the supplies all night long, and bags of military rations were loaded and shipped to Zhenjiang after counting. There, they would be transported to Huai'an City by the navy first. All kinds of meat jerky, beans, dry food and various medicinal materials were transported to Zhenjiang almost all night long.

Some time ago, after receiving Jiang Xiang's first request for help, Meng Jun had ordered Yang En to begin preparations for war mobilization. Gunpowder, weapons and other supplies were all stored in Jinling. Only the laborers from all over the country had not yet been fully assembled. Although the laborers were not complete, all kinds of supplies could be transported to Huai'an, the army's forward base.

All the soldiers have returned to the camp, and many are checking their weapons and shields. On the battlefield, these things are related to their lives at all times, and no one dares to take them lightly.

Before the army sets out, defective weapons can be replaced or repaired immediately. However, once the army sets out, replacement or repair becomes a hassle.

Outside the city of Jinling, in addition to the 20,000 loyal soldiers, Qian Biao's Wuning Town and Changlin Town, there were also 6,000 surrendered soldiers from Wuchang City and 3,000 Mongolian cavalry. In order to prevent Li Chengdong from going crazy, Meng Jun ordered Xu Fan to lead 6,000 troops to reinforce Ganzhou, and his troops were under the command of Han Xiong.

………………

Almost everyone in Jinling City is busy, but there is one person who has nothing to do, and this person often boasts that he is the king's favorite and most intimate person.

Qian Biao was in a very depressed mood. So many people were going to join the Northern Expedition, but he was being held in the city by the king. Qian Biao wondered to himself, was it because he had said that we should launch simultaneous expeditions in the north and south that he angered the king?

But when Qian Biao turned to ask Meng Jun, he was told to stay put. Qian Biao didn't dare go to the military camp these days, for fear of running into Bai Yongfu. If he saw him, he would definitely be ridiculed by him.

But Qian Biao was really bored staying at home. After thinking about it, he felt that he should go to Taoist Li to get some advice.

Since Meng Jun returned victoriously, Li Wendao fulfilled his promise and allocated a small piece of land on the mountain outside Jinling City for Li Wendao, built a small Taoist temple (it didn't cost much), and named the temple himself.

Qian Biao came to the mountain excitedly, looked at the Taoist temple's plaque, and said unconsciously: "Zhuyun Temple"

After saying this, Qian Biao curled his lips and thought to himself, Your Majesty’s name is really ugly.

When he arrived at the temple, Qian Biao saw a little boy sweeping the fallen leaves with a broom. Qian Biao laughed and shouted, "Little boy, you are not even as tall as the broom, what are you sweeping?"

The little boy shook his head when he heard this and said in a childish voice, "Master said that dust settles wherever a bamboo broom passes. It is not just the dust that is swept away, but also the distracting thoughts in one's mind. Master also said that sweeping the floor is not just sweeping the floor, but also spiritual practice. As the saying goes, sweeping away the worries in one's mind will reveal the original spaciousness of the world."

Qian Biao was stunned for a while before he asked, "Do you understand what your master said?"

“I don’t understand.”

"Everything in the world is fleeting, only purity is real. General Qian, how come you have time to come to my place today?" Li Wendao's voice came slowly.

"Master"

"Master Li," Qian Biao greeted respectfully.

Quiet room.

Li Wendao said kindly: "General, please have some tea."

Qian Biao swallowed the whole bottle in one gulp, then blurted out his questions. He then frowned and said to Li Wendao, "Master, do you think the king didn't allow me to go to the battle because I talk too much? If that's the case, I can change and not talk for a month."

Li Wendao said with a smile: "As the saying goes, it is easy to change the country, but it is difficult to change one's nature. Besides, the general has won the favor of the superior, so there is no need to change anything, just let nature take its course."

"Then why didn't the king send me to fight?" Qian Biao was very confused and asked again.

"Did the king not lead the army in person in this battle?"

"yes"

"Then doesn't this just prove that the general is the king's most trusted confidant? When the king goes on an expedition, he always dispatches the general. When the king does not go on an expedition himself, the general always accompanies him. General, many people envy you, so why bother yourself with this?"

After listening to this, Qian Biao thought about it and realized that this was indeed the case. He said happily, "The Taoist priest is truly a god. I have been unable to sleep these past few days because of my annoyance. It is really strange that as soon as the Taoist priest spoke, my mind immediately became clear."

Qian Biao laughed happily, and suddenly, as if remembering something, he asked, "Master, you said last time that I could become a Duke in two or three years. Is there any way to make it faster, preferably before the Chinese New Year this year?"

Li Wendao: "............" After a long while, he finally uttered a sentence, "The secret of heaven cannot be revealed"

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The city of Nanjing was making intensive preparations for war. Cartloads of supplies were transported to Zhenjiang and then to the north by Zhou's navy. The Qing court's spies planted in Nanjing were not blind and quickly used all means to pass the news to the north.

In Xuzhou and Suzhou, the Qing troops also noticed unusual movements of Zhou's army near Huai'an and reported this urgent military intelligence.

By the time the military intelligence was urgently transmitted to Dorgon over 800 miles, Zhao Yongping in Huai'an City had already assembled a large army and was ready to march north at any time.

When Dorgon received the news, he angrily threw his helmet on the table and cursed: "Meng thief! You thief are so hateful that I wish I could eat his flesh alive!"

Ajige said with a frown: "Prince Regent, Meng Jun has sent out troops. What should we do now? The siege of Datong has been less than a month, and Baiyintu has just broken through Guguan. Should we withdraw the troops?"

Dorgon shook his head and said, "No, retreating is exactly what Meng wants."

Ajige was stunned and said, "Are we going to attack Datong by force? Regent, Datong is so strong. If we attack it by force, even if we take it, we will suffer heavy losses. How can we stop the Meng thief's army?"

Dorgon said in a deep voice: "No, a strong attack is the worst strategy. The Eight Banners have fought in the south and the north over the years and have suffered many casualties. Even if we take Datong by force, I'm afraid all the Eight Banners under the city will be killed here."

"Then how do we break into the city?"

Dorgon said in a firm tone: "We will surround him and persuade him to surrender. We will send more people to persuade him to surrender. As long as Jiang Xiang is willing to surrender, the Qing Dynasty can make him the King of Anbei and rule Datong for generations. If Jiang Xiang refuses to surrender, we will lure his subordinates to surrender, and offer him high positions, generous salaries, beautiful wives and concubines. We will promise him everything."

Ajige was silent for a while, then he slowly said: "Meng Jun sent troops to the north. He claimed to have an army of 500,000, but if you squeeze out the water, there are probably more than 100,000 people. The regent and Baiyintu's troops are all in Shanxi, so who should be sent to stop them?"

Dorgon sighed and said, "Hauge's troops are in Fuyang. Let him lead them to support Xuzhou. Most of his troops are cavalry. As long as they can contain the enemy troops outside the city, Xuzhou will not be easily captured. If we withdraw now, our efforts will be in vain. Shanxi is in a high position. If we don't destroy Jiang Xiang, Beijing will be lost sooner or later!"

Hearing what Dorgon said, Ajige also sighed and said, "If Jiang Xiang and others do not surrender, there is enough food and grass in Datong City. If we want to rely on siege, it will take at least a year, which is impossible."

Dorgon was silent for a long time. When Ajige was getting a little impatient, Dorgon suddenly laughed and said, "If we can't take Datong and can't stop the Meng thieves, the Qing Dynasty still has the territories outside the Great Wall. What's there to be afraid of? It's nothing more than starting over again."