Strategy for the Revitalization of the Late Ming Dynasty

Chapter 179: Amateur in External Wars, Expert in Internal Fights

The same was true for Tunqi. In his panic, he saw the Tang horses galloping from the north, and he felt extremely uneasy. There had been too much bad news coming from the north in recent days.

But now the army had just retreated, and he had no time to get away. He had to suppress his uneasiness and continue to deploy defenses on the front line. Duoduo did the same. He was very worried that the Ming army in Jingzhou City would take advantage of the chaos to attack.

Although the general in charge of the troops in the city was Li Guo, a remnant of the Chuang army, they all knew that the other side was under the command of Emperor Ming. It was possible that Emperor Ming had already made arrangements. If they were not prepared, they would probably have to repeat the mistake of Fengyang being attacked at night many times.

Zhu Cilang is now a complete nightmare for these Manchu nobles. They are unwilling to fight in Yuezhou and all want to retreat to the north, which is largely due to this.

After the two men dealt with the military affairs on the front line, they immediately returned to the central military tent. Dorgon had already summoned almost all the generals in the army, and his face was full of worry.

"The Ming Emperor's navy has already reached Tianjin. Not only Tianjin, but also Shanhaiguan, and even outside the pass, at Sanchahekou, the Ming navy has appeared. Some Nikans even rebelled and fled with the Ming navy."

Dorgon frowned, took a deep breath, and then said to Duoduo:

"The Emperor Ming's deployments in Shandong, Northern Zhili, and even beyond the Great Wall are likely far greater than we originally estimated. Ajige has already transferred some of his troops back to Shandong, and he is also preparing to personally lead the troops back to Northern Zhili."

When Duoduo heard this, he couldn't help but feel a little surprised. He guessed that there was bad news coming from the north and knew that the situation was getting worse, but he never expected it to be so bad.

"The Ming Emperor actually has so many soldiers hidden away. Could it be that they were transferred from the southeastern provinces?"

"This is very likely, otherwise the Ming army would not have waited until now to start marching north." Tan Tai suddenly spoke up, rarely agreeing with Duoduo's opinion. When Nikan, Tunqi and others heard it, they showed surprise on their faces.

"Moreover, the troops the Ming Emperor sent north to harass the enemy were almost all naval forces. If it weren't for the Green Camp troops in Shandong and Northern Zhili being so weak and disloyal, the Ming army would never have been able to act so rampantly."

"The Ming Emperor has already concentrated nearly 100,000 troops throughout Huguang, and has also deployed tens of thousands of troops in northern Jiangxi and northern Huaibei. Logically speaking, there can't be any more troops."

Dorgon received military intelligence from the north. Although he was a little panicked, he finally calmed down. He now suspected that the navy of Shandong and northern Zhili was just a trick of the Ming Emperor to provoke an attack. In fact, the Ming army no longer had the strength to attack Shandong and northern Zhili, let alone the areas outside the Great Wall.

However, if he made a wrong judgment, the consequences would be serious, and it would even give Jirgalang, Hauge and others a chance to criticize him, which would be very detrimental to his future attempt to seize power.

By this time, Dorgon had too many things to consider, and his judgment on the battlefield only assisted him in making choices, not dominated them.

Duoduo seemed to see this, but to him, Emperor Ming Zhu Cilang was often like this, suddenly appearing with troops when no one noticed.

"Prince Regent, although the Ming Emperor has concentrated nearly 100,000 troops in Huguang, the real elite troops are only tens of thousands. Northern Jiangxi is completely under the threat of our army. It is hard to say whether there are really troops left in Jiujiang and other places."

"What do you mean?" Dorgon's sensitive nerves were directly provoked by Duoduo, and he asked in a serious tone.

"The South is originally a densely populated area with abundant resources. The Ming Emperor has now concentrated hundreds of thousands of troops in Huguang, Jiangxi, and Jiangnan alone. As for the subsequent northern reinforcements from other provinces, could it be that the army will only have the navy?

If my guess is correct, there are at least 300,000 to 500,000 Ming troops in all parts of Jiangnan, not including Huaibei. The reason the navy heading north to harass them is only a few thousand soldiers is simply to test the waters and not to expose their strength."

After Duoduo finished speaking, he suddenly shook his head, looked at Dorgon and said with a wry smile:

"Prince Regent, think about it. Why did the Ming Emperor want to hide his strength? Wasn't it because he wanted to trick the Regent into thinking that the situation in Shandong and Northern Zhili was still under control? And continue to deploy heavy troops to Huguang?"

As soon as these words were spoken, there was a burst of discussion in the big tent. The generals who had finally calmed down and stopped clamoring for a northward retreat after listening to Dorgon's analysis and consolation suddenly became agitated again.

Duoduo knew very well that if he wanted these generals to pay attention to the situation in the north and doubt Dorgon's decision, the most crucial thing was the strength of Emperor Ming.

If the Ming Emperor deployed his elite troops in Huaibei and prepared to march north, or if the number of elite Ming troops marching north at this time exceeded 30,000, then the generals in the army would naturally support the readjustment of the military policy in Huguang and put the Ming army in Shandong and northern Zhili in the most important position.

After the recent failure in the siege, Duoduo had a new understanding of the solidity of Jingzhou City. Now a month has passed, but he has not even been able to break through the first earth wall on the outermost edge of Jingzhou City. It is probably impossible to break the city within two or three months.

Of course, the battle just now did not deal such a big blow to Duoduo's confidence, but after hearing the military information from the north, especially seeing the sad faces of Dorgon and others, he could not help but be infected.

But who is Duoduo?
Since he couldn't capture the city of Jingzhou, he had to find a perfect excuse to get around this matter without anyone noticing. It would be best if he could kill two birds with one stone and ultimately undermine Dorgon's prestige.

In the original history, facing the unmotivated Li Zicheng and the so-called Four Towns of Jiangbei, Duoduo was an invincible Manchu prince. But now, in front of Zhu Cilang, he is just a defeated general who is "a novice in external battles but an expert in internal fighting."

But Dorgon was not someone who could be easily fooled. When it came to internal fighting, Duoduo was no match for him at all. He paused for a moment, thinking of how the other party had just been defeated by the defenders of Jingzhou City, and immediately understood the meaning behind his words.

However, he would not be like Duoduo and just go up on his own. He immediately turned his head to look at Nikan and Tunqi, ready to drag them into the water as well.

"Nikan, Tunqi, what do you think?"

Nikan and Tunqi were obviously shocked when they heard this, but after looking at each other, they immediately expressed their thoughts one after another.

"It's possible that the Ming Emperor took advantage of the fact that all our forces were concentrated in Huguang to secretly dispatch troops north. Prince Yu is right. The Han Chinese probably have far more troops than just Huguang. In the past, their troops supporting the emperor also numbered in the hundreds of thousands, and they arrived one after another."

Nikan answered cautiously. Even he, a fool, realized something was wrong. Tunqi, on the other hand, was even more evasive.

"What Nikan Beile said is absolutely right. The Ming Emperor is very insidious. Prince Yu fell into his trap of pretending to repair the plank road while secretly attacking Chencang when he was in Jiangbei before. Now, who knows, he might try it again against the Regent.

Moreover, even if the Ming Emperor is in Shandong and Northern Zhili hasn't concentrated a large army, he has set up numerous obstacles in Huguang. It is even very likely that he has already concentrated his troops in Yunyang and is trying every possible way to disrupt our food supply route."

"Shandong, northern Zhili, Henan and other areas in the Central Plains are the barrier and hinterland of our Qing Dynasty, and are also the granary of the court. If the Ming army continues to harass and ruin the spring plowing, the consequences will be unimaginable." Tan Tai spoke at an inappropriate time.

After all, although Nikan and Tunqi were both right, neither of them hit the key point of the battle, and he naturally knew why.

When it came to this kind of answer that required taking responsibility, Nikan and Tunqi, two outsiders whom both Dorgon and Dodo wanted to win over, began to hesitate.

They seemed to have answered Dorgon's question, but also seemed not to have answered it. Anyway, they were just playing Tai Chi, and there was not a single word that could be put into practice and could be used as a handle to be caught in the future.

It was obvious that they were not going to give in until they had some real benefits. Of course, in the current situation, they were more concerned with self-preservation.

But Tan Tai knew better the importance of the Central Plains to the Qing Dynasty.

For the Manchu Qing Dynasty, which had already entered the Central Plains, once the Central Plains were lost, not only would the war in Huguang be unsustainable, but the entire Qing Dynasty would also be difficult to operate next year, and Beijing would be directly exposed to the attack of the Ming army.

Moreover, he needed to stand up for Dorgon at this time, otherwise Dorgon would definitely not continue to protect him in the future.

"Tan Tai, what you said makes sense. The Central Plains must not be lost, but the war situation in Huguang is extremely tense right now." Dorgon spoke immediately, pointing his finger at Duoduo.

Faced with a powerful enemy, the situation within the Qing Dynasty was just like that of the Ming court. No one was willing to take responsibility, and without a strong leader, conflicts intensified.

Duoduo's wishful thinking was indeed sound, but Dorgon thought more deeply. As long as he dragged more people into the water, then the matter would naturally be left unresolved and no one would dare to mention it again.

As for the so-called prestige, as long as Dorgon can ensure that he holds power and replaces people in various positions with his own confidants, even if Dodo wants to have any evil ideas, it will be a waste of effort.

He had actually anticipated the current situation.

When the situation was good and they were winning battles, everyone was naturally at the forefront. But now, after suffering several defeats in a row, it was inevitable that they would blame each other.

This is not just the case with the Han people; it is also true within the Eight Banners.

Sometimes Dorgon even wondered if the Ming Dynasty was like this back then?

When Duoduo heard that Dorgon was pointing the finger at him again, he immediately raised his head and chest and said:
"Given the current situation, it's possible to capture Jingzhou City, but it will take at least a month and a half. The Ming army in the city is very powerful and definitely not something that can be easily defeated."

Dorgon sighed upon hearing this, then added, "We can't wait that long. We must make a decision immediately. The situation has reached this point, and we can't delay any longer. If Leiden or Tianjin are lost, the entire Shandong, Henan, and even Beijing will be in danger. The Ming Emperor will certainly seek an opportunity to send troops to capture these places.

If our army is still concentrated in Huguang, and something happens in Xiangyang or Nanyang, even if Beijing is surrounded by Ming troops, we will probably find it difficult to rescue it."

"Regent, the battle in Jingzhou City cannot be rushed, otherwise it will only cause unnecessary trouble." Duoduo said again immediately. If Dorgon was anxious, then he would not be anxious anymore.

But at this time, not only Dorgon, but also Manchu nobles such as Nikan and Tunqi had lost their patience to continue to fight the Ming army. Especially Tunqi, he had just fought with the Ming army and was still a little scared. He didn't know how many people would die if he continued to attack.

What Duoduo grasped was the fact that Dorgon was careful in his work. He knew that Dorgon was not a reckless person, but as long as he wanted to maintain his prestige and be decent, he would be at a disadvantage.

What he had to do was to put on a good show and be sincere in order to avoid the blame for the failure of the siege of Jingzhou. After all, before this, Duoduo had always advocated a strong attack.

"One and a half months is too long. By then, the Ming army might really want to capture Leiden and lay siege to Beijing."

"That's right. Those Nikan soldiers in Shandong now all have ulterior motives. After all, they are Han Chinese and will definitely not be loyal to our Qing Dynasty."

"Prince Ying's troops are insufficient, and withdrawing north to provide support is a drop in the bucket."

"Furthermore, if we continue to stay here and fail to capture Jingzhou City, the losses will only be greater."

Under such circumstances, the Qing army tent immediately became a mess. The Manchu princes, beile, beizi, and the leaders of each flag discussed the situation one after another. They had no hope for the prospects of this battle.

At this time, Duoduo was still unwilling to give in, and vowed that he could definitely capture Jingzhou in a month and a half. Even Tunqi couldn't stand it anymore and told him about the difficulties of the siege just now. He still said that everything was under control.

By this time, Dorgon had been forced into a corner, but based on his understanding of Duoduo, he quickly guessed that Jingzhou City might not be so easy to capture.

You know, Dorgon was a fox whose wisdom was even praised by Huang Taiji. As soon as Tunqi said this, he understood Duoduo's thoughts.

At this point, he could only make a compromise. Faced with internal strife and the survival of the Qing Dynasty, Dorgon still knew what was important.

"You are all right. After two years of recovery and the turmoil in the north, Emperor Ming is very likely to be quite powerful now.

If we think of the worst, he may have trained hundreds of thousands of troops in the southern provinces, and it would not be difficult to transfer tens of thousands of troops to the north.

"As for Shandong, Northern Zhili, and other places, without the support of our army, they would surely fall in two or three months at the shortest, or a year or two at the longest. If we return too late, the farming season will be delayed, and the court's fiscal and taxation problems will become even more difficult to solve."

"But" Duoduo originally wanted to persuade Dorgon to retreat, but before he finished speaking, new military information came from the north.

Upon hearing this, Dorgon's face darkened, and the same was true for the other people in the tent. They all felt as if they were falling into an icy cave, as if any news coming from the north must be bad news.

However, they actually guessed correctly. This was the military intelligence that Bolo had sent from Xiangyang. In the direction of Xixia-Dengzhou in Nanyang Prefecture, the Ming cavalry had been attacking frequently. They had just intercepted and killed a baggage train and destroyed the official road for transporting grain.

Upon hearing the news that something had happened in Nanyang again, the Manchu nobles and generals in the tent lost all will to fight, and the retreat to the north was settled.

But what Dorgon didn't expect was that Dodo still had something to say at this time, and even changed the subject, boosting everyone's morale, as if he was the commander-in-chief of the army.

"The Ming army today is different from before. They may not be as good as the Eight Banners of the Qing Dynasty in field combat, but their combat power is already very strong. We definitely can't defeat them all in a short time. The battle to destroy the Ming Dynasty requires a long-term plan. You all don't need to be discouraged."

Upon hearing this, all the Manchu nobles and generals in the big tent nodded in agreement. Duoduo's statement saved them a little face.

However, Duoduo completely ignored Dorgon's murderous look and continued to sing loudly:
"Our Eight Banners' strongest point is still field combat. I've long believed that instead of marching south to attack the Ming court, it would be better to wait for the Ming Emperor to march north. When the Ming army takes the initiative to attack, we can counterattack. This way, we can maximize our strengths and minimize our weaknesses. Otherwise, we would be in this situation now, stuck in a dilemma."

"Your Highness is absolutely right. If we don't march south, Emperor Ming will definitely march north to conquer the Central Plains. By then, the world will be ruled by us, the Eight Banners." Nikan agreed.

The army suffered repeated defeats and losses, so it was natural to find a "cause" - a scapegoat. And now, Tudor was assigning the blame, while also taking the opportunity to enhance his own prestige and prepare for a future power grab.

Dorgon obviously underestimated Duoduo. He didn't expect that the other party would hold back his killer move until now. All his words blamed him as the regent who had always advocated a southern expedition to destroy the Ming Dynasty.

But now that the other party has said this, and seems to have the support of a number of nobles and generals, he cannot get angry.

This is politics. The support of the people is crucial, especially those who hold real power!

"The Ming army is so powerful. If we retreat, the Ming Emperor will definitely send troops to pursue us, or even lay siege to Wuchang." Duoduo then looked at Dorgon and said:
"Prince Regent, we must be cautious. The Emperor Ming has as many artillery pieces as we do, and perhaps even several times more."

Hearing this, Dorgon finally found his chance and immediately nodded in agreement:

"Prince Yu is right. Judging from the Ming army's deployment, Puqi and Hanyang will be in turmoil. However, these two places are the outer positions of Wuchang City. If they are lost, the Ming army can directly surround Wuchang, and Wuchang will become an isolated city.

Our navy is no match for the Ming army. The Yangtze River is a barrier and a natural moat for us, but for the Ming army, it is a great reliance. The difficulty of our generals reinforcing Wuchang will be greatly increased.

The three prefectures of Chengtian, De'an and Huangzhou in the north of Huguang River are basically impossible to defend once our army withdraws. If we can't defend these three prefectures, the entire Huguang will basically be gone.

It is precisely because of these considerations that I have been hesitating to withdraw my troops. You have all fought for decades and should know that I am not exaggerating. You should also know how critical the current situation is for the Qing Dynasty!

Upon hearing this, the Manchu nobles and generals in the tent looked at each other, not knowing what to say for a moment. The open and secret struggles between Duoduo and Dorgon for power and profit had seriously affected the decision-making of the Qing army.

But what they said is indeed irrefutable. The situation around Huguang, and even the situation in the whole world, is not worrying at all, and there are big problems everywhere.

This is the consequence of the collapse of the war situation. What happened to the important officials of the Southern Ming Dynasty is now being repeated here among the princes of the Qing Dynasty.

For thousands of years, the weaknesses of human nature have remained unchanged!

When Duoduo heard this, he looked at Dorgon. The other party had already made his point so clearly, so he naturally didn't want to argue any further.

Duoduo is not one of the great officials of the Southern Ming Dynasty. The situation is so critical now. Even if he gains power, he will still choose to put the overall situation first.

Moreover, Duoduo knew very well that this kind of matter could not be rushed and required long-term consideration.

Since he wants to win the support of others, to get them to do things for him, or even to risk their lives for him, he must give something in exchange and provide enough benefits so that it can last.

Now, countless eyes in the army are staring at him. He cannot show too much selfishness in matters concerning the fate of the Qing Dynasty, otherwise Dorgon will find a handle against him.

Seeing the subtle changes in Duoduo's expression, Dorgon immediately said:
"We must dispatch reinforcements to Wuchang. In addition to the existing Green Camp troops, we will send another 10,000 soldiers to the city. We will also draw some troops from each flag to gather 3,000 elite soldiers to reinforce them."

"This amount of troops may not be enough to go out of the city to fight back against the Ming army. By then, Wuchang City will surely be breached in less than three months, just like Jingzhou City." Tan Tai said worriedly. He remembered Duoduo's promise, and thought that Wuchang City might not be as strong as Jingzhou City.

However, upon hearing this, Dorgon shook his head and said:
"If there are more, the city will run out of food and fodder. Once our army withdraws, Wuchang City must be prepared to hold out for at least six months, and food and fodder must be guaranteed for six months. We don't have that much food in stock right now."

"This is already the maximum reinforcement. Emperor Ming destroyed the food supply route to the north. It's really abominable." Duoduo cursed and then said:
"Emperor Ming was able to win the battle of Jingmen Prefecture. After the two battles in Jingmen Prefecture, the number of elite soldiers under his command should have exceeded 30,000, or even 40,000. The number of those less elite soldiers probably exceeded 100,000.

Even so, if Emperor Ming concentrated all these troops to besiege Wuchang, it would only be 150,000 to 35,000, four times the number, not a complete advantage. As long as there are sufficient food and grass, Wuchang can be held for half a year without any problem.

"In addition to food, fodder, and wages, we must also leave some of our muskets, artillery, ammunition, and armor for Wuchang. This way, we can retreat north faster."

Dorgon sighed and finally had to admit:
"We underestimated the enemy before. Our judgments on the Emperor's abilities, the situation of the Ming army in the south, and their strength were all biased."

(End of this chapter)