Strategy for the Revitalization of the Late Ming Dynasty

Chapter 296 Crossing the Sea
Inside Dengzhou Prefecture, the atmosphere in the temporary headquarters was solemn, and the silent air was filled with pre-war tension.

Zhu Cilang sat in the main seat, and beside him stood Zhang Huangyan, Zhang Mingzhen, Chang Denggui, Chen Fu, as well as the newly promoted Ma Bao and other important military officials, all with solemn expressions.

Everyone knows that the next battle is related to the fate of Liaodong.

As the emperor and commander-in-chief Zhu Cilang walked into the conference room, everyone stood up and bowed.

Zhu Cilang looked sharp, waved his hand for everyone to sit down, and walked to the center of the long table.

A detailed map of mountains, rivers, and passes was spread out on the table, marking the mountains, rivers, cities, passes, and main roads of Liaodong and Liaozhong.

Zhang Huangyan stepped forward, holding a slender bamboo stick, pointed to the strategic location north of Fuzhou City, and began to report the situation.

"Your Majesty, Generals, the battle report from the front has arrived. General Li's troops have achieved a major victory on Changsheng Island, annihilating over a hundred Qing troops on the island and seizing over twenty warships. They now have complete control of the sea area.

The Qing army attempted to counterattack and seize the island several times and tried to cross the sea three times, but was effectively blocked by the navy and failed each time.

The navy under Li Xiaolin was unstoppable. Tens of thousands of soldiers and more than a thousand ships blocked the sea like an iron barrel, causing the Qing army to suffer repeated setbacks and leaving them with no foothold.

Zhang Huangyan continued:
"In half a month, the decisive battle will begin in Fuzhou City. We will adopt a pincer attack from the north and south, attacking from Fuzhou and Gaizhou respectively, forcing the main force of the Qing army into a decisive battle."

He gently drew a line on the map with the bamboo stick in his hand, pointing to the movement of the Northern Army:

"The main force of the Northern Army consists of 25,000 men, including 7,000 naval soldiers and 18,000 infantry and cavalry. They are fully equipped with muskets, bows and crossbows, and cavalry, and are equipped with shields, armor, and more than 50 cannons.

The main commanders for this operation are Chang Denggui and Chen Fu. The army has made all preparations and will move up the coast, waiting for an opportunity to raid important strongholds near Gaizhou City in order to disperse the Qing army and contain the enemy forces in Liaozhong.

He paused, glanced at the generals in the hall, and continued:

"This step is crucial. If we can occupy the area around Gaizhou, we can cut off the transportation line between Fuzhou and Liaozhong, directly threatening the enemy's rear."

Zhu Cilang nodded, very satisfied with Zhang Huangyan's analysis. He turned to Chang Denggui and said in a deep voice:

"The Northern Army's mission is of paramount importance. We must ensure a successful strike. If the Qing army makes any unusual movements, we must report them immediately. We must not underestimate the enemy and act rashly."

Chang Denggui clasped his hands and said:
"Please rest assured, Your Majesty, I will definitely fulfill your mission!"

Then, Zhang Mingzhen stepped forward and reported on the progress of the Southern Route Army:
"Your Majesty, the Southern Route Army will march north from Dengzhou to Fuzhou, directly targeting the main force of the Qing army outside Fuzhou City.

Currently, the Southern Route Army totals 13,000 men, including well-equipped infantry, firearms, and crossbow battalions. Another 5,000 cavalry are on standby, and over 70 artillery pieces have been delivered to the front lines.

Zhang Mingzhen paused briefly at this point, his eyes steady.
"Tangma has already scouted the roads along the way and has a very clear understanding of the terrain. Once the army crosses the sea, we can directly attack Fuzhou City. In this battle, we must quickly gain an advantage and inflict a fatal blow on the enemy."

Zhu Cilang narrowed his eyes, thought for a moment, and then spoke:
"The Southern Army's target is Fuzhou City, so we must fight and win quickly. Zhang Mingzhen, your firearms battalion and cavalry battalion must assemble quickly when the battle begins and defeat the enemy in one fell swoop.

Remember, opportunities are fleeting and cannot be missed."

"Yes, Your Majesty!" Zhang Mingzhen responded without hesitation.

In the entire conference hall, all the generals obeyed silently, only Zhu Cilang's voice echoed in the silent air.

At this moment, every move of the Qing army was firmly controlled by Zhu Cilang. He knew very well that time was on his side - the longer the battle line dragged on, the more advantageous it would be for the Ming army, and it was only a matter of time before the Qing army was exhausted.

"Given the current situation, the Qing army is probably more anxious than us," Zhu Cilang said in a deep voice:
“They know that it will be difficult for our army to mobilize another 100,000 troops in the short term after the Central Plains War, but they also understand that once our army advances steadily, they will sooner or later fall into a passive position.

Dorgon knew that the situation in Liaodong was extremely unfavorable to him."

"Dorgon's situation at this time is indeed difficult."

Zhang Huangyan took over the topic:

"He knew he couldn't afford to lose this battle, otherwise he would lose everything, not only his position but also his life.

Therefore, he built a large number of fortifications outside Fuzhou and Gaizhou, setting up defenses everywhere, trying to delay time by clearing the countryside."

"He's making his last stand."

Zhu Cilang sneered:
"They've used the captured civilians to build a defense line, with sheep and horse walls, horse traps, and thorns everywhere. Do they think they can use these tactics to hold back our army? Naive."

“The Qing army was indeed heavily guarded,” Zhang Mingzhen added.
"Outside Gaizhou City, in particular, ten large camps were set up. Each camp had a deep ditch outside, and the inner side was a solid wooden wall with emplacements for guns. The sand was compacted and covered with caltrops.

Although the Qing army's defenses are complete, this waste of manpower and material resources is actually draining their strength."

Zhu Cilang nodded, thought for a moment and said coldly:
"It is wishful thinking for them to think that they can stop our army's advance with these fortifications.

The Qing army has been pushed into a corner. We just need to advance steadily and continue to delay the advance. The end of the Qing army is not far away."

The meeting continued in this serious atmosphere, with generals offering suggestions one after another, and the atmosphere was tense but orderly.

Everyone knew that this would be a battle that would determine the fate of the country, and every step they took would determine whether the Ming army could ultimately defeat the Qing army completely.

"Yeah!" Zhu Cilang nodded with satisfaction. He felt very relieved when he saw that the battalions had arrived at their designated locations according to plan.
"Keep talking!"

"Yes, Your Majesty!" Zhang Huangyan responded, pointing the bamboo stick in his hand at Gaizhou City and continuing his analysis:
"Given the low morale of the Qing army and Dorgon's usual cautious approach, our army judges that the decisive battle between the two armies will most likely take place in the flat area within fifty miles south of Gaizhou City.

After our army captures Fuzhou, it will gather in Yulinpu, Xiongyueyi and other places and advance in three directions.

The central route is the main force, commanded by Your Majesty personally, with a total of 21,000 troops, including 5,000 reserve troops and 37,000 logistics laborers. It will be the core force of this battle.

The eastern route is the flank, commanded by this general, with 13,000 soldiers and 18,000 logistics laborers, equipped with a small number of muskets and artillery, and 3,000 cavalry. It is responsible for restraining the flank of the Qing army, preventing the enemy from encircling it, and supporting the main force in the middle when necessary.

The Western Route is also a flank, commanded by General Ren, with 12,000 troops and 15,000 civilian laborers. Its mission is to contain the Qing army and ensure that the flank of the main force in the central route is not threatened.

Zhang Huangyan spoke with certainty and was full of confidence in this battle.

However, after listening to this, Zhu Cilang thought for a moment and suddenly interrupted with a wave of his hand:

"The deployment on the Eastern Front needs some slight adjustments."

Zhang Huangyan was stunned for a moment and asked quickly:

"What are your instructions, Your Majesty?"

A trace of calm thought flashed across Zhu Cilang's eyes:

"Ma Bao, you will lead 5,000 reserve troops and deploy them on the eastern flank near the mountains.

There is a high possibility that the Qing army will make a detour here, so we must defend it strictly and not allow the enemy to attack us from a detour."

Ma Bao immediately accepted the order and said in a deep voice, "Your Majesty is wise. I will definitely live up to your trust!"

Zhu Cilang nodded, turned his gaze to the sand table, and after thinking for a moment, he continued:
"Dorgon is a skilled opponent, and although his morale is low, he will never launch a rash attack.

In this battle, we must not underestimate the enemy. Our goal is not only to defeat the Qing army, but also to weaken their momentum and ensure that they are unable to fight again."

Zhang Huangyan and other generals nodded in agreement when they heard this.

Zhu Cilang's plan not only took into account the immediate victory, but also focused on the long-term strategic layout, which was what they admired.

"Your Majesty, if the Qing army really makes a detour through the mountains, will our eastern front have enough troops to deal with it?" Chen Fu couldn't help but ask. Zhu Cilang smiled lightly:
"Our army is well prepared. If the Qing army chooses to break through the mountains, it will be exactly what we want.

At that time, the main forces on the eastern front will cooperate with the reserve forces to launch a counterattack when the enemy is unprepared, ensuring that they will inflict heavy damage on the enemy in one fell swoop."

Zhang Huangyan then continued:

"As a result, if the Qing army chooses to attack by force, they will face a three-pronged attack.

Their every move will be monitored by our army, whether it is a frontal breakthrough or a flanking maneuver, they will encounter our countermeasures."

"That's right," Zhu Cilang said firmly:

"In this battle, our army must not only fight steadily, but also fight thoroughly, not giving the Qing army any chance to counterattack.

The situation is now clear. The Qing army has lost the initiative. As long as we advance step by step and advance steadily, they will be defeated."

After hearing this, all the generals agreed.

The layout before us is already clear, and every step is based on a solid strategy that is impeccable.

Although the Qing army had tens of thousands of soldiers, it was already in a passive position in this carefully planned battle.

Then, Zhu Cilang looked at Zhang Huangyan again:

"General Zhang, once the encirclement of Fuzhou, Xiongyueyi, and other places is complete, immediately begin mobilizing troops from all directions to ensure smooth communication between the east and west wings.

At the same time, he ordered the navy to continue to blockade the sea routes, cutting off the Qing army's supply lines and preventing them from receiving reinforcements."

"Yes, Your Majesty!" Zhang Mingzhen was shocked and immediately accepted the order.

This battle was not only a standoff on land, but also a blockade on the sea. As long as the two fronts of land and sea were encircled, even if Dorgon had a million strong troops, he would be exhausted to deal with it.

After the military confidential officer finished recording the operational adjustments, Zhang Huangyan continued:

"After the adjustment, the main force on the central line will be led by the newly formed cavalry battalion led by Ma Bao as the vanguard, responsible for clearing out the Qing army's scouts and scouting the enemy situation.

In order to enhance combat effectiveness and deter the enemy, it was decided to add another thousand cavalrymen, increasing the total strength of the newly formed cavalry battalion to three thousand.

Once the main army is stable, General Ma will move to the flanks to divert and contain the enemy."

He paused for a moment, looked around at the generals, and continued:

"Then comes our main force. The left wing, led by me, with over 10,000 men, will be stationed on the left side. The right wing, commanded by General Chen, also has over 10,000 men and will be stationed on the right.

In the middle is the core force led by Your Majesty, with more than 20,000 people. The left and right wings will rely on Your Majesty's main force to form a solid triangular formation and echo each other.

Further back are our reserves, numbering approximately 5,000, ready to be deployed to the battlefield at any time depending on the specific progress of the battle."

"As for flank defense."

Zhang Huangyan continued:
"They set up their battle array in the mountains, ready to destroy or intercept the Qing troops coming to support them from Liaozhong.

This deployment is key to our flank defenses, ensuring continued pressure on the enemy and maintaining the intensity of our strikes."

He raised his voice and his tone became more serious:
“But it’s important to note that if the Qing army sends a large force to seize the flank positions, you must not engage with them.

It is imperative to retreat quickly and keep the Qing army in Gaizhou surrounded on three sides and one side open. Do not let the Qing army fight to the death in Gaizhou.

All actions of General Zhang's troops prioritize the safety of the main force's flanks. If the enemy approaches, retreat. If the enemy pursues, strike back when the opportunity arises."

Zhang Huangyan further elaborated on his plan:
"I will lead over 10,000 men to station in the Yulinpu area to disrupt the Qing army's deployment, contain its movements, and threaten its flanks, forcing it to engage in an early decisive battle with our main force."

He turned to the west and continued:
"General Chen's mission remains unchanged from the original plan. He is still primarily responsible for dispersing the Qing army's forces, pinning down its flanks, waiting for an opportunity to launch an attack, and supporting the main force's operations."

After hearing this, the generals nodded silently without any objection.

In fact, these battle plans have already been drawn up, and today we are just making the final confirmation and fine-tuning.

Zhang Huangyan turned and walked to the map, pointed at Gaizhou City, and continued:

"Currently, the Qing army in Gaizhou City has approximately 15,000 troops, including 5,000 to 6,000 Eight Banner soldiers, 5,000 to 6,000 bondservants, and over 3,000 remnants of the Green Camp.

The enemy commander is Jirgalang, and his generals include Yilder and others."

He went on to say:
"In the past month, the Tartars have strengthened the defenses of Gaizhou and set up ten large camps outside the city, with very tight defenses.

At the same time, the number of civilians transporting grain in and out of the city has suddenly increased. I guess the Tartars have detected our army's movements and have begun to strengthen their preparations for war."

As Zhang Huangyan explained, he used a bamboo stick to point to the various marks on the map:

"In addition, Qing cavalry have recently appeared in Yulinpu, Xiongyueyi, Yangguanbao, Beixinkou and other places. There are even troops stationed in these places with a scale of more than a thousand people.

Although the exact number is still unknown, most of them are Baoyi troops, and are probably cannon fodder used to test our military strength."

Zhu Cilang listened carefully, pondered for a moment, nodded with satisfaction, and said slowly:

"I understand the situation. Now let's talk about our logistical preparations."

"Yes, Your Majesty!" Zhang Huangyan responded immediately, then turned and pointed to Dengzhou City on the map with a bamboo stick, and continued to explain:
"Dengzhou City has now become our army's main material transfer hub, and most of the food, fodder, and weapons are continuously transported to the front line through here.

The army in Dengzhou has also expanded to 10,000 men, and there are now three transport routes from Dengzhou to Yulinpu, Xiongyueyi, and Daying to provide supplies, ensuring the needs of each unit.

He went on to detail the logistics of the supply:

“Among them, the line at Yulinpu is the most important because it directly connects to our army’s left wing and the main force in the center, so the supply of food and supplies cannot be interrupted for a moment.

The direction of Xiongyueyi is the supply line for the troops on the western front. We have paid special attention to strengthening the defense of these routes, and have deployed additional garrisons at various key nodes to prevent attacks by the Qing army.

Zhang Huangyan paused, his tone becoming more serious:

“Although the enemy appears to be defending cautiously, they may also be waiting for an opportunity to launch a surprise attack on our logistical supply lines.

To this end, we have deployed several light cavalry units, ready to respond to any enemy attacks."

Zhu Cilang listened carefully to Zhang Huangyan's report, his expression solemn:

"Only when logistics are secure can the front lines be worry-free. This operation is crucial, and each army must fulfill its responsibilities to ensure that supplies are not lost."

Zhang Huangyan concluded:
“To further ensure the safety of the supply lines, we plan to build more small forts along the way to form a cross-defense network so that we can quickly provide support if we detect enemy movements.

In addition, some of the army's supplies will be transported by sea as a precaution."

After hearing this, Zhu Cilang looked satisfied and said to the generals:

"Right now, our army is in a position to both attack and defend. As long as we ensure a stable logistics system, the Qing army will find it difficult to sustain. We are not far from final victory."

(End of this chapter)