Strategy for the Revitalization of the Late Ming Dynasty

Chapter 302 Liaodong
In Dengzhou City, inside the former governor's headquarters, Zhu Cilang carefully read the document in his hand with a solemn expression. He then handed it to Zhang Huangyan beside him and said calmly:

"The situation is basically what we expected, and it's time to take action."

Zhang Huangyan took the document, which was exactly the general situation of the transportation, terrain and deployment of the Qing army in the Fuzhou area obtained by Lin Erbao after he personally led his men ashore for several days of reconnaissance.

The terrain and enemy situation in the Fuzhou area have been confirmed and analyzed many times, and the information now before them is particularly critical.

Zhang Huangyan's eyes were calm. After quickly flipping through the book, he nodded and said:
"The terrain in the Fuzhou area is flat, which is very conducive to the mobility of the Qing cavalry.

But as it stands now, their troops are clearly insufficient, and they probably dare not easily leave the city to engage in a field battle with our army.

We have a considerable advantage in this battle."

After hearing this, Chang Denggui felt a little relieved. He took the document and carefully examined the map and the enemy's deployment.

The document marked the terrain of Fuzhou and its surrounding areas, the paths of rivers, as well as the number of Qing army outposts and garrisons. These were all first-hand information obtained by Lin Erbao through risky reconnaissance.

Zhu Cilang looked at everyone, his tone slightly worried:
"However, Fuzhou is far from the banks of the Shahe River, has an open terrain, and is heavily guarded. A considerable number of Qing troops are stationed in the city.

Although they don't have many troops, they rely on the city's defense facilities and will probably hold their ground. If we rashly go ashore and set up artillery to attack, I'm afraid it will be difficult to be effective for a while.

We must come up with a clever strategy to achieve twice the result with half the effort, and in this situation, an insider is crucial."

"exactly!"

Zhang Huangyan agreed with this and added:

“Furthermore, if Qing reinforcements are dispatched from Gaizhou, the Eight Banners and Baoyi soldiers in Fuzhou City will not be enough to resist our offensive for a long time.

But if we can hold out for a day or two before support arrives, that will be enough to delay our plans."

Chang Denggui's eyes narrowed slightly, and after a moment's deep thought, he continued:
“Gaizhou is only three or four hours’ march away from Fuzhou, and the Qing army’s scouts can move back and forth quickly.

If they gathered their troops, with the Eight Banners soldiers' dispatching capabilities, they could arrive to assist Fuzhou in half a day at most.

In this way, if the siege troops do not fight quickly, they will most likely be caught in a pincer attack before the enemy reinforcements arrive."

Zhu Cilang nodded slightly. This was exactly the important reason why Dorgon wanted to send troops to garrison Fuzhou - using Fuzhou as an outpost, he could quickly provide support to Gaizhou and at the same time deter the main force of the Ming army.

If the Qing army could quickly provide support, the Ming army could also advance to the outskirts of Gaizhou within three or four hours. In this offensive and defensive battle, every step was crucial to the overall situation.

"The feint attack on Fuzhou is of great importance," Zhang Huangyan said solemnly.
"If we want to capture Gaizhou and weaken the main force of the Qing army, the feint attack on Fuzhou must be realistic to attract the attention of the Qing army in Gaizhou and shake their defenses."

Zhu Cilang strongly agreed with Zhang Huangyan's suggestion. He knew that this feint attack would have a significant impact, so he nodded slowly and gave the order:
"In that case, Xuanzhu, you will personally lead the troops and lead 20,000 troops together with Chen Fu to besiege Fuzhou City. Ensure that the momentum is so great that the enemy will have no time to worry about Gaizhou."

"I obey your command!" Zhang Huangyan said with a solemn expression, bowing his hands in agreement, his eyes showing his determination to win.

"Li Jinjun," Zhu Cilang continued to order:
"You will lead three thousand naval forces to assist in the battle and help Xuan Zhuo to create a large-scale offensive for our army and enhance our prestige to ensure the smooth implementation of the feint attack."

"Yes!" Li Xiaolin accepted the order without hesitation and immediately made a battle plan in his mind.

As a flexible and mobile force, the navy not only helped the army to besiege the city, but also put pressure on Fuzhou's defense line, forcing the Qing army to be unable to take care of itself.

Zhu Cilang turned to the other generals and continued:
"Except General Gao, who will stay behind to guard the rear and be on call for orders in case of any emergency, the rest of the generals will follow me and lead the troops north to pretend to attack Gaizhou.

We must bluff the Qing army in Gaizhou, making them suspect that our army is attacking Gaizhou, thus distracting their attention."

Upon hearing this, all the generals bowed their hands and accepted the order with excited expressions. The atmosphere suddenly became solemn and full of fighting determination.

Zhang Huangyan and others quickly left the commander's mansion, prepared their troops, and each plunged into the intensive preparations.

When Zhang Huangyan walked out of the Marshal's Mansion, he looked at the distant sky. The night was dark and the stars were like torches, which seemed to indicate that the next battle would be difficult and long, but also full of hope.
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In the next three days, two armies composed of the main force of the new army quickly assembled, taking advantage of favorable wind direction to cross the Bohai Sea, head north along the coastline, and head straight for Fuzhou and Gaizhou City, preparing to defeat the Qing army's defense line in Liaodong in one fell swoop.

The army led by Zhu Cilang personally advanced extremely quickly in the Gaizhou area. The vanguard Zhang Mingzhen took the lead and led the troops to march along the foothills of the Liaoxi Corridor, successfully defeating three small-scale Qing troops on the way.

The mountain corridor is difficult to access, providing a covert but effective route for advancement.

Unlike the flat coastal areas to the west and the vast Liaozhong Plain to the north, there are many mountains to the east of Gaizhou City and the terrain is complex.

The Qing army used these natural barriers to set up a large number of obstacles everywhere, trying to slow down the march of the Ming army and ensure that the retreat route to Haizhou would not be easily cut off.

Although these deployments were complicated, they were actually one of Dorgon's strategies to divide the troops, intended to divert the attention of the Ming army, and not to engage in a decisive battle east of Gaizhou City.

Most of the troops deployed by Dorgon here were bondservants, and the Eight Banners soldiers only supervised the battle in the rear. The resistance on the front line was not strong, so the Ming army's advance encountered almost no substantial resistance. Most of the Qing troops retreated northward after a brief symbolic resistance.

After breaking through these simple defense lines one after another, Zhang Mingzhen's vanguard troops quickly advanced to the outskirts of Gaizhou, and Zhu Cilang's main force quickly followed suit.

Not long after, Chang Denggui led the left-wing troops to the Lujiao area, echoing the main force and supporting the offensive on the front line.

The Ming army's supply and logistical support mainly relied on sea transportation, while the civilians were busy setting up camps, pulling oars, building fortifications and transporting supplies. The logistical support for all materials and troops was strict and efficient.

With the massive support of civilians, the Ming army's marching speed significantly exceeded the Qing army's expectations, creating favorable conditions for the next offensive.

Outside Gaizhou City, the north and south banks of the Qing River are flat and wide, which is most suitable for cavalry units to launch a frontal charge.

To the east were mountains, to the west was the sea, and to the north was a large river. At that time, the Qing River was deep, and wading was extremely risky, almost a life-or-death struggle.

Dorgon set this place as an ideal location for a decisive battle, intending to rely on the favorable terrain to fight a decisive battle with the Ming army.

He knew very well that as long as he could effectively prevent the Ming army from breaking through Qinghe, he could temporarily defend Gaizhou.

In order to lure the Ming army to continue approaching the south of Gaizhou City and step into the battlefield he carefully arranged, Dorgon ordered Jirgalang to lead thousands of elite Eight Banners armored soldiers and tens of thousands of baoyi soldiers to defend the south bank of Qinghe River, pretending to put up a slight resistance.

After a small-scale firefight between the Qing army and the Ming army on the south bank, Jirgalang retreated as ordered and then burned the pontoon bridges and ferry crossings on the Qing River to block the Ming army's direct crossing route.

This series of defensive actions was undoubtedly a false alarm, intended to paralyze Zhu Cilang's army and make the Ming army mistakenly believe that the Qing army had lost control of the area south of Qinghe River. In fact, the intention was to lure the Ming army into a preset encirclement.

On a tactical level, Dorgon used these illusions to prevent Zhu Cilang's army from realizing his true intentions, laying the groundwork for a large-scale decisive battle in the future.

As the pontoon bridge was burned, the Qing army quickly withdrew to the north bank, while the Ming army also advanced to the south bank of the Qing River as planned and quickly set up camp and reorganized.

Zhu Cilang directed his troops to deploy on alert, ordered the construction of a temporary pontoon bridge, and began deploying defenses along the riverbank to counter any possible surprise attack. Zhang Mingzhen dispatched several scouts to scout along the riverbank to ensure there were no Qing ambushes.

By nightfall, the Ming army's temporary pontoon bridge had been initially completed, and some troops successfully crossed the river, preparing for the subsequent offensive.

However, the Qing army had already set up an ambush on the north bank, with a large number of cavalry lying in ambush on the flat riverbank, taking advantage of the terrain and waiting for an opportunity to strike. Dorgon personally commanded the north bank, planning how to destroy the Ming army's river crossing position in one fell swoop.

At this moment, Zhu Cilang's decision is particularly critical. The situation on the riverbank battlefield is complicated and a tough battle is inevitable.

To ensure the steady advancement of the troops, he ordered the main force to cross the river in batches to avoid being put on the defensive by a surprise attack by the Qing army.

At the same time, he ordered Zhang Mingzhen's vanguard troops to penetrate the mountains in the east to find out whether the enemy had any weak points for ambush so as to carry out a two-wing attack.

This decisive battle determined the success or failure of Gaizhou City, and even concerned the future ownership of Liaodong. Both sides assembled a large number of elite troops with high morale. The sound of war drums on both sides of the river was deafening, and the atmosphere was filled with murderous intent.

Dorgon also knew that the situation could not be delayed any longer, so he decided to take advantage of the cold winter weather and the geographical advantages of fighting on his home soil to launch an attack on the Ming army as soon as possible.

Zhu Cilang chose to attack at this time because he saw that Dorgon could not withstand the pressure of a protracted war, and also to prevent the other side from continuing to delay time and miss the opportunity.

Along the Qing River, there are still newly built forts by the Qing army near the ferry, which serve as important facilities for observation and defense.

However, after a round of fierce bombardment, these originally solid fortifications were ruthlessly destroyed by the artillery fire of the Ming army's vanguard, and now only broken tiles and ruins are left on the ground.

The power of the artillery fire caught the Qing army off guard, and the traces left behind were clearly visible, like a ruin.

The main force of the Ming army arrived soon after, and the ferry and pontoon bridge were quickly repaired with the efforts of tens of thousands of civilians.

The bridges and ferries that had just been destroyed by the Qing army were completely renovated and once again became the main routes leading to the north bank.

Soon, the Ming army set up camp on the south bank of the Qing River. However, they did not rush to cross the river to fight a decisive battle with the Qing army, but instead took a steady approach and prepared for the decisive battle.

Zhu Cilang was well aware of the importance of opportunities for battle. His patience lay in waiting for Zhang Huangyan on the southern front, Chang Denggui on the western front, and Li Xiaolin on the eastern front to put pressure on the Qing army at the same time, gradually weakening the opponent's troop deployment and forcing the Qing army to divide its forces everywhere.

When the time is ripe and the Qing army is in a passive position, Zhu Cilang will launch a river crossing operation to break the deadlock.

As the ferry and pontoon bridge on the Qing River were repaired, the Ming army immediately sent a large number of scouts to conduct reconnaissance on the north bank of the Qing River and frequently harassed the enemy.

The Ming army's scouts on the south bank were large in scale. In comparison, the Qing army's reconnaissance force on the north bank had only thirty or forty people, which seemed to be stretched to the limit.

The reconnaissance battle on the south bank was extremely fierce. In order to find out each other's movements, the scouts of both sides frequently went deep into each other's positions, and small-scale conflicts became commonplace.

Standing on a tall watchtower on the south bank of the Xinqiang River, Zhu Cilang looked out at the vast plain on the north bank. The land was now covered with withered yellow weeds, swaying in the wind.

Chang Denggui stood beside him, waiting for the emperor's questions.

Zhu Cilang stared for a moment, and finally said:

"What is the current situation of the Qing army's troop deployment in various places? Are there any new deployments?"

Chang Denggui immediately bowed and reported in a serious tone: "Your Majesty, scout reconnaissance shows that the main force of the Qing army in Gaizhou is concentrated in ten camps near the city.

Aside from a small number of patrol scouts, the enemy has significantly reduced the deployment of other forces, clearly tightening their defenses and holding firm."

Zhu Cilang nodded as he listened, his eyes still fixed on the distance, as if he was thinking about something.

He was silent for a moment and continued to ask:

"How's the situation on the Western Front?"

Chang Denggui replied:
"Zhang Mingzhen reported that the Qing troops on the western front are slowly shrinking toward the north of Gaizhou and retreating gradually, seemingly intending to retreat and defend, but their exact strength is still unknown.

The terrain on the western front was steep, and General Zhang was hesitant to advance too far, fearing that the Qing army would use the difficult terrain to ambush him.

Zhu Cilang thought for a moment and said calmly:

"The Qing army on the western front was primarily composed of baoyi soldiers, with only one in ten regular Eight Banner soldiers remaining. Although they refused to surrender easily, their overall combat effectiveness was limited.

As long as nothing unexpected happens, Zhang Mingzhen should be able to advance as planned and gradually approach the predetermined strategic position."

Before he finished speaking, he turned and walked down the platform, his back to Chang Denggui, his steps steady and powerful.

When they reached the bottom of the stairs, Zhu Cilang paused for a moment and asked calmly:
"In your opinion, if we cross the river, where on the north bank should we camp to best ensure our army's strategic advantage?"

Chang Denggui listened, thought for a moment, and replied:

"Your Majesty, in my humble opinion, if you want to gain a stable foothold after crossing the river, you can choose a slightly higher hilly area on the north bank.

The terrain there is open, which is conducive to observing the surrounding movements. It can not only resist the Qing army's surprise attacks, but also facilitate the Ming army's assembly and attack.

However, the specific location still needs to be further determined based on the enemy's scout activity area."

Upon hearing this, Zhu Cilang nodded slightly, with a thoughtful look on his face.

He knew that it would not be easy to seize the north bank under the enemy's heavy defense, but the opportunity was fleeting and he had to seize it properly.

The foothold after crossing the river is crucial, as it is related to whether one can gain a firm foothold and the next strategic advancement of the Ming army.

At this time, there was a sound of horse hooves in the distance.

A messenger came riding up, stopped in front of Zhu Cilang and saluted, saying:
"Your Majesty, the latest reconnaissance report indicates that the Qing army's vanguard troops have begun moving southwards towards the north bank, apparently to strengthen defenses along the river."

Zhu Cilang smiled slightly, as if everything was under control.

"Pass the order down, have all units remain alert and refrain from any rash actions. Continue scouting and wait for the opportunity."

Chang Denggui responded and went to convey the order.

Zhu Cilang turned around and looked at the rolling water of the Qing River in the distance, and a blueprint of the battle situation gradually formed in his mind. Although the defense on the north bank was heavy, the enemy forces were scattered. Once he launched a surprise attack, the Qing army's defense line would inevitably find it difficult to quickly return to defense.

What's more, with the support of comrades on all fronts, it is impossible for the Qing army to take care of all directions.

As night gradually fell, bonfires were lit in the Ming army camp. Zhu Cilang still stood on the watchtower, staring at the dark shadow on the opposite bank.

His eyes were sharp and calm, and his mind was already carefully planned.

He murmured to himself, "When the time comes, the barrier of the Qing River will no longer be an obstacle."

(End of this chapter)