Strategy for the Revitalization of the Late Ming Dynasty

Chapter 361 Showdown
However, Zhang Huangyan had already made up his mind. He frowned slightly, glanced around sharply, and his voice became low and powerful: "No, this battle must be fought!"

There was no hesitation in his tone. "If we don't fight the Qing army to the death now and block them inside the city, the main force of the Qing army will surely be hesitant and unable to make a decision. By then, the situation on the main battlefield will become increasingly complicated. We cannot let the situation fall into a deeper stalemate."

Zhang Huangyan's eyes grew more resolute, his voice sharp, "Everyone, there are only five or six thousand Manchu soldiers in the city, and the majority of the rest are bondservants. Those slaves are just wearing cotton armor and holding swords. What's there to be afraid of? We have over ten thousand elite soldiers, all battle-hardened veterans, plus five or six thousand auxiliary troops. With such a force, can't we fight the Tartars head-on?"

He glanced around and said without question, "These past few days, we've been deliberately showing weakness and paralyzing the enemy, aiming to lure them into an attack and a decisive battle. If we retreat now, everyone will see through our intentions. What will the soldiers think? What will His Majesty think of us?"

As Zhang Huangyan finished speaking, the atmosphere froze. He swept his gaze over each general and said in a deep voice, "We can't delay any longer. We can't give the enemy any breathing space. We must fight a direct battle with the Qing army, not only for victory, but also to show the entire army our determination and strength."

Anyone who dares to challenge the prestige of our Great Ming Army will pay the price! Everyone, the decisive battle will be tomorrow! Whether we win or lose, this battle must be fought!

At this moment, Gao Jie's heart was equally filled with eagerness. He knew that the opportunity before him was particularly important to him. More than any other general, he desperately needed to gain sufficient military merit to prove his worth. He also longed to directly defeat the Qing army in this battle, thereby enhancing his reputation and gaining Zhu Cilang's attention.

After all, he knew very well that if he could not achieve outstanding military exploits at critical moments, even if Zhu Cilang wanted to support him, it would be difficult for him to be truly promoted due to the limitations of his power.

Therefore, this battle concerns his future career, his reputation in the court, and even whether he can be truly relied upon by Zhu Cilang.

He stared at the map in front of him, making calculations in his mind, but the entire battle situation was confusing and the situation was changing rapidly. Any small negligence could lead to failure.

Zhang Huangyan stood beside Gao Jie and felt a sense of relief when he saw the generals in the camp fall silent. This silence showed that everyone was deep in thought, aware of the severity of the situation, and naturally filled with anxiety and pressure.

This is why Zhang Huangyan had to seize the opportunity at this moment. If he could use this moment to unify everyone's thoughts and build consensus on this basis, he could maximize the overall advantages of the army in the next battle.

"The situation in the east is currently unfavorable to the Tartars. Dorgon intends to withdraw troops here first, and then engage Your Majesty in a decisive battle. We must not let them succeed." Zhang Huang spoke in a firm tone, his gaze piercing as he issued orders to the generals: "The Tartars are expected to launch an attack tomorrow or the day after tomorrow. We must be fully prepared and patiently wait for them to reveal a flaw."

He did not rush to declare an attack, but instead relied on calm analysis and judgment to decide to defend himself and wait for the right time to act. He knew that the key at this time was not to take the initiative to attack, but to let the enemy expose a flaw first, so that he could strike back in one fell swoop.

After all, the true victory or defeat of a war does not depend solely on the number of troops, but more on who can seize the opponent's weaknesses and who can make accurate decisions at critical moments.

"At that time, I will personally lead a thousand cavalrymen and distribute them on both wings as the main offensive force. Gao Jie, you will personally command the firearms battalion to defend against the Qing army's attack, and Sun Zhi, you will command the rest of the soldiers to form a battle array to fight... When the time comes, we will block the Qing army's breakout." Zhang Huangyan's voice was low and powerful. His command and decision-making showed a high degree of strategic vision.

After hearing these arrangements, Gao Jie felt a heavy feeling in his heart. He understood Zhang Huangyan's judgment and decision, but he also knew that the success or failure of this war would not only depend on the implementation of the plan, but more on both sides' grasp of the timing.

Although the enemy and our side seemed evenly matched in strength, and even in some aspects, the Ming army had a slight advantage, the battlefield never played by the rules.

"On the morning of the fifth day after our army captured the Empress' Palace, the weather was gloomy. On the western foot of the low mountains east of Qinghe River in Gaizhou City, nearly 20,000 Qing troops had already formed a battle formation." Zhang Huangyan succinctly reported the enemy's movements.

As time went on, the situation became increasingly tense, and everyone's attention was focused on the war that was about to unfold.

Ever since the Ming army successfully captured the Empress's Palace, the situation has become increasingly uncertain. Luo Er's offensive has been temporarily contained, and Jirgalang's strategy of luring the enemy in Gaizhou has failed, allowing Zhang Huangyan and Gao Jie to successfully trap them within the city.

Under these circumstances, Dorgon's strategy seemed extremely weak, and he was in a dilemma. As the situation gradually turned unfavorable to him, Dorgon finally decided to bet everything on a decisive battle with Zhu Cilang, seeking an opportunity to reverse the situation in one fell swoop.

Zhu Cilang attached great importance to the battle against the Qing army, knowing full well that this battle would determine the future. Although Dorgon still possessed over ten thousand elite Eight Banners soldiers, thousands of new recruits from the Solon tribe and other tribes, and even vassal troops, and nearly ten thousand Green Camp troops of some combat effectiveness, the Ming army was not in the best position at this time.

Because he was fighting on the front lines, Zhu Cilang had to divide his troops to guard Gaizhou and Niangniang Palace, and the troops he could concentrate and mobilize did not have much advantage over Dorgon.

Although the strength of the Qing Dynasty was much weaker than before, and even only about 30% of what it was when it entered the Pass, the Ming army was facing multiple pressures at this time.

The defense of Gaizhou was not yet stable, the battle situation in Niangniang Palace was still unclear, and the Qing army did not stop. At this time, Zhu Cilang not only had to defend the outside line, but also had to consider how to deal with Dorgon's attack.

Faced with this complex situation, the strategic layout of Zhu Cilang and Zhang Huangyan is crucial. They must remain highly vigilant and accurately predict the next move of the Qing army.

In the next battle, if they can effectively utilize the defensive advantages of the firearms battalion, they may be able to determine the direction of the entire battle.

As the armies of the Ming and Qing dynasties gradually approached, the atmosphere of war became increasingly intense.

Zhu Cilang stood in front of the Ming army, calmly scanning the neat formations. His heart was calm. Although he was facing the threat of the Qing army's cavalry, he was already prepared for this battle.

In his opinion, no matter what, the Ming army's formation had been constructed to be impeccable, and the outcome of the current decisive battle was almost decided.

At the front of the army, three densely packed rows of musketeers formed a horizontal line, with upright postures and long muskets in their hands. Each of them had a focused expression, waiting for the first order to arrive.

This column was the vanguard of the Ming army's attack, its muskets providing formidable firepower support to the troops in the rear. Following closely behind were thirty crouching tiger cannons and fifteen four-pounders, arrayed in neat rows, their muzzles pointed into the distance. The crouching tigers were short and stable, while the four-pounders were more maneuverable. In front of each cannon, a large shield was placed on the ground, providing a first barrier against enemy arrows. The gunners were ready, each maneuvering to their duties: some grasped ignition forks, ready to ignite the gunpowder at a moment's notice; others busily loaded shells, cleaned the barrels, and adjusted the guns' positions.

Every detail was meticulously addressed to ensure maximum firepower. These dozens of artillery pieces formed part of Zhu Cilang's carefully orchestrated core firepower. Artillery power was greatly enhanced following the Ming army's firearms reforms. Thanks to Zhu Cilang's improved gunpowder formula, the range and firepower density of the Tiger Crouching Cannon and the Four-Pound Cannon in close combat were far greater than before.

Although the quality and formula of gunpowder were not perfect compared to later generations, it was a qualitative leap compared to the previous unreasonable black powder formula. The advantages of artillery would provide support for musketeers, making it difficult for the enemy to approach for a short period of time.

The Ming army's formation didn't rely solely on firepower support. Five thousand cavalry were deployed on each flank. These cavalry not only protected the formation but, at crucial moments, provided the main offensive force. Their rapid maneuverability and impact were a deadly blow that the Qing cavalry could not defend against. When the enemy launched an attack, the cavalry could quickly flank them, creating an encirclement.

At the core of the formation lay nearly six thousand elite regular troops, comprised of archers, spearmen, and sword and shield bearers. They were neatly arranged in the center, deployed in small square formations. Over a dozen small squares were strategically placed throughout the formation, each with a specific mission, and the overall formation was as solid as a rock.

This strength was the foundation for the Ming army to break through the enemy's defenses and launch effective strikes. Every soldier was meticulously trained, striving for perfection in everything from spear thrusts, bow and arrow shooting, to sword and shield blocking.

These soldiers were not only the backbone of the formation, but also the core of its combat effectiveness. After several days of reconnaissance, Zhu Cilang had fully grasped the enemy's movements. He knew that although the Qing army's cavalry was large in number, its firearms were relatively weak. In particular, the Qing army's firearms were far inferior to those of the Ming army, and it was clear that they had not yet fully adapted to the rhythm of modern warfare.

Zhu Cilang was not worried about the Qing cavalry. He knew that against the Ming army's sophisticated tactics and powerful firepower, the Qing cavalry would find it difficult to fully exploit their advantages. Moreover, the coordination of musketeers and artillery would create sufficient firepower suppression for the Ming army, thus undermining the Qing cavalry's mobility.

Of course, Zhu Cilang did not completely ignore the potential danger. To be on the safe side, he specially prepared a cavalry unit and a special force behind the army. The mission of these troops was to be on standby, ready to provide support or launch a surprise attack at any critical moment.

All of these arrangements demonstrate Zhu Cilang's profound understanding of war: war is not just a contest of strength, but also a contest of wisdom. Even if the enemy is powerful, if you can't fully utilize your advantages, you will still not be able to achieve ultimate victory.

Zhu Cilang did not order his soldiers to build fortifications, a decision he made after careful consideration. First, digging fortifications would consume a large amount of manpower and time, and the soldiers would be overworked and affected in combat readiness. Second, Zhu Cilang hoped to lure the enemy into an attack through his own initiative.

If he confronted the enemy head-on on the battlefield, the enemy would retreat, which was not the result Zhu Cilang expected.

He hoped to completely undermine the morale and confidence of the Qing army through a major battle. To achieve this goal, he had to force the enemy to make a decision.

Meanwhile, Dorgon on the other side was also making careful arrangements for the upcoming decisive battle. In order to enhance the combat effectiveness of his army, he chose a position with his back to the mountain, attempting to use the advantages of the mountain to suppress the enemy.

Although the remnants of the Changbai Mountains in Liaodong were not as steep as the main range, they still offered certain topographical advantages. Dorgon planned to feign a retreat at the right moment, luring the enemy deeper into his territory. Once the Ming army pursued him, he would use the mountain's slopes as cover to suddenly turn and counterattack.

At this point, the cavalry and infantry standing on the top of the mountain would have a far greater impact force than those on the flat ground. This strategy was Dorgon's trump card. However, Zhu Cilang was not in a hurry to judge the enemy's strategy. He knew that the victory or defeat of this battle often depended on patience and timing.

Dorgon's choice of fighting with his back to the mountain increased the Qing army's offensive power, but it also exposed the enemy's tactical dependence. If the Ming army could quickly see through and cleverly respond, the Qing army's advantage would be instantly shattered.

Zhu Cilang's eyes swept across the battlefield before him sharply. The flickering lights in the command tent illuminated his slightly furrowed brow. After arranging the army's formation, he stood up and walked outside, his gaze turning to the faintly visible Qing army camp to the east.

In the distance, the sky was gloomy, with low-hanging clouds shrouding the wilderness. A tense and silent atmosphere hung in the air. Across the vast grassland, the scouts of the two armies clashed once again, the skirmishes frequent and brief. Almost every time, the Ming cavalry feigned defeat, actively displaying weakness, seemingly testing the enemy's limits.

Although these small-scale encounters did not cause substantial damage to the two armies, they exposed the caution and vigilance of both sides.

Zhu Cilang knew that this situation had been going on for several days. Both sides were cautious and did not dare to rashly engage in large-scale conflict. After each confrontation, both sides quickly withdrew their troops, leaving behind a few corpses in the wasteland, and it seemed that there were not many casualties.

On the battlefield, the Ming army's cavalry was not as strong as that of the Qing army. Zhu Cilang knew this very well. If he rashly consumed the cavalry at this critical moment, it would inevitably affect the upcoming war.

Therefore, he strictly ordered his generals to avoid too much contact with the enemy cavalry as much as possible, conserve troops, and wait until the critical moment to launch a surprise attack and achieve a victory.

However, if the Qing army dared to cross the line and attempted to harass or launch a surprise attack, he would not show mercy and must give a swift and powerful counterattack.

Morale is vital to an army. Any act of not fighting back out of cowardice will sow the seeds of instability in the hearts of the soldiers.

Although Zhu Cilang had a clear mind, he did not underestimate Dorgon's tactical ability.

Although the Qing army failed to gain the upper hand in these small-scale confrontations, Zhu Cilang knew in his heart that the enemy before the Ming army was no easy opponent.

Dorgon was a very patient and calm general. Unlike some commanders who were eager for quick success, he would not easily launch large-scale battles for the sake of temporary victory.

Moreover, Zhu Cilang knew that Dorgon was also well aware of the difficulty of this war. He would not act rashly because of a momentary fluke. Instead, he was waiting for the opportunity to act.

(End of this chapter)