Chongzhen's domineering

Chapter 309 Playing to Strengths and Avoiding Weaknesses: Tai Chi Retreat (Part 2)
Would Huang Taiji wait for the Ming army in Liaodong to encircle and annihilate him?

This is naturally unlikely.

He was well aware that the situation in Liaodong was extremely unfavorable for them, and the fall of Shenyang and Fushun Pass was only a matter of time.

To do something knowing it's impossible is the idea of ​​a pedantic scholar. He's not a pedantic scholar; he didn't even have the idea of ​​defending Shenyang and Fushun Pass to the death!
If he were to defend Shenyang and Fushun Pass to the death, he would be doomed. Not only would his clansmen in the city die, but the 70,000 to 80,000 cavalrymen he had painstakingly built up could all perish.

Moreover, there is no point in defending Shenyang and Fushun Pass to the death.

The land on the north bank of the Hun River is no longer arable, so why is he still guarding Shenyang City and Fushun Pass?

In this situation, anyone who isn't an idiot should think of other solutions.

He wasn't stupid; naturally, he wouldn't just hold onto Shenyang and Fushun Pass and wait for the Ming army to come and take care of them.

He's been trying to find a solution the whole way.

After galloping for more than half a month, the Jurchen cavalry finally arrived at Yuci.

However, he did not enter the city; instead, he ordered his army to set up a large camp on the plain more than ten miles north of Yuci City.

He seemed to want to attack Yuci City, but in fact he was warning the Hanzhong army that reinforcements had arrived and they should get out of there!

Whether the Hanzhong army will be wiped out like last time is still unknown, but Fan Yongdou has come running over eagerly.

That afternoon, around dusk, as the sun was setting, the Jurchen army had just set up camp when hundreds of horse-drawn carts filed out of Yuci City, fully loaded with grain, heading north.

Inside the command tent, Huang Taiji was already seated cross-legged in the main seat, awaiting orders.

Not long after, Fan Yongdou strode in, cupped his hands and bowed, saying, "Greetings, Great Khan."

Huang Taiji nodded slightly, then pointed to the guest seat on the left and said, "Thank you for your hard work, please sit down."

Fan Yongdou quickly went over and carefully sat down cross-legged.

Huang Taiji seemed completely unhurried. He immediately ordered a large amount of roasted mutton, boiled beef, and stewed mutton soup to be served. He then offered Fan Yongdou a cup of mare's milk wine before calmly asking, "Yongdou, what is the situation in Liaozhou and Qinzhou?"

Gao Yingxiang was almost at his breaking point.

Fan Yongdou repeatedly expressed his gratitude: "Thank you for coming to our aid, Great Khan. Liaozhou and Qinzhou are still holding out. However, the Hanzhong army's offensive is very fierce. If it weren't for the Great Khan's cavalry coming to our aid, those useless rebels probably wouldn't have been able to hold out for long."

I'm not here to help you for nothing.

Huang Taiji nodded slightly and then asked, "Have you prepared the grain and pig iron?"

Of course, we wouldn't dare shortchange you.

Fan Yongdou nodded repeatedly and said, "Great Khan, the 500,000 shi of grain is stored in Yuci City. I have already brought 100,000 shi for you. The remaining 400,000 shi can be delivered to the Great Khan in the next day or the day after. We have also prepared 50,000 jin of pig iron. Wherever the Great Khan says to send it, we can send people there tomorrow."

You guys are really rolling in money.

Huang Taiji nodded slowly and said, "I'm afraid Liaodong can't be defended anymore, so you shouldn't send any more troops to Shenyang."

Ah!
Has the situation in Liaodong become so critical?
You actually said it couldn't be held!
Fan Yongdou was taken aback upon hearing this.

If Liaodong falls, can the Later Jin dynasty hold out?
What will they do if the Later Jin Dynasty can't hold on?
He was stunned for a long time before cautiously asking, "Great Khan, what do you plan to do?"

Of course, I have a plan.

Instead of answering, Huang Taiji asked, "You seem to have helped the Tumed tribe cultivate quite a bit of land before, didn't you?"

What does this mean?
Is the Khan angry that we helped the Tumed tribe?

This should be unlikely.

After all, when Altan Khan of the Tumed tribe rose to power, the Later Jin dynasty was still struggling in the Northeast and had no real strength.

Fan Yongdou thought about it carefully, and then suddenly realized, "Does the Khan mean that we should re-conscript people to farm in the Guihua City area?"

"You are indeed very clever." Huang Taiji nodded slowly and said, "Yes, the reason why Liaodong could not be defended is because the Liao River system is interconnected, and Ming warships can provide support everywhere."

The situation around Guihua City was different. There were no major rivers there, so Ming warships couldn't get in. If they wanted to attack Guihua City, they had no choice but to land on the main channel of the Yellow River and advance.

That area is flat and open. If the Ming army lands and advances north, it will be easy for us to cut off their supply lines. Therefore, I want to lead my people to migrate to the Guihua City area to temporarily avoid the Ming army's advance.

Do you want to take your people away from Liaodong?

Is there any hope left for the Later Jin dynasty?
Upon hearing this, Fan Yongdou couldn't help but show a hint of seriousness.

If the Later Jin dynasty is hopeless, they will be in big trouble.

The young emperor has now realized their connection with the Later Jin, and the Embroidered Uniform Guard is conducting a thorough investigation in the capital.

If the Later Jin dynasty can't hold out, the young emperor will probably send a large number of Imperial Guards to Shanxi to conduct a thorough investigation. What will they do then?
He thought about it carefully before cautiously asking, "Great Khan, is Liaodong truly indefensible?"

This may seem like nonsense, but it isn't.

He was asking if there was any hope for the Later Jin Dynasty to turn the tide.

He couldn't ask this question directly, so he used this tactful way to ask it.

Upon hearing this, Huang Taiji calmly replied, "Don't worry, we're just temporarily avoiding this situation."

You should also know the importance of timing, location, and people. As Mencius said, "Timing is not as important as location, and location is not as important as people."

Leaving aside the timing, Liaodong is currently extremely unfavorable to us. In addition, the military and civilians there have not yet fully submitted, which is also extremely disadvantageous to us.

The situation in Guihua City is different. The terrain there is quite advantageous to us. In addition, the Mongol tribes and the Ming army were originally enemies, so the people there are definitely loyal to us.

Furthermore, and more importantly, the vast grasslands beyond the Great Wall are impossible for the Ming army to block. Just as Altan Khan was able to rout the Ming army with 100,000 cavalry, we can similarly keep them scattered and in disarray.

Oh, so you want to emulate the Northern barbarians' invasion of the Central Plains!
That's indeed a good idea. Back then, with their cooperation, Anda Khan was able to directly attack the capital region of the Ming Dynasty.

Ultimately, through their schemes, the Ming Dynasty even signed a treaty with Altan Khan, a situation that was extremely favorable to them.

In other words, they could also follow the example of the Jiajing and Longqing reigns, inviting the Later Jin cavalry to invade, causing the Ming army to suffer heavy losses and ultimately forcing them to sign a treaty.

This would benefit them greatly.

The things the Later Jin cavalry plundered would definitely be sold to them at rock-bottom prices, allowing them to make a fortune.

There's also the matter of the border troops' provisions. The imperial ships simply can't reach the border towns in Shanxi, so the imperial court will have to rely on them for transport, which will generate another huge profit.

There's also the business of furs, cattle, sheep, and horses, which will become their exclusive business, making business incredibly easy.

Upon hearing this, Fan Yongdou thought about it carefully, and then said with admiration, "The Great Khan is wise, this plan is excellent."

Stop making me think of solutions! You need to think of solutions yourselves too. Waiting for the Hanzhong army to raid your base isn't a solution.

Huang Taiji bluntly asked, "Do you have any way to deal with the Hanzhong army? They attack every year. You can't expect me to lead the army to rescue them every year, can you?"
"It is dangerous for me to lead my troops to the rescue, because the rescue route is there, and the Ming army could easily find a way to intercept us halfway."

Uh, should we figure out a way to deal with the Hanzhong army?

The Hanzhong army is too fierce; we have no way to deal with them.

What do you mean by that?

Have you come up with a solution?
Fan Yongdou frowned and pondered for a while, then suddenly realized and said, "Great Khan, we really have no way to deal with the Hanzhong army. Do you have any good ideas?"

You guys are only good at undermining others from the shadows; you're really no good at fighting.

Huang Taiji shook his head slightly, then pointed out, "Didn't Zhang Xianzhong flee to Shaanxi? I ​​don't need to tell you where the Hanzhong army's stronghold is, do I?"

The stronghold of the Hanzhong Army was naturally in Hanzhong.

Oh, I see!
(End of this chapter)