The New Destiny of the Ming Dynasty

After Huang Taiji asked the question, Kong Youde, Geng Zhongming, and Shang Kexi immediately left their seats and knelt down in the open space in the hall.

These three men, all now granted the title of Prince, had long since shaved their heads and tied their hair into braids, sporting the spiky tails of the Manchus. However, they were all wearing warm hats in the style of the Qing dynasty, so they didn't look too strange.

Kong Youde was tall and strong, with a rugged appearance, a square face, a thick beard, thick eyebrows and big eyes, and he looked quite dignified.

Geng Zhongming is of medium build, with a sharp, angular face, high cheekbones, scars on his forehead and cheekbones, sparse eyebrows, narrow eyes, a hooked nose, and a mustache, giving him a sinister and cruel appearance.

Shang Kexi, on the other hand, was short and stout, with a round face and a faint smile on his face. He had a kind and gentle appearance.

Now, upon hearing Huang Taiji call their names, the three men quickly stepped forward and knelt down. The burly, dark-skinned man, Shi Tingzhu, upon hearing Huang Taiji's question, also hurriedly trotted out of the ranks, flicked his horse-hoof sleeves, and knelt on the ground alongside the Three Princes.

However, although these people were kneeling side by side, they looked at each other and no one spoke first.

"This campaign has lasted for over two months. The previous attack on Jinzhou failed, and now the attack on the small town of Songshan has been delayed for many more days, wasting countless provisions. Our Manchu and Han soldiers have suffered thousands of casualties, yet we have only captured a dozen or so fortified villages and watchtowers. Compared to the large army that bypassed Mongolia and marched south into Ming territory last winter, don't you feel ashamed?!"

Seeing that none of the Han army generals he relied on were speaking, Huang Taiji knew that Songshan City might not be able to be taken in the short term, so he stopped worrying about it.

"Now that the army's provisions have been burned, we can no longer linger here! Fortunately, a few days ago, I ordered Prince Li to escort provisions to the front lines in Jinzhou, Songshan, Xingshan, and Tashan. If each unit is frugal, they should be able to hold out for about ten more days! If we cannot capture Songshan within ten days, then the army will have to return to Shengjing!"

Huang Taiji, having said this, looked at the kneeling San Shun Wang and Shi Tingzhu and said to them, "Before you return to the capital, you must seize the opportunity and launch several more fierce attacks! If the Tianyou Army and Tianzhu Army can break through the city, I will promote you to the rank of Prince! If the Wuzhen Chaoha Camp can break through the city first, everyone will be promoted to the third rank!"

After Huang Taiji finished speaking, the hall erupted in uproar, especially the voices of Prince Wuying, Ajige, and Prince Raoyu, Abatai.

When the three princes were initially granted the title of Prince of the Third Rank, it caused a great deal of controversy among the Manchu Eight Banners and the Mongol Eight Banners. Now, Huang Taiji says that as long as Songshan City is captured, these three will be promoted to the rank of Prince of the First Rank. Everyone is envious.

Why is everyone so envious and jealous of Sam Soon-soon now?

The real reason is that since these three men surrendered to the Manchus, they have not made any outstanding military achievements, and so far, they have not even captured a decent city.

Ajige and Abatai had already conquered countless cities of the Ming Dynasty. Although they would kill, burn, and loot before retreating and never occupying a city for long, they had made great military achievements. However, they were still only princes.

After Huang Taiji spoke and made a vow to San Shun Wang and Shi Tingzhu, he saw the assembled princes and ministers in discontent and resentment, and felt a surge of irritation. Looking at Ajige and Abatai, he said again:

"After today's meeting, Prince Wuying will return to the front of Tashan Army, and Prince Raoyu will return to the front of Xingshan Army. They will then discipline their troops, send more scouts south, and set up an ambush for ten days. If the Ming reinforcements from Ningyuan do not arrive within ten days, you will slowly retreat and return to your camp!"

"As for Prince Li, today you will lead your troops, along with Kong Youde, Geng Zhongming, Shang Kexi, and Shi Tingzhu, to the front lines at Songshan to oversee the overall situation! You must urge all units to fight hard in the attack on the city!"

"Dorobele Nikan, today select a group of Alihachaoha from your subordinate Bordered Yellow Banner Bayara Battalion to scout the mouth of the Xiaoling River! If you find any trace of the Ningyuan Vanguard Battalion, immediately lead the Bordered Yellow Banner Bayara to annihilate them! Under no circumstances should we allow the Ningyuan Vanguard Battalion to garrison at the mouth of the Xiaoling River, or let them escape alive!"

"If this advance detachment of the Ming army truly comes from the sea this time, and we allow them to come and go freely, won't our Great Qing's Liaodong coast be constantly under defense and prepared for any eventuality?!"

Huang Taiji is now basically certain that this so-called "Ningyuan Vanguard Battalion" must have come from the sea, because, as Prince Li Daishan said, there is no other reasonable explanation.

But it was precisely because he made this judgment that he became even more worried. If the Ming army tasted the sweetness of launching surprise attacks by sea, he would be unable to defend against the vast Liaodong coastline in the future!

In previous years, he had painstakingly schemed to get the Ming Dynasty to abandon the Dongjiang Town, which was entrenched at sea. Now, if another such force were to emerge, his strategy to attack the Ming Dynasty would have to be postponed again.

From receiving the news of the burning of the supply camp late at night, to convening a meeting of the commanders of all the armies, and finally calming down and making these decisions, only three hours had passed.

However, Huang Taiji had a very clear understanding of the whole story – this Ningyuan Vanguard Battalion was not a big deal, but they had set a bad precedent, so he had to do everything in his power to wipe out this Ming army force and not open the door for the Ming army to launch another surprise attack from the north by sea.

After Huang Taiji made his decision, he immediately dismissed the meeting tent, and everyone who had received the decree went to their respective camps to carry out Huang Taiji's decision in a hurry.

Dorobele Nikan, now one of the banner ministers of the Bordered Yellow Banner, led the most elite Bayara Battalion of the Manchu Bordered Yellow Banner on this trip south.

During Nurhaci's time, the Bayara soldiers were elite troops temporarily organized when they went on campaigns. They were specifically tasked with protecting the leaders of the Tatars or princes and nobles, somewhat similar to the private soldiers and retainers of Ming generals.

However, with the rise and establishment of the Later Jin dynasty, the Bayara soldiers, originally a temporary battalion composed of carefully selected "banner soldiers" from the Eight Banners during wartime, gradually evolved into a standing battalion composed of elite troops drawn from the Eight Banners. They were directly managed by the banner lords themselves, or led by someone trusted by the banner lord.

After Huang Taiji came to power, the Bayara camps of each banner gradually expanded and the number of people increased. The level of elite soldiers also began to vary. So when the army went out to fight, Huang Taiji ordered that each banner should select the most elite and skilled Bayara soldiers from its own Bayara camps to serve as the vanguard of the army!

This group of elite, best-of-the-best Bayara soldiers is called "Gabu Xixian Chaoha"!

To put it bluntly, these things were all learned from the Ming Dynasty's official army. The so-called "Gabuxi Xianchaoha" is somewhat similar to the night scouts in the Liaodong-Border Army.

However, the "Gabuxixian" Chaoha of the Manchu Eight Banners are not yet established as separate battalions because the number of people in each banner is not large. In terms of affiliation, they still belong to the Bayala Battalion of each banner and are only considered as the outposts of the Bayala Battalion of each banner.

Meanwhile, Dorobele Nikan, having received Huang Taiji's order, returned to his camp and prepared to send a scout, "Gabuxi Xianchaoha," to the mouth of the Xiaoling River. Just then, he encountered Arsalan, who was returning from a patrol west of Jinzhou and handing over his token.

Nikan immediately conveyed Huang Taiji's order to him, and also ordered Arsalan to take the "Gabuxi Xianchaoha" that had returned from the patrol eastward to investigate the situation.

The world is so strange and coincidental. The "Gabushi Xianchaoha" of Al-Salan, which Yang Zhen had encountered in history, is now heading towards him again.

The "Gabushi Xianchaoha" led by Arsalan was actually not many people, only 160, which is only half a Niru. However, in history, they defeated the rescue team led by Yang Zhen.

Not only did they eventually kill Yang Zhen and Li Lu at the foot of Lü Hong Mountain, but during the pursuit after defeating Yang Zhen's troops, they also killed Xu Changyong and captured Zu Keyong.

The elite and fierce nature of this "Gabu Xixian Chaoha" team is evident from this!

However, when Arsalan received the military order and led his 160 "Gabushi Xianchaoha" out of the Songshan camp and rode away at full speed, Yang Zhen was completely unaware of the arrival of this "nemesis" who had haunted him in history.