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Man Dahai immediately sent scouts, but on this day, he rode a fast horse from Gule City in the southeast: "My lord, there is a secret report that Hetuala is gone!"

"Hetuala is gone?"

Man Dahai and Ai Xing'a looked at each other in blank dismay.

The main force of Saerhu's Datong Army is just west of Jiefan City.The cavalry division was attacking in the northeast of Jiefan City.

As for Hetuala, on the southeast side of Jiefan City, there is only one passage, that is, the Datong Army starts from Yahu Pass and goes all the way through the fortress.It is not easy for the army to travel there, at most there are thousands of partial divisions, and it will take a lot of time to break through many fortresses along the way.Moreover, Hetuala still has an army. Although throwing two or three thousand people to guard the pass, it can block tens of thousands of Datong troops.

Why didn't it disappear?

Man Dahai asked: "How many enemy troops captured the city?

The messenger shook his head: "I don't know."

Man Dahai asked again, "Where did the enemy come from?"

The messenger shook his head: "I don't know."

"Why don't you know anything?" Ai Xing'a was furious.

The messenger explained: "There are sporadic tribesmen who fled from Hetuala to Mardun. The guard of Mardun didn't dare to neglect, so he sent people to Gule City to report the news, and at the same time sent people to Tuala to inquire about the news. Those tribesmen who escaped, I don't know, I only know that there was a fire inside and outside the city in the middle of the night, and many southern barbarians took the opportunity to rush into the city."

"Where are the Queen Mother and Your Majesty?" Ai Xing'a asked.

"A member of the clan saw the Queen Mother and His Majesty fleeing from Beicheng." The messenger replied.

Ai Xing'a was silent, and Man Dahai didn't say a word either.

There are mountains everywhere here, and there are only three passages.

One is in the west, leading to Fushun via Saerhu.One is in the northeast, going out along the Hun River Valley.One is in the southeast, going out along the Suzi River Valley.

Now, the three passages and three directions are all Datong Army, and the Eight Banners Army has been surrounded!

After a long time, Man Dahai sighed: "Now there are only two ways. First, go to Sarhu for a decisive battle before the enemy's encirclement; second,

Before the enemy's encirclement, choose a way to lead the whole army to break through. "

"Let's break through the encirclement. Many of the warriors of the Eight Banners here have never fought a battle. Letting them go out of the city for a decisive battle is death." Ai Xing said.

Man Dahai asked again, "If we want to break through, should we go from the northeast or the southeast?"

Ai Xing: "The southeast is better. The number of enemy troops who captured Hetuala should not be too large. Going to the southeast is smoother, and you can still find the Queen Mother and Your Majesty."

Man Dahai actually wanted to go to the northeast, so he happened to go back to see if his old nest had been taken away.

But as Ai Xing'a said, the road to the northeast is more dangerous.There are not only the Datong Army, but also the rebellious Haixi Jurchen, and there may even be Mongolian soldiers who have taken refuge in the Datong Army.

After thinking about it, Man Dahai said, "Let's call the generals to discuss the matter. It doesn't matter if we are two."

A group meeting was held to discuss, and there was only one result, and that was to go southeast.

Because the family members of these Manchu nobles who participated in the meeting were either in Hetuala, or in Gule City and Mardun behind them.They have to go back and have a look, maybe they can meet their family members along the way, it is impossible to break out from the northeast with Man Dahai.

If Mandahai wants to control the entire army, he must listen to the opinions of these nobles.

The next day, Man Dahai sent a large number of scouts to Sarhu, pretending to fight a decisive battle with the main force of the Datong Army.They were ready to retreat during the day, and immediately slipped away after nightfall, rushing to join the Tartars in Gule City.

Counting the old and the weak, women and children, seven to eighty thousand Tartars, continued to travel southeast from Gule City.

On the other side of the main battlefield, Lu Xiangsheng, Hu Dinggui and others have been confused by illusions.The scouts of both sides continued to fight and wanted to occupy key areas to prepare for the next "decisive battle".

It's not that Lu Xiangsheng and Hu Dinggui are not smart enough, but they never expected that Yang Zhenqing would win Hetuala.

The task of Yang Zhenqing's partial division was to seize gold mines and ordnance stores, and by the way, threaten the Tartars' rear from the south, so that the Tartars could not devote all their troops to the main battlefield.

After traveling day and night, a few miles away, the main force of the Tartars will flee to Maldun.

Maldun was the place where Nurhachi became famous when he started his army.

At that time, Nurhachi's troops had less than a hundred armored soldiers.His brother-in-law was murdered by someone, so he took only a few brothers and risked his life to get back his brother-in-law's body.

Then he led troops to attack Mardun, where the enemy who killed his brother-in-law was there.

At that time, there were only three chariots, and Mardun Village was too steep to accommodate only one chariot.Nurhachi lined up three chariots in a long line, but all the chariots were destroyed.He rushed up single-handedly, shot through the ear of the enemy with one arrow, and shot four enemies to death in a row.

As a result, the morale was greatly boosted, and the enemy was too scared to come out. Finally, the water in the siege was cut off and the enemy was forced to surrender.

Only after taking Mardun, Nurhachi obtained the passage out of the mountain, and could attack Jiefan City, Gule City and Sarhu at any time.I can't hold it here,

He can only nest in Hetuala.

A few miles away from Mardun, a group of defeated remnants came from the southeast in disgrace.

Man Dahai's vest felt cold, he rode forward and asked, "Is Marton still there?"

A Tartar officer mourned: "Mardun is gone!"

"Why is Marton gone?" Ai Xing'a felt that the sky was dark.

The Tazi officer said: "There is no well in the fortress, so we have to go down the mountain to fetch water. Some people couldn't stand it, and people outside the village kept persuading them to surrender. Why did your Majesty and the Queen Mother die? I died early in the morning...So some people went to Open the door and surrender, and the Nanmanzi took the opportunity to rush into the village."

Man Dahai jumped anxiously: "Take Marton back quickly!"

Mardun is not only a stronghold, but also a checkpoint, which is the only place for the Tartars to break through.

On the Hetuala side, at least there is a wide and flat area. Even if the Datong army occupies the city, the Tazi army can still walk around the city.

But if Marton is lost, he can't get around it even if he wants to.

If you insist on going around, you have to give up all your luggage and climb over the steep mountain wall.Tens of thousands of people, abandoning their luggage, is tantamount to committing suicide on a hunger strike!

Man Dahai couldn't wait any longer, he left his luggage and large troops, and marched with only a few thousand elites, trying to capture Mardun by force.If you can't attack, just wait to die. Sooner or later, the main force of the Datong Army will come, and then you will be blocked in the valley and face the enemy.

"Commander, the Tartars are here."

"Defend the stronghold!"

After Yang Zhenqing occupied Maldun, the first thing he did was fetch water.All the containers that can be found in the village are used to hold the water from the mountain, which can be drunk for at least half a month.

Manda Hai led his soldiers to kill him, blocked himself in the northwest of the fort, and sent soldiers to climb to the southeast from the mountain wall.In this way, Maldun was blocked and the drinking water in the village was cut off.

He tried to attack, but it was ineffective, so he could only send someone back to urge him, and quickly pulled the artillery away to bombard the wall of the village.

Yang Zhenqing's thousands of strange soldiers had to defend the small stockade and block tens of thousands of enemy troops for more than ten days.Only in this way can the main force of the Tartars be blocked, waiting for the main force of the friendly forces to come to encircle them.

In fact, Mandahai chose to break out from the northeast, and the situation is not too far away. They will be blocked by the cavalry division.

Chapter 689 [Active Attack]

At the foot of Saerhu Mountain, the generals of the Datong Army are having a meeting in the camp.

The coach Li Zheng said: "The Tatar scouts suddenly disappeared, and I have sent scouts to Jiefan City to investigate. Tell me,

Could this be a trick to lure the enemy, trying to lure our army over to set up an ambush? "

"Very likely," Lu Xiangsheng nodded and said, "The Eight Banners Army of the Tartars had more than half of their elite casualties in the past few years, and our army captured countless horses and armor. No matter how many cubs are born in the Tartars' pastures, there will be births in a short period of time." There won’t be so many war horses to make up for it. No matter how fast the Tatar’s ordnance works, they won’t be able to knock out tens of thousands of armors in a few years. They lack horses and armors, and they dare not fight our army decisively, so they will definitely find ways to set up an ambush.”

Hu Dinggui smiled and said: "No matter how you set up an ambush, the main road is the one. If there is a real fight, send enough search teams,

The Tartars can be found no matter how well hidden they are. "

Xiao Zongxian said: "We still have to continue to besiege Sarhu. If Sarhu is not captured, it will be difficult to attack Jiefan City and Gule City. I guess, the Tatars are just delaying time until the snow blocks the mountains and waits for our withdrawal. "

Lu Xiangsheng said: "If the enemy general has brains, he will definitely procrastinate. Our army must wait until the cavalry division succeeds in the attack and kills the rear of Jiefan City, and then we will find a way to attack."

This is the reason why the Datong Army has not sent troops for a long time. Everyone wants to destroy the Manchus, but it is difficult to fight due to the terrain.

Saerhu City, Jiefan City, and Gule City, three mountain cities are blocked here.

As early as Wang Guo's era, Gule City was the core city of Jianzhou Jurchen, and it was expanded and strengthened time after time.And Jiefan City and Sarhu City, which were the capitals of Nurhachi, also continued to expand and strengthen.

To be honest, the Datong Army mobilized nearly 10 people this time, and they have no confidence in destroying the Manchus.

The lowest goal of this battle is to take Saerhu City, and then attack Jiefan City in the coming year.

Li Zheng said: "If you can't besiege the city and fight for aid, you have to attack Sarhu by force. This battle must end before the snow falls."

Attacking a dangerous mountain city is nothing more than filling it with human lives.

"Da da da da!"

The scouts rode back and galloped back. After being allowed to enter the commander's tent, they actively reported: "Generals, Jiefan City is empty, and the Tartars in Jiefan City have left! There are traces of a large army marching along the way, and the Tartars have not gone to the northeast. Hunhe River Valley, but going southeast, it is estimated that it is going back to Jianzhou (Hetuala).”

Surprised and delighted, Li Zheng stood up and said, "Go and investigate Gule City immediately!"

The scout said, "A brother has already gone."

Not long after, another scout came back and reported: "Gule City is also empty, there is not a single Tartar in the city."

Several generals looked at each other in blank dismay, wondering what the hell the Tartars were up to.

If the Tartars were to stick to it, the two mountain cities would have to sacrifice the lives of Datong soldiers to bite the bullet and take them down.Happiness came so suddenly that the Tatars abandoned the city on their own initiative, which made them feel unbelievable.

Li Zheng said: "Send troops to occupy the two cities immediately!"

In this case, the goal of the campaign has been achieved.After occupying Gule City and Jiefan City, Sarhu became an isolated city, and there was no need to besiege it at all. The food in the city was completely eaten and starved to death.

Lu Xiangsheng asked suspiciously, "Is there some accident in Jianzhou? The main force of the Tartars rushed to the rescue."

Hu Dinggui said: "There is only the independent regiment over there. Even if Yang Zhenqing breaks through the fortresses along the way and fights all the way to the city of Jianzhou, the Tartars don't need to abandon the city and return to aid."

"Could it be the Tartars fighting among themselves?" Xiao Zongxian guessed.

Li Zheng shook his head: "Unlike internal fighting, the Tartars went so unitedly that no one stayed behind. If it was really an internal fighting between the Tartars, some Tartars must have defected here instead of abandoning the city and leaving."

These big guys racked their brains and couldn't figure it out.

Let them think for three days and three nights, but they still can't guess that Yang Zhenqing has already taken Hetuala.

Because, that's too fantasy. Li Zheng said again: "Are the Tartars luring the enemy to go deep, abandoning the two cities as bait, luring our army to pursue them, and then laying an ambush halfway?"

Hu Dinggui laughed and said: "If this is the case, if we don't pursue them, wouldn't we pick up two cities in vain? Jiefan and Gule are lost, and Sarhu City will disappear sooner or later. The Tartars are killing themselves. The Tartars are afraid. Not that stupid."

"That's not true, then it's not, why did the Tartars abandon the city?" Xiao Zongxian became more and more confused by the words.

Hu Dinggui said: "If you can't figure it out, don't think about it. What matters now is whether you should pursue it or not."

Li Zheng still has the calm personality: "It's better not to chase after him. After occupying the two cities of Jiefan and Gule, he will besiege Sarhu with all his strength. When all three cities are captured, the Tartars will be grasshoppers after autumn. There is no need for our army Go on another adventure."

Lu Xiangsheng shook his head: "We still have to chase, at least take the opportunity to capture Mardun. Although Mardun is only a stronghold, it is easy to defend and difficult to attack. Sooner or later, we will have to fight a battle."

Li Zheng thought about it: "Well, let's send dragoons to pursue quickly. If there are not many enemy troops in Mardun, then take advantage of the situation. If there are Tartars defending Mardun, then we will make a long-term plan."

After finalizing the battle plan, thousands of dragoons immediately pursued along the Suzi River.

Malton.

Man Dahai led several elite vanguards to block the water from the front and back of the fort.The large army of the Tartars had not yet arrived, and the artillery and other siege equipment were not there, so Man Dahai could only continue to wait.

Yang Zhenqing didn't wait, he wanted to take the initiative.

"Leave 500 people and guard the Beizhai Gate, and the rest will go out with me to kill the Tartars!"

Of the 500 people who rushed to attack at the beginning, due to too much tossing, more than 200 people fell ill and are currently recuperating in Hetuala.

At this moment, there are only one thousand or two hundred independent regiment fighters in Mardun Village.

500 people guarded the gate of the North Village, while Yang Zhenqing personally visited more than 700 soldiers and charged out from the Gate of the South Village.

There were not many Tartars there, only a thousand or so, and they climbed over the mountain to cut off the water.At this moment, half of the Tartars were on guard, while the other half were cutting down trees nearby to set up camp.

"The southern barbarians have come out!" the Tartar sentry exclaimed.

The Tartars, who were chopping trees, immediately dropped their axes, and more than a thousand people gathered to fight.

As mentioned above, the mountain road outside the village is narrow, and when Nurhachi attacked the village, he couldn't even drive a second chariot.

The number of Tazi soldiers was twice that of the Datong army, but when fighting in close combat, only a dozen people in the front row fought.The battlefield is not wide enough, and it is useless to have more soldiers. You can only wait behind to join the battle.

However, the Datong Army is condescending, and all members have flintlock guns-everyone can shoot!

"Bang bang bang!

Before entering the bow and arrow range, Yang Zhenqing ordered a salvo.The slope is sufficient, the front row fighters will not block the back row.

More than a thousand Tartars were completely passive and shot.

Some Tartars were in a hurry and shot arrows at the Datong army, but they were too far away and they shot upwards, so they couldn't shoot at all.

After a round of gunfire, more than 30 people were killed or injured by the Tartars, so they could only choose to retreat down the mountain.

Yang Zhenqing persisted and led his troops in pursuit.

Man Dahai was on the other side of the cottage, and when he heard the gunshots from this side, he was a little anxious.He ordered the fort to be stormed again,