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Yuan Shizhong's family first became self-cultivated farmers, and gradually became tenant farmers.Being constantly pressed by the government, his family starved to death one after another, so he had to flee to Kaizhou as a beggar.

In history, this person rose up. Due to his good military discipline, the people enthusiastically took refuge in him, and he quickly stood out among the many rebels. In his heyday, he had an army of 30.

Yuan Shizhong's thinking mode is biased towards scholars. He doesn't want to be a traitor, and always wants to recruit security and become a regular.

After surrendering to the Qing Dynasty, Yuan Shizhong always felt uncomfortable.

Because the Manchu Qing exploited the people very heavily, no less than the Ming government.Although he was named a Marquis, the Qing Dynasty did not allocate military salary, or even salary, and Yuan Shizhong had to raise it all by himself.

This seems to be no different from being a rebel before, right?

Yuan Shizhong cherished his feathers, cared about his own reputation, and lived by asking landlords for food.Also, he doesn't like shaving and hates the braid at the back of his head!

When Dorgon was around, Yuan Shizhong did not dare to rebel.

As soon as Dorgon left, there were no Eight Banners soldiers nearby, and Yuan Shizhong immediately thought of defecting.Even if you lose the battle, you can retreat with the Datong army and go to the territory of the Han family where you don't need to shave your hair and keep your braids.

……

Xihua County.

Zu Dashou asked: "How far is the puppet Tong army?"

"The enemy's cavalry has reached several miles away, and the main force of the enemy's army is estimated to be dozens of miles away." Wu Sangui said.

"The whole army retreats to Fugou," Zu Dashou said, "If Yuan thief (Yuan Shizhong) dares to kill him, he will be wiped out in the wild. If Yuan thief defends the city, Fugou County must be taken down in a bloody battle! Yuan thief If we don't get rid of it, we will be attacked by the enemy."

Wu Sangui suggested: "It's better to lead the troops to Taikang. In this way, we won't be attacked by the enemy, and it can also stop the enemy from rushing to help Shangqiu."

Zu Dashou hesitated.

Wu Sangui's strategy is indeed possible, but a large amount of luggage must be discarded, because it is impossible to march by water.Once all the supplies are brought on the road, tens of thousands of civilians must be used, and there will be pursuers behind them.

Yuan Shizhong suddenly jumped back and disrupted Zu Dashou's plan!

Before that, Zu Dashou could choose to defend the city, or choose to go out of the city to fight, or choose to retreat to Fugou.But now he can't choose anything, either return to the teacher and kill Yuan Shizhong, or abandon the luggage and go to Taikang County.

The occurrence of this situation is purely the evil fruit of Manqing himself.

The expansion of the Qing Dynasty was too fast, and four provinces were won within half a year, and anyone who was in a mess was willing to be incorporated.What's even more frightening is that there is simply not enough food to really control the soldiers from all walks of life.During the war, they even robbed the territory where the soldiers and generals were surrendered.

In this way, it is definitely no problem to advance triumphantly all the way, and conflicts will erupt when the Datong Army blocks it.

It doesn't even have to wait for the Manchus to be defeated. If the stalemate in the battle lasts a little longer, there will be surrendered soldiers and generals who will turn against them again.

And Zhao Han's reputation for benevolence finally revealed its appeal.

The places along the way were greeted warmly by the people, and even the hungry people knew that there must be something to eat with Emperor Zhao.Even some landlords and gentry were dissatisfied with the tyranny of the Manchu Qing Dynasty and spent all their wealth to support Zhao Han in the war.

After entering the territory of Guide Mansion, gentry came to vote every day with their self-raised heroes.

There are already nearly [-] rural troops, and nearly [-] rebels composed of hungry people.Some brave and hungry people from the village even came from Kaifeng Mansion, crossing prefectures and counties to seek refuge with Emperor Zhao.

Well, Emperor Zhao's military rations are consumed quickly, and a good appetite can make people poor.

……

All the cavalry in Xihua County were dispatched by Wu Sangui.

Wu Sangui gathered more than [-] cavalry and patrolled around Yingqikou, preventing Datong's army from crossing the river, and covering Zu Dashou's retreat with his infantry.

The fire broke out in the city, but it was Zu Dashou who burned the excess luggage, including a lot of looted grain and grass.

The Henan thieves who belonged to the Manchu Qing had a look of unbearable expression on their faces.When these thieves rebelled, they just couldn't get enough to eat. Watching Zu Dashou burn the food and grass, they felt so uncomfortable that they bleed.

"The enemy has run away!"

Cao Bianjiao rode to the bank of the Shahe River and faced Wu Sangui, who was also with cavalry, across the river.

There is no way to go there, so I can only watch, and at the same time send someone back to report, because the main force of the Datong Army is still thirty miles away.

Jiang Dashan and Huang Shun immediately ordered to speed up the march after receiving the news.

The peasants and soldiers all started to unload more than a dozen grain ships.Then, some of the soldiers advanced by boat, and the rest of the soldiers followed along the coast, taking away all the rations and artillery without rushing.

The soldiers on the boat arrived at Yingqikou first, stood on the boat and shot Wu Sangui's cavalry on the shore.

Wu Sangui didn't dare to shoot at the firecrackers, so he could only get out of the way of Yingqikou's wharf.

The gunfire soldiers took the opportunity to land on the shore, covering Cao Bianjiao's cavalry crossing the river by boat.When all the cavalry had crossed the river, the remaining infantry also came and continued to cross the river by boat.

"The whole army pursues!" Jiang Dashan and Huang Shun jointly ordered.

The infantry of the two divisions all trotted away in light clothes, and their armor could only stay on the boat.The grenadier's ten-thousand-thousand enemy can't bring it with him, and he only has a waist knife on his body.

More than 1 unarmored Datong infantry marched towards Taikang County in a hurry.

Cao Bianjiao and Wei Guoxiang, two cavalry generals, each led 2500 dragoons to drive away Wu Sangui's cavalry.

Guan Ning's iron cavalry has long been disabled and was once divided into three parts.Some were transferred to the customs to suppress the Northwest rogues; some were assigned to Zu Dashou; and some were assigned to Wu Sangui.

All previous battles, constant consumption.

Although Zu Dashou and Wu Sangui still have cavalry under their command, they are no longer the real Guanning iron cavalry, but more similar to the family cavalry of the Ming border general.

At this moment, Wu Sangui commanded more than [-] cavalry, about [-] cavalry were considered elite, and the rest were miscellaneous cards under the command of the surrendered generals.

Facing five thousand dragoons, Wu Sangui dispersed and harassed them, throwing bows and arrows non-stop.

After shooting a few arrows, he stopped shooting.

If you are too far away, you will not be able to shoot, and if you are too close, you will be shot.

Wu Sangui wanted to go around and attack the big synchronous pawns who were stripping off their armor and marching in a hurry.The dragoons also quickly followed to protect the safety of friendly troops and prevent enemy cavalry from approaching.

Although Jiang Dashan had a mount, he was running with the soldiers at the moment. He shouted: "Don't worry about those enemy horses, just run forward!"

More than ten thousand soldiers at the same time really ignored Wu Sangui, as if they couldn't see the enemy cavalry, they trotted forward with their weapons in the direction of Taikang.

The two armies were tens of miles apart, and the Datong army planned to pursue them on foot.

Chapter 421 [War in the Wilderness]

On the plain, there is a barren land, and there are only weeds in the fields, and there is no shadow of wheat seedlings.

More than ten thousand soldiers died at the same time, arranged in fourteen columns.

The melee soldiers are outside, and the firearms are inside.Although trotting, the formation is a bit scattered, but it can generally be kept neat.

The ancient elites are all good runners.

Whether they can run is also the difference between the Datong regular army and the peasant soldiers.Although farmers and soldiers have to train formation and killing skills, after all, the food is relatively poor, and they seldom train in sports that consume energy such as running.

The regular army ran once in the morning and evening, and sandbags were tied to their legs.

At this moment, just jogging without wearing armor is really easy for the Datong soldiers.

5000 dragoons guarded the infantry on both sides, and a team of 500 men entangled with Wu Sangui's cavalry.Every time the gun is fired, only one-fifth of it is released, so as to ensure that the gun is always loaded and prevent the enemy from rushing to kill in the gap of firepower.

Wu Sangui became more and more frightened as he fought, his eyes were wide open today, the cavalry was harassing him, and the infantry dared to march in a hurry.

And those firecracker cavalry were also disgusted, and they fired their guns repeatedly, so that Wu Sangui didn't dare to charge at all.In other words, the miscellaneous cavalry under his command did not dare to charge, and the improvised cavalry officers did not obey Wu Sangui's command in everything.

"Woo! Whoa! Whoa!"

The copper whistle kept ringing, the infantry stopped and lined up to rest, and at the same time, the firecrackers began to change the matchlocks.They have been jogging with burning ropes, and as long as Wu Sangui dares to charge with cavalry, they can quickly line up and shoot a volley.

Matchlocks are really troublesome, and it would be nice if they could all be replaced with flintlock guns.

In this era, there is a joke in Europe about matchlock guns: carry a matchlock one mile long on your back and fight all day long.

"The whole army obeys the order, walk slowly...go!"

The flag order was issued in front, and the flag order was waved everywhere in the army. After changing the matchlock, the Datong soldiers began to move forward.

You can't jog all the time, run for a while, walk for a while, you can restore your strength.

Wu Sangui looked at the forbidden scene, and couldn't help feeling: "If I have such an army, I'm afraid I can go all the way south to Qiongzhou. No wonder Emperor Zhao in Nanjing can occupy several provinces."

"Deputy Marshal, do you still want to harass me?" Jiang Zhu came galloping on horseback.

Wu Sangui in this time and space has not contributed to Shanhaiguan, nor has he developed so many troops.Therefore, he was not crowned king, but only served as the deputy capital commander of the Zhenghuang Banner Han Army.

Wu Sangui shook his head: "We can't attack for the time being. The enemy's orders are forbidding, but our army doesn't obey orders."

There are more than 4000 cavalry under his command, and only more than 2000 are really obedient. Wu Sangui has nothing to do about it.The Manchurian cavalry and Mongolian cavalry were all taken away by Dorgon, and the rest were all the servant cavalry of the surrendered generals.

The surrendered generals were willing to lend their cavalry and hand them over to Wu Sangui for unified command, which was considered a great deal of face.

When those cavalry officers left, they were told by the generals: flee if you can't win.If you can win, but there will be casualties, then don't go all out.

The family cavalry is a treasure, the foundation of the generals, how could they be allowed to be buried by Wu Sangui?

Therefore, the glorious tradition of the Ming army has been completely continued.Every time Wu Sangui charged, he would find that some cavalry were disobedient.Or they are superficially obedient, afraid to move forward halfway through the charge, and avoiding the muzzle of the dragoons very accurately.

"Appreciate~~~~"

After walking slowly for a quarter of an hour, the Datong Army began to blow the copper whistle again, and the flag was issued to order the whole army to jog.

Wu Sangui said: "Marching all the way in a hurry, there are always times when you slack off, and slowly look for opportunities to break through the enemy's formation. The enemy has no supplies and auxiliary soldiers, and they can't even set up camp at night. Let's see if we can organize a night attack tonight."

Wu Sangui sent several cavalry to chase after Zu Dashou and report the military situation.

……

The Datong army rushed all the way, but Zu Dashou's side was like an outing.

Most of the city defense forces from nearby states and counties have gathered in Xihua County, with a total of 8 to [-] people.

Some surrendered generals forced hungry people to join the army halfway, so that they could ask for more military rations in Xihua County.Among the 8 or 3 people, about [-] were recruited temporarily by the generals.

Normal operation, don't be surprised.

Who told the Qing Dynasty not to pay military salaries?Even if the military salary is allocated, only some silver is thrown.

The surrendered generals couldn't afford to support the army, so they had to disarm in large numbers and concentrate money and food to support their own servants.When encountering a war, just recruit troops again, and by the way ask the Man Qing for more marching fees.

In the 30 Years War in Europe, countries did this in wars.

Recruiting troops for war, disarming troops after fighting, and often not even giving severance pay.Of course the common people don't want to, so they will coax and lie.For example, let an aunt lure a man who is not full to eat into the cellar with food as a temptation, and lock him up so hungry that the man can only agree to join the army.

Zu Dashou rode on horseback, turned his head to look at the procrastinating army, and said helplessly: "Order all the ministries to hurry up, and take a rest when we arrive in Taikang County!"

However, the military order was of no use.

The ministries did speed up their march, but slowed down again before going far.And the elite troops went to the front, and the troops composed of hungry people fell far away, dragging into a long snake that stretched for several miles.

Zu Dashou also ordered all the generals to throw away his useless weak soldiers.

But the generals are unwilling, this is their army.The Manchu Qing didn't pay enough for the marching fee, so why didn't they let them lead the army with more rations during the war?

No matter what rubbish soldiers they are, they have to be paid if they have soldiers.

If a tael of silver or a stone of rice is handed out, the generals can swallow seventy to eighty percent of it.Anyway, they are all temporarily recruited hungry people, they just need to hang themselves and not die of starvation, and they just need to be used as tool people to receive wages all the time.

The marching team got longer and longer, and Zu Dashou was made to lose his temper.

If he dares to govern the army strictly, the surrendered generals will dare to look for opportunities to defect.If he dared to abandon the various ministries and only take the elite to Taikang County, the surrendered generals would dare to turn around and join the Datong Army.

Zhao Han has a bunch of scum who can only eat, and Zu Dashou also has a bunch of scum who can only get paid.

Seeing that all the ministries were completely out of touch, Zu Dashou had no choice but to order: "The whole army should move closer and rest for a while."

For half an hour, the army of 8 to [-] people finally came together with difficulty, no longer dragging for nearly ten miles as before.

"Da da da da!"

The cavalry sent back by Wu Sangui came and reported the military situation: "Captain, the enemy is marching in a hurry and is chasing after our main force."

"So fast?" Zu Dashou asked in surprise.

The cavalryman said: "The enemy troops are all stripped of their armor and marching with only their weapons. There are thousands of gunfire cavalry protecting them, and General Wu can't stop them."

Zu Dashou had a joyful expression on his face: "Is the enemy really completely disarmed?"

"Take it off, no one is wearing armor." Said the cavalry.

Zu Dashou reconfirmed: "The whole journey was in a hurry, but you didn't bring artillery?"

"There is no artillery," said the cavalryman.

Zu Dashou was overjoyed immediately: "The enemy will take the risk and rush forward, this is a great opportunity to defeat him in one fell swoop!"

In Zu Dashou's mind, the Datong army had no artillery, and even took off their armor, which was the meat on the cutting board.I don't have to go anymore, I just stay here and wait for work, and I can easily defeat a group of unarmored enemies.

……