Chapter 2, The Battle of Songshan
The General of Miyun, Tang Tong, could no longer contain himself and said to Hong Chengchou: "Director Hong, as the old saying goes, before the army moves, provisions must be prepared. This shows how crucial supplies are to the military. Now that the supplies have been lost, I believe we should first retreat our troops back within the pass. It would not be too late to engage in a decisive battle with the Jianzhou bandits once we have gathered new supplies. What does everyone think?"
General Wang's remark seems rather distant
Ah?
Moreover, Wang Pu, the Grand General of Datong, is a sworn enemy of Hong Chengchou and a trusted confidant promoted by the Minister of War, Chen Xinjia. In contrast, Wu Sangui, Ma Ke, and Wang Tingchen are all close associates of Hong Chengchou. If Wang Pu were to speak ill of Wu Sangui and the others in front of Hong Chengchou, wouldn't that be self-defeating? It could also lead to Wu Sangui and his associates turning the tables on him.
Wang Tingchen said: "You clearly know that our army cannot win, so why do you still support a decisive battle"
As soon as they left the governor's office, Ma Ke and Wang Tingchen pulled Wu Sangui to a secluded spot. Ma Ke asked, "Zhang Bo (Wu Sangui's courtesy name), do you think our army can win the decisive battle tomorrow?"
A faint, cold smile appeared on Wu Sangui's face as he said, "Does Second Brother think that Supervisor Hong can still return to the capital alive?"
Hong Chengchou was pacing back and forth anxiously, occasionally glancing back at the door. His trusted aide, Tang Shijie, had reheated a bowl of ginseng soup several times, but Hong Chengchou had not taken a single sip.
"Not at all," Wang Pu hurriedly said, "General Cao has arrived just in time; I am truly grateful for General Cao's assistance."
Cao Bianjiao exclaimed, "General Wang, what is the meaning of this?"
With a resounding voice, Cao Bianjiao entered swiftly.
Wu Sangui clasped his fists and said: "This humble general is at your service, ready to follow the orders of the commanding officer."
As soon as he set out, his trusted aide, Xiao Qi, led the horse over and quietly asked, "General, I heard that Bijia Mountain has fallen?"
At this point, Wang Pu could no longer contain himself and turned to his trusted aide, Xiao Qi, and commanded, "Xiao Qi, prepare the horses"
Wang Pu also sighed, not expecting that he was still a step too late. The supplies and transport on the Zhangjia Mountain had been seized by the Jianzhou bandits. Without these supplies, the Ming army had only one option left: to engage in a swift battle with the Jianzhou bandits. This idea was certainly good, but the problem was, how many generals from various garrisons dared to confront the Jianzhou bandits in battle
Currently, the two individuals each arranged for a deputy general to lead the troops towards Songshan, then abandoned the main army and hurried to Songshan with only a dozen or so personal guards.
As soon as Li Fuming finished speaking, Cao Bianjiao retorted: "Retreat? That's easy to say. What if the enemy pursues us relentlessly? Moreover, if the main forces withdraw back to the interior, what will happen to Jinzhou City?"
After a long while, Hong Chengchou finally came to his senses and said to Tang Shijie: "Go, immediately send someone to invite the several generals."
Well, over 100,000 troops have gathered outside Songshan City
Wu Sangui shook his head and replied, "We cannot win."
This is good, this is indeed good. Hong Chengchou let out a sigh of relief and said happily, "Now that the commanders of the eight towns have all arrived, our army has a slight advantage in terms of strength. It is time to let the Jian troops experience the might of our Ming border forces."
"Please, no formalities." Hong Chengchou repeatedly gestured respectfully and asked Wang Pu, "General Wang, how are the casualties in your unit?"
Hong Chengchou said: "Feel free to speak your mind."
Wang Puda: "Fortunately, due to the timely arrival of General Cao's reinforcements, the casualties were not significant"
General Li Fuming of Xuanfuzong nodded and said, "General Tang is correct; this is the most prudent approach."
Hong Chengchou fell heavily into the chair and did not stand up for a long time
Zhao Wuzhu responded with an acknowledgment and proceeded to carry out the order
Cao Bianjiao nodded and said: "With you, General Wang, all eight town generals are present. Now we are just waiting to engage in a decisive battle with the Jianzhou bandits"
Cao Bianjiao understood and said: "My lord, I have something to say, but I am unsure whether I should speak it or not"
Before leaving the governor's office, Wang Pu contemplated several times returning to remind Hong Chengchou to be cautious of Tang Tong, Wu Sangui, Ma Ke, and Wang Tingchen, warning him to guard against their potential unauthorized military escape. However, in the end, Wang Pu did not dare to act rashly, as he lacked evidence; without evidence, it would be considered slander. Why would Hong Chengchou believe him?
Wang Pu glanced at Cao Bianjiao
"No!" Cao Bianjiao declared resolutely, "We cannot withdraw our troops."
We will talk about Wang Pu later
Li Fuming, after speaking, signaled to Wang Pu with his eyes, urging him to say a few words. Li Fuming was the General of Xuanfuzhong, while Wang Pu was the General of Datong. The two were not direct subordinates of Hong Chengchou. Li Fuming believed that Wang Pu would stand with him through thick and thin, but unfortunately, he was mistaken. If Wang Pu were still the same cowardly young general he once was, he would certainly have strongly supported Tang Tong's proposal. However, the current Wang Pu was no longer the Wang Pu of the past.
"Oh no, if the Jian soldiers cut off our army's supply line, it would be a serious problem." Cao Bianjiao's expression changed dramatically as he said, "This matter is of great importance; I will go with you."
Tang Tong let out a hum and fell silent.
Wang Pu turned to the deputy general Zhao Wuzhu behind him and said: "Zhao Wuzhu, quickly organize the troops and set off towards Songshan."
Wang Pu mounted his horse and said in a deep voice, "We will discuss it back at the camp."
In today's era, the Emperor is known for his strictness, often imposing severe punishments on ministers who have suffered defeats in battle. Since the outbreak of hostilities in Liaodong, numerous officials at the level of provincial governors have been executed. Xiong Tingbi's head was sent back from the nine borders, and Yuan Chonghuan met a particularly gruesome end through dismemberment. This time, after Hong Chengchou's defeat at Songshan, dying amidst the chaos of battle might allow him to earn a reputation for loyalty to the country. However, if he were to escape back within the pass, he would not only face disgrace but would also undoubtedly meet his death.
The enemy fled, and the two armies successfully joined forces, with the soldiers erupting in thunderous cheers
Although Wu Sangui is young, he is brave and skilled in battle. Moreover, the Wu family is a prominent and influential clan in Liaoxi, with deep-rooted connections. The General of Jinzhou, Zu Dashou, is his uncle, while the Generals of Shanhaiguan, Ma Ke, and Ningqian, Wu Tingchen, are sworn brothers of Wu Sangui. As long as Wu Sangui supports a decisive battle, Ma Ke and Wang Tingchen will also follow suit. In this way, Tang Tong and Li Fuming, isolated in their stance, will have no choice but to go along with the majority. The General of Shanhaiguan, Ma Ke, and the General of Ningqian, Wu Tingchen, are sworn brothers of Wu Sangui. As long as Wu Sangui supports a decisive battle, Ma Ke and Wang Tingchen will also follow suit. In this way, Tang Tong and Li Fuming, isolated in their stance, will have no choice but to go along with the majority
Wang Pusu said solemnly: "Regardless of the circumstances, we owe a great debt of gratitude to General Cao for his timely assistance; otherwise, the Datong Army would have faced total annihilation. This kindness will not be forgotten by me, and I will surely repay it in the future."
General Wang Tingchen of Ningqian, General Wu Sangui of Ningyuan, and General Ma Ke of Shanhaiguan remained silent
According to Wang Pu's understanding of the history of the Ming and Qing wars, Hong Chengchou originally had a significant opportunity to win the Battle of Songshan. However, due to the erroneous command of Emperor Chongzhen, Hong Chengchou was forced to abandon his cautious and protracted warfare strategy, hastily advancing to engage in a decisive battle against the Manchus at Songshan, ultimately leading to his defeat in this strategically crucial battle that affected the fate of the Ming Empire.
Hong Chengchou's gaze fell upon Wu Hetushu Sangui, and he inquired, "What is the intention of General Wu?"
The general smiled and said, "I am Yu Tian Cao Bian Jiao, sent here to assist by the order of Lord Hong, the commander of Jiliao. I apologize for my late arrival"
About half an hour later, the commanders from various towns began to arrive one after another. The first to arrive was Bai Guang'en, the commander of Jizhou, who was stationed not far from Songshan City. He was followed by Wu Sangui, the commander of Ningyuan, Wang Tingchen, the commander of Ningqian, and Ma Ke, the commander of Shanhaiguan. Finally, Tang Tong, the commander of Miyun, and Li Fuming, the commander of Xuanfu, arrived, along with Wang Pu and Cao Bianjiao. All eight commanders under Hong Chengchou had now gathered.
Hong Chengchou was unwilling to withdraw his troops at this juncture, wishing to resolve the conflict with the Jurchens swiftly. However, among his eight chief generals, six harbored ulterior motives. That very night, the cowardly Wang Pu was the first to flee. The general of Shanhaiguan, Ma Ke, the general of Miyun, Tang Tong, and the general of Ningyuan, Wu Sangui, were not far behind, each leading their troops to escape in succession. Taking advantage of this, the Jurchens pursued, and the Ming army collapsed like a landslide.
Ah? Oh
Wang Pu's previous life was that of a history enthusiast, particularly fascinated by the history of the late Ming and early Qing dynasties
Wu Sangui sighed, "Haven't the two brothers realized yet? If the army simply withdraws back to the pass, then Director Hong's command over the Jilin and Liaoning forces will come to an end. Do you think he would agree to a retreat? Since Director Hong has made up his mind to fight the Jianzhou bandits to the death, what use is it for us generals to oppose him?"
Is everyone here
A young warrior, tall and striking in appearance, approached Wang Pu, surrounded by dozens of his loyal cavalry. He clasped his fists in salute and said, "You must be General Wang Pu of Datong, am I correct?"
Cao Bianjiao said: "Our army's grain and supplies are all stockpiled on Bijia Mountain, and there are no heavy troops to protect them. If the enemy sends a light cavalry unit to bypass Song Mountain and suddenly attack Bijia Mountain, our supply line could be cut off by the enemy. If that happens, the situation would be serious. Therefore, I believe we should dispatch heavy troops to protect the grain supplies on Bijia Mountain"
Cao Bianjiao said: "Although the supplies on Bi Jia Mountain have been lost, the army still has seven days' worth of rations. As long as our forces can defeat the Jianzhou bandits within seven days, it will not be a significant issue."
Tang Tong dismissed this with a sense of disbelief, saying: "The enemy is pursuing us relentlessly; it would suffice to send a contingent of elite troops to cover our retreat. As for Jinzhou City, at this moment, we ourselves are like clay Buddhas crossing the river, unable to care for anything else."
"That is not necessarily the case," Wu Sangui said in a low voice, glancing around to ensure no one was listening. "In my opinion, before the decisive battle tomorrow, those two fellows, Tang Tong and Li Fuming, will likely flee. Once they run away, we can also mobilize our troops to retreat. Even if the court investigates afterward, we can claim that we were following Commander Hong's military orders to pursue the fleeing generals Li Fuming and Tang Tong."
Marko and Wang Tingchen were initially taken aback, but soon came to a sudden realization
Sigh," Ma Ke lamented, "It seems that the three of us brothers, along with our subordinates, totaling around fifty to sixty thousand troops, will have to be left at Songshan.
Wang Pu followed Cao Bianjiao into the command post and cupped his fists in salute to Hong Chengchou, saying: "I am Wang Pu, and I pay my respects to the commanding officer."
Wang Pu hurriedly clasped his fists in return and said: "I dare not, it is indeed I."
Ah?" Hong Chengchou exclaimed in surprise, "If it weren't for General Cao's reminder, I would have almost made a grave mistake. Come, someone, hurry!
"Hurry up," Hong Chengchou urged repeatedly, "Quickly inform the General Bai Guang'en in Jizhou to lead five thousand elite troops to rush to Bijia Mountain."
General Bai Guang'en of Jizhou echoed, "General Cao is correct; at present, we have only one path to take, which is to engage in a decisive battle against the Jianzhou bandits"
Tang Shijie received the order and departed
Wang Pu turned his face away, pretending not to see anything
As soon as Hong Chengchou finished speaking, Deputy General Xia Chengde entered the study with a blood-soaked soldier. The soldier fell to his knees before Hong Chengchou, weeping uncontrollably and said: "My lord, the Bijia Mountain has fallen. All the grain and supplies on the mountain have been seized by the enemy, and Supervisor Zhang and the brothers defending the mountain have all perished in battle, wuwuwu..."
Wang Pu's brows involuntarily furrowed tightly
Songshan Castle, the headquarters of the Governor-General of Jilin and Liaoning
It is precisely the general.
Cao Bianjiao, though still young, is already a seasoned veteran who has long been battle-hardened. During his time in the Northwest, he fought for twenty-seven consecutive days and nights without removing his armor, defeating the rebel Li Zicheng and nearly losing his life in the process. Cao Bianjiao is the foremost among the eight major generals and a trusted confidant of Hong Chengchou; his words largely reflect Hong Chengchou's intentions
The eight generals responded in unison and exited in an orderly manner
Cao Bianjiao said at this moment, "The Jurchens may return at any time; it is not advisable to stay here for long. General Wang should quickly organize the troops and follow me to Songshan. The supervising officer is still waiting for news in Songshan City."
Wang Pu again asked Cao Bianjiao: "General Cao, have all the troops arrived?"
... ...
Sir, something is wrong!
Macao said: "This is not very good, is it? If Supervisor Hong returns to the capital and speaks to His Majesty, won't everything be revealed?"
Several generals on their way to Songshan City had already heard about the fall of Bijia Mountain, and each of them displayed expressions of frustration and heaviness. The atmosphere in the study also felt somewhat oppressive. Hong Chengchou's gaze swept over the eight generals one by one, and in a somber tone, he said: "You are all aware that Bijia Mountain has fallen and that we have lost all our supplies and equipment. Now, I would like to hear your opinions on what we should do next"
Tang Shijie hurriedly walked into the study and asked, "What instructions do you have, my lord?"
At that time, the Jianzhou bandits possessed the mobility advantage of cavalry. Hong Chengchou learned from the lessons of Yang Gao's divided attacks and the defeat at Sarhu, ordering the 130,000 Ming troops to tightly group together, denying the Jianzhou bandits the opportunity to defeat them in detail. However, going to the other extreme, Hong Chengchou made another mistake by concentrating all his main forces outside Songshan City, failing to leave enough troops to protect the supplies and logistics in the rear.
Wang Pu said in a deep voice: "General Cao, over a hundred thousand troops have gathered outside Songshan City, but the rear positions at Xing Mountain, Tower Mountain, and the crucial supply point at Bijia Mountain lack sufficient protection. If the enemy scouts ascertain our weaknesses and send cavalry to seize Bijia Mountain, our supply lines will be cut off, and the consequences would be unimaginable! I wish to hurry to Songshan to report to the supervising officer."
Yes
Xiao Qi did not dare to be negligent and hurriedly brought over Wang Pu's white horse
"Ahem," Cao Bianjiao said, "We are both generals of the Ming Dynasty, and it is only natural for us to help each other. Why should General Wang feel the need to express gratitude?"
Yes
Hong Chengchou said with delight: "This is good. All generals, return to your respective bases immediately to organize your troops. Tomorrow, we shall engage in a decisive battle with the Jianzhou bandits!"
The Jianzhou bandits bypassed over 100,000 main forces of the Ming army and captured Bijia Mountain, where the Ming army stored their grain, cutting off the grain supply route and plunging them into a dire situation
Suddenly, a hurried sound of footsteps came from outside the door. Hong Chengchou quickly turned around and asked, "Has General Cao returned?"