Nanming Engineer

Chapter 234
Wu Sangui was about to retreat, but one of the generals standing behind Hauge said loudly: "Wait a minute, my lord, the servant has a plan!"

Everyone was startled, and they all turned their eyes to the speaker, only to realize that it was Li Guohan from the Han Army Xianglan Banner Gushan Ezhen who was speaking.

Li Guohan is a Han Chinese who has lived in Liaodong for generations. His ancestral home is in Qinghe. He has belonged to Jurchen since the founding of the country. He regarded himself as Jurchen. But in the hearts of Hauge and other Jurchen aristocrats, they are far more friendly than Wu Sangui and other new vassals. Among the Han people, he is the only one who dares to speak out after Hauge's order.

Although this person lived in a remote place in Liaodong, he was familiar with Han books, knew strategies and strategies, and had the natural courage of the hunting people outside the Great Wall. He was as fierce as the Jurchens in fighting, and was highly appreciated by Huang Taiji. , Hauge also deliberately took him with him during this western expedition.

"Huh? What's the best strategy?" Hauge asked with great interest. He knew that many of the Ming troops in Li Guohan's army had surrendered, and there were many people who were resourceful and resourceful. development is very helpful.

"Your Majesty, look, Nanman completely destroyed the plank road in order to prevent my advance. If you want to enter Sichuan from this road, it is tantamount to building a new road. However, the road in the middle of Sichuan does not move with other places, and is often erected on cliffs, high mountains and dangerous streams. It will take a lot of labor and time to restore it to the level where we can pass through the weapons carried by our army, and our army is huge, and the daily cost of food and grass is astonishing. A day's delay is equivalent to an extra day of money and food. The servant thinks that the plank road needs to be repaired, and at the same time find another way." Li Guohan took a step forward and advised Hauge: "If the two roads go hand in hand, if one road is blocked, there is another road, and the progress of Sichuan can be calmed down. greatly shortened."

Hauge frowned, thinking: "That's right, but I have heard that the road to Shu has been difficult and dangerous since ancient times. Apart from this road, where is there a shortcut that can accommodate a large army?"

Li Guohan smiled and cupped his hands and said: "Don't worry, Your Majesty, I have already found out clearly that there are other ways to go from Shaanxi to Sichuan besides the ancient Golden Bull Road!"

As soon as this remark came out, all the generals of the Qing army present were overjoyed. This is great. Repairing the damaged plank road looks like a lot of work. I don’t know how long it will take. Haoge ordered Wu Sangui to complete the project in ten days. The bird trail, which is barely enough for people to walk, is definitely impassable for the large weapons in the army.

Hauge also showed great joy and said anxiously: "Li Shenling is indeed very precise. Tell me quickly, where can I pass?"

Li Guohan stood with his hands down, and said solemnly: "My slaves have discovered that from Hanzhong to the west, through Lixian County, Gansu Province, there is an ancient mountain trail that can go directly to Yinping County in the middle of Shu, so it is called Yinping Road. This road was used by people during the Three Kingdoms period. , has become another shortcut to bypass the Jinniu Road. For thousands of years, woodcutters and hunters have come and gone frequently, so until today, it is still possible to pass. It is impossible to walk through heavy animals such as artillery, mules and horses."

Hauge seemed to be poured by a basin of cold water, his joyful expression turned cold, and he said displeasedly: "In this way, the Yinping Road is like a chicken rib, and it is of no great use. Just imagine how we can attack the city without artillery? Without Healthy horses, how do cavalry gallop? Just passing a group of infantry has limited effect, so it doesn’t matter if you don’t leave.”

The generals also talked a lot, and among the whispers, they all felt that Hauge was right. Bypassing this section of the road, there were still countless fortified cities in central Sichuan, especially Chengdu, the old nest of the Great Western Army. It is very difficult to get down, and the children of the Eight Banners are precious, and it is not worth spending in the meat grinder during the siege.

However, Li Guohan was noncommittal, raised his head and raised his voice and said: "My lord, but this slave feels that this way of Yinping is of great use."

He turned around and took a map from the guard beside him. The map was neatly styled and marked with Chinese characters. It should have been captured by the Ming army or the Daxi army. Looking at the graphics on it, it was a geographical map of central Shu.

Hauge narrowed his eyes, and immediately understood that Li Guohan had already prepared a map, and he could take it out to give instructions at any time. From this point of view, this remonstrance was prepared, and he had already thought it through in advance. His appreciation is very important, and he added another point.

"Your Majesty, please see that from Guangyuan, where our army is located, to attack Chengdu along the plank road, in addition to repairing the damaged road, we must pass through cities such as Mianzhu and Deyang along the way. There are countless checkpoints, the most important of which is Jianmen Xiongguan. "Li Guohan used his hand as a ruler to measure and point on the map.

"I know this. Jiange Xiongguan, like Shanhaiguan, is a gateway." Hauge stroked his stubbled chin and pondered, "Go ahead."

"This pass, the slaves have inquired clearly, is easy to defend and difficult to attack, it is very difficult, and now it has been occupied by the Ming army. If you want to break it head-on, you will have to pay the lives of a lot of warriors. It is not worthwhile for my Qing Dynasty." Li Guohan slowly. Said, very carefully resting his finger on the small black dot representing Jiange on the map: "But if you go around Yinping Road, pass Huashi Gorge, cross Baishui River, and cross Motianling, you can go directly to Jiangyou and appear behind Jiange , if my Eight Banners soldiers descended from the sky like magic soldiers, and suddenly charged out, the Nanman Ming army must be caught off guard, panicked, and under the panic, they will definitely be defeated. It can preserve the strength of my warriors in the Qing Dynasty, and it can also add a lot to the prince's western expedition."

Li Guohan spoke eloquently and impassionedly, and unfolded a beautiful picture scroll in front of Hauge and others. Everyone held their breath and their eyes lit up.

Indeed, the words are so good and so attractive. Just sending a partial division can win a complete victory without costing the lives of soldiers or the foundation of the Eight Banners. Why not do it?

So Hauge slapped both palms and said happily: "Okay! Great, it's just that this way is difficult, you can't send too many troops, but too few troops will not be effective. Li Canling, in your opinion, how many troops should be sent?" people?"

His tone became more and more friendly, and he almost patted Li Guohan on the shoulder and said: "Do well, I am optimistic about you!", which caused Wu Sangui and other Han generals to look over with envy.

Li Guohan thought about it, raised his head and said: "My servant estimates that this road is not easy to pass, and the Nanman will definitely not pay attention to defense. It only needs a wise and brave general to lead a group of warriors."

"Less than 2000 people? Could it be a little less?" Hauge pondered for a while.

Li Guohan raised his eyebrows, took a step forward again, knelt down on one knee and said loudly: "My lord, the Nanman is cowardly, and the soldiers of the Qing Dynasty are brave and invincible. One armor is enough! This slave is willing to lead the Han army with this armor to fight for the lord. Flag, pacify the middle of Shu!"

"You go? Okay!" Hauge grinned, and said with a smile: "I have a lot of brave generals in the Qing Dynasty, and Li Shenling is the best among them, haha, but the number of Yijiala is too small, I will add more The two Han armies must gather 5000 men to ensure safety!"

Li Guohan was ecstatic. He has been in the army for many years, and he was promoted to a baron early on. Emperor Taizong bestowed the title "Mergen". When the Han generals who later joined him became kings and marquises, they felt itchy and desperately wanted to make a big contribution and be promoted to a higher rank. This time he followed Hauge on the Western Expedition. He did a lot of homework and learned a lot about the geography of Sichuan's military situation in advance. Now I finally got Hauge's approval, I am very excited.

He had already inquired and understood that while Zhang Xianzhong was fighting the Qing army, he took advantage of the opportunity to get the Ming army general in Sichuan. His name was Wang Huan, and he was appointed as the newly appointed commander-in-chief of Kuizhou. He was a little-known boy who had never heard of any big news. His achievements should be attributed to mediocre people who rose to power based on nepotism. There were too many of these people in the Ming army. They looked awesome and coaxed. They collapsed in a fight. Even Zhang Xianzhong couldn't defeat him. How capable could he be?

So Li Guohan is very confident and ready to fight. Although his men are the Han army, they are also real soldiers who have been trained since Liaodong. In comparison, they are not necessarily inferior to the Eight Banners soldiers. One against ten is modesty.That's why he boldly said that only one armor is enough.

A confident smile appeared on Li Guohan's mouth, and with his head on the ground, he shouted loudly: "Thank you, my lord! Please rest assured, my lord. No later than 25 days, the slave will be able to cross mountains and ridges and appear outside Jiangyou City. Then cooperate with the prince inside and outside, and pacify Sichuan in one fell swoop!"

(End of this chapter)