Nanming Engineer

Chapter 456 Retreat

For the next three days, the Qing army continued to attack the key point every day, and thousands of people invested in it, with great momentum and murderous intent.The cannon fodder is still the Han army, but in order to prevent the recurrence of Bai Guangen's surrender before the battle, some Mongolian soldiers were mixed in the Han army, and the generals in charge of the army were protected by the Mongolian soldiers at the core. Strengthening combat power is actually nothing more than surveillance.

The noise is very lively, the drums and trumpets are loud, but the thunder is loud and the rain is little. The shield chariots of the Han army often stop moving after a few vehicles are damaged, and they can't even advance to the position of the first trench. To waste time, the Ming army had a tacit understanding and fired one after another. If you don't enter, I will beat you with all my strength. The two sides seem to be fighting vigorously, but it is a bit perfunctory.

The Mongols among them were also somewhat slack. On the one hand, they were afraid that if they got too close, they would be hit by the artillery fire of the Ming army and die inexplicably; on the other hand, some Mongolian nobles had opinions on this entry. They don't have any deeper interest relationship with Jianzhou Jurchen than the Horqin Ministry and others. They came here purely to make a profit. Consuming it here and attacking the Ming army will only hurt the soldiers, which is not in line with their core interests. , some half-heartedness is normal.

Dorgon held up the binoculars to watch the battle every day, and his complexion became uglier every day. The performance of the Ming army's response was more than sufficient, which made him very anxious and irritable. The general's head made the rest of the Han army dare not approach him.

In addition to being discouraged by murder, Dorgon also waited impatiently for the arrival of the red-clothed cannon, asking about the itinerary, and Sun Long was terrified, lest the uncle would kill himself if something went wrong, and countless people in nearby counties would be confiscated. But this thing can be transported faster if there are more people. The road is like this, and it can't be much faster.

At noon on the fourth day, the red-clothed cannons had not arrived, but a group of travel-stained people rode into the camp. The leader was a man wearing python robes and the uniform of a university scholar in the inner courtyard. In Ergun's golden account.

Dorgon was sitting on the carpet, leaning on some soft cushions, and was discussing matters with several Mongolian princes. As soon as Man Dahai lifted the curtain, Dorgon's eyes shot over.

Hong Chengchou, a scholar of the Inner Academy and Governor of Jiangnan Affairs, bowed his head, pushed the mountain down, and knelt down at the door.

"Criminal Hong Chengchou, pay homage to the Regent!"

Hong Chengchou's body was covered with dust from running all the way, the crimson python robe lost its color and was covered with a layer of dust, his already thin body seemed to be a little smaller, the python robe was loose and could not support it, It's like a brocade suit hanging on a hanger.

Dorgon stood up, walked over quickly, and in a hurry bumped into a Mongolian prince who was sitting beside him, and went to help Hong Chengchou with his own hands, and comforted Hong Chengchou in a slow voice: "Please get up, Mr. Hong, you are alone in the south of the Yangtze River, and you are supporting half of the country. Is there a crime? Don't make random guesses, which will only increase your troubles!"

Hong Chengchou was grateful, but knelt down, bowed his head and forced himself to say: "The regent, please come down! Hong is ashamed of the court. Several provinces in the south of the Yangtze River have been turned upside down. Nanzhili has changed hands from the hands of criminal officials; how many people in the Qing Dynasty?" Loyal ministers and good generals, the magnificent lands and mountains that have been laid down with such courage, are thrown away from the hands of criminal ministers, Hong Chengchou's crime cannot be forgiven, otherwise the people of the world will not accept it!"

The few Mongolians sitting on one side frowned and looked at each other. They didn't know much about the situation in the south. They thought that although there were wars everywhere, at least the overall situation was still under the control of the Qing court. In this way, even Nan Zhili was lost, and a Liang Hong Chengchou from the south ran to Shanxi in disgrace. This posture, I am afraid it is very critical.

Without paying attention to the reaction of the Mongols, Dorgon continued to support Hong Chengchou in a friendly manner, saying: "The great country has a mountain of responsibility, how can it be entrusted to one person? Hong Xiang did everything he did in Nanjing. For the sake of the Qing Dynasty, the loyalty of the country, the world can learn from it! Everyone in the world sees it, but there are those who speak falsely and slander, this king gouged out his eyes, cut off his tongue, and punished him for talking nonsense! It is the fault of the imperial court that the situation has arisen, and the gangsters have risen together. All kinds of strategies are from this king, and Hong Xiang is only executing them. If there is a crime, it should be the first one to bear the brunt. rise!"

Tears were about to come out from the corners of Hong Chengchou's eyes, he kowtowed again, stood up with Dorgon's hand, and said repeatedly: "Don't dare, dare not!"

A few Mongols sat in the back and exchanged another look, which was full of mockery and contempt: Hong Chengchou is worthy of being a leader of the Han people, and he has done a good job in posture. This long-winded not only wiped out all the sins lost in Jiangnan , and asked Dorgon to express his position that he would never be held accountable. This ability is indeed outstanding.

If it were someone else, maybe Dorgon would not be so polite. This is also the result of Hong Chengchou's appreciation of Dorgon. On a deeper level, there is also the consideration of wooing the Han landlord class. Hong Chengchou is the representative of the Han landlords. If he is punished, he will really become an enemy of the Han people all over the world. Do Jurchens still want to be the co-lords of the two Zhili provinces in the thirteen provinces in the future?

So the two are acting, acting for each other and for the world to see.

Dorgon took Hong Chengchou's hand and walked into the big tent. The Mongolian princes all stood up and greeted them one by one. Hong Chengchou also greeted them respectfully, and everyone sat down according to their titles. The second seat, the first seat is Mandahai.

"Hong Xiang came thousands of miles from Shandong, he must have something important to do." Dorgon waited for Hong Chengchou to drink a few sips of herbal tea before he said: "Here are all our own people, but it doesn't matter."

Hong Chengchou's face has become thinner and thinner in the past few months, his hair has become grayer, his cheekbones are high and wrinkled, and a white beard hangs sparsely on his chin, as if he is as weak as an old man in his late thirties. But his eyes were still bright and shining.

He put down his teacup and bowed his hands to Dorgon: "Regent, Hong Mou originally recruited troops to set up defenses in Shandong, in case Governor Tong Yangliang left and Xiaoxiao took the opportunity to make trouble. In addition to destroying a few remnants of the Ming Dynasty who occupied land and rebelled, he is impermanent." I was able to calm down and think about some things in the future."

He sat up straight, the expression on his face became serious, and his tone was indescribably awe-inspiring. Even Man Dahai, who was sitting next to him, was infected by him, and unconsciously corrected his sitting posture.

Dorgon frowned, and met Hong Chengchou's eyes. His eyes flashed, and he drifted to a few Mongolians with pricked ears: "My lords, there will be a big battle in the afternoon. All things need to be prepared. You wait and see." Go down first."

Several Mongolians were startled, stood up together, saluted, looked at Hong Chengchou, and left with a slight dissatisfaction.

In the big tent, there are only Dorgon, Man Dahai and Hong Chengchou.

"There is no one else here, please tell me, Hong Xiang." Dorgon said concentratingly. To Hong Chengchou, he has always been commensurate with Hong Chengchou. In addition to caring for the emotions of the Han people, he also respects him from the heart. Both sides are masters on the battlefield. Life and death are friends, and now they are people in the trenches, but heroes cherish each other.

Hong Chengchou's eyes were like a torch, like burning his own candle, and he was holding the case with both hands, like a righteous man who gave up his life.He said in a solemn voice to Dorgon: "My lord, Hong takes the crime of disrespect, and suggests that my lord withdraw from Shanhaiguan!"

(End of this chapter)