plumnovel Chapter 14 Fight to the death, never retreat!
Chapter 14 Fight to the death, never retreat!
The news of Yue Tuo's critical illness weighed heavily on Dorgon's heart like a giant boulder.
But at the same time, this pressure also brought out the madness in his bones.
Standing atop the earthen mound, Dorgon gazed at the impregnable Linqing City in the distance, his fingertips digging tightly into his palms.
Two conflicting thoughts were tearing him apart, plunging him into extreme turmoil and torment.
He desperately wanted to take Linqing!
This vital town, guarding the Grand Canal, possessed immense wealth; the spoils of just one town were enough to bring back a full load for the Eight Banners upon their entry into the Central Plains.
Moreover, it was a crucial choke point for the Qing army's southward advance into Shandong, where they seized the wealth of the North China Plain.
Once Linqing is captured, tens of thousands of Eight Banner troops can march straight in and plunder all the grain, gold, silver, and people in the heart of Shandong along the Grand Canal!
The merits of this campaign into the pass will be firmly in his hands, further consolidating his power and position within the Eight Banners.
Moreover, the Chongzhen Emperor, who had changed from his previous muddle-headed ways and had recently thwarted his grand plans, was currently in Linqing City. If he could capture the Chongzhen Emperor, it would be a great achievement that would allow his prestige to rival that of Huang Taiji!
However, the thought of the cost of a forced siege instantly extinguished Dorgon's fervor by the cold, hard numbers of casualties.
The Eight Banners were the foundation of the Qing Dynasty. In the battle of Jiazhuang, he had lost nearly a thousand Eight Banners soldiers, and of the four hundred wounded and sick, it was estimated that nearly half of them would not survive the winter.
Those were all seasoned warriors who had grown up in the old forest and had been through countless battles.
Each death is like tearing a piece of his heart out.
Linqing City was heavily fortified with high walls and deep moats. The Ming army was heavily guarded, with cannons and arrows densely covering the city walls, and nearly 10,000 Guan Ning cavalrymen watching from below.
If the Eight Banners' veteran troops were to launch a strong attack, it would be tantamount to sending them to their deaths under the Ming army's artillery fire and arrows. If they suffered too many casualties, not only would he not be able to achieve meritorious service, but he would probably become a sinner of the Eight Banners and completely lose the capital to compete for power.
The north wind howled, stinging his face. Dorgon's face was so gloomy it seemed to drip water, and the murderous aura around him almost froze into ice.
Seeing their commander-in-chief in such a state, the Eight Banners generals beside him fell silent, none daring to utter a sound to disturb him, and the atmosphere became extremely oppressive.
"Take full care of Prince Yuetuo; we must help him hold on for a few more days!"
After a long pause, Dorgon finally spoke, his voice hoarse like a broken gong, filled with suppressed anger and helplessness.
"Send the order: the entire army shall break camp and advance to within three miles of Linqing City to set up camp!"
With the military order relayed, tens of thousands of Eight Banner troops slowly moved forward, their iron armor clanging and their horses' hooves thundering, pressing closer and closer to Linqing City.
The massive, dark army, like a storm cloud, completely enveloped the area outside Linqing City. Banners blotted out the sky, and a chilling killing intent soared into the heavens, causing the air inside and outside the city to freeze instantly.
Dorgon stood on his horse at the front of the battle line, his eyes fixed on the top of Linqing City. Looking at the densely packed garrison, the rows of cannons, the crisscrossing moats outside the city, and the layers of barricades and traps, his fear grew deeper and deeper.
However, once the military order was given, Dorgon had to fight this battle no matter what, otherwise he would never be satisfied.
"Order the entire army to scatter and drive all civilians within a ten-mile radius of Linqing to the front lines! No one, regardless of age or gender, is to be left behind!"
Dorgon gave the order in a cold voice, his tone completely flat, as if he were not arresting living people, but just some insignificant plants.
Upon hearing this, the Eight Banners generals beside him showed a hint of excitement in their eyes and quickly accepted the order and left.
The Manchu Eight Banners have always been brutal, and this method of driving people to attack cities has long been a common tactic of theirs.
It could deplete the Ming army's ammunition and arrows, destroy their morale, and preserve the elite Eight Banners troops, making it the perfect solution for them.
Within an hour, heart-wrenching cries and wails came from all directions.
The Eight Banner soldiers stormed into the surrounding villages and towns like demons, smashing open the doors of those who had stayed home hoping for a lucky break.
Whether they were elderly people with white hair or infants crying for food, they were all driven by swords and spears to gather in front of the Qing army's formation.
Anyone who hesitated even slightly or moved too slowly was immediately killed by the Eight Banners soldiers!
Crimson blood splattered across the rural dirt roads, and severed limbs and remains were scattered everywhere. This hellish scene unfolded scene after scene on the outskirts of Linqing.
The people were tied up with ropes and formed long lines. The elderly walked with difficulty, the children cried loudly in fear, and the women collapsed to the ground.
No matter how much they begged for mercy and struggled, they could not escape being ruthlessly kicked, dragged, and forced to move forward by the Eight Banners soldiers.
After thousands of people gathered at the foot of Linqing City, their hands were forcibly stuffed with mud and stones.
Behind them lay the cold threat of the Eight Banners soldiers' swords and spears, while in front of them were countless barricades and bottomless moats; advancing or retreating meant certain death.
But ultimately, they were forced by swords and spears, and cried out as they rushed toward the barricades and traps that the Ming army had laid outside the city.
Dorgon then looked at the demoralized Han soldiers in the ranks, his eyes cold and merciless, showing no pity whatsoever.
Most of these Han soldiers were Ming soldiers who had been coerced by the Qing army and surrendered earlier. They were now under the command of the Han Army Battalion, but in the eyes of the Eight Banners, they were all cannon fodder that could be discarded at will.
"Order the Han army to act as the vanguard in the siege, and escort these civilians to fill in the moat and remove the barricades! Anyone who retreats will be killed without exception!"
When the military order was given, the Han soldiers in the Qing army turned pale and trembled all over, but dared not disobey in the slightest.
Having already witnessed the brutality of the Eight Banners, they knew that retreat would only lead to their deaths. They had no choice but to grit their teeth, take up their swords and spears, and speed up the procession of the thousands of captured civilians toward the moat and barricades below Linqing City.
At this moment, on the city wall of Linqing, Emperor Chongzhen stood between the battlements, his armor clad, coldly gazing at the tragic scene below, his aura terrifyingly oppressive.
He watched as the ragged civilians were driven step by step by the Eight Banners soldiers and the Han army towards the defensive fortifications outside the city.
The elderly, women, and children helped each other up, their cries heart-wrenching. They waved the mud in their hands, trying to fill the trench in front of them, but the Eight Banner soldiers behind them kept waving their swords and urging them on.
The slightest pause resulted in a fatal blow; the bodies of the civilians rolled down the trench, quickly piling up into a layer of blood and flesh.
Generals Huang Degong and Zhou Yuji stood beside Emperor Chongzhen, their fists clenched tightly, knuckles white, as they watched the scene unfold before them, remaining silent.
The new army soldiers on the city walls, who had been refugees and laborers just days before, had never witnessed such a horrific scene.
Looking at the mountain of corpses and sea of blood below the city, everyone turned pale and felt nauseous. Some couldn't help but lean against the city wall and vomit, while others were so frightened that their legs went weak and they almost dropped their weapons.
They had only been in the army for a few days and thought they were just guarding the city and preparing for war, but they never imagined that they would have to face such a tragic scene of watching their compatriots being slaughtered.
"Those are all citizens of my Great Ming Dynasty!"
A newly promoted army general, his eyes red, knelt before Emperor Chongzhen, pleading for battle. His voice was filled with grief and reluctance: "Your Majesty, please grant me permission to leave the city to fight the enemy and cover the innocent civilians outside the city as they enter!"
As soon as he finished speaking, many new recruits on the city wall echoed his words, their eyes filled with pure hope.
However, Chongzhen suddenly turned his head, his gaze sharp as a knife, staring intently at the young general, his eyes as cold as ice.
"Save them? What will you use to save those people? Your recruits who have only been trained for two days? Or will you use our few core troops to fight the Jurchens in open field battles?!"
Furthermore, how can you guarantee that those being brought in at this moment are all innocent civilians? Aren't there Jurchen spies among them?
Huang Degong and Zhou Yuji, both seasoned generals, nodded in agreement. Although they were angry and heartbroken at the scene, they remained clear-headed and considered the overall situation.
Previously, they had worried that Emperor Chongzhen would be angered by the Jurchens' methods of driving people to attack the city, and they both thought of risking their lives to remonstrate with him, so that Emperor Chongzhen would not make wrong battle commands.
However, it now seems that they were overthinking things. Although the emperor in front of them had lived in the deep palace for a long time, his imperial power and composure were unmatched by ordinary people.
At this moment, Chongzhen forcibly suppressed all the reluctance in his heart, his eyes filled with only determination and coldness. He raised his finger and pointed down to the city, his voice loud enough for the New Army generals beside him to hear clearly.
"Dorgon wants to take advantage of my benevolence and the soldiers' compassion to trick us into opening the city gates and engaging in a rash battle, so that he can take down my Linqing in one fell swoop!"
If we let these driven-out people into the city today, tomorrow the Jurchens will trample over their and our corpses and slaughter the entire city of Linqing!
By imperial decree! All gunners and archers, take your positions! Anyone who approaches the trenches and chevaux-de-frise, whether soldier or civilian, is to be shot dead! Anyone who disobeys this order or ceases fire without authorization will be dealt with according to military law!
Furthermore, order the 8,000 Guan Ning cavalry outside the city to divide into several teams and flank the Jurchen army to harass them, inflicting casualties as much as possible. However, remember, do not engage the enemy head-on. If the situation becomes unfavorable, retreat immediately, maintain mobility, and continue to apply pressure!
Huang Degong and Zhou Yuji, with sharp eyes, turned around without hesitation to relay Emperor Chongzhen's military orders.
The cannons on the city wall quickly adjusted their angles, and the archers also nocked their arrows and aimed at the civilians below the city according to military orders.
Although the other recruits had bloodshot eyes and looked reluctant, they also gritted their teeth and gripped their weapons tightly.
The look in their eyes as they gazed at the Jurchen army no longer held only the fear and tension of before, but also a hint of resolute resentment and murderous intent!
"fire!"
"Release the arrows!"
As the defending generals gave their orders, the roar of cannons immediately rang out from the city walls!
Amidst the deafening roar, scorching hot shells blasted towards the dense crowd below the city, instantly exploding into a shower of blood!
Countless arrows rained down like a storm, piercing the bodies of civilians and Han soldiers attacking the city.
In an instant, blood splattered everywhere beneath the walls of Linqing City, and screams and wails echoed throughout the heavens and earth.
Innocent civilians fell to the ground one after another; the elderly, women, and children were all killed.
They died in this brutal war, their blood staining the moats and pits.
The Han soldiers, following behind the civilians, were terrified by the horrific scene before them. They tried to retreat, but were mercilessly slaughtered by the Eight Banners soldiers who were supervising the battle.
At the same time, the eight thousand Guan Ning cavalry outside the city also immediately took action upon receiving military orders.
This elite cavalry unit, relying on its excellent mobility, was divided into four teams under the command of its generals, bypassing the Qing army's main formation and rapidly advancing towards the flanks.
The skilled Mongol cavalrymen in the Guan Ning Army, wielding their horsebows, accelerated rapidly. Once they approached the Qing army's formation, they unleashed astonishing power to complete a rapid-fire attack in a short period of time.
These rapid-fire projectiles densely covered the Qing army's formation. Even though they were unlikely to inflict fatal wounds on the armored Eight Banner soldiers, they still caused a stir in the Eight Banner army formation.
Before Dorgon could angrily order a counterattack, the Guan Ning cavalry immediately turned their horses around and retreated quickly, maintaining a safe distance from the Qing army's main formation and avoiding direct confrontation.
Like a pack of nimble wolves, they roamed the flanks of the Qing army's main formation, repeatedly harassing and launching projectiles, keeping Dorgon's formation constantly on edge.
Dorgon stood in the middle of the formation, looking at the battle situation before him, his brows furrowed, his mood complicated.
He originally intended to use the Ming people and Han soldiers' charge to deplete the Ming army's strength and morale.
But he really didn't expect that Chongzhen would be so ruthless and decisive, and that he could really harden his heart to order the shooting of those people, completely shattering his plans.
The constant harassment from the Guan Ning cavalry outside the city left him helpless. Dividing his troops to deal with them would just play into Chongzhen's hands, leaving him unable to launch a full-scale attack on the city.
This siege, which was originally intended as a test, seems to have been aborted before it even began.
Emperor Chongzhen stood atop the city wall, watching the battle outside gradually unfold in his favor, yet his eyes showed no trace of joy.
He silently looked at the corpses of the innocent civilians who had been sacrificed beneath the city walls, then slowly drew his longbow from his waist, picked up an arrow, and tightly tied a blood-written letter to its tail.
Driven by muscle memory, he skillfully drew the longbow to its full extent, angled it upwards, and then launched it with a sudden jerk!
The arrow flew straight out of the city with a sharp whistling sound, and then, with great kinetic energy, it pierced into an open area below the city.
Seeing this, Dorgon gave some orders with a gloomy expression. Before long, a rider ran out from the Qing army formation, quickly dismounted beside the arrows, and retrieved the message.
A moment later, Dorgon's personal guard took the blood-written letter from the knight and respectfully presented it to Dorgon.
Dorgon took the letter, unfolded it, and saw that the handwriting was strong and clear, and although the content was short, it was full of determination:
"Fight to the death, never retreat!"
These four short words were like a sharp blade, piercing Dorgon's heart and defenses once again!
He clutched the blood-written letter tightly, then looked up at the top of Linqing City, as if he could see the Chongzhen Emperor, clad in armor and standing tall, surrounded by the Qing cavalry, yet showing no fear on his face.
He probably won't be able to take Linqing City.
Chongzhen's tough stance and the formidable defenses of Linqing made Dorgon realize the difficulty of advancing into Shandong.
When the last vestige of his desire to launch a strong attack completely dissipated, he was replaced by a deep sense of powerlessness and a desire to retreat.
"Order...to cease the siege, and for the entire army to retreat ten miles to set up camp, while some troops are dispatched to plunder the villages and replenish supplies."
Dorgon's voice was full of exhaustion, devoid of any of his previous domineering spirit and ambition.
He had to consider withdrawing his troops from the pass ahead of schedule.