"This Ming cavalry is not large in number, only a few hundred. They are flying the Ming national flag, with no other flags."

"Hundreds of cavalrymen flying the Ming flag?" Shi Tingzhu's first reaction was that it was a trick.

Now he has cut off the Ming army's food supply.

Wang Yongji and Li Dingguo will definitely come to rescue when they find out.

Judging from the distance, the first to arrive must be Li Dingguo's troops.

Even if Li Dingguo did not send the main force to rescue, he should at least send an army of several thousand people.

What does it mean to send only a few hundred cavalry?

Are you looking down on people?

Or did they know they were no match for the enemy and just sent a few people out as a symbolic gesture?

The more Shi Tingzhu thought about it, the more confused he became.

"Something is wrong, something is very wrong!" Shi Tingzhu said, and then ordered the other generals: "Send out a large number of scouts immediately, and make sure to find the trace of the Ming army!"

In his view, these hundreds of cavalry were just Li Dingguo's scouts.

Li Dingguo's main force must be hiding somewhere, waiting for an opportunity to strike.

But he changed his mind and felt that he was overthinking.

Prince Rui Dorgun has been closely observing Guangning City.

Li Dingguo had tens of thousands of soldiers under his command.

If Li Dingguo led the main force south, Prince Rui would definitely know the news at the first time and send someone to warn him.

But up to now, he has not received any warning message.

Was it because Li Dingguo’s main force did not move south that Prince Rui did not issue a warning?

Or did Prince Rui send the message but I didn't receive it for various reasons?

This was the first time that Shi Tingzhu felt the pressure of playing a high-level game.

The more he thought about it, the more uncertain he became. He had no choice but to withdraw his troops to strengthen reconnaissance and send people to verify the situation with Dorgon.

While Shi Tingzhu was confused, Dorgon was also confused.

Because on the second day after Shi Tingzhu went south, Li Dingguo suddenly led the main force to leave Guangning City and came to the Xisha River.

Yes.

Li Dingguo neither went south to provide support nor was he afraid of fighting.

Instead, he chose to attack with his entire army.

Dorgon rode on his horse, constantly using his clairvoyance to observe the situation on the other side of the river.

In his field of vision.

Countless Ming army soldiers were lining up, ready for a decisive battle.

"Isn't this right?" Dorgon was very surprised. He said to Fan Wencheng and Hong Chengchou beside him, "Why didn't Li Dingguo go to save the grain road, but instead wanted to fight a decisive battle with us?"

"This..." Fan Wencheng pondered for a long time: "If Li Dingguo is sure of victory, it is understandable that he will fight a decisive battle with us first and then go south to rescue the grain road."

"But the problem is... he doesn't have the strength and he's not 100% sure! If he loses, the Ming army's Guangning, Songjin and other places will all fall into the hands of the Qing Dynasty."

“This is so wrong!”

"Mr. Fan is right. This is indeed very wrong!" Hong Chengchou also said, "However, warfare is a tricky business! Li Dingguo must have a purpose for doing this. Your Majesty, please order all the troops to be alert and not give Li Dingguo any chance to take advantage of you."

"Yes," Dorgon nodded and issued an order for all departments to be cautious.

At this time, the Ming army had already formed its battle array.

They did not rush to attack, but rested on the south bank of the Xisha River.

It was noon.

The Ming army suddenly moved.

The artillery first deployed artillery on the shore and fired at the Jiannu soldiers on the other side of the river.

Dorgon did not dare to ask for instructions and immediately ordered the main force to retreat three miles, leaving only a small number of scouts on the shore to investigate the situation.

After forcing back the main force of the Jiannu, the Ming army began to cross the river.

Except for the abundant water flow during the spring flood season, the Xisha River is dry most of the time.

In some places where the riverbed is higher, infantry can walk directly across.

The place where Li Dingguo chose to cross the river was relatively high, and infantry and cavalry could pass through easily.

"The Ming army's bombardment is over!"

"The Ming army has begun to cross the river!"

The scouts kept going back and forth, informing Dorgon of the situation on the shore.

"Prepare to attack halfway across the river!" Dorgon raised his right hand and gave the order.

Before he finished speaking, the scout came again to report: "The Ming army has stopped advancing."

"Hmm?" Dorgon's right hand was hanging in the air at this time, feeling very embarrassed. "The Ming army... stopped advancing?"

"Yes," the scout replied.

"Investigate further and report back." Dorgon put down his right hand, feeling even more embarrassed.

Fan Wencheng and Hong Chengchou frowned at the same time, having a bad feeling.

Li Dingguo would not issue such an order for no reason.

"What on earth is Li Dingguo trying to do?" Fan Wencheng muttered to himself, staring at the direction of the shore.

Hong Chengchou also frowned and said nothing.

They were not afraid of fighting Li Dingguo head-on, nor were they afraid of Li Dingguo taking the initiative to attack.

I’m afraid I can’t figure out Li Dingguo’s intentions.

The scout came back quickly: "Your Majesty, the Ming army is retreating."

"What?" Dorgon's eyes widened: "Are you sure you didn't see it wrong?"

"I have nearly a hundred brothers under my command, and they all saw that the Ming army was retreating." The scout replied.

"Lead the way, I want to go to the shore to check it out myself." Dorgon still didn't believe it and decided to check it out himself.

"Your Highness, you can't do that. The Ming army has deployed a large number of artillery on the shore. If we go there rashly, we might..."

"I asked you to lead the way so that you can find a safe place. Don't you have this ability? Lead the way quickly. If you keep talking nonsense, I will chop off your head." Dorgon shouted anxiously.

Opportunities on the battlefield are fleeting.

If the Ming army was really retreating, he must send troops to chase and kill them.

Even if there is no gain, it can boost the morale of the Eight Banners soldiers.

Since the Ming army entered Liao, the Eight Banners Army has been defeated repeatedly.

He desperately needed to boost the morale of his soldiers.

The scout did not dare to delay and quickly brought Dorgon and his entourage to the shore and stopped behind a mound.

Dorgon hid behind a mound and looked across the river with his clairvoyance.

The situation at the scene was the same as what the scout had described.

Not only was the Ming army retreating, but it was also retreating very quickly.

If it weren't for the artillery's hindrance, it might have already retreated out of sight.

"Gentlemen, do you think we should give chase?" Dorgon asked.

When Fan Wencheng looked at Hong Chengchou, he found that Hong Chengchou was also looking at him.

The two looked at each other and shook their heads at the same time: "It's a trick, don't underestimate the enemy and rush in!"

"But have you two gentlemen ever thought about the feelings of the soldiers under my command?" Dorgon looked at the soldiers behind him as he spoke.

The faces of these soldiers were gloomy, without a trace of joy on their faces.

The continuous defeats had made them lose the desire to pursue victory, and they even had no interest in the retreating Ming army.

Capturing Zhenjing Fort only meant capturing the city, but no spoils were obtained.

It's hardly a victory.

If this continues, the consequences can be imagined.

Hong Chengchou knew the importance of morale. After thinking about it, he suggested: "Your Majesty can send troops to pursue, but you must be fully prepared!"