Gao Wengui's mission was to disguise himself as an Eight Banners soldier and launch a surprise attack on Dorgon's food supply route.

After leaving Guangning, he first headed quickly north, and after getting rid of the pursuers, he entered the grassland and made a half circle.

Afterwards, under the leadership of the surrendered soldiers and generals, they arrived near Zhenjing Fort, intending to march towards the grassland along Dorgon's grain route.

After walking for a few miles, they encountered a Jiannu grain transport team in the north of Zhenjingbao City.

This grain transport team never expected to encounter Ming troops behind the front line, let alone encounter Ming troops disguised as Eight Banners soldiers.

They were completely defenseless and those escorting the food supplies were all old, weak and sick.

The members of this grain transport team fled or died.

Part of the escorted food and fodder became Gao Wengui's supplies, and the rest were all burned.

After Gao Wengui succeeded in his attack, he continued northward along the grain road and entered the grassland.

He carried seven days' rations.

If he encountered the Jiannu's grain transport team, he would fight to support the enemy.

If they did not encounter the Jiannu's grain transport team, they would take a detour and return after three days.

When Tan Tai learned the news and arrived at the scene, Gao Wengui had already disappeared.

Only a few elderly Mongolians were left sitting on the ground, crying and saying, "The Ming court's bandits bully us because we are old and powerless...bully us because we are old and powerless!"

"Sir, I have sent out a large number of scouts to search, but have not been able to find any trace of the enemy!" a general said to Tan Tai.

Tan Tai took a deep breath and said, "If I'm not mistaken, this Ming army disguised as the Eight Banners has already entered the grassland."

"Then what your Excellency means is..."

"Chase!" Tan Tai gave the order without hesitation.

Now that the food supply has been cut off, it must be restored as soon as possible.

Otherwise the army will be in chaos!

What Tan Tai understood, Dorgon understood even more clearly.

When he learned that there was a problem with the food supply, his first reaction was to continue to send troops north to the grassland to eliminate the threat.

But the problem is that his troops are fewer than Li Dingguo's.

If he continues to divide his forces, his disadvantage will become greater and greater.

"What should I do?" Dorgon fell into deep thought.

Guangning City.

When Li Dingguo learned that Gao Wengui's sneak attack was successful, he immediately stood up from the stool and said, "Beat the drum and go to the tent!"

After all the generals arrived, Li Dingguo made a startling statement: "Everyone, I will lead all the cavalry to the south to open up the grain route! Guangning City is left to you!"

"Ah?" The generals present either widened their eyes or opened their mouths.

Some couldn't believe their ears.

A general asked hurriedly: "If you leave, what will happen to Guangning City?"

"Defend to the death!" Li Dingguo said calmly.

"Sir, you only have 8,000 cavalrymen under your command now, and Dorgon's cavalrymen are twice as many as yours. After learning that you have left, Dorgon will definitely chase after you!" another general reminded.

"No!" Li Dingguo said confidently, "He dares not! Dorgon's food supply has been cut off by Gao Wengui. His top priority is to open up the food supply route, not to chase. Even if he wants to chase, the food supply will not allow him to chase."

"After the lord leaves, whose orders should we obey?" asked another general.

"Him!" Li Dingguo pointed at Liu Wenxiu. "He is my adviser. You must follow his orders. Otherwise, it will be considered as disobeying military orders and will be subject to military law!"

All the generals nodded to Li Dingguo, and then saluted Liu Wenxiu at the same time.

The Ming army had a standard process for promotion, and you couldn’t get promoted just because you wanted to.

If you want Liu Wenxiu to command the troops, you need to give him a suitable identity.

It's too late for a temporary promotion.

After much thought, only the identity of a counselor is the most reasonable and appropriate.

Of course, the premise is that the generals obey orders.

Fortunately, these soldiers were trained by Li Dingguo himself. Moreover, everyone knew that Liu Wenxiu had military talent and was Li Dingguo's sworn brother.

So there wasn't much resistance in my heart.

After making all the arrangements, Li Dingguo told Liu Wenxiu: "It's up to you then! If we win this battle, the Jiannu will no longer be able to launch a counterattack against our army and will have no choice but to leave the Liaohe Plain and return to the mountains and forests!"

"Don't worry, brother. I will complete the mission even if it costs my life!"

"That's good!" Li Dingguo patted Liu Wenxiu on the shoulder and led his troops out of the city.

......

On the bank of Xisha River.

Dorgon was shocked when he heard the news: "What? Li Dingguo led his troops out of the city?"

"Yes," the scout replied.

"How many soldiers did he bring? Where are they going?"

"More than 10,000 cavalrymen, after leaving the city, galloped towards the south!"

"Quick, ask Mr. Fan and Mr. Hong to come over. I have something important to discuss with you!" Dorgon suddenly became excited.

Li Dingguo had a large number of infantry and artillery under his command.

If Li Dingguo retreats to Guangning City, he will be helpless.

Now he is out of town.

Dorgon saw this as an opportunity.

An opportunity to destroy Li Dingguo's field troops.

When Fan Wencheng learned that Li Dingguo suddenly led his troops south, he was stunned for a long time.

"Why is Mr. Fan in a daze?" Dorgon asked in confusion.

"This... This is impossible?" Fan Wencheng said in disbelief: "How dare Li Dingguo go south at this time?"

"He certainly dares," Hong Chengchou said suddenly.

"What do you mean?" Fan Wencheng asked.

Hong Chengchou asked in return: "Mr. Fan, why do you think Li Dingguo went south?"

"It must be for Wang Yongji's food supply."

"Mr. Fan, do you think our army should pursue?" Hong Chengchou continued to ask.

"Of course! This is a great opportunity. When Shi Tingzhu is in the south and we are in the north, Li Dingguo will surely die if we are attacked from both sides!"

"Mr. Fan, have you forgotten that our army's food supply has been cut off?" Hong Chengchou reminded.

"We still have food in stock in our army, enough for ten days or half a month!"

"What if Li Dingguo avoids fighting and our army fails to destroy him within ten days or half a month?" Hong Chengchou asked again, "There are only a few castles on the Ming army's food supply route. The food stored in them is enough for Shi Tingzhu to fight and support the enemy, but not enough for us to fight and support the enemy! After the food supply is cut off, where will our army go?"

"Of course...retreat!"

"Is it a retreat or a rout?" Hong Chengchou asked.

Fan Wencheng stopped talking.

Food and grass represent the morale of the army. As the army's food reserves become less and less, the morale of the army will become increasingly dispersed.

Defeat is inevitable sooner or later.

"So what does Mr. Hong mean?" Dorgon asked.

"Divide the troops immediately! First send a part of the main force north to help Tan Tai open up the food supply route, and at the same time send a part of the light cavalry with enough food and grass south to join Shi Tingzhu, so that he can maintain the advantage in military strength!"

"After solving the problem of grain supply, Your Highness will personally lead the main force south to Shi Tingzhu to attack Li Dingguo!" Hong Chengchou replied.

"What about Guangning City? Should we send troops to monitor it?" Dorgon asked.

"I don't think that's necessary! The cavalry from Guangning City all followed Li Dingguo south, and the remaining infantry can't make any waves at all."

"Well, I will follow your plan and divide our forces."

Dorgon once again chose to divide his troops.

He personally led 14,000 cavalrymen northward, and ordered Lekedehun to lead the remaining 2,000 cavalrymen southward to meet up with Shi Tingzhu.