Yang Hao was dismissed for improper command and concealing military intelligence.

In the 38th year of Wanli, Yang Hao served as the governor of Liaodong, but resigned again soon after.

In the 46th year of the Wanli reign, Nurhaci officially rebelled.

The court felt that Yang Hao was familiar with Liaodong's military affairs, so it appointed him as the governor of Liaodong and put him in charge of suppressing the rebellion.

He divided his troops into four groups to attack Hetuala, but Nurhaci repelled them one by one and eventually defeated them.

Knowing that the Jiannu were difficult to deal with, why didn't Yang Hao concentrate his main forces to attack, but instead chose to divide his troops?

It’s not that Yang Hao was incompetent, it’s mainly because most people at that time thought that dividing the troops and encircling the enemy was the best option.

At the pre-war discussion meeting, including Liaodong Governor Yang Hao, General Du Song, General Li Rubai, General Liu Jing and others all agreed to the plan of dividing the troops and encircling the enemy.

After all, in the Battle of Bozhou twenty years ago, the Ming army defeated the chieftain Yang Yinglong by dividing its forces and encircling them.

Only Marin thought that they should concentrate their forces and attack from all directions.

Except for Li Rubai, who has been unemployed at home for more than 20 years, the others are veterans who have fought in many battles.

No strategic mistakes will be made.

There is another reason for choosing to divide the troops.

Hetuala is nestled among the mountains.

The terrain there is high, and the surrounding terrain is low.

No matter which route the troops take, they are attacking from above.

At the same time, we will face the problem of narrow roads and difficult mountain roads.

Even if there were a million troops, they could not be fully deployed on the front line.

Once the vanguard troops are blocked, a stalemate will occur between the two sides.

At that time, the troops in front will not be able to retreat, and the troops behind will not be able to move forward.

It is a waste of manpower advantage, time and food.

At that time, the Ming Dynasty experienced the three major expeditions of the Wanli period and the Ming-Myanmar War that lasted for more than 40 years.

The treasury is empty and finances are scarce.

Everyone in the court demanded a quick victory and no stalemate.

So Yang Hao chose to divide his troops.

More than 30 years later, the Ming army encountered the same problem again.

Is it to divide the troops and encircle them?

Or concentrate the main force and advance all the way?