"Tong Yangxing is not a Han Chinese." Xiong Tingbi shook his head with a smile on his face, and did not want to correct the shouting of the Ming army soldiers.
He Kegang smiled and said, "The soldiers thought my name sounded like a Han Chinese name, so they mistook me for a traitor."
Feng Datie was a little unhappy. He originally wanted to form a battle formation outside the trench and fight against the Jiannu cavalry, but Xiong Tingbi rejected his proposal.
"Give the Jianlu some hope." Xiong Tingbi glanced at Feng Datie and said slowly, "When the real decisive battle comes, let them despair. If it's a cavalry fight, we have flying cavalry; if it's infantry against cavalry, they're still no match."
Feng Datie bowed and said, "Yes, sir, you think long-term."
Xiong Tingbi turned his head and looked at the retreating Jiannu in the distance. He narrowed his eyes slightly and ordered in a deep voice: "Order the entire army to prepare for a decisive battle. The decisive battle will take place at dawn tomorrow."
The fall of Haicheng and the disastrous defeat of the attack coincided with the low morale of the Jiannu army. Perhaps I had already considered retreating to Liaoyang and then fighting again in the city.
Therefore, we must strike while the iron is hot, launch a surprise attack with rockets, and then launch a full-scale attack. The chances of victory are very high.
Jinyiwei Captain Cao Zhenghua walked up to the platform, bowed, and reported with a smile: "Sir, the signal tower from Guangning to Yaozhou has been built."
As he spoke, he presented a sealed manuscript, "This is the first intelligence sent from Guangning."
Xiong Tingbi took the manuscript, opened it, and looked at it. He was surprised and said, "It was sent yesterday, and it arrived today?"
Cao Zhenghua smiled and nodded, saying, "This was sent by Pegasus from Yaozhou. Once the signal tower here is built, it will be transmitted on the same day."
After a pause, he added, "According to the progress, the signal tower to Zhenjiang Fort in Liaodong will also be completed within the next few days. The personnel have been fully staffed, and communication will be possible upon completion."
"Good, good." Xiong Tingbi praised repeatedly, pumping his fist vigorously. "When our army wins a great victory tomorrow, send a letter to Liaoxi immediately, and the surprise attack troops can go straight to Liaoyang."
The advancement of science and technology is not limited to the improvement of weapons and equipment. The acceleration of communication speed is also a key factor in victory.
The signal tower system with southern Liaoning as the command center and connecting western Liaoning and Liaodong was completed, which meant that the reaction speed of various units of the Ming army increased several times.
The Jiannu still had to rely on fast horses, crossing mountains and rivers, or using beacons and other means, and were completely backward.
The situation on the battlefield changes rapidly, and fast communication and reaction speed are definitely the key factors to victory.
……………….
The weather is getting cooler. Although it cannot be said to be freezing, the breath of early winter has already permeated the land of Liaodong.
Standing on the city wall of Hetuala, Dudu looked sternly at the east.
He could see the Jurchens, their families in tow, hurrying towards the city in a desperate hurry. From their appearance and their frightened steps, he knew they were fleeing in a panic.
After Du Du's troops were ambushed, only a few hundred men were left. They dared not pursue further and had to retreat temporarily.
But the situation changed so quickly that Dudu was caught off guard.
Of the four thousand-cavalry teams, one was completely wiped out, one lost more than half of its troops, and the other two also suffered heavy casualties in several battles with the Ming army.
If it were just like this, Du Du gathered his troops and felt that he could still hold on.
However, Mao Chenglu's mixed brigade of the Ming army crossed the river from Manpu and entered Jianzhou, sweeping across the eastern part of Jianzhou like a whirlwind, capturing Qingshangou, Taipingshao, Shajianzi, Huanren and other towns, and advancing towards the city of Hetuala.
This was no mere attack or harassment, but a formal assault to capture cities and plunder territory. Even with the support of Liu Xingzuo and Kong Youde's thousands of cavalry, Jianzhou was no longer able to withstand the force of the tens of thousands of Ming troops.
In desperation, Dudu led his troops to withdraw to Hetuala. While strengthening the city defense, he sent a letter to Ajige, asking him to withdraw from Yagu Pass and return to defend Hetuala.
The purpose of setting up defenses at Yagu Pass was to prevent the Ming army from entering Jianzhou and attacking Hetuala. Now that the Ming army has broken through from the side and rear, the defense of Yagu Pass is no longer meaningful.
Of course, Du Du also knew that if the defenses at Yagu Pass were withdrawn, the Ming army in front of the pass would inevitably advance and form a pincer attack on Hetuala.
But the strength comparison between the two sides is like this. No matter how hard they plan, they can't produce manpower. They can only keep shrinking and wait for changes.
"Lord Beile." The captain of the personal guards, who had been frowning at the fleeing Jurchens entering the city, stepped forward and suggested, "The city's population has increased, and the food supply may be—"
Du Du smiled bitterly and said, "Let them rest for a while, and then let them seek refuge elsewhere."
Elsewhere? Where? The vast expanse of land, or the bitter cold land to the north?
The captain of the personal guards opened his mouth but ultimately did not ask.
"If the Khan leads his army to a decisive battle with the Ming army, he will surely win," Du Duxiang muttered to himself as if to comfort himself. "Even if the army sends reinforcements, the Liaodong Ming army can be defeated."
There is no other way. Now I don’t want to ask for help or report the news, so as not to disrupt the decisive battle between the main force and the Ming army. I can only grit my teeth and hold on. The longer I hold on, the better.
After a pause, Dudu gritted his teeth and said, "Those who are unwilling to leave, regardless of gender, will be given weapons and sent to the city to help fight."
"Yes." The captain of the personal guards knew that Hetuala could not be abandoned. Now was the time to fight for survival and live and die with the city.
Du Du turned his gaze back to the outside of the city, but just glanced at the Jurchens who fled into the city, then looked into the distance again.
He sent out a thousand-man detachment, both to provide early warning and to assist the fleeing tribesmen. However, he was still worried that the troops could not withstand further losses.
……………….
Smoke and fire rose. Just as a group of houses were set on fire by a few Ming soldiers, another team of Ming soldiers rushed up and hurriedly put out the fire and rescued people.
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