Bumbutai didn't want to get too involved in state affairs.
But she was from the Khorchin tribe of Mongolia.
Now hearing that her mother's family was attacked, she immediately recommended Hong Chengchou to Fulin to handle the matter.
Inside Chongzheng Hall.
Hong Chengchou, former governor of Ji and Liao in the Ming Dynasty, stood at the bottom of the stairs, patiently waiting for Fulin's arrival.
Before.
He once proposed to Fulin the idea of building a navy to go to the coast of the Ming Dynasty to rob money and food to support the war.
Although this idea was approved by Fulin, he also stole the limelight from the Eight Banners nobles.
Since then, it has been hidden.
Even when Dorgon regained power, he did not use him, but kept him in Shengjing and ignored him.
Now that Fulin has summoned him, it is obvious that he wants to use him in an important position.
Not long after, Fulin walked in slowly.
"Your servant pays homage to His Majesty!" Hong Chengchou knelt down and saluted.
He was a bondservant of the Plain Yellow Banner, and it was legal and reasonable for him to call himself a slave.
Fulin waved his hand and said seriously: "Mr. Hong, don't call yourself a slave anymore. Just call yourself a subject."
"I am a bondservant of the Plain Yellow Banner, so I should call myself a slave," Hong Chengchou explained.
"No," Fulin waved his hand again, "Although Mr. Hong is a bondservant, he is also my subject. From now on, he must be my subject."
"I... obey your order and thank you!" Hong Chengchou knelt down again excitedly.
"No need to be polite, please stand up, please give me a seat!"
The eunuch next to him immediately took a stool and placed it next to Hong Chengchou.
Since Fulin ascended the throne, he has never given anyone a seat.
Not even the prince.
This is the first time today.
This shows how much importance it attaches.
In fact, Fulin had no choice but to do so.
After Dorgon came back to power, his few remaining powers were also stripped away.
Especially the most important military power.
Although he was still the nominal leader of the Two Yellow Flags, there were only a handful of people in the Two Yellow Flags who obeyed his orders.
Even the imperial city was filled with Dorgon's spies.
Needless to say, the other banners only had Dorgon in their eyes, not him, the Emperor of the Qing Dynasty.
In order to fight against Dorgon, he had no choice but to reuse this Han Chinese.
Hong Chengchou was so excited that he kowtowed and expressed gratitude.
Fulin was very satisfied with Hong Chengchou's performance. After saying some polite words, he sat on the dragon throne to discuss business.
"Mr. Hong, what do you think of the current situation?" Fulin asked a tricky question right away.
"Your Majesty should not ask me this question."
"Oh? Why?" Fulin was a little surprised.
"Because my answer will only cause more trouble to the emperor."
Fulin nodded slightly and sighed.
It is an indisputable fact that the current situation is becoming increasingly unfavorable to the Qing Dynasty.
"Then let me get down to business," Fulin paused, "Khorchin Mongolia was attacked by surprise. The loss of population was not large, but the loss of cattle, sheep, supplies and food was heavy."
"They sent someone to deliver a letter, asking for support from the Qing Dynasty."
"What is the emperor's plan? To save him or not?" asked Hong Chengchou.
"It's not a question of whether I want to save him or not, it's that I don't have the ability to save him." Fulin looked dejected.
"The successive defeats have caused heavy losses to the Eight Banners Army. It is already good enough that they can hold off the offensive of the Ming Army. There is no extra force to support the allies."
Hong Chengchou's expression was serious: "In other words, the emperor wants to save the Khorchin tribe?"
"certainly!"
Hong Chengchou took a deep breath and said slowly: "Then the emperor needs to have the courage to burn his boats."
"The courage to burn your boats?" Fulin didn't understand and looked at Hong Chengchou with a curious look: "Mr. Hong, what do you mean..."
Hong Chengchou did not answer Fulin's question, but asked seriously: "Your Majesty, do you think Prince Rui can stop the Ming army?"
"It should be fine." Fulin said unconfidently.
Dorgon was indeed capable, and with Fan Wencheng's advice, he was definitely much stronger than Hauge and Jirgalang.
But the thing is...
The Qing Dynasty today is no longer the Qing Dynasty of two years ago.
He was not completely sure that Dorgon could stop the Ming army's offensive.
"Is the emperor sure?" Hong Chengchou asked.
Fulin thought for a moment and nodded, "Yes, Prince Rui is leading the main force of the Eight Banners to resist the Ming army in the lower reaches of the Liao River. The narrowest part of the lower reaches of the Liao River is also a hundred feet wide. The Ming army has built floating bridges several times but they were all burned down. Without floating bridges, the Ming army cannot cross the river."
"Your Majesty, this is wrong!" Hong Chengchou shook his head gently. "Although the Liao River is wide, it can indeed stop the Ming army's infantry and cavalry in a short period of time, but it cannot stop the Ming army's navy. After Wang Yongji transferred the navy from other places, the Liao River barrier lost its function."
"My Qing Dynasty also has a navy! Although they are no match for the Ming navy, as long as they are willing to sacrifice their lives, the Ming navy will not be able to build a pontoon bridge!" Fulin said somewhat unconvinced.
"Well, even if the Qing navy can stop the Ming navy from building a pontoon bridge, what should we do when the river freezes in winter?" Hong Chengchou asked.
"This..." Fulin stopped talking.
The winter in Liaodong is extremely cold.
After the river froze, the Ming army did not need to build a pontoon bridge and could walk directly on the ice.
The red cannon weighing thousands of pounds is not a problem at all.
By then, the Liaohe River will no longer be a barrier.
"Then what good plan does Mr. Hong have?" Fulin asked helplessly.
"First, find a way to collect some food, fodder, and clothing to help the Khorchin tribe overcome the current difficulties. At the same time, withdraw troops to the Liaoyang area to stretch the Ming army's battle line and disperse the Ming army's forces."
"Wait," Fulin interrupted Hong Chengchou, "Why retreat to Liaoyang? Wouldn't it be the same to fight against the Ming army in Haizhou?"
"It's different," Hong Chengchou shook his head. "Haizhou to Liaoyang is about a hundred miles away. Don't underestimate these hundred miles. They will have a huge impact on the battle situation!"
"When the Ming army reaches Liaoyang, Yizhou and Guangning behind them will be empty. The Eight Banners soldiers can take the opportunity to attack their rear and open up the second and third battlefields!"
"By then the Ming army won't have time to come back to support us, and the rear will be in chaos!"
Fulin blinked his eyes, and said with a hint of disdain: "Is this what Mr. Hong meant by burning the boats? It does take courage to retreat to Liaoyang, but it is not considered burning the boats."
"I haven't finished yet," Hong Chengchou paused, "The reason why we are burning our boats is because we have to be prepared to abandon the city and leave."
"Abandon the city? Abandon Liaoyang?" Fulin's expression became serious.
"No, it's Shengjing!" Hong Chengchou said shockingly.
"What?" Fulin was shocked and angry, "You want me to give up Shengjing?"
Hong Chengchou shook his head again: "It's not abandonment, it's defense! In order to ensure the safety of the Dragon Emperor, please move to Hetuala before the battle, and leave a capable minister to defend Shengjing."
"We will use Shengjing as bait to lure the main force of the Ming army forward. Our main force will enter the Great Wall from the grassland and attack the rear of the Ming army. If the main force of the Ming army returns to help, the siege of Shengjing will be lifted. If they do not return to help, their rear will be in chaos!"
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