On April 20, Huang Degong's troops arrived at Hetuala.
After joining Liu Zhaoji who was stationed here, they continued to advance and arrived at Zhenjiang Fort on April 27.
Li Dingguo had been waiting here for a long time, and Li Xianzhong also received orders to come here in advance.
Inside the central military tent.
Everyone exchanged greetings for a while, then put away their smiles and looked serious.
Huang Degong looked around and found that all those present were senior generals.
In addition to Li Dingguo, Liu Zhaoji and Li Xianzhong, there are also Gao Yigong, Li Guo, Li Laiheng, Bakeyong and others.
"Ahem," Huang Degong coughed lightly to attract everyone's attention, "The court has issued an order, ordering us to enter the court to wipe out the Jian Nu, and we must eradicate them completely!"
All the generals responded in unison: "Cut the grass and root it out! Cut the grass and root it out!"
"Okay," Huang Degong stretched out his hands and pressed down, signaling everyone to be quiet.
When the silence was restored, Huang Degong looked at Li Dingguo and Li Xianzhong and said, "Tell me about the situation of Korea and the Jiannu!"
Li Xianzhong clasped his hands together and spoke first: "Governor, colleagues! I have been ordered to garrison in the Jianzhou Zuowei area, which borders North Korea. Across the Yalu River is North Korea's Hamgyong Province."
"After the Jiannu fled to North Korea, they borrowed Hamgyong Province from North Korea, claiming to have restored their country, but in fact they had taken Hamgyong Province for themselves."
"During this period, I repeatedly sent small groups of troops to Korea to harass the Jiannu and recruit their soldiers to surrender."
"Over the past year or so, we have killed hundreds of enemies and recruited more than a thousand soldiers to surrender."
......
After listening to Li Xianzhong's introduction, Huang Degong asked: "After the Jiannu occupied Hamgyong Province, did the local people have resistance?"
"It's more than just a rebellion, it's simply an upheaval." Li Xianzhong said quickly: "After the Jiannu occupied Hamgyong Province, they set up officials and levied taxes on the local people. Due to the heavy taxes, the local people had no way to survive. Some people launched an uprising against the Jiannu; some people crossed the Yalu River and fled to Jianzhouwei."
Huang Degong nodded and asked, "Is there anyone among them who is familiar with the terrain of Hamgyong Province?"
"Yes, he has been kept in the army by me and is ready to lead the way at any time."
"Okay," Huang Degong looked at Li Dingguo, "What's going on here?"
Li Dingguo replied: "Zhenjiang Fort is next to Pyeongan-do in North Korea, where there are almost no traces of Jiannu. However, I took advantage of this time to find a lot of guides and drew the topography of Pyeongan-do."
Huang Degong nodded, very satisfied.
There are only two ways to send troops to North Korea by land.
One route is from Zhenjiangbao in the west, across the Yalu River, to Yizhou in Pyeongan Province, North Korea.
During the Wanli period, Li Rusong led his army along this route to fight against Japanese invaders and aid Korea.
The other road is in Hamgyong Province in the north of North Korea, around the Zuowei area of Jianzhou in the Ming Dynasty.
During the Imjin War, the Japanese divided their troops into two groups after capturing Kaesong.
The western route continued northward and attacked Ping'an Road.
The Eastern Army marched northeast and attacked Hamgyong Province.
According to Japan's plan, after conquering Korea, they would divide their troops into two groups to attack Liaodong of the Ming Dynasty.
As a result, the Western Army failed in its attack on Pyeongan Province. In order to avoid being cut off by the Ming Army, the Eastern Army had to retreat and join the Western Army.
Now...
Li Dingguo had both a guide to lead the way and a topographic map to help.
It should be much easier to let him be the vanguard to attack Pyeongan-do.
Thinking of this, Huang Degong asked, "Sending troops to North Korea is a tough battle. What do you think is the most appropriate way to fight it?"
Everyone immediately started discussing in low voices.
After discussing for a while.
Everyone thought that the troops should be divided into two groups.
The eastern route entered the court from Jianzhou, and the western route entered the court from Zhenjiang Fort.
However, there was controversy over the order in which the troops should be dispatched.
Li Xianzhong felt that troops should be dispatched simultaneously.
The Eastern Army tied down the main force of the Jiannu, while the Western Army quickly advanced and captured Pyongyang and immediately headed east to cut off the Jiannu's retreat.
Being attacked from both sides, the Jiannu army would certainly be annihilated.
Liu Zhaoji believed that the Western Route Army should send out troops first and capture Pyongyang before the Jiannu could react, thus cutting off the Jiannu's retreat.
At this time, the Eastern Army was dispatched to form a pincer attack from the front and back.
The two of them held different opinions and argued endlessly.
Huang Degong waved his hand to signal for silence and asked Li Dingguo: "What good plan does General Li have?"
"I think you guys are making simple things complicated."
"What do you mean?" Liu Zhaoji and Li Xianzhong looked over at the same time.
Li Dingguo didn't care and continued, "According to the surrendered soldiers and generals of the Jiannu, the problem of Jiannu deserters is very serious. When they first entered the court, they had nearly 15,000 troops, but now the total strength has dropped to about 10,000."
"How many soldiers do we have? Sixty thousand!"
"We have an absolute advantage in military strength. There is no need to play tricks with the Jiannu. We can just march forward with our army."
"As long as we advance cautiously, do not underestimate the enemy, and do not rush, the Jian Nu will surely be defeated!"
"Well said!" Huang Degong stood up with a smile: "Before, we always had to fight hard battles and win by using strategies. Now we have a great advantage, we just need to be cautious. In my opinion, we should follow the instructions of General Li Dingguo and push the army forward!"
The generals looked at each other, clasped their fists and bowed, "As you command!"
Seeing this, Huang Degong began to give orders and make final preparations before the war.
At noon that day.
Li Xianzhong brought his personal soldiers and returned to Jianzhou Zuowei together with Liu Zhaoji's troops.
The early morning of April 30th.
The Pingliao Army crossed the Yalu River and officially entered Korea.
The Ming army was divided into two routes.
The Eastern Army was led by Li Xianzhong and Liu Zhaoji, who had more than 20,000 cavalrymen.
The rest of the troops were the Western Army.
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