Outside the Great Wall, Daning (now Chifeng, called Kekehetao by the Mongols in the Ming Dynasty.)
As the troops were about to be dispatched, there was singing and dancing in the city.
In a house in the city, Dorgon slammed the table and said, "Damn it! Hateful!"
"What's wrong, Prince Rui?"
"See for yourself!"
As he spoke, Dorgon handed the secret letter from Xuanfu to Duoduo.
The rest of the people quickly gathered around, and their faces changed suddenly after reading the contents of the letter.
The news that the eight major merchants in Zhangjiakoubao were uprooted exploded among the crowd like a thunderclap.
Over the years, they have obtained countless supplies from these merchants, including food, salt, iron, cotton, and even firearms and internal information of the court.
And what did they pay?
Basically none.
They simply gave the stolen gold and silver, furs and ginseng from Liaodong to these merchants.
That's all.
The demise of these merchants told them a message: it would be very difficult to obtain supplies from the Ming court in the future.
Liaodong is a cold and harsh place, and most of the supplies have to be transported from within the country.
Now that this road is blocked, the future situation will become increasingly unclear.
"Because Xuanfu was blocked by the Ming court, this news came from Shanxi, so it was a few days late," Dorgon explained.
Fan Wencheng stepped forward to the table and unfolded the map.
He stared at several pre-marked locations on the map and pondered for a long time.
Although there were not many people present, their identities were all very prominent.
In addition to Dorgon and Dodo, there were also Prince Su Haoge and Prince Duolo Wuying Ajige.
"In other words, not only did the Ming court not transport supplies to Beijing, but it transported a large amount of grain and fodder from Beijing to Xuanfu Town?" Fan Wencheng asked.
"Well, this is the news from ten days ago, it should be correct. There are at least 500,000 dan of grain and fodder in the city, several million taels of silver, and countless other supplies."
"This is Chongzhen's conspiracy. He wants to have a decisive battle with our army in Xuanfu!" Fan Wencheng said shockingly.
"How dare he?" Hauge stood up. "Although the Ming army just repelled Li Zicheng, it was only a repulse. In terms of field combat capabilities, our Qing army is invincible!"
"Yes, we have entered the pass five times before, and each time we were victorious. What can the Ming army use to fight us?"
"So Chongzhen and Yan Yingyuan's plan is to have us attack the city! Because except for the big cities like Xuanfu Town, there are very few supplies in other places."
"Attacking a city will increase casualties, so you guys should think carefully!" Fan Wencheng reminded.
Dorgon took the lead and sneered: "Mr. Fan, don't worry too much. If we were afraid of death, we wouldn't have entered the pass! Mr. Fan, please tell me if there is anything wrong with this entry!"
Fan Wencheng glanced at the others, and only put his mind at ease after seeing their firm attitude: "If that's the case, then I'll show off my ugliness!"
"Please give us some advice, Mr. Fan!" Dorgon took the lead and said respectfully.
After some polite remarks, Fan Wencheng pointed to Shanhaiguan on the map and said, "According to the plan, on May 18, the Blue Banner of Prince Zheng (Jirgalang) and the Red Banner of Duolo Baylor (Luoluohun) will lead more than 10,000 Han and Mongolian Eight Banners to launch a feint attack on Shanhaiguan."
"On the same day, Prince Rui (Dorgon) led a small number of the Plain White Banner and the Bordered Yellow Banner, as well as a small number of Han and Mongolian Eight Banners troops to break through Qiangziling and capture Miyun and Chaohe."
"On the same day, Prince Yu's (Duoduo) Bordered White Banner, Prince Su's (Haoge) Plain Blue Banner, some Plain Yellow Bordered Yellow Banner, and 30,000 Han and Mongolian Eight Banners troops broke through Dushikou and captured the Xuanfu area."
Everyone present nodded. This was the plan Shen Yang had made before sending out his troops.
"The plan needs to be changed now!" Fan Wencheng said shockingly again.
Twenty days ago, they split their troops into two groups. Jirgalang and Luoluohun on the Shanhaiguan side had already arrived at the designated location and were just waiting for the right time to launch a feint attack.
If we change the plan now, by the time the news reaches Shanhaiguan, the war will have already begun.
Delaying the war is secondary. If innocent casualties are caused, they will be sinners of Manchuria.
"War is no joke. It takes time to transmit information. Mr. Fan, you have never eaten pork, but you have seen pigs run, right?" Duoduo finally seized the opportunity and said sarcastically.
"Yes, Mr. Fan, if you change the plan without permission and fail to meet with the governor of Shanhaiguan, something might happen there!"
"Be quiet and listen to what Mr. Fan has to say!" Dorgon stopped everyone from accusing him.
Fan Wencheng raised his head and asked, "How long will it take for the news from Xuanfu Town to reach Beijing?"
Dorgon looked at Ajige. In the ninth year of Chongzhen, Ajige led his troops into the pass from Dushikou. He was familiar with this location.
Ajige thought for a moment and said, "Based on my experience, it will take the Ming army two days to get the news back to Beijing."
Fan Wencheng pointed to Beijing and said, "Chongzhen must have a backup plan, but we don't know where he will mobilize his troops!"
"According to the news that came out earlier, Tang Tong is stationed at Juyongguan with 6,000 troops. Wang Yongji and Gao Di are stationed at Jizhou with about 20,000 troops. Li Xingzhong is stationed at Liangxiang with 10,000 troops. Wu Sangui is stationed in the Shanhaiguan area with a total of about 50,000 troops."
"There are about 20,000 to 30,000 soldiers in Beijing, and the total force is 110,000, no more and no less."
"When two armies face off, whoever hides deeper has a greater chance of winning!"
"So...what does Mr. Fan mean?" Dorgon asked in confusion.
"I think it would be best if Prince Rui's (Dorgon) troops take action three to five days later than the other troops!"
"Why?"
"Why? What if we act too late and the credit is taken away?"
"Yeah, what does Mr. Fan mean?"
No one understood Fan Wencheng's intention and expressed their dissatisfaction.
"Everyone!" Fan Wencheng raised his voice, "Why are we entering the customs this time?"
"Robbering money, food and women!" Duoduo answered with disdain.
"Wrong!" Fan Wencheng tapped the map on the table with a heavy face: "This time we entered the pass mainly to kill people, and secondly to rob things! We killed the Ming army and robbed the wealth."
"Our army's advantage lies in field battles rather than sieges, so what I mean is to try to fight the Ming army in the field."
"Once the Ming court learns of the attack on Xuanfu, they will definitely send troops to support us. We just need to quickly capture Miyun and engage in a field battle with the Ming army heading to Juyongguan!"
"If Gao Di, Wang Yongji and Li Xingzhong's troops are completely wiped out, the Ming court will only have Wu Sangui and 20,000 to 30,000 soldiers in Beijing left in the north!"
"By then, Wu Sangui's Guanning Army will be pinned down by Prince Zheng, and Chongzhen will have no troops to use!"
"You princes and nobles can focus on conquering cities and making achievements! Even..." Fan Wencheng smiled and said, "It's not impossible to capture Beijing!"
"That's why I suggested that Prince Rui (Dorgon) delay his troops for three to five days, and when the time comes, he can enter the pass with lightning speed."
Everyone present was silent for a long time, then they all looked up at Fan Wencheng.
The more they thought about it, the more it made sense.
After thinking for a long time, Dorgon asked cautiously: "What if the Ming army has deployed heavy troops in Miyun in advance and cannot capture Miyun in a short time?"
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