Ajigenikan already knew his fate.
If nothing unexpected happens, he and his brothers will sleep here forever, unable to return to their homeland.
Ajigenikan quickly took off his helmet, slashed his braid with a knife, and handed it to Dorgon: "Prince Rui, please take my braid back to Shengjing."
Dorgon's eyes suddenly turned red. He took the braid and nodded seriously: "I will remember your contribution in my heart!"
Ajigenikan, riding on his horse, clasped his fists and bowed to Dorgon, then waved his command flag and led two thousand men to rush to the right front.
After circling half a circle, the two thousand cavalrymen stopped in a horizontal formation.
After the Eight Banners soldiers passed, they looked into the distance.
Ajigeni held his sword high above his head and said: "Warriors of the White Banner, fight to the death today!"
"Fight to the death!" Two thousand cavalrymen shouted.
"kill!"
Two thousand cavalrymen galloped towards the countless Ming troops.
Two torrents collided.
There were flashes of swords and sabers, weapons clashing, war horses neighing, and blood and flesh flying everywhere.
Wang Yongji and Ma Dai were the first to resist the charge of the Eight Banners soldiers, and then the two sides fought with swords on horseback.
Buck Yong rushed over to provide support immediately.
He was so active not out of loyalty, but because he saw an opportunity to make a contribution.
Ten thousand versus two thousand is like picking up heads.
Compared to Bakyong who was eager to take the credit, Liu Wenyao on the right wing was much calmer.
After briefly observing the situation on the battlefield, he first sent several messengers to deliver messages to Wang Yongji, Ma Dai and others, and then led the main force to chase in the direction of Dorgon's escape.
After planning for so long, the Ming court's appetite is not just for these people.
Seeing that the Ming army was catching up with them again, Dorgon felt very disappointed.
Why did you catch up again?
He had no time to think about it and could only lead his personal troops to cover the rear to prevent Liu Wenyao's surprise attack.
After running for another quarter of an hour, Fan Wencheng rode up to Dorgon and said, "Prince Rui!"
"Mr. Fan!" When Dorgon saw Fan Wencheng, he felt like he had seen a savior.
In his opinion, there was nothing wrong with Fan Wencheng's plan.
The problem lies with him as the coach.
He shouldn't have sent the main cavalry force into battle.
Although many Ming army infantrymen were shot and killed, the consequence was that the horses and soldiers consumed a lot of physical strength.
Coupled with the Ming cavalry's strategy of tiring the enemy, the Eight Banners' advantages were completely wiped out.
The most important thing is that no one expected the river to rise so rapidly that it would be impossible to cross the river.
"Mr. Fan, we have fallen into the Ming army's trap. What should we do next?" Dorgon urged his horse to come to Fan Wencheng and asked in a low voice.
Fan Wencheng looked ashamed.
He was inextricably responsible for Dorgon's fate.
"Prince Rui, Fan is guilty of a capital crime! I didn't expect the river to surge and make it impossible to cross the river and head south."
Dorgon waved his hands hastily: "It's not your fault, sir. It's God's fault! The situation is urgent now. I hope Mr. Fan can come up with a plan as soon as possible."
When it comes to business, Fan Wencheng's expression becomes even more serious.
He pointed to the road they had come from and said, "Prince Rui, the baggage soldiers and I have discovered several destroyed bridges along the way. It is clear that the Ming army had anticipated our intention to move south."
"Further ahead is the Chaozong Bridge mentioned by Prince Rui. If nothing unexpected happens, either the stone bridge has been destroyed or the Ming army has deployed heavy troops there."
"There will be heavy troops blocking the road ahead and pursuers chasing us from behind..."
Fan Wencheng didn’t say anything after that.
But Dorgon had already guessed what Fan Wencheng wanted to say.
It was nothing more than the complete annihilation of the Plain White Banner Army and the death of Dorgon in the Central Plains.
In the face of life and death, he no longer cares about these things.
Dorgon rode up a dirt slope, took out his clairvoyance and looked ahead, then stared at the back for a while: "There are only a few thousand cavalrymen of Liu Wenyao behind us, and their strength is 30% of ours."
"This person was cautious and did not attack rashly. Instead, he stayed far behind our army and took the opportunity to harass us. Even if we repel him, he will not be able to escape once the main force of the Ming cavalry catches up."
After saying that, Dorgon sighed helplessly: "Oh, I should have run east at the beginning!"
Fan Wencheng smiled bitterly and said, "Prince Rui may have thought too much. Running south is the best option. Our army is coming from the east, and the Ming court must be prepared. They only need to block the road and set an ambush to delay our army. Once the cavalry arrives, our army will still be defeated."
"Then...what should I do?" Dorgon was confused and had no idea what to do.
Those who are involved are confused and even if they have a solution, they will hesitate because they have too many concerns.
"The Ming army is coming, talk as we walk!" Under the protection of more than 2,000 personal soldiers, the two men chased in the direction of the main force's escape.
On the way, Fan Wencheng seemed to want to say something but stopped himself many times.
Dorgon's emotions began to lose control: "Fan Wencheng, what do you want to say? I am very upset now, just say it directly, otherwise you and I will die."
Fan Wencheng was stunned for a moment, and finally made up his mind and said, "Prince Rui, please look in the distance, there is a forest there."
Dorgon looked around and found a dense forest not far ahead.
Under the scorching sun, the shade under the tree makes people feel comfortable.
Fan Wencheng continued, "Since there are ambushes ahead and pursuers behind, why not give it a try here!"
"Fight? How to fight?" Dorgon was a little dazed.
Now our men and horses are exhausted, and no matter how we fight, we can never be a match for the Ming army.
"Time!" Fan Wencheng pointed to the sun in the sky and said, "The army will be divided into two parts. One part will contain the Ming army, and the rest will use local materials to build a floating bridge."
"After the floating bridge is built, those who can cross the river will cross the river, and those who cannot cross the river will use their lives to buy time for those who can cross the river."
"No! Absolutely not!" Dorgon shouted out of control, "The Eight Banners soldiers are like brothers to me. How can I abandon them and escape alone?"
Fan Wencheng sneered in his heart: Do you think I don't know how Ebilun died? If you really want to save him, you may be able to save him.
Dorgon's behavior was not surprising. All generals liked to pretend that they loved their soldiers like their own sons in front of their soldiers.
But now that things have come to this, is there any need to pretend?
"Prince Rui, don't hesitate since this is a matter of life and death. Give the order quickly!" Fan Wencheng said while bowing on his horse.
"Please give the order, Prince Rui!" Dorgon's personal soldiers shouted at the same time.
"You can't command an army with kindness, and you can't command money with justice. We have suffered setbacks in our attempts to enter the pass. The situation is hopeless. All you and I can do is preserve our strength as much as possible."
"If you give the order earlier, more soldiers will cross the river. Fourteenth brother, give the order!" Ajige came to Dorgon and patted him on the shoulder.
Dorgon lowered his head, then raised his head as if he had made up his mind and said, "This is the only way!"
He said with a firm look, "Liu Wenyao is behind us. I will lead 3,000 soldiers to meet the enemy first. Ajige, you and your men will go to the river to get some water, then exchange horses with the infantry and baggage soldiers, and join me in resisting the Ming army."
"The rest of you, rest where you are. The infantry and baggage soldiers, immediately cut down trees to build a pontoon bridge!"
"Anyone who disobeys the order will be executed immediately!"
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