Looking at the smug look of Hauge, Dorgon could not help sneering in his heart.
In order to suppress him, Hauge even attributed the key to victory or defeat to the issue of food, which shows how vicious he was!
But this did not bother Dorgon. He bowed deeply and said, "Don't worry, Prince Su. I have made the corresponding preparations."
"First, before the army set out, I used food to exchange for a large amount of milk lumps and dried meat from the Mongolian tribes, which was enough for the soldiers to use for the long-distance raid."
Hauge interrupted and said, "War horses also need food, otherwise they can't run. And the speed of this raid is very fast. Can your food and grass keep up with the team?"
Dorgon continued calmly, "Don't worry, Prince Su. I have already requisitioned a large number of pack horses and war horses from various Mongolian tribes. Although these pack horses are not fast, they have great endurance. I will set up food routes according to the marching route and set up several large supply points along the way."
"First, use pack horses to transport the food and fodder to the supply point. If the supply point is close to the army, continue to use pack horses to transport the food and fodder at night. If it is far away, use war horses to quickly send the food and fodder forward."
"Although some horses will be lost in the process, the supply of food and fodder will definitely be guaranteed!"
"Since Prince Rui has a way, then let's follow Prince Rui's way!" Haoge couldn't find any fault, so he could only nod.
However, he did not give up finding faults. After all, all kinds of problems would arise in the process of applying theory to practice!
After the military deployment plan was finalized, tens of thousands of troops set off.
At the same time as the Manchu-Mongolian coalition forces were dispatched, the Ming army was also retreating rapidly towards the Great Wall.
Li Xingzhong first arrived near the abandoned Chahan Naoerwei and joined forces with He Jin's infantry.
After joining forces, Li Xingzhong did not rush to retreat, but instead took half a day to let his soldiers have a big meal!
He held up a leg of lamb and shouted, "Today we have beef and mutton to eat as much as you want, and you can drink as much mare's milk as you want! After you're full, have a good sleep and continue your journey tomorrow!"
"Thank you, General!"
"Don't thank me, thank the court and His Majesty!" Li Xingzhong corrected.
The soldiers all kowtowed vigorously facing southeast: "Long live the emperor!"
"The Ming army is mighty!"
Looking at the soldiers' happy smiles, Li Xingzhong did not join them in being happy, but instead had a serious expression on his face.
This expedition to the grassland went so smoothly that it made him a little scared!
Not only did they defeat the Mongolian cavalry, but they also seized a large amount of supplies.
As an excellent general, Li Xingzhong always felt that he would encounter danger on the way back.
For this reason, he specially took half a day to reward the three armies!
On the barren grassland, there are not many ways to boost morale and rally the troops, and eating is one of them!
There is another way that cannot be told.
Although it is cruel, it is true.
It is good enough for the prisoners to survive in the chaos; nothing else matters.
The next morning, the Ming army, feeling both mentally and physically satisfied, set off.
Soon after they set out, Li Xingzhong and Tang Tong called him over to discuss the matter: "Sir Tang, in order to prevent an attack on the way back, how about you lead your cavalry to explore the way ahead?"
Tang Tong hesitated for a moment: "I only have less than a thousand cavalrymen under my command. Isn't that too few?"
"It's okay, Lord Tang is only responsible for exploring the way." Li Xingzhong said with hidden meaning.
"Hmm?" Tang Tong was stunned. "Please tell me clearly, General Li."
Li Xingzhong approached Tang Tong with a mysterious look on his face and whispered a few words.
"What? I..." Tang Tong's face was full of reluctance.
"Don't worry, Lord Tang," Li Xingzhong took out a military order from his arms, "It's all written in black and white. If I, Li, go back on my word, Lord Tang can use this military order to protect yourself."
Tang Tong reached out to take the military order and looked at it carefully.
The paper is the standard paper of the imperial court, and the words are also written by Li Xingzhong. The seal of General Li Xingzhong is stamped on the lower left corner.
After confirming that everything was correct, Tang Tong tried for the last time, "Then I will respectfully obey your command?"
"Thank you, Master Tang!"
After Tang Tong received the order and left, the formation of the Ming army changed slightly.
At the front of the team were Tang Tong's 1,000 cavalrymen, who were responsible for exploring the way.
He Jin's infantry followed behind Tang Tong, while his cavalry protected the infantry on both wings.
Further back were baggage, prisoners, and various captured supplies.
Li Xingzhong personally led the elite cavalry to cover the rear.
Because they carried a large amount of baggage and supplies, the army's marching speed was not fast, and they could only travel fifty or sixty miles a day at most.
A day later, the scouts in the rear sent a message: "Report, Mongolian cavalry were spotted five miles behind us, there are tens of thousands of them!"
"Form a battle formation and prepare to meet the enemy!" Li Xingzhong frowned and gave the military order.
Soon, countless Mongolian cavalry appeared in sight.
They did not launch an attack, but instead stood and watched from a distance.
After a stalemate, Li Xingzhong divided the cavalry into three parts.
Some of them retreated with the main force.
The remaining two groups of cavalry covered each other and retreated alternately.
Three days later, the Ming army reached Jining Lake (now Huangqi Lake, an inland closed lake), 150 miles north of Yanghewei.
The Mongolian cavalry followed far behind them to ensure that the Ming army was always within their sight.
Although there was no large-scale fighting between the two sides, there were more than a dozen clashes involving more than a hundred people, resulting in casualties on both sides.
"Report!" A Ming scout with arrows stuck in his body galloped in front of Li Xingzhong: "Tang Tong's cavalry encountered a surprise attack by Jiannu cavalry on the east side of Jining Lake. Tang Tong was unable to resist and fled towards the Great Wall. The Jiannu cavalry has now come into contact with He Jin's troops. The two sides are in a stalemate but have not engaged in battle."
"Jiannu cavalry?" Li Xingzhong was a little surprised by the news.
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