I was living at the end of the Ming Dynasty, and I dealt a brutal blow to the Eight Banners!

Zhang Jingchuan did not kill Shang Kexi.

It wasn't entirely because Shang Kexi later followed Wu Sangui in raising the banner of rebellion against the Qing Dynasty; the main reason was to deal with Song Ben.

Song Ben likes to play the game of using others to do his dirty work, so I'll give him a taste of his own medicine and let Shang Kexi go back so he can tell his Qing army fathers that it was Song Ben who stole their grain.

Although this method cannot cause direct harm to Song Ben in the short term, as long as Song Ben is in Liaodong, the Qing army will find a way to avenge the theft of grain.

After Shang Kexi and his remaining troops had gone far away, Zhang Jingchuan's side finished taking stock of the surrendered soldiers and supplies, and began to return towards Donghai Fort.

This battle,

Zhang Jingchuan not only persuaded more than 1,300 surrendered soldiers to surrender, but also seized a hundred cartloads of grain and supplies from the Qing army. In addition to grain and supplies, there were also weapons and armor, including more than ten cartloads of cannons and muskets.

have to say,

Zhang Jingchuan gained a huge advantage from this battle!

Of course, Zhang Jingchuan couldn't keep such a large fortune to himself. How could he demonstrate his fearlessness and valiant fighting behind enemy lines without handing over some spoils of war?

The next two days

Zhang Jingchuan followed the same tactic, attacking the Qing army's supply lines under Song Ben's name. Although he didn't achieve the same great success as the first time, he still gained some advantage.

At least the captured grain has filled the granaries of Donghai Fort, and the weapons, after being refurbished, are enough for the surrendered soldiers to wear and use.

this day,

Zhang Jingchuan inspected the training of his troops inside Donghai Fort. With the current strength of Donghai Fort, including surrendered soldiers, there were nearly three thousand men.

After discussing with Xu Fuzou

Zhang Jingchuan decided to select 300 men from these nearly 3,000 to form a musket team, which he would personally train according to the methods of later generations.

Although Zhang Jingchuan had never served in the military before his transmigration, he had at least seen how things worked, so he simply followed the example set by later generations.

Just at this time,

News came from Songshan.

Just a few days ago, Hong Chengchou personally led eight generals, totaling 130,000 men, to the Rufeng Mountain area south of Jinzhou City to fight a decisive battle with the main force of the Qing army. The Qing army suffered heavy casualties and was almost defeated.

Wu Sangui, the general of Ningyuan who led the main force in this battle, was praised by Hong Chengchou.

Later, Hong Chengchou ordered Yang Guozhu, the general of Xuanfu, to lead his troops to attack Xishimen. Yang Guozhu was killed by an arrow and was replaced by Li Fuming, a deputy general.

Due to disruptions to their supply lines, the Qing army was forced to retreat to a point twenty miles north of Jinzhou, where they continued to keep a watchful eye on the city.

"The Qing army has withdrawn?" Xu Fuzou's surprised eyes were filled with a hint of joy.

Zhang Jingchuan nodded thoughtfully: "The siege of Jinzhou has been lifted."

According to the history that Zhang Jingchuan knew, in the Battle of Songjin, Jinzhou was not relieved, but the Ming army was defeated by Huang Taiji who rushed to Jinzhou. As a result, Hong Chengchou, Zu Dashou and other Ming generals either died or surrendered.

Now it seems,

The Qing army that besieged Jinzhou withdrew because they had harassed the Qing army's supply lines, which forced them to lift the siege.

It seems that

I changed history myself.

It is now August, and Huang Taiji's reinforcements should arrive in a few days. At that time, the Qing army and the Ming army will surely engage in another major battle around Jinzhou.

With Jinzhou City as the forward position, the Ming army, relying on the Guan-Ning-Jin defense line, will have a certain initiative. Even if Huang Taiji comes, he will probably find it difficult to achieve anything in a short period of time.

This,

This is also an opportunity for personal development.

That evening, Zhang Jingchuan set off for Jinzhou with 500 shi of grain and some supplies captured from the Qing army.

……

On the city tower of Jinzhou,

Zu Dashou's banner and the Ming Dynasty banner stood side by side, while Zu Dashou himself stood on the watchtower, gazing at the Qing army camp that was faintly visible twenty miles to the north.

He had guarded Jinzhou for a full year and five months. Of the more than 20,000 soldiers he brought, only more than 3,000 remained, and they were all emaciated. If they hadn't been eating their horses, these 3,000 men would probably have starved to death in the city long ago.

"I have already had all the grain I brought distributed to your men. Let them have a bite to eat first. The grain from Songshan will probably not arrive until tomorrow," Hong Chengchou said calmly, stroking the grooved wall.

“See?” Zu Dashou pursed his dry lips and said in a hoarse voice, “The Qing army has not withdrawn. If we do not withdraw, we will be surrounded by the Qing army again sooner or later.”

Hong Chengchou frowned, puzzled, and said, "The Qing army just suffered a great loss at our hands, they shouldn't be rushing at us so quickly, right?"

“Heh,” Zu Dashou sneered, “The news of the defeat at Jinzhou may have already reached Huang Taiji. Knowing Huang Taiji as I do, he will surely come with a large army.”

"So eager?" Hong Chengchou asked in surprise.

"Huang Taiji has his sights set on conquering the world, and Jinzhou is the northernmost point of the Guan-Ning-Jin defense line. If Jinzhou is not breached, how can the Qing army possibly enter the pass!"

"Then what do you mean?"

"Withdraw from Jinzhou, use the Ling River as a shield, and hold Songshan!"

Hong Chengchou frowned, his face showing difficulty, and said, "If we just give up Jinzhou like this, the imperial court will surely punish us..."

“Hehe,” Zu Dashou grinned and said, “Just say that it was my insistence, Zu Dashou. If the court blames you, just put all the blame on me!”

"What are you saying!" Hong Chengchou sneered, "I am the Governor-General of Jiliao. If anyone has to take responsibility, it's me, not you!"

After a long silence, Zu Dashou sighed and said with a sense of melancholy:

"Our Emperor has it tough. The Ming Dynasty is beset by internal and external troubles. It's too difficult to sweep away all the troubles in the world with just us people!"

“Yes,” Hong Chengchou nodded and sighed, “Before I left the pass, Li Zicheng had already captured Luoyang. He not only killed the Prince of Fu, but also used the gold, silver and valuables and a large amount of grain in the Prince of Fu’s mansion to recruit soldiers and horses. Uprisings continued in various places, and it was like a continuous raging fire.”

The imperial treasury is empty; even the military pay in Liaodong has been overdue for months. If this continues, I, the Governor-General of Jiliao, will be out of a job.”

Speaking of which,

Hong Chengchou shook his head and smiled bitterly.

“If what you say is true,” Zu Dashou frowned and pondered, “the court will most likely send one of us to lead troops back to quell the rebellion.”

"But this Liaodong..."

Zu Dashou said with a wry smile, "If we can't even protect the heartland of Jiangnan, what use is Liaodong?"

at this time,

Li Fuming strode over and reported:

"Your Excellency, Zhang Jingchuan, the garrison commander of Donghai Fort, has arrived."

Hong Chengchou raised an eyebrow, surprised, and asked, "What's he doing here?"

Li Fuming glanced at Zu Dashou and replied, "He brought five hundred shi of grain and fodder, as well as some medicinal herbs and cotton cloth, from Donghai Fort."

Upon hearing that someone had brought grain, medicinal herbs, and cotton cloth, Zu Dashou raised an eyebrow, and his cloudy eyes lit up. These were exactly the things he desperately needed.

"Five hundred shi of grain and fodder? And medicinal herbs and cotton cloth?" Hong Chengchou looked at Li Fuming in surprise and asked hesitantly, "Weren't all the grain and supplies transported from within the pass by sea sent to Songshan? Where did he get so much grain and supplies from?"

Li Fuming's expression was also somewhat complicated. He truthfully replied, "I asked him, and he said that it was intercepted during the recent raids on the Qing army's supply lines."

"Hahaha..." Zu Dashou laughed loudly, "Governor, your subordinates are truly full of talent!"

……