Chapter 44: The Qing Army's Famous General Zhang Yong

  As for this expedition to Tengchong, advancing to attack the Southern Ming imperial family's remaining forces in Mengshi, Zhang Yong's mood was contradictory, with some anticipation and some dissatisfaction. What he anticipated was that if they could launch a successful attack, defeat this route of the Ming army, or capture and kill members of the Southern Ming imperial family, then he would have achieved an extremely great merit, one that would surpass all his previous military achievements where he had personally faced arrows and stones.

  The Qing court, being a regime of a different ethnic group ruling over the Central Plains, was naturally very apprehensive, so it had always been particularly wary of the Ming imperial clan, believing that they were where the hearts of the people lay, and only by ruthlessly exterminating them could they eliminate future troubles.

  But Zhang Yong's discontent was not born today. Since Wu Sangui ordered him to lead his troops to stay in Yongchang, he had a grudge in his heart. They say that the Gansu Green Camp soldiers are strong and numerous, but if they don't use this powerful army to guard Yongchang, it will not be enough to intimidate and destroy the remnants of the Southern Ming army that have fled to Yunnan and Sichuan. Bah! You wouldn't leave your Han troops here, isn't it because you have a sectarian view? All the dirty work, hard work, and bitter work are left to outsiders, in order to preserve your own strength.

  Zhang Yong thought so, at this time the Qing court's arrangement for Wu Sangui and others was not yet settled, and he had not had time to win over useful people. The climate in Yunnan is hot and humid, with many poisonous gases, and the three routes of the Qing army from Sichuan and Guizhou to Yunnan took a long and difficult journey, with considerable losses. Wu Sangui could not command the Manchu troops, and had to preserve his own forces as much as possible, so he naturally left the dirty work to non-regular troops.

  Zhang Yong led the Gansu Green Camp, trekking thousands of miles to Yunnan, experiencing countless battles big and small. With the added difficulties of unfamiliar terrain and epidemic diseases, their strength was also discounted. But Wu Sangui ordered them to garrison Yongchang, eliminating the remaining Southern Ming army, not allowing them to return to Kunming to rest, which is why Zhang Yong and the Gansu soldiers harbored resentment.

  Wu Sangui gave the order, and Zhang Yong, even if he had misgivings in his heart, could only obey. Of course, capturing and killing members of the Ming imperial family was a great achievement that also tempted him and his subordinates greatly. However, before the troops set out, supplies were sent ahead, and when marching into the border wilderness, logistical support became even more crucial. Zhang Yong made arrangements on the spot while requesting Kunming to send supplies urgently.

  Due to the war, Yunnan was severely damaged, and it became extremely difficult for Zhang Yong to collect grain and grass locally. It wasn't until Wu Sangui sent the first batch of grain from Kunming and summoned 3,000 troops from Dali that he decided to take immediate action and go into battle. Time had already been delayed, and according to the latest intelligence, the fake garrison had gathered a considerable number of remaining troops, and their strength was increasing daily. The Gaoligong Mountains also saw the appearance of small Ming army units. More pressing still was that the rainy season was approaching, and by May, when the Nujiang River would swell, it would inevitably add another unavoidable major trouble.

  Yongchang is an important town in western Yunnan, and it cannot be lost. Zhang Yong left behind 4,000 soldiers to guard the city, nearly 1,000 of whom were soldiers who had contracted various diseases during this period. He led more than 9,000 soldiers, as well as over 5,000 auxiliary soldiers who were forcibly recruited, a total of over 15,000 people, out of Yongchang, across the Nujiang River, and towards Tengchong.

  The Nujiang River and the Gaoligong Mountains are two natural barriers guarding Tengchong, and a pincer movement is also a common tactic in warfare. However, Zhu Yuxiang first gave up his plan to ambush the Qing army at the Nujiang River. Because his forces were insufficient, he could not guard every crossing point, nor could he figure out which crossing point the Qing army would depart from.

  But the Gaoligong Mountains are not easily abandoned, and for the defensive side, this place is very suitable. The Qing army wants to reach Tengchong, they must cross the Gaoligong Mountains in front of them. And the mountain range that blocks Tengchong has an elevation of 3,700-3,800 meters, with only three narrow passes that are snow-covered all year round and rarely have human footprints.

  Nan Zhai Gong House, North Zhai Gong House, and a red wood tree, these three narrow passes are the only way to go from Nujiang East to Nujiang West to Tengchong. In later generations, expeditionary officers and soldiers fought bravely with their lives in the bloody battle, finally winning the victory of the Gaoligong Mountain Battle at a high cost. Zhu Yongxing, who watched the documentary "Expeditionary Army", was deeply impressed by this and no one would easily forget that blood-written history.

  Now, the roles are reversed. Zhu Yongxing ordered the Ming army to build fortifications on several treacherous sections of these three ancient post roads, determined to make the Qing army pay a bloody price in this difficult uphill battle. Historically, the expeditionary force's attack on Mount Gaoling lasted for 40 days, and it was only after nearly 10,000 casualties that they broke through the stubborn defense of the 2,000 Japanese soldiers. What's more, in the era of cold weapons, attacking a fortified position is always a nightmare for the attacker.

  What made Zhu Yongxing worried was the morale and fighting spirit of the Southern Ming army who had just defected. No matter how good the deployment, no matter how solid the fortifications, they needed people to guard them, and they needed strong and brave soldiers. If this condition is not met, everything is empty talk and fantasy.

  After all, Zhu Yongxing had never seen the Nanming army in battle, so he also made some preparations for the unexpected. He adjusted his troops and generals, and divided the 2,000 Mengshan Kezu people into several hundred-man teams to serve as temporary fire brigades. The 500 personal guards around him were half Yang Guo's men and half led by Mengshan Kezu's young and strong men.

  "If we can hold out until the rainy season, the Qing army will only be able to retreat in defeat, unless Zhang Yong's head is sick." At this time, Zhu Yongxing was standing on the gray slope of the road that must be taken to reach the top of Gaoligong Mountain, pointing to the surrounding terrain and saying: "This will be the first battlefield where we will clash with the Qing army. I will personally take command, and give the enemy a head-on blow."

  "Your Highness's body is worth a thousand pieces of gold, how can you easily take risks?" Zhu Yongxing did not expect that the first one to jump out and stop him, and also volunteer to go into battle, was Zhang Guangcai. He seemed to be very confident in the advantageous terrain here, and also seemed eager to make achievements, stepping forward and saying loudly: "Let this first battle be fought by me leading the troops, even if I die on this land, I will not retreat a single step."

  "General Zhang is loyal and brave, I admire him very much." Zhu Yongxing smiled and nodded, saying: "Fighting hard is enough, I don't require a fight to the death. Why must General Zhang sacrifice himself for the country? He should preserve his useful life, as I have great use for him in the future."

  "Yes, Your Highness is benevolent, I dare not die without repaying you. Definitely, definitely, I will preserve my useful life to await your command." Zhang Guangcai's face flashed with a mixture of emotions, and he bowed his head in respect.

  After Li Dingguo put down the rebellion of Sun Keshuang, at a critical moment he stood up to the queue and helped Li Dingguo to turn the tide. There must be punishment for rewards, including Zhang Guangchui, Di Sanpin, Wang Hui and many other generals who were suspected of being "party attached to Keshuang" because of their hesitation and late expression, and were demoted as a punishment.