Chapter 64: Strategic Planning

  How many troops did the Qing army have in Yunnan Province? At that time, no one should know exactly, only saying that the Qing army was powerful and difficult to defeat, mostly talking about the tiger's change of color, and facing each other with fear.

  Only Zhu Yongxing, with a mind of numbers, continuously calculated the ratio of forces between the two opposing sides, adjusting the corresponding deployment. It's simple, history has records, when the Qing army launched a large-scale attack on the southwestern provinces, the total number of troops was approximately 200,000. After occupying Guizhou, Guangxi, Sichuan and other places, except for the garrison forces in the occupied areas, the Qing army that entered Yunnan had less than 110,000 troops left.

  If it weren't for the Southern Ming army's surrender, which was like a tidal wave, adding more than 10 battalions of soldiers to the Qing army, with over 40,000 men and horses, relying on these 110,000 Qing troops to consolidate their occupation of Yunnan would be no easy task.

  The Manchu Eight Banners were not adapted to the climate and water, and they were eager to return home to enjoy comfort and pleasure. Not only were they unwilling to fight in the remote border areas, but their main force would soon leave Yunnan. The Qing court had not yet settled on the arrangements for Wu Sangui and others, and from a historical perspective, Wu Sangui also had the idea of nurturing enemies to his own advantage. Considering all aspects, challenging the Qing army at this time was relatively advantageous, as they might not necessarily send out a large force.

  Until September, after the rainy season was over, Li Dingguo, Bai Wenxuan and various Ming remnants did not take any military action, not even harassment, before the Qing army dared to launch a large-scale campaign to annihilate the anti-Qing uprising of Nanjing.

  Even if it was a large-scale mobilization, the Qing army's mobile forces were at most over 500,000. The suppression of the Yuanjiang uprising and the return to Guizhou to suppress the Water West An Kun uprising also had about the same number of troops. Initially, it included the Manchu Eight Banners who had not yet returned to Beijing, but later they were replaced by surrendered soldiers and generals from Southern Ming.

  If the factors of road and forage are added, comprehensive calculation, Zhu Yongxing believes that currently, it is possible that the Qing army will not exceed 30,000. If there really are 30,000 Qing troops, if the Qing army really comes back to attack Tengchong, Zhu Yongxing will certainly not die hard.

  "The enemy advances, we retreat; the enemy camps, we harass; the enemy tires, we attack; the enemy retreats, we pursue......" Zhu Yongxing silently recited the sixteen-character mantra in his heart, but secretly sighed.

  Theory and practice are always at a distance, which is an inevitable fact. It's obviously unrealistic to enable troops to have the level of guerrilla warfare just by relying on a few words or articles. Knowing it is one thing, grasping its essence and enabling the army to possess such ability requires long-term training and actual combat.

  The atmosphere was heavy, since Zheng's horse team brought back the latest changes in enemy intelligence, it has been like this. The Qing army facing them would no longer be Zhang Yong and Gan Xiang Green Camp, but soon they would add Han Jun led by Guangxi Governor Lin Guoan. By reputation, this is an even more formidable enemy than Gan Xiang Green Camp.

  Xian Guoan was also a well-known figure, who surrendered to the Qing along with Kong Youde and was considered one of the two most capable fighters under the command of Ding Nan Wang. After Li Dingguo forced Kong Youde to commit suicide in Hengyang, Xian Guoan sought revenge for his former master and fought fiercely against the Ming army. As part of the Qing army's route through northern Guangxi to attack Guizhou, Xian Guoan's troops left a trail of bloodshed and destruction wherever they went, earning him the reputation as a ruthless executioner.

  Xian Guoan's vanguard troops have merged with Zhang Yong's Gansu Green Camp, which is also the reason why the pressure on the blocking position has not decreased and many more Qing army firearms have appeared. However, in Yunnan "the situation is extremely precarious, the soldiers are exhausted, and the people are struggling to survive from day to day. Grain prices are soaring, and it's hard to buy supplies." Xian Guoan's main force can only bring their own luggage and grain and march slowly on the road, and it will take some time to reach the front line.

  But Zhu Yongxing was worried that Xian Guoan would see the difficulty of attacking this road and lead his main force along the east bank of the Nu River to the south, crossing the river from Songshan to Longling, and encircling the Ming army stationed on the Gaoligong Mountain. And once the grain path between the Ming army on the Gaoligong Mountain and Tengchong was cut off, the Ming army would surely be annihilated.

  "Your Highness, I am willing to lead my troops to Songshan and Longling to defend against the Qing army."

  Bai Wenzhong saw that no one was speaking, and knew it was time for him to take the lead. In terms of official rank, he had just been promoted to a close prince, which was slightly higher than Zhu Yongxing; in terms of strength, his own army was also the largest, if he didn't take the initiative to ask for orders, it would obviously damage his identity and dignity.

  Zhu Yongxing nodded slightly and smiled: "Zhao Wangyong takes on the heavy responsibility, not afraid of strong enemies, truly can be our model." After a pause, he continued slowly: "But dividing troops to defend is easy to fall into passivity, one place leaks and the whole situation collapses."

  "It would be better to take advantage of the fact that the main force of the enemy has not yet arrived, and our army should concentrate its strength to launch a fierce attack, with the aim of defeating the enemy. " Guangchang Hou Gao Wengui saw that Bai Wenxuan, who had a higher rank, had spoken, and Zhu Yongxing seemed to disagree, so he expressed his own idea. This general from Modaoshan's second capture also came up with a plan that was extremely bold, causing Zhu Yongxing to secretly admire him.

  "Gansu Green Camp, plus tens of thousands of Eight Banners Han army, its strength cannot be underestimated." Huairen Hou Wu Zisheng said cautiously: "Zhang Yong, Xian Guoan, has been in battle for a long time, and it is difficult to predict the outcome of the decisive battle."

  "It's hard to predict the outcome, that means there's still a chance of winning!" Gao Wenguang glanced at Wu Zisheng with a hint of dissatisfaction at his caution.

  Don't fight a battle without being sure of winning, even if you are forced to fight, try to increase the chances of winning. Zhu Yongxing hesitated for a moment and said: "I have a rough idea, all of you are famous generals who have experienced many battles, it's just right to point out."

  "We dare not." The three generals hastily clasped their hands in a gesture of humility.

  Zhu Yongxing didn't mince words, pointing at the sand table and saying: "If our army abandons its strongholds one by one, retreating step by step, how will the Qing army react? Probably they'll think we're trying to escape and press forward. With the hope of advancing straight to Tengchong, they won't give up on the nearby route and consider going around via Songshan and Longling instead. I've asked the old muleteers and local villagers multiple times, from the snow accumulation on the mountain tops and the fury of the Nujiang River, the rainy season is approaching soon. We just need to hold on for a few more days, and the Qing army will find it difficult to advance."

  "Can the rainy season stop the Qing army? Zhang Yong, Xian Guoan, and also Cheng Chou and San Gui from Kunming, have all been through many battles, shouldn't they know about astronomy and geography?" Gao Wengui asked with some doubt.

  "The Qing army knew about the rainy season, but they didn't know the severity of Yunnan's rainy season. They might have thought that having gone through a difficult march in Guizhou, they could also overcome all difficulties here."

  Zhu Yongxing's heart skipped a beat as he spoke, and in an instant, he thought of the historical example of the expeditionary army fighting bitterly in the rainy season here. The bodies of those who died from falls, hunger, illness, and other causes were strewn along the roadside, rotting and emitting a foul odor within two days. The rainwater washed away the maggots and rotten flesh onto the narrow mountain road, and the soldiers following behind still had to trudge forward, stepping on them as they went. It was truly a cruel and tragic scene.