Chapter 260: Return to Texas and win great success

On the 17th day of the first lunar month of the 12th year of Chongzhen, the Qing army's troops in Jinan began to drive away the plundered residents in Jinan City and nearby areas out of the city, with nearly 200,000 people. The Qing army kept driving away and rushed forward. Those who were slightly behind immediately cut and killed, and cried all the way, and they were crying all the way, and they didn't look at it miserable.

The Qing army had more than 15,000 people, and only more than 4,000 people drove away and guarded the plundered residents. The rest of the main forces were led by Prince Dorgon to cut off the rear of the team, as if facing a great enemy.

There were more than 200,000 people and many livestock and property, but no one dared to escape. He was guarding more than 4,000 people and walked forward all the way. When he returned to Dezhou, the fortifications built by Jiaozhou Camp was abandoned by Shandong General Qiu Lei, who led more than 2,000 people to retreat to the city and dared not go out to intercept them.

Why did Shandong General Qiu Lei's troops suddenly change from more than 6,000 to more than 2,000? After hearing that most of the Qing army entered Shandong, General Qiu Lei was confused. The only thing he could remember was that Li Meng, the Dezhou City, built the other side like an iron barrel, which was a good place to rely on the garrison, and led his troops to rush towards the other side.

The Qing army was still hundreds of miles away from them, but Qiu Lei's army was as frightened as a dog. Although they did not flee, they forced them to run away from the storm. The entire army almost collapsed on the way to Texas. When they arrived in Texas, there were only more than a thousand people directly under them. The reason why the number of people was still slowly gathered up.

When the Qing army passed by, Shandong General Qiu Lei did not even dare to go up the city walls of Dezhou City. He only dared to stay in the house in the city and kowtowed to the statue of the gods, begging for the gods to bless the gods and let the Qing army not attack the city.

The captured Han people cried loudly, and the Ming soldiers standing on the city couldn't bear to watch it. The captured Han people all held a glimmer of unrealistic hope, hoping that the garrisons in Dezhou City could leave the city to rescue them. Of course, they would be disappointed.

Dezhou City is also one of the big cities in Shandong, and the surrounding population is not small. Logically speaking, the Tartars came to plunder people and property this time to make up for their lack of labor outside the pass. Dezhou City will definitely not give up easily in the plan to plunder the return trip, but this time the Qing army gave up the Dezhou area and went in a hurry.

In fact, Prince Rui, the commander of the Qing army, who led this time, was also worried. After entering the pass from Qianziling and Qingshankou, the Ming army that dared to fight in the field defeated the Ming army that dared to fight in the field, but even when Lu Xiangsheng's thousands of soldiers, the Qing army was killed or injured, and it was almost a death battle that was still fighting, and it could not be regarded as a normal judgment of the Ming official army.

In the battle near Qihe County, there were more than 1,000 cavalry teams of Zhengbai Banner soldiers. Only more than 200 people ran back. There was also a leader who lost the battle. The leader Beizi and the leader who ran back said that they met the large army of the Ming army. Dorgon believed in this. If it were not for the large army of the Ming army, how could he eat more than 700 of his cavalry at once?

After Dorgon and Du Du, who replaced Yue Tuo's army, he thought that the Ming army might have a number of 80,000 to 100,000, and it was very likely that the elite Ming army mobilized from southern Zhili or around him came to fight from northern Jiangsu to fight. Originally, the Qing army was alone and plundering the population, and did not dare to be too entangled in the Ming Dynasty. Now that there is a strong enemy, it is spring again, I am afraid that the river will be open on the way back, and the large group of people will encounter trouble when crossing the river.

This entry into the pass is also a chance for Dorgon to accumulate people's expectations for him. Although Huang Taiji now values ​​him quite well and the position of the leader of the Bells is Dorgon, the two sides are different from the root. Dorgon is unwilling to be faulted in his actions and work, which leads to some inexplicable disasters. He has now plundered a large number of people and property, defeated the army in the Ming Dynasty, and killed a high-ranking official like Governor Lu Xiangsheng. The purpose is to achieve it and there is no need to delay it. If you entangle with the "Ming Army's army", if something goes wrong, it will not be worth it.

Therefore, the Qing army did not continue to send horses to Gaoyang County, but was on guard all over the direction, and at the same time recalled the team that had plundered the population around them. After a little preparation, they evacuated in the direction of Northern Zhili. Most of the Qing army broke the rear and moved carefully to the north.

Dorgon was a little depressed. Now entering the Ming Dynasty battle was a chore that everyone in the Qing Dynasty competed for. The Ming Empire, which seemed to be the boss, was like a fat sheep. As long as he had the opportunity to lead his troops to fight, he would definitely be able to cut a knife on this fat sheep. I thought it would be easy to come this time, with a lot of wealth and a growing reputation to make money. Who would have thought that if he encountered such a problem, of course it would be a small problem.

After leaving Shandong, the Qing army, who was eager to move, found that there was no Ming army following him within fifty miles of his back. This was why he felt relieved and began to calmly plunder the population and livestock in Hejian Prefecture.

At the junction of Dongchang Prefecture and Jinan Prefecture, Li Meng, the general of the four prefectures, naturally he did not know that the thief chief Dorgon was so careful. After winning the battle, Li Meng never dared to advance lightly. After retreating ten miles, he joined the back team led by Zhao Neng, and then sent a fast horse to send a message to the army led by Ma Gang, asking him to wait for the army led by Li Meng to act together.

Facing the Qing army with more people than his own, Li Meng, who had tasted the pain, no longer dared to be careless at all. When Ma Gang's army and Li Meng's army were dizzy when they joined forces with each other by several transfer orders, it was already the 25th day of the first lunar month. The Qing army had already left Shandong and entered the territory of Northern Zhili.

Li Meng's army slowly moved forward, half of the cavalry of the cavalry were sent out to search, and the movements of the large groups of people within thirty miles were monitored by the cavalry's horses.

After the lessons learned from that battle, Li Meng no longer dared to make a quick move. He strictly followed the teachings of the old officers of the Lingshan Guard, camped in a regular manner, and checked the surrounding terrain and battlefield in advance. When he set off again from Dongchang Prefecture to Jinan City, the news that it had been interrupted for several days in Shandong began to flow again.

Although the Qing army entered Northern Zhili, as long as they were in Hejian Prefecture for one day, Yan Jizu, the governor of Shandong in Dezhou City, dared not relax a little.

Looking at the cowardly look of Shandong General Qiu Lei and his useless soldiers, I thought I could not count on it anymore. After thinking about it, I still feel at ease with the army of Li Meng, the general of the four prefectures. And when I heard that this army was pursuing the Tatars and returning to Shandong, I immediately sent someone to summon him.

When he re-entered Dezhou City, Li Mengke did not feel like he was revisiting the old place. The gentry and powerful people on the entire Shandong ground had become extremely active after the Qing army left Dezhou. The general Li Meng and Jiaozhou Li Erlang are now the only role in Shandong who speak effectively. Qiu Lei now has the title of general, and the soldiers in his hands are at best the size of the garrison commander, so he doesn't have to worry about him.

The compliments of the powerful landlords, especially those remaining powerful people in Jinan Prefecture, made the Jiaozhou Camp's eyes and ears become more flexible again.

Li Meng now knows that if he pursues himself, the Qing army cannon fodder cannon fodder. He will kill himself if he doesn't kill him. It's a matter of not treating the lives of the Han people, but Jiaozhou Camp must pay attention to it. No matter what, catching up or not catching up is a problem. If you catch up, you will definitely die.

Therefore, after the order of Shandong Governor Yan Jizu to transfer Jiaozhou camp to re-enter Jiaozhou camp, Li Meng had no other opinions and went there happily. This order was not so much an order as a request, and he was quite polite in his words. To this day, Li Meng's status in Jiaozhou camp has become increasingly different.

The place where the two sides met was still in the lobby of the magistrate of Dezhou, but the process this time was a little different from the last time. Because Liu Qingsong, who was escorting food and wages to Dezhou, had already returned to Ye County, and the person in charge of welcoming the invitation became the magistrate of Dezhou. The magistrate of Dezhou was like a humble servant in front of Li Meng, and the slightest attitude of literary nobles and martial arts was invisible. He was extremely polite.

When entering the lobby, Li Meng was slightly surprised. Shandong Governor Yan Jizu and military supervisor Liu Yuanbin should have been sitting upright according to their identities, but this time they were standing in front of the hall. When they saw Li Meng coming, they bowed politely. Although the amplitude was not large, this was already a break of the so-called official rules.

Although these two people were polite, even Li Meng could tell that the smile on his face was forced, but it was definitely not because of his false attitude towards Li Meng, but because he was in a depressed mood.

Governor Yan Jizu and military supervisor Liu Yuanbin looked almost completely defeated, which was exactly what was called forced smile. The fall of Jinan City was a small matter, and the plunder of more than 100,000 Shandong people were plundered, and the casualties were also 100,000. This was also a small matter, but the plunder of King De of the Queen and General Fengguo were plundered by the Qing Dynasty. This was a big matter.

Losing a relative vassal is a serious crime in the Ming Dynasty. Moreover, Emperor Chongzhen was very interested in this matter. The governor, general, and general, died. He may not be moved. However, even if a royal family dies, no matter how far the relationship is, Emperor Chongzhen will consider it more than the sky, let alone such a vassal king who is close to the branch was captured.

According to Chongzhen's strict personality, Yan Jizu and Liu Yuanbin thought that the ending was not good. Seeing Li Meng still laughed was already a skill in qi cultivation for many years.

Although he expected that his fate was not good, Shandong still had to defend it. If there was any trouble, his family and nephew would be implicated. Emperor Chongzhen was not unable to do it.

The two people on the other side were depressed, and Li Meng might not be in a good mood. The three of them sat in the lobby with gloomy faces. After a few words of politeness, Shandong Governor Yan Jizu said bluntly:

"Mr. Li worked hard all the way, but my pacification cannot let you rest. I am really sorry. Now the Tartars are still in Hejian Prefecture, Northern Zhili, and the three guards in Tianjin. The land of Lu has not escaped from danger, so I have to trouble Lord Li to guard it."

Li Meng bowed politely and said:

"What the Governor said? This is the duty of the subordinate. When I entered the city, I had already arranged it. All the troops and horses were responsible for their duties and were responsible for their defense. Please rest assured."

Yan Jizu squeezed out a smile on his face and nodded. But after all, the future was dark and the disaster was heavy. He sat there and sighed, unable to find a word. After the initial smirk on the face of the military eunuch Liu Yuanbin, there was no brightness on his face, and he spoke in dismay:

"Our family was so sad that it was the lard in the heart. On one side was the guard of the Jiangxi army and on the other side was Shandong. I wanted Shandong to be closer to the capital and find an opportunity to go back and find a good job. Who would have thought that life was bad. When the Tartars entered the pass, it would be a big disaster everywhere. There was no victory. Even if you put all the money in it, it would probably be useless."

This was extremely discouraged. Even the sharp voice that eunuchs used to be slowed down. They were not allowed to be said in front of others, but the eunuch Liu Yuanbin, the military supervisor, said it without any hesitation. It can be seen that his mind was almost desperate.

Listening to the performance of these two people, Li Meng's mood became more and more depressed. However, when he heard Liu Yuanbin say that there was no victory in the war, although Li Meng did not feel that the battle in Qihe County was glorious, after all, his son won the battle to the death and could not be buried just like this.

Li Meng cleared his throat and said loudly:

"Eunuch Liu, it is not enough to say that he is invincible. The last general led his army from Dongchang Prefecture to Jinan Road, fought fiercely with more than a thousand Tartars, beheading 720 people and losing 400 themselves. This is a small victory."

After Li Meng said this, the governor Yan Jizu, who was sitting in the top, drank tea listlessly. The eunuch Liu Yuanbin, opposite him, looked like he had not listened carefully. Li Meng also felt a little bored and was about to get up to say goodbye. Who would have thought that before he opened his mouth, the top of the head was "splashed" and the teacup and saucer fell to the ground. The governor Yan Jizu suddenly stood up, holding the teacup in his hand, which had fallen unconsciously. The eunuch Liu Yuanbin's movements were even more exaggerated. He pointed at Li Meng, his fingers trembled, and his mouth opened and closed but could not say a word.

"Beheaded the Tartars!!"

“That’s right!”

Hearing Li Meng's decisive answer, the Governor Yan Jizu's expression became more and more excited. The eunuch Liu Yuanbin, the military supervisor next to him, stood up from his seat with trembling trembling, walked forward a few steps, and asked in a completely changed voice:

"Mr. Li, our family knows that there are always things in this army that kills good people and takes credit. What you said just now is the seven hundred and twenty, how many good people have the heads of good people!"

In the middle and late Ming Dynasty, the focus was on decapitation, rewards for military merits, and promotions, all of which were ranks that depended on those who had to be killed. However, the combat effectiveness of the official army had been completely weakened. Even if they fought with the peasant army holding wooden sticks and farm tools, they would be destroyed. Where can they go to do these heads?

As a result, there were shameless generals who killed the heads of civilians, pretended to be the heads of bandits and captured the gangs, and went to receive military merit rewards. In a certain place, there were military soldiers chasing civilians, shouting "Borrow the heads and use them for one's use." There were also bad examples of soldiers in a certain place killing good people, and slaughtering scholars and Tong Sheng from official schools together.

The eunuch Liu Yuanbin, the military supervisor, dealing with military soldiers all day long, naturally knew some tricks. The impression of Li Meng, the general of the four prefectures, was not a good character. It was naturally very normal to do such a thing. The governor Yan Jizu also calmed down from the initial excitement, and did not speak out, waiting for Li Meng's answer.

Although he was suspicious in his heart, there was an infinite look of hope on the faces of the governor and the military supervisor.

"Of course it's a real Tartar. If the two adults don't believe it, they will send someone to check it out."

At this time, the appearances of the Jurchens, Mongolians and Han people were quite different. Moreover, due to the different dietary and living habits, the teeth and other places have different characteristics, so it is very easy to test them.

The eunuch Liu Yuanbin, the military supervisor, didn't care whether he would offend Li Meng or not, so he repeatedly greeted the personal guards outside and asked them to follow Li Meng's men to check the heads of the Tartars.

After the encounter, there were no less than 200 severely injured and undead Tartars on the battlefield. Li Meng was not troubled and directly ordered his men to cut off all Tartars, regardless of life or death, and stripped off their armor and weapons. As for the corpses, they were thrown directly into the wild. During the famine, wild dogs and wolves were all so hungry that their eyes were red. The bodies were placed outside and they were bitten clean overnight.

These heads were treated with lime and sulfur, threw them in sacks, and transported them to this Dezhou City together. Military merits require a head, and Li Meng didn't want to waste them.

After receiving the order, the eunuch in the military supervisor and Li Meng's personal soldiers hurriedly ran out. The three people in the lobby of the magistrate's yamen were silent again, but the atmosphere was much more active than just now. Yan Jizu and Liu Yuanbin stood directly at the door of the lobby, with a gentle and decent attitude and a superior style, completely abandoned it, just waiting for news over there.

The head test was still more than 700 heads, but it was not possible to finish it in a short time. Li Meng was relatively relaxed, but the two of them walked around the door, but they didn't sit down. They turned to Li Meng several times, all of whom were eager to speak but stopped. They probably wanted to ask about the head, but Li Meng said so firmly that there was no need to continue asking.

It was Li Meng who asked something else first and said in a deep voice:

"May I ask the two sirs, where is General Qiu? Why didn't you see him today!"

When it comes to Shandong General Qiu Lei, Shandong Governor Yan Jizu and military eunuch Liu Yuanbin are not angry, but the eunuch Liu Yuanbin replied:

"Qiu Lei is so slutty, so he has the face to see people. His six thousand soldiers can really run away. He ran 150 miles a day and one night, and less than two thousand soldiers were left. He shrank north of the city when he entered the city, and he was unwilling to leave."

Hearing this, Li Meng nodded and sighed. The eunuch Liu Yuanbin looked at Li Meng's old and divine appearance and was more confident about the matter at that level. He wanted to get closer and couldn't help but ask:

"What's wrong with Lord Li? Just send someone to call him."

As a military general, you must have the capital to be arrogant and domineering. Shandong General Qiu Lei is now a stray dog. Who would take him seriously? He just had the title of general. When Li Meng heard Liu Yuanbin's question, he sat on the chair and smiled and nodded, and said gently:

"The last general thinks General Qiu is also uneasy. After all, such a big thing happened in the Shandong area. As the general of the General Town, he feels ashamed and blames himself."

Li Meng and Qiu Lei were in a state of equality. This was something that the governor and the military inspector saw with their own eyes. At this time, it was really shocking to hear Li Meng say such compassionate words. Governor Yan Jizu and the military inspector Liu Yuanbin both turned to look at Li Meng in shock, but saw that Li Meng looked as usual and had a slightly compassionate expression on his face. It was really strange.

However, this matter has nothing to do with them. Li Meng is sarcastic or compassionate, and it is important to wait for the personal soldiers outside to check the results.

Almost an hour passed. The magistrate of Dezhou came over and asked how many times he had eaten. They were blocked by Yan Jizu and Liu Yuanbin and went back. Li Meng found it funny and simply waited here to see how these two senior officials performed.

The two of them were tired of leaving, so they simply sat on the chair by the door, still looking forward to it. Suddenly, they heard the rapid footsteps outside. The governor and the military supervisor stood up from the chair. The door in front of the lobby was almost knocked open, which scared Li Meng's personal guards.

Just as he watched the subordinates of the eunuch Liu Yuanbin rushed in, and were pulled down by the threshold. He staggered to the lobby, without caring about anything, shouting at the top of his voice:

"Master, he is the head of the Tartars, the real head of the seven hundred and twenty Tartars!!"

These personal soldiers and their masters are all in honor and disgrace. Seeing that they are trapped in their relatives, their masters are going to be in trouble and imprisoned, they have no good life. These personal soldiers and masters also know a little about these official activities. Seeing these more than 700 heads of Tartars, they know that things have turned around.

The people who ran into the yard were extremely ecstatic. Governor Yan Jizu and military eunuch Liu Yuanbin saw the look of the servants and immediately understood that Li Meng's so-called small victory and the beheading of the Tartars was true. How incredible this matter was for them. But these real Tartars' heads should have a very miserable ending and turned a little bit.

Yan Jizu and Liu Yuanbin looked at each other, and the depressed look on their faces was wiped out. Governor Yan Jizu coughed a few times, but picked up the governor's airs that had been thrown away for a long time, waved at the bottom, and scolded in a deep voice:

"It's noisy and quarrel, what kind of style? Disband quickly. I have important matters to discuss!"

When the following soldiers heard the reprimand, they immediately scattered birds and beasts, but each of them had a strong joy on their faces. After only these three people were left in the lobby of the prefectural yamen, Shandong Governor Yan Jizu Siwen was gone, and his face seemed to be a smile on his face. He turned around and said to Li Meng repeatedly:
Chapter completed!