Chapter 2573 Bad news about Gui Zi Juan, the situation is reversed
At this time, Zhang Huaichang's face was ashen, listening to a series of urgent reports sent back from Liaodong by couriers.
“Why are so many messages coming back together?” Zhang Huaichang looked and listened, his face extremely ugly.
“At that time, we encountered a series of attacks, which were very sudden and chaotic. From Crow Falcon Pass to Hoi’an Fort, as well as Songjiabo and Dingzibo Forts, they were successively raided by the Jianzhou Jurchens. The General Soldier personally went into battle..."
The messenger who delivered the letter was a close aide of Zhao Shujiao, whom Zhang Huaichang had seen. Zhao Shujiao asked him to deliver the letter in person and was also responsible for explaining it, which showed that the situation was urgent and dangerous.
"That's enough. Does the commander-in-chief of his town need her to go into battle in person? What should he do? Where is Xiong Tingbi?" Zhang Huaichang was already a little out of control and called Xiong Tingbi by his name, "Is it possible that he has been here for two months and is still acclimated?"
Xiong Tingbi's trip to Liaodong was not smooth sailing. First, he caught the epidemic and had a high fever. Later, he finally got better, and then he started to inspect the border fortress. As a result, his horse was frightened and fell down, injuring his head. Be careful about catching a cold and have a fever again, and you are not used to eating well, so you have been recuperating in Liaoyang.
The messenger did not answer this question and was not in a good position to answer it.
“I’m asking you, where is Xiong Tingbi?” Zhang Huaichang roared, almost breaking the doors and windows of the mansion.
“Mr. Xiong was ill all the time, and it was not until after the incident that he dragged his sick body to Shenyang. However, I couldn’t bear to see Mr. Xiong skinny, weak in energy, and still having a fever...” The messenger couldn’t help but defend.
Zhang Huaichang couldn't help but exhale, "This is bad luck, who is to blame?"
Everyone is like this, and what else can I come back to raise diseases without a disease?
But at this juncture, if the military commander falls ill, something big will happen.
As soon as Xiong Tingbi went to Liaodong, Zhang Huaichang had a bad premonition.
He was actually the most supportive of Feng Ziying going to Liaodong.
After all, Feng Tang was the governor of Liaodong, and Feng Ziying established her authority in Liaodong last time, winning whether it was the old Liaodong generals Zhao Lijiao, Du Song, Liu Wei, Zu brothers, Cao Wenzhao, He Renlong, etc. , Mao Wenlong and other generals who were not direct descendants of Liaodong were unanimously recognized.
Let Feng Ziying take control of the situation in Liaodong. It can be said that he is very familiar with it and can handle it with ease. What a pity!
Xiong Tingbi's performance in the Southwest and Shandong battles was average. Of course, he was considered good among civil servants, but the gap between him and Feng Ziying was still quite obvious.
The most important thing is that Xiong Tingbi has never been to Liaodong before and is very unfamiliar with Liaodong.
This time I wanted to quickly familiarize myself with the situation, but I was sick and bedridden. This delay lasted for two or three months. I lost the best opportunity to get to know a group of generals. At the same time, I also failed to understand the geography, customs and customs of Liaodong in time. You know, this situation is a bit dangerous.
To conquer the Jianzhou Jurchens, it would not be possible to rely on Liaodong Town alone. It would require the support of reinforcements from Dongjiang Town and Jizhen. Coordinating the reinforcements from Dongjiang Town and Jizhen was beyond the ability of Zhao Shujiao, a warrior.
Mao Wenlong had a cold relationship with Zhao Shujiao, and You Shilu had little friendship with Zhao Shujiao. It was difficult for these warriors to help these warriors simply by saying that they took the overall situation into consideration.
What’s more, once this battle starts, it will involve the life and death of the respective troops. Who will be the vanguard, who will be the center, and who will be the rear. These are all very particular. It involves victory or defeat, benefits and casualties. Who can make the decision? Why should I listen to you?
Only civil servants and commanders can make this decision, balance the relationship between the parties, and make them obey orders.
As soon as Xiong Tingbi fell ill, he lost the pillar that controlled the balance of the entire battle. Half of the battle was lost before it was even fought.
"How is the situation now? Tell me in detail, the ins and outs, the causes and consequences, and the current situation. Tell me clearly!" Zhang Huaichang almost gritted his teeth.
Just taking a cursory look at the few letters handed over, his heart tightened.
Each one was extremely bad news, and what shocked and frightened him the most was the large-scale rebellion and internal response, which directly led to the collapse of many passes, or the internal and external cooperation.
There’s no need to guess, everyone knows it’s Li Yongfang’s method again.
Of course the messenger could understand Lord Shangshu's rage, but no matter how bad the situation was at this time, he did not dare to hide it. In fact, he ran all the way from Liaodong to the capital city, changing horses but not people, just to report to the Ministry of War. The report clearly shows how dangerous the situation in Liaodong is now, and the court is requested to provide immediate reinforcements.
“Sir, it’s been ten days since I came from Shenyang. I don’t know what happened during this period. I can only report some of the situations that the Commander-in-Chief told me before I left...”
Zhang Huaichang tried his best to suppress his inner anger and tension, and calm down his inner resentment.
I have been tossed about by strong winds and waves after all. It’s not that I haven’t seen these scenes before, but these bad things happened at the wrong time.
It's just that I finally brought some good news to the cabinet ministers. Now the ministers are still waiting to study military affairs, hoping to resolve the Hebei affairs as soon as possible and then deal with the war in northern Xinjiang. Fortunately, there are only changes on the Mongolian side. Something happened in Liaodong.
This lasted for half an hour. During this period, people from the cabinet had been sent to urge him, but Zhang Huaichang ignored him.
"So, from the known and perceived rebel generals, there are at least seven, well, they are all above garrison level. Zhao led the good soldiers, Li Chengliang!"
Zhang Huaichang has lost his composure.
Before it was Cao Wenzhao, and before that it was Feng Tang, but it didn't take long. There were slight adjustments, but most of them followed the legacy of the predecessor.
Pushing forward, it is Li Chengliang. It can be said that the basic structure of the current military commanders in Liaodong Town was laid down by Li Chengliang's era. Even the successive generals, but the time was too short, could not change its fundamental structure.
After all, it was the imperial court’s fault!
If Feng Tang had been the governor and commander-in-chief of the army during his tenure in Liaodong, how would there have been the disasters of today, or even the last Liaodong Incident?
At that time, Feng Tang had actually started to make adjustments again. For example, he brought Cao Wenzhao and He Renlong there, and Mao Wenlong was also discovered by Feng Tang.
If people like Zhao Lijiao, Du Song, Liu Wei, the Zu brothers and the military attachés below are gradually transferred to Jizhen, Datong, and Xuanfu, such incidents will never happen, but things like Such a large-scale rebellion is absolutely impossible now.
What a Li Yongfang!
Nurhachi really made the most of this guy!
Feng Ziying had actually mentioned to herself her concerns about Li Yongfang's rebellion a long time ago, even after Feng Tang left the post of governor of Jiliao.
After the last Liaodong Incident, Feng Ziying also talked with Zhang Huaichang.
But it's easier said than done. There are hundreds of people in Liaodong from garrison to guerrilla to general and deputy general. Who can you doubt?
Just adjust as you say, won't it affect the defense of the entire Liaodong war?
Zhao Shujiao, the chief military officer, did not take the initiative to mention it. It should be said that some measures have been taken, but it seems that they have not had much effect now.
Many things themselves are hidden very deep. You can detect it after just a few conversations or a few contacts with someone over decades of friendship?
They are all wily and battle-hardened old thieves. How could they be able to figure out the clues just because you test them a few times?
Zhang Huaichang held his forehead and gritted his teeth in silence.
What should you do if you encounter this kind of thing?
This is not a military defeat, nor is it the incompetence of the generals, nor is it a quarrel between the generals. They are all unexpected counterattacks. How can you guard against them?
Perhaps Xiong Tingbi still has some responsibility. Of course, this cannot be entirely blamed on Xiong Tingbi. It is a fact that he cannot afford to be ill, but it is also a fact that he failed to fully perform his duties.
He lacked understanding of Liaodong generals, had a somewhat rigid temperament, and lacked gentle means. It was inevitable that he would not be able to achieve the results the court hoped to achieve in such a short period of time.
Thinking of this, Zhang Huaichang regretted even more that he had not insisted on letting Feng Ziying go to Liaodong during the cabinet deliberations, which led to this big mistake.
As for the little thoughts in the minds of the cabinet ministers, he is not ignorant of them, but when it comes to the success or failure of the entire Liaodong war situation, anything can be thrown aside.
He is from Liaodong!
"I understand." Zhang Huaichang could only put away his infinite regrets and sentimental feelings, and waved his hands, "You go to the post house to rest first, and don't go far. I will report to the cabinet immediately. I may summon you if anything happens."
The messenger quickly got up and went to rest.
It was a bumpy ride and I really needed a rest, so I let the post station pull me in a carriage and take a nap.
The carriage is definitely not as fast as riding a horse, but at least you can sleep for a while, and when you regain your energy, you can switch to riding a horse again.
Fortunately, the post roads from Shenyang - Liaoyang - Guangning - Shanhaiguan - Jingshi have been renovated, and the road conditions are very good. Whether you are riding a horse or a horse-drawn carriage, you will basically not encounter any delays due to bad roads.
After the messenger left, Zhang Huaichang finally settled down and took stock of the entire situation. He needed to carefully evaluate and calculate before going to the cabinet, and then come up with a general idea.
As the Minister of War, of course he cannot parrot the situation to the cabinet ministers like the messenger just now. He has to come up with his own opinions and countermeasures.
Substitution?
I'm afraid this is inevitable.
Not to mention how many mistakes Xiong Tingbi made during this period, his body alone could no longer withstand such a high-intensity war amidst the climate, climate, and epidemics. Regardless of whether he was public, private, emotional, or rational, he needed to be replaced.
But who to replace? Sun Chengzong?
Theoretically, Sun Chengzong is the most suitable.
Now the situation in Shanxi has gradually stabilized, especially after the battle in eastern Hebei completely wiped out the Bailian rebel army in the east, the impact on the surrounding situation is still obvious. The situation in Shanxi will also be affected. It can be said that the situation in Shanxi is not serious.
(End of this chapter)