Chapter 1822 Retreat to Datong River
Although this blocking war is unlikely to solve the threat of the Qing army once and for all, as long as they seize the opportunity and deploy their troops rationally, there will definitely be no problem for the coalition forces to inflict heavy damage on the Qing army. The only suspense is probably the size of the result.
However, as the army commander of the coalition forces, Qian Tiandun still has many dissatisfactions with the current war preparations. For example, the defense line in the north of the base could only build some relatively simple fortifications due to the rushed construction period. According to Qian Tiandun's idea, at least a large number of stone bastions capable of garrisoning troops must be built on the defense line like the Jinzhou Isthmus to be considered qualified. However, the nearest place where stone can be quarried is seven or eight miles away from the defense line construction site. If it is necessary to temporarily open a quarry and organize the transportation of stone, it will be too late to complete it before the Qing army arrives, so we have to give up such a plan.
On the Qingchuan River in the north, after paying hundreds of lives, the Qing army finally broke through the blockade of the Fujian Navy from the upper reaches and established a beachhead on the south bank of the Qingchuan River. The Fujian Navy had limited troops and did not dare to divide its troops ashore to deal with these small groups of Qing troops who had completed crossing the river. They could only leave this task to the Koreans.
However, the performance of the Koreans was as bad as ever. Even though their strength was more than twice that of the Qing army crossing the Yangtze River, they still could not take advantage of the battle. On the contrary, because of the large number of casualties, they developed a fear of war and only attacked. After failing to capture it after three or two attacks, they were unwilling to take the initiative to attack again. After the night passed, there were hundreds more Qing troops on the beach, and even hundreds of heavy armored cavalry appeared in the formation. They immediately persuaded the North Korean troops who had a wait-and-see attitude to retreat.
Even though Xu Yuzhuo commanded the Fujian Navy to patrol the Qingchuan River day and night, the limited strength still could not prevent the Qing army from crossing the river at night, and the Korean army was unable to repel the Qing army that had established positions near the river bank. So just a few days later, the gap in strength between the two sides on the south bank of the Chongchuan River quickly narrowed, and the Korean army no longer dared to come out of Anzhou City.
Xu Yuzhuo was also helpless about this situation. If the Korean army on the shore could cooperate well and resist the Qing army bravely, then the time for the Qing army to cross the river could be postponed for a few days. However, the combat effectiveness of the Korean army was really weak, and it did not have the ability to compete with the main force of the Qing army on the frontal battlefield. Even if the Fujian Navy tried its best, it could only slightly delay the Qing army's progress in crossing the river.
Although the Qing army could not cause much trouble to the Fujian Navy on the Qingchuan River, when they set foot on the southern river bank, they could cut off the land supply route from Anzhou to the fleet. Although this method is a bit innocuous, it will indeed affect the Fujian Navy's will to fight. The most important thing is that the Fujian Navy also knows that it still has a way to retreat. It does not need to defend the Qingchuan River. The Datong River in the south can It is our true line of defense.
The Fujian Navy finally delayed the Qing army's large-scale river crossing operation until the end of June. By this time, more than 4,000 Qing troops had actually arrived at the south bank through scattered river crossings at night and upstream, and completely cut off Anzhou and Fujian. The connection between the navy. Xu Yuzhuo did not know whether the war had begun in Anzhou, and the Koreans in Anzhou City did not know whether the Fujian Navy on the Qingchuan River was still holding on. In the case of a serious lack of tacit understanding between the two sides, no one could do anything after being blocked from the news. Don't take any more radical tactics anymore.
Because it rarely engaged in direct battles with the Qing army, the Fujian Navy suffered little battle damage during this period, and there was no major damage to its ships, but it consumed a lot of supplies and ammunition. After the supply channel with Anzhou City was cut off, the Fujian Navy could only obtain supplies from the Datong River base more than 200 miles away, which was extremely inconvenient. After Xu Yuzhuo asked for instructions from the Datong River base, after nightfall one day, he summoned a fleet and sailed quietly to the mouth of the Qingchuan River. However, this time Xu Yuzhuo kindly asked the envoys sent by Anzhou to the fleet to rush back to the city overnight to report the news, lest the Koreans were unprepared for this. As for whether they could pass the Qing army's blockade, they could only accept their destiny. .
With the withdrawal of the Qingchuan River at this time, Xu Yuzhuo actually no longer had to worry too much about leaking the news, because as long as he waited until dawn, the Qing army would soon find that the Ming army fleet had disappeared from the Qingchuan River. At that time, the Qing army, which had been waiting for many days, would immediately organize a large-scale crossing of the river, and it was unlikely that the Korean defenders would take the initiative to go out of the city to stop them.
As for the Fujian Navy, their original mission was to hold back the Qing army in the Daning River and Qingchuan River basins for more than ten days in order to delay their southward march. However, from the time the Qing army arrived at the banks of the Daning River to the Fujian River, The division evacuated at night for more than twenty days. It can be said that the task was overfulfilled. Even if the Qing army can push away Anzhou City in one wave now, it will be at least two or three days before they arrive at the Datong River line south.
After completing the mission, Xu Yuzhuo was quite lucky to be able to lead a relatively complete force to evacuate the battlefield. He knew that the strength of the Qing army was not weak. If it weren't for these two water veins and natural chasms, the Fujian Navy would definitely have a small number of troops. You cannot confront it head-on.
Although he was fortunate, Xu Yuzhuo was still a little unwilling. The Fujian Navy had been confronting the Qing army here for more than 20 days, and the real number of casualties it caused to the enemy might only be a few hundred people. This kind of enemy-killing efficiency was different from that of the Haihan Army. When compared, there is naturally a huge gap. In addition to the gap in ship weapon performance, Xu Yuzhuo also understood that the strength of the Haihan Army lies in the self-confidence created by winning battles all the time. Even when facing an enemy force several times larger than itself, the Haihan Army will be full of confidence. They have the confidence to win and can fully exert their due combat effectiveness. This is the quality that their own troops currently lack.
This time, he was performing a separate mission in North Korea. The opponent was the Qing army with good combat effectiveness and a relatively unfamiliar inland water environment. Xu Yuzhuo was also extremely cautious when commanding the operation. Therefore, although the purpose of the operation was successfully achieved, the results were not rich. Xu Yuzhuo also thought from time to time that if he acted together with the Haihan Navy, perhaps the combat method would be more proactive and the results achieved should be much greater than the current results.
But after returning to the Datong River, they can fight side by side with the Haihan Navy again. Speaking of the coalition fleet fighting in the inland waters of the Korean Peninsula, the Fujian Navy actually participated in the entire process and did not miss a single time. Xu Yuzhuo was also wondering what happened. Is it a coincidence, or the Haihan military deliberately made such an arrangement to train the Fujian Navy's ability to fight in rivers.
The Fujian Navy withdrew from the Qingchuan River without any hindrance, then went south along the coastline and successfully returned to the Datong River base, which was still under construction. Qian Tiandun came to the port in person to welcome the return of the naval fleet. Xu Yuzhuo was flattered by this kind of treatment.
"This time the Fujian Navy has bought a very valuable period of time for the construction of the Datong River base. I am very satisfied with General Xu's command and the performance of the Fujian Navy. Your troops can have two days to rest and recuperate, and then they must It’s time to start again.” Qian Tiandun praised the Fujian Navy’s performance without hesitation, which made Xu Yuzhuo feel better.
"Then where will our army go next? The upper reaches of the Datong River?" Xu Yuzhuo felt that the fatigue on his body was instantly wiped away, and he had enough energy.
"Yes, the coalition fleet will not arrive back until one or two days later, so the task of familiarizing with the upper waters must be left to the Fujian Navy." Qian Tiandun explained the current situation to Xu Yuzhuo frankly. The coalition fleet timed its operations very tightly in order to maximize the benefits of its operations in Liaodong. The coalition army has a great advantage over the Qing army, that is, it is equipped with a large number of Korean guides. This is different from the Qing army who captured prisoners from North Korea to serve as guides. The people sent to Haihan by the North Korean official were all scouts from the local army, who were more familiar with the local environment, especially the wild environment.
This time, in order to build the defense system of the Datong River, North Korea specially selected a group of veteran sailors who had been sailing on the Datong River for decades and sent them to wait for the orders of the coalition forces. Among the prisoners captured by the Qing army from the north, few had the same level of understanding of the environment in the Datong River Basin. When war breaks out, this difference in familiarity with the environment will greatly affect the operations of both sides. Strategy. Haihan could deploy key surveillance at some locations suitable for crossing the river early, but if the Qing army wanted to find out the hydrological conditions of the Datong River, it would not be a task that could be completed in three or five days.
That night, Qian Tiandun set up a simple reception banquet to express condolences to the Fujian Navy generals who had just returned from the front line. As a landowner, Jin Sangxian also took the initiative to attend. He knew very well that the Ming navy's retreat was giving up its cover for Anzhou. Without the blockade on the Qingchuan River, Anzhou City would soon fall. However, he already knew Haihan's strategy. The purpose of coming to the banquet was not to blame the Ming army for its actions, but to learn from Xu Yuzhuo the latest battle situation on the front line.
North Korea's own military intelligence system is far inferior to the coalition forces organized by Haihan. It often takes a day or two or even longer to learn about the situation on the front line. Moreover, since the connection between Anzhou City and the Fujian Navy was cut off, Anzhou The defenders have turned a blind eye to the Qing army's movements, and no valuable intelligence has been sent back from the front lines in recent days.
"What are the movements of the Qing army?" Xu Yuzhuo did not rush to answer after hearing Jin Shangxian's question. Instead, he looked at Qian Tiandun's face first, and saw that he nodded slightly towards him, and then responded: "If nothing happens, Unexpectedly, the Qing army should organize the main force to cross the river this morning, and launch an offensive against Anzhou City by tomorrow at the latest.”
"So fast... How long does General Xu think Anzhou City can be defended?" Although Jin Sangxian no longer has much hope for the safety of Anzhou, he still wants to get an answer from Xu Yuzhuo that can make him feel relieved. .
Xu Yuzhuo thought for a moment and then responded in a deep voice: "There are currently four to five thousand defenders in Anzhou, and there is sufficient time to strengthen the city's defense... I think it should be possible... to defend it for three days."
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"Three days?" To be honest, Jin Sangxian was very disappointed with this answer. He originally thought that Xu Yuzhuo's words were so lively, and Anzhou could be defended for at least ten days and a half, so that the North Korean defenders would be able to explain themselves. , but I didn’t expect that Xu Yuzhuo’s so-called optimistic estimate was only for three days. He really wanted to ask Xu Yuzhuo whether his country's army was so vulnerable to a battle.
But this thought just swirled around in Jin Sangxian's mind, and in the end he didn't ask. Judging from the record of the Qing army since entering North Korea, three days may really be the upper limit of Anzhou City. If you question Xu Yuzhuo's judgment, you may be severely slapped in the face in a few days. Jin Sangxian decided to hold back his anger for now. If Anju City could survive three days, he would have something to say in front of the coalition generals.
Qian Tiandun said: "This is not necessarily true. The location of Anzhou City actually does not block the Qing army's route south, and the Fujian Navy has completely withdrawn from the Qingchuan River. The threat Anzhou City can pose to the Qing army is also limited. It’s very limited. If the Qing army wants to pursue the speed of advancement, it is entirely possible to send thousands of soldiers and horses to stare at Anzhou City, and the main force will continue to move south.”
"Surround but not attack? The situation General Qian said is possible." Xu Yuzhuo nodded thoughtfully.
After the Qing army invaded North Korea, they did not capture every town and occupied it. Instead, they chose the narrow coastal plain near the west coast as a passage to quickly advance southward. This strategy could greatly reduce the number of Qing troops on the journey. Casualties and material consumption pushed the front all the way south to Seoul as quickly as possible. Conquering North Korea at the minimum cost and as quickly as possible is what Huang Taiji wants to achieve. Of course, if the coalition forces hadn't stepped in and slowed down the Qing army's advance, its current position might not have been at the Chongchuan River, but had already advanced to the Han River.
The location of Anzhou City is exactly at the junction of the mountainous area and the Linhai Plain. Whether this city is attacked or not actually has no great impact on the Qing army's strategy. Anyway, the Korean defenders dare not leave the city to fight and can only watch. Looking at the main force of the Qing army crossing the border and heading south, the Qing army could choose a more time-saving and trouble-free handling method, so the situation speculated by Qian Tiandun is also very likely to occur.
If the Qing army besieged Anzhou but did not attack, let alone defend it for three days, Anzhou might still be under North Korea's control by the time the Qing army retreated after hitting the wall at the Datong River.
But the actual situation was far from as optimistic as the coalition generals thought. When the Qing army discovered that the Ming fleet had evacuated in the early morning, they immediately organized a crossing operation and launched a non-stop offensive against Anzhou City. Although Anzhou City is indeed a place that can be attacked or not, Huang Taiji is not as rational as Qian Tiandun on this issue. After the army was dragged here for more than 20 days, he just wanted to capture a city immediately Come and vent your frustrations.
(End of chapter)