So, when the standard official version became more deformed and deviated as it spread, Li Laiheng unexpectedly discovered that this was the result they wanted.

The messenger was obviously the third prince. Li Laiheng had always believed in his analysis and judgment. Even though Huang Li repeatedly denied the third prince, he could not shake his determination.

Li Laiheng was in a good mood. Before sending Gao Hongzhi away, he asked casually: "What are Mr. Huang busy with these days?"

Gao Hongzhi's name is consistent with his name. Although he has an ordinary appearance, he is the kind that can't be found in a crowd, making people easily blind. But he is an officer in charge of military intelligence, and his mind is not ordinary.

"Mr. Huang drew the drawings and guided the craftsmen to create a spear launcher that uses the elasticity of the bamboo board to launch dozens of spears at a time. However, the distance is relatively short, only thirty or forty steps, and the launch is more time-consuming."

Gao Hongzhi bowed and replied: "But in my opinion, this weapon is very sharp in close combat. Mr. Huang seems not satisfied and is still making improvements."

"In addition, Mr. Huang also drew a drawing of a detachable trebuchet. The craftsmen are working hard to build it. We don't yet know how powerful it is."

Li Laiheng nodded slightly and said: "It seems that Mr. Huang's statement about having witnessed other countries' wars overseas is not a lie. Well, one more weapon will give our army one more combat capability. Okay, stand down.

Let’s do it!”

Gao Hongzhi bowed and left.

Silence returned to the big tent. Only Li Laiheng was thinking thoughtfully, with a half-smiling expression, and his fingers were tapping the table gently, making a slight and rhythmic clicking sound.

………………

The Battle of Kuidong was extremely brutal in history, but it mainly took place in Maolu Mountain and lasted for seven or eight months.

The Forbidden Eight Banners suffered heavy casualties. The red-flag deputy commander-in-chief Hebuso, the first-class Adahahafan Santu, and Mulima's third son Surma were all killed.

Even if they won in the end, the Eight Banners generals who returned to Beijing in triumph still had lingering fears. By the Jiaqing period, there was a proverb in Beijing that said the most difficult thing was to "go up Maolu Mountain again."

In fact, after careful analysis, the biggest reason for the failure of the Ming armies in the east of Kuei was not that they had too few troops, but the lack of unified command, which resulted in them being defeated one by one by the Qing army.

During the counterattack on the Western Front, seven Ming armies with a total of 50,000 troops were involved in the attack on Wushan. After the defeat, more than 7,000 were killed.

In other words, if the Ming army dispatched two-thirds of its troops, leaving one third to defend the homeland, and excluding the 7,000 killed in battle, the total strength should still be about 60,000 to 70,000.

And this does not include the troops of Shizhouwei’s Duke Guangxing of Jing Kingdom.

The Qing army that besieged Maolu Mountain had about 100,000 troops. It did have a considerable advantage, but it was not a huge disparity. At least, this is what Huang Li thought after careful analysis and calculation.

"If before the Eight Banners soldiers arrived, each family could concentrate their forces and defeat the two groups in the three-province encirclement and suppression, there would still be a chance of improvement. The defeat of Wushan could actually be avoided."

Huang Li shook his head, putting aside the regret of Wushan's defeat, and re-analyzed the current battle situation.

As long as half of the 60,000 to 70,000 troops are deployed to attack the Qing army in Huguang, which has suffered a serious defeat, and supplemented by the tactics of tunnel blasting and external blasting, the chance of victory should be great.

"Unfortunately, I'm afraid it won't be that easy. Being able to gather 25,000 to 6,000 troops should be the limit."

Huang Li thought about it, his eyes stayed on the paper for a moment, and he lightly scratched the names of Dang Shousu, Ta Tianbao, and Ma Tengyun with a quill.

In terms of spiritual will, the strength of these three people cannot be compared with Liu Tichun, Yuan Zongdi, Li Laiheng, and Hao Yaoqi.

Liu Tichun and others were defeated, but Dang Shousu and the others were intimidated by the Qing army's momentum and surrendered without a fight.

"Sir, the latest information." Li Yue walked in and handed the information to Huang Li.

Huang Li took it and read it over, lowered his eyes, and said lightly: "It seems that the news before was quite accurate, but now it is just certain."

The Qing government mobilized the Eight Banners of Xi'an and the Eight Banners of the Forbidden City to join the war. They did not keep it secret, but seemed to deliberately publicize it.

The purpose of this is also obvious, which is to intimidate with strong momentum, hoping to achieve the effect of winning without fighting.

Historically, this kind of deterrence strategy was indeed very successful. Wang Guangxing, Ta Tianbao, Dang Shousu and others became pessimistic and desperate, and surrendered.

Not only these four people, but also the generals under Yuan Zongdi and Hao Yaoqi lost confidence and rebelled one after another.

"Xi'an General Fu Kachan and Deputy Commander-in-Chief Du Min led the 78,000 to 8,000 bannermen stationed in Xi'an from Shaanxi to Sichuan, arrived at Wushan by water, and then attacked eastward."

"The Eight Banners Forbidden Brigade of 10,000 capital troops, with Dutong Mulima as the Jingxi General and Dutong Tuhai as the Dingxi General, led their troops to Huguang, joined the Huguang Qing army and attacked from east to west."

Huang Li marked the map and judged the deployment of the Qing army. He couldn't help but pursed his lips slightly.

It is still a three-sided siege. The Sichuan army on the west route will join the Eight Banners soldiers in Xi'an and will be the strongest;

To the north in Fangshan is the Shaanxi and Henan Green Camps led by Wang Yizheng, which is second in strength;

The Huguang Qing Army in the east was reinforced by the Eight Banners of the Forbidden Brigade, and its strength should be equivalent to that of the Qing Army on the North Route. Considering the combat effectiveness of the Manchurian soldiers, it should be stronger than the Qing Army on the North Route.

From this point of view, it is the most correct choice to counterattack the Huguang Qing army now. The Huguang Qing army experienced a disastrous defeat and was the weakest. The Ming army that defeated them also had a psychological advantage.

"Sir, it can be said that the storm is about to come, and the situation is even more critical." Li Yue saw that Huang Li seemed to be smiling slightly, and he felt more at ease, and said in a deep voice: "Counterattacking Yiling seems to be the only turning point.

”

Huang Li nodded and said: "If you win, you will counterattack, if you lose, you will lose your seat. All we can do is make a desperate move and fight to the death."

After a pause, he raised his head and asked: "Is there any news from Duke Wan? Time is running out."

Li Yue didn't understand what eating a banquet meant, but he could guess it so easily, so he bowed and replied: "I want Mr. Huang to know that my father has just received a letter, Duke Jingguo and Duke Yi are ready to lead all the soldiers and civilians to merge with our army.

”

With a slight smile on his face, Li Yue continued: "The Duke of Jingguo has arrived with reinforcements and will meet up with our army soon. Duke Yi leads the rest of the troops and their families on the road slowly, and Duke Wan continues to sit in Badong.

, to resist the Qing army on the west route."

Oh, Huang Li's face showed joy. The title of Third Prince was so useful, like a beacon in the darkness, it immediately attracted moths to the fire. Well, this metaphor is inappropriate.

But Huang Li immediately smiled bitterly and said: "The merger is a good thing, but if they are all concentrated in the small and remote areas, the food and grass supplies may not be able to support them for long."
Chapter completed!