Chapter 379: Like a bolt from the blue, Hong Chengchou was stunned
"The two white flag armies led by the brothers Dorgon and Duoduo actually withdrew from Juyongguan?"
"Now the 600,000 Tartar troops have passed the fork in the road and are heading north towards the city of Yanqing on the Qingshui River, rushing day and night to join Huang Taiji?"
In Changyuwei City, Hong Chengchou had just arrived with a large army and was preparing to contact Lu Xiangsheng who was stationed in the nearby Longhukou City to discuss the cooperation between the two armies to attack the Tartar army, but he learned this shocking news.
Given the arrogance of the Later Jin Tartars, the fact that Dorgon, who had an army of 600,000 men under his command, would retreat without a fight was beyond Hong Chengchou's expectations.
When he received the news from Hong Yuanfeng, he was shocked.
In front of Hong Chengchou who had already broken through to the peak of level five, the commander of the Royal Guard Hong Yuanfeng, although he had broken through to the middle of level five under Hong Chengchou's strong cultivation, felt more and more depressed.
Today, Hong Chengchou exudes an aura of authority that is becoming more and more powerful.
The reason behind this is not just as simple as Hong Chengchou having broken through to the peak of level five.
More than a year ago, when Hong Chengchou first arrived in Chang'an City, he had an adventure deep in Mount Li.
Not only did he obtain an innate top-grade artifact, the Qinglian Baose Flag, but he also quickly found a way to lift the seal on the artifact.
After such a long time, Hong Chengchou has already removed the four seals on this natal artifact flag.
With the support and help from his natal magic weapon, as well as what he gained from the fortuitous encounter, his current combat power is no less than that of any top level five expert.
Especially the 230,000 elite guards under his command gave Hong Chengchou great confidence.
Soldiers are the courage of their generals, this statement will never be wrong.
This made Hong Chengchou more and more domineering, which was naturally reflected in his temperament.
"Yes, Grand Admiral!"
Hong Yuanfeng reported respectfully, "The various scout teams we sent out have successively reported back this news, and it is absolutely correct."
"Should we lead the soldiers in pursuit immediately?"
"This is a great opportunity to regain lost ground. It would be a shame to miss it."
"As for why Dorgon led his army to retreat so quickly, the reason is still under further investigation, and I believe that news will be reported back soon."
His tone was a little anxious.
After all, there aren't many opportunities like this to easily achieve great success.
"There's no rush for now."
Hong Chengchou waved his hand without thinking and said, "Our army will set out for Juyongguan immediately to take over this vital pass, but we should not act rashly until we understand the reason for the Tartar army's retreat."
"My current position as the Governor of the Three Borders is good enough, and I don't plan to move up any further for the time being."
"After these few months, I have felt the obvious changes after the expansion of our personal guards. I finally understand the inappropriateness of serving as an official in the capital."
"In this chaotic world, having a large number of elite soldiers is the most important thing. It is much more important than the empty reputation of entering the capital or even entering the cabinet."
Unlike established history, after Hong Chengchou took control of a large and powerful army, he truly experienced the great benefits of it.
This can be seen from the fact that since he personally led the army to rescue the heartland of the capital, the various forces he met along the way have become more and more awed by him.
This kind of real authority is more attractive than entering the imperial cabinet and becoming a regent, which he once longed for, and it is a real benefit.
The officers and soldiers under his command were becoming more and more respectful of him, and he could clearly feel the practical benefits of this.
It is no exaggeration to say that even the unruly Zuo Liangyu did not dare to disobey the orders issued by Hong Chengchou in the slightest and did his best to complete them.
This experience of having one's words carry great weight made Hong Chengchou deeply fascinated, and his entire mentality underwent a drastic change.
Even if he were to exchange the title of Minister of War for the position of Governor-General of the Three Borders, Hong Chengchou would not be tempted at all.
The previous mentality of being insecure and treading on thin ice no longer exists as his own cultivation and the strength of his powerful army have skyrocketed in this period of time.
This was one of the historical changes brought about by the rapid rise of the Fuxing Army founded by Li Dingguo, which inadvertently led to the emergence of a local leader.
Unlike the foolishly loyal Lu Xiangsheng, Hong Chengchou was a complete egoist. It was not surprising that he would undergo such a drastic change once he had accumulated tremendous strength.
He no longer thought about making great contributions to the court, but wanted to take advantage of the current opportunity to expand the power under his control again.
Hong Chengchou gradually became alienated from the treacherous court and was no longer as enthusiastic about it as before.
"Whoosh!"
At this time, a figure leaped over and quickly stopped in front of Hong Chengchou. He bowed to him and said, "Master, I just received urgent information from our Hong family's secret guards."
The person who came was the chief steward Hong Bo. Judging from the aura emanating from him, he had actually reached the initial stage of level five.
This is what it means when one person succeeds, the whole family will benefit.
Hong Chengchou's adventure was extraordinary. Not only did he obtain a natal artifact, but he also obtained an ancient secret realm.
In this ancient secret realm of Mount Li, there is an ancient medicinal garden, in which there is even a medium-quality pear tree.
Hong Chengchou happened to catch the ripening of a batch of fruits that matured once every ten years, and he obtained 72 large pears of medium quality.
Given Hong Chengchou's selfishness, he naturally would not give out much to share with others, and most of it was sealed in jade boxes.
But he still generously gave six to each of his right-hand men, Hong Yuanfeng and Hong Bo.
This is also the main reason why Hong Yuanfeng and Hong Bo’s cultivation has improved so quickly.
"Our elite scouts secretly spread out in the Yellow River Basin in northwest Shanxi, using spirit pigeons to deliver reports that the million-strong army led by Huang Taiji was defeated and fled by Li Dingguo!"
"According to various sources, of the one million soldiers led by Huang Taiji in the west, less than 200,000 were able to escape outside the Great Wall. It was a disastrous defeat!"
Hong Bo's face was filled with deep shock, and he said in disbelief, "The Tartars' 100,000 logistics troops and 100,000 Han Army's Three-Flag Firearms Battalion soldiers were surrounded by the Fuxing Army at the river near the Huigou Fort, and then they were destroyed by the Xuanwu Army in one battle!"
"Huang Taiji was eager to turn the tables, but he fell into Li Dingguo's vicious scheme!"
"When the soldiers of the Later Jin Tartar attacked the Huigou Fort fiercely and their blood and physical strength were mostly exhausted, Li Dingguo personally led his army out of the city to counterattack, and won a crushing victory with his full strength!"
"What is shocking is that both Li Dingguo and Huang Taiji have already broken through to the initial stage of level six!" "They are even one step ahead of Lu Xiangsheng and have incredibly broken through to level six!"
"There is reliable intelligence that the golden eagle that Li Dingguo often travels with has also broken through to the sixth level."
"This Li Dingguo and the Fuxing Army he founded are truly terrifying!"
"How powerful is Huang Taiji, who has reached the sixth level of cultivation, leading a million-strong army?"
"In the end, they were easily defeated by Li Dingguo, and the million-strong army suffered more than 80% loss!"
"Master, it seems that our chances of holding on to the southern part and nearly half of the central part of Qin in the future are too small."
Even though Uncle Hong was nearly a hundred years old, it was the first time he had heard of such a powerful rebel, so powerful that it made people despair.
Although my master is both civil and military, and is not comparable to ordinary people, no matter how powerful he is, he can never be stronger than the million-strong army led by Huang Taiji.
This couldn't help but make Uncle Hong worried.
"The million-strong army led by Huang Taiji actually suffered a crushing defeat?"
"Then Li Dingguo and Huang Taiji have both broken through to the sixth level of cultivation?"
"This……"
Upon hearing this shocking news, both Hong Chengchou and Hong Yuanfeng were shocked and cried out in amazement.
Especially Hong Chengchou, the slight sense of complacency he had felt during this period of time was instantly hit hard and disappeared without a trace.
The barrier of cultivation that had existed for hundreds of years was first broken by Li Dingguo and Huang Taiji. This was definitely explosive news for all the top level five powerhouses in the world.
This means that everyone has a way forward, and will not be stuck at the peak of level 5 for a lifetime, waiting to die miserably.
There is no doubt that this is the mysterious reason why the destiny has changed so frequently in recent years.
While being surprised, Hong Chengchou finally understood why the brothers Dorgon and Dodo withdrew their troops in an emergency.
As long as Huang Taiji was not stupid, he would guess the huge crisis that the Later Jin soldiers would face next: there were Ming soldiers blocking the way in front, and the Fuxing Army that might pursue them at any time behind. As long as they did not want to be blocked inside the pass and besieged, they must withdraw their troops as soon as possible to avoid this disaster.
"Whoosh!"
At this time, there was another sound of wind, and a figure flew in from the door of the meeting hall.
This is a heroic female general named Hong Bingyan. Judging from her cultivation level, she has reached the peak of level four.
She was the leader of an orphanage camp set up by Hong Chengchou in imitation of Li Dingguo, who took in a large number of orphans and girls.
Although this orphan camp has only been established for more than a year, it is already a combat camp with 30,000 elite warriors.
In Hong Chengchou's mind, this orphan camp is more important than the Royal Guard Camp, and various training resources are given priority supply.
"Grand Governor!"
Hong Bingyan bowed to Hong Chengchou and presented a secret letter, "This is urgent intelligence sent back by our Hong Mansion's intelligence personnel stationed in the southeastern coastal areas."
She was not only the leader of the orphanage camp, but also the eldest daughter of Hong Chengchou.
Hong Bingyan has loved wielding guns and sticks since she was a child. She has an excellent aptitude for martial arts. In addition, she is smart and studious, so she was sent by Hong Chengchou to manage the Hong family's most important orphanage.
At only eighteen years old, she was already an outstanding military commander.
Compared with his younger brother Hong Shiming, Hong Bingyan is much stronger in nature and can be considered an uncanny genius.
Hong Chengchou's only son, Hong Shiming, is just an average person. In this world of martial arts, he is not as valued by Hong Chengchou as Hong Bingyan.
After a few years, Hong Shiming would probably just be responsible for carrying on the family line and waiting to die.
Unless Hong Chengchou could obtain the rare treasures that could change his son's innate talents, he would be unable to change the fate of his disappointing son.
For unknown reasons, after the birth of one son and three daughters, Hong Chengchou's wife and concubines never conceived offspring again. This is also one of Hong Chengchou's biggest regrets.
However, in this big world, there are very few treasures that can change and improve the qualifications of practitioners. At least Hong Chengchou has not obtained any of them so far.
"Oh."
Hong Chengchou took the letter handed to him by his daughter and began to read it immediately.
After a moment, his face turned green and red, looking very strange. He looked up at the three people in front of him and said, "Not only did the western army led by Huang Taiji fail, but the million-strong army led by Yuetuo and Manggurtai, who led the long-distance attack on Lingshan Island in Jiaozhou Bay, also suffered an even worse defeat!"
"According to the intelligence sent back by our clan's secret guards, the million-strong army led by Yue Tuo was first annihilated by the navy and the firearms battalion on board. However, with the help of the large fleet provided by the Jin Province, they launched a strong attack on Lingshan Island, but suffered a disastrous defeat!"
"No one would have thought that after Li Dingguo finished his battle with Huang Taiji, he rode on the level 6 golden eagle to Jiaozhou Bay in time, led his 300,000 naval officers and soldiers, and easily defeated Yuetuo's army!"
"The tactics he used were exactly the same as when he defeated Huang Taiji before. He used his own protective formation to block the enemy's attack. After the enemy's blood and physical strength were mostly depleted, he decisively led his troops to counterattack and defeated the Tartar army in one fell swoop."
"In this battle, only tens of thousands of soldiers from the East Route Army led by Yue Tuo managed to escape by jumping into the sea. Now, with the cooperation of Shanxi merchants, they have fled to the north of Laizhou and are taking several treasure ships provided by Shanxi Province to go out to sea, preparing to return to Liaodong."
He sighed and said, "What's incredible is that in the Renaissance Army on Lingshan Island, there is actually a general who has broken through to the early stage of level six, and it is said that she is a girl, who is younger than Bingyan!"
"What a prosperous fortune this Li Dingguo has! He and his Fuxing Army are growing so fast, it's beyond common sense!"
"From now on, he and the Restoration Army will have a decisive advantage. After this battle, the world will be in an uproar and their power will become completely uncontrollable."
"It won't be long before not only Qin and Jin are in danger, but the Ming Dynasty will also be in great danger. It's possible that a change of dynasty may occur in a few years."
No matter how resourceful Hong Chengchou was, he was still shocked by the strength of the Fuxing Army.
He could never have imagined that Li Dingguo and the Fuxing Army he founded would be so powerful that they could defeat the two million-strong armies of the Tartars who entered the pass like a piece of dried weeds and rotten wood!
From ancient times to the present, there has never been such an outrageous little thief. The speed at which he grows and develops is too astonishing.
What even the Ming Dynasty court could not do was easily accomplished by a rebel force. This was a huge slap in the face of the court!
This made Hong Chengchou, who had been full of ambition and pride, feel confused: the Ming Dynasty was probably doomed.
(End of this chapter)
