After all, Dorgon's favorite tactic was to split his forces to flank and launch surprise attacks; he hadn't expected Jirgalang and Dodo to have learned this trick as well. He wondered if they could see the situation over here; he was quite eager to see the expressions on those two men's faces at this very moment.
Dodo and Jirgalang both had grim expressions at this moment; not only had the raiding parties they had sent out been completely wiped out, but they had also failed to achieve their objectives.
No one expected Zhu Ci to be so incredibly wealthy; to deceive them, that military camp contained nothing but decoys, while all other supplies were real.
This time, they did not lose to their opponent's intelligence, but rather to his financial power and audacity.
In any case, even if such a method existed, they would not dare to use it like this; once the Imperial Court found out, they would surely be punished.
Never mind the Regent Jirgalang, even the Imperial Uncle Regent Dorgon would have to think twice.
Dodo suddenly realized that status was still very important. Regardless of whether his brother Dorgon was the emperor in a practical sense, if he didn't occupy that position, many things would be restricted.
Looking at the Emperor of Ming opposite him, he could do whatever he wanted; almost no one could stop him. If Dorgon could also..
However, Duo soon had no time to think about such things.
Because they also suffered a surprise attack.
Not only were they ambushed, but beyond Juyong Pass, the Emperor of Ming also launched an offensive.
"Why has the wind picked up again?" Jirgalang looked up at the sky while arranging for his men to prepare for battle.
It had just been a gentle breeze a moment ago, but in such a short time, the wind had intensified significantly. Not only that, but the wind was blowing from the north to the south.
When Dodo saw those hot air balloons ascending once again, he felt a momentary sense of despair: "Could it be that even Heaven is helping him?"
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Author's Note: Zhu Ci: This really isn't Heaven's fault. Winter is coming, so isn't it quite normal for the north wind to blow? A kitty standing on a mountain peak observing the celestial phenomena. jpg
Next update at 6:00 PM
Chapter 256
No one could explain whether Heaven itself was helping Zhu Ci, but for the time being, it seemed that Zhu Ci's luck in war was indeed very good.
However, even the best circumstances have their troubles. Wang Chang looked at Zhu Ci cautiously and said, "Your Majesty, our gunpowder is running low."
What he was actually referring to were the various materials used to compose gunpowder. While they did have prepared rocket launchers and ammunition, transporting these materials was difficult in the first place. Although they had collected some along the way, how could the Qing Army possibly leave such important strategic resources for them?
Under normal circumstances, these wouldn't actually be necessary, but who could have expected His Majesty to come up with something as ridiculous as flying bombs.
It wasn't just gunpowder; even the ox and sheep hides used to make hot air balloons were running low, even the ropes were being consumed in large quantities.
Zhu Ci actually had an idea of the situation himself, so he could only say, "I didn't want to keep launching frontal assaults before, but the Tartars are even more tenacious than I imagined; we have no choice but to attack forcefully now."
Since we are going to launch an all-out assault, we might as well move under the cover of night; after all, the Night Stealth Squad is still planning a surprise attack over there.
Additionally, visibility at night is not very good, not to mention that most people suffer from night blindness.
In fact, most of the soldiers brought by Zhu Ci, besides the Jinyi Guard, also suffered from night blindness.
With the level of production here, families who could maintain enough food to stave off hunger were already doing quite well; what more could they expect in terms of nutrition?
Therefore, the Jinyi Guard led the frontal assault this time.
Dodo and Jirgalang worked in perfect coordination, each taking a side, but it seemed as though they were having a difficult time holding their positions.
Jirgalang could not stop Zhu Ci, Dodo, despite leading a force several times larger than the Night Stealth Squad, failed to achieve much success.
The Night Stealth Squad's numbers are indeed small, but they are also flexible.
They had already quietly infiltrated the interior of Juyong Pass. As soon as darkness fell and the formation dispersed, even three people could form a squad capable of both offense and defense. Dorgon was unable to do anything to the Night Stealth Squad, let alone Dodo.
From Badaling to Shangguan and then to Juyong Pass, they retreated step by step. When they finally had nowhere left to retreat, Jirgalang and Dodo originally intended to lead their men to retreat and defend Nankou City.
After Nankou lies Changping. If Nankou and Changping cannot be held, then Beijing essentially cannot be held either.
However, compared to Nankou and Changping, aren't Badaling, Shangguan, Juyong Pass all even more strategically vital?
If these three passes cannot be held, can Nankou and Changping truly be defended?
Dodo and Jirgalang could not afford to think about so much at this moment; they could only take things one step at a time.
However, how could Zhu Ci give them a chance to escape?
The Night Stealth Squad was the first wave to launch a surprise attack, he continued to dispatch more teams through the mountain paths.
The most outrageous part was that the Qing Army didn't even try to intercept them from beginning to end.
Of course, it might also be because these small paths were too well-hidden, the Qing Army simply couldn't find them.
"How did Your Majesty know about these roads?" Wang Chang asked with some curiosity.
Zhu Ci said with emotion, "We have the Grand Secretary to thank for this."
Wang Chang: "Huh?"
Zhu Ci looked at the distant sky, which was already beginning to turn the color of fish bellies, said, "If the Grand Secretary hadn't found so many books for me back then, I wouldn't have known either."
Wang Chang was somewhat confused: "Which book says that?"
Records of Emperor Chengzu!
Wang Chang??
Don't lie to me; I haven't read much.
Why would the Records of Emperor Chengzu contain such things?
Zhu Ci naturally did not know why it was written, but the records did state how Zhu Di had found these small paths and fought through the defending troops, forcing them to retreat to Huailai.
Anyway, it is recorded above, after all this time, it is actually still usable.
I wonder if this can be considered a small blessing left behind by Zhu Di for his descendants.
Dodo and Jirgalang found that the enemy forces behind them were also growing in number as they prepared to retreat to Huairen City.
It was only at the very end that they realized they were trapped at Juyong Pass.
At this time, the Ming Army was not in a hurry to attack; instead, it looked more like they wanted to trap them here to die.
Dodo and Jirgalang were extremely anxious. The terrain at Juyong Pass was treacherous, making it difficult for supply teams to ascend even under normal circumstances, now their supply lines were almost completely severed.
The supplies in the fortress could last for at most ten days. If they cannot break through or wait for reinforcements after ten days, even without the Ming Army, their own troops might mutiny.
As for reinforcements.. I'm afraid the Imperial Court might not necessarily send any more. Even if they do come, they might just end up being fodder for the Ming Army.
As for breaking through.. if they could have broken through, how could they have been besieged here?
Jirgalang stood atop the fortress wall, watching the morning sun slowly rise in the distance.
The war that had lasted all night had finally come to a halt. The Ming Army's decision to stop attacking was not due to a lack of effectiveness, but because the enemy knew clearly that all they needed to do now was wait.
Jirgalang looked toward the northeast and sighed, saying, "The Imperial Court should be discussing a withdrawal to Shengjing by now, shouldn't they?"
Dodo remained silent, the scene of leading the troops into Beijing years ago still vivid in his mind.
Thinking back to when they drove the Chuangwang Li Zicheng out, it has only been a short time, now the Ming Army is about to drive them out as well.
However, even if they don't retreat, it won't matter; once Juyong Pass falls, the Ming Army will have almost no barriers left.
There are other passes, but once Juyong Pass has fallen, what value do those other passes even have?
Dodo remained silent for a long while before saying, "Surrender."
Surrender?" Jirgalang turned his head and looked at him in surprise. "To think those words would actually come out of your mouth.
Dodo said with a calm expression, "Is it that strange? At this stage, if we don't surrender, won't we just die here anyway?"
Jirgalang sighed and said, "Then have you considered that even if you surrender, you might still die here?"
"What do you mean?" Dodo turned to look at him.
Jirgalang said thoughtfully, "Wu Sangui truly wanted to return to the Ming Kingdom back then. If there hadn't been conclusive evidence, your elder brother wouldn't have wanted to arrest him, Wu Sangui wouldn't have fled so decisively. But even for Wu Sangui, the Ming Kingdom did not accept him. The Emperor of Ming has a heart as hard as iron; how could he ever accept us?"
Dodo, however, looked indifferent. "Wu Sangui did betray the Ming Kingdom back then, so it is perfectly normal that the Emperor of Ming was unwilling to accept his surrender. We need not compare ourselves to him."
Jirgalang shook his head and said nothing; he always felt that the Emperor of Ming would not easily accept a surrender.
Setting aside everything else, did the Ming Army not encounter any Qing generals who wanted to surrender on their way here? However, there seemed to be no Manchu generals on the Ming Army's side, nor even any Manchu soldiers.
However, he would not stop Dodo. The Emperor of Ming was a gentleman; if he accepted, he accepted, if he did not, he did not. Dodo would receive his answer.
Zhu Ci fell into a rare, long silence upon hearing that Dodo and Jirgalang were willing to surrender.
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Author's Note: Zhu Ci: You surrendered? You should at least wait until I've beaten you half to death! *Angry kitty rolling around*. jpg
Next update tomorrow morning at six o'clock~
Chapter 257
Reason told Zhu Ci that accepting the opponent's surrender was the best option, as this would allow him to take Juyong Pass while consuming fewer troops and resources.
Moreover, with Dodo and Jirgalang present, the gates of Nankou and Changping could still be opened by deception before the news could spread.
It was the best choice from every perspective.
It was just that Zhu Ci himself was unwilling to accept it.
What he is facing now is a classic trolley problem: not sparing these Tartars is about seeking vengeance for the slaughtered civilians, while accepting their surrender is about reducing soldier casualties.
Finally, Zhu Ci said calmly, "Tell them, if they surrender sincerely, they should open the gates of the pass, I will guarantee their survival."
The living are still more important, not to mention, he only guarantees that Dodo and Jirgalang will live; as for how they will live.. that remains to be seen.
Dodo glanced at Jirgalang and asked, "See, what did I say?"
Jirgalang said nothing, feeling a momentary sense of melancholy.
They had fought the Emperor of Ming many times; at that time, the Qing Dynasty possessed the momentum to unify the world, but they never expected failure would come so quickly.
He knew very well that once he and Dodo surrendered, the Qing Dynasty would only be able to retreat beyond the Pass first; Beijing could not be held, Shanhai Pass might not be defensible either.
Jirgalang, filled with such emotions, ordered the city gates to be opened.
At first, Zhu Ci did not bring anyone into the pass city. Wang Chang was more cautious and worried that Dodo and Jirgalang were feigning surrender, so he brought his men into the pass city first to investigate. After regrouping with the Night Stealth Squad and gaining a complete understanding of the defenses at every important checkpoint, he finally went out to welcome His Majesty.