There seems to be a lot of food and grass in a month, but the actual situation is already very dangerous.

If the Qing army transported from sea, the food would arrive in Lushun in four or five days and could arrive in Jiuliancheng within half a month.

From this point of view, one month's food is enough for Hong Chengchou's military expenses.

But now, the Ming Navy cut off the Qing army's maritime transportation route. If the Qing army wants to obtain food, it must go through the Liaoxi Corridor from the road to land.

As a result, it was obvious that the Qing army's food was difficult to transport to Liaodong within a month.

In September, the stars and moon hang high in the night sky.

Under the cover of night, the Qing army stationed on the north bank of the Yalu River began to quietly pull out its camp and head west.

The food is only enough for one month. If the food does not arrive at that time and the army collapses immediately, Hong Chengchou will not be able to wait for the food to arrive.

As an old commander on the battlefield, when encountering problems and solving problems, Hong Chengchou will never sit still and wait for death, nor will he place hope on letting others save them.

In order to facilitate the acquisition of food and grass and to save himself, Hong Chengchou decided to give up the Yalu River line and retreat to Liaozhong.

"This hall has seen clearly! Zhao Zamao has the strength to cross the river, but he still does not move his troops, just waiting for the food in the hall to run out." On a small hill, Hong Chengchou stayed at the top of the mountain. Looking at the army quietly advancing under the hill, he said in a deep voice: "Now that our hall retreats to Liaozhong, it can be convenient to obtain supplies and shorten the time for transporting food. Moreover, with Shengjing City as a support, it is enough to fight Zhao Zamao's attack!"

Tang Tong nodded, "Zhongtang is wise, take a step back, our supply line will be shorter, but the supply of pirates will be extended. Moreover, Shengjing is far away from the coast, and the advantages of pirates' sea transportation are limited. They must travel through mountains and rivers, and the initiative in war will gradually change."

Hong Chengchou nodded slightly, "In addition, Shengjing and Lushun are mutually supportive. If the Ming army invades Lushun, our hall can wait for the pirates to attack for a long time, and can surround the rear and annihilate the pirates in Liaodong. If the pirates attack Shengjing, the troops of Lushun can also surround the pirates' retreat and annihilate the pirates' Liaohe Plain!"

Hong Chengchou was full of confidence on his face, and was still calm in the face of the crisis. He was very proud of the old governor. All the famous Qing generals were persuaded by him.

Hong Chengchou said it easily, but he actually knew in his heart that retreating to Shengjing was actually a rogue move. There were still 800 miles from Shanhaiguan to Shenyang. The transportation team took half a month to travel fifty miles a day. Moreover, the food and grass of the Qing army in the pass were not stored in Shanhaiguan. If the Qing court wanted to transport food and grass, it would probably be doubled.

Of course, he did not intend to tell his subordinates about these.

At this time, Hong Chengchou looked at the night in the sky, and then said to Tang Tong: "Tang Junmen, let's separate here! The Lushun Hall will be handed over to you!"

Tang Tong heard the words and said, "Zha, I will receive the order! But if the pirates besiege Lushun and the food and grass arrive in Shengjing, please ask the Zhongtang to rescue the siege as soon as possible."

Hong Chengchou said seriously: "This hall gives you most of the food, which is enough for Lushun to hold on for a month and a half. You can rest assured that there are less than 20,000 elite pirates, and we have nearly 40,000 elite pirates. As long as the food is transported from the pass, this hall will immediately attack the pirates inside and outside you!"

At this moment, the Qing army divided into two strands in the night. Hong Chengchou led the Eight Banners cavalry and some Han flags through Lianshan Pass and retreated to Shengjing.

Tang Tong led his troops and horses to Lushun, 6,000 Jin troops and 6,000 Henan troops, totaling about 20,000. He defended the Qing army's military center in Liaodong, and was also a place where materials were gathered.

At night, on the other side of the Yalu River, in Yizhou City, candles were still lit in Zhao Ming's headquarter.

At this time, a team of cavalry suddenly rushed to the front of the pedestal, and the torched whistle immediately stepped forward to stop it.

The cavalry flew off the horse, and Huo Jianyan said anxiously: "I have an emergency military situation and I want to report it to the general."

In the lobby of the headquarters, Zhao Ming, who was about to go back to rest, sat in the commander's position with a big golden sword, and several confidant staff sat on both sides.

Huo Jianyan walked quickly to the middle of the lobby and said anxiously: "Report to the Grand Commander, the scout found that the Qing army on the other side had retreated."

Zhao Ming glanced at several staff members. They were discussing the matter just now, with a smile on their faces, "I expected!"

Just now, Zhao Ming happened to discuss and deduce the development of the war with his aides, and Gu Yanwu put forward his opinions, believing that Hong Chengchou would definitely run away.

Zhao Ming asked: "Where will the Qing army withdraw?"

Huo Jianyan said: "Report to the commander, the Qing army divided into two groups, heading to Lushun, and fled to Shengjing."

Zhao Ming Wenyu stood up, beside the sand table on the aisle, and asked, "What do you think?"

Everyone gathered around and stared at the sand table. Shenyang and Lushun were mutually supportive, one by the sea and the other inland.

Gu Yanwu said: "Master, the deep inland Shenyang, the army needs to cross the mountains before entering the Liaohe Plain. Besides, Lushun is in the south, threatening the flanks of the army. It is recommended to deter Lushun first and then take Shenyang."

Zhao Ming nodded when he heard the words: "It's just my wish! If you send the order, the army will immediately set sail across the river and pursue the Qing army."

At this time, after Dorgon added more than 24,000 troops, the main force of the Qing army outside the pass reached 40,000. In addition to some other garrison troops, there were nearly 50,000 troops, which was far more than the upper limit of supply outside the pass.

The Ming army had 10,000 naval troops and more than 10,000 land troops, plus more than 6,000 Japanese soldiers, as well as more than 70,000 Koreans, and the coalition forces had about 100,000 troops.

Shortly after the Qing army withdrew, the coalition soldiers quickly crossed the Yalu River and began to pursue the Qing army.

Zhao Ming left a group of people and went to Gaizhou to cut off the connection between Lushun and Shenyang, and the army drove directly to Lushun.

The Ming army had the help of the navy, so they crossed the river very quickly. They quickly crossed the Yalu River and began to pursue the Qing army southward.

Lushun City, North Gate.

The city gate opened, and the Qing army ran into the city in a hurry. Tang Tong rode a horse and then quickly turned over and got off the horse, climbed up to the top of the city, looked to the north, and saw yellow dust everywhere, and the coalition forces came overwhelmed.

"The pirates come so quickly. Close the city gate quickly to prevent the fine work from mingling into the city!" Tang Tong shouted immediately.

When the Qing army attacked the city, they liked to create chaos first, let the scouts get into the city, and then suddenly became chaotic, and they seized the city with their own and external forces. Many cities outside the pass were like this.

The Qing army hurriedly closed the city gate. Soon, the yellow dust rolled in the distance, like a dust storm. Thousands of Ming army cavalry were rushing in front, and the infantry behind were moving like a mountain of soldiers!

The alarm bell immediately appeared on the top of the city wall, and Tang Tong looked gloomy, but he didn't expect the Ming army to chase him so quickly.

The Qing soldiers quickly climbed up to the city wall and looked at the Ming soldiers who were covered with the sky in the distance. They swallowed their saliva unconsciously, and their expressions were a little nervous.
Chapter completed!