Southern Ming Rebel Army

Chapter 123: The Rout

The battle was extremely fierce, and Meng Jun knew very well that they did not win. Although Tulai had retreated, the military suffered heavy losses and the entire army was scattered. Facing the impact of the cavalry, the infantry of the three towns resisted tenaciously and did not retreat. However, the soldiers suffered heavy casualties in the face of the cavalry's charge, with more than 5,000 casualties! More than 3,000 soldiers of the military also died in the battle. Meng Jun looked at the mess on the ground and was filled with grief.

"Cavalry, cavalry..." Meng Jun repeated the word in his mind. He knew very well that cavalry possessed unparalleled mobility and impact, and was one of the most deadly forces on the battlefield.

He secretly made up his mind that when the war subsided, he would go all out to form a large and well-equipped cavalry team.

However, facing the current situation, Meng Jun also knew that he could not act too hastily. He must first concentrate on recovering Zhejiang and annihilating the people of Bolo!

As the war ended, Meng Jun ordered his men to clean up the battlefield and gather his troops. The battlefield after the war was dead silent. Corpses were scattered all over the ground, blood dyed the earth red, and broken limbs were scattered everywhere. The wind blew, bringing with it waves of bloody smell.

There was still a surviving warhorse that was still gently pushing its dead master with its mouth. Looking closely, it was a young man of about eighteen or nineteen years old, lying on the ground on his side with lifeless eyes. The warhorse refused to leave, occasionally raising its head and cawing a few times. There were also crows circling in the sky, making shrill cries.

The soldiers of the Meng army began to clean up the battlefield. They were carrying the bodies of their comrades. The tragic scene on the battlefield made everyone feel heavy-hearted. On the other side, the army doctors were busy treating the wounded. These wounded soldiers were given simple treatment and then transported to the county town in the rear.

"Commander-in-chief, what should we do with these defeated soldiers?" Han Xiong frowned and asked Meng Jun in a low voice.

Meng Jun stared at the group of fleeing soldiers gathering in front of him. They all lowered their heads and looked like they had no morale or fighting spirit. Meng Jun said coldly: "These deserting soldiers who served the army dared to ignore military orders and flee the battlefield without authorization, causing the army to collapse. According to military law, they should all be executed. However, God has a benevolent heart. I intend to implement an eleven-draw kill order for all the deserting soldiers. Those who draw the death lottery will be executed immediately."

Han Xiong was shocked after hearing this and blurted out: "Governor, is such a large-scale killing too cruel?"

"Kindness does not allow one to command the army, and righteousness does not allow one to command wealth. If all the soldiers flee like they do, when will we be able to recover the two capitals, recover the lost territories, and rebuild the country?" Meng Jun shouted angrily.

Han Xiong sighed when he heard this, but he couldn't say anything else.

As the military order was passed on, the deserters were trapped in an open area. They looked panicked, trembling all over, and their eyes were filled with despair and fear.

"Come over in groups of ten and draw lots! Whoever draws the death lot will be executed immediately!" Officer Meng Jun shouted coldly and ruthlessly. His voice was like ice, making everyone present feel the biting chill.

The hearts of the already panicked fleeing soldiers were beating even faster, and they were extremely frightened. However, even in the face of such a cruel order, no one dared to stand up and resist. They knew that although drawing lots might lead to death, there was a 90% chance of survival, and if they chose to escape or resist, they would probably die 100%.

At this life-or-death moment, everyone's heart was full of contradictions and struggles. Some people silently prayed that they could draw the bamboo stick to save their lives, while others were so scared that their faces turned pale and their bodies kept shaking. But no matter what, they could only obey the order helplessly and walked forward to draw the bamboo stick that determined their fate.

"You, pull him out!" The Meng army officer pointed coldly, and several executioners, holding sharp swords, walked quickly towards the deserter who had drawn the death mark.

"Please, don't kill me, I didn't run away on purpose, I was separated, I am willing to die on the battlefield, please, give me a chance." The defeated soldier was pale and kept begging for mercy. His legs were no longer able to stand up, and he collapsed on the ground.

The executioner didn't care. He grabbed them and pressed them to the ground. The deserters begged and cried, but this did not change their fate. The beheading began. The knife fell mercilessly and blood gushed out. As the drawing of lots began, the screams of the deserters did not stop, echoing throughout the battlefield. Their heads were piled up in one place, looking hideous and terrifying.

Such a scene is horrible and chilling. However, this is the cruel reality of the battlefield. The army will never show any mercy to deserters. A total of 400 to 500 deserting soldiers were beheaded according to the order.

While Meng Jun was punishing the defeated soldiers with an iron fist, in the Forbidden City in Beijing, Dorgon was discussing something with Duoduo.

Dorgon looked at the military newspaper on the Qiantang River, threw it down, and said to Duoduo beside him: "Looking around the world, there are not many names that I can remember. This name seems to be a little loud in my ears recently." Then Dorgon stood up, put his hands behind his back, and said slowly.

"However, many great generals and commanders of the Ming court who had made great military achievements, and countless heroes and heroes, were all wiped out under the iron hoof of the Qing Dynasty. How long can the name Meng Jun remain in my ears?"

Duoduo was silent for a while, then said: "Second brother, how about I go to the south again?"

Dorgon shook his head and said, "The grassland is not peaceful either. Teng Jisi and his brother went to the Chechen Khan's camp. The Mongolians in the north are still ambitious and want to restore the Mongolian Empire. I don't trust others to go, so it's best for you to go."

Khalkha Mongols is the name of the Mongolian tribes in the northern desert, named after the Khalkha River where they were distributed. It was translated as the Hanha tribes in the Ming Dynasty and the Khalkha tribes in the Qing Dynasty.

Tengjisi, the sixth-generation grandson of Dayan Khan and the son of Tabahaidarhan Heshuoqi, the leader of the Eastern Route of Sunite, led his people to surrender to the Qing court in the 12th year of Chongzhen. In the 13th year of Chongzhen, he was granted the title of Heshuo Efu and in the 14th year, he was granted the title of Zasakdoro Prince and was ordered to inherit the title.

Huang Taiji appointed his younger brother Tengji as Duolo Baylor, and treated the Tengji brothers very well. With the accession of Fulin to the throne and Dorgon becoming regent, Dorgon had a bad relationship with Tengji, and he suppressed the Tengji brothers many times and adopted a repressive policy. The two Tengji brothers decided to gather their tribes and rebel against the Qing Dynasty, but Mongolia was an important part of the Manchuria's rule over the Central Plains, and Dorgon would never allow any changes in Mongolia. Duoduo was Dorgon's capable brother, and Dorgon was relieved when he went on the expedition.

As for Jiangnan, Lekedehun was at a critical juncture of attacking Hunan at this time. Dorgon had a headache. After thinking for a while, he decided to order Hong Chengchou to mobilize the Green Camps from all over the country to temporarily blockade the area until the Eight Banners from all over the country could spare their energy.