Of course, Zhang Chen's opinions were accepted by Yang Zhenneng. After all, he was preparing to fight on both sides. The problem of insufficient manpower was indeed a severe reality.

Although he did not send anyone to contact the so-called friendly forces in Tashan or Lianshan, he did send two messengers to contact support in both land and sea directions.

First of all, Yang Zhen sent Li Shouzhong, a general under Zhang Chen, and asked him to bring a group of musketeers, take a boat ashore from Xiaobijiashan Island, and go to the rear of Gaoqiao to contact the troops in Hongluo Mountain and Hongluo Mountain.

Li Ma, Hu Tuge, Wang Xuan, and Xia Shu were stationed in the Big and Small Hongluo Mountains. Although they did not have many combatable soldiers, they had coolies working in the Big and Little Hongluo Mountains, as well as temporary personnel.

There are several reserve posts at the ironworks and ammunition factory.

In terms of combat power, these people may not be considered a unified enemy of the Manchu Tatars. They are incomparable to the Liaodong Army in Tashan City or Lianshan City. However, it is still possible to pull them over to build up their momentum and fight with the wind.

of.

Moreover, the Big and Little Hongluoshan Mountains were not far from the Tashan Mountains, and they had no shortage of horses. As long as Li Shouzhong could get there smoothly, they would be able to come to support him in an hour or two.

The other one sent Guo Xiaowu to go south by sea to invite Yuan Jin, who was stationed on Juehua Island, to come and help in the battle.

Juehua Island is not far from the coast near Lianshan. It is extremely convenient to take the sea route north and bypass Huludao to reach the combat area that Yang Zhen has planned.

As for the combat effectiveness of these people, that is not something Yang Zhen can consider or care about now.

Now, Yang Zhen is ready to retaliate with his own methods, and is ready to set up an encirclement point for Duduo and Hauge to support him. As long as he creates a big enough momentum by surrounding Shi Tingzhu, it will be big enough to attract Duduo or Hao Ge.

Haug's reinforcements will do.

In particular, as long as the momentum he creates is large enough and gives people the feeling that victory is possible with the power of numbers, then the garrison in Tashan and Lianshan City will most likely smell the blood and rush over to get a share of the pie.

.

If such a situation can be formed, then victory is certain.

After all, although the Manchu Tatars are able to conquer battles, they don't have the numbers to attack this time.

If the Ming armies in the cities in western Liaoning could think together and work in the same direction, instead of protecting their own lives and fighting independently and ignoring matters that have nothing to do with themselves, then it would be entirely possible to win one or two victories.

Let's say that around noon that day, Yang Zhen led the remaining 71 warships, large and small, and successfully arrived at the sea near the mouth of the Lianshan River, east of Lianshan City and north of Huludao, named after Lianshan City.

Lianshan City was first built as Lianshan Station in the early Ming Dynasty. Its geographical location is important, as it is right between two east-west rivers, Lianshan River to the north and Cishan River to the south.

After the rise of the Jurchens and the collapse of the Liao Dynasty, this small mountain post began to be continuously built and gradually evolved into a military fortress and became an important node in the defense system of western Liaoning.

However, the situation here is very similar to the scene at the mouth of the Xiaoling River where hundreds of streams flow into the sea. The mouth of the Lianshan River and the mouth of the Cishan River slightly to the south are almost connected.

When Yang Zhen led his team to arrive nearby, it was around noon. After the seawater receded to the lowest tide, large swathes of tidal flats on the coastline were exposed.

Between the tidal flats are wide, narrow, deep or shallow freshwater channels formed by rivers flowing into the sea.

And in the middle of the river, all the way to the solid Liaoxi bank in the west, there is a vast expanse of tall and dense reeds stretching as far as the eye can see.

At this time, it is the golden month of autumn. On both sides of the several-mile-long river channel that flows into the sea formed by the intersection of Lianshan River and Cishan River, the reed forests are undulating in golden color, and the reed flowers are flying in white.

"The country is so beautiful that it attracts countless heroes to bend over."

In front of such a beautiful scenery, Yang Zhen couldn't help but recite a poem that he was very familiar with, causing Qiu Zhenhai, who was standing with him on the bow of the boat to look west, to widen his eyes and sigh as he looked at Yang Zhen.

"The Commander-in-Chief is so courageous. Such a random sentence makes people feel heroic. I only thought that the Commander-in-Chief was proficient in the art of war and used troops like a god, but unexpectedly, the Commander-in-Chief turned out to be both civil and military, and his literary talent was equally extraordinary!"

Yang Zhen casually quoted a poem by a great man, which actually made Qiu Zhenhai look up at him and couldn't help but laugh. He felt a little ashamed and a little happy at the same time.

Ashamedly, I don’t have that kind of literary talent.

What I'm secretly happy about is that it's a good thing to be able to give people such an impression.

"Hey——, poetry is just a piece of cake, it makes you laugh, it makes you laugh."

While Yang Zhen was being "modest", he quickly changed the topic and said to Qiu Zhenhai: "The area around Dayushan Island in the north is connected to the land after low tide, and it is close to the Tashan Post Road. Mantatar may have set up a

There are patrol posts.

"As for Jiu Lun Shan Island, it is a little further away. After landing, we need to travel dozens of miles, which will inevitably lead to long nights and many dreams. If this battle does not go well, we can retreat to one of the places. As for now, we will not go there.

"Send someone to take a small boat and go ashore from the north to take a look at the situation. If there is no ambush full of Tatars there, we will land from the reed swamp in the north."

After receiving the order, Qiu Zhenhai turned to call for Guo Zengfu, told him a few things to pay attention to, and then asked him to get a small boat and took a few people to row to the reed marsh to the west.

Just as Guo Zengfu led the people away, Zhang Chen, Li Lu and Yang Shen came together from behind to ask for instructions.

"Commander, although it is not the best time to land at this time, it is already noon, and the Manchu Tatars and the white-flag Han army's rear troops led by Shi Tingzhu must have passed Tashan. If we don't go ashore to make arrangements, it may be too late."

As soon as Zhang Chen, Li Lu, and Yang Shen arrived, they immediately suggested to Yang Zhen that they should land on the shore as soon as possible and set up an ambush at a selected location.

Yang Zhen raised his head and looked at the sky above his head. He saw that the sun was shining brightly and it was already noon. He also knew that he could not wait any longer, so he said to them:

"If there are no accidents, we will land here. As for where to set up an ambush after landing, I need a few people to discuss it carefully with me."

Of course Yang Zhen understood the general trend of the west coast of Liaoning, but he did not fully grasp the specific terrain on the coast.

On the contrary, Zhang Chen, Li Lu, and Yang Shen, who had been in the army since childhood and had been stationed and fighting on the ground in western Liaoning for many years, were much more familiar with them than he was.

Of course, this is also because the current Yang Zhen is not the original Yang Zhen, not the same original product as Zhang Chen, Li Lu, Yang Shen and others.

"Well, I wonder where the governor plans to set up an ambush on the shore?"

"We are anchored here, not far from Lianshan Fort. I intend to set up an ambush on both sides of the post road a few miles away from the north bank of Lianshan River, not far from the coast, that is, between Yanli Mountain and Beishihu Mountain. In this way, the ambush

If everything goes well, Yuan Jin can provide support at any time; if the ambush goes wrong, we can enter the sea at any time. What do you think?"

As soon as Yang Zhen finished his question, Zhang Chen frowned, looked at Li Lu and Yang Shen again, and saw them nodding, he said to Yang Zhen:

"The Governor's idea is certainly very beneficial to us, but Shi Tingzhu is not an ordinary person. This place is so beneficial to me, I'm afraid he will not pass by."

What Zhang Chen said shocked Yang Zhendeng, and he immediately asked him: "Do you mean to say that besides this post road, there are other ways for Shi Tingzhu to go south to Ningyuan?"

At this time, Zhang Chen nodded and replied: "Captain, the three of us have made careful calculations just now. There are only two roads from Gaoqiao to Tashan and then to Lianshan. One is a post road, close to

Coast. The other is a side road, close to the west.

"The post road is relatively easy to walk, but it is too close to the sea. Because we have the precedent of taking a boat to attack by sea, the three of us together, Shi Tingzhu is so cunning, will not easily approach the coast. Although the post road is relatively close, it is

He will probably go west."

"That's right, Governor. The Yanli Mountain and Shihu Mountain that the Governor just mentioned are not only closer to the sea, but the two mountains face each other, and the post road passes through them. It is indeed a good place for setting up an ambush. However, we can see this

A little bit, Shi Tingzhu must also be able to see this. In this case, this place is not suitable for us to set up an ambush."

Yang Shen followed Zhang Chen's words and explained to Yang Zhen, who was a little stunned on the spot.

After Yang Zhen heard this, he went to see Li Lu. Li Lu also nodded. They must have carefully calculated it on the way to the mouth of Lianshan River.

"Oh——, if there is another choice, I guess Shi Tingzhu should choose this too."

Yang Zhen has understood that Tashan is the real key to western Liaoning. After passing Tashan, whether going north or south, the situation between the mountains and the sea becomes much more open. Although the ancient post road is the nearest and most convenient,

Road, but it is not really the only or the only way.

Thinking of this, Yang Zhen not only felt lucky, but if he had not consulted Zhang Chen and others and made the decision on his own, he might have ambushed in the wrong place.

"So, in your opinion, where should we set up an ambush?"

At this time, Zhang Chen took out a black charcoal-like object from his arms, squatted on the ground, and sketched a topographic map on the flat deck on the bow of the ship.

"This is the sea, this is the post road, this is the Yanli Mountain that the governor said. Beyond Yanli Mountain, there are Yingpan Mountain, Yingbi Mountain, and Gelizi Mountain. Further to the west, there are Changling Mountain, Baitai Mountain, and among the mountains.

There is a road that runs through Quanyuan Valley, Dongguang Valley, Woniugou, Xiguan Valley, to Lianshan River, and finally to Ningyuan West."

Zhang Chen pointed to the locations marked on the topographic map and the road that ran through several valleys, raised his face to Yang Zhen and said:

"If Shi Tingzhu passed Tashan and walked west, then Dongguangou and Xiguangou would be the only roads he must pass. If he passed Tashan and did not go west, but continued south along the post road, I think at this time he sent
Chapter completed!