The end of the Ming Dynasty has always been a sore point in Chinese history, and no matter how we study history, we can never get around this part of history.

About the death of the Ming Dynasty, this article does not discuss, today I want to describe the last large-scale battle of the Ming Dynasty. The Battle of Songjin!

1640 AD, this year the world is still not peaceful. Guanzhi Zhongyuan land peasant revolts one after another, military disaster after military disaster.

A great war is brewing outside of the pass!

At the beginning of the year, the Ming dynasty's old rival Huang taiji sent troops to hit the grass valley. （This time, Huang taiji's troops are not simply to rob! He has far-reaching military purposes!

Huang taiji's purpose is simple: Jinzhou! He wanted to pull out the Ming Dynasty wedged in his door this nail, but also for his entry into the Central Plains to do paving!

Why is Huang taiji so important Jinzhou? This also has to start from Sun Chengzong border patrol!

In 1622 AD, because of the Liaoyang fiasco, the emperor Sun Chengzong by the emperor's fate By the Ministry of War and the East Cabinet Minister, specializing in border defense. (I will not go into detail about Sun Chengzong)

Sun Chengzong statue

Sun Chengzong arrived at the place and found that the army was disorganized and demoralized, and the people were in fear! And the Liaodong strategic Wang Zaijin actually want to give up the Guanwai, only to defend the Shanhaiguan!

Angry Sun Chengzong directly asked Wang Zaijin you so engaged in the good in where? Asked Wang Zaijin how you guard the Shanhai Pass? Wang Zaijin said: you can build a new city outside the pass. Sun Chengzong also asked: the city built a good 40,000 people can hold? Wang Zaijin also said that then set up another wave of soldiers! Sun Chengzong said according to you can not be 40,000 soldiers! (Before Wang Zaijin wrote to the emperor bragging about using 40,000 people to defend Shanhaiguan) Moreover, a piece of stone side also need to have troops stationed ah! Besides, your new city is not far away from the Shanhai Pass, are all the traps you set up at the Shanhai Pass for our soldiers and officers in the new city? If your new city can be defended, why do we need the Shanhai Pass? If the new city can not be defended, 40,000 soldiers routed to the Shanhai Pass you open the door to release people or not? Will you let them in or give them to the Jiannu? Wang Zaijin hastily argued that there are three passes outside the customs can enter it! Sun Chengzong are angry laugh! He said that since this is the case, then the Jiannu soldiers are still a run, what is the use of repairing this! Wang Zaijin then argued: I'll build a city on the mountain to collect the defeated soldiers! Sun Chengzong are speechless, asked: his soldiers have not yet lost it, you have prepared a place for them to retreat, is ready to let them retreat all the time? Furthermore, our people can retreat in, is it Jiannu is a dry rice? This is the point, you do not think of recovering the area outside the customs, but also think of guarding this area Shanhaiguan, without the external barrier to the capital there is a peaceful day?

This time the king in the Jin by Sun Chengzong clean up speechless!

Sun Chengzong finished Wang Zaijin began to prepare to clean up the mess.

2 . Formulate the policy of Liao people guarding Liao land, because Liao people lose their homeland and Hou Jin have not **** Dai Tian hatred, morale available. Another can save the army expenditure, divided into land cultivation, save logistical pressure. Such as transferring the guest army army pay and food expenses are too big!

3. Handling of international relations, appeasement of North Korea, scolding the Mongols to take advantage of the fire! Pacify Mao Wenlong's ministry on Pidao. Adjusting the appointment of officials at all levels in Liaodong, Yuan Chonghuan, Ma Shilong, You Shilu, and so on.

After handling these tasks, he did one thing! Build a city and repair the fortress!

East to the Daling River to the west to Ningyuan Wei stretches more than a hundred kilometers have built castles.

This is the earliest defense line of Ningjin.

From the second year of the Tianqi to the fifth year of the Tianqi Sun Chengzong is not easy to clean up almost, but the court attacked him more and more people, the emperor can not afford.

Sun Chengzong really can not stand the court's attacks on his slander, resigned.

But the Ningjin defense line is still there, and, in the second year, made great achievements!

Tianqi six years, Nurhachu led the eight banners elite again to rob! There is no way, not to rob can not ah, and to cut off food, after the gold and is not a production of the country, put the ready-made big not rob white not to rob!

Since the capture of Liaoyang Nurhachu is a little bit of Arthur, think that the Ming army can not be beaten! (field battle is indeed unbeatable elite after Salhu and Liaoyang are lost) all the way strutting, to the Daling River. Daling River that is looking at the wind and fled, heard the old slaves came, even food did not come and deal with the Jin army gave. Immediately after the Tower Hill, Apricot Hill were Nurhachu to break through. Nurhachu look at this trip out quite easy to grab a good, then deeper then grab!

So all the way to grab, all the way to kill to the Ningyuan Wei! At this time, Sun Chengzong has long been gone, guarding the city leader is Yuan Chonghuan.

Yuan Chonghuan is still sober, not out of the city and the old slaves in the field, blocking the door to hold on to not out, and that a while imported a few red cannon, driving in the city, with a powerful wind!

After the gold army and will not attack the city, but also surrounded a little, exploratory attack twice, ate a small loss, the Nurhachu gas, a look did not hit down on the incidental massacre of the Juehua Island, robbed the island of all the supplies after the long way to go! Incidentally, the Ming army hard work to build the castle are also demolished! (Back after Nurhachu died a violent death, said to be in Yuan Chonghuan's red cannon)

This time is the main Ming army is not enough preparation, the new city just built, are the militia, more timid, up and down the command does not lead to Nurhachu marching smoothly, but also blocked him in the Ningyuan city. (If the king in Jin's way to estimate the Shanhaiguan)

This battle defense line is effective, but still not perfect, there are more problems.

Nurhachu died, Huang taiji to the throne, and then also to find trouble! There is no way, not to look for trouble he did not do this after the gold Khan stable ah! The first time I saw this, I was in the middle of the night, and I was in the middle of the night. Then again, he did not want the Ming army to repair the city to the doorstep.

Huang taiji statue

So the seven years of the apocalypse, Huang taiji heard that Yuan Chonghuan repaired the Daling River fortress, and know that his chance to get rich again.

He led his army to the Daling River area to fight grass valley. By the way, he destroyed the fruits of Lao Yuan's labor!

The army was very smooth all the way, broke the Daling River, surrounded Jinzhou, and then led the main force south to sweep to Ningyuan!

Yuan governor is still as steady as ever, has blocked the city gates waiting. Huang taiji took a look at Ningyuan is a hedgehog again, so I just scare you, let's go to Jinzhou to see.

Jinzhou is Zhao Ruijiao in defense, this is a tiger general, no matter how the Qing army attacked the city, can not be taken, he also incidentally and Huang taiji played a game of false surrender.

Huang taiji attacked for a long time, this time the lair and came the news, Dongjiang General Mao Wenlong went to his hometown to play grass valley!

No way Huang taiji can only retreat.

This time Yuan governor also praised Mao Wenlong on the table that he:

Trail attack Liaoyang, rotating troops accordingly, so that non-Mao Shuai pounding the virtual, Jinning and the enemy carry on! Although Mao Shuai was created soldiers folded, but a few years to hold back the work, this is the most intense! (Unfortunately, in the end, Mao Wenlong died in the hands of Yuan Chonghuan, so that the Qing army no longer have to worry about)

After Huang taiji is often to and from the defense line with the Ningjin, looking for the Yuan governor to play the autumn breeze, but all in vain.

Consolidating the above, we can see the importance of the Ningjin defense line in the military to the Ming army! Two times to fold the enemy army front! In the face of the Ming army even the city sharp artillery! The Qing army is helpless! So that the enemy can not drive straight into my Shanhaiguan defense line, guarding the safety of the capital. Politically, its existence so that the Mongols can not easily rebel against the Hou Jin, but also affect the attitude of the vassal state of Korea.

The importance of the Nyingchi defense line, the reason for its existence, and the importance of it have been mentioned above, and the outbreak of the battle is described below.

Chongzhen thirteen years, the Ming army once again to build Daling River City, watching the Ming army and the deed to build the castle in sight. Huang taiji once again impatient, ready to send troops to pull out the thorn in his side! And this time, he was well prepared, and no worries! (Previously he cleaned up the Mongolian Linden Khan Department, the integration of Mongolia eight banners, the use of Yuan governor killed Mao Wenlong, and personally conquered North Korea!

At this time, Huang taiji has long been not the seven years of the Kai dynasty that Huang taiji, at this time he has both the reality of the famous generals, but also very strategist vision! In the army before the development of a clear strategic goal, Jinzhou! Siege Jinzhou, forcing Jinzhou to surrender, or attract the main force of the Ming army and wipe it out. The Ming army is completely crippled!

The beginning of March Huang taiji first ordered Jierhalang Duo Duo in Yi Zhou to build a city, (today's Jinzhou Yi County Yi Zhou town) and cantonment garrison. And began to transport grain and grass to the Daling River.

In May, Huang taiji led the army across the Liaohe River and attacked the Jinzhou line of the Daling River! In the face of Huang taiji's raging, sensitive Mongolian servants first feel wrong, and quickly contacted Huang taiji, ready to follow him. This group of Mongols is stationed at Apricot Hill.

This time, the guardian of Jinzhou is no longer Zhao Shujiao (who was killed in the defense of Beijing), but the famous general of western Liaoning, Zu Dashou!

Since Zu Dashou was a famous general, of course, he was always uneasy about the Mongols and took extra precautions. This time, the Mongols Su Ban Dai ready to surrender by him!

Huang taiji sent Ji'erhalang to lead the army to meet the Mongolian Subandai. And told him:

Zu Dashou is a real person, a look at the Mongols to rebel, of course, can not let go of this opportunity to cut the head, sent Wu Sangui and Liu Zhouzhi out of the city to cut the head! Jirhalang was prepared to feint defeat to induce the Ming army to pursue, and the rear team to follow up the assault to defeat the Ming army caught off guard. Huang taiji took the opportunity to capture the five miles of Taiwan, and set up a red artillery attack Jinzhou City, Jinzhou outside the city's crops to cut, and then Huang taiji went back to Shenyang to recuperate, leaving dorgon jierhalang and others to continue the siege of Jinzhou.

In June, the Qing army side of the North Korean army of servants and transported 10,000 packages of grain to the front, the Qing army logistics is more adequate.

July, dorgon, jierhalang, doduo, etc. gradually nibbled and broke the Jinzhou periphery Tea Hill, Caijialou Fort and other eleven. General Zu Dashou just watched them fall one by one, not moving, really have a famous general style! And stationed troops on both flanks of Jinzhou! Jinzhou has been completely surrounded.

Then look at the Ming army at this time, Hong Chengchou has supervised the division of Ji Liao, sent 40,000 troops into the Songshan, and continuously sent troops to challenge the Qing army, the war is sound!

And Huang taiji is now Anshan hot springs.

Throughout the month of August, dorgon, dudu in ningyuan periphery, jinzhou periphery, daling river along the continuous defeat of the Ming army. The Ming army has also been captured!

Dorgon statue

In September, Huang taiji vacation is over, let Ji'erhalang, Ajig, DuoDuo, and other generals to go to jinzhou and dorgon to change the defense, we take turns to rest in turn to besiege jinzhou!

November, the Ming army in the Apricot Hill, Tashan successive attacks, were defeated by Jirhalang. But the Qing army also did not take advantage. Both sides are in a stalemate!

From the winter of Chongzhen thirteen years the two armies began to hold each other, to Chongzhen fourteen years in March, both sides exchanged blows! The Ming army lost more than won less, but the morale is not degraded! (At this time, the Ming army field battle is not afraid of the Qing army)

Hong Chengchou in Ningyuan town, he knew that the time for a decisive battle has not yet come! He wrote a letter to the Emperor asking for food and sound, while allowing the army to attack in small groups to respond to Jinzhou!

And take advantage of the time period of the slackening of the siege of dorgon, to Jinzhou city delivery of grain 10,000 stone! Ease the Jinzhou military food crisis, so that Jinzhou can hold on to the next March!

Huang taiji know, severely reprimanded dorgon to edict him back, severe punishment, and let Ji'erhalang continue to re-tight blockade Jinzhou!

If there are no accidents, the Ming army is bound to be the ultimate winner, as long as they insist on a steady fight, the Qing army only retreat!

Then things suddenly changed!

The cause is still here in the Mongolians, Zu Dashou Jinzhou when there are Mongolian troops to assist in defense, originally Jinzhou city solid as gold. The first time I saw this was when I was in the middle of the night, and it was the first time I saw it in the middle of the night.

One day, the Mongols defending the city had nothing to do with the siege of the Qing dynasty to relieve the boredom, said: We have plenty of food and grass in the city, but also can eat a two or three years it you do not don't waste their efforts, early return to find their wives and children!

Who knows that the Qing army outside the city is not afraid, not afraid to fight, but also afraid of your quarrels? Disliked the Mongolians on the city said: you guard as long as we surround as long! I'm not afraid of you!

Mongolian compatriots are, after all, nomadic, heart really, heard this actually panicked! Hurriedly reported to a few leaders, these leaders are also real people, immediately decided to rely on Huang taiji! The first time I saw this, it was a very good time for me to go to the hospital!

This side of the Zu Dashou is not a fool, found that the wrong immediately to start the pressure! Who knows that it is too late, the Mongols opened the east gate! The Qing Dynasty army has entered the city! Jinzhou outer city fell! Zu Dashou had no choice but to defend the inner city! The city of Jinzhou is in danger!

The court receives the report and urges Hong Chengchou to send troops to rescue Jinzhou and fight the Qing army! Chen Xinjia, the Minister of War, urges Hong Chengchou and even threatens him. Even the emperor gave Hong Chengchou an imperial edict urging him to fight! He even sent Zhang Ruoqi to the front line to supervise the war.

Zhang Ruoqi, a scholar, how to know the danger of battle! He only urged Hong Chengchou to advance quickly to fight with the Qing army, so as to save food for the court!

Hong Chengchou had no choice but to send another 60,000 reinforcements to Songshan to relieve the siege of Jinzhou! The Ming army just arrived at the Songshan North Post ushered in the Qing army head on! Jierhalang beheaded goods more than two thousand levels! The Qing army has been demoralized, and the Ming army is holding on to their camp.

Throughout May to July, the Ming army and the Qing army in Jinzhou outside the city carried out three big battle! Both sides have won and lost! Although the Qing army is good at field fighting, the Ming army is not afraid, although the loss is greater than the Qing army, but there are also results! The general Yang Guozhu was killed in a fierce battle, but his soldiers still had a fighting spirit!

At this time, the Ming army Hong Chengchou has been poured out! In Songshan, a total of more than 130,000 horse and foot troops!

The rise and fall of the empire in this battle!

Qing army, Huang taiji heard that Hong Chengchou personally led the army to the front line of Jinzhou, also know that the time has come to the decisive battle! Immediately rate all the nest can fight the Qing army straight to the front line of Songjin!

The fate of the Manchus is also in this battle!

Huang taiji just to the Songjin front, Hong Chengchou side immediately attacked, hit its right flank! Defeated by Haoge. Huang taiji stationed festival in the Songshan apricot mountain between. A place Huang taiji immediately climbed the nearby mountains, watching the Ming army formation strategy. After watching half a day Huang taiji also had to admire Hong Chengchou with soldiers really powerful!

Hong Chengchou like

However, the cracks are still found by Huang taiji! He went to another north mountain ridge to look at the formation of the Ming army, another half a day to look at the sudden realization, finally a long sigh of relief! Confidence greatly increased: Hong Chengchou this front is indeed tightly guarded formation well-organized! Simply can not be taken! However, the back is negligent defense! The grain road is too long and the troops are scattered! Hong Chengchou will be defeated!

The Ming army, although the front line is well organized, so that the Qing army can not take advantage of, but the fatal is the grain transportation line is too long, the protection force is weak!

Qing army encirclement

Does not the Ming army know the importance of the grain road? The answer is yes! As early as Huang taiji has not yet come, the Ming army within the people proposed to send troops to defend the grain road!

Datong Supervisor Zhang Dou saw the Ming army as a snake from Tashan all the way north until Songshan, winding around, and heavy troops in Songshan, there is a head heavy tail light loss, worried that: "should send an army in the Changling Mountain, to prevent it from copying my back", Hong Chengchou does not accept, and said: "Supervisor! Zhang Dou saw the Ming army as a long snake from Tashan has been to the north until the Songshan, winding and circling, and heavy troops in the Songshan, there is a head heavy tail light loss, worried that: "should send an army in the Changling Mountain, to prevent it from copying my back road", Hong Chengchou did not listen to also sarcastic Zhang Dou said: " I twelve years old! Governor, if the scholar, how to know" (here there should be Hong Chengchou and Zhang Supervisor of a group of fighting suspicion)

Next, Huang taiji Li Ji adjusted the deployment, cut off Hong Chengchou grain road! Digging trench siege, trench depth of eight feet, on the wide one ten feet two feet, under the very narrow, only can accommodate the toe, the horse can not cross, people can not climb, there is a fall, there is no place to accommodate the feet, can not come out again. Qing soldiers desperately dug trenches, from the west of Jinzhou to the south, through the passage between Songshan, Apricot Hill, all the way to the mouth of the sea, even dug three large trenches, will be surrounded by the Ming army, during the period of the Ming army in the Penjieshan all the grain and grass seized, cut off all its contact with the rear and food and pay supplies. At first Hong Chengchou did not take it seriously, until he reacted to want to go to send soldiers out to block, has been unable to do anything!

Hong Chengchou, on the one hand, rushed to Chongzhen letter for help! At this time the main force is in his hands, where there is what can be fought! On the other hand, he also immediately organized Wu Sangui and a host of other generals to open up the logistics line! But the Ming army several times shocked the Qing army defense line were defeated by the Qing army one by one!

In addition, Hong Chengchou's troops were only able to bring three days of rations in order to fight the siege of Jinzhou! See the whole army is about to collapse, Hong Chengchou after all is not a generalized generation, immediately held a military meeting, told everyone, now only and the Qing army to fight to the death! Fang have a chance to retreat! But the Ming army's generals are selfish and cowardly! Not willing to fight! They want to withdraw to Ningyuan! At this time, General Zhang started to play the straw man style again, he also supports to withdraw to Ningyuan! The army was already unsteady! Old Zhang so a mess, the army is disorganized, Hong Chengchou look can only agree to withdraw Ningyuan! Because there is enough food and grass!

The Qing army side Huang taiji also expected Hong Chengchou grain road has been broken, is bound to break out!

The Qing army also expected Hong Chengchou to break through, so he ordered all the generals: "The enemy is many, the food must be insufficient, see me cut off its pay road, there will be no solid will, set up an ambush to wait for it, the whole division can be covered.

The Qing army has prepared enough to wait for the ambush of the Ming army!

Hong Chengchou had no choice but to follow the script Huang taiji gave him! He called a meeting with all the generals to set the time and route of the breakout and the roles of each ministry in the breakout.

The grain road is broken, the Ming army has been disorganized! The first time I saw this is when I was in the middle of the night, when I was in the middle of the night, when I was in the middle of the night, when I was in the middle of the night. Datong general Wang Park, did not follow the agreed time to break out, but early slip! Immediately after Wu Sangui, Tang Tong, Bai Guang'en and so on began to run away!

Coax! Ming army camp was in chaos! Qing troops are also observing! A look at the Ming army disruption also take advantage of the situation to cover the kill! Pity my poor Ming border army elite children! The two of them have been sold!

The Qing army killed the blood flow into the river! East to Tashan, west to the apricot mountain, until the sea, my Ming good son drowned, killed countless people! Wang Park's group started to run from Xingshan to Ningyuan again!

Along the way was the Qing army ambush killed countless! The first time I saw this, I was able to get out of the house!

Zhang Jianjun successfully ran away in a small boat!

This battle! The Ming army has lost more than 53,700 soldiers.

This is a war soldier armor soldier ah!

These are the soldiers of war, the soldiers in armor, not the soldiers!

They have succeeded in running away, but Mr. Hong is still in Songshan!

The Ming army was defeated

Hong Chengchou and Cao Changjiao could only hold out in Songshan! The Qing army has surrounded Songshan like an iron barrel!

At this time, the news of the defeat of Songshan has reached the capital, the Chongzhen Emperor rushed to the Ningyuan soldiers and Wu Sangui rescue Songshan! （

This time no one listened to him, everyone pressed the troops!

Poor! Jinzhou Zu Dashou began to eat ten fragrant meat, Songshan still have some food, has been to support the Hong army to the next February! Vice General Xia Chengde and the Qing army hooked up! He opened the city gates to let the Qing troops into the city! Cao Changjiao, Wang Tinchen and the governor Qiu Minyang, military defense Zhang Du, Yao Gong, Wang Zhizhen, vice general Jiang Zhu, Rao Xun, Zhu Wende, generals and the following hundred people were killed by the Qing army, only Hong Chengchou and Zu Dale were spared.

Hong Chengchou later surrendered to the Qing Dynasty, Zu Dale is Zu Dashou family, Huang taiji used to surrender Zu Dashou with.

Hateful! Hateful!

Jinzhou's Zu Dashou look at the Songshan fiasco, but also surrendered with the Qing army! （

The battle of Songjin ended here! The battle of Songjin ended with a great victory for the Qing army! Ming army failed miserably and ended! Since this battle, the Ming army of 130,000 troops was destroyed in this battle! The best of the best are lost! No longer able to threaten the Qing army! Inside the border, the peasants' revolt is getting worse and worse! The Ming government had no more elite troops to suppress them, and could only watch as Li Zicheng and Zhang Xianzhong became more and more numerous! The government has no choice but to watch as Li Zicheng and Zhang Xianzhong increase their numbers!

For the Qing army:

The Battle of Songjin was the pinnacle of Huang Taiji's military command career! He perfectly commanded this battle of encirclement. The Battle of Songjin was the peak of Huang Taiji's military command career. He perfectly commanded this battle of encirclement! Paved the way for the Qing army to enter the customs!

Ming Dynasty:

Song Jin war failed, resulting in the loss of the elite of the Ming army outside the pass, Song Jin apricot three cities are lost, the Ming army's last maneuvering force is also destroyed can not be suppressed Li Zicheng Zhang Xianzhong and so on. Ning Jin defense line is also lost. The most fundamental reason for this fiasco is the court haphazardly commanded, chaotically sent soldiers do not know the supervisors, and blindly urge the war. As for the governor supervisor disagreement! Often mutual constraints, Hong Chengchou advocated Zhang and war and defend, step by step, gradually forward to solve the siege of Jinzhou. And the supervisor Zhang Ruoqi is opposed to the hope that a quick battle!

Therefore, Hong Chengchou "light into the Dun Division, into the siege can not be, can not retreat, the shape of the situation, ...... so that the important ministers and generals to choose the rate of primus, 100,000 of the crowd, wiped out".

Of course, Hong Chengchou himself command errors. Although he is well versed in military strategy, because of the consideration of personal gain or loss, so succumb to the power of Chen Xinjia, Zhang Ruoqi and others. When "Chen Xinjia interesting, not to avoid the light into the division", he was alone deep; when "Zhang Ruoqi confused, swiftly retreat to the pay", he led the army to flee south. Therefore, Hong Chengchou in command of combat, showing hesitation and wavering, which will inevitably lead to the failure of the Ming army. Generals were afraid of death. For example, Wang Park, the generalissimo, in order to survive, disregarded the safety of the whole army, leaving the big guys to run away, resulting in the Ming army to blow up the camp! The first time I've seen this, I've seen it, and I've seen it, and I've seen it!

Tan Qian, author of the National Questionnaire, commented: "Nine of the elite, China's food ruminants, all pay a throw, but no one can continue to defend, and the temple community to the ruins of carry on!

Korea "Shen Hall Records" recorded the Ming soldiers: death is like home, few begged to surrender. The first time I saw this, I was in the middle of the sea, with my arms outstretched, so that I would not be hit by an arrow, and I would not lose my respect, and I would die before I could do anything else", and the dead were counted as tens of thousands of people!