Chapter 161: Lin Dao This Person Truly Has Real Ability

Lead clouds churned, the sky dark as ink.

The long-parched Qi Lu land welcomed a torrential downpour.

On the Grand Canal the wind was high and waves urgent, surging river water continuously battering the hull.

Lin Dao, holding an umbrella, stood on the deck gazing into the distance where water and sky merged as one.

This is Jiningzhou, territory belonging to Yanzhou Prefecture.

Huang Taiji, leading a hundred thousand troops, is waiting for him up north.

"Huang Taiji is very sharp-minded."

"Strategically, he resolutely strikes at forces daring to resist, eliminating them at all costs."

Lin Dao's expression flickered.

"This troop movement of his is aimed at me."

"Unless I am destroyed, they can forever forget about entering the Pass."

"He also knows that once the Central Plains settle down, given the Central Plains' manpower and resources, the Tartars afterwards will only be able to flee into deep mountains and old forests to live as wild people."

Thinking of this, Lin Dao also smiled. "What a coincidence, I'm also coming for you."

Cold wind wrapped in rain lashed against his body, swiftly stealing away heat.

Lin Dao tightened his clothes.

"Tactically, Huang Taiji commands battles with flexible versatility; whether frontal combat or cunning stratagems, he can employ them all."

"Compared to him, Abatai doesn't measure up."

Although his experience grew daily richer, Lin Dao was not so arrogant as to believe he could crush his opponent in strategy and tactics.

He had once specially sought advice from Wang Meng.

This man of both civil and military prowess, this fierce male, gave the answer: "Warfare mainly lies in leveraging one's own strengths and weakening the enemy's strengths."

"Huang Taiji's strength lies in his prestige being high enough to firmly control the troops under his command."

"Can't say it's like an arm directing a finger, but once military orders are issued, the troops will execute them resolutely."

"Furthermore, they have fought wars year-round; their combat capability and combat experience are extremely rich."

Cold icy rain struck his face; Lin Dao's mind was extremely clear.

"My advantage comes from the leading technology of the modern industrial era."

"And the troops under my command dare to fight and stake everything, with excellent equipment."

He held his umbrella pacing back and forth on the deck. "Leverage my own advantages, use air superiority to gain information superiority."

"Fully exploit the command advantage brought by walkie-talkie communication."

"And the advantages in weapons and equipment, logistical supplies."

Lin Dao took out his phone and activated the recording function.

"Through information superiority, locate Huang Taiji's position at the first moment, deploy drones for a decapitation strike."

"Without Huang Taiji, the Tartars probably won't be able to fight on."

This is leveraging one's own strengths and weakening the enemy's strengths.

With advanced technology one naturally must use it; use one's own technological advantage to smash the enemy army's command-brain advantage.

Without Huang Taiji's prestige to suppress them, the Tartars and the Mongol tribes will surely fall into chaos.

"The Tartars' combat capability is strong, so we can only rely on equipment advantage to crush them."

"Firearms and artillery, fine weapons and armor, what else?"

Lin Dao circling on the deck kept thinking of delivering a big one to the opposite side.

Wind and rain gradually ceased; Lin Dao, having shivered from cold, turned back into the cabin to prepare to rest.

Once this rain stops, it will be time to march north and send troops, to fight a decisive battle with the Tartars.

"Marshal~~~"

Liu San Dao came aboard with an urgent report: "Urgent news from Yanzhou City — the work team sent to Qufu was ambushed, casualties heavy."

"The Tartars came this fast." Lin Dao was startled. "Is this an active offensive?"

He thought Huang Taiji would Peter his time and wait for the enemy to tire~~~

"Not the Tartars."

Liu San Dao reported: "It was done by the Kong Family Mansion."

"They held the portrait of the Duke Yan Sheng, blocking the land collection."

"They clashed with the work team, which then escalated to blades drawn."

"Their household servants surrounded and killed the work team."

"The work team had few people; outnumbered, only a handful escaped."

The cabin fell silent.

Lin Dao's face showed shock, as if he had heard some earth-shattering news.

Unknown how long passed, Lin Dao suddenly slammed a fist onto the tabletop.

"How dare they!?"

"A family that for generations submitted surrender memorials!"

"Disciples of servile kneeling and bowing!"

"When the Yuan Mongols and Tartars came, they knelt faster than anyone!"

"How dare they, how dare they!"

Lin Dao's face was dark as iron, his eyes full of rage.

"Truly, having played local emperor for so long, they don't know their own weight."

「Liu San Dao. 」

「You personally take one battalion of troops over there. 」

「Wipe them out! 」

Liu San Dao saluted 「I accept the order! 」

This is an accident outside the battlefield.

Many things outside the battlefield will bring unpredictable consequences to the battlefield.

Because of the Kong family matter, Lin Dao was delayed for three days in Yanzhou.

During these three days, Huang Taiji was not idle either.

He bribed Commanding Officer Liu Liang Zuo, and with inside and outside cooperation, they captured Linqingzhou.

Commanding Officer Liu Ze Qing and others tied up Inspector Shi Kefa and surrendered to the Tartars.

Shi Kefa, who came out of Tian Prison, was appointed as Inspector.

Bringing the troops and horses from various places to aid the king, they followed Huang Taiji all the way to 'recover' lost territory.

Upon learning that Lin Dao's army had entered Yanzhou, Shi Kefa stationed the Ming Army at Linqingzhou near Jinan Fu.

He wanted to see if the Qing slaves and Lin bandits would both suffer losses.

By then, it might be possible to reap the benefits of the fisherman.

But what he didn't know was that when the eldest and second brothers fight, it is the third brother who falls first.

Linqingzhou is too close to the battlefield; Huang Taiji would not allow such a threat to exist.

The omnipresent Tartar spies reached an agreement with Liu Liang Zuo within Linqingzhou.

This man, who historically surrendered voluntarily, captured Hong Guang Di, participated in the massacre at Jiangyin, and was a demon king of slaughter, almost without hesitation turned into the Tartars' embrace.

The Imperial Court had no money or grain, and could not see any hope of winning.

Huang Taiji promised him many benefits, so Liu Liang Zuo's betrayal was without difficulty.

As for Liu Ze Qing and others, they were fence-sitters under the circumstances.

「Inspector Shi. 」

Inside the large tent, Huang Taiji, who had coughed for a while, covered his mouth and nose with a handkerchief 「Are you willing to submit to Great Qing? 」

The bound Shi Kefa swept his gaze over Liu Liang Zuo, Liu Ze Qing, and others.

Seeing that they were already impatiently shaving their heads, he showed a look of contempt 「I am not one of those who do not know loyalty and righteousness. 」

「I am a senior minister of the Celestial Dynasty; today, having lost the battle, the army, and disgraced the nation, how could I live in shame! 」

「I only ask for a quick death! 」

Huang Taiji, plagued by serious illness, seriously surveyed Shi Kefa.

He was skilled in the art of observing people and saw that Shi Kefa was not like Hong Chengchou, who spoke tough but actually sought to live.

In the past, he would have had the mind to slowly adjust and find a way.

But with a great battle imminent and his body nearing the end of its lamp oil, he truly had no such energy left.

「Since you are a loyal minister. 」 Huang Taiji, pale-faced, waved his hand 「Then I will fulfill your reputation. 」

The armored soldiers stepped forward, dragging Shi Kefa out of the tent.

He did not struggle or beg for mercy, but before leaving, he turned back and shouted.

「You will all be defeated by Lin Dao's hands! 」

Hao Ge flew into a rage, rushed over to push Shi Kefa out, and personally executed him.

Lin Dao, who wiped out over twenty thousand Eight Banners troops in one battle, was a taboo to them.

Huang Taiji, calm-faced, looked at Liu Liang Zuo and others, speaking gently 「When the time comes to fight Lin bandits, I still ask you all to do your best. 」

「After victory, I will certainly not be stingy with rewards. 」

He was always generous to those who surrendered, after all, what was given away was all plundered, and he would not feel the slightest pain.

Liu Liang Zuo and others also knew they were being used as cannon fodder.

But since their heads were already shaved, they had no choice but to pat their chests and guarantee they would surely serve Great Qing with dog-and-horse service.

When Lin Dao received the news, he had already reached Dongping Zhou.

Regarding Shi Kefa's death, he had only one sentence.

「He died as he should. 」

He was a true insider of Great Ming, a hereditary Hundred Household of the Jinyiwei.

He was a person who truly shared life and death with Great Ming and was willing to be buried with Great Ming.

He indeed did so, naturally dying as he should.

The watching Ming Army was cleared out, and next it was Lin Dao's turn to take the stage.

The massive army marched northward all the way, heading straight for Dongchang Fu.

Huang Taiji had already stationed his army here waiting.

Dongchang Fu was called Liao Cheng in the Qin era.

This place had experienced multiple Yellow River breaches, and the silt brought by the Yellow River formed a plain micro-terrain of alternating ridges and depressions here.

The eighth day of the eighth month of the sixteenth year of Chongzhen.

Suitable for breaking ground, praying for blessings, opening toilets, planting.

Unsuitable for moving, building stoves, rituals.

Lin Dao's forces, who had disembarked at Zhang Qiu Zhen and marched north along the west bank of the Grand Canal, sent troops from the main camp to advance to over twenty li south of Dongchang Prefecture City.

Huang Taiji personally leading the Meng Meng Lian Jun also entered the battlefield almost simultaneously, with the two sides separated by several li.

For a super decisive battle of this level and scale, ordinary schemes are of little use.

Only through real, hard confrontation is there a final destination.

Ten thousand men and horses passed, boundless and endless.

Spreading from the He An Bian riverbank, everywhere the eye could see was full of people.

At any time, one who can command a vast army formation of a hundred thousand is a famous general.

Lin Dao is still some distance from being a famous general; he relies on high-tech to make up for it.

The drone hovered in the high sky, observing the entire battlefield.

Through the walkie-talkie, he commanded each Yingjun to take their positions.

This feeling was like placing war flags on a battle map.

On a hill only twenty or thirty meters high opposite, Huangtai, holding a Dan Jing to observe, had a grave expression.

"Mobilizing troops as if moving one's own arms—Lin Dao truly has real skill."

Throughout the whole morning, both sides were constantly deploying troops and arranging formations.

Around noon, they almost simultaneously began eating.

On the Qing Army side, it was mainly dry rations.

Drinking water, gnawing dry rations, eating some meat jerky.

Mainly pursuing filling their stomachs, to provide strength for the subsequent slaughter.

On Lin Dao's side, the soldiers ate much more richly.

Each person had one individual self-heating ration.

The main dishes included green bean beef fried rice, curry chicken diced fried rice, carrot chicken diced fried rice, etc.

To better win this battle, Lin Dao also gritted his teeth and bought enough quantity for the whole army to eat two meals.

Last noon, the whole army ate once, mainly to familiarize themselves with how to use it.

Now, it was to make final preparations for the upcoming battle.

Lin Dao also picked up one and began eating.

Open the packaging, remove the kettle and pour water into the insulation bag, it heats automatically.

Flip it over after five minutes; flipping two or three times is enough.

Tear open the bag and eat directly, the aroma fills the air.

Besides the main dish there are side dishes, such as fresh crisp cucumbers, pork egg rolls, etc.

Each person also gets a can of luncheon meat, absolutely full of satiety.

Today a north wind blew, the rich aroma of hot food drifted over, and the Qing soldiers were all stunned.

At this time they can still eat hot food, and it smells so good?

Where do the troops opposite come from, living such good days!

"Great Khan."

Duoduo stepped forward to advise: "Why not take the opportunity to charge?"

"Opposite are troops eating in shifts." Huangtai shook his head: "The army formation does not move, gathered and formed."

"Wasted effort."

He never expected that before the two sides even engaged in battle, they had already lost a move in food.

End of Chapter