I

The distance from Bhamo to Laoguantun is not far, only about forty or fifty miles.

The terrain is not rugged either, just some low hills. But the woods are very dense, full of thorns and bushes, and mixed with a lot of ponds. The riverside is full of reeds and other plants.

The melee soldiers held long-handled hatchets to clear the way, cutting down thorns and vines along the way.

Several small groups of vine-armored soldiers, with a small number of musketeers, walked further ahead to explore the path, and waded through without avoiding thorns.

Huang Yao squatted down, grabbed a handful of soil, and sighed: "Although the soil is mostly sand, it can still grow crops. Why don't these barbarians know how to cultivate it?"

The guide explained: "General, when the water rises during the rainy season, a large area of ​​the riverside will be flooded. If the amount of water is particularly large, it can even flood the forest side, and farming is indeed not as good as the upstream area."

"fart!"

Huang Yao glanced at the river surface and then looked around the surrounding terrain: "Although this is a rapid bay, the flood recedes very slowly. But from the reed field to the woods, the terrain has not risen much. As long as we build embankments along the river, we will definitely be able to block the flood. Yes. I have seen many polder embankments in Jiangxi, and building embankments here is no more difficult than building embankments on the Ganjiang River."

The guide, a Han businessman, was speechless after hearing this.

The polder embankments in Jiangxi did not form a system until the Ming Dynasty. They had been plagued by floods for thousands of years before.

What is the level of development of Jiangxi? What is the level of development here? Is it interesting to compare the two?

Huang Yao said: "After the war, the Ming Dynasty had to ask the Ministry of Industry to send people to investigate. First, the Ministry of Household Immigrants came here, and the Ministry of Industry came up with a water conservancy plan. As long as the dams along the river are built, from the upper reaches of Mengyang to here, the valleys along the river will definitely be It can fertilize thousands of miles.”

It's not that fertile and wild for thousands of miles, because there are many mountains beside the river.

But the river valley here is indeed a good place. Over the past one thousand years, many local governments have been born, all of which relied on growing food in these river valleys.

The desolate scene Huang Yao saw was a kind of agricultural regression. Over the past few decades, Myanmar has plundered too many people, and the local chieftains have also fought against each other. In recent years, the king of Myanmar has also imposed a large number of corvees. As a result, the population in northern Myanmar has dropped sharply, the cultivated land area has shrunk, and many river valleys have become primitive.

"Bang bang bang bang!"

Gunshots rang out in the woods ahead, and officers from various departments had already taken action without Huang Yao's order.

After a while, the officer at the front came back and reported: "Captain, the brothers who were exploring the road were ambushed. One person was killed and six were injured. We killed five enemy soldiers and captured three alive. The rest of the enemy soldiers all fled. The enemy is more familiar with them. The terrain made it difficult to pursue. We were also afraid that a large group of Burmese troops would be ambushed further ahead, so we stopped our pursuit.”

"I know, keep going." Huang Yao nodded.

The Burmese army indeed set up an ambush, hoping to lure the Datong Army there.

Seeing that the Datong Army did not fall into the trap, the Burmese army had no choice but to retreat, watching the main force of the Datong Army advance slowly.

The journey was less than fifty miles, and it took four days of walking, overcoming thorns and thorns all the way.

Of course, there are also reasons to be on guard against the Burmese army. The soldiers always protect the grain transport team and do not give the Burmese any chance to make a sneak attack.

The Burmese army defending Laoguan Village has more than 4,000 elite troops, and there are thousands of rubbish troops (Burmese aristocratic private soldiers, peasant soldiers and chieftain soldiers). More could have been mobilized, but Ding Jiasheng and Yang Zhan blossomed in the center of Myanmar's hinterland, and most of the main force of the Myanmar army was assembled in Awa.

The Burmese army planning to encircle Ding Jiasheng was not just two-thirds, but three-quarters of Burma's elite.

"The Han soldiers are attacking like this. They won't sit in the boat and they won't be fooled by the ambush. How do you think we should fight?" Mang Zhen, the general of the Burmese Army, an old official, summoned his generals to ask for advice.

No one answered.

Everyone wanted to run away, but they were afraid of being punished.

Guess where Wu Sangui led his troops in history to capture Emperor Yongli? It’s only sixty miles away from the capital of Myanmar!

The Burmese army couldn't even stop Wu Sangui, how could it possibly stop the Datong Army?

Of course, Wu Sangui was facing the Burmese army, which had been harmed by the King of Burma for more than ten years. What the Datong Army faced was the Burmese Army, which had been harmed by the King of Burma for several years. At this time, the combat effectiveness of the Burmese army is slightly stronger.

As for the subsequent Qing-Burma War, it had nothing to do with the quality of the soldiers.

At that time, the Qing army was planning a decisive battle and specially mobilized elite Eight Banners troops.

When the troops were withdrawn after the battle, Agui wrote a memorial to Qianlong, along with a list -

The Eight Banners Army Solon Corps had a total of 3,008 people: 12 were killed, 2 drowned, and 5 officers and soldiers died of injuries. In China, 50 officers and soldiers died of illness; in Myanmar, 1,820 officers and soldiers died of illness.

The Oroqen regiment of the Eight Banners Army totaled 300 people: 2 died due to injuries. In China, 71 officers and soldiers died of illness; in Myanmar, 80 officers and soldiers died of illness.

This is the casualty situation of the Eight Banners elites in the final decisive battle between the Qing army and the Burmese army.

Only 21 people died in battle, drowned, or died of injuries. The rest all died of illness, and many died of illness in China. Who told the Qing army to specifically choose to march in the rainy season?

I don’t know how Qianlong felt when he saw the memorial. His reply only had five words: I understand, and I appreciate this.

"You guys are talking!" Mang Zhen was furious.

No one dared to speak.

Mang Zhen actually wanted to escape, but he couldn't.

The main forces across the country were engaged in encirclement and annihilation operations in Bagan. If he abandons the city and leaves, the Datong Army on the Northern Route can go down the river and fight all the way to the capital of Myanmar. Who can bear this responsibility?

On the afternoon of the fourth day, the Datong Army, which had overcome all obstacles, had reached the outskirts of Laoguantun.

While the Datong Army was camping, they set up artillery on the shore to bombard Burmese ships on the river.

On the fifth day, the siege was officially launched.

The city wall of Laoguantun, or the village wall, is a structure made of wooden fences and earth. There is not even a decent earth wall.

After being bombarded by artillery shells, in about half an hour, all the walls in front of them collapsed.

This terrifying situation made Mang Zhen so frightened that he was completely speechless.

"Boom boom boom!"

Before the bombardment was over, the artillery raised its elevation and bombarded the inside of the stockade.

At the same time as the bombardment, the infantry and cavalry were already dispatched, slowly advancing towards Laoguantun Walled City.

"Run!"

Mang Zhen finally came to his senses, and regardless of the punishment from King Burma, he rushed to the river with his soldiers and quickly climbed onto the boat parked there.

The miscellaneous troops of the Burmese army are still trying to get on board.

The elites of the Burmese army showed their fangs. They gathered on the shore and shot arrows at the miscellaneous troops. And drove those miscellaneous troops to resist the Datong Army, so as to buy time for the elite to board the ship.

The miscellaneous troops were not stupid. After escaping from the shore, they immediately knelt down and surrendered when they encountered the Datong Army.

The Datong cavalry slashed and killed the enemies along the way. Anyone who dared to block the way would be killed even if they surrendered, and they quickly pursued them to the place where the Burmese army boarded the ship.

At this moment, Mang Zhen had already escaped dozens of meters by boat, and some elite Burmese troops were boarding the boat. Seeing the Datong Army chasing after them, all the Burmese ships hurriedly punted away from the shore.

Many elite Burmese soldiers were climbing onto the boat and fell into the water like dumplings.

There were hundreds of elite soldiers still on the shore. When they saw the Datong cavalry chasing them, they were so frightened that they ran downstream along the river bank. After running a mile or two, they could escape into the mountains.

Two legs obviously can't run on four legs.

The Tatung cavalry rushed over, and the elite Burmese army fell like wheat.

Huang Yao was a little unhappy after capturing the city wall easily. Due to the complicated river channels here, the Chinese fleet did not dare to come over and could only let the main force of the Burmese army escape by boat.

The ensuing march did not go well either.

When the fleet heard the news of the victory, they immediately sailed to Laoguantun. Halfway through, more than sixty ships of the fleet ran aground one after another, completely blocking the channel. Looking at it with the naked eye, it seems that where you can sail a boat, you will hit the mud and sand on the river bottom.

It only took Huang Yao half a day to defeat the Burmese army in Laoguantun.

But when the fleet passed this area, it took eight days to pull out the stranded ship. It was not finished in the end, and there were still a few boats left there to be picked up when the battle was over.

But Mang Zhen escaped to Taigong City by boat and immediately sent a message to the King of Burma, asking for reinforcements to be dispatched quickly to help.

After thinking about it, I felt that Taigong City was not easy to defend, so I simply continued to flee south by boat, all the way to Anzhengguo City (Xingu, Myanmar).

Anzheng Guocheng is only 130 miles away from the capital of Myanmar...

Ava, the royal palace.

The Burmese king Mangda, who was addicted to pleasure, finally came to his senses at this time. He held the battle report of the Northern Front in his hand and said with trembling hands: "How can we lose so quickly? What should we do? What should we do?"

Hei Lutao said: "Your Majesty, there are only two ways now. One is to encircle and annihilate the Han army in the south with all our strength. If we can win, then send troops north to stop the enemy. The other is to send an envoy to ask for surrender, but I guess it will be difficult. Those damned Deyou (Turkic people, specifically referring to China), this time the north and south attacked simultaneously, and I don’t know how much food was consumed. Even if they ask for surrender, they will have to cede territory and pay compensation."

Mangda quickly said: "It's okay to cede territory, pay compensation, and become a vassal, as long as China is willing to withdraw its troops."

"In addition to ceding land and paying indemnity, we need one more thing." Hei Ludao said.

Mangda asked: "What else do you need?"

Hei Ludao had lowered his head to speak, but now he suddenly raised his head: "I still need your Majesty's head!"

"What?" Mangda thought he heard wrongly.

He Lutao said: "If we don't change the Burmese king, how can we explain to the Chinese emperor?"

Mangda finally panicked: "Someone is coming! Someone is coming..."

The palace guards did not come in, but the king's brother Mangbai came in.

This boy, who was only over ten years old, said respectfully: "Brother, for the sake of Myanmar and for the sake of Ava, please abdicate."

"You...you guys..." Mangda stood up and backed away, then ran towards the side door.

Just when he was about to escape, several spears were suddenly stabbed outside the door, and the majestic king of Myanmar died.

Hei Luda didn't even bother to look at the corpse, so he said to Mang Bai: "The envoys to surrender must be sent out, and the siege of the enemy forces on the south road must not be relaxed. We must urge all ministries to march quickly and completely trap the enemies in Bagan. They can be eliminated. That enemy force is the best, if it cannot be eliminated, those enemy forces are also hostages."

Mang Bai asked: "If the Han army is destroyed, will the Chinese emperor be furious?"

Helutao said: "Your Majesty, you are the new king of Burma. You must remember that you must be able to kneel down and beg for surrender, and you must show your fangs."

"Cough cough cough!"

Suddenly, a Privy Council official came and coughed anxiously outside the hall.

Hei Lutao walked over and asked, "What's wrong?"

Privy Council officials said: "An urgent report has been sent from Toungoo City. Siam has captured Bago. Also, Chief Meng Yang and Chief Mengya are asking for help. They also have enemies over there!"

Hei Ludao, who had been confident just now, was dumbfounded.

Except for the west, all other directions are enemy troops. How many people did the Chinese emperor send?

Mang Bai also panicked: "What should I do?"

Hei Lutao calmed down for a while and said: "It is impossible to surrender. The emperor of China has launched such a big battle just to destroy our country. Please lead the expedition in person, gather all the troops, and eat the south at all costs." The enemy. We can only go southwest and lead the army to withdraw into the Arakan Mountains (Arakan Mountains) in the west. Then, wait for the weather to get hot. As long as the weather gets hot, the Deyou (Chinese) will be killed by the heat. When the time comes, we will lead the army back to Ava!"