The Battle of Salhu was a strategic attack on the Northeast Houjin at the end of the Ming Dynasty, and the outcome of this battle determined the offensive and defensive posture of both sides. Unfortunately, the Ming Dynasty failed under the leadership of the commander Yang Hao, and the Ming army lost the initiative in the northeast direction and could only passively defend.
Reviewing the campaign, we have been saying that Yang Ho's strategy of dividing troops is really a failure, and if we can concentrate superior forces, the result will inevitably be a different look. But is that really the case? If there is no division of troops, is there really an advantage?
In my personal opinion, what is not seen in the division of troops is a disadvantage, and not dividing soldiers does not necessarily have an advantage. There are several main reasons:
First of all, the logistical supply of the Ming Dynasty was difficult to support
The first thing to fight in the war is logistical supplies, after all, people have to eat to replenish their physical strength. The Ming Dynasty gathered elite soldiers from all over the country for the Battle of Salhu, hoping to complete their contributions in one battle, but the logistical supply required for the mobilization of more than 100,000 troops was a daily number, not to mention the need to attack in the northeast, which lengthened the supply line.
Supporting such a huge army consumption and unified action in the northeast frontier, the Ming Dynasty could not support it. The use of the strategy of dividing troops can reduce the pressure on supplies and help maintain the combat effectiveness of the army.
Second, the division of troops attracted Houjin to participate in the battle, which was conducive to the stability of the first world war
After completing the dispatch of troops, before the attack was launched, the ruling center found that there was not enough money to support the attack. In the face of the near collapse of the Ming Dynasty's finances, the Ming Cabinet has always urged the generals in the front to make a quick decision, and the premise that the war can be fought is that Hou Jin is willing to participate in the war. Otherwise, they would have run away, unable to find anyone, and the battle would not have been fought at all.
For this reason, it is inevitable that Hou Jin will see the possibility of victory and can fight a war. What to do? Divide the troops, dividing more than 100,000 troops into several roads. The Ming Dynasty could use the Houjin army to drag down all the way and annihilate the other side, and the Later Jin dynasty had the possibility of victory in the face of the Ming army along the way. If not, in the face of more than 100,000 troops, Hou Jin will not be able to fight down, and it will inevitably avoid battle.
In this way, all the expenses in the early stage will be adrift, and the commander of the Ming Army will inevitably be investigated and dealt with when he returns.
Finally, due to weather factors, the division of troops may avoid the total annihilation of the army
In the late Ming Dynasty, China coincided with the Xiaoice River period, and the northeast was even more cold than it is now. If the army moves together, it needs to march into the golden nest, in case of an accident on the way, it is very easy for the whole army to collapse. You know, the defeated soldiers are still inferior to the sheep. For this battle, the Ming Dynasty mobilized the elite of the whole country, and no one could afford the responsibility of the total annihilation of the army.
Therefore, after the division of troops, it can be ensured that everyone advances on different routes, even if there are accidents along the way or several roads, a part of the strength can be preserved to avoid the dilemma of the collapse of the whole army. Think of the Battle of Tumu Fort, the defeat of the Ming army was the collapse of the army, not the inability to fight.
If there is an accident, those who can preserve the strength of the army have a choice whether to fight or retreat, and they also have an explanation to the imperial court. If you retreat, you don't have to worry about the crime of fearing the enemy and fearing war, and if you enter, you must also have the order of the imperial court, which can be repaired and replenished.
In summary, it is a personal opinion about the Battle of Salhu Yang Ho who does not divide the troops, I hope to help you.