Chapter 299 Fan
"found it..."
"found it..."
Xu Chengqing's mouth, ears, and nostrils were bleeding. He was lifted out of the ruins like a chicken. When he fell to the ground, he was in a coma.
"The amount of each colloidal explosive is 300 kilograms. The amount of explosion this time was twice that of the Hangzhou bombing."
Chen Cao slowly stepped onto the ruins of Danyang City Gate under the protection of a group of guards, because the air was still filled with lingering smoke and dust from the previous big explosion.
"This kind of explosive is too dangerous. It is better to use it sparingly in the future. I would rather increase the amount used than try to eliminate the number of uses of this kind of explosive."
The most powerful explosive at the moment is liquid nitrate explosive, but liquid nitroglycerin is extremely unstable, and many craftsmen were killed when it was first made. Although it became jelly-like after adding sea mud, But there is still a long way to go before it can be made into a colloidal explosive for future generations.
"My lord, Xu Chengqing was injured by the shock wave and was captured alive by our army."
The entire east gate of Danyang. The city wall was not as tall as that of Hangzhou. After Danyang suffered such a violent explosive attack, the entire east gate city wall was completely destroyed, and the location of the buried points became pollutants in the atmosphere.
All the defenders in the Tibetan Soldier Cave at the city gate were buried, so naturally there was no way to survive.
The Dingwu Army and the garrison that rushed into the city at this moment were arresting and exterminating the remaining defenders in various parts of Danyang City. After all, 50,000 people were stationed there, which was not a small number.
Chen Cao walked closer and looked at Xu Chengqing, who had a somewhat painful expression, and then said, "Who caught him?"
The soldier standing nearby immediately stood at attention and saluted: "Returning to the country, sir, the younger one is from the first division."
Chen Cao looked at this guy's epaulettes and saw that he was still a sergeant: "Well, squad leader?"
"Reporting to the Duke, yes..."
"You have merit in capturing Xu Chengqing. From now on, you will be the battalion commander."
"Thank you, Mr. Guo..."
Zhao Xin ran quickly from the city, stood still and gasped: "My lord, General Li Shouye is leaving from the north gate with his cavalry and some infantry."
Chen Cao thought for a while and said, "No more pursuit. They have only one destination in Nanjing. Going to Lijiaji will mean death. Send an order to the whole army to camp on the spot. We will take care of Danyang City first."
.
There has never been a breakthrough in the battle at Lijiaji. Of course, this breakthrough was aimed at Xu Shiji. Just after the battle in the morning, Zhang Gonghao's troops, who were the frontal vanguard, had been completely wiped out. General Zhang Gonghao was shot several times and was just carried away. When he came back, when Xu Shiji went to see him, he had already passed away due to excessive blood loss.
For a time, the morale of the entire Northern Army in Lijiaji fell to the bottom.
"Including General Zhang and his troops, our army's casualties have now reached tens of thousands. Sir, if we don't find a way to break out, the general will be worried..."
In the face of guerrillas, how could Xu Shiji not be aware of the involvement? Although there were 50,000 people, they all went south lightly. The food and baggage they carried could only last five days. Moreover, the casualties of the entire army had reached 30%. The wailing of wounded soldiers will make the already low morale even heavier.
Xu Shiji's confidant, General Wei Shouxin, had just returned from inspecting the armies: "The rebels have stopped shelling. Lijiaji is surrounded on all sides. It is difficult for us to break out from any side. Now the morale is low, and the general is worried that some soldiers will attack." Mutiny and surrender.”
Once any troops mutiny, flee or surrender, it will be a disaster for Xu Shiji. He must strictly control this kind of thing: "You lead the supervising team to inspect each battalion. If anyone dares to have such thoughts, you don't need to tell me. They will be beheaded in public;
How many more artillery pieces do we have? "
"Three hundred rounds..."
At this time, a messenger rushed into Lijiaji. Because Chen Cao had made arrangements before and deliberately left a communication route between Lijiaji and Danyang, Xu Shiji and Xu Chengqing could communicate freely.
"Sir, something has happened..."
Xu Shiji frowned: "What, the rebel reinforcements are coming?"
The messenger shook his head repeatedly: "It's not the reinforcements, it's the disaster in Danyang. Just now, a close associate of General Li Shouye, under the command of the Commander-in-Chief, came to report that the rebels have conquered Danyang. The Commander-in-Chief does not know whether he is alive or dead. The defenders of Danyang have been completely defeated. Li The participating generals returned north with less than 20,000 people and had already withdrawn to Nanjing;
He also sent someone to inform the adults, allowing them to make their own decisions. "
Xu Shiji's whole body was paralyzed, and his eyes were quite blurred. Wei Shouxin immediately looked around at the people around him and said sternly: "If this news spreads to anyone, you will all be beheaded."
Concealing the news to prevent the spread is the top priority now. Xu Shiji stood up and ordered: "Send the order, the army will break out from the north and return to Dantu at all costs."
No matter the cost, that is to say, we can’t even take the dozens of artillery we carry. Wei Shouxin asked tentatively, and Xu Shiji nodded: "First fire to the south to attract the attention of the rebels, and then the artillery hits and attacks the rebel positions in the north. After firing all the artillery shells, abandon the artillery and retreat the entire army."
.
"Danyang City has been conquered. Now the east side of Nanjing has been completely exposed to our army. There is no obstacle along the way. There is no need to worry about Jurong in the southwest."
"Nanjing is only a hundred and twenty miles away. Judging from the march of our army's war horses, we can reach the gates of Nanjing in as little as one day and night."
The counselor below spoke one word at a time, and Chen Cao slowly knocked on the table: "Don't worry, before King Fu's army arrives at Nanjing City, it's not time for us to go;
The immediate priority is to digest the surrender of the captives. In addition, troops must be stationed in various places in Zhenjiang to strictly guard the local security. The rogues cannot take advantage and make it difficult for the people to survive. "
"Don't worry, sir. Students from all levels are arriving in an orderly manner. It will take up to three days."
"The latest battle report shows that King Fu's army crossing the river had another battle with the Northern Army at Dasheng Pass. Both sides suffered heavy casualties, and King Fu's army did not take any advantage."
Zhao Xin walked into the Chinese military tent and handed an official document to Chen Cao. Chen Cao looked at it and sneered: "I didn't expect this Zhang Gaoping to have two brushes;"
As he spoke, he handed the official document to the nearest Huang Chunyao for them to read one by one: "This guy actually led 100,000 people across the river from Liuhe direction to raid the Longtan Navy camp, killed 10,000 people of the Northern Army in one battle, and crossed the Yangtze River. The troops arrived outside Shangyuan Gate in Nanjing's outer city."
Huang Chunyao was the first to read it, and then said with a smile: "Nanjing must be scared to death."
"Wei Guogong is not a warrior."
Chen Cao repeatedly tapped the table with his fingers: "I have been in Nanjing for several years and have been in contact with him. The experience I have summarized is that the Xu family has no one who can direct the war since Tumu Fort. Of course, the one in the Wu Zong Dynasty Except for Xu Pengju;
Even this Duke of Wei is also a young prince, and he has no opinions of his own when things happen. In short, all his tough performance can only be summarized in four words;
Sexy and sexy...
As for the other honorable ministers who stayed in Nanjing, after so many years, they have not seen a single talent. It is not an exaggeration to sum them up as waste. "
Everyone present knows that Huang Degong and Lou Xingye of the guard regiment and their soldiers defeated the tens of thousands of Beijing troops led by Xuande Hou Jin Yuzheng and captured Jin Yuzheng alive. From this point We can also see the corruption of the Beijing troops and the mediocrity of the generals leading the troops.
"After our army has rested and recuperated, we can set off and reach the gates of Nanjing City."
"My lord, Xu Chengqing is awake and clamoring to see your lord."
When Chen Cao saw Xu Chengqing, this guy seemed to have aged ten years: "General Xu is only forty-six this year, why does he look like he is fifty or sixty years old?"
There was no hatred in Xu Chengqing's eyes. He thought it would not be embarrassing to lose to Chen Cao: "I didn't expect that guy Chen Fei gave birth to such a powerful person...
Liang Guogong, the general of the defeated army, is not ashamed. He just wants to find out what powerful firearm Liang Guogong has made. "
Xu Chengqing and Chen Cao's father, Chen Fei, who died in the war, were both from the Duke's family at the same time. However, Xu Chengqing was the son of the Duke of Wei's family, and his status and status were much higher than those of a general with a different surname. When Chen Fei was still alive, he treated Xu Chengqing strangely. of respect.
It's just that time flies and fate plays tricks on people. The son of an old subordinate is now a great figure in the Ming Dynasty.
"I told you that you can't understand it, but indeed, it's your ability to play tricks on me several times. For the sake of Wei Guogong and my father, I won't do anything to you, Mr. Xu. Tomorrow I will send someone to take you back first."
Xu Chengqing trembled. He thought that he would definitely be dead if he was captured. He didn't expect that Chen Cao would let him live. Before he could speak, Chen Cao smiled and said, "Don't worry, Mr. Xu. The news outside is The city of Danyang has been destroyed, and the life and death of Commander-in-Chief Xu Chengqing is not known. You have a good night's rest tonight, and our guild will return your army to you early tomorrow morning, so that you can explain it when you return;
I heard that the eunuch guarding Nanjing is called Cao Huachun, and he is a confidant of Chongzhen. If not, you may be charged with losing hundreds of thousands of troops, and even Wei Guogong will not be able to protect you. "
Only then did Xu Chengqing realize that he was ordered to guard Changzhou Prefecture. He suffered a defeat in Wujin County and lost tens of thousands of horses. Xu Hongji then added more troops to him and gathered 100,000 people to guard Zhenjiang. Now even Zhenjiang is lost. Most of them, and their opponents broke through the city in half a day, and lost tens of thousands of people. This time I don't know how to face those high-ranking adults in Nanjing.
Chen Cao saw Xu Chengqing's concerns, so he smiled and said: "Don't worry, General Xu, I will return all the Danyang defenders to you, so you will have an explanation when you go back."
"this..."
Xu Chengqing simply didn't expect Chen Cao to make this decision: "Could Duke Liang be joking?"
"hey-hey..."
Chen Cao smiled and sat up straight: "It's not that I, Yelang, are arrogant, but I don't like your Beijing troops at all. Even if there are another million, you can't defend Danyang;
Mr. Xu, go back, it’s important to save your life. "
"Mr. Liang Guo, what will this do to my subordinates?"
Chen Cao turned around and walked out without looking back: "Let's talk about it later..."
