Chapter 315 Heavy Rain Diversion Pass
Perhaps it was really the manifestation of Mazu in Fujian. The downpour had been falling for four consecutive days, getting heavier every day. Even on the fifth day, a lot of fish, shrimps, crabs and other sea creatures began to fall from the sky.
Chen Cao looked at the pot of cooked sea food in front of him with some humor, and took off his damp military boots: "Although military boots made of calfskin are waterproof, they cannot prevent moisture. The logistics troops store ammunition. All must be attentive.”
Zhao Xin walked outside the big tent and took off his raincoat. Before entering the tent, he also took off the bamboo hat on his head: "Your Majesty, the Dutch fleet has entered Pumensuo Bay, and my subordinates also heard the news. The Portuguese in Hao also sent a fleet north to Pumensuo."
Chen Cao knocked on the desk and then fell into deep thought. It was already August, but he had been outside Fenshui Gate for nearly more than a month.
Xu Fuyuan stood aside and thought: "My lord, if we attack on two fronts at the same time, we may be able to capture both passes within ten days, but the casualties will definitely increase, which will inevitably lead to a stalemate in the war in Nanjing. My lord, it is best to end the peace in the southeast before the end of next year." .”
The original plan was to capture the three provinces of Fujian, Guangdong, and Guangxi, but it took nearly four months before the two passes in Fujian. The longer the delay, the faster reinforcements from the Northern Dynasty would arrive.
Chen Cao looked around at the generals and civilian officials in the tent and asked after a long time: "What do you think?"
Although Tang Yannian was reckless, he was very safe in ordinary times once a war started: "The general thought that it would be better to fight decisively as soon as possible. If we wait until soldiers and horses from Huguang, Jiangxi and other places arrive to help, the pressure on our army will inevitably increase. Although we are now worried about the issue of military food and military expenses, the imperial court is supported by the sacred places such as Huguang and Jiangxi, and there are still many fiefdoms and vassal kings, hiss..."
"Um..."
Chen Cao agreed after a long time and did not express any objection. Everyone was a little confused. Huang Chunyao, who had the most poisonous plan, was arranged to stay at the Shanghai Decision-making Center, followed by Xu Fuyuan and several unknown scribes.
"I wonder what's going on with Shi Xiu..."
Song Che took the remaining divisions of the Dingwu Army to Xianxia Pass. Before Chen Cao's specific military orders were delivered, Song Che would not launch a general attack on Xianxia Pass. What he said was just Let Song Che carefully plan the movements of the guards in Jiangxi.
"Where is Xiong Wencan from?"
Faced with Chen Cao's sudden question, Zhao Xin quickly clasped his fists: "Back to your lord, Xiong Wencan is from Xuyong, Sichuan. His native place is Yongningwei. He was a Jinshi in the 35th year of Wanli. He has served as an official, an envoy and an envoy. In the first year of Chongzhen, he was promoted to the position of censor of Youqiandu, and he has been patrolling Fujian ever since. By the way, he was the mastermind behind the rebellion against Zheng Zhilong."
"Does he have any hobbies?"
Zhao Xin racked his brains to recall: "By the way, in the 42nd year of Wanli's reign, he was appointed as the envoy to the left in Fujian. Instead of traveling south from Jiangxi, he took a detour from Sichuan to Huguang and finally entered Fujian, making a special trip back to his hometown. "
Tick tock...
Chen Cao tapped his fingers on the table: "So, Xiong Wencan is also a man who is seeking fame and reputation?"
"The Xiong family's ancestors were not from a wealthy family. They belonged to the Wei Suo family. They all left the family after being elected."
Anyone who loves fame will always have shortcomings that can be overcome. This is what Chen Cao thinks. Since Xiong Wencan is willing to take a detour and return to his hometown in glory, it is enough to prove that this guy attaches great importance to the benefits brought by his official career.
"Do you think it's possible to instigate Xiong Wencan's rebellion?"
In the face of Chen Cao's inquiry, the generals did not speak, but Xu Fuyuan's colleague Zhou Lixun spoke: "When a person is hit immeasurably by a huge and irreparable mistake, he will find that all his previous decisions were wrong. , he will think that he really did something wrong."
Chen Cao's face suddenly turned red, and then a ferocious smile appeared at the corner of his mouth, and then he regained his composure: "Send an order to launch a general attack on Fenshui Pass tomorrow morning, regardless of whether it rains or not, and send it to Song Che at Xianxia Pass at the same time. Military order, when receiving the order, we must capture Xianxia Pass at all costs."
"yes..."
"An Gong (Xu Fuyuan's nickname)," Zhou Lixun came out of the camp and stopped Xu Fuyuan who was walking in front of him: "Did I say something wrong?"
Xu Fuyuan thought for a moment and changed the umbrella from his left hand to his right hand: "The prince has been very resourceful for so many years. He can listen to honest advice. It's just that our time with the prince is relatively short. If you are Brother Yunsheng, the prince will definitely want to I’ll give you a compliment.”
"Hey..." Zhou Lixun sighed: "I also think about the overall situation."
"That's all, the prince will definitely not take it to heart..."
Zhao Xin handed Chen Cao a cup of tea, and then carefully asked: "Do you want me to transfer Zhou Lixun back to Shanghai?"
Chen Cao turned his head and glanced at Xin Zhao, and then said angrily: "You have been following me for so long, do you think I am such a stingy person?" As he spoke, Chen Cao read the official documents several times, especially those sent back by Jin Yiwei. Details about Xiong Wencan's report: "Zhou Lixun is right. It is indeed not easy for an official who is already a governor to surrender. Moreover, this is an internal struggle within the Zhu family. Xu Huizu didn't like Zhu Laosi back then. , didn’t you still become Duke of Wei?”
Chen Cao also felt that since he became the county king, the people under his command behaved and spoke completely differently. Everyone was cautious. Only Huang Chunyao could point out the shortcomings of some things straightforwardly.
If Chen Cao punished Zhou Lixun in the big tent today, after word spreads about it, which scholar would come rushing to advise Chen Cao in the future? Everyone in the world knows that what Chen Cao is doing now is to rebel. , who would put their wealth on someone who is not named Zhu, regardless of their wealth and life?
Chen Cao finished the tea and then sighed: "Although the two imperial courts in the world are all focused on Nanjing, everyone knows that I, Chen Cao, am the one who can completely crush them. If I don't obey anyone's orders, maybe both sides will share the same hatred, after all, my surname is not Zhu..."
..
'Dong-dong-dong...dong-dong-dong...dong-dong-dong...dong-dong-dong...dong-dong-dong...'
'Dong-dong-dong...dong-dong-dong...dong-dong-dong...dong-dong-dong...dong-dong-dong...'
'Dong-dong-dong...dong-dong-dong...dong-dong-dong...dong-dong-dong...dong-dong-dong...'
In addition to the fact that field artillery does not need an oilcloth to cover the rain, dozens of Shenwu artillery have an oilcloth on their heads. The rain does not decrease. Under the cover of gunpowder smoke and rain and fog, whether it is Zheng Zhilong at the water diversion gate or Chen outside the pass. Fuck, it's hard to see the opponent's formation clearly through a telescope.
However, Fenshuiguan is dead and can only face unilateral attacks from the enemy in the explosion of flower bombs.
I don't know when, bursts of artillery fire also came from Fenshui Pass, and the two sides had launched a fierce artillery battle.
The Dingwu Army came this time with eight divisions after forming the army. Three divisions were led by Chen Cao to attack Fenshui Pass, and the other five divisions were led by Song Che to attack Xianxia Pass.
Two of the three rifle divisions equipped with the Dingwu Army are outside Fenshui Pass.
In such heavy rain, although flintlock guns can also be fired, in terms of range and damage, rifle divisions must be used to fight.
But now both sides are engaged in an artillery battle, and if the infantry suddenly steps forward, they will only be attacked indiscriminately by their own side.
"It seems that Zheng Zhilong has been prepared for a long time..."
Tang Yannian handed over his hand: "Your Majesty, I will definitely think that Zheng Zhilong will definitely defend Fenshui Pass. After all, he has turned against the water before."
Jianghu people look down on those who rebel against the enemy. This is a big taboo among Jianghu people. Moreover, when Chen Cao forced Zheng Zhilong to surrender, he mainly relied on strong ships and cannons. But now both sides are their masters, and Zheng Zhilong turned against the enemy. Unless Zhu Yousong came to surrender him personally, he had no reason to believe that the Marquis of Nan'an brought by Chen Cao was really given to him.
Fighting to the death may have become Zheng Zhilong's only option, and getting closer to the Beijing court is also the best direction.
.
"Kunlun slave, are you ready?"
Zheng Zhilong wiped the rain off his face and looked back at Zheng Cai who was walking into Guancheng.
"Go back to my uncle and put them all in turtledove-foot muskets. The flintlock technology they learned from Songjiang can be fired even in such heavy rain."
Zheng Zhibao ran up to the tower in the heavy rain: "The Hongyi cannons are all in place."
Zheng Zhilong punched the female wall: "Okay, if Chen Cao dares to send troops to attack, let them have a taste of firearms."
The fact that Songjiang Fan was equipped with rifles was a secret. Although Songjiang Fan had a "closed-door" model, it was very open to foreign missions. Chen Cao also approved of selling the fusilier technology, and of course the exchange was for the West. Countries exchange technology including medicine and navigation, as well as various useful materials they collect in Southeast Asia and other countries.
Of course, when rifles begin to be widely deployed in troops, all flintlock rifles will be eliminated sooner or later. Why not trade with these foreigners if you have such conditions?
The benefits brought by high returns will eventually come true, but the drawbacks of a good thing will also appear at the same time.
"The vanguard regiment suffered heavy casualties. They bought turtle-dove-foot muskets modified from flintlock guns from the Portuguese in Hao border. They can hit farther than our flintlock guns and do more damage."
Tang Yannian had just returned from the battle: "The pioneer regiment of the Eighth Division had just rushed to the foot of Guancheng. Before they reached a distance of 150 steps, there was loud gunfire from the enemy tower, and those who were shot were seriously injured."
"Let the field artillery be responsible for covering the bombardment, and the Shenwu artillery will shoot farther behind Guancheng, causing trouble for Zheng Zhilong."
Chen Cao knew that the water divide was difficult to fight, but he couldn't believe that these foreigners who bought their own technology did not use such good things on the European battlefield, but sold them to Zheng Zhilong first.
Chen Cao stood up and paced back and forth in the tent: "Send the order, let the forward group resist the opponent's first counterattack at all costs, move the mortar position forward, and catch them by surprise."
At this time, a guard in golden clothes ran into the tent and saluted: "Your Majesty, we have found a path in the mountains. The local woodcutter led the way. Our people saw Zheng Zhilong's camp behind Fenshui Pass in the mountains."
