Chapter 359: Getting there first
"This battle can be considered a fluke. Even if Zhang Gaoping doesn't die, we can still complete our success in one battle..."
Zhu Chunchen set the tone first, recalling that if Du Wenhuan's army had not suddenly attacked, he might have drawn his sword and committed suicide at that time.
Furthermore, with the addition of Du Wenhuan as a new force, Yangzhou City is already in the bag.
Gong Liang walked into the camp: "Commander, the Confederate Army is retreating from the west. According to reports from the scouts, the sergeants are mostly sad and there is a carriage accompanying them."
Someone later reported Zhang Gaoping's vomiting of blood, but anyone who suffered such a heavy blow in a situation where victory was inevitable would completely collapse, let alone a life-and-death battle between hundreds of thousands of people.
"General Qin, what do you think?"
Zhu Chunchen's affection for Qin Liangyu doubled. This old woman's methods were really not simple.
"I thought Zhang Gaoping was dead..."
It was just pure speculation, but even so, the people in the camp took a breath of cold air.
"Report..."
The messenger ran into the camp and said, "Commander, the forward scouts are here to report that a large number of soldiers from the Liang clan have been found twenty miles away from Yangzhou."
rub...
Zhu Chunchen walked out quickly: "Go and send an order to Duke Baoguo, telling him to capture Yangzhou within an hour."
Qin Liangyu also stood up and shook his head slightly: "In the battle of Yangzhou, the officers and soldiers did not take any advantage..."
"Impossible... absolutely impossible..."
Zhu Chunchen stepped back and shook his head. According to Qin Liangyu's statement, the purpose of the Liang Fan soldiers coming to Yangzhou is already obvious. If Yangzhou fails to be captured, then the hard work of hundreds of thousands of people in the Northern Army will be in vain. The imperial court...
Zhu Chunchen did not dare to think about it anymore, so without waiting for his subordinates to dissuade him, he personally took the troops he had just assembled to support the forward Zhu Yanrong.
.
Xu Xilian didn't want to be trapped in Wanshou Town, but the news brought by the scouts made him have no idea.
Is it a war?
Or drop?
"How is Xue Lian?"
The soldier under his command bowed: "Marquis Yangwu woke up yesterday. The doctor in the town said that he should rest for a while and treat it as if nothing happened."
"Uncle..."
The armor of the head of the servant team jingled: "The soldiers of Liang Fan outside started to call for formation again."
Because Wanshou Town is close to Jiangdu County, it is the largest market town in Yangzhou. Xu Xilian was trapped here after his defeat. However, what he never expected happened, the soldiers of the Southern Army were evacuated. Before they could take action, Liang Fan The musketeers arrived.
Outside the town, after Pang Zhihuan and Weng Linzhi separated, he surrounded Xu Xilian who persuaded him to surrender to Wanshou Town, while Weng Linzhi rushed to Yangzhou City with his troops.
"Master, Xu Xilian's soldiers in the town did not respond."
"Master, why don't you fire off the cannons..."
"Yes, let's fire off the cannon."
All the soldiers under his command wanted to perform meritorious service. Pang Zhihuan put down the telescope and said: "There are many people in the town. The prince has repeatedly warned not to harm the lives of the people. Since Xu Xilian is trapped in Wanshou Town, he can't even think about running away."
Pang Zhihuan has been guarding the Yangzhou Guard for many years, and there is also his Yangzhou Guard barracks in Wanshou Town, so he is familiar with the surrounding terrain: "We will set up tunnels and traps at the critical exits. As long as Xu Xilian does not escape, we will be able to defeat the enemy after the follow-up reinforcements arrive." We can make an emergency landing on him, we don’t care about the time.”
.
'Bang bang bang...bang bang bang...bang bang bang...bang bang bang...bang bang bang...bang bang bang...'
'Bang bang bang...bang bang bang...bang bang bang...bang bang bang...bang bang bang...bang bang bang...'
'Bang bang bang...bang bang bang...bang bang bang...bang bang bang...bang bang bang...bang bang bang...'
The sound of gunfire was like a violent storm under the city of Yangzhou. Zhu Chunchen, who hurried over, could only look at Yangzhou City and sigh. In the end, he fainted after spurting out blood just like Zhang Gaoping did at that time.
On the top of Yangzhou City, Weng Linzhi, who arrived in Yangzhou first, looked at the Northern Army infantry who fled like a tide with high spirits, and a proud smile appeared on his lips.
"General Weng..."
Ding Wenqing respectfully handed over his hand: "I would also like to ask General Weng to introduce His Royal Highness Prince Liang to you when the time comes."
Weng Linzhi recovered his mind and nodded solemnly: "General Ding knows the general situation and takes the overall situation into consideration. I will definitely report it to my prince carefully. I believe that General Ding can also make a difference in our Liang Fan."
"I just want to thank General Weng..."
.
Inside the Northern Army camp, the atmosphere was like mourning for a heir, and everyone was silent.
Zhu Chunchen was bleeding and fainting in front of the formation. The one who made the decision at this moment was Zhu Yanrong. In the battle of Yangzhou, first Meng Si, the Marquis of Baoding, was captured alive, and then there was a battle in the camp. Gu Huan, the Marquis of Zhenyuan, died, and the General Army Corps died in the three-year battle. No less than 30 deputy commander-in-chief and guerrillas were killed in the battle, which was a huge blow to the Northern Army.
But now seeing that Yangzhou, which was about to be taken, was captured by someone else, even Zhu Yanrong shook his head, and sighed in his heart when he thought that his opponent was Chen Cao, who was on the same boat as him.
"Mr. Bao Guo, please come up with a charter. Now Ding Guo Gong is trapped in Wanshou Town. There are more than 30,000 people at least. If you want to retreat, do you need to rescue him?"
"Our army did not take advantage in this battle. On the contrary, we lost two marquises. Without any success, I am very worried about the reaction of the court."
Several lords were talking, and their words all revealed their worries about the subsequent war.
Zhu Yanrong is not a fool. He can definitely hear that several lords in the tent are thinking of quitting...
"Yeah..." Zhu Yanrong sighed: "You are all dandies in the capital. Some of your ancestors did not start their careers in military service..."
Although it is not shameful to be granted a title by a maternal relative, it is completely out of place in front of the family whose ancestors either founded the country or brought troubles. To use the parlance of their playboys, it means they are involved in royal nepotism.
As soon as Zhu Yanrong spoke, two or three of the lords who spoke immediately blushed. However, due to Zhu Yanrong's identity and qualifications, no one dared to refute.
"Is there anything General Qin can do?"
Qin Liangyu sat aside, and it took a long time for her to speak: "Stand at Gaoyou and wait for instructions from the court."
"Just...give up like that?" Gong Liang asked in surprise.
He is the secret agent placed here by Emperor Chongzhen. His identity is not simple. He often wants to get to the bottom of things that Cao Huachun doesn't talk about.
Without answering, Gong Liang said in frustration: "It's true, Liang Fan's firearms are not simple, even though we are using their firearms, it seems that this battle can't be fought."
"Now that Duke Cheng is in coma, the army is temporarily under my command. I am determined to retreat to Gaoyou. Do you have any objections?"
"I will obey the general's order..."
.
Chen Cao received the news from Nanjing that night when he rushed back to Zhenjiang from Suzhou, so he immediately held a meeting.
"According to internal information in Nanjing, after they received the news of Zhang Gaoping's death, the emperor fainted and heard that he had not gone to court for two days."
"Zhang Gaoping was the pillar of the Nanjing court. After his death, Li Wanchang's abilities are not as powerful as Zhang Gaoping's."
“So it’s just around the corner to come to Nanjing?”
Everyone was discussing. After reading the official document, Chen Cao coughed: "What's going on over there in Yangzhou?"
"Returning to the prince, Weng Linzhi's troops took the lead in occupying Yangzhou City and repulsed Zhu Chunchen who was personally reinforcing him. It was reported that Zhu Chunchen suddenly spurted blood and fainted. He was as angry as Zhang Gaoping. Then the Northern Army retreated to Gaoyou to garrison. "
"In addition, Ding Wenqing, who stayed behind in Yangzhou, voluntarily surrendered. There is a letter from Weng Linzhi, please see you, Your Majesty..."
"One more thing. More than 30,000 people under the command of Dingguo Duke Xu Xilian and Yangwu Marquis Xue Lian were trapped in Wanshou Town by Pang Zhihuan. Pang Zhihuan sent someone to ask if he would launch an attack on Wanshou Town?"
Tick tock...
There was silence in the lobby, and the ticking sound of the water clock was extremely harsh.
"Dingguo Gong Xu Xilian..."
Chen Cao muttered: "Send someone to Nanjing and ask someone from the Duke of Wei's office to go to Wanshou Town to persuade Xu Xilian to surrender."
Duke Guo of the Northern and Southern Wei Dynasty and Duke Ding Guo were cousins in their ancestors. In their generation, they should also be cousins. They just haven't seen each other for many years. At such critical moments, relatives can often find a good breakthrough.
"I will finally ask the prince to ascend to the throne..."
Although inappropriate, it was obviously a good thing to say.
Chen Cao smiled and waved his hands: "It's not the right time. You all want to be the founding heroes, but now the time has not come...
An order was sent to Hong Chengchou, telling him not to enjoy himself in Hangzhou. With him as the commander-in-chief, in addition to guarding Hangzhou, all the Shence Army troops went south to Huguang and occupied Huguang and Jiangxi provinces in advance. He told him that the main targets were the local town troops and guards. Therefore, recruit the best and eliminate the remaining ones. Those who are willing to surrender will not be punished. If they are dead believers in the Chongzhen court, then give them a chance. "
"yes..."
It's finally time to take action...
Many people are a little envious. The south is rich, especially Huguang and Jiangxi. After Fujian and Suning, Guangdong, the only two major southern provinces left are Huguang and Jiangxi.
"The entire Longwu Army is stationed in Zhenjiang and is on standby. In addition, the Dingwu Army, except for those who stayed behind in Suzhou, has also mobilized into Zhenjiang. The new 51st and 54th divisions will be ready tomorrow and will cross the Yangtze River to Yangzhou on standby. ..."
Chen Cao said and looked at Huang Chunyao: "Yunsheng, you will be stationed in Suzhou, and together with Xia Yunyi, you will mobilize ordnance supplies and go to Yangzhou to assemble."
"yes..."
"Your Majesty, are our troops going to be stationed in Nanjing?"
Chen Cao was silent, thinking about something.
Upon seeing this, Huang Chunyao said: "The prince knows what you are thinking, but there is no news from the north yet. If you enter Nanjing rashly, it will be a disaster for the prince. Furthermore, Nanjing is still impregnable under the command of Li Wanchang. There is no good excuse if there is no sign of the city being broken.”
Tang Kainian was thoughtful and nodded after listening: "Mr. Huang's words are very reasonable. Even if we run to Nanjing wishfully, Li Wanchang will not open the door for us."
Huang Chunyao smiled and said: "Commander Tang has great foresight, but what he said is what I think. Even now, Commander Song is heard to be surrounded by a large army and under surveillance in Nanjing. It is a bit troublesome to escape, but he still has to cooperate with us outside the city."
Chen Cao then said: "There are ways. As the saying goes, if you don't destroy it, you won't establish it..."
...
