Zhaoqing Prefecture governs 1 prefecture and 8 counties including Deqing Prefecture, Gaoyao, Sihui, Xinxing, Yangjiang, Yangchun, Guangning, Gaoming and Enping. There is also Luoding Zhili Prefecture, which is located on the Xijiang River. Although it is not under the jurisdiction of Zhaoqing, it is actually within the scope of Zhaoqing Prefecture. Not only does the jurisdiction cover a large and mountainous area, but there are also Yaodong in the counties and counties. The Han-Yao conflict in some remote counties has never subsided. There is great pressure on internal and external security. Especially in Luoding Prefecture, because of the Yao rebellion, the Ming army established Dongxishan Defense Yao generals here, with nearly 5,000 troops stationed there. If they don't have enough security forces to defend them, the entire area will quickly descend into chaos.
The number of national troops who came from the Guangzhou area to take over was extremely limited and they were simply unable to control such a large area.
Now that Zhaoqing has fallen and the governors of Guangdong and Guangxi have fled, if the camps or guards stationed in various places to "prevent Yao" collapse immediately, the already precarious security situation will explode in an instant.
Zhu Mingxia looked at the Ming army's various settlements and city garrison areas marked on the map. Not only could these defenses not allow them to disintegrate, but they should also try to maintain their stability. Even if they are corrupt and incompetent, at least historically they have maintained a basic defense zone.
As long as the garrison garrison can maintain its garrison point, which is often a key transportation location in the area, then the Fubo Army can be used as a mobile force to carry out rapid targeted attacks. His troops were extremely limited. In addition to dealing with the Yao people's uprising that might break out at any time, he also had to be wary of the Ming army's counterattack from Guangxi.
Although the Fubo Army has great advantages in terms of equipment, too few troops is always a fatal flaw. Therefore, Zhu Mingxia's first priority was not to march into Wuzhou, but to arrange the local surrender troops.
Zhu Ming, Xia Bian's staff officer, took out a large stack of brown paper envelopes from his briefcase.
"This is my report to the Senate of the Great Song Dynasty," Zhu Mingxia said, "I now appoint you as the envoys of the Song Dynasty to Zhaoqing to recruit puppet Ming troops. You will inform the generals and officials everywhere. As long as you accept the seal sincerely, Those who surrender will be brought before the officials of the Song Dynasty."
All of these claims have official titles such as "Captain, Deputy Captain, Squadron Leader of the Provisional No. X Brigade of the National Army Guangdong Corps".
Even if they are dregs, they will continue to be blocked in various key places. Buy some more time for the Senate.
The faces of those who were demoted were all bright. Although it was slightly risky to recruit them, the benefits would be great if they succeeded. In particular, most of the officers in the local camps were related to each other, so even if the recruitment failed, their lives would not be lost.
"Anyone who is willing to surrender must hand over the forged seal document and sign an oath of allegiance to the Senate!"
"Well, I know this!"
After sending these "Xuanfu envoys" out, Zhu Mingxia summoned Lan Rutian and others without stopping, asking him to find a guide immediately so that he could send people to take over the states and counties under Zhaoqing Prefecture as soon as possible. According to the current situation, sending a small number of troops and a few local people to recruit surrender will not encounter resistance in most states and counties. Most county magistrates either committed suicide or abandoned their posts and fled. Although the naturalized citizen cadres are not yet fully in place, in order to maintain local security, the county administration of each county must be taken over as soon as possible.
He looked at the military map on the wall. Starting from Zhaoqing Fucheng and going up the Xijiang River, there were several other prefectures and counties including Deqing Prefecture, Luoding Prefecture, and Fengchuan County before arriving at Wuzhou. According to the information from the brigade's long-range reconnaissance company and the Congjun Intelligence Center: the Ming army's heavy military groups originally stationed in these prefectures and counties, especially the Dongxishan Staff General stationed in Luoding and the more than 5,000 battalions guarding the middle road, have withdrawn. Wuzhou. Those who stayed in the local area were mainly military personnel from the guard posts and camps scattered throughout the country. In addition, he has already sent people to recruit surrender, so the military pressure of marching is not great. The real tough guy is in Wuzhou!
It's a pity that we couldn't recruit the Dongxishan Ginseng General! Zhu Mingxia was a little regretful. The unit to which General Dongxishan Yao was guarded was the most combat-effective unit among the Ming army in western Guangdong. If he could recruit them to surrender, at least he would be able to rest easy for the time being in terms of guarding against Yao.
The intelligence outlet did make an effort: however, the two mountain generals and the guards in the middle seemed to have limited understanding of the prestige of the Senate, and were determined to be loyal to the Ming Dynasty. Not only did they refuse, but they also killed the surrender generals sent to recruit them.
"Ask Schneider from the task force to come to my place." Zhu Mingxia ordered.
On April 10, 1635, Zhu Mingxia's ship arrived in Fengchuan County. As he estimated, the troops did not encounter large-scale resistance along the way. Luoding, Deqing and other places surrendered in defiance, and the main force of the First Brigade also entered Fengchuan County on April 9.
At this moment, there are ships of all sizes parked on the river from the West Detachment of the Pearl River Task Force. So many people suddenly came to this small county town at the junction of Guangdong and Guangxi, and the silence of the past was suddenly broken. Zhu Mingxia set up his headquarters on the south gate tower of Fengchuan County. He lit a holy boat and looked at the rows of tents in the open space at the south gate. The soldiers of the Fubo Army were busy in the meantime, shouting loud slogans from time to time: "Go to Wuzhou and capture Xiong Wencan alive! "
The slogans were shouted loudly, but Zhu Mingxia understood that slogans were slogans after all. Xiong Wencan would not just wait to be caught in Wuzhou. Facing the front of the Fubo Army, he might run to Guilin in a hurry. The greater possibility is that he stayed in Wuzhou to defend it, and finally committed suicide after the city was destroyed - a standard governor's death.
Most of the senators have an inexplicable sympathy for Xiong Wencan. They always feel that this governor-general who wants to appease has more in common with the Senate. It would be great if he could survive to become a member of the CPPCC or a cultural and historical librarian. . It would be a pity if he died like this.
Zhu Mingxia was not very interested in capturing Xiong Wencan alive. What he was interested in was fighting a beautiful battle of annihilation in Wuzhou. Seize this most important strategic node in Guangdong and Guangxi and block the Ming army's way to the east.
But it is not easy to fight a war of annihilation. The tactics of war are as follows: surround the enemy ten times and attack it five times. However, Zhu Mingxia's troops only have less than 4,000 men. Counting the sailors on the Pearl River Task Force, there are only 5,000 men.
According to the intelligence, Xiong Wencan has assembled the troops of Guangdong Fangyaodong, Shanxi Shanshan and Guangxi Xunwuzuo at the foot of Wuzhou City, with a total of more than 6,000 soldiers. In addition, there are also a total of 1,000 wolf soldiers under the command of chieftains from nearby Xunzhou Prefecture. There are more than a thousand people, and there are more than a thousand people in the Wuzhou Naval Battalion. Counting Wuzhou's local guards and soldiers, Xiong Wencan has more than 10,000 troops, which is no longer as easy to deal with before Zhaoqing.
The current contrast between the enemy and ourselves is about two to one, which is not too disparate. In the second counter-encirclement and suppression campaign that year, the contrast between the enemy and ourselves was more than three to one, and the Fubo Army still won. But the problem is that back then, Fubo's army was waiting for work, but now it's the opposite. Xiong Wencan's more than 10,000 troops are nestled in Wuzhou City and will never "fight in the wild" with Fubo's army.
According to the internal intelligence of Xiong Wencan's shogunate forwarded by the intelligence center, Xiong Wencan's will to defend the city in Wuzhou is very resolute - it is impossible for him not to be resolute. He lost Guangzhou first and then Zhaoqing. The fact that the court has not punished him does not mean that it has forgiven him - guarding Wuzhou is his last chance to atone for his sins.
If it was a field battle, Zhu Mingxia didn't care at all about the more than 10,000 people under Xiong Wencan. For the First Mixed Brigade, it was just more than 10,000 dead bodies or prisoners. The problem is that Xiong Wencan now plans to resist the city and defend it, relying on Wuzhou's city defense and the surrounding terrain to fight Fubo's army to the end.
Since D-Day, the Fubo Army has never conducted a fortified battle against a heavily fortified city. The invasion of the Pearl River Estuary was not aimed at capturing Guangzhou, but only launched rockets to demonstrate; as for their march in Hainan and Guangdong, either Either there are insiders who should open the door to respond, or the will of the city is weak and the troops are insufficient, so it is often easily captured.
Wuzhou City, more than 20 kilometers away, will be the first fortified city captured by the Fubo Army, a city guarded by a large number of troops.
But Zhu Mingxia was not sure how much it would cost to capture Wuzhou City. Originally, the commander of the First Mixed Brigade was You Laohu, but the South China Army Headquarters considered that You Laohu was brave and brave, but was still too reckless, fearing that he would suffer a loss under Wuzhou City. , only to temporarily change the generals, swapping Zhu Mingxia and You Huhu. The South China Army Headquarters' consideration was not whether Wuzhou City could be captured, but to minimize the losses in capturing Wuzhou City.
Since ancient times, in all fortified battles, the defending side has always had the advantage. No matter how powerful the attacking side is, it will inevitably face defeat in the face of a well-fortified city. In this time and space, Guan Ning's army relied on the cities and fortresses centered on Shanhaiguan, Ningyuan, and Jinzhou in the Western Liaoning Corridor to hold off the wild boar skin for many years. Facing a fortified city, if it cannot be conquered quickly, a long siege will not only cause more losses, but also tie down a large number of effective forces. This is also what the South China Army least wants to see.
He carefully studied the topography of Wuzhou. Judging from the map: Wuzhou’s terrain is not complicated. This city is backed by mountains and water. Wuzhou people nickname Wuzhou "Mountain City", but it is actually formed by the alluvial riverbanks of the Xijiang River and the gentle settlement at the foot of the mountains. There are many mountains around it, and it was probably developed from the villages at the foot of the mountains. You can take the waterway from Fengchuan directly to the current urban area. This terrain is indeed difficult to form a siege in the era of cold weapons, especially to encircle Wuzhou. However, the Fubo Army's long-range firepower has a great advantage. They can find a shoal to land on, then seize a hilltop and set up artillery to pour firepower into the city. It is not easy to completely seal off the city, but it is not difficult at all to break the city. The important thing to pay attention to is to control the river branches.
Unfortunately, due to the existence of the shoal Xintan, the two heavy diving gunboats of the Xijiang Squadron were unable to reach Fengchuan. The only ones that could reach Wuzhou were those gunboats. But the gunboats are enough to block the river. As for the heavy artillery used in sieges, large boats can be used to transport mortars.
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