Although this person is not a powerful military attache, he can be regarded as a person who is good at using troops. When the Prince of Guilin was training troops in the Shiwan Mountains, he secretly transferred him many times to assist in the training. Among the 200,000 troops, the most elite 30,000 troops and horses were trained by him. It's a pity that Zheng Tong doesn't trust him. Since arriving here, she has been rejecting him openly and secretly.
Zhang Gongming still listened to his suggestions. After this person expressed his opinion, the other generals nodded in agreement. They had never thought that the Jiangnan East Route Guards, which they had originally thought were so corrupt, could actually be so capable of defeating these generals. After a hard day's fighting today, I feel a little wary. Especially the cannons of the government army, they were really afraid of being hit.
Seeing that everyone agreed, Zhang Gongming finally nodded. He is not an idiot, and he still knows the thoughts of these generals. And he saw the situation in front of him even more clearly. The two battalions going south were fighting like this before they even reached the battlefield. As the commander-in-chief of the army, Zheng Tong, instead of thinking about how to defeat the enemy, was holding the woman in his arms and was intoxicated.
If two large battalions of reinforcements arrive, facing the most elite soldiers of the imperial court and a powerful army with a world-famous reputation, is there any chance of winning? Just relying on such a commander, such generals, and such an army? After hesitating for a long time, Zhang Gongming finally nodded. Whether or not Jiangning Mansion can be captured is no longer the main issue. The most important thing is how to protect the 20,000 elite troops.
Originally, I was thinking of using a surprise attack to capture Jiangning Mansion, mentally destroying the various government and military units that were still resisting, and cutting off their retreat. Then relying on the geography of mountains and rivers, the tiger occupied Longpan, and backed by the river. At the same time, the city was tall and strong, and a large amount of grain and grass was stored in Jiangning Mansion, waiting for the arrival of reinforcements from the King of Guilin. The black tiger that I took out was a strategy that I thought I could use all my mind.
It's a pity that this method that could have allowed the King of Guilin to at least establish the overall situation of Jiangnan in one fell swoop was completely ruined by a group of pig-like generals. If they hadn't been delayed for seven days in Ningguo Mansion, how could the officers and soldiers have time to build such a strong earth fortress. Zheng Tong, that arrogant and stupid fool, as an army commander, could ignore even the most basic principles of military strength and speed.
And it was the seven days that Ningguo Mansion wasted that not only caused the prince's good reputation among the gentry in the south of the Yangtze River to be almost completely lost, but also wasted in vain while sitting back and watching the war. Now let alone the Jiangning Mansion, which was once easily accessible, it is now impossible to capture it. What's more important is that now the army is stationed in front of Moling Pass, facing a complete defense line and unable to attack by force.
Now the army is at Moling Pass and is in a dilemma. Once the two battalions of reinforcements from the imperial court go south to outflank them, they will face the two battalions of elite soldiers who have fought hundreds of battles. Again, on this flat terrain, is there any chance of winning? The 20,000 troops were the essence of the 200,000 troops trained by Guilin County King in the 100,000 Mountains. Once everything is lost here, what about the subsequent war?
And he also saw the expressions on the generals' faces just now. Almost all the generals present here are afraid of war. Generals are very brave soldiers. The faces of the generals present showed timidity, and the morale of the sergeants below was even more conceivable. This battle can no longer be fought. As for Zheng Tong's blind arrogance, if he continues to be in charge of the army, the consequences will be disastrous.
Thinking of this, Zhang Gongming was worried. After hesitating for a long time, he raised his head and looked at the young general named Zhou Ming. He gritted his teeth and said: "Zhou Ming, you also know the current situation of our army. We are almost alone in the depths. All around are the officers and soldiers of the imperial court. Once I If the army cannot win a quick victory, it will face the situation of being surrounded by the army from all sides. In particular, the two battalions of elite soldiers may appear at any time."
"Today, our army has completely lost its fighting chance. If we continue to delay, the consequences for our army will be disastrous. Zheng Tong is so arrogant that he is no longer able to shoulder the heavy responsibility of the commander. Let him continue to be in charge, and the 20,000-strong army will I am afraid that the entire army will be destroyed here at Moling Pass. These 20,000 troops are the best part of the prince's command, and we must not let him waste them like this."
"The top priority now is how to preserve the 20,000-strong army. Under the current situation surrounded by powerful enemies, we can at least hold on until the prince's reinforcements arrive. Zhou Ming, if you are allowed to take over the entire army, can you stabilize the morale of the army? .Retreating to Ningguo Mansion with 20,000 elites to protect the 20,000 elites? Don’t worry, if the prince pursues the case afterwards, all the responsibilities will be borne by me."
In response to Zhang Gongming's inquiry, Zhou Ming glanced at the other colleagues and said with a wry smile: "I understand your Lord's thoughts. But the problem is that most of the military attaches in the military camp are Lord Zheng's confidants. You If only Mr. Zheng is captured, the military attachés at all levels below will not be convinced, and we will be in chaos first. Even Mr. Zhang himself will not be able to escape unscathed."
"But if Master Zheng and his confidants are arrested, 60% of the military attachés above the centurion will be removed. In this case, the team will be out of control. So, what should we do next? What is the next step? Return to Ningguo Mansion and wait for reinforcements, or continue to storm Moling Pass. Master Zhang should persuade Master Zheng. As for the bid, I really don't have the ability to replace Master Zheng."
Zhou Ming's words left Zhang Gongming helpless. He knew that what Zhou Ming said was correct. He had indeed been ill and had sought medical treatment urgently. If Zheng Tong is defeated alone, his henchmen below will inevitably take revenge, and then the army will be in chaos. But if he and his virtuous confidant were to deal with them together, the military attachés in this army would probably be worse than half of them.
Walking to the tent, looking at the dazzling Milky Way in the sky, Zhang Gongming tiredly told the military attachés who could still use them to be on guard tonight, and waved his hand to indicate that they could leave. After everyone left, Zhang Gongming felt an inexplicable feeling of uneasiness in his heart. And as the night deepened, this feeling of uneasiness became stronger and stronger.
Fortunately, although Zhang Gongming felt increasingly uneasy, the thing he was most worried about did not happen. That night, he and the rebels spent a peaceful night. After a ray of dawn appeared on the horizon, Zhang Gongming, who had been worried all night, finally breathed a sigh of relief. For him, as long as he didn't encounter a sneak attack that night, it would be easier during the day.
Zhang Gongming, who finally waited until dawn and stayed up all night, paced around his tent all night, had a hasty breakfast and then came outside Zheng Tong's tent to discuss with him what the next step should be. Where to go. But when he arrived, Zheng Tong was still sleeping soundly with the two women in his arms. The guards guarding outside the camp also refused to inform Zhang Gongming and wake up Zheng Tong.
The attitude of Zheng Tong's guard almost made Zhang Gongming's nose crooked with anger. But whether he gave strong orders or whispered pleas, the guards didn't take this supervisor seriously at all. Seeing the cowhide in front of him, Zheng Tong's confidant guards, and listening to the snoring in the tent, the uneasiness in Zhang Gongming's heart at this time became stronger and stronger.
At this time, in the military camp, there were not many military attachés at all levels who were able to function. Most of the military attaches were almost similar to Zheng Tong. They were not sleeping soundly in the tents with the women they had snatched from Ningguo Mansion in their arms. It was just slow and I didn’t know what to do there. Except for Zhang Gongming and the military attachés who were discussing with him last night, almost none of Zheng Tong's confidants got up.
Faced with this situation in the camp, even if Zhang Gongming was anxious, almost no one paid him any attention. Zhang Gongming, who was filled with regret, secretly hated himself for not arguing with reason in the first place. But he had no choice but to suppress the anger in his heart and wait in front of Zheng Tong's tent. It wasn't until daybreak that Zheng Tong got up and had his breakfast slowly before he was allowed in.
After waiting for a full hour, Zhang Gongming finally entered Zheng Tong's camp and bluntly proposed that the entire army should return to Ningguo Mansion. Relying on Ningguo Mansion, we waited for the prince's army to move north. However, Zheng Tong smiled contemptuously at his opinion. He picked up a bowl of wine and drank it in one gulp before saying, "Master Zhang, could it be that you were frightened by the battle yesterday?"
"According to the order of the prince, I led the army north to attack Jiangning Mansion. There is absolutely no way to advance or retreat. Yesterday in front of Moling Pass, we just suffered a slight defeat. Although there were some minor setbacks yesterday, I have already mastered the situation of facing the enemy. The weakness of the army. Regarding today's battle, I already know how you should fight. Master Zhang, you are really overly worried. I promise to take Moling Pass today."
"Now the defenders of Moling Pass and the capable soldiers on Jiangnan East Road have probably gathered here. As long as we break through Moling Pass today, the next step for Jiangning Mansion will be at our fingertips. Those earthen fortresses in front of Moling Pass are much bigger than those in Jiangning The city wall of the Mansion is much easier to attack. Besides, although the enemy's cannons are many, they only fired powder shot yesterday. I have ordered people to cut down the wood and make a large shield that can break it."
"As for the two battalions that the imperial court sent south, they are probably still wandering around the Huainan water network area. If those two battalions had really crossed the river, the prince's detailed operations all over the south of the Yangtze River would have provided information to our army long ago. Therefore, Mr. Zhang has nothing to worry about. Don’t worry, I will let Mr. Zhang live in the high-rise courtyard of Jiangning Mansion no later than the day after tomorrow, so you don’t have to suffer from the simple tent."
Seeing that Zheng Tong was still arrogant here and could not listen to any different opinions, Zhang Gongming was just about to open his mouth to persuade him. Suddenly, around the camp, there were continuous blasts of cannons, violent sounds of horse hooves, and bursts of shouts. Dense rocket rain, as well as pieces of scattered shells fired from artillery, also fell into the camp accompanied by the sound of horse hooves and shouts.
Zhang Gongming's face immediately turned pale when he heard the shouts of killing that were shaking all around, even the sound of cannons could not cover it up. The only ones who can make such deafening shouts are the elite soldiers of the four battalions who have fought many battles. No matter where you go in Jiangnan, even among the elite guards. And no matter which state capital's team training, they can't shout such murderous shouts, let alone so many war horses.
At this time, Zheng Tong appeared to be a qualified military attache. Hearing the sound of cannons and shouts of killing coming from outside, he rushed out with his sword in hand. But at this time, the entire camp was in chaos. In the tent that was set ablaze by rockets, heart-rending shouts came from the soldiers who failed to escape. The soldiers who were lucky enough to escape were scurrying around like headless flies.
Seeing the scene in front of him, Zheng Tong hurriedly grabbed a low-level military attache and asked him to find a gong immediately so that he could assemble his team and fight with him. But at this time, where can I find a gong for gathering? The helpless Zheng Tong could only pull his horse, mount it and shout everywhere, trying to regroup the rebels.
