Zhu Su was unwilling to go to Jianchang Camp, which made Wang Zonglong a little panicked.
When he thought about it, these sergeants under Zhu Su were just a patchwork of miscellaneous troops, and they even brought many more prisoners than the soldiers. According to common sense, this is already a taboo for military strategists. If during the march or when the enemy comes to attack, these prisoners rise up one after another. How can your highnesses deal with it?
The best move would be to transfer the troops and prisoners to the Jianchang Camp, and then the three His Highnesses and the adults would return to Beijing if they should, and go home if they should.
But His Highness had clearly made up his mind, and Wang Zonglong did not dare to say anything more. Just think that this is just a stubborn young man who said something out of anger. After Gong Chang waited for Guo Xing to speak, he naturally took advantage of the slope.
As his troops entered the city, there was an inevitable panic in Changli County. Zhu Su asked Wang Zonglong seemingly casually: "How many other county towns like this city have been plundered by Naha's troops?"
"About...more than ten." Wang Zonglong replied.
"..." Zhu Su was silent.
After a while, Fang said to everyone: "Let's go, let's go see Naha's army first."
…
Changli County is not far from Yongping Prefecture. Zhu Su and his party found a hilltop and looked far away in the direction of Yongping Prefecture: outside Yongping City, they saw camps like clouds, banners like forests, and countless Yuanting soldiers could be vaguely seen. They shuttled back and forth between the camps, and the dust they stirred up could be clearly seen even from far away.
"There are so many people!" Zhu Ming beside him exclaimed.
Zhu Su himself was secretly frightened. To be fair, this was the first time he had seen such a large army. Although he knew early on that Naha's headquarters had a strength of over 100,000 troops, in Zhu Su's mind, he actually did not have a very specific concept of this "hundreds of thousands".
Only now did he understand what a terrifying number this "100,000" was.
"These people are stationed under the Yongping Mansion, but they have not made any move to attack the city. It seems that they are just trying to encircle the area and provide reinforcements." Zhu Di looked at the huge camp that could accommodate more than 100,000 people, and his expression was grim. cold. After a while, he turned around and asked Wang Zonglong: "Where is Gong Changhou's camp?"
"It's in that direction." Wang Zonglong pointed to a boundary far away from where Naha left the camp.
"It's so far away." Although the map shows that Jianchang Camp is near Yongping Mansion, in reality, it is still quite a long distance away, and there are even two rivers separating it.
When Gong Changhou chose such a camping spot, Zhu Su knew what he was thinking at a glance: It seems that Gong Changhou did not want to have a decisive battle with Naha's troops, so he chose a camping spot with a lot of space left. room.
"When Marquis Gong Chang set up his military camp here, could it be that he wanted to stare Naha to death from a distance?" Zhu Di said dissatisfied.
"...Uh." Wang Zonglong heard the displeasure in Zhu Di's words and did not dare to say anything.
After watching for a while, several people were about to go back home, but they saw Di Meng stepping forward to report: "Your Highness, there is a small group of cavalry approaching in the distance. Judging from the flags, they are my army from the Ming Dynasty."
Upon hearing this, Zhu Su stretched out his monocular telescope and saw that a small cavalry unit was indeed approaching here. On the fluttering flag, the words "Gongchanghou Guo" were very eye-catching.
"Your Majesty, Guo Xing, I have met His Highness the King of Qin, His Highness the King of Yan, and His Highness the King of Wu." The voice arrived before anyone could reach him. Guo Xing, the Marquis of Gongchang, was also a man with a rough build, but he had a pair of eyes that did not match his majestic figure. His slender eyes always seemed to be planning something. Seeing Wang Qi of Zhu Su and others from a distance, he dismounted with flying grace, showing off his demeanor as a warrior on the battlefield.
Zhu Su glanced at Wang Zonglong and knew that he secretly reported the news to Guo Xing in the Jianchang camp. However, he thought that this person was also worried about their safety, so he did not react in person. After looking at each other with the two brothers, they stepped forward and said, "We were waiting to have a brief look at the enemy's situation, but unexpectedly, I was so tired that the Marquis came here in person. It was better for me to wait."
"The bodies of your Highnesses are worth a lot of money. Your Majesty and the Empress in Beijing have cared about them for a long time. As His Majesty's ministers, how can we not share your Majesty's worries?" Gongchang Hou Guo Xing burst out laughing. The two groups reminisced about the past, and the scene was momentary. It's fun.
Guo Xing asked Zhu Su and others about the journey and learned that they were accidentally forced to land in Liaodong and helped the Dingliao Guards to regain Shanhaiguan. Guo Xing said happily: "His Highness has accomplished such a remarkable feat! In this way, , Naha's defeat is certain!" Then he immediately turned around and ordered behind him: "Let the battalion send 20,000 people quickly, and be sure to assist the Dingliao Guards in guarding Shanhaiguan and completely cut off Naha's escape route back to Liaodong. "
"Yes." The messenger responded loudly, and Zhu Su also nodded. It is really difficult to defend Shanhaiguan with only the remnant Dingliao Guards. It would be great if Jizhen is willing to send manpower to assist in the defense.
"Since Naha's retreat has been cut off, when does Gong Changhou want to send troops to annihilate him?" It was Zhu Di who came out to ask.
"I have my own plan for this matter." An inexplicable light flashed in Gong Changhou's eyes, and then he smiled and said: "I'd better send someone to send the three highnesses back to Shuntian first. The soldiers here are in danger and the three highnesses are fighting fiercely. It’s not advisable to linger any longer.”
"It's not urgent." Zhu Su interrupted Guo Xing directly. "This is a rare opportunity. The three of us brothers want to see each other here for a while longer. Even if we can help you Gong Changhou, that would be good too."
"..." Guo Xing's face froze, and then he smiled and said: "In that case, then please invite the three Your Highnesses to come to Jianchang Camp..."
"That's unnecessary." This time it was Zhu Di who interrupted. "I will wait on the outside and respond to you from a distance with Gong Changhou. If Naha comes out and knows that the way back is cut off, he will definitely break up into pieces and plunder the people to raise food and grass."
"I happen to be waiting here, and I might be able to stop him."
This sentence almost directly pointed out that Guo Xing supported the heavy troops and did nothing. Guo Xing looked a little ugly and said: "Your three highnesses don't know something. In military affairs, one move can affect the whole body."
"If we stay in this dangerous place, what will we do if Naha leads his army to attack?"
"Our army and Naha's troops are in a stalemate with each other. If the three Your Highnesses are in danger, we have to send troops to rescue them, thus delaying the opportunity to fight... How can the three Your Highnesses be responsible for such a crime?"
"You..." After hearing what he said, Zhu Xiang's expression immediately changed. Zhu Su hurriedly stopped him and said coldly: "We know the seriousness. If something cannot be done, we will naturally lead people to flee thousands of miles away. I still see you. At that time, Lord Guo was able to seize the opportunity to attack Naha while he was attracted by us, so that we could end the war in the north of the Ming Dynasty as soon as possible."
(End of chapter)
