It is embarrassing to say that the first major military achievement achieved by the self-proclaimed orthodox "Rebel Army" was achieved by the bandits who surrendered, and the ones who defeated the former military governor's headquarters who rebelled from the "Rebel Army".
However, although the Haoyang Camp also suffered many casualties, it had to cross the Henan River and retreat to Hengyang City.
In the face of a formidable enemy, Pu Zitong and Zhan Huabi must use their great victory to boost morale, and at the same time emphasize the consequences of rebellion - being used as cannon fodder and having their heads chopped off.
Their attention was temporarily divided between the battles in the remaining three camps in the east and west of the city.
Yan Daniu was taken to the "Major Governor's Mansion" to recuperate first.
During the battle, the mountain armor he wore blocked a few projectiles, but the projectiles fired from the firegun at close range still had a considerable impact. His internal organs were not necessarily intact, but the more serious injury was caused by the arrow.
Above the knee, on the outside of the thigh, the wound must not be fake. But the shaft of the arrow was broken first, and the arrow was still in the flesh.
Luo Maogui is also here with him - the Haoyang camp was first dispersed and put into various garrison reserves. As the governor, he has nothing to do for the time being and needs a rest.
For Yan Daniu, Luo Maogui was grateful and liked him very much - after all, Yan Daniu had a heroic personality, was extremely brave but was also very good at interacting with others.
Perhaps this was the strange charm of the original bandit leader.
When Tang Peiyu led his men to attack, the explosion sound of the destruction of Qingye Bridge reached Haoyang Camp, and Luo Maogui's heart sank to the bottom for a time.
The Hao River is difficult to cross, and the defenders of the Haoyang camp are not equipped with boats. The boats near Hengyang City have been requisitioned, and the Bu Zhifu who came to Puzitong is responsible for arranging the transfer of grain and grass.
It was Yan Daniu who took the lead to rush out of the camp and defeated Tang Peiyu's army as quickly as possible without fear of death. Only then could he have enough time to retreat by boat south before Gu Shilong's army arrived.
Otherwise, as long as Tang Peiyu held back the Haoyang camp there, Luo Maogui would also die in battle.
"Doctor, how is it?"
In addition to Luo Maogui, Yan Daniu's two soldiers also insisted on entering the city with him.
Now, they all asked the doctor worriedly.
"General Yan has a strong physique. Although the arrow penetrated the flesh, it was slightly blocked by the skirt and armor and did not hurt any muscles or bones."
"That's good, that's good!" Luo Maogui said repeatedly, and then first pulled Yan Daniu's two soldiers out of the room, "Let the doctor concentrate on treating Brother Yan's injuries."
When they arrived outside the room, the two soldiers were worried and angry: "Brothers have made great achievements, not to mention getting promoted, but they have also separated them all! They have fought in all battles, and they have to be divided into each team to be the main force. Are you fooling people? When traveling in the world, righteousness comes first! Since you can’t trust us, just wait until my brother recovers from his injury and then go back to the mountain and continue to live freely!"
"The Governor's arrangement makes sense!" Although Luo Maogui had similar views in his heart, he still advised them, "Since you have joined the rebels, you must not talk nonsense and go back to the mountain! This will only harm Brother Yan!"
"Are you going to harm brother?" One of the soldiers looked frightened and was about to rush into the room rashly, "I have to watch the doctor!"
Luo Maogui quickly stopped him: "That's not what you meant!"
Whether it was out of the feelings of getting along with them for so many days and this bloody battle, or out of the overall situation of the "rebels", Luo Maogui had to reason with them.
Although it's a bit difficult, after all, these people are originally bandits in the mountains who don't follow the rules very much.
It is indeed not an easy task for them to obey people other than Yan Daniu and obey orders and orders.
In the end, he explained the pros and cons to them, and another soldier who seemed to be smarter flashed his eyes: "So, if we only listen to the eldest brother, it will not be a good thing for the governor? What if it really harms the eldest brother? , can we use it better?"
Luo Maogui was stunned.
To be honest, looking at the current arrangements for Haoyang Camp, it is not easy for him to refute.
If Yan Daniu was seriously injured and died at this time, the remaining bandits would be leaderless, and they would never be able to make a big splash under the suppression of the Hengzhou Guards and Changde Guards. At the same time, it seems easier for Pu Zitong to digest these brave bandits with high-ranking officials and generous salaries.
"...I have to go see that doctor!" The reckless soldier took action again.
"It will never be like this!" Luo Maogui could only hold him back again, "This is the Governor's Mansion, how could he harm Brother Yan here! You all listen to me first. If Brother Yan is really killed, I will pay with my life. It only takes one life!”
"..." The smart soldier looked at him for a while and then said, "That big brother's food, clothing, soups and medicines are all beyond my control!"
Luo Maogui was helpless: "Okay! I'll make the decision. I'll go back and ask the Governor for instructions."
There is already a friendship, even if it is utilitarian, Luo Maogui hopes that the Guiyi Army will stay together, so that he and Yan Daniu can make a lot of achievements together.
Luo Maogui also resented Pu Zitong's arrangement after listening to Zhan Huabi's request.
It's just that Luo Maogui can understand their scruples about the loyalty of the Guiyi Army, and the reason why Pu Zitong must respect Zhan Huabi's opinions.
Fortunately, after receiving treatment from the doctor, Yan Daniu woke up before noon the next day.
After hearing the news, Pu Zitong also rushed back to the mansion. He walked to Yan Daniu's window and asked with concern: "Brother Yan, how do you feel now? Are you feeling better?"
"...a few flesh wounds, nothing to worry about." Yan Daniu grinned, "If I hadn't fallen down and fell into the water while crossing the river, how could I have developed a fever? It's much better now. I think I can get down to the ground tomorrow!"
Pu Zitong smiled and hit him on the shoulder: "It will take a hundred days to hurt your muscles and bones. Even though you haven't hurt your muscles or bones, don't talk nonsense about going to the field tomorrow. You can take good care of yourself for a few days. Just tell me what you want to eat."
After putting away his smile, he returned to the topic. He sighed first: "Your Haoyang Camp has made great contributions, but after all, you came to Hengzhou with Tang Peiyu, but Tang Peiyu betrayed Master Wang. I will first tell you The subordinates have broken up and organized themselves into various garrison troops. This is also to take care of other people's worries, do you understand?"
Yan Daniu was silent for a while, and then said: "I understand, I didn't expect General Tang to be such a person."
"Do you know why he rebelled?"
Yan Daniu was silent again and shook his head: "Why did he surrender again? I don't know. But on September 13th, he had sent someone to deliver the order, or the general would lead his troops to reinforce Hengshan City. The Governor The general was ordered to guard the Haoyang Camp, and His Majesty also ordered General Tang to command the army and not to mobilize troops without authorization, but the general refused."
Pu Zitong also knew about this. Tang Peiyu was ordered to go down the mountain to reinforce Hengshan City at that time. Tang Peiyu wanted Yan Daniu to go with him, but Pu Zitong refused, and then Tang Peiyu stabbed the Hengshan defenders in the back.
Therefore, Pu Zitong shook his head: "How could he negotiate with Gu Shilong about his surrender before the battle? Tang Peiyu should have surrendered much earlier than September 13th. Didn't he say anything before your battle?"
"That is to say, the general is also a treacherous person, and he is considered the chief criminal by joining the rebels. If he opens a camp and surrenders, he can still be punished and meritorious service." Yan Daniu was indignant, "He has to listen to the governor, how can I not listen to him? The governor's? First of all, I helped him walk all the way to Hengzhou Mansion! He scolded him harshly, and when the Qingye Bridge exploded, I was angry and worried about the safety of my brothers, so I took the lead in fighting out. "
Pu Zitong also heard Luo Maogui talk about this process.
What he wanted to know was whether Tang Peiyu said anything after Yan Daniu rushed to Tang Peiyu and before killing him.
After asking this question again, Yan Daniu was a little arrogant: "The general shot out a series of arrows, and the guards around him fell to death one after another. Tang Peiyu was also killed by the general's arrow first, and then he rushed over and beheaded him. , what else can he say? He wants to repay kindness with hatred, and he wants to kill the general and his brothers!"
"... Anyway, thinking about it, it's just because he has too small acumen and high self-esteem, and he is dissatisfied with the arrangement of the governor. As for Gu Shilong, it was just a promise, but he didn't expect Brother Yan to be able to make everyone Lu Guiyi's army is like an arm and a finger, and he is so capable of conquering and fighting."
Although Pu Zitong still couldn't figure out why Tang Peiyu rebelled and surrendered, but judging from the current situation, he probably didn't expect that he would be killed like this under the protection of the army without personally charging.
The frightened eyes and expression on the head that were not closed cannot be faked.
On the contrary, Yan Daniu's ability to take the heads of enemy generals among "thousands of armies" not only proved his bravery, but also completely separated from Tang Peiyu and proved that he was not the same person as the imperial court.
Although he was brought to Hengzhou by Tang Peiyu.
Pu Zitong patted his shoulder lightly again: "Take good care of yourself! Now is the time when we are united. As long as the other generals know that Brother Yan's subordinates are loyal and available, I can justifiably reuse you. Don't worry, no. It will be very slow. When you recover from your injury, I will inform Your Majesty that you will be appointed as the Commander-in-Chief of the former army and lead the entire army!"
"I will obey your orders!"
After Tang Peiyu left, Yan Daniu closed his eyes and seemed to fall asleep again.
The real Yan Chunsheng thought to himself: The second brother's plan really worked. Except for him and two brothers who entered the city, the other brothers were really left outside the city.
When the army presses further, Hengyang's defenders will all return to the city sooner or later.
This period of time is the time for them to completely gain the trust of Pu Zitong, and it is also the time necessary for many brothers to enter the city.
From then on, it was just a matter of waiting for an opportunity. Until then, the higher you climb within the rebels, the better.
Maybe this is also an opportunity to catch all the gang leaders in one go!
…
On September 27, of the two Hengyang garrison camps east of the Xiang River, the northern one was breached first.
The imperial army did not take risks to pursue them, but continued to push southward steadily.
On September 29, there were Wuchang Guards in the north and Nanchang Guards in the east. Although the two camps in the east of Hengyang City had joined forces, they still set a trap after receiving Pu Zitong's military order and abandoned the defenses, retreating to the Lei River again. The camp in the southeast of the city.
At this point, there are more than 5,000 brave men in the camp, enough to hold it for a long time.
If Gu Shilong's army were to pull out that camp again, there would be a danger that the defenders of Hengyang City would cross the river and cut off their retreat. If we divide our forces to defend the long Xiang River coast, it will be difficult to quickly break through the camp.
The camp in the west of the city was broken, and the Guangxi army and Ningyuan Guards had already entered the city.
However, relying on the Haoshui River and the Xiangshui River, the Hengyang defenders only focused on defending the west wall, and the pressure was not great.
The Battle of Hengyang fell into a stalemate. This was exactly what Pu Zitong wanted - to defend, delay and consume.
With the money looted by Zhan Huabi, Pu Zitong's many years of operation in Hengzhou Prefecture, and the still smooth water supply channel from Hengzhou Prefecture to Chenzhou Prefecture, Pu Zitong has the confidence to stay here for a year and a half.
For such a long time, so many troops from the imperial court gathered in Hengzhou Mansion, grain and grass were transferred, new laws were introduced, natural and man-made disasters occurred, would he not be able to wait for any chance?
In the northeast where Puzitong could not receive any messages, on the first day of October, the New Year's Day Festival began.
"The autumn grain harvests in many southern provinces are poor, and disaster relief is a major undertaking. I want to visit the south to see the disaster situation in person, and I should also go to Fengyang to pay a visit to the Emperor's Mausoleum and Ancestral Temple."
In Fengtian Hall, Zhang Zuo read these messages loudly.
"On the imperial tour to the south, major military and national affairs will be handled as usual. A cabinet vote will be submitted and then rushed to the emperor for a petition to the Holy See."
"Before the Holy Emperor returns to Beijing, he specially orders the Marquis of Jing'an, Sun Jiao, the great scholar Yang Tinghe, the great scholar Yang Tan, and the official minister Wang Qiong..."
After Changsha was defeated on August 27, the situation in Huguang changed. The old and tired Sun Jiao received an order to return to Beijing in early September, while Yao Rong, who had rich military experience, was ordered to go to governor Huguang.
Now, the imperial edict ordered nine counselors, including six ministers, to stay in Beijing, while the remaining counselors followed Zhu Houcong south.
There will be no monarch in Beijing for the time being, and there will be no prince who was the supervisor of the country in the Ming Dynasty.
Although many important matters have to be delivered quickly to the emperor for judgment, according to the current handling procedures of the imperial court, these nine advisers are equivalent to temporarily holding the decision-making power on many major military and national affairs.
But according to the situation in the Ming Dynasty at this time, with Sun Jiao, the old father-in-law, Ding Guogong, the old honorable relative, and Zhang Yong, the old eunuch, also sitting in the capital, and with Yang Ting and the leader of the New Law Party here, is it possible for anyone to cause anything?
The most important thing is driving.
Although Cui Yuan and Xiangcheng Bo Li Quanli commanded five thousand soldiers from the capital to protect them, if something happened, it would be a big deal.
Didn't Emperor Zhengde fall into the water after the "Southern Expedition" and gradually became seriously ill and died?
However, unknowingly, the emperor decided to tour the south at this moment, and there were few objections in the court.
If the adviser doesn't speak, it's useless for the other officials who have gradually become accustomed to speaking - in the royal study, the national policy meeting must have been well planned, so why do you need to act like a clown?
The previous Confucius Ceremony was probably the last time someone refused to believe in evil, and the result was-several people were killed with sticks outside Chengtian Gate.
At the court meeting, Zhu Houcong made detailed provisions in the imperial edict on the procedures for handling all matters after he left Beijing.
After the dynasty was over, he returned to the harem first.
Sun Ming felt very worried about his departure, but Zhu Houcong stroked the back of her hand: "Your father has also returned to Beijing. Nothing will happen in Beijing. If Zaiyi was not still young, I would have taken you with me."
"...Your Majesty, take Zaiyuan out as well, but be careful..."
"I told you that nothing will go wrong during my southern tour. Don't worry so much all the time."
Although Zhu Zai'an was only two years old, Zhu Houcong did not want him to grow up among women in the palace.
Sun Ming could only sigh, and then said to Lin Qingping, Wen Suyun, and Zhang Qinghe: "Your Majesty, please leave your daily life to Sisters Xianfei, Shufei, and Libi."
Wen Suyun was so excited that she nodded repeatedly - how could she have thought that after entering the palace and becoming a concubine, she would have the opportunity to accompany her on a southern tour?
Lin Qingping is Zhu Zaiyan's biological mother, so she naturally wants to go together.
Only Zhang Qinghe, who was always quiet and timid, didn't know why His Majesty ordered her to accompany him.
There are only two princes in the palace now, and everyone has heard the saying - His Majesty hopes that they will be older and in better shape before conceiving.
This trip will take at least several months. During the journey, by the time they return to Beijing, isn't it very likely that they will have already conceived first?
But on the road, I don’t know if I can get pregnant safely...
In the palace, Huang Jin made the final inspection of the preparations of the chamberlains and maids accompanying the southern tour.
Outside the palace, Lu Song gave Lu Bing a stern lesson: "Just prepare for the martial arts!"
As for the route that the emperor was going to pass on his southern tour outside the capital, Liu Zhenyuan had already led his people to make arrangements in advance.
The next day, the imperial guards in the capital stood on the line from Meridian Gate to Zhengyang Gate.
More than three years after entering the capital, the imperial palace once again appeared in front of the people of the capital. The emperor on the imperial palace could be seen from a distance by many people.
The thin young emperor at that time had grown a lot taller. Sitting on the chariot, he even smiled and waved to the people who came to kneel to see him off.
What followed was a cry of long live the mountains.
In the eyes of the officials and gentry, the emperor was somewhat cold, violent, and impatient.
But for the people in the capital, after the emperor ascended the throne, some of the imperial and official stores in the capital disappeared, and those that did not disappear also became too restrained.
The relatives and officials' children in the capital were no longer as arrogant and domineering as they were during the Zhengde period.
Although the days have not changed drastically, they are actually a lot more relaxed and there is a little more sense of security.
For ordinary people, this is already very good.
Yang Tinghe and others, who were following the emperor to escort the emperor outside the city, looked at this scene and looked at each other.
These are the effects of killing.
Starting from Mao Cheng, then Chen Jin and Guo Xun pleaded guilty, and then Zhang Heling was castrated and brought back to the capital. After entering the first year of Jiajing, more and more things happened.
The relatives and officials in Jingxun all learned that under the emperor's watchful eye, they could have some "understandable" extra income, but to do things well, they should not be too high-profile.
Three years have passed, and everyone may not necessarily be called heartfelt surrender, but no matter what they think in their hearts, they no longer dare to jump easily.
For those who are not strong enough, some have grass growing on their graves, and some are on death row.
The emperor hung on the invisible pole to warn the people of the world, including King Ji and King Yi, including Yan Shenggong, Hui Anbo, including Mao Cheng, Meng Chun, Fu Rongzhong...
Looking at Zhu Houcong's back, Yang Ting and the others were thinking about who else he would include on his southern tour this time.
But there is no doubt that by the time he comes back, there should have been a result in Huguang, and there are still some unwilling people in the hinterland of the Ming Dynasty who can no longer make any waves.
If he can come back successfully.
