1635 Han style rises again

Chapter 839 Zhang Shi
On August 1669, 1, Nanjing.

Sun Kewang looked up and down at the envoy of the State of Qi, a little surprised at the embarrassing face of the other party, and then he couldn't help feeling a little contempt in his heart.

The Qi State is located in the southern desert continent, and there are many Diyi natives everywhere. Even the high-ranking officials in the court, such as the Honglu Temple Minister, have to use barbarians to take over.In vain, Qi State has always called itself a branch of the Chinese civilization, passing on the blood of the Han people in Tiannan. It is afraid that within a few decades, Qi State may become a country of barbarians and barbarians.

"How is King Qi in Hanzhou?" Sun Kewang asked in harmony.

"The envoy thanked King Qin for his greetings on behalf of the king." Huang Zijia Chaosun Kewang cupped his hands, "My king has always been in good health, and he hardly has any hidden diseases."

"I heard that your country of Qi will officially move its capital to the southeast of Hanzhou next year. At that time, I will send an envoy to congratulate you."

"Thank you King Qin." Huang Zijia bowed his hands again.

"A few months ago, my Ministry of Rites of the Ming Dynasty neglected your envoy, and I have already reported to Your Majesty and severely punished the corresponding officials." Sun Kewang said slowly: "From now on, there will be no more visits from your country's envoys." Such slow things."

"The envoy is here, thank you King Qin for your care." Huang Zijia couldn't help showing a smile on his face when he heard this.

What's the matter, are these words a tactful apology to Qi Guo?
"Does your envoy have any advice on the Northern Expedition that Ming Dynasty is currently going on?" Sun Kewang pondered for a moment, then asked tentatively.

"The Northern Expedition of the Ming Dynasty, the expulsion of the Tartars, and the unification of China. This is what Qi Guo is happy to see happen." Huang Zijia said: "But in the past few months, I heard that there have been some changes in the war in the north. The Ming army suffered a small setback. The Qing captives gained some momentum. However, the envoys believe that under the wise command of Your Majesty and the King of Qin, the Ming army will inevitably injure the Qing captives again, go straight to their lairs, and complete the great cause of unification."

Small setback?

My army of the Northern Expedition of the Ming Dynasty suffered a disastrous defeat in Cangzhou, losing more than [-] troops and abandoning countless supplies.Immediately afterwards, under the counterattack of the Qing captives, they lost Dezhou, Binzhou, Zichuan, Linqing, Jinan and other important towns, and lost nearly [-] troops again.The coach Wang Shangli only led more than [-] disabled soldiers to retreat to Jining, which was able to withstand the continuous attacks of the Qing captives, and did not let them rush back to Jianghuai in one breath.

More than [-] cavalrymen of the Qing Dynasty have bypassed Jining and attacked the Xuzhou area, sweeping up the cities and rear supplies stationed by the Ming army's weak troops, as if to completely isolate the entire Shandong theater, and put on a picture of completely annihilating the Ming army's east road and northern expedition The posture of the army.

Faced with this situation, Sun Kewang, in addition to hastily mobilizing troops from the middle route to aid Shandong, also ordered the mobilization and organization of troops from Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Fujian, Guangdong and other places, preparing to send more troops to the Jianghuai and Shandong areas, to clear the captives. Then push back.

However, half a month ago, more than 2000 troops dispatched by the Ming army from Yingzhou (now Fuyang City), Suzhou and other places encountered a surprise attack by nearly [-] cavalry from the Qing captives in Juye County, west of Jining, and the main general Peng Baowen died in the battle. , more than [-] officers and soldiers were killed, more than [-] were captured, and finally less than [-] Ming soldiers fled back to Caozhou (now Heze City, Shandong).

In order to frighten the Ming army, or perhaps to show off their military power, the Qing captives beheaded all the more than [-] captured Ming soldiers, and then used the heads of all Ming soldiers to build several huge Beijing temples.

After receiving the report of defeat, Bai Wenxuan, the commander-in-chief of the Ming Army's Central Route Army, feared that the Qing cavalry would raid the rear, stopped attacking Runing, and led the troops to slowly retreat to Xinyang Prefecture.

In less than two months, the once good situation turned around in an instant. The army on the east road suffered heavy losses, and the army on the middle road was forced to retreat by the Qing captives.For the entire Ming Dynasty, it was a small setback, a disastrous defeat. Seeing that the third Northern Expedition to the Central Plains was about to end in failure, Sun Kewang couldn't help but feel anxious, wishing to drag Wang Shangli back immediately and kill him with a knife. Cut off his head.

At this time, he desperately needs a victory to reverse the doubts of him inside and outside the court, as well as the ridicule and ridicule of him by the folk scholars.

After occupying Jiangnan, in order to quickly increase the strength of the imperial court, Sun Kewang immediately imitated the Yunnan model and carried out the reform of the land rent policy after the defeat of the first Northern Expedition.

In the past, the land rent policy of the majority of landlords and gentry towards the common people was that they would receive [-]% to [-]% of the harvest in the fields, while the common people would only get [-]% to [-]% of the land.But Sun Kewang completely changed the situation. The imperial court got [-]% of it, but the common people could get [-]%.Of the [-]%, if you are a tenant, you will have to give [-]% to the landlord.

The impact of this incident was very important. Although the common people only took an extra [-]-[-]% of the harvest, it greatly mobilized the enthusiasm of the common people for production, and it also ensured that the imperial court had enough food and salaries.

The only ones who suffer are the landlords and gentry. However, first of all, they have a lot of fields, so they don't have to worry about not having enough food and drink.Second, under the threat of Sun Kewang's sword, the landlords dare not openly oppose and resist if they can guarantee their basic living conditions.After all, Sun Kewang hadn't ordered their land to be confiscated and redistributed to the people, which would have been the utmost benevolence.

However, although this move allowed Sun Kewang to win great prestige among the people and the fans and support of countless people, he was met with rave reviews and slanders among the landlords and gentry.Some people even said, "What the sun thief did is no less than the acts of rebellion and sacrificing the thieves back then, and it is not as good as the good deeds of the Qing captives back then."

For the opposition and slander of the gentry, Sun Kewang directly used the method of "swords and guns" to forcibly suppress those landlords and gentry who blatantly opposed him. Property, for a while, set off a bloodbath in the entire Jiangnan area, making countless landlords and gentry silent.

But Sun Kewang knew that he was able to suppress the landlords and gentry in the south of the Yangtze River for a while, relying on his powerful armed forces.If he could not win one victory after another in the Northern Expedition to clear the captives, and improve his reputation, those dormant opposition forces would inevitably jump out again, posing a serious threat to his ruling foundation.

This time the Northern Expedition was won first and then lost. Not only did it lose troops and generals, it also caused the Qing captives to push back, causing a discordant voice to appear in the court. As for the people, there are countless landlords and gentry gloating. joke.

Therefore, Sun Kewang hoped to make some positive progress on the battlefield, not only to stop the current decline in the middle and east roads, but also to launch a counterattack in due course to deal heavy damage to the Qing captives and to redeem the unfavorable remarks inside and outside the court .

When the envoy of Qi State came to Nanjing, he met with him immediately, hoping to get some support and assistance from Qi State.

"We have accumulated a lot of ordnance and ammunition in Ryukyu. If you Ming urgently need it, we can provide the necessary support." Huang Zijia didn't make any excuses when he heard Sun Kewang's tactful expression that he needed a batch of artillery to supplement the troops.In the past two months, the Ming army was chased by the Qing captives and driven all the way to Jining. It seems that they lost a lot of artillery and other ordnance.

"Thank you Qi Guo for providing support and help when my Ming Dynasty was in crisis." Sun Kewang couldn't help but heaved a sigh of relief. He was really afraid that when he proposed to buy a batch of artillery urgently just now, he would be rejected by the other party.

"His Royal Highness Qin, before coming to Nanjing, our generals from the Qi State had a meeting to discuss the Shandong War." Huang Zijia said: "We all agree that the Qing soldiers besieged Jining with the intention of encircling them and using their powerful cavalry. , Defeat your Ming's reinforcements one by one, and annihilate your Ming's vital force."

"Well, my Ming military council also came to this conclusion." Sun Kewang nodded, and said: "Therefore, my Ming will form another heavy army group, cross the Yangtze River, pass through the Jianghuai River, and advance slowly, without giving the Qing captives any chance. "

"In order to cooperate with your Ming's military operations, our Qi State is preparing to launch a landing operation behind the Qing Dynasty to mobilize the troops of the Qing Dynasty and create the necessary counterattack opportunities for you."

"Very good!" A smile appeared on Sun Kewang's face, "In this way, my Ming Dynasty will have more time to organize and assemble the army, and launch the most violent counterattack against the Qing captives."

"Dare to ask Your Highness, I wonder if there is someone to lead the army this time?"

"Gu intends to call the commander of the Huguang Battalion, Ding Guogong (Bai Wenxuan) to hang the seal and go out."

"If Ding Guogong leaves Huguang, won't it create opportunities for the Qing Dynasty to break through in the middle?" Huang Zijia shook his head and said, "Actually, His Royal Highness King Qin has a better choice."

"Huh?" Sun Kewang looked at Huang Zijia suspiciously.

"The King of Gan (Li Dingguo) once defeated the Qing captives in Guangdong, Guangxi, Hunan and other places, with few defeats. Such a handsome man should not be idle in Nanchang, so that he can indulge in the mountains and rivers and enjoy the pastoral joy."

"Li Dingguo?" Sun Kewang heard the words, the corners of his mouth twitched a few times, and his face couldn't help showing a gloomy look.

---------

On October 1, Nanchang.

"Father, you can't go." Li Sixing looked at Li Dingguo who was in deep thought, and said softly: "Wang Shangli is incompetent. Since the defeat of Cangzhou, in less than half a month, he lost Dezhou, Binzhou, Jinan and other important towns, and now he is in a mess. The situation is extremely dangerous, and the situation is already extremely dangerous. He keeps asking the court for reinforcements. At this time, Sun Kewang asked his father to take command of the Northern Expedition, so that you can clean up the mess. If you are not careful, your father's undefeated reputation will... ...and be destroyed!"

"His Royal Highness, the son is right!" Jin Tongwu, Marquis of Pingyang, said in a deep voice: "That grandson Kewang is jealous of the virtuous and capable. Since the end of the first Northern Expedition, he was afraid that His Royal Highness would make another military exploit and endanger his status, so he left His Highness idle in Nanchang for more than ten years. In [-], our troops were trapped in Jiangxi, and we suppressed and squeezed out in many ways. Now, the war in the north is unfavorable, and the army is lost. This Northern Expedition is about to end in failure again. This is nothing less than a fatal blow to Sun Kewang's power. Therefore, Your Highness, please do not Accepting this appointment will save Sun Kewang from defeat."

"Are the soldiers of all the ministries still capable of fighting?" Li Dingguo turned his head to look at his eldest son and his confidant, and smiled slightly, "Do you still dare to fight with me on the battlefield again?"

"Father..."

"Your Highness..."

"I remember that more than ten years ago, the people of Qi State once said to me that brothers fight against the wall, and the outside world resists their insults." Li Dingguo waved his hand, stopped the two people from trying to persuade them, and said solemnly: "I and the King of Qin They have different ideas and different actions, but this is a dispute between brothers. The Qing captives have lived in the Central Plains for more than 20 years. Several times of Northern Expeditions to restore the Central Plains and unify the Jin and Ou, we readily agree."

"Your Highness, if you obey Sun Kewang and go out in command, if you win, you may be feared and suppressed by him again. If you lose, not only will your reputation be ruined, but your life may also be in danger." Jin Tongwu said eagerly : "Besides, Sun Kewang transferred our Jiangxi army to the north, and he is suspected of drawing salary from the bottom of the pot!"

In other words, after Jiangxi was liberated more than ten years ago, the economy and people's livelihood recovered quickly.Not only the rapid growth of agricultural production, but also relying on tea, porcelain, and the convenient Ganjiang waterway, the commercial economy flourished, making the entire Jiangxi rich second only to the Jiangnan area, and allowing Li Dingguo to obtain unprecedented sufficient food and salaries.

The Jiangxi army of more than [-] was equipped with a large number of firearms, and even imitated the Qi army model, and established a pure firearms force of more than [-] people. Among the troops stationed in various places in Ming Dynasty, it was regarded as a powerful local force.

Sun Kewang recruited the Jiangxi army to go north to conquer the Qing captives. In case, it was a plan to divert the tiger away from the mountain, and someone took the opportunity to occupy the old nest. Wouldn't it make the Jiangxi army no chance to cry and become a rootless duck.

"You have underestimated the King of Qin." Li Dingguo smiled, "He will not touch me in Jiangxi easily until the Qing captives are expelled and the Ming Dynasty is unified. Anyway, he and I are righteous brothers, and we are all under the rule of the Ming Dynasty. Well, even relying on the friendship of the Western Army in the past, he would not dare to do such internal killings. Otherwise, wouldn’t the old brothers who are still there be in danger and guard him wholeheartedly, and finally end up in a situation where they all betrayed their relatives? ?”

"Your Highness..." Jin Tongwu wanted to persuade him again.

"Okay, you don't need to say much." Li Dingguo stood tall and looked at the generals of the Jiangxi Army in the palace. , and then attack the Qing captives."
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On February 2, Yongping Prefecture, Jieshi Port (now Qinhuangdao Port).

In the entire Bohai Rim region, almost all coastal ports will be covered with ice in midwinter, and the freezing period will generally be from December to February of the next year.During this period, neither fishing boats going out to sea nor merchant ships traveling north and south will appear in this coastal area.

However, Jieshi Port in Yongping Prefecture is affected by the warm current of the Yellow Sea from the south and the high salt content of the seawater prevents the seawater from freezing and has become an important port for many fishermen to go fishing.

And in the morning of this day, more than [-] large and small warships suddenly gathered outside the port, with heavy sails and clear flags. Many fishermen in the port were dumbfounded, and countless small boats quickly rowed to the pier.

As the boat approached the shore, or directly rushed to the beach, groups of heavily armed soldiers jumped off the boat and rushed straight over.

"You..., are you the Qi army?"

Holding muskets, these soldiers just glanced at the dumbfounded fishermen, then passed them and ran towards the Acropolis in the distance.A fisherman suddenly thought of something, and bravely asked the passing soldier.

"That's right, we are the army of the State of Qi." A captain (second lieutenant) accompanying the soldiers stopped, looked at several fishermen with a smile, then took out a pot of shochu from his pocket, and handed it to one of them, "You guys are facing the front Are you familiar with the Acropolis? Can you tell us about the defenses inside?... If it is useful, in addition to this jug of wine, there is also a reward."

(End of this chapter)