Haisheng Mingdi

Chapter 306
Zhu Yihai didn't intend to confront Tan Tai head-on, but he still wanted to demolish Huai'an before he did.

The soldiers marched in two ways, one way was through the canal, the other way was to go out to sea along the Yangtze River, and then go north along the coast. In addition to the troops who had previously stationed in Hongze Lake and Gaoyou Lake, as well as Miaowan at the mouth of the Yellow River, this time Zhu Yihai It can be regarded as the best.

There are even volunteers from the township group formed in Jiangbei, transporting salt along the east to the north.

In the eyes of others, Jian Guo was a violent reaction to Tan Tai's insult to his ancestors by digging up graves, and he wanted to take revenge.

The canal from Guazhou to Huai'an is called the Li Canal, which was called Hangou in ancient times, and the common name is the Li River. It is about [-] miles long.During the Ming Dynasty, great importance was attached to the canal, and it was dredged many times, the Moon River was excavated between the Jianghuai River and the Huaihe River, the east embankment was built, and the lake-water separation project was carried out.

Also because of this canal, many water transport towns sprang up on both sides of the canal. Because of the great prosperity of grain and salt transported by water, even the handicraft business developed rapidly. However, in the last years of Chongzhen, both sides of the canal also encountered wars.

Soldiers passed like bandits, coming and going, and both sides of the canal were also battered and devastated.

The canal is not too wide, about five to ten feet wide, and the water is not too deep, but because the imperial court dredges it almost every year to ensure water transportation, even at this time, it is still very convenient to sail on the canal.

Even because of the war, the canal, which was often blocked by queues, is now very spacious.

Zhu Yihai's naval fleet sailed on the river very conveniently, and even the latest big bird three-layer gunboat was not affected.

However, compared to the Yangtze River, the navy in the canal is still not safe enough. The river is too close to the shore. If there are enemies ambushing on both sides, they can directly attack the ships in the river with rockets. Catch a turtle in an urn.

Fortunately, Zhu Yihai also brought the cavalry from Jinwu Town with him this time. They followed the shore and went out to scout and guard for safety.

Huama Liu never went south after he went to Huai'an last time. After Chen Tai came, he dispatched thousands of soldiers to recover Yangzhou and sent people to restore the rule of the towns on both sides of the canal. Those gentry and common people would not resist the Ming army.

Faced with the Ming army crossing the border, some big households chose to run to avoid it. Most of the people had already calmed down and stayed at home.

There were also those who came to volunteer to join the army, and some who brought some local products to sell.

This scene is just like the usual tank boat transit.

For them, they are numb to soldiers now, life has to go on.

Zhu Yihai didn't stop along the way. Last time, Ruan Jin and Huang Binqing had swept through the canal line. They demolished the Huaiyang area of ​​more than 300 miles. Now many canal towns still lack a section in the east and a piece in the west.

The towns and cities are now empty and there is no money and grain storage, so there is no need to waste time. Except for a small number of strong squads and Baojia who are maintaining law and order, there is no Qing army.

They marched all the way north.

March at a speed of one hundred miles a day.

Three days later, they had already arrived in Huai'an Fucheng.

Since the Yellow River took Sihuai into the sea, Huai'an Mansion, a city originally named after Huai, has now become a city on the south bank of the Yellow River, with Hongze Lake in the west, the Yellow River in the north, and the sea in the east.

The Ming Dynasty originally established Dahewei here.

During the peaceful years when the canal was prosperous, the wealth of Huai’an Mansion was not much worse than that of Yangzhou. It is said that [-] tank ships and tens of thousands of merchant ships passed by every year.

In the Ming Dynasty, the Yellow River was diverted from the Huaihe River to the sea, which affected the canal. The Ming Dynasty spent a lot of manpower and material resources to separate the Yellow River from the canal between Xiazhen and Huai'an in Weishan Lake, Shandong, and opened the Maokou Canal and Tongji New River. , Zhonghe and other canal projects.

Huai'an is connected to the Li Canal in the south, the Zhong Canal in the north, and the Huai River and the Yellow River pass by the door, so it has become a connecting hub between the north and the south.

The Governor of Water Transport is stationed in Huai'an.

Shanyang, the prefectural city of Huai'an, is also known as the city of Chong, Complex, Tired, Difficult, and Reliable. There are not only Caobiao camps stationed here, but also Canal Chaoguan.

After crossing Baima Lake and Jinghe River, it enters the southern border of Huai'an Prefecture.

The forward Ming army in Hongze Lake came to greet him, and Liu Zehan, the son of Liu Liangzuo, also came to greet him.

"Liu Shixun, deputy general of Chenshui Division, pays his respects to His Royal Highness Jian Guo."

"I heard that you just captured Sizhou, how about the casualties?"

Sizhou is located in the southwest corner of Hongze Lake. It is also the end of the eastern section of the Huaihe River after the Yellow River seized the Huaihe River. After the Huaihe River flows into Hongze Lake in Sizhou, it will disappear.

Sizhou is an important town on the Huaihe River, but at this time Liu Liangzuo directly dedicated Sizhou to the Ming army, and his former troops were also stationed in Sizhou. He asked him to open the city and surrender to the Ming army with a letter.

Liu Zehan came up to meet him and explained his identity.

"Last time, you were Mr. Qian, but now you are the son of Huama Liu, the lieutenant general,"

"It's the guilty minister who concealed his identity. Please forgive me, Your Highness." Liu Zehan hurriedly explained his purpose of coming. His father was willing to sacrifice Huai'an, and he had already persuaded Sizhou and Haizhou to be stationed in the old ministry and surrender together.

Zhu Yihai was meeting Liu Zehan on a canal boat, so it seemed nothing strange to Liu Liangzuo at this time anyway.

"I heard that your father was dismissed by the Qing government because he lost Yangzhou and other places, and he had to go to Beijing to question his crimes. Your Liu family and his family surrendered to the Qing Dynasty, and your father even led 10 people to the Qing Dynasty. What a fate. It’s embarrassing.”

Liu Zehan thought that the Ming army didn't know about it for a while, and only said that his father was in a good mood, and now that Ming is attached to him anyway, he can have a more status in Jian Guo. Unexpectedly, Lu Jian Guo would know all the details.

Anyway, from taking the initiative, it is completely different now that you have nowhere to go to vote.

"Of course, no matter what, you father and son are willing to abandon the darkness and return to the light, and are even willing to persuade the old department to go along with you. Gu is very happy."

After some beatings, Zhu Yihai asked Liu Zehan to return to Huai'an City, and asked him to bring back an imperial edict.

Zhu Yihai granted Liu Liangzuo the earl of Huai'an, the left governor of the rear army and the right servant of the military department, and was still the admiral of Jiangbei.

Liu Liangzuo was originally the Earl of Guangchang, conferred by Hongguang, but now the court of Lu Jianguo has abolished Hongguang's throne, so there is no such thing as the Hongguang Dynasty and the official titles conferred by the Hongguang Dynasty.

Still give him an earl, the main reason is that it is still considered a special period, although Liu Liangzuo is incompetent, but this man is one of the original four towns, and now he can lead his men to vote with soldiers and horses, he must give two dates.

Huang Binqing conferred the earl, Zheng Zhilong also conferred the marquis, and Zhu Yihai was willing to give up an empty title.

Liu Zehan was also conferred the title of Baron of Shanyang County by Zhu Yihai, and was awarded the rank of Chief Soldier.

He thanked him thousands of times and hurried back to Huai'an City. After listening to it, Liu Liangzuo held the imperial decree in a complicated mood.

"Call the Chinese officials and generals in the city to come and read the imperial decree!"

Set up a table and burn incense.

The decree is on the case.

The officials and generals in the city gathered together, and Liu Liangzuo invited the imperial decree to be read out.

"All of you follow me out of the city to welcome His Royal Highness Jian Guo!"

The crowd responded.

After Liu Liangzuo decided to go anyway, he had already acted preemptively. He cut down some officials sent by the Qing court in the city, such as supervisors and censors, as well as some loyal Tartars. The rest were either his old ministries or It is those who fall on two sides, and no one opposes Tou Ming anymore.

The flag of Ming Dynasty was once again raised on the city of Huai'an.

The city gate opened slowly.

The generals and officials of Huai'an City who had cut off their braids led out, followed by Liu's soldiers and horses in the city, all of whom also cut off their braids.

They threw away the green flag and went out of the city to meet His Highness Daming Jianguo!

(End of this chapter)