Chongzhen Daming: Starting from Coal Mountain

Chapter 435 Ice Walking Attack
At this time, more than 100 warships and more than 200 merchant ships of the Daming Navy were forced to stop on the ice a hundred miles away from Dagukou, unable to move forward.

"Yan remonstrates, my country's lord can only send you here."

Zheng Zhilong called Yan Yingyuan to his flagship hall, and said with some embarrassment: "The ice layer in front is too thick, it will cause damage to the bow of the naval warship, and we can only stop here."

"But you don't have to worry, this place is only more than 100 miles away from Dagukou."

"You have prepared so many ice sledges, no matter how slow you are, you will definitely be able to reach the Dagu Pass before midnight tonight, just enough to catch the defenders of the Dagu Pass by surprise."

Yan Yingyuan quickly expressed his thanks and said, "I really appreciate the help of Duke Min and the sailors along the way."

"Where?" Zheng Zhilong waved his hand and said, "You and I are all officials of Daming, shouldn't it be right to help each other, then you should quickly unload your supplies and prepare to attack on the ice."

"The next official takes orders." Yan Yingyuan readily agreed.

Soon, one after another ice sledges were lowered from the deck of the navy warship.

Immediately, teams of heavily armed new army officers and soldiers descended from the side of the warship to the ice along the rope ladder, followed by bags of grain, barrels of gunpowder, red barbarian cannons and so on. A large number of other combat materials were hoisted from the sides of naval warships and merchant ships one by one.

In order to defend Dagukou, Yan Yingyuan prepared tens of thousands of tons of defense materials.

The accompanying more than 200 merchant ships, each with a displacement of more than [-] tons.

Almost all of these more than 200 merchant ships were loaded with supplies for defending the city prepared by Yan Yingyuan.

Chongzhen decided to promote the development of Jiangnan industry and commerce with the development of military industry, and it was serious.

In addition to the orders from the arsenal, Chongzhen also gave a large number of military orders to other industries, such as ordering a large number of quilts from the textile industry. It is said that a large number of vans have been ordered from the wood furniture processing industry, and lime sintering and porcelain bottles are another example.

Anyway, as long as it is conceivable, Chongzhen will spread a lot of orders.

So this time, Yan Yingyuan and Xu Yingwei both carried tens of thousands of tons of combat supplies.

That is to say, it is possible to use the ice sledge to transport materials, otherwise it would be impossible for Yan Yingyuan's five thousand new troops to bring so many materials to Dagukou.

However, Chongzhen still prepared two thousand mules and horses for Yan Yingyuan and the others.

The two thousand mules and horses can not only be used to pull carts, but also can satisfy hunger when food is running out.

After an initial speed was given, the ice sledges loaded with supplies and ordnance slid forward under the pull of the mules and horses. The hooves of the mules and horses were wrapped in thick cotton cloth to prevent slipping.

The new army also began to line up and move forward.

Zheng Zhilong also went down to the ice to see Yan Yingyuan off: "Yan remonstrates, as soon as the ice thaws, the Lord of the country will lead the navy to Dagukou to assist you in defending the city, and deal with the navy who built slaves by the way."

"Our navy came from Dengzhou, and we will arrive in one and a half days with smooth wind and water."

"Minister of the State of Min, let's leave now as an official." Yan Yingyuan gave a long bow, got up and followed the troops.

Watching Yan Yingyuan lead the new army away, Zheng Zhilong said to Zheng Cai who was beside him: "This man really has the style of a countryman, and a mere five thousand soldiers dare to stick to the throat of Dagukou."

Zheng Cai said: "This person is just an abandoned son of the Holy One."

"Shut up." Zheng Zhilong reprimanded with a dark face, "Don't criticize your lord behind your back."

"Yes." Zheng Cai hurriedly bowed, and said respectfully, "Remember the instruction of foster father."

But judging from Zheng Cai's expression, he obviously disagreed. He obviously thought that Yan Yingyuan and the five thousand new troops were used by Chongzhen to consume and build slaves, and they were obviously abandoned sons.

……

Zhou Peigong wrapped his ragged cotton jacket tightly, and curled his body into a ball as much as possible, which would make him feel a little warmer, otherwise he would really be frozen to death.

The weather in March is already much warmer than in February.

But dozens of miles away, the sea was still bitingly cold.

Zhou Peigong stared at the ice cave about a foot in front of him without blinking.

There is a buoy made of straw in the ice hole, yes, he is fishing.

Zhou Peigong is only 16 years old this year. He was originally from Jingmen, Hubei. When Li Zicheng invaded Hubei in the 15th year of Chongzhen, he fled to Gyeonggi with his fellow countrymen. It became the coating of a bannerman named Tu Hai in Zhenghuang Banner.

Tuhai didn't feel sympathetic to Zhou Peigong just because he was young.

Mr. Zhou Peigong has to undertake heavy physical labor when the farming is busy, and he has to fish when the farming is slack.

Because there is too much coating for offshore fishing, Zhou Peigong can only go to the depths of the North Sea fifty miles away to break ice and fish.

But today's luck was really bad. After fishing for more than four hours, it was almost dark, but he didn't even catch a big fish. If nothing happened, he had to go back empty-handed.

Zhou Peigong suddenly felt inexplicably flustered at the thought that he would definitely be beaten severely after returning home.

Because Tuhai's temper is very violent, and the attack is not serious, it is really possible to beat him to death.

But he didn't dare to escape, because once the fugitive slave was caught by the patrol team, he could not help but be executed immediately. How far could he escape given his current physical condition?

The straw buoy in the ice cave suddenly sank.

"There's a fish biting the hook!" Zhou Peigong was overjoyed and swung his rod violently.

He felt that his hand was extremely heavy, heavier than the biggest fish he had caught before.

If you can catch a big fish weighing more than ten catties, maybe you don't need to be beaten.

The big fish began to frantically scurry back and forth under the ice layer, the hemp rope was stretched straight, and the fishing rod was bent to the limit. Before Zhou Peigong could react, the fishing rod snapped off.

The broken half of the fishing rod was pulled into the ice cave and disappeared.

Looking at the small half of the fishing rod left in his hand, Zhou Peigong wanted to cry but had no tears.

At this moment, a shadowy figure suddenly appeared on the ice in front of him.

This is the deep sea, how could there be people on the ice?Zhou Peigong rubbed his eyes vigorously before looking forward.

Now I can see it more clearly. There are really people, and there are many, many people, and there are countless ice sledges. It looks like an army?This is the Ming army?Qing army?
Out of instinctive fear of the army, Zhou Peigong jumped up and ran away.

But the next moment, Zhou Peigong fell heavily on the ice again.

Because of sitting on the ice for too long, his legs have been numb from the cold.

The movement here quickly attracted the attention of the "army" in front, and soon a group of "soldiers" slid over on the ice linden and surrounded Zhou Peigong.

I saw that this group of soldiers were all wearing red cloth masks.

What they hold in their hands are all bird guns with bayonets installed.

Looking at the black muzzle pointing at him, Zhou Peigong thought that he was going to die this time.

Sun Fanzhi frowned and looked at this ragged young man, feeling vaguely familiar.

At that moment, Sun Fanzhi asked Zhou Peigong, "Boy, what's your name? Have you ever been to Changping Prefecture?"

"In the case of Mr. Hui Jun, the boy's name is Zhou Peigong." Zhou Peigong said hastily, "I went to Changping Prefecture to beg three years ago."

"I remember." Sun Fanzhi slapped his thigh and said, "You are that little beggar, the Jingmen little beggar who can recite poems."

"You are the benefactor?" Zhou Peigong's eyes lit up when he heard the words, and he said, "You are the second son of the Sun family who rewarded the kid with a meal and a quilt in the winter of Chongzhen's 16th year?"

"What second son." Sun Fanzhi shook his head and said, "It's all in the past."

Speaking of the past, Sun Fanzhi thought of the fifteen members of his family who were killed, and felt a little sad.

But soon, Sun Fanzhi readjusted his mood and asked Zhou Peigong, "What are you doing here?"

"I was forced by Jiannu." Zhou Peigong sighed, "If you don't catch three big fish every day, you won't be fed."

"So, you have now been reduced to Jiannu's coat?" Sun Fanzhi asked.

Zhou Peigong said: "Not only me, but all the Han people in Gyeonggi have been reduced to coats."

Sun Fanzhi asked again: "What is your master's family name, and where does he live?"

Zhou Peigong replied: "My name is Tuhai. I don't know what my surname is. I live in Dagukou in front of me."

"Live in Dagukou? That's great, it's really hard to find anywhere, and it doesn't take much effort to get here." At that moment, Sun Fanzhi brought Zhou Peigong to Yan Yingyuan.

"Brother Juheng, it seems that there is no need to send someone to investigate Dagukou." Sun Fanzhi pointed to Zhou Peigong and said, "This man is called Zhou Peigong, an old acquaintance of mine, and he served as a coat for Jiannu at Dagukou."

"Is there such a thing?" Yan Yingyuan asked, "How many real slaves are there in Dagukou?"

"There are only a dozen or so." Zhou Pei said fairly, "Besides the real slaves, there are more than 100 green battalion soldiers."

Yan Yingyuan couldn't help but exchanged glances with Sun Fanzhi, the situation was similar to what they had expected.

Sun Fanzhi then asked: "Are there no Han troops stationed in the Eight Banners? And the navy of Jiannu is not in Dagukou?"

"No." Zhou Peigong shook his head like a rattle, and said repeatedly, "Tianjin Wei has the Eight Banners Han Army, and the navy of Jiannu is also stationed in Tianjin Wei, and there are also in Tongzhou."

Yan Yingyuan asked a few more questions, and Zhou Peigong answered them fluently.

Yan Yingyuan came from a criminal background, and he could ask a few questions about whether Zhou Peigong lied or not. He was sure that what Zhou Peigong said was the truth and he was not lying.

However, Sun Tzu's Art of War has a saying: Soldiers, the great affairs of the country, the place of death and life, and the way of survival must be observed.

Even though it was clear that Zhou Peigong was not lying, Yan Yingyuan was still worried, and said to Sun Fanzhi: "Brother Wufu, please take a trip to Dagukou first, just in case."

"Alright." Although Sun Fanzhi felt that it was unnecessary, he agreed to come down.

At present, Sun Fanzhi led a group of new troops, and quickly slid forward on the ice linden.

Yan Yingyuan invited Zhou Peigong to sit on his ice sledge and follow him.

When it was nearly midnight, Yan Yingyuan led [-] recruits to the entrance of Dagu.

Sun Fanzhi, who arrived first, immediately came forward: "Brother Juheng, what Zhou Peigong said is true. There are only a dozen real slaves and more than a hundred green battalion soldiers in Dagukou. .”

"Okay." Yan Yingyuan nodded happily, "Then let's attack the city directly."

Dagukou is actually a small market town, not even a county seat. There were hundreds of families with a population of more than 2000 people before the slaves entered the customs, but now there are only a few hundred people left.

Because it is not a county seat, there is no decent city wall.

There is only a circle of earthen walls and no trenches, which can only resist wild animals.

The fire can be seen faintly behind the earthen wall, probably the green battalion soldiers on the night watch.

As soon as Yan Yingyuan waved his hand, a new army immediately threw out its flying claws to grab the earth wall, and then turned over with two strokes.

As soon as they climbed over the earth wall, they saw two green battalion soldiers huddling their necks around the campfire to keep warm, and they were cursing and talking about something, probably cursing their superiors.

Further forward is the dark and dirty houses.

Hundreds of dirt houses were immersed in the quiet night, so quiet that it was frightening.

A few dogs in the town seemed to smell something, and started barking wildly.

The barking of the dirt dog alarmed the two green battalion soldiers who were guarding the night. One of them cursed a few more words, and was about to get up to check the dirt wall, but before he got up, he suddenly felt someone was bullying him.

"Who?!" The Green Battalion soldiers turned around abruptly, only to find in horror that more than a dozen black figures had surrounded them.

Moreover, these dozen or so black shadows were holding bird guns, and the black muzzles were already aimed at them. Seeing this scene, the two green battalion soldiers did not dare to act rashly anymore, the most important thing was to save their lives.

But the two green battalion soldiers are also strange.

This is Dagukou, but there are also local thieves?

Then soon, they found out that it was not a bandit.

Because these "local thieves" actually wore uniform armor.

This is obviously not a bandit, because the armor of the bandits is very few, and their styles are also varied, but the armor styles of this group are exactly the same, even the color is uniform bright red.

"It's the Ming army!" The two green battalion soldiers were extremely shocked.

This is simply unimaginable, has the Ming army already reached Dagukou?

Then, under the shocked eyes of the two green battalion soldiers, the Ming army opened the front gate of the village, and then more Ming troops swarmed in through the gate, and the local dogs in the town barked even more intensely.

Finally, a Jiannu got up in cloak to check, and confronted the Ming army.

"Ming dog!" Jiannu's reaction was still fast, and he wanted to run home after a loud roar.

However, it was too late, Jiannu was shot and fell to the ground with two bangs.

As soon as the blunderbuss rang, there was no need to hide. The soldiers of the new army pouring into the town violently opened the door and rushed in with gleaming bayonets. poke.

In less than a moment, most of the dozen or so real slaves stationed at Dagukou were stabbed into blood sieves.

Only one Jiannu reacted very quickly and ran away on an unsaddled horse.

More than a hundred green battalion soldiers and dozens of Baoyi were captured alive. This is a valuable labor force and cannot be easily killed.

After taking control of Dagukou, Yan Yingyuan immediately assigned tasks: "Sun Fanzhi, you are responsible for transporting all the supplies into the town and placing them properly. Ji Yunhong and Zhu Yanzuo, you two will lead troops to build the blunderbuss platform outside Dagukou. Chen Ming Yu, Feng Dunhou, you two and I will build the Hongyi cannon position with me."

(End of this chapter)