Kangxi, your Qing Dynasty is dead

Chapter 232 Although Daming has a small territory, it has many loyal ministers and princes!

Dashengguan is said to be a "pass", but in fact it is not a city pass standing at a certain pass or mountain pass to block road sections, but a river defense fortress.It was built on a river less than three miles wide near Nanjing, less than three miles north of Dasheng Pass, and it is a relatively open estuary of the Qinhuai River.

This Dasheng Pass can guard the Yangtze River and protect the estuary of the Qinhuai River. It is naturally dangerous to place it near Jiangning.During the hegemony period at the end of the Yuan Dynasty in history, Chen Youliang's Eastern Expeditionary Army was defeated by Zhu Yuanzhang in this area, and the name "Great Victory" was derived from this.

After entering the Ming Dynasty, Zhu Yuanzhang, who liked to build infrastructure and build city walls, naturally wanted to build a large-scale construction project in Dashengguan. Not only did he build Dashengguan City, but he also built a wharf and a water fortress at the entrance of the nearby Qinhuai River. It is a pity that this dangerous place in the upper reaches of Nanjing City was guarded. It is a pity that Dasheng Pass never played any role in the subsequent war to defend Nanjing.

However, the ancient city of Dashengguan and the wharf near the mouth of the Qinhuai River have existed until now, and they have become the west gate of Nanjing's "Xiaoming Dynasty" that has just reopened.

On the second day after the Third Prince Zhu made his debut in Jinling City in the name of Dingwang Jianguo, Wang Huaxing, who "had a dream" during the change of Xiaolingwei so that Zhu Yuanzhang could entrust his dream, was appointed as the general soldier of Dashengguan. Let him immediately take five hundred newly recruited soldiers from the Jiangning City Guard Battalion to Dashengguan to take up his post.

After Wang Huaxing arrived at Dasheng Pass, he recruited a private private navy under the green camp of the Qing army with only 200 people (actual number), recruited some scattered fishermen and private businessmen, and assembled an army of [-]. The number is not large. But Wang Huaxing is a martial arts scholar with both civil and military skills. He has a quick mind and is familiar with "The Romance of the Three Kingdoms" and "Sun Tzu's Art of War".

After setting up the team at Dasheng Pass, he bought a batch of cloth and satin woven by Jiangning from Nanjing City, made many large flags, and planted a banner on Dasheng Pass and the water village at the mouth of the Qinhuai River. Exhibition!
In addition, he asked Li Zhongshan (Wang Zhongxiao), the temporary minister of the Ministry of War of the "Xiaoming Dynasty" in Nanjing, for some old-fashioned earthen cannons that were originally placed on the top of Jiangning City, and some gunpowder, and fired them at the Dasheng Pass if there was nothing to do. , It was a lively fight, as if how many troops were conducting live ammunition training.

After some bluffing, the Qing army in Jiangpu County on the other side of the Yangtze River was so frightened that they all retreated to the county seat and stood behind closed doors, and handed over control of this section of the river to Wang Huaxing.

However, the "Little Ming Dynasty" in Nanjing City could not spare a shot to capture Jiangpu and Liuhe counties on the north bank of the Yangtze River. There is no way, the troops are still insufficient!
Now that the Yingtian regiment has not yet formed an army, the "Xiaoming court" has only the "temporary soldiers" Li Zhongshan (Wang Zhongxiao) under the direct control of the Yingtian Town Army and the Caojiang Navy Division. The former can have 3000 troops in front of it people, the latter is only two thousand.

When the imperial court was quite large, there were only [-] "unusable" soldiers in total—too few, and they would be used up if they were not careful.

In fact, the flag soldiers and their families entrenched in the Nanjing imperial city (full city) have not been wiped out yet!

Li Dabing (Wang Zhongxiao) didn't dare to attack by force at all, but surrounded them cautiously—there was not enough troops to surround them. Fortunately, there was a city wall that could be used, otherwise it would really be impossible to surround them.

In addition, the besieged bannermen and their families were also very timid. Facing the enemy who planted many flags to bluff, they didn't dare to launch a desperate breakout, but just defended like a turtle.

Around the Nanjing Imperial City (Mancheng), there have been almost no records of battles in the past few months.

But even so, Zhu Cijiong, who left Nanjing City to Dasheng Pass today to welcome the "Geng Wang Yijun", was still a little restless.

Yes, it’s because of restlessness. In order to welcome Geng Jingzhong’s rebel army, Li Zhongshan (Wang Zhongxiao) had to make an empty city plan!

Specifically, most of the defenders of Nanjing City, including the two thousand sailors sent by Zheng Jing, were drawn out, and then they put on the red brocade robes that were hand-crafted by the incorporated Jiangning Weaving Yamen to disguise themselves as The Jinyi pro-army under the direct control of the third prince Cheng Zhu, and then pulled them to Dasheng Pass to fool Geng Jingzhong, Shang Zhixin, and Liu Jinzhong.

Although Li Benbing (Wang Zhongxiao) even used the empty city strategy, he only mobilized a mere [-] "pro-armies in brocade clothes"—he couldn't really mobilize all the manpower in Nanjing City, could he?There must always be some guards at the city gates entering and leaving Nanjing, and several guards must be stationed at various yamen in the city, and the storerooms where property, military supplies, and grain and grass are stored must also be watched by someone!

Also, the defenders of Dasheng Pass, which was used to welcome Geng Jingzhong's army, could not move.Because according to the plan, a considerable part of the army brought by Geng Jingzhong will be temporarily stationed around the Dasheng Pass, and Geng Jingzhong can only bring 3000 people into Nanjing at most!

In short, if today's "Welcome King Geng" performance is done well, the small court of the Ming Dynasty in Nanjing will be able to avoid being controlled by Geng Jingzhong, a prince who is neither refined nor loyal.
Outside the east gate of Dasheng Guan, in a long pavilion (actually just a shed) temporarily built with moso bamboo and straw, Zhu Cijiong, who has been the king of the Ming Dynasty for a month, is wearing a dragon robe and a benevolent hat. Yi Guan, sitting on a dragon chair with a big face, behind him are two little beauties dressed as court ladies, and standing beside him is Qianhu, the only "true Jinyi guard" Liu Shuochuan!

Now Liu Shuochuan has [-] subordinates, plus his so-called "Thirteen Imperial Guards in Jinyi" - the vicious Jinyiwei, now there are only thirteen people in total!
These 13 people were all wearing exquisite flying fish suits, with embroidered spring knives slung around their waists, and stood with their chests and belly protruding outside the shed.

Outside the long pavilion, there are temporary ministers of the Ming Dynasty's temporary court, including Chen Yonghua, Minister of the Ministry of Officials, Lu Sanhao, Minister of the Ministry of Households, Huang Baijia (son of Huang Zongxi, who arrived with Wang Zhongxiao), Minister of the Ministry of Rites, Jing Chuan (Jiangning County), Minister of Industry Order), Zheng Desheng, Shangshu of the Ministry of Punishments, etc.

In addition, there is a group of gentry drawn from the counties under Yingtian Mansion, most of whom participated in the formation of Yingtian regiment training, and are now awarded officials, all of them have black yarn official uniforms, and they all seem to be quite loyal.

In the current Daming, although there are only five counties in the territory and only 5000 standing troops, there are still quite a lot of loyal ministers!

And in the near future, there will be many princes!
Wang Zhongxiao, who temporarily played the role of Minister of the Ministry of War, is leading a few of his men to review the 600 "Jinyi Army" lined up beside the official road outside Dasheng Pass. Half of the [-] people are equipped with various weapons. There are muskets, arquebuses, and flintlock guns.The rest are equipped with long spears and sword cards. The sword soldiers are rattan soldiers with the characteristics of Zheng Jiajun, and they are very good at jumping and fighting hand to hand!Although the fighting power on the shore is mediocre, it still looks quite impressive.

"Li Zhongtang, King Geng's men have arrived!"

He Tianran who was following Wang Zhongxiao suddenly yelled, his voice was a little tight, obviously, he was not sure if that Geng Jingzhong would start a fight as soon as they met?
If we really want to fight, there are three or four thousand people here (including the guards of Dashengguan) at Dashengguan, and they can't resist the tens of thousands of elites under Geng Jingzhong's command.

Wang Zhongxiao turned his head to look, and immediately saw a large red flag appearing on the horizon in the distance, with a red flame pattern border, and an unknown word embroidered on it?At the same time, more than a dozen sides appeared, fluttering in the wind, and then a few rows of spear points glowing coldly under the sun. I don't know how many, but they just kept appearing in Wang Zhongxiao's sight.

After a while, Wang Zhongxiao saw the "red head" "hidden" under the tip of the spear again. All King Geng's subordinates were all wrapped in red scarves, which was a bit like the Red Scarf Army at the end of the Yuan Dynasty.

Later, he found that behind a large group of red scarf spearmen, there were more than a dozen boxy wooden prison cars. He didn't know who were inside them?

"Naturally," Wang Zhongxiao suddenly took out a token, handed it to He Tianran and said, "Go and grasp the sharpshooters yourself and let them ambush on the wall of Dashengguan. If Geng Jingzhong dares to hijack you or attack me, you will be punished." Hit hard!"

"Yes!"

He Tianran agreed, then turned around and headed for Dasheng Pass.

About one hundred sharpshooters personally trained by Wang Zhongxiao are lurking at the Dasheng Pass at this moment, occupying the commanding heights and ready to fire at any time!
The location of Zhu Cijiong was also carefully selected by Wang Zhongxiao. It was not outside the south gate (facing southwest) of Dasheng Pass, but outside the east gate (facing southeast). Therefore, Geng Jingzhong and others had to enter from Dasheng Pass Only by passing under the city wall can we reach Zhu Cijiong's location.This exposed him and his confidants to sniper fire.

Of course, this is only a last resort choice!

If Geng Jingzhong was more sensible, Wang Zhongxiao would still be very happy to watch him carry thunder in Nanjing. To be honest, it is hard to say whether the current Zhu Cijiong is Ming Xiandi or just another Xiaoming King!

Not a while after He Tianran climbed the city wall of Dasheng Pass, the pikemen under Geng Jingzhong's command had arrived, and only heard the sound of a "whimper" bugle, these pikemen stopped suddenly, and then turned to the left Turning to the right, he took a few steps forward, reached both sides of the official road, and then turned back.Just like that, a passage was opened up!
When the thousands of pikemen stopped and stood up, Wang Zhongxiao saw the dozen or so wooden prison carts being dragged up in the passageway. Geng Jingzhong, who was wearing a red python robe and a hood, The figure swaggered towards here surrounded by dozens of personal guards and generals.The larger cavalry and infantry did not keep up with them.

On this side, including the third prince Zhu, Wang Zhongxiao, and Chen Yonghua, they all breathed a sigh of relief!
It seems that Geng Jingzhong didn't intend to tear himself apart and become Grand Master Geng right away!As long as Geng Jingzhong doesn't turn his back on him right away, within three months at most, the Ming court in Nanjing will have an army of [-].

This is self-defense!
At a place where Wang Zhongxiao was dozens of steps away from Geng Jingzhong, someone suddenly shouted loudly: "Shikai. Wang Shikai, is that you? Why did you come to Jiangning?"

This is the voice of Pearl!
Wang Zhongxiao was stunned and raised his head to follow the sound, and saw a person sitting in one of the prison cars yelling towards him, and when he looked carefully, this person seemed to be a bright pearl.

The reason why it looks like that is because Mingzhu looks even more pitiful than in the prison in Guangzhou Mansion before. She has lost a lot of weight and her whole face is dark. I don’t know if it’s because she’s sunburned or hasn’t washed her face for many days. ?The hair is even more messy, like a bird's nest.

"Teacher, is that a teacher? Why are you a prisoner again?" Wang Zhongxiao quickly picked up his robe and walked forward quickly, walked to the side of the prison car, looked at the people sitting inside, and asked questions with concern.

"I, haven't I met a traitor again?" Mingzhu said this, looked at Wang Zhongxiao with red eyes and asked, "Wang Shikai, what's the matter with you? Why did you come to Jiangning?"

"I came to pay tribute to the new court of Ming Dynasty in Nanjing on behalf of my father." Wang Zhongxiao was also embarrassed to say that he had his own part in the change of Jiangning, so he made a fuss.

"You, you came here too soon, right?" Mingzhu asked in a questioning tone when she thought it was wrong, "It's only been a month since the Jiangning change!"

"I came directly from Wuchang," Wang Zhongxiao said without changing his face. "The students were working in Wuchang when the Jiangning Incident happened. They came here as soon as they heard the news. They even bought a temporary Minister of the Ministry of War as hehe, teacher, Do you still look like me?"

"You" Mingzhu didn't know what to say about Wang Zhongxiao.

Does this person want to be shameless?

One is loyal to the Qing Dynasty, the other is loyal to Wu Sangui, the third is loyal to Zhu Cijiong, and he is still ambiguous with Li Zicheng!
What's even more special is that Wang Zhongxiao is not loyal to these monarchs one by one, but is a loyal minister of three or even four families at the same time, and he is very righteous!
At this moment, another loud voice like thunder suddenly rang out: "My surname is Wang, do you still recognize me, Grandpa Shang?"

Grandpa Shang?
"Shang Zhixin?" When Wang Zhongxiao turned his head, he saw an angry Shang Zhixin accompanying Geng Jingzhong, looking like he was about to stab someone with a knife, but Geng Jingzhong grabbed his arm.

Geng Jingzhong was still persuading him: "My father, don't ruin the state affairs for personal grievances!"

"Yes, yes, King Geng, you have to stop me from answering the question! If you are alone, ask someone to help you!" Wang Zhongxiao was also a little anxious, and was still there to give advice to Geng Jingzhong.

He was not afraid of being hacked to death by Shang Zhixin, but he was worried that the snipers ambushing on the tower of Dashengguan would open fire. With this firing, Dashengguan's reunion would change the Tianjing incident in seconds!

Geng Jingzhong was right when he thought about it, and quickly asked the guards around him to go up and control Shang Zhixin - he didn't plan to turn against Wang Fuchen now.

Seeing his subordinates driving Shang Zhixin away, Geng Jingzhong and a few of his subordinates got off their horses and walked towards Wang Zhongxiao with a smile.

He can't be called Geng Jingzhong King Jingnan now, because King Jingnan is the prince of the Qing Dynasty.

Geng Jingzhong returned the salute with a smile: "Shikai, where is the third prince?"

Wang Zhongxiao pointed to the shed not far away, and said with a smile: "King Geng, the third prince is right in the long pavilion, my teacher doesn't know where he offended King Geng?"

Geng Jingzhong looked at the pearl inside the prison cart, and said with a smile, "Although he is your teacher, he is also a minister of the Tartars, and the sworn enemy of our Ming Dynasty! This king put him into the prison cart and brought him to Nanjing for the purpose of Offer up the prisoner!"

Prisoners?That is dedicated to the third prince Zhu?
Wang Zhongxiao cupped his hands at Mingzhu: "Teacher, you have been wronged for a while, and the student turned around and asked the third prince for mercy. I can always forgive you this time."

After finishing speaking, he made a solemn gesture, asking Geng Jingzhong to go with him to meet the third prince Zhu.

Geng Jingzhong beckoned behind him, and dozens of guards from Prince Geng's mansion followed immediately. How could this be a visit to the king?The whole thing is a negotiation between big bosses in society!

"King Geng," Wang Zhongxiao asked Geng Jingzhong in a low voice while leading Geng Jingzhong, "I don't know what kind of official you want to confer and what title you want to confer?"

As soon as Geng Jingzhong heard this, he smiled triumphantly: "I can't be younger than Wu Sangui, right? He's the king of the West, what do you think I'll be the king of the East?"

"Eastern King? Okay." Wang Zhongxiao nodded, thinking: Is this the Eastern King's entry into Tianjing?
At this moment, Geng Jingzhong said again: "Give your father a Southern King too!"

"Southern King." Wang Zhongxiao nodded and said with a smile, "It's not bad, my father is also a prince and return to North King and Yi King!"

"Wing King?" Geng Jingzhong was stunned, "What kind of statement is this?"

"The Wing Dynasty!" Wang Zhongxiao hurriedly explained, "Now that the West King, East King, and South King all have people, do you know where the North and Wing Kings are?"

"Zheng Jing of Dayuan Island can be named a one-word king," Geng Jingzhong said, "He is already a king! Is it okay to have another Wang Shangzhi?"

"No!" Wang Zhongxiao hurriedly shook his head, "How many troops does he have now? Why should he be crowned king? I think Liu Jinzhong should be crowned!"

Shang Zhixin was clearly at odds with the Wang family, so Wang Zhongxiao would certainly not agree with him being crowned king.And Liu Jinzhong has a good relationship with Wang Fuchen and Wang Zhongxiao, and he is also more loyal to the third prince Zhu.

Geng Jingzhong thought for a while, then said in a low voice: "That's fine, this time the Northern Expedition to Jinling, he has made a lot of contributions, and he has to bear the title of helping and protecting the Third Prince, right?"

Wang Fuchen, Wang Zhongxiao and his son are definitely not willing to be the third prince who will help protect Zhu. With this name, they will not be able to play well between Ming, Qing, and Wu.

Moreover, Wang Fuchen, Wang Zhongxiao and his son don't have the time to go to Nanjing to assist the government. They still have to accumulate food and build high walls in Guangdong!
(End of this chapter)