Done! Your Majesty is going to prostitute me for free!

General Jian Mingxiao was panting with exhaustion. His gray beard trembled slightly with his breathing, and his eyes revealed an unyielding tenacity. He said slowly: "It doesn't matter if we lose the land as long as we can save the people, because the people are where the hearts of the people are! Since I took on the heavy responsibility of the governor of these four provinces, I can't sleep well at night, and my life has never been peaceful. Recruiting soldiers, training soldiers, forging weapons, preparing food and grass, and arranging battle formations, which one does not consume my efforts? My old bones in their seventies feel more exhausted than ever, as if every inch of my skin is bearing heavy pressure."

He paused, and his eyes swept over every general present, his eyes showing both fatigue and determination. "Although our army only has 60,000 people, Zhang Xianzhong has 200,000 troops! If we want to win this battle, the key is to win the hearts of the people. Therefore, in this battle, we must put the hearts of the people first!" The generals listened and nodded in agreement. They all knew that although Zhang Xianzhong had a large number of people, many of them were forced to follow him. Although they looked fierce, they were not united, like a pile of loose sand, and it was difficult to gather real combat power.

Sichuan General Liu Jiayin sighed softly and said, "Zhang Xianzhong led 200,000 troops into Sichuan, and it seemed that the people were on his side." Jian Mingxiao shook his head, a glimmer of wisdom in his eyes, "Actually, that's not the case. There are not many people who really follow him wholeheartedly. Most people were coerced. At first, they just wanted to survive, but after a while, they got used to it, but they didn't really surrender in their hearts."

He continued, his voice full of deep emotion: "Our Ming Dynasty has been established for sixteen years. Although I didn't see the tragic scene of Zhang Xianzhong's attack on Wuchang and the massacre of the city with my own eyes, I heard that the blood flowed like a river, which is really terrifying. He not only killed officials and wealthy people, but also ordinary people. His notoriety spread far and wide. How can such atrocities win the hearts of the people?"

Liu Jiayin asked in confusion: "Why don't the people flee?" Jian Mingxiao replied: "Escape? Where to flee? Houses and fields are the lifeblood of the people. It is better to face the enemy directly than to abandon them and flee. Besides, the people don't have horses and carriages. How far can they go with their food? How many days can that little food last? They chose to stay because they were forced to do so, but this does not mean that they are truly surrendering."

"Therefore, when rebels like Li Zicheng and Zhang Xianzhong arrived, most of the people who fled were the rich, and ordinary people rarely left." After hearing this, the generals suddenly realized that the people's will is not static, but is affected by many factors.

At this time, Jian Mingxiao's nephew Qin Yiming, a young and energetic general, asked: "Then how can we use the people's hearts to fight?" Jian Mingxiao smiled slightly, with wisdom shining in his eyes, "Recapture Zhongzhou! After Zhang Xianzhong massacred Zhongzhou, the people will definitely spread his evil deeds, so that we can win the hearts of the people and defend Sichuan."

When Zhongzhou was mentioned, everyone fell silent. You Zengying had just lost the battle with Sun Kewang in Zhongzhou and retreated to Fuling. It was difficult for him to defend the existing territory, let alone counterattack. Moreover, Zhang Xianzhong had many soldiers and generals, and it was difficult for our army to resist under the human wave tactics. There was a heavy atmosphere in the air, as if everyone had a huge stone pressing on their hearts.

Jian Mingxiao spread out a map of Chongqing. The map had turned yellow and the edges were a little worn, but he still pointed carefully at Zhongzhou (now Zhongxian County) and said, "Zhang Xianzhong's 200,000 troops were divided into two routes from Zhongzhou. One route attacked Changshou by land, and the other route attacked Fuling by land and sea. Their forces are scattered, which is our opportunity."

"We will divide our troops into three groups. Thirty thousand will be in Fuling, less than 20,000 will be in Changshou, and there are ten thousand Xidong soldiers gathered in Shizhu. We will be able to set off soon." There was a firmness in his words, as if he had already seen the hope of victory.

However, he changed the subject and his tone became heavy again, "But even if we concentrate our forces to deal with one group, we still don't have the advantage in numbers. This battle will be difficult!" His fingers tapped the map lightly, as if he was calculating every bit of force. The generals were also silent. They knew that Jian Mingxiao's worries were not unreasonable. He had only 60,000 men in total, while Zhang Xianzhong's force was 20 times theirs.

Zhang Xianzhong's troops were twenty times ours, and they could still replace one of us with three men. This number weighed on everyone's mind like a mountain, making it difficult for them to breathe. The generals all had worried looks on their faces, and their morale was at its lowest point.

After a while, seeing that everyone's morale was low, Jian Mingxiao stood up, his figure looking particularly tall under the dim light. "Although the battle is difficult, there is still hope. The key is to fight hard!" His voice was loud and firm, like a warm current injected into everyone's heart.

"What are you fighting for?" Liu Jiayin asked, with a hint of confusion and expectation in his voice.

"It depends on whether the defenders and the common people can hold the city!" Jian Mingxiao pointed to Fuling on the map and said, "Fuling is located at the confluence of the Yangtze River and the Wujiang River. The terrain is complex and not conducive to enemy attack. This is our natural barrier."

"If Zhang Xianzhong attacks Fuling, he will have to cross the river. We can pretend to be weak and not take the initiative to attack, so as to lure them into attacking the city. As long as the defenders and the civilians hold on for a day or two, and when the enemy is tired, we will send out elite troops to raid their retreating troops, and we will definitely defeat them." There was a gleam of confidence in his eyes, as if he had seen the dawn of victory.

"Even if he has 160,000 or even 260,000 troops, he cannot stop the momentum of defeat!" His voice was passionate and powerful, like a torch that ignited the fire of hope in the hearts of the generals.

After hearing this plan, everyone thought it was feasible. But thinking of the two previous failures, it would still be dangerous if they did not change their strategy. They all knew how difficult this battle would be, but Jian Mingxiao's words gave them a glimmer of hope.

At this time, Zeng Ying stood up and said, "Governor, I think this strategy is inappropriate." Although his voice was not loud, it was full of determination.

"Why?" Jian Mingxiao looked at him sharply, as if he wanted to see through his heart.

Zeng Ying was silent for a while before saying, "Zhang Xianzhong is good at using internal support. He would send spies into the city every time before attacking. We recruit ordinary people to defend the city, and there will definitely be spies mixed in among them. Once Zhang Xianzhong arrives, they may open the city and surrender." There was helplessness and heartache in his tone.

"The loss of Wuchang and Zhongzhou was due to this reason. I lost two thousand elite soldiers because of this. I am so heartbroken!" There was a deep pain in his voice, as if the sacrifice of those two thousand soldiers was an eternal pain in his heart.

Jian Mingxiao's eyes dimmed when he heard this. Zhang Xianzhong was not only outnumbered, but also so cunning. Was there really no way out? He felt powerless, as if he was being pressed down by an invisible mountain.

Suddenly, Jian Mingxiao's eyes fell on Wang Zhong, a captain of the Jinyiwei. Wang Zhong was a burly man with a resolute face. He stood up and said, "Governor Qin, this plan is indeed very tricky!" There was helplessness and worry in his voice.

"Although the Jinyiwei are good at catching spies, they need manpower to be deployed in advance. I didn't bring many followers with me into Shu this time, and there are only a dozen Jinyiwei in Fuling." There was a deep worry in his words, as if he had already seen the impending crisis.

"Thinking of using such a small number of people to catch spies is like looking for a needle in a haystack!" His voice was filled with deep helplessness and anxiety. He knew the difficulty of this battle and the harm of spies, but he was helpless.

"What's more, the spies are hiding among the common people, and it is difficult to identify them one by one!" His tone was filled with deep pain and helplessness. He knew the difficulty of this battle and the harm of spies, but he could not solve this problem.

The room fell silent again. Although the plan was good, it encountered a new problem. How to deal with spies? If there were no spies, it would be difficult for Zhang Xianzhong to break through the cities along the Yangtze River. Most of the cities along the river were built with stone walls, and ladders were required for siege. However, the area along the river was rainy and humid, and gunpowder was easily affected by moisture, making it difficult for firearms to work. The difficulty of siege with ladders and cold weapons can be imagined!
Zeng Ying added: "Fuling and Changshou are both threatened by spies. If we don't solve this problem, we will definitely not be able to defend the city!" His voice was filled with deep worry and helplessness. He knew the difficulty of this battle and the harm of spies, but he couldn't solve this problem. Everyone became worried, as if they were shrouded in a thick cloud.

How to solve the problem of spies? If there were no spies, Zhang Xianzhong would have found it difficult to cross the Yangtze River. The generals were filled with worry and helplessness. They knew the difficulty of this battle and the harm of spies, but they could not solve this problem. The room was silent, with only the whistling of the wind outside the window, as if telling of the impending crisis.

Speaking of the city of Zhongzhou, it has just been captured by our army. Sun Kewang hurriedly ran to Zhang Xianzhong, his face solemn and his brows furrowed, as if he was carrying a heavy burden. "Father," he panted, "although we have captured Zhongzhou, we have also lost a lot of our brothers. A rough calculation shows that the number of dead and wounded brothers exceeds 5,000!"

Zhang Xianzhong's face turned pale when he heard this, and anger instantly burned in his eyes, as if it could ignite the surrounding air. "Just a small city of Zhongzhou, but I lost so many elite soldiers!" He roared, his voice like thunder, shaking the dust on the beams. "If this goes on, how can we continue the war? Kill all those who should be killed, not one will be spared!"

Speaking of Zhang Xianzhong, everyone knows that he is a man who loves to kill. At that time, in the late Ming Dynasty, the world was in chaos, and heroes were fighting for power. People were killing people everywhere. Zhang Xianzhong killed people, Li Zicheng also killed people, and the Thirteen Yellow Family also killed people without blinking an eye. Not to mention the later Qing Dynasty, which killed more fiercely and committed more serious crimes. However, in this chaotic world, Zhang Xianzhong's cruelty is particularly eye-catching. He is tall, with a firm face, and his eyes always carry an unquestionable fierceness.

However, if you say that the sharp decline in the population of Shu is all Zhang Xianzhong's fault, and you call him a crazy murderer, then I don't agree. He killed people for only a few reasons: one is to deter those dishonest people and let them know the consequences of resistance; the second is to rob money and food to maintain the army. After all, in this chaotic world, the army cannot survive without supplies; the third is to rob women to stabilize the morale of the army. Especially this third reason is the most criticized. You see that in the armies of the late Ming Dynasty, Zhang Xianzhong's Dashi Army almost had a wife, which was a great temptation in the chaotic world. Soldiers have families, so they are naturally more at ease to work for Zhang Xianzhong.

However, Zhang Xianzhong's brutality is undeniable. There are many historical records of his killing innocent people. Although the "History of Ming Dynasty" compiled by the Qing Dynasty blackened him up, saying that he killed 600 million people (this is obviously an exaggeration, the population at the end of the Ming Dynasty was not that high), books written by Ming people, such as Wang Fuzhi's "Yongli Shilu", Tan Qian's "Guoqie", Zha Jizuo's "Zuiweilu", Ji Liuqi's "Mingji Nanlue", as well as records left by scholars in Shu and civil officials and generals in Dashi, such as Ouyang Zhi's "Shuluan", Peng Zunsu's "Shubi", and even "The Record of the Holy Teaching Entering Sichuan" written by foreign missionaries, all confirmed that Zhang Xianzhong did kill a lot of people. But it cannot be said that he killed anyone he saw, it was not that exaggerated. His killings were often purposeful, either for deterrence, for looting, or for revenge.

If Zhang Xianzhong was really a murderer, how could his adopted sons, such as Sun Kewang, Li Dingguo, Liu Wenxiu, and Ai Nengqi, become great? Especially Li Dingguo and Liu Wenxiu, they settled refugees in Yunnan and Guizhou, reclaimed land, developed trade, restored order, and opened the imperial examination. Their contributions were great, comparable to those of the founding emperor. They were able to grow and develop under the protection of Zhang Xianzhong, on the one hand because of their own talents and courage, and on the other hand because Zhang Xianzhong was not a tyrant who only knew how to kill. He knew how to reward and punish clearly, and he would still give importance and trust to those who were capable and loyal.

So, Zhang Xianzhong made a big mistake in Shu, but the Qing Dynasty, Li Zicheng, and the Thirteen Families of Yaohuang were also responsible. In the Dashi regime, in addition to Zhang Xianzhong, the military advisor Wang Zhaolin was also extremely evil. Every time a city was captured, he instigated Zhang Xianzhong to massacre the people. He was thin and had a sinister face. He always hid behind Zhang Xianzhong to make plans, but never personally went into battle to kill the enemy. Later, when Zhang Xianzhong died, his four adopted sons immediately killed Wang Zhaolin.

When Wang Zhaolin saw that Zhang Xianzhong was determined to kill, he began to fan the flames: "Foster father, all those who should be killed must be killed. No surrendered soldier in the city should be spared, and even the gentry and wealthy families cannot be spared." He muttered to himself: "Just leave some young and beautiful women, and kill all the others! We in the Dashi Army have rules: those who surrender early will not be harmed; if the city is broken, no one will be spared." There was a cruel light in his eyes, as if he had seen the blood and screams of those innocent people.

"Now that Zhongzhou has been taken," Wang Zhaolin continued, "we must act according to the rules and intimidate the military and civilians." His voice was low and cold, as if it came from the depths of hell.

Sun Kewang stood up and said, "Father, we entered Shu to occupy territory. If we kill all the people, what's the point of occupying the land? I hope you will think twice." He was tall and strong, with a resolute face and a look of determination and courage in his eyes. He knew what consequences Zhang Xianzhong's brutality would bring, so he bravely stood up and tried to stop this senseless killing.

Li Dingguo, Liu Wenxiu, Ai Nengqi and other generals also knelt down and begged for mercy. Although most of the people in the city had fled to Fuling, there were still many people left. They all knew what consequences Zhang Xianzhong's brutality would bring, so they were unwilling to see this senseless killing happen.

Zhang Xianzhong did not answer them directly, but looked at his four adopted sons and said, "Zhongzhou has been taken, the next step is Fuling and Changshou." His voice was low and powerful, as if it came from deep in his chest.

"Changshou is a very important place," he continued. "If we take it, we can advance towards Chongqing, or we can defend northern Sichuan, and we can also cut off Jian Mingxiao's retreat." His eyes flashed with wisdom, as if he had already seen the future victory.

"Who is willing to attack Changshou?" he asked, with an unquestionable majesty and dominance in his voice.

Sun Kewang was the first to step forward and kowtowed, begging for orders: "I am willing to go. I have sent elite troops disguised as refugees to sneak into Changshou, preparing to attack the city at night." His voice was firm and powerful, as if he was fully prepared.

Zhang Xianzhong nodded. Although his face was still fierce, he had already made up his mind. He knew that Sun Kewang was a capable man, and it was a wise choice to send him to attack Changshou.

Li Dingguo also volunteered: "I am willing to lead 30,000 troops to attack Fuling and capture Jian Mingxiao alive. In this way, the Ming army in Shuzhong will no longer be a concern. Chongqing and Chengdu will be within reach." His voice revealed confidence and determination.

"Good!" This was exactly what Zhang Xianzhong wanted. His eyes flashed with admiration, as if he had already seen the future victory.

Among his four adopted sons, Zhang Xianzhong valued Li Dingguo's military talent the most. He knew that it was easy to defeat a minority with a large force, but it was difficult to defeat a large force with a small force. Li Dingguo's feat of entering Zhongzhou at night and opening the gate to welcome the army was enough to prove his talent.

"I'll give you 50,000 elite soldiers," Zhang Xianzhong said, "regardless of time, as long as you can capture Jian Mingxiao alive." There was unquestionable majesty and trust in his voice.

Before Li Dingguo agreed, he continued: "When we attack Zhongzhou, Dingguo will provide internal support and we can ambush them from outside. As for the people in the city, I will leave them to you to deal with." There was a flash of indifference and cruelty in his eyes, as if he had already made a judgment on the fate of those innocent people.

"Yes, sir! We will send troops tomorrow!" Everyone responded in unison. They knew it was a tough battle, but they also knew Zhang Xianzhong's brutality and determination. They could only try their best to complete this task, hoping to lay a solid foundation for future victory.

After everyone left, Zhang Xianzhong secretly breathed a sigh of relief. In fact, he was not a madman, but very shrewd. At the beginning, he promoted the idea of ​​exempting grain, which won the hearts of the people. (I remember that he also issued a notice in Huguang area: three years of rent exemption, no killing of people.) He knew the importance of people's hearts, and he also knew that killing could not bring long-term victory. But after entering Shu, the situation became much more complicated. The people's hearts are unpredictable. The Ming Dynasty was also exempting taxes. Killing alone could not subdue the enemy, but would arouse their anger. What's more, most of the families of the defenders were in the city, and the act of robbing women made them even more angry.

Zhang Xianzhong sat there in deep thought for a long time. He remembered his previous vows and ideals, as well as the battles and killings of these years. He knew that his road had come to an end, and that his cruelty and crimes could not be reversed. But he was still unwilling to fail and perish like this. He thought about Jian Mingxiao who was still holding on in Fuling, and that the Zhu family was doomed but there were still people willing to die for them. He snorted coldly, stood up and said, "Jian Mingxiao, how long can you jump around? The Zhu family is doomed and it cannot be reversed by human power! Surrender early and you can save your life!" There was an unquestionable majesty and domineering in his voice, as if he had already seen the future victory and the enemy's surrender.

Outside Fuling City, the night was as dark as ink, so dark that it seemed to swallow up all the light, and there was a sense of oppression in the silence. However, in this endless darkness, more than 10,000 people were hurrying on their way. Although their footsteps were light, they were like drumbeats beating in everyone's heart. The moonlight occasionally penetrated the clouds and sprinkled on these hurried people, reflecting their resolute and nervous faces.

In the front team, there are more than 100 people wearing colorful costumes. They wear traditional costumes of ethnic minorities such as Tujia and Miao. Each piece is embroidered with complicated totems, which makes them look mysterious and majestic. They all carry long bows on their backs, and various sharp weapons are hung around their waists, flashing cold light. Except for a few people who wear armor carefully woven with rattan and wearing rattan hats, most of the others do not have such protection, relying only on courage and passion. The rattan armor, although simple, is like a saddle for a war horse. Although it does not protect the shoulders and legs, it is coated with a layer of tung oil on the surface. It is light and strong, impervious to water and fire, and difficult to be injured by swords. It is indeed a life-saving artifact on the battlefield.

These people were divided into four teams, like four torrents ready to go, silently guarding the four gates of Fuling City, waiting for the order to come, and then they would rush down the mountain like a tiger to attack the enemy.

In a courtyard in the city, hundreds of people were immersed in sleep. This place was temporarily used as a military camp. Half of the people living here were real soldiers, and the other half were civilians who were temporarily recruited to help. There was still fatigue and anxiety on their faces.

"Kill!" Suddenly, a deafening shout came from outside the city, like a thunderous explosion, instantly breaking the tranquility of the night, and the whole city was awakened by the sudden shouting and killing. The sleeping soldiers suddenly jumped up, their eyes full of fear and determination. A general of the Ming army rushed into the house like a whirlwind with weapons in hand, shouting loudly: "The bandits attacked at night, everyone get up and fight!" After that, he kicked the door open and rushed to the yard next door, continuing to deliver urgent news.

The soldiers in the yard hurriedly dressed and whispered to each other: "The day has finally come!" There was both helplessness and determination in their voices.

"We? Aren't we already in the city?" an ordinary citizen who was temporarily conscripted asked in a daze, obviously not yet recovered from the sudden change.

At this moment, a long knife suddenly stabbed out and pierced the man's chest from behind, blood splattered everywhere, staining the ground red. The murderer breathed a sigh of relief and whispered: "It was a close call, it was almost exposed, this person is not one of ours." There was no guilt on his face, only the coldness and determination of the plan that was about to be implemented.

The others didn't bother to blame anyone and they all whispered to each other, "What should we do now?" There was anxiety and determination in their eyes. This sudden change made their plans even more urgent.

It turned out that these people were all traitors sent by Li Dingguo. They were lurking in the city, waiting for the battle outside the city to start, and then they would create chaos in the city and open the city gates to welcome the enemy. At this moment, they were filled with fear of the upcoming battle and desire for victory.

The shouting and screaming outside the city was getting closer and closer, and the soldiers on the top of the city could already vaguely see the enemy's shadow swaying in the night.

"The bandits are coming. Prepare your weapons and attack them as soon as they get close!" The general on the city wall gave a loud command. His voice penetrated the night sky and reached every soldier defending the city.

At this critical moment, there was a sudden movement from the east gate.

There was only a "click" sound, and the sound of the blade piercing the flesh was clearly audible, followed by screams. The traitors saw their companions outside the city approaching, and suddenly launched a surprise attack on the Ming army that was not yet prepared. Spears, swords, and shields were all used in the battle. Whether it was the Ming army or innocent civilians, hundreds of people fell in a pool of blood.

"Lower the drawbridge!" the leader of the traitors shouted. The drawbridge was slowly lowered, but they immediately cut the ropes and rushed down the drawbridge with their men, heading straight for the city gate.

However, when they rushed to the city gate, they were stunned. Because the city gate was already full of soldiers in armor, holding weapons, with the firelight shining on their resolute faces, coldly looking at these traitors who were trying to rebel.

"Who are you?" the traitors asked tremblingly, their hearts filled with fear and confusion.

"I am Jian Mingxiao!" a majestic voice sounded.

When the traitors heard this, their faces turned pale instantly. They looked up and saw Jian Mingxiao's white jade-like face looked even colder in the firelight, his eyes flickered like cold stars, he wore a helmet on his head, armor on his body, and held a spear in his hand. Although he was old, his spirit was unusually vigorous, especially his eyes, which seemed to be able to see into people's hearts and made people dare not look directly at him.

"Governor Qin... Governor Qin," the leader of the traitors turned pale with fear and stammered, "We..."

"Shut up!" Jian Mingxiao glared and shouted majestically, "You colluded with the enemy to betray the country, framed the city and harmed the people. You deserve to be killed. Come, tie them up and execute them on the spot!" His voice was as cold as ice, making everyone present feel his determination and ruthlessness.

The soldiers rushed forward and captured all the traitors. Facing the powerful enemy and the upcoming punishment, the traitors were filled with fear and despair. Their leader knew that he could no longer hide the truth, so he knelt on the ground and begged for mercy: "It's unfair! We are all citizens of the Ming Dynasty. We have never done anything bad. We were forced into the city by the enemy. Please show mercy, Governor Qin!" His voice was filled with tears, which seemed particularly desolate.

"Please spare my life, Governor Qin!" The other traitors also knelt down and cried. However, their pleas for mercy did not move Jian Mingxiao's heart.

Jian Mingxiao sneered: "You just killed someone and then betrayed the city, and you still say you didn't do anything bad. Isn't this a joke!" His voice was full of sarcasm and disdain.

"Execute!" Jian Mingxiao waved his hand, and the order came down as heavy as a mountain.

Soon, all the traitors were executed, their blood dyed the soil red, and also dyed the hearts of everyone present. This sudden change made everyone feel the cruelty and ruthlessness of war.

Jian Mingxiao ordered people to open the city gates and welcome the troops outside. However, the troops who came in were not bandits, but the Xidong soldiers recruited by Ma Wannian. They pretended to be bandits to test the traitors in the city, but unexpectedly, they really caught these hidden traitors.

Ma Wannian walked quickly to Jian Mingxiao and knelt on one knee: "Grandmother, my grandson came late, which led to the loss of Liangshan and Zhongzhou. I deserve to die." His voice was filled with guilt and self-blame.

Jian Mingxiao coughed lightly and said, "In the military, you must put your duties first." Although her voice was soft, it revealed an unquestionable majesty.

Without waiting for Wannian to say anything, she asked anxiously, "How many soldiers have you recruited?" Her eyes flashed with anticipation and anxiety.

"Grandmother, I have recruited more than 11,000 soldiers, including Tujia, Miao, Dong and other ethnic groups." Ma Wannian replied, "I heard that Zhang Xianzhong also sent people to various tribes to recruit soldiers. Fortunately, we got ahead of them, otherwise the consequences would be unimaginable." A look of relief appeared on his face.

Jian Mingxiao nodded, handed Wannian a letter and said, "Go into the city and rest. Get ten days' worth of food tomorrow morning, and then we'll divide our troops and garrison these places." There was an unquestionable firmness in her voice.

Wannian was stunned: "The thief Zhang is coming with an army of 200,000. Why don't we defend the city?" His face was full of confusion and doubt.

Jian Mingxiao patted him on the shoulder and said, "According to the strategy of war, the right time, right place and right people are all important. The terrain in eastern Sichuan is dangerous, which is not conducive to the movement of large armies. Moreover, the Xidong soldiers are good at mountain warfare. If they are asked to defend the city, it will limit their performance." Her explanation made Wannian suddenly realize.

"Don't ask any more questions. I'm tired. Arrange for people to go into the city to rest quickly. Leave early tomorrow morning. Something might happen if you're late." Jian Mingxiao's voice revealed a kind of fatigue and helplessness. She knew that this war had just begun and the road ahead was still very long.

What Jian Mingxiao said makes a lot of sense. War is not just a fight between soldiers, it is also a contest of supply and logistics, and a competition of national strength. The Ming army failed to conquer Liaodong many times because the supply line in western Liaoning was too long, which dragged down the army. The longer the supply line, the more food and grass are needed, and the more soldiers are needed to escort the food and grass. Once the food supply is cut off, the army will fall into chaos without fighting. This is the case in Liaodong, and the same is true in eastern Sichuan.

Most of Zhang Xianzhong's army's food and grass were looted from the common people. Although they did not have a fixed supply line, they still transported a lot of food and grass with the army. The terrain of the Sichuan Basin is very complex, with mountains and hills intertwined and winding roads. Zhang Xianzhong's army is large in number and has a lot of food and grass. In this terrain, the best strategy is to launch a surprise attack by land and occupy strategic terrain for defense. However, Zhang Xianzhong's main force is on the water, so how should the battle on the water be fought?

Jian Mingxiao looked at the people around her, and finally cast her eyes on Zeng Ying. Her eyes revealed a kind of determination and trust. She knew that Zeng Ying would definitely have a way to deal with the challenges on the water. She seemed to have seen the future victory, a victory that belonged to the Ming Dynasty and the people of eastern Sichuan.

Zeng Ying, the hero affectionately called "Mr. Zeng" by the people of Shu, was not only famous for his outstanding military talents, but also loved by the people for his heroic character and selfless qualities. He was tall and strong, with a handsome face, and the most eye-catching thing was his long and beautiful beard. Whenever he rode his horse to charge, his beard fluttered in the wind, like a god descending from heaven, which frightened the enemy.

Zeng Ying was not only a martial arts expert, but also a man of great concern for the world. He always lent a hand to those in need, whether distributing food in years of famine or protecting the people in times of war. Therefore, whether in the streets or in the countryside, when people mentioned "Master Zeng", they all gave him a thumbs up and praised him endlessly.

However, the good times did not last long. Zhang Xianzhong's army swept in like a storm. Although Zeng Ying was brave and good at fighting, he also suffered an unprecedented setback. After Zhang Xianzhong captured Chongqing, he went straight to Chengdu. The people of Shu fell into dire straits. They all missed Zeng Ying and sighed: "If Master Zeng was still alive, we would not have ended up like this!"

Jian Mingxiao, as the governor of eastern Sichuan, was well aware of Zeng Ying's value and influence. During a meeting, he gave Zeng Ying 200,000 taels of silver and ordered him to recruit new soldiers in order to make a comeback. Facing the governor's high hopes, Zeng Ying looked ashamed and whispered, "Reporting to the governor, only more than 10,000 people were recruited." Jian Mingxiao was stunned when he heard this, and after confirming it again, he was secretly shocked. He knew the difficulty of recruiting soldiers, and he knew Zeng Ying's status in the hearts of the people. These more than 10,000 people were undoubtedly a clear proof of Zeng Ying's appeal. One call and a hundred responses were no empty words.

"So, where is your army now?" Jian Mingxiao paused and continued. Zeng Ying cupped his hands, his face firm, "I will divide the navy into two parts. The newly recruited soldiers will be trained in the upper reaches of Changshou, while the veterans and new soldiers will jointly guard Wangjiang Pass in the lower reaches of Fuling. The river here is winding and the current is changeable, which is a good place to set up an ambush and counterattack."

Wangjiang Pass is located at the confluence of the Yangtze River and the Wujiang River. Its terrain is complex and the water is fast, so even experienced sailors have to be cautious. Zeng Ying chose this place to defend, which was undoubtedly a well-thought-out decision. He knew that the danger of the navy was that the retreat was cut off. Once the land route was lost, the navy would be in a desperate situation. Therefore, Wangjiang Pass was not only a stronghold of defense, but also a springboard for counterattack.

Jian Mingxiao knew the terrain of eastern Sichuan very well. After listening to Zeng Ying's deployment, he nodded in approval and said, "The water routes will be left to you, and the land routes will be under my charge." His words revealed his trust and expectations for Zeng Ying.

Zeng Ying felt relieved after hearing this, but he was still worried. He knew that Zhang Xianzhong's army was not an easy target, especially the elite troops from central Sichuan under Long Wenguang, who should not be underestimated. However, Jian Mingxiao's strategy gave him confidence. The Xidong soldiers deployed along the way were like sharp daggers, ready to strike a fatal blow to the enemy at any time.

The next day, the troops went their separate ways and headed for their respective battlefields. Zeng Ying stood by the river, looking at the turbulent Yangtze River, and a surge of lofty sentiments and ambitions surged in his heart. He knew that this battle was not only about his personal honor and disgrace, but also about the safety of the people in Shu. He secretly vowed to protect this land and save the people from the suffering of war.

……

Fengdu County, this ancient town, has undergone several changes in the torrent of history and finally returned to Zhongzhou. However, with the defeat of the Ming army in Zhongzhou, Fengdu also lost its strategic value and became a forgotten city. Inside the county government office, Li Dingguo was handling military affairs with a frown on his face. Suddenly, a burst of hurried footsteps broke the silence in the room. Gao Wengui, the young general in charge of the Tianwei Camp, strode in.

"General Li, what's the urgent matter?" Gao Wengui asked, with a bit of anxiety in his tone. Li Dingguo looked up at the general who was the same age as him, and felt a little relieved. He unfolded the map, pointed to the location of Fuling, and said in a deep voice: "Jian Mingxiao led tens of thousands of Ming troops to defend Fuling. I once boasted to my adoptive father that I would capture him. This matter needs to be considered carefully."

Gao Wengui nodded after hearing this, his expression solemn. He knew very well that although Jian Mingxiao had 60,000 soldiers under his command, after the division of troops to Changshou, the Fuling garrison was still no less than 30,000. On his side, although he had 80,000 soldiers, most of them were civilians who were coerced, with simple equipment and poor combat effectiveness. Once defeated, the elite troops would often flee first, and their morale would be low.

He carefully analyzed the enemy and our situation, thinking about various possibilities in his mind. Although Jian Mingxiao's army was divided into three parts, there were only a few white-pole soldiers left. Although there were 20,000 regular soldiers, the combat effectiveness of the newly recruited soldiers was mediocre. From the comparison of military strength, his side seemed to have an advantage, but the siege was by no means an easy task.

"How about we ask the Great Western King for reinforcements?" Gao Wengui asked tentatively. Li Dingguo shook his head and said with a wry smile, "Although my foster father has an army of 200,000, there are not many soldiers who can fight. My brother has already sent 30,000 to attack Changshou, and I will take another 80,000 to attack Fuling. If we ask for reinforcements again, it may cause internal dissatisfaction."

Zhang Xianzhong's army relied on looting for supplies, especially mules and horses to transport food and grass, and there were not many baggage soldiers. Gao Wengui suddenly realized that asking for reinforcements was not a good idea.

Li Dingguo continued, "Although my foster father will not sit idly by and watch the battle of Fuling, we still need to solve the battle of the siege ourselves." "Although my Tianwei Battalion is elite, it is less than 5,000, and we need to take into account both land and water battles. This time, we must adopt a surprise attack strategy to attack Fuling."

"What General Li means is..." Gao Wengui asked tentatively again.

"A surprise attack!" Li Dingguo said firmly, pointing at Wangjiang Pass on the map, "This place is a natural barrier, Jian Mingxiao must have heavily guarded it. If we can annihilate the defenders of Wangjiang Pass, it will be like cutting off one of their arms, and our chances of victory will greatly increase!"

Gao Wengui had some doubts when he heard this, but seeing that Li Dingguo was confident, he said nothing more. He knew very well that it was not easy to fight against the current and annihilate the enemy. But since Li Dingguo had this plan, he must have a good plan.

Seeing this, Li Dingguo smiled slightly, pointed to the bottom of the map, and his eyes flashed with confidence: "I have my own clever plan, and I will definitely be able to defeat the enemy." (End of this chapter)