Fu Shanhe

Chapter 61 The Frustrated Commander

After a brief confrontation, the two sides entered a standoff mode.

For three consecutive days, the rebels did not make any moves, and Li Mu knew that the enemy was in trouble.

Yangzhou is located on the Jianghuai Plain, surrounded by flat land and crisscrossing waterways, but lacking towering mountains.

After so many years of development, there are only a few trees left on the plain.

If you want to build siege equipment, you must send people to get materials from farther away.

This back and forth took some time.

However, the number of rebels is increasing every day.

I don't know whether they are the villagers who were forced to come here, or the rebels from other places.

After confirming that the enemy would not launch an attack immediately, Li Mu's heart gradually settled down.

As the one defending the city, what he has the most is time.

Since the enemy is not attacking, we can seize the time and train the new recruits in batches.

……

In the government office.

"Commander, why did you summon us here?"

Li Mu asked doubtfully.

After the rebels besieged the city, officers were stationed in their own defense areas for ease of command.

Even if there is something, we will send someone to communicate.

A meeting of military officers in the city was convened, which was the first time since the war broke out.

“I just received news that Nantong Prefecture has fallen.

The navy sent by the court to reinforce was betrayed by a traitor, resulting in heavy losses for the navy and nearly a hundred ships falling into the hands of the enemy.

The rebels, who have captured a large number of ships, can go upstream and attack our rear at any time.

For the safety of Nanjing, the reinforcements sent to us by the southeastern provinces will be diverted to Zhenjiang for garrison. "

After Marquis Wuyang finished speaking, the atmosphere in the room suddenly became solemn.

The bad news came too suddenly. The navy suffered a crushing defeat and a large number of ships were captured by the enemy. It seemed like a fantasy no matter how you looked at it.

Li Mu seriously suspected that the navy guys deliberately falsified the battle losses in order to settle accounts.

The navy is different from the army. Even if it is infiltrated by rebels, it will only lose control of one or two ships.

The Jiangnan Navy had only a little over a hundred ships in its inventory.

If the enemy could instigate a hundred ships to rebel, then Dayu Jiangshan would have changed hands long ago.

The situation in the world is still stable, how could there be so many rebellions?

The reinforcements from the southeastern provinces are a force that only exists on paper.

He himself was from a garrison, and he knew very well how corrupt the garrison troops in various places were.

The fact that he went to reinforce Zhenjiang was a lie; the truth was that he was afraid of exposing his own weakness in front of the imperial envoy.

Each province has hundreds of thousands of registered troops. If there are no problems of their own, they can simply split their troops into two routes.

Even if we are more radical, it would not be difficult to directly send troops to quell the rebellion.

I know, but these are just personal guesses after all.

In official circles, you must never make random statements without evidence.

Perhaps realizing that there was something fishy going on, no one spoke first.

"Why are you all silent? Are you frightened by the rebels?"

Marquis Wuyang asked dissatisfiedly.

Deep down, he felt increasingly uncertain.

His own military capabilities were limited, and he could only rely on his generals to defend the city.

If the subordinates are helpless, it will be a big trouble.

Abandoning the city and running away would be too embarrassing, as he is a man who cares about his reputation.

"Commander, maybe things are not that bad.

The fall of Nantong Prefecture is true, but the navy’s defeat and loss of a large number of ships was mostly fabricated.

The Jiangnan Navy is seriously lacking in pay. I'm afraid that their total fleet is less than 100. Let's wait and see. I estimate that it won't be long before we hear good news that the Navy has fought bloody battles to stop the rebels!"

Tang Jincheng said with disdain.

If you lose the battle, you will be held accountable by the court.

It is possible to use defeat as an excuse to settle accounts, but arrangements must be made to make up for one's crime with meritorious service.

Afterwards, he smoothed over the relationship in the court and made it seem like his merits and demerits were offset.

With all the money in and out, all the bad debts of the past can be written off.

In the future, the navy will be rebuilt with additional funding from the court.

"Commander-in-chief, Captain Tang has only said half of what he said.

It was not only the Jiangnan navy that played tricks, but also the reinforcements from the southeastern provinces.

If the rebels do not attack, they will take the initiative to find opportunities to fight with the rebels.

Then they would produce a battle report showing both high performance and high casualties in order to cover up previous problems.

We are all outsiders, so we should stay away from such shameful activities!"

After Zhao Yawei finished speaking, Li Mu just felt a huge pressure.

I have to admit that these two are really brave.

Many people know about the bad habits in the military, but few dare to speak out directly.

The two people in front of him both made big moves, so it would be unacceptable for him to help cover it up.

Continuing to follow up with explosive news is not in line with my identity.

Others can lift the lid, but as a member of a garrison, he cannot pick up the bowl and smash the pot.

"Commander-in-chief, the reinforcements from the southeastern provinces were not within our consideration, so it doesn't matter whether they come or not.

The rebels have a complex internal structure and it is difficult for them to reach a strategic unity. Their next move cannot be explained by common sense.

Perhaps the rebels in Nantong Prefecture will come and join the siege on us, or they may directly march south.

They might even be able to do it if they went straight to Nanjing.

Previously, there was a group of rebels in Huai'an Prefecture who overestimated their own capabilities. They raised the slogan of a northern expedition to the Central Plains and headed straight for Xuzhou.

As a result, they ran into the Beijing camp halfway and were completely annihilated!"

Li Mu decisively shifted the topic to military affairs.

There are definitely smart people among the rebels, but there are more short-sighted people. This is determined by the rebel group.

For such an opponent, any decision is possible.

After several possibilities were put forward, Marquis Wuyang was completely confused.

Sometimes it goes north, sometimes it goes south, and sometimes it goes west.

It is really difficult to ask a commander who knows nothing about military affairs to make a judgment.

"You guys figure it out!

I don’t care how we fight, but Yangzhou City cannot be lost!

You have defended Yangzhou City. I will commend you for your achievements to the Emperor.

Those who stay in Beijing will be promoted at least one level, and those who are assigned to other posts will be promoted three levels in a row.

If Yangzhou is lost, I will kill myself!"

Marquis Wuyang started to make big promises on the spot, but perhaps his technique was not very skillful and he did not put the ugly words first.

As a result, people's emotions were not aroused.

Of course, the more likely possibility is that everyone has someone behind them, and as long as they have made military achievements, they will have no worries about promotion.

It’s really frustrating to think about it. As the commander-in-chief of the army, he obviously has the highest decision-making power, but he cannot make decisions in time.

He usually doesn't hold military meetings. The main reason is that every time a military meeting is over, he looks like an idiot.

Especially when the thousands of households had different opinions, it was a torment for Marquis Wuyang.

I feel like what everyone said makes sense, and I have no idea whose proposal to adopt. I can only wait for them to come up with a conclusion.

Deep down, he had already made up his mind that after completing this mission, he would never lead troops again.

This is not a job for humans.

(End of this chapter)