Back to the end of Ming Dynasty to be a warlord

Chapter 402 Where Does the Enemy Come From?
Yang Chao has been busy stabilizing order in Huai'an.

It's not too difficult, Yangzhou can be stable, let alone Huai'an.

Because Huai'an surrendered, it did not suffer much damage. The Qing army did not massacre or loot the city.

The biggest damage was left by Yang Chao when he attacked the city.

It’s just that it’s inevitable that production will suffer. Like Yangzhou, this city is also centered on the salt industry and canal grain. After the Qing army occupied here, Huai’an lost the salt industry and grain transportation at the same time, because it is impossible to transport grain from the south to the north. And the north doesn't need Huai'an's salt, besides, Haizhou, which produces salt, is still occupied by Yang Chao.

After the loss of these two pillar industries, Huai'an's economy was naturally greatly damaged, and a large number of unemployed laborers had nowhere to settle.

After Yang Chao captured here, all the problems will be solved naturally. The entire Huai'an Mansion is in Yang Chao's hands, and the salt industry will naturally recover, but there is no need to count on grain for the time being. Possibly to transport grain to the north.

So settling in Huai'an is an easier task.

Yang Chao was mainly busy with appeasing the common people, supporting the salt merchants, and selling bank notes at the same time.

Tell the salt merchants that you don't need to bring silver to Haizhou to buy salt, just bring your own bank notes, and Haizhou can exchange them.

At the same time, all the houses that were accidentally injured by his shelling were given monetary compensation, so that the people could rebuild their homes.

In terms of military affairs, Li Wuliu has already entered Xuzhou Prefecture and is encroaching on Xuzhou's territory in every state and county.

Huang Degong has sent generals to Sizhou, mobilized more than [-] soldiers and horses, and planned to take Xuzhou before Yang Chao.

At this moment, Yang Chao suddenly received the situation in Nanjing, and his anger burst out immediately.

I have always been very tolerant of the court. I thought I was a loyal minister, but it turned out to be like this.

Yang Chao suddenly thought of Yue Fei. Yue Fei was not loyal back then and wanted to restore the country, but he died in Fengboting in the end.

Could it be that as a general, in addition to self-castration, let his subordinates be a bunch of bear soldiers, so as not to be suspected by the court.

Fortunes and misfortunes never come singly, Yang Chao was about to lead his troops back to question the court, when suddenly another bad news came.

"The Qing army surrounded Yangzhou!"

After getting the news, Yang Chao didn't believe it immediately, how could it be possible.

"Exactly!"

Huangfeng Mansion is very sure.

"Tell me in detail."

Huang Fengfu immediately picked out the main points and said it again.

The news came from Gaoyou, and the Gaoyou garrison personally sent someone to confirm it.

As for how the Qing army suddenly appeared under the city of Yangzhou, no one knows, but one thing is confirmed, that is, the Qing army is all cavalry, and the number is at least [-].

Cavalry, long-distance raid!
Yang Chao immediately flashed through these two years, but where did the Qing army come from?

Yang Chao spread out the map, no matter what he did, he couldn't find a way for the Qing army to sneak and rush to the city of Yangzhou, unless they flew over.

The road from Shandong to the south is in the hands of Yang Chao, and the road from Henan to the south is in the hands of Huang Degong. Naturally, there will be no problems with Yang Chao, so the problem must be Huang Degong's side.

Yang Chao's hand followed Guide Mansion in Henan, and drew a line going southeast, Suzhou, Lingbi, Hongxian, and then to Sizhou. This was the route that Duoduo took to attack Yangzhou last time.

But last time he defeated Gao Jie's troops in Suzhou, so the road was unimpeded, and the Sizhou defender surrendered directly. But this time Huang Degong attaches great importance to Suzhou and Sizhou. One is his defense of Hebei, and the other is his aggressive Xuzhou. The two important places are guarded by his two generals, with [-] troops, how could they be easily defeated.

And even if they lose, it is impossible for them to have no news.

Yang Chao couldn't help wondering, 5 people were quietly wiped out by the Qing army. Yang Chao didn't believe it anyway, especially Sizhou, which was separated from Huai'an by Hongze Lake. If Duoduo attacked Sizhou, Sizhou The guard is fully capable of coming to Huai'an by water to ask for help, but there is no life at all, and the wind and waves on Hongze Lake are calm.

"Send people to Sizhou to check the news. If Sizhou is occupied by the Qing army, Duoduo will undoubtedly repeat the old trick. He has gone the same way."

This is a bit interesting. Duoduo used the same method to attack Yangzhou last time, which had a meaning of not admitting defeat. Wherever he fell and got up, there was also a taste of provocation to Yang Chao. Duduo wanted to attack Yangzhou last time. The way to attack Yangzhou again, to see if Yang Chao can take back Yangzhou like last time.

But Yang Chao is not interested in playing this game with him. Although he has mobilized all his troops to Huai'an, Yangzhou is a bit empty, but he still has [-] soldiers of his own. Under the leadership of Sun Changfu, Duoduo will never be like last time. Easily captured Yangzhou.

Tan Ma sent back the news that something happened in Sizhou.

What happened first was Suzhou. Huang Degong led Ma Degong to guard Suzhou with [-] troops. As a result, Duoduo attacked Suzhou from Guide Mansion by surprise, and he was defeated in a single battle. Entering Suzhou, they captured key places such as the government office in Suzhou overnight, and captured most of the high-ranking military officers alive.

After taking Suzhou without bloodshed, Duoduo immediately sent troops to Sizhou, and counties along the way surrendered one after another. When Duduo came last time, they surrendered and were not slaughtered. Therefore, they surrendered habitually this time.

When they arrived in Sizhou, they captured Sizhou City overnight and surrendered most of the Sizhou defenders. Those who were loyal to Huang Degong and refused to surrender were slaughtered directly.

Then Duoduo asked Ma Degong to come forward without bloodshed, and recruited Xuyi. He cleared the passage for entering the army in one day and two nights, and appeared under the city of Yangzhou in the daytime on the third day.

Yang Chao couldn't figure out when Duoduo's nails were installed in Xuzhou and Sizhou, whether they were installed when he passed by last time, or recently, but the facts showed that Duoduo played the same trick as last time, The sudden appearance in the city of Yangzhou once caught Shi Kefa by surprise last time, and this time it also made Yang Chao a little difficult to deal with.

Summon the officers immediately.

"Many men and Lu Mo listened to the order. You two led 2 soldiers and horses to the south. Lu Mo led [-] troops as a forward and went south to rescue Yangzhou. Many men led [-] people to Gaoyou to support at any time!"

"Notify Li Wuliu that the main force of the Qing army will go south to Yangzhou, and Xuzhou will inevitably be empty. I will blame him to capture Xuzhou, and then stick to Xuzhou to prevent the Qing army from going south to support."

"Zhao Kang and Hu Quan, you two led your troops across Hongze Lake, and captured Sizhou and Xuyi at all costs."

Yang Chao wanted to cut off Duduo's retreat, as well as the possible reinforcements from Henan.

"Since you're here, don't leave!"

Yang Chao snorted coldly in his heart, but there was one question he couldn't figure out.

Doduo's move is too risky. Last time he attacked Yangzhou, the Qing army from the North and the Zhunta Department went south to Huai'an. It can be said that two routes went hand in hand. Even if the Zhunta Department could not attack Huai'an, it could still restrain Huai'an troops from going south to rescue Yangzhou. This time he was completely alone.

It is conceivable that Yang Chao will definitely return to the army from Huai'an, so why didn't Duoduo leave behind.

Moreover, Huang Degong's subordinates rebelled. Huang Degong will definitely go north from Taiping Mansion. Fengyang and others are still in Huang Degong's hands. Huang Degong still has an army of [-] in his hands, which will definitely threaten Duoduo's back road. Isn't Duoduo worried at all? Huang Degong.

Yang Chao didn't know the strength of Duduo's solitary army, but he didn't stop his southward rescue of Yangzhou.

On the same day, many men and Lu Mo pioneers set off immediately, Yang Chao reorganized the rear team, and waited for Zhao Kang to send the news that Sizhou and Xuyi had been captured the next day before leading the troops back to aid.

Zhao Kang did not suffer much. He brought 5000 soldiers under Yang Chao. After the battle between Pingzuo Liangyu and Yangzhou, Yang Chao had enough veterans to expand his soldiers to [-], and everyone could wear double armor. , Everyone can gallop on horseback. With these elites, it is no problem for Zhao Kang to take down the city guarded by Huang Degong's old troops, but under the rush, he still lost [-] soldiers.

After taking down Sizhou, Xuyi directly persuaded him to surrender, and then Zhao Kang led people to defend the two places and incorporated Huang Degong's troops, while Hu Quan led artillery back to Huai'an to join Yang Chao, and went south to rescue Yangzhou. Artillery was also indispensable.

There was also news from Li Wuliu that Xuzhou was really empty. He led his troops to take Xuzhou in one day and immediately stationed in Xuzhou for defense. He would never let the Shandong Qing army pass through Xuzhou.

Under the city of Yangzhou, Duoduo stormed Yangzhou for days.

He tried to persuade him to surrender first, but Yang Chao's soldiers in the city were well-organized and disciplined, and they were aware of the possibility of surrender. Moreover, after the last massacre in Yangzhou City, the people and officials in the city did not want to see the Qing army enter the city again. He stepped on the city wall to defend.

Seeing that the persuasion to capitulate was unsuccessful, Duoduo didn't have too many illusions, so he immediately attacked Yangzhou.

This time his cavalry rushed forward, it was impossible to carry the red cannon, so he had to attack the city again.

The Qing army naturally suffered heavy losses, but Duoduo did not flinch, and continued to attack, which also caused great damage to the Ming army.

After two days of continuous attack, it was not until the next day that Lu Mo had brought the vanguard to support that Duoduo gave up the attack and began to block Lu Mo's reinforcements. After breaking through, many male reinforcements arrived on the third day, already occupying the upper hand in terms of strength.

But Duoduo still did not retreat. While sending troops to contain many men and Lu Mo's reinforcements, he continued to crucify Yangzhou City, and sent troops to blockade on all sides to prevent the Yangzhou army from leaving the city.

The news that the Qing army encircled Yangzhou again came back to Nanjing within a few days, and Nanjing was in a panic again, not knowing what happened in Jiangbei at all.

Some say that Yang Chao was defeated by the Qing army and retreated to Yangzhou, surrounded by the pursuing Qing army. Some even said that Yang Chao died in Huai'an and the Qing army took advantage of the situation to go south. But at this time, no one said that Yang Chao surrendered to the enemy, because no one dared to think so. .

Suddenly the imperial court remembered Yang Chao's goodness, and sent people to inquire about the news in Jiangbei every day, and at the same time sent people to comfort Wang Pu with good words, hoping that Wang Pu would go north to rescue Yangzhou.

Of course, Wang Pu had nothing to say, even if the court didn’t mention it, he would go to rescue Yang Chao. Although acting without authorization might be a slap in the face, now that there is an order from the court, it seems that there is a reason, so he will not hesitate to send troops to go there immediately. yangzhou.

But as soon as Wang Pu left, news came from the west that the Qing army of 20 had already marched down the river to attack Nanjing!
At this time, the imperial court became even more flustered. Only then did they know that the main force of the enemy's attack was from the West.

(End of this chapter)