After saving the Empress, I became the top scholar in the imperial examination.

The three major camps of Huainan.

It is divided into the Pingnan Camp, which was established five years ago; the Shiqiao Camp, which was built more than 20 years ago; and the Huainan Camp, which was built 60 years ago.

among them.

The Pingnan Camp was stationed in Chuzhou, commanding 10,000 Eight Banner soldiers and 20,000 Green Standard Army soldiers, all fully armored, and also commanding 3,000 of the most elite firearms battalion, with its vanguard reaching Jiangpu City.

The Shiqiao Camp was stationed in Shiqiao Town, with 5,000 Eight Banner soldiers and 15,000 Green Standard Army soldiers under its command. The vanguard, carrying a large cannon, was stationed more than 40 li away from Liuhe City.

The Huainan Grand Camp was stationed in Hefei, commanding 10,000 Eight Banner troops and 30,000 Green Standard Army soldiers.

The vanguard camp, comprising one-third of the troops, was stationed fifty li west of Chuzhou.

Food, weapons, and horses were all supplied by Hefei.

Over the past six months, the three battalions have completed their rest and training, and each battalion has equipped several cavalry and elite infantry units with the latest flintlock muskets.

General Yue Zhongqi, a high-ranking general who had led troops in Qinghai and Tibet for many years and whose face was dark and reddish, was dressed in a dark blue Northern Dynasty official robe and wore a hat with a red bead inlaid with a peacock feather.

As a second-class Duke of Weixin, his chest badge was embroidered with a four-clawed python. He exuded an imposing aura.

General Yue was in his forties, the prime of his life to make great achievements and establish merit. He was originally employed and promoted by Nian Gengyao, and then made meritorious contributions year by year.

When Nian Gengyao was granted the title of First-Class Duke, he was also granted the title of Third-Class Duke.

A few years ago, the emperor valued him and transferred him to the front line in the northeast to fight against the Russians. After making meritorious contributions again, he was promoted from the third-class Duke of Weixin to the second-class Duke of Weixin and was granted the title of General of Ningyuan. He was showing signs of becoming a rival to his benefactor, General of Fuyuan Nian Gengyao.

However, compared to the other party's de facto governor-general of three provinces, Yue Zhongqi was naturally far inferior.

Half a year ago, the Emperor secretly changed Yue Zhongqi's title of General of Ningyuan to General of Pingnan in a secret memorial and secretly transferred him to be the commander-in-chief of the southern expedition. Yue Zhongqi then rushed to Shandong and has been lying low ever since.

The tall and imposing Li Wei stood beside the general and said solemnly:

"The main force of the Plain Yellow Banner, Bordered Yellow Banner, Bordered Red Banner, and Bordered White Banner, totaling 50,000 troops, has arrived in Shandong. The 30,000 Green Forest Army and 5,000 naval troops in Shandong have also been trained."

Li Wei's face was very pale, covered with many unsightly pimples. He looked at the general and said:

"If the General deems the time right, I will proceed with closing the trade routes."

In fact, the Governor-General's Office of Jiangnan and the Sticky Rod Office had long since joined forces to strictly guard the north-south trade routes, allowing only highly trusted and influential merchants to pass through.

Merchants from both the north and south would often entrust their goods to these large merchants, receiving a percentage of the profits in exchange for trade.

Therefore, the trade routes between the two were not severed, but were extremely strict.

Yue Zhongqi nodded in agreement:

"We can begin now. We will gradually blockade them. By early April, when the three major battalions have withdrawn, and their Jiangpu and Liuhe armies leave the city to take over Chuzhou, we can send out cavalry to cut off their rear."

Li Wei's eyes narrowed slightly: "The Rakshasa's side?"

Yue Zhongqi shook his head and said, "It will take at least another month."

Bang, bang, bang, he patted the dark cannon barrel, not caring much, and said:

"As long as I destroy those two cities of the Southern Dynasty and prepare to cross the river, they will arrive."

Li Wei, who knew little about military affairs, nodded. He needed to be stationed in Jiangbei and Huainan to supply the army with provisions. In special circumstances, the emperor might very well appoint him as the governor of Shandong at the same time.

There is no doubt that we have captured the two cities north of the Yangtze River.

He was quite worried that their journey south across the Yangtze River would lead to the complete annihilation of the Southern Dynasty.

If the war drags on, Shandong and Huainan will inevitably have to increase their pay and impose fines.

Whether the situation can be suppressed, and for how long, are questions that the governor must consider and prepare for.

He then asked, "General, is the General Who Pacifies the Distant Regions ready to march south?"

Nian Gengyao should have gone through Sichuan to enter the south. As for the Huguang route, the Southern Dynasties had heavy troops in Wuchang Prefecture and Hanyang Prefecture, making it difficult to cross the river.

The Eight Banners soldiers and Green Standard Army soldiers of Xiangyangtun went forward, threatening the Liang army in Huguang.

However, the timing of entering Sichuan and traveling through Huguang (Hubei and Hunan) was ultimately different.

The timing and route taken by Nian Gengyao's other army were indeed crucial to his plans.

Li Wei then asked another question: "Does the General Who Pacifies the Distant Regions intend to enter Shu, or travel through Jingzhou and Xiangyang?"

The Governor-General of Jiangnan raised his eyebrows:

"If it is inconvenient for the General to tell us, then I will consider it Li Wei's overstepping of bounds."

Yue Zhongqi actually had a good personal relationship with Nian Gengyao. When he was under Nian's command, he even saved General Nian's life on the battlefield.

However, after several secret correspondences between him and the emperor, he had no choice but to be pragmatic and distance himself from General Nian.

The sky was dotted with stars, surrounding a full moon.

Starlight fell upon the long line of multi-wheeled heavy artillery vehicles in the arena.

Yue Zhongqi was in a good mood and said amiably:

"The army relies on Governor Li for supplies, how could I dare to keep anything for myself? The Emperor has also issued an edict, and now that the time has come, even if the Governor does not ask, I should still trouble you."

His expression turned somewhat stern:

"According to the Emperor's decree, the General Who Pacifies the Distant Regions should depart from Xi'an Prefecture in early April, and lead his troops into Hanzhong to attack Jianmen Pass."

Yue Zhongqi smiled and bowed slightly:

"Your Excellency need not worry. The General is wise and decisive, and will surely win every battle. The tribes of Qinghai have been pacified, and the General has no worries about the rear. After selecting the generals, taking Sichuan will be an easy task."

Li Wei blinked and smiled, "I wouldn't dare question General Nian. Who doesn't know that General Nian's greatest skill is judging people?"

Yue Zhongqi was "recognized" by Nian Gengyao, and this statement was a way of praising him.

Yue Zhongqi smiled wryly.

"As for Huguang,"

At this moment, the General Who Pacifies the South mentioned Huguang again, and his expression became deep and inscrutable.

"Your Excellency need not worry. The Emperor is in Huguang,"

He looked at Li Wei and said calmly:

"They also arranged for a large army..."

……

……

Inside the imperial palace in Nanjing, the Empress's arrangements for certain matters were gradually coming to an end.

period.

The high-ranking officials were busy helping the Empress find and fill in the gaps, and they wished they could build an iron barrel around the Great Liang, but they occasionally had their own little schemes.

For example, a sentence like, "The magistrate of Jiangpu County is corrupt and lawless. Should Your Majesty replace him with a more experienced and prudent person?"

So that they could take the opportunity to replace the magistrate there with one of their own.

"If the water is too clear, there will be no fish." Zhu Cuiwei did not expose them, but simply said, "The overall situation is more important, we will discuss it later."

At last.

The Southern Dynasty Empress, seated at the head of the table, solemnly looked at Yan Yuqing, whose hair was completely white, and issued a decree to him with deep concern:

"Commander Yan, immediately send men north to investigate the safety of our delegation."

"Yes!" Although Yan Yuqing was old, she was still very energetic. However, when she said "yes", even with her strong will, her tone became low.

The atmosphere in the room immediately became somber, and everyone felt heavy-hearted.

The ruthlessness of the Northern Dynasty far exceeded their expectations.

The mission heading north...

It seems the chances of survival are slim...