Cutting over the end of the Ming Dynasty: a dog-leg knife at the beginning

Chapter 588
Shen Tingyang commanded the fleet to go southward along the Han River, and immediately threw off the infantry after crossing the boundary, and went straight to Xiangfan.

His fleet has more than 60 warships, carrying [-] infantry, which can be regarded as a large-scale water force.And it was Han Peng who commanded this marine corps, and Han Peng took a lot of effort to win this opportunity. You can't always let Xue Siming show the limelight, can you?Jiang Zheng, Zhang Zilong, Li Yong, Chen Lei and others who accompanied Han Peng in the battle were all second-rate generals, and they were far behind Zhong Ning and Cao Jun. However, Han Peng didn't care. These second-rate warriors are enough to deal with Jiannu and the Huguang rebels.

After leaving the border of Nanyang, the fleet speeded up and rushed straight to Xiangfan.All the way, I didn’t meet any resistance from the Huguang rebels. It was smooth sailing, and I looked at both sides of the strait. Well, the people on both sides of the strait plowed the fields and transplanted rice seedlings. They didn’t think this war was the same thing at all. !This made Jiang Zheng and the others a little disappointed, so please show some expressions, please don't ignore us completely, okay?
Depressed, the fleet reached Xiangfan and began to attack this important military town.Wu Yong wrote in his document to report the victory to the imperial court:
"There are tens of thousands of rebels. The boats and ships are like clouds, and the armored soldiers are like rain. The two cities of Xiangfan fired guns at the same time. Showers, fire boats rushing on the river, sparks soaring into the sky, thick smoke billowing, the battle between the two armies on land and in the river was extremely tragic, in just one day, hundreds of warships were destroyed, corpses and pieces of wood drifted with the waves, and the river was inexorable. Liu... slaves fought with the champion Hou south and north, and experienced many battles, but such a tragic battle is unheard of..."

After reading this victory report, Chongzhen sadly said to his ministers: "The Heluo New Army has fought hard repeatedly, and Fang Ke returned to Xiangfan. The battle is so tragic that it is hard to describe it with words!"

All the ministers said: "The Heluo new army is so loyal, brave, and selfless, it is really a blessing for Ming Dynasty!" But they cheered for both the rebel army and the Heluo new army in their hearts, hoping that they would fight harder and die more a little.In their view, the Heluo New Army is the Liangshan grassroots, and the Huguang rebels are Fang La, and it is in their best interest to fight for both sides.

However, they were doomed to disappointment.

In fact, the real battle of Xiangfan is like this:
Han Peng stood on the bow of the boat, holding a loudspeaker and shouted at the generals who defended the Xiangyang City Wall: "We are the Heluo New Army, and we have been ordered to go south to suppress the rebellion! We guarantee your personal safety, and we will not touch the property and land you have been assigned, and we will not touch the property and land you have been assigned. Promise not to touch your elected officials, surrender immediately!"

The rebel general smiled and said, "Let us surrender? That's fine, but you have to show your skills, otherwise how can you convince us?"

Han Peng didn't waste any time and directed the naval gun to fire at a section of the city wall where there was no one around. After a few shots, the wall collapsed, revealing a large gap.The defenders on the city wall yelled: "Fuck, this section of the city wall was built just last year, and now it's been demolished again! If you don't repair it, I won't even repair it even if you kill me!"

The one that was bombarded by the naval guns was the tofu dregs wall that Wang Rui used 120mm cannons to bombard Xiangyang last year when he besieged Xiangyang.

This round of artillery passed, the Xiangfan defenders were convinced, and Kaesong surrendered.Still the same, the army disbanded on the spot, leaving three or four hundred people to maintain order, and the rest went home to farm, and they could take away their bows and crossbows.It should be said that subduing the enemy without fighting is the most ideal state. No enemy is injured, and neither are our own people injured. Where can we find such a wonderful result?It's just that the scene is a little underwhelming.Jiang Zheng, who was preparing for a big battle, was very depressed. When he learned that the surrounding states and counties had heard the news, he couldn't help but whispered to Zhang Zilong: "Why do I feel like I'm acting?"

Zhang Zilong smiled wryly: "Acting is much more realistic than this."

Chen Lei sighed: "I thought I could fight two battles well and get some credit for the battle. From this point of view, there is no need to fight, just go all the way and accept the surrender!"

Li Yong muttered: "Why am I so unlucky!"

Of course, these complaints did not prevent Wu Yong from writing brilliantly and concocting a series of good news that made people cry...

After taking Xiangyang, Han Peng sent his troops straight to Jingmen.The process was similar. The naval guns fired a few shots, and the Jingmen defenders surrendered to the city with a smile. Most people put down their weapons and went home to farm. A few people were transferred from temporary workers to government establishments, and started to maintain local order. .

However, in the good news reported by Wu Yong to the court, the Battle of Jingmen was extremely tragic: all the best of the Heluo New Army came out, and the Huguang rebels were personally led by Qin Mai. 10,000+ people came from the wilderness, and their spears were almost covered The two sides fought repeatedly, until the fields were filled with corpses and rivers of blood flowed. In the end, the rebels suffered tens of thousands of casualties. Qin Mai fled in embarrassment, and the Heluo New Army narrowly won... Then Chongzhen was moved again, and his opponents The armed group said: "Look, look, this is called fighting, this is called counterinsurgency!"

Those generals were so ashamed...

Of course, not everyone is as easy to deceive as Chongzhen. Wang Yingxiong was the first to see something was wrong: the dead eunuch reported success almost every day. Can it go all the way and sweep the Jianghan Plain?There is a problem, there must be a problem!He mobilized his eyeliner to investigate, and the news he got surprised him:
The Heluo new army and the rebels did not fight much at all. Basically, as soon as the Heluo new army arrived to ensure that the interests of the rebels would not be damaged, the rebels surrendered.Oh, by the way, the Heluo New Army even killed a few home-returning regiments to the brim.

Wang Yingxiong gasped, good guy, this is playing the court like a fool, Yang Menglong, you are so brave!
Excitement followed the shock. Ever since he was slapped in the face by Yang Menglong in public, he had been looking for opportunities to avenge that one shot, and now the opportunity had finally come!Such a situation occurred in Huguang. He didn't believe that it was an accident that he was killed. The Huguang rebels were so powerful. In just one year, they swept the entire Jianghan Plain, conquered Changsha, and were marching forward in Guangzhou. There was nothing that could stop them. They stopped, but the Heluo New Army took back cities and towns from them effortlessly. Hehe, what a liar!Yang Menglong, you actually dare to collude with the rebels. You are so brave. It will be difficult for you not to die this time!
Excited, Wang Yingxiong didn't even have to find a helper, and excitedly went to see Chongzhen, and reported to Chongzhen what he had learned. Simply put, he told Chongzhen that Yang Menglong didn't fight the rebels at all, and he took you for a fool Woolen cloth!Chongzhen kept silent and let him talk non-stop.After he said he was tired, Chongzhen said slowly: "Actually, I know that the champion Hou recruited the rebels. It's a good thing."

Wang Yingxiong's eyeballs popped out: "Good...good thing!?"

Chongzhen looked compassionate: "Yes, over the years, there have been continuous disasters and man-made disasters, millions of people have been displaced, and starving flies are everywhere. Every time I think about it, I feel sad! The lessons of the bandit rebellion are still before me, which makes me feel lingering fear. Champion Hou Neng It couldn't be better to regain the lost territory without any bloodshed and without disturbing the people's production. I must reward him heavily!"

Wang Yingxiong opened his mouth wide, like a hen whose neck was strangled: "But...he falsely reported his military exploits..."

Chongzhen chuckled: "Wu Yong's success report? That thing is for others to see, don't take it seriously, you will be stupid if you take it seriously."

Wang Yingxiong was almost at a loss for words: "But he deceived the king..."

Chongzhen said leisurely: "The pacification of the Huguang Rebellion is mainly based on appeasement. This is a long-established strategy, isn't it?"

Wang Yingxiong almost vomited blood.Only then did he realize that as early as last year, Chongzhen had promised Yang Menglong to appease the Huguang rebels. Look, they even arranged the way out!He didn't know what to say, so he could only resign and walked out in a daze.He finally understood that Chongzhen's trust in Yang Menglong was almost superstitious now, and it was not so easy to be shaken. It would be a dream to sue Yang Menglong before Chongzhen lost trust in Yang Menglong!
Watching Wang Yingxiong leave, Chongzhen slowly frowned, picked up Wu Yong's "Happy News" and read it again, and murmured: "You don't have to doubt the person you employ, and don't use the person you suspect...Yang Menglong, I hope you don't learn from Yuan Chonghuan and let me down. Your trust..." Then it occurred to him that he seemed to have nothing to do with Yang Menglong. The whole of Huguang was in his hands, and Lu Xiangsheng, who held the military and political power of the five northern provinces in one hand, was a close friend of that bastard. Even if Yang Menglong wanted to rebel , he, the emperor, has nothing to do.He sighed helplessly, and could only pin his hopes on the fact that these two courtiers had always been loyal to him.

At this time, Cao Huachun came over with a smile, and said in a low voice, "Your Majesty, the champion's spoils have been delivered."

Chongzhen's eyes lit up: "It was delivered so soon? How many are there?"

Cao Huachun said excitedly: "There are 10 taels of silver and 1 taels of gold!"

Chongzhen's eyes lit up, and he shouted: "Hurry up and enter the inner treasury, hurry up and enter the inner treasury! Don't let the chief assistant and the others know!" Forget about the excitement. Last year, there was a military parade, and the face was gained, but the inner treasury was also empty. Now, the mouse will come out in tears when it runs in. It is too early for the summer grain to mature, and there is no penny on hand. This life is really difficult. Now it is better, Yang Menglong quietly sent him 10 taels of silver, It's still for him to squander alone, how can he not be excited!

Cao Huachun smiled in a low voice, and hurried to Zhang Luo.This is the first spoils Yang Menglong handed in since he quelled the rebellion, and he, who was in the middle of contact, also received more than 1 taels, not to mention the excitement.He can guarantee that now the emperor is wishing that the Huguang rebels will continue to rebel forever, and Yang Menglong will spend his life trying to suppress the rebellion... This is not counter-rebellion, it is clearly a money trap!He doesn't think those Donglin gentlemen can beat Yang Menglong, can you honor the emperor's 10 taels of silver at once?cannot?I can't tell you what to fight with Yang Menglong!
Yang Menglong is indeed very smart. Every time he gets a loot, he never forgets to give Chongzhen a share, but the civil and military officials of the Manchu Dynasty only care about making money for themselves, covering their pockets tightly, for fear of being taken away by Chongzhen... ...No comparison, no harm, if you were poor and crazy Chongzhen, who would you choose?

(End of this chapter)