By the time Gou Xingwang came to the Hanyang Gate in Wuchang, Zhu Youdong was already waiting under the Hanyang Gate. Seeing Gou Xingwang getting off the boat, Zhu Youdong stepped forward quickly and grabbed Gou Xingwang's hand tightly. Then he slapped it twice vigorously and said, "I'm really scared, it's good to see you now, okay." ”

By the time Zhu Youdong returned to Wuchang City with Gou Xingwang and his party, the city had settled down at this time. Countless people looked curiously at this army that had just conquered Wuchang City. Seeing so many people coming at once, they all avoided it, not daring to block the way of Zhu Youdong and others

Wei Du saw Gou Xingwang and directly gave Gou Xingwang a punch and said: "Okay, in that case, you can survive, it seems that your Gou Xingwang's life is hard enough." "Seeing so many generals of the Restoration Army, Gou Xingwang is not too sad. Immediately said: "Don't worry, just with these soldiers from Huguang, they can't kill me." Besides, in the entire court of the Tartars, the person who killed me and Gou Xingwang has not yet been born. ”

Hearing Gou Xingwang boasting so much, even Ma Weixing of the Twelfth Army said rarely: "With General Gou's arrogance, if the Qing army wants to take down your head, it is estimated that it will take some means." Zhu Youdong said: "Of course, the Qing army is not terrible, as long as we can work together, it will be a matter of time before the Qing army is defeated." ”

As soon as everyone spoke, they arrived at the governor's palace, and the various ministries reported the casualties one after another. Of course, the largest casualty this time was Gou Xingwang's First Army, which was basically annihilated. This was followed by Zhou Dazhu's Sixth Army, which faced the real Manchurian Eight Banners.

Of course, these people didn't say that they were vegetarians, although Wei Du and others said it was easy at that time, but in the actual battle, the battle was still very tragic. The casualties of the Sixth Army were also about 7,000, and the combat effectiveness was almost more than half. Fortunately, there were about 2,000 people who were slightly wounded, and these people only needed to recover for a few days before they could fight again.

The lightest casualties were Ma Weixing's 12th Army and Naval Division, and their main opponents were basically local green battalions and Minzhuang. Coupled with a series of mistakes by the Qing army in the city at that time, the casualties of this siege were not large. Almost negligible.

Zhu Youdong said: "We suffered a lot of casualties this time, dispatched the strength of three armies, and almost lost two armies, but our results were also very large. ”

Zhu Youdong looked at the people: "We have recaptured the people who were relocated by the Qing court, which is a great help to the people's livelihood in Huguang that we are about to restore." As long as we can stop the Qing army for half a year, I believe we will no longer worry about the food and grass of the army. ”

Since meeting Zhu Youdong with Fan Shaozu, Zhou Changdao, who has been following Zhu Youdong's side, said: "What His Highness said is reasonable, not only because the military rations are sufficient. We are now recruiting some of the people into an army, and we can get an army of more than 100,000 in an instant. ”

Zhu Youdong said: "As for the expansion of the army, don't be in a hurry first. A large number of prisoners on our side can be used, and as for the people who can let them return to their hometowns to resume production, let them return to their hometowns immediately. Then he turned his head to Jiang Chao, who had just arrived in Wuchang, and said, "Jiang Chao, you will first transfer some backbone soldiers to help the First Army and rebuild the First Army first." ”

Gou Xingwang immediately said: "Your Highness, our First Army has always been the most elite unit, and this time the casualties are too large, and when it is reorganized. I would like to ask Your Highness to hand over the Qing prisoners from Jiangbei to the First Army. ”

Zhu Youdong smiled and said: "Yes, but you can't use all the prisoners, first go to the Qing army's Hongguan camp to select 6,000 soldiers, and then go to the prisoners to select elite soldiers to replenish." Gou Xingwang hesitated and said: "Your Highness, in this way, the first army will not be able to form combat strength in time." ”

Zhu Youdong said: "It's okay, now that the army behind us has arrived, I am asking Liu Zhen to transfer 2,000 elites to you." Gou Xingwang said happily: "Well, with these two thousand people and Jiang Chao's people, I believe that the First Army will not be able to fight in less than a month, and it will be the most capable army of the Restoration Army." ”

Hearing Gou Xingwang's words, Zhou Dazhu, Jiang Chao, Ma Weixing and others suddenly said angrily: "Okay, you Gou Xingwang, you are the best at fighting, then we are all picking up soft persimmons behind you." "If it had been before, Gou Xingwang would have admitted it directly, but now he still has to wait for Jiang Chao to transfer troops to him to form the First Army.

There can be directly pushed back, so I had to say: "No, it's just that compared to the first army, you are slightly worse, but much better than the Qing army." Hearing this, Zhou Dazhu and the others immediately stopped doing it, and said to Jiang Chao: "Jiang Chao, you also heard it, he looks down on us." People don't know your army at all, so don't transfer people to him, let him form the first army by himself. ”

When Gou Xingwang heard this, he disagreed. Suddenly shouted: "You can't do this, now you are all here to bully me, you see that I don't have any soldiers in my hands now, right?" He also said that he didn't pick up soft persimmons and pinch them. The others said, "Listen, it's us bullying him." No, you can't give him soldiers. ”

Zhu Youdong saw everyone playing, and said with a smile: "Okay, everyone don't quarrel, let's arrange it first." Zhu Youdong also told Zhou Chang about the later arrangements, and these things were simply announced by Zhou Chang. Zhou Chang saw Zhu Youdong signaling to himself, and immediately stepped forward and said: "Out of the first army, from Jianwai, the sixth army went directly to Hanyang to select prisoners to supplement the number of casualties. ”

Zhu Youdong saw that Gou Xingwang was about to speak again, and immediately motioned for him to sit down first. Zhou Chang continued: "In this way, there are only more than 40,000 prisoners left in Jiangbei of the Qing army, and 43,000 people in the Hongguan camp. Ma Bao, Wang Xing, Hu Yiqing, Yang Mingyu, and Wang Liucang selected sergeants to form five armies. ”

When the five of them heard this, they were overjoyed. Since the last party dispute, they have been deprived of military power, but they have always been idle by Zhu Youdong's side. Now that they can finally lead the army from scratch, several people immediately got up and agreed.

Zhu Youdong saw that a few people were happy, and said: "The army is for you, you must let the army form combat effectiveness as soon as possible." We have a lot of battles ahead of us. Then he said to the others: "Let's give the army a day of rest first, and tomorrow, except to stay and reorganize the army." Zhou Dazhu, Ma Weixing, you take the boat of the sailor and set off immediately. ”

Zhou Dazhu and Ma Weixing looked at Zhu Youdong in puzzlement, and Zhu Youdong said: "We are fighting so fiercely in Wuchang, and the movement is also very big. However, we marched rapidly, and the Qing army in the lower reaches of the Yangtze River must not have reacted yet. Before that, the Qing court always thought that we only occupied Hanyang, and the war in Wuchang was still limited to Hanyang. ”

Then Zhu Youdong said to everyone: "They must not have thought that we would be able to capture Wuchang so quickly." If we send troops now, we will definitely be able to catch them by surprise. Therefore, let the fleet of sailors set off with you and go straight to Jiujiang. With lightning speed, he quickly eliminated the Jiujiang Naval Division of the Qing court. The Sixth Army and the Twelfth Army captured Jiujiang City together, and at that time, our army could attack Jiangxi at any time, and retreat could also ensure the safety of the Yangtze River waterway. ”

Zhou Chang said: "Your Highness, is this going to attack Jiangxi?" Zhu Youdong said: "What's the matter, what's the problem?" Zhou Chang said: "There are no other problems, it's just that our army has been rushing thousands of miles in a row, and no matter how high-intensity the march is, I'm afraid the army won't be able to stand it." ”

Jiang Chao, Liu Zhen and Feng Shuangli, who arrived at noon, when they came, the war in Wuchang was over. So in the entire Wuchang war, they didn't get any credit. He's in a hurry, so he's desperate to fight. Jiang Chao suddenly said: "Mr. Zhou looks down on people, our army has been resting for half a day today, and it is resting for a night at night, and it will definitely be able to rush tomorrow." ”

Liu Zhen and Feng Shuangli also said: "Yes, if the Sixth Army and the Twelfth Army are tired, let them rest in Wuchang, and we will attack Jiujiang." Hearing this, Zhou Dazhu and Ma Weixing immediately stopped. said: "I said Liu Zhen, Feng Shuangli, don't talk nonsense. Our army is in good spirits, and we want to rest and recuperate, and you will stay and recuperate. There is nothing wrong with our army. ”

These people fought fiercely in front, and Zhou Chang suddenly couldn't find a reason to refute. Later, even Gou Xingwang said: "Yes, don't talk about them, as long as you give me two days, my first army can rush immediately." There is no problem in attacking that city, and our First Army is guaranteed to be invincible. ”

Hearing this, Zhou Chang not only didn't dare to refute, but he didn't even dare to say anything again, he didn't have an official body now, how could he dare to come out and be a punching bag for these people. Zhu Youdong said: "Gou Xingwang, you don't want to join in the fun." Zhou Dazhu, Ma Weixing, after the two of you capture Jiujiang. Lin Risheng led the Wuchang Naval Division to capture the mouth of the lake, and then blockade Poyang Lake. Resolutely do not allow other ships of the Qing army to come out of Poyang Lake. The two of you crossed the river by boat, and let the army go straight to Anqing along the north bank of the Yangtze River. ”

Li Guodong, the commander of the Qing army's naval division, who had just surrendered, suddenly changed his face, and Zhu Youdong's arrangement was to transfer all his naval divisions away. didn't think about it, Zhu Youdong then said: "Fan Shaozu, you transfer three thousand sailor brothers over there to Lin Risheng." Fan Shaozu said: "Your Highness, rest assured, the last general will immediately transfer people to General Lin." ”

Zhu Youdong said to Lin Risheng: "How is it?" Lin Risheng, are you sure? Who knew that Lin Risheng said: "Your Highness is too worried, even if you don't give me a single soldier, I can also guard the mouth of the lake." And he did not use the brothers of the sailor to attack the Jiujiang sailor. Everyone was curious, and no one thought that a person who was usually the most low-key would now speak so wildly.

Li Guodong was originally dissatisfied with Zhu Youdong's seizure of the naval power in his hands, but now he listened to Lin Risheng's big words. Suddenly, he said: "General Lin is looking down on my Wuchang Sailor, what's the matter?" Can't my Wuchang Navy Master be able to resist General Lin alone? ”

Lin Risheng said: "It's not that I'm so powerful, it's not that the sailors in General Li's hands are not good. I have another reason. Sitting in the corner of his mouth, Yang Maoxun suddenly said: "I understand, General Lin is going to say that the Jiujiang Naval Division of the Qing Court is going to be lowered?" ”

As soon as Yang Maoxun's words came out, the generals in the hall burst into laughter. But Lin Risheng said: "That's exactly the case. Zhu Youdong knew that there was a difference, so he said: "Oh, General Lin has a wonderful strategy to say that he will descend the Jiujiang Water Division?" Lin Risheng said: "I don't dare to say anything else, and I'm not sure." But the deputy general of the Jiujiang Water Division is my nephew Lin Xingzhu, and I believe that as long as I go, I will definitely be able to move him anyway and return to the Ming Dynasty. ”

Everyone became cautious now, and Zhu Youdong said: "Are you really sure that Lin Xingzhu will return to Ming anyway?" Lin Risheng said: "Your Highness, don't worry, if you can't, I should offer this human head of mine." If we hadn't been besieged by the Qing army, we were all generals under the surname of the country, how could we surrender to the Qing army. ”

Zhu Youdong said: "Okay, if you can really say that Lin Xingzhu is anyway, that's great." But you still take the Wuchang Sailor with you, and wait for Lin Xingzhu to do it anyway. Together with the sailors, you went down the river and rushed to Nanjing to join us. ”