Deng Mancang said proudly: "General, you don't know, but I have met He Shaobao's people." Not only have I seen it, most of us who fish in Honghu are He Shaobao's subordinates. ”

When Deng Mancang talked about He Tengjiao, he couldn't help but recall: "After He Shaobao was killed, some people surrendered to the Qing army, and some people fled into Sichuan. ”

Zhu Youdong said: "Since you were all He Shaobao's subordinates at the beginning, and now we really want to attack the Qing army, don't you want to take revenge on He Shaobao?" In the past, maybe everyone was small and couldn't defeat the Qing army, but now that we have the Restoration Army in the lead, are you willing to fight the Qing Army together? ”

Deng Mancang said: "It's not that we don't want to, but we have been fishing for many years now, and we have almost forgotten the skills of this battlefield." We are also a little powerless to let us go to the battlefield to fight, and we are now left with the ability to fish. But I can help the general ask if anyone else is willing. ”

Peng Changbao saw Deng Mancang shirking, so he said: "I don't need you to fight now, you just bring the boat out and let us cross the river to find the Qing army to fight." Deng Mancang said: "It's no problem, I'll go find the old guys from before." When I came here just now, I thought that the Qing army was trying to arrest us and trick us out, so I didn't dare to tell the truth. ”

Zhu Youdong said: "Then there is Brother Lao Deng, bring those fishing boats, we are also anxious to cross the river." Deng Mancang said: "Don't worry, general, I'll go find someone." Peng Changbao said: "Do you want me to send two people to follow you, so that others will not say that you lied." ”

Deng Mancang was stunned for a moment, and then agreed. Peng Changbao went to find two soldiers with good water skills, and followed Deng Mancang to find fishing boats.

As a result, Deng Mancang left for two days, and neither the fishing boat arrived, nor did he see the people sent to report the news. Peng Changbao tried to send someone to look for him several times, but Zhu Youdong stopped him and said, "What's the use of you sending someone now?" ”

Peng Changbao said: "But it's not a way for us to wait like this, now two days have passed, and there is no news." The army is waiting here, Your Highness, these things happened the first time I sent someone, I ....... ”

Zhu Youdong said: "It's not your fault, we can't help it, we didn't find out the previous situation, so we had to rush to the doctor." If something really happens, it's useless for you to send a few people now. It's better to wait a minute, it's really not possible, let's think of his way. ”

Zhou Dazhu, who came from behind, said: "Your Highness, there is no news from Jiang Chao now, I think I will send another army and go downstream to look for it, maybe there will be a ship." ”

Zhu Youdong said: "We can't go further downstream, the scouts we sent are near Shazhen, and the scouts sent by the Qing army have already been issued, if we go further downstream, we will definitely encounter the scouts of the Qing army, and we will definitely be exposed at that time." ”

Feng Shuangli on the side said: "Your Highness, the scouts of the Qing army were actually sent to Chengtian Mansion, it seems that the Qing army is very vigilant. When we go to attack at this time, we don't know much about the military situation of the Qing army, are we really sure? ”

Zhu Youdong was stunned for a moment and said: "To be honest, I have the confidence to win every time I march before, but I don't have the slightest confidence in this advance." I'm not sure what we're going to do. ”

In the face of Zhu Youdong's answer, several generals who had already arrived looked at each other, not expecting Zhu Youdong to say such a thing. Feng Shuangli said: "Since His Highness is not sure, why do you still have to be very resolute in carrying out this attack?" In fact, when we return to Sichuan, it is not necessarily passive. We can mobilize more troops in Sichuan, and we can also have the convenience of Sichuan. ”

Zhu Youdong didn't answer immediately, but waited for a while and said, "Yes, why am I in a hurry to let the army attack?" Actually, it's not that I'm afraid that the Qing army will attack us. On the contrary, I am worried that after we retreat to Sichuan, the Qing army will not come to attack us. ”

Faced with Zhu Youdong's explanation, everyone couldn't accept it for a while. After Li Rubi was scolded by Zhu Youdong last time, she has always pursued a low profile. But now Zhu Youdong's explanation is too bizarre, and he can't help but say: "What His Highness said is too profound, I can't wait to understand." ”

Zhu Youdong said: "The main reason is population, food. Zhou Dazhu said: "Your Highness is talking about the population of Sichuan and the population of the places occupied by the Qing court?" ”

Zhu Youdong said: "Yes, we don't have as much population as them, no matter how hard we try, we can't compare to the development of the Qing army." They still have rich places in the south of the Yangtze River, but we only have the three provinces of Yunnan, Guizhou and Sichuan. Moreover, the damage caused by the Qing army in the three provinces last year could not be recovered in a short time. If we retreat this time, they will completely block us for a few years. At that time, as soon as the Qing army comes, we will no longer have any chance. ”

Zhu Youdong stood up and said in the middle of the aisle: "Also, it is the hearts of the people, we attacked Huguang this time, and everyone can feel that the people here have a sense of strangeness to us. Last year, the king of Yanping County invaded Nanjing, so that the Manchus knew that there were still a large number of local gentry in these places who missed my Ming dynasty. ”

Zhu Youdong said worriedly: "If they are stabilized, they will definitely attack these people." When the Manchus have cleaned up these people, the remaining people must be the gentry who are very hostile to us. At that time, if we want to recover the Ming Dynasty, we will pay several times, or even dozens of times, the price to conquer these state capitals. However, the population of Sichuan alone cannot withstand such consumption. ”

Zhou Dazhu said: "So His Highness wants to take advantage of the current good situation to capture Huguang in one fell swoop?" Zhu Youdong said: "Maybe, to be honest, I don't know where we are going to attack this time." ”

Indeed, there are too many things to do now, which makes Zhu Youdong a little confused. The main reason is that Zhu Youdong wants to take advantage of Yongli's murder to send troops to Myanmar. Because Zhu Youdong knows China's terrain very well, if he wants to go to sea, he will easily be choked by the neck.

However, if China sends troops to Burma and finds an outlet to the sea from Burma, then China will not be trapped in the inland sea for a long time and entangled with some Western countries. For example, the Netherlands in Taiwan, and Portugal in Macau. A little further out, there are also Spaniards in Bo Ni Country, Manraka and other places.

Of course, these are a bit far, but it is precisely for these reasons that Zhu Youdong did not transfer back most of the troops in Yunnan. Otherwise, Zhu Youdong could completely confront the Qing army in Huguang, and then let the army go out of Liangguang to attack Fujian. Then he attacked Jiangxi, and Zheng Chenggong sent troops to harass the coast, and he was not afraid of the Qing army's strong wall and clear the wilderness.

But not now, a large number of troops have not been transferred, so that Zhu Youdong has some insufficient troops. After sending troops, I feel that I am a little lacking in stamina, and I always feel that the entire deployment is full of loopholes. Otherwise, Zhu Youdong will definitely shout out to conquer Nanjing and ascend the throne in Nanjing.

Although everyone knows that Zhu Youdong's ascension to the throne is a matter of time. But since the news of Yongli's death was not announced, everyone just acquiesced and did not shout out. Zhu Youdong can't say directly, everyone enters Nanjing, I will ascend the throne as the emperor, and I will give you a big official.

Although Zhu Youdong's heart was also a little excited, Zhu Youdong couldn't say these reasons. I had to pull out some reasons such as underpopulation. Seeing that everyone had understood, he said: "But no matter what step we take, Wuchang must be captured, and this is the best way to destroy the Qing army's encirclement and suppression of us." ”

Zhu Youdong's reason is a bit far-fetched, but Zhu Youdong can't care much now. Fortunately, the army is loyal to Zhu Youdong, and the Restoration Army has basically won battles so far. It doesn't make people have other ideas, after all, the Ming army has always lost more than won against the Shangqing army, and even if it wins, it is only a small victory, and defeat is the annihilation of the whole army.

But in any case, Zhu Youdong obviously felt that the goal was now unclear, and it was already forming a threat and a hidden danger to the Restoration Army. It's good if you can keep winning, but if you lose, it's hard to say.

If this is the case for a long time, the elite army will also become a rabble, so Zhu Youdong has no news about Jiang Chao, and he is extremely anxious. If everything develops according to Zhu Youdong's arrangement, the army will still be elite, at least on the surface. Don't mention that it's some generals, and there won't be any thoughts that shouldn't be there.

At this moment, a scout ran in and said excitedly: "Your Highness, the ship, the ship is coming, there are many ships." When everyone heard this, they were overjoyed and went out to check.

Zhu Youdong also breathed a sigh of relief, it seems that the situation has not changed. Zhu Youdong also came out with everyone, and sure enough, he saw a large number of boats in the upper reaches of the Yangtze River.

Depending on the size of the boat, it is basically a small boat. Zhu Youdong knew that these were fishing boats. If there is a big ship coming, Zhu Youdong should be careful, it may be the naval warship of the Qing army.

It didn't take long for Deng Mancang to bring a large number of fishing boats to the shore near Zhu Youdong and others. After Deng Mancang docked the boat, he jumped on An Lai and said to Zhu Youdong: "General, what's the matter, I'm not lying, there are two hundred fishing boats here." If it weren't for the urgency of the general, we would have been able to collect a hundred fishing boats. ”

Zhu Youdong smiled and took Deng Mancang's hand and said, "Enough, enough, two hundred ships are enough, this time I am really grateful to Brother Deng." ”

Deng Mancang said: "General, don't be in a hurry to thank me, we people have requirements." Zhu Youdong said: "Brother Deng, you said, you helped us with such a favor, and we agreed to whatever you asked." ”

Deng Mancang said: "This is what you said, I see that in your military field, there are only infantry, but there is no naval army." So we let you take us and let us be your army. But after all, it can only be a water army. ”

As soon as Deng Mancang said, Zhu Youdong was stunned for a moment, he really wanted to sleep, so someone sent a pillow. He had asked for these people to form a navy before, but at that time, Deng Mancang rejected him. It is estimated that he misunderstood himself and wanted them to form a foot army, but now Deng Mancang said it himself, and specially explained that it was a water army.

Deng Mancang saw Zhu Youdong stunned there, and thought that Zhu Youdong would not agree. Suddenly a little discouraged: "I know that this matter is a bit embarrassing for the general, but we are all good at the water, we will not embarrass you if we are a water army." ”

Zhu Youdong hurriedly said: "No, definitely not." With you as my water army, this is like a tiger with wings. How could I not agree to this? Deng Mancang immediately said happily when he heard this: "So, general, you agreed?" ”

Zhu Youdong said: "Promise, why don't you agree, I'm very happy." When Deng Mancang heard this, he immediately turned around happily and shouted at the fishermen: "Brothers, the general has promised to let us be a navy, and we are the army of the Ming Dynasty again." ”