Zhou Dazhu and Ma Weixing, who followed the sailors, had already crossed the river to the other side with their troops. Lin Risheng brought Lin Xingzhu to see Zhu Youdong, and Zhu Youdong was very happy to see it, and said: "General Lin can return to the Ming anyway, which is a blessing for our Ming Dynasty." ”

Lin Xingzhu said: "Your Highness has won the award, and you will not dare to be ashamed." At the beginning, we were all subordinates of King Yanping, and it has always been a regret in our hearts to have no choice but to descend to the Qing. In this life, we can return to the Ming Dynasty, and we have no regrets in this life. What's more, he can still contribute to Daming now, and it is something that he can't ask for. ”

Zhu Youdong said: "Okay, the general's loyalty to the Ming Dynasty is something to learn from heaven and earth." But then I have to ask the general to take the sailor warship. Escort the soldiers of the Restoration Army to Zhenjiang, and they will attack Zhenjiang, so that the Qing army in Zhenjiang cannot estimate the battle in Nanjing. Lin Xingzhu said: "Your Highness, rest assured, I will escort the soldiers of the Restoration Army to Zhenjiang safely." Just don't need the soldiers of our sailors to go to war? ”

Zhu Youdong said: "Of course, the soldiers of the Navy Division will also participate in the war, but your opponent is not the Zhenjiang Qing Army, let alone the soldiers of the Navy Division to attack Zhenjiang." After the sailors sent Ma Weixing's army to Zhenjiang safely, they immediately blocked the Yangtze River in the Zhenjiang section. Do not let the Qing army in Guazhou manipulate the river water division, rush through the defense line of the water division, and attack our besieging army. Then try to use artillery fire to support Ma Weixing and their attack on Zhenjiang. ”

Lin Xingzhu said: "Your Highness doesn't have to worry about this, the current governor of the Qing court is Zhu Yizhu." This man was timid and afraid of death, and when the king of Yanping came to attack Nanjing, he surrendered in fright on the spot. I don't know what he said in the end, King Yanping didn't kill him. As a result, after King Yanping retreated, the strange thing was that the Qing court did not kill him, and still let him be the governor of Caojiang. ”

Zhu Youdong saw that it was getting late, so he said to Lin Xingzhu: "Sailor warship, there is no difficulty in crossing the river at night." Lin Xingzhu said with confidence: "If the Jiujiang Naval Division can't even complete this task, how can it become a barrier in Nanjing." If a soldier falls into the Yangtze River tonight, I will personally slaughter this group of rabbits and cubs of the Jiujiang Water Division. ”

Hearing Lin Xingzhu's words, Zhu Youdong smiled and said: "Okay, with General Lin's words, I will hand over the 30,000 Ming Restoration Army here to General Lin." Early tomorrow morning, the whole army will cross the river. At this moment, there was a commotion outside the town, and it turned out that Hu Yiqing and others had finally arrived with the army.

Looking at the endless stream of troops, Zhu Youdong's previous worries were finally put down. Seeing that Zhu Youdong was going to deal with the army that had arrived now, Lin Xingzhudu: "His Royal Highness's affairs are busy, and the last general is not bothering." I'll go and supervise the sailors first. Transporting troops across the river to ensure that all the troops could cross the river in the first half of the night. ”

Zhu Youdong immediately said: "Okay, then there is General Laurin, let your uncle Lin Risheng also go with you." After the two left, Zhu Youdong found Hu Yiqing and five others. As soon as the five of them met, they began to plead guilty, and said: "Your Highness, the last general and others delay the military plane, please punish Your Highness." ”

Zhu Youdong waved his hand and said, "Don't take it too seriously, let's talk about what's going on first?" Wang Xing said: "Your Highness, these soldiers are all prisoners of the Qing army, and many of their habits cultivated in the Qing army have not been changed. Along the way, there were always such and such things, one moment it was said that the march was too tiring, and the other time it was said that the march was too fast. ”

Zhu Youdong said: "These things are not big deals, but do you have any solutions?" Li Rubi said: "Your Highness, our march this time is indeed a little too hasty, especially in the last two days, an average of more than 130 miles a day. The army has fallen behind very seriously, and the number of people left behind in each army is as high as about 2,000. Our five armies have fallen behind a total of 10,000 people, almost half of all armies. ”

Hu Yiqing said: "If you want to solve this problem in a short time, it is estimated that it will not be achieved. If our army can train in two months, it will definitely meet the requirements of His Highness. Zhu Youdong said: "I also want two months, but no, I don't have any time." Now Wang Qing is fighting in Fengyang Mansion with 20,000 cavalry. With 20,000 men, he will block the Qing reinforcements from the north. ”

Zhu Youdong looked at the army on the edge of the Yangtze River, still waiting for the boat. The soldiers of the sailor had already lit torches, and the entire riverside was as bright as day. Zhu Youdong said: "Every hour we spend now is exchanged for the lives of our cavalry soldiers, can we not cherish it?" Also, our cavalry as a whole cannot be compared with the cavalry of the Qing army at all. But they still attacked, just to block the Qing reinforcements for us and prepare for our attack on Nanjing. ”

After hearing these words, Wang Xing, Hu Yiqing and others all lowered their heads one after another. Zhu Youdong looked at Ma Bao and said, "Ma Bao, it is said that you are also the Duke of Huaiguo of the Ming Dynasty." I've been fighting for a long time to lead my troops into battle, so why don't you even understand this? I know, you're afraid that I care that you once surrendered to Wu Sangui. But this is not a reason for your inaction, when I was in Chongqing, I took your military power. ”

Zhu Youdong said to the others: "You are the same, you have all been robbed of military power." But that doesn't want you to get caught up in political fighting, you are generals, generals, and the battlefield is your destination. If you become depressed because of this, how can I use you with confidence and hand over the army to you? ”

Ma Bao and the others were speechless for a while. Zhu Youdong said: "The world is still occupied by the Manchus, and we still need to fight a lot of battles. As a general, the only thing you can convince the world is your military exploits. Instead of thinking about how to complain all day long. It's useless to you. Wenchen admonishes to the death, and the military generals fight to the death, this is the most important principle in the world. ”

Ma Bao and the others were a little ashamed, and said, "Your Highness, the last general understands." Your Highness, rest assured, this attack on Nanjing, we will definitely be close to full strength, and we will not do anything else. ”

Zhu Youdong said: "You can arrive today, which means that you are still capable." Ma Bao, Li Rubi, you two don't have to go to Nanjing, you will go directly to Zhenjiang with the navy tomorrow. You have to take Zhenjiang, and then block the Qing troops in Suzhou and Changzhou. After we captured Nanjing, we immediately sent troops to attack Suzhou and other places. ”

Ma Bao and Li Rubi were stunned for a moment, and then heard that they were going to attack Zhenjiang. Suddenly, he said: "Your Highness, rest assured, we will definitely take Zhenjiang and block the Qing soldiers in the direction of Suzhou." Zhu Youdong said again: "Okay, you don't board the ship later, you go directly to Zhenjiang on the ship of the sailor, and I will wait for you in Nanjing." ”

Zhu Youdong thought to Wang Xing again: "Those who have fallen behind, are they all injured and can't walk?" Or is there another reason? Wang Xing said: "Most of the soldiers are injured and can't walk. But there are also some people who are because the march of our Restoration Army is too hard, and they can't pay their salaries in advance like the Qing Army did in the past. ”

Wang Liucang said: "Actually, in my opinion, the most important thing is that we didn't send money, and we didn't let them rob the people." Zhu Youdong said: "Then these people can't ask for it for the time being, they only remember how to grab money in their hearts now, and they can't change it in a short time." We don't have time to deal with them right now, so let the people in the shelter take care of them first. When this war is over, it will be sent directly to Yunnan, where the population is needed. ”

Then Zhu Youdong said: "You go to arrange for the army to rest first, and then after crossing the river tomorrow, go to Lishui to attack Jurong." Attack Nanking from the south. This time, he told the soldiers that after capturing the city of Nanjing, the city would not be sealed. ”

When they heard this, everyone was astonished. Since the formation of the Restoration Army, it has never slaughtered a city. Even in Chongqing and Kunming, most of the cities were already close to the gentry and soldiers of the Qing court, and Zhu Youdong did not order the slaughter of the city. Now facing the southern capital of the Ming Dynasty, it can be said that it is the first city in the south of the Yangtze River. After Emperor Chongzhen hanged himself in the coal mountain, Nanjing became the capital of the Han people.

Seeing that Nanjing was about to be captured, Zhu Youdong actually ordered the slaughter of the city. This is simply an unprecedented thing for the Restoration Army, which has always been asked not to disturb the people. But when everyone thought about it, they didn't think it was strange. The place where the Manchurians live now is the former Ming Imperial City.

It's like an ordinary family, who has been seized by others. Now that the owner is developed, he wants to drive out the person who occupied the family property at the beginning, and he will be beaten up. What's more, this is a matter about the royal family, whoever dares to touch the emperor's things must not exterminate the nine clans. How to think about it, it was also right to massacre the Manchurians stationed in the imperial city.

At that moment, everyone stopped talking, and then Liu Zhen came over and said: "Your Highness, General Jiang Chao's army has all crossed the Yangtze River. Now should we cross the river first, or should we let General Wang Xing and them cross the river first? Zhu Youdong said: "Let's cross the river first, they have been on the road for two days in a row, let their army rest for one night first." ”

Then Zhu Youdong said to Wang Xing and the others: "Let the army have a good rest tonight, and after leaving tomorrow, we must rush to Nanjing as quickly as possible." I know that most of your troops are Qing soldiers, and the only thing that can boost their morale now is money. Tell them that when the city is broken, they will not seal the sword. But I must rush to the city of Nanjing within two days, and I don't want you to come to me to ask for guilt after you arrive in Nanjing. ”

Then Zhu Youdong said to Liu Zhen: "Let's go, let's cross the river now." Inform Ma Weixing and Zhou Dazhu, who had already crossed the river, to immediately lead the army to attack Dangtu first. We took the army with us, and then we arrived. After speaking, Zhu Youdong rushed to the riverside with Liu Zhen.

Leaving Wang Xing and the others in place, Wang Xing looked at Zhu Youdong and the others who left. frowned and said, "If we wait until tomorrow morning to set off, I'm afraid we won't be able to catch up with Your Highness's speed." I don't think it's better for us to leave tonight without resting and just let the army go. ”

Wang Liucang said: "Although we know that time is pressing, but now the soldiers refuse to leave, and they can't go anymore, what should we do?" Hu Yiqing said fiercely: "I heard that at that time, Gou Xingwang's army was also slow to march, but His Highness forced it to be reorganized in Susong, and the speed of the march increased. ”

Wang Xingdao: "You mean that we will also be reorganized now?" However, our army is basically captured by Qing soldiers, and it cannot play a role in suppressing it at all. Li Rubi and Ma Bao on the side were also worried about this problem, Li Rubi said: "Yes, half of Gou Xingwang's army are veterans transferred from the Restoration Army, and we don't have them here." ”

Hu Yiqing said: "I'm not afraid that they are all recruits, after this march, we also know that some people are indeed willing to follow us." It's just that some veterans of the Qing army are making trouble inside, so they coax everyone to be reluctant to leave. Your Highness is right, it is impossible for these people to change in a short period of time. Not only do we not have the time now, but we can't stay for the team. That won't have a deterrent effect, so it's better to just kill the chickens and make an example. ”

Ma Bao said: "Yes, we are no longer in Huguang now, if these soldiers dare to run, they will be caught by the Qing court, it will be a dead end." We've told them all this, and we're sure to be able to hold some of it down. We'll win over some people who are willing to follow us and give them promotions. Get rid of all the troublemakers and we'll be able to speed things up. ”