Zhang Huangyan saw that Zhu Youdong refused to give in, and what Zhu Youdong said was right, teaching and educating people and educating the world is what the Ministry of Rites does. It's just that the Ministry of Rites doesn't just do these things, and its authority and dignity are not comparable to that of a sacrificial wine or a study of politics. Zhang Huangyan knew what to say now, and it was impossible for Zhu Youdong to change, so he had to do this first.

Zhu Youdong saw that Zhang Huangyan was not pestering Wang Xi, so he said, "Master Zhang, I have one more thing for you to do here." Zhang Huangyan said with a smile: "It won't be that the Hou Ye also sees that I Zhang is lazy and is used to it, and wants to send me to do something, so don't interfere with your Hou Ye's eyes." ”

Zhu Youdong hurriedly said: "Of course not, Master Zhang's talent, ability, and patriotic feelings." This is all impeccable, if Lord Zhang still says this, it will be sarcastic to me. It is impossible for Zhang Huangyan to really have an opinion on Zhu Youdong, after all, Zhu Youdong has recovered the land of the three provinces with the strength of one person, which is higher than other things for Zhang Huangyan, who has been seeking to restore the country.

He immediately said: "I don't know what Master Hou needs me to do?" Zhu Youdong pondered for a moment and said, "If Lord Zhang is unwilling, I will not force it." Zhang Huangyan said: "Master Hou doesn't have to worry too much, as long as it is for the restoration of the Ming Dynasty, it is for me to pay for this life, and I Zhang Huangyan is not afraid at all?" ”

Zhu Youdong looked at Zhang Huangyan with a firm face, and said cautiously: "Most of the places where we are fighting with the Qing army now are mountainous areas. The geographical conditions of these places gave our army in Yunnan, Guichuan and Sichuan an advantage in front of the Qing army. But if we go out of Huguang and into Jiangnan. Or go north into the Central Plains, or even chase the Qing army into the northern grasslands. Then we will not have a geographical advantage for the Shangqing army, which is full of heaven and earth conducive to cavalry combat. ”

Zhang Huangyan was puzzled: "It is not unreasonable for Hou Ye to say this, but is this related to what Hou Ye asked me to do?" Zhu Youdong said: "Yes, of course there is, there is a lot of water in the south as a heavy water division." Zhang Huang said: "Master Hou wants me to train a sailor?" ”

Zhu Youdong shook his head and said: "It is a bit overkill to let Master Zhang train the sailors, the sailors fight, and they mostly use bows and arrows and firearms, but our firearms can't be cast directly at all." What we have is only captured from the Qing army, and many of them are old and unusable. ”

Zhang Huang said: "What does Hou Ye mean? Zhu Youdong said: "I think Lord Zhang has been in the army of the king of Yanping for a while, and it is said that the army of the king of Yanping uses firearms. I think Mr. Zhang also knows a lot about firearms, so I would like to ask Mr. Zhang to preside over the casting of firearms. ”

When Zhang Huangyan heard this, he understood in his heart. He used to be a person who led troops, even if he lived in Yanping County, Wang Zheng Chenggong, he was also a single army. Now Zhu Youdong does not give himself an army, but lets himself be a craftsman who supervises the manufacture of firearms. Zhu Youdong had some scruples in his heart at this time, afraid that he would not agree.

After Zhang Huangyan figured it out, he immediately said: "Don't worry, Master Hou, I will definitely make all the firearms I saw at the king of Yanping County." Zhu Youdong saw Zhang Huangyan agree, and immediately said happily: "Okay, I'm really happy that Zhang Shangshu can agree, but what I want is not just imitation." ”

Zhang Huang said: "Not just imitation? Could it be that Hou Ye has any other ideas? Zhu Youdong said: "Of course, in the past, my Ming firearms had one-eyed guns and three-eyed guns. However, these firearms have major flaws, that is, they have a slow rate of fire, slow reloading, and inaccurate shooting. The Qing court also imitated my Ming Dynasty's firearms, and the style did not change much. ”

Zhang Huang said: "These are common problems of firearms, and they can't be changed in a while. Zhu Youdong said: "That's why we have to change, as long as we change these shortcomings of firearms, plus our current soldiers dare to fight and are not afraid of the enemy, then the Manchurians will have nothing to rely on." ”

Zhang Huang said: "What Hou Ye said is right, just when I was there for the king of Yanping County, I saw many kinds of firearms. The most powerful ones are the Turtledove and the Lumi Gun, and the others are even more useful flintlock pistols. Of course, Zhu Youdong knows the development of firearms, and bows, arrows, knives and guns cannot be compared at all. Immediately said anxiously: "Can Cangshui make it?" ”

Zhang Huangyan saw Zhu Youdong excitedly calling his own words, knowing that Zhu Youdong cared a lot about the manufacture of firearms. But Zhang Huangyan still shook his head and said: "Master Hou said that he laughed, Huangyan had been leading troops and wandering around before, and these firearms could be made there." ”

Zhu Youdong was suddenly disappointed and said: "Also, it's hard for Master Zhang." It's just that we want to go out and compete with the Qing army, and we want to completely drive the Qing army out of the Central Plains, but we can't do without this firearm. Zhang Huangyan saw that Zhu Youdong was a little discouraged, and said: "Why do you say this, Hou Ye didn't have a knife or a gun before, and he could also raise troops to resist the Qing Dynasty." With the swords in the hands of the soldiers, now they have also defeated the three southwestern provinces. It's just a mere firearm, why should Hou Ye be frustrated. Even if the Manchurians are good at riding and shooting, we are no worse than them. ”

When Zhu Youdong heard Zhang Huangyan say this, he immediately cheered up and said: "Lord Zhang is right, there are no firearms, and we are not afraid of the Qing army. It's just that I still hope that Master Zhang can help us make our own firearms. If we are going to the north, on the land of the Central Plains, the Qing army not only has a large number of cavalry, but also a large number of artillery pieces in various passes. If we don't have a powerful weapon that can restrain the Qing army, how many more people will we have to die and wound? ”

Zhang Huang said: "Don't worry about this, I will definitely live up to my mission and make firearms for Daming as soon as possible." Zhu Youdong said: "Okay, I'm waiting for the good news from Master Zhang." By the way, today's sailors also need more guidance from Master Zhang, and the general arranged by the Fuming Army before did not have the slightest experience in water warfare. ”

Zhang Huang said: "The few people who came with me before are all men with excellent water nature, and they are all righteous men in Nanjing, why don't they let them go to work in the water army?" Zhu Youdong said: "It's no problem, I'll let people take them to the navy in a while." ”

Zhang Huangyan discussed some more with Zhu Youdong, and Zhu Youdong agreed without hesitation to all the requests made by Zhang Huangyan regarding the details of the manufacture of firearms. This made Zhang Huangyan recognize Zhu Youdong even more, and went to Zheng Chenggong's camp before, Zheng Chenggong had to consider Zhang Huangyan's requirements for a long time because of the difference between his generals and his subordinates.

Zhu Youdong also asked Zhou Dazhu to hand over all the 2,000 firearms troops of the previous Dadu Governor's Mansion to Zhang Huangyan. As long as the firearms are built, they will directly equip the 2,000 troops to test and test the performance of the firearms. Zhang Huangyan did not object to Zhu Youdong's approach, and happily accepted Zhu Youdong's arrangement.

After nearly 20 days of attack, the Luoren road had been completely blocked, and the Qing army retreated to Guangxi. Xu Mingchen, Gao Yingfeng, who originally raised troops with Na Song in Yuanjiang Mansion, also escaped from the city. was rescued by the Miao people in the mountains, and also sent Luo Ren to the army, but Zhu Yangen and Long Zanzhong died in the battle to break through. The Qing army stationed in Yuanjiang, seeing that the road to Guangxi was blocked, sent troops to attack several times, and after the Fuming army retreated, they also retreated to Yuanjiang Mansion and did not dare to come again.

After Jiang Chao received the support of Guo Liai, he attacked Tunqi before and after, and the Qing army led by Tunqi collapsed. Under the defeat of the Tunqi army, he failed to break through the siege and committed suicide directly.

Then Guo Li Ai led the army to Yao'an and Liu Yingnan to converge and attack Menghua Mansion and Dali Mansion. Due to the twists and turns of the road in western Yunnan, the armies did not dare to advance too rashly.

In addition, Mi Cong of Shunning Province saw that the Restoration Army was approaching in several ways, and discussed with Balkan, the general of the Qing army stationed in Shunning Province and the son of Prince Zheng Jierharang, and Balkan personally supervised the defenders to fight. But these Qing troops are all troops in Huguang, and now they are frightened by the menacing posture of the Restoration Army, and they still dare to fight.

In the end, Mi Cong looted the treasury of the entire Shunning Mansion and scraped together 30,000 taels of silver to reward the army. These defenders followed Balkan to battle, but less than ten miles out of the city, they were harassed by the Yi people and the Fuming army sentry who were hiding in the mountains. The defenders were so frightened that they fled in all directions, and no matter how angry Barkan reprimanded and whipped them, he could not control the fleeing soldiers.

In the end, Barkan was protected by his own guards and fled back to Shunning Mansion. However, the 300 Yi people in the mountains and more than 50 sentinels of the Restoration Army returned to the Menghua Mansion camp with 3,000 Qing army prisoners. Finally, when these Qing troops were interrogated, they learned that now in Shunning Mansion, there are no generals who can command at all, and the army is short of food, so the army has no fighting spirit at all.

Balkan was just a man of twenty years old, born with a golden key, in a gentle township, where he had experienced real battlefields, and this time he only followed the army to Yunnan to see the world. Now that he heard the news of the Ming army's attack everywhere, he had no idea for a long time, and under the persuasion of Mi Cong, he mustered up the courage to come out with the army. As a result, the Qing army was frightened and scattered, and Balkan had no choice but to flee back to Shunning.

watched Barkan go out with a large army, but in less than half a day, he was left with his own soldiers to come back. Mi Cong was also angry, and now there is news of the Ming army attacking from all directions, and he does not dare to flee directly, and finally self-immolates and dies in the prefect's yamen. Only Balkan was left in fear in Shunning Mansion, begging for the Qing army to come to help.

Lu Guisheng, the prefect of Dali Mansion, saw that the Ming army was attacking, and at this time Lu Guisheng wanted to return to the Ming Dynasty anyway, so he sent people to Yongchang Mansion to find Wu Zisheng, who was still insisting on resisting the Qing Dynasty in Yongchang Mansion. Previously, Lu Guisheng betrayed Li Dingguo in Mopan Mountain, which caused Li Dingguo to ambush the Qing army in Mopan Mountain, and finally lost both. Now that he wants to surrender, Lu Guisheng doesn't dare to go to Li Dingguo to surrender.

As a result, I didn't expect Wu Zisheng and Gao Wengui and others to go to Myanmar to save Yongli at the end of October, and Wu Zisheng and Gao Wengui fought all the way to Myanmar. Seeing the ferocity of the Ming army's offensive, the Burmese became frightened at this time. and went to force Yongli to make a holy decree to block the two generals back, and Yongli was persecuted by the Burmese, so he had to issue another holy decree to let the two withdraw from Burma. The two were refuted by the holy decree, and saw that the emperor actually asked them to push them out of Burma. Gao Wengui was angry, coupled with long-term fatigue, and finally fell ill, and finally died of depression.

When Wu Zisheng returned to Yunnan alone with a large army, he met Li Dingguo, who also entered Burma again. When Li Dingguo saw the army led by Wu Zisheng, his morale was completely gone, and the soldiers were tired. After asking, I learned that I was blocked by the holy decree of Yongli again.

Li Dingguo roared angrily: "What is the emperor doing, we are here to take him back to China, why did he repeatedly scold us to return to China with holy decrees." Wu Zisheng said: "Does the emperor not want to return to China?" He's going to abandon us. When Wengui heard about this, he was already sick and died. If we continue like this, we will be short of food and clothing, and now it is the day of the lunar month, look at our soldiers, who are still only wearing single clothes, what hope do we have for going on like this. ”

Li Dingguo said: "No matter what, we must save the emperor, only when the emperor is here, we will have a chance to defeat the Qing army and restore the Ming Dynasty." Bai Wenxuan, who followed Li Dingguo, also came with a large army, and I heard that the army that went to rescue Yongli was blocked back. Said: "Now that the soldiers are tired, it is impossible to storm Burma, so let's rest first." ”

Li Dingguo said: "There is no way now, Wu Zisheng, you return to Yunnan with the army first, and Wen Xuan and I will go again." I don't believe that the emperor will give up returning to China, and he just said that he would temporarily avoid Burma, but why did it suddenly change. Wu Zisheng said: "At the beginning, I said that I would go directly to Sichuan, but King Qingyang had already gone to Sichuan first, and now I don't know if I live or die." ”

Bai Wenxuan saw that Wu Zisheng's words were a bit accusing of Li Dingguo, after all, Li Dingguo also agreed to go to western Yunnan instead. Seeing that Li Dingguo's face was a little bad, he immediately grabbed Wu Zisheng and said: "It's useless to talk about this now, it's important to save the emperor at present." ”

Wu Zisheng also reacted at this time, and when he saw Li Dingguo's expression, he also said: "Okay, you go again, I don't see hope, I heard that now on the side of the Qing army, Wu Sangui has entered Myanmar with an army of 10,000, and he must be forcing Burma to hand over the emperor to the Qing army." ”

When Li Dingguo heard this, he immediately said anxiously: "The emperor must not be allowed to fall into the hands of the Qing army, otherwise the Ming Dynasty will be finished." Then he blamed Wu Zisheng and said: "Since you know that the Qing army has entered Burma, why did you return alone?" ”

Wu Zisheng handed the holy decree on his body to Li Dingguo, and said, "Look at it, the emperor has issued a holy decree, can I not retreat?" Li Dingguo suddenly had nothing to say. Bai Wenxuan saw that the two were about to quarrel again, and just as he was about to step forward to persuade the two, he saw Li Dingguo's son Li Sixing coming over with a group of Burmese, saying that there was a holy decree of Yongli.

Li Dingguo and others came out of the camp to see, and sure enough, a group of Burmese people came with two officials, Li Dingguo took a closer look, and it was indeed Yang Shengfang, the servant of the Ministry of Officials, and Ding Ding of Jinyi. Seeing the courtiers of the Ming Dynasty, Li Dingguo and the others were immediately very happy. Before the two of them could speak, Li Dingguo had already asked, "How is the emperor?" Why did the army go to meet him several times, but the emperor just didn't want to return to the country. ”