Zhu Shenglang and Zhu Ganyan also followed: "We are not capable enough, and the country is a major event, please ask Your Highness to bother more." Zhu Youdong also knew that he couldn't say it clearly for a while now, and it was easy for the three of them to completely eliminate their psychological concerns. But the three of them have agreed to do things, and Zhu Youdong is relieved.

The next day, Zhu Youdong did not wait for Hu Yiqing and them to set off together. Instead, he took Xia Guoxiang's 6,000 cavalry alone, set off in advance, and rushed to Tongcheng along the north bank of the Yangtze River. All the cavalry of the army, all the way to the horse's hooves galloping like thunder, only one day, Zhu Youdong and others rushed to Qishui.

Now that Wuchang is occupied, Zhang Changgeng and Yang Maoxun surrendered. Huangzhou and other places were also suddenly rumored, and all the officials were trembling, very afraid that the Ming army would suddenly come. I was really afraid of something, two days ago, the Ming army in Wuchang suddenly went south, but fortunately, the army and the sailor went down the river directly.

The officials in Huangzhou had just breathed a sigh of relief, but Zhu Youdong came with a large army. These officials were afraid, but they did not act rashly, and no one knew what would happen to the Ming army. Therefore, all the officials in Huangzhou were silent, and no one expressed their position, just waiting to see what happened.

Although these officials have not yet made it clear that they will return to the Ming Dynasty anyway, they do not dare to lead troops to resist. It just so happened that Zhu Youdong didn't want to be in trouble at this time. As long as these local officials don't come out to make trouble and bring troops to intercept the Restoration Army, Zhu Youdong has no choice but to let it be.

The county order of Qishui was very distressed, and now that Zhu Youdong led the army directly into Qishui, he didn't dare to have any dissent. When Zhu Youdong appeared outside Qishui City, he wanted to resist, but looking at the army outside the city, he had to obediently open the city gate. Fortunately, Zhu Youdong didn't have any excessive requirements, but just inquired about the passing by of the army a few days ago in Qi Shuiyi. The Qishui County Order had to be fully explained in its original form, and Zhu Youdong knew that Yang Maoxun had only crossed Qishui yesterday with the army.

When Zhu Youdong heard this, he immediately said angrily: "Gou Xingwang, what's going on? The army is proceeding so slowly, at such a speed, when they arrive in Anqing, do they still need to fight Anqing? Zhou Chang said: "Your Highness, why don't you let General Gou follow Mayang's example and directly use the silver in Anqing City as bait." I believe that as long as there is this article, General Gou will definitely be able to arrive at Anqing on time with the army. ”

Zhu Youdong glanced at Zhou Chang and said secretly: "You Zhou Chang led the troops, and it is really inseparable from the fact of looting people's wealth." Zhu Youdong smiled and said to Zhou Chang: "Mayang's idea is also your guidance, whether you literati lead the troops, you only need to remember one point, that is, people die for money, and birds die for food." ”

Zhou Chang smiled wryly and said, "Your Highness is too worried, this is nothing more than to motivate the soldiers to use their lives." In the current situation of General Gou, his subordinates feel that this is also the most effective. Zhu Youdong smiled and said, "That's right, but these are all barbarian practices." We are Han Chinese, we are the army of the Ming Dynasty, and we should use military law and etiquette to restrain the soldiers. Even if it is to motivate soldiers, we should use our own methods, rather than simply stimulate the bestiality of soldiers. ”

Of course, Zhou Chang did not agree with Zhu Youdong's statement, and said secretly: "It is not a barbarian to say that birds die for food, and people die for money, this is all said by a saint." But it's not easy for him to refute Zhu Youdong face to face now.

Seeing that Zhou Chang didn't seem to agree with it, Zhu Youdong said: "Do you think so, then tell me, why didn't our Restoration Army loot a city, but we can win more and defeat less against the Qing army?" Zhou Chang reluctantly smiled and said: "I can't say this, it seems that the soldiers of the Restoration Army have a kind of faith, and this belief is driving them to fight the Qing army to the end." ”

Zhu Youdong said: "Yes, his belief is that I can take care of their family, and everything they do is to fight for their family." That's what they believe, and they've protected the families of other soldiers today, and other soldiers will be in other places, protecting their families. ”

Zhu Youdong glanced at the army that had been resting for an hour, and said, "Okay, let's not talk about it, let's set off immediately, catch up with the Gou Xingwang troops in front, and let them speed up some marches." Otherwise, it will be too late to rush to Anqing, and it will be a big mistake at that time. ”

After a while, all the cavalry got on their horses, and then galloped with Zhu Youdong to Guangji. It wasn't until midnight that Zhu Youdong let the team rest. The next day, Zhu Youdong led the cavalry and continued to chase the army in front, and after another day and a half, he finally caught up with Gou Xingwang's army in Susong.

When Zhu Youdong saw it, all the people in the entire team were staggering, not like an army at all, just like a refugee. Zhu Youdong immediately came to Gou Xingwang and said, "What's the matter?" If you look at the current army, can it still fight? ”

Gou Xingwang said bitterly: "Your Highness, I have no choice, these soldiers are all prisoners of the Qing army." Now, they can't compare to our Restoration Army soldiers before. In order to make them hurry, I should scold and scold, and I should fight, but I still can't improve the speed. ”

Zhu Youdong said: "I don't think all of them are like this in the army, and there are still many people who are in good spirits." Tell me what the hell is going on. Gou Xingwang looked at everyone and said, "Those who are in high spirits are some generals, they have horses to ride, of course they are better." The others are ordinary soldiers, who have to carry dry food and walk step by step, how can they not be tired. ”

Zhu Youdong said: "I understand, this is the generals are riding horses, let the soldiers all walk." People see it in their eyes, of course, they don't want to leave. Gou Xingwang said: "Our Restoration Army has always been like this when it marches, even if the generals ride horses, no one will say anything." ”

Zhu Youdong said: "Of course it's different, when our Restoration Army trains in peacetime, the generals also train with the soldiers. The soldiers were accustomed to the generals sharing their weal and woe. When marching, the generals rode back and forth in order to gather together to discuss the military situation, and of course they would not speak. But the current soldiers are all prisoners of the Qing army, and these generals are usually high-ranking and powerful figures. Now that we are marching with such high intensity, of course the soldiers are unwilling. ”

Gou Xingwang suddenly realized at this time, and said: "Oh, why didn't I think of it, I'm going to let those generals walk now, and I'm not allowed to ride horses." Zhu Youdong said: "It's useless to talk about it now, you gather those generals first, and I'll take a look at their situation first." ”

With Zhu Youdong's order passed down, those generals rushed over one after another. Seeing the generals gathered, they were almost there. Zhu Youdong said: "Do you have any thoughts on this march? If our army goes on like this, when we rush to Anqing, can we still attack Anqing City? ”

Faced with Zhu Youdong's question, all the generals stopped talking. Clear-eyed people can see at a glance that when such an army arrives in Anqing, let alone attack the city, it is already good to be able to take everyone and go to Anqing. Suddenly, a general said: "Your Highness, it's not that we don't want to be fast, but the army really can't be fast." We are now marching eighty miles a day, more than double the speed of our normal marches. If it is too fast, the army will collapse. ”

Another general said: "Yes, if the army collapses, we won't be able to defeat Anqing at that time." Besides, since we were reorganized, the army has not been paid once, and as the saying goes, the emperor is not short of hungry soldiers. ”

The previous general said: "That is, before Zhang Changgeng asked us to go to Hanyang, it was also given five taels of silver." For a while, the other generals also said: "That is, we will return to the Ming Dynasty anyway, and this Ming Dynasty cannot be lower than the Qing Dynasty." Without silver, the soldiers would have no strength. ”

Zhu Youdong immediately understood that this was not the problem of the soldiers at all, but the fact that these generals were making trouble inside. Zhu Youdong looked at the two and said, "I don't know the names of the two generals?" How much do you think this silver should be issued? Gou Xingwang suddenly understood, and was about to go up to find trouble with those two people with an angry face, but was stopped by Zhu Youdong.

Gou Xingwang said to Zhu Youdong: "Your Highness, these two people are thousands of household officials, the thin one is called Bai Kan, and the short one is called Bi Shengrong." Zhu Youdong nodded and said, "Then General Bai, Bi Jiangjun, the two of you should tell me, how much silver should be issued?" ”

The two glanced at each other and saw that Zhu Youdong was not angry, and suddenly became bolder. Bai Kan said: "Our Ming Dynasty should naturally have a new atmosphere, and it will not be deducted and searched like the Manchu Dynasty, I think it is better to give ten taels per person." Bi Shengrong also nodded and said: "Yes, Your Highness, that is the true dragon emperor, and it should be twice as tall as those Tartars in the Manchu Qing Dynasty." ”

Zhu Youdong looked at the others again and said, "You think so too?" Do you think you should give this open silver? Suddenly, several generals of the Qing army nodded and said: "Your Highness is reasonable, after all, this is also the soldiers' money, if Your Highness distributes this piece of silver, we believe that the morale of the soldiers will be greatly boosted." ”

Hearing these people say such a brazen statement, Gou Xingwang was on the side, and his face was already flushed with anger. If he hadn't been pressed down by Zhu Youdong, Zhao Shichao and Lin Zhuang would have grabbed him next to him, and he would have to beat these nonsense people in the morning, and then let people drag them out and cut them down.

Looking at the smiling Zhu Youdong, Gou Xingwang knew that this was Zhu Youdong's extreme performance. Suddenly, he said: "Your Highness, if you hand over these people to me, I will definitely punish them severely." Zhu Youdong said: "What is the punishment?" What these generals said was what the soldiers were talking about. ”

Seeing Zhu Youdong scolding Gou Xingwang, Bai Kan said: "That is, His Royal Highness still understands the thoughts of the soldiers, and I dare to guarantee that as long as this money is issued, all the soldiers will suddenly be alive." Within three days, he will definitely rush to Anqing City, and he will be able to capture Anqing City for His Highness on the same day. ”

Zhu Youdong smiled and said, "Really? That relationship is so good, I'm still worried about how to attack Anqing City! Unexpectedly, General Bai was sure to capture Anqing City in an instant. Seeing that Zhu Youdong seemed to be moved, the others immediately said: "Your Highness, don't worry, as long as the soldiers get the money, there is no city in this world that we can't attack." If His Highness can allow us, after breaking the city of Nanjing, we will spend three days in the city. We can guarantee that even if there are no others, we alone will be able to seize Nanking for His Highness. ”

Looking at these arrogant generals, Zhu Youdong suddenly saw Yang Maoxun who was retreating to the side, and suddenly said, "General Yang, what are you doing hiding behind?" Come forward, you can also tell me what to do, let's discuss it. Hearing Zhu Youdong's words, everyone remembered that there was still a Manchu governor of Huguang standing here.

Immediately, everyone hurriedly moved to both sides and pushed Yang Maoxun out. Yang Maoxun said: "It is a matter of course for soldiers to serve the country, and it is a matter for the court to give what rewards the court should give." Those of us who lead the army can only lead the army to fight a good battle. As for everything else, it is up to His Highness and the court to decide. ”