The fishermen who had just arrived with them immediately cheered in unison. The other generals of the Restoration Army were a little confused, and they felt that it was not the Restoration Army that took advantage, but these fishermen.

Seeing this, Deng Mancang said: "The generals don't know that since He Shaobao was killed, we have become fishermen. Not to mention that the Qing court came to search and arrest from time to time, those local squires also often suppressed those of us who had a good history. No matter how much we please, we still can't fill our stomachs in the end. Nowadays, many brothers are afraid to get married, for fear of endangering the women and causing their children to suffer with them. ”

Peng Changbao said: "Okay, now follow us to restore the Ming Army, and after we defeat Wuchang, everyone will be able to marry a daughter-in-law." After Peng Changbao finished speaking, he was stunned for a moment, and said to Zhu Youdong: "By the way, Your Highness, after Wuchang, I should marry my daughter-in-law." ”

Deng Mancang on the side pulled Peng Changbao and said, "Okay, it turns out that you haven't married a daughter-in-law yet, so you actually tricked me." When everyone heard this, they all burst out laughing, and Peng Changbao said, "What is this? When we lay down Wuchang, we will marry a daughter-in-law, and then we will compare to see who is the son. ”

Deng Mancang said: "It's better than it, who is still afraid of you, just like you, you definitely can't compare to me." Peng Changbao said: "Get out, you are still compared with me like this." ”

Seeing that the two were far away, Zhu Youdong looked at the sky and said, "Deng Mancang, how long does it take for you to make the boat cross the Yangtze River back and forth?" Deng Mancang said: "A round trip, it is estimated that it will take an hour, and it is not difficult to get in the past, but when you come back, you have to go upstream, which takes a lot of time." ”

Zhu Youdong said: "Why do you need to go against the current when you come back?" Deng Mancang said: "When we passed, because of the current of the Yangtze River, the boat would go downstream along the current. If we want to come back, we need to swim against the current. ”

Only then did Zhu Youdong understand and said: "It seems that what we thought before was too simple, in this case, we have an army of 50,000, how many people can be transported across the river at one time?" ”

Deng Mancang was a little embarrassed: "Most of us are small boats, even if there are one or two slightly larger boats, there are not many. If we carry more people, when we drive on the river, the Yangtze River will have a storm and the boat will capsize. ”

Zhu Youdong calculated for a moment and said: "This can't be done, if it goes on like this, even if it doesn't sleep, it will take five days to cross the river." It's too slow. ”

Deng Mancang said: "There is no way to do this, and at night, these small boats of ours can't cross the river at all, and if you don't pay attention, you will capsize in the river." ”

Zhu Youdong said: "Are there any big ships around here?" Or some other place where you can cross the river? It would be nice to build a temporary bridge. Zhou Dazhu said: "This is the Yangtze River, and it may not be easy to build a temporary bridge on the Yangtze River." If it is so easy to build, the Yangtze River will not be called a natural hazard. ”

Zhu Youdong said worriedly: "It's really not easy, but now our army can't get through, if it takes a long time, I'm afraid the Qing army will find out." What's more, Gou Xingwang led the army and went to Hanyang a few days before us. Although their road is not easy to follow, it has been seven days now, and I don't know how they are now, I believe they are almost there. If we delay here for too long, it will not be good for our army to strike together. ”

Zhu Youdong looked at the rolling Yangtze River and said, "Do you think I can not be in a hurry?" What's more, Gou Xingwang only brought an army of 10,000, and if there was a slight mistake, the whole army would be wiped out. ”

Seeing that Zhu Youdong was anxious, Deng Mancang said: "General, if you are really too anxious, there is a place where you can give it a try." At this time, the fisherman who came with Deng Mancang said: "Brother Mancang, are you talking about the island outside Honghu?" No, although there are islands there, the Yangtze River is divided into two, and the water flow is more rapid. ”

Seeing this, Zhu Youdong suddenly came to his senses and said, "Tell me quickly, what's going on?" Deng Mancang hesitated for a moment and said: "At the junction of Honghu Lake and the Yangtze River, there is an island in the center of the Yangtze River. This island is located in the center of the Yangtze River, which just divides the Yangtze River into two, with a water surface of one mile wide on each side. ”

Deng Mancang gestured on the ground: "We already have 200 ships, if we can find another 200 boats, we can use these ships as a basis to build a temporary pontoon bridge, so that the army can quickly cross the river." ”

Zhou Dazhu said: "Build a bridge on the Yangtze River? Will this work? Or do you use boats, most of your boats are fishing boats, and the bridges built on the Yangtze River can withstand a large army to cross the river? Deng Mancang said: "Of course, we can connect the bow and stern of the ship, and we can build a temporary bridge as soon as possible." ”

Zhu Youdong remembered the pontoon bridge that was often used in later generations, and suddenly said: "Okay, what are we going to do, if the boats are enough, how long will it take us to build the bridge?" Deng Mancang said: "If the boat is enough, it will only take half a day to build." ”

Zhu Youdong was overjoyed and said: "Okay, I'll transfer someone to you now, you are divided into two groups, half of the people will build a pontoon bridge, and half of the people will go to find a boat, even if it is to buy, you must buy enough." ”

Zhou Dazhu and Deng Mancang took people out to find boats, and the other half of the fishermen stayed behind to build a pontoon bridge. Using the existing boats, half of the pontoon bridge was built in only half a day, and it was already able to let people go up to the small island in the middle of the Yangtze River.

Looking at the pontoon bridge that was bent into a big bend by the river, and it was only the width of a fishing boat, many soldiers did not dare to go up. Even Zhu Youdong shook his head when he saw it, with such a bridge, I am afraid that he will not be able to cross the river quickly.

Zhu Youdong had no choice but to let people reinforce the fishing boats, and it seemed that the bridge was straighter. He also asked people to find some cables for the big boats, and made a winch from the big trees on the shore and on the island. A rope is used to secure the cable along the edge of the boat, and then the cable is straightened with a winch.

A cable was also pulled on top of the pontoon bridge for the soldiers, so that the soldiers could go up the bridge. And the speed of crossing the bridge has also been raised. Seeing that the problem of the pontoon bridge was finally solved, Zhu Youdong was suddenly a little happy.

But looking at the pontoon bridge that had not been built on half of the side, Zhu Youdong was in a hurry and had to wait. It was not until noon the next day that Zhou Dazhu and Deng Mancang returned with more than 200 boats. As soon as they arrived, Zhu Youdong immediately urged to build a pontoon bridge, looking at the pontoon bridge that gradually connected both sides of the Yangtze River, Zhu Youdong's mood became more and more excited.

Finally, the pontoon bridge was built before dark, and Zhu Youdong immediately asked a scout team of hundreds of people to cross the Yangtze River with horses. Let them find out what's going on.

There was nothing to do overnight, and early the next morning, Zhu Youdong was about to cross the river with the army, and Zhou Dazhu said: "Your Highness, now that the bridge has been built, let me go first." The scouts who went to inquire about the information did not return, and if something happened, the last general could not afford to wait. ”

Everyone else also dissuaded them, and in desperation, Zhu Youdong had no choice but to agree. Zhu Youdong said to Zhou Dazhu: "After you cross the river, if there is no situation. After the number of soldiers crossing the river reached 3,000, they immediately set off with a large army and went straight to Puqi. Then take the official road and go directly to Wuchang with all your might. ”

Zhu Youdong looked at the soldiers who had already crossed the river and said: "This march is related to whether our Restoration Army can gain a foothold in Huguang again, and whether it can cause a sensation in the world and cheer up the Han people to resist the Qing Dynasty." I allow you to disturb the people if necessary, even if it is at all costs, you must take Wuchang. ”

Zhou Dazhu said: "Your Highness, rest assured, the general will definitely complete the errand." Zhu Youdong thought for a moment and said, "Forget it, you are still in the rear army, after all, this time it is such an intense march." Moreover, as soon as the army arrives in Wuchang, it will immediately attack the fortified city of Wuchang. I think let Wei Du go, I'm afraid you won't be able to make up your mind by then. ”

Zhou Dazhu's face suddenly changed greatly, and he said angrily: "Your Highness doesn't look down on people, although I, Zhou Dazhu, have never led the army to attack the city, but I am also a general from Baoning." Your Highness rest assured, if I can't take Wuchang by Zhou Dazhu, I will directly take off my head to correct military law. ”

Zhu Youdong was still a little relieved, and Zhou Dazhu said loudly: "Your Highness, if Your Highness doesn't let me go, I will die on the edge of the Yangtze River immediately." Zhu Youdong said helplessly: "Okay, you go to attack Wuchang, you bypass Jiangxia and go directly to attack Wuchang." I asked Anyang to attack Jiangxia in the back and contain the Qing army. ”

Zhou Dazhu raised his neck and said, "Why does Your Highness look down on me Zhou Dazhu so much, I don't need anyone's help." As long as my Sixth Army arrives, I will defeat Jiangxia and Wuchang alone, and after speaking, I will directly call the Sixth Army to cross the river. ”

Zhou Dazhu is like this, it doesn't mean that he doesn't know the height of the sky, or that he doesn't listen to the general's orders. Originally, he Zhou Dazhu could be regarded as the second person in the Restoration Army, even if he was Gou Xingwang, he was behind him. However, since he had been in the Grand Governor's Palace, he stayed in Boryeong.

In the year since the Ming Army was formed, it only participated in the siege of the city when it attacked Boryeong. Other times, he didn't have the opportunity to lead the army at all. So now among the generals of the Restoration Army, basically except for Zhu Youdong, Gou Xingwang has become the second person.

He Zhou Dazhu even had to be after Jiang Chao and Song Gao. Even Liu Yingnan and Lin Kejia, who surrendered after raising troops, faintly surpassed him. This made him not in a hurry, this time he was finally able to go out with the army, and he also led the Sixth Army alone.

originally thought that this time he would definitely be able to get some military exploits and make himself majestic. But since the expedition to the present, all the battles have always been commanded by Zhu Youdong.

He Zhou Dazhu didn't have any chance to perform at all, of course he was in a hurry. Today, I finally used Zhu Youdong's identity to win this opportunity to lead the army alone, and I refused to give up anything.

At Zhou Dazhu's insistence, Zhu Youdong had no choice but to agree. However, he repeatedly told Zhou Dazhu to be careful, and he must not be radical for the sake of merit, and fall into the trap of the Qing army.

Looking at Zhou Dazhu, who had already crossed the river, Zhu Youdong knew that it was useless to worry now, so he had to urge the army to cross the river as soon as possible.

After the pontoon bridge was reinforced, the soldiers of the Fuming Army also crossed the river from the pontoon bridge with confidence. The army crossed the river in an orderly manner, and in just one morning, 10,000 troops had already crossed the Yangtze River. At noon, Zhu Youdong still asked the army to stop, thinking that by tomorrow, more than 50,000 troops would be able to completely cross the Yangtze River.

Seeing the hope of the army crossing the river, Zhu Youdong was also very happy. crossed the Yangtze River so quickly, without the assistance of the sailor, he can be said to be the first person in the ages.

Just when Zhu Youdong was secretly happy, someone suddenly screamed by the riverside, and someone kept pointing upstream. At this time, Deng Mancang ran over and said: "Your Highness, it's not good, the Qing army's naval division warships have been killed, and it seems that it should be the naval division of Dongting Lake." Zhu Youdong hurriedly walked to the high place to take a look, and sure enough, in the upper reaches of the Yangtze River, a group of black and oppressive boats were rushing downstream.

It is estimated that in less than a quarter of an hour, the ships of the Qing army will break the pontoon bridge. Zhu Youdong immediately shouted: "Quick, let the people who haven't gotten on the bridge stop yet, and the people who go on the bridge immediately cross the river, don't stay, quick." ”onclick="hui"