After capturing Jiangling, Zhu Youlang's focus was placed on Baling County, the capital of Yuezhou.

As the southwest gate of Wuchang, as long as the Ming army takes Baling, it can drive straight into Wuchang without facing any obstacles.

The focus of the Ming army was still on the northern part of Huguang, and there was not much advance into Changsha and other places in the south.

After all, the strength of the Ming army is still limited, and if too many troops are divided, there will be a situation where it cannot be held everywhere.

What's the point of fighting as many cities as you do?

After some free talk with Li Dingguo, King Jin had already understood the Son of Heaven's thoughts and said that he would do everything to support the Son of Heaven's actions.

Unlike Gangneung, Baling is not only along the river but also near the lake.

Due to its close proximity to Dongting Lake, Baling had the most powerful naval division of the Guangqing Army in the whole lake.

For the Ming army to attack Baling, it was necessary to engage the Qing army on the water and defeat the Qing army's naval division. Zhu Youlang has already prepared for a bloody battle, after all, he will not be so lucky every time, and he will take the initiative to surrender when he encounters the Qing army guards.

Fortunately, before this Eastern Expedition, Zhu Youlang was fully prepared and brought all the belongings of the Ming army's sailors.

In Yiling, Xiangyang, and Jiangling, the Ming army captured many Qing warships.

Although the scale of today's Ming army naval division is not comparable to Zheng Chenggong's invincible fleet, it is also not to be underestimated.

The soldiers are very fast, and Zhu Youlang doesn't want any delay.

The Ming army went down the river and arrived outside Baling City in a few days, ready to launch an attack on Baling City at any time.

However, Zhu Youlang did not give a rash order, but sent a sentry to investigate.

Since the introduction of hot air balloons, the Ming army's reconnaissance methods have been greatly improved.

Liu Xingming's ability to control hot air balloons became more and more proficient, and he was the captain of the sentinel team for this investigation.

Separated from his father's protection, he seems to have truly found his place and can shine in the process of this crusade.

The Son of Heaven trusts him so much, he naturally can't live up to the trust of the Son of Heaven, and he must spy on the first-hand information!

...

...

In Baling City, the yamen of the Yuezhou prefect is very lively.

Zhou Peigong, a confidant of Hu Quancai, the governor of Huguang, who had just arrived from Wuchang, brought an army of 10,000 men, which, together with Baling's own garrison, numbered as many as 25,000 men.

In this way, Baling City can be said to be impregnable.

Wei Xiannian, the prefect of Yuezhou, specially set up a reception banquet to pick up the wind and wash the dust for Zhou Peigong.

Don't look at Zhou Peigong is not an official of the imperial court, but he is a confidant of the governor.

There is no one in Huguang officialdom who does not know that Zhou Peigong is the right-hand man of Governor Hu, and even the excerpt given to the emperor by the Governor was drafted by Zhou Peigong.

The prime minister's door is a seven-rank official.

The Governor's henchmen must not have a four-pin?

No matter how you say it, it is no worse than Wei Xiannian, the prefect of Yuezhou.

What's more, the significance of Zhou Peigong's visit this time is special, it is to help Wei Xiannian.

Wei Xiannian is no longer unreasonable, and this love still has to be remembered.

"This glass of wine is for Mr. Zhou, thank you Mr. Zhou for coming all the way to help Yuezhou!"

"Alas, this is also thanks to the Governor, Zhou is just representing the Governor."

Zhou Peigong didn't smile at his skin, which made Wei Xiannian very embarrassed.

"Haha, Mr. Zhou said well, let's respect the Governor!"

After that, the table full of civil and military officials raised their glasses.

"To the Governor!"

After drinking a tour, Zhou Peigong took the initiative to speak: "The matter of Huguang, I think you all already know. The thieves were menacing, breaking through several cities in a row. The court was furious, and the Governor took it very seriously. This will send Zhou to Yuezhou Mansion to help supervise the war. You must be very energetic and must not slacken. The lessons of the past are vivid, and we definitely can't afford to lose. ”

The civil and military officers in the audience praised and patted their ass, saying that they would do their best to fight against the thieves, and asked Mr. Zhou to rest assured.

Zhou Peigong saw that the effect had been achieved, and his words changed abruptly: "Of course, the place that should be tight must be tight, and the place that should be loose must also be sent down." If a person is tense all the time, he must not be suffocated. Zhou is not an unreasonable person, as long as Zhou is relaxed within a reasonable range, it is understandable. ”

"Mr. Zhou is really reasonable."

Wei Xiannian patted his ass and said: "The thief didn't meet Mr. Zhou before, otherwise he would have been beaten and lost his armor." ”

"Alas, don't talk about boasting about so-and-so, Wei Fuzun should think about how to resist the enemy army. I heard that the thieves used a demon method in the past siege battles, which could not only blow up the city walls but also injure the defenders. This is, of course, nonsense. How can there be a demon law in the world? It was nothing more than the soldiers spreading falsehoods. I think it's probably a kind of artillery, a cannon that is more powerful than a redcoat cannon. ”

When the heavy people heard this, they all gasped.

How terrifying is the artillery that is more powerful than the redcoat cannon.

"Is there really such artillery?"

"Otherwise, Wei Fuzun thinks that why did the Ming thief blast open the city wall, is it really based on the demon law?"

"Of course not..."

Wei Xiannian smiled awkwardly.

For some reason, he always felt that this Zhou Peigong had an aggressive taste when he spoke, which made people very uncomfortable.

followed the Governor-General, and sure enough, his temper was not small.

In any case, I still shouldn't offend him.

"If it's not a demon spell, what else can it be besides a cannon?"

"What Mr. Zhou said is extremely true."

"If a cannon is so powerful, it must be bulky. Even if the thief is transported by water, it is impossible to carry too much. As long as these cannons are eliminated, the thief is a headless fly and doesn't know what to do. ”

Zhou Peigong still did a full investigation this time, and Hong Chengchou sent people to Yunnan and Sichuan several times to encircle and suppress them, but they all returned because the Ming army had sharper artillery.

It is no exaggeration that one shot can reach a thousand troops, even if there are more people who can't attack it, what's the use?

The sense of deterrence and oppression is not a joke.

Therefore, this time, Zhou Peigong's focus was on the artillery of the Ming army, and all his energy was also put on clamping down on the artillery of the Ming army.

The wine has passed three rounds, and the dishes have passed five flavors.

Wei Xiannian cleared his throat and said, "Mr. Zhou came from afar, and it was hard to travel all the way, so it is better to rest first." I have ordered someone to prepare a whole set of yards, and I also asked Mr. Zhou to appreciate his face. ”

Seeing that the Wei Governor's Mansion had put his posture so low, Zhou Peigong was very proud in his heart.

However, he represents the Governor, and the Wei Governor's Mansion should do this.

"Thank you Wei Fuzun for that."

"Everywhere, that's what I'm supposed to do."

Wei Xiannian smiled all over his face, got up and said, "Come on, take Mr. Zhou to rest." ”

Zhou Peigong nodded at Wei Xiannian, and then followed the people sent by Wei Xiannian out of the mansion.

Galloping all the way from Wuchang, there was no stop on the road, and he was indeed a little tired. I still have to sleep first, and when I wake up, I will personally go to the city to inspect the defense of Baling.

...

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