"What? The Third Army was defeated and withdrew to Xuzhou? ”

"The remaining troops are less than 20,000, and I am afraid that in the future, the eastern front defense line will be reduced and retreated to Jining City and Caozhou City."

"What the hell is Kong Youde doing here? Not to mention the loss of my Hong Dynasty army, I also fought a defeated battle, damn it, really damn it! ”

The defeat of Xiangcheng within five days, it has reached the ears of Geng Zhongming, who is sitting in Xuchang City, as a friend and partner for many years, Geng Zhongming is not as restrained as Shang Kexi, but scolded on the spot.

"You can't blame Commander Kong for everything, our side also bears an unshirkable responsibility!"

The news of the defeat on the Eastern Front was still sent by Shang Kexi from Luoyang, and at this time he couldn't help but explain a few words for Kong Youde.

"Sun Chuanting of the Ming army suddenly appeared in Xiangcheng, and the Ming army of Xiangyang and Nanyang actually mobilized half of them to set up this bureau on the eastern front under our noses, but we didn't notice it at all, let alone give Commander Kong a warning."

After Shang Kexi said this, Geng Zhongming wanted to scold Kong Youde even more, but he couldn't say anything for a while, but sighed in vain to show his agreement with this matter.

"I was derelict in my duties."

As the commander of the Second Army, the deputy commander of the Central Front and the commander of the front-line battlefield, compared to Shang Kexi, after Wu Jie returned to Beijing to report on his post as Minister of National Defense, he sat in Luoyang to coordinate the overall situation, and the front-line Xiangyang and Nanyang matters were headed by Geng Zhongming.

"Now is not the time when who is right and who is wrong, according to the tactical deduction given by Commander Kong and his staff, the future Ming Dynasty army will definitely not let go of the flaw of our army's weak military strength on the eastern front, and turn from a defensive position to an offensive and counterattack Shandong Province, which is a foregone conclusion."

"Then in order to deal with the enemy's counteroffensive, the pressure of the Third Army is extremely great, and at the same time, in order to shrink the defensive line and gather back the troops scattered in various strongholds in Shandong, the plan given to us by Commander Kong is that they will gradually give up half of the land in Shandong until Jining City builds the first line of defense."

"They do this because they don't want our mid-line battlefield to bring burdens, but if our army doesn't make any moves at this time, I'm afraid that Brother Wu and His Majesty in Beijing will not give us good fruits to eat!"

Shang Kexi still had time to smile at this time, but no matter how you look at it, this smile has a bit of bitterness and pleasure.

"You're right, we should do something about it!"

Geng Zhongming is also a smart person, and now that the Hong Dynasty is newly established, as a meritorious minister who supports the new dynasty, Geng Zhongming attaches great importance to the prospects in the Hong Dynasty, and has already forgotten all about his identity as a general of the Hong Dynasty.

"At this time, it is too late to support the Eastern Front, and there is not much need, this is hundreds of miles to Shandong, and the time required for the soldiers in the army to march is recorded in days, even when they arrive at the Eastern Front, it is just to help Kong Youde consolidate the defensive line, and if you want to counterattack back, not to mention the preparation of the required materials, and it will last for a long time, which is not advisable."

"On the contrary, at this time, the defense line of Xiangyang and Nanyang, which blocked our army's southward movement, the thief marshal Sun Chuanting was not on the front line at this time, and half of his troops were transferred to the layout of the eastern front, which was a good time for our army to capture Xiangyang and Nanyang."

Geng Zhongming slowly calculated the shortcomings and advantages of all parties, and finally looked up at Shang Kexi, and made a proposal with a resolute attitude: "Let's fuck it too!" ”

"Oh, or why do you think I don't continue to sit in Luoyang, but run to your territory!"

It doesn't take much to talk to smart people, Geng Zhongming thought about it, and Shang Kexi thought of it.

"I have already issued an order to Ma Yao, the deputy commander of my First Army, to immediately launch an offensive from Shangjin City on the defensive line, and go straight to Xiangyang City, the west fort of the Ming army, presumably Deputy Commander Ma Yao is already on the march at this moment."

After hearing Shang Kexi's arrangement, Geng Zhongming had a smile on his face, and looked at Shang Kexi solemnly: "Commander Shang, what should our army do to support the battle of Xiangyang?" ”

"Then it is needless to say, pull out your brothers of the Second Army, and let the Ming Dynasty people in Nanyang City feel the revenge of our Hongchao army!!"

"Within a month and a half, I want to see Nanyang City fall into the hands of our army."

"Every time they fight the Ming Dynasty for one more point of my Hong Dynasty's land, my Hong Dynasty will pay him two points back, so that they know who has the final say in this world!!"

Without Sun Chuanting, a scheming and well-known commander, Shang Kexi no longer has to worry too much, and they can return all the grievances suffered by the officers and soldiers of the first and second armies of the Hong Dynasty to the Ming Dynasty in a bright and bright manner, so that they can feel the fiery enthusiasm of the Hong Dynasty army.

At the same time, Li Tianyang, who worked in the Forbidden City in Beijing, and the elders of the cadres of the Hong Dynasty also received the news of the defeat of Kong Youde.

In the face of such a big defeat for the first time since the establishment of the Hong Dynasty army, everyone felt extremely uncomfortable, and the one who was particularly unhappy should be Wu Jie, the minister of national defense.

However, Wu Jie, who was short-tempered in the early years and had always liked to hide his emotions, has changed a lot over the years, and now after everyone has digested this bad news, he is just a gloomy old face, looking at his feet melancholy, and no one can guess his thoughts.

"The lower officer thought that Kong Youde should be removed from the post of army commander first, and other army commanders should be transferred to Xuzhou City to consolidate the defense line."

Gan Dabiao, one of the thirteen members of the cabinet, roared angrily, venting his dissatisfaction in his heart, a big war not only lost tens of thousands of soldiers, but also a large number of materials that their Ministry of Finance painstakingly prepared were destroyed, it was all money spent in vain!

"No, the lower officials think that the main general of the Eastern Front should not move at this time, and it is the best choice for Commander Kong Youde to continue to serve as the commander."

The elderly Hong Chengchou was elected as one of the thirteen members of the cabinet, and he spared no effort to contribute his strength to this favor.

"Minister Wu, what do you think?"

Li Tianyang sat on the dragon chair, but he did not wear the so-called imperial clothes, and he was dressed in a comfortable purple silk dress, which was not conspicuous in front of this Jinluan Palace.

Hearing Li Tianyang's inquiry, Wu Jie raised his head and replied calmly: "Xiaguan and Lord Hong have the same opinion. ”

"The Third Army of the Eastern Front has been presided over by Commander Kong Youde for four years, and his own ability is enough to convince the public, and his reputation among the soldiers is not bad.

"Compared with a military commander who was transferred from other military departments, the originally familiar army commander is in office, at least the front-line officers and soldiers will not panic in their hearts, and they can better maintain the morale of the army."