Zheng Sen's army had reached the mouth of the Yangtze River. Zheng Zhibao and Zheng Cai had already built docks, barracks and warehouses on Chongming Island, turning the island into an important base for the model army. Chongming Island, the third largest island in China, is actually a very young island, and it has only been a thousand years since its formation. The island was completely deposited by sediment at the mouth of the Yangtze River, and now the island is nearly 200 miles long from east to west and nearly 40 miles wide from north to south. Sometimes, in a certain direction, because of sediment deposition, the land area in a certain direction expands rapidly, and sometimes because of the river erosion, the land in a certain direction is quickly washed away by the river, and even within a day, it is not uncommon for the river beach to retreat a few meters or even more than ten meters. So although the island is big, there are not too many people on it. In addition, the place is large enough, so it is very suitable as an advance base for model army troops to enter the Yangtze River.

The soldiers landed on Chongming Island, where they were planned to repair for a month or two, and then march west against the Yangtze River to exterminate Li Zicheng's Shun army.

The movements of the Model Army were not strictly secrecy, and in fact, tens of thousands of troops who went up the river and passed through the prefectures along the way could not be kept secret in any case. Therefore, the gentry in the Songjiang area also know that now the prince of Anping is stationed on Chongming Island with a large army. Since the fall of Beijing and the martyrdom of Chongzhen, the gentry in the south of the Yangtze River who have a little insight also know that it is now a troubled time, and words such as "I see this Ming Dynasty eating jujube pills" have also begun to circulate among the people. It is even rumored that since the Han Dynasty, every 300 years, the mandate of heaven will change. Now that the Ming Dynasty has been around for almost three hundred years, it is time for the Mandate of Heaven to be renewed.

Although it is said that "the Ming Dynasty has been raising scholars for more than 200 years", it seems that it is now the time of "fighting and dying righteousness, and it is today", but ......

"The ancients took the world as the mainstay, the king as the guest, and the ruler of the world as the operator, for the world. And the ancients came out to be a leader, for the world, not for the king; For all the people, not for one surname. If there is chaos today, it is not a rebellion of one family and one surname. In the past, Gu Ningren talked about the story with a certain book, saying the difference between "dying the country" and "dying the world", and saying that "changing the surname and changing the name is called the dead country." Benevolence and righteousness are full, and as for leading beasts to eat people, people will eat each other, which is called the death of the world. He also said, 'Those who defend the country will be their kings and ministers, and those who eat meat; To protect the world, the cheapness and responsibility of the husband are deaf'. Foolishly thought that this was a great good. Today's danger in the world, not only the danger of one family and one surname, where Li Chuang and Zhang thieves went, we and other scholars are really 'bleeding like a spring, and the voices of injustice everywhere are moving'. I heard that when Li broke into the Beijing Division, he deceived the people of the world and said, "Don't love money, don't kill people", but as a result, it was really 'the inner library was burned to splendid ashes, and the heavenly street was trampled on the bones of the princess', if such a thief won the world, hehe, it would really be 'the death of the world'. Outside the Guan, there are Dongxuan, taking advantage of China's civil strife to steal Liaodong. I heard that they are in Liaodong, taking our Han people as slaves, and changing the clothes of my ancestors, if they are allowed to gain power, 'I will be sent to the left'. Therefore, today is indeed the time for 'the cheapness and responsibility of the husband'. In Songjiang City, Huang Zongxi was encouraging the other gentry to go with him to meet Zheng Sen. Indeed, it was a visit, because Zheng Sen's identity at this time was no longer just a prisoner, nor just a general soldier, but the prince of Anping.

"What Tai Chong said is also what we think." It was Xia Yunyi who spoke, "I only hate that I have no power to restrain the chicken, and I want to save the country and save the world, but I don't know where to start." At this time, Xia Yunyi resigned from his official position because of the death of his mother, and now he is studying at home, but this time he also gathered with these scholars.

"There is only one person in the world who can save the world today, and that is the prince of Anping." Another person opened his mouth, and everyone looked at it, but it was Fang Yizhi.

Fang Yizhi saw that everyone was looking at him, so he said: "Speaking of the prince of Anping, in fact, many of us have friendships with him. He is a student of Mr. Qian Yushan, and he is also a member of my Donglin. In the past, Mr. Qishan once praised him for being a generation of Confucianism in the future, and he was the one in my generation. Now it is a continuous battle for the country, and those who attack are overcome, and those who are attacked are broken. I think that the one who settles the world must be the son of King Anping. Now the prince is leading a large army, intending to go west to beg the thief and avenge the first emperor. Now the prince is in Chongming, and I want to come to him where I can be useful. Why don't we go to meet the son of the world together, and make a contribution to the people of the world, and we will not be in vain what we have learned; Second, to seek an immortal opportunity for yourself? ”

"That's good." One humane, "Now the army of thieves is repairing in Chongming - I heard that the reason why the prince stationed the army in Chongming is that he is worried that the army will disturb the people. This shows the love of the people. I have seen many displaced people who have fled from Huguang these days. I heard them say that the thief who killed a thousand knives is now storming Wuchang in Hankou, Zuo Ningnan is retreating one after another, and Wuchang in Hankou is about to be unable to keep it. If the thief army occupies Wuchang, Hankou, and then goes down the river, I am afraid that the prosperous land of flowers and willows in the south of the Yangtze River will become a piece of ashes. Now I can only hope that the army of the prince can defeat the Liukou and keep Jiangnan. ”

This news immediately caused a commotion, and some people asked chaotically: "Is what Brother Qianshan said true?" ”

Before this "Brother Qianshan" could answer, he saw Fang Yizhi stand up and say, "Why should you panic? The army of the prince of Anping is in Chongming. Since the beginning of the army, the prince has been invincible. The thief has been repeatedly broken by the prince, and he has long become a bird with a frightened bow, as long as the prince waives his army westward, he is still afraid that the thief will be rampant? ”

Someone asked, "I wonder when the army of the prince will march west?" ”

Fang Yizhi shook his head and said, "How do I know about this kind of military aircraft matter?" But as you know, the Son and I are friends. In addition, my friend Gu Ningren and Kong Bangui are now in the background of the prince. A few days ago, they were shopping for supplies everywhere, thinking that they were here to prepare for the westward expedition. ”

"I'm afraid that the expedition to the west will be two months later." Another man spoke.

Everyone looked at it, but it was Xia Wanchun, Xia Yunyi's son. Someone asked, "How does Xia Gongzi know that it will be two or three months later?" ”

When Xia Wanchun heard this, he glanced at his father, and when he saw Xia Yunyi nodding slightly, he replied: "My family has some business dealings with the Anping Palace. So this time, some materials were also purchased from my family. The kid guessed from the time of delivery. The kid thought, that Zuo Ningnan has hundreds of thousands of soldiers, although only one of them can fight, or even one of the five, but as long as there is no field battle, and the city is defended wholeheartedly, Wuchang and Hankou are both male cities, and both have waterways, it is not easy to surround to death, and it should be easy to defend for two or three months. I think he's in a hurry now, more than just trying to ask the court for more money and food. When the time comes, the prince is ready, and the army is moving westward, what is there to worry about in Jiangnan? ”

Many people listened to it, thought about it, and felt justified, and some people praised Xia Wanchun for being young, but he could calm down, which was very extraordinary. It's just that at this time, there are humanitarians: "Xia Gongzi only knows one thing, but he doesn't know the other." If Zuo Ningnan is really willing to defend it, let alone two or three months, even if it is a year or two, he may not be able to hold it. It's just that Zuo Ningnan is only afraid that he will get tired of staying in Huguang, and he has long wanted to change places. I heard that Zuo Ningnan wrote to the court that the thieves were attacking, and the soldiers in his hands lacked food and could not eat, so they couldn't resist it. Now he is asking the imperial court to allow him to retreat to Nanjing, so that he can eat nearby and ......."

"Huh?" More people were alarmed. Zuo Liangyu's ability to plague the local area is also famous. When it comes to murderous fame, I'm afraid it's still above Li Chuang and Zhang Xianzhong (at least, there is no legend of Zhang Xianzhong slaughtering Sichuan and killing 60,000 men and women), if he runs to Jiangnan, I don't know what will happen. I'm afraid that it will be fatal than Li Zicheng when he comes. After all, Li Zicheng is a rogue, and he will leave if he grabs it. If Zuo Liangyu comes, then I don't know what kind of scourge everyone will become. At that time, someone scolded: "Zuo Liangyu has hundreds of thousands of soldiers, if he fights seriously, how can he not even withstand such a sudden battle!" I'm afraid that this guy deliberately wants to take the opportunity to make a fortune in Jiangnan! ”

As soon as these words came out, everyone immediately became more and more frightened.

"Then don't panic, I heard that in the second town of Huaibei, Huang Degong can also fight. Let him move over, and he can still hold it for a few months. Xia Wanchun said.

"Oh, Xia Gongzi, you don't know, after the fall of the Jingshi, General Huang and Gao both commanded the army to go north to King Qin, and now they haven't come back yet, when they come back, I'm afraid it's ...... I'm afraid it's too late! Someone stomped his foot and said.

"Everyone, be quiet." Fang Yizhi said, "Now the plan is to ask the prince to send troops early." If the prince can send troops early, the crisis will be solved. ”

"Mizhi, you and Shizi are friends, why don't you go for a trip......" said humane.

"Senior Fang went, I'm afraid it's not much use." Xia Wanchun shook his head and said, "Since ancient times, the army has not moved, and the grain and grass go first. The military resources of the army are not ready, where can they be moved casually? ”

"I wonder what else is missing from the world? Let's go to meet the prince, if there is something missing, let's all work together to gather these things as soon as possible, no matter what, we can't let Zuo Liangyu, a bastard, run to Jiangnan! The hidden mountain brother shouted again.

"Not bad, not bad! Can't let Zuo Liangyu and Li Chuang run away to Jiangnan! ”