At the beginning of August of the nineteenth year of Chongzhen

There are still two months to go before the start of the war, and the Taihu base is reorganizing its armament and preparing for an expedition to Fujian.

After several days of military meetings, the Xuanjia Army's troops to go to Fujian this time have also been agreed.

The total strength of the Xuanjia Army was 115,000.

Among them, the cavalry battalion was 20,000 horsemen; 40,000 sergeants in the infantry battalion, 30,000 mountain special battalions newly trained in Jiamalin and Gan Hui, a total of 70,000 infantry; 15,000 sergeants of the Sailor Battalion; The remaining 10,000 are 3,000 sergeants in the artillery battalion, 500 in the UAV team, and 2,000 in the logistics battalion.

This expedition to Fujian, due to the terrain, was mainly based on foot combat, supplemented by cavalry. After Fang Yuan and Jing Jie agreed, it was decided that the commander of the expeditionary force was Fang Yuan, and the deputy commander Chigutai.

The cavalry battalion of 10,000 horsemen, led by Chigutai; The infantry battalion consisted of 35,000 men, led by Feng Ting, the deputy commander of the infantry battalion; 30,000 mountain special battalions, led by Gan Hui; The naval division battalion of 13,000 men led a formation of artillery motherships and a total of 150 other warships, the artillery mothership formation was led by Shi Lang, and the other 100 battleships were led by Shi Fu; The artillery battalion has 2,000 people and 300 artillery pieces, led by Li Zongze, the commander of the artillery battalion; The drone team has 500 people and 100 drones, led by Su Hongyu, the leader of the drone team; The logistics battalion was 2,000, led by Hou Chengzu.

The expeditionary force has a total of 95,000 people, and the Xuanjia army has already poured out.

The one who stayed behind in Nanzhili and Zhejiang was Jing Jie, the commander of the cavalry battalion, Zhao Quanzhong, and the army of 20,000 or 30,000 people was left behind, mainly with 10,000 cavalry and 5,000 infantry.

As for the issue of military rations, the neighboring Zhejiang merchants and merchants will make preparations first, and then the cabinet will settle the settlement with the Zhejiang merchants and the merchants to repay the military rations.

Fang Yuan, who was training troops at the Taihu base, received a letter of surrender from Zheng Zhibao in Fujian, claiming that when Fang Yuan's troops arrived at Fengling Pass, he would sacrifice Fengling Pass to assist Fang Yuan in occupying the whole of Fujian.

When Fang Yuan saw the letter, he was overjoyed, and immediately sent a reply to Zheng Zhibao, agreeing to his surrender. and promised again that he would ensure that the Zheng clan was safe and that only the first offenders Zheng Zhilong, Zheng Zhifeng, and Zheng Sen who resisted to the end would be punished.

Everything was ready, Fang Yuan returned to Suzhou City to rest for a while, but Qin Zhan suddenly came to meet in a hurry, claiming that there was an urgent military report.

Fang Yuan and Qin Zhan sat by the pool, Xiao Yuan served behind them, and Hu Qi was still the unwavering guard Fang Yuan.

Fang Yuan asked, "Fourth, what's the important military situation?" ”

Qin Zhan hurriedly presented the secret fold he got from Zhu Cihong and handed it to Fang Yuan, "Boss, this is when Jinyiwei checked the Longjiang Wharf, a splash was very suspicious, refused Jinyiwei's inspection, and wanted to resist arrest." After the Jinyi guard killed him, he searched for a secret fold from the capital. ”

Fang Yuan took the secret fold and read them one by one, it was the prince who privately contacted Yongwang Zhu Cizhi, and the imperial court would take advantage of Fang Yuan's expedition to Fujian to lead a large army south to capture Nanzhili, so that Nanjing City, which was ruled by Zhu Cizhi, would respond to Kaicheng and surrender at that time.

Fang Yuan's expression became more and more solemn, if this secret fold was true, it proved that the imperial court was really harboring evil intentions, the peace talks were fake, and the sneak attack on Nanzhili was true. However, this secret letter may also be sent by the Zheng family to disturb the audio-visual, and it cannot be hastily concluded.

Fang Yuan's fingertips tapped the fold down and down, silently pondering.

Qin Zhan was a thief, and his vest was full of cold sweat, for fear that Fang Yuan would see the clues.

Xiao Yuan saw his cowardice, glared at him secretly, and said tentatively, "Childe, if the imperial court takes advantage of our unpreparedness and sneaks up on Nanzhili, then we will lose everything." ”

Fang Yuan groaned and said, "Xiao Yuan, this secret fold may be that the imperial court really wants to sneak attack, or it may be that the Zheng family deliberately released smoke bombs to delay the army. ”

Xiao Yuan was stunned, Fang Yuan's insight far surpassed that of Zhu Cihong and Zhu Cizhi, the two rotten brothers and sisters, they would not be easily fooled, and they were busy retreating to advance to cover up a little, "Childe is really unique, and he can't hide any conspiracy and trickery." ”

Fang Yuan continued to ask Qin Zhan with a solemn expression, "Are there any traces of large-scale sergeant transfers in Shandong recently?" ”

Qin Zhan's Jinyiwei is in charge of military reconnaissance, and he is in the two capitals and thirteen provinces, keeping an eye on the dynamics of various places at any time, and answering truthfully, "No, but, Shanxi's Jinyiwei has been rewarded, and Zhou Yuji, the governor of Shanxi, is wantonly mobilizing troops and horses." ”

He pretended to be puzzled and said, "According to rumors, the imperial court wants to enter the customs this time to take over the soldiers and horses of the King of Qin in Shaanxi. ”

Fang Yuan suddenly remembered the private message that Zhou Yuji had suddenly sent to the capital for peace talks, but he was politely rejected by himself. Linked to Zhou Yuji's large-scale mobilization of troops and horses in Shanxi, it is very likely that the object of Zhou Yuji's troops is not Shaanxi, but Nanzhili.

The imperial court deliberately did not use Sun Chuanting in Shandong, and mobilized Zhou Yuji in Shanxi, which was to hide people's eyes and ears, so that Fang Yuan lost his vigilance, and then suddenly attacked Nanzhili.

All kinds of clues are connected together, and Zhu Cihong's secret fold should be eighty percent true.

Fang Yuan threw the secret fold on the ground and said in a deep voice, "Hu Qi, you immediately go to Nanjing City in person, and let King Yong come to Suzhou City, I have important things to discuss, but I don't need to say what is important, the more mysterious the disguise, the better, probe his tone and expression." ”

Fang Yuan's only remaining doubts were whether Zhu Cizhi knew or not. If Zhu Cizhi didn't know it and came to Suzhou City with an unabnormal expression, then this prince's secret letter might be a trick of the Zheng family envoy; If Zhu Cizhi also knew about it, and even refused to come, it would prove that he and the prince had been secretly communicating for a long time, and the authenticity of this secret letter was beyond doubt.

Hu Qi immediately took the order, and Qin Zhan asked again, "Boss, is the imperial court now ill-intentioned, Fujian will fight or not?" ”

This sudden change created a big problem for Fang Yuan.

He has already released his words, and the entire Jiangnan has long been in the rumor; The edict of the imperial court was also issued, ordering him to conquer Fujian; War bonds were also issued, and hundreds of thousands of taels of silver were spent; The Xuanjia Army has also been assembled and is undergoing the final oath drill; Even Zheng Zhibao's surrender was delivered.

The conquest of Fujian is already on the verge of an arrow and has to be issued, how can such a major military decision be changed because of a secret setback, how should we explain it to the commander of the Xuanjia Army, the cabinet, and the public opinion in the area directly under Zhejiang? The imperial court is now calm, and all the conditions proposed by Fang Yuan have been met, and there is no sign of a sneak attack on Nanzhili in neighboring Shandong, and it is impossible for Fang Yuan to give up the conquest of Fujian because of a secret twist, and turn his head to fight with the imperial court!

Xiao Yuan and Qin Zhan sang and said in harmony, "Fourth uncle, how can such a major military plan be given up because of a small secret set?" Fight is a must! If the imperial court really comes to sneak attack, it is they who lose morality first and lose their trust in the world. The heart of defense is indispensable, and we must leave more elite soldiers to stay in Nanzhili. ”

Fang Yuan agreed with Xiao Yuan's statement, "Xiao Yuan, you said it well! If the court goes back on its word, it means that he has cut himself off from the world, and if we fight back, it will be justified. Before the imperial court really makes a move, we can only follow the original plan, conquer Fujian, and secretly defend against a sneak attack from the north! ”

Qin Zhan said again, "Boss, Jinyiwei reported that Zuo Liangyu in Jiangxi also has traces of troops and horses in Hezhou and Chuzhou, and it is rumored that he is going north to support Fengyang Mansion." ”

Xiao Yuan smiled and said, "Zuo Liangyu is a fool when we are!" Gathering troops and horses in Hezhou and Chuzhou is to wait and see. If we send troops to Fujian, and the imperial court really comes to attack Nanzhili, Zuo Liangyu will take the opportunity to attack Zhejiang. ”

Fang Yuan nodded and said, "Yes, Zuo Liangyu is this kind of rogue's style of fleeing after making a penny, if the imperial court sends troops, he will come to plunder; If the imperial court did not send troops, he would not dare to cross the river. ”

Xiao Yuan said softly, "Childe, no matter whether the imperial court sends troops or not, Zuo Liangyu's army is always a trouble. I have a way to dispel Zuo Liangyu's ambitions. ”

Fang Yuan was slightly stunned, and hurriedly asked, Xiao Yuan continued, "Anyway, there are still two months before the army is sent to Fujian, so it is better to find an appetizer first, train the Xuanjia Army, and replenish some soldiers." ”

Fang Yuan knew what she was referring to as soon as he heard it, and suddenly said, "Liu Liangzuo from Chizhou and Huizhou!" ”