Before defeating Sun Chuanting's main forces in Yanzhou and Jinan, Fang Yuan could only put Zheng Sen of Dengzhou Weihaiwei on hold temporarily.

Fang Yuan appointed Xing, Gao Ze, and Li Benshen to go to Laizhou to operate, which was just an expedient measure. At least with this group of people, they can establish a buffer zone between Dengzhou and Qingzhou to reduce the military pressure on Zhang Ying, the Qingzhou capital.

At this point in the war, the Xuanjia Army won the first battle, capturing Qingzhou Mansion and Dongchang Mansion, that is, in addition to Sun Chuanting's east and west wings, the next military target was the most important Yanzhou and Jinan Prefectures.

Garrisoned in Yanzhou Mansion was Niu Chenghu's 40,000 Ming troops, of which 10,000 were still elite new-style Ming troops.

Fang Yuan had tentatively sent an artillery battalion to attack Yanzhou City, but Niu Chenghu set up dozens of small and medium-sized artillery pieces on the Yanzhou Capital City. The bombardment on the city wall is condescending, and the firing range is not weaker than that of the Hongyi cannon outside the city.

Li Zongze and Niu Chenghu's troops bombarded each other for three hours, but the result was that the artillery of the Xuanjia Army suffered greater losses, losing seven medium guns and eight small cannons, and only destroying two medium cannons on the city wall.

According to this proportion of battle losses, in order to capture Yanzhou Mansion, at least three or four hundred artillery pieces must be lost, and most of the sergeants of the artillery battalion must be filled.

Fang Yuan hadn't considered using white phosphorus bombs to siege the city. However, the white phosphorus bomb was too powerful, and once the white phosphorus bomb was thrown at Yanzhou City, it was not only Niu Chenghu's Ming army that died, but also one or two hundred thousand people in Yanzhou City. The entire Yanzhou City, an important town in southern Lunan, will also be destroyed in one fell swoop, this siege method is too bloody and cruel, and Fang Yuan is not willing to use it lightly as a last resort.

Secondly, Fang Yuan only made a total of 1,000 white phosphorus bombs in this Northern Expedition, and Su Hongyu went to attack the train camp and took away 500 bombs, but in the battle to capture Pingshanwei, 400 were used, and only 100 remained.

In the first actual combat test of white phosphorus bombs, if it takes 400 white phosphorus bombs to destroy a Pingshan guard, how many white phosphorus bombs do you need to use to attack Yanzhou City, which is at least five times the size of Pingshan Guard? To capture a Yanzhou city, you need to use three or five hundred white phosphorus bombs, and how many will you use in Jinan Mansion next? What about fighting Weihaiwei again?

The production of white phosphorus bombs in the Xuanjia Army is obviously far from enough, so this kind of white phosphorus bombs can only be used as a deterrent weapon, rather than the main force for siege. It is absolutely impossible to rely on white phosphorus bombs to attack the city all the way, and the use of white phosphorus bombs is no different from slaughtering the city, and it will even arouse the enemy's hatred and increase the difficulty of the united front.

Su Hongyu also sent a confidential news from Dongchang Mansion, that is, Fang Yuan's persuasion letter was intercepted by Sun Chuanting, and the general soldiers under his command knew nothing. Therefore, Su Hongyu suggested in the letter that Fang Yuan once again surrender to the generals under Sun Chuanting's command, which may be able to achieve unexpected results.

Fang Yuan decided to use Su Hongyu's method, crossed Sun Chuanting, and sent people to Zheng Jiadong stationed in Tai'an and Niu Chenghu stationed in Yanzhou Mansion to send a letter of persuasion to surrender.

Jinan Mansion

Shandong Governor's Palace

Sun Chuanting received the defeat report of Qingzhou and Dongchang, and he was secretly frightened. Less than two months after the start of the war, two provinces were lost, one general soldier was killed in the battle, and one general soldier surrendered. Moreover, as soon as Qingzhou Mansion was lost, Laizhou and Dengzhou were also cut off, and the only one still in control was Jinan Mansion and half Yanzhou Mansion.

According to the progress of this operation, it is estimated that in less than half a year, Shandong will fall on all fronts.

What made Sun Chuanting even more frightened was the military information from Dongchang Mansion, the bird monster of the Xuanjia Army was able to throw a powerful incendiary bomb, and overnight, the Pingshan Guard, which had a trench and a horse defense, was declared lost. How to defend against this battlefield mode of air combat?!

The only thing that can make Sun Chuanting happy is that Bai Guangen is still affectionate and righteous, and before surrendering, he sent the remaining 10,000 train battalions back to Jinan Mansion, retaining the vitality for Sun Chuanting.

How should this battle be fought next?!

Sun Chuanting fell into a long contemplation, the Xuanjia Army has such a powerful incendiary bomb, the defense is bound to fail, and the only way to win is to ...... Offensive!

After a night of contemplation, Sun Chuanting's mind had sketched out a clear offensive plan, as long as the plan could be carried out smoothly, the Xuanjia Army could be driven out of Shandong, and the two sides resumed strategic confrontation again.

But this plan was all in place, only the east wind was missing, and Sun Chuanting hurriedly ordered his soldiers to go to Weihaiwei in Dengzhou Mansion overnight and invited Zheng Sen to come to Jinan Mansion for a gathering.

Half a month later, Zheng Sen, who was stationed in Weihaiwei, was invited by Sun Chuanting to visit Jinan City. Because the two prefectures of Qingzhou and Laizhou had been cut off, Zheng Sen landed in Jinan Prefecture by sea by warship and arrived in Jinan City.

When Sun Chuanting saw Zheng Sen coming in person, he was full of sincerity, and he was overjoyed, and he was busy setting up a banquet to receive Zheng Sen.

After a tour of wine between the two sides, Zheng Sen asked straight to the point, "Inspector Sun, the war in Shandong and Weihaiwei is urgent, you and I don't have to go around the bend and be polite." ”

Sun Chuanting toasted him again and said, "Governor Zheng, Shandong and Weihaiwei are originally dependent on each other, if Shandong is lost, the Xuanjia army will inevitably attack Weihaiwei by land, and I don't need to say more." ”

Zheng Sen returned a glass of wine to Sun Chuanting, and said solemnly, "This, Inspector Sun, these simple truths don't need to be said. I came to Jinan City in person on this trip, and I came with the idea of fighting with the allied forces of Inspector Sun. Although our army had a big victory over the Xuanjia Army's naval division before, the land route was the biggest hidden danger of our naval division, and I would never sit idly by and watch Inspector Sun's lone army deal with Fang Yuan's fang. ”

"Inspector Sun, if there is anything I can help, just ask."

Everyone is a smart person, and they have indeed saved a lot of tongues, Sun Chuanting hurriedly said, "Since Zheng Dudu is happy, I will also be happy." Defending, it is impossible to hold Shandong, I am ready to turn defense into attack, the whole army attacked, inflicted heavy damage on Fangyuan, and drove the Xuanjia Army out of Shandong. ”

Taking the initiative and gambling is exactly what Zheng Sen's taste is.

These days, he is also hesitating whether to take the initiative to attack by sea and attack the Shi Lang fleet stationed in Jinghaiwei. However, because the difference in the strength of the two sailors was too obvious, it was difficult to make a decision for a while. But seeing that Sun Chuanting also had the idea of taking the initiative, it coincided with him, and he was overjoyed, "Inspector Sun, I also have this intention." The world is afraid of Fang Yuan like a tiger, but I, Zheng Sen, am not afraid of him, it is estimated that Fang Yuan did not expect that our army was at a disadvantage and dared to take the initiative to attack, and he would definitely be able to attack it unprepared and win in one battle! ”

Sun Chuanting took Zheng Sen's arm to the study, stood in front of the sand table in the study with him, and said in a low voice, "Governor Zheng, my spy has come to report that most of the grain and grass needed for the Xuanjia Army's Northern Expedition are hoarded in Jiningwei, which is close to the Grand Canal, and 20,000 Xuanjia soldiers have been sent to garrison it. ”

"My idea is that Zheng Dudu will send a fleet of sailors, and I will send 50,000 new Ming troops south from the Grand Canal to Jining Prefecture. As long as the Jiningwei along the Grand Canal can be conquered, it can cut off the grain route for the rear transportation of the Xuanjia Army. The Xuanjia army, which went deep into the three prefectures of Yanzhou, Dongchang and Qingzhou, ran out of food, and the morale of the army would inevitably fluctuate. ”

The sneak attack on Jiningwei was also in line with Zheng Sen's gambler's temperament, but he still hesitated a little and said, "The Xuanjia army has run out of food, and it can still forcibly requisition food from Sanfu to deal with the crisis." ”

Sun Chuanting said with a smile, "Governor Zheng, what I'm worried about is that the reputation of the Xuanjia Army is too good, and under the slogan of the Xuanjia Army's crime of hanging the people, the people of Shandong will not resist, and they will take over the prefecture and county all the way without bloodshed." If the Xuanjia Army starts to forcibly requisition food, then what kind of crime is it to hang the people?! The states and counties along the way, whether they surrender or not, will inevitably hate the Xuanjia Army. The Xuanjia army will encounter fierce resistance every step of its march, and its troops will be lost. If such an unmanageable situation arises, it will only be more beneficial to our army. ”

Zheng Sen stroked his palms and laughed when he heard this, "Inspector Sun is very knowledgeable, okay, I will immediately send a hundred small warships into Tianjin Wei, enter the Grand Canal from the Haihe River to the south, capture Jiningwei in one fell swoop, burn the grain and grass of the Xuanjia Army, and cut off the grain route." Fang Yuan could only roll back to Nanzhili in a gloomy manner, hahaha! ”

Sun Chuanting and Zheng Sen formed a united front, and they laughed together.