"Two Huai" said from the Song Dynasty, generally refers to the lower reaches of the Huai River, the Song Dynasty in northern Jiangsu and Jianghuai set up Huainan East Road and Huainan West Road, Huainan East Road is also known as Huai Zuo, Huai South West Road is called Huai Right, Ming Taizu called himself Huai Right cloth clothes, indicating that he is an Anhui person.

Huaizuo refers to Yangzhou, Huai'an, Nantong, Yancheng, a piece of northern Jiangsu, but also includes the northernmost Suqian and Lianyungang, of course, Suqian and Lianyungang's living habits are more like the north, speaking the official dialect of the Central Plains, and there is a clear difference between the Jiangnan and the Wu language...... Of these cities, the most important is undoubtedly Yangzhou, but with the development of the Grand Canal, Huai'an's importance is also increasing.

Caoyun and salt industry is the two major economic pillars of the Ming Dynasty, there is a Ming Dynasty, Huaizuo is the salt producing area for the whole country, Anhui is the premier grain production base, cotton textiles and other commodities in the provinces of the south of the Yangtze River also need to be concentrated in Huai'an, and then transported from the Grand Canal to Beijing, Huai'an has therefore become an important node of the Grand Canal waterway traffic, the Qing court set up the Caoyun Governor Yamen here, attaches great importance to security and defense, even when the battle of Ningzhen is the most fierce, Caoyun Governor Wang Wenkui still retains a certain number of troops, A few days ago, Tian Jianxiu led the First Army of the Northern Expedition to attack Hefei, Kong Youde and Tan Tai led the main force to support, in order to prevent Huai'an from losing, and specially sent more than 8,000 elite Qing troops to strengthen the city defense.

These more than 8,000 Qing troops were sent to several key points, such as Qingjiangpu and Wujiadun, which were close to the canal, and the main force of 5,000 people was stationed in Huai'an City, plus Wang Wenkui's original men and horses, there were a total of more than 7,000 defensive troops in the city, although it was less than Wang Jincai's troops, but it should not be underestimated.

There are still large Qing troops west of the Huai River, which may rush to support at any time. If the breakthrough cannot be opened for a long time, the Chu army will fall into an unfavorable situation. Wang Jincai didn't have much time to prepare, and launched a strong attack on the third day after sweeping the outlying strongholds.

The capital city of Huai'an is in Shanyang. It is a very strong city, the city wall of nearly four zhang is high and thick, the north of the city relies on the Yellow River and the canal, and Qingjiangpu, Wujiadun and other important strongholds form a corner, each other is a barrier, the south of the city is equipped with heavy guards, artillery and other defensive equipment are readily available...... There is a large slow hillside outside the city wall in the south of Huai'an, and the terrain at the top of the hill is higher than the city wall, which can be attacked from a high position. If there is a large caliber artillery with sufficient range, it can be hit directly from the top of the mountain to the city, such a terrain is not good for the defenders, so the Qing army has no suspense and focuses on the defense in the south of the city. (The Ming Dynasty's Yellow River seizing the Huai into the sea, from what is now Jiangsu, was also an integral part of the Grand Canal.) ）

Up and down the city, the sound of killing shook the sky.

In the rear of the Chu army, Wang Jincai's telescope slowly rotated.

Cannons, stone cannons, wolf's tooth swatters, sassy wood, large iron pots that heat oil, and ballistas that far exceed those of firearms. Countless flying stones, dense archers...... It is clear from the binoculars that although the Chu army attacked the city several times, it failed to effectively destroy the defense system of the Qing army. Wang Wenkui's preparation was very thorough, and no matter how many losses there were on the city wall, it would soon be effectively replenished. Looks like there's still room for it.

This battle can't be fought like this!

Unless there is a huge disparity in strength between the enemy and us. Generally speaking, siege warfare is the most taboo for strong attacks, because the defenders occupy a favorable position. The casualties of the attacking side are definitely greater than those of the other side, and only after breaking through the city can this loss be made up.

"Go and ask the general to come." Wang Jincai Mingjin withdrew his troops, temporarily stopped the siege of the city, and ordered someone to invite Ti Zhaorong, the commander of the first cavalry division, to discuss the military situation.

At the head of the city, the Qing army broke out into a burst of cheers, pointing at the city and scolding and ridiculing, under the city, the Chu army retreated like a low tide, the battle flag was rolled upside down, and the frustrated wounded soldiers supported each other, looking very wolf.

"Gotta get it", there was a dense sound of hooves, a group of four or five hundred cavalry of the Chu army cavalry rushed from the oblique thorns, people were like tigers and horses like dragons, the helmets were bright, the army was majestic, the Qing army on the head of the city was forced by their momentum, and they were silent for a while.

In order to cooperate with Wang Jincai's Second Army of the Northern Expedition, Wang Kefan sent the first cavalry division that had just been formed to act with him, and in general, Wang Jincai unified the command, but Ti Zhaorong also had a great say, in case the war was unfavorable, the precious first cavalry division should also be given priority to retreat.

"Wang, what's the matter? Isn't the siege going well? I can still keep an eye on you for three days, and ensure your safety within three days, whatever you want, and then it's hard to say. It was the time for dinner, Ti Zhaorong sat down with a big grin, picked up a bowl of rice, and ate a small plate of pickles on the corner of the table, devouring it with great sweetness.

"This is chicken, specially prepared for you." Wang Jincai pushed a plate of stewed chicken in front of him.

"Don't eat that, your pot may not have just cooked a large meat (another name for pork)." Ti Zhaorong and his subordinates are all Muslims, have their own eating habits, and do not pay too much attention to the conditions in the army all the year round, but they are also unwilling to eat the meat dishes prepared by Wang Jincai, so they ate two large bowls of rice with a small plate of pickles.

"Three days is too tight, can it be extended by two days?" Wang Jincai ordered someone to bring another plate of pickles and ate it with Ti Zhaorong.

"Try it, it's not safe. Tartar reinforcements came quickly, everything else is easy to say, Tunqi from Fengyang Mansion came by boat from the Huai River, I can't do anything about him. People in this era generally have a large amount of food, and the generals are accustomed to "rice bucket rice, ten catties of meat", Ti Zhaorong divided five by two, and ate two bowls of rice, and then rubbed his stomach as if he was only half full.

"This ......, if it's only three days, I'm afraid it won't be too late to build equipment and dig tunnels." Wang Jincai was indecisive, and Ti Zhaorong's cavalry was responsible for covering the flanks and harassing and delaying the Qing reinforcements, but Huai'an was close to the Grand Canal and the Yellow River, and the Qing army came by boat, so Ti Zhaorong could not intercept it.

"Why are you a dead brain? Why do you have to fight Huai'an South City? Ti Zhaorong said disdainfully: "If you don't have a hammer, you can't smash walnuts, should we eat persimmons?" The old lady eats persimmons and picks soft pinching, why don't you hit Beicheng? ”

"The terrain of Nancheng is easy to attack and difficult to def......end," Wang Jincai explained.

"The Tartars are not stupid, you know that the southern city is easy to fight, and they are also tightly guarded, so it is better to fight the northern city." Ti Zhaorong interrupted him.

"Beicheng ......" Wang Jincai hesitated: "Beicheng is close to Qingjiangpu and Wujiadun, and it will be attacked from three sides. ”

"Then let's fight Qingjiangpu!" Ti Zhaorong woke up the dreamer with a word. (To be continued......)