On the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal, on the river surface from Changzhou to Danyang, the commander of the Second Regiment of the 10th Division of the Capture Army You Romantic, stood on the bow of four large red single warships with high spirits, looked at the rice fields on both sides of the canal that had turned a little yellow, and felt a burst of emotion in his heart. Pen ~ fun ~ pavilion www.biquge.info

Zhang Lu, the chief of staff of the regiment next to him, saw this and sighed lightly on the side: "Commander You, are you thinking about your hometown in Guilin?" ”

Zhang Lu is a native of Wuzhou, and he is also half a fellow countryman with You Romantic, and the two are of the same age, so they can talk very well. Both of them were drawn from veterans of the army division and joined the new 10th division of the water division.

Although You Romance was young, he fought bravely and made great achievements, joined the army for two years, fought more than ten times, killed a total number of guerrilla generals, captured a deputy general, two staff generals and a number of general generals, became a combat expert in the army, received a commendation from the General Staff, and was loved by Lu Shunde, who was then the deputy chief of the General Staff.

From an ordinary soldier of the captive army, he was promoted to deputy regimental commander. When the 10th Division was formed, he was transferred to the position of commander of the second regiment, and he could be regarded as one of the few young generals in the captive army.

"Yes! Guilin's hometown is full of double-cropping rice, and at this time, the early rice should have been harvested long ago. Last year, my family had a bumper harvest, I wonder how the harvest will be this year? In the past two months, from Shanghi, to Suzhou, to Changzhou, and now I have to cross the Yangtze River to the north, and I have been constantly fighting, and I haven't even received a letter from home. "You Romance is a little melancholy.

"Don't worry! Even if this year's harvest is not good and there is no harvest, the extra grain from last year alone is enough for the family to eat. What's more, I heard that this year's annual success is good! Thinking of the situation in his family, Zhang Lu smiled and said, "Besides, will the Holy King let the families of our soldiers starve to death?" ”

"Yes! All we have to do is fight and kill the enemy. You Romantic remembered the letter she received a few months ago from her hometown, and her sister-in-law was pregnant, and everything was fine at home. Now, after two years of training in the army, I can also write simple letters and send them back.

You Romance shook his head, collected his thoughts, and returned to his task.

He was assigned by Lu Shunde, commander of the 10th Division, to carry out the waterway from the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal, led 50 warships to open the road first, and escorted hundreds of ships transporting troops and civilians and carrying grain and grass and other heavy boats behind, with heavy responsibilities. Although the news from both the Secret Service Department and the Intelligence Department of the General Staff was that the Manchu Qing Dynasty had no naval divisions capable of fighting, You Rongrong and Zhang Lu were still extremely cautious.

You Rongrong and Zhang Qi led forty warships to lead the way in front, followed by hundreds of troop and baggage ships, interspersed with ten warships and another 2,000 newly surrendered Taiping sailors.

"Chief of Staff, it's not far ahead, and you're almost in Danyang, right?"

"Commander You, I have already passed Lucheng Town just now, and there is still half a day's work before I can go to Danyang City."

"Where are the 3rd and 6th Divisions? We can't get too far past them, we have to stay in formation. ”

"Regiment commander, the 3rd Division B marched on the west bank of the canal, and the 6th Division B marched on the east bank of the canal. They had just arrived in Lü Town, three or four miles behind us. Zhang Lu replied.

"We have entered the area occupied by the Qing Demon in Danyang, and we order the soldiers of each battalion to be on guard! Get ready for battle! ”

"Yes!"

……

On the surface of the Lucheng River of the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal, the entire river is covered with all kinds of sailboats of all sizes, about 1,000 of them.

Shi Zhenji, Shi Fengkui, Shi Zhengao, Shi Zhengang, Shi Mingkai, Shi Zhenqi and other Shi brothers were all on several large warships.

Shi Fengkui, Shi Zhengao, and Shi Zhenqi stood on a dragon-headed warship, standing on the bow of the boat against the wind, pointing at both sides of the canal.

On both sides of the riverbank, there was an official road and a trail, and tens of thousands of soldiers of the 6th and 3rd Divisions were marching rapidly. Each unit took the company as a unit, and each marched in a grand and neat manner in the "one-two-one" sound of the commanding soldiers, and an invincible and powerful aura exuded a slight chill, which was commonly known as the murderous aura of Jin Ge.

"I've always heard the Wing King say that there is a tiger and wolf army with strict military discipline in this world, but I have never seen it. Now that I see the army led by Commander Lin, I finally understand what is strict military discipline and what is the appearance of a tiger and wolf division! Shi Zhenqi sighed.

Shi Fengkui, the clan brother on the side, couldn't help but echo: "Zhenqi, envy others if they have good soldiers, don't make people tremble." However, today you are right, this army can be called the division of tigers and wolves! Ahem, Lao Tzu finally understands why the Holy King is invincible! ”

Shi Zhen Gao said: "Eighth brother, fourth brother, now we have followed the Wing King to submit to the Holy Kingdom, and the Wing King has also been named the Righteous King, don't mention the word Wing King in the past." And the brothers of the begging army on the river bank are also the companions of our Yiyi Division, they are strong, and they are also an inspiration to us, and our Yiyi Division can only catch up. ”

Shi Zhenqi nodded and said, "The sixth brother is right, the younger brother remembers!" As he spoke, he turned his head to look at the soldiers of the begging army on the shore, and sighed enviously: "I don't know when, our Yiyi Division can also be trained to be as well-trained as the brothers of the begging army on the shore." It's been more than three hours in a row, and at such a fast speed, they haven't even messed up their formation, and they are still very neat, not to mention that they are all full of physical strength. ”

"But our Yiyi brothers, who are comfortably on the boat, are still crooked, looking listless. What a gap with them! ”

Shi Zhen Gao pointed to the soldiers of the 3rd Division on the left bank, and said: "Exactly!" This army is numbered as the 3rd Division B, and the division commander Lin Qirong is the old brother of the original Jintian regimental camp. I consulted him the day before yesterday, and they have a method of training troops that the Holy King himself has compiled, and all departments practice every day according to this method, and they will become such elite soldiers! ”

"Third Division? Such an elite is only a second-class division in the captive army? Shi Fengkui suddenly changed color, his face full of shock: "At the beginning, I thought that the sergeants I brought were very brave, compared to them, they were far inferior, if I met that first-class division, what should I do?" Shi Fengkui didn't dare to think about it. Although he didn't say it, he secretly rejoiced in his heart that fortunately, the captive army of the Holy Kingdom was a friendly army, not an enemy.

Shi Zhen Gao said: "Fourth brother don't be depressed, now our Yiyi Division is also the army of the Holy Kingdom. I have already told Brother Lin that when Danyang City is captured, they will send fifty veterans to our Yiyi Division to help us train our troops. As long as a year, as short as a few months, our Yiyi Division can also become a brave elite! ”

Shi Fengkui was overjoyed when he heard this: "Really? Are they willing to help us train? ”

"Fourth brother, what are these words! Brother Lin said that everyone is the army of the Holy King, and they should not be divided into each other. When we are strong, we can also attack cities and land for the Holy King, can't we? After Shi Zhengao finished speaking, Zhengse said: "The brothers of the Tenth Division in front should have entered the territory of Danyang." We also remind our brothers to take revenge and vigilance! ”

The three of them split up to set up their men.

……

Outside the south gate of Danyang City, in the area of Huangzhuang Bridge, Bincun, Fenghuanggang and the Loess Bridge in the southeast of the city, there is a troop of more than 5,000 troops, which is the 3,000 Zhenxiao soldiers led by Deng Shaoliang, the commander of the Qing army, and the more than 2,000 troops of Ji Shun, the general soldier of Hezhou Town, and Qin Dingsan, the general soldier of Guizhou Zhenyuan, who escaped from Changzhou.

The entire Danyang military affairs are under the unified command of Admiral Deng Shaoliang.

At this moment, in the Danyang County Ya, the magistrate Fang Juntai looked worried, and the guest seat next to him was Feng Zhaofan, a wealthy businessman in the county.

"Lord Fang, why did Deng Junmen have to arrange officers and soldiers outside the city? Wouldn't it be better to guard Danyang City? Feng Zhaofan, who had a rich face, asked in a low voice.

"This, the matter of military affairs, is not something that I can understand as a small magistrate. The military lord only allocated 800 soldiers to stay in the city, and ordered the county to organize a capable and brave city defense bureau to guard the county seat of Danyang. Fang Juntai dealt with Feng Zhaofan impatiently, stood up, and said straightforwardly: "Shopkeeper Feng, now that Danyang is in danger, you, as the head of the local squire, must focus on the overall situation. Now that there is a lack of courage and money and food in the city, do you call all the squires in the city to donate some, and if you have money to pay, someone will help the court tide over this difficulty, and the county will report to the court to reward everyone! ”

Feng Zhaofan's face changed, and he whispered: "This, the little one understands!" However, it will take time to gather all the squires, raise money and food, and form a group of bravery, and it will take a few days for Lord Fang to give grace. The small ones will do it when they go back, and the small ones will retire first! ”

As soon as Feng Zhaofan went out, Fang Juntai picked up the teacup in his hand and fell out!

"Bastard! If it weren't for the Cantonese thief calling, the county would definitely give this kid a good look! It's really a bastard thing, usually courteous, but when it comes to a critical time, it can't be relied on! Tell them to be strong, donate some money and food, and push back! Fang Juntai couldn't help but scold!

The master on the side smiled and said, "County master, don't be angry!" As long as we send troops to guard the city gates, are we afraid that their money and food will fly out? Since the money, food, and people are all in the city, and when the thieves attack, they have to obediently come over and contribute money and efforts for their own sake. ”

"That's right! It's still reasonable for the master to say! Fang Juntai's eyes lit up.