In the early morning of December 27, the fourth year of Longwu, southeast of Yuezhou City

Kong Youde stood on a hill near the Chinese army, looking at the heavily walled camp in front of him, his eyes full of exhaustion, in stark contrast to the high spirits when he led the army south more than a month ago. Pen | fun | pavilion www. ｂｉｑｕｇｅ。 infoHe didn't expect that in just over a month, the situation would develop to this point.

In the second half of last month, Kong Youde led an army to break through Changsha, captured and killed He Tengjiao, the governor of Minghuguang, and then waved his army directly to the city of Hengzhou, the capital of the Longwu court. At that time, Emperor Longwu still stayed in Hengzhou and did not leave. This situation is obviously what Kong Youde likes to see, if you talk about the strength of the city, Hengzhou is not as good as Changsha, he can conquer Changsha, and it is not a problem to face Hengzhou. As long as he can attack the city, whether he forces Emperor Longwu to death or captures him alive, he is the first to destroy the Ming.

But the subsequent development of the situation did not proceed according to Kong Youde's vision. Just the day before he led the main force to arrive at the city of Hengzhou, the Ming army of Guangxi Town, Guangdong Town and several other reinforcements had already arrived first, some of the reinforcements broke through the obstruction of the Ministry of State Security and entered the city, and the other part stayed outside the city to camp and set up a village with each other in the city.

Originally, Kong Youde didn't pay much attention to this, and waved his army to attack the city as originally planned. However, the resoluteness of the will to fight of these reinforcements was beyond his expectations, especially the one that entered the city, which was well-trained, had sharp firearms, and was equipped with Hongyi cannons that were not inferior to those in his army, which was equivalent to directly offsetting most of the firearms advantages he relied on. After more than ten days of siege, Kong Youde failed to make much progress, but the Ming army in and outside the city became more and more courageous. In the past ten days, new Ming army banners have appeared outside the city.

Before going south to Hengzhou, Kong Youde had secretly hooked up with Liu Chengyin and Huang Chaoxuan, the chief military officers stationed in Wugang and Youxian, and let them infiltrate the city in the name of King Qin, and then take the opportunity to make trouble with him. But who knew that when he arrived at the city of Hengzhou, Liu Chengyin's head was already hanging on the city gate, and Huang Chaoxuan's head did not fall to the ground, but he did not fulfill his promise again, but led the army to flee from Hengzhou without saying a word. The strong attack failed, and the plan to outwit was all in vain.

At the beginning of this month, the news from Jiangxi made Kong Youde suffer like a bolt from the blue: the army led by Tan Tai and He Luohui was completely annihilated, and Pang Yue only rested for two days after the end of the war in Jiangxi, and then led the army from Jiujiang to the west, land and water to return to Hunan.

At this time, Kong Youde could figure out what Pang Yue wanted to do even with his toes. As for the breakthrough of Hengzhou, the capture of Emperor Longwu, the destruction of the Ming Dynasty, etc., he had no time and mind to think about it, and led the army to retreat north overnight.

Kong Youde didn't want to fight anymore, but the Ming army in Hengzhou didn't want to let him go easily. After he returned north from the camp, Jiao Lian, the chief soldier of Guangxi Town, Ma Jinzhong, the chief soldier of Changde, and Ding Shilong, the deputy general of Guangdong Town, led the soldiers and horses of the headquarters to follow him, and did not attack forcibly, but only came up to attack and disturb him while he was camping and resting. He was annoyed, and whenever he was attacked and harassed, he couldn't ignore it. But as soon as he sent out a single attack, the Ming army immediately retreated. Day by day, the loss is not big, but the speed of his return north has been greatly delayed.

Finally rushed to the vicinity of Yuezhou, Kong Youde learned another bad news: just two days ago, the Ming army in Yuezhou City was reinforced by another infantry battalion, and the two combined troops broke through the camp of Hao Xiaozhong's department outside the city, drove away Hao Xiaozhong, and repaired the barriers, completely choking the official road to the north.

This new infantry battalion is said to have come from the west via the Dongting Lake waterway, and it should be the army left behind in Huguang Town to guard Chenzhou. However, the origin of this infantry camp is no longer important to Kong Youde, the important thing is that his way back north has been cut off. And Pang Yue's army was on the way back to Hunan, although Kong Youde didn't know where the main force of Huguang Town had arrived, but he had a hunch that it was not far from here. Once Pang Yue preemptively appeared north of Yuezhou, the consequences would be unimaginable. Of course, you can take a detour, but if you take a detour and delay the time, the consequences will be the same.

There was no choice but to storm it. Kong Youde and his more than 20,000 troops launched round after round of fierce attacks on the Ming army camp that blocked the way in order to win a way out.

"Our army has been attacking for three days in a row, and the losses of the puppet Ming army on the opposite side will definitely not be small. Today, we must put all our efforts into conquering it in one fell swoop! Otherwise, if it is delayed until the Pang thief leads the army back, the consequences will be unimaginable! Geng Zhongming said on the side, his tone mixed with anxiety, worry and a hint of panic. Since the news of Tan Tai's annihilation, he has never slept well, and perhaps only by completely getting out of this dangerous place can he end his nightmare.

"This battle is related to the life and death of our army, and the soldiers are well aware of the stakes and will not do their best. After today, our army will definitely be able to embark on the road back to the north again! Kong Youde endured the physical and mental exhaustion, and also said some encouraging words in front of the generals in front of him.

In fact, there is no need to encourage it, when it comes to this, everyone knows what to do.

After a drum and trumpet, the cannon thundered, and a new day's offensive began.

As Kong Youde said, it is a matter of life and death, and the Qing army that attacked the camp did not dare not go all out, and the offensive was also unprecedentedly fierce.

By the afternoon, the turnaround finally appeared. The Ming army camp that blocked the way was breached, and the Ming army all retreated into the city, and the official road to the north was opened. After a bloody battle, his wish was finally granted, and the Qing army erupted in cheers like a tidal wave.

The road was opened, but Kong Youde still had an ominous premonition in his heart, and in order to avoid long nights and dreams, he led his army to continue northward overnight. Although the soldiers under his command were very tired, everyone understood the importance of escaping, so no one complained.

……

In the evening of the next day, Kong Youde's department entered the territory of Linxiang County, and he was about to step into the boundary of Wuchang Prefecture. Kong Youde's hanging heart let go of a lot, and when he was about to order the camp to rest for a few hours, several Tang sycophants came back to report: A large number of Ming cavalry were found in front, carrying a large number of banners to show off their might. Among those big flags, there are two solid mountain foreheads and a golden dragon silk and many green battalion commanders recognize the flag.

The ominous premonition was finally confirmed, and at this moment, Kong Youde's heart was like falling into an ice cellar.

……

"What? The main force of Huguang Town has returned? It's still blocked in front of Kong Youde's house? Hahaha...... Pang Shuai's hands and feet are really fast enough! In the camp of the Ming army south of Kong Youde's army, Jiao Lian laughed happily after listening to Tangma's report.

After going north from Yuezhou, in addition to the original Jiao Lian, Ma Jinzhong and Ding Shilong, the Ming army that followed Kong Youde's troops also joined the two thousand troops of the first guard battalion of Huguang Town, which was originally stationed in Yuezhou, under the leadership of Chen Youlong, and the total strength of the pursuit reached 20,000. At this time, since the main force of Huguang Town has also rushed back from Jiangxi and blocked the front, Kong Youde has undoubtedly become a turtle in the urn, and there is no possibility of escape.

"We've made a lot of money with this! The two princes of the Tartars, a duke, these three heads alone are worth how much military merit and how much silver they are worth! Ma Jinzhong also laughed.

"It's all thanks to Pang Shuai." Ding Shilong smiled and did not forget to remind, "Our army was able to hold the capital thanks to Pang Shuai's advance layout." Now Kong Youde has become a turtle in the urn, thanks to Pang Shuai who led the army back in time. If you talk about the first merit, it must be Pang Shuai. ”

"In any case, to be able to participate in the battle to annihilate the two Shun kings, we can't even think of leaving a name in history." Chen Youlong's eyes and tone were full of excitement.

The tent erupted in hearty laughter again.

……

To the north of Kong Youde's department, in the military tent in Huguang Town, Pang Yue asked people to bring Bayan, who had become a prisoner under the stairs.

"Slave Li Zhongming, I've seen a big handsome!" As soon as Bayan entered the tent, he fell to his knees and kowtowed respectfully. After surrendering to Huguang Town, Bayan, in order to show that he had broken with his old master, announced that he would abandon his Manchurian name, change his surname back to Li, and named himself "Li Zhongming" to express his "allegiance to the Ming Dynasty".

"Get up and speak. Give you a task, you immediately write a handwritten letter to Kong Youde and send it to him overnight. Seeing a trace of horror on Bayan's face, Pang Yue added, "What are you afraid of?" You don't have to send the letter to him personally, you can write it, just pick one of your old men and send it. ”

Bayan wiped the cold sweat from his forehead and was relieved: "Huh...... No, the minions obey! It's just that I don't know what the marshal wants to say to Kong Youde? But to surrender to him? ”

"You tell him that if he, Geng Zhongming, Shen Yongzhong and others can take the initiative to surrender before tomorrow morning, it will not be difficult for me to give them a happy death, so that they can be buried in peace with dignity. Otherwise, they will bear all the consequences. ”

"Huh?"

"Ahhhh Is it because I can't speak clearly enough, or because you can't write too few words? ”

"No, no, no, the minions understand! Minions, let's write! Bayan said repeatedly.

"Go write it! Once I've written it, I'll show it to me. ”

"Yes! Slaves obey! Bayan kowtowed and hurriedly retired.

Looking at Bayan's back, Pang Yue showed a hint of a smile. Tan Tai and He Luohui, the scum whose hands are stained with the blood of the Han people, have gone to see the king of Hades, and Bayan, who has been a slave to the Manchurian Tartars for two generations of father and son, has also become the slave "Li Zhongming" of the Ming Dynasty, what kind of ending will Kong Youde and Geng Zhongming end up with tomorrow? His heart was really full of anticipation.

……

After dawn the next day, until his own time, Kong Youde did not send anyone to ask for surrender. Subsequently, Tang Ma reported to Pang Yue that the Qing army had begun to line up in camp, and it seemed that they were going to fight to the death.

Pang Yue was not much surprised by this result, and immediately ordered all battalions to form a team and go out of the camp to line up. In the sound of majestic drums and trumpets, the soldiers of each battalion in Huguang Town rushed to their respective preset positions in an orderly manner. Although they had just experienced a major battle and the whole army had not fully recovered, the feat of annihilating Tan Tai's tens of thousands of troops had brought their self-confidence to a peak, and their fighting spirit was even stronger than at the beginning.

"If you surrender, you have to die, but you have to die happily and decently. The conditions of the marshal were so harsh, it was no wonder that Kong Youde and Geng Zhongming were reluctant to surrender. Zhang Yunli said with a smile.

Pang Yue smiled and shook his head: "They are unwilling to surrender, I'm afraid the main reason is not here." Back then, they were forced by the Ming Dynasty's group of unconscious officials to take refuge in the Tartars who had a deep blood feud with them, how could they easily turn back now? ”

Zhang Yunli thought thoughtfully, he remembered the Wuqiao Mutiny in Shandong many years ago, Kong Youde and Geng Zhongming, who had been discriminated against and attacked by the Shandong bureaucracy and local gentry, raised troops to rebel, and finally crossed the sea to surrender to Houjin.

"I don't deny that they were wronged in the first place, and I sympathize with their situation. But this was not a reason for them to surrender to the Tartars, nor was it an excuse for them to help the Tartars slaughter the Han Chinese. Since you have done those things that you shouldn't have done, you naturally have to pay the price now. My conditions may seem harsh, but they are the greatest preferential treatment. Pang Yue said, "Since they refused, then we have nothing to say, let's send them on the road directly." ”

Zhang Yunli nodded, suddenly remembered something again, and said with a smile: "First Shang Kexi and Shen Zhixiang, and now Kong Youde, Geng Zhongming and Shen Yongzhong, a total of three Shun kings and two successive Shun dukes, the traitors from Dongjiang Town are all folded in the hands of the big handsome."

Pang Yue didn't laugh anymore, but sighed: "I'd rather die in my hands than a real tartar." In the final analysis, this is also a tragedy, a tragedy of Dongjiang Town, a tragedy of the Ming Dynasty, and a tragedy of the Han people. ”

After speaking, Pang Yue boarded the pole car, and the wide field of vision showed everything around him at a glance.

At this time, all the battalions in Huguang Town had been arrayed, and several Ming troops such as Guangxi Town and Guangdong Town farther south had also lined up their formations, and surrounded Kong Youde's soldiers and horses in the middle from the north and south lines. The flags are like the sea, the spears are like forests, and the strict phalanxes are as majestic as the mountains.

……

(The third volume of the field is full of Shu Lingyunzhi)