In order not to disperse the soldiers and horses, Zheng Chenggong was not ready to attack other prefectures and counties at first, thinking that after eradicating Hong Chengchou's soldiers and horses, he would attack the city and plunder the land. Pen | fun | pavilion www. ｂｉｑｕｇｅ。 ｉｎｆｏ

However, on the fourth day after the conquest of Yueyang, the prefects of Jingzhou, Huangshi, Ezhou and other places successively submitted letters to express their intention of annexation.

Looking at these letters, Zheng Chenggong said to Yao Qisheng with some doubts, "Xizhi, in the past, we had to fight hard to capture the land of Yifu. Why are so many people vying to take refuge in us now, is there a fraud? ”

Yao Qisheng shook the paper fan lightly and said with a slight smile: "Don't worry, generals, they don't want to cheat, but they are not optimistic about the Manchu Tartars, and they want to sell them for a good price as soon as possible." ”

Seeing that Zheng Chenggong was still a little puzzled, Yao Qisheng explained: "General, if you are not of my race, your heart will be suspicious!" For the Manchu Tartars, those Han officials were untrustworthy people, so they would take precautions in every possible way. The Han officials of the Qing Dynasty also knew that it was only in the past that the Manchu army was very powerful, and those Han officials would defect to the Manchus for the sake of their families and their own interests. However, the Zheng family army and the Great Western Army repeatedly defeated the Qing army, breaking the lie that the Jurchen people were dissatisfied with 10,000 and invincible. They saw clearly the reality of the Manchu Qing Dynasty, and they couldn't help but have other thoughts in their hearts. What's more, as prefects, they know better how many soldiers and horses there are in the Qing army in the south. Now our army has sent 70,000 troops to attack Huguang, as long as it attacks with a dignified and upright division, and does not fall for tricks, the Qing army is bound to be difficult to resist. ”

Yao Qisheng took a sip of tea and continued: "The southern provinces are no longer owned by the Manchu Qing Dynasty, and these former Qing prefects will inevitably need to make a choice when the time comes. In addition to the Manchu Qing Dynasty, what they can take refuge in is none other than our Zheng Jiajun, Li Dingguo's Great Western Army, and Li Chengdong's Yongli Dynasty. The Great Western Army was newly defeated, retreated to Yunnan, and the prospects were worrying. Not a good choice for them. Yongli is the continuation of the Ming banner, these prefects were originally Ming officials, took refuge in the Manchu Qing Dynasty, and were already second ministers, and now they come to Yongli again, capricious, difficult to be reused, and have a bad reputation. But our Zheng Jiajun is different, although it is still under the banner of the Ming Dynasty, but people with a discerning eye can see that the general's ambition is not small, not to mention that the general has a transgression when he conquers Nanjing. If they take refuge in the generals, and in the future, the generals will do extraordinary things, and they will not only be able to erase the stain on their reputations, but they may also be able to go one step further in their official positions. So for them, it is the best choice to go to the general. The general doesn't have to be suspicious, he can send someone to contact him to calm his mind! ”

Zheng Chenggong nodded, and sent people to appease these prefects, and ordered them to reinstate their officials to protect the people's safety.

After the situation was basically stabilized, Zheng Chenggong left Huang Shan, the commander of the Seventh Group Army, in charge of Yueyang's military affairs, while he himself immediately led his army north to prepare for an attack on "Changsha" with Zhou Quanbin.

On the evening of 30 September, after receiving a letter from Zhou Quanbin, Zheng Chenggong was overjoyed and ordered the soldiers to speed up their pace and rush to Changsha as soon as possible.

In Changsha, Zheng Chenggong rewarded Zhou Quanbin generously, and recorded his military exploits, preparing to wait for Guiyang to be rewarded together.

The army rested in Changsha for two days, and when Zhou Quanbin described the situation on the day of the capture of Changsha, Zheng Chenggong couldn't help but be surprised and said,

"The Qing army is so unbearable?"

Shaking the feather fan gently, Yao Qisheng smiled and said, "It seems that the situation of the Qing army is worse than we imagined, the general should send troops as soon as possible, and the Qing army must not be allowed to have a chance to breathe!" ”

Zheng Chenggong nodded, and immediately beat the drum to gather the generals. Leaving the 19th Division to garrison Changsha, the army continued to march towards Guiyang.

Zheng's army seized Yueyang, occupied Changsha, and the prestige was shaken, and the counties and townships passed by and surrendered.

Zheng Jiajun was strictly disciplined, and he did not commit any crimes in the autumn, and everyone who went to them fought for it.

Before the defeat of the Great Western Army, many of the remnants of the former Great Western Army who retreated into the mountains and the official gentry who lived in seclusion in the countryside gathered and came out to seek refuge in Zheng Chenggong.

Zheng Chenggong appeased them one by one, and selected elite soldiers to form another army. After defeating the Qing army, let them go to the military academy for further study.

Zheng Jiajun marched all the way to Xiangtan without resistance, only to see the city gate wide open, and the prefect Liu Wenyuan and the squire and famous men stood on the avenue early and waited.

As soon as he saw Zheng Jiajun, Liu Wenyuan bowed his head.

Seeing this situation, Zheng Chenggong was very familiar with it, and hurriedly dismounted to help Liu Wenyuan, took him by the hand and walked into the city together, and then comforted him a few words, still let him serve as the prefect, and sent him away.

After all the gentlemen left, Zheng Chenggong called Yao Qisheng and asked, "What does that old thief Hong Chengchou want to do?" Xiangtan has 100,000 industrial and commercial families, businessmen gather, business is prosperous, and the geographical location is quite important. In such a battleground there are only a few hundred old, weak, sick and disabled left! “”

"The general can send people to inquire about Changde, Zhuzhou, Hengyang and other places, and his subordinates think that those places are the same as Xiangtan, and only a few hundred old, weak, sick and disabled Qing soldiers are left!" Yao Qisheng said.

"Xi Zhi means ......," Zheng Chenggong said with some uncertainty.

Yao Qisheng nodded and said: "Just as the general thought, anyway, those soldiers and horses in the city have been transferred away before, and there are not many soldiers and horses left, since they can't hold it, Hong Chengchou simply gave up directly, gathered the limited soldiers and horses, and fought with the general!" ”

"It's so easy to give up so many important towns, isn't he afraid that the Qing Puppet Emperor will hold him accountable!"

"If he can defeat our army, those cities will naturally be recovered. At that time, the Qing puppet emperor will not be rewarded yet, how will he be held accountable. If you lose, you may lose your life. How can the Qing puppet emperor ask! Yao Qisheng said with a smile.

"Looks like the old thief wants to fight against the odds! In that case, then, as he said, give the order, and the army will set out. I want to see if Hong Chengchou has a plan? Zheng Chenggong said in a deep voice.

"The general must not take it lightly, lest he be tricked!" Yao Qisheng persuaded.

Zheng Chenggong nodded and said, "Since the Anqing fiasco, I have learned a lesson, and I will never underestimate anyone again." In this sortie, our army was strong and strong, and there were many people. There is no need to play any tricks at all, step by step, and crush all the way! ”

Seeing that Zheng Jiajun's attack was smooth this time, Zheng Chenggong was not proud, Yao Qisheng was very pleased, and the general was mature again! (To be continued.) )