Changsha, Huguang Governor's Palace

"Lord Duxian, you must have received a letter from the Marquis of Dingwu, right? Today, the envoy of the Marquis of Dingwu arrived at the last general with a letter, saying that his naval division had just been established and the number was insufficient, and it was difficult to have the energy to deal with the Tartar Wuchang and Jingzhou naval divisions at the same time in this northern expedition, so it was hoped that the final general could lead his own naval division north to Yuezhou to meet with him and fight the enemy together. Pen? Interesting? Pavilion wWw. ｂiquge。 infoBut this matter is very important, and the last general will not dare to make decisions on his own, so I have come to ask for the meaning of the adults. Wang Yuncheng, the chief soldier of the Changsha Navy Division, said to He Tengjiao, who was sitting at the top, with a very respectful expression.

He Tengjiao was not in a hurry to answer, pinched the lid of the tea bowl with three fingers, skimmed the tea foam, and sipped slowly.

At this time, there were not many people in the house, except for He Tengjiao and Wang Yuncheng, it was He Tengjiao's chief staff Lou Jingzhi, Governor Fu Shangrui of Biyuan, and Wu Jinxi, the new governor of Hubei. Two months ago, Zhang Kuang, the former governor of Hubei, died of illness in Changsha, so the post was succeeded by Wu Jinxi.

Like Fu Shangrui and his predecessor Zhang Kuang, Wu Jinxi also respects He Tengjiao, and immediately rushed over after receiving the notice this time. Sit down and listen, but that's it.

He Tengjiao put down the tea bowl and bowed his head slightly: "Yes, this governor also received a letter from the Marquis of Dingwu, and the letter also mentioned this matter. ”

"What do you mean?"

"Mr. Wang, don't be in a hurry, as you said, this matter is very important, and it needs to be carefully considered before it can be implemented. Therefore, this governor specially invited Fu Futai and Wu Futai to come to discuss together, in order to be safe. He Tengjiao looked kind, twisted the long flowing beard under his chin, and turned his gaze to Fu Shangrui and Wu Jinxi on the side. Dao, "Yuan Xiang (Fu Shangrui character), Zi Zhu (Wu Jin Xi character). Just now, I have read Ding Wubo's letter and the report of the army at the front, and now I have heard the words of General Wang. What do you think about sending troops? ”

Faced with such a question, Wu Jinxi didn't know how to answer for a while. It's not that he lacks assertiveness, it's just that He Tengjiao hasn't spoken yet, and it won't be good if his own opinions are contrary to him. Therefore. He was not in a hurry to speak, picked up the tea bowl on the table, and covered his speechless embarrassment with steaming water.

And Fu Shangrui and He Tengjiao have been together for a long time. I have a better understanding of his temperament and preferences in some aspects, and Shicai quietly observed his expression and eyes when drinking tea, and he has a preliminary conclusion in his heart. Hearing He Tengjiao's question, he didn't shirk. After only a moment of silence, he said slowly: "Lord Duxian." Xia Guan thought that if he sent Changsha Sailor to the north at this time, he was a little impatient. ”

"Oh? Why is that? I hope Yuanxiang will be more detailed. He Tengjiao frowned slightly, and his face was a little puzzled.

And Lou Jingzhi on the side was always listening silently, twisting his beard from time to time, smiling silently, quite a little strange.

"My lord Mingjian, at the beginning of the year, after a big war in Hunan, the beacon smoke is gone. But the surrounding situation remains tense. Jiangxi and Hubei are garrisoned by Qing captives, eyeing and peeping on the side. At this critical juncture. Naturally, we must not slacken our defense of our soldiers and horses. And the Changsha Naval Division is the only main force of our naval division in the east of the lake, and the responsibility of guarding the place cannot be said to be light, if it is sent north at this time, how can the safety of the waters around Changsha be guaranteed? Moreover, the army under the command of the Marquis of Dingwu has always been good at fighting, and this time together with the main force of the loyal battalion, there are more than 60,000 people, with the sharpness of their soldiers, how can the Hubei Qing captives, who have become frightened birds, easily block it? Even if there are Wuchang and Jingzhou sailors in the Qing Dynasty, it is only in vain, it is difficult to change the disadvantages, and it is common sense to be frightened and shrink into the port, how dare you not measure your own strength and take the initiative to make trouble? Even if the Changsha Navy Division went north, it was just the icing on the cake, and at the end of the day, the war in Hubei was of little significance. ”

"Yuan Xiang's words, the reason is in them," He Tengjiao nodded, "But this northern expedition is of great significance to our dynasty, how can this governor, as an important minister of the court, stand by and watch?" What's more, Dingwu Bo's words in the letter were earnest, and the Holy Lord had also issued an edict before, instructing the governor to go north to support at an appropriate time. ”

After listening to so much, and observing the words and feelings, Wu Jinxi also understood it in his heart, and said: "Lord Duxian, the lower officials listened to Fu Futai's meaning, not that they would not send troops to support, but that the Changsha Navy Division shouldered the heavy responsibility of garrisoning, and it was really not appropriate to dispatch easily. As for sending a land division north to help Dingwu Hou, it is not impossible. ”

"Those who know me, Azusa also teaches!" Fu Shangrui thought so, "That's exactly what Xia Guan meant." If Lord Governor agrees, the lower official is willing to personally supervise a land division to go north! ”

"Why did Lao Fu Futai come out? As the governor of Hubei, it is within his duty to supervise the soldiers and horses to go north, and it is his duty! Wu Jinxi said with a straight face.

"That's it!" He Tengjiao smiled and waved his hand, "Yuan Xiang and Zi confer public loyalty to the country, such righteousness is really commendable!" It's just that you also saw it just now, and Dingwu Hou mentioned in the letter that there is no shortage of land divisions under his command, and we only need to send sailors to the north. ”

"But how is this good?"

The room was quiet for the time being, and at this point, Wang Yuncheng, who was the slowest to react, also knew it, stopped speaking, pressed his hands on his knees, and quietly waited for He Tengjiao's final decision.

"General Wang?" He Tengjiao pondered for a while and looked at Wang Yuncheng.

"The last general!"

"You should also know the current situation, your naval division is shouldering the heavy responsibility of defending the left and near Changsha, and there is no need to go north, so you will not be dispatched for the time being. But don't let up and prepare for war when you get back. If there is a change in the war in Hubei, when it comes to an emergency, your unit will also have the responsibility of going north to support. ”

"The last general knows, and I will obey the orders of Lord Governor."

"Good! In addition, Lixian (Lou Jingzhizi), you repair a book for me and explain it to the Marquis of Dingwu in detail. It is indeed difficult to mobilize the naval division at present, and if the land division needs support, the governor can transfer troops and horses at any time. ”

"Yes, sir."

......

Early in the morning of the seventh day of November, Yuezhou

The rising red sun shines on the earth, and everything around it seems to be covered with a layer of brilliance, dazzling and vibrant. The sparkling surface of Dongting Lake in the west of the city, the small boats looming in the distance, and the reeds gently swaying in the majestic wind are all full of poetry and picturesqueness. If you stand on the shore and feel the cool water vapor coming to your face, it is even more refreshing.

To the north of the city, there is still the sound of waves faintly heard, although it is not close, so that people can still taste the majestic momentum. There, naturally, is the Yangtze River.

Connected to the Yangtze River in the north and Dongting in the west, the scenery of Yuezhou is beautiful and magnificent, and it has been like this since ancient times.

On the other hand, the city is a different scene. The blood stains are everywhere and the smoke of gunpowder is scattered, although it has been cleaned up, it is not difficult to see the tragedy of the previous battle.

Yesterday just after nightfall, the east gate and north gate of Yueyang City were broken almost at the same time. Ma Jiaolin and Xu Yong shrank their forces, abandoned the city and entered the city, trying to continue the street fighting. But the morale of the Qing army was already sluggish, and now the city is broken, and it has fallen to the bottom. Except for some diehards such as Ma Jiaolin and Xu Yong, the rest of them were all frightened, and they had no idea of resisting, or knelt on the spot, or fled in all directions like headless flies.

The Ming army entered the city to search for most of the night, and the dust of the battle finally settled. More than 2,000 Qing troops in Yuezhou were killed in the battle, and the rest laid down their arms. Ma Jiaolin and Xu Yong led their soldiers to fight to the end, but they were all wounded and captured.

The Fubo battalion also defeated the Qing army's Yuezhou naval division again at Chenglingji, north of Yuezhou, killing one of its generals, two guerrillas, and hundreds of officers and soldiers. In the end, the remnants of the Yuezhou Naval Division surrendered under the leadership of Dusi Yi Liankui.

Yuezhou, Pang Yue's mood was a lot happier, and after waiting until dawn and arranging the aftermath one by one, he was busy and climbed the Yueyang Tower at the head of the West City.

"Yuguanfu Baling is victorious, in a lake in Dongting. Connecting the distant mountains, swallowing the Yangtze River, the vast soup soup, the endless horizon; The morning sun is cloudy, and the weather is myriad. This is the grand view of Yueyang Tower, and the predecessors have prepared it. However, the north leads to Wuxia, the South Pole Xiaoxiang, and the people who move to the house will be here. Climbing this thousand-year-old building and looking at the vast cave court from afar, Pang Yue couldn't help but feel excited, and the "Story of Yueyang Tower", which he was familiar with by heart, blurted out inadvertently.

"Fan Wenzhenggong's masterpiece is brilliant and profound, and the feelings and broad-mindedness contained in it have always been praised by future generations. Today, the handsome man recovered Yuezhou from the hands of the Tartars, cleansed the bloody flesh, and sang this article again, but it added a lot of pride. On the side, Zhang Yunli was also quite touched.

"I don't dare to be proud, if Fan Wenzhenggong has a spirit in the sky, and sees Shenzhou sinking into the hands of Hu Lu, I don't know how to look at us and other people in later generations." Pang Yue shook his head self-deprecatingly, and said, "Now that Yuezhou has been lowered, our army should enter Hubei next." Tell me, will this Changsha sailor come to meet us? ”

"I'm afraid it's not good, if the marshal is not in a hurry to go north, you can wait here for a few days and then see."

When Pang Yue looked at the intersection of Dongting Lake and the sky, he was silent for a while and finally shook his head: "That's it, I don't have much hope for the Changsha Navy Division to go north, and the battle situation in Hubei may change at any time, so I can't wait any longer." At most, we will rest for one more day, arrange the people and horses who will stay in Yuezhou, and continue to go north tomorrow morning. As for whether the Changsha sailors will come or not, they will follow their own preferences. ”

"If the Changsha Naval Division does not come to rendezvous, then our army will only have a naval army available in the Fubo Battalion, and when it enters Hubei, will it still be ordered to march east with the Loyal Battalion according to the predetermined plan?"

Pang Yue leaned on the railing and nodded: "It can only be like this, the reason why our army wants to guard against the Qing Shui Division is nothing more than to prevent it from using the advantage of water mobility to outflank our army's rear road or intercept our army's grain route." As for our Huguang Town, I am not too worried, and I believe that the soldiers are enough to deal with all kinds of emergencies. But the loyal battalion is not good, in the past few years, they have been fighting against the Qing captives have been defeated more than victorious, and there is inevitably a shadow in their hearts. Although we have now come out of the slump and our morale has recovered, no one knows what the consequences will be if we encounter the unexpected situations I mentioned again. Therefore, it is better to protect them as much as possible, and the Fubo battalion will move with them. ”

"Dashuai's arrangement is not unreasonable, but in this way, if my town enters Jingzhou in the west, won't there be no water division to cover? Why don't you divide a part of the warship soldiers from the Fubo battalion out and follow the main force of our town westward? ”

"This is not necessary, the strength of the Fubo battalion is not too abundant, if the troops are divided again, it is possible that the east and west sides will not be able to take care of both sides. In addition, the main force of our town is advancing westward, but it is not without a water army. ”

"What do you mean?" Zhang Yunli thought for a moment and roughly guessed Pang Yue's thoughts. (To be continued.) )