At the Xiaguan Wharf, the person responsible for defense was a battalion under the Zhu Duan Department of the Zhejiang Army. The combat order www.biquge.info this time was issued by Chen Wuwei, past Lin Shuqing, and without Xu Shaozhen's consent. Within the Soviet Army in Zhejiang, a wave of turmoil was set off.

However, Chen Wuwei's token method has solved the problem of insufficient funding for each ministry, at least for now. The kind of stamped banknotes cannot buy arms from foreigners, and there is no problem in buying grain and non-staple food from the people. With these banknotes, the troops could not starve for the time being. Whoever is in charge of logistics and supplies will be in charge of the troops, and at present, whoever can pay the troops will be subordinate to whomever the troops are subordinate, and this is also the most realistic thing

Zhu Duan's battalion, which was regarded as his basic unit, was very obedient to his command, and he and Chief of Staff Lu Gongwang procured a batch of meat and sent it to the station, and then the two took a few escorts to inspect the position.

The position of this battalion is well arranged, and if the Jin soldiers land, one battalion can at least withstand the attack of five battalions of the enemy. There is still the support of the river defense battalion fleet on the river, and it will not be a problem to hold it for a few days.

Lu Gongwang put down the binoculars and lit a cigarette, "Brother Jieren, you, the old Guangfu Society, are really unpopular in the eyes of the Xingzhong Society." The place of Xiaguan was arranged for us to guard, although victory is useless, defeat is guilty, it is a first-class drudgery. If the Lu army attacks Jiangning, it will definitely not be a civilian boat, our troops lack heavy firepower, and there are only two two-pounder guns in total, which will not pose a threat to the river. If he bombards with naval artillery, everyone will have to eat shells. ”

Zhu Duan smiled bitterly, "No, Mr. Tao is in Songjiang, and the governor (Chen Wuwei's nickname) is not in trouble, everyone is fighting for the seal of the governor, and I, a member of the Restoration Society, is naturally a thorn in his side." He was worried that thousands of us would become Mr. Tao's help, and he wished that we would die. Before Ge Ming's eight characters were skimmed, he began to calculate among his own people, which was really chilling. ”

Lu Gongwang said: "You have to be careful, the troops are very unstable due to the delay in receiving the money, and there is a general fear of the fifth town. I didn't have much confidence in fighting them, and I was a little worried about morale......"

"Do you think I'm not worried?" Zhu Duan spat out a smoke ring and sighed, "When we knew how to exercise, our Southern Army suffered a big loss at the hands of the Fifth Town, and we still remember our embarrassment at that time." The fifth town has real combat experience, has fought Cossacks, fought the Tielers. It is different from those of us who only have training and have no actual combat. I don't have much confidence in the real fight, and what I hope for now is this natural danger......"

Both of them know that guarding the river must guard the Huai, and now this kind of law-abiding is not enough to rely on the actual natural risk. The best way is to turn defense into attack, take the initiative to attack, cross the river to fight, and challenge the enemy.

However, at present, the morale of the coalition forces is not high, and there is a lack of military salaries, and this order to take the initiative to attack falls on whichever unit is unwilling to go.

At this moment, Zhu Duan suddenly pushed Lu Gongwang, "Old Lu, listen, did you open fire?" ”

There was no need to answer this question at all, the two of them had already heard it, and there was a rumbling cannon sound on the river, and Lu Gongwang was taken aback, "This is not Shandong's troops, they don't have gunboats...... This kind of cannon sound is Albiang's Yangtze River Fleet! Oops, how did you clash with them! ”

The two of them stood on a high place, raised their binoculars and looked over, only to see that the Yangtze River Fleet, which belonged to the main mansion of Ge Ming's army, had retreated in a hurry at this time.

After the defeat in the Battle of Goryeo, the navy of the Kingdom of Jin was never able to revitalize. Only the Yangtze River has some inland river warships, and the imaginary enemy is only smugglers and salt barons. These wooden ships were small in size and weak in artillery, and they were barely usable against the Beiyang Army, but they were not able to fight against the partial divisions of the Taixi powers.

Some of these warships had already been set on fire, the flags on board had been lowered, and they fled as if they were dead. They did not retreat to Xiaguan, but were defeated along the Yangtze River and retreated in the direction of Zhenjiang.

Subsequently, I saw that the Albiang fleet and several Jiangfang warships that also belonged to Ge Ming's army had already sailed in the direction of Xiaguan. The artillery on the Albiang warship has begun to aim at the positions of the Zhejiang army. Immediately, someone carried a white flag and came down to issue a notice to the Zhejiang army

"Order your army to surrender its defensive positions and retreat into the city within twenty minutes, otherwise, the Albion fleet will launch a military operation against your army."

The negotiator announced the order with an expressionless face, turned around and left, Zhu Duan hurriedly said: "Wait a minute!" Didn't you say that you would strictly abide by neutrality, this kind of behavior is in conflict with your country's diplomatic tone, and we will reserve the right to protest. ”

"Listen to it!" The envoy could speak Chinese, replied coldly, and turned around with a small group of escorts, and with him was Yu Huajiao, the pipe band of Su Rui's gunboat in the original Jiangfang fleet.

Listening to the name of the ship, you know that this is a ship belonging to Jiangsu, and the pipe belt is from Zhejiang, and Zhu Duan is a big fellow countryman. At this time, he deliberately lagged a few steps behind, and whispered to Zhu Duan: "This time, Zhao Guanhou gave the captain of the foreign ship 100,000 yuan, I heard that there are two antiques, and the commander of the Yangtze River Fleet in Albiang has been bribed, and there are orders from their own country, and they are determined to be unfavorable to us." The Jiangfang fleet will collapse as soon as it fights, if it weren't for the cleverness of a few of us, we would have to surrender to sincerity, just like the pipe belt of the Chu Yang, and we would have to lose our lives. ”

Zhu Duan asked: "Are you sincere, aren't you afraid of killing your head?" ”

"It doesn't matter. Your brother knows that I am also a person in the threshold, and I am a child of the Cao Gang with him, and my subordinates will not lose their lives. He promised that as long as we took the boat to Shandong, he would also protect us. Everyone is a fellow villager, let me say a word, don't be surprised. I know that you are a member of the Restoration Society, which is different from what we are in the threshold, but you have to think for the brothers. These foreigners' ships are bombarded, how can your position be parried? When the time comes, let the brothers be cannon fodder and block cannonballs for Chen Wuwei, which is not worth it. ”

Zhu Duan was silent for a moment and asked, "How is the situation in the Fifth Town, how is it compared to Zhang Yuan's pigtailed soldiers?" ”

"It can't be compared at all. The performance of the fifth town is like that of foreign soldiers, with many people and good guns and a lot of artillery. Those war horses are all Taixi's oceanic horses, and they are good at first glance. Moreover, these soldiers are very well-behaved, and even foreigners have a good impression of them. ”

Zhu Duan nodded and said, "I understand, it's impossible to ask me to surrender, I won't be a half-ass." However, since I can't hold the position in Shimonoseki, I don't want to cause more casualties. My brother communicated with Zhao Guanhou and gave me half an hour, and I immediately withdrew from the army. ”

"Well, just retire from the army. Brother, I have one more thing to ask you, Zhao Gongbao's aunt, how is the situation? ”

"Fortunately, Songjiang's leopard head accompanies her, and there is a white-faced sister-in-law, and outsiders can't get close. Her popularity is good, for her, there was almost infighting within the Shanghai army, and Commander-in-Chief Xu also took care of her, and no one was allowed to be light. Now in addition to not being free, she is no different from being a guest, and I hope that Gong Bao can also sell a friendship. ”

When this pipe retreated to the river, Zhu Duan and Lu Gongwang urgently consulted, and they both felt that the withdrawal of troops was inevitable. Unless there are other arrangements in Jiangning City, with a battalion of soldiers, it will not be able to withstand the naval artillery bombardment no matter what. On the river, someone picked up a megaphone and shouted at the lower level:

"Brothers in the Zhejiang army, listen, we are the fifth town of Shandong, the subordinates of Zhao Guanhou and Zhao Dashuai. Our monthly salary here is four, two, five, fourteen months of military pay every year, meat is eaten once every five days, white flour can be eaten every month, there is medicine for the wounded, and there is also a Invalids farm, in which the disabled can get dry pay. If the brothers are willing to come over, each of them will be paid one month's salary, and those who drag their guns will be paid two months' salary......"

Such shouts continued to bombard on the river, but the power was greater than the grenade shotgun of the Albians, and Tang Jin hurriedly came to Zhu Duan, "Commander-in-chief, you have to think of a way, many brothers are not our members, and they followed the uprising because the imperial court reduced their salaries, and everyone was against it, and they also followed it." Now that I heard about this treatment, many people were moved, and one of my sentries came to me and asked me if we could guarantee that we could do it, what did I say? ”

Although Zhejiang is a land of wealth in the southeast, the treatment of the Zhejiang army cannot reach this point, Zhu Duan shook his head, "We will fight again now, I'm afraid we really can't stand it, hurry up and hand over the position, and go back to the city first." ”

This basic army originally consisted of 500 men, but when the Zhejiang army handed over its position 23 minutes later, there were less than 300 left, and most of the rest defected with their bare hands, and a few defected with guns in tow, and returned to the fifth town. The landing of the army has become extremely smooth.

The sappers first built the pontoon bridge, and then the large army began to seize the wharf from the small boat and pontoon bridge, and the more than ten large ships moored in the wharf were also requisitioned as a whole. By about 3 o'clock in the afternoon, the entire Fifth Town and the Second Mixed Association had all crossed over and occupied the Shimonoseki Wharf.

Zhao Guanhou rode on his Taixi horse, looked at Jiang Ning with a telescope, and sneered: "The Yangtze River moat, can't you stop people differently?" As long as I wanted to come, nothing stopped me. I want to see what kind of barriers the southern army has after losing the natural danger. ”

Zou Xiurong's equestrian skills, although they can't be compared, but they can also ride horses, she urged the horse to catch up, and grabbed Zhao Guanhou, "Fourth, wait a minute, the second sister-in-law knows that you are on fire, and I can't stop you, but you have to promise the second sister-in-law one thing, otherwise I won't let you pass." ”

"Second sister-in-law, please speak."

"You can fight Jiangning, but your troops can enter the city, but the pigtailed soldiers can't enter. Zhang Yuan is a perverse person, who acts recklessly, and his braided soldiers are extremely bad. Originally, they were stationed in Jiangning, and they didn't dare to go too far. Now that Jiangning is lost, they recapture Jiangning, this place has changed from a garrison to a place to recapture, as long as a sentence is not sealed for three days, the fathers and villagers in the city, especially women, will suffer, can you promise me......"

Zhao Guanhou nodded, "Second sister-in-law, don't worry, I'm only here to save Leng He, not to kill people, let alone harm the people." We, the fifth town, ensure that the autumn does not commit any crimes, does not hurt the people, and does not harm women. I brought the gendarmerie battalion, and whoever dared to do anything wrong would immediately enforce discipline. ”

Zou Xiurong breathed a long sigh of relief, "With your guarantee, I will rest assured, I suggest that you make some banners to explain to the city and calm people's hearts." I know that you must have a way to send these things into the city, and if you do this, Leng He will be happy. ”

Since it was Cheng Yue who was with the army this time, the Huai military department represented by Ren Sheng, all felt that they had face, and their own young lady was favored, so their soldiers naturally had a future, and they were very active in combat. Ren Sheng took the initiative to ask for orders:

"Dashuai, if you attack Tianbao City, leave it to our Ninth Association. At the beginning of the Ping Changmao period, the Hefei Xianggong gave credit and left Jiangning to Zeng Jiushuai to fight, and our Huai army failed to get the opportunity. The entire Huai army regretted this incident, and my father didn't close his eyes until he died. Today, we want to show them the means of our Huai army. It doesn't take a year and a half to take this place down. ”

Zhao Guanhou smiled, "Ren Sheng, Tianbao City is a dangerous place, and it is also a cannon base. Although this time, because of the drills, the artillery and fast guns of the southern army were concentrated in the north, but the fortress artillery on this kind of fort did not move, are you not afraid? ”

"The horse leather shroud is the best place for men. Although the handsome man can rest assured, he will definitely complete the task! ”

Zhao Guanhou took out the gold watch and looked at the time, "That's it, now the whole army will make food, prepare it in the evening, and launch an attack at night." I'm going to see how good you are at night fighting. After eating, we first pulled up their flags and sent a message to the people inside, telling them that we were coming! ”

Soon after his order was delivered, a small horse team rushed out of Jiangning City, numbering no more than ten people, waving a white flag, and knew at first sight that it was a negotiation team.

The leader is a man in his thirties with a short build. He was dressed in a Zhigong satin robe, covered with two six-contract spring horse coats, with a very thick gold watch chain across his chest, and a large section of the cuffs rolled up, revealing the snow-white Hangfang sleeves. It is standard "white-faced person" fashion.

After meeting, the person who came didn't say a word, first kowtowed according to the rules in the threshold, and saluted, "Uncle Xiao, Ying Xiecheng greets Uncle Xiao." ”

Ying Xiecheng's father was the head of the stonemason line, and he made a fortune, he was mixed in the rivers and lakes since he was a child, and the master he worshipped was Zhao Abao, the head of Songjiang Fan. Zhao is the role of Cao Hong's two sects, each with one foot, and should be a big character in the Cao Gang, and Chen Wuwei can be regarded as a brother in the same staff. is a generation lower than Zhao Guanhou, and it is natural to call him uncle. The last time Chen Bailu was kidnapped, it was the news he found out, and he was an old acquaintance with Zhao Guanhou.

The two came directly to the temporary handsome tent and sat down, Zhao Guanhou's face was as pale as iron, and he said coldly: "Since you call me uncle, and you still recognize yourself as a person in the threshold, since you recognize it like this, it will be easy to do." I ask you, according to the rules of the threshold, what is the crime of committing a small crime? ”

Ying Xiecheng's face was as usual, without fear, "Uncle Xiao, you take a breath and listen to me finish speaking." Chen Wuwei is a bastard, once he becomes the governor, he will lose all the rules in the threshold, there is no way to do it. The little nephew is under him, and he is also eating with a mouthful of food, coming to negotiate, and he is also sent by the upper and lower branches, and he can't help himself. Since Uncle Xiao is in the threshold, he must be reading incense, and he will not make it difficult for us to be juniors, don't you say? ”

Zhao Guanhou glanced at him a few times, and saw that he had a smile on his face, without any fear, but he didn't mean to say anything for Chen Wuwei. "What position do you hold in the Shanghai Military Governor's Mansion?"

"The Chief of the Espionage Section. It's nice to say, but it's actually a bag inquiry, which is similar to what was done in the past, in this world, it's not easy for everyone, but it's just a mixed mouthful of food. ”

Ying Xiecheng smiled bitterly, "They are all brothers in the same staff, some can be standard, and some can be the captain of the guard, but I can only do a bag to inquire, and I can't even get some extra money." It's impossible to get the same life as people, so there's no need to say it. Let's talk about the little aunt first, my little mother-in-law accompanies her to ensure that the little aunt does not suffer any grievances. Which man dares to say one more word, and the little nephew will kill him with his own hands! Now the little aunt eats well and lives well, except for thinking about the little uncle, nothing else has happened. It's Chen Wuwei, a dog thing, who said before that he wanted to sell his little aunt to the Qinhuai River, and the little nephew took out the gun on the spot! If you want to sell my aunt, first ask Lao Tzu if he agrees to the gun! He was honest. ”

"This thing is well done, then let me ask you, what did he ask you to bring."

Ying Xiecheng smiled dryly: "This is all bastard words, don't be angry, little uncle." He said that if you want people, just put the arms and the people of the Xingzhong Association, and exchange them together. At the same time, the Shandong troops must withdraw from Jiangsu Province. Otherwise, he will slaughter the little aunt. ”

Zhao Guanhou spat out, "He is not small. Xie Cheng, after you go back, bring me a reply for me. This time, I sent troops, and each brother brought a shovel, and prepared to dig ten big pits in Jiangning, and if Leng He had three long and two short, I would kill all the Xingzhong Hui south of the Yangtze River, and bury them with more than 200,000 big pits. If he wants to die together, then give it a try! (To be continued.) )