Deng Ming didn't like to drink, and this Yuan Zongdi originally knew it, but said that today's banquet was set up for him to celebrate his achievements, so he would drink a little bit anyway. I really can't refuse Yuan Zongdi's enthusiasm, and after the banquet began, Deng Ming stood up and held his wine glass, and said to the full Dachang officers: "I really don't know how to drink, and I am young, I have a good appetite and are greedy, every time I drink alcohol, I will delay eating, today Guogong has prepared a lot of good dishes, and I will regret not eating." After speaking, Deng Ming took a sip, and then put down the wine glass: "May you all be healthy and prosperous, and wait for the expulsion of the Tartars to share the peace." ”

Deng Ming's words at the beginning caused some laughter, and after he finished speaking, everyone returned the salute: "I am willing to share peace with Mr." Some people even think that this is the third prince promising that he will not forget everyone's merits in the future, and will share wealth with the soldiers who broke into the camp.

Since Deng Ming gave a face, of course Yuan Zongdi would not continue to be reluctant, he smiled at Deng Ming: "There is dogwood meat today, this is Sichuan cuisine, Mr. Deng might as well eat more." ”

Just now, Deng Ming had already seen some red Yan Sè in the dish given to him, and at first he thought it was chili, but after Yuan Zong's first words, he lowered his head and carefully identified it, and found that it was a plant he didn't recognize.

"Dogwood?" Deng Ming remembered that this plant was mentioned in a poem, but it sounded like an ornament, and he never knew that it would be used as a condiment in Sichuan cuisine.

Seeing Deng Ming's confused face, staring at the dish for a long time, Yuan Zongdi thought that he didn't like to eat, so he hurriedly beckoned: "Come on, withdraw and change Mr. Deng for a non-spicy one." ”

"Wait," Deng Ming is not unable to eat spicy, he has eaten Sichuan cuisine and Sichuan hot pot originally, and he likes it very much, but he has the impression that Sichuan cuisine should be made of chili peppers, and he smiled at Yuan Zongdi: "I haven't eaten dogwood, which makes the general smile." ”

"Oh, I really should have put less of that." Yuan Zongdi thought that Deng Ming had never eaten spicy dishes, and he regretted it a little, he introduced Deng Ming: "Sichuan people like to eat spicy, it is simply not spicy, I have many Sichuan people under me, and I have also stayed in Sichuan for many years, so I also like it." ”

In recent years, the conditions of the Ming army have been particularly difficult, although Yuan Zongdi has many Sichuan people, but the limited land is used to grow crops, and the vicinity of Dachang has not produced dogwood for five or six years, which is still some condiments that Yuan Zongdi exchanged for when he smuggled stone salt. However, when the officers and soldiers of Dachang saw the baskets of dogwoods brought back, everyone cheered in unison, and these spicy crops that were hard to get their hands on were also consumed at a very fast speed.

In Yuan Zongdi's impression, Deng Ming belonged to the people who had eaten and seen it, and since he had this condiment in his hand, he naturally took it out to entertain VIPs. At this time, Yuan Zongdi estimated in his heart that the běijīng people probably did not have the habit of eating spicy food, and he knew that if this was the case, he should not put so much on Deng Ming, and most people who ate spicy food for the first time probably couldn't get used to this taste.

"Well, I've heard of the best spicy stuff in Sichuan, but don't you use chili peppers?" Deng Ming was puzzled, so he asked.

"Chili?" Yuan Zongdi looked very confused, he had never eaten what Deng Ming said: "What is a chili pepper?" ”

"It's also bright red,......," Deng Ming compared the size of the pepper and described its shape.

Yuan Zongdi still didn't know, he asked a few Sichuan officers around him, they didn't know anything about what Deng Ming narrated, their faces were all dazed, and Li Xinghan, who was under Deng Ming, was also asked, and he also shook his head and said that he had never heard of it.

"Isn't it a pepper?" Mu Tan, who had been listening silently on the side, suddenly asked, he had heard what Deng Ming said, the Dutch and Spaniards had brought the seeds of pepper, but everyone thought it was an ornamental plant, and at this time some wealthy families from Jiangnan and Fujian planted it in the courtyard. Zheng Chenggong's mansion also has a few plants, once boasted to people that this is a rare flower overseas, although Mu Tan thinks it is not as good as peonies and the like, and there is no floral fragrance, but the fruit is red and bright, but it is also quite cute: "There are golden seeds in it, and when I look at the pepper, someone has reminded me not to crush its fruit, otherwise I will cry if I accidentally touch my eyes." ”

Deng Ming felt that what Mu Tan was talking about was chili, and it seemed that this thing had not become popular at this time, so he said casually: "This chili should be what I have eaten before, and I was called chili pepper at that time." ”

As Deng Ming guessed, at this time, the spicy dishes of Huguang and Sichuan still relied on dogwood to make, in his original world, chili peppers would have to wait more than ten years to be discovered as a very good condiment, and once discovered, it would spread rapidly, and chili peppers were widely cultivated, completely replacing dogwood in just a few decades.

Although Deng Ming never mentioned this matter again, many people here silently remembered this name in their hearts, and many people, including Yuan Zongdi, pondered in their hearts: "No one has ever eaten it, everyone doesn't know, but the third prince knows it so clearly, it must taste very good, well, it must be the secret recipe of the imperial diet of Ouchi." In the future, we must try to inquire, or the next time there is a messenger to Fujian, I will ask for this pepper to taste it and see how good it is. ”

Deng Ming tasted dogwood, which is a different kind of spicy from chili peppers, a little brain-punching, but the taste is far less heavy than chili peppers, and he also thought in his heart at this time: "No wonder I didn't eat this thing later, Sichuan people are afraid of eating vegetables and not spicy temper, and chili peppers should eliminate dogwood." ”

Many people asked Deng Ming to tell about his trip to Yunnan again, this kind of thing Deng Ming knew that Zhou Kaihuang was the best, so he handed over this glorious task to him. Sure enough, Zhou Kaihuang suddenly jumped up with his eyebrows, starting from Jianchang, and told everyone the stories along the way, even the thrill encountered in several beacon towers in Dongchuan Mansion was also said by him.

The story of Zhou Kaihuang's ups and downs fascinated everyone, and Yuan Zongdi, who began to understand Zhou Kaihuang's temper, just smiled, and was later brought into the play by his endless suspense, and listened to it as intently as everyone else. Zhou Kaihuang caused one after another excited cheers, every time after the applause, someone must toast him, Zhou Qian always came, every time he drank it all, with a bigger voice to continue to narrate the thrilling and moving legendary journey.

I don't know how long it took, Zhou Kaihuang finally talked about entering Kunming. But Wu Sangui only called Deng Ming to go alone that day, and he originally wanted to continue to play by relaying Deng Ming's words, but he was pulled hard by Zhao Tianba and forced him to sit down, Zhou Kaihuang had to say a little unwillingly: "Let Mr. Deng talk about the things at the banquet." ”

All the eyes in the room shifted to Deng Ming again.

"That day was indeed a fluke," Deng Ming pointed to the next week's wasteland, and said with a smile: "At that time, Wu Sangui and Zhao Liangdong were even more drunk than Zhou Qianzong......

After the banquet was over, Yuan Zongdi asked Deng Ming about the purpose of his trip: "Did the supervisor hear that General Hao of Fangxian County was going to send troops to Yunyang, so he asked Mr. to come over to supervise the army for the superintendent and his old man?" ”

"Is General Hao going to send troops to Yunyang?" Deng Ming didn't know about this, Fang County is located in the north of Dachang, in the territory of Yunyang Mansion in Huguang, and the general stationed in the garrison is Hao Shaoqi, a former general in the camp, not far from Yunyang, Xiangyang and other places. Hao Shaoqi, who was stationed in Fang County, was the northernmost Ming army, responsible for defending against the Qing army's attack from the north. However, in the past few years, the Qing army has never attacked Fang County, but Hao Shaoqi has continued to disturb the Qing army's control of the zhì area: "I don't know about this." ”

The main purpose of Hao Shaoqi's army in Yunyang Fucheng was to force the Qing army to retreat into the defense of Fucheng, so that he could find some grain and grass around Fucheng, and at the same time try to relocate some of the population. In the past, every time Hao Shaoqi sent troops, he would send a letter to Fengjie, but this was also a symbol of xìng, Fengjie would not interfere with Hao's army's actions, and it was impossible to remotely command the war in Fang County. When Deng Ming set off from Fengjie, Hao Shaoqi's messenger had just passed through Guò Dachang, and it can be said that he passed by Deng Ming and his party.

"Yes, this is also a blessing thanks to Mr. Deng's victory in Kunming." Yuan Zongdi told Deng Ming that this time Hao Shaoqi did not go out alone, but wrote to Daning He Jin, Dachang Yuan Zongdi, Badong Liu Tichun and others, and they joined forces with him to sweep the Yunyang area. Because of Deng Ming's actions in Kunming, the Qing court could not transfer the troops sent by Huguang to support Wu Sangui's western expedition back to defend, according to the reconnaissance of Hao Shaoqi, Liu Tichun and others, the enemy opposite the Ming army in Kuidong was quite empty, and the Ming army was far stronger than the Qing army. Therefore, Hao Shaoqi built a unified action, if it was only a lone attack in Fangxian, although the Qing army in Yunyang could be forced to retreat to Fucheng, but the surrounding reinforcements had to retreat as soon as Hao Shaoqi arrived, and they could not collect grain, grass and materials with peace of mind; And if the Ming army in Fangxian, Dachang, Daning and Badong combined, it can probably dispatch about 20,000 troops, such a large-scale army is not afraid to meet the Qing army in Gucheng, Xiangyang and other places to reinforce, Hao Shaoqi felt that this can force the Qing army in several places to stick to the city, and the Ming army can collect grain and grass in the local area without scruples, replenish the soldiers, and there will be a lot more time.

Of course, Yuan Zongdi was very moved, he suffered the greatest loss in the first battle, and his troops were lost by several thousand, if it wasn't for Deng Ming to bring back more than 1,000 people, I'm afraid he wouldn't be able to participate in this operation. Although the losses of the others were not as great as those of Yuan Zongdi, most of the grain and grass they had accumulated were also burned by the rebellious Tan Yi, and since the troops from Huguang who participated in the expedition to the southwest had not returned, they all planned to seize the time to recover their vitality.

After listening to Yuan Zongdi's explanation, Deng Ming shook his head: "I don't know about this, this kind of military aircraft inspector will not interfere." ”

Yuan Zongdi thought to himself: "Of course the superintendent will not interfere, but Hao Shaoqi's letter also mentioned that if you have returned to Fengjie, the generals are very welcome to come to supervise the army on behalf of the superintendent, isn't this to make friends with the third prince and let you remember our merits?" ”

"I'm planning to send 500 soldiers and 2,000 auxiliary soldiers to Fang County." Everyone knows that the failure of Chóngqìng made Yuan Zongdi hurt his muscles and bones, so Hao Shaoqi and Liu Tichun said that Yuan Zongdi could send fewer people, and they would give him more people, grain and grass to help him get through the difficulties. Originally, Yuan Zongdi didn't plan to go in person, and only planned to send more auxiliaries to carry things, but if he could convince Deng Ming...... Yuan Zongdi generously stated: "I plan to personally lead troops to help General Hao, Mr. Deng is fine anyway, so you might as well go together." ”

"It's been fine for the last month, but I can't stay too long." Deng Ming was a little hesitant, the other party warmly invited, if he refused, he was afraid that he would disappoint these generals, and he did not intend to hide it from Yuan Zongdi, so he told the other party that he planned to arrive in Nanjing around July, and then see if there was anything that could help Zheng Chenggong.

After listening to Deng Ming's words, Yuan Zongdi frowned and pondered for a moment, and actually had the same question as Wen Anzhi and Li Xinghan, that is, whether Deng Ming did not plan to return to Sichuan after leaving this trip. Deng Ming had no choice but to explain to Yuan Zongdi again, and the other party seemed to be a little skeptical after listening to it.

"How does Mr. Deng plan to go to Nanjing?"

"I'm going down the river." Deng Mingyuan planned to disguise himself as a businessman and fool through the Qing army checkpoint, he has experience in this Fengjie, and Zhao Tianba is also well versed in this. When he came to Dachang this time, Deng Ming also wanted to ask Yuan Zongdi for advice again, because Zhou Kaihuang said that Dachang often sent people to smuggle in disguise to the Qing army-controlled zhì area, and there were also people who responded or were bribed by the Ming army in various checkpoints.

But Yuan Zongdi opposed Deng's plan, saying that the Yangtze River was densely populated with checkpoints, because the Qing court knew that this was the most convenient route for the Ming army to attack, and the troops stationed there were far denser than in other places. Yuan Zongdi did not approve of Deng Ming's adventure in the Qing army-controlled area at all, and he thought that Deng Ming had better stay in Fengjie honestly, and if he had nothing to do, he could go to the generals' defense areas to inspect the officers and soldiers to boost morale. However, Deng Mingzi couldn't persuade him, so Yuan Zongdi built a safer road for him, and didn't try to save trouble and take the shortcut road of Jiangling.

"Mr. Deng might as well go to Yunyang with us, this time we will most likely go to Xiangyang City, when the Tartars will definitely retreat back to the city, there is no enemy in the wild, Mr. Deng can take his subordinates from Xiangyang to Wuchang, and then go to Nanjing, so as to avoid the most Tartars, the most heavily guarded section of the Yangtze River, much safer."

In addition to safety factors, Yuan Zongdi still hoped that Deng Ming could follow them around Yunyang, and the generals who broke into the camp were looking forward to Deng Ming's car, if Deng Ming went out with the army, everyone would definitely be excited, and the safety in the army was also guaranteed.

"Will you attack Yunyang and Xiangyang?" Deng Ming felt that what Yuan Zongdi said made sense, if the Ming army attacked the city, he would also have the opportunity to observe the siege tactics of this era, the last time Deng Ming was in chóngqìng Deng Ming did not have the opportunity to watch closely, and he was still uncertain at that time, and he was not too interested in various siege methods. But now it's different, after a few months, Deng Ming feels that he probably doesn't have a chance to go home, and the battle of Nanjing is just around the corner, Deng Ming thinks that if he can have a general who breaks into the camp to teach him by word and deed, he is more likely to help Zheng Chenggong.

"This ......" Yuan Zongdi showed a wry smile: "Most of the attacks are to be attacked, but they definitely can't be attacked." ”

"Why can't you take it?" Deng Ming was also a little surprised to see that Yuan Zongdi had no confidence.

"The main purpose of this trip is to collect grain and grass around the city, if you concentrate the army under the city, there will not be enough people to collect food and grass, and it will take time to build siege weapons. It's not chóngqìng here, and if they see that we have the intention of attacking, the Tartars will soon send reinforcements from Henan. Under the fortified city, the troops are limited and there is not enough food and grass, and in the end, most of the gains will outweigh the losses. "Not only Yuan Zongdi, Hao Shaoqi, Liu Tichun They have no intention of attacking the city, although breaking the city will definitely be able to capture a lot, but there is no heavy artillery in the camp, just relying on the ladder and tower car to attack the city, the loss will definitely be very amazing, which is difficult for the current Ming army to bear.

"Then why attack it." Just now, when he thought that he could learn the siege methods from the generals who broke into the camp, Deng Ming was tempted to go to Fang County with Yuan Zong first, but now he was a little disappointed, but he was still a little puzzled, why he still attacked the city even though he knew that it could not be defeated.

"Because I want to teach my son some crafts." Yuan Zongdi replied that although there have not been many opportunities to attack the city in the past few years, everyone knows that the great cause of expelling the Tartars cannot be accomplished by simple defense, and there will definitely be a large number of siege battles in the future. Yuan Zongdi and Liu Tichun will seize an opportunity to train young officers and soldiers, although it is impossible to capture the city, but at least their subordinates should see the scene of the siege and feel some of the atmosphere of the siege.

"Although we don't have heavy artillery, we do have a few small cannons, and we will also fire a few cannons on the walls when the time comes. Build a few ladders, so that the sons and daughters can see what they should pay attention to when attacking the city, what kind of defense the enemy will have, and how to deal with it, so that they will not know anything in the future, understand nothing, and be helpless against the city wall. Yuan Zongdi patiently explained to Deng Ming: At that time, he might dig a few holes under the city wall, so that the inexperienced young officers could see how to attack the caves; Two ditches were dug outside the ditch, and experienced elders showed them how to divert water from the moat.

"I'll go to Yunyang with a few generals." Deng Ming knew very well that these siege measures were superficial, just for young people to see, but these were the knowledge that he urgently needed.

"Okay." Yuan Zongdi was overjoyed when he heard this, and he immediately asked his subordinates to go to Fangxian, Badong and other places to report the news, telling the third prince that the third prince would go with the army. Yuan Zongdi didn't have to move on, he stayed in Dachang for the past few days, and then set off with his army, anyway, he could see Liu Tichun in Fang County.

Deng Ming thought that this was fine, just to look at Yuan Zongdi's actions when he commanded thousands of people on the march. At the beginning, Yuan Zongdi didn't plan to send a few soldiers at all, and the five hundred soldiers he said to Deng Ming just now was also an imaginary number, but since Deng Ming really went, Yuan Zongdi really pointed out five hundred soldiers, intending to show his hand in front of Deng Ming and save some of the images that were affected by Chóngqìng's defeat.