At that time, the strength of the thirteen families in Kuidong was still very strong, with sailors, army, and more than 100,000 horses if all mobilized. Especially against the Chu army in Huguang, the combat effectiveness of the thirteen armies had a considerable advantage.

From a military point of view, Kuidong is not only a place that is easy to defend and difficult to attack, but also cuts off the passage between Sichuan and Hubei, so that it can attack the two lakes, western Henan, southern Shaanxi, and Sichuan when it retreats, and it can defend itself according to the danger when retreating.

However, the 13 families fought on their own, did not form a leadership core, and cooperated more and united less, but this was the fundamental reason why the situation could not be opened. Moreover, the Kuidong region is heavily mountainous and sparsely populated, and it is very difficult to maintain a sufficiently strong army, both in terms of personnel replenishment and material supply.

Because of this, the initiative of the Thirteen Families was mostly for the purpose of looting materials and population, and it was not too active in attacking the city and attacking the Qing Dynasty. Among them, each family's intention to preserve its strength and its intention to consume less materials has become the main factor.

Only by integrating all departments and working together can we extricate ourselves from the situation in a remote corner. In order to run the locality, it is also necessary to go out to obtain manpower and material resources. The soft Chu army is naturally the preferred target, with the help of the Yangtze River sailors, and it is more powerful to go down the river.

The reform of the military system is only the first step, and Zhu Yongxing did not have the luxury of expecting such a simple and complete solution to the problem. First get the local governance power, so as to control the source of food and salary, and then have the inclined supply of the imperial court, and gradually change the situation of the thirteen families in Kuidong acting independently. As for the armed forces, as long as they are organized into an army, instructors are placed in place, military academies are opened for training, and then some transfers, disruptions, and supplements are carried out to slowly eliminate mountaineering, this is also a long-term plan.

"The court has paid the salary, and the arrears will be slowly made up."

When the silver coins and land tickets were issued to the Kuidong soldiers. They finally got the long-lost attention of the imperial court, and they also realized that they were still Ming soldiers in name, and they also knew from the seal of the land ticket that this was the grace of the imperial court to stay behind King Min.

Of course, the change of concept cannot be so rapid and so thorough, but after all, the first step has been taken, at least let the Kui Dong soldiers know. The court did not forget them, and they were not abandoned.

The civilian officials who came with the Yangtze River Naval Division overjoyed Li Weizuo, and the government structure was quickly erected and began to take over government affairs on the territory of Liu Tichun, Li Laiheng and others. The Department of Mission, the Department of Ordnance, the Department of Finance, and other departments were put into operation, gradually changing the original ruling order.

The army began to train and reorganize intensively, and the number of troops that arrived one after another reached 30,000 and then temporarily stopped increasing. After all, the local defense should not be too empty, and the food and grass materials are not enough to supply too many troops to concentrate on food. This is also thanks to the large number of people in Hao Shaoqi's department in Fang County, so he did not transfer too many distant troops.

At this time, Wang Guangxing, who was born as an old general of the Southern Ming Dynasty, began to regret it. Realizing that in the first round of tests in the imperial court, he fell behind because of hesitation and selfishness. It's not that Li Weizuo hasn't done his job, but he just can't let go of his own territory and the foundation he founded. Now it's a good thing, the Shuo army has been formed, and it is completely composed of Liu Tichun, Li Laiheng, Hao Shaoqi, and Yuan Zong's fourth army. Originally, due to the problem of his background, he should have been more valued by the imperial court, but now. was actually pressed down by a few thieves.

I would like to express my support again and respond enthusiastically. But the Shuo army has stopped expanding, and it is noisy military training all day long, and it will soon go out to fight, attack the city and expand the land, and make contributions. Moreover, the charter clearly states that most of the seizures of the Shuo army are retained. It is the capital for development and growth. In other words, he can only nest in Shizhouwei (now Enshi area), and he will not be able to get the supply of population and materials.

In the long run, he was just the landlord of the marginalized Shi Zhouwei, and the Shuo army became stronger. If you want to cut down the division and unify the power, how can you resist it? The rise of the Ming army seems to be unstoppable, and the final victory of the great cause of recovery will be a matter of time sooner or later.

Wang Guangxing automatically made up for it, and the more he pondered it, the more he felt that it was not good, and he thought that he should make up for it in order not to be listed as an object of disloyalty in this test of the imperial court. As a result, Wang Guangxing, known as the "guardian dog", went to see Li Weizuo in person, bitterly stated his wrongdoing, handed over his power, and asked the Shuo army to accept his own army, or give an independent division the number.

Chen said that it was difficult to expand the army for the time being, and that the independent division was given to the field troops, and the local garrisons could only be garrisons.

"Field troops? No problem, the last general's soldiers and horses are strong, and it is not a problem to attack the city. Wang Guangxing didn't understand the key yet, so he hurriedly patted his chest and boasted.

"Since Jing Guogong is so loyal, then I will think of a way, but I am afraid that it will take some time. If it's time for the army to move, Jing Guogong must not make a mistake! Military orders are like mountains, and they must not be disobeyed. Li Weizuo stood up sternly and stared at Wang Guangxing, waiting for his reaction.

"Military orders are like mountains, and the last general has been in battle for a long time, how can you not know it, how dare you disobey it? Your Excellency can rest assured that if you disobey the order, you will be punished by military law. Wang Guangxing felt that this was another test, and immediately agreed happily.

"Yes, yes!" Li Weizuo had a smile on his face, sighed and praised Wang Guangxing's loyalty and bravery, and ordered someone to take out military uniforms, court clothes, swords and other things, and after Yin Yin sent Wang Guangxing out, he couldn't help but laugh slyly.

Differential treatment is not discrimination, contribution is not contribution, loyalty is not loyal, if they are all treated the same, then who is still motivated? Li Weizuo deeply admired His Royal Highness Min's courage and methods, and was also full of confidence in the integration of the thirteen families.

………………

In the early morning of the fifth day of the eighth month of the sixteenth year of Yongli (the first year of Kangxi), an earth-shattering loud noise broke the silence of Fuzhou City, and the city wall that was heightened and thickened in the northeast to avoid ghosts suddenly burst open from the inside out, and the masonry and the ash inside rose into the air, and the smoke and dust brought up covered this section of the city wall tightly.

Huang Guorui, the leader of Geng Fanzuo, was drinking tea and resting under the city, when a sudden explosion shook the grass hut that kept him out of the rain and sun, and he crawled out of the rotten wood and grass with his hands and feet, only to feel his ears buzzing, and his dizziness made him stumble and make it difficult to walk.

As far as the eye could see, the walls of the city were blasted open with a large radial gap. The battlements on either side of the gap were gone, and the soil inside was completely exposed. Mixed with the choking smoke and dust of black powder and the wails of the wounded, broken bricks and rubble were scattered everywhere, and the scene was a mess. In a pile of broken bricks and rubble. Some of the Qing soldiers fell to the ground silently, bleeding from their noses and ears; Some were struggling for help, and without exception, the faces and bodies of these Qing soldiers were covered with a thick layer of dust.

The city is broken? Huang Guorui's mind was still unclear, and he shook his head vigorously. The already thin dust has cleared up a bit. The situation in the gap is more visible. Suddenly, a group of running and shaking black shadows appeared at the gap, rushing up the slope formed by the masonry and sand, without the slightest pause, and rushed in.

At this time, the sky was just a little cloudy, and a huge morning star was staring at the distant sky, staring at the Ming army breaking through the city, staring at the critical moment that would determine the war situation in Fujian Province.

Shots rang out. Clusters of flashes dazzled the eyes of the Qing army and shattered their illusions. Huang Guorui was surrounded by several pro-soldiers, and behind him was the increasingly dense gunfire, mixed with the screams of the Qing soldiers in horror.

"The city is broken, the city is broken."

The bad news spread as quickly as the wind, and the psychology of the Qing soldiers was shattered by the news like a city wall that had been blown open. The city wall is not only a barrier to block the enemy, but also a psychological defense line of the Qing army? The Ming army broke the city so suddenly, and the time chosen was just right. Most of the Qing soldiers were still asleep at this time, and they were in a sudden upheaval. Panic is inevitable.

Panic is contagious, and the Qing soldiers wake up in their dreams and are confused in the chaos of shouting and screaming. Officers at all levels shouted and forced their composure, even if they could barely control their soldiers, they could not launch a quick and effective counterattack against the Ming army entering the city, let alone press the Ming army out of the city. The gap has been refilled.

The Ming army continued to rush into the city, firmly controlled the breach, and quickly expanded into a territory for assembly and rectification. Amid the sound of whistles and passwords, the Ming army, under the command of the officers, advanced in accordance with the plan in the direction and target of their respective attacks.

At the forefront of the charge were cannon fodder troops with covered heads. The counterattack was so decisive and ferocious. If it was a siege battle, they would not be so brave. Now, the fortified city has been broken, the general trend has been decided, where do they still have to look forward and backward.

In order to avoid ghosts, the government not only thickened and heightened the northeast city wall, but also planted trees and built tribute courtyards in the northeast city area to prevent the residents from becoming dense. This made the Ming army, as the vanguard, advance very quickly after the attack, and the follow-up troops entered one after another, and the superiority in strength and firepower became more and more obvious.

The Qing army in the city also gradually reacted, Geng Jingzhong, Zeng Yangxing and other main generals were assigned and transferred to intercept the Ming army in all directions, and the battle became more and more intense, with gunshots, explosions, and shouts of killing echoing in the sky above this famous southeast city.

The flickering fires were one after another, several Francophone cannons exploded, raindrops of shotguns erupted, and the Qing army front spewed out clouds of blood mist, and the Qing soldiers in the first two rows fell to the ground in various postures, sounding an irrepressible howl.

With a sharp whistle, the flintlock pistol erupted in a single spur, and countless bullets flew out of the chamber and shot at the opposite side.

The limited space and narrow streets made the firearms of the Ming army exert great power. In the continuous volley, the Qing soldiers suffered heavy losses, and rows of flesh and blood fell.

The Qing army resisted with great strength under the supervision of the officers and returned fire with bows and arrows. Arrows continued to pass through the air, and a dense clanging sound sounded in the Ming army's array. Scattered arrows stuck all over the surrounding ground and rooftops, like weeds.

Both sides were paying for casualties, but the Ming army remained rigorous and firmly held the advantage of long-range weapons. As the Sky Cannon joined the battle, the Qing army's stubborn resistance finally began to disperse.

A bright red sun rose behind the Ming army, erupting flames and generously radiating light and heat.

Du Tong once gasped for breath and commanded hoarsely. The sunlight kept swaying around the brim of his hat, leaving bright traces in front of his eyes, and in the shaking vision was a group of black figures, and dazzling firelight flashed, and every time the firelight flashed, it was a scream and wail.

If you can't withstand it here, it will collapse and be out of control. Zeng Yangxing clearly knew that the general trend had gone, but either out of instinct or out of loyalty, he also had to lead his headquarters to persevere. He is a native of Shenyang, Shunzhi, the beginning of the expedition to Guangdong from the Geng family, under his domain, known for his bravery, won Geng Jing's loyalty, was awarded the left wing of the general military officer under the domain, and the department was also the elite of the Geng domain.

There was a loud "boom", Zeng Yangxing only felt a strong force pushing from the left, his steps were unsteady, and he almost fell to the ground. In the midst of a wail. Zeng Yangxing only felt a stream of heat coming down from his forehead, and the vision of one eye was blocked, turning a blurry red. At this time, he felt a sharp pain, not only in his forehead, but also in his thighs. It hurt so much that he could barely stand.

Several Franc cannons in the Ming army's formation were launched again, pointing directly at the Qing army, which had been defeated, and at such a close distance, firing would cover the front of the entire Qing army's battle array.

The irrepressible fear, the heavy casualties, made it difficult for the Qing soldiers to face this devastating wound, and moved backwards in horror.

"Resist, don't retreat, retreat. Chop, chop! Zeng Yangxing felt the retreat of the troops, and waved his waist knife desperately to stop the prelude to this rout.

"Boom, boom, boom!" A few explosions overwhelmed Zeng Yang's shouts, and the bloody corpse fell in front of the Qing army.

The Qing army could no longer hold on, and rushed backwards with a bang. Gunshots like popping beans chased after him. The Qing soldiers retreated more and more urgently, and finally turned into a desperate escape.

"Retreat from the latter. Chop, chop—" Zeng Yangxing glared angrily and slashed at the soldier who turned around and fled.

The sword light, the blood light, filled the sight of Zeng Yang. He heard the roar of the serial sound again, and then there was an unstoppable wave of defeated soldiers. I haven't had time to swing my knife again. He was already unsteady on his feet, and he was pushed to the ground, and a large foot stepped on the wound on his thigh, and the pain was so severe that he couldn't help but howl loudly, and just as he made a sound, another foot stepped on his face. Then. Dense legs shook in front of his eyes, countless feet stomped on him, gunshots, explosions drowned out his voice.

The pain permeated his whole body, his strength was rapidly dissipating, and Zeng Yang tried to get up, but his flustered and heavy steps frustrated his efforts again and again. The waving hand became weaker and weaker, and at last he fell, and his breathing became weaker and weaker, and the air in his lungs was constantly squeezed out, making him like a fish exposed to the sun, his eyes protruding and his mouth opening in vain.

The flickering figures above and some of the sky were blurring, and the distorted faces changed before their eyes, as if in a dream. Someone slipped and climbed up on him, someone rolled around him screaming, and someone pressed on top of him......

Zeng Yangxing's consciousness gradually blurred, and the blood splattered on his face could not change his stiff expression. By the time the Ming army stepped on blood and corpses to rush to kill, this guy who was in a high position in the Geng domain for killing people and for his military exploits had already opened his eyes and swallowed his last breath.

The Ming army, which had experienced urban battles such as Xinhui and Guangzhou, was more skilled in infantry and artillery coordination, and was unstoppable in street battles. The Qing army, which was psychologically hit hard, finally lost its last fighting spirit after failing to intercept and block it. The streets were full of defeated soldiers fleeing for their lives, and behind the defeated soldiers were Ming soldiers who were bravely pursuing and killing.

The Northeast Gate, the North Gate, the Northwest Gate, the West Gate, and the Seven City Gates of Fuzhou City have been occupied by the Ming army, and the Ming army that has poured in in has an obvious advantage in strength, pursuing and compressing the living space of the Qing army.

The general army of the left wing was defeated in battle, and he did not know whether he was alive or dead; Bai Xianzhong, the general soldier of the right wing, was defeated and died in the battle; Lin Fangsun, Liao Tingyun, and Li Yigui were defeated, and their subordinates were scattered; Adjutant General Ma Jiuyu, Staff Generals Li Lian, and Li Tai led their troops to surrender, leading the Ming army to kill Benjingnan Wangfu......

By noon of the battle, the Qing army in Fuzhou had fallen apart, officers and generals had died or surrendered, and the defeat was irreparable. Geng Jingzhong, who was commanding the battle in the city, saw that the general trend had gone, and under the tearful persuasion of guarding Xia Wang, Lu Yingji, and Changshi Chen Bin, the boiling water department, together with the "Ninghai General" Beizi Fu Lata and some of his own soldiers and guards, fled in panic in several small boats.

The city fell, he didn't die with his body, he didn't care about his family, but he fled for his life, Geng Jingzhong can be regarded as ruthless enough, wolf bèi enough, and despicable and shameless enough. In order to take Fuzhou and Fujian Province as much as possible, Ma Bao and others did not wait for the arrival of the naval division, so they launched an attack purely with the army, but they were powerless to stop it by water. Of course, Geng Jingzhong's actions also surprised Ma Bao and others, they didn't expect Geng Jingzhong to be so seedless.

The sound of gunfire gradually faded away, and Geng Jingzhong sat on the boat, his face was sad, and he looked back at Fuzhou from time to time. Having lost the nest that has been in business for many years, it is now like a lost dog, sad, sad, dazed, and wandering...... Almost all of the negative feelings were concentrated on Geng Jingzhong.

The guards Xia Wang, Lu Yingji, Changshi Chen Bin and others were also relatively speechless, and their expressions were gloomy. The incident was hasty, and their families were all trapped in the city, and it was reasonable to grieve and be sad.

"What's the good of living?" Geng Jingzhong wept in his eyes, and wept heartbrokenly: "The city fell and he should be martyred, so as to live up to his reputation." Now he is panicked like a lost dog, which makes people laugh in vain! ”

"Lord Wang, stay in the green mountains, don't be afraid of no firewood." Changshi Chen Bin sighed and persuaded him politely, "The husband should endure it, and keep it useful, and there will be a day of revenge in the future." ”

"Revenge?" Geng Jingzhong's affection was not inspired by this bold statement, but became even more depressed, "The elite soldiers and strong generals will all be lost, relatives and family members will fall into the hands of the enemy, and only one person will be left, what will be used to avenge the shame?" ”

"The prince has worked hard and made great achievements, if the court sits idly by, wouldn't it be chilling?" Chen Bin continued to persuade: "If the elite of the Eight Banners is exhausted, it will be able to destroy the enemy and lose the land repeatedly. ”

Geng Jingzhong shook his head again and again, knowing in his heart that he now has no soldiers and no generals, where will the Qing court pay attention? To be able to support it is already a luxury.

"Boat, there's a ship ahead." Suddenly, an exclamation of surprise interrupted everyone's sadness and silence.

Geng Jingzhong got up suddenly, raised his eyes into the distance, and when he saw the flag on the ship, his heart sank into the abyss. After a moment of stunnedness, he jumped, splashed in all directions, and fell into the river.

…………… (To be continued......)