Today is the twentieth day of the lunar month, and the work and entertainment have increased.

Chapter 300: Hunting in Nanjing

"Nanjing is the ancient capital of the six dynasties, since Emperor Taizu built the capital, in the original building on the great expansion, to Hongwu 23 years to build, lasted more than 20 years, the outer outline of the city is full of 120 miles long, around the city of Nanjing, is a door of 10,000 people, but also more than 300,000, if all counted, there are no more than 500,000 people, to hit Nanjing is a fool's dream."

Chen Cao's army was stationed ten miles outside the Qilin Gate in Nanjing, and he himself led a group of followers out of three miles to overlook Nanjing City with a clairvoyant mirror on the Kangjiaji Gaosaka ground outside the Qilin Gate.

"This is also the reason why I am reluctant to attack Nanjing alone, even if I use explosives to blow up the city of Nanjing, but there is also the inner city wall, the highest point of the outer city is sixteen meters high, the Zhengyang Gate of the inner city is thirteen meters high, and the height of the other inner city gates is about ten meters, you say, just rely on soldiers to climb and attack the city, it is absolutely impossible;

What's more, the strength of the Nanjing city wall requires a large dose of explosives, and the effect may not be so good after the explosion. ”

The reason why our Qing Dynasty was able to invade Nanjing was also the credit of the surrender faction, Emperor Hongguang, who fled without a fight, and Qian Qianyi, who took the lead in opening the door.

"Where is King Fu's army?"

In the face of Chen Cao's inquiry, Zhao Xince immediately stepped forward and replied: "Since Zhang Gaoping's army came to Shangyuanmen, Qin Liangyu withdrew the soldiers and horses stationed at Dasheng Pass, gave up Dasheng Pass, and turned to hold Nanjing;

King Fu's army went all the way north, and Li Wanchang, the deputy commander-in-chief, had already led an army of 200,000 to arrive outside Ande Gate. ”

came on a horsetail and stayed not far from Chen Cao: "Grandpa, the envoy of King Fu came to convey the message of King Fu, and King Fu asked Grandpa to go to the big tent of the Chinese army outside Ande Gate to see him." ”

.

"Chen Cao, meet His Royal Highness King Fu."

"Hahaha..."

Zhu Changxun walked to Chen Cao's side with trembling fat all over his body, and gently patted Chen Cao's shoulder: "Lone Aiqing helps, like a fish in water, this time the Lone army arrived safely under the city of Nanjing, and Aiqing has contributed a lot." ”

Chen Cao bowed slightly, looking very respectful: "Don't dare, the minister just did what he did." ”

"Hahaha... Aiqing is too modest, come on, come on, Lone has already ordered someone to prepare wine and food in Gaobanpo, let's drink together..."

The ten-mile official pavilion outside the Ande Gate is located outside Wannian Town, the scenery here is okay, the dignitaries of Nanjing will come here to go on a spring outing accompanied by the family at the turn of spring and summer on weekdays, but it is November, there is only dry grass everywhere.

Under the pergola is the place where Chen Cao and Zhu Changxun and others have a banquet, after three rounds of wine, Zhu Changxun should speak first: "Aiqing, this time I hunted in Nanjing with the Lone Society, how many soldiers and horses did you bring to help the war?" ”

"Not much, 120,000 people."

Zhu Changxun nodded thoughtfully, and then said: "What do Aiqing think we have a chance of winning this attack on Nanjing?" ”

"His Royal Highness Fengtian Jingjing, is the division of justice, the northern army is sitting in Nanjing is just a grasshopper after the autumn, it won't be long before he jumps, the minister thinks that His Royal Highness will come to Nanjing in person, after capturing Nanjing, he should be able to worship his ancestors in Nanjing, and then board the treasure to benefit the people of the world."

Zhu Changxun heard that even Chen Cao supported him to be emperor in Nanjing, and his face turned a little ruddy at the moment, and he praised Chen Cao for being sensible from time to time: "Hey... Lone is the uncle of the current emperor, if he does not have the name of righteousness..."

When Chen Cao heard this, he said: "The first emperor died strangely, and His Royal Highness's accession to the throne was in accordance with the will of heaven. ”

"Hey, hey... A good one conforms to the will of God, and Lone actually thinks so too. ”

Since Zhu Changxun got Fengyang, he has the idea of being the emperor in Zhongdu, but it seems that the name is a little unjustifiable, and Nanjing is the right way, after worshipping the mausoleum of Emperor Taizu in Nanjing, he can rightfully ascend the throne and be called the emperor, why not?

"What is Aiqing's good plan for attacking Nanjing this time?"

Chen Cao was reluctant to attack Nanjing first, this kind of thing was best for Zhu Changxun's people to do, so he said: "Most of the firearms troops under the minister's command have been transferred, and the minister can talk about breaking the city and handing over the sharp weapons to His Highness, as long as His Highness can cover the sappers under the minister's command to arrive under the Ande Gate, I believe that they can attack the outer city within one day." ”

Zhu Changxun's eyes lit up, and he was immediately overjoyed, when he arrived in Nanjing, the generals and strategists under his command carefully distinguished the current defensive situation in Nanjing, and the city of Nanjing, which was defended by 500,000 troops, could be described as impregnable, if it was to be attacked, I am afraid that it would lose a lot of troops in vain, that is, before seeing Chen Cao, Li Wanchang said that if he wanted to break through Nanjing, he would not suffer 100,000 casualties, and it was because of this problem that he Zhu Changxun couldn't wait to call Chen Cao, who had just arrived in Nanjing.

"Really?"

"How dare the minister open his mouth in front of His Highness."

"If this is very good, very good, hahaha... When this is a good thing, when it is a big deal..."

"In addition, in order to make His Highness's siege road to the city easier, the minister has temporarily mobilized all the 100 artillery pieces under his command and handed them over to His Highness to attack the city."

Zhu Changxun stood up excitedly: "Aiqing, if you capture Nanjing, you will be the first hero, and you will definitely give you the throne of the county." ”

Chen Cao hurriedly clenched his fists: "Your Highness is wrong to love, the minister is just doing his own thing..."

"Hahaha..."

.

Nanjing City, the Governor's Mansion of the Five Armies

Governor of Nanjing, Nanjing Military, Nanjing Military Department, Shangshu Qi Boyu; Cao Huachun, the eunuch of Nanjing; Nanjing garrison, the governor of the Houjun Governor's Mansion, Xu Hongji, the Duke of Wei; Shizhu Tusi Officer, Mrs. Sanpin, Governor of the Chinese Army, and Qin Liangyu, the Chief Soldier; The new Nanjing assistant guard, the crown prince and the prince Sun Chengzong, as well as the nobles left behind in Nanjing, and the governors of the five armies all gathered together.

Qi Boyu was on the main seat, Xu Hongji and Qin Liangyu sat on the left and right sides, and then Sun Chengzong and Cao Huachun and other officials and generals.

"Hold on to the big victory... Definitely not a good idea. ”

Sun Chengzong broke everyone's silence, abandoning the Dasheng Pass was equivalent to completely exposing the south and west of Nanjing, but to their surprise, Zhang Gaoping's 100,000 horses actually crossed the Yangtze River, broke through the Longtan Sailor camp, and directly arrived at Shangyuanmen from the Yangtze River.

The defense line in the north has been torn apart, and it is useless to stick to the big victory pass in the south, not to mention, Nanjing is too big, although they have now mobilized 500,000 people to guard Nanjing, but for this big city that can accommodate tens of millions of people, this is really a drop in the bucket.

"Chen Cao's army has arrived ten miles outside the Qilin Gate, and according to the spies, their men and horses are more than 100,000."

"Has Xu Chengqing woken up?"

Faced with Qi Boyu's inquiry, Xu Hongji replied with some unhappiness: "I woke up yesterday." ”

Because of Xu Chengqing's identity, coupled with the fact that he was also the only general who fought with Chen Cao, although he lost Changzhou and Zhenjiang one after another, he took the initiative to invite Yingying to go over, which was not a loss of land, and although Zhenjiang was defeated in the first battle, with the soldiers and horses he brought back, Danyang City only lost less than 10,000 people after it was broken.

Thinking that Xu Chengqing knelt in front of Xu Hongji last night, and the two talked alone in the study for an hour, Xu Chengqing naturally would not hide that Chen Cao took the initiative to let him back, and more than 30,000 people under his command kept silent about being captured, so Xu Hongji ordered Xu Chengqing's troops to be mobilized overnight to guard Lime Mountain.

"Did Wei Guogong get any valuable news?"

Xu Hongji looked at Qi Boyu: "The entire 120,000 army..."

Xu Hongji was expressionless: "There are all firearms troops, and they blew up the city wall of Danyang within half a day, and Danyang has been lost since then." ”

"I received the news last night that Xu Shiji's troops were defeated in Lijiaji, and only Xu Shiji evacuated Lijiaji with less than 5,000 men, and the rest were killed."

In fact, everyone present knew the news, and in the face of the rebels who came all the way with the banner of 'Fengtian Jingnan', they simply had no choice, and they thought of today's situation after losing Fengyang.

It's just that after the real rebels arrived in Nanjing, the princes present didn't know what to do one by one.

Thinking that Emperor Chengzu launched the Battle of Jingjing, there were not a few responders in Nanjing, and at this moment, the old Qi Boyu saw those young generals of the Five Armies Governor's Mansion, and his eyes were a little unkind.

"Do you have any people here who have secretly communicated with King Fu?"

No one responded.

"Since there is none, then the old man can arrange it with all his heart." Qi Boyu looked around: "The rebels came from three directions, one is the 100,000 rebels of Shangyuanmen in the north city, the other is the 200,000 rebels of Andemen in the southwest, and the third is the 120,000 rebels of Qilinmen in the east, the total number of rebels is 420,000, plus the military servants, the number of millions can be had;

The old man has already sent people to report to the Beijing division in an urgent manner for 800 li, saying that the rebels are surrounded by millions of people in Nanjing, and the imperial court is asked to send troops to rescue, so the old man now orders in his capacity as the governor of Nanjing, that all armies strictly guard their own defense lines, stick to Nanjing, and absolutely not let the rebels take any advantage;

Please ask Wei Guogong to send 100,000 people to gather with the generals, and Xu Chengqing's troops to defend the Qilin Gate in Dongcheng and guard against Chen Rebellion's troops;

Inspector Sun sent 100,000 people to gather with the generals to defend the Shangyuan Gate of the northern city and guard against the rebel Zhang Gaoping's headquarters;

Mrs. Qin sent 100,000 people to gather with the generals, and the Shizhu Tusi soldiers of the headquarters to defend the southwest Ande Gate and guard the front;

The old man raised 100,000 soldiers and horses as the soldiers of each gate, and in addition, the last 100,000 people were raised by Gonggong Cao to garrison the inner city. ”

The people who called the names all arched their hands towards Qi Boyu in unison, and in response, Qi Boyu said: "Everything must be prepared for the worst, in case the outer city is lost, all troops must return to the inner city as soon as possible, according to the strong city defense of the inner city and the rebels, Nanjing must not be lost;

In the end, the old man has to say something that you are unwilling to face, most of you are the left-behind nobles and left-behind generals in Nanjing, and the old man, as the secretary of the Nanjing Military Department, is naturally responsible for defending the land;

So

Nanjing can't be lost, if Nanjing is lost...

From the old man down, all of you...

Apologize to Your Majesty..."