Ten years of Kangxi in the Qing Dynasty, the tenth day of October.

On the periphery of Ruian County, Wenzhou Prefecture, Zhejiang Province.

One by one, the guns were lifted up to the seven earthen batteries that had just been completed, the muzzles were all aimed at the city wall of Ruian County, the shirtless gunners were all in place, baskets of solid shells and boxes of gunpowder were neatly stacked behind the gun emplacements, and the ammunition men were standing there, nervously waiting for the order to load and fire.

Along the northeast side of Ruian County, 20,000 Qing soldiers drawn from Fujian and Zhejiang have built dozens of fortresses arranged in an arc, each fortress has been set up with sub-cannons, afraid of no less than 100 guns, Zi Gong has been installed in place, all pointing to the city investment. The gunners had already prepared their fire folds and stood beside the sub-cannons, all waiting with bated breath.

Geng Jingzhong, the prince of Jingnan, together with Fan Chengmo, the governor of Zhejiang, Sai Baili, the governor of Zhejiang, and the general of Hangzhou, Tuer Boshen, climbed the "point platform" built on the Long Mountain in the north of Ruian County. Longshan is only more than two miles away from Ruian County, and there is no obstruction in the middle, and you can see all the large battlefields in the north of Ruian County without a clairvoyant mirror.

There were already many officers waiting on the barracks. Seeing Geng Jingzhong, Fan Chengmo, Sebeli, Turburgh and others coming in, they all went to the court together. Chen Yonghua, the helmsman of the Jiangnan branch of the Tiandihui, was also among them, and he came to Zhejiang in the name of Geng Jingzhong's Fujian Xiangyong Governor to help fight "Aobai" and Wu Sanwei.

And Chen Yonghua's boss Geng Jingzhong volunteered to ask Kangxi for the first time to lead troops to suppress thieves for the imperial court after "Ao Bai" and Wu Sanwei raised troops in Ruian. After getting permission, the prince immediately ordered 2,000 elite soldiers from his own domain, plus 2,000 Fujian coastal villagers recruited by Chen Yonghua, and drove to Zhejiang by land and water to help.

However, even with the support of 4,000 Fujian soldiers, the Zhejiang soldiers under the command of Fan Chengmo, Sebeli, and Tuerboshen did not go smoothly in the siege of Ruian!

That "Aobai" is powerful after all!

After all, he was the commander of the Qing Dynasty, and he was too familiar with the tactics and weaknesses of the Qing soldiers. Therefore, Fan Chengmo, Sebery, and Turberg's use of soldiers have all been "calculated" by "Aobai"!

It is no exaggeration to say that before the three soldiers of Fan, Sai, and Tu came out, the "Aobai" on the opposite side was already studying their combat strategy with Wu Sanwei and Liu Guoxuan, the general sent by Dayuandao.

Therefore, although there are few soldiers on the side of "Aobai", they can always anticipate the enemy's opportunity! Either set up an ambush on the way of the Qing army's advance, or attack the Qing army's grain warehouse, or concentrate forces to attack the Qing army's way.

After a few months, Fan Chengmo, Sebeli, and Tur Shenbo will not be able to be rectified!

Fortunately, Emperor Kangxi was still very supportive of them, although they tried their best to ask for guilt, but Kangxi did not condemn them, and at first he wrote excerpts to criticize them, and later changed to write "chicken soup texts" to encourage them to fight in the north again and again - because at that time, the news of the rout in southern Sichuan had already reached Beijing, so in Kangxi's view, the war in Zhejiang was still a bright spot.

No matter how many defeats Fan Chengmo, Sebery, and Tur Shenbo were, they lost some green battalion soldiers. The territory was not lost much, and the Eight Banners had never been on the battlefield, so naturally there was no loss.

Such a record. It's okay, too!

As for the Green Camp, there are no more recruits! As long as Zhejiang's garrison Eight Banners don't let Aobai serve in a pot, and at the same time, Aobai's territory doesn't expand, then Kangxi feels that they have meritorious. After all, with Yue Le, Leer Jin, and Mo Luo as a group of pit goods to compare, the battle situation in Zhejiang is simply blind.

In early August, after the news that Wu Sangui defeated the imperial court soldiers in Sichuan and quickly swept through Sichuan and invaded Hanzhong in Shaanxi reached Zhejiang, Fan Chengmo, Se Baili, and Tur Shenbo also felt that they were okay, but the situation here in Zhejiang was getting worse and worse!

Because the gentry and heroes of the green forest here in Zhejiang heard that Wu Sangui had beaten the Qing Heavenly Soldiers in Sichuan, and they all began to move!

Originally, most of the heroes in Zhejiang looked down on Wu Sangui's little brother Wu Sanwei. After all, Wu Sangui is far away in Yungui, even if he wants to rebel, he doesn't know when he will be able to hit Zhejiang.

But when Wu Sangui performed a "Great Breaking Soldiers and Blitz Sichuan", the heroes and heroes in Zhejiang were boiling all of a sudden!

According to the battle of southern Sichuan, Wu Sangui will not be long before he "reaches the land of Youyan", if he doesn't act now, I'm afraid he will miss this opportunity to open the country from the dragon.

So from mid-August, the Qing troops arranged around Ruian also fought with the heroes who went to Ruian to surrender to Wu from time to time. And the arrogance of "Wenzhou Aobai" is also visible to the naked eye arrogant!

In late August, he even sent troops to cross the Yunyang River and laid down the Feiyun Pass, which was heavily defended by the Qing army!

At that time, the situation in the whole of Zhejiang could be said to be precarious. And at this critical moment, Chen Yonghua, the leader of "Min Yong" under Geng Jingzhong, suddenly proposed a "wonderful method to break the ao"!

This "magic method of breaking the aoao" is actually not complicated, and it can be summed up in the six words "hardening the village and fighting in a stupid battle".

Specifically, it is to fight as little as possible in the wilderness, and slowly approach Ryan with the method of step-by-step camp and fortress advancement.

That "Aobai" is more refined than a monkey, more fierce than a tiger, and can even pinch it, and the wild wave war is still like this?

Since it can't be fought, then simply change the way of playing, first build fortresses and camps in the north, east, and west directions of Ruian County, block the passage of "Aobai" and Wu Sanwei to expand outward, and then tighten the encirclement step by step, repair the fortress and camp, and finally approach to Ruian City.

As long as it can be pushed to the bottom of Ryan City, it will be a war of attrition!

In the Qing Dynasty, some were artillery and gunpowder, and some were green camp village bravery. It's really not good, if you are fenced and hungry, you can also take Ruian City!

After Geng Jingzhong, Fan Chengmo, Sebeli, Tur Shenbo and others adopted this method, the battle of Ruian really took a turn for the better, although "Aobai" and Wu Sanwei sent troops to fight the fortress of the Qing army several times, but because of the lack of firepower, they could not capture it at all, so they soon fell into a predicament.

And the encirclement of the Qing army was tightened more and more, and in early October, it finally advanced to the city of Ruian!

Geng Jingzhong, Fan Chengmo, Sebeli, and Tur Shenbo stood side by side on the platform, looking at the Ruian City on the opposite side, which was full of flags, and there were many thieves on the head of the city, and there seemed to be one behind each battlement!

They were in good order, most of them were motionless, and only a few walked up and down the walls.

"Chen Dusi!"

Geng Jingzhong withdrew his gaze and looked back at Chen Yonghua standing on the side, because the method of "fighting a dumb battle and forming a camp" worked, Chen Yonghua had been promoted! Promoted to the green camp capital division of the fourth grade.

"The last general!"

Chen Yonghua immediately came out of the ranks, looking eager to try, standing in front of Geng Jingzhong with a big grin, at first glance, he was a strong man who didn't know the rules.

Geng Jingzhong smiled and asked, "What do you think?" ”

"Returning to the prince," Chen Yonghua said, "I feel that Ao Bai and Wu Sanwei are probably singing empty city plans, and their brigade has already evacuated by water, so in the face of the pressure of the imperial army, the city will be so quiet." ”

In fact, what Chen Yonghua said, Fan Chengmo, Sebeli and Tur Shenbo also saw it, especially Tur Shenbo, he has the old army of Batu Luyong, can you still know this?

Now that the artillery forts and fortresses of the official army are outside the city of Ruian, Ao Bai and Wu Sanwei have the support of Zheng Jing, and they can escape by water at any time, how can they not run?

But they don't see through it. After all, the big guy has fought too hard in the past few months, and a lot of people have died, if there is no big military merit, how can this be rewarded?

But now it has been broken by Chen Yonghua, a "new officialdom".

Geng Jingzhong nodded, looked at Fan Chengmo, Sebeli, and Tur Shenbo, and said with a wry smile: "This method of fighting a dumb battle step by step is not good at all, it is easy to win and difficult to destroy thieves. And the fight is too hard, and the people below don't have much credit, but they have a lot of hard work. ”

"It's a big win if you win!" Fan Chengmo said, "Although there is no great achievement, the southeast can finally be safe!" ”

Sebeli also nodded, and agreed: "The southeast can be stronger than anything else!" ”

Uncle Tuer touched his white beard and said with a smile: "The people below have fought hard, and they finally won our officials, so they naturally have to report more credit to the people below, otherwise if they encounter this in the future, they will be unmotivated." ”

Geng Jingzhong said with a smile: "Tujunmen, you always say that you are a senior in the army, and you know the heart of the army very well. I'm waiting in front of you, that's the younger generation!

However, the younger generations are still worried that Ao Bai and Wu Sanwei will give up Ruian, but they may not go too far, maybe they will just retreat to the islands off Zhejiang and Fujian, and when we collect our troops and return to the camp, they will kill them again. When the time comes, how should we explain to the emperor? ”

"This," said the Tur gentleman, who didn't know what to say.

This Wu Sanwei and Ao Bai are entrenched on the island, and from time to time they enter the Kou, aren't you the prince of Jingnan just raising your own respect?

Fan Chengmo asked Geng Jingzhong: "Lord Shizi, what do you say we should do?" ”

Geng Jingzhong said: "Benjue, look, we still need to do a little more sailor. Why don't we invite the imperial court together, set up a sea route to aid the suppression of the water division town, and specialize in sea worship? ”

The so-called "aid to suppress the town" is actually a mobile force. In the early days of the Qing Dynasty, there were still some "reinforcement" troops in the green battalion system that could be pulled out at any time to fight in a mobile manner.

And the sea route to aid the Sailor Town, of course, is a "mobile fleet"!

"That's a good idea!" Zhejiang's water and land admiral Se Baili frowned and said, "However, Ao Bai and Wu Sanwei are obviously colluding with the pirates on Dayuan Island, but our Green Camp Sailor can't beat them!" ”

"Saijunmen," Chen Yonghua waited for him to say, "there is a way to deal with the pirates on Dayuan Island." ”

"How? Let's hear it. Sebeli asked.

Chen Yonghua said: "The lowly position is actually a maritime merchant, and they know best the ability of the Dayuan Island pirates, and their ability is not to fight a naval battle, but to be able to travel freely and erratically along the southeast coast. The naval divisions of the officers and soldiers are the same as the land divisions, rowing the sea and guarding them, each in charge of its own stall. This method is okay to protect the city, but when it comes to the boundless sea, it will be difficult to resist the big pirates.

And if you want to resist the big pirates, you have to train a sailor who does not guard the limits of the defense area, and has no responsibility to guard the sea, and can come and go freely on the southeast coast. Wherever the big pirates go, this sailor can follow wherever they go, even if they don't fight, as long as they keep chasing and following, they can also bring down the big pirates. ”

"Don't fight. Just follow along? ”

"Yes!" Chen Yonghua nodded, "Just follow it!" Because the Dayuan pirates said that they were thieves, in fact, they were mainly merchants, and they maintained the fleet of sailors through trade with Japan, Nanyang, and Xiyi. If our Sailor has been following, what will happen to their business? If you don't have to do business, what kind of water keeper do you have? ”

Sebeli shook his head: "But where can we go to find a sailor who can always follow the big man Haikou?" ”

Chen Yonghua said with a smile: "Saijunmen, there are ready-made on the sea, as long as the emperor is willing to recruit An, tens of thousands of sailors can gather at any time!" ”

"What do you mean to recruit pirates?" Sebeli frowned, "Most of the pirates on the southeast coast don't deal with the imperial court, and they are willing to help the imperial court deal with the pirates Zheng family?" ”

"Saijunmen," Chen Yonghua said, "as long as the imperial court can allow these maritime merchants to enter the port to buy and trade in Japan, Korea, Annam, and Luzon in the name of the imperial court's official ships, they will take refuge in the imperial court." Even if they are unwilling to fight with the Zheng family, as long as they rob the Zheng family's business, the Zheng family will become poorer and poorer. If you are poor, don't you have no money to be a sailor? ”

"Yes, yes," Geng Jingzhong said, "That's all this silver, let us earn it, won't the Zheng family have it?" ”

"Let us earn it?" Seberic's eyes lit up, as if he had heard the truest truth in the world.

The Zheng family can be arrogant for so many years, isn't it because they are rich? If this money is all returned to a few of them, won't Zheng Jing be gone?

In this way, both money is made and thieves are suppressed. This is really "loyalty and greed", people who have been officials since ancient times probably dreamed of such a good thing, right?

"Great, just do it!" Sebri strothed his hands and laughed.

Fan Chengmo also stroked his beard and laughed: "This is a solution!" ”

Uncle Tur slapped his face, "Chen Dusi, your method is good, why didn't we think of it in the past?" I think this aid to the water division town can be done. As for this waterway reinforcement and suppression army, Chen Dusi, just come on! ”

Fan Chengmo also said: "Count yourself as an official!" This officer also protects you as a general soldier! ”

Sebeli also smiled and said: "Chen Dusi, the stability of our coastal areas in Zhejiang and Fujian depends on your ability to make money, make all the money, and don't leave a big son for Zheng Jing!" ”

Geng Jingzhong immediately said to Chen Yonghua: "Fufu, do a good job, wait until you defeat Ruian, Benjue and Fan Zhijun, Tujunmen, and Saijunmen will promote you as the chief soldier!" ”

"Huh!"

Chen Yonghua responded loudly, made another salute, and then turned around and took a red order flag from the hand of a personal soldier and waved it heavily!

Arranged outside Ruian City, all the cannons and small cannons suddenly shook at the same time, the firelight first spit out, followed by the thunderous cannons, the smoke was filled, and in the blink of an eye, the small Ruian City head, the smoke pillar and earth and stone rose!

Although Geng Jingzhong, Fan Chengmo, Sebeli, and Tur Shenbo all know that there are no more Ao Bai and Wu Sanwei in Ruian City, but they still have to act well. This is Emperor Kangxi's longing for the stars, the moon, and the great victory for a long time!

"Great victory, great victory"

"Your Majesty, Zhejiang has a great victory!"

Forbidden City, Qianqing Palace, South Study.

Kangxi, who was holding Yue Le, Leerjin, Mo Luo, Varka (General Xi'an), and Jia Hanfu who sent someone to ask for guilt, suddenly heard Suo Etu and Mingzhu crying a little, but at the same time full of joyful shouts.

Those few petitions were made because of the loss of Hanzhong Mansion and Xing'an Mansion. It's frustrating, but it's also to be expected.

Sichuan has collapsed for thousands of miles, and how can Hanzhong and Xing'an, which belong to Shaanxi but are located south of the Qinling Mountains, be able to hold on?

These two prefectures can hold out until October, and Yue Le, Le Erjin, Mo Luo, Varka, and the newly appointed governor of Shaanxi, Jia Hanfuzhen, have done their best.

Of course, Wu Sangui's speed of action was also slower than Kangxi imagined - this may be because Sichuan's territory is too large, the roads and bridges are too poor, and it is not easy to raise military rations, supplies, and people's soldiers, and at the same time, Wu Sangui also has to seize the territory of Guizhou and march to Huguang, so he delayed time.

However, those few officials who guard Shaanxi still have to ask for guilt. After all, I lost two mansions!

And for Kangxi and his Qing Dynasty, the real test should be in the spring of next year, it is already October, the weather is cold in the blink of an eye, Wu Sangui's army should be transferred to rest, and at the same time will begin to prepare for next year's Northern Expedition.

Wait until next spring or summer until next year's autumn harvest at the latest (if Wu Sangui can't raise enough military food from Sichuan, he will have to be in Hanzhong Tuntian), Wu Sangui will personally lead the army and go north out of Qishan.

If the Guanzhong is not guarded at that time, then the Qing Dynasty will really be in danger!

And now this Zhejiang victory, for Kangxi, who is eager to stabilize people's hearts, reverse the decline, and accelerate preparations, is really too timely!

He hurriedly looked up and looked at the door of the south study, and saw that Suo Etu and Mingzhu were also walking in quickly with tears in their eyes, and then they both knelt on the ground and reported loudly.

"Your Majesty, Geng Jingzhong and Fan Chengmo have finally made meritorious contributions!"

"Your Majesty, great joy, Ruian has recovered, Ao Bai and Wu Sanwei led the remnants to flee to Southeast Da'an by sea, and the imperial court can finally concentrate on dealing with Wu Sangui!"

Kangxi let out a long breath, and his numb face finally showed a rare smile: "Thank God. Geng Jingzhong and Fan Chengmo have done a good job, and I want to reward them well! ”

(End of chapter)