September 22, late at night, Laodao River battlefield, west of Yongxing City. The offensive is like a tide, and the bayonets are like a forest.

Thousands of elite officers and soldiers of the Model Second Town, by the moonlight, with the support of twenty six-pound bronze cannons, formed five battalion-level columns and once again launched a fierce attack on Wu Yingqi's precarious right flank defense line. Wu Yingqi's army had been fighting fiercely with the Ming army since the early morning of the 22nd, and had been fighting hard for more than eight hours until now, both in terms of physical strength and the ability to withstand casualties, it had reached the limit. And the cover of the vast night gave Wu Yingqi a chance to sneak away from some of the Huguang soldiers who had a weak will to fight.

Unlike the soldiers of Ganshan Prefecture who came from afar and were famous for their "hard-fought wars", the Hunan soldiers and Hubei soldiers who were born in the land of fish and rice in Huguang did not have a particularly tenacious will to fight, but also knew where to flee because they were familiar with the terrain near the Laodao River. In addition, because of the relationship between Wu Guogui, Wu Shijue and Li Zhongshan, the Hunan soldiers under their command did not have much ill will towards the Ming army, and they are also familiar with the "national policy" of the Ming Dynasty - the Ming people and the soldiers of the Great Zhou Dynasty are actually the same kind, and the two sides are not mortal enemies. Only three or four years ago, the Hunan soldiers under Wu Guogui were all Ming troops!

In fact, these people also have expectations for Wu Guogui and Wu Shijue's defection, on the one hand, they are adoptive fathers and adoptive grandfathers, and on the other hand, they are sons-in-law and brother-in-law, so if they can't beat them, they will change camps!

When the battle went on until the late night of the 22nd, part of it was temporarily under the command of Wu Shicong, and now it had suffered heavy casualties, and there was no hope of victory, and the Hunan government soldiers, who had long expected to change their camp, began to move into 36 strategies.

At first, they fled in groups, but when the Ming army, under the personal command of Li Zhongzheng, launched a large-scale white-knuckle charge again, these Hunan soldiers began to flee the battlefield in whole platoons. And the Hubei people on the battlefield found that the Hunan people had fled, so what are you waiting for? Behind it is Changsha, Hunan, Changsha! Hunan people don't care, what else are they fighting for?

As the soldiers from Hunan and Hubei fled one after another, the front in charge of Wu Shicong finally ushered in the moment of collapse, and in the vast darkness, the "little jade handsome" of the old Wu family only heard a panicked cry from a Hunan or Hubei accent, "Lose quack!" Wu Shicong, who is also familiar with the Ming military system, knows that this is the sound of the Ming army's charge, and then there are bursts of earth-shattering shouts and the sound of dense musket fire, which makes him realize that the general trend has gone!

Because shouts of killing and gunfire did not come from directly in front of him, but from his flanks, or even from behind.

This means that the Ming army has already broken through his front in several directions!

And years of battlefield experience taught him that it was impossible to regroup a collapsed front at night

After understanding his situation, Wu Shicong decisively gave the order to retreat, and then arranged a few cavalry battalions with spare strength to act as palace troops, and then rushed to Wu Yingqi's Chinese army with his personal guard cavalry. And Wu Yingqi had just repelled an attack organized by Li Fuchen at this time, but he was very embarrassed, his war horse was killed by the bullets of the Ming army, and he himself fell from the horse, and broke an arm, when Wu Shicong found him, the two medical officers were busy bandaging him!

Seeing his son appear in front of him in embarrassment, Wu Yingqi didn't care about crying out in pain, but asked in a trembling voice: "Shicong, why are you here?" Could it be?"

"Defeated, defeated" Wu Shicong shook his head, "The Hunan soldiers and Hubei soldiers can't bear it anymore, although our old Qin soldiers can still hold on, but after all, it will be difficult to support themselves. So the boy gave the order to retreat! Moreover, the flintlock pistols of the Ming army are too powerful, and our people have too many casualties, and it is nothing more than a fight to fight! ”

Wu Yingqi lost the ability to judge almost for a while, this battle of the Laodao River is a big battle related to the life and death of the Great Zhou Kingdom! Moreover, Hunan Provincial Changsha is in the southwest of the Laodao River battlefield behind it, if this decisive battle is defeated, then Changsha will not be defended, and all the territory east of the Xiangjiang River will probably be lost in a very short time. The next step is probably the whole of Hunan, and even the part south of the Yangtze River in Hubei! Guangxi, Yunnan, and Guizhou will probably fall one after another, and the northern part of Hubei may also be difficult to preserve.

What will Wu Zhou have left at that time? I'm afraid that even the Great Zhou Kingdom itself will cease to exist, right? The old Wu family's dream of being the emperor is over? It's ridiculous, he still wants to compete with his brother Wu Yingxiong for the throne before, what else is he fighting for? Do you want to fight for the king of a dead country?

Liu Xuanchu, who served Wu Yingqi as a member of the army, was quite calm, he and a few staff officers compared and compared with the map, and finally said to Wu Yingqi: "His Royal Highness the King of Qin, Changsha City cannot be defended, we must withdraw across the Xiangjiang River as soon as possible." Only after crossing the Xiangjiang River can we regroup and find a way out."

Wu Shicong also hurriedly said to his father: "Father, we can retreat along the Laodao River now, there is our pontoon bridge on the Xiangjiang River No matter what, let's cross the Xiangjiang River first!" ”

"Then what about your third uncle?" Wu Yingqi has not forgotten his brotherhood at this time.

Liu Xuanchu said: "King, after all, the King of Chu is General Li's father-in-law, General Li will not kill him completely, and even if we die, we won't be able to carry it for too long." Now while King Chu's troops have not collapsed, we can still withdraw! ”

This is to leave Wu Guogui to carry the thunder and run first. This Liu Xuanchu is really proficient in "Guanning Military Science"!

Wu Shicong and Wu Yushuai said loudly: "Father, stay in the green mountains, don't be afraid of no firewood, as long as our old brothers in Ganshan and Shaanxi are still there, even if we return to Shaanxi and Gansu, we can still find a way out!" ”

"A way out?" Wu Yingqi glanced at his son, "Shicong, do you think that if we defeat this battle, can the Great Zhou Kingdom still have a future?" ”

"Father." Wu Shicong gave Liu Xuanchu a look first.

Liu Xuanchu immediately beckoned his staff officers to quickly pack up their things and leave, and when he saw that everyone was gone, Wu Shicong lowered his voice and said to his father: "Father, even if Da Zhou has no future, our father and son do not mean that there is no future!" ”

"This. Da Zhou has no future, can we still have a future? ”

"Father, you are not the emperor of the Great Zhou yet!" Wu Shicong said to his father, "You are just a prince of Da Zhou."

"But your grandfather is ready to make me the crown prince."

"Father," Wu Shicong shook his head, "We can't carry this pot."

Wu Yingqi wanted to say something more, but the gunshots and shouts of killing outside were getting closer and closer!

He also knew that he couldn't hold on any longer, so he had to sigh and say, "Providence, it's all providence. It seems that if the father is destined to be born, there will be no blessing for the son of heaven to sit on the country! ”

He paused again, and finally stomped his foot and spat out a single word: "Withdraw!" ”

Wu Yingqi and Wu Lington's run, Wu Guogui and Wu Luchel are of course miserable!

Because Li Zhongshan had already interrogated the prisoners at this time, he knew that the "Wu Lucher" who copied his own back road and almost turned himself into "Li Polun" was his father-in-law Wu Guogui!

This is not deserved!

Li Zhongshan was angry at that time, and he had to arrest this Wu Lucher not only to relieve hatred, but also for Hunan! Wu Guogui is Wu Zhou's Hunan governor, and the Zhichong captains of Zhichong Prefecture in various parts of Hunan are his subordinates.

Taking him, not to mention the spread of Hunan, can also create the most favorable conditions for smoothing all parts of Hunan in the future and turning Hunan's government soldiers into Ming people.

This Hunan Bing. But the Hunan army!

Therefore, after being convinced that Wu Yingqi and Wu Shicong's troops began to withdraw from the front line, Li Zhongshan handed over the task of pursuing the fleeing enemy to Li Zhongzheng, and then together with Li Fuchen and Li Laishun, he began to try to surround Wu Guogui.

Wu Guogui found that the signs were wrong, and decisively organized a breakthrough, but his position was very unfavorable for him to withdraw from the battlefield. To the north of him was the Laodao River, to the east was Li Laishun, to the west was Li Zhongshan, and the only south for him to evacuate was outflanked by the cavalry led by Li Fuchen.

In order to break out of the encirclement, Wu Guogui hurriedly dispatched tens of thousands of cavalry to the south to assault. However, it was blocked by Li Fuchen and Li Zhongshan's personal guard cavalry, who dismounted and fought with flintlock pistols. Although some people rushed out, but the large army mistakenly thought that it had encountered the resistance of the Ming army's model town and retreated, and when Wu Guogui reorganized the second wave of breakthrough troops, a foot army town under Li Fuchen had already arrived and launched a horizontal formation in the south of Wu Guogui's headquarters.

After trying to break through several times without success, Wu Guogui had to lead his troops to retreat to a bay in the Laodao River, relying on the river to protect the flank, and then reluctantly formed a defensive line with pikemen and musketeers due south, and came to wait for reinforcements.

At this point, the Ming army commanded by Li Zhongshan, Li Fuchen, and Li Laishun was also exhausted and unable to launch a strong attack on Wu Guogui, who had become a trapped beast.

So, Li Zhongshan asked people to dig a trench and besiege the south of the river bay where Wu Guogui was guarded - first surround Wu Guogui, anyway, he only had a few days of food on hand, and most of them surrendered after eating.

On the other hand, Li Zhongshan, after learning (by kindly asking the captives questions) that Wu Yingqi had already set up a pontoon bridge over the Xiangjiang River in case of emergency, immediately ordered Li Zhongzheng, who was pursuing Wu Yingqi, to seize the camp in Langli City left by Wu Yingqi, and let him try to fight Changsha again after he succeeded. Let's see if we can take advantage of the aftermath of the victory in the Laodao River and capture Changsha in one fell swoop?

In this way, after a whole night of scheduling and redeployment, in the early morning of the next day, the gunfire, cannonball, and shouting of killing on the battlefield of Laodaohe finally came to an end.

The whole world suddenly fell silent. People who have been fighting hard for almost a whole day have to take a breath and rest for a while.

And Li Zhongshan pulled his "good nephew", Li Laishun, the king of Daming Zhong, and returned to the camp in Yongan City, but he still had important things to discuss with Li Zicheng's nephew!

"King Zhong, this time it's really thanks to you! If you hadn't come in time, I'd have been defeated! Li Zhongshan looked at Li Laishun this time, it was really more and more pleasing to the eye, if it weren't for his father and Li Zicheng to join the sect, his generation was a generation older than Li Laishun, and he would want to worship this Ming King Li Zhong.

Li Laishun and Li Yat-sen also hit it off at first sight. Although the two met for the first time, they were the same as their uncle and nephew!

"Uncle, what are you talking about? You can't write two Li characters in one stroke, you are my uncle, and I help you to help myself." As he spoke, he lowered his voice and said, "Uncle, it seems that this eighteen sons of the world should be on you!" ”

Li Zhongshan laughed: "Come to Shun. Now it's the world for the lord and the guest! Where else is there in the world? ”

Li Laishun smiled and said: "Uncle, your general Lu Shang Shushi can also be regarded as the lord of the world, right?" But he presides over the world, not the lord of the world. ”

"Alas, I am a leading brother," Li Yat-sen said modestly, "and besides, the office of general or prime minister is not hereditary, and it is not even for life." In the future, when the Quartet is pacified, I will not do it. Find a place to live in seclusion! ”

"This can't be done," Li Laishun hurriedly shook his head, "Even if the world is pacified, it will be a waste to be revived, and you need to be the head of the former ministers who are dedicated to the public to lead us to create a peaceful and prosperous era together!" ”

I have to say that Li Laishun, the loyal king, is still very reliable! Li Yat-sen's views on him, of course, are extremely agreeable!

This loyal king is indeed a great loyalty!

After confirming that Li Laishun was Zhongliang, Li Yat-sen's words changed and he went straight to the topic, "Zhongwang Xian's nephew, it is Wu Yingxiong who is besieged in Jiujiang now, right?" ”

"Probably this is the person!" Li Laishun smiled and said, "General, do you want to capture him alive?" ”

"No need," Li Yat-sen hurriedly shook his head, "Loyal to Wang Xian's nephew, can you let him go?" ”

"Let go?" Li Laishun was stunned for a moment, "Uncle, do you want to?"

"Two Wu fight!" Li Zhongshan said with a smile, "Wu Sangui has not been dead for a long time, and when he dies, the Wu family will either be Wu Yingxiong or Wu Yingqi, so it is better to let them have a dog-eat-dog first, no matter who wins, the Wu family will be greatly injured." In case Wu Yingxiong becomes the emperor, with his ability, the Great Zhou Dynasty of the Wu family will end up in the second. ”

"This." Li Laishun thought for a while, "Uncle, the little nephew is naturally the only one who looks forward to you, but my grandfather"

Li Zhongshan frowned and asked, "King Chuang, he wants Wu Yingxiong's life?" ”

Li Laishun looked at Li Zhongshan's face, and hurriedly said: "Uncle, otherwise, I will let Liu Yihu lead the troops to listen to your dispatch, and I will rush back to Jiujiang myself to see if I can persuade the old man?" ”

"That's great!" Li Zhongshan smiled and nodded, "I'll write another handwritten letter to King Lao Chuang, explain the benefits and disadvantages to him, and ask him to raise his noble hand." ”

"That's a good dare, with your handwritten letter, my grandfather should change his mind."

Jiujiang, Nengren Temple, Dasheng Pagoda.

Wu Yingxiong's Prince Xingyuan in Jiujiang is located in Nengren Temple, and his favorite thing to do these days is to climb the Dasheng Pagoda and look at the free world outside the city. And he himself can't get out!

Because outside Jiujiang City, except for the side next to the Yangtze River, there are triple trenches besieging the rest of the place. Even the water surface of the Yangtze River outside the north gate of Jiujiang is full of dense Ming warships.

Wu Yingxiong, now it can be said that there is no door to heaven and no way to enter the earth. What's even more terrifying is that the person who is now besieging him by the Overseers is named Li Zicheng!

If it was Li Fuchen and Li Zhongshan who besieged the city, he would still have a way to live, and he would be a rich man in Jinling. But Li Zicheng was not so polite. The hatred between Wu Sangui and Li Zicheng is simply higher than the sky and deeper than the sea.

Li Zicheng killed more than 30 people in Wu Sangui's family, and Wu Sangui also backstabbed Li Zicheng, making him lose the world, and Li Zicheng's beloved relatives and friends were killed by the Qing Dynasty in the following ten years. In the final analysis, these people still died because Wu Sangui led the Qing soldiers into the customs!

So Li Zicheng will not spare Wu Sangui no matter what. Now that he can't catch Wu Sangui, he can only vent his anger with Wu Yingxiong!

Therefore, Li Zicheng's army has been besieging Jiujiang to the death, and it is called an impenetrable wind!

And in addition to the siege, Li Zicheng also launched several rounds of onslaught, and after the final onslaught failed, he started the heart war again!

Dozens of ancient counterweight-type trebuchets are now erected outside several city gates in Jiujiang, and they are constantly throwing clay pots and porcelain pots stuffed with letters of surrender into Jiujiang City.

And the persuasion letters in these crockpots and porcelain jars have only one meaning, that is, as long as Wu Yingxiong is alone. After the city is broken, everyone else can live! If someone is willing to open the city to welcome the Ming Dynasty, then the King of Li Zhong of the Ming Dynasty will definitely be rewarded!

So Wu Yingxiong is now unable to escape, and Jiujiang is about to fall!

(End of chapter)