Sixty miles north of Jiangling City, there are no rivers, lakes and mountains, and the four sides are flat and open, and there is no way to hide the army.

Zhong Xiang's brother and prime minister, Zhong Yi, arrived early with thousands of soldiers and horses.

Not long after, Gu San also came, leading Zhu Ming's three thousand personal guards.

Zhong Yi rode out alone, and Gu San also stepped forward alone.

Zhong Yi said: "In the place of talks, only 300 soldiers are allowed to be brought each, and they are not allowed to be cavalry, and the soldiers are 200 paces apart. The two lords approached alone, five steps (6.5 meters) apart. ”

"Yes." Gu San agreed.

Zhong Yi immediately rode back and ran further south to meet Zhong Xiang: "Your Majesty, the Zhu thief's personal guards are all wearing foot armor, no wonder they can repel the encirclement and suppression of officers and soldiers from all walks of life." ”

Zhong Xiang shook his head and said, "Most of those step armors were captured from the hands of the officers and soldiers. ”

Zhong Yi said: "The Zhu thief has those thousands of armor soldiers, and it is really not easy for our army to win. The minister felt that he should abandon Jiangling, rely on the natural dangers of the Yangtze River, build more warships, and train the navy. ”

"That makes sense." Zhong Xiang also plans to do this.

As long as there is a navy, even if the Yangtze River can't be defended, it can retreat to Dongting Lake.

Zhong Xiang said to his son again, "You go and talk." ”

"How are you going?" Zhong Ziang was surprised.

Zhong Xiang explained: "I am the Emperor of Great Chu, even if I want to talk about state affairs, I should come over with the old Zhu thief." You are the prince of Da Chu, and you happen to be on an equal footing with that little Zhu thief. ”

Zhong Ziang felt that this was the truth, so he led the three hundred guards forward.

The large forces of both sides retreated, and the advance of the guards came to a halt for some distance.

Ju Ming was full of musketeers, and now there are more than 500 people. The size of the musket workshop is growing, and there should be 800 musketeers by the beginning of next year.

These musketeers, with chain mail on the inside, and silk clothes on the outside.

Silk clothes are not only for good looks, but also have the effect of anti-arrows, and form a two-layer defense with chain mail, so you basically don't have to be afraid of long-range attacks (except for bed crossbows and god arm bows).

Zhong Ziang immediately stepped forward and shouted: "I am the prince of the Great Chu Kingdom, and the opposite side is the generalissimo of the Sichuan Gorge?" ”

Zhu Ming rode a cornucopia and paced slowly: "Why are you here?" ”

Zhong Ziang said: "The lord is to the lord, and the prince is to the prince." If you want my father to come forward, you have to be personally sent by the Sichuan Gorge Meridian. ”

"That's right," Zhu Ming took out his short gun and asked while playing with it, "Do you still have a brother?" ”

Zhong Ziang was puzzled: "And brother, what do you have to do with it?" ”

Zhu Ming instantly felt bored, and originally planned to collapse Zhong Xiang with one shot, but the fox actually didn't show up.

Since the crown prince of Chu is not an only son, it is useless to kill him.

Let's negotiate honestly.

Putting the short gun away, Zhu Ming asked: "Ling Zun sent a letter to his father last year, saying that he was willing to divide the river and rule. But these Jiangling and Zhijiang are both north of the Yangtze River, why did your father and son rebel? ”

Zhong Ziang was stunned, he and his father really didn't care about this.

"Dividing the river and ruling it is just a general statement, the city and the land, naturally whoever fights down will be counted." Zhong Ziang's words are not quibbles, this is what his father and son think.

Zhu Ming took out a letter and said with a smile: "His Royal Highness the Crown Prince of Chu State, do you want to read it again?" It is written in black and white, Zhu Zhong's second clan divides the river and governs, the Zhu clan rules north of the Yangtze River, and the Zhong clan rules south of the Yangtze River. Your father and son are treacherous, and what they say doesn't count, then I can only lead my troops to take Gangneung! ”

Zhong Ziang was speechless, because this was indeed the fault of his Zhong family, so he could only bite the bullet and say: "Your Excellency, wait a minute, the stakes are very high, I need to go back and discuss with my father." ”

"Go ahead." Zhu Ming said.

Zhong Ziang hurried back and told the matter of the letter.

Zhong Xiang was dumbfounded, he really didn't think about it when he wrote the letter, and now he is inexplicably telling the truth.

"Father, how do you reply?" Zhong Ziang asked.

Zhong Xiang's mind turned quickly, and he actually laughed: "Since I have this letter, then I will not lose face by giving up Jiangling, but I am keeping my promise and can also give an explanation to my subjects." But the fat that was eaten was not spit out in vain, so that the surnamed Zhu ransomed the city with money and grain. These two cities were given to him by me as promised, and he had to pay for them if he wanted them! ”

Zhong Ziang admired his father and asked, "What should it be?" It can't be sold cheaply, and it can't be too expensive. If the price is too expensive, it is to force the surnamed Zhu to lead troops to attack. ”

Zhong Xiang pondered carefully: "Jiangling is priced at 500,000 guan and 10,000 stone grain; Zhijiang is priced at 80,000 guan and 2,000 stone grain. ”

This price is indeed not expensive, and it can even be said to be cheap, because Gangneung is too rich.

But the premise is that Zhong Xiang does not take away the people and goods there.

How is it possible not to take it away?

Even if Zhu Ming spends money, he can only buy two empty cities.

Zhong Ziang rode to negotiate again and explained Zhong Xiang's request.

Zhu Ming sneered: "You and I are the faint king of Kaifeng, spending money and food to ransom Yanjing, and as a result, how many empty cities did you buy?" ”

Zhong Ziang said: "Dingkou will leave some, not an empty city. ”

"Dismount!" Zhu Ming scolded.

"Why?" Zhong Ziang asked.

Zhu Ming didn't bother to take out the short gun, reload the ammunition and put the medicine, and then used the stab to get right, aiming at Zhong Zi's crotch and the war horse.

At a distance of several meters, although the accuracy of the short gun is extremely poor, Zhu Ming is also sure that he will be able to hit it.

If you accidentally hurt Zhong Ziang, then you deserve to be unlucky!

Seeing Zhu Ming take out the fire fold and blow it red, Zhong Ziang became more and more suspicious, and he couldn't understand what Zhu Ming was doing.

What happened on the battlefield in Shaanxi did not reach Jinghu.

"Bang!"

A gunshot rang out, like a thunderbolt on a sunny day.

Zhu Ming aimed at the front chest of the war horse, but who knew that he hit the horse's neck.

Zhong Ziang fell as the horse fell, and his right leg was pressed by the horse.

The horse was not yet dead, lying on the ground twitching.

Zhong Ziang was already frightened, his mind was blank, and he came to his senses after being slapped on the face by Zhu Ming, and shouted in panic: "What kind of demon magic did you use?" ”

Zhu Ming took a short gun and threatened: "This is a fire gun, also called a musket." Do you know how I defeated the official army? I have 10,000 firearms under my command, fifty feet away, and they can penetrate the iron armor, and the officers and soldiers are terrified of this thing. ”

"Ten thousand firecrackers?" Zhong Ziang's face was as pale as dirt.

Two hundred steps away, Zhong Xiang's relatives were coming, Zhu Ming put away the fire gun and got on the horse, leaving a sentence: "After the summer harvest, I will bring troops to take Jiangling, and your father and son will do it themselves!" ”

By the time those pro-soldiers arrived at the scene, Zhu Ming had already ridden away.

Soon, Zhong Xiang also rushed over when he heard the news, looked at the horse corpse that fell to the ground, and his son with a broken leg, and couldn't help asking, "What kind of weapon did the little Zhu thief use?" How can a wound on a horse's neck be like that? ”

Zhong Ziang repeated in horror: "It's a kind of iron rod, hollowed out in the middle." Xiao Zhu thief said that it was called muskets and firearms, and he had 10,000 firecrackers under his command, and he used this kind of weapon to defeat officers and soldiers. Father, Gangneung must not be defended, this fire gun is unpredictable, and mortals are really invincible. ”

"He has a fart of 10,000 firearms, and he really has a lot of divine soldiers, and he has already entered Tokyo," Zhong Xiang was furious, "This little Zhu thief is extremely treacherous, and he must have tried to assassinate me by tricking me into talking face to face!" If I come in person, I am afraid that I will have died unexpectedly, and the person surnamed Zhu will definitely take the opportunity to seize Jiangling! ”

Zhong Zi remembered violently: "Yes, when he met, he asked the child if he was an only child!" If I answer that it is an only son, it is not a war horse that dies. ”

Zhong Yi asked, "Your Majesty, how do you decide?" ”

Zhong Xiang gritted his teeth and said: "Lao Tzu has built the city with his ability, he doesn't give enough money and food, don't think about taking it for nothing!" ”

Zhong Yi couldn't help but say, "Brother, why bother with that Zhu thief? Since he only kills the war horse and does not hurt the prince, he also doesn't want to tear his face and leave us a little leeway. Gangneung is isolated and hangs outside, which is really not conducive to defense, and it is enough to empty the population and goods. ”

Zhong asked instead: "If a soldier is abandoned and the two cities of Jiangling and Zhijiang are not damaged, how do the hundred officials think of me?" What do the believers think of me? ”

"Let's just say that I kept my promise, and I have already agreed with Zhu Thief." Zhong Ziang said.

"Who would believe it?" Zhong Xiang asked.

Zhong Yi and Zhong Ziang's uncle and nephew looked at each other and couldn't answer.

Zhong Xiang said: "The Zhu thief is recruiting homeless people in Xiangyang, and there must be no grain left, so he can only wait for the wheat harvest if he wants to send troops." Let's also go back and prepare for war, the big city of Gangneung, the wall is high and the pool is deep. As long as the government and the people keep it wholeheartedly for a year and a half, there is no problem. The further it drags on, the more anxious the surname Zhu becomes, and sooner or later he will have to spend money to redeem the city, and then it won't be this price! ”

Zhong Yi wanted to speak and stopped, his brother used to be very persuasive, but now he is becoming more and more persuasive.

Power is deceptive and not something that anyone can bear.

In history, Zhong Xiang was just as corrupt if he didn't establish a country and claim the emperor, and the situation at that time was even worse.

The three returned to Gangneung and immediately prepared for the big battle.

But soon bad news came from the south, and the Chu army was defeated in Hengyang.

The gentry and merchants of Hengzhou, Yongzhou, Daozhou, Guiyangjian, and Chenzhou had completely united and rose up to resist under the leadership of officials and scholars.

Monks and Taoist priests are also in tandem, and they are doing propaganda everywhere, telling the people that Manichaeans want to eat people, and they are all reincarnated demons and monsters.

The gentry and merchants were no longer stingy, and they paid money to recruit troops one after another, and wanted to fight to the death with the Zhong thief.

Most of the people did not know the situation, but they also believed that statement, and were willing to work for the government and the gentry when the food and salary were sufficient.

Hengyang fought for more than a month, but not only did it not conquer, but the Great Chu army was defeated and retreated.

Zhong Xiang was furious when he heard the news, took his own soldiers to the south by boat, and contacted Fang Qifo and the Miao and Yao rebels who were hiding in the mountains.

Emperor Zhong Xiang of Great Chu arrived at the battlefield and personally boosted morale, from generals to small soldiers, one by one, it was like fighting chicken blood.

The bloody battle lasted for nearly ten days, and I don't know how many people died.

The village soldiers guarding the city couldn't bear it anymore, and were frightened by the group of madmen outside the city. The Manichaeans lurking in the city of Hengyang took the opportunity to spread their teachings, saying that by surrendering, they would be able to equalize the rich and the poor, and the rich and the low.

Hunting and killing more than a dozen spies in a row, it still can't be stopped, because the word has spread.

One day, when attacking the city, suddenly a village soldier defected, and the Dachu soldiers took the opportunity to climb the city wall, and more and more village soldiers turned against each other.

Zhong Xiang took advantage of the victory to march into the army, and quickly took Leiyang.

Winning two cities in a row made Zhong Xiang even more inflated, and completely strengthened his determination to defend Gangneung.

(End of chapter)