Chapter 432: Battle of Luzhou 1
In Jinan Prefecture, Zhao Xiaofei reorganized the Ke Nan Army, led by Li Deliang, Gu Mancang and Mao Jiu respectively.
Zhao Xiaofei has planned the route map. There are supplies along the way. Zhao Xiaofei has arranged crossing points, which are full of military supplies and food.
Zhao Xiaofei made a special trip back to the modern era. He asked the company to arrange procurement and place all the supplies at the crossing points along the way. As soon as the army arrived, he would use the jade pendant to bring the supplies back from the crossing point.
According to Zhao Xiaofei's arrangement, the army formed an inverted T-shaped formation and advanced all the way to Nanjing.
In the palace, the seed of doubt was planted in Princess Kunxing's heart. It was slowly sprouting and would eventually grow into a big tree.
"Your Highness, it's too late, go to bed!" Liu Rushi said standing aside.
"The army has been reorganized. Where has the Kenan Army gone?" Kunxing asked.
"Your Highness, an army of over 100,000 can't march far every day. I guess they haven't even left Shandong yet!" Liu Rushi said.
"I feel empty and unsure inside!" Princess Kunxing said dejectedly.
"Your Highness, are you worried about the prince consort?" Liu Rushi felt that Princess Kunxing was still worried about Zhao Xiaofei. After all, a husband and wife for a day are bound by a hundred days of grace, and a hundred days of marriage is deeper than the sea.
"Him? I don't have to worry about him anymore. He can go back at any time. What I'm worried about is the war!" Kunxing said.
"Our Keyan Army is powerful and has just defeated the Jianlu Army, so morale is high. How could we be defeated?" Liu Rushi asked.
"Back in Xi'an, we were sure of victory, but we were defeated at the last moment! And now the rebels are using new firearms, and they also have hot air balloons. It is even more difficult to defeat the rebels in the south now!" Kunxing said.
"Your Highness, if you are worried, you can send someone to follow the prince consort south. At the critical moment..." Before Liu Rushi finished speaking, Kunxing interrupted her.
Princess Kunxing said, "No, now that Marshal Zhou of Wanshan is dead, he, Gu Mancang, Li Deliang, and a few others truly understand the new firearms tactics. Gu Mancang, Li Deliang, and Mao Jiu have been learning from Marshal Zhou of Wanshan and his men, and they've learned everything they can. If we send someone to replace them at this critical moment, the consequences will be disastrous! How many capable fighters are left in the court? We'll be lucky to be able to defend the capital!"
"So this time we are gambling on the fate of the country? If we fail, the consequences will be unimaginable!" Liu Rushi asked.
"Yes, but even if he fails, the descendants of the Zhu family will still rule the world, and that's enough! I just hope that if such a day really comes, he can come back and take the children away." Kunxing said.
"Your Highness, you did it..." Liu Rushi did not continue asking.
"Yes, I have made the final preparations. If they lose, I will commit suicide to thank the world!" Kunxing said.
"Your Highness, I believe that won't happen. The prince consort will not be defeated. He has experienced many battles and is no longer the Wu A'mon of the past." Liu Rushi said.
"I'm talking about the worst-case scenario. If he wins this time, I'll let him give up his military power and become a wealthy prince after he returns to the court," Kunxing said.
"Would he be willing?" Liu Rushi asked.
"You have to do this even if you don't want to. This is for the court and for the Ming Dynasty!" Princess Kunxing said firmly.
At the foot of Luzhou City, as soon as Zhao Xiaofei's Ke Nan Army arrived, news came that Anhui Governor Liu Yingbin had raised the flag and surrendered to the southern rebels.
Zhao Xiaofei sat in the central army tent and asked Xiao Si angrily, "Didn't they say Liu Yingbin pledged allegiance to us? What's going on now?"
"Your Highness, it's all my fault. I sent people to inquire before, and Liu Yingbin initially said that he would definitely obey the orders from the capital. Now I know that he was acting. Please punish me, Your Highness!" Xiao Si said.
"People's hearts are the most difficult to predict, so it's not your fault. Are there any internal security guards in the city?" Zhao Xiaofei asked.
"I can't get in touch with him now!" Xiao Si said.
"I see. It looks like another big battle is about to begin!" Zhao Xiaofei said.
Xiao Si retreated, and Zhao Xiaofei summoned Li Deliang, Gu Mancang and Mao Jiu to inspect outside Luzhou City.
There are now four hot air balloons floating in the sky above Luzhou. It is obvious that the rebels have also learned how to make hot air balloons.
In the eyes of the Ming people, hot air balloons are actually just large-scale Kongming lanterns, and there are also talented people among the rebels.
Zhao Xiaofei, Li Deliang and others rode on horses and approached the city to observe under the protection of the guards.
"Your Highness, the rebels' hot air balloons don't fly as high as ours!" said Li Deliang.
"This height is enough for them to discover us in advance!" Zhao Xiaofei said as he put down the telescope.
"Your Highness, there is a person on the hot air balloon in the west. Judging from the patch, it should be Liu Yingbin." Gu Mancang put down the telescope and said.
"Your Highness, please order the hot air balloon to take off quickly. Our soldiers may be able to shoot him down by close range." Mao Jiu shouted loudly.
"Use your brain. Even if you order the hot air balloon to take off now, people would have discovered it long ago. Liu Yingbin would have already gotten off the balloon and hidden." Li Deliang said.
Zhao Xiaofei ignored this and continued, "Tomorrow, launch a hot air balloon attack on the city gates with incendiary bombs. Li Deliang, your First Army will attack from the west gate and try to tie down as many defenders as possible."
"Yes! Your Highness!" said Li Deliang.
"Remember, it's a feint!" said Zhao Xiaofei.
"Yes!" Li Deliang said again.
"There is a full warehouse of grain in the north, it's also a feint attack!" said Zhao Xiaofei.
"Your Highness, why is it a feint attack? Why is Mao Jiu the main attack?" Gu Mancang asked.
"When did I say that Mao Jiu should be the main attacker?" Zhao Xiaofei asked.
"We are both feinting. Only Mao Jiu is left. Shouldn't he be the main attacker?" Gu Mancang said.
"The three of you are leading a feint attack. I will personally lead the troops to attack the east gate!" said Zhao Xiaofei.
"Your Highness, you don't have to command it yourself. On the battlefield, swords, guns and arrows are indiscriminate. If something goes wrong, the Ming Dynasty will be in danger!" Li Deliang said, and the others nodded in agreement.
"Hasn't I ever encountered any danger while fighting? If you are afraid of this and that, you might as well not fight! I don't know how well you have learned General Zhou Wanshan's military tactics, but you have learned the art of flattery quite well from those civil servants!" Zhao Xiaofei said coldly.
Seeing that the three of them were silent, Zhao Xiaofei continued, "Go back and prepare for battle. We will capture Luzhou in one fell swoop tomorrow!"
"Yes!" the three answered in unison.
Inside Luzhou City, Liu Yingbin nervously paced around the governor's office. Then, his advisor Zhang Junan entered, saluted, and said, "Sir, reinforcements from Nanjing are arriving soon. If you can hold out for three days, we can join the reinforcements from outside and launch a pincer attack. That Zhao man will definitely be in for a hard time."
"Who is leading the army?" Liu Yingbin asked.
"It's Mr. Shi Kefa!" said Zhang Junan.
"Does he understand military affairs?" Liu Yingbin said.
"Lord Shi is a capable minister recognized by the new emperor, so he must be capable of leading troops. Moreover, he has soldiers who have participated in the Conquering the Narrowness Army under his command, and he has muskets and artillery to support him. Even if we can't defeat them all in one go, at least we can save Luzhou from danger!"
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