Dominate the Country

Aligun's crying did not reach Beijing. Emperor Qianlong was now in a state of extreme pain and happiness. The Fu Han army poured into Hubei, leaving the land of Jiangnan for financial resources. Seeing Yin Jishan and others submitting memorials every day to "recover lost territory", even though Qianlong knew how to recover this "lost territory", he was relieved psychologically. Therefore, Aligun had to continue to defend the provincial capital of Wuchang, a city that had little hope of being defended. Just like in Hanyang Prefecture on the other side of the Yangtze River, Zhu Gui led more than 3,000 militias and less than 2,000 green camps to garrison there, and faced a hopeless war. The only difference between the two was that Zhu Gui could "leave" when he saw that the situation was not good, while Aligun had to "die"!

Chen Ming arrived in Huangzhou on the sixth day of March, and led a part of the central army to Huangpi on the tenth day, and entered Hanyang on the twelfth day. At this time, Ma Mingxun of Xiaogan had already led his troops to flee to Anlu Prefecture, and he did not dare to stay in De'an. The number of Qing cavalry that went south from Xinyang to Hubei has been accurately estimated, about 3,000 cavalry. The Fu Han army that was chasing the Sichuan army into De'an Prefecture was blocked in the north of De'an Prefecture. However, due to the existence of this cavalry, Chen Yongsheng did not complete the task of controlling the three passes of Yiyang that Chen Ming taught him.

"Look, the Qing army's deployment outside Hanyang City is much larger than the deployment in the Huangpi battle. Except for the lack of bunkers, it is the same as our army's position in Yancheng, Ruzhou, Xuzhou and other places." Chen Yongsheng and other generals will accompany Chen Ming at the Fu Han army position in the north of Hanyang City.

Chen Ming was holding a telescope and carefully looking at the Qing army's position opposite. What Chen Yongsheng said was not bad. The rugged road surface, trenches, breastworks, large and small mounds, dense trenches, and crisscrossing communication trenches were not much different from the current positions of the Fu Han Army in Yancheng, Ruzhou, Xuzhou, etc., and more complicated than the Fu Han Army's positions when he left Henan. Except for the bunkers without earth and cement, the Qing army really copied everything they could get.

"How is the battle going now?"

"We can only fill the trenches and potholes little by little, and flatten the mounds and breastworks little by little." Chen Yongsheng showed a trace of frustration on his face. This method is the dumbest and dumbest method. The Qing army did this when they were biting the Fu Han Army's garrison in Henan. It's just that the Qing army's current defense is weaker than the "turtle shell" of the Henan Fu Han Army because of the lack of firepower support points on the position-bunkers. "The Qing army's firepower is insufficient, and no cannons have been seen firing in Hanyang City. But the Qing army has more bird guns, small cannons and grenades."

The Qing army's small cannons are sub-cannons, sky cannons, and large-caliber muskets. Sub-cannons and large-caliber muskets can break the baffles in front of the shield car. The sky cannon is a kind of indirect fire artillery similar to a mortar, and now it also shoots shrapnel. Whether it is Huangpi or Hanyang now, the Qing army defending the city is like a turtle hiding its head and taking a beating. This largely offsets the powerful firepower advantage of the Fu Han army. They huddled underground and used flexible and mobile small cannons to bombard the Fu Han army's shield cars. The snipers in their formation also came to shoot the Fu Han army's soldiers who were filling pits and bulldozing. They did everything they could to slow down the Fu Han army's offensive pace.

Chen Yongsheng also tried a night attack. But the Qing army was very careful in their preparations. They buried ropes on the battlefield, and tied bells to the ropes. They were arranged layer by layer. It was impossible for the Fu Han army to completely avoid the ropes in the dark. Once the bells were touched, three or five grenades would be thrown. If a figure appeared in the explosion, or there were screams, then a grenade rain was waiting for them. Even if those grenades were ignited by open flames.

In addition, some civilians in the Qing army also began to equip rattan armor, which was made of rattan soaked in tung oil, with leather on the outside or iron sheets on key positions. The protective power was naturally not comparable to that of real cotton armor or iron armor, but it gave the civilians equipped with it a strong confidence, which was a kind of spiritual power.

"You have been delayed in Huangpi for more than half a month. Do you want to delay in Hanyang for more than half a month? It is good to take care of soldiers in war, but don't forget another saying-kindness does not command the army." Chen Ming restrained his anger in his heart. This Chen Yongsheng was a bit of a mess. At the beginning, Chen Ming cultivated him. In addition to the fact that he was a child of the Chen family and was trustworthy, the biggest reason was that Chen Yongsheng was brave and resolute in fighting. Why is he a little soft-hearted now?

In Chen Ming's view, it is far more important to capture Hanyang as soon as possible than to save a few lives. If you want to capture it as soon as possible, night battle is necessary. Compared with throwing grenades, will the Fu Han Army be afraid of the Qing army? Compared with moving a little bit during the day and pushing the heavy shield car step by step, fighting at night is more effective and bleeding and dying faster. As long as the Qing army dares to fight, send troops to kill. How many Qing troops are there in Hanyang? The main battalion under Chen Yongsheng is comparable to the Qing soldiers and all the civilians in Hanyang City.

No one knows what the Grand Commander said to Chen Yongsheng when he called him into the tent after returning from the battlefield. Just seeing Chen Yongsheng's face was a little stiff and he withdrew from the big tent, everyone shut up tactfully.

That night, the Fu Han army launched attacks on the Qing army positions in a continuous manner, as they usually did. Chen Yongsheng personally supervised the battle, holding a knife and standing on the battlefield, his face as cold as a piece of ice that had not melted for a thousand years.

In the darkness, the two sides had difficulty in maneuvering. At this time, the Fu Han Army, which had more soldiers and more generals, showed its advantage and launched a round-robin battle. In particular, the tank battalion that was put into battle at the last moment drove the exhausted Qing army out of the position after fighting for half a night like a rotten wood. Finally, the Qing army had no choice but to retreat into the city.

The Fu Han Army suffered heavy casualties, with nearly a thousand dead and wounded, but its results were also huge compared with the previous **** nights. Moreover, the Qing soldiers also suffered heavy casualties, twice as many as the Fu Han Army. The most important thing is the momentum, and the momentum of the Fu Han Army has risen. Chen Ming had just arrived at the front line and the flag of the Grand Commander had just been erected, and the Fu Han Army was rampant in Hanyang City, which cast a heavy shadow on the Qing Army's already not good prospects.

The Fu Han Army entered Hanyang City at noon the next day, because Zhu Gui took the remaining soldiers across the Yangtze River by boat in the early morning. Chen Ming also took the opportunity to send troops to seize Guishan Mountain. Looking at the provincial capital of Wuchang on the south bank of the Yangtze River, it seemed that the enemy was already at the gates of the city, but Chen Ming knew that there was still a real tough battle to be fought.

The layout of Wuchang City on all sides was even more exaggerated than that of Hanyang City. Moreover, it was equipped with more firearms and more troops. If Aligun insisted on defending Wuchang, the Fu Han Army would have to take down this important town in the middle reaches of the Yangtze River, and the casualties would be much heavier than the last time they conquered Wuchang.

A more detailed map of Huguang was spread on the table, and Chen Ming laid a layer of iron plate underneath, and then the specially made red, black, green, and white small flags could be firmly glued to the map. A small magnet was placed on the base of the small flag, and the flag and the base could be detached, so it would be much more convenient when deducing the overall situation.

Small red flags were concentrated in the northeast of Hubei, and small black flags were scattered everywhere in the land of Jingchu. Just talking about the ground in Hubei, the Qing army was divided into five groups. Without Lu Yong's help, the cavalry in the north of De'an Prefecture can't play a big role; Ma Mingxun may find it difficult to raise the morale of the Sichuan soldiers in Anlu Prefecture and Jingmen Prefecture in a short time; and the Qing army in Xiangyang must focus on guarding against Chen Erbao's troops, and with limited troops, it is probably difficult to mobilize; these three routes are of no use. The fourth route is the Qing soldiers and militia in Jingzhou, Yichang, Shinan and other places, led by Shi Liang, the deputy governor who was transferred back to Jingzhou from Xiangyang; and the last route is the Aligun troops concentrated in the provincial capital of Wuchang. After joining the remnants of Hanyang, the Qing army and militia in Wuchang have at least 15,000 people. These two Qing armies, plus the reinforcements from Hunan, are Chen Ming's most important enemies in the Battle of Wuchang.

The Hunan troops and horses reinforced Hubei very quickly this time. Chen Ming heard from the dark camp that the current Hunan Governor Fang Shijun asked for a lot of benefits during the reconstruction of the Hunan Green Camp last year, and was reported by someone. It was Aligun who helped him.

Now, tens of thousands of Hunan militiamen have arrived in Yueyang under the leadership of Gong Zhaolin, the Hunan Provincial Surveillance Commissioner and Minister of Tuanlian. Will he come directly to Wuchang, the provincial capital, next? Or will he first join the Qing army in western Hubei in Jingzhou to train the brave? Following behind them is the Hunan Green Camp Army led by Fang Shijun, the governor of Hunan.

In Yueyang, Hunan, Gong Zhaolin was shocked and angry at the news from Hubei, "This Ma Mingxun is so bold, how dare he do this." There are still more than 10,000 Sichuan troops. If they retreat to Hanyang Prefecture after the defeat in Huangpi, and then retreat to Wuchang, the Qing army in the Battle of Wuchang will be greatly strengthened. How easy will it be for the Fu Han Army to swallow up the fortified city with 20,000 or 30,000 people in one bite? Or Ma Mingxun will lead his troops to join the 3,000 cavalry in De'an, which will also greatly restrain the Fu Han Army in the north. Or if Ma Mingxun leads his troops to stay in De'an now, it will be of great help to the defense of Wuchang, the provincial capital, but now Ma Mingxun has gone to Anlu. This is clearly a sign of cowardice and avoidance of war. Isn't he afraid that the court will kill him?

The absence of the Sichuan Army will have a significant impact on the Battle of Wuchang.

Deputy Governor Shi Liang is actively drawing Qing troops and civilians from western Hubei. Zhu Gui, who retreated from Hanyang to Wuchang, was also sent to western Hubei by Aligun to help Shi Liang mobilize civilians from various prefectures in western Hubei, but he has not arrived yet. After Shi Liang's troops are assembled, they will go to Wuchang to provide assistance. Now Gong Zhaolin is faced with a choice. Should he follow Fang Shijun's order and lead his troops to provide assistance to Wuchang at a rapid pace? Or should he wait until Shi Liang's army is assembled and then join forces with it before providing assistance to Wuchang Prefecture?

When Fang Shijun issued this order, he did not expect Ma Mingxun to dare to take his troops to Anlu to see the scenery.

Ma Mingxun's "giving up the fight" and being afraid of fighting, and hiding away clearly, set a very bad precedent for the Qing army in the Hubei battlefield. Gong Zhaolin couldn't help but think of his own troops. Although Hunan and Hubei are very close, the Hunanese are also guest troops in Hubei. If the team stays in Honghu and does not move, will it also be classified as "avoiding war" by the Hubei people?

At this moment, at the Yueyang wharf, a ship after a ship is coming from the south. This is the grain, gunpowder, medicinal materials, military tents, horses, livestock and other supplies sent by the marching grain station set up by Fang Shijun, the governor of Hunan, in Changde to Gong Zhaolin's troops in Yueyang. Because time is a bit tight, Fang Shijun set up the grain station in Changde. In fact, if there is time, it would be more appropriate to move the grain station to Yueyang.

The soldiers and warriors of Hunan and Xiang all have to go through Yueyang when they go north.

Along with this batch of military supplies was a handwritten letter from Governor Fang Shijun. At the beginning of the letter, Fang Shijun considerately inquired about Gong Zhaolin's health, but this was not the point. Then Fang Shijun said that he would "do his best" to provide the company's military supplies and food, but this was not the point either. The point was that he wished Gong Zhaolin great success in the Battle of Wuchang.

Gong Zhaolin knew that Fang Shijun was determined to help Aligun. When the Hunan Green Camp was rebuilt last year, someone reported that Fang Shijun took the opportunity to extort more than 30,000 silver coins. Aligun helped him suppress it, and Fang Shijun was returning the favor.

But no matter what, Gong Zhaolin knew what he should do. Honghu in the north was indeed not a place for him to stay, so he had to go to Wuchang Prefecture honestly.