Bright Spring

Zhu Gaoxu nodded.

Chen said with a wry smile: "That day when Li Li threatened me, I knew he didn't dare to kill me, but I almost couldn't hold back the fear and backed away, and my right foot was already raised. At that time, my heart felt empty, so I resisted and did not give in. I'm not a fearless person."

Zhu Gaoxu thought for a while after hearing this, and then he said: "People are born to be afraid, otherwise the rules in the world must not be like this."

"His Royal Highness is really both wise and trustworthy." Chen said with a smile.She glanced sideways at the window and said again, "It's getting late, I can't stay here any longer, please take my leave first."

Zhu Gaoxu didn't ask to stay, and shouted: "Come here, see off the guests!"

He stood beside the chair, watched Chen's graceful figure disappear from the door, and then looked away.Her twist|waist posture is very beautiful, and her figure is very seductive, but she has never taken the initiative to seduce Zhu Gaoxu.

Zhu Gaoxu thought, Chen is a very smart woman, she must know it well, big things can't be facilitated through lust|looks.If Zhu Gaoxu was obsessed with Chen's beauty like Chen Xingwang, he should have a little resistance to the little prince, but he never showed it.

... In the twelfth lunar month of the fourth year of Yongle, Zhang Fu led the army first and arrived at Manhaikou.But Annan's army voluntarily abandoned this place and retreated south.So the Ming army occupied many counties and cities along the way.

After Zhu Gaoxu got the report, he always felt something was wrong.

The war seemed to be coming to an end, and he didn't dare to take it lightly. He remembered what he once said: people who walk a tightrope usually fall off at the last few steps.

So he also led the troops from Sichuan, Yunnan and other places to leave Shenglong City to reinforce Zhang Fu.

When Zhu Gaoxu saw Zhang Fu, he said straight to the point: "It seems that there is still a big battle."

Unexpectedly, Zhang Fu responded immediately: "The last general is also thinking about where the final battle will be."

The two met and said a few words, Zhu Gaoxu didn't want to continue explaining... because Zhang Fu seemed to have the same idea as him.

After the Ming army captured Shenglong City, the Hu family mobilized troops to take the initiative to attack the Qianjiang River, which shows that they were not willing to give up the entire Dajiang River Basin.Later, Annan's army failed, so they immediately withdrew the troops from Pingjintan, an important town on the north bank of the river.

The Hu family was not willing to give up even the Dajiang area, which could no longer be defended, and launched a counterattack; now that the Ming army is marching into Qinghua, how can the Hu family just give up their old nest?

Zhu Gaoxu also reviewed the characteristics of the Hu family's use of troops in the early days of this battle: they concentrated their forces on the Dajiang defense line, especially the important town of Duobang City, intending to use defense instead of offense for a decisive battle.So he speculated that the Hu family may be currently dispatching troops to concentrate their forces on a certain fortification, waiting for another battle with the Ming army!

At this moment, Zhang Fu said: "The last general has sent out scouts to investigate the key points in the south. The Hu family should be building fortifications on the only way to Tsinghua."

Zhu Gaoxu was a little surprised when he heard it, he didn't expect that he and Zhang Fu had a sympathetic feeling.

Zhang Fu used his troops calmly, without arrogance or rashness, and he did not take the enemy lightly when he was about to win; he also had insight into people's hearts, and drove Huang Zhong to die by taking advantage of Huang Zhong's desperate situation.After dealing with him for several months, Zhu Gaoxu felt that this person is indeed a good general!

As for being greedy for merit, that is not a shortcoming.Military generals are not greedy for merit, and businessmen are not seeking profit, so why do they want to do their own business?

Just as Zhu Gaoxu thought about it, Zhang Fu said: "His Royal Highness is honorable, you can sit in the back, and in the end, you will only need your own troops to attack the main force of the Hu family!"

Zhu Gaoxu was very unhappy when he heard this, and thought: I came here to reinforce you out of kindness, do you mean that I am afraid that I will take the credit?

The last time he fought Rising Dragon City, Zhu Gaoxu graciously gave up his great achievements to Zhang Fu.Zhang Fu didn't even have a word of thanks, probably because he felt that the military exploits that captured Shenglong City belonged to him in the first place.

The merits of Ascending Dragon City should indeed be Zhang Fu's.But what makes Zhu Gaoxu unhappy is that this time he has already led his troops to the south, so how can he make the trip for nothing to satisfy the generals under his command?

Zhu Gaoxu felt that this person was not easy to win over, but he didn't want to quarrel with him casually, and he was not angry at the moment.Zhu Gaoxu thought for a while and said: "The Marquis of Xincheng came from Guangxi in the east. This time you also take the west route, and I will take the east route. Let's attack Qinghua together."

After hearing this, Zhang Fu had no choice but to cup his fists and say, "I will follow the order of the King of Han."

Zhu Gaoxu thought, maybe this time he wants to raise his reputation again through the battle of conquering the Southern Kingdom, and he is competing for merit with generals like Zhang Fu.Occasional unhappiness may be unavoidable.

Chapter 326 New Year's Eve

On the New Year's Eve of the fourth year of Yongle, Zhu Gaoxu led nearly 10 people to the north of Zhujiang.The scouts reported that the Annan army was building fortifications day and night at the confluence of Zhujiang and its tributary, Zhuzijiang.

So Zhu Gaoxu ordered the army to set up camp in the upper reaches of the Zhujiang River, and was going to let the soldiers celebrate the New Year first.

The terrain here is flat, the river is green, and the rice fields on the river bank are green.Standing on the ridge of the field, Zhu Gaoxu felt the moist breeze without any chill on his face. Looking at this idyllic scenery, compared with the usual New Year's Eve atmosphere, he really felt very different.

In Zhu Gaoxu's mind, New Year's Eve means white snow, fireworks, and various red lantern decorations.In recent years, he always thinks of a secluded|deep well. That scene is like a knot in his heart. At this time of year, he will definitely feel a sense of helplessness.

Today, it is lively and festive in several large military camps.Although on the battlefield, as long as there is no war, the sergeants are very excited.The soldiers "requisitioned" a lot of pigs and sheep from villages near and far, and brought wine from the captured towns, and had picnics in full swing in the barracks for the New Year's Eve dinner.On the arrow tower at the gate of the barracks, someone made red lanterns and hung them up.

From time to time, there was the sound of "crackling" firecrackers, and everyone used firearms instead of firecrackers to sound.

At this time, Wang Bin, who was on the horse beside him, raised his hand and pointed to the river in front of him and said, "Look, my lord, as long as we go east along this Zhujiang River and break through the stronghold of the Annan army, we will soon be able to return to the river." Arrived in the north of Tsinghua City."

"Hmm..." Zhu Gaoxu habitually made a sound.

After a while, Zhu Gaoxu looked at the rice fields in the distance thoughtfully and said, "Those rice seems to have been harvested once, and now they have sprouted again."

Wang Bin was a little dazed, and casually agreed: "It seems to be miles."

Zhu Gaoxu turned his head and said, "If rice is cut off, it can grow back, but if a human head is cut off, can it still grow?"

Wang Bin was stunned for a moment, and hurriedly cupped his fists and bowed.

Looking around, Zhu Gaoxu pondered: "Whether you win or lose a siege, many people will definitely die, unless you meet a general like Muwan Prefecture. Otherwise, if you think about Duobang City, Zhang Fu can be regarded as a good general who can fight, but he can be killed or injured. Brother is like a mountain of blood|sea of ​​corpses."

After he finished speaking, his expression became more and more determined, "The Hu family is doomed. What we can do now is to kill as few brothers as possible. In the battle of Zhujiang, I don't think it is necessary to storm the city, and wait for the Annan army to take the initiative to attack more." good!"

A general asked: "We have [-] elite soldiers, and Annan's army is willing to attack?"

Zhu Gaoxu said with a smile: "The Hu family has lost most of their territory, and now they are trapped in the western capital, and their hearts are depressed. Now their father and son want land and no money, and they guard the tiny land of the western capital. What results can they achieve? Procrastination , more people from Hu’s side will judge the situation and surrender. So it’s up to him whether he wants to or not.”

After he finished speaking, he glanced at the military general who was asking the question, and felt a little familiar, but he forgot his name, so he asked, "What's your name?"

The general clasped his fists and said, "The last general is the commander of the right guard of the Prince of Shu Palace, Wan Quan."

Zhu Gaoxu nodded and said, "You're a good question, and you're thoughtful."

Wan Quan hurriedly said: "The last general thank you, my lord."

At this moment, Wang Bin said: "The last general asks for orders, go to the downstream to choose a place to arrange an ambush."

Zhu Gaoxu thought for a while, and said: "Commander Wang can inspect the terrain first, and don't rush to deploy troops for the time being."

"The end will be ordered!"

Zhu Gaoxu took out a picture from the package on the horse's back, and glanced at it twice.I was thinking about a question: If Zhang Fu detoured south from the east, the Annan army at Zhuzijiangkou would not be dispatched to attack, and the enemy would deploy troops to guard against Zhang Fu's troops.

But Zhang Fu might really do that, he seems very anxious now.Because the imperial court issued an edict, the Ming army in the Annan area must completely end the war before February.Now the deadline is only two months away.

Order Zhang Fu to stand still?Zhu Gaoxu is the chief general, and he does have the right to do so.But he has yet to decide.

... After Zhu Gaoxu returned to the Xingyuan of the Central Army, he wrote a letter and sent someone to send it to Zhang Fu's camp.

The letter wrote: Marquis of Xincheng, stay safe and don't be impatient, camp in place.After our troops wiped out Zhu Zijiang's enemies, the Marquis of Xincheng led the army to attack Qinghua.

After Zhu Gaoxu sent someone to send the letter away, he finally felt relieved.

Tsinghua is the capital of the Hu clan of the puppet dynasty of the Annan Kingdom, and it is also the place where they made their fortunes; capturing this place has made great military achievements.What's more, those who come to Qinghua first may also capture the leader of the bandits, Hu Shi, and others... So Zhang Fu's deal is very cost-effective, and he has no reason to be unhappy.

Knowing this, Wang Bin sighed in the tile-roofed house in Xingyuan: "The prince thinks about the soldiers, but the soldiers don't necessarily appreciate it. Why do you bother?"