serious man in the red chamber

Chapter 436
Dawn is approaching, everything is silent, the sky and the earth are covered with a thin layer of black gauze, there is no starlight, and it is so dark that people feel inexplicably panicked. Several officers and soldiers hold firecrackers and hide behind the city wall to avoid the wind. I don’t know why. The eyelids of several people were twitching, as if something bad was about to happen.

Today is the fifth day of the rebel siege of Dasheng Pass
"Enemy attack! Enemy attack"

Suddenly, an officer on the lookout shouted in panic.

Immediately afterwards, the warning bell echoed over Dasheng Pass!

In the wilderness outside the city, a black shadow is quickly running towards Dasheng Pass!
Torches were raised one after another on the winding city wall, and the officers and soldiers guarding the city from the south, west, and north began to run toward the east in a hurry.

The Dasheng Pass guard general, with his hair disheveled, ran towards this side with his clothes buttoned up: "What are you doing standing there in a daze! Fire blunderbuss! Everybody fire blunderbuss! There are also artillery pieces, hit me hard!"

One by one, the musketeers squeezed into the crenels and fired their muskets at the black figures below the city. The flames spurted out from the mouths of each musket.

The muzzle flames of the black holes are spraying out!

Guns and artillery fired, and the defenders of Dashengguan reacted quickly and opened fire violently at the rebels under the city. Suddenly the war horses neighed and were overturned by the gunfire, and the cavalry were thrown to the ground one after another. They watched the rebels being blown up and fell into pieces. , the defenders of Dashengguan suddenly burst into cheers!

The rebels were knocked to the ground one by one, and then ran back towards the rear!
The rebels retreated?
Just when the generals at Dasheng Pass and the officers and soldiers guarding the city were confused, a deafening roar suddenly came from a distance, and the city wall under their feet began to tremble violently.
Looking at the fire rising to the southwest, the Dasheng Pass guard general woke up from a dream. He hurriedly pulled out his sword and shouted loudly: "Kill the thief!" and took the lead in killing him.

His soldiers' morale was greatly boosted, and they got up one after another and followed him to kill him.

But it was already too late. Countless rebels had already rushed towards the collapse of the city wall like a tide, rushing in through the gap created by the bombing.
The sound of firecrackers, roars of killing, and the sound of clashing weapons resounded throughout Dasheng Pass, and then fire broke out everywhere in the city!

Dasheng Pass was quickly engulfed in flames!
On the tenth day of December in the second year of Yongxing, at dawn, the rebels captured Dasheng Pass, and Jinling City was completely exposed to the rebels' front.
As Jia Hu judged, the imperial defense in Huguang and other places was ineffective, and the rebels were advancing with great momentum.

On November [-]nd, the main force of the rebels set out from Wuchang. In just five days, they successively captured Huangshi, Qizhou, Wuxue and other fortresses in eastern Hubei. On November [-]th, they entered Jiangxi and captured the important town of Jiujiang without any blood. On November [-]th, Next day we will visit Anqing, an important town in Anhui Province.

In the early morning of November 28, the second year of Yongxing, the rebel vanguard began to launch a fierce attack on Moling Pass. Moling Pass was the gateway to Jinling and acted as a defensive barrier. However, as soon as the battle began, the guard general of Moling Pass surrendered.

After taking Moling Pass, the rebels attacked to the rear of Dasheng Pass, cutting off the connection between the defenders and Jinling City.

Dasheng Pass is an important military and river defense fortress in the southwest of Jinling. The terrain is very dangerous and controls the Dasheng Pass waterway. The new artillery on the pass covers the entire waterway, threatening the rebel navy.

At the same time, the rebels broke through the last stronghold of the government troops in Tushan.

In the early morning of December [-]th, the second year of Yongxing, Li Chengyang arrived at Da'ande Gate in the southern suburbs of Jinling. At this time, it was actually less than a month since Li Chengyang left Wuchang City.

While Li Chengyang was looking at Jinling City from a distance, thousands of warships arrived on the water outside Jinling City. Amid the thundering cheers of the defenders, one warship after another approached the dock.

The huge queue of officials greeting the King's Master filled the huge Jinling Pier with banners and banners.

In the middle are senior officials from Liangjiang, headed by the governor of Liangjiang, including the governor of Jiangsu, the chief envoy, and the inspector. On both sides are officials from various government offices and representatives of the Jinling gentry headed by Jia Shiwang Xue.

The governor of Liangjiang shouted loudly: "Fire the cannon! Play the music!"

Dozens of cannons rang out continuously!The drum, trombone, suona, flute, and flute played "General's Order"!
At this time, the main ship that was docking stopped.The governor of Liangjiang and the governor of Jiangsu led a group of officials down the pier and greeted them.

The springboard has been set up. The governors of Liangjiang and the governor of Jiangsu fixed their eyes on the springboard on the ship. A group of soldiers wearing helmets came out and lined up in two rows on the shore.Then a burly figure appeared, it was Jia Hu!
"I, along with officials from both sides of the Yangtze River, respectfully welcome the prince!"

The governor of Liangjiang led all the officials to kneel down.

Jia Hu led Eunuch Zhao, Lin San, Wang Dalei and Wang Yaozu down slowly with a smile.

The officers and soldiers on the shore made a thunderous cry!

Jia Hu walked to about five steps away from the Governor of Liangjiang and stood still.

The music stopped.

Jia Hu's eyes swept over the heads of the kneeling officials one by one, and then he stretched out his hand to help him: "Get up." The Governor of Liangjiang said: "Thank you, Your Majesty." He kowtowed and then stood up.

All the officials stood up.

The governor of Liangjiang bowed his head and said: "The people of Liangjiang have been looking forward to it for so long, and finally the prince is here!"

Jia Hu walked towards the dock and asked, "What's the situation now?"

The governor of Liangjiang looked serious: "Go back to your lord, the victory is lost."

Jia Hu was startled, eunuch Zhao was also startled, Wang Dalei and other generals were startled and looked at the governor of Liangjiang.

Governor of Liangjiang: "The guard of Moling Pass surrendered to the enemy. The rebels besieged Dasheng Pass from the side. Yesterday at dawn, the walls of Dasheng Pass were blown down by the rebels. All the defenders were killed. Now all the southern suburbs of Jinling have fallen. In the hands of the rebels.”

At this moment, the sound of artillery was heard from the upper reaches of the Yangtze River. The governor of Liangjiang explained: "This is a battle between the partial division of the Yangtze River Navy that stayed in Jinling and the rebel navy."

Jia Hu nodded. Since the Guangdong Navy refused to surrender and threatened the grain route, the imperial court could only build warships while dispatching the main force of the Yangtze River Navy southward to wait for an opportunity to eliminate the Guangdong Navy.

As they walked, Jia Hu said, "How is the food stored in the city? Where are the weapons and ammunition from the Ordnance Bureau?"

Governor of Liangjiang: "Don't worry, Your Majesty, the city has enough food for a year. There are also enough weapons and ammunition."

The group of people walked towards the pier.

On the pier, members of the four major families of Jia Shi Wang Xue knelt down together: "Welcome to the prince!"

All the gentry knelt down and shouted: "Welcome to you, Your Majesty!"

Jia Hu smiled and nodded: "Don't be too polite, don't be too polite."

Everyone stood up again in disorder.

At this time, there was a rush of horseshoes, and everyone paid attention.

A general galloped towards the crowd on horseback. He galloped to the side of the crowd and tugged on the reins, dismounted and yelled, "Lord Du Xian!" while galloping towards the Governor of Liangjiang.

The governor of Liangjiang's face sank: "I haven't paid my respects to the prince yet!"

After hearing this, the general subconsciously looked at Jia Hu, who was wearing a military uniform and carrying a sword. His eyes lit up immediately, and then he knelt down to Jia Hu: "I am humble enough to see you, the prince."

Jia Hu nodded, smiled and shouted, "No need to be polite."

The general stood up, answered "yes", and said to Jia Hu: "Prince Qi, the main force of the rebels has arrived at Da'ande Gate! The defenders saw Li Chengyang's banner."

After hearing this, Jia Hu turned around and looked in the direction of Da Ande Gate. His eyes seemed to be filled with blazing fire.
The imperial warships were densely packed all over the river, and Li Chengyang naturally understood that it was Jia Hu who was coming.

After Li Chengyang led the main force to the south of the city, considering that the surrounding defense situation was not yet familiar and the army needed to rest and regroup, he ordered to retreat twenty miles to camp. For a while, camps sprung up like bamboo shoots after rain in the southern suburbs, taking advantage of the favorable terrain and On the commanding heights, set up artillery.

Chinese army camp
Li Chengyang was sitting behind the court case, looking down at the military newspaper.

The generals on both sides stood there.

The voice of the officer on guard came from outside the door: "Commander, General Cao Yi is here."

Li Chengyang didn't raise his head and was still reading the military newspaper. He just responded habitually: "Yes."

After a moment, Cao Yi walked in, looked at Li Chengyang and sighed in his heart. He never expected that Li Chengyang would become like this. He was sitting on the dragon chair that Emperor Zhaowu of Taizu used when Wu Sangui ascended the throne. The imperial case was from Emperor Taizong Hong. He was moved out of the palace of Emperor Hua Wu Shifan back then. His behavior became more and more domineering!
(End of this chapter)