I have a cornucopia

Chapter 220 The Panda Flag is Flying
Jiujiang.

Ying'en Gate.

"Hold on, hold on, two million taels, hold on until reinforcements arrive.

The Yangge army has passed the lake mouth!"

Du Yinxi was howling in the smoke, holding an urgent report in his hand.

Of course, he had just written it himself.

He had to lie, otherwise he really didn't know how to get these motley crowd in Jiujiang City to follow him and hold on.

Jiujiang City is now actually surrounded, but due to limited conditions, the enemy's main attack is still the Ying'en Gate...

There is no alternative to attacking from upstream.

The city was built along the Yangtze River, with a large lake to the west and mountains to the south. In fact, the land route from west to east was a narrow strip between the lake and the Yangtze River, and this narrow strip was separated by the Pengpu River. At that time, the Pengpu River could be used as a port and directly accommodate large ships. Even if light infantry could bypass the surrounding lakes and swamps and attack from the south, they could not carry artillery, but there were plenty of them on the city walls. In this era, attacking a city with a large number of artillery without artillery was tantamount to suicide.

As for the northern city wall, it is adjacent to the river. Although theoretically there is still a little river bank that can be operated, it is still suicidal under the muzzles of a large number of artillery including eighteen 24-pound cannons.

This has been the throat of the Yangtze River since ancient times.

A strategic hub city that has been tested in countless wars.

Of course, simple blocking is still possible.

Just as Du Yinxi was howling, a bullet whizzed past and the urgent report in his hand disappeared in an instant.

He withdrew his hand in astonishment.

Then he looked at his thumb, which was about a centimeter long, and then he woke up. He screamed as blood gushed out. He instinctively held his thumb with his hand and jumped in pain. His men ran over to bandage him. He leaned on the parapet and looked to the east with a bit of exhaustion. The next moment, the parapet not far away turned into broken bricks spraying inward. The shell that penetrated the parapet instantly destroyed the upper half of a militia, and the broken bricks were like shotguns, sweeping across several militias around, carrying their flesh and blood forward. Du Yinxi watched as a small building of Zhao Guangyan's family was penetrated by a shell...

Of course, there should be no one there, so the women of the Zhao family boarded the ship and escaped as quickly as possible before the enemy surrounded the city.

As for Zhao Shifu, he will definitely stay.

He has six brothers, so he just needs to send three of them to escape with the women and children.

This is the advantage of having many boys in the family.

To prevent accidents, the three brothers fled in three places. Some went to Huangmei to join Zhu Cilang, some went to Nanjing, and some turned south to Ganzhou and then continued south to Guangdong.

In times of chaos, clans should be divided!
Always leave more room for maneuver.

Of course, he still had to take his other two brothers to serve as regents and avenge their father.

Although in the eyes of their brothers, it was Du Yinxi who really killed their father.

In fact, Zhao Guangyan had no choice, because he knew that the result of resistance would be disaster for Jiangxi, but the result of not resisting would be eternal infamy. He still valued his reputation very much, so he simply went out to seek death. Anyway, no matter what, his reputation of loyalty and righteousness was finally preserved.

"Ugh!"

Du Yinxi looked at Zhao Shifu who was directing the militia to fill the gap, and finally sighed.

At this time, a ladder hook had been put on the gap in the parapet. The militiamen filling the gap did not bother to clean up the dead bodies, and immediately threw grenades down. Amid the explosion of the grenades, several militiamen held a piece of wood and hit the hook, trying to push the ladder away. But the next moment, the shotgun outside the city arrived, and they fell down one after another without the protection of the parapet. Then an enemy in full armor emerged from outside. This obviously northwestern man roared and quickly climbed up the wall. Du Yinxi raised his short gun with both hands and fired a shot. The man who had not yet stood firm fell straight out when the bullet hit him, and then fell with a scream.

But at the same time, a second one popped up.

Du Yinxi threw away the musket and was about to draw his sword, but he was grabbed by his personal soldiers and dragged backwards.

The militiamen urged by Zhao Shifu rushed forward, and the big man swung his iron whip and hit him...

"Let me go and meet the enemy!"

Du Yinxi howled as he was dragged by his bodyguards.

In the melee in front of him, the big man wielded an iron whip and beat the militia like a tiger among a flock of sheep. Behind him, more big men of the same kind climbed up the city wall and quickly joined the battle, some chasing after him, but the short guns in the hands of his personal soldiers behind him easily put an end to the enemy's bravery.

Times have changed after all.

Although expensive, the easy-to-use flintlock musket made close combat easier.

No matter how good your kung fu is, you are still afraid of guns!
"Chayuan, hurry up and leave. We can't hold on any longer. The militiamen have started to run away!"

The guard shouted.

Du Yinxi looked at the battlefield in astonishment.

Most of the militiamen on the city wall had given up resistance, including his subordinates who were fleeing together. After all, the incentive of silver was limited. When Li Zicheng's heavy artillery was not deployed, they could still hold on with him. But now that the heavy artillery was deployed and had the ability to blast open Jiujiang City, anyone who did not flee would be a fool.

Two million taels?

Of course, the actual amount was one million, but Du Yinxi changed it to two million without authorization.

But no matter how much money you have, you have to live to spend it.

He just watched the defenders being defeated.

The enemy troops outside kept climbing the city wall, and the defenders were completely defeated. They could still fight across the city wall, but they would be crushed by Li Zicheng's old bandits and the old frontier troops in close combat. The ones attacking now were actually the old frontier troops in the northwest. Zhao Shifu had given up struggling and ran down the city wall under the protection of the militia, fleeing into the city. Other scholars who were also commanding the militia were also fleeing. Even a local scholar ran too slowly and was chopped down by the enemy who climbed the city wall.

"Open the city gates to welcome the rebel king. When the rebel king comes, we won't pay taxes!"

A man who looked like a general, holding a knife, stood on the city wall and shouted.

Then he ran down the bridleway with his men.

However, the city gate has been blocked by Yinxi, so it will take some time to clear it, but it doesn’t matter anymore. The increasing number of Northwestern men guarding the city wall will quickly solve this small problem.

Du Yinxi was also dragged by his personal soldiers in a hurry along the city wall to the east in a heart of grief. He took the northern wall, which had heavy artillery, but the gunners were also fleeing in panic. This is how a crushing defeat happens. He ran along the city wall to Jiuhua Gate in one breath amid the fleeing soldiers. He didn't give up and suddenly ran to the tower. He quickly climbed up the tower and turned a small red cannon on it to face the enemy who was chasing him. He was about to fire it...

"Inspector, look!"

A personal soldier who followed up the stairs shouted.

He immediately turned his head and looked in the direction he was heading.

On the river, there was a row-oared centipede boat going upstream. Because the wind was from the northeast, it was basically a tailwind. Although it was going upstream, it was still moving fast under the power of the long oars. Although there were countless warships on the river at this time, all brought by Li Zicheng, the huge cannons that locked the river were all above the Pengpu River, with dense sails and masts like a forest, and this small boat was alone on the river going upstream.

It looks very weird.

There were no other warships visible behind it, so it was like a single-handed warrior coming for a meeting.

But it is not important.

What’s important is that on the mast of the centipede ship, there is a strange flag flying.

The flag was so big that he could see the pattern on it from a distance. The flag was white, but the pattern on it was clearly a bear, a black and white bear, sitting with what was probably bamboo in its arms. He could still tell it because the composition was simple...

"What's this!"

He said in astonishment. "Reporting to the Procuratorate, it seems to be a kind of bear from Sichuan that eats bamboo. Small ones have been seen in western Sichuan."

The soldier said.

"What is this flag?"

Du Yinxi said.

"Everyone on the shore, listen up. I am Yang Feng. I have been entrusted by the Regent to come and negotiate with the King of Qin. I want to stop the war with the Zhuo Yu Banner. From now on, all armies must stop fighting immediately and must not continue to attack each other..."

Immediately afterwards, Yang Feng’s shout was heard on the river.

"So, this is Zhuo Yu?"

Du Yinxi said in astonishment.

The bodyguards were at a loss.

Of course, this is Yang Feng’s Zuo Yu Banner.

Soon, the soldiers on both sides on the city wall saw this unique flag, and of course heard the shouts that were obviously coming from the loudspeakers...

A quarter of an hour later.

Prince Yang proudly stepped onto the Jiujiang dock, holding his so-called Zou Yu Banner, or Panda Banner. It didn't matter what the real Zou Yu Banner looked like. He said it was a Zou Yu Banner, so it was a Zou Yu Banner. As for the rules of using the Zou Yu Banner to stop the war, there was no such rule, but if he said it was, then it was, to give him some face. Anyway, for Li Zicheng, Jiujiang City had actually been opened.

The Ying'en Gate had been captured and his men were pouring into the city.

It's just a word to want to occupy it completely.

After taking Jiujiang, he had already taken the initiative.

Even if Yang Feng's navy was strong, it would be useless, because at most he could go south by land, and the Jiangxi gentry would kneel down and welcome the royal army. At that time, if Yang Feng held the Yangtze River line, he could go east from Jiangxi and go straight to Zhejiang, or even go south to Fujian and Guangdong, and he would sweep across the entire south.

What would be the use of Yang Feng defending the Yangtze River line at that time?

The winning ticket is guaranteed!

Give me some face!
As for Du Yinxi, he certainly survived a desperate situation. If Yang Feng had not come, he would have been thrown into the Yangtze River by Li Zicheng, and he would not have been able to escape from Jiujiang City. Originally, he ran to the city wall prepared to commit suicide if nothing worked.

So Yang Feng’s arrival saved him, and he would definitely agree to such a good thing!
"Where is the King of Qin?"

Yang Feng, carrying a panda banner, looked at Li Laiheng who came to greet him.

He really came alone.

However, Zheng Chenggong's navy's main battleship had already arrived at Hukou and anchored there, while the subsequent armies were rushing to Hukou by land and water. At this time, some of them had already arrived and began to build temporary fortresses at Hukou. In fact, not only Hukou, but also Li Zicheng had to be prevented from going south by land, so some Jiujiang militia had to reinforce Xingzi, De'an and other places, so the troops were still a little tight.

The rest depends on the Jiangxi gentry. If they don't want to be caught in a dilemma by Li Zicheng, they can only continue to increase their troops and use their money to recruit troops.

But the situation is indeed not very optimistic.

Once the Jiangxi gentry gave up, Li Zicheng would be able to attack Nanchang directly, then advance eastward from Nanchang and attack Nanjing from behind. At that time, he would have to fight on two fronts. Even if Dorgon took the opportunity to take action, he would have to fight on three fronts.

In short, now it depends on the Jiangxi gentry, or in other words, on a long-desired prosperous era of gentry. The temptation for the Jiangxi gentry is not enough simply by profit, but also by ideals. This is the real purpose of Yang Feng's debate with the elders, to let them see the dawn of what Confucianism calls the great harmony of the world.

Do you want it?
fight!
As for Yang Feng...

He is the mediator!

He's not here to fight.

"The King of Qin is waiting in the camp. I wonder if the King dares to come?"

Li Laiheng said.

"Naughty!"

Yang Feng said.

After saying that, he was leaving.

"Your Majesty, please wait. Since we are here to mediate, we should do it in a neutral place. How can we mediate in a military camp? I think we should choose another place. How about Mount Lu? Now that the Qin army has taken over the area around Jiujiang, and Nankang is still under the supervision of the state, Mount Lu separates the two sides and can be a good place for mediation."

Du Yinxi quickly stopped him and said.

But we can't take risks. It can be said that the main obstacle to Li Zicheng's unification of Jiangnan is Yang Feng. Although Li Zicheng and Yang Feng have a good relationship, we can't be careless at this time. As long as Yang Feng is killed, Li Zicheng's hegemony will be halfway achieved. In this case, why not take the opportunity to kill him? Negotiations are necessary, but we can't go to Li Zicheng's military camp to discuss. If Li Zicheng can't control the impulse to kill Yang Feng, it will be troublesome. We can't even give him the opportunity to have such an impulse.

"I see. I think what Governor Du said makes sense. Why don't you go back and ask the King of Qin? Let's go to Mount Lushan and admire the waterfall dropping 3,000 feet, and then talk about it."

Yang Feng said.

He was not afraid of Li Zicheng's impulsiveness.

But it is better not to be impulsive. After all, once they fall out, they will have no choice but to fight. It is difficult to grasp the situation when a fight really starts, especially with Dorgon on the north bank. We should try our best to avoid fighting.

Li Laiheng smiled coldly, then turned around to report.

"Your Majesty, at this time, you can't see the waterfall dropping three thousand feet from Mount Lu."

Zhao Shifu reminded Yang Feng.

"Uh?"

Yang Feng was speechless for a moment.

Then he patted Mr. Zhao on the shoulder...

"Mr. Zhao, your father has been posthumously awarded the title of Minister of War, and his three sons have been granted the title of Imperial College in Nanjing for their meritorious service. You should pack up and go to Nanjing! As for the Jiujiang militia, leave it to Governor Du. This job is really not suitable for you."

He said it sincerely.

Zhao Shifu didn't understand what he meant, but it was indeed a good thing to leave now.

He quickly thanked Yang Feng and hurried back to leave Jiujiang.

Being granted the right to study in the Nanjing Imperial Academy is a good thing, because it is not true study. In the past two years, the new scholars who were born as students were granted the right to study in the Nanjing Imperial Academy for military merit, and then became officials directly as students. After all, the imperial examination will not work in the short term, and this way of selecting officials has become a temporary substitute. Moreover, these people have experienced wars, and even like Confucius and Mencius, they are not corrupt scholars, but much better than those pure imperial examination officials in the past.

At least we can fight.

"Zhao Guangyan is a cunning old man, how could he raise such a simple son?"

Yang Feng sighed as he looked at Zhao Shifu's back.

Du Yinxi, who was standing next to him, quickly lowered his head.

(End of this chapter)