Ming Zhengzhi, I am Zheng Kezang

The brilliance of Yangzhou began with the king who was eager for quick success and quick profit but was notorious for thousands of years. However, it was salt that really kept Yangzhou prosperous in the city's history of more than 1000 years. Repeatedly reborn from the brink of destruction. www However, around the 34th year of Kangxi, the prosperity of Yangzhou was somewhat dejected. As Zheng Jun in the south repeatedly attacked, plundered, and destroyed the Lianghuai Salt Fields along the northern Jiangsu coast, and the Qing court responded to the financial crisis after the fall of Jiangnan. Excessive taxation, the city that used to be full of music every night finally showed signs of decline.Since then, as Yangzhou became the front line of fierce fighting between Zheng and Qing, merchants and scholars who were worried about the tragedy of "Ten Days in Yangzhou" fled one after another. In contrast, tens of thousands of Qing troops continued to pour in. So far, Yangzhou finally turned into a lifeless military city

Sitting in the lobby of the Yamen of the Salt Transport Envoy of the Huaihe River and Huaihe River, the Minister of the Ministry of War, the Governor of Jiangnan and Jiangxi, and the Yushi Ma Qi of the Metropolitan Procuratorate are looking solemnly at the group of civil and military generals sitting next to them.Speaking of which, facing Zheng Jun's Northern Expedition, Ma Qi's preparations are not insufficient. However, it is precisely because of the strict defense everywhere, so when Zheng Jun really crossed north, Ma Qi discovered that there are no more than two mobile troops in Yangzhou City at this moment. Only ten thousand.

50 people are going to deal with the 50 Zheng Jun who is going north. It must be a car with the arm of a mantis. Well, the figure of 20 is just Zheng Jun's bluff, but even if more than half is subtracted, if it is [-], it is not something that Ma Qi can deal with. Therefore, Ma Qi can only hope that the reinforcements from Qingjiangpu, Xuzhou and other places will arrive quickly, but before the reinforcements arrive, he can only use the various cities that have been repaired for more than a year to implement strict defenses.

Now that the idea was made, Ma Qi immediately said: "The sea is rampant and reckless, it's time for us to serve the country."

All the civil and military officials of the Qing court agreed one after another, and Ma Qi encouraged him again: "The fortress of Yangzhou was built under the supervision of the official himself. Although the soldiers are in a hurry, it is definitely not possible to go down in ten months. As long as the reinforcements from the north arrive, the outcome will inevitably be reversed. At that time, I will personally show my merits to everyone. You adults take it for yourself"

"Your Majesty, please take a look." Yang Bokang, deputy general of Tongwei and commander of the second division of the Yongwei Army, introduced to Zheng Kezang, pointing to Yangzhou City lying in the distance like a crouching tiger under the Shu hills. "Since ancient times, if you want to take Yangzhou City, you must first take Shugang, but Ma Qi obviously knows this truth. For this reason, he built several small villages on the line of Daming Temple and Ganquan Mountain and equipped them with cannons to prevent them from being defended."

Zheng Kezang looked at the low-rise Shugang and his heart was ups and downs for a while---now, the famous Slender West Lake is still a river course of an ancient canal, and there are no traces of Wuting Bridge, Baita, and Hongqiao. It's still underwater --- the scenery of different time and space is intertwined with reality, how can it not make people imagine.

After being in a daze for a while, Zheng Kezang finally calmed down and handed the binoculars to the guards around him. Then he asked Yang Bokang, "If our army only takes Shugang, will the enemy of Yangzhou send troops to help?"

Yang Bokang affirmed: "Shugang is very important. If Ma Qi has enough troops, he will definitely send troops to help."

Zheng Kezang asked again: "If the city of Yangzhou is attacked directly, will the enemies of Shugang send troops to help?"

Yang Bokang was taken aback for a moment, then he pondered for a while, then shook his head: "The enemy in Shugang has few soldiers, and most of them dare not come to help, but they can use cannons to bombard our siege headquarters to support the enemy in the city."

"How far can the Qing captive Hongyi cannon hit?" Zheng Kezang's question made Yang Bokang pause again. That's right, even the three-and-a-half-inch (12-pound) cannon equipped by Zheng Jun's land division was already capable of hitting the sky two miles away. And at this time, there is no need to mention the accuracy. Although the Qing army extravagantly used copper to cast cannons, the range and accuracy are unlikely to change much.

"Your Majesty," Yang Bokang responded after discussing with the staff around him in a low voice. "Although there are few soldiers in Shugang, once our army attacks the city, we have to deploy troops on the flanks to monitor and adapt." There is a saying in the art of war that victory is not expected and defeat is expected. Zheng Kezang also agrees with the caution of Yang Bokang and others . "In addition, the moat of Yangzhou has been widened by Ma Qi, and there are many waterways outside the city of Yangzhou, which greatly hinder the siege of the city, so the ministers think that it is not appropriate to attack."

"It's not appropriate to attack by force?" Although Zheng Kezang was unwilling to lose his precious field force under a strong city, Yangzhou's location was really important, so he frowned and said. "Yang Qing, in the past, Zhang Xun defended Suiyang to the death, preventing the Anshi rebellious army from sweeping the Yangtze and Huaihe Rivers and thus preserving the world of Li and Tang. Now, the same is true. If Yangzhou does not fall, the Northern Expedition will definitely be in the way."

"Your Majesty, I think today is different from the past." Looking at Zheng Kezang who was a little surprised, Yang Bokang explained. "Nowadays, our Northern Expedition is to fight more with less, and control slow with speed. If the troops are under the fortification of the city, the Qing captives from all over the world will inevitably come in droves. At that time, the feudal clan will not be able to go north." Seeing Zheng Kezang nodding while listening, Yang Bokang's confidence suddenly increased. "In addition, the king also said that the Northern Expedition was based on food and the enemy. If we can't quickly control the grain area in northern Jiangsu, how can we do this."

"That's right. There is only so much food in the world. If we have more points, the Qing Dynasty will lose one point." Zheng Kezang agreed. The Northern Expedition had economic significance in addition to military and political significance. This is exactly what he specifically emphasized. "However, the enemies of Yangzhou don't always turn a blind eye."

"What the king said is true." Yang Bokang gave Zheng Kezang a small compliment, and then continued to explain. "I think that we can surround Yangzhou without fighting." Zheng Kezang's eyelids twitched. Isn't this contradictory, but he didn't express his position immediately, but listened patiently. "The so-called siege of the city is not to be surrounded by the whole army." Speaking of this, Yang Bokang did not look at Zheng Kezang who was suspicious, but ordered the map of Yangzhou to be presented in his hand, and then pointed out on the map. "I thought that we could set up large camps in the northeast and southwest of Yangzhou, with two divisions under each command to respond."

Zheng Kezang keenly grasped the loopholes in Yang Bokang's words and asked: "The two camps in the northeast and northwest are under the attack of Shugang and the Qing captives in the city. The first battalion, isn't it that our army is in a situation where the enemy is strong and we are weak?"

"I think that as long as the camp is strong, the Qing army will not be able to defeat it in one battle." Yang Bokang knew that his answer would not reassure Zheng Kezang, so he further explained. "The four divisions in the two camps have four sentries that will not close at night. If the Qing army makes any moves, it will not escape our army's scouting horses; in addition, the two camps can be set up along the ancient canal, so the navy can also respond; finally, the ministers I thought that most of the artillery fire of the Qing army was deployed at the top of the city, and even if it could be dismantled and transported to attack the village, it would only be a few light artillery pieces, and Ma Qi may not have the strength to capture the well-defended camp of our two divisions with mere light artillery."

"It makes sense, but this method is too risky. Whether it is feasible or not is another matter. Yang Qing, let you do a careful deduction with the General Staff Office behind you, and you must ask for everything." Yang Bokang knew Zheng Ke immediately. Zang was already inclined to accept his suggestion, and immediately ordered the staff behind him to discuss with the staff office. At this time, Zheng Kezang's gaze was patrolling the map. "Eighteen divisions, two divisions are needed in the direction of Chuzhou, and four divisions will be stranded here, leaving only twelve divisions."

Hearing Zheng Kezang's murmur, Yang Bokang's heart moved: "Your Majesty, I think that we should not rush to go north now. We should take the Taizhou and Tongzhou lines first, so that the Yangtze River line can be stabilized as much as possible, and the two divisions of the navy can be released. hand."

"The General Staff Office had a similar strategy before." Zheng Kezang calculated clearly that even if Taizhou and Tongzhou were swept away, before the Huai'an Mansion was conquered, Zheng Jun would inevitably need to divide his troops to guard everywhere. Decrease, no possibility of increase. "However, the key now is when the enemy of Anqing will come to help."

Although Jiangnan still has the Chizhou camp to contain it, Zheng Kezang still has deep scruples about the enemies in Anhui. The soldiers and horses are ready, which is a heavy pressure for the Huben army who are engaged in containment warfare.

"Your Majesty, please rest assured," Yang Bokang comforted. "Anqing is hundreds of miles away from Yangzhou. Even a fast horse has to be put down in a day. In addition, the Qing government has many branches. I don't think it can be responded so quickly." Having said that, but for Zheng Ke Zang Yili insisted on the Northern Expedition, but Yang Bokang actually had a little objection. In his opinion, Ming Zheng's power had reached the limit of control, and the Northern Expedition was rushed when the internal relationship was not straightened out and the external conditions were not mature. All games were lost, but Zheng Kezang was determined, and he could only do his best for the Northern Expedition with his arms unable to twist his thighs. "If the Lord is still worried, it is better to transfer the first division of the Xuanwei Army in northern Jiangxi to Pengze to threaten Wangjiang and Susong."

"This is a great strategy." Zheng Kezang was full of praise. In fact, there were similar suggestions in the strategy of the staff office, but at this time and place, Zheng Kezang had to use some tricks. "Come on, go to the staff office to write a letter to Nanjing, and adjust the fast boat to Jiangxi." Just as the guards on the side wanted to leave, Zheng Kezang suddenly stretched out his hand to signal. "In addition, let the staff office discuss whether to let Yue Qingbo's troops take over Jiujiang and Nankang after the Xuanwei First Division is transferred to the east."

"Your Majesty, I think that instead of moving Yueqing Bobu to the east, it is better to pretend to cross the river in Huangzhou, so as to force the Qing captives in Huguang not to move eastward to Anhui easily." Yang Bokang continued to suggest. "In addition, didn't the Dangrubo Department take the city of Hanyang, so they can continue to attack Mianyang and Hanchuan?"

"Liu Ning'an?" Zheng Kezang didn't think too much, just nodded. "Then write together"

The group is out again, come back on the 3rd and leave on the [-]th!