Emperor Chongzhen of the Ming Dynasty

Chapter 393 Hong Chengchou's Countermeasures
There was a clang.

Hong Chengchou's sleeve accidentally turned over the freshly brewed hot tea, the hot tea flowed down the coffee table, and the teacup rolled on the floor stall, making a crisp sound.

Anshen's dream sweet fragrance is still erratic with wisps of smoke.

However, Hong Chengchou also became anxious, staring at the military officer in front of him like a falcon, just like the rainy night before the storm, the darkness was deep and terrifying.

"A large number of Ming troops appeared outside Xiangfu City. About [-]?"

Hong Chengchou asked a question, got up and walked to the desk, picked up the big wolf pen, spread out the rice paper and wanted to write something but didn't know what to write, but suddenly the big wolf pen fell to the ground: "Impossible! "

"Your official dare not lie to Zhongtang. My master has indeed seen a large number of Ming troops outside Xiangfu City, and there are no less than ten thousand cavalry!"

The officer knelt down.

At this time, there was a commotion outside, but someone came to report: "Zhongtang, Meng Butang is asking to see you."

"Meng Qiaofang? He's not in Xuanwuwei, why are you here?"

After Hong Chengchou finished speaking, he suddenly realized something, and hurriedly said, "Let him in quickly!"

Not long after, Meng Qiaofang also came to Hong Chengchou: "That's what happened. I estimate that there were no less than [-] Ming troops who attacked Xuanwuwei, and their artillery destroyed most of Xuanwuwei's city wall in a short while. These are not four or five hundred artillery pieces. It is impossible to form such a scale, Zhongtang, it seems that the situation is not as simple as we imagined!"

Before Hong Chengchou came back to his senses, he heard another noise coming from outside.

"Who is this! Go out and have a look!"

Hong Chengchou hurriedly raised his head and asked loudly. At that time, the governor Jin Li also ran in: "Master Belle, Lord Zhongtang, the Xingshan camp was suddenly attacked at night the day before yesterday. To be cautious, I had to take three Thousands of horses have withdrawn, please forgive Lord Baylor and Zhongtang!"

Hong Chengchou is not in the mood to deal with Jin Li now, and he also knows that Jin Li dared to retreat without a fight because he was a member of Luck Dehun.

Hong Chengchou didn't say anything, but sat quietly.

At this time, Luck Dehun said: "It's clear that the main force of the Guards has appeared. I don't understand. What are these people who deliver the news? It's not that the main force of the Guards has gone to Huguang and Shandong. Well, even the regent was deceived, and now Zhongtang is also implicated, Hong Zhongtang, tell me, what should we do next?"

"I also ask Lord Baylor to forgive me. It happened too suddenly, and the official was still a little confused for a while. Could you please ask Lord Baylor and the others to step down, so that the official can calm down for a while."

Hong Chengchou smiled wryly. He knew that Luck Dehun was still dissatisfied with the regent Dorgon for giving him the power of actual commander, so he would not forget to irony at this time that he had determined in advance that the main force of the guards would be in Shandong and Huguang.

Luckard smiled coldly, he did have the intention of watching Hong Chengchou's jokes, but he also knew that under the current situation, he could only let Hong Chengchou make up his mind. Even if he loses a battle, he can throw the blame away.

……

After about a while, Hong Chengchou, who was out of the room alone, called his old servant to change clothes and take a bath.

As soon as Hong Chengchou's old servant walked in, he saw that his master's crown had fallen to the ground, his hair was messy and white, and the ground was full of torn paper and ink spilled on the carpet. It is the word "Zhu Youjian".

The chairs and tables were also tilted to the ground, the teacups were shattered, and a book was torn to pieces.

The entire room of Hong Chengchou was like being burglarized.

Hong Chengchou's old servant didn't dare to ask more questions, and Hong Chengchou didn't say anything. After an hour, Hong Chengchou had changed into his normal clothes and walked out calmly.

Luck Dehun, Wu Sangui, Meng Qiaofang, Jin Li, and Zhou Ze didn't expect Hong Chengchou to remain so calm, as if he was still holding a pearl of wisdom.

Zhou Ze also became more worried. He didn't know what Hong Chengchou was up to, and he really wanted to find an opportunity to pass on the news that Hong Chengchou was not going to open the seal as soon as possible. Just keep changing the strategy.

"Is there any news from the Sun Family Ferry?"

Hong Chengchou asked suddenly.

"No", Wu Sangui replied.

Hong Chengchou secretly breathed a sigh of relief: "King Pingxi, please send an additional [-] troops to the Sun's Ferry immediately to strengthen the defense of the Sun's Ferry. No matter what, our food road and retreat cannot be broken."

"Yes!" Wu Sangui replied, but he couldn't help asking: "Zhongtang, Li Ezhen and Liu Ezhen are still in Xiangfu, do you think we can send someone to rescue them?"

"No need. Now that there are Guards appearing everywhere, it means that they came prepared. I'm afraid they are also prepared for our rescue. It is severe winter now, so it is easy to fall into an ambush if a single army goes to rescue."

Hong Chengchou didn't want to tell his plan again this time, so he got up and came to Zhou Ze: "Admiral Zhou Ze of Henan Province, I give you five days to seize the Xingshan Camp!"

Zhou Ze was overjoyed, he knew that Hong Chengchou let him seize the Xingshan camp on the [-]th because he wanted him to go to the Xingshan camp to stop the main force of the guards, which was tantamount to sacrificing himself to buy time for his main force to break through.

But what Hong Chengchou didn't know was that what Zhou Ze wanted now was an opportunity to send troops. As long as he could send troops, he would be able to find an opportunity to tell the Ming court about Hong Chengchou's every move.

However, Zhou Ze still showed some reluctance on the surface. After all, according to normal people, he is unwilling to die, so he couldn't help but glance at Lucde.

"Zhongtang, most of Zhou Ze's troops are green camps that have just joined the army, and their combat power is weak. If you let him seize the Xingshan Camp, do you think he can capture the Xingshan Camp within five days? How capable is my slave? It's not like you don't know."

Luc Dehun hurried out to help Zhou Ze, and Hong Chengchou also guessed that Luc Dehun would make an opinion, so he smiled and said:
"Master Baylor, please listen to the official's explanation. According to the news from Meng Butang, Jin Dutong and Li Guohan, if the main force of the Guards is in Henan, they should be concentrated in the two directions of Xuanwuwei and Xiangfu;
The direction of the Xingshan camp is considered to be the weakest point of the enemy. It is precisely because of this that the lower official will let Zhou Ze lead [-] troops to occupy this place. Grandpa will also support the next official. "

Seeing that Hong Chengchou was using Emperor Shunzhi and Regent Dorgon to suppress him, Luc Dehun couldn't say anything more.

"Officials to listen to orders", Zhou Ze accepted Hong Chengchou's military order with a look of resentment, and then started towards Xingshan Camp with his own troops.

However, at this moment, another civil servant ran over:

"Zhongtang, it's not good. Both Sun's ferry and Tao's store were occupied by the Ming army, our ships were destroyed, the entire army stationed in the river was wiped out, even Yangwu County was lost, and the 50 food transport soldiers were all destroyed. Kill, and the food of the [-] troops will be burned!"

Hong Chengchou recognized this civil servant as Qu Jiawei, a doctor in the Ministry of War. Now when he heard him say that, he immediately slapped the table:
"Quick, quick, call the army immediately. Except for Zhou Zebu who continues to attack the Xingshan camp, the rest of the army will all set out for the Sun's ferry and seize the river crossing point. This must be taken back!"

(End of this chapter)