Southern Ming Rebel Army

Chapter 340: Sending Troops to Jingzhou

Jingzhou City, the general's office.

Zheng Siwei, who was stationed in Jingzhou City, was now frowning and sighing in his study. He had already received the news that the Loyalty Camp was gathering a large army.

He was not worried about the safety of Jingzhou City. Baiyintu's army was about to return to Jingzhou. Once the army returned to the town, Jingzhou City would be impregnable.

What he was worried about was that the Qing Dynasty did not seem to be as powerful as he had imagined. Even Duoduo was defeated in Huguang. Meng Jun was already becoming too powerful to be controlled, but the Qing Dynasty had no way to restrain him.

Zheng Siwei could not understand how invincible Duoduo was when he went south. Shi Kefa, who was the Grand Secretary and the Minister of State, had an army of more than 100,000 and 800,000 citizens of Yangzhou, but he could only hold out for a few days before he collapsed at the first touch. However, in just four or five years, the situation changed so much that Zheng Siwei was dumbfounded.

Zheng Siwei, a native of Weichuan, Henan, was originally a subordinate of Liu Fangliang, the general of the left camp of the Dashun Army. He followed Meng Changgeng, the defense envoy of Jingzhou, to guard Jingzhou.

When Ajige's troops of the Qing army pursued Li Zicheng from Shaanxi to Hubei, Zheng Siwei saw that Dashun was in decline, so he designed to kill Meng Changgeng and surrendered the city of Jingzhou to the Qing court.

In the second year of Shunzhi, the Qing court appointed Zheng Siwei, who surrendered and was appointed as the deputy general of Jingzhou, and he was still stationed in Jingzhou. In the third year of Shunzhi, Zheng Siwei, the deputy general of Jingzhou, was promoted to the governor-general and served as the general commander of Jingzhou, and he was stationed in Jingzhou with Li Qifeng, the governor of Huguang. Zheng Siwei, the general commander of Jingzhou, and others were awarded court clothes, a gold top inlaid with pearls, a cool court hat, a jade belt, and a saddle horse as rewards for their meritorious service in surrendering.

Just when Zheng Siwei was feeling extremely annoyed, a servant came to report that Li Qifeng, the governor of Huguang, had come to his house.

"Master Li"

"General Zheng"

The two exchanged a few pleasantries and then turned to business. Li Qifeng said in a deep voice: "The rebels are moving in a large scale. Their goal must be Jingzhou City. The defense of the city, General Zheng, must not take it lightly!"

Hearing Li Qifeng calling Shun thieves, Zheng Siwei felt a little embarrassed, but he quickly recovered and replied: "Don't worry, Lord Li, there are still 5,000 soldiers in the city, and Marshal Bai will soon return to Jingzhou. If the thieves dare to come to Jingzhou, they will be made to taste the taste of the previous defeat again."

Li Qifeng hummed, then stood up, put his hands behind his back and walked slowly, saying: "Although our dynasty originated from the border, we are not without talents. With a big reward, there must be brave men. I know the talent of General Zheng very well. I am not worried about the enemy coming to attack. The only thing I am worried about is the enemy Meng!"

Li Qifeng's words were so flowery that Zheng Siwei had trouble listening to them. However, he understood the last few words and nodded in response, "Lord Li is right. If it weren't for Prince Yu's carelessness and the loss he suffered, how could that old man Du Yinxi dare to attack Jingzhou again?"

"As the saying goes, a single move can affect the entire body. What a pity! If the traitor Meng is defeated, the world will be at peace soon. What I am worried about is that the world will return to the Northern and Southern Dynasties, and there will be a hundred years of fighting and countless lives will be lost." Li Qifeng's voice came slowly.

Hearing this, Zheng Siwei thought to himself, "Northern and Southern Dynasties? I'm afraid Meng Jun will go north to attack."

…………

On February 14, the third year of the Yongli reign, on the banks of the Daning River, 80,000 soldiers of the Loyalty Camp, like a swarm of ants, went down the river and headed straight for Jingzhou.

The army was densely packed, stretching out like a long dragon. The Loyal Camp was led by Minister Du Yinxi, with Liu Tichun as the commander-in-chief. With Hao Yongzhong, He Zhen and Ta Tianbao as the vanguards, they led an army of 20,000 and attacked Yiling first.

Yiling City was often harassed by the Zhongzheng Camp. The city was in ruins. The Qing army had only a few hundred soldiers guarding Yiling City. Once Hao Yongzhong and others arrived, Yiling City was about to fall.

The urgent military report was delivered to Jingzhou City at full speed, and the defending general Zheng Siwei immediately sent the news of the rebel invasion to Baiyintu's army.

Liu Tichun ordered Hao Yongzhong, He Zhen and Ta Tianbao to continue advancing eastward to capture Zhijiang.

On the march.

He Zhen was a little uneasy, and said to Hao Yongzhong: "Yaoqi, isn't it a bit risky for us to gather all our strength and attack Jingzhou this time?"

"What are you afraid of? The previous emperor was not afraid when he only had a dozen people left. What do we have to be afraid of now that we have 80,000 people? What's more, Mr. Meng has sent people to Yuezhou for help." Although Hao Yongzhong said this, he was a little uneasy in his heart. If King Zhou did not send troops, they might not be able to defeat Baiyintu relying only on the various units of the Loyalty Camp.

………………

Yuezhou City.

After Duoduo's defeat, the Qing troops stationed in the cities south of the Yangtze River in Huguang were all in a panic, and there was almost no resistance wherever Lin Shiqi passed.

The same thing happened in Yuezhou City. When Lin Shiqi led his troops to the city, the defenders opened the city gates, lowered their flags and surrendered.

Lin Shiqi, who easily captured Yuezhou, felt a little emotional. When the Qing army entered the pass in the past, they swept across the world and had no rivals from north to south. Even though the two capitals had fallen and the Qing court had entered the Central Plains and ruled the world, the trend seemed to be a foregone conclusion. However, such a dangerous situation was turned around by the king.

Lin Shiqi suddenly had a doubt in his mind: in this world, is it the times that make heroes, or is it heroes that make the times?

At this time, a personal soldier hurried over, and the armor leaves made a series of rustling sounds as they walked. The personal soldier saluted Lin Shiqi and said, "Your Excellency the Commander, Chief Meng has sent someone from Daning."

Lin Shiqi was stunned for a moment. Did old man Meng Hong really find the Loyalty Camp? Then he immediately said, "Let someone in quickly!"

After a while, five messengers, looking exhausted, came in.

The leader saluted to Lin Shiqi and said, "Greetings, Lin Tongzhen." After that, he handed the letter in his arms to Lin Shiqi.

Lin Shiqi looked at them for a while, frowned, and his scarred face looked a little solemn. Then he looked up and said to the messengers, "Take them down to rest first."

This letter was written by Meng Hong himself. It roughly recorded some information about the Shun army and generals in various places in Kuidong. He also said that he had reached an agreement with Du Yinxi and the generals of the Shun army and would soon send troops to Jingzhou.

If this letter had arrived ten days earlier, Lin Shiqi would have been very happy. But it is a little inappropriate now. Bai Yintu has already returned to Jingzhou and will probably arrive in the next few days. As for the Zhongzheng Camp facing Bai Yintu alone, Lin Shiqi does not have much hope.

However, Lin Shiqi did not want the Loyalty Camp, an anti-Qing force, to suffer another blow. If it were defeated again, the Loyalty Camp would probably collapse completely.

Lin Shiqi was silent for a moment, then said to his personal soldier Yang Yu: "Send someone to deliver this letter to Wuchang immediately."

Yang Yu bowed and agreed. Just as he was about to turn around and leave, Lin Shiqi stopped him and took out a piece of paper, writing: "Speed is of the essence in war. The Loyalty Camp is besieging Jingzhou. Bai Yintu is about to return. Please, Your Majesty, dispatch the navy. My troops will go to Jingzhou just in case. Even if the Loyalty Camp is defeated, our army can still provide support."

After handing it over to Yang Yu, Lin Shiqi said in a deep voice: "You take your men there in person, and hurry up. The military situation is urgent, and there is no time to delay!"