Fang Guangchen pursed his lips slightly, shook his head with a smile, and said: "In Fang's opinion, An Kun's attempt to please and show weakness is false, but it is harboring evil intentions and will inevitably lead to rebellion."

Wu Sangui smiled and nodded in agreement.

Wu Guogui looked surprised and asked, "Why do you see it?"

Fang Guangchen shook the folding fan and said with a smile: "If you really want to please me, why has the Long family that the prince asked for been so delayed and delayed?"

"On the surface, I pretend to be submissive. Firstly, I want to confuse the prince, and secondly, I want to show it to the other chieftains. If the prince launches an army to kill, there must be a convincing reason. Otherwise, the chieftains will all be in danger and may help.

Shuixi is an enemy of the prince."

Wu Sangui sighed softly and said helplessly: "It is precisely because of this concern that I dare not move lightly."

It is only natural that you raise the flag to rebel and I send troops to destroy you; but if you raise troops for no reason, wouldn't it be just a matter of words and force all the chieftains to work together to protect themselves?

Wu Guogui suddenly understood and said: "The prince has repeatedly forced and humiliated me. According to Ankun's temperament, he must be rebellious. But he is still forbearing now. There should be someone with authority behind him."

"Pi Xiong, the remnant of the false confession, is under the protection of An Kun, and Pi Xiong's son-in-law Zhang Mo is An Kun's teacher." Fang Guangchen said matter-of-factly: "These two people must have influenced An Kun's decision-making."

"This is also a reason to send troops." Wu Sangui said slowly: "As long as the court gives permission and pays for food, I will lead my troops to attack Shuixi."

Fang Guangchen smiled and said: "The false prince has made such a big splash in Huguang, which will help the court make a decision as soon as possible."

Just as he was talking, the guards hurried over and presented the secret letter, but it was Wu Yingxiong from the capital who sent someone to deliver it.

Wu Yingxiong's role as a proton in the capital also has one advantage: Wu Sangui can often get the information from the Qing court as soon as possible.

After checking the seal, Wu Sangui opened the secret letter. After reading it for a few times, he couldn't help but gasped and frowned.

Fang Guangchen took his time and sipped his tea. Wu Guogui showed doubts, but he didn't feel comfortable asking.

Wu Sangui read the secret letter, put it on the stone table, and said in a deep voice: "The false prince led his army to completely annihilate the Eight Banners of the Forbidden Brigade in Mianyang. General Mulima of Jingxi and General Tuhai of Anxi were killed in the battle."

Fang Guangchen was finally surprised, slowly closed the folding fan and patted his palms gently.

Wu Guogui turned pale and said: "The false prince is so fierce. How many troops did he bring with him? How could he beat Huguang like this?"

"It's not about having too many soldiers, it's about how to plan and how to use them." Fang Guangchen said slowly: "First overthrowing the Eight Banners of Xi'an and then destroying the Eight Banners of the Forbidden Brigade is really shocking. It seems that the rumors outside may not be all lies.

”

Wu Sangui narrowed his eyes slightly and said in a deep voice: "In just over half a year, the bandits have become more powerful again. If this person is not eliminated, he will become a serious problem."

Fang Guangchen pondered and said: "The imperial court should have made a decision, and there should be a decree coming in the next few days."

Wu Sangui nodded and said: "The imperial court has urgently mobilized officers and soldiers from the Liangjiang Navy and the Green Camp to go to Huguang to kill. The bandits have looted enough and will return to the east of Sichuan. If our army wants to dispatch, we must first wipe out the water west to eliminate worries.

."

"The appointment of the Sichuan Admiral must also satisfy the prince." Wu Guogui added: "The bandits have become powerful and cannot be eliminated overnight. The court should understand the prince's thoughts."

Wu Sangui showed a smile and nodded gently.

With Yunnan, Guizhou, and Sichuan in hand, he is no longer the king of Yunnan, but the king of Southwest China. If the court doubts him in the future, it must weigh it carefully and not just round it up or flatten it casually.

………………

The largest island in Ningbo, named Nantian Island, is located at the southern end of Xiangshan County, adjacent to Gaotang Island and Hua'ao Island.

Wave after wave washed up on the beach, either being smashed by the rugged rocks, or else they passed by and retreated sadly.

Zhang Huangyan, Minister of War of the Southern Ming Dynasty, was standing on the shore rocks, looking at the beach and waves, silently lost in thought, with complex expressions flashing across his face from time to time.

A scholar in Confucian uniform, with three long beards, a haggard face, and gray hair on his temples. Who would have thought that with such a frail body, he could actually be the "Saint Warrior" Zhang Cangshui, who entered the Yangtze River three times and fought fiercely with the Qing army for nearly twenty years.

.

Unfortunately, Emperor Yongli is dead, the twin stars of Li Dingguo and Zheng Chenggong have fallen, and the king of Lu, Zhu Yihai, has also died of illness. The banner of resistance to the Qing Dynasty has fallen, and the great country has fallen into a fishy smell!

"There is no hope!" Zhang Huangyan sighed sadly and turned around to see his school boy Yang Guanyu. The young boy's childish face made his heart ache.

The number of soldiers who followed him to fight in the Ninghai area was less than 2,000, and the ships were no more than 100. After the Qing Dynasty moved along the coast, it was difficult to replenish food supplies and soldiers, and there were more and more injuries and illnesses, making survival extremely difficult.

Due to his long-term dissatisfaction with the Zheng family, Zhang Huangyan refused to seek refuge, just like begging for food.

"Give the boys a way out and disperse!" Zhang Huangyan was determined and ordered people to gather the team.

Historically, Zhang Huangyan disbanded the rebel army in March and April of the third year of Kangxi's reign, and lived in seclusion on the island alone with the mentality of "the building is no longer supported, and everything will be done for success".

In July of the third year of Kangxi, the Qing army found Zhang Huangyan's secluded place through traitors and crossed the island in the middle of the night. Zhang Huangyan's subordinate Luo Zimu, the servant Yang Guanyu and others were arrested.

On September 7, Zhang Huangyan was killed by the Qing army in Bi Jiaofang, Hangzhou. Together with Yue Fei and Yu Qian, he was known as the "Three Heroes of West Lake".

The team had just been assembled, and Zhang Huangyan felt sad. Facing the soldiers who had followed him through life and death, he didn't know how to speak.

"My lord, my lord..." At this moment, two people ran from a distance, shouting loudly as they ran.

Zhang Huangyan's troops were isolated by the sea. They moved along the coast and were isolated from the people. They have been cut off from news for a long time.

The two men rushed forward, panting, but they were not frightened, but excited and excited. Their faces flushed and they reported to Zhang Huangyan: "Sir, His Highness the Third Prince led the Ming army to recover Huguang, and is heading down the river to attack.

Where is Nanjing!"

Zhang Huang was confused. What about the third prince, about regaining Huguang, and attacking Nanjing? Isn’t this a dream that he hasn’t woken up from?

A thin and capable man took a breath and spoke more coherently, "Sir, a few months ago the third prince sneaked into Kuidong, gathered various Ming armies, and launched a counterattack. First they conquered Yiling, and then moved on to attack Wushan."

"Victory in both battles, killing Li Guoying, the governor of Sichuan, Dong Xueli, the admiral of Huguang, and countless soldiers below the general level. Then they captured Chongqing and moved the entire army to eastern Sichuan."

"Later, His Royal Highness the Prince personally went on an expedition to northern Sichuan, annihilated the Eight Banners soldiers in Xi'an, and killed General Fu Kachan of Xi'an, and Deputy Commander Du Min. In the middle and late last month, His Highness the Prince led his troops to attack Huguang again."

"I heard that Wuchang, Changsha, Yueyang and other important places were occupied by the Ming army. There were 100,000 troops and they were attacking Jiujiang and wanted to invade the two rivers."

"The Qing navy's two river divisions have assembled urgently, and the troops have also moved to the river and are heading upstream to block the Ming army's advance in Jiujiang."

Zhang Huangyan's eyes widened with an expression of disbelief.

It is true that a day in the mountains makes the world a hundred years old. This news has been isolated for several months, but it turns out that the sea has changed, the world has changed, and it has become a new world.

The soldiers were also in a commotion and discussed loudly.

Zhang Huangyan was discouraged and desperate, so why didn't they feel that the future was pessimistic and slim?

But this shocking good news is like the spring breeze blowing in the face, making people excited and excited, and hope rising in their hearts.

Zhang Huangyan's lips parted, but he still didn't ask "Your Highness, is it true or false?" The soldiers were so happy and excited, how could he pour cold water on them?

"Liangjiang Navy has been dispatched. This is an opportunity to sneak in." Zhang Huangyan stroked his beard, but he knew that his fleet and men alone would not be enough.

"It is a pity that Zheng Jing was so stupid and cruel that he was internally divided. Jinxia could not defend it and had retreated to Taiwan. Otherwise, we could have sent troops nearby and then entered the Yangtze River to join forces with His Highness the Crown Prince and jointly attack Nanjing."

Zhang Huangyan sighed in his heart, but suffered from insufficient strength and had no better way for the moment.

"It seems that we can only wait and see the outcome of the battle between His Highness and the Qing Navy's Liangjiang Navy. If our army wins, these troops may still be of some use when marching to Nanjing."

Zhang Huangyan had made up his mind and had forgotten about disbanding the troops and sent people ashore to continue to inquire about the news. However, he still had a little hope and sent people to Penghu to inform Zheng.

………………

The Ming army had made preparations to evacuate the three towns in Wuhan, but the news that the Qing army's Liangjiang Navy and Poyang Lake Navy had moved up the river interrupted subsequent action plans.

"I'm not going to beat you, but you have to be a bitch and come here to get beaten." Huang Li took a battleship, inspected the Tianjia Town fortress, and formulated a battle plan.

Whether they stick to the blockade, take the initiative to fight, or retreat to lure the enemy deeper, the Ming army must persist for at least another month.

Thousands of ships are sailing up and down the Yangtze River, transporting a population of two to three million, plundering, and purchasing massive supplies to Xiangxikou and Wushan.

Chongqing also dispatched a large number of transport ships to transfer from Wushan. In order to improve efficiency, section-level transportation was adopted. Even so, it still takes a long time.

After Ta Tianbao's headquarters wiped out the remaining Qing naval forces that fled into Dongting Lake, only a small number of combat ships were left, and the rest were sent to Wuchang.

This allows Huang Li to hold the main combat power of the three fleets in his hands. Coupled with the superiority of weapons, he still has a good chance of defeating the Liangjiang and Poyang Lake naval divisions that have not been involved in war for several years.

"Lin Guo Gong and Jing Guo Gong attacked the enemy in Yuan'an from both sides and defeated Wang Yizheng's troops. The enemy suffered nearly 10,000 casualties and fled north."

"Yuan Zongdi received the order and will lead five battalions of troops to take a boat down the river. They should be able to arrive in the near future. Li Laiheng and Hao Waoqi will organize the Xingshan soldiers and civilians to withdraw to eastern Sichuan as planned."

Huang Li realized that the attack on Huguang had entered the final stage, but he was not prepared to let go of the Liangjiang Navy and the Poyang Lake Navy who were heading up the river.
Chapter completed!