In the cabin, Du Yinxi washed, changed his clothes, and lay on the bed with Du Zhengming's support.

"Uncle, I'll get off the boat and find a doctor for you now." Du Zhengming said.

Du Yinxi waved his hand exhausted, "No need, just take a break."

Du Zhengming shook his head, "Uncle, I listen to you in everything, but this time it won't work. Please rest, I'll go."

Du Yinxi called him, "Zhengming, I will go into the city to see Li Guo in the past two days. If he knew that I was sick, other troubles might arise. After all, Li Jiantai rashly ordered an attack on Yueyang and made a deep hatred with him. If I was sick, Li Jiantai would take over the Huguang army, and Li Guo would definitely not feel at ease. Even if he wanted to find a doctor, he had to wait until he subdue Li Guo and the others. Besides, now on the boat, where are you looking for it?"

Du Zhengming wanted to say something again, Du Yinxi waved his hand to stop him, "Zhengming, that's it, don't persuade him anymore! Let the boat dock and stop, and we will leave after tomorrow."

In early September, Du Yinxi entered Jingzhou alone.

Li Guo executed the Qing envoy and led tens of thousands of troops under his command to surrender to the Ming Dynasty, and was organized into a loyal camp.

Liu Fangliang evacuated Yueyang and gave up the Yangtze River channel. Du Yinxi personally led Ma Jinzhong, Wang Jincai and 50,000 elite troops to board a boat to the west. He advanced along with the rebel army and threatened Xiangyang.

After hearing that Li Guo surrendered to the Ming Dynasty, he was very afraid that the Ming army would advance to Sichuan and Shu after conquering Xiangyang, so he no longer hesitated and personally led 40,000 elite troops to station troops in Zigui and restrain Jiangling's rebel army.

At the same time, General Wu Zhimao was ordered to lead 8,000 troops to enter Xunyang Prefecture from the Han River to cover the flanks of the Qing army in Xiangyang.

Sun Kewang also learned this news, fearing that the Ming army would take the opportunity to advance north and lead his troops to retreat to Hefei.

Emperor Longwu Zhu Youjian was also deeply uneasy. He followed Jin Sheng's advice and took the initiative to remove the imperial title, so as to negotiate with the Southern Ming Dynasty on this condition. But he could not keep an agreement with Sun Kewang on who was commanding the Jiangbei army.

Sun Kewang has 80% of the Longwu Army's troops and feels that he should be led by all the Jiangbei army.

He suggested to the envoy of the Southern Ming Dynasty that the court should transfer Zhu Youjian back to Nanjing, and appointed him as Duke of Qin and General, and he led all the troops in Jiangbei to carry out the Northern Expedition.

Not to mention that Zhu Youjian disagrees with such conditions, even the Southern Ming court disagrees with them.

The reason why the Nanming offered such conditions was only because Zhu Youjian's surname was Zhu. Sun Kewang, a traitor, was a traitor who had dug up the ancestral tomb of the old Zhu family. How could they allow him to command all the troops in Jiangbei?

Moreover, the Southern Ming court thought that it had subdued the Huguang Army and there was no war on the western front. Most of the Southern Ming ministers believed that it was not necessary to surrender the Longwu Army.

This idea was finally implemented in action.

Zhu Cixuan issued an order to restore Zhu Youjian's title of King of Tang, and grant him the title of General, so that he could command all the Longwu army in Jianghuai.

He deprived Zhu Youjian of the titles of the Marquis who had given Sun Kewang, Liu Wenxiu, and Ai Nengqi, but he named them the Marquis of Zhongyi, Shunyi and Guiyi in the name of the court.

Later generations called it the Sanyihou.

Sun Kewang was obviously not satisfied with this result, but he also knew that the situation was not conducive to him.

After the Southern Ming court promised that he could continue to command all his soldiers, and the taxes under his jurisdiction were under his control. He also provided him with 50,000 taels of silver and 100,000 stones of rice every year. After all the officials and generals were appointed by him, Sun Kewang reluctantly accepted the title of Nanming.

Later, Sun Kewang left Ainengqi to guard Hefei, monitored Zhu Youjian, and led most of the elite Longwu army troops to head north to Fengyang.

There, Sun Kewang built a city wall, built a marquis' mansion, saved food and grass, and recruited soldiers everywhere. He completely distrusts the Ming court, but just wants to build his own independent land.

In addition, Sun Kewang also sent people to Jinan under the name of jointly fighting against the Qing Dynasty, hoping to maintain a good relationship with Zhou Xian. He also deliberately leaked such news to the Nanming side and took the opportunity to ask for more money and food.

This obviously touched Nanming's sensitive nerves.

Although Zhu Youjian was the nominal King of Tang and the general, he could not command Sun Kewang and his army. In addition, he did not fully trust the Southern Ming court led by Zhu Cixuan, and he also had a little bit of emperor's intention in his heart, so he also refused Nan Ming's request to send troops to Jianghuai.

The result of this was that although the Southern Ming nominally surrendered the Longwu Army, it could not control the Jianghuai Army at all, and even the Ming army could not enter the Jianghuai Army.

On the contrary, because of the surrender of the Longwu Army, it was necessary to provide a large amount of money and food to it every year.

Coupled with the military pay and supplies of the rebel army and the expenses of the newly built 10th Regiment Battalion of the Ming court, the Southern Ming court faced unprecedented financial pressure.

In order to solve this problem, to stabilize Nanjing's defense, and even more because of his distrust of Zhou Xian, the pro-war factions in the Southern Ming court had the advantage.

With Shi Kefa's acquiescent, Ma Jixiang, the commander of the Jinyiwei, ordered the Jinyiwei hidden in Yangzhou to incite the Yangzhou Caoding to rebel.

Shao Zongyuan ordered the opening of the southern gate of Yangzhou. General Ruan Jin, Zhang Mingzhen, led 6,000 elite soldiers to enter Yangzhou city in the name of suppressing the rebellion, attacked the government office and grain warehouse, and took over the salt field and money house in the city.

Because the Ming army was very secretive about this matter, they blocked the city in time. By the time the detailed work placed in Zhenjiang City spread the news of Zhang Mingzhen's army's dispatch to Yangzhou, it was too late.

Moreover, there were only more than a thousand Zhou Xian's army in the city, and they also showed extremely weak power in the face of several times the enemy.

The garrison Pei Shouzheng ordered the abandonment of other parts of the city, and the entire army retreated to the north gate to defend. At the same time, he sent people to urgently ask for help from the garrison in Gaoyou City.

Ruan Jin, who learned the news, wanted to attack the North Gate, but was stopped by Zhang Huangyan.

Yangzhou was originally owned by both sides, and even captured Yangzhou, perhaps we can talk to Zhou Xian in the future. If we attack and kill Zhou Xian's soldiers, there will be no room for improvement.

Moreover, in this way, the reasons for quelling the rebellion are no longer useful, and they are detrimental to the court in terms of justice.

Zhang Huangyan suggested using heavy troops to block the Zhou Xian army in the city at the north gate, isolate its water and food supply, and send people to persuade them to surrender. If they do not want to surrender, they can leave freely.

As long as you get Yangzhou City, it is worthwhile for the Ming Dynasty to send troops this time.

Later, Zhang Mingzhen led more soldiers to arrive. He also agreed with what Zhang Huangyan said, but also believed that he must be prepared. He sent three thousand water soldiers to Shaobo Town, north of Yangzhou, blocking the entrance from the Huai River to the Yangtze River.

At the same time, Zhang Mingzhen sent a message to Zheng Hongkui and asked him to lead a navy to move to Zhenjiang to prevent accidents.

The only thing that unexpected to Ming Jun was Zhou Xianjun's reaction speed.
Chapter completed!