On that day, Guo Zhiqi, Qian Qianyi, and Zhang Huangyan stayed in Wuchang City and temporarily resided in the Wudang Palace in the city, waiting for the success of the Ming army's recapture of Hanyang.

Chen Kai and Li Dingguo, who set off first, crossed the Yangtze River and rushed to Wen Anzhi's camp to discuss the siege. Only before leaving did Chen Kai remember that Zheng Chenggong's letter mentioned that Liu Rushi was following Qian Qian this time.

After asking the officer who escorted the three of them, they found out that Liu Rushi fell ill after a long journey, and temporarily stayed in a posthouse in Jiayu County to recuperate.

Qian Qianyi and the others were anxious to see Chen Kai, so they set off first.

"I see."

He vaguely remembered that there seemed to be a film in later generations that suggested that there was something like affection between the young and frivolous Zheng Chenggong and his young mistress. Is this true? He is not a party involved.

, and I haven’t seen it with my own eyes, so I don’t think about it too much, and I don’t have the time to spend too much time on such boring things. However, Liu Rushi, who was just forty years old, could not stand the fatigue of traveling and traveling from Shaoxing, Zhejiang to Wuchang, Huguang.

Seventy-seven-year-old Qian Qianyi was still able to come to meet him in a lively manner, which made him feel unexplainably uneasy.

However, this kind of uneasiness was only fleeting. His immediate priority was to capture Hanyang City. After he crossed the Yangtze River, he quickly met Wen Anzhi, Guo Zhiqi and the others and his four points.

After telling them all their thoughts, they talked about the siege.

Wen Anzhi was very pleased with Chen Kai's efficiency in Wuchang. The Bengfa method was indeed a great weapon for the Ming army. They could use it to continuously capture cities heavily defended by the Qing army. However, this method also had some drawbacks.

That is too slow. It takes a few days to dig out the city, and it must be as efficient as Chen Kai's demolition team. Now in the entire Ming Dynasty, only another demolition team under Zheng Chenggong's Artifact Town can achieve this.

This standard. In addition, how to ensure the safety of the tunnel in the past few days is also a big problem. This is because the Qing army has not found other effective countermeasures.

Here in Hanyang, according to Wen Anzhi, the Ming army in Kuidong launched seven rounds of large-scale offensives for five consecutive days. The Qing army's defense was very tenacious, especially at the Fengshan Gate, also known as the west gate, which was hit hard by the Ming army.

Li Benshen, the prefect of Jingbiao, was personally in charge, and the Green Camp commander simply lived in the city gate building, and wasted his time with the Ming army.

The city wall of Hanyang City is not as long as that of Wuchang, which is 20 miles long. It is only five miles long, and there are only four city gates. Among them, the Chaoyuan Gate in the north was just repaired during the Hongwu period and was blocked soon after. In addition, the Chaozong Gate and the Chaozong Gate in the east were blocked.

The outside of Nanji Gate in the south was eroded by the river. Therefore, the Ming court built a protective stone embankment along the line from Chaozongmen to Nanji Gate and then to Xiaoxiguan. It was also 3.5 miles long. The Ming army used the west gate as its main attack direction.

An act of desperation.

"Youdao's priority is to attack the heart first and attack the city next. The lower official thought that the heads of Da Su, Hu Maozhen and Liu Guangbi could be transported to the outside of Hanyang City for display. In addition, the performance of the whole festival was also reasonable, so he was allowed to rest for two days.

Oh my god, let Liu Yingzhi continue to consume the strength of the defenders. Zizi, the Southwest Meridian Mark versus the Southwest Meridian Mark, it must be excellent."

Wen Anzhi had already thought of this, but these were the results of the battle between Chen Kai and Li Dingguo, so he couldn't speak rashly. Now that Chen Kai had taken the initiative, he had no reason not to agree. So, outside Hanyang City,

The Ming army made tactical adjustments. When the heads of Dasu and others were carried to the city by the Ming army, and when Liu Yingzhi's troops launched an attack on Hanyang City, the morale of the Hanyang Qing army plummeted.

In the second hall of Hanyang Magistrate's Yamen, Hu Guang Governor Hu Quancai had finished several cups of tea, but he still couldn't suppress the irritability in his heart.

He had served in Huguang for many years and was well aware of the gap in city defense between Wuchang and Hanyang. The Ming army took Wuchang in only four days, which was beyond his expectation, but carefully

Thinking about it, it makes sense - after all, it was Chen Kai who presided over the attack on Wuchang City. More importantly, he also had Zhang Xianzhong's godson Xiangzhu. He chose a place where the city's defenses were most vulnerable. Once the city wall was blown down,

How could the few Qing troops in the city be a match for so many Ming troops?

However, like Wuchang, Hanyang's city defense is much worse. Even the Kuidong Ming army outside the city still forced the defenders to attack with the ridiculous attack capabilities of those intruders.

Danger is everywhere, and even Li Benshen simply moved into the city gate building. Now the banners of Chen Kai and Li Dingguo have appeared outside Hanyang City, and even Chen Kai's prestigious Guangdong Hongyi Artillery Team has

I'm afraid Hanyang City won't be able to hold on for a few more days.

"Only death!"

Last night, it was confirmed that the Ming army had invaded Wuchang City, so Li Benzhen came to discuss the city defense with him. Before leaving, he only said these four words. But when Hu Quancai heard these words, he was shocked.

Suddenly I felt a bit ridiculous - Li Benzhen was not only Gao Jie's general, but also Gao Jie's nephew. He had followed Gao Jie as a bandit under Li Zicheng. When Gao Jie cuckolded Li Zicheng, he followed Gao Jie and became a member of the public.

Army. Later, after Gao Jie died, he surrendered to the Manchus together with Li Chengdong, Hu Maozhen and others.

Huh, when I was a bandit, I didn't want to die for Li Zicheng. When I was a Ming army, I didn't want to die for the Ming Dynasty. Now I am a Qing army, but I have to die for the Qing Dynasty. Just because of my status as a bannerman of the Han army, I'm afraid it's not that simple.

Well, after all, it's not because the family Juan are all in Beijing. If they dare to surrender to the Ming army, the family Juan will be in danger.

At this point, he had no such concerns. However, from a humble official like the head of the Ministry of War, he rose to become a frontier official like the Governor of Huguang in just ten years. Indeed, he has made many achievements in every role he has experienced.

He was able to join the Changsha shogunate under Hong Chengchou, but without the trust of the Manchu Qing court, how could he have achieved such a high position, just because of Hong Chengchou?

"Death is the only solution through all the hardships."

He heard this poem last year, and it was said to be written by a Ming Dynasty survivor from Southern Zhili. I remember he joked about it at the time, but when the real thing came to pass, when he thought about it again, his mood was completely different.

"Zhijun, Mr. Zhou said he has something to ask for."

"Let him in."

A local Confucian scholar from Huguang, who had been with the government for many years, was just an ordinary staff member who dealt with literary matters. He didn't necessarily have anything special about him. He was more of a policy to win over the scholar-bureaucrats in Huguang. Hu Quancai didn't even think that this person was called Zhou Chang.

A mediocre staff member can really have something important to do, but he is not in a good mood right now. He might be able to adjust his mood by hearing something else.

"Student Zhou Chang, meet with the boss of the army."

"Mr. Zhou, please wake up. I wonder if Mr. Zhou has anything important to do?"

"This is a matter of life and death. Students, please ask Dong Wengping to step aside."

As soon as he said this, a hint of surprise flashed across Hu Quancai's eyes. This normally unassuming staff member seemed to have a different demeanor today.

After swiping away, he sighed: "It turns out that the person lurking in my curtain is you, Mr. Pei."

Peigong is Zhou Chang's cousin. Hearing what Hu Quancai said here, even though he had been prepared, he was inevitably shocked: "Dong Weng also knew that so much information was leaked, and the student was not the only one."

It can be done.”

After hearing this, Hu Quancai's eyes flickered, and then he sneered: "I underestimate you. Tell me what your chief helmsman wants to do. After that, I will personally send you on your way. It will not be in vain for you and me to be our guests."

.”

This little person in history who persuaded Wang Fuchen during the San Francisco Rebellion did not expect that the dialogue with Hu Quancai would end up like this. Fortunately, he is no longer the same person he was back then: "About Dong Weng, Chen

The chief helmsman only said one sentence many years ago that Hu Quancai lived up to his name, and never mentioned it again. At least this is the only sentence that students know. As for recently, Admiral Li has guarded the city so tightly that students have no way to communicate with the chief helmsman.

The Lord got in touch. Now, it’s just that Dong Weng has treated Pei Gong well over the years, and Pei Gong is willing to risk his life to give it a try. If it succeeds, Pei Gong will be repaying Dong Weng’s kindness over the years; if it fails,

Mr. Pei now has a clear conscience."

"You don't even have Chen Kai's promise. Are you sure you're not here to die?"

"Tai Shigong once said that death is lighter than a feather and heavier than Mount Tai. Dong Weng is a Jinshi and must understand the meaning better than students." Zhou Chang bowed his hand and changed the subject: "Dong Weng has been in these years.

He has made many achievements in running the army and government for the imperial court, and his talents are far superior to those of his peers. Dong Weng worked so hard just to repay the favor of the imperial court for his promotion and Hong Chengchou's support? The students thought otherwise. Dong Weng wanted to

Use what you have learned to benefit the people of the area. Students think that this is a profound reflection of the teachings of the saints."

"I didn't expect that you have been hiding behind my back for many years and you have a sharp tongue."

"Please forgive me, Dong Weng. The Heaven and Earth Society has its own rules, and the students don't want to do this. But if the students were too conspicuous, I'm afraid Dong Weng would have discovered it, and how could we still be here today?"

"Heaven and Earth Club, Chen Jinnan. Good, really good."

Seeing Hu Quancai snort coldly, Zhou Chang didn't take it seriously at all, so he continued: "Student, dare I ask, what do you think Dong Weng is going to do in the world?"

Hearing this, Hu Quancai sneered and said, "As a staff member, are you qualified to discuss the general trend of the world with me?"

"Students are all dying, so why not?"

Seeing that there was no fear on Zhou Chang's face, Hu Quan took a closer look and made sure it didn't look like a fake. Then he suddenly laughed and said: "I heard that there is an assassin in Chen Kai's curtain, who looks like a chivalrous man of the Spring and Autumn Period. Well, there are a few of them.

The courage of those who argue with ancient people is different. In this case, it’s okay for me to give you a reply.” At this point, Hu Quancai’s eyes were shining brightly, and he had already returned to his usual shrewd and capable look: “Who will win?

Unknown."

It was only eight words, and Zhou Chang was also stunned. Then he thanked Hu Quancai for his honesty, and then said: "Dong Weng's eyes are so bright that the students admire him very much. But, how is it compared to a year ago? With Hu Quancai's frankness.

So what about five years ago? So what about ten years ago?”

As soon as he said this, Zhou Chang's momentum suddenly rose. Hu Quancai understood in his heart that ten years ago the Manchu Qing Dynasty swept the world, five years ago Chen Kai single-handedly took care of two families, Zheng Chenggong, and Li Dingguo recovered the two provinces of Fujian and Guangdong, and today, the Ming and Qing Dynasties

They were evenly matched, and even Ming's momentum was a little stronger. This general trend was what Zhou Chang wanted to say to him, and it was also the source of the momentum of the man in front of him at this moment.

"How do you know what will happen in one year, what will happen in five years, and what will happen in ten years?"

"I don't say anything about my strange power and chaos. I don't dare to speak nonsense as I don't have the ability to predict the future. But I have heard that Hu has no luck for a hundred years." At this point, Zhou Chang also had a bright look on his face: "Retreat.

Ten thousand steps, even if the imperial court has a hundred years of luck, is it possible that they can still escape the three hundred years of catastrophe?"

The ancients were not unable to think about the cyclical laws of dynasties. In fact, issues such as land annexation have never lacked people who thought deeply about this in Chinese history. Not to mention those poems that wrote about the sharp social conflicts in the late dynasty.

, songs, lyrics, and novels are the best proof. Just reading, literacy, and becoming an official means that the landlord class has an advantage, and the right to speak is also in the hands of the landlord class, so it is often vaguely attributed to the theory of luck.

.

Hu Quancai has been serving the Han Qiang Dao in Shaanxi for fourteen years since he took office in the second year of Shunzhi. How could he not know the problems in the late Ming Dynasty? What is even more frightening is that since the Shang and Zhou dynasties, all Chinese dynasties have been like this.

After the resurgence of the Han and Song Dynasties, they were no longer able to survive the three hundred years of catastrophe. If the Han government could not do it, could the Manchu Qing Dynasty do it?

Seeing Hu Quancai's thoughtful expression, Zhou Chang continued: "A mortal body only has a few dozen lifespans. The student risked his life not for Dong Weng's life, but for Dong Weng's reputation in the history of youth."

It is precisely because China has a long history of civilization that the Han people have long understood the truth that life spans only a few decades, and after death, it will not take long for the world to forget it.

Future generations will remember it and it will last forever. And under the history of the ages, there is a distinction between good and evil, right and wrong. If you can leave a good reputation in the history, who is willing to be reviled by future generations for thousands of years?

Even if the Manchus and Qing Dynasties can break the conclusion that Hu has no luck for a hundred years, is it possible that they can survive the catastrophe of three hundred years? When the Han people retake the country, then everything Hu Quancai has done for the Manchus will be aiding the evildoers.

infamy.

After Zhou Chang said this, he stopped talking. Hu Quancai was stunned on the spot and didn't say anything for a long time. It wasn't until a long time later that he sighed heavily and said, "This is all what Chen Kai taught you.

of?"

"Not all, some are stated in articles sent by the chief rudder over the years, and some are discussed by us members."

When he said this, Zhou Chang's proud look was no longer concealed. Hu Quancai looked at this young man silently. He was once so high-spirited and wanted to make a great cause and bring the three of Hu Quancai together.

This word is deeply engraved in the history books.

The young man in front of him will probably have this opportunity after today, and he has already recorded his name in the annals of history: "Is there anything else you want to say?"

"The student has nothing to say. If he wants to be killed or chopped into pieces, Dong Weng please do it."
Chapter completed!