Li Dingguo's 10,000-strong army did not go to the mouth of the Red River, but went straight to Thang Long, the capital of Annam.
Because the mouth of the Red River at this time was still in a semi-developed state, there were mangroves everywhere along both sides of the river. There was no big port for warships to berth, so it was very troublesome to transfer to a small boat to enter the Red River.
Ten thousand troops were divided into two groups.
The first way is to take a sea boat to the estuary of Majiang River. There is no need to change boats. The navy can reach directly outside Qinghua City.
The second way is to take a sea boat to the estuary of Lanjiang River. After sailing into Lanjiang River, change to a small boat and travel for more than ten miles to reach the outside of Ngee An City.
Why attack these two cities?
More than 80% of the high-ranking officials in the DPRK and Central Government under Zheng’s regime have their hometowns in these two places!
The Ma River Basin and the Lan River Basin were the earliest areas to be developed in Vietnam, and were also the capitals of the Dinh Dynasty and the former Le Dynasty of Vietnam.
As long as they occupy these two cities and then quickly control the surrounding villages and towns, the Zheng family's officials in the court and central government will be dumbfounded, and a small half of the Zheng family's grain-producing area will be gone.
This is all thanks to Xizuo and the merchants. Otherwise, how would the Nanjing monarchs and ministers know about it? Most of them would be foolish enough to attack Shenglong Mansion.
After returning from Japan, Yuan Shizhong was finally promoted to deputy division commander and assigned 5,000 troops to attack Nghe An.
After taking a boat to the estuary of Lanjiang River, missionary officer Xu Xuechang walked out of the cabin, stood on the deck and bowed towards the river.
"Old Xu, who are you worshiping?" Yuan Shizhong joked, "Could it be that your ancestors lived here in Annan before?"
Xu Xuechang said seriously: "It's not about worshiping ancestors, but worshiping sages."
"Can there be any sages here?" Yuan Shizhong asked.
Xu Xuechang said: "In the early Tang Dynasty, Prince An encountered a storm here, and his boat capsized and he was unfortunately buried at the bottom of the sea."
Yuan Shizhong was even more confused: "Who is Wang Zi'an?"
Xu Xuechang said: "The setting clouds and the solitary swans fly together, and the autumn water is the same color as the sky. Even if you tell me, you don't understand. When this battle is over, I will teach you to recite the "Preface to the Pavilion of Prince Teng"."
Yuan Shizhong asked: "It seems that he is a talented man from the former dynasty. Why did he come here by boat?"
Xu Xuechang said: "During the Tang Dynasty, this was the land of the Tang Dynasty."
"Then we have regained the lost ground, and our name will definitely be left in the history books." Yuan Shizhong suddenly became happy, imitating Xu Xuechang and bowed his hands, "I, old Yuan, also came to pay homage to the sages, the king...what is the king?"
Xu Xuechang said: "The prince's name is Bo, and his courtesy name is Zi'an."
Yuan Shizhong said while paying homage: "Mr. Wang's spirit in heaven will bless this battle with victory. Come, bring some wine!"
Drinking is not allowed in the military, but highly distilled alcohol is available to clean wounds.
Yuan Shizhong poured three cups into the river and offered sacrifices to Wang Bo from afar. He suddenly felt much better, although he had no idea what Wang Bo did.
Not long after the naval warship sailed into the Lanjiang River, it encountered a sandbar. The sandbar divided the Lanjiang River into two, making it impossible for large ships to pass through. They had to put down small boats to transport supplies, while the soldiers landed and moved along the river bank.
It is indeed the earliest developed area in Vietnam. Both sides of the Lan River are lush and green, and they are all rice seedlings planted not long ago.
Xu Xuechang once again reiterated the military order: "Command to the officers and men not to trample the crops. The cavalry should lead their horses and move slowly!"
When the gentry and farmers along the river saw the army coming from the sea, they were all frightened and hid in their houses. Only a few people were sent to investigate from a distance.
Pan Chunfu was a local rich man. He had a Zhiziguan who was a bachelor of Dongge, and he was responsible for copying Hanlin Academy proclamations for Zheng Pang.
He also has a younger brother who serves as the deputy commander-in-chief of Taiyuan Road. He also has a son who is sent to Liangshan Road as a supervisory censor.
As for other types of minor officials, the Pan family has more than twenty.
This shows the rich heritage of the Nghe An and Thanh Hoa families. Whether it was the leader of the Li Dynasty or the powerful official Zheng family, they all relied on the nobles of the two places to raise their armies.
"Master, the Han soldiers did not come to kill them, they were just walking westward along the Lanjiang River." Pan Gui, the servant of the family, rushed back to the house to report.
Pan Chunfu muttered: "Keep going west, we are going to attack Ngee Ann City. Didn't they plunder along the way?"
Pan Gui shook his head: "There was no looting and no crops were trampled. The military discipline is much better than that of the officers and soldiers (Zheng Jun)."
Pan Chunfu suddenly understood and said: "The Han soldiers did not plunder the people or trample the crops because they wanted to maintain peace in the south. Lord Zheng returned with a great defeat. The defeated soldiers just passed through Nghe An a few days ago and caused great harm to Nghe An."
.The domestic military strength is empty, and Annan is afraid that this time the country will be destroyed."
Pan Gui asked: "Master, what should we do?"
Pan Chunfu said: "The Zheng family is unpopular and will be destroyed sooner or later. Emperor Le is weak and not a wise king who can turn the tide..." Suddenly, Pan Chunfu made an impassioned speech, "Ngee An is the hometown of the Han family, and I, the Pan family, have always passed down poetry and etiquette to my family.
But today the soldiers have arrived, and they have been preparing to meet the king's army with a basket of food and a pot of pulp. Quickly kill the pigs and sheep, and catch up in the boat to reward the heavenly soldiers! "
This is the correct route to advance!
If troops are sent from Guangxi and Yunnan, not to mention crossing mountains and ridges along the way, even if they are beaten to a pulp, the Vietnamese gentry and nobles will not feel sorry for them.
Going straight from the sea to Nghe An and Thanh Hoa, we directly arrived at the headquarters of the Vietnamese nobles, including the home of the Zheng family. Not to mention conquering cities and territories, even riding horses and trampling crops was as uncomfortable as cutting the hearts of Vietnamese nobles.
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When the Datong army was about to arrive at Ngee Ann City, Pan Chunfu had already caught up with him by boat and was soon brought to Yuan Shizhong.
"Pan Chunfu, Pan clan of Nghe An, pays homage to the general of the Celestial Dynasty!" Pan Chunfu knelt down and kowtowed.
Yuan Shizhong was very surprised. He led his troops to kill him. Why did the Vietnamese gentry welcome the king's army?
Yuan Shizhong asked: "Are your ancestors Han?"
Pan Chunfu said: "Ngee An has been the land of China since ancient times, and the people have also been the people of China. Although the Pan family lives in Ngee An, their ancestors passed the imperial examinations in the Ming Dynasty and became the Chief Secretary of Fujian Province. For hundreds of years, I, Pan
His family has inherited poetry and etiquette, and has specialized in studying the Book of Songs for generations. "
Yuan Shizhong understood that this guy was just a loser, and he was also a very discerning loser.
Pan Chunfu said: "General, the common people have prepared some wine and food..."
"No need, the march is important." Yuan Shizhong immediately interrupted.
Pan Chunfu was about to say something else, but he saw that Yuan Shizhong had already continued on his way, and none of the soldiers in the army coveted what he had brought.
Pan Chunfu was frightened and murmured to himself: "I don't plunder, I don't destroy farmers, I don't care about property, wine and food. With such a strong army, how can the remaining soldiers of the Zheng family stop it?" He turned around and shouted, "Send someone to deliver the message quickly.
Tell the Pan family’s descendants everywhere that when they encounter Han soldiers, they should not resist. It is best to offer sacrifices to the city and perform meritorious services!"
The clan brother Pan Chunfu is most worried about is now the deputy commander-in-chief of Taiyuan Road.
What if the younger brothers resisted and angered the Chinese generals, and the Han soldiers destroyed the Pan family?
Ninety percent of the Pan family's shops are located here, and it is impossible to move them. They have already been put on the chopping block.
To be honest, if the officials of the Zheng family heard that Nghe An and Thanh Hoa were occupied. In order to save their family, they
It is estimated that one surrendered faster than the other, and the gates of the capital were opened in minutes to welcome the king.
Inside Ngee Ann City.
Wu Anguo had received the news that the Datong army was coming to kill him. He was on pins and needles and didn't know what to do.
Annan's local administrative system is divided into roads, prefectures, roads, towns, prefectures, counties, and communes.
The Dao is similar to the provinces of the Ming Dynasty, with the capital department, Chengsi department, and Xiansi department, which correspond to the Ming Dynasty's capital commander department, Chengxuanzheng envoy department, and Yincha department.
Wu Anguo's official position is Zuo Chengzheng of Ngee Ann Road, which is also the Zuo Chief Envoy.
"Brother Bangyan, don't hesitate, quickly recruit troops to defend the city!" Chen Fan, the right Chengzheng, urged.
Wu Anguo said anxiously: "The King of Qing went on an expedition and took away the two generals. I heard from the remnant soldiers who had returned from defeat that General Wu had died in the battle, and General Fan had disappeared. The remaining troops were not defeated.
, were all taken to Thang Long Mansion by the Qing King. The suburbs of the city have already been recruited once. If we forcefully recruit soldiers again, I am afraid that the farmers themselves will rebel! "
King of the Qing Dynasty is Zheng Pang's title.
This guy also has an honorific title, which is abbreviated as King Yi, and the full title has 134 characters. That is: Dewei, Enxin, Ruiwen, Open-minded, Calm, Heavenly, Benevolent, Benevolent and Filial... King of Yi who respects his virtues, his achievements, his achievements, his merits, and his fidelity.
Zheng's father, Zheng Song, was even more powerful. His honorific title had 192 characters. He dared to throw any words into his honorific title, including his great talent, great strategy, integrity, loyalty, and courage.
The Hanlin bachelor who gave the father and son the honorary title must have turned gray. Because Zheng Pang’s grandfather also had a title, which was 234 words long. It had been used by previous generations and could not be repeated by future generations. In ancient times, there were no electronic dictionaries.
Where can I come up with so many good words?
Chen Fan said: "You can't recruit troops in the suburbs, so recruit troops in the city. Tell the people in the city that once the Han soldiers break the city, they will kill all the people in the city!"
Wu Anguo did not respond directly, but said: "Since the Han soldiers have arrived in Nghe An, will they also go to Thanh Hoa?"
There are more nobles in Thanh Hoa!
Wu Anguo and Chen Fan both came from the wealthy Qinghua family.
"This..." Chen Fan was speechless.
If Han soldiers really captured Thanh Hoa, and if I resisted in Nghe An and caused losses to the Han soldiers, wouldn't my hometown be exterminated?
Wu Anguo said: "Han soldiers even came to Nghe An, how could they not go to Thanh Hoa?
It is more convenient for the Datong Army to send troops to Qinghua. Not only is the road closer, but there is no need to change ships. Navy warships can sail directly to the city.
Chen Fan was also restless at this time, facing a dilemma to protect his family and country.
If you choose to defend the country and defend the city, you will definitely not be able to protect your homeland. If you want to protect your homeland, you must open the city and surrender.
The two of them thought about it and both felt that Ngee Ann City could not be defended.
However, they did not dare to surrender.
If the Han soldiers looted and then left, Zheng would come to her senses and definitely liquidate those who surrendered.
Then... without fighting, surrendering or leaving, just pretend that nothing happened.
The two administrators were sitting in Chengsi Yamen like this. They declined all visitors and only sent officials out to inquire.
So that you can get news from the Datong Army at any time.
After waiting for a moment, the official rushed in in a panic: "Deng Xiansi is recruiting troops to defend the city!"
This Deng Xiansi can be understood as the inspector of Ngee Ann Road, who is usually in charge of the judicial and criminal prisons of the province.
Wu Anguo was shocked and stood up in a panic and said: "Deng Xiansi has mistaken me! I am the chief officer of Yi'an. If he recruits troops to defend the city, it is equivalent to me recruiting troops to defend the city. Go out and stop him quickly. This city cannot be defended. At least it must be defended."
Tell the Han soldiers clearly,
They are not soldiers recruited by the two of us!"
"Yes, yes, hurry up and stop me." Chen Fan was also frightened.**