The north wind blows, the sky and the earth are vast.
Unconsciously, it was already November 15th, which was the day when the Jiangdu Army’s three major troops set off.
According to the latest news coming from the front, Zhu Yuanzhang finally chose to concentrate his main force in Raozhou City.
What is surprising is that in addition to gathering troops in Raozhou City, he also asked people to supervise the construction of water fortresses, and seemed to be preparing to start a water war with Chen Youliang in Poyang Lake!
Poyang Lake is the second largest lake in the world. Jiangzhou Road is located to the northwest of Poyang Lake, Nankang Road is located to the west, and Raozhou Road is located to the southeast.
Chen Youliang recruited shipwrights in Huangzhou very early to build giant building ships.
He has already transferred the building ships to Jiangzhou. This war will definitely start directly from Jiangzhou and attack Raozhou by water!
As long as Raozhou is captured, Nankang will be cut off and naturally return to the hands of Tianwan Army.
But even if Zhu Yuanzhang wants to defend, he can just defend the city directly. There is no need to build a water stronghold and start a water battle with the opponent. He has no artillery!
If this was what Zhao Desheng did, Zhang Yangquan would never waste another second thinking about why he did this.
But after all, it was written by Zhu Yuanzhang, so Zhang Yangquan felt that there must be a conspiracy.
This morning, Zhang Yangquan stood in front of the map again, staring at Poyang Lake.
Suddenly, Qin Lingjun's voice came from behind.
"Husband, are you still considering Zhu Yuanzhang's intentions?"
Zhang Yangquan sighed and said: "Yes, I really don't understand what his plans are!"
Qin Lingjun walked up to him and said softly: "Even if he has some conspiracy, he is still going after Chen Youliang, so why should you think too much about it!"
Zhang Yangquan turned to look at her and said, "Do you think he is trying to deal with Chen Youliang?"
Qin Lingjun nodded: "He built the water stronghold obviously to confuse Chen Youliang and make Chen Youliang think that he really wanted to fight in the water, and then he would surprise him and win with a surprise attack!"
Zhang Yangquan was silent for a while, then smiled and said: "Well, your consideration should be right!"
He walked to the handsome desk and sat down, poured a cup of tea for Qin Lingjun, and said, "By the way, is there any new news today?"
Qin Lingjun sat directly in the corner of the handsome desk, picked up the tea cup and took a sip, and said: "Yes, there is, but you probably won't be interested."
Zhang Yangquan said blankly: "Did Liu Futong win another battle?"
Qin Lingjun smiled and said: "It's not Liu Futong, it's Deng Keming!"
Zhang Yangquan was stunned for a long time before he remembered that Deng Keming was the general sent by Chen Youliang to attack Fujian.
"How is the war situation in Fujian?"
Qin Lingjun put down the tea cup and said: "Chen Youding gave up Tingzhou on his own initiative, and Deng Keming finally won the battle!"
Zhang Yangquan said with a smile: "This is a strategic retreat. I believe that in a short time, we will hear the news that Chen Youding defeated Deng Keming again!"
Qin Lingjun blinked: "Do you value Chen Youding so much?"
Zhang Yangquan smiled and said: "I think so, not only because of Chen Youding's ability. You have to know that the more remote a place is, the easier it is to unite with the outside world, so Fujian is by no means an easy bone to chew on!"
Qin Lingjun smiled and said: "Is that why you gave up Fujian to Tianwan's army?"
Zhang Yangquan smiled and said: "It's a reason. By the way, has my little sister caught Zhang Dingbian?"
Qin Lingjun shook his head and said, "Not yet. She arrested all the Tianwan Army envoys and tortured them. Chen Youliang didn't tell them anything. He only gave them a simple order. On this mission, everything will be listened to by Zhang Ding.
Arrange while we’re at it!”
Zhang Yangquan frowned and said, "Is it possible that he has already left the city?"
"Probably not. Little sister, Wang Da, Chang Yuchun and the Lan sisters have been guarding the city gate. Zhang Dingbian does not have the help of the envoys. It will be difficult for him to get out by himself!"
Zhang Yangquan suddenly sighed and said: "A warrior like Zhang Dingbian was sent by Chen Youliang to assassinate him. It's really sad and deplorable!"
A burst of footsteps suddenly sounded outside the tent, and a personal guard came to the tent, cupped his hands and said: "Your Majesty, Your Highness, the owner of the venue ordered someone to send a message, saying that the assassin's body has been found!"
Zhang Yangquan moved slightly and said: "Is the assassin dead?"
The guard said: "Yes."
"Where was it found?"
"Red Mansion!"
Zhang Dingbian's body is in Nie Hongniang's house. Even the best widowers will change their color after seeing his body.
His entire right arm was ulcerated, and there were traces of fire burns on it, like a mixture of burnt and rotten flesh.
Nie Hongniang was crying in Mr. Nie's arms. She had been with Zhang Dingbian in the past few days and was coerced by him to do various things.
Zhang Yangquan and Qin Lingjun waited nearby for a long time. They wanted to wait until Nie Hongniang stopped crying before asking questions, but unexpectedly Nie Hongniang kept crying.
Qin Lingjun finally lost the patience to wait any longer and said, "Miss Nie, can I ask you a few questions?"
Nie Hongniang choked up and said: "Excuse me..."
Qin Lingjun said: "How did he die?"
Nie Hongniang sobbed and said: "When he came, his arm was already burnt black. A few days later, he said there was something in his arm and asked me to help him take it out!"
Zhang Yangquan glanced at the burnt flesh on Zhang Dingbian's arm and was not surprised.
The pharmacy in the city had already been guarded by Qin Lingsi. Zhang Dingbian certainly did not dare to buy medicine for wounds, so he used fire to stop the bleeding.
Qin Lingjun then asked: "Did you help him take out the things?"
Nie Hongniang shook her head with tears in her eyes.
"I, I'm afraid of blood. Every time I get half way through it, I pass out. He has to use fire to stop the bleeding!"
Zhang Yangquan was startled and said, "You didn't pretend to be fainted on purpose to get revenge on him, did you?"
Nie Hongniang couldn't help but shake her head and said in a trembling voice: "I, how dare I..."
Zhang Yangquan was speechless.
According to Mrs. Nie, Nie Hongniang actually left the house many times to get things and had many opportunities to come to the Yamen to report the crime. Unfortunately, she was too timid and later went back obediently.
Qin Lingjun urged: "Then how did he die?"
Nie Hongniang lowered her head and said: "He couldn't get the things out of his arms, and the ulcers on his arms were getting worse and worse. The last time I helped him take out the things in his arms, he fainted again. When he woke up, he had already lost blood.
Too much leads to death. Maybe...he wants to take it out himself!"
This chapter is not over yet, please click on the next page to continue reading!
Qin Lingjun was also stunned and stared at Nie Hongniang without saying a word.
Nie Hongniang was a little scared and said in a trembling voice: "Am I going to pay for him with my life?"
Qin Lingjun shook his head and said warmly: "No, not only did you not have to pay with your life, you also made a great contribution!"
Zhang Yangquan ordered people to dispose of Zhang Dingbian's body, and then left the Red Mansion with Qin Lingjun.
The cold wind was howling on the street, and the ground was already covered with ice. Zhang Yangquan and Qin Lingjun both came by carriage.
When Zhang Yangquan was about to return to the carriage, he suddenly remembered something and asked Yang Sanqiang: "Have the pensions been distributed to the families of the guards who died in the battle?"
Yang Sanqiang said: "It's been distributed. The owner of the farm personally went to each household to distribute it. He also gave each household an extra horse."
Zhang Yangquan nodded, said no more, and returned to the military camp with Qin Lingjun.
When the two of them arrived outside the handsome tent, it was already past noon and the temperature had warmed up a bit.
Just as he was about to enter the tent, the guard outside the tent said: "Your Majesty, Concubine Shen is here and is waiting in the tent!"
Zhang Yangquan nodded, opened the curtain, and immediately smelled the aroma of vegetables.
When I looked up, I saw a few side dishes placed on the table, and Shen Qianqian was sitting behind the table waiting.
After seeing the two people coming in, she quickly stood up and greeted them!
Zhang Yangquan sniffed and smiled: "It smells so good! Qianqian, how do you know we didn't eat?"
Shen Qianqian smiled and said: "When did your Majesty think I came?"
Zhang Yangquan slapped his forehead and immediately understood that Shen Qianqian had been here before noon and had waited until now.
Shen Qianqian had just had the food heated, so the three of them started eating directly.
While Zhang Yangquan was eating, he asked Shen Qianqian why he came.
Shen Qianqian looked a little more serious and said: "Your Majesty, when my brother came to see me today, he said something. I think it is of great importance and may be related to the Western Expedition!"
Zhang Yangquan's eyes were sharp and he said: "What did your brother say?"
Shen Qianqian said: "My brother has a shop selling saltpeter in Huizhou. He said that in recent days, the Huizhou government has secretly purchased a large amount of saltpeter!"
Zhang Yangquan was stunned, put down his chopsticks, and fell into thinking.
At this time, there is no need to think too much about the reason why Zhu Yuanzhang purchased saltpeter. It must be to prepare gunpowder.
Nowadays, the world is in chaos, and the old gunpowder formula has been circulated everywhere. It is not surprising that Zhu Yuanzhang knows the old gunpowder formula.
But the problem is that he has no artillery, and the old gunpowder is not very powerful. Even if he prepares a large amount of gunpowder, what can he do?
Qin Lingjun suddenly said: "Husband, do you think Zhu Yuanzhang wants to use gunpowder to deal with Chen Youliang's fleet?"
Zhang Yangquan's eyes flashed and he said: "It's possible!"
Fire attack is always the best way to deal with a large fleet, and Chen Youliang's ships are all high-rise ships, so they are most afraid of fire.
In this case, is Zhu Yuanzhang really planning to have a water fight with Chen Youliang in Poyang Lake?