The supplies and granaries in Zhang Ning's army are managed by people from the Council Office. Zhu Heng presided over a total calculation. According to the current consumption rate, not only the army will run out of food in less than forty days, but the people in the city will also be short of food.
The Council of Ministers formulated some measures, including smuggling grain from surrounding prefectures and sending agents to intimidate local officials. However, these methods obviously treated the symptoms rather than the root cause and could not really solve the problem. The Suzaku Army had more than 10,000 officers and soldiers and several thousand horses.
War horses, mules, and food cost 20,000 to 30,000 kilograms a day, and there are a large number of people inside and outside the city. The sources of some side roads can only be a drop in the bucket.
What everyone is waiting for is to go to war as soon as possible. There are only two ways, go northeast and fight the main force of the army; or attack Baoqing Mansion in the southeast. Now it seems that there is no third way.
Everyone has discussed where to go more than once. The strategy of flowing south is not good for the overall situation and is not a good idea unless it is a last resort. A decisive battle with the main force of the army is the way out that Zhang Ning is more interested in. This is what he envisioned from the beginning:
The main force of the army went south to attack, setting up a field battle on the battlefield near Chenzhou, and quickly fighting for a showdown... However, the official army camp has been in Changde Mansion for some days, but there is no movement, and it seems that there is no intention to attack for the time being.
.This made the counselors and generals of the Suzaku Army a little bit uneasy, because everyone knew that they were trapped in the famine land of Chenzhou and were short of money and food.
It is necessary to lead the entire army to make another long-distance attack with determination to break the cauldron, advance four hundred miles, and directly attack Changde City? Lingyu
The number of troops that the official army can fight will definitely not be less than 60,000, and the Suzaku Army has tried and tested firearms tactics, so the outcome is unpredictable. However, Zhang Ning has a pure intuition in his heart and has an ominous premonition about running deep into the enemy's territory.
I always lack the confidence to overcome, and after careful consideration, I can come up with the solid reasons.
"From the Battle of Gaodu, where we easily defeated Cheng Guogong's infantry camp, to the first attack on Changde, the Changsha Ambush, and the Battle of Yuelu Mountain, although we still won more and lost less, the battle became more and more difficult. Official
The army is learning lessons from repeated defeats and improving its tactics; this time the imperial court has concentrated troops and horses in the important town near Zuo, Huguang, and it has cost a lot, and it will definitely not let our attack succeed easily." Zhang Ning said to Zhu Heng privately.
Zhu Heng agreed. He had determined from the beginning that the overall strength of the Suzaku Army in all aspects was completely weaker than the Huguang official army, and the chance of victory was very small. Therefore, he and Zhang Ningyiyang did not think it would be a good idea to directly attack Changde Mansion where the army was gathered.
A good thing; but he couldn't think of a better way to solve the current dilemma.
Zhang Ning is not willing to blame Zhu Heng. As the saying goes, it is difficult for a clever woman to make a meal without rice. The situation is already like this. What clever plan can he have?
Zhang Ning could only say: "In any case, we have to wait for at least half a month. In another half month, a batch of small long-barreled guns produced by the Ordnance Bureau can be implemented in the army. No matter where it goes, the Suzaku Army will be further improved.
With enhanced equipment, the chances will always be greater."
Zhu Hengdao: "After the Huguang official army was without Yu Qian, Xue Lu actually took full control of the military power. A military minister like Xue Lu really wanted to make achievements through military exploits. I think he should attack. Let's wait for a few more days. Maybe
Things will change."
So Zhang Ning instructs the civil and military officials to calm down during the daily affairs of the government office...
But perhaps he was the one who had the hardest time keeping calm. He was under great psychological pressure, and it was hard to relax about matters that related to his immediate interests.
After busying around till the end of the day, I can finally leave the official office and go home. The late autumn sunset is like a warm afterglow, and I feel that the weather is quite good while walking on the road.
Riding on a beautiful tall horse, he was protected by a guard of honor. Everyone on the street gave way to him and stood respectfully waiting for Zhang Ning's men to leave first. At present, he is still very bright in Chenzhou, wearing a half-worn gray cotton coat.
The materials are of the highest quality, the white lining collar, the clothes are washed very clean, the leather gold buckle belt and long sword soap boots are low-key and simple yet reveal layers of layers. In this Chenzhou City, even the rich businessmen cannot compare.
He was wearing a headdress, and there weren't many people who looked like Zhang Ning. But despite his bright appearance, the haggard and melancholy look on his face betrayed his situation.
The guard of honor arrived at the gate of the mansion. The guards put the lanterns they brought back directly on the lamp holders in the foyer and prepared to pack their things. At this time, Zhang Ning thought of Dong again, so he did not enter the gate and went straight with a few followers.
The street in front of the house went around to the east.
There is a separate courtyard at the back door of the mansion, which is where the Anti-evil Cult temporarily detains important criminals. Yu Qian and Dong both live there, but due to certain considerations, they cannot meet without permission.
The guards of the government office stayed outside, and the people from the anti-evil cult took Zhang Ning to see Dong. When they met, Zhang Ning only thought that she looked good. This girl was eating and drinking well. She stayed here and didn't eat anything at all.
suffering.
Zhang Ning remembered what he said to Zhou Niang. She is not my woman, so why should I be so polite to her? Just thinking this, Mrs. Dong bowed politely: "I have met the King of Xiang." The movements and the voice of the words
They are all soft and delicate, not tacky at all.
He was silent for a while. Mrs. Dong seemed to realize that his attitude was not right this time, so she raised her head and glanced at him quietly.
As expected, Zhang Ning didn't say a single polite word, and said straight to the point: "Mrs. Yu must know something about the government's and military's strategies. It would hurt the harmony. You'd better tell what you know."
Mrs. Dong quickly replied calmly: "I am just a woman, and I don't understand official affairs. I really don't know... Besides, the King of Xiang said good things in his letter, how can he hurt the harmony now?"
Zhang Ning was immediately stunned by this girl and didn't know how to talk to him. It seemed a bit unaccustomed for him to show shamelessness in front of her. After all, we are all educated and literate people, not the street gangsters; but
He didn't feel that he had to be trustworthy. He had no good intentions when he lured Dong to Chenzhou, and he wasn't a good person either.
Of course, people like Zhang Ning would neither say that they are good people, nor would they say that they are not good people... Those who say that they are not good people in front of beautiful women are mostly just pretending, and in the end they have done nothing to apologize to the woman.
Things come. Spiritual realm
After a while of silence, Zhang Ning quickly thought of a way and stood up and said: "Then I have to leave it to the people in the church to ask. I just need a word to let them get the result."
Dong quickly realized something. Maybe Zhang Ning could still talk to her. What would the people below do to her after they got permission?
She said anxiously: "If you really treat me like that, I will have no choice but to die. As you said, no one can stop a person who wants to die!"
How much does it have to do with you and me? How much does it matter to me whether you live or die? Zhang Ning felt a fire in his heart for no reason. He was not patient all the time. He was really not in a good mood recently.
He stopped, turned around and saw that the person on duty today was Chunmei, so he gave an impromptu order: "Tie her up for me, so that you don't have to live and die."
Protector Chunmei was unequivocal and immediately ordered her subordinates to find ropes and rushed forward to tie up Ms. Dong. Ms. Dong was so anxious that she gave up her reserve and struggled while saying: "Don't be unreasonable!"
One woman really tied up her hands and feet, and she began to beg: "Your Majesty, I really don't know what you want to ask. You might as well ask your husband directly."
Zhang Ning said coldly: "I don't need to say it, Madam also knows: Is it easier for me to torture you to confess, or is it easier to deal with Yu Qian? I also thought of a question a while ago. If I insult you in front of him, what will happen to him?"
Can I give in and confess?"
"You..." Dong's face suddenly turned red.
Zhang Ning said with a complicated expression: "Madam, do you think he will confess in that case?"
Chunmei on the side seemed to find it very interesting and said with a smile: "How about we bring Yu Qian over and give it a try?"
"No!" Dong was anxious. Her expression already gave the answer.
Chunmei looked expectant, and continued to add jealousy: "My lord, don't worry that she won't be able to bear it. We have people watching, and it's really not easy to die. Mrs. Yu, why don't you try biting your tongue to commit suicide? Hehe?
laugh."
Zhang Ning did not agree. He felt that this was of no use at all. Even Dong knew that Yu Qian would not give in. Since it was useless, Yu Qian was a hero after all, not an ordinary person. Zhang Ning felt that even if he killed him, it would be useless.
should be given a minimum of dignity.
Dong scolded: "You are simply beasts!"
It's okay if she didn't scold her, but Zhang Ning's mood became even more unsettled when she scolded her. He said angrily: "This woman has been pampered since she was a child and has not endured hardship. Just torture me and make her confess immediately!"
Chunmei said: "Don't worry, Your Majesty, if I can't deal with such a woman, I won't go out in front of the leader. If you want to make a confession, you should have done so a long time ago. Aren't we afraid that being rude to her would make Your Majesty unhappy?"
After saying that, she took a few steps forward, suddenly grabbed Dong's collar and tore it apart, accompanied by the woman's scream. Unfortunately, the silk she was wearing was very tough and not torn apart. Zhang Ning only felt a slight flash of white flowers in front of his eyes.
, his collar was pulled down by force, and the skin under the collarbone of his neck was exposed.
However, Chunmei still glanced at Zhang Ning with a considerate smile and said softly: "Your Majesty, you don't know. The torture of men and women is different. If it's a man, put a knife under him.
, you will get everything as soon as you ask; for a woman, especially a good family woman with a husband and children, it is enough to let her know that her innocence will be humiliated in public, otherwise she will still have the honor to be a wife and mother in the future.
?”
After hearing this, Zhang Ning thought: Tai Shigong is a living exception.
After she finished speaking, she looked back at Mr. Dong and suddenly said: "Look, she didn't cry just now, but now she's bursting into tears. It's working!"