Zhu Yourong got out of the car first, followed by all the cabinet ministers and military generals. Xiang Xiaoqiang got out of the car and without saying a word, he immediately pulled the commander of Jiangxinzhou Fortress aside and ordered him to keep the secret strictly and not to expose His Majesty and all the ministers.
The news about Jiang Xinzhou was leaked. Even on Jiang Xinzhou, this news should be kept as low as possible.
Said. This is no joke. Jiang Xinzhou is 11 kilometers closer to the Qing artillery position on the other side of the river than the Forbidden City. The Qing army can completely achieve "precision strike". If any Beiqing spies spy on it, send a message to inform them.
To the north, if a heavy cannon from the north were to attack, it would probably wipe out the entire Ming Dynasty's top management.
The commander of Jiangxinzhou Fortress was not under Xiao Qiang's control at first, but Xiang Xiaoqiang gave such a stern warning, and he also understood the seriousness of it, so he immediately gave the order. Then Xiang Xiaoqiang did not bother to ask Zhu Yourong, and immediately let the fortress
The officer took him to the nearest
He ran to the phone. Xiang Xiaoqiang grabbed the phone in a duty room, connected to the People's Guard Headquarters, and asked Li Changgui to immediately send a battalion of the Guards to Jiangxinzhou Fortress as quickly as possible to provide protection for His Majesty and all the ministers.
, and escorted him all the way back.
The young man Xiang Xiaoqiang ran fast. He had just finished making the phone call when several commanders came over panting. Zhang Zhao was still out of breath, so Pi Tou asked Xiang Xiaoqiang what the call was. After getting the answer,
Mr. Zhang seemed very satisfied, and then he also picked up the phone and called Cao Mingqin, the commander of the eastern section of the Yangtze River Defense Line. On the phone, Zhang Zhao first ordered the entire Nanjing section of the defense line to enter combat preparations, especially the artillery units, to be ready to shell the opposite bank at any time.
The next call was made by the Chief of Naval Staff and the Commander of Hainan Airlines. They contacted the Naval General Staff and asked the Naval General Staff to send a secret message to the Dongjiang Fleet on the Changshan Islands off the coast of Liaodong, ordering them to immediately prepare all bombers and fighter jets for combat.
Start ground inspection, fill up the fuel, and load bombs on the bombers. Once they receive the news that Nanjing Jiangxinzhou is bombarded, they immediately take off and bomb Beijing.
…
The protagonist, Zhu Yourong, who made the entire empire's top management nervous, acted like a normal person at this time, without any explanation, and stepped onto the Jiajiang Steam Ferry first. Then the others had no choice but to follow suit.
Driving through the Jiajiang River, which is two to three hundred meters wide, we officially set foot on Jiangxinzhou.
The ministers and generals all thought that Zhu Yourong was bringing everyone to Jiangxinzhou Fortress to visit the soldiers and boost their morale, so they were very worried that he would go deep into the military camp unprepared without even doing basic security work. This was too dangerous. As for the Yangtze River Defense Line
It is a key infiltration target for spies of the Northern Qing Dynasty. If there are spies, it is certain. When His Majesty goes deep among the officers and soldiers, he must at least collect all the guns below. Even if he does not collect the guns, he must at least collect all the bullets.
But Zhu Yourong exceeded everyone's expectations. He did not ask to visit the soldiers. Instead, he led the officials directly into the fortifications. As a result, everyone felt relieved. After entering the fortifications, even the north side
Shelling is much safer. Compared with Zimuzhou, which fell during the Nanjing Defense War, Jiangxinzhou is much larger, so the fortification system above is also solid and much more complete. The thinnest parts are made of reinforced concrete.
It is also more than one meter thick.
Zhu Yourong whispered to the fortress commander, and the fortress commander bowed and obeyed, leading the way, and Zhu Yourong followed behind. Everyone also followed Zhu Yourong, walking through the thick reinforced concrete passage, going down a few steps, and walking through
There are several underground ammunition rooms, fuel rooms, mechanical and electrical rooms, rescue rooms, personnel lounges, etc., and then go up a staircase. Finally, it suddenly becomes clear, and you enter a large room.
This is a riverside observation fort, three to four meters wide and more than ten meters long. An uninterrupted observation window also extends for more than ten meters, and outside is the Yangtze River more than a thousand meters wide. July is the Yangtze River flood season, when the water volume is the largest.
.The surface of the river can be described as rolling waves, with gray and yellow whirlpools one after another.
On the other side of the river is Beiqing.
After Zhu Yourong and all the ministers and generals came in, the fortress commander bowed to Zhu Yourong, then called the soldiers out of the observation fort, and closed the door himself. Only the participants of the empire's highest military and political meeting were left in the spacious observation fort.
.
It's just seven o'clock in the evening, it's not completely dark outside, and you can still see a lot of river scenery. But the red light has been turned on inside the observation fort. Although this kind of observation fort has an observation window more than ten meters long, the height of the observation window is
But it's very narrow, only 30 centimeters high, so it gets lots of light
It's very poor. You have to rely on light lighting no matter day or night. Just like in the submarine, the observation fort also has two lighting systems that are different for day and night. During the day, ordinary incandescent bulbs are used, and at night, red bulbs are used. Because at night, red light is not
It will affect people's vision when looking outside.
In front of the observation window of more than ten meters, a gun scope was placed every few meters. Zhu Yourong walked straight to the observation window, first bent down and looked at the other side with the gun scope for a while, then straightened up and looked out with the naked eye.
.
Xiang Xiaoqiang and Shen Rongxuan looked at each other and both felt that now is the time. They must "force" His Majesty to give everyone an explanation. The two of them walked towards Zhu Yourong in unison, and the ministers and generals on both sides automatically flashed to them.
Make a way.
Zhu Yourong leaned against everyone and stood in front of the observation window, looking at the Yangtze River in the dusk. As if he already knew that they were coming, he said:
"Mr. Shen Ge, support me, and everyone else, I know what you want to ask..."
As she said that, she turned around, faced everyone, and said with a smile:
"I said that I would take everyone to a special place to finish the meeting. This special place is here. We held the meeting for three days, and I listened to it for three days. Some of us advocated the Northern Expedition, and some opposed it. I have also been
I have not expressed my position. I know that whether you agree or oppose the Northern Expedition, you are all fulfilling the responsibilities you think you should fulfill. Although your opinions are to the left, you are all serving the country and the people, and you are all doing the good of the Ming Dynasty.
"Actually, I am also a Northern Expeditionist. Everyone may have known this for a long time. Including the ministers who opposed the Northern Expedition, they probably all knew it before the meeting. But at the meeting, you still loudly said that the Northern Expedition was not allowed, and you did not cater to me against your will...
...For this, I want to thank you. The Ming Empire is really lucky to have you."
When she said this, the ministers, especially those who opposed the Northern Expedition, became a little embarrassed.
Zhu Yourong smiled and said again:
“The reasons why I support the Northern Expedition have been talked about a lot by the Northern Expeditionists in the past three days, quoting data to present facts, involving politics, military, economics, and geo-strategy... But the opponents of the Northern Expedition are not to be outdone, and they also quote data to present facts.
Facts, also from politics, military, economics
, geostrategy, etc., refuted point by point. In fact, what both sides said is reasonable. However, just politics, military, economics, geostrategy... These things are not enough to make me determined to go to the Northern Expedition. What really made me determined to go to the Northern Expedition...
Do you know what it is?"
The ministers looked at each other in confusion, including Xiang Xiaoqiang and Shen Rongxuan, the two ministers who were closest to Zhu Yourong and who most "know the Holy Will". They were also confused. Facing the questioning looks of the ministers, Shen Rongxuan lowered his gaze in a low-key manner. Look at your nose, look at your heart. Xiang Xiaoqiang looked around at the ministers, coughed twice, and looked up at the cement board above his head.
Zhu Yourong also lowered his head, pondered for a while, and said lightly with a sad smile:
"Since you don't know yet, use your eyes to see... Everyone hasn't eaten yet. I just ordered the commander of the fortress to deliver the meal soon... Of course, the food will not be very exquisite. , it’s the ordinary food for the officers and soldiers here... I don’t dislike it, and I hope you don’t dislike it either.”
It has to be said that Zhu Yourong's sales were so good, and the ministers who sold them had no temper at all. He lowered his head to Xiaoqiang and cursed in his heart:
"I'm done."
…
Sure enough, after a while, the commander of the fortress came in with several senior officers and personally carried the lunch box. He also knew that His Majesty should have very confidential matters to discuss here, so in order to keep it confidential, he did not let the cooks in the kitchen , the orderlies came to deliver the meals.
The lid and cloth of the lunch box were opened, and inside were military lunch boxes. Several officers personally distributed them to Zhu Yourong and the ministers. As Zhu Yourong said, they were just ordinary lunch boxes, common food for officers and soldiers. .
Everyone stood with their lunch boxes looking at Zhu Yourong, waiting for her to take the first bite.
Zhu Yourong took the rice spoon, lowered his head, scooped out half a spoonful of rice, and scooped out half a spoonful of vegetables, and slowly put it into his mouth. Although there was rice, vegetables, meat and eggs, they were all big pot dishes. And Compared with the exquisite food she usually eats in the palace, it is extremely rough.
Zhu Yourong held the food in his mouth, chewed it slowly a few times, and then swallowed it. He tried his best not to show any expression of distaste for the food.
Several ministers looked at the commander of the fortress with reproachful eyes, meaning that you have no idea. His Majesty told you to "experience life" or "go deep into the masses". Why did you take it seriously and really take your money? Rough food for Your Majesty!
The commander of the fortress looked at everyone with an innocent look: Your Majesty did not notify you in advance. There are only ordinary meals for officers and soldiers in the kitchen, and there is no time to prepare them freshly!
But no matter what, under the leadership of Zhu Yourong, all the ministers and generals, these imperial elites who were usually well-dressed and well-fed, also stood and wolfed down the rough lunch boxes. Xiang Xiaoqiang didn't care, but recalled it. The time before time travel. In the company, the ten-yuan lunch box that the boss ordered for everyone at noon was usually not as delicious as this one.
While eating, an officer suddenly ran in and loudly reported to the fortress commander:
"Sir, the other side has sent a signal! They are about to start!"
Everyone was startled, raised their heads, and stared at the officer in shock. "They are about to start." What does it mean? Is the Qing army on the other side about to launch an artillery attack?
Zhu Yourong put down his lunch box, with an excited expression, strode to the observation window, bent down in front of a gun scope, and looked hard at the other side. With a "hurrah", dozens of ministers also rushed to the observation window, and several Those who grabbed the gun scope used the gun scope to see, and those who didn't grabbed it used their naked eyes, trying hard to see the other side through the vast night.
Zhu Yourong ordered:
"Turn off the lights!"
The only weak red light in the observation fort was also turned off, and the inside of the fort was dark, making the scene outside a little clearer.
But at this time, it was completely dark. Even if the indoor lights were turned off, one could only see a few hundred meters on the river through the moonlight. Further away, it was pitch black.
Several officers held a series of telescopes and distributed them to every minister and general. Those who had not grabbed the gun scopes raised their telescopes and tried to find the "them" Zhu Yourong mentioned.
The First Lord of the Admiralty couldn't bear it anymore and said:
"Your Majesty, I would like to ask your Majesty to clarify our doubts. What exactly is your Majesty showing us?"
Zhu Yourong stared at the gun scope and said softly:
"Look at those people... those who want to swim over from the other side... In the past, to you and me, they were just numbers in the report..."
Zhu Yourong then raised his voice and said loudly:
"But after today, they will turn from numbers back into people, back into living, bloody people!...Then you will understand why I am willing to go to the Northern Expedition!...It is not because we have air superiority, not because of the Qing army buying officials
Selling my official position is not because we can win, nor because Japan will not take advantage of the situation... I am doing it for them... so that they don't have to swim across the Yangtze River so hard in the future... Do you... all understand? This is my Northern Expedition.
The only reason!”
…
There was silence in the dark observation fort, and no one could see anyone's expression. But most people understood what Zhu Yourong meant. A few people didn't understand yet, and were still asking each other in low voices.
Xiang Xiaoqiang also understood what Zhu Yourong was referring to.
Every year, tens of thousands of people from the Northern Qing Dynasty "escape" from their respective places of residence without documents and defect to the Ming Dynasty. They go through untold hardships, hiding in Tibet to avoid arrest all the way like rabbits hiding from hunters. Those who can finally reach the riverside alive are
There are only a few thousand people.
Then, these thousands of people risked their lives and swam desperately from the north bank to the south bank. But nine out of ten of these stowaways would be stained with blood in the Yangtze River under the machine guns of the Qing army, or they would be exhausted.
, their body temperature was exhausted, they were swallowed by the river, and they were unable to set foot on the land of Ming Dynasty. In the end, only a few hundred people managed to escape to Nanming.
Those who were fished out alive by Qing patrol boats would also be treated the most cruelly as "traitors". Usually, thick iron wire would be passed through the body and tied into a string to prevent escape. This was very bloody. Then they would be escorted and held in a
The wounds were bleeding and festering, so they walked back to their hometowns and were executed in public. This was to intimidate fellow villagers not to run away. The family members and relatives of the defectors would also be arrested and sent to labor camps to be slaves.
Despite this, there are still a large number of people from the Northern Qing Dynasty who do everything possible to flee southward every year, regardless of life or death. And the number of people fleeing south is increasing year by year.
The Ming Dynasty organized various southward escape organizations in Beiqing to help them escape southward in an organized manner, improve the success rate, and strive to allow as many people as possible to escape alive. This kind of southward escape occurs all year round. However, winter is the "off-season"
"Although this is the dry season and the river surface is the narrowest, the ice water is biting and few people can swim across it alive. Although summer is the wet season and the river surface is wide, the water temperature helps maintain physical strength, so it is the "peak season".
There will be a large-scale southward escape tonight. It was organized by an underground resistance group in the north. Dongchang has been notified in advance that the specific location chosen is opposite Jiangxinzhou. Please ask the south bank defense line to respond in time and use smoke bombs on the river to cover the southward escapers. Dodge the bullets of the Qing army and let as many people as possible come over alive.
This kind of action happens often. As Zhu Yourong said, over time, these people are just "numbers in the report" to the ministers. These ministers, generals, and Zhu Yourong himself also know Nannan from the report. I have never seen anything about the escapees with my own eyes. But tonight's smuggling operation is a little different. Because this time there is an important figure among the escapees to the south, and this figure is very important to both the Northern Qing and the Southern Ming. Therefore, this time the East The factory specially reported to Zhu Yourong.
Shen Rongxuan also knew it. But he did not expect that Zhu Yourong would take this opportunity to take the ministers to see it in person, so that she and the top leaders of the Ming Empire could come and see it with their own eyes before the Northern Expedition. once.
…
The Yangtze River in the distance was pitch black, and the river wind was howling and pouring into the observation fort, which made the inside of the observation fort extremely cool. Everyone was holding telescopes, trying to see through the night on the river and see what was hidden among the reeds on the other side. Those who fled south, those who put their hopes for the rest of their lives on tonight.
It was very quiet inside the observation fort, no one spoke. Just now it was reported that "they are about to start", but after a while, there was still no movement on the other side. Someone took out his pocket watch and looked at it. More than ten minutes had passed.
A light suddenly flashed in the darkness in the distance, and everyone was trembling. Dozens of telescopes were pointed in that direction at the same time.
That was the machine gun fire of the Qing army more than a thousand meters away. However, only the flames could be seen here, but no sound could be heard.
In the blink of an eye, several flames flickered on the other side. Immediately afterwards, several searchlights on the other side were turned on, and bright beams of light swept across the river.
Two flares were fired into the sky. A small parachute was hung with a magnesium rod, emitting the most dazzling light. Within a few seconds, half of the river was illuminated like daylight.
"Look! People!!"
Someone in the observation fort shouted loudly, and then everyone saw it——
Nearly a thousand meters away, the dark water surface reflected the magnesium light from the sky. Between the bright reflection and the dark water waves, there were two people as small as ants splashing in the water desperately, swimming desperately.
Tracer bullets marked the line of fire of machine guns and danced wildly above their heads. In the blink of an eye, one of them stopped moving and was swallowed up by the river. The other person was still swimming desperately.
"Where are the smoke bombs?" Zhu Yourong turned around and shouted anxiously, "Where are the smoke bombs? Why don't you use smoke bombs?!"
"Return to your Majesty," the fortress commander immediately replied, "We have to wait until the Qing prisoners find them before we can launch smoke bombs. We will launch a smoke bomb in a few seconds... Your Majesty, listen, we will launch a fire bomb!"
Sure enough, there were "bang bang" sounds from both sides, and dense smoke bombs pierced the night sky and landed on the river on the other side. Soon, clouds of smoke were released.
However, the wind on the river was very strong, and the smoke screen was blown away before it had time to spread.
"Launch again! Launch again!" Zhu Yourong shouted anxiously, "Hit more! Don't be reluctant! Shoot them all out!"
The fortress commander quickly explained:
"Your Majesty, it's not that you can't bear it. With the number and rate of fire of our artillery in Jiang Xinzhou, this is already the limit!"
"well!!"
Zhu Yourong stamped his feet, turned around and stared at the river in the distance, biting his lips.
Soon, more stowaways appeared on the river in the distance. However, more machine gun lines of fire also swept over their heads. In the blink of an eye, several more people were shot and sank.
Qing patrol boats also appeared from several places. The boats were equipped with machine guns and searchlights, and they were speeding on the river, searching. The Qing troops on the boats were shirtless and holding an anchor hook in their hands. They saw a
The stowaway will drive over, then swing the anchor hook to hook the stowaway in the water, and drag him out of the water bloody...
However, more people are still swimming desperately. They have only one thought in their minds at the moment:
Swim! Swim hard! Swim to the other side of the Ming Dynasty! Once you reach the Ming Dynasty, you will have enough food and clothing! You will not be bullied! If you become a commoner in the Ming Dynasty, you can live like a human being!
In order to live like a human being for the rest of my life, swim!
For the sake of my children and grandchildren, I can live like a human being, swim!