Episode 147: To live like a human

Zhu Yourong got off the car first, and then all the cabinet ministers and military generals got off the car. Xiang Xiaoqiang got off 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 leak the news that His Majesty and all the ministers were in Jiangxinzhou. Even on Jiangxinzhou, the news should be as little as possible. This is not a joke. Jiangxinzhou is 11 kilometers away from the Qing army artillery position on the other side of the river, which is 11 kilometers away from the Forbidden City. The Qing army can achieve a "precise strike". If a spy from the Northern and Qing dynasties is heard and then a power is generated to tell the north, then a heavy artillery is smashed in the north, which is likely to reimburse the entire Ming Dynasty senior management.

The commander of the Jiangxinzhou Fortress did not come back to Xiang Xiaoqiang's control, but Xiang Xiaoqiang made such a stern warning, and he also understood the power of it, so he immediately ordered it. Then Xiang Xiaoqiang didn't bother to ask Zhu Yourong, and immediately asked the fortress officer to take him to the nearest phone. Xiang Xiaoqiang grabbed the phone in a duty room, answered the People's Guard Command, and asked Li Changgui to immediately send a battalion of imperial guards to Jiangxinzhou Fortress as quickly as possible to provide protection for His Majesty and all ministers, and protect the whole journey when he returned.

The young man Xiang Xiaoqiang ran fast. As soon as he finished the phone call, several commanders and generals also ran over panting. Before Zhang Zhao could breathe evenly, she asked Xiang Xiaoqiang what phone number he had made. After receiving the answer, Mr. Zhang seemed very satisfied, and then grabbed the phone and connected with Cao Mingqin, the commander of the eastern section of the Yangtze River Defense Line. On the phone, Zhang Zhao ordered the entire Nanjing section of the defense line to enter combat preparations, especially the artillery units, ready to shoot on the other side at any time.

The next call was the Chief of Staff of the Navy and the Commander of the Navy. They connected with the General Staff of the Navy and asked the General Staff to send a secret telegram to the Dongjiang Fleet on the Changshan Islands off the coast of Liaodong, ordering them to immediately let all bombers and fighter jets enter combat preparations, start ground inspections, fill up fuel, and load bombs on the bombers. Once they receive news of the shelling of Jiangxinzhou in Nanjing, they will immediately take off and bomb Beijing.

...

Zhu Yourong, the protagonist who made the entire empire's senior management nervous, seemed to be fine and did not explain at this time, and first stepped onto the Jiajiang ferry. Then the others had no choice but to follow him onto the ferry, sailed through the Jiajiang River, two or three hundred meters wide, and officially set foot onto the Jiangxinzhou.

The ministers and generals thought that Zhu Yourong was bringing everyone to Jiangxinzhou Fortress to visit the soldiers and inspire morale, so they were very worried that it would be too dangerous to go deep into the military camp without any preparation and not even basic security work. The Yangtze River defense line is the key infiltration target of spies in the Northern and Qing dynasties, so it is certain that there are spies. When His Majesty penetrated into the officers and soldiers, at least all the guns under him had to be concentrated. Even if he did not collect the guns, at least all the bullets had to be put away.

However, Zhu Yourong was beyond everyone's expectations and did not propose to visit the soldiers, but directly led the ministers into the fortifications. In this way, everyone's heart was relieved. After entering the fortifications, even if the north was bombarded, it would be much safer. Compared with the mother and son continent that fell in the Battle of Nanjing, Jiangxin continent was much larger, so the fortification system above was also solid and more perfect. In the thinnest place, the steel and cement were more than one meter thick.

Zhu Yourong whispered to the fortress commander, and the fortress commander bowed and led the way in front, and Zhu Yourong followed behind. Everyone followed Zhu Yourong, walked through the thick steel and concrete passage, went down several steps, passed through several underground ammunition rooms, fuel rooms, mechanical and electrical rooms, rescue rooms, personnel lounges, etc., and walked up along a staircase. Finally, he suddenly realized and entered a wide room.

This is a river-line observation fort, three or four meters wide and ten meters long. An uninterrupted observation window also extends more than ten meters, and the Yangtze River is more than one thousand meters wide outside. July is the Yangtze River flood season, and the water volume is the highest. The river surface is full of waves, with gray-yellow vortexes one after another.

On the other side of the river is Beiqing.

After Zhu Yourong and the ministers and generals all came in, the fortress commander like Zhu Yourong bowed, then called out the soldiers in the observation fortress and closed the door and went out. The spacious observation fortress was only participants from the Supreme Military and Political Council of the Empire.

It's just 7 o'clock in the evening, and it's not all dark outside, and you can see a lot of river views. However, the observation castle has red light illumination. Although this observation castle has an observation window that is more than ten meters long, the height of the observation window is very narrow, only 30 cm high, so the lighting is very poor. Whether it is day or night, you have to rely on light illumination. Like in the submarine, the observation castle also has two lighting systems that are different day and night. Use ordinary incandescent bulbs during the day and red bulbs at night. Because at night, the red light will not affect the vision of people looking out.

A cannon mirror was placed in front of the observation window that was more than ten meters a few meters. Zhu Yourong walked straight to the observation window, bent down first, looked at the opposite bank with the cannon mirror for a while, then straightened his waist and looked out with his naked eyes.

Xiang Xiaoqiang and Shen Rongxuan looked at each other and felt that it was time and they had to "force" His Majesty to give everyone an explanation. The two walked towards Zhu Yourong at the same time, and the ministers and generals on both sides automatically dodged the way for them.

Zhu Yourong leaned against everyone, stood in front of the observation window, looking at the Yangtze River in the twilight, as if she knew they were coming, and said:

"Gei Master Shen, support him, and you guys, I know what you want to ask..."

As she said that, she turned around and faced everyone, laughing:

"I said I would take you to a special place to finish the meeting. This special place is here. Everyone held a meeting for three days, and I listened to it for three days. Some of them advocated the Northern Expedition, while others opposed the Northern Expedition. I have never expressed my opinion. I know that whether you agree or oppose the Northern Expedition, you are doing your duty to fulfill your responsibilities. Although your opinions are on the left, you are all for the country and the people, and for the good of the Ming Dynasty.

"Actually, I am also a Northern Expedition faction. Everyone may have known this a long time ago. All the ministers who oppose the Northern Expedition probably knew it before the meeting. However, at the meeting, you still loudly said that you should not fight the Northern Expedition and did not cater to me against your will.... For this, I would like to thank you. It is really lucky that the Ming Empire has you."

After she said this, the ministers, especially those anti-Northern Expeditionists, were a little embarrassed.

Zhu Yourong smiled and said:

"The reasons why I support the Northern Expedition have also said a lot in the past three days, including data and facts, involving politics, military, economic, and geostrategic... But when opposing the Northern Expedition, they are not willing to be outdone, they are also referring to data and facts, and they also refute them from politics, military, economic, geostrategic, etc. In fact, what both sides say makes sense. However, just politics, military, economic, geostrategic... these things are not enough to make me decide to fight the Northern Expedition. Do you know what it is?"

All the ministers looked at each other, including Xiang Xiaoqiang and Shen Rongxuan. These two closest ministers who were closest to Zhu Yourong and were the most "knowing the holy will" were also confused. Facing the inquiring eyes of the ministers, Chen Rongxuan lowered his eyes low-key, looking at the nose and the heart. Xiang Xiaoqiang looked around the ministers, and coughed twice, and looked up at the cement board above his head.

Zhu Yourong also lowered her head, pondered for a while, and said lightly with a sad smile:

"Since I don't know yet, then use your eyes to see... Everyone hasn't eaten yet. I just ordered the fortress commander and will finish the meal soon... Of course, the food will not be very exquisite, it is just the ordinary food of the officers and soldiers here... I don't dislike it, and I hope everyone will not dislike it either."

I have to say that Zhu Yourong is so good at selling this, and the sales of the ministers have no temper at all. Xiang Xiaoqiang lowered his head and cursed in his heart:

"I'll be there."

...

Sure enough, after a while, the fortress commander brought a few senior officers in person with the lunch box. He also knew that His Majesty should have a very confidential matter here to discuss, so in order to keep it a secret, the kitchen cooks and orders did not come to deliver the meal.

The lid and cage of the rice box were lifted, and there were military lunch boxes inside. Several officers personally handed them to Zhu Yourong and his ministers. As expected, as Zhu Yourong said, they were ordinary lunch boxes, all of which were ordinary food for officers and soldiers.

Everyone stood with lunch boxes, looking at Zhu Yourong in one go, waiting for her to take her first bite.

Zhu Yourong took the rice spoon, lowered her head, scooped half a spoonful of rice, and then half a spoonful of vegetables, and slowly put them into her mouth. Although there were also rice, vegetables, meat and eggs, they were all big pot of vegetables. Compared with the exquisite food she usually ate in the palace, it was extremely rough.

Zhu Yourong held the food in her mouth, chewed it slowly for a few times, and then swallowed it. She tried hard without showing any unpleasant expression.

Several ministers looked at the fortress commander with reproachful eyes, meaning that you didn’t know why you were in your mind. Whether your Majesty told you “experience life” or “going deep into the masses”, why did you take it seriously? You really gave your rough food to your Majesty!

The commander of the fortress looked at everyone with an innocent look: His majesty did not inform him in advance, there were only meals for ordinary officers and soldiers in the kitchen, and it was too late to cook now!

But no matter what, under the leadership of Zhu Yourong, all the ministers and generals, these imperial elites who usually have rich clothes and food, also stood up and swallowed the rough lunch box. Xiang Xiaoqiang didn't care, but instead recalled the time before the time travel. In the company, the lunch box that the boss ordered for everyone at noon was usually not as delicious as this one.

While having a meal, an officer suddenly ran in and reported loudly to the fortress commander:

"Sir, the other side has sent a signal! They are about to start!"

Everyone was startled, raised their heads, staring at the officer in shock. "They are going to start", what does it mean? Is the Qing army on the other side going to shell the shelling?

Zhu Yourong put down the lunch box, expressed excitement, walked to the observation window, bent down and lay in front of a cannon mirror, and looked towards the opposite shore with great force. After a while, dozens of ministers also rushed to the observation window, and several who had grabbed the cannon mirrors looked at with the cannon mirrors, and those who hadn't grabbed it were with their naked eyes. They were all trying to see the other shore through the vast night.

Zhu Yourong ordered:

“Switch off the lights!”

The only faint red light in the observation castle was also turned off, and the castle was pitch black, so the scene outside was a little clearer.

But at this time the sky was completely dark. Even if the indoor lights were turned off, they could only see hundreds of meters on the river surface by using the moonlight. No matter how far they were, it would be pitch black.

Several officers held a string of telescopes and sent them to every minister and general. Those who did not grab the bullets raised the telescopes one after another, trying to find the "them" that Zhu Yourong said.

The Navy Minister couldn't stand it anymore and said:

"Your Majesty, I dare to ask Your Majesty to answer your questions. What did Your Majesty take us to see?"

Zhu Yourong stared at the cannon glasses and said softly:

"Look at those people...those who want to swim from the other side... In the past, they were just numbers in the report to you and me..."

Zhu Yourong then raised her voice and said loudly:

"But after today, they will change from numbers back to humans, to living, bloody people! ... Then you will understand why I am willing to fight the Northern Expedition! ... Not because we have air advantages, not because we buy and sell official positions in the Qing army, not because we can win, and not because Japan will not take advantage of the situation... I just for them... For them not to have to swim across the Yangtze River like this in the future... Do you all understand? This is the only reason for my Northern Expedition!"

...

The dark observation castle was silent, and no one could see anyone's expression. However, most people understood what Zhu Yourong meant. A few people were still asking each other in a low voice.

Xiang Xiaoqiang also understood what Zhu Yourong meant.

Every year, tens of thousands of people from the Northern and Qing dynasties "escape without a license" from their respective residences and defected to the Ming Dynasty. They went through a lot of hardships, hiding and hiding like rabbits hiding and escaping, and in the end, only a few thousand people were able to reach the riverside alive.

Then, these thousands of people had to risk their life-and-death risk and swam desperately from the north shore to the south shore. However, nine out of ten of these thieves would stain the Yangtze River with blood under the Qing army's machine guns, or because of exhaustion, exhaustion of body temperature, swallowed up by the river water, and failed to set foot on the land of the Ming Dynasty. In the end, there were only a few hundred people who successfully escaped to the Southern Ming Dynasty.

Those who were caught alive by Qing army patrol boats would also be treated the most cruelly as "traitors". They were usually used to pass through their bodies with thick iron wires and put them into a string to prevent escape. This was very bloody. They were then held on, and they were allowed to walk back to their hometowns in the bleeding and suppuration of the wounds, and were executed in public. In this way, they were threatened to threaten the people of their fellow countrymen not to run away. The family and relatives of the defector would also be arrested and sent to the labor camp to be slaves.

Despite this, a large number of people from the Northern and Qing dynasties are still trying their best to flee south every year regardless of their life and death. Moreover, the number of people fleeing south is getting more and more than one year after another.

The Ming Dynasty organized various south-skies organizations in the Beiqing region to help them escape in an organized manner, improve their success rate, and strive to allow as many people as possible to escape alive. This kind of south-skies are available 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 bone-broken, and few people can swim alive. Although summer is the flood season and the river surface is wide, the water temperature helps maintain physical strength, so it is the "peak season".

There was a large-scale escape south tonight, organized by an underground resistance group in the north. The East Factory had been notified in advance that the specific location chosen was opposite Jiangxinzhou. Please contact the south bank defense line at that time, fire smoke screens on the river surface, and cover the escapees from the south to avoid Qing army bullets, so that as many people can come alive.

This kind of action often occurs. Just as Zhu Yourong said, over time, these people are just "numbers in the report" for the ministers. These ministers, generals, and Zhu Yourong themselves know about the fugitives from the report and have never seen it with their own eyes. But the stealing and ferry operation tonight is a little different. Because there is an important figure among the fugitives this time, and this figure is very important to both the Northern Qing and Southern Ming. Therefore, the East Factory reported to Zhu Yourong specifically.

Chen Rongxuan also knew it. But he didn't expect that Zhu Yourong would take this opportunity to take the ministers to see it in person, let herself and the highest-level members of the Ming Empire come to see it with their own eyes before the Northern Expedition.

...

The Yangtze River in the distance was pitch black, and the wind was howling, and the "woof" pouring into the observation fortress made the fort cooler. Everyone was holding a telescope, trying to see through the night on the river, seeing the fugitives hidden in the reeds on the other side, and those who suppressed their hopes for the rest of their lives tonight.

The observation castle was very quiet and no one spoke. I just reported that "they are going 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. It had been more than ten minutes.

A light suddenly flashed in the darkness in the distance, and everyone was shaking, and dozens of telescopes were aimed at that direction at the same time.

It was the Qing army's machine gun fire tongue more than a thousand meters away. However, only the fire was seen here, and no sound could be heard.

In a blink of an eye, several flames on the other side of the shore flashed. Immediately afterwards, several searchlights on the other side of the shore were turned on, and the bright columns of light swept across the river.

Two flares hit the sky. The small parachute was hung with a magnesium rod, spraying the most dazzling light. Within a few seconds, half of the river surface was illuminated like daytime.

"Look! People!"

I don't know who shouted out loud in the observation castle, and then everyone saw it too—

Nearly a thousand meters away, the dark water surface reflected the light of the sky. Between the bright reflection and the dark water waves, two small ants were desperately swimming with water splashes.

The tracer bullets marked the fire of the machine gun and danced over their heads. In a blink of an eye, one of them stopped moving and was swallowed by the river. The other was still swimming desperately.

"Where is the smoke screen bomb?" Zhu Yourong turned around anxiously and shouted, "Where is the smoke screen bomb? Why haven't you fired a smoke screen bomb?"

"Go back to your Majesty," the commander of the fortress replied immediately, "We will only fire the smokescreen after the Qing barbarians find them. They will be hit within a few seconds... Listen, you have been hit!"

Sure enough, there were "bang" sounds everywhere, and dense smoke bombs cut through the night sky and landed on the river surface on the other side. Soon, balls of smoke were released.

But the wind was very strong on the river surface, and the smoke screen was blown away before it could spread.

"Start again! Launch again!" Zhu Yourong shouted anxiously, "Try more! Don't be reluctant to let go! Kick them out!"

The commander of the fortress quickly explained:

"Your Majesty, it's not that you can't bear to let it go. With the number of artillery and the rate of fire in our Jiangxinzhou, this is already the limit!"

"well!!"

Zhu Yourong stomped her feet, turned around and stared at the river in the distance, biting her lips tightly.

Soon, more thieves appeared on the distant river surface. However, more machine gun fires also swept over their heads. In the blink of an eye, several more people were shot and sunk.

From several places, Qing army patrol boats also appeared. The small boat was equipped with machine guns and searchlights, and they were speeding on the river, searching. The Qing army on the boat was shirtless and holding an anchor hook in his hand. When he saw a stowaway, he would drive over, then waved the anchor hook to hook the stowaway in the water, dragging him up from the water with blood...

However, more people are still swimming desperately. They only have one thought in their minds at this moment:

Travel! Travel hard! Swim to the other side of the shore is the Ming Dynasty! When you arrive in the Ming Dynasty, you can eat and wear a lot! You will be free from bullying! When you are a commoner in the Ming Dynasty, you can live like a person!

In order to live like a human for the rest of your life, travel!

For the sake of your children and grandchildren, you can live like a human being and travel!

tour!!!
Chapter completed!