The whole night last night, Xu Wenjue didn't sleep a wink. As the Duke of Wei, he, like the previous Wei Dukes, was guarding Nanjing and in charge of the affairs of the Central Military Governor's Office - in fact, this job was just a matter of merit in receiving a salary. Since the founding of the Ming Dynasty, what

Time to put it to use?

But the past few years have been different. Sometimes it can come in handy. For example, when the rogue bandits invaded Zhongdu, he had to guard Nanjing and patrol all over the city. He already knew very well that the rogue bandits could not cross the river, but once

But after crossing the river, he... would definitely not be able to defend the city.

Just like now, who are the people guarding the city? They are the remnant soldiers from Xiaoling Guard and other places, eunuchs and a few common people. No one has the intention to defend the city. In fact, everyone thinks that the Donglu cannot cross the river!

Although he knew that the Donglu on the other side could not cross the river, Xu Wenjue was ordered by the emperor to be responsible for guarding Nanjing. Xu Wenjue had to go to the city to inspect. What should I say? At this time, he did not seek no merit, but sought no fault.

That's right, it's just like receiving the salary normally. Although it's not much, it is still status and status after all. Most people who want to receive it have no place to receive it.

When going to the city, Xu Wenjue, who had not slept a wink all night, kept yawning. He stayed overnight on the Qinhuai River Boat last night, and this was also because he did his duty. Otherwise, if the war is in chaos now, who would not stay in the inner city, then the Qinhuai River

After all, it was an outer city, and he was staying there for state affairs.

However, he really does his duty better than the average person. After getting up, he doesn't forget to go to the Outer City for a inspection. You see, most people really can't do that.

Most of the time, even he himself felt that he was really worthy of the salary. If it were anyone else, they probably wouldn't even look at the outer city.

"This way I can be considered worthy of the salary."

Xu Wenjue, who was in the outer city, was busy thinking to himself.

Legend has it that after Zhu Yuanzhang built Yingtianfu City, he took the prince, King Yan and others to Zhongshan to observe the situation in the capital. King Yan found that the palace city was too close to Zhongshan. If cannons were set up on the mountain, the palace would be easily hit.

In addition, some important commanding heights, such as Yuhuatai in the south and Mufu Mountain in the north, were left outside the city, which was very detrimental to city defense. Therefore, Zhu Yuanzhang ordered the construction of the outer city in the 23rd year of Hongwu.

This outer city was mainly built using the loess hills outside Yingtianfu City. It only added a part of the city wall and opened 18 gates in some weakly defended areas, so it is commonly known as "Tuchengtou". Its circumference is said to be 180 miles.

In fact, it is about 120 miles long, and the total length of each section of brick construction is about 40 miles. From then on, the inner city of "Thirteen Lis" and the outer city of "Eighteen Miles" formed Nanjing's solid defense system.

Because we stayed in Qinhuai last night, we were very close to Ande Gate after landing. In addition, there are several city gates near Ande Gate, which is convenient for inspection, so Xu Wenjue patrolled north along Ande Gate.

As he was patrolling all the way north to the Elephant Taming Gate, he had just said a few words to the gatekeeper Qianhu An Hongtao, when a soldier over there pointed in the distance and said in horror.

"Tatar, Tatar soldiers..."

Tatar soldiers!

"How could the Tatar soldiers..."

The words suddenly stopped and Xu Wenjue was stunned as he stared at the wilderness outside the city!

So who are those who are not Tatar soldiers outside the city?

How did they cross the river?

Xu Wenjue and others were not surprised. Abatai and the others, who had just crossed the river at night, were also stunned by the dozens of miles of city walls in front of them. The outer walls of Nanjing in front of them may not be as good as the inner city, but they are as high as

The four- to five-foot city wall still made them dumbfounded.

"My God... this, this city is too big!"

"Even the walls of the capital may not necessarily be high!"

"Look, the mountain over there actually surrounds the city..."

For a time, there were divergent opinions, and some people even doubted Hou Fangyu.

"Hou, what are your intentions in coaxing everyone to cross the river to Nanjing City? Can such a high city be conquered?"

Seeing that everyone seemed to be frightened by such a high city wall, Hou Fangyu said.

"The outer city of Nanjing is 120 miles away. Master, how many defenders are there in Nanjing? There are no more than ten thousand soldiers and tens of thousands of soldiers. How can we defend such a long city?"

Glancing towards the towering city wall, Hou Fangyu said again.

"Besides, the Qing Dynasty has red cannons. Wouldn't it be easy to break through the city?"

After Kong Youde's artillery returned, Huang Taiji set up a new battalion "heavy army" in the Eight Banners Army, with Tong Yangxing as the chief military officer and Cao Zhenyan as the instructor to train the artillery. Although it is said that the Han people did not pay much attention to teaching the Eight Banners how to use artillery, they did not pay much attention to the red cannons.

, the Qing Dynasty was full of praise for it. "If you attack a city, you must use red-coated cannons."

Even though I don’t know how many people don’t know the benefits of the red-coat cannon because it is too heavy and difficult to hold, the red-coat cannon is a powerful siege weapon against thousands of enemies. Therefore, when going south to the Central Plains, the army always carries the red-coat cannon. This time Aba

Tai carried dozens of red-coated cannons,

"What Chaozong said is true. Come, set up the red-coated cannon, and send a message to the city. Let it answer within six hours. If you don't present the city, when the city is broken, the whole army will not seal the sword, otherwise they will kill everyone in the city.

Officials and people are not allowed!"

Abata dropped a sentence harshly, and then emphasized it specially.

"After the red-coated cannon is set up, let's fire a few cannons to show the Ming Gou guarding the city how powerful it is!"

After giving the order, the heavy army led by Cao Eryu immediately got busy. Although the "heavy army" suffered a lot of losses on the bank of the Yellow River, fortunately the cannons did not suffer any losses, because the red-coated cannons were heavy and bulky and were always mounted on vehicles during the march.

When used, it is removed from the vehicle and mounted on the artillery cart. Although it is time-consuming and laborious, the power of the red-coat artillery is amazing. It can be used to attack the city, and it can blast the city wall in two or three days at most.

"Everyone, listen carefully. Let's blow open the Nanjing city wall. The master will be rewarded heavily when the time comes!"

Although he was less than twenty-two years old, as the son of Cao Zhenyan, the chief instructor of the heavy army, Cao Eryu learned a good artillery skill. He took advantage of the Han army's loss of a large number of gunners on the bank of the Yellow River and took the opportunity to swallow all the gunners.

The red-coated cannon naturally made Abatai look at him with special eyes. Even as a Bao Yi under the Zhengbai banner, Cao Eryu also hoped to make a contribution in this southern expedition. His father was already a Han Bao under the Zhengbai banner of Prince Rui.

Yi Zuoling, as long as he makes great achievements this time when he goes south, then the Cao family...

Staring at the Nanjing City Wall, Cao Eryu suddenly became a little excited.

He didn't know that in another world, Nanjing was the place where the Cao family enjoyed all the glory and wealth in the world. As Cao Xueqin's grandfather, he worked as a weaver in Jiangning in Nanjing. In the following decades, several generations of the Cao family relied on Jiangning.

In this position of weaving, one can enjoy all the glory and wealth in the world...

At this time, in Cao Eryu's eyes, the city wall was his glory and wealth, the basis for claiming credit in front of his master. Ever since his grandfather Cao Xiyuan surrendered to Emperor Taizu as the "Commander of Shenyang Central Guard" and became Emperor Taizu's incarnation,

For the Cao family, the most important thing is to give credit to their master and then achieve great success.

"Dad, just watch, it's my son's turn to show his face this time!"

Staring at the Nanjing city wall, Cao Eryu shouted loudly in Jurchen language, instructing the slaves to use pulley ropes to hoist the red cannon weighing several thousand kilograms.

When Cao Eryu shouted for the artillery team to get ready, Abatai had already rushed over on horseback. Seeing Lord Beile coming, Cao Eryu quickly knelt down and kowtowed.

"I have seen Lord Beile, Lord Beile is auspicious!"

"You kid, how many times have I told you that there aren't that many rules in battle!"

Seeing Cao Eryu kneeling in the snow and kowtow, Abatai immediately said with a smile.

"Master Beile, etiquette cannot be abolished. A slave is a slave at any time, and there must be some rules! If our Qing Dynasty did not have these rules, it would not be a Qing Dynasty!"

Okay!

It feels good to hear this!

The smile on Abatai's face grew wider, and he looked at Cao Eryu with admiration.

"You boy, you are quite good at talking. A slave is a slave, but it's a pity that I, the master, am not your master! You are a true white flag!"

"Master, look at what the master said. The slave's ancestor was a slave in Taizu's house. Even if he later came to Zhengbai Banner, he is still the master's slave in the final analysis, and the master is not the slave's master! If the master does not recognize the slave, the slave is

After being wronged, there is no place to turn to Master Zhou Quan!"

Hou Fangyu, who was following Abatai, looked at Cao Eryu in astonishment, "What a guy! This guy is so good at flattery! Everyone likes to hear this!"

In fact, being able to flatter and please the master is the talent of the Cao family, and they are inherently suitable to be slaves. Just like many years ago, when writing a memorial to Kangxi, Kangxi carefully wrote Cao Eryu as "Cao Xi", so as soon as he received the

Afterwards, Cao Eryu presented a memorial to thank his master for giving him the name, and he changed his name to "Cao Xi" from then on.

It is the duty of a slave to keep talking to please the master. Only in this way can one be a good slave.

"You boy, no wonder your father can be liked by the Fourteenth Master (Dorgon). Hey, even you boy, I want to get it from the Fourteenth Master. I can't let you father and son be separated. I came here to talk to you.

Say, Hou Fangyu,"

Looking at Hou Fangyu, Abate ordered.

"You and Cao Eryu discuss how to fire a cannon. The cannon must be shot just right! Also, you should get closer and closer in the future. You are all servants of the family and members of your own family. Do you understand?"

The reason why he warned him like this was because this slave did have some abilities. It would be good for the master to have more contact with capable slaves.

The slaves have done things well outside, and the master's face is bright. In the final analysis, he is doing this for the future of the slaves.

In fact, whether they are his slaves or Dorgon's slaves, they are all slaves of the Qing Dynasty in the final analysis.

"Master, don't worry, I know what to do in a while."

Hou Fangyu said with a smile. Of course he knew the reason why his master allowed him to come into contact with the young man in front of him. After being a slave for such a long time, he always has some understanding of family affairs.
Chapter completed!