After Zhu Yuanzhang stationed his army in Tongling, he immediately sent Chang Yuchun to lead three battalions of soldiers and horses to Chizhou. At the same time, he also mobilized the navy fleet to go upstream, assuming a posture of advancing both by water and land, with the frontline pointing at Anqing.
However, Zhu Yuanzhang did not take the initiative to launch an offensive. At best, it could only be considered an active defense.
One of the most fundamental reasons is that they are afraid of Chen Youliang's strength.
"Come on, we have followed Master Peng and taught and trained soldiers for decades. We have accumulated countless numbers and have strong soldiers and horses... Now in Chen Youliang's hands, there are at least 400,000 soldiers in the navy and army."
Hearing this amount, Zhu Yuanzhang looked very unhappy.
Zhu Sheng couldn't help but said: "Are there really so many? Is there an imaginary number?"
Ding Pulang grinned, "If the generals and subordinates are mentioned, there may be false reports, but the total military strength will not be underestimated, and it may be even more!"
Zhu Sheng stared for a moment, but was speechless in the end.
Zhang Ximeng lowered his head and made secret calculations without saying anything else.
This number is by no means a boast.
Monk Peng has been preparing the longest and has countless disciples.
There are many people gathered here, and they all have quite strong troops.
For example, Zhao Pusheng, after Monk Peng died in the battle, he defended Chaohu and had 20,000 to 30,000 troops. There were not a few people like him in Peng's party. If they gathered together, there would be more than 100,000 people.
Ni Wenjun fought successively and successfully. After the restoration, he himself had tens of thousands of troops and captured many prisoners of the Yuan army. His number of troops exceeded 100,000.
Chen Youliang inherited all of Ni Wenjun's strength. At the same time, he continued to fight and had considerable strength. In addition, Xu Shouhui's subordinates also had some local forces.
The total number of these people is more than 300,000.
Not to mention Chen Youliang's recruitment and increase in numbers.
Huguang and Jiangxi are far larger than the two provinces in later generations and have a larger population. They are also important grain-producing towns around Dongting Lake. Although they were damaged by the war, they can still barely have enough to eat. The situation is much better than that of Zhang Shicheng, Fang Guozhen and others.
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So a simple estimate shows that Chen Youliang's military strength exceeds 400,000. This is not bragging.
Moreover, Chen Youliang also had an advantage. He could expand his troops unscrupulously, which was difficult for Zhu Jiajun to do.
After a brief calculation, Zhang Ximeng said in a deep voice: "Lord, our total military strength is less than that of Chen Youliang, and because we are in the area of the Fourth War, we can mobilize up to 200,000 people. In comparison, Chen Youliang has at least twice the superior strength.
.If you think that Chen Youliang is vulnerable and his subordinates are all rabble, that would be wishful thinking and seriously underestimate the opponent. We cannot rely on guesswork to deal with our biggest enemy."
The biggest enemy!
Zhang Ximeng had already used the harshest words to describe Chen Youliang. None of the officials or ministers present had any objections. Apparently everyone acquiesced to this fact.
Although Ding Pulang and Fu Youde chose to rebel and join the Zhu Jiajun.
However, both of their situations are quite special and cannot be generalized.
In fact, as a team led by professional rebels, Tianwan's soldiers and horses are quite capable of fighting. After all, the weaklings have been eliminated long ago. These people are slick, cunning, fierce and brave, and are full of brave men.
They may have various problems, but the only thing is that their combat effectiveness cannot be underestimated.
"In terms of strength comparison, we are indeed at a disadvantage, but Chen Youliang is also in many dangers and has obvious disadvantages. First and most importantly, he has devoured his master twice, and people's hearts are unstable...General Ding and others have already taken refuge, and others such as Bashu Ming Yuzhen,
I'm afraid he may not listen to Chen Youliang's orders."
As soon as Zhang Ximeng finished speaking, Fu Youde said: "Prime Minister Zhang, I have passed through Bashu in a humble position. Ming Yuzhen is indeed arrogant and intolerant. I think he may not be willing to be manipulated by Chen Youliang."
"That's natural."
Ding Pulang took over the words, "Ming Yuzhen is an arrogant person. Back then, he led the army to dominate one side, mobilized heavy troops to force him, and then he was willing to surrender. By the way, this Ming Yuzhen is unfamiliar to him.
Tong, everyone says he has the appearance of an overlord, but he is eight feet tall and has extraordinary physical strength. He is indeed as brave as the overlord of Chu. If he hadn't been blind in one eye, he would really be the overlord in this world..."
Ding Pulang talked eloquently and stripped Ming Yuzhen off.
This man, who was more than eight feet tall and had strange eyes, was shot blind in one eye during a battle. He pulled out the arrow and continued to fight, and all his subordinates bowed down...
I just don’t know if he swallowed his eyeballs when he pulled out the arrow!
"It seems that Ming Yuzhen is also a tyrant. Chen Youliang swallowed the master and seized power. Ming Yuzhen is dissatisfied and is afraid that she will abandon Chen Youliang and start her own business!"
Zhu Yuanzhang said slowly: "Ming Yuzhen's defense in Bashu may not involve much energy from Chen Youliang, but without the food in Bashu and Chen Youliang's large number of troops, it may become a burden... This is considered a weakness of his."
Zhang Ximeng paused and then said: "My lord, according to the latest news, General Tang and Xueshi Liu have already formed a team in Wuxi and other places. Their number of soldiers and horses has grown to 50,000. As expected, they can also contain some of Chen Youliang's troops.
Soldiers and horses.”
Zhang Ximeng mentioned Tang He and Liu Bowen.
At first they gathered Yang Wanzhe's Miao soldiers and then carried out transformation.
Tang He and Liu Bowen worked tirelessly and secretly led troops to Wuxi and other places to gather Miao soldiers to deal with Tianwan.
After this period of development, they have accumulated a considerable degree of strength.
Needless to say, there were many difficulties and obstacles along the way, but at least we succeeded.
Ding Pulang and Fu Youde were both shocked, "Wuxi, the Miao tribe of Wuxi, are they our people?"
Zhang Ximeng nodded, "I can't say it's all true. After all, those Miao nobles are still willing to listen to Chen Youliang."
Ding Pulang opened his mouth wide and was speechless for a long time.
Before the uprising, he had heard many times that the Miao soldiers had risen again. There was a group of Miao soldiers who were very capable of fighting, and they were specialized in dealing with the rich and powerful. Every time they attacked the villages and towns, they did not harm the poor people at all.
, was merciless, killing at every turn, and then divided the family property equally. Many poor people took the initiative to follow, and the momentum became stronger and stronger.
Some people even suggested that Ding Pulang go over to suppress the bandits.
But Xu Shouhui did not agree.
This Emperor Tianwan was worthy of being a cloth merchant. He had reached the 18th level of business training and his abacus was crackling as he thought.
Those Miao leaders were unwilling to listen to his orders. At this time, someone was making trouble behind their backs. This group of people couldn't stand it, so they turned to them. If I help you successfully suppress the bandits, why don't you kick me away?
So, let’s just put it off!
Xu Shouhui, a wise man, gave Tang He the opportunity to take root and develop, which also dug a hole for Chen Youliang.
Having said that, it was actually just an external scabies disease, and Chen Youliang's real trouble was still internal.
"Chen Youliang joined the Red Scarf very late, and he was not a member of the Peng Party. He relied on his own ability to kill the emperor twice and win the throne. He also became a Han Dynasty and named himself the King of Han... In addition to his subordinates,
I'm afraid there aren't many people who sincerely surrender to Chen Youliang. Even if he has many soldiers, his people are scattered. He can only share wealth and honor, but not adversity. In other words, he can only win, not lose. Once defeated, the ice is likely to disintegrate.
, a complete failure.”
Zhang Ximeng pointed out Chen Youliang's three major weaknesses in turn, and everyone agreed.
Before this meeting, Ding Pulang's letter had been sent out, in order to win over the old man Peng Dang.
It's just that no matter how much he talks, no matter how incisive his analysis is, it can't change the fact that Chen Youliang has hundreds of thousands of troops, both land and water armies, and his troops are sharp.
You must be extremely cautious when fighting against such a behemoth.
Some people once thought that Russia was just a shabby house that would fall apart with just a kick... As a result, the big man rushed out of the house, not only rubbed his mustache on the ground, but also took the opportunity to rub the ancestral land of Longxing.
East Prussia took it away.
A down-and-out Austrian painter gave Germany's treasured land to the Russians... What does it mean to deceive people without negotiation!
Similarly, a group of Showa men launched a sneak attack, and a cannon was fired at Pearl Harbor. From then on, the Showa men became good and filial sons.
Although Chen Youliang is not those two superpowers, he is not allowed to make mistakes at will.
All the civil and military officials were thinking about countermeasures.
After a long time, Zhu Yuanzhang suddenly said slowly: "Chen Youliang is a resolute and arrogant thief. If he delays it for a long time, he will become a serious problem for his subordinates. Therefore, we must complete his efforts in one battle, severely inflict Chen Youliang, and win in one battle!"
Hearing Zhu Yuanzhang's words, everyone couldn't help but tremble.
What a great courage!
At most, everyone was thinking about how to defeat Chen Youliang, but Zhu Yuanzhang thought about completely annihilating him. This skill was indeed beyond the reach of ordinary people. Otherwise, how could he be the King of Wu!
Lao Zhu was not just talking nonsense. He considered it carefully and said: "Chen Youliang's army is unstable and strives to fight quickly. As long as we can force him out and keep him away from his lair, we can take the initiative. Chen Youliang will definitely have a flaw, and we can attack him when the time comes.
Must kill!"
Zhu Yuanzhang was full of confidence and said to his subordinates.
Now there is only one question left, how to get Chen Youliang out.
Zhu Sheng thought about it: "Your superiors, can you write a letter of challenge to Chen Youliang?"
What a brilliant idea!
Is this a method used in the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods?
Zhu Sheng smiled and said: "Although the idea may not be very clever, but it will work. It's not like Zhang Xiang is here. Ask him to use his big pen and make flowers come out. Don't worry about Chen Youliang not taking the bait!"
Zhang Ximeng rolled his eyes, how can you still look down on me?
It is impossible to get Chen Youliang out with just a letter.
But can you give me something else, such as a set of women's clothing?
Tell Chen Youliang that if you don't fight, you will be a woman and a turtle with your head down... Zhuge Wuhou has also used this trick, and it can be regarded as the ultimate method to provoke the general.
But it's a pity that I met Sima Yi, a tough guy who couldn't get enough of him.
What if Chen Youliang doesn’t take the bait?
What on earth can bring Chen Youliang out?
Zhang Ximeng thought about it again and again, and finally came up with an idea, "Master, how about giving Chen Youliang a hat?"
"Hat? King's hat?" Zhu Yuanzhang asked.
"It's a white hat."
"White hat?" Lao Zhu was still confused, but Zhu Sheng understood and said with a smile: "Come on, now Chen Youliang is the king of Han. If you put on the white hat, you will be the emperor."
Zhang Ximeng said with a smile: "Mr. Fenglin is really powerful. If Chen Youliang wants to be emperor, he must pass our level!"
Lao Zhu paused and finally nodded, "Well, just give him a white hat... If he can't catch it, a virtuous person will naturally take it!"