Therefore, everyone needs a "role model", an excuse, or a reason to comfort themselves.
For example, if the Confucius family in the north shaved their hair, changed clothes, and surrendered to the Qing Dynasty, then the northern scholars would have something to say.
Since Duke Yan Sheng had his hair cut off and surrendered, why should I persist in resisting?
And Jiangnan people also need such an excuse!
For example, Qian Qianyi, the great scholar of Donglin, had his hair cut off and became a slave, so why should I resist?
Therefore, although Qian Qianyi surrendered to the Manchu Qing Dynasty!
But his fame has only increased instead of decreasing!
Because the whole of Jiangnan needs such a fig leaf to cover up its shameful behavior.
They can only hold Qian Qianyi high, let Qian Qianyi stand in front, and let Qian Qianyi shine brightly.
Only then can the world forget them!
Now, Qian Qianyi wants to ask for a meeting with Zhu Hongyu through Zheng Chenggong. In fact, it is not Qian Qianyi who wants to take a huge risk to meet Zhu Hongyu when the decisive battle between the Ming and Qing Dynasties is still in doubt.
But some people want to borrow money from Qianyi to show their favor to Zhu Hongyu.
They need to let Zhu Hongyu know that they still love the Ming Dynasty.
Although the outcome of the decisive battle between the Ming and Qing Dynasties is currently undecided, it does not prevent these people from placing bets in advance.
Of course, Zhu Hongyu estimated that these guys also showed their bets in advance on the Qing side.
In general, since Qian Qianyi took the initiative to ask for a meeting, Zhu Hongyu still needed to meet him.
It wouldn’t hurt to meet him anyway!
Zhu Hongyu pretended to be thoughtful, and then spoke to Zheng Chenggong.
"Well, I agreed!"
"Let Qian Muzhai come see Guben later!"
Zheng Chenggong breathed a sigh of relief, but at the same time he was relieved that Zhu Hongyu could give him this face.
No matter how many considerations and interests there are behind this matter.
At least from the outside, Zhu Hongyu summoned Qian Qianyi to give Zheng Chenggong face.
The expression on Zhu Hongyu's face did not change. He just continued to drive his horse forward, wandering in front and behind the army to boost the morale of the army.
He always has a smile on his face, confident and determined, which makes people feel convinced.
While Zhu Hongyu was inspecting the army, he was still thinking about Qian Qianyi.
According to history, Qian Qianyi should have died of illness last year, which was the 18th year of Yongli in the Ming Dynasty, the third year of Kangxi in the Qing Dynasty, and 1664 in the Western calendar.
However, now he has been struck by Zhu Hongyu and is still alive in the world.
Zhu Hongyu didn't know the specific reason, but this is the current situation.
Qian Qianyi is still alive and kicking, and has come to see him...
…
Two days later, the Ming army marched along the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal to outside Jiaxing City.
After Zhu Hongyu gave the order, the Ming army began to camp outside Jiaxing City and prepared to launch an siege.
At the same time, the main force of the Qing army led by Tu Hai and Hong Chengchou was only two hundred miles away from Jiaxing.
"Your Highness, Jiaxing City will be the key to winning this battle!"
"Since our army is now ahead of the Qing Dynasty and has arrived outside Jiaxing City, it is natural that we should work hard to capture Jiaxing City!"
"Come and gain more initiative for the next battle!"
Xia Yuankui suggested.
Li Guangyuan, Hu Dinggao and others on the side also expressed their agreement.
Even Xu Bin, on behalf of the staff, put forward the suggestion that it was best to capture Jiaxing City before the decisive battle began.
"Jiaxing City can win the best!"
"However, it seems that the main force of the Qing court is now less than 200 miles away from Jiaxing. If they march in a hurry, it will only take three or four days."
"With only three or four days, or even less, can our army really capture Jiaxing so quickly?"
"Jiaxing is also a fortified city!"
Zheng Chenggong's attitude was rather pessimistic.
It's not accurate to say that we are pessimistic, we should be cautious.
He didn't want Qing reinforcements to arrive while the Ming army was storming Jiaxing.
Then he is really a complete idiot!
If this is the case, Zheng Chenggong felt that the scene was inexplicably similar to what he experienced at the gates of Nanjing a few years ago.
Even if he doesn't say anything else, he is unlucky!
Zhu Hongyu said.
"Send troops to prepare to intercept and block the main force of the Qing army heading south, to buy time for the army to pull out Jiaxing."
"In this case, it should be feasible!"
He was not prepared to let the blocking force really drag the main force of the Qing army southward until the main force of the Ming army captured Jiaxing!
I just wanted that when the Qing army arrived, the blocking force could buy the main army time to withdraw its troops from outside Jiaxing City and then organize and prepare for war.
That's all!
On that day, the Ming army began to prepare for the offensive against Jiaxing City overnight.
Field artillery pieces and large-caliber siege artillery pieces were unloaded from the transporting cannon.
Artillery positions appeared out of thin air outside Jiaxing City!
One artillery piece after another was pushed into the emplacement, and the attacking troops began to rush to make shield trucks, ladders and other siege equipment.
These ancient siege equipment can be said to have little effect if they face an enemy with strong firepower.
However, why is it that the artillery power in Jiaxing City’s city defense system is not outstanding?
Even if they were added together, the few artillery pieces in Jiaxing City were not enough to fight the Ming army.
In this way, shield vehicles and ladder vehicles can provide great assistance to the siege troops.
Zhu Hongyu inspected the military camp at night and personally inspected the mental state of the participating troops.
After making sure that the mental state of the entire Ming army was in good condition and their morale was high, Zhu Hongyu returned to his tent.
He was just about to take a break when he received a report that Zheng Chenggong and Qian Qianyi were outside asking for a meeting.
…
Outside Zhu Hongyu’s big tent!
A few dozen steps away, looking at the brightly lit white tent with a golden roof, Qian Qianyi, who had seen so much of the world, actually felt a little nervous.
With an old face and a stooped figure, he asked Zheng Chenggong beside him somewhat unconfidently.
"Damu, do you think His Highness will receive me?"
Zheng Chenggong has lost a lot of weight recently, but compared with Qian Qianyi, he is already relatively tall and strong.
After hearing Qian Qianyi's inquiry, Zheng Chenggong leaned over and spoke in his ear.
"Teacher, don't worry, His Highness has agreed to meet you!"
Zheng Chenggong showed great respect for Qian Qianyi, the teacher.
Although Zheng Chenggong also looked down on Qian Qianyi's softness, it was because of Qian Qianyi's performance in actively contacting anti-Qing martyrs over the years.
As well as Zheng Chenggong's deep respect for his teachers, he still respected Qian Qianyi.
Just as Zheng Chenggong was comforting Qian Qianyi, a heavily armed Guardsman soldier strode over, making a clanging sound as he walked.
A strong murderous aura rushed towards his face.
The soldier gave Zheng Chenggong a military salute and then said.
"Your Majesty, Your Highness invites you and Mr. Mu Zhai to come into the tent to meet you!"
Zheng Chenggong nodded slightly and said.
"Please lead the way!"
The Guardsman soldier turned around and strode towards the tent.
Around the big tent, there were guards patrolling everywhere.
Each of them wore heavy armor, and some of them held swords, iron bones, hammers, axes and other weapons in their hands.
Some were carrying muskets on their backs, with bayonets and bullet pouches on their waists.
Just walking by these people, you can feel a bit of murderous aura.
The murderous aura coming from the shop, coupled with the cold wind in the middle of the night, made the elderly Qian Qianyi feel a little suffocated, and his legs and feet were weakening.