Although the weather was bad, Gu Qinglian, the prefect of Tucheng, breathed a sigh of relief. He had no sleep last night.
When the rebels approached Tongling a few days ago, he asked for help from Nanjing, but nothing came of it, with no reply or reinforcements. Then the rebels entered Taiping Prefecture and easily captured Fanchang County and then went straight to Wuhu, which was only more than 70 miles away from Dangtu.
People were in panic, and people took refuge out of the city with their families, because everyone knew that Dangtu could not be defended!
Gu Qinglian didn't want to surrender, but he couldn't leave either. He knew that as long as he left Dangtu even half a step away, the city would be lost. The court would also punish him for escaping in battle, and he would also be infamy throughout the ages! But there were only 500 guards in the city.
How could he resist the bandits, which numbered more than 100,000 at every turn? The only thing he could do was to keep sending people to Nanjing for help.
But there has been no reply from Nanjing, which made him feel burning in his heart but also filled with enthusiasm. Everyone must die, so let's do it vigorously.
Having said that, what can five hundred troops and horses do?
Gu Qinglian sent people to explore the enemy's situation and went to the city for several days. He was worried that someone with ulterior motives would open the door and surrender unprepared. These days, there are too many examples of the city being lost due to traitors.
Fortunately, although the bandit army has occupied Wuhu for several days, there is no sign of sending troops to Dangtu. Perhaps they are too exhausted from the journey north and need to repair for a while, or they have not had enough of the harm to Wuhu, so they linger for a few more days, but
No matter what, it gave Gu Qinglian a chance to breathe again and let him have more fantasies about Nanjing. What if reinforcements were on the way?
However, he knew very well in his heart that none of the people who went to report the news came back dead or fled, so how could reinforcements come? He was just unwilling to accept this reality.
The thieves were clearly right in front of them but they didn't know when they would attack. This was the most stressful time mentally. Gu Qinglian's mental pressure was so great that he was about to collapse. After all, he was just a civil servant who had never fought in a war and his mental quality was not as good as that of a general.
This ordeal finally took a turn for the better last night.
finally come!
Gu Qinglian breathed a sigh of relief, he would die sooner or later, and this kind of fearful life was finally coming to an end, because the bandit army was finally here.
Baiqi pretended to be Nanjing reinforcements and called the door late at night. They were still using this trick that a three-year-old could see through!
Gu Qinglian found it extremely ridiculous.
Of course, he felt ridiculous at this moment.
Although the people who came were not soldiers from Nanjing, they were definitely not rebels. However, they never expected that it was the eunuch from Dongchang who was so powerful in both the government and the public that he came!
What surprised him even more was that the eunuch was very polite to him, or to be precise, respectful.
For Chang Yu, every civil servant and general who served the Ming Dynasty was worthy of his respect. Although Gu Qinglian was just a little-known civil servant, he could face the arrogant thieves in this environment without retreating.
If you escape and even prepare to fight to the death, you deserve his respect. Do you think he respects the nobles in Nanjing City?
Chang Yu went to the city before entering the Yamen. Although Dangtu was a capital city, there were only a few hundred garrison troops. There were all the old, weak, sick and disabled, and the troops were insufficiently prepared. If the bandit army came to attack, it would be a miracle if they could hold out for half an hour: "Why not
Call on the people to defend the city?"
Gu Qinglian smiled bitterly: "It is the duty of one to sacrifice one's life for one's country by being a low-ranking official, eating the emperor's emolument, so we won't affect these people. At this time, there are seven out of ten people in the city..." Chang Yu frowned. He didn't meet him when he came from Nanjing.
Seeing the fleeing people, Gu Qinglian noticed his doubts by observing their words and expressions: "They all fled to the east."
Only then did Chang Yu suddenly realize that these common people had also suffered from long-term illnesses. He knew that if the rebel army was tricked, the next step would definitely be to attack Nanjing, so there was no need to flee to Nanjing.
"As expected, the bandit army will arrive in the afternoon. Master Gu can first lead the city's soldiers and horses to build fortifications at the Guxi River in the south of the city." Chang Yu looked south from the city. The rain and fog were so heavy that he couldn't see very far away.
, Gu Qinglian’s face suddenly turned blue: “Why do less than five hundred old, young, sick and disabled people have to go out of the city to meet the enemy? Can’t they just hold the city and defend it? Also... aren’t there any reinforcements in Nanjing?”
Chang Yu turned his head and glanced at him: "Mr. Gu, the governor asked you to build fortifications, not to fight. That is not your job. Also, reinforcements are coming."
Gu Qinglian burst into tears in an instant, and the corners of her mouth trembled: "Here we are, finally here..." Before she could finish her words, her body went limp and she fainted. She hurriedly supported her and carried her back to the city. The haggard old man heard this at first sight
I can't bear the good news any longer.
"Kuang Ren, take over the military power of this city" Chang Yu shouted: "Anyone who disobeys the order will be killed!"
No one dared to disobey orders. Soon these hundreds of soldiers and hundreds of people were sent to the Guxi River in the south of the city to build fortifications. Soon Jin Shenghuan led the vanguard cavalry to Dangtu and went up to the city to see Chang Yu.
After Chang Yu told him the plan on the city wall, Jin Shenghuan's heart tightened, as he was about to fight so soon.
Chang Yu pointed to the southeast: "You cross the Guxi River from the east of the city to ambush the troops at Daqingshan. After the battle begins, lead your troops to cross the Qingshan River and attack from behind."
"Lord Governor, are you sure that the rebels will definitely come today? Jin Shenghuan doesn't quite believe it." It only took half a day and one night for them to send troops from Nanjing. How could the rebels find out the news and react so quickly?
"Don't underestimate any opponent. Strategically, you can despise the opponent, but tactically, you must pay attention to the enemy. If the rebels know that Nanjing is sending troops, he will definitely come back, but it will be a little sooner or later." Chang Yu smiled slightly, and Jin Shenghuan nodded: "Final General
Afterwards, then...who will the Lord Governor use to face the enemy head-on, and who will be responsible for Tu's hundreds of troops?"
Chang Yu shook his head: "I have sent someone to order Lu Daqi to send three thousand troops on an urgent march. They should arrive around noon."
"Three thousand... I don't know the strength of the rebel army, but we only have four thousand... Lord, are you underestimating the enemy?" Jin Shenghuan looked slightly worried, Chang Yu patted him on the shoulder: "This battle is our march south.
The first battle can only be won but not lost. It is a matter of morale. I hope the general will do his best!"
"At the end of the day, you have to work hard and do your best," Jin Shenghuan quickly said with his hands. Chang Yu nodded: "Go ahead, find a place to rest and recharge your batteries first."
Jin Shenghuan turned around and left in a hurry. Chang Yu then went down to the city and went to the government office. At this time, Gu Qinglian had woken up and struggled to get out of bed to salute. Chang Yu held him down: "Master Gu, this is a heart disease and needs careful treatment!"
Gu Qinglian looked expectant: "Does the Governor have any medicine for you?"
"We are in the process of making it. It is expected that Mr. Gu will be cured by the medicine today. You should have a good rest first."
Chang Yu was having breakfast in the government office when he received a report from a spy: a bandit army was found forty miles away, with a strength of about three thousand.
"It seems that the thief general reacted faster than adults expected!" Li Muxian smiled slightly: "I just don't know how many of these three thousand thief troops are actually real thief troops."
"As long as there are less than half of the real bandit army, the chance of winning this battle is high." Chang Yu raised the corner of his mouth: "I estimate that it is at most five hundred, and the rest will be cannon fodder!" Li Muchian frowned: "Not really, I guess at least
Not less than one thousand”.
Chang Yu smiled: "The real strength of the rebel army in Wuhu at this time is only two thousand, but there are tens of thousands of officers and soldiers on the other side, who are eager to cross the river and attack. How can he have the courage to send half an army here? The reason why he sent troops
The purpose of coming here is to conduct careful reconnaissance to Nanjing to send troops, but at most they found Jin Shenghuan's forward cavalry of more than a thousand cavalry, so they thought it was just disturbing people's ears and eyes, so they took it lightly and sent some troops to contain it. By the time they reacted, it was too late!
"
"According to what you say, we will definitely win this battle!" Li Muchian laughed, while Chang Yu shook his head: "Does the Taoist really think so?"
Li Muxian was startled: "The bandit army is only five hundred, and the rest are all refugees and cannon fodder. On the other hand, we have at least four thousand soldiers and horses. Is it possible that we can be overturned by them?"
Chang Yu chuckled a few times: "The Taoist priest has been with me for a long time. Could it be that he still thinks that the outcome of a war is determined by the number of people and the number of people who are few? Although the bandit army only has five hundred, they are all fierce soldiers. The Nanjing soldiers
Most of the horses have pewter spear heads, and we don’t know who will win.”
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