The muddy water within a few miles south of the Guxi River was strewn with corpses, sometimes mixed with the sound of wailing for help. Hundreds of officers and soldiers wandered around to rescue injured friendly troops, while the rebels killed their lives and then plundered their bodies.
There are more than a thousand people standing or squatting under the Dangtu city wall. These are the bandits who have just been captured from the battlefield. Half an hour ago, Kuang Ren led dozens of cavalry guards to become the deadliest weapon. After entering the battle, they were like sharp blades.
Effortlessly tore a gap in the rebel army and directly hit the rear formation. Joining forces with Jin Shenghuan's ambush troops, they reversed the trend and defeated the enemy in one fell swoop. The leader of the thief, Chen Dafa, was killed by Kuang Ren with an arrow. The thief army fled for their lives or abandoned their weapons and surrendered. Now they were
He was taken outside the city to wait for disposal.
In the lobby of the government office, Chang Yu changed into clean clothes and sat on the eunuch's chair, fiddling with the tea lid in his hand. He looked at the sneers on everyone's faces. Lu Daqi and Xu Hongji looked guilty and restless. They looked at the little eunuch's face for a while, and then
He would look at Jin Shenghuan kneeling at the door.
Among the four thousand regular officers and soldiers, one thousand were cavalry. They did not take any advantage against the three thousand bandits. Even if they planned a surprise attack with both front and rear flanks, it would still be useless. If it were not for dozens of the little eunuch's bodyguards joining the battle,
, the outcome of this battle is still difficult to predict.
This battle was really ugly and a slap in the face! This made Xu Hongji, who held the military power in Nanjing, ashamed. Even though he went to the battlefield in person, he still felt ashamed.
"Get up, this matter has little to do with you, but it is not irrelevant! If your direct soldiers were fighting like this, I would have to kill you today!" Chang Yu glanced at Jin Shenghuan Leng, who was kneeling at the door.
He scolded. As the commander of the ambush, he was responsible for making an ambush battle so miserable. However, after all, the troops he led had just taken over, and they were still freshmen on the battlefield. They were afraid of fighting and panicked in the face of battle.
It's inevitable.
Jin Shengheng then stood up and said, "The Lord Governor will give the general ten days. If you are in such a bad situation again, I will let the Lord Governor handle it!"
Okay! Chang Yu stood up to attack the case: "I will treat you as a military order. Let's see if you can do what you say." After saying that, he scanned everyone in the hall and said, "Your expressions at this moment are comparable to those in the battle just now."
It’s still ugly, which shows that you still feel ashamed. I hope you can learn your shame and be brave!”
Everyone lowered their heads and said nothing, Chang Yu snorted coldly: "Lv Shangshu, what do you think of this battle?"
Lu Daqi stood up and cupped his hands: "Without him, Nanjing's soldiers and horses are not practicing diligently and the soldiers are slack!" Xu Hongji's facial muscles next to him moved a few times, and Chang Yu saw it clearly: "Please tell me, Mr. Guo."
"There is nothing to say. What Lu Shangshu said is absolutely true. We are responsible and we are willing to be punished!" Xu Hongji sat on his seat with a livid expression and cupped his hands. Chang Yu let out a sigh and looked at Zhao Zhilong from his face.
, Zhu Guobi and others, no one dared to look at him.
"Anyway, it is a great joy to win the first battle. I hope you will continue your efforts and be invincible." Chang Yu picked up the tea cup and took a sip and looked outside the hall. Kuang Ren hurriedly walked in: "I'm reporting to the Governor, we will kill four enemies in this battle."
More than a hundred were captured, and more than 1,300 were captured. We were wounded more than a thousand, and 676 were killed in battle."
Ha! Chang Yu twitched the corner of his mouth and glanced at everyone, but they were all silent.
"We announced that nearly 3,000 enemies were wiped out in the first battle, and our casualties were less than 500!" Chang Yu said calmly. Kuang Ren was startled and then asked: "Does the Governor want to kill prisoners? When will he do it?"
Chang Yu narrowed his eyes and looked at Lu Daqi: "What do you think, Master Shangshu?"
Lu Daqi pondered for a while: "Since ancient times, the number of prisoners killed has not been known, and when the news reaches the bandit army, it is feared that no one will surrender or even fight to the death in the future." Xu Hongji and others also nodded in agreement, and Chang Yu said "oh" and said to Kuang Ren: "Don't kill me yet.
, but the notice is sent out!”
Kuang Ren turned around and walked out, still wondering in his heart, why the little governor, who was always ruthless and decisive, changed his mind after hearing this old man's words.
Lu Daqi and the others were also muttering. It was rumored that this little eunuch was so murderous that he liked to kill prisoners and build Jingguan. But now it was a little inconsistent with the rumors. However, they agreed with Chang Yu's practice of falsely reporting his achievements, because it was too necessary at the moment.
After a great victory, not only the morale of the military needs to be inspired by the good news, but also the people's morale needs to be appeased by the good news!
Especially the 20,000 soldiers who came out of Nanjing to fight. Most of them were rookies on the battlefield. They had heard too many ferocious legends about the rebel army, and they were extremely fearful deep in their hearts. They took it for granted that the rebel army was brave and invincible in battle. Otherwise,
How did they reach the gates of Nanjing so quickly... And the most direct way to boost their morale is to achieve a great victory: Look, you are not incompetent, and you are very powerful. You wiped out ten times the enemy at a cost of more than 500.
, so the bandits are all paper tigers... This is also the reason why Chang Yu had to let his personal guards participate in the battle just now. If he had lost just now, there would really be no need to fight the next battle.
"Although we won the first battle, our performance was unsatisfactory. I don't want to reward or punish you. Do you have any objections?" Chang Yu asked softly, sweeping away everyone. Lu Daqi, Xu Hongji and others quickly shook their heads: "I don't dare to ask for rewards."
"You don't ask for a reward, but the reward for the soldiers below must not be less, especially the fifty thousand taels of silver promised by the Duke cannot be paid in vain." Chang Yu chuckled, Xu Hongji quickly handed over his hand and said: "I offer you real gold and silver, absolutely."
Don’t break your promise”.
Chang Yu believes that he will not break his promise. Everyone here is not a fool. This is the first battle. There is still a long way to go. If you break your promise to the soldiers, who will sacrifice their lives for you!
"Although the first battle is successful, this is just the beginning. If you have any opinions, please speak frankly." Chang Yu took a long breath and asked calmly. The group of people in front of him are not good at leading troops to fight. I wonder if there are any constructive opinions on paper.
Xu Hongji lowered his eyebrows and pondered. Zhao Zhilong and Zhu Guobi looked at each other. Lu Daqi glanced left and right and cupped his hands: "From what I saw, you should not be too hasty or hasty. You must work step by step and act steadily." Chang Yu hummed: "Sir, can you please
Can you tell me more details?"
Lu Daqi took a sip of tea and cleared his throat: "The troops and horses have just finished the battle and need to be repaired for a few days. The army in the rear also needs to be repaired when marching in the rain. What's more, the continuous rain is not suitable for marching and fighting. We can take advantage of the victory in the first battle just now."
The military affairs will be reorganized, and the bandit army will be redeployed after a defeat, and troops will not be sent to attack in the short term."
Chang Yu smiled: "How does Lord Shangshu think the rebel army will be deployed, and how should we respond?"
Lu Daqi pondered for a moment and then said: "After the new defeat, we will be more vigilant, or we will ask for reinforcements to defend instead of attack. We will continue to advance after reorganizing our troops, but we estimate that the rebel army will no longer fight with us in the field and will instead defend the city.
We might as well take this opportunity to prepare for the siege.”
Chang Yu nodded slightly and looked at Xu Hongji: "What do you think, Duke Guo?"
Xu Hongji was listening with relish and was startled when he heard the words: "What Lu Shangshu said is what I thought. I will prepare for a few days to attack the city."
"Why can't you pursue the victory and seize Wuhu when the rebels are unaware? Otherwise, what's the point of having smoke bombs on the other side? Or do you think it is easier to attack the city than to fight in the field?" Chang Yu sneered, Lu Daqi and others were startled.
Suddenly showing embarrassment, Zhu Guobi said: "The tired army cannot be used!"
"Fights are fleeting, and the only thing you need to fight for at a critical moment is endurance and willpower. By the time you have eaten, drank, and slept well, the bandit army has already closed the city gates and prepared wooden logs and rolling stones to entertain guests. What will you say at that time?"
Chang Yu rolled his eyes, leaving Zhu Guobi speechless.
"At this time, Wang Zamao's attention is still on the riverside outside the city. The city defense must be empty. We can take the opportunity to recapture Wuhu City with a night attack. Otherwise, when he finds out that he has been tricked, he will retreat to the city and make preparations, and Wuming will attack again.
Have you ever thought about how much the city will cost?" Chang Yu has rich experience in fighting the enemy. If he had elite soldiers and generals to advance directly, he wouldn't have to use so many fancy tactics. But at the moment, the soldiers and horses at hand are insufficient in combat effectiveness.
Then he had no choice but to resort to tricks with four ounces of a thousand pounds.
"The last general is asking for a fight!" Jin Shenghuan took a step forward and said, "The last general is willing to lead the cavalry to attack Wuhu overnight!"
Chang Yu looked at him and shook his head slightly: "If you go to attack the city and you don't have enough manpower." As soon as he finished speaking, Xu Hongji started to fight: "I am willing to go!"
"I'm going, too." Zhao Zhilong, Zhu Guobi and Xu Hongji are an iron triangle, and they are also willing to go together. Chang Yu looked at Lu Daqi again. Just as Lu Daqi was about to express his position, he raised his hand to stop him: "Lv Shangshu, Governor
I just want you to tell me, if you were that Wang Zamao, what would be your first reaction when he learned about the defeat in the north, and what countermeasures would you take?"
Lu Daqi frowned and thought for a while: "Perhaps he is unmoved. From the fact that he only sent 3,000 troops and most of them were refugees, he knew that his intelligence was limited and he underestimated the enemy too much. Perhaps he would think that the defeat was just because his subordinates were careless and underestimated the enemy, and the governor
Your Excellency said that he is now attracted by the officers and soldiers on the other side and has no time to do so. The most he can do is send some reinforcements here, and not even reinforcements. After all, he only sent troops north to contain us, not to defeat us."
"What if he is moved by it?" Chang Yu smiled faintly: "What if he sends another army..."
"Impossible" Lu Daqi interrupted him: "If it is as the governor said, all his attention is on the officers and soldiers on the other side, it is impossible to send a large army here, unless there is something wrong as expected, for example, he peeked into the other side and was just pretending."
Chang Yu nodded and glanced at Li Muchian standing beside him: "What do you think?"
"Based on the previous discussion between the adults and the poor Taoist, if you are not at ease, wait until the scouts arrive to discuss it again!" Although Li Muxian's voice was low, everyone could hear it clearly.
In fact, the decision has already been made.
"We're close! Waiting here will only delay the opportunity to fight. It's better to send troops and attack directly. If it succeeds, we will get twice the result with half the effort. If it fails, we will wait for the arrival of the rear army and then make a long-term plan!" Chang Yu gritted his teeth and shouted outside the hall: "Kang
tough!"
"I'm here to serve you" Kuang Ren came in and asked, "What are your orders from the Governor?"
"Lead the troops to move quickly, avoid the sidelines and wait for an opportunity to capture Wuhu City!" As soon as Chang Yu said this, everyone was shocked. What kind of joke are you leaving the army unused and letting dozens of cavalry capture the city?
"I'm a humble leader!" Kuang Ren suddenly became excited. He glanced at everyone with an arrogant look and turned to leave. Lu Daqi started to fight: "Master Governor, please don't..."
"Unexpectedly, Chang Yu ignored him and looked at Xu Hongji: "My lord, take your three servants and cooperate with Jin Shenghuan's cavalry to rush to the west of Wuhu to attack the bandit army to attract attention. Lu Shangshu will lead the remaining troops to follow!"
Everyone was stunned, but they also understood the little eunuch's intention. In order to prevent the officers and soldiers from crossing the river, the bandit general Wang Zamao pulled the main force out of the city to prepare for a fight with the officers and soldiers on the river bank. He also ordered Chen Dafa to lead 3,000 people north to contain the Nanjing reinforcements.
, at this time the city's defense must be empty.
The little eunuch's move at this time was to seize the city with elite troops while taking advantage of its emptiness, and at the same time send cavalry to the riverside to harass and distract its attention and contain its troops. Jin Shenghuan's cavalry was approaching, plus Xu Hongji and several other hundreds of servants, although it was not enough to fight.
However, after the harassment was over, and Lu Daqi arrived shortly afterwards, Wang Zamao would be in a hurry to deal with it, and he might not immediately withdraw his troops back to the city. This was an opportunity. If he could not seize this opportunity, he would have no choice but to attack the city. At that time
I'm afraid that the reinforcements of the bandit army have also arrived, and there will inevitably be another bloody battle, or even multiple battles. With the current combat effectiveness of the officers and soldiers, it will be a very difficult fight!
This is also the reason why Chang Yu wants to take risks and fight quickly!