Yan Ermei did not come empty-handed. Although he entered the court in white clothes, he came from a wealthy family in Peishang. After returning to his hometown in Xuzhou, he quickly spent all his wealth and organized a militia of more than 2,000 people to assist Xu Du.
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From this we can also see how strong the financial resources of the Jiangnan gentry are. Yan Ermei is already a well-known figure for his integrity. He cares about the poor people and rarely exploits and squeezes his family tenant farmers harshly. However, with the wealth accumulated over several generations,
He actually still has the financial resources to organize a militia of 2,000 people.
So how wealthy are other Jiangnan gentry families who are far more greedy than Yan Ermei?
Xu Du had long been deeply disappointed with the soldiers in the southeast, but he also had a special understanding of the psychology of these people. This was an advantage that Li Laiheng could not compare with other generals of the Dashun Army.
Xu Du quickly established Yan Ermei as his banner, praised him heavily, and publicized his deeds of coming to Xu in white and organizing militia to assist the Dashun Army. He also secretly ordered his soldiers to spread the word:
It is said that Yan Ermei entered the court in white clothes and has won the appreciation of Jin King Li Laiheng. After the battle of Xuzhou is over, she will be promoted to Bian, and she will be the prime minister in white clothes, and will be ranked as minister and minister.
Once such news came out, it was fueled by the officers and soldiers of Dashun Army, and it quickly spread wildly in the counties of Xuzhou. Originally, the gentry and powerful people in Xu Pei area were deeply afraid and worried about the threat of massacre by the Qing army. Now they are
It is rumored that the Dashun Army employs an eclectic group of people, and those who have contributed to the defense of Xuzhou will be included in a separate roll in the future, with special emphasis on employment.
Needless to say, for the gentry generation who are determined to be officials even to death, there is no better news than the news of becoming officials.
It is widely rumored that Jin King Li Laiheng is different from the late Emperor Li Zicheng and the Emperor Li Guo in that he is a wise leader who "knows how to employ people". It is said that he is the most kind commander in the Dashun Army who treats the gentry and literati. Otherwise, Xu Du, Yan Ermei
How could a powerful man from the Ming Dynasty suddenly obtain this honor and position?
Needless to say, spend all your wealth, organize a militia, and join King Li Jin! You will definitely become a high official in the future!
Li Laiheng, who was leading his army from Caozhou in a mad pursuit of Dorgon's army, had been lying on his horse for two days and one night without removing his armor. His inner clothes were completely soaked with sweat, and the cold air had stained the clothes.
It was frozen into a sheet of white frost.
Li Laiheng was wearing such thick and cold clothes, so of course he couldn't help but sneeze a lot.
He looked at the two literati Fang Yiren and Gu Junen who were accompanying the army. When he saw that they were also in disgrace and were following the generals in hard pursuit, he smiled and said:
"Leshan, it's so straight. If we can defeat Dorgon in this battle, You Yan will be able to get it easily, and it will be easy to go straight to Huanglong Mansion. By that time, no one in the world will be able to resist us.
When I talked to you about the land equalization plan, you were all worried that the opposition would be too strong. So what will happen today? If Xuzhou is not victorious, it will be destroyed. Once it wins, what kind of land equalization policy will Gu implement? Is there anyone left?
Can you resist!"
"Does Your Highness wish to bring peace to the world's gentry?"
Li Laiheng, who had been galloping on his horse for a long time and was extremely exhausted, yawned again and said:
"In the future, the Yingtian Law must be widely promoted throughout the world... Of course, isolation will not push the gentry into desperation. After Dorgon is annihilated, the power of the new Yingtian Law will be reduced, and isolation will still be a problem.
It is necessary to continue to support the gentry generation to transform into gentry merchants like Geng Yingqu.
This world...this world should have some changes."
The gentry in Xu Pei's area did not know that Li Laiheng had already made a plan to "devour and divide" them in the future. Because of Xu Du's various empty promises and Yan Ermei's role model, he began to organize a large number of regiments to train civilian men and rush to the front to assist.
The Dashun Army conducted defensive operations.
On the north bank of Feiyun Bridge, the Qing army's offensive was in full swing. Nikan had already stepped down personally and led the elite Eight Banners soldiers of the forward battalion to swoop into the Shun army camp.
On the south bank of Feiyun Bridge, Gu Kecheng sits at the Liucheng headquarters. This small market town is now filled with countless civilians.
In the past few days, the number of civilians who came to Pei County from various counties in Xuzhou to support the war has reached nearly 20,000.
Regarding Xu Du's mobilization results, Gu Kecheng was amazed: "A scholar's sword is really longer than ten thousand men."
During the Yuanjia period of the Southern Song Dynasty, General Buni Gong of the Northern Wei Dynasty once gathered in Liucheng. After meeting Ji Xuanjing, the general of the Southern Song Dynasty, he led his troops to fight near the current location of Feiyun Bridge.
At that time, Feiyun Bridge had not yet been built, and there was only one Bao Bridge. The people of Peixian County were also mobilized by the generals of the Southern Song Dynasty. They harassed the Northern Wei army everywhere and burned the Bao Bridge. The Northern Wei army thought that the Song army had arrived, so they
They all fought to cross the river north, and most of them drowned.
In the fourth year of Zhengde in the Ming Dynasty, the Yellow River broke its banks near Feiyun Bridge, and the river water poured into the Grand Canal. In the eighth year of Jiajing, the river course of Feiyun Bridge moved northward to near Yutai County. In the thirty-seventh year of Jiajing, here
The tributaries of the river rushed to Feiyun Bridge again. In the forty-fourth year of Jiajing, the Yellow River overflowed again. It was not until after Wanli that the local river engineering prevented the river from moving south, and the overflow was avoided.
It can also be seen from this that the Feiyun Bridge section of the river is an important point at the intersection of the Yellow River and the Grand Canal. Because the river is relatively narrow, the river is prone to flooding. From a military perspective, it is indeed a must-win area for the Qing army to rush to Xuzhou.
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After Gu Kecheng received reinforcements from a large number of civilians mobilized by Xu Du, his confidence increased. In addition to sending some pro-army troops to the camps on the north bank to strengthen defenses, he also asked Xu Du to organize civilians to continue construction in the Liucheng area on the south bank.
More camps and forts assist in defense.
On Feiyun Bridge, the Dashun Army gradually increased its strength. At this time, it had reached 10,000 soldiers and 20,000 civilians. With this strength, Gu Kecheng had the confidence to hold on for a few more days until Li Laiheng led Bianliang.
The elite soldiers have arrived!
"The King of Jin's army is approaching. We will be on guard for three days at most... No! We will be on guard for two days at most. King Jin will definitely be able to arrive."
Liucheng is located fifty miles southeast of Peixian County. It was a city built by the Song State during the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period. During the Second Qin Dynasty, Qin Jiali established Jingju as King of Chu, and it was in Liucheng. Later, Zhang Liang met Han Gaozu and it was also here, so Zhang Liang was granted the title
Liuhou is the name of Liuzhou.
In the third year of the Yuan Dynasty, Fu Qin general Peng Chao attacked Pengcheng and left behind more baggage than Liucheng. When Xie Xuan led troops to rescue Pengcheng, he raised his voice and sent troops to Liucheng. Pengchao automatically lifted the siege of Pengcheng. It can be seen that Liuzhou
The location of the city is also very important to Xuzhou.
The ancient Pengcheng is today’s Xuzhou.
There is one more important thing about staying in the city now, which is that the canal passes through it. Thirteen miles north of the city is the Majiaqiao Lock, which is also a key point in controlling the channel of the Grand Canal.
Once Feiyun Bridge is lost, Gu Kecheng's second line of defense will be here.
Xuzhou is surrounded by hills and mountains, communicates with Bian and Si, leads to Qi and Lu in the north, and connects to Liang and Song in the west. It is really a key place in the world.
On Feiyun Bridge, the Qing army mobilized a large number of artillery, and the roar was earth-shattering. The Dashun defenders also used dense artillery to counterattack, but due to the outnumbered troops, many forts were quickly destroyed by the Qing army. Feiyun
The stronghold on the north bank of the bridge thus presented a precarious situation.
Gu Kecheng said calmly: "Xuzhou is surrounded by mountains on three sides, with only hundreds of miles of plains to the west, and Liang to the west. Dorgon of the Song Dynasty came from southwestern Shandong to attack Xuzhou. It was indeed a terrible military strategy. Once Xuzhou was lost again,
The Central Plains is equivalent to opening a switch to delay the enemy. If we really build a barrier from the house, we must not let Xuzhou make any mistakes. Otherwise, how will we face Lao Long live after we die?"