The emperor's personal visit greatly boosted the morale of the soldiers besieging the city. Even the surrendered generals who were praised by the imperial staff were eager to volunteer and want to try their skills.
Huama Liu Liu Liangzuo, Li Chengdong, Tu Guobao, Wu Shengzhao, Zhang Guozhu, Gao Jinzhong, Yang Chengzu, Li Yuchun and others all requested to fight.
The artillerymen in Shenji Town got excited and mobilized their artillery to blast Laizhou City hard, destroying many of the battlements.
Geng Er in the city thought that the conditions he proposed had made the Emperor angry, so he quickly braved artillery fire and sent a confidant out of the city to deliver the second secret letter in a much more respectful tone.
Zhu Yihai and his generals watched the siege battle for a long time. The infantry and artillery coordinated the battle, and the battle was still impressive. However, because of the lack of siege equipment, it was just a matter of time. After a while, it was over.
Although Laizhou City is not as strong as Dengzhou City, and Laizhou City lacks artillery, there are tens of thousands of people guarding it, especially the men of Geng Zhongming and Kong Youde, who were considered elite soldiers in the late Ming Dynasty.
When they rebelled in Denglai, they were mainly composed of Liaodong soldiers, plus Mao Da's Dongjiang soldiers and others later. After joining the Jin Dynasty, they were supplemented by Liaodong Han people. In terms of equipment and training, they were actually far superior to the Ming Dynasty's soldiers.
.
Outside the city, they are still stepping up their efforts to build siege equipment. However, to attack such a strong city, a lot of siege equipment must be built. The main ones are various ladders, rams, etc. They are not simple long ladders, but more complex and safer large ones.
instrument.
In ancient times, sieges could last for months or even years, and just building siege equipment took a long time. Even in some dangerous and remote areas, cannons were cast directly from copper instead of transporting them.
After inspection, return to the military tent.
After meeting Geng Er's second secret envoy, Zhu Yihai discussed with several imperial ministers.
"The Geng thief has no sincerity!" Shen Tingyang said bluntly.
"I feel that since Geng Zhongming is willing to send people to talk again and again, it means that he still has some ideas that can be fought for." The person who held this opinion was Yan Wogong.
This person is best at united front work and has a better understanding of the psychological journey of those generals who have been demoted.
After Zhu Yihai listened to everyone's opinions, he smiled and said, "It seems that Kong Youde's death has shocked Geng Zhongming greatly, and he is not willing to fight us head-on."
"I think there is no need to trample on Geng's thieves. Laizhou can be captured in half a month at most." General Jin Gongyu said.
"I think Geng Er is worth trying to win over. If he is willing to give up Laizhou, this is a good thing."
"But what if he just wants to delay time?"
"Let Geng Zhongming come to see me in person. If he is really sincere, we can talk face to face."
·······
"In person?"
In Laizhou City, Geng Zhongming fell into deep thought after listening to the messenger's reply.
"Beware of fraud!" Xu Degong reminded.
Geng Zhongming had been taking the exam for a long time, and he didn't plan to leave the city secretly to meet Zhu Yihai.
The Ming army's hundreds of artillery fire just now made Geng Zhongming no longer feel safe. If the Ming army really came to attack the city at all costs, he felt that even if there were ten thousand people in the city, they would never be able to hold it for a few days.
He could not wait for the reinforcements to arrive, and he believed that Bolo's reinforcements were unlikely to come through in the first place.
Firstly, there was no food and grass, and secondly, the Ming army still had soldiers and horses dragging them to the south.
After careful consideration, Geng Zhongming took Chen Shaozong with him, leaving Xu Degong and Lien Decheng as the second generals to assist his son Geng Jimao in guarding the city. If Zhu Yihai did not believe his words and lured him out of the city to kill him, they would stand firm to the end.
After making some arrangements, Geng Zhongming and Chen Shaozong both changed into the uniforms of the retainers and quietly left the city.
Not far out of the city, we encountered a Ming army patrol.
After being told that he was a messenger, he was taken into the camp.
"Isn't this Mr. Geng?"
At the gate of the camp, a voice suddenly stopped him.
Geng Zhongming looked up and saw that it was Huama Liu Liangzuo, one of the four towns in Jiangbei during the Hongguang Dynasty.
"General Liu is here too?"
"Well, last year I offered Xu Huai to surrender to His Majesty, and now I am walking in front of the emperor. Does this mean that Second Master Geng has to change his ways anyway?" Huama Liu said with a smile.
Seeing this guy, Geng Zhongming was a little disdainful, but then he thought about it, he was already at this point now, so no one should laugh at anyone.
"I'm here to see your Majesty."
"I'll take you there." Huama Liu had nothing to do in the camp, so he simply took him there and chatted while walking.
Geng Er chatted with him all the way, but he felt somewhat relieved. He found that this guy seemed to be quite satisfied with his current situation.
Anyway, he had meritorious service in offering Xu Huai, so he was awarded the title of earl and the title of admiral. Although he did not directly command the army, he was able to walk in front of the emperor and accompany the emperor, which was not bad.
At least no reason was found for liquidation or anything.
When they arrived at the gate of the inner camp, Huama Liu said, "I will accompany you here. Let's drink together after you finish your interview."
"good."
After waiting for a while at the door, a royal guard came to greet us.
After being searched, he was finally brought before the emperor.
Gu Chan
This was the first time Geng Zhongming saw the now famous Emperor Shaotian, and he felt that he was too young.
"Taizong of the Tang Dynasty raised an army to conquer the world at the age of sixteen. He ascended the throne as emperor at the age of twenty-seven. He made unparalleled achievements throughout his life and created a prosperous Tang Dynasty. I only raised my army at the age of twenty-seven. There is a huge difference!"
Geng Zhong didn't expect that all his thoughts were seen through, and he was even more impressed. He quickly knelt down and paid homage, "The sinner Geng Zhongming comes to see my emperor, long live long live!"
Zhu Yihai looked at Geng Zhongming. He was tall and burly, with a dark face, but his hands were particularly white and conspicuous.
Moreover, this man has a good command of his tone and speed, and he is worthy of his reputation as cunning as a fox.
"Geng Qing said that he wants to lead his troops to reopen the Dongjiang River?"
Geng Zhongming took up the conversation and said he was willing to dedicate Laizhou City, then go to Pi Island to reopen the Dongjiang River, and even restore Guanglu, Shicheng and other Liaodong Islands.
What he said was quite passionate, but he didn't mention the fact that he didn't want to stay here and fight for Zhu Yihai.
Zhu Yihai also said so, but first asked about the situation in Laizhou City, the situation at Geng Zhongming's home in Liaodong, and some basic information about the soldiers under his command.
Geng Zhongming didn't lie either, he just said one thing.
There are now 10,000 soldiers in Laizhou City, and of course many of them are young recruits. He himself has 5,000 men, and Kong Youde's general Sun Long has 2,000 men, and then he has recruited 3,000 young recruits.
Thousands of people.
Although there are many soldiers, there is insufficient food and grass in the city, which is only enough for more than half a month. Moreover, the morale of the army is very unstable, and even most of the gentry and common people in Laizhou City are ready to move.
"If General Geng surrenders Kaicheng now and moves the town to Dongjiang, I'm afraid the Tatars won't let your Liaoyang family go."
"It's hard to have both loyalty and filial piety!" Geng Zhongming sighed helplessly.
"I have a plan to have both ends meet," Zhu Yihai said with a smile, "I can make an arrangement and let you out of the city at midnight, pretending that you are breaking out of the city, and then float to Liaodong in Laizhou Bay. You can go back to Liaodong first.
Haizhou will pick up your family members and wait, then go to sea, go to Pi Island and reopen Dongjiang Town, and take your family members and wait there to garrison there."
"In this way, the Tatars will not know the truth for a while, so your family will have no worries for a while, and you can even return to Liaodong smoothly. When you receive your family members, you can kill the Tatars by surprise and seize their Haizhou.
Liaoyang, rob him of money, food and materials, and then go to the sea to Dongjiang. In this way, we can not only bring back our family members, reunite the family, but also have the materials, money and food to open the town. Wouldn’t it be the best of both worlds?”
"If you don't have enough ships, I can also arrange for the navy to send a ship to meet you and wait directly at Liaodong Bay. You can also set up a transfer camp on Lianyun Island near Gaizhou or Changsheng Island near Fuzhou for temporary resettlement.
How about then transferring to Pi Island, Ludao Island, Shicheng Island, etc.?"
Zhu Yihai took out a map and assigned to Geng Zhongming the Changshan Islands east of Lushun and the Pi Island and Shenmi Island at the mouth of the Yalu River.
Geng Zhongming was moved when he saw the line drawn by the emperor himself on the map.
He previously proposed to withdraw from Laizhou and go to Pi Island to reopen the Dongjiang River. In fact, it was not entirely true. It was just fiction and reality.
Anyway, there is room for advancement and retreat.
Let's leave Laizhou, a dead place, first, and wait until we return to Liaodong, then sit on the fence and wait and see. If the Qing army's situation is good, it can be said to have broken out. If the Ming army's situation is good, it won't be too late to consider going to Dongjiang.
He didn't even think that Daming would agree to this proposal. Anyway, he just put forward a condition first and then talked about whether it was achievable or not. He could still bargain.
It would be best if we don't have to fight for the Ming Dynasty. If it doesn't work, we can only think about it again.
It's just the lesser of two evils.
But now the emperor's attitude moved his heart.
This arrangement is indeed good. If the emperor acts for them and cooperates, then he will have a good chance of returning to his hometown in Haizhou, Liaodong, and even taking back his family members there with his soldiers.
And if we really allocate Changshan Islands and Pi Island to them and reopen Jiangdong Town, it would be very good. With the Central Plains being attacked like this, it is estimated that there will be no results for a while. They ran to Pi Island at this time.
That was a place he was very familiar with.
He served in the army there for ten years, and later he also conquered Pidao with the Qing army.
Phi Island is in the sea between China and North Korea. Now, it is the rear. Even if it is backed by the Ming army in Denglai, it is equivalent to being between the three parties, engaging in trade and other things, which will definitely restore the situation of Mao Wenlong.
The Dongjiang River was a grand event at that time.
A very tempting plan.
"The guilty ministers all obey your Majesty's arrangements!"
"Geng Zhongming listens to the order!"
"I grant you the title of Duke of the Liao Kingdom, and make you the Commander-in-Chief of the Right Army and the Commander-in-Chief of the Left Army, the Commander-in-Chief of Liaodong, and the Seal of General of the Liao Dynasty's Forward Guards to guard the Dongjiang River!"
Geng Zhongming knelt down to receive the imperial edict.
"I will arrange for you to go out of the city at night, but there is one thing you need to help with."
Zhu Yihai finally proposed that Geng Zhongming's 5,000 men could be allowed to leave, but Kong Youde's general Sun Long's 2,000 men could not be taken away. Not only could they not be taken away, he also asked Geng Zhongming to arrange for Sun Long's men to break out from the other gate.
, when the time comes, the Ming army will set up a dragnet and ambush there.
Sun Long and his two thousand Kong Youde troops will be surrounded by the Ming army and must either surrender or be annihilated.
"Although Kong Youde has a good relationship with you, he was attacked and destroyed by me in Dengzhou. I heard that Sun Long had arranged for his children to be married to him, so just in case, I let them stay. I also relieved you of this worry.
"
"As for the other 3,000 newly recruited soldiers, they are all Laizhou people, so bringing them will be a drag."
Although Geng Zhongming was a little reluctant to part with Sun Long's two thousand elite soldiers, the emperor had said so. It was obvious that he deliberately did not give him the opportunity to annex these two thousand soldiers, so he nodded in agreement and followed the order.
He even offered to let his son Geng Jimao, who was accompanying the army, stay with the emperor as a bodyguard.
This is actually taking the initiative to hand over hostages.
After everything was settled, Geng Zhongming hurried back to Laizhou. When he returned to the city, he still felt in a trance like a dream. There were always some unreal feelings in all this, but when he touched his chest, he found the bright yellow imperial edict hidden in his arms.
But it's really true.
Now, he is the Duke of Liao and the admiral of Liaodong, who was granted the title of Emperor Shaotian of the Ming Dynasty. He has the seal of general of Liao forward and moved to the town of Dongjiang.
