On the third day, Zhu Heng, Minister of the Ministry of War, personally escorted the grain and grass to the army. He was entertained by Zhou Mengxiong and was taken outside the Sanshan Lake battlefield.

The two of them boarded a newly built archery tower, which was two stories high. The top was like a pavilion with ventilation from all sides. After a while, half of the old ladies climbed up the stairs holding guqins, and they were warming wine for them in the clay stove.

, and then sat aside and played the piano to add to the fun.

Looking down at the thousands of troops and horses waiting in defense, Zhou Mengxiong leisurely picked up a glass of wine and said calmly: "I respect Zhu Butang, I will help you wash away the dust."

"Hero, old hero Zhou, I don't dare to be a low-ranking official." Zhu Heng held the wine glass with both hands in a somewhat gloomy mood. Zhu Heng was originally a person who was unkempt and did not like ostentation. The scene at this time made him feel too artificial and uncomfortable.

At ease; and because I suddenly heard that General Zhou Mengxiong was besieging the main force of the army, I couldn't help but feel a little overwhelmed, and I felt a little awkward in speaking.

"Boom boom..." Suddenly the thunderous sound of artillery sounded, shaking the watchtower almost to collapse, and the wine in the wine glass that had just been filled spilled out. There was a "bang" sound, the strings broke, and the sound of the piano suddenly stopped.

When he stopped, he saw that the face of the woman sitting next to him who was playing the piano changed.

"Hahaha! It's okay. Are you still afraid that artillery can hit here?" Zhou Mengxiong laughed.

Zhu Heng turned his head to look at the scene on the battlefield, clasped his fists and made a bow, and couldn't help but said: "The conversation and laughter were all reduced to ashes. The old hero Zhou is really like Zhuge Kongming."

After hearing this, Zhou Mengxiong laughed again, without any official humility. He stood up exaggeratedly, patted Zhu Heng on the shoulder, and pointed at the mass of officers, soldiers and cavalry in front: "Brother Zhu, do you know why the capital is here?"

Is the battalion going to make a desperate charge from here?"

Zhu Heng could only ask in a low-key and respectful manner: "Why?"

Zhou Mengxiong waved his sleeves and said, "I am blocking you from all sides. The Beijing camp is trapped in a tight siege with no way out, and there is no food. Even if this is a mountain of swords, they have to rush!" After saying this, he raised his head and drank from the cup.

He was drinking wine and slapped Zhu Heng on the shoulder so hard that Zhu Heng's little body of a scholar was tilted, "Brother Zhu, do you know why the officers and soldiers outside didn't come to rescue you?"

"I'd like to hear the details." Zhu Heng said cooperatively.

Zhou Mengxiong pointed to the east, "It's only twenty or thirty miles from Ewang City to here. I've deployed more than 40,000 troops and set up forts layer by layer, blocking the way!"

While chatting and laughing, I suddenly heard the sound of horse hooves from the west like heavy rain and thunder, and a wave of horse soldiers coming. Even though this place is not the front line, it is quite shocking to face such a battle right under my nose. The violinist is just a woman.

, without Zhou Mengxiong's courage, she would have been unable to continue talking at this time, and her fingers were shaking.

After a while, only guns and cannons were heard firing together, and sheets of white smoke rose up in front. The cavalry surged forward and met the camp across the front, just like the rapids in the river rushing on the mainstay, breaking from the middle and rushing in from both sides.

Then the cavalry soldiers stepped on the deep pit traps buried between the camps. For a while, people turned on their backs and howled, echoing around the world. Each trap was filled with countless corpses of men and horses, and the cavalry behind them ran circuitously between the camps on the corpses.

There was a burst of muskets, and the knights seemed to be walking on a mountain of swords and a sea of ​​fire.

Blood and gunpowder smoke filled the sky and the earth. Even on the high arrow tower, the smell was still strong. The woman was already pretending to retching. But Zhou Mengxiong said: "Brother Zhu, have a drink. The play I invite you to watch today is very different from the one in the palace."

How does the scene with long sleeves and slim waist compare?”

"It's really spectacular and magnanimous, swallowing up mountains and rivers." Zhu Heng looked up eagerly.

Zhou Mengxiong turned around and glanced at the woman: "Didn't Liu Mazi say that you have seen the world? Oh, what a disappointment!"

"Master, slave... the string of my piano is broken." The woman was so frightened that she knelt on the ground.

At this moment, a large group of cavalry had already rushed through the gap in the middle of the camp, but they saw a large group of infantrymen with spears coming up from behind. The number of people was like a sea of ​​​​people. The official cavalry who had lost their spirit did not dare to rush forward.

formation, they had no choice but to lose their horses and break out in other directions. Along the way, they passed through the range of each camp's firearms. Smoke filled the air and the sound of gunshots continued to rain down. Scenes of people on their backs and their horses falling on their backs could be seen everywhere. Wherever you could see it, you could see it.

There were corpses of people and horses, and there were patches of blood on the ground. The mountain of corpses and the sea of ​​blood were like a Shura field.

The bloodshed has not ended yet. A dark mass of official infantry troops is slowly approaching from the front. The long weapons above the crowd are like a forest, and the flags are floating in the wind like clouds.

Zhu Heng asked: "Are the officers and soldiers surrounded here from the Beijing camp?"

Zhou Mengxiong said easily: "The rest of the Shenji Battalion are all here, as well as all the cavalry and half of the infantry of the Fifth Army Camp. After this battle, the only remaining members of the Beijing Camp are the remnants of the Fifth Army Camp hiding in Ewang City, and there are also

Three Thousand Battalions over there in Jiujiang."

Zhu Heng said: "The Ministry of War has received news that the commander-in-chief of the North Route Army is Wu Jin Bo Zhu Mian, son of Zhu Rong. This man is also a famous general in the Ming Dynasty, and his men are elite soldiers and strong generals. Unexpectedly, he was defeated so completely."

Hearing this, Zhou Mengxiong's horse-bearded face couldn't hide his proud look, "Exactly, Wu Jinbo was also one of the men who looked like King Yan during the Battle of Nanjing... Zhuzi was nothing more than that! Back then, I was like a master.

Soldier, why is this happening!"

Having said this, Zhou Mengxiong's face flashed with a trace of nostalgia and melancholy, and was covered with an excited red color, showing a strange and crazy red tide on his face.

Zhu Heng said hurriedly: "Back in Wuchang, everyone urged the old hero Zhou to send troops as soon as possible. Only by thinking about the overall situation and not being impatient can we achieve today's great victory; but I was also worried about the King of Xiang in Jiujiang..."

Zhu Heng had already lowered his attitude at this time. There was no other way. Others didn't understand the huge contribution to winning this battle. How could Zhu Butang not understand?

"Nothing can be said in the same way." Zhou Mengxiong immediately restrained his arrogant behavior, "I was also wrong. I overestimated the capabilities of the officers and soldiers, which caused the King of Xiang to suffer more hardships."

Zhu Heng sighed, "This is the battle that will determine the world!"

Zhou Mengxiong's mood gradually dropped, and he said seriously: "Breaking through the northern front is only a prerequisite, the key is the battle of Jiujiang."

The two of them looked down together, the war was still going on, and the light of fire and blood disturbed the peace of the world.

…

Zhang Ning, who is in Jiujiang, has not yet learned about the battle situation of the North Route Army. A while ago, a spy from the Ministry of Internal Affairs secretly went out from Gantang Lake at night and got some outside news. Zhou Mengxiong had already led his troops to dispatch. At this time, Zhang Ning believed that Zhou Mengxiong's army

They still have to deal with the North Route of the army for a while. It is not known whether they can break through the northern route, but Zhang Ning never expected that the results would be achieved so quickly.

As the day approaches the winter months, the climate becomes colder and colder. There are many injuries and illnesses in the city, and there is a shortage of doctors. The situation is getting worse day by day. The positions outside the city were gradually abandoned some time ago, because the soldiers and horses are exhausted and there is nothing they can do.

Now the only line of defense is an incomplete city wall, which may be breached at any time.

At night, Jiujiang is a dead city. The artillery of the army no longer roars, the firearms have also stopped, and the soldiers who have been replaced from the city are exhausted and lifeless. In addition, the people in the city have almost disappeared.

, maybe a few who didn't run away were hiding somewhere, and there was no sign of anyone on the street.

Zhang Ning's footprints can be found in every corner of Jiujiang City, and almost every ordinary soldier can see him frequently. His face is obviously thin and he looks very silent, but he always says a few words to boost morale and tells the soldiers about Zhou Mengxiong's story.

The army has been marching south, and as long as it holds on, it can survive. Even Yu Qian once said that if the prince himself had not been in charge of Jiujiang, no one would be able to defend this ruined city. After working together for several months, Zhang Ning has gradually eliminated his suspicion of Qian.

of doubt.

It is useless to say anything to inflame people's hearts at this moment. Everyone is exhausted physically and mentally, but people need to be reminded of two things at all times, the desire to survive and hope. Hope is the uncertain Zhou Mengxiong's army... In fact, in Zhang Ning's heart

Even worse, he was far more depressed than what appeared on the surface. He was just patient and unwilling to shake the morale of the army.

Sometimes he will fall into his own psychological trap and enter a state of depression, feeling that everything is hopeless.

The objective law of history is the general trend of heaven, which may not be changed in this way... From ancient times to the present, raising armies during the heyday of a dynasty has always been a dead end... Those who want to change dynasties can only take advantage of the chaos in the late period to compete in the Central Plains, or have their own power.

From a high-level coup... King Yan actually gained power first and then had opportunities. Even if this is the case, that path cannot be copied...

Countless thoughts lingered in Zhang Ning's mind, eroding his hope. The human heart is far more fragile than imagined.

Sometimes, he feels that he is just short of the last step, like a sharp sword falling on his head without knowing when, or the city wall of Jiujiang being breached by the army. He is just waiting for that moment. He even feels that he is looking forward to that moment.

, this saves you the worry.
Chapter completed!