Chapter 20: Conviction and meritorious deeds
Although Mrs. Xing's words were a bit rude, they did express the biggest problem that Queen Zhang personally led the army to fight.
The biggest problem of this small court at present is that it only controls most of Zhejiang, and the resources that can be mobilized are relatively limited. Liu Yongxi's old subordinates are less than 20,000. Even if Wang Zhiren, Zhang Mingzhen, Zhang Huangyan and other troops are counted, the Ming army that crosses the north bank of Qianjiang River will have only more than 30,000. If it were not for the rebel army, the full assistance of the righteous army and the young people in the fight would not have been able to defeat Boluo. However, Zhejiang's manpower, material resources and financial resources were already close to the limit.
Including Liu Yongxi personally led the troops, the tens of thousands of troops gathered near Hangzhou were almost at the end of their strength. Although the morale was greatly boosted because of Queen Zhang's crossing the river, Boluo's troops, who besieged Hangzhou City, had to squeeze out most of the troops and could not send much troops to support Jiaxing and Huzhou.
However, in Jiaxing and Huzhou, there are at least tens of thousands or even tens of thousands of Qing troops led by Duoduo himself. Reinforcing hundreds or thousands of people is useless. As Mrs. Xing said, there must be "ten thousand people", but now the only force that can be mobilized is only 3,000 new troops led by Queen Zhang, and the rest of the troops are difficult to transfer out.
Boluo still has at least 20,000 troops, including thousands of elite Eight Banners and dozens of red-clothed cannons.
Although everyone has just won a great victory, they have to admit that the Eight Banners soldiers and the Mongolian soldiers of the outer vassal states are indeed the best elites in the world. These soldiers and horses are definitely not the opponents of the Eight Banners soldiers and the Mongolian soldiers of the outer vassal states.
The reason why he was able to win a great victory was because Boro was too arrogant and actually threw these elite cavalry and infantry into the water net area. As a result, the ten-cost leader cannons can achieve up to 60% or 70%. However, if it were the Qing army with red-clothed cannons defending the city, everyone felt that the more troops the siege had to be more, the better.
But at this time, Zhang Huangyan said, "Let me go to Jiaxing Prefecture to support General Chen Yuan. With my fifth battalion soldiers rushing for help, Jiaxing Prefecture should not have any major problems. The Empress and the Duke of Yue can safely manage Huzhou."
Although Jiaxing Prefecture and Huzhou Prefecture were both the first to be hit in this round of offensive by the Qing army, since the main force of the Qing army started from Nanjing, the real battlefield of the decisive battle must be in Huzhou Prefecture, so Zhang Huangyan volunteered.
The civil and military officials present all felt that Zhang Huangyan’s suggestions were the best strategy. Although the fifth battalion led by Zhang Huangyan was a new army that had only been established for one month, the fifth battalion of Zhang Huang’s troops had hundreds of veterans from the old Jingkou Town as the foundation, and the recent series of battles made many outstanding achievements, it was naturally a good choice to make Zhang Huangyan help Jiaxing Prefecture. At least in a short period of time, the situation in Jiaxing Prefecture would not collapse.
Queen Zhang immediately opened her mouth: "Duke Yue often mentioned in front of me that Zhang Cangshui is a pillar of the country. I didn't believe it at first, but now I know that Duke Yue has the most accurate view of people. Mrs. Xing, are you staying in Hangzhou or going to Huzhou with us?"
Mrs. Xing smiled: "Where will I go, I will go wherever Duke Yue goes, but the battle of Huzhou is related to the rise and fall of the country. Duke Yue still needs to bring more troops and horses to accompany you!"
When Liu Yongxi heard this, he felt even more worried. He was already close to his limit by transferring Queen Zhang’s three thousand elite troops from the Hangzhou front line.
Although he could still loot thousands of troops from the front line, he did not dare to mobilize too many troops.
After all, Boluo still has 20,000 troops under his command. If the troops besieged Hangzhou were fewer, maybe the Hangzhou battle would be defeated at any time. However, even if he could loot three or five thousand soldiers and Queen Zhang's three thousand reinforcements were put into Huzhou Prefecture, it would be useless.
After all, the Qing army invested 10,000 troops into the Huzhou battlefield, and Duoduo invested no less than 10,000 elite Qing army soldiers. However, he believed that since Mrs. Xing had raised this question specifically, she naturally had some support: "It's all an old husband and wife, why are you still playing with this kind of scheming? Shengping, I'll advise your sister!"
Although Liu Yongxi and Mrs. Xing have only been together for half a year, since Liu Yongxi and Mrs. Xing are the cornerstones of the Jinhua small court, everyone does not think that there is anything wrong with Liu Yongxi saying "old husband and wife". Moreover, Xing Shengping enthusiastically advised: "Brother-in-law is right. Sister, you have any surprise weapon in your hand. I am afraid you won't be able to use it in the future if you don't need to come out now!"
Wang Zhiren also said: "Yes, this matter is related to the survival of the country!"
Zhang Huangyan was even more excited about Mrs. Xing’s surprise soldier: “Mrs. Xing, when the country is insured, even if there are more than three or five hundred troops, it can determine success or failure!”
Mrs. Xing immediately said, "This surprise weapon is indeed useful, I'm afraid many people will refuse to accept it!"
Empress Zhang immediately spoke, "As long as it can be used by the court, even the courts like Li Benshen, Guo Hu, Yang Chengzu can accept it!"
There were too many resources controlled by the Qing court. Queen Zhang didn't consider the question of how many people refused to accept it. Liu Yongxi also said: "The court's policy is to keep the past without any blame. My good wife, who is it?"
Liu Yongxi really couldn't think of which surprise soldier Mrs. Xing was in charge. Fortunately, Mrs. Xing took the initiative to solve the mystery: "Ma Shiying and Yang Longyou are willing to serve the country. They have thousands of soldiers in Yanzhou Prefecture. Although it is not enough to decide the outcome with Jianlu, it is no problem to shake the flag and shout!"
Liu Yongxi did not expect that Ma Shiying and Yang Longyou and other Guizhou townsmen actually found the way for Mrs. Xing. However, although these people were in trouble in the Hongguang Dynasty, their loyalty to the Ming Dynasty was undoubtedly doubted. Moreover, the Ma Shiying family was a hereditary military position in Guizhou Wei Shishi, and even had several commanders and commanders, so Ma Shiying could only mobilize Guizhou soldiers when he was in office.
Now Ma Shiying and Yang Longyou's force is also centered on the Guizhou army, and together with many of the remaining defeated generals of the Hongguang Dynasty, although everyone thinks that Ma Shiying and Yang Longyou's troops are not worthy of dependence, at the critical moment of the decisive battle with Jianlu, as Zhang Huangyan said, even if there are more than three or five hundred troops, it can determine success or failure. Moreover, Ma Shiying and Yang Longyou's troops have thousands of troops, and the Qing army is not all powerful troops and the Mongolian soldiers of the outer vassals, and there are still many remaining defeated generals.
Therefore, Empress Zhang immediately made up her mind: "Since Ma Yaocao and Yang Longyou are willing to participate in this battle to recover Hangzhou, let them participate in the grand event together. But tell Ma Shiying that although I do not blame him for what he did in the Hongguang Dynasty, he is not allowed to use the means of dealing with King Fu in the court!"
Chapter completed!