Chapter 5: Bloody Battle of the Yangtze River (IV)

Seeing this news from the inside of Wei Zhongxian’s mansion, Zhu Yinglong and Hong Chengchou smiled at each other. Wei Zhongxian and Zheng Zhilong were originally a combination of interests, but now they have cracks with Zheng Zhibao at a critical moment. If they don’t use it, how can they be worthy of the news sent by the insider?

"Emperor, Wei Chen's cheetah plan needs to be modified. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Although Wei Yi is not military, he still understands in his heart that if our court army wants to go south, Zheng Zhibao's two thousand pirate fleet is the key. Although the Yangtze River Navy has many people and ships, it is okay to bully the people. It is OK to bully the people. The key to our army's southward journey is also the navy. If our army's navy is defeated, the southern expedition will be left to nothing, and the prestige of the emperor and the court will be gone. Even if the opponent is unable to attack, the court will take at least half a year to prepare for the second southern expedition. At that time, someone will probably not give the court this opportunity. Therefore, Wei Yi believes that Wei Yi will not have a quarrel with Zheng Zhibao for the time being. However, if the court is defeated, Wei Yi will most likely transfer Zheng Zhibao's two thousand pirate fleet from Xiaguan and replace it with the Yangtze River Navy." Hong Chengchou analyzed.

"Hong Aiqing, what do you want to say to me?" Zhu Yinglong didn't understand.

"Hassment of undercover attack."

"Hassment and under attack, fatigue tactics?" Zhu Yinglong looked up at Hong Chengchou and said suspiciously.

"Yes, it just makes the other side panic, loses accurate judgment, and takes the opportunity to train troops, and continue to hide some of our army's secrets."

"What you said makes sense, but how can you harass or attack secretly?"

"Send small ships to harass them at night or in the morning when heavy fog on the river surface is on the shore, and then deliberately lose and exaggerate the losses. In this case, Wei Yi must ask Zheng Zhibao to take the initiative. This is the best time for our navy to annihilate the enemy." Hong Chengchou said.

"What if Wei Yi is not fooled, don't forget that he can cover up the sky with one hand. He is not a stupid person. Zheng Zhibao is also cunning. How could he be fooled easily? If they all retreat, it will be even more difficult for us to fight." Zhu Yinglong felt that this strategy was a bit mysterious, as if he handed over the initiative to the enemy's hands. It is undoubtedly the most undesirable to place the victory of the war on the enemy's possible mistakes.

But he couldn't say what Hong Chengchou said was wrong. If the decisions of both sides of the war were correct, it would have become a tug-of-war, which was even more what Zhu Yinglong didn't want to see.

After all, the imperial court's troops were not rich enough. Even if Xiong Tingbi's Western Front Corps were added, it was only more than 200,000. Although Wei Zhongxian controlled only four or five provinces, there were many soldiers and horses. Zhejiang coastal areas were places to fight against Japanese pirates. Many county governments retained a certain army, with great strength, three points stronger than the Beijing camp back then. It would be a bit unfair to say that it was a mob. The total total force was 700,000 to 800,000. Zhu Yinglong had a million-dollar army, and he also took charge of Zheng Zhibao's small boats, so he fought directly. The first battle in the southern expedition was too important. Zhu Yinglong could not afford to lose, and Wei Zhongxian could not afford to lose.

"Hong Aiqing, are you sure?" Zhu Yinglong thought calmly for a while before asking.

"I am at least 70% sure." Hong Chengchou closed his eyes and thought for a while, then opened his eyes and said.

"Then let's do what you said." Zhu Yinglong couldn't think of any better solution for the time being. He could only say that Hong Chengchou's plan is the most suitable right now.

In the next five days, Hong Chengchou continued to send small fleets to harasse the pirate fleet of Zheng Zhibao and the Yangtze River navy stationed in the lower reaches of Zhenjiang. He left with one blow, leaving behind some corpses and the blown sampan, and never dragged the mud.

For five days, the people in Nanjing would be awakened by the deafening sound of cannons every night. The Northern Army was about to invade, and suddenly the city of Nanjing became depressed. The pleasure boats on the Qinhuai River were deserted. When the battle was fought, they could not save their lives. They still had the intention to have fun. Only those corrupt officials and bullies who did all the bad things on weekdays sooner or later would be lying on Hong and crawling in Cui without any scruples, living drunk and dreaming of death.

Because, the sky is about to change.

"General Zheng, what's going on? Why didn't the fleet send out a fleet to destroy the enemy invading? These days, the Empress Dowager was awakened by the sound of cannons every night, disturbing the emperor. Are you guilty?" Wei Zhongxian had no longer given Zheng Zhilong's face at all. He was so angry that he trembled all over and scolded Zheng Zhibao because he was too embarrassed. When the artillery battle at night, he actually scared Jiu Qiansui, who was powerful all over the world, and crawled under the bed. The eunuchs and maids who knew about this were executed by him, and all his anger was posted on Zheng Zhibao.

Zheng Zhibao wanted to twist Wei Zhongxian's head off as a chamber pot. How could the eldest brother choose to surrender to this castrated man? If he listened to the third brother, how could he be cowardly from the castrated donkey? It would be no good for him to offend Wei Zhongxian at this time. In the past five days, he has been exhausted by fatigue attacks on the other side. This tactic is really shameless. When he also wanted to treat the man with his own way, he found that he had retreated the fleet of ships into the canal and did not dare to get too close. The shore defense artillery is not a vegetarian, so he lost several ships for this.

Originally, the ministers in Nanjing who claimed to be loyal ministers disliked the Zheng family in Fujian. They took the lead for nine thousand years and did not change their power. They wrote letters to report that Zheng Zhibao was not ineffective in command. There were many people who were greedy for the two thousand Zheng children under Zheng Zhibao. Fortunately, Wei Zhongxian was not confused yet, and Zheng Zhibao's official position was repeatedly demoted. If it weren't for the fact that he had two thousand people under him, he would not even be a guerrilla.

"Fourth Master, let's go back to Fujian. It's much better there than being angry here." Zheng Zhibao's men persuaded.

When returning to Fujian, Zheng Zhibao thought about it, but he didn't know his elder brother's temper. He was so angry that he would never see him when he returned. There was also the China Treasure Ship cruising at the mouth of the Yangtze River. It had a draft of two thousand materials and as many as eighty cannons. It was like closing the gate of the Yangtze River and could not get through at all.

What's worse is that he didn't even have a chance to surrender. You should know that the eldest brother Zheng Zhilong turned against Wei Zhongxian, captured Fujian, and killed the Grand Secretary Ye Xianggao. He was the grandfather of Emperor Chongzhen's concubine Ye Lianyi, and a large number of officials, including Yuan Chonghuan's cousin. Will he let the Zheng family go?

He now regrets why he agreed to come to Nanjing at the beginning. He has caused himself a dilemma. The only way in front of him is to fight to the end and defeat the navy under Hong Chengchou on the other side.
Chapter completed!