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The Rising Sun Chapter 451: Substituting the Heaven for the Sun (12)

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    Gaoliang Bridge is outside Xizhimen and is the best place for an outing in the suburbs of the capital. The ten-mile long embankment along the river is covered with green willows and trees. Along both sides of the river, there are many ancient temples and countless high-rise buildings half hidden among the green trees. It has always been a  It is a place where officials and gentry in the city go out and play, and it is a scenic spot on the outskirts of the capital.  However, at this time, looking at both sides of the Gaoliang River, one could see endless military camps. From time to time, Dongxing Port soldiers wearing strange military uniforms and carrying black muskets could be seen patrolling back and forth. They had a murderous atmosphere. Liu Siwu was surrounded by a group of officers.  He rode straight to the outside of Xizhimen. Looking at the open city gate and the empty city wall, he couldn't help but smile.  An adjutant chuckled and said: "Commander, they are sensible and saved us a lot of trouble." "Commander, do you want to send someone to take over the city gate?" "It's getting late, we will send troops to take over tomorrow." Liu Siwu paused slightly as he spoke.  Then he continued: "Although Jiajing abandoned the city and fled, he only took away 60,000 soldiers. There are still more than 60,000 troops in the capital. We must strive to capture the capital without any blood." As he said, he turned around and pointed to the Gaoliang River and said  : "This is a great scenic spot on the outskirts of the capital. The young master enjoyed coming here for an outing when he was in the capital. Please pass on the order and do not destroy it casually. In addition, military discipline is strictly enforced. Anyone who harasses the people will be shot on the spot!" "Yes!" All the officers were busy.  It arrived with a bang.  "Go back to the camp." After Liu Siwu finished speaking, he turned the horse's head and hurried back to the camp first. He had intended to send people into the city to collect the horses, but after a second thought, he gave up the idea. Jiajing was patrolling the west, and the gentry, merchants and common people left the city to escape.  The chaos must have taken away all the horses in the city, and there will not be many left. Even if there are still some, they are mostly inferior horses that cannot be used. Besides, troops are sent into the city at night.  Not only is it disturbing to the public, it is also unsafe.  When Liu Siwu entered the tent, before he could take a drink of water, an officer came up to him and saluted: "Commander, there is a man named Wang Xiaobao outside asking to see him. He said he is an old friend of the commander." Wang Xiaobao?  Liu Siwu quickly turned around and said: "Quick, please!" He said that he was already welcoming him out of the tent. This Wang Xiaobao was young master Hu Wanli's personal book boy when he was in the capital. They also lived together in a small courtyard for several times in the capital.  For months, he never understood why Hu Wanli kept Wang Xiaobao in the capital until recently when he was seriously short of manpower.  Only when he learned that Wang Xiaobao was specifically responsible for collecting intelligence in the capital did he understand a little bit.  When Liu Siwu came out of the tent, he saw a scholar with handsome appearance, tall figure and elegant demeanor walking slowly towards him. When he arrived, he saw that there was a vague look of youth in his eyes, and he hesitated slightly.  He then said with a smile: "Brother Xiaobao?" Hearing this rather distant title, Wang Xiaobao felt warm in his heart.  He nodded with a smile, then gently pointed at the big tent with the folding fan in his hand, and said, "We'll talk about it after entering the tent." Seeing his appearance, Liu Siwu couldn't help but smile to himself. This is probably the professional habit the young master mentioned, right?  Immediately, he extended his hand and said politely, "Please." Looking at this scene.  All the guards outside the tent were secretly surprised. Who is this person? Why is the commander so polite to him?  When he entered the big tent and saw that there was no one inside, Wang Xiaobao chuckled and said, "Fourteen years have passed. Liu Siwu, who had a runny nose back then, has become a majestic general." Liu Siwu smiled and said, "Everyone."  Thanks to the young master's promotion, Brother Xiaobao is more handsome than before, and now he looks younger than me." When he heard him mention Hu Wanli, the smile on Wang Xiaobao's face immediately disappeared without a trace, and he sighed.  After a sound, he said: "Dongxing Port has troops approaching the capital city, but the young master has not been able to see this day" Liu Siwu did not dare to say anything, and said quickly: "Brother Xiaobao, my condolences." "Don't say that.  "Brother Xiaobao." Wang Xiaobao sat down casually and said, "The young master gave me a word, quality." Then he continued: "Let's talk about business first, Jiajing West Tour, although the team.  It's huge, but not slow at all. It has reached Dingxing in two days" Hearing that Jiajing's journey was so fast, Liu Siwu couldn't help but secretly marveled, obediently, the Western Patrol Team of 70,000 to 80,000 people,  With a journey of seventy miles a day, this speed is comparable to their Dongxing Port escort. It seems that there is no hope of pursuing Jiajing. At that moment, he asked: "What is the situation in the capital?" "Jiajing's west patrol only started from the 12th regiment camp  He and the two officials have mobilized 60,000 elite troops." Wang Xiaobao said in a deep voice: "There are still about 60,000 troops in the Beijing camp, commanded by Cui Yuan, the prince-in-law of Jingshan, and he also selected 20,000 troops from the squad.  Judging from the situation of his abandoning the inner city, he should shrink his troops and focus on defending the imperial city and palace city. "The capital is divided into the palace city, the imperial city, the inner city, and the outer city. Liu Siwu is clear about this, and Wang Xiaobao has already given it.  They provided a detailed map. There was no city wall in the outer city. In fact, the entire capital was composed of three walls, the palace city, the imperial city, and the inner city. Cui Yuan gave up the inner city and focused on defending the palace city and the imperial city. He was obviously preparing to defend it to the death.  If reinforcements are waiting for Jiajing, if they attack hard?This damage is not ordinary, it may turn the entire palace city and imperial city into ruins!  After pondering for a while, Liu Siwu said: "Who is this consort Cui Yuan, the Marquis of Jingshan?" After pondering for a while, Wang Xiaobao said: "He is the husband of the eldest princess of Yongkang. He has the merit of serving the dragon. When Jiajing succeeded to the throne, he was the one who served him.  Jin Fu went to Prince Xing's Mansion to welcome him. He was highly valued by Jiajing and was a noble family member. Among all the distinguished ministers and relatives, no one could compare with him. If you want to persuade him to surrender, it is almost impossible." "Then you can only fight.  "Liu Siwu said in a deep voice: "Before King Yi arrives, the palace must be captured!" Hearing that he wanted to attack by force, Wang Xiaobao was a little worried that the damage to the imperial city would be too great, but this was not his responsibility and he couldn't point fingers.  After looking at him, he said slowly: "There is another news. News came from Xiamen. King Yi and his party have taken a clipper boat to the north." Early the next morning, Liu Siwu led an army into the city and took over the nine gates of the inner city.  , posted notices of peace of mind everywhere in the city, and imposed martial law on the inner city. Liu Siwu led a group of officers, led by a guide, and walked around the imperial city to select the best place to attack the imperial city.  In the afternoon, Li Jiancai, who had taken control of the Tongzhou granary, led his army to Chaoyangmen and Dongzhimen. When he heard that Liu Siwu had led his army into the city and controlled the inner city, he ordered to camp on the spot. As dusk approached, Liu Siwu came quickly.  After entering the big tent, he introduced Jiajing's western tour itinerary and the situation in the capital in detail.  After listening carefully, Li Jian said: "The Imperial City of Miyagi must be attacked, but it cannot cause too much damage. It must be reduced to ruins. When King Yi comes, we will all be reprimanded. The destructive power of the artillery is too great."  It's better to just use explosive bombs to destroy the imperial city and leave them a way out. Let them go through Bei'an Gate and Xi'an Gate. How about letting them escape?" "We can't let them go even if we let them out.  Taiyuan and Jiajing meet up and let them escape north, just let go of Bei'an Gate." Liu Siwu said with a smile: "Besides, we must prevent them from setting fire before escaping, especially Miyagi City. I plan to attack from the other five gates at the same time.  , broke through the imperial city, and all the ministries went straight into the palace city" Heard this.  Li Jian thought for a long time and then said: "Jiajing fled west. Of course he knew that he could not withstand the attack of Dongxing Port, but why did he leave Cui Yuan, the consort of Jingshan Hou, to guard the capital? Tens of thousands of old, weak, sick and disabled could  Can the imperial city and palace city be defended? Why would Cui Yuan give up the inner city?" Liu Siwu was shocked and said, "You mean Cui Yuan will threaten us with setting fire to attack the city?" "Is that possible?" Li Jian said quietly.  He said: "And when we capture the palace city, a large number of concubines, maids and eunuchs are thinking that they will die. They may also set fire to it." As he said, he changed the topic and said: "Is there any news about King Yi?" "Yes, King Yi has already taken a flying shear.  The ship is heading north. "The flying scissor ship is fast. King Yi will definitely be able to reach the capital within ten days. How about waiting for King Yi to arrive before attacking the city?" Li Jian said slowly: "To the concubines of the capital, eunuchs,  To the officials, soldiers, gentry, merchants and common people, Dongxing Port was a pirate, but King Yi was different. He was the vassal king of the Ming Dynasty. King Yi issued decrees and was more able to appease people's hearts. "That's right, no matter how good they are, they can't compare.  King Yi's words made Liu Siwu afraid that Cui Yuan would burn down the imperial city and the palace city. He pondered for a moment and said, "Then we'll wait until King Yi comes. Jiajing's reinforcements won't be able to reach the capital within ten days.  There is nothing to worry about. Use this time to prepare enough siege equipment." "Also, collect a group of horses from surrounding areas and send them to Tianjin." Li Jian added, "I heard that Jiajing fled west.  King Yi must have rushed to the capital in a hurry. " Early the next morning, the people in the inner city were surprised to find that all the soldiers in Dongxing Port wearing strange military uniforms had withdrawn from the city. In addition to the nine city gates, there were still Dongxing Port soldiers guarding the city.  Large groups of soldiers could not be seen, and only a small group of soldiers could occasionally be seen patrolling the streets. Moreover, the city gates were also wide open, and people in the city were not allowed to come in or out. Even goods were not allowed to come in and out, and even taxes were not collected. This strange situation immediately attracted the attention of the people in the city.  There was a lot of discussion.  Some bold merchants, especially some small shops, opened their doors to do business. After yesterday's contact, the people in the city were no longer afraid. Although the soldiers in Dongxing Port were dressed strangely and each carried a musket, they spoke as soon as they opened their mouths.  , almost everyone speaks fluent northern Mandarin. Although it is not full of Beijing flavor, it is very pleasant to listen to. Moreover, they speak kindly, pay for food, and do not enter the house casually. The military discipline is very good, the common people  Naturally, his courage grew.  Before the end of the hour, the streets and alleys in the city became lively, and many people went out to inquire about the news. There were people talking everywhere in small tea shops, small wine shops, and on the streets.  "Dongxing Port is no longer attacking the imperial city and palace city? Has it withdrawn its troops?" "The emperor is no longer in the capital, what's the point of attacking the imperial city and palace city?""The Emperor has gone on a westward tour to Taiyuan. Will Dongxing Port chase him to Taiyuan?"  " "You are still worried that the blood will flow into a river, so you are withdrawing now?  " "Withdraw what?  He still controls the city gate!  " "Not to mention, the military discipline in Dongxing Port is really good.  " "I've told you a long time ago that the military discipline in Dongxing Port is better than the Yue Family Army in the storybook!  When people attacked the city of Guangzhou, they burned down people's houses and paid them back.  "Have you noticed that the soldiers in Dongxing Port are all rich and spend only silver dollars?"  "That's natural. The soldiers in Dongxing Port are paid two silver dollars a month, and the food is even more greedy. They have meat every day. Every cow is tall and strong, as strong as a calf."  " "Dongxing Port is really rich. How much money do these tens of thousands of soldiers spend a year?  " "How much silver?  Sixty thousand soldiers, at least three million silver dollars a year!  " "With so much money to raise troops, the people of Dongxing Port will probably have a hard time, right?  " "Not having a good time?  Fortunately, you are at the feet of the emperor. Xiaoliuqiu is extremely rich. Every household owns hundreds of acres of land. They buy slaves to farm. Jiangnan is not as rich as Xiaoliuqiu.  " "Then when King Yi comes to Beijing, will our life be much easier than now?  " "It's hard to say.  After all, King Yi was not from Dongxing Port.  "In the Imperial City, Daming Gate, the sixty-year-old Prince Consort Jingshanhou Cui Yuan stood on the tower, looking at the streets of the inner city with people coming and going, and frowned slightly. He couldn't figure out what Dongxing Port was.  Which one was singing? Yesterday, the whole city was under martial law and patrolling, as if it was about to attack the city. Why did it suddenly stop? Are you waiting for the follow-up reinforcements? Or is it like Yan Song said?  Will King Yi attack the city again? No matter what the reason is, delaying time is the best thing for him. It is best to delay it for ten and a half months, and reinforcements from Xuanfu and Jizhou towns can arrive.  By then, it might be possible to save the capital city. The speed of the clipper ship was indeed very fast. In just six days, Hu Wanli and his party arrived at Tianjin Guards. Once ashore, the regiment commander stationed in Tianjin.  Xiao Changsheng reported the situation in the capital to Xue Liangfu and Wu Zishun. Xue Liangfu and Wu Zishun were shocked when they heard that Jiajing had taken away not only 60,000 elite soldiers, but also all the officials of the fourth rank and above in the capital.  They secretly thought that this Jiajing was not a man who acted according to common sense. He actually dared to brazenly abandon the capital!  When people came in to see the ceremony, Hu Wanli asked: "What's the situation in the capital?  "" Report to His Highness King Yi.  "Xue Liangfu bowed and said: "Jiajing heard that the soldiers from Dongxing Port were approaching the border, and hurriedly led all the distinguished ministers and officials of fourth rank and above in the capital.  Under the escort of 60,000 soldiers, he patrolled Taiyuan in the west  " Hearing these words, Hu Wanli couldn't help but feel a sinking heart. Dangzhi waved away the attendants around him and took a slow sip of tea. After Xue Liangfu introduced the situation in detail, he said in a deep voice: "Jiajing  As expected, he is extremely talented. If this move leaves us with an empty city, an important city on the nine frontiers of the Ming Dynasty, with a strength of between 4 and 50,000, if we occupy the capital, we will face a counterattack by 200,000 frontier troops!  ¡± ¡°Your Highness¡­.  "Xue Liangfu said with some worry. "There is no turning back when you open the bow!  Hu Wanli said resolutely: "Since a big fight is inevitable, let's fight it!"  " After a slight pause, he continued: "Immediately dispatch a fleet to destroy the naval fleet in Haizhou to eliminate Xiaoliuqiu's worries. Let the fleet return to Xiaoliuqiu to transport ammunition, and then fly pigeons to send a message to drop a division from Japan.  , dispatched two divisions from Xiaoliuqiu to reinforce the capital!  Drop one division each from Luzon and Temasek to garrison Tianjin. We will meet the Ming Dynasty's border troops!  " "I respectfully respect your Majesty's decree.  "Wu Zishun saluted. "Xue Liangfu was a little worried. Even the second-line troops were mobilized to join the battle. This battle was really a battle of life and death! He knew very well what Hu Wanli was thinking. He was preparing to defeat the frontier troops in one fell swoop and completely defeat them.  Destroy Jiajing's confidence and hope, and also use this to frighten the world, so as to prevent dissatisfaction and intermittent resistance from all over the country! After thinking for a while, he said worriedly: "Your Highness, the strength of the frontier army has been greatly damaged, will the Northwestern Tatars take advantage of it?  " "Jiajing mobilized a large number of border troops to counterattack the capital, so the Tatars will not take advantage of it?  "Hu Wanli said in a deep voice: "Once the border army is defeated, we can mobilize 20,000 to 30,000 troops to attack the Tatars, and find an opportunity to annihilate their main force in one battle. To station hundreds of thousands of troops in nine-border towns is really a waste of people and money. We don't want to.  We need to passively defend and proactively attack!  " Hearing these words, Xue Liangfu couldn't help but be speechless for a while. The northwest grassland is not the sea. The Tatar cavalry is highly mobile and has no solid ground.Fixed capitals and cities are not as easy to fight as the Ming Dynasty. It is not ordinary to annihilate the main force in one battle!  However, it is indeed inappropriate to retreat at the moment. If they retreat at this point, Jiajing will definitely increase the defense of the capital, and may even move the capital. If you miss this opportunity, you will also lose the opportunity to seize the Ming Dynasty at the minimum cost!  With Hu Wanli's temperament, he might even give up trying to conquer the Great Tomorrow!  Seeing that he was silent, Hu Wanli suddenly asked: "Is there any report on the charity's bank account in the capital?" Wu Zishun didn't know why he suddenly asked about this, so he shook his head and said: "No." Xue Liangfu  But his eyes lit up when he heard it, money and food!  Hu Wanli also has plans to attack Jiajing through money and food?  He suddenly felt relieved and said: "The troops and horses have not moved yet, and the food and grass have gone first. Did His Highness already expect that Jiajing would escape?" "Based on Jiajing's character analysis, he should be a very stubborn person and will not give up the capital easily."  Hu Wanli shook his head slightly and said: "Since the founding of the Ming Dynasty, no king has ever abandoned the capital and fled. Emperor Wen moved the capital to Beijing with the intention of the emperor to guard the border. Jiajing abandoned the capital and fled, which really surprised me. The capital  The money is what I plan to use to attract people's hearts." "As he said this, he looked at Wu Zishun and said, "Inform Zhou Zhiwei of the Nanjing Charity Federation and ask him to transfer the cash from bank accounts in Shaanxi, Shanxi, and Liaodong as soon as possible.  The Qianzhuang Yinhao also informed me, and asked Liu Siwu and Li Jian to spread the news in the capital to collect grains at most, up to double, and collect all the grains in the surrounding counties. "This is for the hundreds of thousands of troops coming from Jiajing!  A strong wall and clear wilderness!  Xue Liangfu couldn't help but remind him: "Your Highness, now is the season for transporting grain." "It's a reminder." Hu Wanli nodded and said, "Send a letter to Han Wu, requesting that grain be cut off!" "Yes." Wu Zi  He responded hurriedly. He naturally knew that this letter was for his wife Xu Qingman. Xu Qingman wrote a letter to Wei Guogong Xu Pengju. I believe that Xu Pengju would definitely choose a side!  (To be continued)
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