Southern Ming Rebel Army

Chapter 125 A way out

In the dead of night, Meng Jun always felt a sense of unreality, as if in a dream. He could take advantage of the people in the south of the Yangtze River to fight against the order to shave their heads and stir up such a large-scale movement. Could he really save a nation from collapse by himself? Could he really do it? Meng Jun asked himself, what right did he have to save the world and recover the lost territory?

With the ideas and knowledge that transcend the times in later generations, as well as weapons and industries that transcend time and space, how can such large-scale technology be achieved by one person?

Those ideas and knowledge that transcend time and space can never spread throughout the world overnight. With personal power, one can either change the world or be changed by the world. Meng Jun never thinks that he has anything to do with greatness. In this age where people can only keep their hair, an age when bloodiness finally bursts out, Meng Jun does not feel superior to these people.

Although Meng Jun occasionally felt a sense of mission to save the world when he was marching and fighting, he was more often forced by the situation to survive. These pressures kept Meng Jun's heart tense. Although Meng Jun wanted to vigorously develop firearms, the main reason was that time was too urgent. On the other hand, Meng Jun was also a little worried. If firearms became popular, such as flintlocks replacing matchlocks, these were just some changes in details. Given the importance attached to firearms by the Qing court leaders, if Meng Jun's flintlocks were built, he could win.

It can be foreseen that the Qing government would inevitably vigorously develop firearms. In war, it is impossible for a musket not to fall into the hands of the enemy. If the Qing government wanted to copy it, it would be easy.

In addition to those knowledge and ideas that are out of touch with contemporary reality, Meng Jun wants to stand at the pinnacle of the times. Facing the bravery of the Eight Banners, the huge number of the Green Camp, and the civil and military officials who have defected and surrendered everywhere, what Meng Jun needs is the courage to truly face death and the belief like Xiang Yu's burning of his boats.

For this belief, Meng Jun resolutely killed the defeated soldiers, trying to intimidate the surrendered troops with blood. Meng Jun could not compare with the Qing court. The Qing court could lose once, twice, or ten times, but Meng Jun would fall into an abyss from which there was no return if he lost once. For many days, Meng Jun woke up in the middle of the night in a sweat, but he never showed any sign in front of everyone.

The next morning, it was another rainy day.

Han Xiong said to Meng Jun with concern: "Commander-in-chief, the morale of the soldiers is low. The killing yesterday made the soldiers feel anxious and uneasy."

"I have already made an agreement with all the troops that if a soldier retreats, he will be killed; if a general retreats, he will be killed; if I retreat, I will be beheaded immediately. Without strict orders, how can you intimidate the surrendering troops?" Meng Jun looked at Han Xiong and said in a deep voice.

"I understand what the commander-in-chief means, but how can such a demoralized army fight?" Han Xiong asked.

"I have ordered the soldiers to serve the country. Their previous crimes will not be considered, those who have made contributions will be rewarded handsomely, and the officers will be promoted again. Do it slowly." Meng Jun sighed when he heard this, and then said slowly.

As the army set off again, the marching pace of Meng's army slowed down significantly and they were ready to form a line at any time. Meng's army pursued all the way and recaptured cities across Zhejiang. This made the task of Yang En and others much heavier.

At this time, Bolo had already passed Lishui and headed towards Hengzhou. The army marched quickly all the way until they set up camp. As the Eight Banners scouts who had explored Dingyang County ahead reported, there was deathly silence in the Qing army camp. Bolo finally felt relieved, as it turned out that Dingyang County was indeed occupied by Meng Jun.

Bolo said with a wry smile: "Meng Jun is really ambitious, he really wants to block us here."

Tulai was silent for a moment, then said with a gloomy face: "For now, there are only three options." Seeing that everyone's attention was focused on him, Tulai paused and continued: "First, the army climbs the city wall and takes Dingyang County in two days. Second, we return to defeat the Meng bandits. If the Meng bandits are defeated, everything will be settled. Third..." When Tulai talked about the third option, he was obviously hesitant and looked hesitant.

Bolo glanced at Tulai and said, "Everyone in the big tent is from the Eight Banners. What can't we say?"

Upon hearing this, Tulai gritted his teeth and said, "The army abandoned the baggage, vehicles and laborers, and only carried dry food, and the light cavalry bypassed Dingyang County."

The Eight Banners were silent for a while after hearing this. After a while, Nikan said angrily, "No, we can't go around. Not to mention the lack of fodder, how far can the horses run? Even if there are more than 3,000 horseless soldiers, in my opinion, it is better to return to fight the Meng bandits to the death. Even if we die, we will not lose the name of the Eight Banners."

"Not appropriate. We should attack Dingyang County fiercely. The city walls of such a county must not be high. If we succeed, we can capture it in two days," Bai Yingtu retorted.

For a while, there was a lot of discussion in the camp. Some talked about a decisive battle, and some talked about attacking the city. Until finally, all the generals looked at Bolo who was silent.

Bolo was silent for a long time, and finally said as if he had made up his mind: "Destroy Dingyang County and withdraw to Jiangxi." He did not have the confidence to go back and attack Meng Jun again. The morale of the army was so low. He could not break it before, and he could not do it now. And abandoning the Eight Banners without horses was even more impossible for Bolo. So Bolo had no choice but to bite the bullet and attack Dingyang.

On April 28th, Bolo had arrived at the city of Dingyang. Dingyang was just a small city with few civilians. There were 5,600 soldiers in the city, with Bai Yongfu as the defending general. Bai Yongfu arrived in Dingyang on April 14th. At that time, there was a Ming general Liu Ruyu stationed in the city. If Bai Yongfu had not arrived with his troops, Liu Ruyu would have been unable to hold on and would have been ready to change the Qing flag and surrender to Hengzhou Prefecture.

As soon as he arrived in Dingyang City, Bai Yongfu began to cut down the forests outside the city on a large scale, and piled up large quantities of rolled logs and stones on the city walls. Within half a month, the area outside Dingyang City had become bare, and the original lush and green scene was no longer seen.

After Bolo led his army to Dingyang City, he did not launch an attack immediately, but set up camp under the city. However, the civilians who were forced to come by the Eight Banners Army spent a sleepless night. Under fear and pressure, they rushed to make ladders overnight so that they could be used to attack the city the next day.

Bolo stood in front of the tent, staring at the seemingly small Dingyang City in front of him. He thought to himself that although this city was small, the enemy army would not give up easily, but now that things had come to this, they had no choice but to fight to the death.

Thinking of this, Bolo's eyes flashed with determination. He swung the whip in his hand and shouted loudly: "Attack the city!" As his order was issued, the drums sounded, the horns sounded deafeningly, and the Eight Banners soldiers charged towards Dingyang City like a tide. They carried ladders and shouted as they rushed towards the city wall. A fierce siege began. If they failed in this battle, the Eight Banners would have no way to retreat.