Southern Ming Rebel Army

Chapter 371 Northern Expedition (2)

Late October, outside Huai'an city.

More than 77,000 garrison troops and more than 80,000 civilians gathered here, with tents stretching for miles and closely arranged, creating a spectacular sight. Banners fluttered in the wind, marking different garrisons. On the canal, large and small warships were moored in an orderly manner, with masts standing in rows, which made people feel proud and ambitious.

In the commander-in-chief's tent, senior officers from various towns gathered together. Zhao Yongping sat in the main seat, Bai Yongfu sat on the left, Shen Tingyang sat on the right, and the rest of the military commanders and deputy generals stood on both sides. Among them were Gao Yi, Huang Cheng, Chen Changgong, Gao Jinku, Liu Tichun, Hao Yongzhong, Li Laiheng, Wu Zhifan, Liu Titong, Du Yonghe, Wang Jincai, Ma Tengyun, Wu Shunchang and other senior military generals from various towns, gathered together.

Zhao Yongping had followed Meng Jun when he started his career, but he had been unknown for several years until Meng Jun ordered Zhao Yongping to lead the army alone. Only then did Zhao Yongping's wisdom and courage become famous in the army.

From crossing the river and breaking the Jiangbei camp, to using a strategy to capture Huai'an, this really surprised Meng Jun. Zhao Yongping was born a scholar, and in terms of status, he was not even a juren, which was really insignificant. It was true that there were so many talented people in the world, but they did not have the opportunity to display their talents in prosperous times.

Seeing all the generals gathered, Zhao Yongping went straight to the point and said, "The Qingluan Guard has sent a secret letter. The garrison commander of Xuzhou City, Wang Gang, is from Cangzhou, Zhili. In the 16th year of Chongzhen, he was promoted to the rank of general and stationed in Kaifeng Prefecture. When Li Zicheng entered Beijing, he submitted a petition to surrender. After the Qing army entered the pass, he immediately changed his allegiance, shaved his head and surrendered to the Qing. He was later appointed as the general of Xuzhou and repeatedly suppressed small groups of rebels in the territory."

When talking about Li Zicheng's entry into Beijing, Liu Tichun, Li Laiheng and other generals from the Shun army looked a little uncomfortable, but no one noticed the changes on their faces. When Gao Jinku heard about Wang Gang's surrender to anyone, he immediately said, "General, Wang Gang doesn't look like a loyal person. Why don't we send someone to persuade him to surrender!"

Zhao Yongping shook his head when he heard this, and continued, "The secret letter sent by the Qingluan Guard said that the garrison in Xuzhou City originally had 6,000 soldiers who were paid monthly, but in reality, there were only more than 4,000 soldiers. However, in recent days, Wang Gang abandoned the counties under the jurisdiction of Xuzhou, Tongshan, Xiaoxian, Dangshan, Suqian, Fengxian, Peixian, and Suining, and transferred all the garrisons of each city to Xuzhou City. Now the number of soldiers in Xuzhou City has reached nearly 20,000. In my opinion, this does not seem like a surrender."

Bai Yongfu touched his chin and said, "It doesn't hurt to give it a try. We can send people to persuade them to surrender. Xuzhou is also an important town. If they surrender, we can save some effort."

Zhao Yongping nodded and said, "Don't worry. As the saying goes, hearing is not believing, seeing is believing. Wait until the army reaches the city of Xuzhou and presses the city with force, then send people to persuade them to surrender."

Then everyone began to discuss the details of the march, which town would go first, which town would cover the flank of the army, and which town would be the rear. Inside the military tent, the map on the table became the focus, depicting the route from the current location to Xuzhou, as well as the general geographical features along the way.

As the discussion deepened, various details were finalized one by one until nightfall, including food supply, marching routes, treatment of injuries and illnesses, camping rules, etc., in an effort to take every aspect into consideration.

Such a huge military force is a reflection of Meng Jun's current strength. For Meng Jun, every battle is no longer a matter of life and death. Regardless of victory or defeat in the Northern Expedition, even if he loses, Meng Jun can afford to lose. Outside Huai'an City, more than 70,000 troops are ready to go, ready to set off at any time. Their momentum is magnificent and awe-inspiring.

The army marched north along the canal. Logistical supply was much easier than the route through Runing Prefecture, with less losses. Moreover, with the protection of the navy, they had no fear of the Qing army cutting off their food supply.

On November 3, the third year of the Yongli reign, the vanguard cavalry of the Zhou army arrived at the city of Xuzhou. The city was under martial law, the city gates were closed, and there were shadows of people on the city walls. When the scouts drove their horses closer, more than ten arrows from the city walls were shot over and drove the Zhou army scouts away.

On the fifth day, most of Zhao Yongping's troops arrived at Xuzhou City. On the city wall, Wang Gang looked around, but was stunned and speechless.

As far as the eye can see, it is pitch black, drums and horns are blaring, swords and spears are lined up, and the momentum is so grand that it seems to reach the sky and split the earth.

That was the color of the Zhou army's helmets, which were laid out layer by layer, sweeping in like a black storm. The army's might that covered the sky and the sun made the defenders tremble with fear.

When the Zhou army arrived at the city of Xuzhou, they immediately began to build a camp. Countless laborers worked like ants, digging trenches, assembling chevaux de frise, digging horse traps around the camp, and carrying out a series of camp defense work.

Under a large flag fluttering in the wind, Zhao Yongping stood with his clothes straightened. Under his flag, surrounded by generals, he said with high morale: "I have 100,000 soldiers and a mighty army, and I am threatening the enemy city. Your Majesty trusts me and values me. The army is in my hands. I will wipe out the rebels for your Majesty, and I will march north to conquer the Central Plains and build a foundation for your Majesty that will last for generations."

All the generals were excited when they heard this. Bai Yongfu laughed and said, "What the commander said is very true. Although the king said that as long as Dorgon withdraws from Shanxi, we have a large army. If possible, we will march north and conquer the world in one fell swoop, and achieve a great cause that will last for thousands of years!"

Gao Jinku was very excited when he heard this. He said loudly, "The Xuzhou garrison is no more than 20,000 people, and most of them are a motley crowd from various counties. We can send people to persuade them to surrender now."

Zhao Yongping nodded and said, "I will personally write a letter to persuade the garrison commander to abandon the dark and join the light to avoid being annihilated."

Zhao Yongping quickly wrote a letter of persuasion for surrender, in which he advised Wang Gang to abandon darkness and join the light, and choose the good and follow it. He also said that there were 500,000 elite soldiers under the city, and once the army attacked the city, Xuzhou would be destroyed. Then he sent a brave warrior to drive to the foot of the city and shoot the letter onto the city wall.

On the city wall of Xuzhou.

Seeing the soldiers on the city wall trembling with fear, Wang Gang shouted angrily: "Xuzhou is a famous city throughout the ages and has always been an important city of the country. The imperial reinforcements will arrive soon. Why are you panicking? Send an order to bring my bedding. As long as the enemy does not retreat, I will not leave the city wall!"

Wang Gang was over fifty years old. When he was young, he had also longed to make great achievements, report to the emperor, and comfort the people. However, the older he got, the weaker this idea became. Until the Ming Dynasty collapsed completely, Wang Gang followed the trend and surrendered. Since surrendering was not the Mandate of Heaven, then surrendering to the Qing Dynasty was not unacceptable to Wang Gang.

The Zhou army was powerful, claiming to have an army of 500,000. Wang Gang was also a veteran who had experienced many battles. He had fought against the Shun army, the Western army, and the Qing army. After so many years, he had his own measure of whether the army could fight. Looking at the momentum under the city, he knew that the army on the opposite side was an army that dared to fight.

There were less than 20,000 defenders in the city. At least half of them had never been on the battlefield, and most of them were transferred from various cities. Many soldiers felt uneasy that no one was guarding their hometowns. The morale of the defenders was low, and they had never cooperated with each other. The soldiers were formed temporarily and most of them were new recruits. Wang Gang knew that it would be difficult to defend the city.

However, it is difficult to defend, but he has to defend it. Even if it means death, he will never surrender, because at his age, family is his biggest weakness. Wang Gang has only one son, who is now a hostage in Beijing. He has only one son in all these years, which means that the Wang family is not prosperous. If he surrenders and the Qing court is angry with him, and kills his son, thus cutting off the Wang family's lineage, Wang Gang believes that even death would not allow his family line to be extinct.

The letter of persuasion was quickly delivered to Wang Gang. After reading it, Wang Gang had no expression on his face and just said, "Tell him to fight if he wants. I will never surrender!"

Upon hearing this, Deputy General Yu Mu's heart trembled, and he hurriedly advised: "General, why don't you pretend to be nice and delay for some time? If this angers the enemy army, I'm afraid... I'm afraid..." When he said the last part, Yu Mu didn't dare to say it out loud.

"What are you afraid of? Are you afraid that Xuzhou cannot be defended? Humph, if you don't try, how do you know that I can't defend it?" Wang Gang snorted coldly, then signaled his personal soldiers to pass on his order.

After Zhao Yongping received the reply from the city, he threw away his armor robe, sneered, and said, "You don't know whether to live or die!"