Dominate the Country

The hottest topic in Shandong now is not how long it will take for the Fu Han Army to take over the whole of Shandong, but that the Kong family surrendered to the Fu Han Army.

This is really shameless.

Who in the whole Shandong doesn't know that the old man's photo-editing incident was long ago determined by the Kong family to be done by the Fu Han Army? The Hunyuan Sect is just a pawn of the Fu Han Army.

In the past few years, how many Kong family members have scolded Chen Hui and Chen Ming, father and son, and cursed the heavens and the earth and swore to fight to the death with the Fu Han Army, but the Fu Han Army didn't even enter Yanzhou, and the Kong family surrendered.

And not only the Kong family surrendered, but also the descendants of the four Confucian saints of the Meng family, the Yan family, and the Zeng family surrendered. In addition, there are more than a dozen families with close ties to them, all of whom shamelessly became traitors to Daqingguo.

And they brought the entire Yanzhou Prefecture as a gift of surrender.

After hearing the news that the Kong family surrendered to Han, the prefect of Yanzhou took off his black gauze hat and left. When Kong Zhaohuan led 10,000 or 20,000 "righteous troops" to Yanzhou, the Tongzhi and Tongpan of Yanzhou who were still in the city had already pulled down the dragon flag on the top of the city and replaced it with a bright red flag!

At that time, Chen Ming had just led his troops to Pingyi Village.

But how could the real bitter mood of these people be understood by bystanders? Kong Zhaohuan led his men to offer the entire Yanzhou Prefecture, but what he waited for was a light sentence: "The Grand Commander has ordered... Your army continues to attack Jining to the west, and Kong Zhaohuan is granted to recruit Shandong..." That's all.

Kong Zhaohuan immediately knew that his previous guess was not true. Chen Han, especially Chen Hui and Chen Ming, did not value his sincerity very much, and were not satisfied with it.

Kong Zhaohuan finally realized the truth with tears in his heart.

He surrendered with a prefecture, and Chen Ming really had no reason to move the Kong family immediately. But Kong Zhaohuan's 10,000 or 20,000 troops were very different from the troops of Hunyuan Sect and Qingshui Sect. They would consume as much as possible, and at most they would give some compensation for the death of some people.

A dozen or so closely united families, when gathered together, could actually raise 10,000 or 20,000 militiamen, and even surrendered a prefecture. This really cannot be underestimated!

But... Chen Ming felt strange again when he looked at the intelligence. How come the Kong family, with such a deep foundation, had never been heard of in history how they struggled? Chen Ming, who was also puzzled, had no idea how great the "deterrence" of the Fu Han Army, which was flourishing with "heresies", was to the Kong family!

Two days later, Chen Ming led his troops to Qufu. Although he had no good feelings towards the entire Kong family, he still had to show some respect to Master Kong. Not only did he offer a grand sacrifice to the Dacheng Hall, but there was also a sacrificial text sent by Chen Hui, which was of very high standard.

As the head of the Kong family, Kong Zhaohuan was at the front line, but he did not dare to leave his post without permission. The whole sacrificial process was accompanied by the elders of the Kong clan!

At night, Chen Ming had fallen asleep.

"Your Highness. Qingzhou frontline battle report." Liu Wu looked at the battle report in his hand, and finally woke him up softly after remembering Chen Ming's previous order. This was the first tough battle after the two brigades of the Northern Fu Han Army joined forces. The number of Qing army soldiers stationed in Qingzhou exceeded 20,000, but Liu Wu felt that the garrison 2nd Division had no chance of failure and victory was undoubted. But since it was something that Your Highness wanted to pay attention to, it couldn't be delayed.

Chen Ming was sleeping soundly, and heard a few noises. He looked up and saw Chen Dawei standing at the door, and Liu Wu was standing at the head of the bed, holding a memorial in his hand, "Where did it come from?" He looked at the floor clock in Wuli, and it was already past eleven o'clock.

"Your Highness. It's a victory report from the Qingzhou front. The Northern Army has successfully captured Qingzhou. Although the number of Qing troops defending the city is large, their fighting spirit is weak. Our army annihilated 5,000 enemies and suffered few losses."

Qingzhou? Yes, the battle of Qingzhou should also end. Although there were more than 20,000 Qing troops there, it was just an appetizer. "Has there been any news from Jining?" Chen Ming wiped his face with water. Two words - spirit. This is not in the south, it is already very cold in autumn and winter.

"The sound of the cannon has stopped, but there is no news yet." It is estimated to be soon. Liu Wu often follows Chen Ming, so he naturally knows his temper and keeps an eye on him!

Jining was one of the most prosperous cities during the heyday of the Grand Canal. And it maintains the connection between Shandong and northern Jiangsu. The Qing army can retreat in Yanzhou and Yizhou, but Jining must fight, right?

After Jining, Caozhou is to the west, and Guide and Kaifeng are to the west of Caozhou, and Xuzhou is to the south.

The Fu Han army will certainly cross the canal line, kill Caozhou, and threaten the Qing army in Henan. But if the Qing army's counterattack is fierce, Chen Ming will still withdraw from Caozhou and protect Jining. His most important task is to move the main force south as soon as possible to completely eliminate the Qing army in northern Jiangsu.

Looking at the map of China, the corner of Xuzhou Prefecture in Jiangsu Province that sticks out to the west is located in the center of Henan, Shandong, Anhui and Jiangsu provinces. It is connected to the four provinces and its strategic location is self-evident.

It is above Shandong, below Anhui, and to the west is Henan. If the Fu Han Army captured Xuzhou and then conquered Guide Prefecture and connected with Chenzhou Prefecture, it would have a huge impact on the Central Plains battlefield, not to mention the impact on the Qing army in Anhui. Because by then, the whole of Anhui would be surrounded by the Fu Han Army.

So the next battle of Xuzhou was a showdown between the Fu Han Army and the Qing army in northern Jiangsu. During this period, it was difficult for him to predict whether Agui would come to intervene, and there was also the Qing army in Anhui.

If the Fu Han Army wanted to attack Xuzhou, Jining would be an extremely important barrier.

"Your Highness, the land of Jining is of great importance. It is likely to be attacked on both sides. With the fighting strength of Shandong Mingyong..., I am afraid it will be difficult to bear the heavy responsibility. It is better to let the subordinates stay." Sure enough, just as Liu Wu thought, Jining was taken down. Then Shandong Mingyong crossed the canal and continued to attack Caozhou Prefecture.

In Yanzhou City, Yang Mingzhao looked at Kong Zhaohuan, who was recalled from the front line, with provocation and teasing in his eyes. Compared with Kong Zhaohuan, who surrendered helplessly, he, Yang Mingzhao, was the founder of the Fuhan Army. He had already put on the hat of the Fuhan Army's Shandong Commander-in-Chief.

"Why does Commander Yang have to laugh at a hundred steps at fifty steps? The combat power of the Shandong people's bravery is much inferior to that of the heavenly soldiers, but it may not be inferior to you. However, Commander Yang, don't forget who has surrounded you in the mountains in the past two years. Among them, insurmountable?”

Kong Zhaohuan didn't know if his words would offend Chen Ming, but no matter how depressed his Kong family was, he wouldn't be ridiculed and provoked by people like Yang Mingzhao, right? He raised his hand and said to Chen Ming: "Your Highness is willing to entrust the heavy responsibility to the brave hands of our people. Even if the ministers are shattered to pieces, Jining will not be lost." This is already an indirect military order.

Chen Ming showed satisfaction on his face, "Okay. Your loyal commander can be trusted." By then, Jining will face not only the Qing army from Shandong, but also the Qing army sent by Agui on the Central Plains battlefield. . The amount of pressure can be expected now.

"Jining is our army's back and has a huge stake in this battle. Second class, don't let me down." Chen Ming's voice was full of solemnity. Kong Zhaohuan met Chen Ming's gaze, his chest held high. It was like receiving a crucial, glorious and important mission.

But in reality? One thing that everyone knows is that Jining really missed the point. The Qing army came from behind the Fuhan army. Can they bite Chen Mingyi and Bird Feather? It's simply impossible. Chen Ming holds three brigades in his hands, and there are 20, 30,000 Hunyuan Sect troops beside him. Even the Fuhan Army from Gaoyou, Yangzhou, will reach Huai'an, which is only one step away from Xuzhou. He will be afraid of ghosts.

If Shandong Minyong really can't defend Jining, Chen Ming can completely dismiss them by turning his back, while Kong Zhaohuan and others can peel off a layer of their skin even if they don't die. With Chen Ming's idea, the task of defending Jining naturally fell into the hands of Shandong Minyong.

Kong Zhaohuan was both excited and deeply stressed.

Kong Zhaohuan, who is not a fool, certainly knows what kind of tragedy it will be if he cannot defend Jining, but he is even more hopeful that he can defend Jining, under the wave after wave of Manchu and Qing attacks, and under the waves of the Qing army. , firmly guarding the glory of Jining City. That would not only be the glory of the Kong family, but also the glory of Kong Zhaohuan, and the glory of the entire Confucian school!

Yang Mingzhao quickly returned to Yizhou. Their Hunyuan sect wanted to take advantage of the Qing army from northern Jiangsu gathered in Xuzhou to move south in a large scale. After eating Haizhou and other places, the Fuhan Army in Yangzhou and Gaoyou will also take the opportunity to go north. After seizing Huai'an Prefecture, the two phases will join forces, that is, completely capture Jiangsu except Xuzhou, and then look at the situation in Xuzhou.

The gate of Huai'an City.

Li Shiyao looked back at Huai'an City under the autumn sun, with all kinds of emotions flashing through his eyes. As the governor of river transport and part-time governor of Jiangsu, he had been in Huai'an for more than two years. After Rong Bao left, he became the military and political leader of Jiangsu in the Qing Dynasty. Unfortunately, hard work is in vain. When Jiangsu was in his hands, it was never complete for a moment, and now it is even more important to lose most of the land in northern Jiangsu to fight for the last chance.

Now he is going to the battlefield where his fate is uncertain, and he will use his utmost efforts to fight for the last vestige of vitality of the 'Big Green Fruit'.

Li Shiyao couldn't imagine that it would be such a disaster after completely losing the land of Jiangsu. The Fuhan Army has captured half of Shandong, plus Jiangsu and half of Henan, Anhui will be completely cut off by them. How long can the latter sustain at that time? Just like the southwest now, most of Yunnan and Sichuan are still in the hands of the Qing army, but so what? Just waiting to die.

Anhui, Henan, and Shandong were captured by the Fuhan army, and the entire Daqingguo was just waiting to die.

Li Xingyuan, Fengshan and other Manchu and Han generals from the Qing army in northern Jiangsu stood aside, looking at Li Shiyao's peaceful face, and they were all very sad. After bidding farewell to Huai'an, does the Qing Dynasty still have a chance to return to Huai'an? Everyone is asking themselves this question, but the answer makes them even more sad.

…

Off the coast of Laizhou, to the west of Laizhou Fucheng, on the sea near Weixian County. Hundreds of ships filled with cargo and military supplies are moored at sea, and three to four hundred offshore boats are busy going back and forth between large ships in the sea and simple docks on land. They and the ox carts, horse-drawn carriages, donkey carts, mule carts, etc. on the land are like black ants, working hard to store 'food'.

Further outside this huge fleet, more than a dozen warships of different sizes lowered their sails, lowered their anchors, and stopped on the sea.

They are here to travel during this war. The Shandong Navy of the Qing Army was finished long ago. In this vast sea, not even a small fish like a 'grasshopper boat' could be seen.

David was lying on the side of the boat boredly, his reddish-brown hair seemed to be dyed with a layer of golden glitter in the sunlight. The sails of the Mermaid's armed merchant ship under his feet had all lowered. It's just too safe and there's nothing to do.

They seemed to have transported two to three hundred people and a batch of goods when they arrived, and then lazily basked in the sun every day.

David has been traveling between China and the British Kingdom for fifteen years, but this is the first time he has come to China, to Shandong.

"The shrimps, crabs and clams here taste great, but I would rather go north. Captain, can you suggest to the Chinese that we go to Bohai Sea? Go see Tianjin of the Qing Empire!

I think this will be more interesting and meaningful than the days now."

The voice of the second mate Shelley on the ship was heard, and a glass of rum came with it. This is not rum from South America or Europe, but rum from China, and the taste seems to be no different from the past.

After Chen Han ruled Guangdong, Guangxi, Hainan and Taiwan, he introduced this winemaking process. Sugarcane, Taiwan, Hainan, Guangdong and Guangxi, there are sugar warehouses for the Chinese. The quality of rum is determined by the aging time. Now Chinese rum is one or two years old. Shelley has golden hair with a bright color, but his face is very fierce, which does not match the good hair at all.

He was originally a member of the Marine Corps of the British Royal Navy. A battle almost cost him his life, so Shelley chose to retire and then came to the Mermaid.

"The Chinese won't take us to Tianjin." David took the wine glass and took a sip, "But you don't have to feel bored. Soon, we will leave here very soon."

"Why?" Shelley looked confused.

"Look at the weather now, it's getting colder. Some puddles left after the tide on the coast are already full of ice. You know? This place is frozen in winter. The thickness of the ice layer can sometimes exceed one foot."

This place is a transit station for the Northern Fu Han Army to receive supplies, switching from sea to land. After capturing Qingzhou, the Northern Army is marching towards Jinan, and the Qing Army's cavalry has also become fully active.

Just as a large number of Fu Han troops rushed to Xuzhou, the war in northeastern Shandong also reached a critical moment.

The 1st Garrison Division easily captured Pizhou, and the large troops went to Xuzhou first through the canal. The villages and towns along the way were full of panicked residents. Especially those women and children, when they saw the Fu Han Army soldiers wearing red uniforms and carrying muskets, they were so scared that they dared not breathe.

A large number of militiamen in Xuzhou were forced to be drawn out by the Qing army, either to help the Qing army strengthen the city defense or to help the Qing army transport materials and fodder. They could also serve as shields when necessary.

So when the vanguard passed through the villages and towns, the most seen were women and children, and there were very few men, especially strong laborers in their prime.

The gentry and landlords stood respectfully on the roadside, carrying baskets of rice, eggs, and meat porridge, and humbly bent their waists very low when facing the Fu Han Army. This is a respect for the new conquerors, and it is also a way to buy peace. Of course, God really blessed them, and they encountered a unit with good military discipline.

The military discipline of the Fu Han Army is absolutely very good on Earth in this era.

The progress of the garrison division along the way was unbelievably smooth, and the Qing army cavalry that was expected to appear was nowhere to be seen.

Unlike the cement commonly used by the Fu Han Army when building fortresses, the cement produced by the Qing Army was of very poor quality. It was not known whether it was because the workers were not careful or for some other reason. Although the cost of the cement was very cheap, the Qing Army completely abandoned it.

So now the Qing Army's fortifications are still mainly civil engineering, and bricks and stones still rely on glutinous rice paste and lime as adhesives.

Xuzhou City is a typical example, and Huai'an City, which was voluntarily abandoned by Li Shiyao, is even more so. Moreover, the fortifications are much more than Xuzhou, although Li Shiyao left 5,000 soldiers in Huai'an.

The 1st Garrison Division relied on artillery and fire dragon bombs. The vanguard force was only a brigade of the Fu Han Army. It took the initiative to attack Xuzhou, which had gathered at least 30,000 Qing soldiers, while the Qing Army only dared to shrink and squat, squat, and squat.

Small mortars are not very useful in this kind of war. Medium and heavy mortars, plus small and medium-sized rockets, allowed the 4th Brigade of the 1st Garrison Division to successfully dig a passage in the outer fortifications of Xuzhou.

One after another, the civil and wood mixed structure fortifications were ravaged in turn, and a large number of Qing soldiers were buried alive in the collapsed fortifications, or directly killed by the shock.

However, the outer fortifications were easy to build, and the floating bridge across the Yellow River was not difficult for the Fu Han Army. This was the dry season of the Yellow River, but the Xuzhou city wall on the south bank of the Yellow River was difficult to build, and there was also the artillery fort standing outside the city of Xuzhou.

The Fourth Brigade did not have too many heavy rockets in its hands. So it could only withdraw from the battle and wait for the arrival of the main force in Xuzhou City.

Li Shiyao on the top of the city looked at the Fu Han Army retreating to the north bank of the Yellow River, and didn't know how to describe his feelings. Compared with the original fight, the Fu Han Army is now stronger. But what about the Qing Army?

Li Shiyao thought about it carefully. He felt that the Qing Army might also be stronger. There were indeed more flintlock rifles and cannons in the team, but what about the combat effectiveness? Is it really strong? Li Shiyao shook his head in his heart.

The emperor equipped the Eight Banners New Army with a lot of new guns and cannons, but he had to take into account the opinions of the locals and the possible dissatisfaction of the Green Camp, so he had to allocate some of them to equip the armies of various provinces. As a result, the limited number of new guns and cannons were sprinkled on a large pancake like a handful of sesame seeds, which seemed to make the pancake taste better. How could it be bad with sesame seeds? But in reality? Nothing changed at all.

It is still a pancake, not a sesame cake.

If these sesame seeds are concentrated on a certain piece, it can really turn the pancake into a more fragrant sesame cake, but now the Qing Dynasty has no sesame cakes except for the limited number of new troops...