The New Year is coming, whether it is Zheng Cong and Zhang Huangyan in Jiangnan, or Bai Wenxuan in Bamo, Emperor Yongli and King Li Dingguo of Jin in Xingdu, Wang Xinyu, Zheng Jing, and Zheng Xi, the kings of the three counties who have just returned to Xingdu for the New Year, as well as Fang Yizhi in Qiongzhou, and the Ming army in Singapore, Luzon, Borneo and Dongfan, can have a happy New Year.

Zheng Cong, who was stationed in Jiangnan, with Wang Yuyou as his military advisor, Zhang Huangyan's Zhejiang army cooperated, and with the support of the Jiangnan gentry, the Jiangnan Ming army stationed in Hangzhou, Suzhou and Songjiang prepared enough New Year's goods. Since childhood, the smell of meat wafts out from the castles of the gentry and the gentry occupied by the Ming army, and the sausages, bacon, and ducks hanging at the door of every household shine in the sun, and the grease drips on the ground, which makes people salivate at a glance. The common people who cut off their braids and kept their hair, and put on the mantle of the Han family, pounded rice cakes, steamed rice cakes, and prepared for the New Year.

"The Tatars have occupied Jiangnan for almost eighteen years! For the first time in 18 years, we have worn Han Chinese hairstyle and Han clothes for the New Year! Qian Qianyi warmly greeted the guests who came to the house.

"Hahaha!" Wang Yuyou, Huang Zongxi, Wang Fuzhi, Gu Yanwu and others in the hall all burst into laughter. Who doesn't know that the fastest shaving of the head back then was Qian Qianyi?

Qian Qianyi looked a little embarrassed, and touched his half-length hair embarrassedly: "I had lice on my head back then, if it weren't for the unbearable itching of the scalp, who would want to take the initiative to shave my head." ”

"And the water is too cold!" Wang Yuyou said with a smile.

Qian Qianyi replied: "If it weren't for the old man who grabbed his wife and let his wife throw himself into the water, where would there be a well-behaved and beautiful daughter who would be married to you now?" ”

"Don't talk about your daughter, after all, General Wang has to keep filial piety for the old prince for three years, and your daughter will be married after three years." Huang Zongxi replied.

"Don't cancel Mr. Qian anymore!" Zhang Huangyan said a few good words to Qian Qianyi for the sake of Qian Qianyi, who has been helping the Zhejiang army and the Fujian army for many years, "In fact, Mr. Qian has always been in Cao Ying, and his heart is in Han!" Mr. Qian has been an official for Tartar for a few years, and he has not done anything bad for Tartar, and he has secretly helped the old man and Damu (Zheng Chenggong) a lot! It's a pity that Oki is no longer here. ”

Opposite the Ming army in Jiangnan. In the camp of the Qing army in Jiangning, although the atmosphere of defeat was shrouded in the heads of the Qing army generals, this year still has to be passed, especially the Qing army dragged Zheng Chenggong to death, and a civil strife broke out in the Zheng family's army, which is a good thing for the Qing court.

Ao Bai had tried to attack the Ming army in Jiangnan from Jiangning when there was civil strife in the Zheng family's army. However, the Ming army had a strong city, and there was a powerful inland water division that could come and go freely with the criss-crossing river network, and it could cut off the logistics supply line of the Qing army and divide and eliminate the Qing army. This made the Qing army have to be afraid.

Ao Bai sent archers to launch rockets to deal with the Ming army's inland water division, but the Ming army had wet felt on the ship to reduce the fire, and the buckets on the ship could extinguish the fire at any time, and the effect of the rocket attack was not very good, and the archers were instead bombarded by the ship's guns and small cannons, and suffered heavy casualties. Ao Bai used the method of blocking the river to deal with the Ming army, but in front of the Ming army with mines, the wooden stake barrage that the Qing army had worked so hard to lay was easily blown up; The Qing army used the method of filling the river to cut off the river, but the water volume of the river south of the Yangtze River was too large. The amount of work to fill the river was huge, and the Ming army sent gunboats to bombard it, and the Qing army that was building was blown to the ground. When the Qing army easily filled in a section of the river, the Ming army built a sluice upstream. The water was released again, and the river that the Qing army had paid a lot of lives to fill in was washed away.

After Ao Bai suffered a few big losses, he was very smart not to do unnecessary temptations.

The New Year is approaching, and Aobai, who has already regarded himself as the king of the Jiangnan domain, simply stayed in Jiangnan for the New Year. Although the Qing army only had half of Jiangnan left. However, the rich land south of the Yangtze River still makes Ao Bai earn a lot of money, and the rolling wealth continues to flow into Ao Bai's pocket. In the capital. Suppression, who is with the same heart as Aobai, has also received a lot of benefits, Sonny's son Hesheri? Kabula and Suoetu also received many benefits from Aobai, and they both simply stood on Aobai's side, so that the balance of strength between Aobai and Sukh Saha tilted to Aobai's side.

Thousands of miles away, the Qing army besieged the camp of Li Laiheng, Hao Shaoqi, Yuan Zongdi and others in the Kuidong area.

"Li Guoying's grain and grass were burned?" When Li Laiheng heard the news at first, he was very suspicious of his ears.

When he received an affirmative answer, Li Laiheng was overjoyed: "God helps me!" ”

"Dashuai, it's not God who helps us, it's Wang Jinzhong, the general of the Qiongzhou Army's Western Expedition, who is helping us." One of Yuan Zongdi's subordinates corrected Li Laiheng's statement.

But because Li Laiheng had already parted ways with the Southern Ming court, he was unwilling to accept such a view, so he raised an objection: "The Qiongzhou army is an official army!" We are not officers and soldiers! The officers and soldiers just want to take advantage of us! ”

Speaking of which, Li Laiheng was also frightened by the original Southern Ming army, and the battle of Yucheng was lost under advantageous circumstances, because the original cooperative Southern Ming army surrendered to the Qing army.

"They helped us at the critical moment, we can form another alliance with them!" Yuan Zongdi said.

"Let's think about the alliance next, but since their people have arrived in western Sichuan, we can talk to them. If we cooperate to fight Li Guoying, we can agree. If they want to annex us, I will not agree! Li Laiheng said loudly.

But in any case, the burning of Li Guoying's grain and grass was of course a great thing for the Kuidong Righteous Army. After getting this news, the Kuidong Righteous Army, which has always been used to suffering, actually plans to have a lively and lively New Year.

Li Laiheng asked people to hunt a few wild boar roe deer, go to the river to hunt a few fish, add the original pickled wild boar, hare, duck and the like, and get some multigrain flour to make noodles, kill a few goats and add wild vegetables to wrap mutton dumplings, and then dig out the wine jar that has been cherished for many years and is reluctant to drink.

A few days later, a spy came to report: "Report to the handsome! The Tartar grain ship passed by the Yangtze River! To go to Chongqing through the eastern Sichuan area! ”

"It seems that Li Guoying is really in a hurry!" Li Laiheng said solemnly, "The Tartars in Yucheng will not even have food for the New Year, so they will take the risk of walking the Yangtze River!" However, Li Guoying is treacherous and cunning, I am afraid that there is fraud in it! We are going to rob the grain ship, so let the brothers find out again! If you are not very sure, you can't act rashly! ”

In the mountains and forests by the river, there are two hidden people wearing green uniforms, grass rings on their heads, and green net pockets. There are figures with branches and leaves on them, and even if someone walks within a few steps, it is difficult to spot these two figures. These two people are Chen Shuigen and Zhao Haisheng, who did not accept the night of the Western Expeditionary Army. In the woods not far from them, there were two people who were monitoring the movements of the Qing army at night, those two were students brought out by Chen Shuigen and Zhao Haisheng, one was named Zhang Xiaoliu, and the other was named Liu Xi.

A flotilla appeared on the river downstream, this flotilla raised its full sails, and there were also the panting oars of the Qing soldiers on board. But because it's against the current. And the draft of the ships is very deep, so the speed of the fleet is very slow, about the same as a human walk.

"The Tartar flotilla appeared, very slowly, looking like a fully loaded ship." Chen Shuigen used a telescope to observe the Qing convoy of transport ships coming up the river against the current.

"But I don't think it looks like a grain ship, don't you think it's suspicious? In front is the activity area of the Kuidong Rebels, once the Rebels ignite the raft and go downstream, the Tartar grain ships will not even have a place to run! Do you think Li Guoying will take this risk? Zhao Haisheng said softly.

"Zhao Liangdong may take risks, but Li Guoying will definitely not take risks!" Chen Shuigen nodded slightly. These elites of the Qiongzhou Army do not collect at night. They were all told about the character traits of the commanders of the Qing army. They not only have to reconnoitre, but also have to be improvised, make accurate judgments on intelligence, and analyze true and false information.

Zhao Haisheng picked up the binoculars and looked at the boats on the river: "This Li Guoying is as cautious as shrinking in a turtle shell." Transporting food is such an important matter, this person must be able to use fraud! Looking at these ships, at first glance they look like grain ships, Lao Chen, you look closely. The top of this boat is a sack with a little grain in it, and there are sandbags underneath! It is estimated that there are stones pressed in the cabin! Looking at the boat in the back, the holes on both sides of the boat are open. There was an obvious ambush inside! ”

Chen Shuigen exclaimed: "Lord Zhao is really careful to observe! ”

"I'm originally a fisherman, and I've been on the boat for many years! How could the Tartars hide this trick from me! Zhao Haisheng replied softly.

"Look at the hill over there, it seems that there are spies from the Kuidong Righteous Army!" Chen Shuigen suddenly pointed to the swaying bushes in the mountains on his right and said.

"Definitely their people! We need to tell them as soon as possible so they don't fall for it! Zhao Haisheng said.

Chen Shuigen and Zhao Haisheng then left the river to report their judgment to the Kuidong Righteous Army, leaving only Zhang Xiaoliu and Liu Xi to continue to monitor the movements of the Qing army.

About an hour later, Li Laiheng received a report from the spies that it was indeed a grain ship of the Qing army, and the draft of the ship was very deep and the speed was very slow.

"Good!" Li Laiheng looked happy and paused slightly, "Take out all the rafts we hid in the mountains and forests, pile them with firewood and oil, and go down the river to burn the grain ships of the Tartars!" ”

At this time, someone from the mountain came to report: "Report to the handsome!" There are two people in strange clothes who want to see you, and they say that they are the night of the Qiongzhou Western Expedition Army, and they have important things to report to the marshal! ”

"The Western Expeditionary Army doesn't collect at night? How did they get here? Let them in! Although Li Laiheng thought it was very strange, he still agreed to let those two people in.

Zhao Haisheng and Chen Shuigen walked into the camp of the Kuidong Righteous Army, and Li Laiheng and the others were stunned when they saw their appearance: I saw that these two people were wearing green clothes, nets and grass rings on their heads, and their disguises could be said to be very perfect.

However, Yuan Zongdi saw the appearance of the Qiongzhou army not collecting at night, but he didn't feel anything strange, asked the name, and after seeing the waist card, Yuan Zongdi shouted and asked: "How did you find us here?" ”

"We followed your spies all the way here." Chen Shuigen replied.

"Why are you two here with us?" Lee Rae-hyung asked.

"We've found out that the Tartar fleet is cheating! The transports in front of them were large ships with sandbags and stones in their holds; Some of the boats in the back were hiding ambushes. If we put down rafts upstream and attack the Tartar fleet, not to mention the loss of a number of rafts, we may be ambushed by the Tartars! Chen Shuigen replied.

"And how do you tell that the boats are carrying sandbags and pressing stones?" Li Laiheng asked again.

"It's very simple, first, Li Guoying is very cautious, just like a turtle! Second, he was born in a boat household and knows a lot about ships! I have carefully observed that there are obviously ambushes in the cabin behind the Tartars! Zhao Haisheng replied.

"Good! General Ben, I believe you! You said, you occupied western Sichuan, and you can be regarded as a great favor for us! I don't know if your General Wang has proposed any conditions for cooperation? Li Laiheng asked.

"Our general said that as long as General Li is willing to cooperate, our general is willing to go to the Son of Heaven to ask for the title of vassal king for you!" Zhao Haisheng replied.

"Vassal King? Let's think about it! How many thrones can the imperial court give? Li Laiheng is still a little moved. His father, Li Guo, later changed his name to Li Jin after returning to the Southern Ming Dynasty, but he only sealed a Xingguo Hou. Gao Yigong, who is on an equal footing with Li Guo, is just a marquis. Now the condition is to be crowned king. Although the prince of the Ming Dynasty is no longer valuable, being able to be crowned king can be regarded as a glorious ancestor, and from now on at least he can be on an equal footing with Bai Wenxuan. asked about a few thrones because Li Laiheng wanted a princely title, and then asked Hao Shaoqi, Yuan Zongdi and others for the title of county king.

General Li smiled! How many more thrones can you want? Our general Wang is just the king of the county. However, if you are willing to cooperate, as long as our General Wang and the Son of Heaven have a few kind words, the other of you can also be crowned princes. Zhao Haisheng replied.

Li Laiheng thought for a while, and suddenly laughed: "Hahaha! You're thinking too well, aren't you? Just an empty county king's position wants to buy our loyal battalion (the thirteen families in Kuidong are the remnants of the camp, and they were renamed the loyal battalion after defecting to the Southern Ming Dynasty) righteous army? Don't you have any other benefits at all? ”

Speaking of which, Li Laiheng's father, Li Guo, suffered a lot of losses from He Tengjiao. After Du Yinxi and He Tengjiao incorporated the camp, they finally became a cake with official documents, basically no military salary, weapons and equipment were solved by themselves, and the most dangerous thing was to be loyal to the camp. The most excessive thing is that He Tengjiao also used Hao Shaoqi to sneak attack Chen Youlong's department, which was returning anyway, and provoked the Ming army to kill each other to give the Qing army a chance to breathe, and finally ruined the good situation in Hunan in vain.

"We can provide weapons and salaries! It can also provide food and grass! When Li Guoying is defeated, Chengdu and Yucheng are your fiefdoms! Zhao Haisheng replied.

Li Laiheng sneered: "But what about military salaries and weapons? And what about grain and grass? I didn't even see a shadow! You have no evidence, just rely on your incorruptible tongue, and want to take us in and work for you? ”

"We are building an arsenal in western Sichuan that can produce weapons and armor. In addition, we will send people into the territory of the Tibetans, and we can get food and war horses from the Tibetans, and we can provide you with some of them first. In the near future, we will attack Yucheng and defeat Li Guoying, and we will be able to establish contact with each other, and then your military salary, weapons and food will not be a problem! Zhao Haisheng replied.

The conditions seem to be good, Li Laiheng nodded, it can be considered. But he turned around and asked: "Li Guoying deceived us with bait, how long will they use the deception?" When will we be able to attack their convoys? If we can't defeat Li Guoying, Yucheng will be stuck between us, and the food, grass and military salaries you provide to us will be a dead letter! ”

"It won't be long! Now their grain and grass are burned by us, and the plank road is destroyed, it is Li Guoying who should be anxious, not us! After a long time, the Qing army will inevitably be discouraged and demoralized! Li Guoying can't afford it! As long as we wait patiently for a while, Li Guoying will inevitably transport grain from the Yangtze River to Chongqing! ”

Li Laiheng finally followed Zhao Haisheng's advice and let go of Li Guoying's decoy fleet.

But the Kuidong Righteous Army waited for several days, but they didn't wait for Li Guoying's real transport fleet.

Time flies, and in the blink of an eye, it's Chinese New Year's Eve. (To be continued.) )