Zhao Zhilong straightened his waist and said awe-inspiringly: "Nanjing Defense, I, Zhao Zhilong, am duty-bound!" Zhang Zhun, this little thief, will definitely make him die without a place to be buried! I believe that all the lords in the city are also of the same heart and reason, and they will never sit idly by and watch the temple of Taizu be frightened! ”

Well, that's a sign of determination. Since you don't pursue this matter, then my old Zhao will also let it go. Anyway, our old Zhao family and Zhang Zhun also have a mortal enmity. In short, I won't let you be beheaded. Zhang Zhun wants to enter Nanjing, which is absolutely impossible! At the same time, Zhao Zhilong was also euphemistically reminding the two of them that there were still many princes, marquises, and earls in Nanjing City, and they all had soldiers in their hands.

As long as you carry out the temple of Taizu to crush them, you are not afraid that they will not fight hard. If the war is not effective, the lords and magnates may simply be removed from office, or their hereditary power may be abolished and reduced to the people. However, once Taizu's ancestral temple is frightened, no matter what his identity is, he will only be exterminated by raiding his family! Even the most disobedient lords and magnates will not dare to disobey you at this time!

Zhang Yixian and Ma Shiying were a little relieved.

Originally, the Tartars entered the Kou, and the chaotic people entered Henan in large numbers, and the court and the emperor were already in a hurry. The current Ming Empire is counting on the southeast half of the wall to be stable and can barely support it. All the taxes and grain in the north were transported from the south of the Yangtze River. In other words, the southeast half of the wall is actually the only remaining healthy body of the Ming Empire, and the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal is the only lifeline. If it was known that the southeast half of the wall was also in chaos, and even the city of Nanjing was attacked, Emperor Chongzhen's anger could be imagined. This emperor is not a benevolent lord, in a fit of anger, the arrest of arrest, the imprisonment of prison, the example of Yang He and Chen Qiyu is ahead.

Not to mention anything else, Zhang Yixian, the eunuch guarding the town of Nanjing, is the first to be held accountable -- the eunuchs who guarded the town in the past were not chaotic, why did you get into chaos over there as soon as you arrived in Nanjing? Even if it's not your responsibility, it seems that you are incapable of doing things and cannot control the situation. Since you don't have the ability to do things, let's go home! This is the most merciful end. However, Zhang Yixian felt that such an outcome was not very likely. Or the surname of the head thief may be a little bigger.

Thinking of his fate, Zhang Yixian didn't dare to delay in the slightest, and hurriedly said: "Lord Zhao is reasonable. The town immediately issued an order to summon all the lords in Nanjing City to come to the meeting! There are also major merchants who have to be invited! Everyone has the money to contribute, and they have the power to contribute! Let's get through it together! ”

After all, he is used to making money, and he is familiar with the road, and at this time, he does not forget the major businesses in the city, and he does not forget to have money to pay. According to his original intention, every big merchant had to apportionment a few thousand taels of silver, which was called a temporary salary, which was specifically to deal with Zhang Zhun, a traitor. There are so many big merchants in Nanjing, tens of thousands of taels of silver, which can definitely be collected.

Zhao Zhilong immediately nodded and applauded.

The most active thing for the successive Nanjing town guards and eunuchs was to make money. There is no motivation without money, and there is motivation when there is money. Right now, Zhang Yixian wants to take the opportunity to make a profit, of course he has no opinion. The town guard eunuch has the town guard eunuch's way of making money, and he also has his way of making money. When the time comes, send someone to the major merchants to the next post, and say that their fifth concubine is pregnant, and those big merchants still don't give gifts obediently?

Well, it doesn't matter if you don't give gifts, there are a lot of people in Xinchengbo, and they are definitely not counted. However, no one can guarantee that there will be any remnants of Zhang Zhun who will burn and loot in the city, just to grab your family! In the chaos of war, how many people died, what is it? If you have the ability, go to Zhang Zhun for revenge! If he dares to kill the people of the Gu family, he will naturally dare to kill your people!

Ma Shiying didn't have too many thoughts of making money at this time, what he liked was the feeling of power, and what he liked was the feeling of indulging in the fate of others. He pondered for a moment and said slowly: "The two adults, this soldier is a little worried, if Zhang Zhun, a chaotic minister and thief, is allowed to break through the Waijinchuan Gate, there will definitely be rumors outside, so it is still necessary to defend the Waijinchuan Gate." ”

"Otherwise, there will be chaos in the city, and it will definitely be suppressed. The more it is pressed, the more the rumors spread. At that time, the people of Nanjing City will be panicked, and the situation will be even worse. In addition, if refugees from all over the outside world listen to rumors and break into Nanjing City to take refuge, they are afraid that Nanjing City will be overwhelmed and they will collapse. ”

He was born as a civilian official, and he was not proficient in military affairs, and he had never had formal contact with the army, but he still had some understanding of the various complications that could be caused by war. The area around Nanjing has been peaceful for a long time, and there has been no war for decades. Now, when there is a sudden war, God knows what the consequences will be. The generation of rumors is simply certain. As long as rumors are generated, it is impossible to be without refugees. Once the refugee wave is formed, the city of Nanjing will be in trouble.

His words are exactly what Zhang Yixian is most worried about. In fact, Zhao Zhilong is also worried. If the people in the city are panicked, all the guards, as well as the officials, catchers, and soldiers of the yamen at all levels, must be dispatched with the whole army. In this way, the whole city of Nanjing is bound to be under martial law. Once the whole city is under martial law...... Well, this is tantamount to telling the people that there is already a war in Nanjing. No one can guarantee what the consequences of this may be.

When the time comes, the people in the city will not know the situation outside the city, and will only spread false rumors, and all kinds of rumors will fly all over the sky. In the same way, the people outside the city, influenced by the rumors, will definitely run to the city of Nanjing, seeking safe shelter. Nanjing City already has a population of hundreds of thousands, and if you add in the influx of refugees from outside, you can imagine what kind of chaos it will cause. If a large-scale riot breaks out, even heavy troops may not be able to suppress it.

However, if refugees are not allowed to enter the city, the consequences will be even more serious. Refugees would run to the surrounding prefectures and spread rumors. Zhenjiang, Yangzhou, Changzhou, Suzhou, Songjiang, and even Hangzhou in Zhejiang are only a short distance away from Nanjing. It doesn't take three days for the rumor to spread everywhere. If there are good deeds who take the opportunity to rise up, respond to Zhang Zhun, win over the people, and fall into the grass, or if there are heroes in the rivers and lakes who take advantage of the fire to rob, maybe they will cause smoke everywhere, which will lead to the complete erosion of the entire southeast half of the wall.

Zhao Zhilong also said worriedly: "Bombing is a trivial matter, and the most afraid is that there are Shaanxi mobs or Tartars who are fanning the flames in the city and deliberately making things bigger." There are more than a dozen gates in Nanjing, and the slightest negligence may repeat the mistakes of Shenyang and Liaoyang. ”

Zhang Yixian and Ma Shiying both nodded in agreement.

In these years, a small spark can cause a skyrocketing fire. If there were any disturbance in the city, there would be heavy casualties. However, what is even more fearful is that this matter is related to the civil unrest in Shaanxi and the Tartars in Liaodong. The most fearful thing about defending the city is that there are people in the city who agitate inside, and the inside should be closed outside, and the city gate will be opened, so as to let the enemy from the outside in. Shenyang and Liaoyang both fell in this way.

At present, the Ming Dynasty has two fire heads, one in Liaodong and one in Shaanxi. The Ming army ran around, exhausted, and was never able to put out these two fireheads, but like a fan, the more vigorous they became. If the southeast half of the wall is also lit, it will be three fireheads. Three fires burned together...... Well, they don't dare to imagine what the consequences will be.

The three of them discussed for a moment, and felt that they would definitely not be able to defend the Outer Jinchuan Gate only by relying on the strength of Jinwu's avant-garde. Therefore, reinforcements are necessary, but who exactly will send them? In the city of Nanjing, there are a total of 26 guards and horses. According to the calculation of 5,600 people per guard, it is more than 100,000 people. However, everyone knows that these guards are all dissatisfied. One guard can pull out more than a thousand people, which is already the limit. If all the guards are full, where will the extra money of the lords and magnates come from?

Zhang Yixian and Ma Shiying's eyes finally fell on Zhao Zhilong. The Jinwu avant-garde was commanded by your son, and he strongly advocated going out of the city to fight. Now, he was defeated by Zhang Zhun, and he also made a butt of shit, everyone swept the snow in front of the door, and didn't care about the frost on the tiles of others, shouldn't your old Zhao family clean it up?

Zhao Zhilong also felt that it was better to take care of this matter by himself, so he said briskly: "I'll let the Jinwu guard go up." ”

Ma Shiying nodded and said: "Fight the tiger brothers, go into battle with father and son, and the soldiers will strongly support it." ”

Zhang Yixian also nodded and said, "This town is waiting for the good news from the earl." ”

Zhao Zhilong nodded, and then went out to deploy.

The Kingo guards he just mentioned were also his subordinates. The commander of the Jinwu guard, who is also his son, is called Zhao Zhufeng. Zhao Zhufeng and Zhao Lanfeng are brothers of the same father and mother. After receiving his father's order, Zhao Zhufeng hurriedly arrived and listened to his orders. Jin Wu avant-garde has been defeated by Zhang Zhun, and after Zhao Zhilong introduced the basic situation, he had to tell his son to avoid repeating his brother's mistakes.

However, Zhao Zhufeng's expression was obviously a little disapproving, and on the surface he seemed to be listening to his father's orders very respectfully, but in fact he was thinking about other things. It wasn't until Dad finished speaking that he said a little impatiently: "Dad, don't worry, I'll go out with ten cannons this time." Zhang Zhun must not be allowed to spread wild outside Nanjing. Just wait for my good news! ”

Zhao Zhilong found that his son was a little impatient with his appearance, and couldn't help frowning. There is always a competition between his second son and his eldest son. This is a good thing, but it is not a good thing. The good thing is that both of them are relatively upward, unlike Deng Yuanshan, who is not promising, only knows that he is nostalgic for Qinglou, and he has not appeared in the barracks once for a year and a half. The bad thing is that the title can only be hereditary for the eldest son, and if Zhao Zhufeng wants to become a lord, he can only rely on his own efforts. He had no choice but to say, "After you go out of the city, you should be careful." If you find that the situation is not right, immediately withdraw to the city. ”

Zhao Zhufeng nodded disapprerovingly, said goodbye to his Lao Tzu, and took the troops out of the city. Like the Jingo guard, the Jingo guard can fight, in fact, there are only a thousand people. The rest of the more than 4,000 people were all eaten by the Zhao family. This is a well-known fact, and there is nothing to say. The two grandfathers of the country are even more powerful than the Zhao family, otherwise they will not let the Zhao family be suppressed.

Among the troops of the Jingo rearguard, the most eye-catching is of course the ten Franc machine guns. In the city of Nanjing, there is no Hongyi cannon, but there are still ordinary Francophone artillery. Twenty-six guards, each with ten guns. However, some guards quietly sold the artillery. All the artillery of Jin Wuwei is complete, which is also the reason why Xincheng Bo Zhao Zhilong is strong. If you have soldiers and weapons in your hands, you will naturally be superior. Even the guards under the command of the two grandfathers of the country did not have so many cannons.

All the ten cannons of the Jinwu guard were brought out by Zhao Zhufeng. In order to show his might, Zhao Zhufeng also specially equipped each artillery with two war horses. As for himself, he was also riding on a tall horse. In fact, the center of gravity of Nanjing City has always been in the east and south of the city, and it is about a dozen miles away from the north of the city where Zhang Zhun attacked. Therefore, Zhao Zhufeng took the officers and soldiers of the Jinwu guard to swagger through the city, triumphant, attracting many onlookers from the public.

With ten cannons in hand, Zhao Zhufeng believed that Zhang Zhun would definitely not be able to break the Waijinchuan Gate. Therefore, Zhao Zhufeng is not worried about the onlookers of the citizens at all. If his father Zhao Zhilong saw it, he would definitely be annoyed. With a large army swaggering through the city, for fear that you don't know that the enemy is coming to Nanjing City, you are deliberately causing chaos for your adults! Adults, including yourself, are worried about the rumors that may occur, but aren't you here to deliberately catalyze the speed of rumors?

For his father's distress, Zhao Zhufeng didn't understand it at all. He led the team out of the city slowly for a reason. He didn't want to rush to the Waijinchuan Gate so quickly. He had to wait for Zhao Lanfeng to be unable to hold it before he arrived in time. Only when the eldest brother is in the most critical situation can he suddenly kill him, so that he can show his preciousness. Okay, I don't have the right to compete with you for the hereditary right of the title, but you have to value me as a younger brother in the future, don't you?

"Boom!"

However, just as he had just left Jinchuan Gate with his troops, a deafening loud bang came from the direction of Waijinchuan Gate. Because the loud noise was so alarming, the war horse that pulled the cannon, as well as the war horse under his command, were seriously frightened, and it was finally calmed down.

After a while, Zhao Zhufeng was surprised to see that many stragglers had withdrawn from the direction of the Waijinchuan Gate. Look at these marks of the stragglers' courage and embarrassment, it is the officers and soldiers of the Jingo avant-garde commanded by the elder brother. It was as if they had been frightened and numb. Many people still have a lot of blood on their bodies, obviously injured.

"What's going on?"

"What's going on with the Waijinchuan Gate?"

Zhao Zhufeng hurriedly grabbed a rout officer and asked.

He usually goes to the Jinwu avant-garde to visit his brother, so he knows a lot of Jingo avant-garde officers, and the officer he grabbed in front of him is the one he knows. At the same time, this officer also recognized Zhao Zhufeng.

"Second son, it's over, the outer Jinchuan Gate is finished!"

"Zhang Zhun has broken the Waijinchuan Gate!"

The officer replied with a look of horror on his face.

"What?"

"The gates have been breached?"

When Zhao Zhufeng heard this, he was taken aback.

God, Zhang Zhun actually broke through the Waijinchuan Gate so quickly!

The Waijinchuan Gate is quite strong, how did this guy do it?

"Where's the eldest prince?"

"What about your commander?"

Zhao Zhufeng thought of his brother and hurriedly asked.

After all, family affection is thicker than water, and all the messy things that Zhao Zhufeng thought about just now were left behind. In case his brother is unfortunately killed, it will definitely be a great loss for the Zhao family. Although he may have been able to inherit the title as a result, he did not want his brother to die.

"The eldest prince is ...... behind"

The officer stammered in reply.

"Second brother, let's go!"

"Zhang Zhun's dog thief has caught up!"

Before the words fell, Zhao Zhufeng heard his brother's voice.

When I looked up, it was really my brother, supported by the two family members, who desperately jumped back and retreated. On his left leg, he was bleeding constantly, and although the wound was tied up with a sackcloth, the blood continued to seep out. You can imagine how serious the injury was.

Zhao Zhufeng was even more surprised, hurriedly stepped forward, and said in shock: "Big brother, what's the matter?" ”

Zhao Lanfeng said with a wry smile: "Brigadier Zhang blew up the city gate...... More than 200 of my men were buried under the rubble of the Waijinchuan Gate...... You also go quickly, you can't stop that dog thief outside...... His soldiers are really powerful......"

Zhao Zhufeng tried to calm down and said, "Big brother, how many people are here in Zhang Zhun?" ”

Zhao Lanfeng said dejectedly: "Three or four hundred!" Anyway, it's definitely less than five hundred! However, although there are few of them, their weapons are very powerful, with a long range and great power! The soldiers below are not afraid of death either! One by one, they are not afraid of death and rush upward! I don't know how much silver Zhang Zhun gave them, and he didn't even want his surname! The soldiers of our guard are not so fearless of death! ”

Zhao Zhufeng took a deep breath and said a little unwillingly: "Big brother, you go first!" I'll break it off! I have a cannon in my hand, I don't believe that Zhang Zhun, a dog thief, will be more powerful than a cannon! He dares to bully the people of our Zhao family, I want him to be good-looking! ”

Zhao Lanfeng knew that his younger brother was usually a little unconvinced by himself, and many times, he wanted to compare himself with him. Now, he has been defeated by Zhang Zhun, if he can defeat Zhang Zhun, he will naturally appear to be more powerful than himself. For this kind of thinking of the younger brother, the eldest brother can only smile bitterly. He said helplessly: "Then be careful, Zhang Zhun will be here soon!" Second, if you can't hold on, don't hold on! Hurry up and retreat to the city! There are so many troops in Nanjing, don't wipe out all of our Zhao family! ”

After that, with the support of his family, he hurriedly entered the city of Nanjing.

"Cannon!"

Zhao Zhufeng screamed fiercely.

He instructed his soldiers to set up all ten cannons, line them up, and aim them at the road ahead. At the same time, all officers and soldiers were ordered to be on standby. As soon as you spot the enemy, shoot and fire immediately. He didn't believe that Zhang Zhun's hundreds of people were able to hit the city of Nanjing. The outer Jinchuan Gate was broken, and there is the Jinchuan Gate, you Zhang Zhun want to enter Nanjing City, don't even think about it!

(To be continued)