Hu Quancai issued numerous orders overnight, intercepted ships and personnel transporting supplies to Guizhou, and used these resources to send Hunan's troops to Wuchang. As for the grain and military salaries that were supposed to be transported to Guiyang, since there were no ships to transport them, Governor Hu simply embezzled them and distributed the silver to the prefectures and counties in Hunan as the cost of the army's transfer, and the grain was given to the army to eat on the road.

Hu Quancai sent a chapter to the imperial court again, blaming the dead Hong Chengchou for his last resort, saying that he had a mistake in expecting the enemy, and that the Ming army in Kuidong could still send hundreds of thousands of troops, but he insisted that the army did not have this strength.

Although he did not say a word about the imperial court in the chapter, Hu Quancai hinted that the corruption of the situation in Huguang must not depend on him alone, and it was precisely because he fully supported the southwest offensive of the imperial court before, and guided the emptiness of Huguang that caused today's situation. Hu Quancai claimed that if this was not the case, even if Deng Ming brought more than 300,000 rogues, with Hu Quancai's strategic talent, he would never have made the situation so sinister.

After this qiē, Hu Quancai began to wait in fear, waiting for the inevitable huge offensive of the Ming army.

To the delight of Governor Hu, on July 2, when the Dongting Lake Sailors arrived at Wuchang in the starry night, the vanguard of the Ming army had not yet appeared. Now that the vicinity of Hanyang was densely covered with the Qing army's exploration horses, Hu Quancai ordered the sailors not to rest, and immediately rushed to the confluence of the Yangtze River and the Han River to defend.

In addition to the land and water troops that were waiting for battle, Hu Quancai also mobilized all the craftsmen in the vicinity of Wuchang to build thick iron chains all the time, and at the same time drove wooden stakes into the river night and night. In order to build this defense system, I don't know how many soldiers were swept away by the torrent of the river, but Hu Quancai didn't frown, he only asked how the progress was, not how big the loss was.

Hu Quancai's greatest fear was before the construction of the staked and chain-barrage cable, which he sank several boats full of stones in the Han River to block the river.

Thanks to the efforts of the Governor of Huguang, Yamen, at all costs, this defense system was built at an astonishing speed, and it was basically completed on the fifth day of July, the third day of the Dongting Lake Division's return to Wuchang. After getting the news of the completion, Hu Quancai breathed a sigh of relief. As long as the Ming army's naval division can be blocked from entering the Yangtze River, it is equivalent to cutting off one of the arms of the Ming army, and without the cooperation of the naval division, it will be difficult for the Ming army to form a heavy threat to Wuchang.

Other troops also arrived one after another, and even those prefectures and counties in Hunan did not dare to slack off after receiving Hu Quancai's urgent order. The magistrates all asked the cavalry to set off immediately, and the infantry also assembled a team and immediately set off a team, galloping to the aid of Wuchang with a small formation and the fastest speed.

For a time, the roads in the two lakes were full of Qing troops rushing towards Wuchang. Post stations and outposts in various places also fully cooperated with horses and reserves. Governor Hu explained very clearly that the Ming army, with an actual strength of more than 300,000, was heading towards Wuchang, and the safety of the two lakes was in danger, and anyone who dared to neglect the king's affairs would be mercilessly punished.

These officials were frightened by the stern tone of the governor of Huguang, the yamen, and the strong strength of the Ming army, and used their strength to assist the army in the march. The troops rushing on the road were numerous and scattered, and the local officials were tired and half dead, especially near Wuchang, and the troops crossing the border did not stop for a moment, and many local officials could not find a chance to close their eyes for several days and nights.

Whenever he heard that a new army had arrived, even if there were only fifty or a hundred exhausted soldiers, Hu Quancai would feel a little more relaxed. The barrage was currently increasing at a rate of one per day, and the sailors who had been in high tension for many years could finally return to the camp to rest a little; Hanyang reported that the ditch around the castle had been deepened by three feet, and that the defensive wall at the head of the castle had been repaired in two layers. The officials of Hanyang begged Governor Hu to allow the Zhuangding to rest for a day, and Hu Quancai deliberated and approved that they could rest for half a day.

"The thieves missed their best opportunity." Hu Quancai's mood was much more stable at this time. This time, Wuchang was able to turn the crisis into safety, which is obviously inseparable from his quick decision and resoluteness. Governor Hu was convinced that the imperial court would be able to see this after the incident, and realized his great contribution to stabilizing the situation in Huguang and ensuring that Wuchang was not lost.

Governor Hu was well led, officials at all levels were loyal to the king's affairs, and soldiers were not afraid of hardships -- this was the mainstream of Wuchang at present. But there were also some nasty voices, and some rumors circulated, saying that Governor Hu was stubborn and exaggerated the enemy's situation. Because the officers and men are physically and mentally exhausted these days, many local officials even lament that they have not been as tired as these days in the past year, and there is a certain market for these rumors.

Hearing this, Hu Quancai just sneered and disdained it, but after thinking about it, he ordered someone to investigate the source of the rumors. He guessed that some of his officials might be in prison, waiting to repel the Ming army, and they must let these guys who don't know whether they live or die be able to eat and walk around.

Day after day, new reinforcements arrived, and the Ming army did not appear, so Hu Quancai was very happy; Reinforcements from distant prefectures and counties also arrived, but there was still no vanguard of the Ming army, so Hu Quancai was even happier; There were more and more reinforcements, and Governor Hu was both happy and a little anxious, urging Hanyang to expand the scope of the expedition and explore the location and number of the vanguard of the Qingming army as soon as possible. The Ming army not only missed the best opportunity to attack, but also missed the not so good opportunity to attack, and Governor Hu finally became a little restless and began to be unhappy.

Li Laiheng of Xingshan, with Dang Shousu and other party henchmen, took advantage of the weakness, and soon Yiling changed his surname from Qing to Ming. Yesterday, Governor Hu received another report that the Ming army of Kuidong, which was descending along the river, had approached the vicinity of Jiangling, and it was estimated that the flag would also be changed there today. Only the Ming army in the direction of Zhong Xiang still did not move, and the damned Ming army vanguard refused to show up.

Rumors continued to spread in the streets of Wuchang, and the secret agent reported that these rumors of disrespect to the government had a lot to do with Zhou Peigong's stupid move. From the day after he returned to Wuchang, some of the gentry who had a good relationship with him went to the Zhou Mansion to visit and condole, and Zhou Peigong's guy went so far as to assert to the visitor that Zhong Xiang's Ming army would not exceed 50,000 troops. He also said that he saw the Ming army scattered to the suburbs, and he did not look like he was ready to attack Wuchang, so he asked everyone not to panic, let alone flee from Wuchang.

At first, everyone didn't believe Zhou Peigong's words, because this was too far from the authoritative news released by the Huguang Governor's Office, and only some tired officials, or people who were dissatisfied with Hu Quancai, used this as an excuse to quietly send two sentences of imprisonment.

Seeing that Wuchang had become a large military camp, not to mention hundreds of thousands of Ming troops, I didn't even see the shadow of an enemy soldier. The gentlemen who were released from Zhong Xiang still fully supported Hu Quancai in the early days of returning home, and recently these wall grasses have also turned around, but when they are asked, "Is the Ming army really strong, will it really attack Wuchang", they all look around and talk about it. There are even some people who flicker, saying that "Governor Hu is old and serious, and it is also appropriate to seek no merit but no fault." ”

After hearing these remarks, Hu Quancai was so angry that his head was dizzy, and he smoked in his breath. They were obviously echoing the rumors and vaguely expressing their disbelief that the Ming army would attack Wuchang.

At present, the officers and soldiers from all over the country who have worked hard to come are secretly talking about Governor Hu's deception of the people, and even the internal instability of the Governor Huguang's yamen has begun to be unstable, and many people are privately questioning Hu Quancai's wise decision. Yesterday, a staff member dodged and asked Hu Quancai to send a team of scouts to Zhongxiang to see what Deng Ming was doing.

Although he knew that the people below lacked absolute trust in him, Hu Quancai really didn't expect that someone would dare to humiliate him in person, and this staff member was dragged out in front of the court and beaten the 20th board.

Today, Hu Quancai sat in the yamen all morning, looking at the ground and waiting for the information sent from Hanyang. He was nervous and full of anticipation every time an envoy arrived, hoping that the envoy would report that he had found a rogue in sight, but each time he disappointed Governor Hu.

Some time ago, Hu Quancai once ordered the officials of Hanyang, regardless of whether they found the enemy situation or not, to report every hour during the day: report if there is something and report safety when there is nothing, and send six messengers every day. At that time, whenever a messenger came to report peace, Hu Quancai was in a good mood; But now the situation has completely changed, and every other hour an envoy on a fast horse, stepping on the road of Wuchang, rushes from the city gate to the yamen, so that the whole city can see clearly - the Ming army asserted by Governor Hu has still not come.

This is simply a slap in the face, how can Hu Quancai, a dignified feudal official, be humiliated several times a day like this?

However, with the experience of yesterday's unlucky bastard, there are no officials and generals in the yamen today, without exception, who look at their noses and noses, and no one stands up to speak--the Ming army is definitely coming, and the later they come, the more properly prepared they are, and the longer the time drags on, the closer they come, and there is no doubt that they must obey the wise judgment of Governor Hu.

Humiliated in public twice, the civil and military officials and staff saw the Governor moving in his chair, looking like he was about to sit still.

"Well, well," Hu Quancai said to his subordinates: "Pass the order to Hanyang, and you don't have to come to report safety if you have nothing to do." ”

Everyone in the hall was full of solemnity, and they responded respectfully.

After a long silence, the Governor spoke in a low voice again: "Let Hanyang send a cavalry to Anlu Mansion to see what that Deng Ming is doing." ”

……

Yuan Zongdi returned to Zhongxiangfu City from the suburbs, and was discussing with Deng Ming the rì journey back to Kuidong.

After Zhong Xiang's first battle, the Ming and Qing armies entered a state of peace and quiet. The situation is completely in line with Liu Tichun's prediction, he has long said that the strength of the two armies is already in balance, and both are more than enough to defend and not enough to attack.

Yuan Zongdi and the other Kui Dongsi generals used the money they received to buy women around Zhong Xiang, and when he first heard the news, Deng Ming thought that he had heard it wrong, but he didn't expect it to be true. When Yuan Zongdi returned to Zhongxiang, he brought a women's battalion of more than 1,000 people.

"This is not the abduction and trafficking of women," Yuan Zongdi categorically denied Deng Ming's speculation, and said indignantly: "No matter whether I am a matchmaker or hired, I have no less courtesy." ”

Deng Ming snorted and did not speak.

"I have a marriage book in hand!" Yuan Zongdi saw that Deng Ming was a little dissatisfied, and he estimated that this was another misunderstanding caused by the ignorance of the third prince, so he further explained: "We got the consent of these girls' parents, and we also asked someone to be a matchmaker, and gave a dowry gift, and then took them back to the camp. ”

The population of Kuidong was already sparse, because the people were constantly fleeing during the war, and the Ming army was at a disadvantage, and the marriage of the young soldiers in the camp became a big problem. This time, the troops were sent out and a lot of silver taels were captured in several battles along the way, and the fourth general Kui Dong discussed it and planned to use the silver distributed to help the meritorious officers and soldiers to start a family.

The three prefectures of Yunyang, Xiangyang, and Anlu, which were occupied by the Ming army, had a large number of impoverished people, many of whom struggled with hunger all year round, and were overwhelmed by heavy taxes and debts. As long as they agreed to marry their daughters to the officers and soldiers of the camp, the Ming army would pay them dozens of taels of silver and a few stones of grain, which was higher than the dowry of the local poor families.

The Ming army did not use such a naked word as buying, but instead used engagement and hiring. Yuan Zongdi, Liu Tichun and others did quite in line with etiquette, and after the matter was negotiated, the soldiers who were going to marry the girl of the other family had to go to the door to kowtow to the second elder and perform the half-son ceremony. Knowing that these people were still worried about their daughters' future, a large number of officers who broke into the camp came forward to serve as marriage guarantors for their subordinates, ensuring that these girls would be regular wives when they married into the Kuidong Army, and would not become concubines and would not be treated as maids, and their parents did not have to worry about them being transferred by their husbands.

However, in Deng Ming's opinion, it is still a trade in women, but other people in this era do not agree with him, such as Zhao Tianba, who appreciates Kui Dongmingjun's courtesy and thoughtfulness. Those Sichuan soldiers such as Li Xinghan, who had always been noses and eyes on the camp, also gave a thumbs up after hearing about this, praising Kui Dongzhong as a teacher of benevolence and righteousness.

"The women's camp is full of peasant girls with big feet, and they all have husbands, so they can't be sent to serve the admiral, so I'll go buy two maids for the admiral tomorrow." Yuan Zongdi observed the words and felt that Deng Ming seemed to have something unspeakable, and hurriedly explained.

Kuidong's military dependents also had to help with the work, so Yuan Zongdi and they didn't let his subordinates ask for the small-footed women in the city as wives. Moreover, it is a long way from Zhongxiang to Dachang, and it is relatively easy to march with these peasant girls.

"Thank you General Yuan for your kindness, no need." Deng Ming felt that he was just twenty, and there was no need to worry about marriage. He has never been in love, he still has some longing for love, and he also has resistance to buying women. However, the people around him don't see it that way, there are many men in this era who are sixteen or seventeen years old, especially the children of rich families, who get married early. In order to avoid Yuan Zongdi buying a maid and sending it to the door, Deng Ming explained: "You don't know what kind of person I like, in fact, I have been looking for it, but I can't find it, otherwise I would have bought it myself." ”

"Admiral, don't be too picky." Yuan Zong thought about it at first, but he still felt that Deng Ming's twenty was still single and had a ** body.

"I'd rather taste a bite of a peach than eat three baskets of rotten apricots." Deng Ming joked, seeing that Yuan Zongdi didn't seem to be dead, he hurriedly added: "Besides, I still have to go to Nanjing." ”

"If you don't taste it, how do you know if it's a peach or a rotten apricot? If you don't like it, you can give it away, but if you're worried that there won't be anyone to give it to, give it to me. Yuan Zongdi said with a smile: "You can put it in Fengjie first." ”

Deng Ming had no choice but to change the topic and ask about the women's camp: "The soldiers who are married must be very happy." ”

"That's it!" As soon as this matter was mentioned, Yuan Zongdi was really interested. In one fell swoop, this expedition solved the long-standing and difficult problems of the thousands of officers and men under his command, rewarded the meritorious officers and men, and also greatly encouraged the morale and morale of the army.

The girls they bought back are currently in a camp alone, and Yuan Zongdi does not allow their fiancés to go to the camp to meet their fiancées. He issued a strict order that whoever dared to have a private meeting with his fiancée before returning to Dachang would be regarded as a felony of defection and escape, and he would be beheaded, and his fiancée, who had not yet married, would also be confiscated from the government. This order has been notified to the whole army, and even the women's battalion has been notified.

After Li Xinghan and several Sichuan soldiers heard this, they had a new view on the camp

Yuan Zongdi explained impassionedly: "Since I was taught by the general, I know that men and women are guarded, and uncles and sisters-in-law are not kissed. These girls are all daughters of good families, and they are being married to our army by Ming Media. Now that they have left their parents, they will be equivalent to their elders, and they must discipline their sons and future military wives. The general has already informed the whole army that after returning to Dachang, he will immediately let them visit the church and marry. Now that they have not officially married, they are naturally not allowed to meet, which is not disgraceful. ”

Seeing that Yuan Zongdi attached so much importance to traditional etiquette and paid attention to cultivating the moral concept of soldiers, several Sichuan troops were even more in awe, Li Xinghan secretly felt that Yuan Zongdi's personality was better than that of the old commander Tan Wen. Knowing that Liu Tichun and Hao Shaoqi were also meticulous about etiquette, several Sichuan soldiers felt that they had too much misunderstanding of breaking into the camp before.

When Yuan Zongdi issued the declaration of the guardians of the famous religion, Mu Tan showed emotion and admiration; Zhou Kaihuang looked stern and nodded frequently, but the moving sè on his face seemed to be made on purpose; As for Zhao Tianba, he was absent-minded, as if he was not touched at all.

Yuan Zongdi said that since he tied his hair and received teaching...... I don't know if he went to a private school? Deng Ming muttered in his heart, Yuan Zongdi's impassioned expression he had seen before, and when he went to Dachang for the first time, the other party also used this expression to make a declaration of defending the territory.

Taking advantage of the opportunity for the guards to leave, Deng Ming asked Yuan Zongdi: "Let the women's battalion dúlì become a camp, is it actually for military reasons?" ”

"The Admiral is discerning." Liu Tichun had previously told Deng Ming that soldiers and their families must be separated during the march. Yuan Zongdi said with a smile: "This is the secret of our loyalty camp. If the husband and wife are reunited, then everyone will take care of their own family, how can the army be commanded? As long as you are in enemy territory for a day, you must not let the husband and wife meet. ”

"It seems that Zhao Qianhu also knows it." When Yuan Zongdi talked about traditional etiquette, Zhao Tianba's expression didn't seem to fully believe him.

"Well, King Jin's henchman, of course he understands the truth of these marches." Yuan Zongdi told Deng Mingdao: "It's good that the Admiral doesn't spread the word." ”