Red Mansion: Seizing Jiangdong, starting with pirates

Chapter 42, Xie Jing's Defeat

Fang Yong could give up a big city like Huaizhou, but he could not give up the land outside and the people on those lands.

Although these people were the most humble in the eyes of those in power throughout the ages, Fang Yong was very clear that the foundation of his Huaiyin Army came from these most humble people.

Why did the soldiers of Huaiyin Army fight for him?

Isn't it because I provide them with food for the winter, protect their families' lives, and lend them land for farming?

If he leaves without fighting this time, all the things I have given him will be taken back by the court. Even if I come back again next time, will the people still trust me as much as they did this time?

Lost land can be taken back, but lost people’s hearts are truly lost.

and so.

This time Fang Yong will not retreat!

In addition, according to Wu Yuan's intelligence, the White Lotus Sect in Shanxi and Liaodong will respectively launch uprisings in March and April. When the north is in chaos, the focus of the court will inevitably shift to the north, and the pressure on Fang Yong will be suddenly reduced.

So this war will not last long, at most two months.

With Fang Yong's current military strength and Yancheng as economic support, he can still hold out for two months.

A few days later, Fang Yong returned to the city of Huaizhou.

At that time, Shanguo Gong was joining forces with Chen Ruiwen's army to subdue the defeated White Lotus army.

Among them, Chen Ruiwen accepted the surrender of 130,000 soldiers during the Battle of Chuzhou, and Duke Shanguo also annihilated more than 10,000 people in the naval battle, but there were still a large number of surrendered soldiers scattered in the surrounding counties.

These surrendered soldiers number from tens of thousands to thousands, and they are a huge hidden danger that needs to be eliminated bit by bit.

It was also at this time that Duke Shanguo learned the news of the fall of Yancheng.

Duke Shan was greatly alarmed and did not even bother to collect the surrendering soldiers. He hurriedly summoned all the generals to discuss the matter.

Inside the tent, Duke Shanguo was looking at the map.

When he saw Huaizhou, Duke Shanguo quickly thought of something.

"Not good. With the ambition of the Huaiyin bandits, they will definitely attack Huaizhou again and cut off our army's food supply!"

Chen Ruiwen said calmly: "General, rest assured. Huaizhou City is strong, and with Xie Jing leading 3,000 elite soldiers to defend it, the enemy army will not be able to break through easily."

Duke Shanguo thought about it and nodded.

He was a little worried just now.

What Chen Ruiwen said was right. Xie Jing was a good general. With Xie Jing leading his troops to defend Huaizhou City, the enemy army would not be able to break through the city so easily.

However, despite this, it is necessary to rush to Huaizhou as soon as possible.

Duke Shanguo was checking the map while quickly making combat deployments.

"Chen Ruiwen, immediately lead 30,000 elite troops, take the Danyang route, cross the river from Yangzhou and attack the rear of the enemy army!"

Chen Ruiwen responded: "Yes!"

Duke Shan Guo added: "Also, when we pass Fanliang Lake, I will order the Fanliang Lake defenders to attack Hongze by water!"

Chen Ruiwen agreed again.

Duke Shan said again:
"The people under Chunyu Jian will stay here to gather the remaining soldiers. The rest of you will follow me through the Grand Canal to rush to Huaizhou. Leave immediately without any delay!"

Chunyu Jian was a mediocre general who relied on the influence of his ancestors and had poor combat capabilities, so the Duke of Shanguo sent him to stay behind to gather the surrendered soldiers.

After hearing this, everyone had no objection to Duke Shan's arrangement and agreed one after another.

The army is about to take action.

A man suddenly broke in.

"No one is allowed to move. Are you planning a rebellion by mobilizing troops without orders from the Ministry of War?"

Eunuch Zhou rushed over.

The war was basically settled in the past few days. In the army's spare time, Eunuch Zhou built a small stage next to the military camp and had fun with actors every day.

What he didn't expect was that after he had been lax for just a few days, Duke Shanguo actually mobilized troops without authorization and almost caused a disaster.

Duke Shan then hurriedly explained the current crisis to Eunuch Zhou.

The enemy army is likely to attack Huaizhou and cut off the army’s food supply. The military situation is urgent and no time can be lost.

Eunuch Zhou didn't care after hearing this. He didn't care how urgent the military situation was. Before coming, the emperor told him that no matter what happened, as long as the action was not within the combat plan of the Ministry of War, it must be reported to the Ministry of War before it can be carried out!
Now, it is impossible for Duke Shanguo to mobilize troops without reporting to the Ministry of War!
Eunuch Zhou took out a gold medal from his bosom and said sternly:
"This is a golden order bestowed by the emperor. His Majesty has said that anyone who dispatches troops without authorization can be executed according to this order. Shi Guangzhu, do you want to resist this golden order?"

Upon hearing this, Duke Shanguo stood up and looked at Eunuch Zhou intently.

Eunuch Zhou looked at Duke Shanguo without fear.

After a long silence, Duke Shanguo finally sat back in frustration.

"I am at fault for this matter. Please draft a report for me, sir."

Duke Shan was filled with deep sorrow.

It will be sent from here to the capital, and then to the emperor after the Ministry of War reviews it. It will be sent back at least seven or eight days at the earliest. If the Ministry of War drags its feet...

I hope Xie Jing can hold on.

……

The fourth day of Fang Yong’s siege.

Huaizhou City was broken.

Xie Jing was tied up and escorted to Fang Yong.

Say something.

Xie Jing is indeed a good general.

The story goes back four days ago.

When Xie Jing learned that Fang Yong was coming, he immediately organized local militia to build city defenses.

Xie Jing extorted large amounts of money from major families in the city to boost morale, recruit young and strong men, and add a large number of arrow towers and artillery positions to the city of Huaizhou.

At the same time, Xie Jing also demolished the mansions of many wealthy families in the city, collected rolling logs, fallen rocks and other materials for defending the city, and built Huaizhou City like an iron barrel.

Such a tight defense, coupled with the strong city of Huaizhou, would be more than enough to hold off Fang Yong's army for a month if nothing unexpected happened.

However, many times, solid defenses tend to collapse from within.

The major families in the city have long been dissatisfied with Xie Jing.

When Fang Yong, a rebel, entered the city, he treated them with great courtesy. Although he asked for some superficial wealth from time to time, he did not touch their roots.

However, Xie Jing treated them extremely rudely. Not only did he demand money from them, he also demolished the houses that had been their ancestors' homes.

Are these still government troops? They are worse than rebels!
Among them, the Guo family was the most dissatisfied with Xie Jing, and it could even be said that they hated him to the core.

The eldest branch of the Guo family was previously arrested and imprisoned by Xie Jing.

Xie Jing also sent the evidence of the Guo family's eldest branch's collusion with the enemy to the capital.

If Guo Bai had not used his connections in the court to suppress the matter, the Guo family's eldest branch would have been finished!

But Xie Jing still insisted on the matter and said that he would wait until the war was over and then bring people to Beijing to meet the emperor in person!
Some things are nothing if they are not exposed, but once they are exposed, it is a serious crime of destroying the family and property!

The Guo family now wishes Xie Jing would die sooner.

It doesn't matter if the city is occupied by the Huaiyin bandits. Anyway, the Huaiyin bandits will not shake the status of their Guo family. On the contrary, if Xie Jing is allowed to live, the Guo family will be in danger.

Coincidentally, Guo Yu, the third young master of the Guo family, was serving in Fang Yong’s army, so the Guo family quickly got in touch with Fang Yong outside the city.

In this way, the two sides agreed on a secret code.

During the first three days of the siege, Xie Jing ate and slept on the city wall, personally leading the soldiers to fight against the Huaiyin bandits, and the Guo family had no chance to take action.

By the fourth day, Xie Jing's body could no longer take it, so at the suggestion of his subordinates, he returned to his mansion in the city to take a short rest.

Then, the Guo family immediately sent people to take advantage of the opportunity to open the city gate and welcome the royal army.

All the major families had no good feelings towards Xie Jing, so even if someone noticed the Guo family's actions, no one reminded Xie Jing.

Fang Yong's troops entered one after another.

After learning about this, Xie Jing led his troops in a desperate resistance, but was ultimately outnumbered and Ma Laohei took advantage of the opportunity to slash his thigh with a knife, and then captured him alive.

In this way, the fortified city that took Fang Yong twenty-seven days to reach last time was breached in less than four days this time.

(End of this chapter)