Strategy for the Revitalization of the Late Ming Dynasty

Chapter 380 Login
Zhang Mingzhen stood on the command deck of the ship, holding the railing with his hands, looking far ahead. The city wall of Zhangzhou Prefecture was already faintly visible.

Zhu Cilang's appointment made him shoulder the heavy responsibility of leading the army to the south. Now, as they were getting closer to Zhangzhou Prefecture, the huge and powerful navy fleet behind him made his eyes not only full of confidence, but also a kind of calmness and composure that was difficult to conceal.

This fleet is huge, with about thirty large and medium-sized warships, each of which is enough to overwhelm the opponent, not to mention the eight new battalions of the central army on the ships, with more than 20,000 well-trained elite soldiers.

Since heading south, the journey has been very smooth with almost no accidents. Zhang Mingzhen has full confidence in the defense line arranged by the naval commanders under Li Xiaolin.

In the surrounding seas, there were no terrible typhoons in the current season to disrupt their offensive rhythm. In addition, the army's march had already been carefully arranged. Li Xiaolin's arrangements undoubtedly eliminated all dangers.

Perhaps, facing such a large army, even the strongest Zheng army at sea could only feel fear and powerlessness.

Under the command of Zhang Mingzhen, the navy's vanguard ships had already set foot on the waters southwest of Zhangzhou City.

This fleet carries dozens of Tang horses and more than a hundred cavalrymen. These elite cavalrymen will go ashore first and disperse into the surrounding towns to conduct reconnaissance, find out the movements of Zheng's army, and make full preparations for the arrival of the main force.

Zhang Mingzhen confidently believed that there was currently no force in Zhangzhou Prefecture that could threaten their plans. It could even be said that the current situation was extremely favorable to them.

"General Li, I'm afraid our strength is enough to deal with everything." Zhang Mingzhen said softly, his eyes full of confidence.

Li Xiaolin stood aside, his eyes equally filled with confidence and calmness. "Yes, the enemy in Zhangzhou Prefecture has clearly not responded effectively. Furthermore, according to reports from the Imperial Guard, Zheng Hongkui has already made up his mind to defect to the imperial court. We have absolutely nothing to worry about."

These words brightened Zhang Mingzhen's mood. He knew full well that Zhangzhou Prefecture's current situation meant nothing could stop their advance. Zheng Hongkui's surrender, in particular, practically sealed the end of Zhangzhou Prefecture. Ever since receiving the good news from the Imperial Guards, the depression and worry in his heart had long since dissipated.

Now, although his judgment on the situation in Chaozhou is not completely clear, at least Zheng Hongkui no longer has much room to maneuver in this power game.

When the imperial army showed up, Zheng Hongkui's situation in Chaozhou would become even more difficult. Although Zheng Zhilong had various methods of attacking the city, facing the arrival of reinforcements, he would probably only be able to desperately resist on the defensive. Of course, even so, Zhang Mingzhen still did not believe that Zheng Hongkui would be powerless to resist.

"However, Zheng Hongkui should not be underestimated." Zhang Mingzhen paused in thought, his voice slightly lowered. "In just two years in Zhangzhou, he has raised a large amount of funds, integrated local armed forces, and initiated rigorous training. In the short term, his power should not be underestimated. Although our army is powerful, we still cannot underestimate him."

Li Xiaolin nodded and responded seriously, "Indeed. The fact that Zheng Hongkui was able to establish such a powerful force in Fujian proves that he is not a simple person. He has sufficient ability and strategy, and he is also a member of the Zheng family. We must be careful."

Although their army has gained an absolute advantage, Zhangzhou Prefecture at this time still has a certain combat effectiveness. Even if it is temporarily at a disadvantage in military strength, it may be another threat to Zheng Hongkui, who is experienced and knows how to respond.

"However, once Chaozhou receives reinforcements, Zheng Hongkui will undoubtedly be unable to hold out." Zhang Mingzhen couldn't help but sigh. "Zheng Zhilong may use every possible means to attack, but Zheng Hongkui's defense remains impenetrable. The key now is how to completely weaken his forces."

"Yes, once his defenses are broken, we can take advantage of the situation and advance." Li Xiaolin added, "Also, the imperial court's reinforcements will definitely change the situation. Even if the Zheng family has a conspiracy, Zheng Hongkui's temporary victory will also bring us new opportunities."

Zhang Mingzhen gazed at the distant sea, a strategic vision instantly forming in his mind. War is not merely a contest of force; it is more of a test of wisdom and patience. Right now, the most important task was to ensure Zheng Hongkui had no escape route and was completely trapped in the imperial court's net.

"We must deploy our next move as soon as possible," Zhang Mingzhen said firmly. "Once Zhangzhou falls, Zheng Hongkui's army will become one of our most important forces. Not only will it be used to consolidate our military power in Fujian, but it will also serve as a powerful deterrent for our advance into Fuzhou."

He paused, his gaze growing sharper. "We will definitely win this war, but we must ensure that every step is taken steadily and without any slackness."

Li Xiaolin nodded and replied, "General, rest assured. All preparations have been made. Our army will go all out for every step forward."

Zhang Mingzhen smiled faintly. Though he appeared calm on the surface, he remained alert and calm within. War was never a simple game of chess; every move could change the outcome at a crucial moment. They relied not only on immediate military might but also on a deep understanding of the overall situation and a meticulous planning process.

"I believe that we will be able to return victorious from this battle!" Zhang Mingzhen said in a low voice, with a hint of extremely firm determination in his voice.

Zheng Hongkui's troops suffered heavy losses in the previous battle to encircle and suppress local bandits and pirates. However, he quickly made up for the lack of combat power by drawing elite troops from the surrendered local armed forces.

Under the combined attack of Zheng Hongkui and Zhang Mingzhen, even Zheng Zhilong's main force might not have been able to achieve victory. Even so, Zheng Hongkui did not underestimate the enemy. Instead, he became more cautious and maintained due vigilance.

As evening approached, the mountains in the west were gradually dyed deep red by the sunset. The sun sinking into the mountains cast its last ray of afterglow onto the earth, reflecting on the city walls of Zhangzhou Prefecture like a golden barrier.

Li Xiaolin's navy finally arrived at Zhangzhou Prefecture. The ships were densely packed in the harbor, like a herd of iron beasts, majestic and powerful. Between the ships, sailors were busy unloading cargo and dispatching ships, all in an orderly manner.

On the dock, teams of soldiers, well-equipped, their armor gleaming, and imposing, filed out of the ships and quickly assembled on the dock. As time passed, the Ming army's banner finally flew atop the Zhangzhou city wall. The banner stood out against the setting sun, its golden dragon pattern rustling in the wind, a testament to the power and majesty of the Ming Dynasty.

Zheng Hongkui, accompanied by several trusted generals and a team of personal soldiers, personally went to the observation deck at the dock to welcome Li Xiaolin. Facing this massive Ming army, Zheng Hongkui knew that only by winning Zhang Mingzhen's full trust could he maintain his foothold in Zhangzhou.

Zhang Mingzhen, accompanied by his central army guards, led Li Xiaolin and other generals to the dock's observation deck. His heart sank as he glanced at the empty area around Zheng Hongkui, realizing Zheng Hongkui didn't fully trust him and still harbored concerns. Zhang Mingzhen decided not to enter the city until Lieutenant General Lin, along with Zhao Dong and other vanguard officers, secured control of the entire Zhangzhou prefecture. This decision was not only strategic, but also a test of Zheng Hongkui's abilities.

Zheng Hongkui knew this very well, so he sent his son to Chaozhou and other places early to buy himself more time. He planned to do his best to show goodwill and strive to make Zhang Mingzhen and Li Xiaolin trust him, but he was unwilling to risk his son's life.

"The guilty general, Zheng Hongkui, pays respect to the great general!" Zheng Hongkui knelt on one knee, cupped his fists, and spoke in a solemn and powerful voice. The generals behind him also knelt and shouted in unison, the atmosphere solemn and dignified.

Wei Xian spoke slowly, his voice calm and composed, carrying an undeniable dignity. "General Zheng, you endured humiliation and endured great hardship. To protect the people of Zhangzhou, you lurked among the traitor Zheng's army to gather military intelligence for the Ming Dynasty. During these critical moments, I have already faithfully reported to His Majesty all the expedient measures you took to gain the trust of the traitor Zheng. You need not worry."

Zheng Hongkui was shocked when he heard Wei Xian's words. He hadn't expected that Wei Xian had already prepared a solution for the thing he had been worrying about. Li Xiaolin and Zhang Mingzhen's eyes swept over him, as if waiting for his reaction.

Wei Xian continued to speak incessantly, "General Zheng had to do everything he could to avoid the dire situation. I have already discussed this with Your Majesty, and Your Majesty has no doubt of General Zheng's loyalty."

After Wei Xian finished speaking, Zhang Mingzhen nodded slightly, then said firmly, "The offensive and defensive situation has changed now. General Zheng's timely return to support me is a great achievement. What crime has he committed?"

His tone was sonorous and powerful when he spoke, as if it was the final word, suppressing the doubts in Zheng Hongkui's heart.

Zheng Hongkui was originally thinking about how to dispel Zhang Mingzhen and Li Xiaolin's doubts by showing his loyalty, but he didn't expect that these issues had already been carefully considered by Wei Xian in advance.

He felt both relieved and grateful, his heart filled with endless gratitude and awe, and he even couldn't believe the situation before him for a moment.

"I am so frightened that I dare not ask for credit. I only ask the general to let me make meritorious service while serving my sentence, and personally go into battle to kill the enemy!" Zheng Hongkui lowered his head again, his voice filled with earnestness and excitement.

At this moment, Wei Xian and Zhang Mingzhen exchanged a meaningful glance, as if each was gauging Zheng Hongkui's loyalty and resolve. Although Zheng Hongkui was terrified, as a seasoned general, his ability to hold thousands of troops steady amidst the encirclement and encirclement of enemy forces clearly demonstrated his formidable skill and ability.

At this moment, facing the current situation, he had already made up his mind - Zhang Mingzhen would definitely not let him continue to garrison Zhangzhou City. In this situation, it would be better to surrender early and actively express his loyalty than to continue to struggle and resist in vain.

After all, the key right now is to gain the other party's trust and secure a glimmer of hope. Rather than being forced into a situation of helplessness, it's better to proactively seek a glimmer of hope and preserve your future.

"I am willing to serve the court and follow the general to fight against the bandits!" Zheng Hongkui said loudly, with a firmness and helplessness in his tone.

"Oh, no rush." ​​Zhang Mingzhen smiled slightly when he heard that, then stepped forward and helped up Zheng Hongkui who had defected from the rebel camp.

Zhang Mingzhen didn't rush to respond, instead appearing calm and composed. Zhu Cilang had once instructed him to pay special attention to the capable generals in the Zheng army—if they were successfully won over, they would be of great assistance in future battles.

Now, Zheng Hongkui's revenge is undoubtedly a rare opportunity, and Zhang Mingzhen is naturally happy to continue this story of "a thousand-dollar bone".

Such an action would not only gain the support of Zheng's soldiers, but would also build reputation for him, helping him to win over more Zheng soldiers and generals in the future. If he could use this opportunity to create an image of "repaying evil with virtue," it would undoubtedly greatly benefit his political career.

As Zhang Mingzhen helped Zheng Hongkui up, he glanced at the generals around him, his lips curled up slightly, deliberately revealing a meaningful smile: "Sir, why don't you come out of the city to welcome the imperial army?"

His words were full of speculation and temptation. Although he had a smile on his face, the meaning behind them was particularly sharp.

Zheng Hongkui's heart tightened upon hearing this, thinking Zhang Mingzhen was blaming him. He hurriedly tried to kneel down again to pledge his loyalty, even faltering for a moment. However, Zhang Mingzhen remained unmoved. He firmly grasped Zheng Hongkui's shoulders and forcibly straightened him, preventing him from moving.

"General Zheng, don't be anxious. I have no ill intentions. I just want to ask you something." Zhang Mingzhen's tone was flat, but the threat in his words invisibly shrouded the entire atmosphere.

Zheng Hongkui was in a panic, not knowing how to respond. While he was still thinking about how to respond, Zhang Mingzhen suddenly burst into laughter:
"General Hong, don't worry. I mean what I say. As long as you join me in fighting the Tartars this time, we can put aside all the past events."

Zheng Hongkui was stunned for a moment, and a glimmer of hope gradually emerged in his heart.

"Now that the country has just recovered and the people can finally live and work in peace, there are still people who are plotting evil and want to cause chaos. They are simply vicious!" Zhang Mingzhen changed the subject, his tone became more severe, and he swept his sharp eyes towards Zheng Hongkui.

His words were not only a warning to Zheng Hongkui, but also a deterrent to everyone around him. He wanted everyone to know that the court valued their loyalty and would never show mercy to those who betrayed him.

After hearing this, Zheng Hongkui's inner uneasiness gradually subsided. Although he still had some concerns, Zhang Mingzhen's tolerance and decisiveness gave him some ideas. If he could gain Zhang Mingzhen's trust, the situation might develop significantly in the future.

(End of this chapter)