You can't only love the Qing Dynasty when you're eating the fruits of others' labor.

Chapter 321 The Rigid Art of War, the Superior Art of Politics

A shadow fell over the hearts of all the civil and military officials in Changsha.

Liu Xuanchu was extremely depressed.

He realized that his side was now in an extremely awkward situation, similar to "checkmate" in chess.

The hinterland has been turned upside down by others, and our army must return to defend it. However, the price of returning to defend it is likely to be the loss of the bridgehead—Yuezhou Prefecture, which would result in our army basically losing control of Dongting Lake.

But there was no other way!
We can't possibly call back the main force from the Jiujiang front to reinforce it; firstly, it wouldn't be timely, and secondly, it would affect the course of the battle.

Upon receiving the order, Wu's troops along the Yuezhou-Changde line hurriedly returned to reinforce.

People were panicked for a while.

……

Five days later.

The Zhili and Shaanxi-Gansu Green Standard Army, drawn by the smell of blood, rushed over and set up camp for five miles outside Yuezhou City, ready to attack.

3 days later.

Twenty red-coated cannons were transported by water from Wuchang to the military camp.

Amidst the booming of cannons, smoke filled the air above Yuezhou city.

The intermittent shelling lasted for three days.

"Mr. Nan, I'm begging you."

"Please rest assured, General, I will do my utmost."

Ferdinand Verbiest, a Dutch missionary who claimed that "I am willing to do anything as long as I can preach the gospel," made the sign of the cross while personally calculating the trajectory of the bullets and directing a group of Liaodong Han Army artillerymen to adjust their gun positions.

After initial adjustments, the shells became increasingly accurate.

First, they blasted through the crenellations of the city wall, then they blasted down the city gate tower, and then they focused their attack on the city gate.

Artillery shelling is a complex art that requires experience in mathematics, chemistry, and materials science.

These cannons all came from the Haojing'ao Cannon Factory opposite Xiangshan County, Guangdong. They had bombarded Qing troops for the Ming army and Qing troops for the Ming army, and were rich in battlefield experience.

Amidst the deafening roar of cannons, Ferdinand Verbiest prayed softly: "God, may your light shine in the East, and I wish never to return to my homeland in this life."

Boom~
The soldiers erupted in a chorus of cheers.

The city gates and drawbridge of Yuezhou were shattered by cannon fire; the power of artillery was terrifying.

……

Jiang Zhongcheng drew his sword: "Attack the city!"

"Siege!"

Shield carts, wheelbarrows, siege ladders, archers, and swordsmen and shield bearers surged toward Yuezhou in a dark mass.

Wu Jun was a disciple of the Eight Banners.

The same applies to the pro-independence camp.

In this battle, Jiang Zhongcheng supervised the battle with the Zhili infantry and monitored the Shaanxi-Gansu cavalry, urging the Henan and Hubei Green Standard Army to fight hard to capture the city.

Ferdinand Verbiest walked to the banner with a dark, grimy face.

"Honorable Commander, I have fulfilled my mission."

"Mr. Nan, I've been watching you do this and that, and I don't quite understand." - Jiang Zhongcheng
He gestured a few times.

Ferdinand Verbiest quickly explained, "General, I was praying to God."

Jiang Zhongcheng was startled: "If I pray, the cannons will be able to fire accurately?"

"Prayer has some effect, but it's not complete; mathematical knowledge is also required."

"Your God is good."

Upon hearing this, Ferdinand Verbiest's heart pounded. Could it be that God's light was about to descend? But when he thought of the fate of his predecessor, Johann Adam Schall von Bell, he dared not utter a word.

……

The battle cries shook the heavens, ladders were erected against the walls, arrows were fired at each other, and rocks rained down.

The fighting around the breach in the city gate was the most intense. The defending troops desperately tried to block it, while the Henan Green Standard Army kept firing. The smoke from the matchlock guns even enveloped the city gate.

Meng Qiaomei arrived in a hurry.

"General, this humble general requests permission to seize the city gate."

"Okay, be more careful."

"As ordered."

Before long, Meng Qiaomei personally led an elite cavalry unit straight to the city gate, charging into Yuezhou City on roads paved with shield carts, wheelbarrows, and earthen bags.

The cavalry charged forward with great speed, clearing a path for the infantry behind them.

Jiang Zhongcheng was beaming with excitement.

"Okay, okay."

"Old Nan, I'm rewarding you with 100 taels of gold today. If you work hard for me from now on, you'll have beautiful women, silver, and land—you'll have it all."

"Governor Xie, I wish to go and treat those poor wounded soldiers."

Jiang Zhong hesitated for a moment, then nodded.

Half an hour later, realizing that the situation was hopeless, Wang Pingfan, the garrison commander of Yuezhou, led his remaining troops to break through through another gate. The encirclement was three sides wide, with one side open.

It gives hope to the soldiers on the front lines.

The Shaanxi-Gansu cavalry relentlessly pursued him for dozens of miles, and Wang Pingfan barely survived by jumping into the water alone.

……

Three days later.

General Meng Qiaomei of Xi'an Town requested an audience.

Jiang Zhongcheng was drinking alone, enjoying himself immensely while listening to music.

"General Meng, what brings you here?"

"General, when will our army march south?"

"No rush, defend instead of attack."

"General, the situation is very favorable. If our army presses its advantage, we will surely be able to reclaim a large amount of lost territory. General, I am willing to pledge my loyalty and take Changde as the vanguard."

Jiang Zhongcheng looked embarrassed, wiped his face, and said quietly, "My son won't allow it."

Meng Qiaomei was startled and quickly bowed her head and clasped her hands in apology.

"It was my oversight and my rashness that led me to this position."

"It's alright, I have nothing else to do, stay and have a drink."

"As ordered."

"Come on, tell the kitchen to bring out a few more hearty dishes."

The two drank together.
In general, Jiang Zhongcheng was a man who had lost his refined tastes. He was enthusiastic about all sorts of vulgar pleasures in the secular world and enjoyed them immensely. Starting from his time as a cavalry officer, he had already taken eight concubines.

His advisor reminded him that the number of concubines he could take should never exceed that of the Grand Secretary, and he heeded his advice.

Late at night~
Drunk and intoxicated, Jiang Zhongcheng suddenly decided to patrol the city. He inspected the city along the way, rewarding those who performed their duties and killing those who were lazy, without any emotional fluctuation.

The wounded soldiers' camp.

He was greatly shocked to see the busy Ferdinand Verbiest.

The next day, he secretly summoned the relevant officials.

When did Mr. Nan arrive at the wounded soldiers' camp?

"Mr. Nan has been here these past few days, taking care of the wounded soldiers from dawn till dusk, and even buying a lot of medicines out of his own pocket. The wounded soldiers are very grateful."

"I know, let's go."

Jiang Zhongcheng couldn't help but exclaim, "I think this God is no ordinary being."

……

Relying on its superior numbers, Wu Jun killed over 400 Manchu soldiers, regaining control of the heart of Hunan. He also reorganized the post stations and grain routes, at great expense.

Only about 500 Eight Banner soldiers managed to slip through the gaps in Wu Jun's forces and return to Yuezhou. Another small group of Eight Banner soldiers crossed the Yanshi Pass of the Luoxiao Mountains and arrived in Chaling, Jiangxi.

The summer heat was intense, and the two sides entered a stalemate.

The Hunan battlefield.

Wu Jun heavily defended Changsha.

The Zhili Green Standard Army was stationed inside Yuezhou City, while the Henan and Hubei Green Standard Army, which suffered heavy casualties, were stationed outside Yuezhou City as front-line cannon fodder. The Shaanxi-Gansu Green Standard Army retreated 50 li to garrison in order to take advantage of its cavalry and provide support at any time.

Jiangxi battlefield.

After a prolonged siege of the fortified city of Jiujiang with 5 troops failing to capture it, and with logistical problems arising, they had no choice but to retreat to Nankang Prefecture, a hundred miles away, to rest and reorganize.

It started with a long march by 2500 elite Eight Banner troops.
From a purely military perspective, Jiang Qingyun's command was rigid and sluggish.

However, from a political perspective, Jiang Qingyun's command was brilliant.

……

In the summer of the twelfth year of the Shunzhi reign, Jiang Qingyun acted like a skillful standard-bearer, continuously encircling and blocking Wu Sangui's dragon.

The first piece was placed in Yuezhou.

The second piece is placed on the theme of righteousness.

Changsha City.

Wu Sangui flew into a rage.

"What do you mean Jiang Qingyun doesn't acknowledge that I am an anti-Qing and pro-Ming figure? What do you mean I must have the Yongli Emperor's edict of approval before we can restart the peace talks?"

Liu Xuanchu couldn't help but ask, "Your Highness, when did you sue for peace?"

"Nonsense! I never even considered suing for peace, let alone sent anyone to do so. Don't believe me? Ask Prime Minister Xia, ask Li Benshen."

Xia and Liu both nodded silently.

"Really not?"

"Not really."

Liu Xuanchu gasped.

"Your Highness, this is bad. Jiang Qingyun is probably playing the righteous card with you."

(End of this chapter)