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After Ma Liuliang broke through the three dangerous passes of Lang Son and defeated Zheng Kaiping's 20,000 defenders, he quickly attacked Thang Long Prefecture;
After passing Lang Son, there was the flat alluvial plain of the Red River. Nothing could stop his army of more than 10,000 people. However, it was more than 200 miles from Guijianchou Pass to Thang Long Prefecture (Hanoi), the capital of Jiaozhi. Ma Liuliang was composed entirely of infantry. Even if there was no obstruction, it would take at least three days to reach Thang Long Prefecture.
Three days, is it still enough
"Hurry up! Run faster!" Ma Liuliang kept yelling in a hurry. More than 10,000 soldiers were running on the plain, and the scene was very spectacular.
At this season, Jiaozhi was in the busy farming season. The early rice had just been harvested and the second season had not yet been planted. Farmers were plowing the fields when they suddenly saw an army of tens of thousands rolling in. They were so scared that they dropped their plows and ran away, even leaving their oxen behind.
Those wolf soldiers from Guangxi don't care about you so much. Wherever they go, they slaughter buffaloes for meat and snatch all the freshly harvested rice as military rations.
Ma Liuliang tried his best, trying to capture Thang Long Prefecture before the navy, but it was probably too late.
Halong Bay is located at the mouth of the Red River. There are numerous mountains and islands on the sea, scattered all over the place.
When you get here, no one can help but be amazed at the ingenious workmanship of nature, which has carved rocks and islands into various shapes, some like chopsticks inserted into the water, some like large tripods floating on the water, some like galloping horses, and some like fighting roosters.
The most famous one is Toad Island, which is shaped like a toad sitting on the sea with grass in its mouth, looking lifelike.
No one knows how many islands and mountains there are floating on the blue sea, but the picturesque scenery is like a paradise on earth.
Gu Rong, who led the East China Sea Fleet here, easily sank more than ten small and medium-sized warships of the Zheng family. Under the dense artillery fire of the Qin army, the remaining dozens of enemy ships dared not fight again and fled using the mountain islands.
Gu Rong was too lazy to chase after these small fish and shrimps. After ordering five gunboats, ten eagle boats and bluff boats to control the waters at the mouth of the Red River, he immediately led most of the warships of the East China Sea Fleet into the Red River.
The Red River originates in Yunnan, China. The section of the river in Yunnan is called Yuanjiang River. After entering Jiaozhi, it is called Heishui River. It is called Red River in the lower reaches.
The abundant water volume makes it the largest river in the northern part of Jiaozhi, forming a vast Red River alluvial plain in the Longsheng Prefecture area, which is the largest granary and the richest area in Jiaozhi.
The downstream river channel is accommodating large ships, and Gu Rong’s warships can go directly up the river and reach the city of Thang Long.
Just two days ago, Thang Long City was peaceful and prosperous. With the cooperation of Dong Wu State, Zheng not only destroyed the Mo clan in the north, but also defeated the Nguyen clan in the south and seized several cities of the Nguyen clan.
However, Zheng Xun knew very well that the ambitious Emperor Qin would not let the Zheng family off easily.
As the states of Sulu and Brunei were destroyed one by one by the Qin Dynasty, Zheng Zhen became more and more worried. He ordered the construction of three fortresses in Lang Son and sent heavy troops to guard them.
What about the sea? The demise of Sulu and Brunei was caused by the Qin Navy. Not to mention that Zheng's navy had lost most of its troops outside Quanzhou Bay, even if the original navy was still there, how could it be a match for the Qin Navy
What you fear will come true. Zheng Xun suddenly heard the news that the Qin navy had entered the Red River, and he stood up in shock. But it seemed that God didn't think this blow was enough. Then, from the north came the news that Zheng Kaiping had been defeated and three dangerous passes had been breached.
The news of the Qin Dynasty's full-scale attack on Jiaozhi spread quickly in Thang Long Prefecture like a plague. People in the market were talking about it, and some wealthy families had already packed up their belongings and prepared to flee the city.
Zheng Xun urgently summoned his two trusted advisers Li Ming and Cai Xu, as well as several of his own sons, including his second son Zheng Zao, King of the West, his third son Zheng Li, Duke of Fu, his fourth son Zheng Di, Duke of Qiongyan, and his fifth son Zheng Jian, Duke of Hua.
"Gu Rong has entered the Red River with 20 gunboats and hundreds of small and medium-sized warships. Lang Son in the north was defeated, and more than 10,000 Qin troops are heading towards Thang Long Prefecture. What do you think we should do?"
Zheng Xun, who is over seventy years old and has white hair, tried his best to remain calm, but the long beard under his palate could not help but tremble slightly while he spoke.
Cai Xu and others turned pale, the incident happened too suddenly. The Qin army attacked from both land and sea with unstoppable force. Even the pass of Lang Son was useless. In the face of such absolute strength, what could everyone do
Under Zheng Xun's gaze, Cai Xu could only say with difficulty: "My lord, the three dangerous passes in Lang Son were not defended for a day by an army of 20,000. This shows the power of the Qin army's artillery. My lord, Thang Long Prefecture is located on a plain with no strategic locations on all sides. The Qin navy's gunboats can sail directly to the city. Thang Long City may..."
"Do you mean to give up Shenglong City?"
Zheng Xu lowered his head in fear and stopped talking, but his meaning was clear enough. Zheng Xun then asked Li Ming, "What does Mr. Li mean?"
Li Ming, who was always eloquent, stammered: "My Lord... This..."
"What do you mean?" Zheng Zhen suddenly turned to his sons and asked sternly.
The sons looked at each other, and finally the fifth son Zheng Jian gritted his teeth and decided to fight to the death. He bowed and said, "Father, the Qin army has tens of thousands of troops attacking us from both land and sea. Our navy is unable to stop the enemy outside the country. Lang Son has just suffered a great defeat, and the army is in panic. Once the Qin army sieges the city, Thang Long Prefecture will be in danger.
Father, I suggest that you withdraw from Thang Long Prefecture first, then gather troops from all over the country and slowly deal with the Qin army. I will be the one to guard Thang Long City. I promise that as long as the people are in the city, they will be gone. If the city is destroyed, the people will die. "
Although Zheng Jian was in good health, he was already in his seventies, and it was rare for a person to live to be seventy. Under such circumstances, he did not have an official heir. As the youngest of the brothers, Zheng Jian would not normally be the one to inherit the position of head of the family.
But the Zheng family is in a precarious situation now. If he stays to defend Shenglong City, if he succeeds, it will be a great achievement and he may very well get the position of the head of the family.
As the saying goes, you can't catch a wolf without sacrificing a lamb. This time, Zheng Jian is really going all out.
After hearing this, Zheng Xun gave his youngest son an admiring look. He was an experienced man, and seeing that the situation had suddenly changed and was difficult to reverse, he naturally knew that he could not throw everything into the fight and defend Thang Long Prefecture.
Since ancient times, the Central Plains dynasties have attacked Jiaozhi many times. In a head-on confrontation based on strength, Jiaozhi would definitely not be a match for the Central Plains dynasties.
Jiaozhi had to take advantage of the complex mountainous terrain and slowly consume the Central Plains dynasty. Only in this way could it win the final victory.
The situation is even worse now. The power of Qin's firearms is so powerful that even the red-haired devils in the West cannot compare to it. If we continue to compete with the Qin army for the gains and losses of a city or a pond, it would be tantamount to seeking death.
"Qian'er, you are very brave. Your father is very pleased. Then Shenglong City will be handed over to you. Your father will leave 20,000 troops for you. If you can defend Shenglong City, your father will reward you for your merits in the future and will not treat you unfairly."
"Thank you, father." Zheng Jian quickly knelt down and bowed, "Don't worry, father. I will live up to your trust and defend Thang Long City until you lead the army back and defeat the Qin army."
"Okay, okay, my son, go and prepare to take over the army."
Zheng Xun was very decisive and immediately decided to withdraw from Thang Long City. The Qin army's naval and land forces could arrive at Thang Long City at any time, and he had little time to retreat.
Zheng Xun hurriedly evacuated with Lord Li that afternoon. In such a rush, the things they could take away were very limited.
His retreat threw officials and civilians of Thang Long City into a state of panic. The nobles and commoners also took their valuables and tried to flee Thang Long City, causing chaos in the city.
The people were rushing to the streets with their families, shouting, cursing, and crying. Zheng Jian, who was in charge of the defense of Thang Long City, felt that the situation was not good and immediately ordered the city gates to be closed, prohibiting people from entering or leaving.
The people imprisoned in the city knelt down and begged in droves, hoping that Zheng Jian would be merciful and let them escape from the city. Under the city gate, a huge crowd of people, men, women, young and old, knelt, their cries filled the air.
Zheng Jian had no choice but to send soldiers to drive out the people under the city. What made him angry was that many of the soldiers he sent to drive out the people actually blended in with the people and became deserters.
.(To be continued..)
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