The rushing Qiantang River has been surrounded by green flags standing in the forest.
Watching the soldiers approaching the city, the Taiping army began to set up and deploy in an orderly manner. The Hangzhou governor Jiang Huan, who described as a long-sleeved dancing businessman more than an official, is also inevitably hot and sweaty from his back.
As a local native of Hangzhou and the home of a prefect and a tycoon who used shipping and silks as his business, he actually despised Dong Chang, who was a local tyrant from the countryside, and he has always criticized and criticized those people under him.
In his eyes, the so-called Hangzhou Badu are just eight strong leaders who robbed the village to separate one side. It was only when others were still hesitant to play the banner of protecting the land and the people.
That's why he was able to flee back to Zhoucheng alone when Dong Chang was defeated. He wanted to get money from the rich family of the city, thinking that when Dongshan came back, he resolutely contacted several other big surnames and expelled him.
However, after he truly mastered the situation in the state and city, he realized that things were not so simple or easy. What the separatist party needed was not only the ability to govern and operate, but also strong enough force and smooth and decisive means.
And he may be a good hand in business and management, but he is inferior in military strategy, leadership, and training; therefore, he has to rely on some old officials and generals from the old days. The situation is maintained.
As a large part of his basic board and direct power, he is the boatman who can travel across the river and sea. But the strength on land is far inferior to that of Dong Chang and his ilk who came from Shijingdu.
Not to mention that in many important matters, the self-styled Hangzhou governor had to discuss with several other families with the surname surnamed who had given his support to his superiors, which led to his frustration in the battle with Dong Chang.
As a result, Dong Chang not only resisted the attack he dispatched, but gained a firm foothold in Lin'an City; he also eroded the cities and towns that had originally responded to the call of the state city.
Now, Lin'an, Yuqian, Tangshan, Zixi and three towns in the nine counties of Hangzhou have all fallen under Dong Chang's command. The only three places he can control and influence in Zhoucheng are Qiantang, Yuhang and Fuyang on the banks of the Fuchun River.
As for the Yanguan and Xincheng who were subordinate to him in name, that is, after giving a token of some money, food and cloth, the powerful local figures are still in control of the real power.
Therefore, the attack of the Taiping thief is certainly a huge crisis, but it is also an important turning point, which can give him an opportunity to integrate most of the power factions in the territory.
After all, after they retreated to the state city, they were also under the influence of their own territory and influence; and the rich family members in those cities
Under a certain threat and sense of urgency, he was also willing to fully support himself in defending this state city with a strong city defense.
It's just that these peaceful thieves are coming so fiercely, and the speed of their actions is far beyond most people's expectations. I thought it would take some time for the five forces in Suzhou to be defeated one by one.
But I never thought that the grass thieves had been so indifferent, and the army of grass thieves had already killed the shore of Linping Lake, which was separated by only one water from the Qiantang boundary. However, his military preparation measures were not very satisfactory.
On the one hand, those local tycoons, gentry, and big clans are procrastinating and unwilling to pay enough to protect the land and the miscellaneous donations of the village; on the other hand, they are trying their best to fight Dong Chang with Dongchang, and there is no way to adjust to the south Always.
As a result, these Taiping thieves made preparations overnight, and they attacked the lake with the boat masters on the water as their main source; the hastily arranged water village did not play any role, so he had to send what he believed to rely on. Navy.
However, they did not expect that the Taiping thief’s troops on the land also took advantage of the situation and lurked on the two banks of the Caohe River. First, the shipwreck blocked the river and forced a detour to the shore; then, as the boat slowed down, they attacked the navy’s hand and tail with firearms.
Hundreds of large boats and small Wu boats, together with the three thousand boats and water pawns on them, were gone; it is said that the scene of the corpses lying on the pillows and the boats jamming the river was extremely tragic. So that the few brisk boats that fled back, even Zhoucheng did not dare to return, and fled into the sea along the river.
As a result, adjustments that have not been completed do not need to be adjusted, and the conditions that cannot be negotiated are all negotiated at once. Because the thieves have already approached the city, they have begun to partition and encircle the Qiantang city at the mouth of the river, and the east, west, and north sides that are not yet facing the river.
He could only patrol the city over and over again, and with an elder's posture, he loudly encouraged and motivated the familiar and unfamiliar defenders:
"But Zeng has eaten and drank enough... you can kill a few more bandits..."
"Have you settled down at home? Once you have settled down, you will be able to protect your hometown even more... You and my family are behind you..."
"Has the city walls been inspected? Have all the equipment been inspected. The materials under the city have been fully stocked..."
"When these thieves are killed, everyone will be able to drink and eat meat, and give money to their families..."
In order to protect this foundation, he has spared no effort; not only mobilized his family and children on the wall, focusing on the key points, but also dispersed his family resources to recruit more than 10,000 Ding Zhuangs in the city for future generations. use.
Therefore, he not only has the strongest city defense in Hangzhou, but also has enough old and new 30,000 squires to drive. As long as these peaceful thieves can successfully bring down the city, it will reintegrate the great reputation of the place.
Therefore, he is like the most speculative businessman. After the trouble of driving out Dong Chang, he went all out to make his own choice and investment at the time of this crisis.
However, near the corner of the Nancheng wall on the edge of Lake (West) outside the city, Liu Jiwei, the former deputy of the Huqiu Town brigade (manager) of the Suzhou Army and the current lieutenant of the 55th regiment of the temporary garrison, also stood on the low Wu Mountain. He murmured as he faced the towering mottled gray-yellow city wall:
"How do we fight such a high wall... let alone Mizusawa to the west of the city, and there is no place to manipulate equipment"
The Qiantang city in front of him is not a square shape like most cities, but an irregular trapezoid with a narrow north and a wide south. Moreover, the urban areas closer to the south-facing river bank become more open, and the city walls become more irregular and new and old layers are replaced.
Because this city was not directly on the river before this dynasty. It was through the continuous repairs and widening of the silt-up river beaches and stone ponds by Li Mi, Bai Juyi and others in the past dynasties that the pattern that has now been extended has taken a large part.
Therefore, the pattern of the outer walls of Qiantang City is actually divided into two parts: the old city and the new city. Among them, the Liupu area, which is located in the north inland, is the core of the old city, and the city walls are relatively old, dark and low.
When the city wall extended to the new city along the south-facing river, it gradually became taller and brighter, and even the masonry wall foundation and outer ring stone embankment specially used to resist the erosion and erosion of the sea appeared.
There are three artificially excavated tributaries of Waisha, Zhongsha, and Lisha canals, which connect dozens of lakes and lakes near Hangzhou, and gather in the Zhangshen moat that passes through the city; artificial bridges are formed through them. The dangers and buffers.
Therefore, there are four water gates/piers in Qiantang City, but there are only three land gates in the north and east. And while it was occupied by large paddy fields and Pize,
Therefore, as a peripheral force supported by the Taiping Army for a long time, Liu Jiwei, who has been active in the Xuangongshan generation between Xuan, Hu, and Changzhou, can't think of anything other than long-term siege or internal opening of the door. A quick way to overcome it.
Because he discovered that these Taiping troops didn't even set up the siege equipment in time. But he also heard that in the rear area occupied by the Taiping Army, spring ploughing and seedling planting work has begun to be organized during the competition for farming.
—I am the dividing line —
And in Chang'an City, where everyone is in danger of killing themselves, in the Palace of Liangyi in the Imperial City.
"Holy Master...Holy Master...Holy Master is awake..."
In a full of meaningful calls and shouts. Huang Chao, who had been in a coma for not knowing how long, slowly opened his eyes on the golden jade couch.
However, the first thing he saw was Empress Cao with the same face, but with some crow's feet and tears in the corners of his eyes; then there was another pretty face with tears and tears and makeup coming over.
But it was the former concubine Liu who was ordered to be imprisoned, and she confided in a cry of indefinite expectation:
"Holy, you finally woke up... But let us sisters and our mothers, have been worried about the fear of being bad..."
Huang Chao didn't speak immediately, but looked at the people present from the corner of his eye; in addition to the two pillow men and a medical officer, an internal envoy and a palace man, there was still standing in the distance, the military envoy Lin. Yan, Ouchi picks up Huang Yi, and Weihe Mansion leads Liu Di.
This result made Huang Chao couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief. Obviously, the worst situation he expected did not happen. Aside from those foreign ministers, at least in this imperial city, he can still ensure and control the basic safety.
"Please forgive me for my arbitrarily proposition, let the Liu family sister come over to take care of the daily life, and take care of the two children..."
Then, Empress Cao continued to speak.
"These days, it's been hard for you..."
However, Huang Chao also completely skipped the Liu family, who was constantly inquiring about the warmth, and went straight to Empress Cao.
"Only the sage can be healthy, even if the concubine is willing to pay for it... After all, you are the only backbone of our team."
Cao's voice is an understatement.
At this moment, Huang Chao did not speak, but tightly held the woman's rough hand, not letting her back down. Even Liu, whose face changed slightly, kept hanging aside.
Because in this muddled and sometimes sober time, it was this woman he deliberately ignored. She was always by her side and spoke for several hours. He read the progressive memorials to him, and talked about what happened in the outer dynasty and in the city. thing.
For example, the daily life of the five quarrels in the political affairs hall, as well as their privately sent tribes and children, to contact and woo the military and horses of various places;
As Jing Zhaoyin and the ambassador for patrol and defense of the various gates, Xiao Meng (揩), how can he maintain the current situation carefully and walking on thin ice among the crowds like the city and the visitors like clouds.
Another example is that behind the Huang clan and brothers who started to openly fight for power, all kinds of actions that seem to be self-seeking and other ideas; and their tireless efforts to reach out to the inside.
"Tell my mother, as long as you continue to use needle stones, supplemented by decoction and massage, the sage's wind numbness will be relieved after all... But don't be too tired and hurt..."
At this time, it was like the head of the amnesty medical officer trembling and stammering around to explain.
"Send my edict and send someone to Jiangling to issue the decree..."
After drinking a bowl of soup that Cao's personally fed, Huang Chao reluctantly raised his hand weakly.
"Feng Zhou... Huai'an is the king of Hailing County, and he is the same as the master of the school, and he is going to the Zhuguo. Check the school Sikong... Just let your Cao family go..."
During this long period of torment, which was sometimes coma and sometimes awake, but was immobile, he recalled many things that had been forgotten and neglected in the past, and he also wanted to understand some things.
Even relatives and family members who are connected by blood have their own selfishness and tendencies, not to mention the old brothers and seemingly loyal subordinates who have followed for many years. Why should they give their heartfelt and service to the two dumbfounded children for no reason
Sometimes the person who seems to be the most threatening in the crowd may be the one who is beyond the reach of the least imminent danger. At least once I can't afford to fall down here, maybe the two young and helpless children have to rely on the help and shelter of the eldest sister.
Then, accompanied by the Cao family, he began to take turns to meet the members of the relatives who were ordered to come, and then the subordinates who were consciously trustworthy. As for those courtiers who did not come, he also had a preliminary plan in his mind. (End of this chapter)