Liaodong Lushun Wei, in the schoolyard.

A new battalion of new troops, just sent from Jiangdong, is training regardless of the severe cold.

Xie Qian, one of the five commanders of Donghai Town, pressed his hand on the hilt of the knife, glanced at the trained soldiers with a stern look, and shouted loudly from time to time.

At this time, a military officer hurried over, "Commander!"

Xie Qian turned his head and showed a slightly tired but determined face, "What's the matter?"

After learning about Zhao Ming's southern expedition, Xie Qian was under tremendous pressure. The strong Shandong man worked hard every day to prepare for Lushun defense, and even did not rest during the New Year. He was busy until the third update every day, and his whole body was thinner and his beard grew like weeds.

"Report to the commander, the long walls of South Guam have been built!" said the army quickly.

Xie Qian was excited and asked with a smile, "Isn't there two days left?"

"The Qing army was pressing step by step and could attack Lushun at any time. Dai Qianshi urged him day and night, so he was finished."

Xie Qian shook the cloak behind him, "Let's go, take a look!"

At that moment, the personal guards brought the war horses. Xie Qian ordered the soldiers to continue training, so he turned over the horses, and the horse's hooves splashed snowflakes and galloped northward.

When Donghai Town was preparing to implement the southward strategy, Zhao Ming enlightened Xie Qian, giving him a clear idea.

In recent months, facing the Qing army's pressing step by step, Xie Qian ordered the front-line troops to retreat alternately, while strengthening the defensive fortifications in Lushun.

By now, most of the soldiers of Donghai Town in Liaodong have retreated to Lushun and abandoned Gaizhou, Fuzhou and other places. The vanguard of the Qing army has arrived near Jinzhou Guard.

South Guam is north of Lushun and west of Dalian Bay. It is said to be an island, but it is actually a narrow area connecting Lushun and the Liaodong Peninsula. If you defend this place, the Qing army would not be able to enter Lushun.

It is Dalian Bay to the east and Bohai Sea to the west. The narrowest land area is only more than ten miles away.

Therefore, Xie Qian went here, dug trenches and built long walls, and built the first line of defense outside Lushun.

At this time, on the Nanguan Daozhuan wall, Dai Zhijun, the assistant minister of the vassal government, was commanding nearly 10,000 households to build and strengthen the long wall.

Xie Qian hurried over and saw the wall about two meters high, and the deep trench about one meter deep and three meters wide, and he couldn't help but nod in satisfaction.

"Didn't Mr. Dai say that it's hard to build it in cold weather? Why did you build it well?" Xie Qian came over and said with a smile.

Dai Zhijun was a little tired. He heard the sound and looked at Xie Qian and smiled and said, "Commander Xie, it is indeed difficult to build, and the soil is frozen. I can only ask the civilians and craftsmen to cut down trees, make two rows of fences, then put stones, branches, weeds in the middle, and finally splash water to build an ice wall at the gap."

"It's good to start repairing! Otherwise, I won't be able to sleep one night!" Xie Qian exhaled a breath of turbid air, "Mr. Xu, it's too timely!"

Logically speaking, the long wall built like this is still useful now, but once the weather gets warmer, it loses its effect. However, Xie Qian did not question it, but instead was a little happy.

Seeing this, Dai Zhijun frowned and suddenly asked in a deep voice: "What, are the Qing soldiers going to attack?"

Xie Qian's expression suddenly became solemn, his eyes stared at the northern wilderness, and said for a while: "I have received the exact news that Yue Le has sent troops."

Dai Zhijun's expression became serious, "Prime Minister Nanzheng, Yu also knew that the Qing army must take action, so he was eager to build the long wall, not wanting the Qing army to come so quickly."

After saying that, Dai Zhijun looked at Xie Qian and suddenly asked: "Commander Xie, Prime Minister Nanzheng, the vassal state must first ensure the logistics of the southern army. Lushun may not get any supplies. Are you sure to defend it?"

Xie Qian looked at Dai Zhijun and suddenly laughed: "I wasn't sure at first, but I built the fortifications in South Guam in advance. I am now full of confidence."

Dai Zhijun knew that Xie Qian was not sure, so he changed the subject and said, "Commander Xie, do you know how many Qing soldiers have come?"

Xie Qian stopped his smile and said seriously: "According to the news from the scouts, there are about 40,000 to 50,000 people. It is said that Yue Le personally led his army south. Their vanguard had already arrived at Jinzhou Guard and looted the nearby troughs. Yue Le led the main force and should be on the way to Lushun."

Dai Zhijun looked serious, "The Qing army vanguard has arrived at Jinzhou Guard, and the main force has arrived, it should be in the past few days."

"I have already asked the villagers from Liaodong to evacuate into Lushun, Changxing Island and other places. During the battle, there was no sight of guns and cannons. I wanted to ask Mr. Dai to evacuate Lushun and return to Jiangdong!" Xie Qian said suddenly.

Dai Zhijun shook his head, "When the Prime Minister was expeditioning in the south, I asked me to come to Liaodong to assist Xie in defending Lushun." Dai Zhijun clasped his fists and said without any discussion: "I am responsible for my duties, so I will not obey my duty!"

Seeing this, Xie Qian looked at Dai Zhijun silently for a moment, and finally nodded, "Since that's the case, then let's work together and hurry up and set up defense!"

After Zhao Ming's northern expedition, he moved nearly 100,000 people to Liaodong to expand the colonial period. Now there are about 6,000 troops in Lushun, and more than 20,000 young and strong people.

In theory, this force is difficult to compete with tens of thousands of Qing troops. However, Lushun is surrounded by the sea on three sides and the land entrance to the north is very narrow, which is easy to defend but difficult to attack, but it gives them the possibility of defending the Qing troops.

At present, Xie Qian and Dai Zhijun were in full force to command the defense. In the tense atmosphere, Lushun set up artillery, horse resistance, and pits. The army and young and strong must defend, while the elderly, weak, women and children are responsible for cooking and transporting supplies.

On this day, while the military and civilians in Donghai Town were tensely deploying defenses, they went to Jinzhou guards to monitor the Qing army's scouts and rushed back to the Nanguam defense line.

In the afternoon of that day, a series of low horns suddenly came from the wilderness north of the long wall, and Yue Le finally led the army to fight.

Beyond the long walls and deep trench defense lines of Donghai Town, teams of cavalry rushed towards the ground like mercury. The cavalry raised their heads and blew the trumpet, and the low trumpet kept echoing on the white field.

On the long wall, Xie Qian held the hilt of the knife and looked into the distance. He saw the murderous Qing cavalry in the north lined up endlessly. Behind the team, the infantry pushing artillery and baggage were winding like giant pythons, causing the soldiers of Donghai Town to take a breath.

Dai Zhijun frowned: "I'm afraid there are more than 40,000 people!"

Xie Qian looked cold and waved his hand to order, "Arm the defense!"

A large number of soldiers from Donghai Town immediately carried muskets and climbed up to the long wall with their footsteps. The gunner lifted the cannon suit, revealing the black cannon.

At this time, under the banner of the Qing army, Yue Le stood up with his power, and tens of thousands of horse-staging troops gathered at the banner.
Chapter completed!