In Wu Zheng's opinion, even if the troops in his hands are not enough to restore Yingtian Prefecture, it should not be difficult to take over a new defeat in Changzhou, which has empty troops and is newly defeated.

The Qing army suffered two consecutive defeats, and its morale was definitely low. With the composition of the Qing army, the largest part was the surrendered army of Ming troops from all over the country.

The troops that Hong Chengchou could mobilize had reached its limit. Even if the Qing court in the north could increase its troops south, it would take half a month later.

If the front line can be advanced north of Changzhou, it may not be impossible for the Ming army to recover the south bank of the Yangtze River.

If you are lucky, if Yingtian Prefecture can be restored, the situation of the anti-Qing Dynasty will be reversed instantly.

Countless surrendered troops along the southeast coast will come in any case, and rebels from all over the country will rush in.

The worst is that it can rely on the natural dangers of the Yangtze River and the Qing Dynasty to govern the north and south.

I delayed in Jiangyin for two days. Even if I arrived in Hangzhou for two or three days, I may not be able to catch up with the battle of Shaoxing Prefecture.

Although he was worried, Wu Zheng decided to continue the Northern Expedition.

Wuzhuang is protected by Chen Sheng in Pinggang Mountain. If the relatives in Zhuangzhong retreat to the mountain village to defend, they can support them for a period of time.

In addition, Chi Erhan led 10,000 people to reinforce. Although it was difficult to defend Shaoxing Prefecture, it was probably possible to escort the monarch and ministers of Shaoxing Prefecture to retreat to Hangzhou.

Compared with the loss of Shaoxing Prefecture, it is more worthwhile to occupy Changzhou and march into Yingtian Prefecture.

Wu Zheng still had a trace of hope, that after taking Changzhou, the surrounding rebels might come to take effect, so that the troops under his command could be used to attack the city would increase.

The army had already set off, and Wu Zheng and other generals were at the end.

At this moment, a sudden sound came from behind, "General, stay."

Wu Zheng turned around and saw the old man who had stopped him in the official road, and with the help of several young men, rushed towards his own direction.

Wu Zheng hurriedly met him, "What else is there to do when my father-in-law comes in such a hurry?"

The old man bowed excitedly and said, "The general saved me from Jiangyin. The old man couldn't repay you. Please wait for a moment. The people of Jiangyin will give you a great gift."

Wu Zheng heard this and laughed.

If you are greedy for money and want to receive gifts, the 100,000 taels of silver plundered by the national treasures in the county government will not be returned to the people of Jiangyin.

No matter how heavy the old man gives, can heavier than 100,000 taels of silver?

"I have received my wish, but there is no need for this ceremony. I am in urgent need of military affairs, so I will not be with you." Wu Zheng declined.

I didn't expect the old man to come forward and grab Wu Zheng's hand, "The general led the royal army to the west, but to restore Changzhou?"

Wu Zheng did not want to disclose it, but Wu Zheng also believed in the old man's loyalty and righteousness.

If anyone in Jiangyin City would betray him, I am afraid that the saliva of the people in the city would drown him.

In a city, 81st day, there were more than 100,000 lives, and no one surrendered to the Qing Dynasty. This kind of foundation cannot produce traitors.

"My father guessed right. I heard that there were few soldiers in Changzhou City, so I wanted to take advantage of the situation to restore Nanjing."

The old man said happily: "The General is indeed a famous general in our dynasty. Since that's the case, the General must accept this gift!"

Wu Zheng became curious now. Can the gift given by the people still matter the success or failure of this battle?

So Wu Zheng was reluctant to wait.

After about one cigarette, hundreds of people in the city were carrying many large tanks.

There is also a long cart, wrapped tightly, and I don’t know what is in it.

Wu Zheng was led forward by the old man.

Come to this crowd.

The old man pointed at the big tanks and said to Wu Zheng: "Can you know what these are?"

Wu Zheng looked at the large tanks with tight seals of oil paper, and suddenly moved his heart and asked in horror: "Is it...it's gunpowder?"

The old man slammed the high and exclaimed: "The General is indeed a god-like man, and there is gunpowder in this tank."

Wu Zheng was shocked and looked at the twenty or so large tanks. Oh my God, how much gunpowder should be there? Four people carry a tank of four, at least two or three hundred kilograms.

How could a county town in Jiangyin have such a huge amount of gunpowder?

"Brother, where do these gunpowder come from? How could there be such a large amount of gunpowder in the city?"

The old man raised his head and his expression became extremely solemn. He trembled his fingers and pointed at the gate of the city tower. The gate of Yan Yingyuan left behind, and said tremblingly: "On the 21st of the leap month of June, the Qing army could not conquer for several days. He asked for support from the Qing court. The Qing court sent seven kings, eight kings, ten kings, etc. to lead more than 1,000 generals, more than 100,000 troops of horses and stances, and brought 240 cannons to the outside of Jiangyin City. The surrendered general Liu Liangzuo's troops were the vanguard and attacked Ximen first."

"Donald Yan led the people of the whole city to defend the death, sent hundreds of messengers to ask for help from all over the surrounding areas... Can the general know how many reinforcements these hundreds of messengers asked for?"

Wu Zheng was silent and shook his head.

The old man said in grief and anger: "No soldier and one soldier entered Jiangyin! However, there were at least tens of thousands of people from all over the country. What's so annoying is that the Ming army in various places took advantage of this to blackmail Jiangyin, such as Wu Song general Wu Zhikui. He borrowed his soldiers to owe him a long time to pay, and Jiangyin had to offer a thousand gold to reinforce. Yan Dianshi sent someone to collect enough gold and send it to Wu Zhikui."

Wu Zheng said angrily: "Have Wu Zhikui come to reinforce?"

The old man nodded and said, "Here's here. But time has been delayed. The Qing army has formed a three-sided encirclement of Jiangyin City. Before Wu Zhikui arrived in Jiangyin, his troops were defeated by the Qing army. He himself was captured by the Qing army and surrendered."

Wu Zheng's face looked like water, and his depression was beyond words.

It would be fine if you don’t know many things, but once you hear them, you will feel endless annoyance in your heart.

What kind of world is this? The Ming army, who was supposed to be responsible for defending the territory, let it go. Instead, the grass-roots bandits shed the last drop of blood for the Ming Dynasty. What's even more tragic is that the tens of thousands of people who died in the West in Jiangyin City died in a state of vassal for the Ming Dynasty.

The old man continued: "Yan Dianshi had no choice but to register the city's household registration, how many households, how many people, how many people, how many people, how many people, how many people, how many people, how many people in the middle of the year, all of them were registered one by one. Then he selected some strong and brave people from them and relied on their strength to achieve this righteous act. After that, Yan Gong also raised funds, and paid money to pay, but he could also give money and work. He also bought all the money from the surrounding area and stocked up the materials in the center of the city. At most, there were five hundred urns of gunpowder, two thousand stones of lead marbles, more than one hundred cannons, two thousand bird guns, ten thousand stagnants of money, ten thousand silk, thousands of jars of wine, ten thousand beans, thousands of beans, thousands of beans, thousands of bunches of grass, ten thousand jin of salt, ten thousand copper and ironware, thousands of cows, thousands of pigs, thousands of bags of dried fish, and thousands of vegetables."

Wu Zheng was stunned. Yan Yingyuan's work was indeed big enough.

This, in turn, also demonstrates the mind that the Jiangyin people have made for this. Even if the Shaoxing Prefecture court has no longer had the ability to raise such huge materials, and a small county in Jiangyin has raised such a large amount of materials. The Ming Dynasty really hides the wealth of the people.
Chapter completed!