Chapter 356

Rushing over all the way, looking at the closed Luzhou City before him, Qin Qin Tianrui's face was very ugly.

The key to a surprise attack lies in being unexpected.

The enemy was now on guard, and with the few troops he had in his hands, the difficulty of wanting to take Luzhou Prefecture was truly too great.

"Pass the order: change course to Yangzhou!"

Qin Qin Tianrui ordered coldly.

"Regional Commander, Yangzhou is not like Luzhou; it is located behind the rebels, and we have no reinforcements to support us if we go there!"

A Assistant Regional Commander on the side advised hurriedly.

Attacking Luzhou Prefecture, although dangerous, was at least close to Huguang and Henan.

If they encountered trouble, they could shift to either side.

Penetrating deep into Yangzhou Prefecture, the situation changed; there were enemies everywhere.

If they couldn't quickly seize Yangzhou City, the rebels would soon mobilize a large army to encircle and suppress them.

"Rest assured.

As long as we reach Yangzhou Prefecture, there will be people to support us.

The navy is cruising in the outer seas and can provide us with support at any time.

The troops under the Viceroy of Fujian and Zhejiang are attacking Suzhou Prefecture, which happens to echo us from afar."

Qin Qin Tianrui said confidently.

Unlike other regions, Yangzhou Prefecture was the starting place of the Yangzhou Camp.

Their management in the local area had long since penetrated every corner of society.

The Yangzhou Camp withdrew from Yangzhou Prefecture, which didn't mean that the management of those years had all disappeared.

There were many people who were closely connected to the Yangzhou Camp and were reluctant to leave their homeland.

With prior warnings, these people didn't fight to the death with the rebels, but instead actively joined the rebel ranks, waiting for the court's counterattack.

Among the many dark pieces buried, a few could always play a role.

Compared to attacking other regions, the odds of winning by seizing Yangzhou Prefecture were actually greater.

Qin Qin Tianrui didn't have high requirements; he didn't aspire to swallow Yangzhou in one bite, as long as he could take a few cities and establish a solid foothold, it would be a great merit.

It would be best if he could use this as a foothold to seize the Huaiyang region later.

Even if the attack failed, burning the flames of war over there could also cut off the rebels' source of wealth.

Purely from a tactical perspective, the imperial army splitting its forces to Anqing Prefecture, causing heavy losses to the Regiment Army, was undoubtedly a failure.

But shifting to the strategic level, it was a different scene.

The imperial army entered on a large scale, and the rebels' conscription of civilians to guard the city and their series of actions like clearing the fields outside the city severely damaged the local economy.

From Poyang Lake to the vast area of Anqing, plus half of Luzhou Prefecture, the economy had been greatly damaged, weakening the rebels' war potential.

Continuing to penetrate deep behind enemy lines and burning the flames of war to Huaiyang, a salt tax stronghold, would have an even greater impact.

Since the war broke out, except for a few cities, the rebels' sphere of influence had basically been compressed back to Nanzhili.

There were fourteen prefectures in total, among which Songjiang Prefecture had long since fallen, and Xuzhou, Suzhou, and Take Fengyang Prefectures had become battlefields.

Now Anqing and Luzhou Prefectures were also affected by the war, and the Viceroy of Fujian and Zhejiang was still planning to attack Huizhou and Ningguo Prefectures.

If they dragged Yangzhou Prefecture into the flames of war again, the rebels' days would be even harder.

Even if none of the battlefields could achieve a breakthrough, dragging it on for a year or a half would wear the rebels out on the battlefield.

"Damn rebels, I didn't dig up your ancestors' graves, so why are you chasing us so relentlessly..."

On the road of escape, the cursing words of the Regiment Army soldiers fell into Bai Jing Yifeng's ears like arrows, piercing his heart.

The rebels were biting them to death, half because the soft persimmon was easy to pinch, and the other half because of the hatred they had drawn before.

When it came to the rebels, no unit did it as absolutely as the Regiment Army.

Even the Li Mu unit, which killed the most rebels, didn't draw as much hatred as they did.

Fighting on the battlefield, each serving their own master, there was nothing to say.

The key lay in the aftermath.

Rebel soldiers who fell into the hands of other imperial armies were either beheaded or exiled.

The government's pursuit of their families was also mostly confiscation and exile.

Only the Regiment Army was an exception.

Not only were captured rebel soldiers cruelly executed, but the rebels' families didn't escape their clutches either.

Most of the time, innocent neighbors would also be implicated.

They didn't dig up the rebels' ancestors' graves because these rebels were all poor wretches, and no oil could be squeezed out of their graves.

If they encountered those whose ancestors were wealthy, they wouldn't give up the opportunity to make a fortune.

Hearing that they were chasing the Regiment Army, the rebels' morale directly increased by +1+1+1...

Even though they had rich experience in running away, they didn't get any good in this pursuit battle.

"Big Brother, the road back to Huguang is blocked; let's go to Henan!"

Bai Bai Yihao suggested with a grim expression.

Blocking the road was a small problem; they ran fast, and the rebels behind hadn't caught up yet.

The rebels intercepting in front were mostly old and weak left to guard the local area, and their combat effectiveness was very limited.

Being able to break through layers of interception all the way was largely because the enemies blocking the road were just going through the motions and didn't want to fight them to the death at all.

Proposing to run to Henan was mainly because the Regiment Army had harmed Huguang severely, and they had offended too many people in the local area.

The few thousand people they had gathered were not enough to ensure their safety.

In comparison, the situation in Henan was much better.

The Regiment Army had never been active there, so naturally, there was no talk of offending anyone.

Without personal grudges, everyone was an army of the court, and the local government wouldn't deliberately make things difficult for them.

"Hmm!"

"At a time like this, we should indeed break through to Henan.

However, we are unfamiliar with the place, and the local government's finances are not rich, so they will likely be unable to provide us with logistical supplies.

To stay in Henan for a while, we must first solve the money and grain problem."

Bai Jing Yifeng thought for a while and said.

Deep down, he thought of many things.

Failing to earn merit and instead suffering a major defeat, his official career was basically buried.

The future of the Regiment Army also became confusing.

If there were no major changes, the Regiment Army being disbanded after the war was a high-probability event.

If lucky, he could find someone to operate for a position with real power.

If unlucky, being dismissed on the spot was not impossible.

For Bai Jing Yifeng, such a result was undoubtedly unacceptable.

Missing the opportunity to earn merit in suppressing the Fu rebels, he could only look for new opportunities.

The current Great Dayu Dynasty was almost filled with smoke everywhere.

The southern rebels had become a climate and were hard to fight now, so he would seek development in the north.

Compared to the southern rebels who were carving out their own territory, the northern rebels who had just started were very immature in all aspects at this time.

"Big Brother, the money and grain problem is a big trouble.

It's simple to rob the rebels now, but the trouble is how to transport the things out smoothly after robbing them.

The subsequent pursuing troops are getting more and more numerous.

If we are not careful and get bitten by the enemy, it will be a big trouble!"

Bai Bai Yihao shook his head and said.

Money and grain had always been a difficult problem plaguing the Great Dayu Dynasty; from the Nine Borders elites to the inland garrison soldiers, there was no one who didn't worry about money and grain.

The Regiment Army, a unit without an establishment, was even more miserable, and all the money and grain materials needed could only be raised by themselves.

Back in their hometown, with the threat of rebels, to protect their family foundation, the gentry could still sponsor a part.

More money and grain were raised by imposing additional taxes on the people and looting.

The Regiment Army's reputation stank because of what happened during the process of raising pay.

As a landlord armed force, they originally had a good relationship with the gentry, and their poor discipline wouldn't lead them to attack "their own people."

The main reason for the falling out between the two sides was that they took the money but still couldn't stop the rebels.

The money was spent, but everyone still suffered the disaster of war.

The gentry, who suffered heavy losses, besides hating the rebels, were also very dissatisfied with the Regiment Army's incompetence.

After suffering a loss, it wouldn't work to use "protecting the borders and pacifying the people" to fool everyone into giving money and grain.

By the time the imperial army recovered Huguang, not only did the gentry not want to sponsor the Regiment Army, but merchants and commoners also didn't want to pay them.

Not realizing the problem in the first time, the Regiment Army still used force to collect forcibly, suddenly standing on the opposite side of everyone.

Bai Jing Yifeng realized the severity of the problem, but the situation could no longer be cleaned up.

Forced by helplessness, after the war broke out, he took the initiative to ask for a mission.

In fact, even if he didn't stand up to ask for a mission, the Marquis of Zhenyuan would have forcibly assigned him to go on an expedition.

After all, people had their own direct armed forces, and the existence of the Regiment Army was very eye-sore.

Ordering them to be disbanded directly would cost a large sum of money and easily cause trouble.

Consuming them on the battlefield was a good choice for all parties.

"Take as much as you can.

The situation in the north is also very bad.

The reforms of the late Emperor's era couldn't stop the endless natural disasters.

The grain storage in Guanzhong is limited; it won't be long before the rebels break out to loot.

After passing the early stage, the roving bandits will kill their way into Henan, and those local officials will take the initiative to come to us and ask us to send troops.

If we can't beat the Fu Pingnan Fu Haoxuan who has become a climate, can't we beat a group of roving bandits?"

Bai Jing Yifeng analyzed with feigned calmness.

The speculation about the rebels breaking out was learned from participating in military meetings.

Whether the prediction would become reality, he himself was not sure.

Now, to appease the hearts of the people, this must be true.

Although trapped by the Regiment Army's notoriety, the Regiment Army high-level officials had no way out, but to make everyone struggle, they still needed a big pie.

Whether to develop in Henan or Huguang was not important.

The key was that the Regiment Army must develop, so that everyone's glory and wealth could be guaranteed.

Even now, the Regiment Army internally still longed to obtain an official establishment and join the Great Dayu Dynasty's ruling team.

Nanjing City.

Looking at the battle report in his hand, Fu Pingnan Fu Haoxuan's brows were locked.

Looking purely at the battle results, the Anqing counterattack was indeed fought well, with the number of beheaded heads exceeding ten thousand.

This was the greatest battle result achieved by the Wu Army since the outbreak of the war.

Winning tactically but becoming increasingly passive strategically.

The flames of war were burning brighter and brighter, the battle lines were stretched longer and longer, and there were not many peaceful places in the entire Wu State.

Affected by the war, winter plowing in many places was severely damaged, and next year's spring grain would inevitably decrease.

"Everyone has seen the Marquis of Wumu's victory report.

This battle was fought well, severely damaging the enemy and showing the prestige of our Great Wu.

The only fly in the ointment is that we couldn't keep the Jiangxi First Town, letting Qin Qin Tianrui's unit slip away.

Except for a few remnants, the Anqing campaign has basically come to an end.

From where should we launch a counterattack next? Do you ministers have any ideas?"

Fu Pingnan Fu Haoxuan asked.

Regardless of whether the Anqing campaign met expectations, he had to publicize it vigorously.

Since the start of the war, the Wu State had been fighting passively, and the war situation in all places was not optimistic.

Compared to constantly losing cities and territories, the Anqing campaign at least defeated the enemy and had a harvest of over ten thousand.

Artistically processing it, it was approximately equal to annihilating fifty thousand enemies and severely damaging the coalition formed by Jiangxi and Huguang provinces.

"Your Majesty, the troops under Jing Jing Yifeng, under the Viceroy of Fujian and Zhejiang, are launching an attack on Suzhou Prefecture, with about thirty thousand troops.

Compared to other battlefields, the pseudo-dynasty's troop deployment on the Suzhou line is relatively weak.

After the Marquis of Wumu ends the Anqing campaign, let him march south to participate in the Suzhou campaign.

Defeating Jing Jing Yifeng's unit will not only stabilize our rear but also take the opportunity to recover Songjiang Prefecture and push the battle line to the Hangzhou area.

If conditions permit, launch the Zhejiang campaign and sweep away the Fujian-Zhejiang coalition with the power of a great victory.

With one of the four pseudo-dynasty armies gone, the strategic initiative will return to our hands!"

Minister of War Fan Yu Xiuwen immediately brought out a battle plan.

For this campaign, the Wu State had put in enough effort.

Unfortunately, no matter how hard they tried, facing the imperial army's multi-pronged siege, the Wu State still appeared very strained.

Sitting on one million troops was just a false number to fool people, and the troops with real combat effectiveness were only a few.

After being distributed to all battle lines, the mobile forces that the Wu State could use were only a little over one hundred thousand.

It sounded like a large number, but it still felt like there weren't enough troops.

The gap in combat effectiveness determined that they had to gather several times the superior force to have a battle against the imperial army's main force.

"Minister Fan, that is wrong!"

"Speed is the essence of war. Besides considering the strength of the enemy, we must also consider the speed of troop mobilization.

The Marquis of Wumu's troops are in Anqing, and whether participating in the Jiujiang campaign or going to reinforce Nanchang, it is closer than marching south to Suzhou Prefecture."

Right Prime Minister Yang Yang Jingren immediately opposed.

Long-distance trekking would also affect the combat effectiveness of the troops.

Having just finished the Anqing campaign, the troops hadn't had time to rest, and now they were being asked to march south to Suzhou to participate in the battle.

After all the tossing, the main army had become a tired army.

And such high-intensity troop mobilization was also a test for logistics.

Although the Wu State's controlled area was rich, the territory was not large.

At this time, half of the territory was involved in the flames of war, and relying only on the remaining few prefectures to provide supplies for the army, the pressure was imaginable.

Every day of the current battle was consuming the Wu State's foundation.

For a newborn regime, high-intensity consumption was undoubtedly dangerous.

"Minister Yang, staying in the west to fight the pseudo-dynasty means facing that rebel Li Mu.

Referring to past battle examples, there were no units that could get any good in encounters with this person in the field.

Although the Marquis of Wumu is a god of war, I'm afraid he has no certainty of victory when encountering this person."

Fan Yu Xiuwen's answer made Yang Yang Jingren swallow all his reasons.

Regardless of where it started, the first thing to guarantee was being able to win.

From the White Lotus Holy Kingdom to the Great Wu regime, they had never taken advantage of Li Mu.

The just-concluded Anqing campaign had a bright battle report, but all the high-level officials knew it was empty.

No matter how many Regiment Army troops were killed, it wouldn't affect the big picture.

"Implement the Ministry of War's plan as soon as possible!

Send someone to urge the Luzhou garrison general to guard the city well and not to leave the city without authorization to fight the pseudo-dynasty army."

Fu Pingnan Fu Haoxuan said slowly.

Choosing to let the main army march south was equivalent to letting Qin Qin Tianrui's unit go.

From a personal emotional perspective, if he could annihilate an enemy force, he certainly wouldn't let go.

But war must be considered from the overall situation; Qin Qin Tianrui's unit accounted for very little in the whole campaign.

Mobilizing the main army to pursue and capture was not only labor-consuming and money-wasting, but the key was that there was no certainty of catching up.

After crossing Luzhou Prefecture, the neighboring territory was under the control of the pseudo-dynasty.

The Wu State had no power to open another battlefield, and even if they found the enemy's foothold, they couldn't launch an attack.

(End of chapter)