Chapter 4162: It’s decided in one battle
The heavy infantry covered in iron armor advanced slowly at Yanziji Ferry, not very fast, but the Jiangnan private soldiers who blocked them sporadically could not resist at all. Perhaps they braved the hail of bullets from the musketeers on both wings and rushed forward, leaving behind corpses on the ground with their weapons in their hands. The slashing attack on the armor of the heavy infantry could only explode a string of sparks, but it could not damage them at all. On the contrary, the sharp horizontal knife in the hands of the heavy infantry could easily cut through the leather armor of the Jiangnan private soldiers and inflict heavy damage.
This time, various families in the south of the Yangtze River gathered private soldiers in Yanziji. Due to various reasons, no family heads were present. Some senior and prestigious elders came with their children. Most of these elders were pampered and were impatient to organize and mobilize these people. The messy private soldiers sent out their disciples, partly to be lazy, and partly to hope that they could take the opportunity to gain experience, increase their knowledge, cultivate their abilities, and accumulate qualifications.
These children from aristocratic families usually read a lot of books, but have they ever gone into battle to kill the enemy with real swords and spears? Have they ever strategized and won a decisive victory thousands of miles away? If the battle was going downwind, it would be better, just rely on the numerical advantage to push forward all the way, but now they are hit in the head. Private soldiers dozens of times larger than the navy were hit by several rounds of artillery and suffered heavy casualties. Especially the military morale was shaken and morale was completely shaken, and they could not be restrained at all. The soldiers carried out large-scale resistance and could only flee in disarray and panic...
The elders of various families who were drinking and enjoying themselves in the city suddenly heard the rumbling of cannons, and they were already in chaos. They quickly left the singers and wine behind, and wanted to go out of the city to check out the situation. However, before they could leave the city, what came was the navy. Everyone was shocked by the news of shelling along the river and the massive defeat of private soldiers.
Xiao Guan escaped from the rebel army under the protection of his servants. As soon as he entered the city gate, he saw the elders of various families gathered inside the city gate and hesitated. He quickly said loudly: "Everyone, the naval artillery fire It was so violent that the soldiers fled in all directions. Please follow me out of the city to gather your own private soldiers and assemble at the foot of Zhongshan Mountain!”
These private soldiers came from various families in the south of the Yangtze River and did not belong to each other. They were fine in normal times. But now faced with the naval artillery bombardment and heavy infantry strangulation, they fled like a swarm of swarms and did not listen to his orders at all. If there were all these private soldiers, The elders of the clan went out of the city to call for help, and presumably some of them could be gathered together. When the time comes, the organization would not completely collapse, no matter whether they were counterattacking or retreating.
Otherwise, these private soldiers will scatter in disorder and hide in the countryside and mountains. Not only will they no longer be able to organize, they will also pose a great threat to the vicinity of Jinling, and countless people will be harmed.
This Jinling is the territory of the Xiao family...
However, these clan elders looked at each other and asked everyone to go out of the city and brave the naval fire to recruit private soldiers?
Stop talking...
Is that what these people can do? A rich man cannot sit down in the hall, and a gentleman cannot stand under a dangerous wall... The sage has long taught us how to handle ourselves in dangerous situations. Now that a crisis is approaching, we should avoid danger. How can we run away from danger?
Isn’t that a fool...
Zhang Wang was mingling among the crowd, feeling very upset. He had already bid farewell to Xiao Xun before, but was invited by his friends after leaving the Golden Bamboo Garden, and then went into the city for a banquet. He thought he would spend the night in Jinling City enjoying himself, and then meet again tomorrow. It wasn't too late to go home, but I didn't expect the navy to arrive so quickly and the Jiangnan private army to collapse so completely.
Hearing Xiao Guan's words, Zhang Wang shouted: "The navy is coming with a fierce force. How can we resist it? Since the army outside the city has been defeated, we don't have to fight with our bodies. We should go home and recruit private soldiers again to make a comeback. Yes! ”
Just kidding, what if my side goes out of the city to gather defeated troops, and the navy comes to chase them?
Muskets don't have long eyes. A single lead bullet in the rebel army can kill you. If you die here, thank you...
When the elders of the various families at the city gate heard this, they immediately agreed in unison.
"We are old and frail, how can we hold a knife or carry a gun? Let alone charge into battle! No way."
"Your Xiao family promised us that the navy would not take action, but now we are attacked by the navy before we can cross the river. You, the Xiao family, must give an account for the losses you have suffered!"
"That's right. Your Xiao family is using us as a shield to protect you from the navy's onslaught! Now you are actually preventing us from going home to recruit private soldiers and want to let us die here. Do you still have any conscience? ”
"Everyone, there are navy soldiers in the north and east of the city at the moment. Let's leave the city through the south gate quickly and return home. If it's too late, we won't be able to get out!"
"Let's go!"
A large group of people made a lot of noise and threw all the responsibility for the defeat on the Xiao family. Then, under the instigation of someone, they ignored Xiao Guan, who was trembling with anger, and ran towards the south gate in a swarm, guarding The city soldiers didn't know what was going on, and they didn't dare to provoke this group of elders from the major families in the south of the Yangtze River. They were suddenly seized from the city gate, and they watched helplessly as these people rushed out of the city gate and ran away.
Xiao Guan was so angry that he almost fell forward, his lips trembled, and his eyesight turned black.
The Xiao family has almost emptied their fortune. Their manpower and material resources have been stretched to the extreme, and they have taken unprecedented risks. The rest of the Jiangnan clan is just following the Xiao family, and even the head of the family does not show up. They will naturally receive the goods when they are done. Huge benefits, if repeated, can also minimize losses. At this moment, you are actually throwing all the responsibilities to the Xiao family?
How shameless!
However, despite being angry, the most important thing was to clean up the mess. At this moment, he didn't care what would happen if his grandfather went to intercept the navy. He quickly calmed down and ordered to summon all the Xiao family's manpower in Jinling City, remove the houses that could not be taken away, and remove all the people in the shops. All the silks, gold and silver belongings were loaded into the car, and they left the city and headed south to Guanyin Mountain.
As long as they hide in the mountains, the navy cannot find them. They can figure it out later. Otherwise, if the navy enters the city and accuses the Xiao family of "rebellion" and seizes their property and confiscates their goods, the loss will be too great. After all, as an important town in the south of the Yangtze River, the Xiao family has been operating for many years and has countless industries here. Half of Jinling City belongs to the Xiao family...
……
Huating Town.
Fang Xuanling was sitting in the staff room of the town office, sipping tea and listening to Liu Rengui reporting the specific battle situation one by one. Next to him, Su Dingfang lowered his eyebrows and listened quietly. Because Fang Xuanling was there, he did not say a word. Opinion.
He is confident that he can strategize and win thousands of miles when he leads the army. However, this time the private soldiers in Jiangnan will cause violent turmoil in the entire Jiangnan and directly affect the country and the country. This means that he can fully grasp and control the situation.
After all, he knows himself, he is handsome, not prime minister.
After listening to Liu Rengui's report, Fang Xuanling put down his tea cup and said slowly: "There is no need to worry too much about the reaction of the Jiangnan clan. The Tang Dynasty has been in existence for more than 20 years, and the institutions at all levels of the court have been perfected. Even if they were able to run wild for a while, If you gather private soldiers, you will lose everything after this battle, and you will no longer be able to seize the entire south of the Yangtze River, let alone rule it by crossing the river. At best, there will still be two or three people who don't know whether to live or die, which is not a worry. "
Since Zhenguan, the connections between the various states, counties, and the central government have been gradually strengthened. Although the aristocratic families still control local affairs, making it difficult for the court to issue government orders, the gradual improvement of national institutions has given the aristocratic families less and less room for maneuver.
It is okay to resist imperial decrees and impose excessive taxes and miscellaneous taxes, but if a rebellion breaks out, few will respond.
Even though the Guanlongmen clan had been entrenched in Guanzhong for more than a hundred years and controlled every class from top to bottom, in the end Changsun Wuji only used the slogan of "deposing the prince" instead of overthrowing the Tang Dynasty and establishing himself as emperor.
If Changsun Wuji really wants to be the emperor, not to mention that others will not follow him, even the Guanlong families around him will not do it...
When the dynasty was at its peak, it was naturally a strong deterrent to the local area.
Then, Fang Xuanling said to Su Dingfang: "In the name of the Shipping Department of Huating Town, I sent a note to all the Jiangnan clans, saying that His Majesty has passed away and the whole country is in mourning. At the same time, the situation in Jiangnan is unstable and local unrest. All maritime trade Temporarily suspended, all merchant ships, cargo, and properties that are still overseas will be sealed on site by the navy. Sales and transfers are not allowed. The date of resumption will be notified later. ”
Su Dingfang was stunned for a moment, and then said in admiration: "The Prime Minister is trying to drain the fire, and the general will send someone to deal with it immediately."
The huge profits from sea trade have long been the main source of wealth for the Jiangnan clan. Therefore, each family has also invested heavily in it. Not only did they spend huge sums of money to purchase sea-going ships from Jiangnan Shipyard, they also rented warehouses and purchased land in Huating Town and various overseas ports. , build warehouses, and hoard goods to maximize profits.
The navy's sealing up this wealth not only cut off the source of wealth of the Jiangnan clan, but also seized its huge wealth. Who dares to rebel against the navy?
As for the "day of recovery", it naturally depends on the performance of the Jiangnan clan.
If the performance is not good, maybe the navy will simply confiscate all the money and return the Jiangnan clan without a penny...
Fang Xuanling frowned and said: "This is just a warning, but you can't really confiscate all these properties. This will only break the rules of the Shipping Department and even ruin the reputation of the Navy. It is easy to break the rules, but if you want to establish a Its rules are as difficult as climbing to the sky. ”
And sometimes when the steel knife is in the sheath, it can intimidate all directions and shock people, making them dare not act rashly. But when the steel knife falls, all the deterrence no longer exists, and you can only face the most corrupt consequences.
Su Dingfang nodded heavily: "Don't worry, Mr. Fang, I will definitely restrain the navy and not do anything random."
Fang Xuanling gave some instructions and said to Liu Ren: "Quickly lead the fleet north along the canal to Guanzhong and station troops near Tongguan. Cooperate with the Donggong army in Guanzhong and attack from both inside and outside to scare the King of Jin and his troops. But don't Starting a war without authorization.”
"Here!"
Liu Rengui was very excited when his wish came true, but he still glanced at Su Dingfang quietly.
Fang Xuanling held the teapot and poured tea for the two of them. The two of them hurriedly thanked each other and said they did not dare. Fang Xuanling put down the teapot and slowly said to Su Dingfang: "Although the navy is rampant across the oceans and intimidating all nations, in the end its scope is too small. , you alone are enough. Zhengzheng’s talents are more obvious than those in government affairs. If he is always restricted to the Navy, he will inevitably be overqualified... So give him the opportunity to go north to Guanzhong."
"Zhengze" is Liu Rengui's word...
Liu Rengui was shocked and wanted to thank Fang Xuanling, but his first reaction was to look at Su Dingfang subconsciously. (End of chapter)