First Minister of Ming Dynasty

"Marshal! Don't be discouraged, I will find a way to tell the prime minister..."

Before Zhang Dingbian could finish speaking, Chen Youliang stretched out his hand to stop him, and a smug smile appeared on his face that was still terrified.

"What kind of Manzi! It's not unusual!"

Chen Youliang wiped away Cai Cai's depression... If Ni Wenjun didn't dare to kill him, he had already lost.Talking so much nonsense later is just to make up for myself.

To say a thousand words and ten thousand, this time Ni Wenjun lost.

He wanted to disobey his superiors, but in the end he was slapped in the face by his subordinates, and he didn't dare to do anything to his subordinates... From Hongdu to Huangzhou, it seems that the capital city of Tianwan is even closer.

It seems that our Tianwan tradition is to commit the following offense above!

With this time, there will be a next time.

And next time we will definitely be more prepared, and our attitude will be tougher!

Ni Wenjun, just wait for me.

……

There seemed to be no disturbances in Tianwan's interior, but Chen Youliang was guarding Huangzhou, and Ni Wenjun personally led the army down the river and entered Jiangxi, with the stance of a decisive battle with Zhu Yuanzhang.

But just as Chen Youliang thought, the seeds of Xia Keshang had already been planted in Tianwan.

Originally, Ni Wenjun was not a powerful emperor, but now the generals from all walks of life are undercurrents and turbulent.The temporary calm is just to accumulate energy for the next outbreak.

Just wait until the time is right, it will explode all of a sudden, and the sky will be smashed into pieces!

Although Tiancheng's overall condition is good, the situation in Jiangxi's battlefield is much worse.

During the period when Chen Youliang left, it can be said that the whole battle situation took a turn for the worse.

Hongdu is located on the east bank of the Ganjiang River, built near the water. Because it guards the lanes of the Ganjiang River, commerce and trade are prosperous, and passenger ships come and go.

Although the city of Hongdu is not big, there are eight city gates alone, and there are also water gates.

With so many city gates, it means that it is difficult to defend, and there are flaws everywhere.

Therefore, Hu Tingrui saw that Zhu's army did not immediately attack the city, so he put all his energy on strengthening the city wall, and even built an urn city inside the Fuzhou Gate to resist Zhu's army.

"It's really a strong city!"

After Zhu Yuanzhang led Zhang Ximeng to see it, he couldn't help admiring. He suddenly smiled and said, "Mr. Zhang, you said that if we take Hongdu down, how will we defend the city?"

Zhang Ximeng was slightly taken aback, "My lord, please advise."

"We will first demolish the city wall near the Gan River in the west."

"Why?" Zhang Ximeng asked curiously.

Zhu Yuanzhang smiled, "When we were in Jinling, we watched the river rise and fall, and the torrent was rolling. If there is plenty of rain and the river surges, and we can use a large ship to carry soldiers and horses, we can ascend the city in an instant. What will we do to defend the city?"

Zhang Ximeng couldn't help but nodded. Old Zhu's idea was indeed clever, but even if he took Hongdu, he probably wouldn't be defending the city by himself.He couldn't help looking at Zhu Wenzheng and Li Wenzhong who were following Lao Zhu, and found that they were listening very carefully, so Zhang Ximeng couldn't help but nodded.

"My lord, it's just that we don't need to cross the Gan River to attack the city. It's relatively easy."

Zhu Yuan nodded, "That's right! In fact, this situation reminds us of Haozhou back then. At that time, Haozhou was backed by the Huaihe River. We were in charge of guarding the west gate, and we were facing the main force of the Yuan court. Mr. Jia gave us a lot of fun. Less tricks!"

Thinking of the previous battle, Zhu Yuanzhang became more interested, and said to Zhang Ximeng: "Sir, do you remember that it was the first time we saw Lu Gongche at that time. Fortunately, you recognized it, otherwise Haozhou would be in danger!"

Zhang Ximeng couldn't help laughing and said: "My lord, you are being polite. In fact, it is not difficult to protect Haozhou with my lord's bravery. This minister is just the icing on the cake. At the beginning, I thought those return guns were even more terrifying! If it wasn't for Yuan Ting's urging , arrange it calmly, use the lethality of the return cannon, and sooner or later, Haozhou will be blasted away!"

Zhu Yuanzhang took it for granted, because at that time Haozhou also had some return guns, but they were all left by the Yuan army, and they didn't know how to make them. If they recklessly consumed them, they would definitely fail.

It's a pity that the Yuan court didn't trust Hanchen, and lacked food and grass, so they couldn't support it.When it came to the Battle of Gaoyou, even the Mongols didn't believe it...

Zhu Yuanzhang smiled slightly, "Yes, we can't say what happened back then, but today, we seem to be able to verify it!"

Zhang Ximeng was slightly surprised, but also had a little hope... It turned out that when Zhu's army calmly built the city and sealed off Hongdu, a batch of newly-made return artillery was sent. Not only the artillery, but also more gunpowder, flowering bombs.

With the current grain and grass reserves, material supplies, and soldier training of Zhu's army, it is true that the strategy that Jia Lu did not implement at the beginning can be carried out thoroughly without any surprises.

"I really didn't expect that we would become our former opponents!" Old Zhu sighed, full of relief and relief.

Zhang Ximeng said in a low voice: "The method may be figured out, but we will not change our original intention and our desire to protect the people... Therefore, we will win!"

Zhu Yuanzhang's pupils contracted, and he clenched his fist for a while and said, "That's right, we will win!"

Chapter 2 Forty

Together with Zhang Ximeng, Zhu Yuanzhang observed Hongdu City carefully. After seeing it, Zhang Ximeng also somewhat understood why this city could create miracles, and even decided the fate of Zhu Yuanzhang and Chen Youliang.

As a wealthy city near the Ganjiang River, Hongdu built the city, using a lot of bluestone bricks and tiles, and the structure is extremely strong.

Although there are eight city gates, it seems that there are many points of attack, and the defense must be divided, which increases the difficulty.But each city gate is quite stable, no need to ask, there must be a urn built inside.

Coupled with the abundance of river water, Hongdu's moat is thirty feet long!

This is a width that makes people a little desperate. Zhu Yuanzhang conquered the city, even if it is Jinling, it does not have a moat as wide as Hongdu.

Moreover, Tianwan's ever-victorious elite soldiers were in charge of guarding Hongdu.

Frankly speaking, if Chen Youliang is in charge, Zhu's army is really not sure of victory.Even if Chen Youliang left, it would not be easy to take down Hongdu. .

"Mr. Zhang, can our return artillery hit the city wall of Hongdu?"

"No problem." Zhang Ximeng replied very simply. It was the Battle of Xiangyang where the return cannons shined. It's so big, you can see it!

Moreover, today's return artillery has been developed for a hundred years, and Jia Lu has also carried out many reforms, which are more powerful in terms of power and range.

In fact, it was precisely because of his recognition of the power of the return cannon that Zhang Ximeng was not in a hurry to tinker with the cannon.

This is not to say that there will be no development. In fact, Zhang Ximeng has been asking craftsmen to study firearms, but any new invention needs a process of continuous improvement and maturity.

Even more so with artillery.

Take the material of cannons as an example, the early bronze cannons, the effect is definitely better, but bronze is too expensive, copper is also currency, a veritable banknote ability, a perfect case of burning money in war.

Did Zhu Jiajun really have no copper at all?

Of course not. In fact, Tongling is an important town of copper production, and it is also named after copper.

But craftsmen are needed, resources need to be invested, and time is needed... And don't forget, Tongling is next to the Yangtze River, and Tianwan's navy is much more powerful than Zhu's army.

If the safety problem cannot be solved, copper mines will be mined on a large scale. What if they are attacked?

Therefore, the normal order of a country's development is always to solve security issues first. With the dog stick, we can consider eating better and dressing better.

If the order is reversed, the wealth in your hands is likely to be the prey of others.

At the end of the day, Chen Bing was in the middle reaches of the Yangtze River. He was very aggressive. It was really a serious problem, and the threat was too great.

Right now, the Zhu family's army has not been able to shine in firearms, but fortunately there is a master of weapons like Jia Lu, who is enough to shake the strong city in front of him with sharp weapons.

When Hu Tingrui was inspecting the city defense, he discovered that Zhu's army had dug trenches and advanced towards the city wall after repairing a circle of walls outside the city.

"They want to dig a tunnel into the city, it's really wishful thinking!"

Hu Tingrui said to the people around him: "I checked it a long time ago. The moat in Hongdu is so wide. If you dig the ground less than three feet, there will be water seeping out. If you want to dig a tunnel, it will collapse. They are wasting their efforts and bringing shame on themselves!" "

Hu Tingrui was full of confidence, but he remained calm and ordered his subordinates to be ready.

A few days later, Hu Tingrui realized that something might be wrong.

Zhu Jiajun did not dig tunnels, but piled up mounds.

Could it be that they are going to attack the city with a mountain of earth?

"Pass my order, pull out the return guns we seized in Xiangyang, I want Zhu Yuanzhang to know how powerful we are!"

Almost all Tianwan generals, like Hu Tingrui, are full of confidence.

After all, in the past two years, they have conquered everything, won all battles, and are invincible in the world!

Come on, let the horse come!

On the No. 20 day when Zhu Jiajun locked the city, in the southeast corner of Hongdu, extending in two directions, a total of eighty three-foot-high trebuchets were placed on pre-stacked bases.

The majestic machinery has a full sense of power, like two rows of beasts, staring at each other.

Zhu Yuanzhang was covered in armor and appeared on the mound. Zhang Ximeng also stood next to Zhu Yuanzhang with a sword, which is very rare.

On the other side of Lao Zhu, there are Zhu Wenzheng and Li Wenzhong. It is interesting to say that other generals don't like these bulky things. Li Wenzhong was stuffed into the artillery team and became a thousand households.

Zhu Wenzheng was also forced to come over and became the commander.

In fact, Zhu Wenzheng's tragedy is also related to Zhu Yuanzhang. It is all because he lost his mind and praised Zhu Wenzheng too highly.

It's no surprise that nothing happened when we got to this point.

In the army, Zhang Ximeng has always been pressing down on Zhu Wenzheng as if nothing, young people should not be too arrogant.

If you really think you are a small official, I will get you a general of the universe, who will supervise all the military forces in Liuhe, and go to Liuhe County to garrison and serve as a barrier for Jinling.

Don't disturb the personnel arrangement and promotion sequence in the army.

Old Zhu also understood Zhang Ximeng's intentions, and Zhu Biao was born, so he was not so eager to support Zhu Wenzheng.But no matter what, as a nephew, Lao Zhu couldn't hide his preference for Zhu Wenzheng.

"Wenzheng, we know that you want to control the cavalry and complain in private. It was Mr. Zhang who brought you here... Don't be ignorant of good people, you boy. Today you can experience Mr. Zhang's painstaking efforts."

Zhu Wenzheng blushed a little, not only because he was ashamed, but also because he was afraid. He hurriedly said: "Uncle, that's my nephew's nonsense in the first few days. I have known Zhang Xiang's kindness for training gunners these days. I just I plan to show my skills today and let them know how powerful Zhu Jiajun is!"

Zhu Wenzheng said, and said: "Uncle, you and Mr. Zhang can go down, and I will leave this place to my nephew."

Zhu Yuanzhang smiled slightly, "Why? Is there still danger?"

Zhu Wenzheng said: "On the battlefield, swords and guns have no eyes. Although most of the return artillery in the city can't hit here, we must always be on the safe side. Uncle, you should go down with Mr. Zhang and wait for the good news!"

Zhu Yuanzhang ignored him, but turned his head and said, "Mr. Zhang, what do you think?"

Zhang Ximeng smiled, "How else can I see it, of course I watched it here! I still know the Yuan army's return artillery..."

Before Zhang Ximeng could finish speaking, there was a sudden sound of piercing through the air, and everyone looked up hurriedly, only to see a stone pellet flying across the moat towards Zhang Ximeng.

At a distance of more than ten feet away from Zhang Ximeng and the others, they fell deeply into the ground, and they almost saw Shiwan.

The so-called seven feet into the ground, this legend is not false!

Frankly speaking, the moment Zhang Ximeng flew over, Zhang Ximeng's heart was suspended, and his hands and feet were also stiff.

You are so courageous, you dare to "throw and suck", you don't talk about martial arts, so you can do it yourself!

"What are you still doing!"

Zhu Yuanzhang shouted angrily, "Hit us hard!"

Zhu Wenzheng trembled all over, concentrated his attention, stared at Hongdu in the distance, fought with Chunlei, and roared, "Launch!"

The soldiers swung their knives vigorously, cut the ropes, and the counterweight stones fell quickly, and the 180-jin solid projectile flew into the air in response, smashing into the opposite city wall with a sound of breaking through the air several times more violent than before.

One trebuchet was like this, and the rest were like this. I saw the overwhelming projectiles, full of anger, leaping across the wide moat and smashing heavily on the city wall.

With a bang, the masonry exploded and the dust flew into the air.

The soldiers who were still standing at the top of the city only felt the ground tremble, and a powerful force made them unable to stand still and almost fell down.

Hu Tingrui, who personally supervised the battle, was even surprised to find that a huge stone pellet had crossed the city wall and smashed into the middle of several soldiers with an incomparable momentum.

One of them was hit in the middle and lost his upper body, and the others also fell to the ground one after another. Some were killed, some were injured, and blood spattered on Hu Tingrui's pale face.

He stretched out his hand, wiped it slowly, opened it in front of his eyes, and told him one thing with warm blood, but it was a little bit worse, the trebuchet outside the city could have hit him on the head !

how come?

It's completely unreasonable. How can Zhu Jiajun's returning artillery be better than theirs?

Hu Tingrui's scalp was numb. Although he couldn't figure it out, it didn't prevent him from striding back and hiding in a safe place.

The other soldiers ran away in embarrassment as if they had seen a ghost.

Judging from the actual combat results, the volley of the trebuchets was not too large, less than half of the projectiles fell on the city wall, and less than half of them cracked the masonry, and the rest were just dusting off.

As for the soldiers who were crushed to death, there were only a dozen of them.

But this was scary enough, the Tianwan soldiers in Hongdu City realized for the first time that their opponents had invincible power, maybe they would lose!

One blow knocked out most of the enemy's courage, Zhu Wenzheng was in full bloom!

He yelled even more frantically, "Quick, reload, hit me hard!"

Zhu Jiajun raised the counterweight stone like crazy, fixed it with ropes, and then loaded the projectiles, preparing for the second round of shooting.

And at this moment, Tianwan's soldiers rushed up the city wall, desperately transporting their return cannons. I have to say that the bravery of this group of people is also admirable.

Anything and anyone left at the top of the city at this moment will become the Zhu's army's spoils of war!