First Minister of Ming Dynasty

Zhang Shicheng interrupted rudely, "I'm not a three-year-old child, so I don't need your rhetoric, these nonsense words are of no use to me, see off, see off!"

Lu Zhen personally led the troops to rush forward and escorted Yang Xian away.

Fortunately, Yang Xian was not afraid, so he followed them down.

Zhang Shicheng was out of breath, and was stunned for a while, then he walked back and ran into Wang Jue head-on, so it turned out that this guy had talked a lot to Zhang Shicheng, and that's why we met today.

"Fortunately, you woke me up, Zhu Chongba is indeed harboring evil intentions, it really isn't a good thing!"

Wang Jue nodded immediately, "Wang Cheng is wise, the title of Taiwei cannot be lost, and the court's backing cannot be toppled. This is the foundation of King Cheng in Wudi. We must not destroy the Great Wall by ourselves!"

Zhang Shicheng took a breath, calmed down again and again, and was actually a little depressed.

"You sound nice, but now Zhu Zhong's army of eight to hundreds of thousands is pressing on my head, what do you ask me to do?"

Wang Jue paused, leaned over and said, "Your Majesty, the most important thing right now is to hold on. Zhu Yuanzhang thinks he's strong, but in fact he's in the middle of the Fourth World War, with Chen Youliang at the top and Liu Futong making great strides in the Northern Expedition, but they may not have one heart with him. As long as the king stands firm and drags it down for a few months, Zhu Yuanzhang will waste countless supplies and be besieged on all sides. He can't do it if he wants to fight, so he can only retreat obediently, and then he will spit out the occupied territory... This matter Your Majesty should be very familiar with it!"

Zhang Shicheng rolled his eyes, he was indeed familiar, but he didn't know whether Zhu Yuanzhang was taking off or not.

"You mean to defend Suzhou?"

"No! It's Suzhou and Hangzhou!"

"And Hangzhou?" Zhang Shicheng asked.

Wang Jue hurriedly said: "Your Majesty, the important towns of Suzhou and Hangzhou are the corners of each other. If one of them is lost, it will be a big deal. I think we should send a general to Hangzhou to assist General Pan in defending the city. As long as it can last for a few months, Zhu's army will not fight." Back off!"

Zhang Shicheng's heart was shocked. Indeed, as long as Hangzhou can hold on, Suzhou will not be besieged, so he can hold on!

But the question is who to send?

Brother Zhang Shide is still in Huaidong. If he comes back, the situation in Gaoyou will collapse.Li Bosheng and the others still had to stay by their side to guard Suzhou, but they couldn't send them out. Lu Zhen had just suffered a disastrous defeat and lost her temper, so it wasn't appropriate... After thinking about it, Zhang Shicheng suddenly thought of someone.

Pan Yuanshao!

Although this person is young, but he is Zhang Shicheng's son-in-law, sending his son-in-law to the battlefield, he can always show his determination!

Moreover, Pan Yuanshao is also the younger brother of Hangzhou guard Pan Yuanming.

Fight tiger brothers, fight father and son soldiers!

Let Pan Yuanshao go, for his brother, for his old father-in-law, he will fight to the death without hesitation, as long as Hangzhou can carry it, his situation will be much better.

Indeed, there is no one more suitable than him.

Zhang Shicheng immediately ordered to call his son-in-law Pan Yuanshao, and told him about the matter.

"As a father, I also know that this trip is dangerous. Zhu's army is like a wolf and a tiger, so it's not so easy to deal with. But, as a father, I can't find a more suitable person, so I can only make you hard."

Pan Yuanshao nodded immediately, "My son-in-law has already understood what father-in-law means. Please rest assured, father-in-law. My son-in-law has already made up his mind to die. If people are in the city, if the city is not there, my son-in-law will surely perish. Fight to the death!"

Zhang Shicheng was very moved when he heard that, "Son, as long as you do your best, your father-in-law will feel at ease."

Pan Yuanshao nodded, "Father-in-law, my son-in-law still has some housework to do, I'll be back as soon as I go."

Zhang Shicheng nodded, and after a while, Pan Yuanshao came back, his body was covered in blood, and there was even a drop of blood on his cheek.

Zhang Shicheng was puzzled, "You, what are you doing?"

"If you go back to father-in-law, my son-in-law will kill all those concubines!"

"what?"

Zhang Shicheng stood up in shock... Don't look at Pan Yuanshao as Zhang Shicheng's son-in-law, but he is not only one woman, there are as many as seven concubines around him, and all of them are beauties, the oldest is in his 20s, and the youngest is only sixteen seven.

For these women, Zhang Shicheng's women often went to their father to cry and complain about their husbands... But Zhang Shicheng still held back.

"How can a hero not be lustful? You are a woman, even my daughter, you can't be too spoiled, you must serve your husband well, obey the three virtues, and don't make trouble."

Instead of blaming his son-in-law, Zhang Shicheng scolded his daughter. Many people know about this... He also praised Zhang Shicheng, saying that Zhu Yuanzhang's practice of rooster guarding the morning is against the rules and will be destroyed sooner or later.

Our side emphasizes generals and warriors and despises beautiful women. This is the scene of great things.

Zhang Shicheng also told himself that every time he goes against the law, things will happen.

When I become the emperor, I will stand up for my daughter.

But he never expected that his son-in-law would kill seven concubines at this juncture.

"You, what are you doing?"

"Father-in-law, in the past, my son-in-law was foolish and absurd, and my father-in-law is not to blame. Today is the time for my son-in-law to repay my father-in-law. Therefore, my son-in-law beheaded his concubine, cut off his love, and devoted himself to serving the country. My son-in-law already has the heart of death." , why bother with these things! Just kill my concubine Mingzhi!"

Zhang Shicheng was dumbfounded, looking at his murderous son-in-law, he didn't know what to say, he could only lament, "Why bother!"

Pan Yuanshao said seriously: "Father-in-law's kindness is as great as heaven and earth, what are a few women!"

"Ugh!"

Zhang Shicheng sighed heavily, and patted his son-in-law on the shoulder again, "Good boy, as long as you guard Hangzhou and injure Zhu Chongba hard, then father-in-law will find you seventy beauties to be your concubines!"

Pan Yuanshao grinned and agreed, "Father-in-law, son-in-law is leaving now!"

"Don't worry."

Zhang Shicheng stretched out his hand and handed his sword to his son-in-law, "Bring it on, this is what my father-in-law used to supervise the battle at the head of Gaoyou City. You will surely win the battle!"

Pan Yuanshao hastily agreed, and he prepared the sword bestowed by his father-in-law and left from Suzhou.

Right now, going to Hangzhou by land has been blocked by Xu Da.

Pan Yuanshao had no choice but to go by water, and went to Hangzhou by boat to land, where he met his elder brother Pan Yuanming.

After the two brothers exchanged simple greetings, Pan Yuanshao said to his elder brother: "His Royal Highness Cheng asked my younger brother to bring a message: No matter what, as long as you stick to it, there is a way!"

Pan Yuanming was stunned for a while, and repeated, "As long as you hold on, there is a way!"

"Okay! Then I will guard! Pass the order, all soldiers, stand ready! I don't believe it, Xu Da is really that powerful!"

……

"Why are you here, sir?" Xu Da looked at Zhang Ximeng in surprise.

Zhang Ximeng said with a smile: "Not only I want to come, but my lord is also dispatching troops. Zhang Shicheng is still unwilling to surrender, and wants to fight stubbornly. In my estimation, his greatest hope is Hangzhou. As long as the city of Hangzhou is destroyed, Zhang Shicheng's army will be in chaos." , self-defeating."

"Well, do you have a proper plan?"

Xu Da nodded, "I've wiped out the towns around Hangzhou, and there's only one isolated city left in front of me. We've practiced the siege method repeatedly, and it's not difficult to defeat the enemy!"

Zhang Ximeng naturally believed in Xu Da, "Very well, then I will wait for the good news."

Chapter 294 Borrowing the Wind to Break the City

The battle to attack Hangzhou is different from Huzhou, Jiangyin and Wuxi... First of all, Hangzhou is a large city with a population of several 10. This size, in terms of the current world, even if it is not ranked in the top five, it is still stable top ten.

Moreover, Hangzhou City, as the capital of the Southern Song Dynasty in the past, has a complete defense system. The moat outside the city, the sheep and horse wall, and the strong city wall. Every 150 steps, there is a horse face. Even stronger than Lingbao.

Although it has gone through a hundred years of wind and rain, this set of things is still there. Since the rise of the Red Turban Army, the Yuan Army has strengthened the city wall. After Zhang Shicheng succeeded in the sneak attack, he also put a lot of thought into it...

Most importantly, Hangzhou is a port city, and it is very difficult to encircle Hangzhou at once.If it cannot be sealed, there will be a steady stream of supplies at sea.

There are many soldiers and horses in the city, abundant supplies, and constant foreign aid... Under such circumstances, wanting to capture a well-defended city is no less than ascending to the sky.

This is also the reason why Xu Da was given the task of siege and a hundred thousand troops were given to him.

Among the entire Zhu family army, Xu Da ranked second among those who could command an army of [-]. If he couldn't, then only Zhu Yuanzhang would go out in person.

As for Zhang Ximeng, if he is allowed to come, it will not be commanding the army, but coordination!

Relying on his familiarity with the generals, coupled with his status and prestige, he can coordinate the big guys and work together to attack the city. This can still be done.

It was precisely because he was familiar with Zhang Ximeng's ability that Zhu Yuanzhang sent him here to cooperate with Xu Da.

To be honest, Zhang Ximeng has always been very clear about his position, and it is enough for the generals to know when he arrives.As for the others, he was determined not to say a word.

After all, if the grasp is not good, it will cause pressure on Xu Da and make him misjudge, then it will be bad.

All in all, the professional is still left to the professional.

Zhang Ximeng was only responsible for reviewing the battle... First of all, after Xu Da captured Huzhou, he did not rush to go straight to Hangzhou, but sent troops to sweep the surrounding towns and pull out nails one by one.

Especially with Yuhang in hand, Hangzhou has gradually become an isolated city.

But at this point, Xu Da still did not attack the city. He vigorously built fortresses, forming a blockade around the periphery.Xu Da acted like a seasoned hunter, patiently arranging traps, trapping the prey little by little, and finally achieving a one-hit kill.

It is worth mentioning that Xu Da gave Wu Zhen a task, asking him to detour from the upper reaches, cross the Qiantang River, and capture Xiaoshan County.

Wu Zhen successfully completed the task, and then he built a fortress on the south bank of the Qiantang River, and then sent trebuchets, crossbow arrows, and...fire boats!

That's right, Xu Da has long been thinking about how to cut off the water channel.

Don't look at the surrender of the barbarian Hague, but Zhang Shicheng still has a lot of ships, and it is not an easy task to cut off the water supply.Xu Da asked Wu Zhen to take Xiaoshan to build a fort on the south bank, then collected boats and prepared fire equipment.

As long as Zhang Shicheng's fleet dares to approach Hangzhou and deliver supplies.

The small boat will be dispatched and set fire to hit the big ship.If these large ships wanted to attack the Zhu family's army on the shore, they would face repeated attacks from trebuchets, ballistas, and gunpowder packs.

Before Zhang Ximeng arrived, Xu Da had quietly cut off all escape routes in Hangzhou.

It is this operation that perfectly interprets the difference between handsome talent and general talent.

The next step is to face the city of Hangzhou.

Pan Yuanming also knew that the Zhu family's army came with bad intentions, so he went all out to increase the difficulty of attacking the city.He actually built a temporary embankment in the southeast of the city.

With the dam blocking, the water level of the moat suddenly increased, and the moat was also widened by ten feet. The water was choppy and difficult to cross.

Pan Yuanming's move was brilliant, but he seemed to have forgotten one thing. As the water level of the moat rose, the river seeped into the city, and many low-lying houses were submerged.

What's more unfortunate is that the low-lying areas are usually the residences of the poor. They were simple and low-lying, and it was difficult to shelter them from the wind and rain. Overnight, they turned into a flood country.

The people were miserable and full of complaints.

Pan Yuanming directly ordered that the young and strong be recruited to defend the city. As for the remaining old and weak women and children, they were locked up in the barracks and closely guarded.As a hostage, hold young and strong, if you want to save your family's life, you must guard the city honestly, otherwise, the whole family will die!

Obviously, in the matter of not being human, the Pan brothers have always been not being human.

After Pan Yuanshao arrived, in order to show his determination, he came up with a new idea, which was to demolish some houses and use bricks and tiles to resist Zhu's army.

It's not that you can't do it like this, but the problem is that this brother's work is too rough, there is no communication at all, and there is no compensation and resettlement afterwards. Anyone who is not convinced will be arrested and let them do the hardest and most tiring work. , If you dare to resist again, you will be killed directly.

Between soldiers and civilians, you can't love each other, or you can't live together.

In this case, the siege battle commanded by Xu Da began.

The first thing that opened the curtain of the war was an earth-shattering bang.

It turned out that Xu Da secretly arranged people to get close to the dam built by Pan Yuanming. Taking advantage of the night, he transported ten barrels of gunpowder, and after stepping into the dam, ignited and exploded.

As the dam was destroyed, the river surged out, and the water level of the moat dropped rapidly.

Pan Yuanming was also terribly frightened, so frightened he rushed to the city, and found that the water defense line he was proud of was shrinking rapidly, his face was quite ugly.

"Xu, I'll wait for you here, and I'll see how you kill him!"

After Xu Da broke the barrier of the moat, he was not in a hurry, but concentrated almost two hundred trebuchets and bombarded the city of Hangzhou.

In fact, if you want to knock open a basic solid city like Hangzhou with a trebuchet, it is almost impossible to complete the task. You must have something like a Lu public car, or gunpowder blasting. city.

But a very interesting thing happened. Because Pan Yuanming blocked the moat, the water level rose, soaked the sheep and horse wall, and even the city wall was lost.

Xu Da's trebuchet attack achieved extraordinary results. Many holes were smashed into the sheep and horse wall, and then collapsed in pieces, which could no longer stop it.

The city wall of Hangzhou was also damaged in many places, and some outsourced blue bricks fell off.

Pan Yuanming could only get the hammer if he asked for it.

Xu Da was calm and composed, he just mobilized his troops, filled up the moat, and made preparations for a full-scale attack on the city.Different from Chang Yuchun's impatient style, Xu Da pays attention to taking time out and taking his time.

It can be clearly felt that he has a unique rhythm, and he is advancing every moment, as if it is a huge tide, rushing towards you, making you unable to avoid it, and unable to contend.

The entire landfill operation lasted for three days, and a large section of the moat in the northwest of Hangzhou was filled up, giving Xu Da plenty of room to perform.

Zhang Ximeng has been observing, and he found that the siege battle is a bit like playing chess. The two sides line up around the Chu River and Han border.How to mobilize the enemy, how to find a breakthrough, how to go straight into the enemy's line, cut the general and capture the flag... The difference is that what is lost in chess is only chess pieces, but what is lost in battle is human life, fresh human life!

Although Zhang Ximeng was used to seeing life and death, his blood flow accelerated and his mouth was dry.

Xu Da first assigned Zhou Dexing and Lu Zhongheng to attack the city in two ways. They led their men and quickly approached the city wall of Hangzhou, and the battle began.

On the top of the city, all bows and crossbows were fired at Zhu's army. At every moment, some people fell on the way of charging, but the following soldiers did not make any waves, they just jumped over Pao Ze's body and quickly approached the city wall.

When everyone got to the bottom of the city, they set up ladders and prepared to attack the city. At this time, the rolling logs and stones on the top of the city rained down like raindrops.

Once the body of flesh and blood was hit, its muscles and bones would be shattered immediately, blood would be spurted out, and it would fall directly to the ground, losing its life.

Zhu's army is indeed very strong, but it doesn't mean that Zhu's army will not suffer losses... Every victory in a battle is won by countless soldiers who went forward and fought with their lives.