Southern Ming Rebel Army

Zhenjiang, formerly known as "Jingkou", is a strategic point between the north and the south. It has been a battleground for military strategists since ancient times. When Lin Shiqi led his troops to Zhenjiang, he immediately ordered the auxiliary soldiers to build shield carts, cloud carts, city towers and other siege equipment.

Zhenjiang city is adjacent to the Yangtze River. There is a mountain on the north bank of the river, named Beigushan Mountain. There is a Ganlu Temple on the mountain, which is the place where Emperor Zhaolie of Shu Han got married. Xin Qiji also wrote "Yongyoule·Reminiscence of the Past at Beiguting in Jingkou" on the mountain.

Lin Shiqi led dozens of personal guards to survey the terrain outside the city. When Lin Shiqi came to the east city, he saw that the land was a little moist. He looked up at the sky, thinking about something.

In the next two days, there was peace under Zhenjiang City, and there was no sound of fighting. Lin Shiqi personally supervised the preparation of auxiliary troops, and siege equipment was continuously manufactured.

On the afternoon of February 22nd, the sun shone through the clouds onto the earth, bringing a touch of warmth to the cold winter day.

At this time, a mighty army was galloping along the official road, the sound of horse hooves resounding through the sky and raising clouds of dust. This army was the main force led by Meng Jun.

When they arrived at the foot of Zhenjiang City, the camp that had already been expanded was expanded several times. The tents were densely spread like stars in the open space outside the east city of Zhenjiang, stretching endlessly. Military flags were flying and rustling. The soldiers were wearing shining helmets and armor, with swords and spears at their disposal. Their morale was high, exuding an invincible momentum.

Meng Jun rode a war horse with an upright posture. With an order, the army quickly set up camp and began to strengthen the camp defense, trenches, chevaux de frise and other fortifications.

After arranging a series of affairs, Meng Jun looked out at the Yangtze River. Suddenly, an idea came to his mind, and a sentence popped up in his mind: "The rolling Yangtze River flows eastward, and the waves wash away all heroes."

Then he said to the people around him: "We are now at the Yangtze River, we should look ahead."

Meng Jun was then surrounded by Gu Yanwu, Xia Wanchun, Qian Biao, Lin Shiqi, Zhao Yongping, Bai Yongfu, and more than a dozen civil servants. They headed towards the river under the protection of hundreds of personal guards.

Arriving at the riverside and gazing at the Yangtze River, with the huge military camp behind them, everyone felt quite high-spirited for a moment. Meng Jun looked at the Yangtze River and suddenly had the urge to throw down his horsewhip.

There were more than 80,000 soldiers from the Six Garrisons, the Cavalry Battalion, the Service Army, the Heavy Armor Army, the Musket Battalion, the Artillery Battalion, etc. If the auxiliary soldiers and civilians were added, his claim of an army of 300,000 was already a reservation. If he claimed to have an army of one million, he could stop the flow of water with a single whip and see if he could scare Hong Chengchou to death.

The haze in Meng Jun's heart had all dissipated. In the past, he had only a thousand soldiers, lacked food and weapons, and had no territory, but he was not afraid. Now he has a hundred thousand soldiers and a territory of nearly a thousand miles. What is there to fear?

Lu Zhenfei, Liu Jiyan and others left poems from time to time to reminisce about the past. Xia Wanchun, who was beside him, came to Meng Jun, a little excited, but whispered: "Governor, you are also very talented in writing, why don't you improvise a poem?"

Meng Jun: "…………I am a military man, I cannot write poetry"

Xia Wanchun curled his lips and thought to himself: "Obviously, he can write poetry."

…………

On the city wall of Zhenjiang.

Ma Deyang stood on the city wall, looking into the distance with a serious expression. His eyes revealed a trace of anxiety. He had clearly seen the main force of the Meng army, which was a vast sea of flags and troops. Looking up, it was like a vast black carpet, constantly wriggling.

The soldiers guarding the city watched all this in horror on the city wall. Their faces turned pale and the weapons in their hands could not help but tremble.

Ma Deyang thought to himself, it's no wonder that such a huge army dared to ask me to surrender, but he still felt that he could defend Zhenjiang City. Although Zhenjiang City was not as strong as Jiangning, it was also a strong city. With 25,000 defenders in the city, it should not be a problem to hold out until the reinforcements arrive.

February 23rd.

Just as Meng Jun was making final preparations for the siege tomorrow, Yu An opened the curtain, walked up to Meng Jun and said, "Commander-in-chief, the patrol outside the camp encountered a Taoist priest who claimed to want to see the commander-in-chief."

"Taoist, you still want to see me? Do you think I am so idle?" Meng Jun said with a frown.

Yu An hesitated for a moment, then explained: "Commander-in-chief, this man is quite amazing. He was very accurate in predicting the lives of several patrol soldiers. I didn't believe him at first, but as soon as he saw me, he told me my life story word for word."

In the battlefield, with weapons and horses, only the best soldiers can be relied upon. If fortune-telling were accurate, there would be countries that would not perish and families that would not be defeated.

"Fortune-telling is just nonsense. Just send him away," Meng Jun waved his hand and said to Yu An. He was busy and had no time to see a Taoist priest.

Yu An accepted the order and turned to leave, but the governor's voice came from behind him: "Bring him here!"

I saw a Taoist priest in a white robe, with a figure as straight as a pine tree, walking casually in the camp. There was an indescribable elegance about him. His facial features were clear-cut and his brows revealed a refined temperament.

When Li Wendao stepped into the military camp, he couldn't help but marvel in his heart. Wherever he looked, the faces of many passing soldiers had changed.

Some time ago, he observed the celestial phenomena day and night and found them to be dark and chaotic. Now, seeing the abnormal expressions on the faces of the people in the camp, Li Wendao became more and more certain that his trip was worthwhile.

In the account.

When Meng Jun saw this man, he felt that he had an extraordinary temperament. No wonder he asked the patrolling soldiers to report it to the higher authorities. If he were an ordinary person, he would have been scolded and driven away long ago.

Meng Jun and Li Wendao looked at each other, and Li Wendao spoke first: "I, Li Wendao, greet the governor."

"Wen Dao? This is a good name. Taoist priest, why don't you practice Taoism in the mountains? Why do you come out to be involved in this worldly world?" Meng Jun said with a smile.

"The world is in chaos, where is the pure land?"

Meng Jun didn't want to play guessing games with this Taoist, so he asked, "Master Taoist, what is it that you want to see me?"

"I observed the celestial phenomena at night and it seems that the situation in the world will change again, so I came out of the mountains to look for it. Now that I have met the governor, the doubts in my heart have been resolved," Li Wendao replied with a bow.

"Why did the Taoist priest's doubts be resolved after meeting me?" Meng Jun asked with some confusion.

Li Wendao bowed again and said: "General, please forgive me for speaking frankly. You look like a man of modest means. But now you hold a large army. You can turn your hand to make clouds and rain. The whole world changes according to your will."

"Oh, maybe the Taoist priest has made a mistake," Meng Jun said lightly.

"Perhaps I am not well-versed in this subject, or perhaps the governor has the answer in his mind."

Meng Jun was silent for a while after hearing this. He suddenly didn't know how to answer, so he simply asked: "Master, you came to see me, are you just looking for an answer? If so, I can give you some money and you can go on your own."

"No, no, when I met the governor, I felt that the Taoism was profound. I would like to follow the governor and gain some experience in the world."

Meng Jun heard this and asked: "Master, have you learned the secret of Guiguzi and have a unique understanding of the battle formation?"

Li Wendao said confidently: "I know nothing about killing."

Meng Jun asked again: "Is that a good strategy to ensure the safety of the country and the prosperity of the people?"

Li Wendao laughed again and said, "I am not as good as a petty official in governing the people."

"I do not believe in immortality and have no intention of pursuing it. Taoist priest, you may have come to the wrong place," Meng Jun said with a smile and shook his head.

"The idea of immortality is illusory. I don't believe it either, and I hope the governor doesn't believe it either."

"Then, Taoist priest..." Meng Jun had just opened his mouth when Li Wendao smiled and said, "I don't ask for anything. I don't need the governor to grant me an official position, nor do I need a salary of half a month. I just want three meals a day, simple clothes and a vegetarian diet."

After hesitating for a moment, Meng Jun nodded and said, "Okay, since the Taoist priest wishes, I agree!"