Southern Ming Rebel Army

A large group of baggage soldiers were transporting food, horse fodder, arrows and other supplies. They were moving forward like a long snake formation, the team winding and twisting like a python swimming on the ground. The order from the Governor's Office came down, ordering the supplies that Changshu County had already prepared to be transported to Xiaoshiwan Port in Jiangyin City.

"Alas," Song Jianping sighed again, and Wang Qingtuo, who had been listening to him all the way, couldn't stand it anymore and cursed, "What are you doing? You keep sighing all the way."

Song Jianping said with a bitter face: "Sir, you have always been a garrison officer. You were a garrison officer in the Ming Dynasty and in the Qing Dynasty. We have opened the city and surrendered. Why did you demote your garrison officer to a captain? Isn't this bullying?"

Wang Qingtuo nervously covered Song Jianping's mouth and cursed: "What nonsense are you talking about? I have no problem with any official position. It's good enough to be able to live safely these days."

Song Jianping stopped muttering then. He felt very unhappy. He had finally been promoted to the rank of captain, but in the end, his immediate superior was demoted. Why should he also be demoted and become a captain, from a captain to a captain?

Song Jianping replied in a muffled voice: "After all, we were once the ones stirring the pot. Even if we are not promoted, we will not be demoted either."

In the past, Lin Shiqi was on equal footing with himself. He rose to prominence and became a general, the same rank as a general of the Ming Dynasty. But he became a fallen man, and after a few twists and turns, he became a captain again. Thinking of this, Song Jianping felt depressed.

Wang Qingtuo didn't have this idea. He advised, "Jianping, Governor Meng risked his life to rebel and threw away his hometown. But Lin Tongzhen followed him all the way, sharing life and death with him. He tied his head to his belt and became the governor. We are convinced.

As for you, you came back safely, took over the vacancy comfortably, and became a captain. Now that he has come back, it’s okay for you to become a captain again. Why think so much? If it really doesn’t work out, I will retire and recommend you to take my position.”

After Lin Shiqi captured Changshu without a fight, because the old lady wanted to move back to Changshu to live, Lin Shiqi sent his confidant Zhao Geng to serve as the garrison commander of Changshu, and transferred a group of elite soldiers to garrison Changshu. Wang Qingtuo was demoted from garrison commander to the captain of the Changshu garrison battalion.

Lin Shiqi did not have any ill feelings towards Wang Qingtuo, and even thought he was a good person. Wang Qingtuo just had a mentality of muddling through. When he was under Lin Shiqi's command, it was said that Wang Qingtuo was drawing a salary without working, but it was also in line with the bad practices of the Ming Dynasty at that time, and he was quite friendly to the soldiers. Therefore, at Lin Shiqi's suggestion, Meng Jun still let Wang Qingtuo serve as the captain of the Changshu garrison camp.

Song Jianping felt better after hearing what Lord Wang said, but he was still indignant for a while and said, "It's fine if you fired me, but why did you demote Lord Garrison as well? You were so good to that Commander Meng...Meng, and you don't remember our friendship at all."

"Okay, you don't need to worry about me. We will arrive at Jiangyin City soon. Let's transport the baggage to Jiangyin City safely and then go home to continue our peaceful life."

Song Jianping looked at this somewhat familiar scene. It seemed that the former General Meng had started his army while transporting supplies. If he had followed Meng Jun at that time instead of choosing to leave, what would he be like now?

When Song Jianping thought of this, he looked worried and couldn't help but sigh. Wang Qingtuo couldn't help it and cursed, "Get out of here and don't show up in front of me."

Jiangyin City, Xiaoshiwan Port.

Wang Qingtuo looked at the clerk who had finished the inventory with a smile on his face and said, "Brother, if you think there is no problem, then make the order."

"Well, no problem, but I don't need to give you the regulations. The military order from the Governor's Office states that there are not enough auxiliary troops in the army, so you need to transfer them to Zhenjiang. Brother, you are lucky. The military order just arrived today, and you are recruited." The clerk patted Wang Qingtuo's shoulder with a smile on his face.

Captain Wang's smile froze there. He returned to the camp in a daze. At this time, Song Jianping came over and asked casually, "Captain Qian, should we go back now?"

Wang Qingtuo came back to his senses, looked at Song Jianping beside him, and said softly: "I'm not going back to Changshu."

Song Jianping was stunned and looked at Wang Qingtuo in confusion. Wang Qingtuo seemed to come to his senses and said with a bitter face: "I'm not going back to Changshu. I'm going to Zhenjiang with the army. When the food and grass are loaded, we will be loaded. See, the long row of boats at the back are for us."

Song Jianping: “…………”

In Jiangning City, Hong Chengchou was looking at the imperial decree sent from the court. Dorgon issued an order to recruit more than a hundred talented people from all over Jiangnan. Wu Weiye, Mao Xiang, Hou Fangyu, Fang Yizhi, Chen Zhenhui and others were prominently on the list.

Hong Chengchou stroked his forehead with a headache. This decree came at a wrong time. Meng Jun was attacking Zhenjiang fiercely now. It was a dangerous time of war. He had no energy to do such things. However, the regent's order had to be obeyed. Hong Chengchou pondered for a moment, then handed the order to officials at all levels of the Governor's Office and ordered them to supervise its implementation.

At this time, a messenger rushed to the Governor's Mansion and reported to Hong Chengchou: "Governor, a large fleet of warships are coming from the lower reaches of the Yangtze River, with Ming flags and Meng flags flying on their flags."

Hong Chengchou frowned and waved his hand to signal the messenger to retreat. This must be the navy of Meng Jun and Shen Tingyang. What was Meng Jun's intention in sending the navy north at this time? Was he trying to destroy Geng Zhongming's navy in Anqing? Or was he trying to stop Lekedehun from returning?

Hong Chengchou sat alone on the armchair, closing his eyes in deep thought. After a moment, he opened his eyes, and a gleam of light flashed in his cloudy eyes. He murmured, "Could it be that Zhenjiang City was breached so quickly?"

Afterwards, Hong Chengchou forced himself to get up with his tired body, convened a military meeting, and moved 4,000 troops under Shandong General Ke Yongsheng to the Purple Mountain Camp outside Jiangning City. At the same time, he sent an urgent message to Lekedehun, asking him to come as soon as possible.

……

Shen Tingyang's navy was sailing majestically on the Yangtze River, with white waves splashing on both sides of the ship. From afar, Shen Tingyang could already see the outline of Jiangning City.

As the warships approached, the magnificent sight of the Jiangning city wall gradually became clear. The wall was tall and majestic. At this moment, Jiangning City was like a shining pearl inlaid on the bank of the Yangtze River.

"Sir Shen, do you think we should use artillery to bombard the walls of Jiangning?" Zhang Shun, who was standing aside, had excitement in his eyes and couldn't wait to propose to Shen Tingyang.

Shen Tingyang shook his head slightly and said, "No, bombarding Jiangning City will only waste shells and make the city more alert. You need to know our important matters."

Zhang Shun nodded after hearing this, and then looked at Jiangning City. The wall of Jiangning City was so strong that Zhang Shun had never seen it before. At this time, he saw shadowy figures on the top of Jiangning City, and the city was on high alert. Zhang Shun couldn't help but sighed: "Such a strong city, how could it be captured by the Tartar army so easily?"

Shen Tingyang's eyes showed a trace of sadness, and he slowly said: "Nanjing, without firing a single shot or arrow, surrendered..."