Travel back in time and become Chongzhen, watch me turn the tide

"Master Zhang, Qingzhou has been successfully captured, but I'm not sure what to do next." Jiang Xuefeng looked directly at Zhang Huangyan with a determined gaze. "I've already gained preliminary insights into the situation in Jinan. Shandong Governor Fang Dayou only has a little over 600 soldiers under his command. Right now, the city is depleted of troops. Shouldn't we seize the opportunity and take Jinan in one fell swoop? We can't miss this opportunity!"

After hearing this, Zhang Huangyan frowned slightly, and a hint of hesitation arose in his heart.

"This..." Zhang Huangyan couldn't help but hesitate after hearing this. They had been making rapid progress recently. After defeating Jiaozhou General Ke Yongsheng in Yishui and successfully capturing Yishui County, they had successfully persuaded Jiaozhou to surrender, and then successfully captured Qingzhou with the assistance of Zhao Yingyuan.

But Zhang Huangyan knew that behind this seemingly glorious moment lay hidden worries. The rapid advance was like hastily building a tall building without a stable foundation; its roots were shallow and lacked a solid foundation to take root. The troops hadn't had time to properly rest, their supplies were limited, and the newly recruited soldiers were struggling to adapt. These numerous problems weighed heavily on his mind, leaving him hesitant and filled with worry.

"What are you still hesitating about!" Jiang Xuefeng saw Zhang Huangyan's hesitation and was extremely anxious. His face flushed crimson instantly, and the veins on his forehead bulged slightly. He shouted at the top of his voice, "Jinan City is like a ripe fruit right now. We can easily pick it and put it into our pocket. If we hesitate and miss the opportunity, when the Qing army reinforcements arrive, it will be harder than climbing to the sky to bite off this hard bone of Jinan. The hope of victory is so slim that it is almost invisible!"

"We don't have enough troops right now. Even if we manage to capture Jinan, how will we defend it if the Qing army approaches in force?" Zhang Huangyan sighed deeply, his brows furrowed like the shape of a river. His expression was as solemn as the sky before a storm. He said slowly, "What's more, we only have so many elite soldiers. If we really disperse and set up defenses everywhere, it will undoubtedly give the Qing army a loophole. They will seize the opportunity to defeat us one by one, and we will be completely trapped in the desperate situation of passive defense."

"Master Zhang, please listen to me." Jiang Xuefeng waved his hand nonchalantly and said, "Jinan is no ordinary place. It is the capital of Shandong, controlling the administrative center of the entire province. It is also the gateway to Shandong, controlling the main north-south transportation route. The key of its geographical location far exceeds any city we have captured before, and its strategic significance is extraordinary. Since our forces cannot be dispersed, let's simply gather our strength into a fist and use it centrally! Now His Majesty has given me another thousand new troops. Add to my original one thousand, and I have a base of two thousand elite troops. Counting the five thousand new troops we have just trained, I, Jiang Xuefeng, pat my chest and guarantee that with this force, we will be able to defend the city of Jinan! Even if the Qing army comes with great momentum, I can make them return in defeat at the gates of the city and never let them advance a single step!"

"Well, then let's do as you say," said Zhang Huangyan.

He was not one for hesitation, always acting with decisiveness. Upon closer examination, Jiang Xuefeng's words struck a chord, truly making sense. Comparing the many cities he had captured along the way, none could compare to Jinan in terms of strategic value and geographical location. Taking Jinan would be like nailing a stabilizing force in Shandong's territory, essentially reclaiming most of the region. Whether it was consolidating the defenses or further expanding territory, the impact would be immeasurable, enough to shift the entire tide of war.

At present, the People's Army that Jiang Xuefeng had brought with him from Nanjing numbered only two thousand men at most. However, these men had to be allocated to training new recruits and quickly developing them into combat-ready soldiers, while also drawing on key personnel to form new armies and improve the military organization. After all this deployment, no more than fifteen hundred soldiers could actually be deployed to fight on the battlefield. Meanwhile, the Restoration Battalion, which Yao Er had left behind, was in slightly better shape, with two thousand soldiers at its disposal. Since they were determined to capture Jinan, even though the city's defenders were small, they naturally had to bring all of these elite troops with them to ensure a safe and secure victory. At the same time, they could also draw on the troops that had been carefully reorganized during this period to transfer another five thousand men to Jinan.

Jinan, the capital of Shandong, enjoys a unique geographical advantage, controlling strategic north-south intersections and serving as a vital gateway between east and west. To the north lies the mighty Yellow River, a natural barrier; to the south, the majestic Taiyi Mountains offer both offensive and defensive capabilities, affording a significant advantage in strategic depth. Furthermore, its location in the heart of Shandong, surrounded by a network of towns and cities, allows for the rapid deployment of troops and supplies through a well-developed land and water transportation network. Whether supporting coastal areas or responding to inland calls, Jinan can quickly form a powerful military synergy, acting as a formidable military hub.

Jinan City was towering and immensely fortified, its walls meticulously constructed of solid brick and stone, capable of withstanding the pounding of heavy siege engines and the relentless bombardment of artillery fire. The city also housed numerous barracks, granaries, and arsenals, stocked with ample supplies and ample ammunition, sufficient to sustain prolonged defensive operations, like an impenetrable fortress.

In the current war situation, Jinan held immense military significance. Facing the Qing dynasty, which had already occupied Beijing, if the Southern Ming could capture Jinan, it would become a crucial strategic support point in the north, a stabilizing force. It could effectively prevent the Qing army from advancing southward along the Shandong Peninsula, threatening the prosperous regions of Jiangnan, and thus safeguarding the Southern Ming's half of the territory. Shandong boasted a large population and a prosperous economy. With Jinan's support, the entire Jiaodong Peninsula could enjoy stable development. If the Ming army advanced northward, Jinan would become a crucial stronghold and supply base, providing solid support for the Ming army's northern expedition.

For this reason, the ownership of Jinan was of vital importance to both the Qing court and the Southern Ming, a place that both sides had to fight for. This was also the main reason why Zhang Huangyan resolutely decided to take it without being completely sure of his victory. Its strategic significance surpassed all difficulties and risks.

The plan was set, and Zhang Huangyan did not dare to delay for a moment. He quickly and orderly reorganized his troops. Afterwards, the army headed straight for Jinan and embarked on the journey in a mighty manner. With high morale, they were like a surging torrent of steel.

At this time, there was another scene of panic in Jinan City.

Fang Dayou, the Qing-appointed governor of Shandong, was like an ant on a hot pan, whirling around in a frenzy. Beads of sweat streamed down his forehead, and his back was soaked with sweat. The news that Wang Aoyong, the man Zhao Yingyuan had feigned to surrender and tricked the city into opening up, and that he had been recruiting to pacify Shandong, was missing, came like a bolt from the blue. Those who had escaped had hastily relayed it to Fang Dayou, sending a wave of panic throughout the city.

"Lord Wang has always been prudent and cautious. Why did he trust Zhao Yingyuan so easily this time?" Fang Dayou was pacing back and forth, anxiously thinking about countermeasures. He suddenly stopped, his face full of confusion and anger, and he asked with wide eyes.

"Zhao Yingyuan is a fellow townsman of Lord Wang. He used to be Wang Aoyong's bodyguard. Later, because he leaked Lord Wang's private matters to Zhang Xianzhong, he was punished by Lord Wang. He ran away in anger and joined the rebels. That's why Wang Aoyong trusted this man." The person who spoke was an aide of Wang Aoyong named Gaoyou. When Wang Aoyong escaped, he specifically told him to take the opportunity to leave Qingzhou and go to Jinan to inform Fang Dayou.

"How foolish!" Fang Dayou sighed, beating his chest and stamping his feet in grief. "Lord Wang has been cautious all his life and has seen all kinds of storms and waves. I didn't expect that he would fall into the hands of such a villain. This person has a history of leaking private matters and his character is worrying. How could we trust him so easily? Now, not only has he gotten himself into trouble, but he has also implicated us. It is really heartbreaking!"

"Yes, those of us around him have tried to persuade him, but Lord Wang is eager to gather troops and expand his power. He relies on the prestige of the Qing Dynasty and thinks that nothing will go wrong..." Gaoyou sighed helplessly, his words full of regret, and his eyes slightly red.

"You go down." Fang Dayou waved his hand weakly, indicating that Gaoyou should go down to rest and calm down. After a moment of silence, he slowly raised his head, looked at his staff member Wang Shuo beside him, and asked softly: "What should we do now?"

"Sir, the most urgent task is to report this to the court immediately." Wang Shuo frowned, pondered for a moment, and then spoke carefully, "We must ask the court to send real Manchu officers and soldiers to rush to our aid day and night. The fighting power of the invading Ming army is astonishing and should not be underestimated. With only 1,000 musketeers, they defeated the 5,000 cavalry of Jiaozhou General Ke Yongsheng! Ke Yongsheng is a veteran general who has been through many battles. Although most of his troops are recruited, they are all veterans who have experienced hundreds of battles. Moreover, it was infantry against cavalry, and they were able to achieve a resounding victory despite such a huge disparity. It shows the strength of the Ming army. If we want to defeat the enemy, we must send real Manchu officers and soldiers!"

"That makes sense." Fang Dayou nodded in agreement and gritted his teeth, saying, "I'll write a memorial right away and send it to the capital at an expedited speed of 800 miles!"