Emperor Ming Dynasty

Chapter 287

The sleet last night completely brought Yangzhou into winter, and also lowered the temperature in Yangzhou by a few points. The streets with few people in the first place seemed desolate and silent.

In the early morning, the morning wind that shuttled among the shadows of the trees has already brought some obvious coldness. The half-withered and half-green leaves rustled with the morning wind, like an out-of-control boat, swaying and falling to the ground.

There was a thin layer of dead leaves on the ground, and the heavy soles of the boots stepped on it, making a soft clicking sound.

Shi Kefa is short and thin, with dark complexion, slow steps, straight back, and sparkling eyes.

He was full of perseverance, and the scene in front of him could not shake his will in the slightest.

When the Qing army was about to approach, the people in Yangzhou city had already rushed out as much as possible, and he wanted to avoid the disaster, so he let it go.

He turned his head and said earnestly.

"Dingxin, the current situation is difficult, and you are the only one who is dedicated to serving the country!"

On the side, Liu Zhaoji, who had a hulking back and waist, had bright eyes, clasped his hands, and Weng said: "It is my duty to serve the country in the end. The supervisor praised me absurdly."

Liu Zhaoji was born as a general in Liaodong. He was a hereditary commander.

Therefore, compared to those rude warriors, he has broad knowledge and understands the principle of loyalty to the emperor. Once Shi Kefa calls, he will immediately lead troops to support him, even if there are only more than a thousand people.

Shi Kefa was very happy with his answer, and sighed: "In the four towns in Jiangbei, Liu Zeqing surrendered to the bandits, Gao Jie was rebellious, Liu Liangzuo died innocently, and Huang Degong guarded Nanjing. Only you can come."

"Master, how many soldiers and horses are there in Yangzhou City?"

Liu Zhaoji frowned.

"About twenty thousand!"

Shi Kefa said in a deep voice: "Yangzhou city is strong and high, it is possible to hold Yangzhou."

Liu Zhaoji smiled wryly when he heard this.

This superintendent is really naive, with 20,000 people, I'm afraid he can't even stand on the city wall of Yangzhou, let alone hold it.

"Master, please forgive me for offending you."

He couldn't help but look at the straight-backed supervisor, shook his head and said:
"The last general fought in Liaodong many times before, and he has a deep understanding of Jiannu. They have many artillery pieces. No matter how strong the city wall is in front of the red cannons, it is just like paper..."

Shi Ke frowned, listening to his words, his mood became more and more depressed, but he still forcibly cheered up:

"Anyway, since I am the supervisor of Yangzhou, I can't leave. If Yangzhou can't be defended, I have to defend it. I must not give up lightly."

"Master, there is also a shortage of soldiers and horses in Nanjing..." Liu Zhaoji couldn't help saying.

"Nanjing has Huang Degong and the Beijing camp. Yangzhou is the barrier of the capital. If something goes wrong, the huge South Zhili will be exposed to the iron heels of the Qing Dynasty. Yangzhou city must not be abandoned."

Shi Kefa said categorically, with a look of fearlessness all over his face.

Although Liu Zhaoji was helpless, what other demands could he have for a civil servant who was not afraid of death?
Isn't this stronger than those party strugglers in Nanjing?
Perhaps this is why I came to Yangzhou!
"Liu Dudu, let you guard the west gate!"

Shi Kefa explained.

"The last general should do his best!" Liu Zhaoji gritted his teeth, three or four thousand soldiers and horses guarding one gate was barely enough.

But at this time, a hurried footstep came, interrupting the chat between the two.

Liu Zhaoji looked back and saw a middle-aged Confucian scholar with fair skin, and his ears were long and pendulous, making his face appear whiter and tenderer.

At this time, his complexion was ugly, and the dust came.

Of course he knew that this was Shi Kefa's aide, Yan Ermei, a tycoon of Fushe, who had a great reputation in Nanzhili.

"Master, something is wrong!"

Yan Ermei walked over, and a suppressed voice sounded: "Brothers Zhang Tianlu and Zhang Tianfu from Guazhou have surrendered to the Qing army. There are no more than [-] soldiers and horses, and Yangzhou has become an isolated city."

"Shameless!!" Shi Kefa cursed, his face livid with anger.

Guazhou is located on the sandbar in the middle of the Yangtze River. Its geographical location is very important. It is between Zhenjiang and Yangzhou, and it is an important place for Yangzhou to go west to Nanjing.

There are not only soldiers and horses stationed, but also ships, etc. Once the Manchu Qing acquires it, not only will Yangzhou be in danger, but even Nanjing will be in danger.

Yan Ermei sighed, her face pale: "The country is so decadent, so what should I do?"

Yangzhou has completely become a place of death, which makes him sad. At the same time, he also has a lot of complaints about Shi Kefa, who has a noble heart.

When he first learned that the Manchus went south to Shaanxi, he offered three strategies:

One, cross the north and go up to recover Shandong.

The two marched west to Henan, and joined forces with the king of Yu in Luoyang.

The three stayed in Xuzhou and watched the battle in the Central Plains.

None of these three strategies was chosen, and Shi Kefa had deep concerns. He only wanted to return to Yangzhou, guard this prosperous city, and act as a fortress in Nanjing.

In this regard, Shi Kefa's indecision has been carried forward to the extreme.

If so, how could Jiangbei be so corrupt?
At that time, he was completely disappointed with Shi Kefa and the gentlemen of the court, but Yangzhou had an important status and had to stay.

"Yongqing, do you have a strategy?"

Shi Kefa turned his head and asked.

"Teacher, Yangzhou has lost all its advantages, and there is no harmony between people. I'm afraid it will only be in vain."

Holding on for a while, Yan Ermei analyzed the situation, narrowed his eyes and said, "Fortunately, there is Hangou in Yangzhou—the Three Bays of Yangzhou, and it is difficult for the Qing army to completely encircle them, so there is still time to evacuate Nanjing."

"The supervisor can cross the Yangtze River, go to Zhenjiang, go to Suzhou, Songjiang Mansion, or go to Hangzhou."

"Hangzhou?" Shi Kefa narrowed his eyes.

"If Nanjing is lost, the Holy One is in danger, and King Lu is in Hangzhou..."

Yan Ermei's eyes were piercing, and she pleaded: "Master, this is the last hope, if you don't leave, it will be too late."

When Liu Zhaoji heard the words, his face was also full of hope.

Shi Kefa was silent.

He turned his back and sighed deeply: "A certain has already written a suicide note, comforted his family, and entrusted his life to Yangzhou. His only wish is to be buried in Nanjing after his death, with the Taizu beside him..."

"If you want to go, you go!"

"Master!"

Yan Ermei yelled, completely disappointed in her.

Fushe, Jishe, and even the Donglin Party, what exactly are these?It's not as good as eunuchs...

Cupping her hands, Yan Ermei shook her head and left, naturally choosing to leave the dead land of Yangzhou.

"Why doesn't the governor leave?"

Liu Zhaoji was named Zuo Dudu, Prince Taibao, with a higher status.

Facing Shi Kefa's doubts, Liu Zhaoji shook his head, with a bit of helplessness on his round face: "The supervisor and civil servants are not afraid of death. As a warrior, I have received the favor of the emperor, so naturally I dare not escape."

"Okay!" Shi Kefa said with a tragic smile, "Let us die together to strengthen the power of Ming."

After two days, Azig was finally ready to completely besiege Yangzhou.

And dozens of cannons in red clothes that came down from the canal were also arranged one by one, facing Yangzhou City in unison.

The huge and black hole made the whole city of Yangzhou tremble.

(End of this chapter)