If Ma Shao knew that the young emperor of the Southern Dynasty was still having the leisure to study what the "armor-removing wind" was, he would have to be furious. Since Badu led his army to fight to break the siege of the Southern Army and returned with great defeat, he was ashamed of needles and sent envoys to the province for help. However, yesterday he received a letter from Yuxi Timur asking him to preside over the government affairs of Yangzhou to defend the city, drag down the main force of the Southern Army, and waited for a turnaround. He immediately realized that no reinforcements had returned, and at least he would not receive any assistance in a short period of time, and he could only rely on himself.

If Ma Shao had just been besieged by the Song army, he might still be a little confident when he received the order to hold on, but now the troops were lost in one battle, and the equipment and supplies were also seriously damaged. He acted even more critically. When Yangzhou City was building the city, it was to defend against the enemy in the north. A canal passed by the south of the city to form a natural barrier. The east and west also led two rivers as moats. Although there were long bridges and banks on the river, the wide river surface was not suitable for siege. Only the north was relatively suitable for siege. The pattern of water on three sides avoided the suffering of enemies on all sides.

In order to defend against attacks from the north, the Southern Dynasty built Baoyou City and Jiacheng to strengthen its defense. Now Baoyou City was captured by the Song army, which means that it has already obtained a foothold for the siege. Bijia Mountain, located in Baoyou City, can also be used as a commanding height to overlook the city, and can use it to snipe the defenders on the city wall. At present, the Song army not only set up a lookout post on the mountain, but also set up artillery positions, which can bombard the targets in Jiacheng at a high altitude. Several test shots have caused panic, causing residents in Jiacheng to flock to the city to take refuge.

The Jiacheng between the main city and Baoyou City was actually dead in name only. As early as the Mongolian and Yuan army attacked the south and captured Yangzhou City, in order to retaliate against the death of the military and civilians of Yangzhou, they massacred the city and demolished Jiacheng and Baoyou City. In order to prevent the Song army from expeditioning in the north last year, Boyan had only had time to repair the main city. Jiacheng and Baoyou City were not yet able to repair it. Now that the Song army is at the city, Jiacheng only had time to use the original ruins to repair it, but it was just a pile of earth and walls, blocking it with wooden fences. It was very simple. He didn't feel hopeful whether the Song army could block the attack.

Once Jiacheng was lost, the main city would face the attack directly, and the Song army's artillery fire could directly enter the city. Thinking about the defeated soldiers returning to the city, all the soldiers who changed their color when talking about the power of the Song army's artillery fire, Ma Shao felt that there was no hope of defending the city. However, the Yangzhou general Badu had the "armor-removing wind" again and said he could not come out. He went to invite him to discuss the matter of defending the city again and again, but he was rejected.

In desperation, Ma Shao could only visit the hospital in person. He was also shocked when he saw it. His face was flushed and his body was hot. A man who could lift a strong bow and rode a fierce horse was bedridden. It was obviously really sick. After careful consideration, he realized that the cold was just an appearance, and the seriousness of the heart was a heart-wrenching general who had been on the battlefield for hundreds of battles and could not suffer a defeat. In fact, his troops of ten thousand people led by him were basically crippled, which made him unable to get sick.

The situation in Badu was obviously unable to lead the troops to fight, so Ma Shao could only comfort him and let him rest assured. The other two, Wanhudu and Tuoliedu, suffered great losses in front of the Southern Army, and they suffered a lot of losses and were already timid in fighting. On the other hand, their fiefs were occupied by the Southern Dynasty. Not only were the family members not aware of their lives or death, but the wealth accumulated over the years must have been gone. Therefore, not only the two, but also the soldiers and generals under their command were also fluctuating. They were unwilling to defend Yangzhou, but they wanted to break through the city and regain their fiefdoms and rescue their relatives.

In this case, even if the two wanted to take on the important task of defending the city, Ma Shao was not relieved, and they had no intention of defending the city at all. Although he himself had the power to command the Yangzhou ministries by Yuxi Timur, he did not dare to take over.

In a word, Ma Shao knew that the provincial configuration was separated by military and political affairs. The provincial Secretariat was nominally more powerful than the provincial Privy Council, but in fact they were not subordinate to each other and no one could control each other. Although Yuxi Timuer was just a provincial Privy Councilor, he wore a hat and held a double tiger talisman in his hand. In fact, he represented the imperial court to command troops, and his power was still above the provincial.

In this emergency, Yangzhou City had the highest position and was just as good as taking over military power. His predecessor, Boyan, was the right chief of the Shangshu Province and the unified command of the various departments of the Huai River as the right chief of the Shangshu Province. But Ma Shao knew that he could not compare with Boyan at all, and he had no prestige in the army. Even with the authorization of Yuxi Timur, he could not mobilize those soldiers and generals at all.

Secondly, Ma Shao knew the unspoken rules of using people in the Mongolian and Yuan court, and was always wary of the Han people's military command. After the unified adjustments of the army to attack Jiangnan, he easily stopped granting military power to the Han people. Even those Han marquis who were hereditary in the early years were subject to many restrictions to prevent them from learning from Li Tan to rebel. Although the Khan's real gold always valued Han ministers, the Mongols were now back, otherwise they would not be demoted from the court. If he took over the military power, no matter what the outcome was, he would not have a good end. If he wins, he will be afraid of the Khan, and if he loses, he will have to take the blame.

Three words Ma Shao is still self-aware. He is a Confucian scholar and has never had any experience in assisting in military affairs, let alone leading troops to fight. It can be said that he knows nothing about how to fight, and letting himself command troops to defend Yangzhou is simply a joke. If he knows that he is not capable of his own ability and acts forcibly, he knows that it is not only irresponsible to the tens of thousands of soldiers and civilians in the city, but also irresponsible to the court.

‘Boom, boom, boom…’

"What's going on?" Hearing a continuous burst of explosions, Ma Shao, who was thinking, couldn't help but shudder and asked loudly outside the door.

"Report to the Right Chief, the Southern Army intends to restore the Xiama Bridge between the two cities. The stone throwing machines and archers arranged by our army to send cannons to stop them. The enemy fired a counterattack and blew up the newly repaired northern city wall for more than three meters. Now the husbands are organizing emergency repairs!" The personal soldiers who had observed the situation ran back and reported.

"Can the Southern Army launch an attack?" Ma Shao asked anxiously after hearing this.

"Reported to the Right Chief, the enemy has not yet repaired the Long Bridge. It has temporarily stopped under the counterattack of our army's invaders and has not taken advantage of the situation to attack the city!" The personal soldiers reported.

"Which general is commanding the city to guard the city?" Ma Shao's face was slower and he asked again.

"Report to the right chief, Jiacheng is commanded by Qianhu Suolaqi, the infantry army of Badu, but..." the personal soldiers replied, but they wanted to speak but stopped.

"But what? Talking about it, let me know!" Ma Shao frowned again and asked anxiously.

"Reported to the right prime minister, there are also rumors that Suoqianhu has only 700 soldiers under his jurisdiction. He asked to send reinforcements many times, but the other two Wanhu said that Jiacheng was the defense area of ​​Wanhu Mansion of Badu and refused to send troops to assist. In desperation, he could only arrest Ding Zhuang in the city to assist in defense, and even had a conflict with the people." The personal soldiers took a step forward and reported softly. He obviously felt that it was difficult to defend Jiacheng with insufficient defense with just one thousand-man team.

"Bastard, bastard, don't they know that once the city is wrong, the Southern Army will be at the city, and the artillery cannons can directly enter the main city. At that time, it will be like jade and stones burning. Everyone is the sword ghost of the Southern Army..." Ma Shao said angrily when he heard this. In a rage, he swept the teacup on the table to the ground, making a broken and crisp sound. When the people in the room saw him getting angry, they all lowered their heads and dared not speak.

"Your Prime Minister, you still have to try your best to defend the city, otherwise we will find it difficult to save it!" Seeing Ma Shao turn around anxiously in the hall with a dark face, Zhang Ting, a doctor from Yousi who came to Yangzhou with him, stepped forward and bowed and persuaded him.

"Dr. Zhang, I am a famous official now and cannot mobilize any soldiers. Ba is infected and has no leader in the army. Could it be that I will take a group of soap officials to fight the enemy with bloody battles?" Ma Shao waved his arms and said loudly without any angrily.

"Your Highness Chief, don't be angry. We are already in the city and have the order of the commander of the Sir. Whether it is for the military and civilians in the city or for ourselves, we must try to defend the city." Zhang Ting knew that Ma Shao was upright, and was extremely upset because he had no choice. As long as he calmed down, he would understand. "The officials heard that the pseudo emperors of the Southern Dynasty were extremely cruel and cruel. When they captured Jiangnan, all the Mongols and Han people who accepted the official positions in our dynasty were killed, and the surrendered and captured Han troops were sent to remote areas for hard labor. After they broke through Yangzhou City, the blood that would surely be killed would flow into a river, and the chickens and dogs were not left. The Right Chief would watch the soldiers and civilians in the city being slaughtered, but were indifferent?"

"This..." Ma Shao was stunned for hearing this, but his mind calmed down and said in a deep voice, "I understand that eating the king's fortune is to be loyal to the king, and the guardians of the territory should fulfill their responsibilities. I am not afraid of life and death, and I will do my best to break the bones of the military and civilians in the city. If I can exchange my life for the safety of the military and civilians in the city, what's the fear of being tied out of the city and leading them to the neck!"

"The Right Chief's intention to serve the country with his fist, and his subordinates are all vivid in his mind, and he will not doubt it. Now, as long as he explains the matter with the soldiers and civilians in the city, he will definitely be able to unite his heart to fight against the powerful enemy, and wait until the reinforcements of the court cleared the siege." Zhang Ting said with politeness.

"What is the most important thing in front of you?" Ma Shao heard what he said, but he looked at him in shock and suspicion.

"The right chief, the lower-ranking official once served as a staff member under the command of Zhang Wulie, the general of the State, and participated in the Southern Expedition to conquer and destroy the Southern Dynasties. Unfortunately, in the Battle of Yashan, the lord planned for the pseudo emperor of the Southern Dynasties and was defeated and died. The lower-ranking official escaped by chance. Meng Dahan refused to give up and remained in Huaidong to serve." Zhang Ting knew that Ma Shao had not been here for a long time and did not know him. So he first reported himself to his family in order to gain his trust, and also showed that he had experience in joining the army to fight on the battlefield.

"Oh, it turns out that Doctor Zhang is Zhang Wulie's confidant, and I have to rely more on it!" Ma Shao was surprised and excited. There was a man who was familiar with military affairs around him, as if he had more arms, and he bowed his hands and smiled.

"Your Highness, you are polite. I have both the national hatred of the Southern Dynasties and the family hatred of killing the Lord. I will help the Rightness, defend the city, defeat the Southern Dynasties, and avenge the Lord!" Zhang Ting said seriously with a deep court.

"In this way, we will share the same hatred of the enemy and jointly defend the strong enemy to protect the lives of the soldiers and people in the city. We also ask Doctor Zhang to give him advice!" Ma Shao grabbed Zhang Ting's wrist and pulled him down and said.

"Your Highness, you will be rude to be like this!" Zhang Ting sat down and poured tea for Ma Shao, and said politely, "Since the Shuzheng was determined to be the right emperor to take charge of the military affairs of Yangzhou, don't think too much. Even if you show the letter to the generals, take it first, and defending the city is the first priority."

"Well, I'm too concerned about my honor and disgrace too much. It's in vain that I can't defend the city. What's my personal reputation in front of tens of thousands of soldiers and civilians!" Ma Shaoshen nodded in thought. At this moment, he also realized that death is empty.

"The best thing is to think so!" Zhang Ting's most feared was that Ma Shao could not let go of his stature for the sake of the so-called scholar-in-law reputation and misleading the matter. He could say this so that he could figure it out. "The top priority is that in addition to defending Jiacheng, only when Jiacheng is not lost can the main city be protected from enemy artillery fire. Therefore, we must seize the time to mobilize the military and civilians in the city to repair, strengthen Jiacheng, and send more troops to prevent the enemy from crossing the moat. At the same time, strengthen the main city walls to prevent Jiacheng from falling!"

"What Zhang Langzhong said is exactly, but now the people in the city are panic and are trying to leave the city. It is hard to use people's hearts!" Ma Shao frowned. He knew that due to the successive defeats, the morale of the military and civilians in the city was greatly damaged. He had no confidence in defending the city, so it was not easy to revitalize morale.

"The most urgent task of the officials is to take over the military and political power of Yangzhou, and to act with power. You can give up the list to appease the people and boost morale; you can kill those who do not follow and force them to obey their orders; you can also lure them into money and win people's hearts with heavy rewards." Zhang Ting poured himself a bowl of tea and took a sip.

"Please give a detailed explanation from Doctor Zhang!" Ma Shao leaned forward and said.

"The most fear of defending the city is that the enemy will not be able to capture it for a long time, and they will besiege the city and cut off the water and grain. There will be no risk of water cuts in Yangzhou, but the food storage in the city is limited. Therefore, the first thing to do is to seal the warehouse and collect grain. If you have the grain in your hands, you will not be afraid that they will not obey the orders." Zhang Ting said, "Now it is strictly forbidden for the city to store grain and collect grain from the government, and at the same time, the surplus grain from the people and wealthy households will be collected, first supplying military supplies, and the rest of the people will be granted orally to stabilize the hearts of the people."

"Dr. Zhang, do you think we can get how much food?" Ma Shao nodded and looked at him and asked.

"The officials thought that as long as the city was strictly controlled, the reserves in the city could be used for more than a month. At that time, even if the troops were sent from the capital to help, it had arrived. In addition, they asked the rich people in the city to donate gold, silver and silk to reward the army, and to give out the private army to defend the city together with the official army. In Dianji City, they acted as husbands to assist in defending the city. If necessary, they could also distribute weapons to fight the enemy, and they would probably get 30,000 available troops!"

"Well, it is indeed a feasible plan. But the giants in the city are either officials or rich, so how can they be easily traded?" Ma Shao knew that Yangzhou City has the benefits of salt, and there are many people in the city who can get rich with salt. In order to protect their wealth, they often raise a large number of private soldiers to guard the house. If they can be conscripted for military purposes, they are also a strong soldier. The problem is that you want both money and people, and most of them have roots, so how can they be willing to offer them?
Chapter completed!