Chapter 5: Bloody Battle of the Yangtze River (Five)

Suddenly, the North Bank stopped the fatigue tactics of harassment and undercover attacks. The little emperor, the empress dowager, Wei Zhongxian, and the officials, gentry and the people in Nanjing finally slept for two days. In fact, the little emperor was only a child under two years old and was still breastfeeding. He knew what he knew. Apart from crying, he knew nothing about anything else. Zheng Zhibao knew that Wei Zhongxian took advantage of the situation and made things happen out of nothing, and repeatedly demoted his official position.

"Fourth Master, the uncle has written a letter."

Zheng Zhibao was shocked when he heard this. The third brother, the think tank, was not around. He was a man who only knew how to fight and could not deal with all kinds of open and secret arrows in the Nanjing officialdom.

After reading the secret letter from Zheng Zhilong to Fujian, Zheng Zhibao smiled silently. Although he was not good at being intrigue in the officialdom and was not proficient in the swordsmanship, it does not mean that he knew nothing. Zheng Zhilong actually asked him to take the little emperor to Fujian when necessary, in an attempt to threaten the emperor to command the princes. In this secret letter, Zheng Zhibao saw an ambitious elder brother. His joy turned into ashes and fought against the power of a country with one corner. The elder brother was too brave.

He couldn't even see the little emperor. Even if Nanjing City was captured, he would not have the ability to take the little emperor away from thousands of troops, and would still have to face endless pursuit. According to Zheng Zhilong's letter, if Nanjing is defended, if it cannot be defended, he would secretly help the enemy, and then encourage the little emperor to retreat to Fujian.

Since receiving this letter, Zheng Zhibao felt like a huge stone was pressed down, and he was so upset that even though the tens of thousands of troops on the other side did not give him this feeling, he really didn't know how to deal with this letter, even though the secret letter had turned into ashes.

Since Zheng Zhibao's fleet was brought from Fujian, the Zheng family's children could not be inserted into the needle and water could not be poured in, which brought great difficulties to shadow surveillance and collecting intelligence. They could only use bribery or seduce some sporadic information. Although they could not fully grasp Zheng Zhibao's every move, it was enough for Hong Chengchou to formulate a series of combat plans.

The reorganization of the 100,000 troops was soon coming to an end, waiting for Hong Chengchou to destroy the Yangtze River Navy and Zheng Zhibao's pirate fleet, and could cross the river south at any time.

In the second year of Chongzhen, February 28, history should remember this day.

The river was covered with mist, and a huge fleet was exposed on the river surface that lasted more than ten kilometers. Specifically, in Zheng Zhibao's Thousand Mile Mile Mile Mile, scarlet flags rolled in the fog, huge ships sailed through the wind and waves towards him, and the large "Hong" character fluttered in the wind, indicating that the commander of this huge fleet was Hong Chengchou, known as the "butcher".

"Rise the sail and face the enemy!" Zheng Zhibao decisively issued a combat order. The time for the decisive battle has come. This battle not only determines his fate, but also the fate of the Nanjing Dynasty.

Zheng Zhibao's flagship "Tiger Shark" moved. It was a two-masted ocean-going combat sailboat with a draft of 600 materials. It was equipped with eight artillery pieces, forty-eight Franchise cannons, sixty convex guns, more than fifty crossbows of various types, and more than two hundred combatants. They were all brought by Zheng Zhibao. Needless to say, their loyalty is one of the best combat power in Zheng Zhilong's pirate fleet, and they are extremely fierce.

Zheng Zhibao had more than 50 ships under his command, including the number of ships and the strength of the troops. At this time, the navy fleet led by Zheng Zhibao Yuanxun Hong Chengchou.

Hong Chengchou was against Zheng Zhibao in Peter. The navy had a total of more than 10,000 people, plus half an artillery brigade, which was only more than 12,000 and more than 200 artillery pieces. Two-thirds of the ones concentrated on dealing with Zheng Zhibao, with a total of 8,000 troops, twelve large ships with more than 400 materials, and more than 200 auxiliary combat warships. In order to solve the most powerful personal guards around Zheng Zhibao, Hong Chengchou did not hesitate to ask Zhu Yinglong to come to Wu Sangui's special combat brigade, in order to hit the target and wipe out Zheng Zhibao's fleet.

"Master General, is it too rash to ask Song Xiance to command three thousand men alone to block the Yangtze River Navy that might have come from Zhenjiang?" Zheng Nansheng said with some concern to Hong Chengchou, who was standing on the deck of the flagship to observe the enemy situation.

"What, do you want to go?" Hong Chengchou slightly lowered and put down the telescope.

"No, would you be too irrelevant to do this? Song Xiance was just a military senator sent by the emperor. Logically, such a person cannot lead troops alone." Zheng Nansheng defended in a low voice.

"Haha, you are too worried, and you can't always judge people by your appearance. I see that Song Xiance can no longer be inferior to you. I let him lead the army to block the attack, so I also look at his true skills. This is what the emperor means." Hong Chengchou said.

"Master, this is not a joke to block the Yangtze River Navy, if..." Zheng Nansheng said worriedly.

Hong Chengchou waved his hand and said, "This is not something you are worried about. The war is coming. Hurry up and go back to your ship."

"Send flags and attack the entire army in a cone-shaped attack formation!" Zheng Zhibao shouted to a personal guard beside him.

After the flag language was issued, Zheng Zhibao's pirate fleet immediately changed its formation, using Zheng Zhibao's flagship "Tiger Shark" as the cone tip, and the other ships were divided into two wings, forming an attack formation.

Hong Chengchou saw Zheng Zhibao's fleet coming up in the telescope, and changed its attack formation and smiled. If Zheng Zhibao passively defended, he might not be better than Zheng Zhibao's fleet even if he wiped out Zheng Zhibao's fleet. However, Zheng Zhibao took the initiative to attack, which indicates that he was going to be finished. Although the navy in his hand was far inferior to Zheng Zhibao's pirate fleet in terms of combat effectiveness and combat experience, it was different, that is, the advanced weapons. With this, the balance of victory in the war was guaranteed to fall to his own side.

"Order the entire army to maintain an arc formation. We will meet this pirate general in a while!" Hong Chengchou issued an order to the flag-speaking soldiers.

The flag-speaking soldiers quickly conveyed orders to each ship, and more than 200 ships lined up in arcs and took over Zheng Zhibao's pirate fleet.

"Fourth Master, they want to surround us!" A personal soldier beside Zheng Zhibao discovered Hong Chengchou's change of war in the Qianli Mile Mile Mile. He said in horror.

Zheng Zhibao put down the Qianli Mile Mile and scolded: "What a panic? The other party is surrounded by many soldiers and ships. It is normal for us to swallow us in one breath."

The opponent has a big appetite and actually tried to swallow him in one bite. Hehe, I, Zheng Zhibao, have been rampant in the East China Sea for many years. The red-haired Dutch fleet must give in to his flagship three points when they see his flagship. He is not afraid of having twice the strength. He seems to feel that he has returned to the magnificent sea and fought with all kinds of enemies on the sea. The blood dyed the sea water red. Until he finally pulled out his sword, cut off the enemy's head, and achieved the final victory. Compared to today, he is very confident in himself because he has an invincible subordinate!

"Brothers, the fine wine, beauties, and countless gold, silver and jewelry in Yangzhou City are waiting for us. As long as we win this battle, we can eat, play, and take it as much as we can. Are you okay?" It is impossible not to say that the one who can be the pirate leader in Shanghai must be a natural orator. Zheng Zhibao's pre-war speech successfully mobilized the high fighting spirit of his subordinates. Although these people were worn out by the prosperity and comfort of Nanjing City, they were worn out.

Some of them are pirates in nature, and their cruel blood in their bones is still there. When Zheng Zhibao was encouraged, everyone's eyes showed a hint of fanaticism and madness. For them, they all kept their heads on their belts to live. What's more attractive than those who came from fine wine, beauties and gold, silver and jewelry. What's more, there are many people who have such ideas among these people. Yangzhou is more prosperous than Nanjing, and there is a hall for men.

"Go into Yangzhou, enter Yangzhou!" The pirates shouted wildly, and everyone's face showed a feverish flush.
Chapter completed!