Chapter 68: Generous Qin Opera

  "Repel the enemy at every point, hold on to each strategic location for no more than two or three days, lure the Qing army deep into the mountains, and then we will...” Zhu Yongxing's finger tapped heavily on a spot on the sand table, “Nan Zhai Gong House, launch an all-out attack on the Qing army. The Qing army trapped in the Gaoligong Mountains will inevitably suffer greatly from the continuous rain, their combat effectiveness plummeting. At that time, our army can assess the situation and choose to continue attacking or retreat back to Tengchong, luring the enemy deeper, making preparations to annihilate the exhausted enemy."

  "It's a clever plan to lure the enemy into danger, but isn't it a bit risky?" Bai Wenshou first flattered and then questioned, which was considered giving Zhu Yongxing face.

  "When the rainy season comes, our army will not abandon the strategic location, but we will also be at a disadvantage." Zhu Yongxing sighed lightly and moved his finger between Tengchong and Gaoligong Mountain. "The mountain road is slippery, the temperature drops sharply, transporting supplies will be even more difficult, mules, horses, cattle, and manpower will have to rely on carrying, shouldering, and lifting, how many lives will be lost in the process, and how can we sustain it?"

  Zhu Yongxing was deeply moved, and before his eyes appeared the civilians who had supported the expeditionary forces in battle. Among them were three-tenths women. The men carried sixty kilograms of grain on their backs, while the women carried forty kilograms. Each person distributed one kilogram of rice per day. Without pots or stoves, they walked on wet and slippery roads, eating raw rice when hungry, drinking water from mountain streams when thirsty. Many died of illness, hunger, cold, and exhaustion along the way, unable to enjoy a hot meal. After delivering the grain and returning home, another batch of people would die from illness, hunger, and freezing.

  But people usually only remember the victory, and rarely remember the humble and nameless sacrifices behind the victory. Just like the famous generals who emerged in the war, how many brave soldiers fell under their feet?

  "The troops and horses have not moved, but the grain and fodder have already been sent ahead." Wu Zisheng said with a sigh: "Your Highness's concerns are not excessive. Withdrawing the grain route can ensure absolute safety. Moreover, Your Highness's arrangements in Tengchong City have been completed, it can be said that even ghosts and gods cannot predict, and we can defeat the strong enemy in one move."

  Wu Zisheng, the Marquis of Huairou, was kept in Tengchong by Zhu Yongxing to make arrangements, but most of his soldiers were transferred away. Although Zhu Yongxing's secret plan was only known to him and a few people like Yi Cheng, it was considered one of Zhu Yongxing's tactics to both guard against and show trust to Wu Zisheng. However, Wu Zisheng still felt that he should make an appearance in front of Zhu Yongxing to be able to lead the army again.

  Looking at Bai Wenselect and Gao Wengui's inquiring gaze, Zhu Yongxing smiled faintly and spoke out his arrangements and thoughts. At this time, there was no need to reserve anymore, and it was most important to win their support.

  The plan of the son of Min is so profound, it's no wonder he has a composed look on his face. Bai Wense and Gao Wengui exchanged a glance, nodding in unison.

  ……

  "Your Highness, this is the letter and seal that Teng Chong just sent." Mengzhu placed everything in front of Zhu Yongxing, waiting for him to review it before opening the letter and reading it aloud.

  Zhu Yongxing played with the newly cast copper seal for Bai Wenselect, listening and occasionally responding with a few sentences. He finally persuaded Bai Wenselect and others to act according to his plan, and he was in a pretty good mood.

  "Yi Changshi said that Li Jinwang had already sent Liu Zhen, the crown prince of Shu, and Jingyang Hou Jingtong to lead troops to welcome Your Highness, and they would arrive soon."

  Oh, Zhu Yongxing's spirit was lifted again, and another supporting army arrived. Although it wasn't Li Dingguo himself who came, it was still a great help. Jin Tongwu was Li Dingguo's trusted aide, and when Li Dingguo died, he had entrusted his orphan to him. This time, representing Li Dingguo, he came, which was also reasonable, and gave this court a big face-saving opportunity. As for Liu Zhen, the crown prince of Shu, who knows, maybe he felt that his father's death had something to do with being held captive by Li Dingguo. Although King Liu Wenxiu of Shu had entrusted him to Li Dingguo before his death, it wasn't very reasonable to have no hard feelings in his heart. It was likely that he took advantage of the situation to leave Li Dingguo and come over to this side to see if there were any opportunities.

  It was just after the battle of Mo Duan Mountain that Li Jin Wang had few soldiers left, how could he have a special army to come and welcome? Wasn't it Guo Gong He Jiu Yi who had been ordered to withdraw from Nanning, Guangxi, and had already joined forces with him? Thinking of this, Zhu Yong Xing couldn't help but frown slightly.

  Guo Gong He Jiu Yi brought nearly 10,000 soldiers and horses from Nanning, Guangxi, and joined forces with Li Dingguo. If it weren't for Li Dingguo's later killing of He Jiu Yi, causing his officers and men to become dissatisfied and flee, this powerful Ming army should have given the Qing army some trouble. Zhu Yongxing began to think hard about how to avoid this internal strife.

  "Your Highness, Your Highness—" Mengzhu called out softly as she saw Zhu Yongxing suddenly fall silent.

  Zhu Yongxing raised his head and faced the beautiful face, bright eyes, and couldn't help but smile self-deprecatingly, saying: "One cushion, two cushions, must you put me under?"

  Mengzhu's face lit up with a smile, and she said: "Your Highness often ponders deeply, always frowning as if there is an unsolvable puzzle. Mengzhu wants to help but doesn't know how, which makes her feel uneasy at heart."

  "Alas, I'm afraid you can't help me." Zhu Yongxing let out a soft sigh. A traverser is indeed lonely, and this sentence is not wrong at all. Then he smiled again: "With you by my side, my heart can be calm and peaceful, why should you be worried? To be honest, your tribe has already paid too much for me. Since entering Myanmar, we've been through several battles, with no small losses. It's I who should be worried!"

  Mengzhu hesitated for a moment, then said: "Your Highness doesn't have to think that way. My father and the other village heads had already made plans. Although we lost some of our people now, we can use this opportunity to get familiar with battle formations and train an elite army, which will be our tribe's reliance in the future. Whether it's going to Annan or somewhere else to settle down, without military power as a guarantee, how can we stand firm?"

  Zhu Yongxing nodded slightly, using battles to hone his skills was indeed a quick way to cultivate elite soldiers. The robust and brave warriors of the Mengshan Ke tribe had not experienced many large-scale battles. Now they were paying some price, but in the future, they would be reliable forces. Si Wei thought deeply, he really underestimated Zhu's mind.

  "After this battle, we will go east to Annan." Zhu Yongxing shook off the bit of guilt in his heart and said: "At that time, there should be several thousand Ming troops following me, enough to take a place to live. In fact, the place that suits my taste is not there, but further south, the country of Champa (Chenla) by the sea."

  The Mekong Delta, which was then still an undeveloped and desolate land, but Zhu Yongxing knew that it would be the largest rice distribution center in the Far East. As long as a troop was sent, the already weak Champa Kingdom would probably not be able to resist. With enough people going to develop paddy fields, there would also be a stable and high-yielding food base. Solving the food problem, he wouldn't be afraid of the Qing court's sea ban and border closure, and could even take advantage of the Qing dynasty's abandonment of coastal defense to launch a surprise attack... In an instant, Zhu Yongxing was again lost in thought.