When Jiang Guozhu received the news that Zhu Guozhi was disobedient, he jumped up in shock. After rushing to read the "letter of request for war" signed by the Anqing general, Jiang Guozhu's first idea was to tear Zhu Guozhi into pieces.

"You have been causing trouble for me, right? I have never harmed you, right? Why did you force me to death?" Fortunately, Jiang Guozhu still had a trace of rationality and did not tear the letter of war into pieces on the spot. After hesitating for a moment, Jiang Guozhu carefully put the letter of war and immediately drafted a memorial to impeach Zhu Guozhi, complaining to the court about Zhu Buzheng's domineering and unruly.

Jiang Guozhu's tone in this memorial was very intense, and when he read it, he felt that he wanted to be irreconcilable with Zhu Guozhi. Even if the court did not remove Zhu Guozhi from his post, he would have to retire and return home.

"Sir, should you wait a little longer?" When the aides saw the content of the memorial, they felt that their tone was too much, and they were completely incompatible with the doctrine of the mean in the officialdom. In theory, Jiang Guozhu doesn't need to say too much now, just give Zhu Guozhi the matter of destruction and disobedience to the top. No one would like this kind of thorny official. Even if Jiang Guozhu and Zhu Guozhi were competitive, the court was happy to see them competing for a position to flatter the court, but too fierce means were still undesirable.

Therefore, Zhu Guozhi's methods are very dangerous. As long as he cannot achieve great results, he will lose. At this time, the staff all felt that Jiang Guozhu would just wait and see, and Zhu Guozhi could deal with him if he could not make any achievements. After all, there is a possibility that Zhu Guozhi really defeated Deng Ming. After all, the intelligence has always said that Deng Ming is not strong, and Jiang Guozhu's judgment is just a guess. Even if Zhu Guozhi really won, Jiang Guozhu might not be able to share a contribution from him. As long as he finds ways to win over some generals participating in the war, it was Jiang Guozhu's wise decision to gather the Qing army before... There are many methods, and he has a chance to describe Zhu Guozhi as a villain who forcibly robs his superiors and takes Jiang Guozhu's credit for himself.

It is no longer nice to grab the credit of his subordinates. In most cases, everyone still makes a deal, and it is really horrifying to grab the credit of his superiors. The staff think that although Zhu Guozhi's tricks are fierce, this trick is still too extreme. Jiang Guozhu has many ways to deal with it. It is best not to be passionate and fight against Zhu Guozhi.

"Do you think Zhu Guozhi can still win?" Although the aide did not say it clearly, Jiang Guozhu immediately understood what they meant. He sighed and said, "Zhu Guozhi is seeking death. He fell into Dong Weiguo's pit, and he dragged me. If I don't write this memorial, I will be dragged into the pit together."

Although Zhu Guozhi's disobedience and the letter of war sent back were very important, it could help Jiang Guozhu prove to the court that he was not the main responsible person, and that Zhu Guozhi was doing his own business; but in any case, Jiang Guozhu was Zhu Guozhi's boss, and Zhu Guozhi's great defeat was his failure. Jiang Guozhu's defense would be regarded as exonerating himself by officials in the court and other provinces - all officials have done such a thing, and after his subordinates fail, every boss will try his best to defend himself and try his best to clear his responsibilities.

But Jiang Guozhu was too innocent this time. He really had no responsibility and absolutely no hint that Zhu Guozhi should take the initiative or have an ambiguous attitude on the issue of war and defense.

"Zhu Guozhi is already fighting against the enemy. He will definitely go out to fight Deng Ming desperately. The ending is a complete defeat. If I don't submit this memorial before the news of the defeat comes, I will be much less powerful in any defense afterwards." Jiang Guozhu couldn't help but think that if Beijing hadn't intended to arrange for Zhu Guozhi to compete with him, it wouldn't have become like this now. However, Jiang Guozhu certainly could not complain to Beijing that the court sent people to restrain him, and he could not clear the responsibility by hinting at this point to officials all over the world. Therefore, he would definitely take the blame for the court.

After writing the impeachment memorial to the court, Jiang Guozhu sent someone to rush back to Anqing immediately. In his reply to Zhu Guozhi, Jiang Guozhu still spoke in a friendly tone, as if he did not take the murdered Biaoying officer at all. Instead, he angrily scolded that person for neglecting his affairs, which led to misunderstandings between the governor and the governor.

In this letter, Jiang Guozhu begged Zhu Guozhi not to go out to fight Deng Ming, as long as there is no big battle, everything will be discussed. Jiang Guozhu also swears that he will not reveal Zhu Guozhi's disobedience. As for the letter of request for war, as long as Zhu Guozhi agreed to retreat, Jiang Guozhu would immediately burn it to ashes... In this letter, Jiang Guozhu said it was a swearing, but he probably wouldn't believe it either. Governor Jiangning, like other officials, had no good reputation for keeping trust. The ancients said: "The war will never be tired of deceitfulness, and the battle in the officialdom is only more despicable than on the battlefield. If Jiang Guozhu was in Zhu Guozhi's position, he would never believe that Governor Jiangning would miss the opportunity to put down the enemy's insult.

"It's better than nothing," Jiang Guozhu sent out the letter of lies, and sat on the chair and sighed: "I won't believe it, unless it was written by Deng Ming, he wouldn't be a trustworthy gentleman."

...

After completely annihilated Zhu Guozhi's army, Deng Ming marched towards Anqing. There are only more than a hundred old, weak, sick and disabled people in the city of Anqing, the prefecture, and knew that it was completely irresistible, so he planned to hang himself. The former prefect is a good example. He was first defeated and captured, then waited for an opportunity to escape from the prison, and organized a yamen runner to seize Anqing from the Ming army. Despite the legendary experience of the former prefect, he was dismissed from office in the end. The current prefect asked himself that he had not escaped from prison, released the yamen runner and then regained the city's ability, so he would definitely not be able to escape from the crime, and he could not even be a dead end.

When he learned that the magistrate was preparing for his funeral, several minor officials from the yamen hurried to see him, all of whom wanted to grab the great achievements of the savior in danger.

"Why should the magistrate take this wrong plan?" After rushing into the back hall of the magistrate's office, he saw that the magistrate was crying and tied a white cloth lasso with his concubine, so he rushed forward and hugged the magistrate.

"A ants are greedy for life, lord." Seeing reinforcements coming, the concubine threw half of the lasso on the ground and burst into tears. She was still young and was bought into her home by the new Anqing prefect several months ago. Her wife was far away in her hometown and her husband was very favored. Her glory was guaranteed for the rest of her life. If she had another son and half daughter, it would be even more perfect. When she was proud, why would she suddenly have to accompany her husband to the city?

The magistrate Su couldn't say how good it was to treat these local officials. In the magistrate's opinion, these local people who had almost no special benefits for him must have fled home with oil or washed the yamen and waited for the Ming army to arrive. The magistrate never expected that the magistrates in Anqing were so simple that at the critical moment, not only did not tie him up and presented him to the Ming army, but they even came to persuade him to cheer up.

"The building is about to collapse, but it is hard to support it alone." The prefect said in tears. Some of them were sad for themselves, and the other part was also moved. In his impression, these treacherous clerks had few good things, and they were all tempted. The prefect was in a high position and was not worried that the clerks in the yamen would not try to please them, so he never thought of giving them some extra benefits. The true feelings were seen in times of adversity. The clerks here in Anqing were obviously different, but the prefect had nothing to give them now. He pointed to the boxes in his house, and said to the clerks who came to save him with emotion and shame: "You put the body of this official into the coffin and take these boxes, and give them all the things inside."

"You don't have to do this, sir." Several Anqing clerks knelt down quickly. After having the experience of Anqing's loss last time, these local snakes understood. Deng Ming did not intend to stay here forever. Since this is the case, the prefect of the Qing court must still be the first object to curry favor with. Even the person in front of him cannot retain his official position. As long as he recommends himself to stay as he takes office, or promotes him before leaving, it is also good.

One of these clerks was to help the former prefect escape from prison and make great contributions in regaining the city. He immediately revealed the truth about the last escape, that is, there were many corrupt officials in the Ming army, and Deng Ming himself was not very interested in An Qing: "... The former prefect bribed a guy named Yu Youming, who was Deng Ming's subordinate, but was ordered to guard An Qing. When Deng Ming retreated, he hurried to leave. After taking office, he spent some money to escape from prison and recovered An Qing and was punished for death."

"Master, Master." After hearing the clerk's story, the current prefect's concubine shook her husband's arm vigorously, her eyes full of anticipation.

"Oh." Until now, the little death aspiration that had just gathered has been almost lost. The Qing court has held accountable extremely severe since entering the pass. Losing the city is definitely a dead end for the prefect of Anqing, so he was determined to commit suicide. Now that there is still a glimmer of hope, the prefect of Anqing is determined to take a fight.

"Do you still have news about Yu Youming?" asked Anqing Prefect, "Do you still have a way to meet General Yu?"

"The villain never heard of the general again," the clerk pushed the Prime Minister Anqing back to the bottom with just one sentence, but he immediately made a generous statement: "The villain is willing to risk his life to inquire in the Ming army."

"The little ones are willing to go too." When the other clerks in the house saw that this guy was trying to take all the credit and benefits, they were reluctant to agree, so they all knelt down on the ground: "Deng Ming will not make things difficult for people like the little ones, so the little ones will set off now and go to the opposite side for the prefect."

In order to avoid the hard work of siege and quickly gain control of the city, the army generally spoke kindly to local gentry and clerks. Seeing that his subordinates were so righteous, the prefect was even more moved and told them: "I will never surrender, but I can stay in the prison. As long as I let my officers recover Anqing by myself when retreating."

"Don't worry, sir, young people understand." The clerks agreed in unison, leaving one or two companions to monitor the prefect, so that he would not be able to think about it and commit suicide, which would lead to the inability to continue to gain benefits from the Qing court.

After leaving the city, several clerks who went to the Ming army camp went straight to Deng Ming's camp. Unlike ordinary envoys who asked for surrender, these Anqing yamen runners were in a very relaxed mood and hummed a small song along the way.

The last time, the Ming army was not so much a deal with the former Anqing prefect, the prefect, but rather a deal with the local gentry and clerks of Anqing. Civil officials like the prefect are all vacant officials, and they change every few years. Although it is important, the Ming army does not know when it will be next time, and they cannot predict any changes in the middle. But the clerks are different. They all work for a lifetime, and their son takes the father's business, and their brothers end up with brothers.

Therefore, the one who is qualified to trade with the Ming army is not the former Anqing Prefect, who has been imprisoned, but these hereditary clerk groups that have served in the Anqing Yamen for generations since the Ming Dynasty. Even the Ming army's release of the prefect was proposed by the clerk group at the beginning - because they hoped to get the gratitude of the prefect and ensure that the prefect asks them for merit from the Qing court before leaving.

Although Yu Youming was nominally responsible for all the transactions last time, these clerks were not fools. They knew very well that this must have been instructed and ordered by the senior leaders of the Ming army. Therefore, after learning that Zhu Guozhi was defeated, they were not afraid at all, but were still very happy. If the Ming army could not defeat Anqing, wouldn’t they have no chance to make meritorious service for the new magistrate?

As these Anqing clerks expected, the Ming army was indeed quite polite to them. Soon a Ming army officer came forward to entertain them. The officer claimed to be Mutan and could agree to all reasonable requests on behalf of Deng Ming. As soon as he came, Mutan made suggestions to the Anqing clerk representative. If the other party did not object, he would still act according to Anqing's solution model last time.

"General Mu, although it is good for us to recover Anqing by ourselves, it seems that it is still lost in Beijing; the prefect must be resigned, and we have to curry favor with the newcomers again."

"What do you want to do?" Mutan asked, and when he saw several representatives of clerks hesitant on their faces, he encouraged them to say boldly: "Don't be afraid, are there anything you can't say? Do you still believe in our admiral?"

The clerks hope that the Ming army would not take Anqing. As long as Anqing was not lost, the prefect would obviously have made contributions and be even more grateful to these clerks who helped him overcome the difficulties.

Mu Tan thought for a while and put forward several requirements: First, the Ming army should obtain reserves in the Anqing warehouse; secondly, Anqing cannot engage in hostile acts against the Ming army; finally, in order to ensure the implementation of these two points, the Ming army must send some people to the city to monitor, and also send some soldiers to dress up in the Qing army to control a city gate.

Mu Tan's request was approved by the Xuli Group. With these local snakes, the Ming army could not even see the outsiders who controlled Anqing's prefecture. In order to make the Ming army more at ease, the gentry and Xuli Group of Anqing would also send hostages to the Ming army.

After the two sides reached a basic agreement, Mu Tan proposed another commercial invitation. There was no need for those hostages to stay in the military camp every day: "We have brought some local products from Jiangxi this time. I wonder if Anqing wants it here?"

"What local products? Are there porcelain?" After hearing this, several business-minded clerks were already lit up their eyes. The developed Yangtze River shipping trade has been shrinking for the past six months. Even if merchant ships pass by, they will most likely send goods to Nanjing where prices are rising faster, or Yangzhou where merchants gather, and rarely unload a large amount of goods in Anqing.

"Since it is native to Jiangxi, how could it be without porcelain?" Mu Tan laughed.

...

After learning that Zhu Guozhi's entire army was destroyed, Jiang Guozhu was silent for a long time, and then sighed in the study, saying that he had no appetite for three meals.

"Zhu Guozhi, are you sincere? Is it sincere?" Jiang Guozhu weighed the situation in front of him and found that he had basically been caught up by Zhang Chao. Anqing's Qing army was defeated even worse than Jiujiang in one battle, and Anqing's status was far more important than Jiujiang. Now everyone in the world must have been attracted to Nanjing, waiting to see if it would be another battle that concerns the gains and losses of the Southeast. No one will pay attention to Jiangxi again, and Beijing will not take a look at Jiujiang again.

After learning that Anqing's 10,000 Qing troops were destroyed in armor, the Governor's Office in Liangjiang in Nanjing was in a panic, and everyone in Jiang Guozhu's shogunate felt that a disaster was coming. Without Susong Navy, the Qing army in Jiangnan could only spread its troops and acted as if they were passively beaten - this was a bit similar to the situation when Zheng Chenggong besieged Nanjing last time. At that time, under the threat of Zheng's powerful navy, Susong Navy did not dare to move at all. The difference was that Zheng Chenggong and Zhang Huangyan had nearly 200,000 soldiers that time, Lang Tingzuo chose to give up all other prefectures and counties and concentrate their forces to defend Nanjing. Now Jiang Guozhu cannot give up a large number of prefectures and counties for more than 10,000 Ming troops.

However, Jiang Guozhu knew in his heart that his situation was not much better than Lang Tingzuo. At that time, the Green Camp in Jiangnan was relatively combat-effective, and there were many officers and soldiers with combat experience among the tens of thousands of armored soldiers. However, after losing a large number of elite soldiers with direct subordinates for several battles, Lang Tingzuo drew all elite soldiers from prefectures and counties to Nanjing. Then he was beaten by Deng Ming, and even the more combat-effective armored camp in the prefectures and counties were annihilated. In the end, there was another battle, Ma Fengzhi completely exhausted the strength of Nanjing. Compared with Zheng Chenggong's current Jiangnan Green Camp invaded the Yangtze River, the number of people may not be much different, but after

The inspection was too many, and the equipment was far from being filled. According to the calculation of one exercise every ten days, many of the soldiers who joined the army this year have participated in more than a dozen training sessions - the exercises also cost. Jiang Guozhu had always saved the military expenses of assisting the Jiangnan Green Camp in order to supply Dasu's army and assisting the canal transportation. So he knew that even this theoretical exercises would never be able to reach, and the equipment was very difficult. If he knew that some soldiers wearing armor had the name of this, but actually had no equipment, and had not participated in one exercise, Jiang Guozhu would not feel strange at all.

These ten thousand armored soldiers gathered in Anqing are already one of the most combat-effective groups in the Jiangnan field troops. After they were annihilated by the Ming army, the Jiangnan Green Camp had completely lost its rescue and field capabilities. Next, no matter which city Deng Ming wanted to fight, he only had to face the city's own strength.

"If Anqing, Chizhou and Taiping are lost one after another, I will be surpassed by Zhang Chao," Jiang Guozhu found in horror that he was about to become the one who fell to the end in the race: "At least Dong Weiguo has 'recovered' Jiujiang. Can Zhu Guozhi recover Anqing? Even if so, can I let him recover? After all, Dong Weiguo and Zhang Chao are still in the same mind."

After some hard thinking, Jiang Guozhu had no choice but to send a secret message to the prefects in Chizhou and other places, asking them to do everything they could to protect the city. As long as they could ensure that the city was not lost, no matter what method was used.
Chapter completed!