The Revolt of the Three Feudatories: All-in at the start in Beijing

Chapter 208 They both want to capture the other alive!

This southward campaign was divided into three armies. The first army was led by Liu Mu with 100,000 elite troops from the capital garrison, who first attacked Nanyang and forced Wu Sangui to fight a decisive battle.

The second route was led by Zhao Liangdong with 50,000 troops, heading south from Anqing along the Yangtze River to Nanchang, where they would join forces with the already departing navy to attack Shang Zhixin.

Yes, Xu Chuang's 50,000-strong navy will launch a surprise attack on Guangzhou. If they can capture Shang Zhixin, they can quickly end the war in Jiangxi and Guangdong.

The third force was Pan Yulong's 30,000-strong Hanzhong army. However, his forces were too small, and there were too many passes between Hanzhong and Xichuan, so his only role was to contain the Xichuan forces.

Although the route from Beijing to Nanyang is entirely flat, the only obstacle—snow—was cleared by laborers arranged by local officials.

But this time, they brought twenty heavy cannons, each weighing over three thousand kilograms. Even with six oxen pulling and twelve men pushing, it took them two whole months to reach a location thirty li outside Fangcheng and set up camp.

At this time, the entire territory of Fangcheng had been renamed Yuzhou since the Hongwu era, but whether it was a military campaign or a merchant passing through, it was always called Fangcheng.

Because this is a pass, with the city in the middle and mountains on both sides, even if it is not as treacherous as other passes, your supplies and provisions cannot pass through without conquering Fangcheng, so it can be considered a major pass in the Central Plains.

Seeing that it was still relatively bright, Liu Mu ordered the army to cook, and then led three hundred imperial guards to Fangcheng to survey the terrain, with Zhou Peigong accompanying him.

With an army of 100,000 and 200,000 laborers along the way to manage, Liu Mu lacked the ability and his generals were not qualified. He could only bring Zhou Peigong over to barely maintain the situation.

When it comes to actual combat, the task is to deploy generals, which doesn't involve as many complexities. You just need to follow the training and not give orders haphazardly.

Following the map, Liu Mu first arrived at the mountain pass northeast of Fangcheng, where he could better observe Fangcheng without worrying about being bombarded by cannons from the city walls.

Zhou Peigong kicked the boulder weighing nearly five or six hundred pounds in front of him before looking at Fangcheng.

"Your Majesty, it seems that Wu Sangui is quite adept at military strategy. The rocks around here were deliberately rolled down from the mountain. With just a few troops, we can prevent a small cavalry unit from passing through."

Liu Mu smiled upon hearing this, then plopped down on the grass and casually plucked a white pine.

"Wu Sangui once defended the Jinning line. Even though he couldn't hold it in the end, he gained enough experience. This siege won't be easy!"

After observing Fangcheng, Liu Mu already knew that attacking the city would not be easy, because the city walls were covered with sandbags, and even the arrow emplacements and arrow towers used for shooting were covered with sandbags.

The very scheme that initially lured Kangxi into attacking Pei County has ironically turned into a boomerang, striking back at itself!

"Who, who is it!"

"Don't come any closer!"

"Shoot it, you bastard!!!"

Just as Liu Mu was thinking about how to break through the city, a commotion suddenly came from afar, followed by a burst of gunfire. Liu Mu and Zhou Peigong exchanged a glance and immediately spurred their horses over.

More than 500 soldiers dressed in dark blue cloth-covered iron armor were seen fighting against Liu Dingbian's 300 imperial guards.

The two sides left their warhorses aside, lying down or crouching, and fired at each other with muskets, with people dying from time to time.

"Wu Sangui!!!"

"Your Majesty, the one riding the red horse over there is Wu Sangui!"

Just as Liu Mu was guessing who it was, Zhou Peigong stretched out his hand and pointed to a general wearing golden armor with dragon patterns and a red-tasseled helmet, who was about 300 paces away.

Zhou Peigong came from a family of minor officials during the Ming Dynasty. He once worked as a staff member in the Jingzhou government and met Wu Sangui when he was young.

Upon hearing this, Liu Mu immediately took out his binoculars to look.

"It really is Wu Sangui, but why is his beard all white!"

"Is he about to die?"

Wu Sangui was only in his early sixties this year, but now his beard was snow-white and his face was covered with wrinkles; it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say he was nearly eighty. This was quite different from the portrait in the imperial palace.

Liu Mu had just finished getting his sideburns done when he slapped himself hard across the face, cursing himself inwardly for being so inconsiderate as to be concerned about whether someone was handsome or not.

"Quickly, tell Liu Dingbian!"

"If we capture Wu Sangui today, he will be the fifth general to capture two emperors, and his name will be etched in history!"

Liu Mu's words were not made lightly. Historically, Li Shimin, Wanyan Zonghan and Wanyan Zongwang of the Jin Dynasty, and Liu Yao of the Han Zhao Dynasty all achieved the feat of having two emperors.

Without exception, these people were all famous throughout China.

Liu Dingbian, who was directing the battle, lit up when he heard this. He hadn't been satisfied with capturing Kangxi last time, so this time he wanted to take on Wu Sangui as well.

I've heard Wu Sangui was a very skilled fighter!

Thinking of this, Liu Dingbian immediately gave the order.

"The hundredth household stays behind to hold them off. The rest of you, get on horseback and follow me around to the rear. Don't be afraid if you die; I'll get you triple compensation!"

In his agitation, Liu Dingbian swore three times in a row.

His idea was simple: as long as Wu Sangui was captured, what did it matter if some people died behind the scenes? It was all worth it!

The Imperial Guards undergo the most rigorous training, and their personnel are carefully selected from various garrisons. Each one possesses exceptional combat capabilities, and they transform completely once they mount their warhorses, as they practice mounted shooting.

Seeing his personal guards fall to the ground screaming under the gunfire of the Han army's three-gun cavalry, Wu Sangui was also shocked and broke out in a cold sweat.

He was merely scouting the terrain around Fangcheng out of personal habit. Experience told him that only by adapting to the terrain could he better defend the city. He never expected to encounter the Han army.

Just as Wu Sangui was preparing to leave, he suddenly stopped, immediately took out his binoculars to observe, and then burst into maniacal laughter.

"Galdan, that's Galdan!"

"This is Heaven's help!"

Liu Mu's son was only two years old. If he died, his generals would likely fight for power, and the entire Han Dynasty would immediately fall apart.

As for himself being in danger?

For someone who's almost at the end of their life, it's worth giving it a shot!

Thinking of this, Wu Sangui's hands trembled as he took a paper tube from his belt and lit it with a tinderbox.

Tweet! ! !

boom! ! !

Suddenly, a burst of fireworks went off, followed by an explosion, and red sparks scattered across the sky.

This is naturally a signal firework. Red is Wu Sangui's personal symbol. When the generals defending the area see it, they will immediately gather here. Those who delay will die!

Behind him, Liu Mu realized something was wrong. Wu Sangui definitely knew he was there and was using him as bait to lure him into a fight!

Thinking of this, Liu Mu no longer hesitated and immediately took out a signal firework and lit it. With a loud bang, yellow sparks appeared in the sky, mixed with a trace of red.

This was the Ministry of Works, a bureaucratic authority established by the emperor to command the army; all the generals of the Han Dynasty knew it.

Thirty miles away, the officers who were directing the setting up of the camp all began to put on their armor upon seeing this.

"Quickly, quickly, all cavalrymen, mount your horses!"

"If you delay my rescue, I'll chop off your heads!"