From a son-in-law to a favorite of the empress

Chapter 505

It was almost noon when we returned to Shanhaiguan.

Wu Dingzhong and others came to greet us when they learned about the situation. They wanted to ask but didn't dare to, and looked uncomfortable.

Zhou Yuan waved his hand and said, "Let's talk in the general's tent!"

He strode into the room, and Pang Lixing, who was even more impatient, immediately said, "General, how was the surprise attack on Xinglin Fort?"

They were away for two or three days, and they were very anxious here. After all, Zhou Yuan was the marshal. If something happened to him, the morale of the Shanhaiguan army would be dispersed.

Zhou Yuan smiled and said, "Since I came back safely, it must be a success."

"Really? Really!"

Wu Dingzhong jumped up excitedly and couldn't help shouting, "It actually worked! If we had known there was this sea route earlier! We should have contacted the Leiden Navy earlier!"

Pang Lixing said, "What are you yelling for? Sit down quickly. The Leiden Navy is not under the jurisdiction of you, the Shandong Jiedushi. They are an independent organization system."

Wu Dingzhong said excitedly, "Xinglin Fort is gone, and the food and grass are gone. They have to transport food and grass from his mother's Shenzhou, which will take at least half a month."

"Their soldiers carry rations for at most three days, which means that Nurhaci must take Shanhaiguan within three days, otherwise it will be dangerous."

"And we only need to defend Shanhaiguan for five days! Those Tartars will starve to death."

Qiu Huan frowned and said, "But these three days mean a general attack of 90,000 people. If we really fight, we can't stand it."

Pang Lixing said, "We have to stand it even if we can't. At least we will consume 40,000 to 50,000 of them, so that... they will not be able to attack Shenjing again."

"If they want to recruit more soldiers, they will need at least one or two years, but... Nurhaci can't hold on for long. They will soon start fighting for power, and we will have a longer recovery time."

Speaking of this, Pang Lixing couldn't help but get excited and said loudly: "The victory of Xinglinbao can be said to have directly laid the foundation for the breathing time of Dajin!"

Zhou Yuan waited until they had said enough, then waved his hand and said, "Everyone, don't guess blindly, let me talk about the current situation."

In addition to hurting Nurhaci's lifeline in this battle, he also completely conquered Wu Dingzhong and others.

They are all veteran generals who have been on the battlefield for a long time. Although Zhou Yuan has military merits and is in charge, they may not be truly convinced.

And Zhou Yuan's victory as soon as he arrived really surprised and impressed them.

"The food and grass have been burned, and it will take time to replenish them. Nurhaci has no choice."

"But all this is just our speculation."

"Don't forget, they massacred the city of Jizhou, and they may have stored a lot of food there, which will be enough for them to last at least half a month."

This sentence was like a basin of cold water, poured on the faces of Pang Lixing and others.

Zhou Yuan continued, "From Shanhaiguan to Jizhou, it's about 600 miles. If they send out their most elite cavalry, it's no problem to travel 600 miles a day."

"If we keep transporting food back all night, it should be possible in four days. We can still survive by saving food."

Wu Dingzhong gritted his teeth and said, "Then our surprise attack on Xinglinbao this time only caused a little trouble to the other side."

"Wrong!"

Zhou Yuan chuckled and said, "They can travel 600 miles in four days, provided that we allow it. What if we send troops to intercept them? We don't need to send too many people, just three to five thousand people to harass them continuously, and these four days will become eight days."

"They can't hold out for eight days."

Pang Lixing couldn't help but said loudly, "So in essence, Nurhaci can only Fight with us in three days and take Shanhaiguan."

Zhou Yuan shook his head and said, "No, Nurhaci will not do that."

"He is an ambitious man. He knows that he has no time to organize a second expedition. This time he must enter the capital and realize his wish."

"He will not give up easily."

Wu Dingzhong glared and said, "Take Shanhaiguan in three days and don't want to pay a price? How is it possible! Does he think we are made of paper!"

Zhou Yuan smiled and said, "It seems that you have forgotten what I said. The essence of war is politics."

"If war can't solve it, then use political means."

"You seem to have forgotten that he also has the trick of persuading surrender?"

These words made the three of them stunned.

Zhou Yuan stood up, sighed, and said, "While persuading them to surrender, he secretly went to Jizhou to transport food and grass. This is the plank road repair in the open, and the Chencang pass in secret."

"He is the active party, because as long as he launches a general attack, Shanhaiguan will be annihilated."

"Under this premise, it is not difficult to persuade them to surrender. There are promises of high positions and generous salaries, and gold, silver, treasures and beauties."

"Once successful, he can march straight into the capital."

Wu Dingzhong slammed the table and said angrily, "Don't even think about it! Even if we die in battle,It is impossible to surrender to the foreign Tartars!"

Qiu Huan also roared: "How can the descendants of Yan and Huang be slaves of foreign races! Nurhaci is wishful thinking!"

Zhou Yuan took a deep breath and said: "So, go and prepare!"

"Wu Dingzhong, let the soldiers prepare for the decisive battle! We will fight the Tartars to the death!"

"I obey your orders!"

Wu Dingzhong strode out with murderous intent in his eyes.

Zhou Yuan continued: "Pang Lixing, prepare for war, prepare all resources, and start organizing the transfer of people, especially the transfer of food and grass."

"Even if we die, we can't leave them food!"

Pang Lixing stood up and said in a deep voice: "I obey your orders!"

After the two generals left, Zhou Yuan sat down and let out a long breath.

He pressed his forehead and began to think.

Qiu Huan said: "General, I will prepare for war!"

"No need. "

Zhou Yuan said calmly: "General Qiu Huan, please sit down."

Qiu Huan frowned and asked in confusion: "Does the commander have any more instructions?"

Zhou Yuan shook his head and said: "What instructions? Do you really plan to live and die with Shanhaiguan? Wu Dingzhong and Pang Lixing are a hundred years old together, and you are only forty-one. Are you willing to die?"

Qiu Huan stood up and said loudly: "What does the commander mean by this! Do you want me, Qiu Huan, to be a running dog of the alien race?"

Zhou Yuan said: "Whether you are willing to do it or not, I don't want to die. I am only twenty years old, General Qiu, twenty years old, my life has just begun, what reason do I have to die?"

Qiu Huan said coldly: "Zhou Yuan! Do you know what you are talking about?"

Zhou Yuan looked at him and said coldly: "Why are you pretending with me? You have to let me reveal all your past before you are willing to sit down and talk? Is Peng Kang, the deputy general of Jizhou, your soldier? He opened the city gate to let the Eastern Tartar army enter the city last year. Do you think I don't know? "

Qiu Huan's face suddenly changed, his face turned pale, and he said anxiously: "Zhou, Zhou Yuan, don't talk nonsense, you..."

Zhou Yuan narrowed his eyes and said: "You want me to call Wu Dingzhong and others back and confront them face to face? Do you think that I, Zhou Yuan, have come to this point today, relying on my brain? Can't I see your tricks? Do you know how good my relationship with Wanyan Daichan is?"

"I can survive the assassination case, who do you think I rely on?"

Qiu Huan was stunned, and stayed for a long time before muttering: "Assassination case...The shaman princess went to hunt you down, but failed...She is very good at kung fu, and it stands to reason..."

Zhou Yuan said: "No need to reason, she has ten thousand ways to kill me, but I survived, think about the reasons yourself."

"How did she contact you, don't I know?"

"How did Prince Fu collude with her, don't I know? ”

“You asked Peng Kang to open the gate of Jizhou late at night, allowing the Donglu army to enter the city to plunder, which eventually led to the peace talks in Tianjin. Don’t I know?”

“Everyone says you are a member of the Zhejiang Party, but in fact you are a member of Prince Fu.”

“Of course, you are a member of Nurhaci now, aren’t you?”

Qiu Huan’s face was distorted, and his right hand subconsciously pressed the hilt of the sword.

Zhou Yuan said lightly: “Qiu Huan, I suggest you don’t be impulsive. My master is Su Youzi Tianshi. I don’t care about your little kung fu.”

“Don’t turn your life into a dead end.”

Qiu Huan’s hand fell weakly, and suddenly raised his head again, staring: “No, you mean...you are also a member of the Shaman Princess?”

Zhou Yuan said proudly: “She is not enough to control me! She just wants to win me over!”

“Otherwise, why do you think she wants to marry me?”