Li Hualong's plan was like this.
First, he sent an order to the support troops led by Deputy General Chai Guozhu to immediately turn around and head to Wuchang.
After that, he gathered all the soldiers he could muster and paired them with some elite troops to lead the way, increasing the military strength in his hands.
After that, they would split into two groups. One group would restrain the rebel navy here, while the other group would follow the river to the west and enter Wuchang before Xiao Ruxun. They would defend Wuchang to the death and buy some time.
What he lacked the most now was time.
Large-scale troops were useless against the navy, but they could at least buy some time in Wuchang. As long as he could buy enough time to control a decent fleet of ships to launch an attack, then there would be a way.
Night was a good opportunity to break through. The navy's vision was poor at night and was most suitable for night attacks on the water. As long as he could weaken the navy's advantage to the greatest extent, he would have a chance to defeat the navy. If he could destroy this navy, then everything would be easily solved.
Li Hualong quickly gathered all of his subordinates in Yangzhou Prefecture and held a brief meeting to pass on the intelligence as well as to pass on his will.
He ignored the shock in everyone's eyes.
"So, there are two ways to break out of the current situation. One is to send troops to Wuchang, the other is to destroy the navy. If these two things are completed, then there is a chance to turn the situation around. If they cannot be completed, then everyone, including me, will die!"
Li Hualong looked seriously at his subordinates.
"Supervisor, has the traitor really already … attacked Huguang?"
The Yangzhou magistrate's face was full of disbelief. "How can a mere troop of his do such a thing? Even with the support of the rebel general, it can't be so fast, right? He started in July and has already swept through half of Jiangnan? "
"Yes, could the intelligence be wrong? Is there no army in all of Jiangnan that can fight the traitor? "
"The intelligence can't be wrong, right?"
The subordinates all expressed their doubts.
Li Hualong slapped the table.
"The traitor is almost in front of us. What is there to doubt? Don't forget! Before the traitor rebelled, he was the number one general in Daming! The battle of Ningxia, the battle of Korea, the battle of Dongwu, the battle of Datong, which one didn't win with fewer?
Not only did he know how to fight, he also knew how to train troops and control people! He was not a simple general, he was a talented commander! Was there any other general in Jiangnan who could compare to him? Otherwise, why would I be in such a sorry state? "
Li Hualong was very dissatisfied with his subordinates' underestimation of the enemy. At this time, they were still dreaming about unrealistic dreams. They were simply stupid to the extreme!
The soldiers didn't dare to speak anymore.
Chai Guozhu and the other generals looked straight ahead, not saying a word, not even daring to move.
"In short, this information has to be sent to the court. We definitely need reinforcements. However, before the reinforcements from the court arrive, with our current military strength, it seems that we are unable to support two battlefields at the same time. Thus, I will order the mobilization of all of the guards in Henan and Nanzhi to come to Yangzhou to support."
The officials looked at each other.
Was Li Hualong crazy?
Imperial Guards?
Can it still be used?
He might not even be able to lift a gun or a knife, let alone fight a battle!
Even if nothing else was said, there was a big problem in terms of numbers. The more there was no fighting, the worse the number of Imperial Guards. Not only did they not have enough numbers, they couldn't fight at all. They were basically the same as farmers, and there was no use in the name of a military household.
This was considered honest. Most of the soldiers were the ones who were in the most despair. When fighting, they didn't know how to do anything else, but they were the best at running away. In the past, General Daming, Qi Jiguang, who was the best at training troops, had almost been killed by the Imperial Guards. In the end, he could only give up on the Imperial Guards and recruit new troops. It could be imagined how useless these people were.
Li Hualong actually wanted to use these Imperial Guards that were a mix of odd-job workers and soldiers?
Chai Guozhu really wanted to say something, but he held back and didn't say anything.
The Yangzhou prefectural magistrate couldn't hold back and wanted to say something.
"Supervisor, this lowly official knows that Supervisor is eager to defeat the enemy, but these Imperial Guards are really useless!"
The Yangzhou prefectural magistrate quickly echoed, "Yes, Supervisor, these Imperial Guards can't fight at all. On the battlefield, they run faster than the enemy and will collapse with one touch. They can't be used at all and will even affect the main army. This lowly official really doesn't recommend gathering these people."
Li Hualong shook his head.
"At present, other than these people, do I have any other choice? Do I have to sit and wait for Thief Xiao to fight his way to Nanjing to meet up with the navy? At that time, it would be too late to say anything! Even if they can't fight, if they are scattered and incorporated into the strong army, they can be of some use! This Supervisor knows better than you what kind of state the Imperial Guards are in! "
Li Hualong once again insisted on his own view and overruled all other opinions.
The subordinates looked at each other and knew that Li Hualong's decision could not be changed, so they didn't say anything and waited for Li Hualong's decision.
They didn't know if the strong army would force the Imperial Guards to fight or if the Imperial Guards would force the strong army to flee …
Chai Guozhu was secretly shocked.
In two months, Xiao Ruxun had progressed so quickly. How long had it been? He had already swept through half of Jiangnan and maintained a strong offensive. The whole of Jiangnan had no power to resist!
At present, Li Hualong had made up his mind to use his army to fight to the death with the Zhennan Army. He didn't even hesitate to throw Chai Guozhu's life away.
But how could Chai Guozhu be willing to throw his life away?
After thinking about it, Chai Guozhu felt that he couldn't continue to remain silent. He couldn't continue to be honest. He had to do something to save himself from this hopeless situation. Otherwise, when he was forced to attack, it would be his death.
He didn't know how to swim.
These few days, he had been forced by Li Hualong to bring soldiers who had never fought in water to train in the canal. Chai Guozhu really wanted to vomit, but he didn't dare to. Compared to the soldiers who were throwing up, Chai Guozhu needed to protect his face.
Why did northerners fight in water!
Li Hualong had made up his mind to force him to the road of death. To put it nicely, Chai Guozhu was only full of complaints and resentment towards this.
He felt that he absolutely couldn't die for such a stupid thing. In any case, he had a little friendship with Xiao Ruxun. They had fought side by side. They could be considered as old superiors and old subordinates. Now that Xiao Ruxun's progress was in full swing, if he could add flowers to the brocade, it might not be a bad thing.
He had seen enough of how Li Hualong treated a general like him. He simply didn't see him as a human and didn't discuss anything with him.
Instead of being a dog here, it was better to go to the other side and be a person. Anyway, it was Daming Dynasty, it didn't matter.
Li Hualong didn't know what kind of emotional changes had occurred in Chai Guozhu's heart. He only knew that he had to speed up and prepare for action.
So after receiving the information, Li Hualong's Governor's orders were spread out from Yangzhou City in four hours. Orders to mobilize troops were quickly moving to various places.
While Li Hualong was moving, Chai Guozhu was also moving quietly. After all, the army that had been operating for so many years couldn't be subdued by Li Hualong with a bunch of ruthless moves. The army was not afraid of power and had no morals.
Who was good to them, who was not good to them, they could clearly distinguish.
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