While Li Hualong was painstakingly searching for hidden soldiers, Jiang Dahai was not idle. He took the initiative to attack Yangzhou three times in a row.
Each time, the shore defense position that Yangzhou Prefecture had spent painstaking effort to build was completely destroyed. On the second day of the tenth month, when they attacked for the third time, in one fell swoop they broke through the inner canal and arrived at Yangzhou City. Once again, Yangzhou City was under martial law.
This time, Li Hualong realized that he did not have time to leisurely prepare the army. He could only rush back to Yangzhou. On the night of the fourth day of the tenth month, Li Hualong called for an important military meeting.
He prepared to attack the navy on the other side of the river on the night of the fifth day of the tenth month. He would use the advantage of the night to destroy the navy and use the advantage of the imperial army in numbers to take back Zhenjiang and Nanjing.
Because Chai Guozhu was the main commander of the attack, Chai Guozhu had the honor of sitting in on the meeting. Of course, he did not have the right to speak or make decisions. Everything was discussed by Li Hualong and the other civil officials. Furthermore, it was Li Hualong's decision.
"At night, the traitorous navy cannot see and cannot display their advantage in vitality and battle strength. The navy cannot display their strengths, and this is the time for our army to break through. There is only one chance. If we fail this time, the traitorous navy will definitely be more vigilant next time. We can only sit and wait for death. Thus, this attack is of great significance. It concerns the fate of the Great Ming Dynasty. Everyone must be careful and not make the slightest mistake!"
Li Hualong's words were very serious. "If our army loses this battle, I, Li Hualong, will be the first to commit suicide! And everyone, perhaps you won't die, but you will be criticized by others for not working hard in the past for the rest of your lives! "
The officials trembled with fear as they expressed that they understood.
The meeting came to an end. Li Hualong saw Chai Guozhu sitting at the very end.
"Commander Chai, do you know what you should do?"
Chai Guozhu heard Li Hualong call him and quickly stood up.
"I know! I will lead the army to cross the river at night and launch a sneak attack on the rebel navy. I will destroy them in one fell swoop and restore Zhenjiang Prefecture and Nanjing. Otherwise, I will commit suicide to thank Your Majesty! "
Recently, Li Hualong was quite satisfied with Chai Guozhu. At least he was very honest and did not speak carelessly. He also tried his best to complete his missions. Usually, he did not have any complaints. He was very willing to use such a general.
This battle could also test his loyalty to the imperial court. If there were no problems, Li Hualong decided to trust him and began to discuss military affairs with him.
"Alright! I hope that you can keep your word and not let down the Imperial Court and His Majesty's grace! "
Li Hualong encouraged Chai Guozhu.
Afterward, he personally went to reorganize the Wei Institute soldiers who were like rotten melons and rotten dates. He chose three thousand people who could be counted as fighting strength, and spent most of the day equipping them with armor and weapons. This somewhat increased their chances of victory.
After that, he asked Chai Guozhu to select two thousand soldiers from Ji Town, who could already adapt to fighting on water. Altogether, they were five thousand soldiers.
Li Hualong gave Chai Guozhu all the wooden rafts, small fishing boats and merchant ships that he had collected, a total of more than two hundred small boats. He had Chai Guozhu use these small boats to load the soldiers and then sneak across the river in the dark of night to approach the Southern Battlefront Navy's warships. Then, he would board the warships and launch a sneak attack on the opposing navy's soldiers and set fire to their warships.
For this, Li Hualong also prepared about five hundred cans of fire oil for Chai Guozhu to use. He asked Chai Guozhu to set fire to their warships when he got close to the Zhennan Army's warships.
In short, Li Hualong did everything he could. His requirement for Chai Guozhu was to fight to the death without any regard for his life.
On the night of the fifth of October, the moon was dark and the wind was strong. Not a single light could be seen on the canal section of the north bank of the Yangtze River. However, on the south bank of the Yangtze River, there were sparks of fire, which seemed to be the torches of soldiers patrolling the night.
It was not that there were no people on the north bank of the Yangtze River. On the contrary, there were not too many of them.
At this very moment, over six thousand men were gathered here. Two hundred boats were anchored on the riverbank, waiting for the order from the highest commander-in-chief. Then, they would rush to the south bank and fight to the death with the Zhennan Army's navy.
Li Hualong was personally supervising the battle. He said that no matter what, he had to witness this scene with his own eyes. He wanted to know whether the Heaven's Will was on the side of the Daming Imperial Court, or on the side of the rebels. If they lost, he had nothing to say, and could only blame the Heaven for being blind.
He stood on the riverbank, gazing at the sparks of light on the south bank.
Then, he turned around and faced Chai Guozhu, who was ready to go.
"Commander-In-Chief Chai, tonight's battle concerns the fate of the Daming Empire. If we win, then the Imperial Court will have something to look forward to. If we lose, then the situation will take a turn for the worse. I don't know what will happen in the future. I don't know the safety of the Daming Imperial Court.
As officials of the Imperial Court, we receive the salary of the Daming Empire. Naturally, we have to do our best for the Daming Empire. I don't ask for anything from you. I only hope that you can do your best. Even if you can only weaken the rebel navy so that they don't dare to attack easily, it will be a victory! "
Chai Guozhu cupped his fists.
"I, I, have been greatly indebted to the Imperial Court. It was all thanks to the Imperial Court's promotion that I was able to rise from a small army chief to a town's commander-in-chief. I, I, have no way to repay them. I can only die!"
Li Hualong nodded. Then, he took a bowl of wine from his aide and passed it to Chai Guozhu. Then, he also picked up a bowl of wine and clinked it with Chai Guozhu's bowl.
"I have nothing else to say. A thousand words are all in this bowl of wine. I hope that Commander-In-Chief Chai will be victorious. Don't let me, and don't let the Imperial Court down."
Chai Guozhu took a deep breath.
"I, I, will fight to the death. I will not let the Governor, the Imperial Court, and His Majesty down!"
"Good!"
Li Hualong drank the wine in his bowl.
Chai Guozhu also drank the wine in his bowl.
The atmosphere became heroic.
Then, Chai Guozhu turned his head to look at the other side of the river.
"Governor, do you know what kind of person Hsiao Jixin is?"
Li Hualong was stunned for a moment, but he didn't care. Then, he said, "He's a famous general, but his heart isn't in the right place. He did things that a general shouldn't do. It's no wonder he ended up like this. If not for that, he should be the pillar of the Daming Empire."
Chai Guozhu turned his head to look at Li Hualong.
"Governor, Hsiao Jixin isn't evil. On the contrary, the evil one is Shen Yicheng!"
Li Hualong frowned. He opened his mouth, but before he could say anything, Chai Guozhu spoke again.
"Hsiao Jixin just wanted to do something for His Majesty. As a subject, what's wrong with doing things for the Emperor? Why should he be treated as a traitor? As a subject, Shen Yicheng deposed the Emperor. Isn't it wrong for him to do so? Just because he's a civil official, you think he's right and Hsiao Jixin is wrong? "
Li Hualong was shocked.
"Commander-In-Chief Chai, what are you talking about …"
Before Li Hualong could finish, Chai Guozhu unsheathed his sword and placed it on Li Hualong's shoulder and neck.
"Do it!!"
The group of soldiers around Chai Guozhu suddenly shouted in unison and began to move.
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