Southern Ming Rebel Army

Chapter 107: National disaster calls for good generals

The heavy rain was like a waterfall, hitting the ground violently. The rain curtain was dense and dense, like a thick bead curtain, covering the whole world. The raindrops hit the ground with a crackling sound, as if countless stones were falling. The tents swayed in the wind, and the rain flooded the low-lying areas, forming small ponds.

In the Meng army's tent, several military doctors were busy working. The camp was filled with the smell of herbs. Meng Bizhi was lying on the bed with a weak breath.

At this time, a doctor shook his head at Meng Jun with an unpleasant expression, and Meng Jun immediately walked out of the tent, and the doctor hurriedly followed him. The rain was pouring down, covering up the doctor's voice.

"Commander-in-chief, I'm afraid General Meng is dying. His ribs are broken and his left arm bones are shattered. No medicine can help him and his end is nigh," the doctor said to Meng Jun.

Although Meng Jun had a premonition, he still trembled in his heart when he heard the words. Humans are not plants or trees, so who can be heartless? Meng Jun slowly walked into the tent, squatted in front of the couch, and held Meng Bizhi's right hand tightly with both hands.

He wanted to say something, but couldn't utter a word. His eyes were wet. Meng Bizhi looked at Meng Jun and said weakly, "Master, I... am afraid I can't... make it."

Seeing Meng Bizhi, who was originally a burly man, now looked like this, Meng Jun said with a choked voice: "If there is anything unfinished, just tell the young master, I will do my best to help you"

Meng Bizhi paused and said slowly: "Master, I want to be buried next to the master."

Meng Jun was a little embarrassed when he heard this, after all, Changshu was still in the hands of the Qing army, but he nodded firmly and said: "Okay, I will order Shiqi to send troops to recapture Changshu, this is not a difficult task"

Meng Bizhi seemed to remember something, then shook his head gently and said: "Forget it, the journey is long, so... just bury it here." As soon as he finished speaking, a painful expression appeared on Meng Bizhi's face.

Meng Jun nodded solemnly and said, "Yes, the green mountains are lucky to bury our loyal bones, so why should we return wrapped in horsehide? The Qiantang River has ebbs and flows, and the scenery is infinitely beautiful. This is very good, very good..."

"It's just... a little lonely..." Meng Bizhi said weakly, trying hard to move the corners of his mouth.

"You won't be alone, there are so many brothers with you! Go down first and gather my men, and I'll go down and fight with you!" Although Meng Jun had a smile on his face, tears flowed from his eyes as he spoke. However, he himself didn't seem to notice it.

At this moment, Meng Bizhi's face suddenly became unusually ruddy. He held Meng Jun's hand tightly, exerting all his strength, then suddenly raised his head, stared at Meng Jun firmly, and shouted angrily: "Bust the thief! Bust the thief!" Then, he loosened his hand and his head drooped heavily.

The doctor behind him hurried forward, felt his breath, shook his head and said, "Commander-in-chief, General Meng is gone."

Meng Jun's mind flashed back to the time when he first met Meng Bizhi and when they just started the uprising. They had been together for so long that they had become like close friends. Meng Bizhi was the only one in the army who believed in him unconditionally, but now they were separated by the Yin and Yang.

Seeing Meng Jun in low spirits, Gao Yi comforted him in a low voice: "General, a clay pot will break if it is not away from the well mouth. The general is bound to die in battle. General Meng certainly does not want the general to feel sad."

At this time, the tent was opened, and Han Xiong hurried over. When he saw the faces of the people, his expression darkened. He walked to the front of the tent, glanced at Meng Bizhi, sighed and said: "The general died in a hundred battles, and died for the country, I have no regrets."

Then he said to Meng Jun in a serious tone: "General, you should cheer up. The enemy troops are still here, and military affairs need to be decided by you."

Hearing this, Meng Jun looked up at Han Xiong, forced himself to cheer up, nodded and said, "Okay."

In the central army tent, all the generals gathered together. Han Xiong spoke first, "The auxiliary soldiers cleared the battlefield. There are more than 1,200 people wearing Eight Banners armor. The Green Camp has more than 3,600 dead. Our army also suffered heavy losses. More than half of General Meng's heavy armored troops were killed, with only more than 600 people left. 2,300 people from Wuning Town were killed, and Deputy Governor Guo Hu was seriously injured. The other three towns had a total of 1,600 killed. In addition, our army has more than 2,000 wounded. In yesterday's battle alone, there was a loss of nearly 5,000 people. We collected about 2,000 sets of enemy armor, half of which can be used, and the rest must be repaired before they can be used."

Han Xiong paused, took a breath, and continued: "There are still nearly 1,200 Green Camp soldiers who are injured or dead and are still on the battlefield. The Tartar Army has no intention of rescuing them. How should the governor decide?"

"Abandon them and let the birds and insects eat their skin," Meng Jun said coldly, then gritted his teeth and continued: "The Qing army went south, and there were many surrenders, and countless people became accomplices of the tiger. I wish I could kill all the wounded soldiers of the Green Camp here to shock people's hearts."

The generals were silent for a while, and Qian Biao said, "Forget about these traitors. Whether they live or die depends on their own fate."

Meng Jun then said: "The heavy armored troops are our elite soldiers. We will select the bravest men in the army to supplement them. The captured armor will be given priority to the heavy armored troops. The heavy armored troops will be led by Gao Yi."

Gao Yi was stunned for a moment, and said hurriedly: "Commander-in-chief, your safety..."

Before Gao Yi could finish his words, Meng Jun interrupted him and said, "If I win, I am in the army, so what danger can I face? If I lose, I will die wherever I am."

Gao Yi immediately obeyed the order loudly.

"Look at the weather. I don't know when the heavy rain will stop. If it doesn't stop, bows and arrows will be powerless and firearms will be useless," Han Xiong said with a frown.

At this time, Bai Yongfu said: "The Jiangnan area is densely covered with rivers and the rain makes the ground muddy, so the Bolo cavalry can't run."

Meng Jun's eyes lit up. Yes, what he was worried about was the cavalry. If he were in the northern plains, he would have been surrounded by Bolo's cavalry. It was raining, which was not good for him or Bolo.

Du Yonghe also said at this time: "It's raining, the ground is slippery and muddy, and it's not easy for us infantrymen to walk, and our morale is hard to maintain."

The generals were talking to each other, whispering, with different opinions. Some advocated launching a general attack on Bolo during the rainy day to force him to fight to the death, while others thought it was not appropriate to act rashly at this time.

"Although the rainy day has a certain impact on our march, it also restricts the actions of the Bolo cavalry. This is a good time for us to attack!" Qian Biao said excitedly.

However, Wang Fugui on the side shook his head and said: "This is wrong. The roads are muddy and slippery in rainy days, and the vision is obstructed. When the army arrives, they are already exhausted. How can they win the battle?"

For a while, there was endless debate in the tent. Meng Jun waved his hand, interrupted the debate, and said loudly: "Now that we have crossed the river, even if it is a sea of fire and a mountain of swords, I will wade through it. Everyone go down first, prepare the army, boost morale, and let's fight a decisive battle with Bolo."