Chapter 7, Intelligence

As soon as the words fell, Wang Yi and Wang Jiang almost simultaneously asked.

Furthermore, I am unaware if the two officials are aware that currently, the Duke of Dingxi and the Earl of Pingxi are at odds, and both sides are already in a state of mutual hostility.

Old Master Lu's miraculous skills have restored me to health. Furthermore, the matter at hand is of great importance, and I cannot afford to take any leisure time.

How did you come to know about the matter of Zhoushan

What is the total military strength of the Dazi?

Do they not know about this matter? Or perhaps it has not happened yet? Chen Wen thought for a moment, but he could not recall in which month this event occurred this year

Wang Jiang glanced at his cuffs and boots, exchanging a smile with Wang Yi. "What a keen observation of the subtle details"

Time passes so quickly, there are less than two months left

Chen Wen let out a sigh and said to Wang Jiang: "The two kings of Dalan Mountain are well-known, how could one not know? Furthermore, the cuffs of the deputy's uniform have ink stains, indicating that he often deals with documents. There are several white spots on his boots, which I suspect to be flour. Thus, it is evident without further inquiry"

Wang Yi is right in front of us; Li Changxiang and Zhang Huangyan should currently be in Zhoushan; Huang Zongxi has not been in the Lu regime since his trip to Japan to seek assistance, but instead has engaged in "underground work" alongside Qian Qianyi; thus, the remaining options are only Feng Jingdi and Wang Jiang.

Old Doctor Lu immediately helped Chen Wen to his feet. "It should not be like this; primarily, it is because the young man has a good foundation, and I have not done much."

And all of this seems to be connected as if by a tacit understanding

Yan Wogong's surrender campaign was an inevitable choice in the context of a nationwide surge of anti-Qing uprisings, where the Qing army was exhausted and not adept at naval warfare. Two months prior, Wang Yi's subordinates had just killed Yan Wogong's envoy for surrender, linking such events to what Chen Wen was about to inform them would enhance the credibility of his discourse

Chen Wen was completely unaware of the number of troops dispatched by the Qing army, as the books he had read did not contain this information. Given this, he could only state a figure that seemed relatively reasonable, suggesting a higher number. Logically, with seven or eight thousand soldiers, the number of auxiliary troops would be even greater, and such a force was clearly beyond the capacity of the Ming army at Dalan Mountain to contend with

Below is the northern line, the Tartars fear that Siming Mountain and Zhoushan will form a mutual angle. It has been agreed that in September of this year, General Gu Shan E Zhen Jin Li will lead his Eight Banner troops and the Ningbo Green Camp to depart from Fenghua, while the Zhejiang Governor Tian Xiong will lead the standard camp and the Shaoxing Green Camp to depart from Yuyao, converging at Dalan.

Chen Wen paid them no mind, sitting there with a sense of contentment

You guessed correctly

Chen Wen shook his head and said, "Thank you, Old Lu. However, I have already wasted a day sleeping until now. This matter is of great importance, so I kindly ask you to tell me where I can find Wang Jinglue, and I will go myself."

Seeing him approach, Old Doctor Lu stood up and said, "Young man, you are awake?"

Wang Yi was taken aback when he saw Chen Wen, and then he summoned the young clerk over and whispered a few words to him. The young clerk looked Chen Wen up and down before walking out.

Chen Wen said: "Esteemed officials, which question should I answer first?"

After Chen Wen got up, Wang Yi asked: "Why doesn't Furen rest for a few more days?"

Getting out of bed, Chen Wen stretched lazily, the soreness in his body had disappeared, and he no longer felt dizzy; he was just still a bit fatigued, perhaps due to the excessive amount of exercise yesterday

In contrast, although there are not many records about Wang Jiang, the situation he later created left a profound impression on Chen Wen, and this facial appearance is evidently closer to the person before us

Only hearing from behind, the young official said to a group of officials: "Wang Jinglue has stated that there will be no business today; everyone may come back tomorrow."

The righteous warriors who enlist should seek an audience with Governor Huang and Mao Jingang, why come here instead

Chen Wen observed the civil official with a shrewd expression, clearly not someone easy to deceive. The official's attire was appropriate and clean, though there were some black spots on the cuffs, likely ink stains. Additionally, there were some white specks on the official's boots, possibly from lime or flour

The Pingyi Marquis Zhou Hezhi and the Min'an Marquis Zhou Rui are brothers of the same clan. Therefore, the Duke of Lu ordered the two to garrison together in Sanpan, Wenzhou. However, this led to a conflict between the brothers, with Zhou Rui southwardly seeking refuge with Zheng Cai, later becoming a general under Zheng Chenggong. Zhou Hezhi, on the other hand, sought refuge under the command of the naval general of the Duke of Lu, the Dahu Marquis Ruan Jin.

In the year 1649, Lu Jian Guo lost the reclaimed territories in Fujian once again. After Zhang Mingzhen, Ruan Jin, and Wang Chaoxian eliminated Huang Binqing, they stationed in Zhoushan, shifting their strategic focus from recovering Fujian to managing Zhejiang.

Chen Wen looked at the two individuals before him, whose faces were marked by worry and who had fallen into silence, quietly contemplating the pros and cons of the situation.

As the saying goes, a picture is worth a thousand words; without a picture, your words are meaningless! Wang Yi and Wang Jiang stood up, looking at Chen Wen's doodles, until he labeled the place names, at which point they realized this was a map

It is said that one's appearance is a reflection of one's heart. According to historical records regarding the story of Feng Jingdi, he should embody a scholarly demeanor with a certain stubbornness, which is evidently not the case here. Moreover, if Feng Jingdi were present, Wang Sheng should also be there, as he had previously had a conflict with Wang Sheng. However, Chen Wen had heard earlier that Wang Sheng had already descended the mountain yesterday.

Gazing at the twilight outside the window, Chen Wen couldn't help but feel a sense of nostalgia. It had already been over ten days of living by the rhythm of rising with the sun and resting at sunset, yet he still found it difficult to adapt to such a lifestyle. He reached into his pocket to check his phone, which had run out of battery; he probably would never hear that familiar startup melody again.

In that case, let the young man follow me

Perhaps I can do more, the Qing army is determined to succeed, but if Wang Yi can lead the people of Siming Mountain to temporarily avoid the brunt, perhaps more lives can be saved

The reception room was nearly filled with people; at a glance, one could see either the civil officials in blue and green robes or the military men in armor, all of them undoubtedly young. Without waiting for the attendant to guide him, Chen Wen found a seat for himself.

"The deputy constitution has been overpraised." Chen Wen bowed respectfully.

In his impression, the historical records indicate that during this year, several third-rank civil officials of the Southern Ming dynasty appeared in the vicinity of Siming Mountain, including Wang Yi, the Deputy Minister of War, Li Changxiang, Zhang Huangyan, and Feng Jingdi, as well as the Deputy Capital Commander Huang Zongxi and Wang Jiang.

The medicine prescribed by this old Chinese doctor is indeed very effective

Let's go, only by being alive can we produce results.

At this moment, Wang Yi inquired: "Fu Ren must have come here to teach me."

Wang Jiangxian was momentarily taken aback, and then raised his hand to signal Chen Wenxian to answer Wang Yi's question

Thanks to the King's leadership, thanks to the King's deputy.

Chen Wenduan did not expect Wang Yi to have such an expression, and could only brace himself to continue speaking

Knowing less may be a good thing, at least it means one does not have to worry about the catastrophe that will occur two months from now

After a day of rest, Chen Wen felt that he was now able and must go to meet Wang Yi

Why is there a beggar here?

I dare not; I have come here only to complete the matters that were left unfinished yesterday

Of course, originally the goal of the Dazis also included the Pingyi Marquis of Sanpan in Wenzhou and the Marquis of Min'an, but... Chen Wenyao shook his head.

In principle, one should wait for an acquaintance to introduce them when meeting an unfamiliar person. However, for him, what is most needed at the moment is not to know who this person is, but to gain the initiative in the upcoming conversation

Wang Yi exchanged glances with the civil official and said: "No need for formalities"

Chen Wen pushed open the door and walked out. As far as his eyes could see, he found himself in a small courtyard. In the corridor of the opposite house, Old Doctor Lu and the young boy were having a meal.

The clerk rushed in without touching the ground, and before he could catch his breath, he exclaimed loudly: "Mr. Chen, Director Wang requests your presence"

Of course, when the Qing army officially began their encirclement, Wang Yi would indeed believe Chen Wen's words; however, by that time, if he wished to leave, it would be exceedingly difficult.

I hope the historical records have not deceived me

Old Master Lu, you are too modest. I would like to request an audience with Governor Wang.

This is a well-known internal conflict that occurred during the reign of Lu Jian Guo, the result of which directly led to the Battle of Zhoushan the following year, where the Ming army in Zhoushan was forced to split its forces to confront the southern Qing army advancing from Taizhou.

Upon hearing this, Wang Yi immediately sat up straight and said: "At this moment and in this place, there are no fourth pair of ears. Please feel free to speak, Fu Ren."

Chen Wen followed Old Doctor Lu closely, and soon they arrived at the entrance of the courtyard. Old Doctor Lu stepped forward and exchanged a few words with the officer on guard, who glanced at Chen Wen before turning and walking inside

However, it should also be able to serve as a paperweight, just like that power bank.

Then let Fu Ren come and speak.

And the plan of the Dazi is divided into two lines, south and north.

Today should be the fifth day of the seventh month, right?

Thank you for your hard work. Chen Wen left the chair that had not yet warmed up and walked out.

Upon hearing this, Wang Jiang immediately interrupted Chen Wen. "What happened to the Pingyi Marquis and Min'an Marquis?"

At this moment, Chen Wen looked at the civil official sitting beside him, pondering carefully.

Endure for a while, and the wind and waves will calm down; take a step back, and the sea and sky will broaden.

This is the civil official sitting aside who asked, "How did you know that I am Wang Jiang?"

Soon, the door opened again.

A group of officials involuntarily turned their gaze towards Chen Wen, their faces filled with disbelief

Originally, according to the plan he had previously established, he should have disclosed the intelligence at the very first moment he met Wang Yi, as that would have been the most normal course of action. However, the appearance of Wang Sheng disrupted his plans.

Coming out of the hall, these group of civil officials walked together in twos and threes, looking at Chen Wen, who looked like a beggar, with expressions of surprise or confusion.

As he approached the hall, Chen Wen adjusted his clothes under the anxious gaze of the young official, ran his hand through his hair, and then strode in with great determination

In that case, Chen Wen could only feign surprise and say, "Do the two officials not know? The Pingyi Marquis and the Min'an Marquis are irreconcilable and have already parted ways."

A room full of people frowned at Chen Wen, who was wearing grass sandals and tattered clothes, covered in mud and dirt. The civil official beside him, dressed in a yellow robe, immediately stood up and changed his seat as soon as Chen Wen sat down.

"Oh, aren't you going to eat something first?" Old Doctor Lu said with some surprise

Chen Wen hesitated for a moment and said: "As far as I know, the Tiao Biao Camp has 3,000 soldiers, all of whom are mobilized; the Shaoxing Green Camp has 2,000 men, and the Ningbo Green Camp has 3,000 men, which should be partially drawn for battle; the Hangzhou stationed Eight Banners have 4,000 soldiers, with the number of troops deployed unknown, but it should not be less than 2,000. This is only the combat troops, and the number of auxiliary troops is unknown."

If the Ming army in Siming Mountain had not been completely annihilated, it would have preserved an additional strength for the overall situation of resisting the Qing dynasty, and for themselves, it would also represent a form of credentials and good fortune

The invaders plan to eliminate your forces and, centered around Mount Dalan, will dispatch cavalry in all directions to sweep through the Siming Mountains, executing all without distinction of age or gender, in order to prevent the royal army from making further use of this area

As soon as the words were spoken, Wang Jiang was momentarily taken aback, then sighed, his expression somewhat dejected, while Wang Yi remained completely unfazed

Then, I must trouble you, Mr. Lu

As the sun sets in the west, Chen Wen has been lying here for a whole day

After a short while, a young clerk dressed in official attire came out with the officer. The clerk glanced at the two individuals at the door and bowed to the old doctor, Lu. Subsequently, the old doctor returned the gesture and turned to leave, while the clerk led Chen Wen to the gatehouse.

What a group of young ladies from the Republic of China

During this period, Feng Jingdi passed away, and Wang Jiang was captured. As Wang Yi faced the hopelessness of repelling the Qing army, he was compelled to go to Zhoushan to seek assistance from Wang Chaoxian of the Pingxi Duke, attempting to launch a surprise attack on Hangzhou via the sea while the Qing forces were concentrated in the Siming Mountains. However, by the time he finally arrived in Zhoushan the following year, Wang Chaoxian had already been killed by the Dingxi Marquis Zhang Mingzhen and the Danghu Marquis Ruan Jin

You are not here to complain, are you

In the southern line, the Tartars, led by General Jin Hua Zongbing Ma Jinbao, commanded the Green Standard troops from the four prefectures of Jinhua, Chuzhou, Wenzhou, and Taizhou, along with the deputy general of the Zhejiang-Fujian governor's camp, Zhang Guoxun, to encircle and suppress the righteous forces of Wenzhou's He Zhaolong, Jinhua's Xu Shouping, and Chuzhou's Ye Linghua. As he spoke, Chen Wen drew several arrows on the map, extending from the Jinhua prefectural seat to Dongyong Mountain in Jinhua, Wenzhou, and Chuzhou.

Chen Wen noticed that the attention of the two had already been drawn to him, and he pointed at the map, saying: "In the fourth year of the regency, His Highness the Regent stationed in Zhoushan"

In the main hall of the central army, Wang Yi sat in the main seat, while a young civil official adorned with a peacock feather sat below him, and there were no others present.

I am Chen Wen, respectfully meeting with Wang Jinglüe and Vice Minister Wang. Chen Wen bows in accordance with the proper etiquette

"This is really not the right time." Chen Wen walked over

Do you want to take a gamble

Chen Wen followed the minor official toward the central military hall, where he observed a group of civil officials in blue and green attire rising to leave.

What nonsense, what if that person is a righteous soldier fighting for the cause

In the historical context of Chen Wen's era, the Qing army mobilized in September, advancing in the direction mentioned by Chen Wen. After capturing Dalan Mountain, they carried out a brutal campaign of bloodshed against the mountain.

Chen Wen pondered for a moment, a third-rank civil official who often frequented the granary and was well-versed in official documents

Chen Wenxian was momentarily taken aback, but soon felt at ease; after all, this was a military camp, unlike the office environments he was accustomed to. He realized that he was indeed out of place.

We can no longer wait. Such important intelligence should have been communicated in detail by the informant at the first opportunity, shouldn't it? Even if one is unwell, one cannot truly afford to wait for Wang Yi to come and see them. Chen Wen felt that with each passing day, the credibility of his words would diminish, and thus he simply could not afford any delays.

At this moment, Chen Wen's objective was quite clear, which was to urge Wang Yi to temporarily avoid the Qing army's offensive. Historically, the Ming army at Siming Mountain was nearly annihilated this year, resulting in the Ming army in eastern Zhejiang next year being unable to exert even the slightest restraint on the Qing army's attack on Zhoushan.

In July, Wang Yi returned to Siming Mountain, where he witnessed the scene of "the generals in the mountains being defeated and annihilated." At this time, the Qing troops had already begun to gather, preparing to attack Zhoushan. In desperation, he had no choice but to go to Tiantai to recruit soldiers. On July 24, he was in charge of the militia at Beixi, refusing to surrender. By August 12, he was brutally killed by the Qing army in Dinghai

Chen Wen pondered for a moment and decided to drop another deep-water bomb

And I have come precisely for this purpose

Upon exiting the small courtyard, one arrives at the drill ground, and the courtyard where the central army hall is located lies directly to the north of the drill ground

Everyone was taken aback upon hearing this, for it was something that had never happened before. Whether it was Wang Yi or Wang Jiang, as long as there were official matters, regardless of whether they were civil or military affairs, and no matter how late it was, they had always completed the tasks of the day on the same day, never postponing them to the next day.

Chen Wen pondered for a moment and said, "May I borrow some paper and a pen?"

Governor Chen Jinwei of the Zhejiang and Fujian provinces, fearing that Zhejiang might follow the same path as Fujian, thus conferred with General Jin Li of the Pingnan Army, Governor Xiao Qiyuan of Zhejiang, and Commander Tian Xiong of Zhejiang. They agreed to take advantage of the fact that His Majesty the Regent had not yet established a firm foothold in Zhoushan, implementing a strategy of first appeasing and then encircling the enemy, prioritizing the removal of branches before addressing the root cause. The previous surrender efforts led by Yan Wogong were merely a part of this strategy, and since this year, a strategy of encirclement has been adopted against those who refuse to surrender.

Chen Wen walked to Wang Yi's desk, picked up a brush, dipped it in ink, and began to draw a map of Zhejiang on the paper from memory

"Yes, I feel much more comfortable now. Thank you, Old Master Lu, for your life-saving grace. I am here to express my gratitude." Chen Wen performed a formal bow.