Chapter 003: Reinforcements

Deng Mingmian's face turned red, and he shook his head in response: "I am ignorant and uninformed"

Zhao Tianba did not display any signs of suspicion or mockery towards Deng Ming's ignorance as he had speculated, but immediately replied: "Tan Hou is a title of respect, just like Fu Hou, both of whom are the commanders of Wanchuan."

... ...

Due to the great distance and inconvenient communication, neither Yuan Zongdi, Zhao Tianba, Zhou Kaihuang, nor Deng Ming were aware that the situation in Yunnan was far from their optimistic expectations. In reality, after Wu Sangui led the Qing army southward and approached Kunming, Emperor Yongli fled in panic upon hearing the news. The main force of the Ming army in Guangxi was ordered to return to Kunming, while the traitor Geng Jingzhong seized the opportunity to launch an offensive, capturing large territories from the Ming army. Meanwhile, Hong Chengchou also set out from Huguang to participate in the attack on Yunnan.

Fu Hou is Tan Wen, and this name Deng has already heard from Yuan Zongdi. He understood that the newcomer is another member of the "Three Tans"—Tan Yi, and nodded slightly: "Thank you, Brother Zhao, for your guidance"

This topic greatly interests Deng Ming, and it happens to provide an opportunity to address his lingering questions. Therefore, he inquired about Yuan Zongdi's opinion while attentively listening to the other party's response

In fact, Deng Ming was not mistaken; the Qing army he was concerned about has successfully arrived at the outskirts of Chongqing.

"It is only right and proper." Yuan Zongdi immediately nodded and said, "Once we capture Chongqing and isolate the southern and northern parts of Sichuan, even if the Prince of Jin does not mention it, we must petition the court to allow us to confront the Wu bandit, for he owes us a considerable blood debt."

Wen Anzhi was appointed by the Yongli Emperor to oversee military operations in Sichuan, stationed in Fengjie. His primary task was to pacify and control the remnants of the rebel forces concentrated in the eastern part of Sichuan and the northern region of Huguang. Wen Anzhi's army would arrive by land, which would be two to three days later than Tan Yi's naval forces. Currently, Yuan Zongdi and Tan Wen's encampments have been firmly established, and they have stockpiled sufficient provisions for tens of thousands of troops. The fortifications around Chongqing have also been largely cleared. Today, both Tan Wen and Yuan Zongdi began tentative assaults on the city gates and walls to gauge the strength and weaknesses of the defending forces, so that once the main army arrives, they can launch a full-scale attack on Chongqing. The encampments of Yuan Zongdi and Tan Wen have been firmly established, and they have stockpiled sufficient provisions for tens of thousands of troops. The fortifications around Chongqing have also been largely cleared. Today, both Tan Wen and Yuan Zongdi began tentative assaults on the city gates and walls to gauge the strength and weaknesses of the defending forces, so that once the main army arrives, they can launch a full-scale attack on Chongqing

Standing atop the city of Chongqing, Wang Mingde could only watch helplessly as Tan Yi's army joined forces with Tan Wen—apparently, the newly arrived Ming troops numbered as many as 5,000. Soon, Tan Yi took over Tan Wen's position, while Tan Wen relocated to the center, thereby consolidating the Ming army's front lines. Now, even if Wang Mingde wished to emulate Gao Mingzhan and abandon the city to escape, there was no way out.

Facing the glint of the knife, Deng Ming suddenly sat up, only to realize it was a fleeting dream; he had unknowingly fallen asleep. His heart raced incessantly as he wiped the sweat from his forehead, got up in the dark, and quietly walked out of the tent. The moonlight bathed the Ming army's camp, and the surroundings were eerily quiet, with the sound of snoring coming from nearby tents. In the distance, the tall figures of sentinels on the camp wall were clearly visible, vigilantly guarding the safety of the camp.

"This is the army of the Duke of Renshou," Zhao Tianba said.

At this moment in the city of Chongqing, the Qing army's garrison commander Wang Mingde was restless.

Yuan Zongdi had already arrived from Dachang after ten days, while Tan Yi, stationed in Wanxian with Tan Wen, had been there for twelve days. According to the pre-established plans of the Ming army, the Ming forces in the Wanxian area and Yuan Zongdi aimed to completely destroy the Qing military fortifications outside Chongqing before the main army's arrival, so that as soon as the main force arrived, they could launch a full-scale assault on the city. The Ming army's supply reserves were extremely limited, making it difficult for the main force to remain at the foot of Chongqing for an extended period, and they also had to guard against Wu Sangui's potential return. The time for the Ming army was critically tight, and Tan Yi's delayed arrival caused considerable dissatisfaction among Yuan Zongdi's subordinates.

"Something unexpected must have happened! Could it be that a Qing army suddenly arrived to relieve Chongqing?" A thought flashed through Deng Ming's mind, but he could not imagine how it had occurred: "If Yuan Zongdi is correct, and there is no Qing army in Shaanxi and Sichuan capable of defeating the main force of the Ming army, then it can only mean that another Qing reinforcement has suddenly arrived, and in extremely large numbers! This sudden arrival of the Qing army must be..." But he could not imagine how it had occurred: "If Yuan Zongdi is correct, and there is no Qing army in Shaanxi and Sichuan capable of defeating the main force of the Ming army, then it can only mean that another Qing reinforcement has suddenly arrived, and in extremely large numbers! This sudden arrival of the Qing army must be..."

Deng Ming pondered deeply, yet found nothing. He felt that a storm was about to descend from the sky, with great danger lurking nearby. In the vast darkness of night, beasts were hidden; although you could not see the ferocity in their eyes, hear their desperate breaths, or know from which direction they would pounce, it was undeniable that they were watching you from some nearby corner, closing in on you step by step. In the vast darkness of night, beasts were hidden; although you could not see the ferocity in their eyes, hear their desperate breaths, or know from which direction they would pounce, it was undeniable that they were watching you from some nearby corner, closing in on you step by step

... ...

After pondering for a moment, Wang Mingde gritted his teeth and encouraged himself, saying: "Even if I die in battle, the court will surely provide compensation for my sons. In the end, throwing myself into this will still lead to death, and it will also implicate my entire family. Why should I do this?"

Zhou Kaihuang opened his mouth and couldn't stop, becoming more and more excited as he spoke. Based on past experience, Zhao Tianba knew that this guy would soon start to vehemently criticize the Ming court. Over the past few days, Zhou Kaihuang had been by Deng Ming's side and couldn't speak freely, so he must be feeling quite stifled. At the same time, Zhao Tianba noticed Yuan Zongdi observing Deng Ming's expression, and he estimated that Duke Jingguo was also beginning to feel uneasy.

This new Ming army did not proceed along the Yangtze River to Yuan Zongdi's camp, but instead sailed into the Jialing River, heading towards Tan Wen.

Zhou Kaihuang knew that Deng Ming felt reluctant in his heart. Yuan Zongdi had once quietly told him that a soft-hearted member of the royal family could easily be moved and was more likely to speak favorably, which was not a bad thing.

Zhao Tianba remained impassive, yet he held a deep disdain for Tan Yi in his heart

You are really late, aren't you? Zhou Kaihuang couldn't help but complain.

In summary, Yuan Zongdi was quite optimistic about the situation after capturing Chongqing, believing that Wu Sangui had become a suspended force. The larger the number of Qing troops attacking Yunnan, the more difficult it would be for them to sustain their campaign due to a lack of supplies. The retreat route was also blocked by the Ming army, making the outcome predictable.

Wang Mingde speculated to himself that Governor Li Guoying was struggling to cope with the relatively weak defenses of Chengdu, and it did not seem likely that he could send troops to rescue him. For the past ten days, the Ming army had been attacking the city walls. Although their pace in cutting stakes was slow, the shortage of defenders inside the city prevented any counterattacks, allowing the Ming army to continue their advance. Today, several guards on the walls reported an emergency to Wang Mingde. He climbed up to the walls and saw that the Ming army had already approached the base of the walls in several locations. Particularly concerning was the early arrival of Tan Wen's unit, which had already begun to fill the trenches. Although the progress on Yuan Zongdi's side was slightly slower, it appeared that they would reach the trenches within a day or two.

After holding onto this thought, Wang Mingde resolved to defend Chongqing at all costs, buying time for as long as possible

Deng Ming slightly nodded, followed by a soft sigh

At noon today, Deng Ming saw a fleet of boats coming from downstream, and he felt a bit nervous. However, he noticed that Zhao Tianba beside him appeared quite relaxed. Remembering that he had been informed by Yuan Zongdi and others that the downstream area was under the control of the Ming army, Deng Ming secretly scolded himself for being a coward and stretched his neck to gaze at the fleet. Indeed, the boats were flying red flags, indicating they were reinforcements from the Ming army.

Deng Ming gazed at the starry sky—this world was fraught with crises, and the only thing that brought him a sense of calm and security was the multitude of stars above. He had never realized how beautiful the night sky could be. Deng Ming sighed silently. Fate was unknown to others, but for him, it was all too clear, even terrifying. Deng Ming knew that he, along with the Ming soldiers who had treated him kindly over the past few days, had embarked on an irreversible path, with inevitable destruction awaiting them. Yet, Deng Ming did not know how to change any of this. Deng Ming knew that he, along with the Ming soldiers who had treated him kindly over the past few days, had embarked on an irreversible path, with inevitable destruction awaiting them. Yet, Deng Ming did not know how to change any of this

Originally, the Ming armies led by Yuan Zongdi and Tan Wen each numbered around 7,000 to 8,000 troops. Upon seeing such a large force from just these two routes, Gao Mingzhan, the Sichuan governor appointed by the Manchus, realized that the subsequent reinforcements would be even more numerous. Therefore, he made a decisive move, using the pretext of seeking reinforcements from Li Guoying, the governor of Sichuan and Shaanxi, to slip away from the junction of Yuan Zongdi and Tan Wen's forces. Before leaving, he ordered General Wang Mingde to hold the city and await reinforcements. Wang Mingde, fully aware that Gao Mingzhan had abandoned the city and fled, could only suppress his anger and remain in the city to resist.

Mr. Deng," Zhao Tianba detected a hint of hesitation in Mr. Deng's response, so he turned to look at him: "Mr. Deng, do you know who the Duke of Renshou is?

The more optimistic Yuan Zongdi became about the situation after seizing Chongqing, the more tense and uneasy Deng Ming felt

Yuan Zongdi mentioned several times that, given the current population of Sichuan, it simply cannot withstand the back-and-forth turmoil caused by a large army. Therefore, he does not believe that the Qing army can send a substantial number of reinforcements from Shaanxi. Furthermore, the Qing forces in Shaanxi no longer have any decent troops; even if they had the time, it would be too late.

It is highly likely that an enemy force has already approached us closely, and the Ming army will be completely annihilated. Yet, I am unable to assist General Yuan. How can I bear to tell them that the cause they have fought for their entire lives will ultimately amount to nothing

Oh? Deng Ming does not know who the Marquis of Renshou is

However, in the blink of an eye, Wang Mingde shook his head and suppressed this thought: "The court has almost unified the entire country now, and the remnants of the Ming dynasty are left with only this small territory in Sichuan and Yunnan-Guizhou. Surrendering would merely be a matter of dying sooner or later. Perhaps the governor truly can help me out of this predicament!"

When returning to the camp in the evening, Deng Ming tossed and turned, unable to fall asleep: "If the Ming army fails to attack Chongqing, then what is it all for?"

Zhao Tianba nodded repeatedly, clearly in strong agreement

Yuan Zongdi is an experienced military veteran, well-versed in matters of warfare, and speaks with great authority on the subject

"What difficulties could there be..." Zhou Kaihuang continued to argue

"Alas, Wu Shuai has truly misjudged this time," Wang Mingde thought sadly. A thought suddenly emerged: "While I still have nearly ten thousand troops at my disposal, along with such a Chongqing, if I were to surrender, I should be able to preserve my life, right?"

How should I remind Yuan Zongdi? Should I ask him to send more scouts for reconnaissance? But if he questions the basis of my judgment, how should I respond? Where did this Qing army come from, which route did they take, and in which direction did they appear? I know nothing about military maneuvers or warfare, and I have no understanding of this era. I do not even know where the Qing troops are stationed in Sichuan, so how can I persuade Yuan Zongdi to believe that a Qing army might suddenly appear?

Wang Mingde was acutely aware that the situation had become extremely critical. If the Ming army were allowed to fill in the trenches at multiple locations, once the main force of the Ming army arrived, they would be able to launch a full-scale assault on the city. At this moment, the morale among the Qing troops in Chongqing was unstable; some requested Wang Mingde to break out of the siege—this was, of course, not an option. Others volunteered to fight, advocating for a desperate charge against the Ming forces outside the city before their main force arrived, arguing that it was better to fight to the death than to wait passively for defeat. Wang Mingde could not agree to this plan either, as the Ming army outside was far stronger than the defending troops. If they were to suffer a defeat, Chongqing would immediately fall.

As he watched another new Ming army approach the city, Wang Mingde's frown deepened. He incessantly complained about Wu Sangui: "General Wu claims that the bandits and the Ming court have longstanding grievances and mutual suspicions. Last time they came to Chongqing, they were not well received, so this time they will definitely not lend their support. General Wu has misjudged the situation this time; the number of troops returning now is likely even greater than in July."

In contrast to Wang Mingde, Yuan Zongdi appeared to be in high spirits when he returned to the camp today. He invited Deng Ming to dinner, and there was much laughter and conversation during the meal. Although Deng Ming was not very familiar with the etiquette of this era, he sensed that Yuan Zongdi's attitude towards him was decidedly unusual. Deng Ming thought that if he were lucky, he would at most serve as a staff member, but Yuan Zongdi did not consult him on matters and did not require his assistance for analysis. Furthermore, Yuan Zongdi's politeness towards him far exceeded that of a superior towards a subordinate; even someone as trusted as Zhou Kaihuang would not receive such courteous treatment, let alone other subordinates. Deng Ming thought that if he were lucky, he would at most serve as a staff member, but Yuan Zongdi did not consult him on matters and did not require his assistance for analysis. Furthermore, Yuan Zongdi's politeness towards him far exceeded that of a superior towards a subordinate; even someone as trusted as Zhou Kaihuang would not receive such courteous treatment, let alone other subordinates.

Unlike Zhao Tianba, Zhou Kaihuang immediately exclaimed upon hearing the news: "No wonder the Marquis of Renshou has arrived; the supervising officer can reach Chongqing in as little as three days or as long as five days. If he doesn't come soon, won't this merit be out of his reach?"

The Marquis of Renshou brings news that the literary supervisor crossed Wanzhou two days ago and is now estimated to have arrived in Fengdu

In the following ten days, the Ming army was busy clearing obstacles outside the city of Chongqing. As they drew closer to the city walls, the battles between the Ming and Qing armies became increasingly intense. Yuan Zongdi was occupied with supervising progress and commanding operations at the front line, leaving him no spare time to chat idly with this royal scion. Zhao Tianba and Zhou Kaikuang often kept him company; these two had already become acquaintances of Deng Ming. Deng Ming was quite satisfied with this arrangement, as he only knew a few people in this world. He sensed that the other Ming soldiers regarded him with a somewhat peculiar attitude—respectful, yet maintaining a distance.

The governor is far away in Baoning. After meeting with the provincial governor, it will take time to understand the situation and gather troops, and it is feared that he has not yet set out. Although the residence of the Sichuan governor is established in Chengdu, Chengdu is currently in the hands of the Ming army. Wu Sangui has taken his elite troops to fight in Yunnan, and the remaining forces under Li Guoying are unable to capture Chengdu, so they can only temporarily stay in Baoning, spending their days writing letters to the Ming generals in Chengdu to persuade them to surrender

Deng Ming judged that it was likely due to the strong and impregnable nature of the city of Chongqing, which would result in the Ming army returning empty-handed. Therefore, he decided to return to the Ming army's base with Yuan Zongdi and consider the next steps later. However, in just two days, the main force of Wen An would arrive, and given the advantages of the Ming army, Chongqing would be hard-pressed to hold out and was expected to fall soon.

"Such words should not be spoken; everyone is contributing to the nation, and the Duke of Renshou has his own difficulties." Yuan Zongdi had his thoughts about these direct descendants of the Ming army; otherwise, he would not have separated the camp with Tan Wen. Normally, Yuan Zongdi would likely nod in approval at Zhou Kaihuang's unreserved mockery, or at least remain silent with a smile. However, today, with the royal family member Deng Ming present, Yuan Zongdi chose to exercise restraint.

In his view, relying solely on the transportation of grain via the Yangtze River would certainly be insufficient to supply the large army of Wu Sangui. Wu Sangui would still need to requisition a significant amount of grain from the local populace during his march. Yuan Zongdi believed that since Sun Kewang was guiding the way, the route chosen by Wu Sangui into Yunnan must have a sufficiently dense population for him to exploit. However, Wu Sangui had previously turned back once during his campaign and then launched another expedition. Even if the population was dense, the passage of two large armies would inevitably exhaust the local people completely. Yuan Zongdi felt that once the Ming army secured grain from Chongqing, the reinforcements sent from Sichuan to Yunnan could take the route through Jianchang, which had been managed by Liu Wenxiu for a considerable period, and it was estimated that there would be a substantial stockpile of grain there, as well as enough able-bodied men available for the reinforcements. When the two major divisions of the Ming army, the Chuangying and the Xiying, converged, they would not be at a disadvantage in dealing with Wu Sangui.

Capturing Chongqing would effectively cut off the retreat route of the Wu bandits. It is said that the city has considerable reserves, sufficient to support tens of thousands of troops in action. Although Zhao Tianba should not discuss how the Ming army in Sichuan and Hubei should act in front of Yuan Zongdi, given that his position is merely that of an envoy, he still diverted the topic: "If the Wu bandits refuse to retreat, it may be necessary to trouble the supervising general to lead the three armies southward."

The rumbling sound of cannon fire occasionally echoed over the city of Chongqing. This was the first time Deng Ming had witnessed war and death with his own eyes. Upon seeing more Ming soldiers fall, he could not help but let out a sigh

Zhou Kaihuang said: "The casualties we see before us are not significant. Once our troops clear the plum blossom stakes and fill the trenches, our main force will arrive. At that time, the soldiers will engage in the decisive battle for the city. If they harbor thoughts of fearing death, success will be unattainable"

Deng Ming felt a wave of confusion as he listened. In recent days, within Yuan Zongdi's camp, he had repeatedly heard them say that if they could capture Chongqing, it would reverse the situation in the southwest. Gradually, Deng Ming began to find their arguments reasonable. Now, the plum blossom stakes around Chongqing were nearly cleared, and the city walls and gates were already exposed. In two days, the elite troops would arrive with Wen Anzhi, bringing at least tens of thousands of soldiers, and it seemed that Chongqing was about to fall into the hands of the Ming army. However, Deng Ming knew that historically, the situation in the southwest was ultimately not reversed, so Chongqing should not have been captured, and the Qing army had indeed completely defeated Li Dingguo.

In the Ming army, there was no need to consider the issue of shaving heads for the time being, which made Deng Ming quite happy. However, when he thought about the inevitable sweep of the Manchu Qing dynasty across the nation in the future, he couldn't help but feel anxious. If the joking aliens or time travelers did not send him back, Deng Ming felt that he was indeed living on borrowed time. Yet, he could not think of any way to escape this predicament, and this distress was something he could not discuss with anyone.

Suddenly, a cacophony of shouts erupted, and then a man dressed in Qing military attire lifted the tent flap and rushed in with a torch, without saying a word, he swung his knife at Deng Ming.

At this thought, Deng Ming felt the hair on his entire body stand on end; this Qing army should have appeared before the main force of Wen'an arrived, which means it must have happened within the last two or three days

It is already quite good that he can come; we do not know how long it will take for the Marquis of Xinjing to arrive. Zhao Tianba actually holds some prejudice against these soldiers; back in the day, the Western Camp fought bitterly with these Sichuan troops for many years. Although they now all fight under the banner of the Ming court, the estrangement still exists. Zhao Tianba then explained to Deng Ming that the Marquis of Xinjing is Tan Hong: "The Marquis of Xinjing's surname is Tan, and his given name is Hong"