I was a conman in the Ming Dynasty.

Chapter 707 The troops are approaching the city

Chapter 707 The Enemy is at the Gates

Two weeks later, hundreds of ships were densely packed together waiting for orders off the coast of Tianjin Port.

On the "Little Lanlan," Wang Wenzhou, with a baby in each arm, commanded, "Begin the attack!"

"Yes!" Fu Xingping immediately gave the order, and the fleet's cannons began to fire.

Liang Sheng, the commander of Tianjin Garrison, was extremely aggrieved. Last time, Mu Yiyun falsely conveyed Wang Wenzhou's orders, and Wang Wenzhou's fleet also attacked Tianjin Port. Because of the loss of Tianjin Port, Liang Sheng almost lost his hereditary position as commander. He spent all his family fortune to barely keep his position. Now that Wang Wenzhou has rebelled and is attacking from Tianjin again, Liang Sheng felt that he could not keep his official position, and whether he could keep his life was still a question.

Liang Sheng can be considered the first official in the Ming Dynasty to learn of Wang Wenzhou's rebellion. Wang Wenzhou, while in Hanshan, tricked Sun Chuanting into having construction workers and ordinary Hanshan residents disguise themselves as soldiers and be incorporated into Sun Chuanting's army. Then, Wang Wenzhou ignored Hanshan and led his fleet, with soldiers loaded onto merchant ships, straight to Tianjin to launch a surprise attack on Beijing.

After several volleys of artillery fire, the Ming troops defending Tianjin Port scattered like birds and beasts. Zhu Youjian had already reinforced Tianjin Garrison after Wang Wenzhou's fleet's previous attack, but last time there were only a few dozen warships; this time there were hundreds of ships of various sizes. The soldiers of Tianjin Garrison were not willing to commit suicide.

The landing operation encountered little resistance, and two hours later, Wang Wenzhou's 2-strong army successfully landed.

Before the army's formation, Wang Wenzhou gave a final pep talk.

Wang Wenzhou declared righteously and loudly, "Brothers, that pig Zhu Youjian has brought the Ming Dynasty to a state of utter misery, with the people suffering unspeakably. The bolder people, driven to desperation, have joined the rebel army. The more timid and honest ones deserve to remain poor!"

Damn it, who did honest people offend? Why are they bullying honest people? Who wants to rebel when they can live peacefully? We, the people of Hanshan, used to live in peace and contentment. Everyone could eat their fill, have beautiful wives, and live a happy life.

But Zhu Youjian couldn't stand to see Hanshan doing well! He stationed 300,000 troops near Hanshan. What did he want? He wanted Hanshan back under his rule. I ask you, would you rather be law-abiding citizens under Zhu Youjian's rule, starving and unable to find wives? Or would you rather live a happy and prosperous life under my leadership?

"We are willing to follow your lead, sir!" Led by several generals, the soldiers shouted in unison!

Wang Wenzhou smiled slightly. "Very good, morale is high!"

Wang Wenzhou continued, "That pig Zhu Youjian has no conscience. It's not that I don't want to be a loyal subject of the Ming Dynasty; I've shed blood and tears for the Ming Dynasty! But what did Zhu Youjian do? He killed my whole family!"

"Avenge the ladies and gentlemen!"

"Avenge Ms. Liu Rushi!"

"Avenge Mr. Sheng Lan!"

"Avenge my mother!"

"Slaughter the pig! Slaughter the pig!"

The soldiers, due to their different backgrounds, shouted different slogans. However, they were all filled with righteous indignation. For the past two weeks, Wang Wenzhou had frequently had people impersonate Ming soldiers and cause trouble in Hanshan City, thus stirring up hatred.

Wang Wenzhou ordered, "Target: the capital! Full speed ahead!"

The soldiers, led by their respective generals, began their march.

Wang Wenzhou hugged Gao Guiying and kissed her, saying solemnly, "Sister! Thank you for your help this time!"

Gao Guiying rolled her eyes at Wang Wenzhou. "My dear wretch," she thought, "you, a nobleman from the Xinjian Earl's mansion, can't even ride a horse? If you can't ride, then don't! Your sedan chair bearers are all elite; even in a sedan chair, they're on fast horses. Why do you insist on riding a horse?"

With the help of his guards, Wang Wenzhou mounted his horse, and Gao Guiying quickly followed suit.

……

In the Imperial Study, Zhu Youjian had just received news that Wang Wenzhou's army of over 100,000 was about to besiege the city.

Zhu Youjian was both angry and puzzled. He found it strange that Wang Wenzhou would disregard Liu Rushi, given his personality.

Yang Changsi said, "Your Majesty, please do not be anxious. Currently, the 30,000 elite troops from the three major camps outside the capital have entered the city. Together with the civilians and militia in the city, we can muster an army of 200,000. It will not be so easy for the traitor Wang Wenzhou to take over the capital."

Wen Tiren quickly said, "Your Majesty should immediately issue an edict ordering all regions to come to the aid of the Emperor."

Zhu Youjian nodded and quickly said, "Wang Chengen drafted an edict ordering local officials near the capital to immediately send troops to defend the emperor."

Qian Shisheng thought for a moment and then said, “Your Majesty, the soldiers of the garrison are really useless. We should immediately order Lu Xiangshan to lead his elite troops into the pass to suppress the rebel Wang Wenzhou.”

"Quickly! Draft an imperial edict at once!" Zhu Youjian was really anxious. He would agree to anyone's suggestion as long as it could mobilize troops.

This was not the first time Beijing had been attacked since Zhu Youjian became emperor. The last time the Tartars attacked the capital, Zhang Fengyi, the Minister of War, was blamed and committed suicide by poisoning himself.

However, Wang Wenzhou was different from the Tartars. The Tartars had very few cannons and could not attack the city in a short time. But Wang Wenzhou had cannons, and his cannons were much more advanced than those of the Ming army. Zhu Youjian was very worried, fearing that Wang Wenzhou would break through the city.

The matters discussed by the emperor and his ministers were executed with unprecedented speed. By the time darkness fell, Wang Wenzhou's army had already surrounded the capital, making it difficult to send orders out.

Zhu Youjian was extremely anxious and worried.

At this moment, a young eunuch entered the room. After Wang Chengen inquired, he said, "Your Majesty, Wang Qiang requests an audience."

"Slap!" Zhu Youjian slapped his thigh. If he said he understood Wang Wenzhou, Wang Qiang understood Wang Wenzhou better than he did. Moreover, Wang Qiang knew all of Wang Wenzhou's secrets, habits, and so on.

"Quickly summon Wang Qiang to an audience," Zhu Youjian said hastily.

Wang Qiang entered the room, kowtowed, and said, "Your Majesty, this sinful subject Wang Qiang pays his respects! Long live the Emperor!"

In fact, Zhu Youjian wanted to take Wang Qiang's head to vent his anger on Wang Wenzhou, who was recently imprisoned in the imperial prison. After learning that Wang Wenzhou's troops had besieged the capital, Wang Qiang felt his opportunity had come and threatened to kill himself to beg to see Zhu Youjian. Fortunately, the prison warden, fearing for his life, informed him of the situation.

"What crime has Wang Aiqing committed? It's all a misunderstanding. Rise at once!" Zhu Youjian directly pardoned Wang Qiang.

Wang Qiang smiled bitterly to himself, thinking, "Your Majesty, you really can change your mind faster than flipping through a book."

Wang Qiang solemnly said, "Your Majesty, Wang Wenzhou is cunning by nature and has a group of lawless thugs under his command. Moreover, Wang Wenzhou has a secret weapon called a hot air balloon, which can carry soldiers to launch surprise attacks from the air."

Your humble servant believes that security within the palace should be strengthened immediately. When Wang Wenzhou was in Liaodong, he once used a hot air balloon to launch a surprise attack on the false king's palace, capturing Dorgon and Dodo's wives and concubines alive.

"Hoo..." Zhu Youjian took a deep breath. He knew that Wang Wenzhou had done this, but he didn't know how Wang Wenzhou had done it. Now that he heard it, he broke out in a cold sweat. If Wang Qiang hadn't warned him, it would have been dangerous if Wang Wenzhou had launched a sneak attack.