xymnovel Chapter 29 The Steadfast Hong Chengchou
Chapter 29 The Steadfast Hong Chengchou
Leaving the cellar, Ma Yongsheng felt heavy-hearted.
AI has penetrated deeper than he anticipated, and the technology seems more advanced.
They are like viruses lurking in the shadows of history, ready to erupt at any moment and stifle the seedlings of civilization.
He knows too little about them; the location of the main consciousness, its ultimate purpose, and its strength are all mysteries.
At the same time, Hong Chengchou's "soft knife" continued to exert pressure.
In early November, the Qing army began to impose an economic blockade on Huangzhou Prefecture.
The Yangtze River waterway was strictly controlled by the Qing navy, making it difficult for merchant ships to pass.
The land routes leading to the north were also checked and inspected. Many merchant groups that originally traded with Huangzhou Prefecture reduced their exchanges or even stopped trading due to fear or coercion from the Qing army.
Prices of key commodities such as salt, iron, and cloth began to rise.
Although the workshops at Genting Highlands can produce some substitutes, the quantity and quality are insufficient to fully meet the demand.
Anxiety began to emerge among the public, and hoarding and speculation appeared in the market.
The State Council is in a terrible predicament because of this.
Huang Zongxi, along with his officials, used reserves to stabilize prices and crack down on unscrupulous merchants. On the other hand, he organized laborers to risk opening up new mountain trails in an attempt to bypass the Qing army's blockade and establish contact with more distant places such as Sichuan and Hunan.
Military pressure is also increasing.
Hong Chengchou was not in a hurry to attack. Instead, he continuously sent out small elite troops to harass the Xinghan Army's supply lines, attack outlying villages, and even attempt to infiltrate Huangzhou Prefecture to carry out sabotage. Although most of these attacks were repelled, they were difficult to defend against and tied up a lot of the Xinghan Army's energy, resulting in continuous casualties and material losses.
"Hong Chengchou is bleeding us dry," Instructor Sun said angrily at the military conference. "He's slowly draining us! Can't we just fight him to the death?"
Ma Yongsheng shook his head: "He'd love for us to go out and fight a decisive battle. Fifty thousand against twenty thousand, and it's open field warfare, which is exactly what he wants. Our current advantages are our inside line operations, popular support, and some technological superiority. We can't use our weaknesses to attack his strengths."
He walked to the sand table and pointed to the southwest direction of Huangzhou Prefecture: "Our breakthrough point is here."
As everyone looked, they saw Wuchang, a major town at the confluence of the Yangtze and Han Rivers.
"Wuchang?" Xu Guangqi asked in confusion. "That's Zuo Menggeng's territory. Although it has surrendered to the Qing, it still retains some strength, and Qing troops are stationed there. We don't have enough troops; how can we possibly attack it?"
"It's not a direct assault, but a clever maneuver," Ma Yongsheng said. "According to intelligence, after Zuo Menggeng's death, his subordinates were incompatible and engaged in endless infighting. The Qing army's garrison strength was only three thousand, and they also had to be divided to suppress Zuo's forces. Meanwhile, the people in Wuchang were already full of resentment towards the Qing army's tyranny." He paused, "More importantly, Wang Pu's intelligence agents have successfully made contact with several influential gentry members and former mid-level officers of Zuo's army in the city. They... have heard about our new policies."
"Does the chief mean... to coordinate an attack from within and without, and take Wuchang again?" Instructor Sun's eyes lit up.
"It's not just about capturing Wuchang." Ma Yongsheng traced a line down the Yangtze River with his finger. "If we take Wuchang, we will control the key hub of the middle reaches of the Yangtze. To the west, we can connect with Sichuan and obtain well salt and grain; to the east, we can threaten Jiujiang and Anqing, shaking the Qing army's rule in Jiangnan; to the north, we can rely on the Dabie Mountains to consolidate Huangzhou; and to the south, we can radiate outwards to Hunan. This is the key to our strategy."
"But Hong Chengchou's army is eyeing us from the north. If we send troops south to take Wuchang, what if he takes the opportunity to attack Huangzhou?" Tiezhu worried.
"So we need a 'performance'." A sharp glint flashed in Ma Yongsheng's eyes. "We need to make Hong Chengchou believe that our main force is still in Huangzhou, and that they are restless and eager for battle. We even need to make him feel that there is an opportunity to take advantage of us."
A bold plan took shape in his mind.
In mid-November, the Xinghan Army began to move frequently, making various preparations to march north to Qiliping and fight a decisive battle with the Qing army.
Large quantities of food and supplies were transported to the front lines, and the military camps were filled with day and night drills, the sounds of battle deafening.
Ma Yongsheng even personally inspected the front lines and delivered a passionate speech, declaring that he would "break the cage and restore Han territory." These movements were naturally detected by Qing spies and reported to Hong Chengchou.
Hong Chengchou was mature and prudent, and did not easily believe it, but he still had to be more vigilant.
At the same time, he judged that this might be Ma Yongsheng's attempt to find an opportunity to fight after being trapped for a long time. He sneered inwardly and became more determined to maintain a steady defense and wear down the enemy. However, he secretly ordered all units to be on high alert to prevent the Xinghan Army from making a desperate move and launching a surprise attack.
Just as both sides were focused on the front line north of Huangzhou, at the end of November, a highly capable unit quietly left Huangzhou.
This unit consisted of only three thousand men, but they were all handpicked veterans, equipped with the finest flintlock muskets and light artillery.
They avoided main roads, hiding during the day and moving at night, advancing rapidly southwestward along rarely traveled mountain paths and riverbanks.
The team was led by Ma Yongsheng himself, with Coach Sun and Tiezhu as his deputies.
The defense of Huangzhou Prefecture was entrusted to Huang Zongxi and Xu Guangqi, who left behind 15,000 troops to make a show of force and mislead the Qing army.
On the eve of his departure, Ma Yongsheng returned to his inner residence.
All five wives were showing signs of pregnancy—thanks to the emphasis on prenatal care and nutrition by the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences under the guidance of Aunt Chen and Fang Yizhi, as well as Ma Yongsheng's advanced biological knowledge, their pregnancies went exceptionally smoothly and the fetuses developed well.
Ma Yongsheng looked at them one by one, without saying much, but gently stroked their slightly protruding bellies, feeling the vibrant pulse of life within.
That was the anchor of his consciousness, the seed of civilization's inheritance, and the reason why he had to win this war.
"Wait for me to come back," he said to them, his eyes filled with complex emotions—tenderness, responsibility, and a deep-seated loneliness that no one could understand.
Chen Xiuying grasped his hand, her voice gentle yet firm: "Go in peace, Chief. We'll take care of things at home. Make sure you stay safe."
Ma Yongsheng nodded, turned and left without looking back.
Three thousand elite troops shot towards Wuchang like an arrow released from a bow.
They avoided towns and checkpoints along the way, and if they encountered small groups of Qing troops or local militias, they swiftly annihilated them, leaving no survivors.
They carried enough dry rations for ten days, as well as some supplies that Wang Pu's intelligence agents had buried in advance.
Five days later, the troops arrived at the mountains and forests fifty miles northeast of Wuchang and lay in ambush.
Ma Yongsheng sent a messenger to make contact with his inside contacts within the city.
The insider's feedback was encouraging: the Qing army's defenses in Wuchang were lax, the morale of the remaining troops of the Left Army was wavering, and officers in several key positions had been bribed or persuaded.
The gentry and common people could no longer tolerate the tyranny of the Qing government and were waiting for foreign aid.
The agreed-upon time for the uprising was midnight three days later, signaled by a fire breaking out in the city, at which point the east gate would be opened.
However, an accident occurred the day before the uprising.
Wang Pu personally rushed from Huangzhou with an urgent intelligence report: Hong Chengchou seemed to have sensed something and suddenly dispatched a detachment of 5,000 men to move south of Huangzhou Prefecture, seemingly heading towards Wuchang! At the same time, the Qing army north of Huangzhou also made unusual movements, beginning to advance and adopting an offensive posture.
"That old fox Hong Chengchou!" Instructor Sun cursed. "He probably guessed our intentions, or he was just being cautious and sent troops south to reinforce Wuchang, while putting pressure on us from the north, making it difficult for us to attend to both ends."
Ma Yongsheng's face was ashen.
The plan has been leaked?
Or was it Hong Chengchou's judgment based on experience and intuition?
In any case, the situation took a sharp turn for the worse.
Although the Qing army's southward detachment only numbered five thousand, if it were to attack from both inside and outside the Wuchang garrison, my three thousand men would be in grave danger.
Meanwhile, the pressure on Huangzhou is increasing, and it remains to be seen whether the troops remaining there can hold out.
"Chieftain, what should we do? Should we still attack the city as planned?" Tie Zhu asked urgently.
Ma Yongsheng walked to the makeshift lookout point and looked at the blurry outline of Wuchang City in the distance.
The city walls stand tall and majestic, while the Yangtze River flows like a ribbon.
Capturing this city will bring the entire game to life; giving up or failing could lead to a passive position, or even utter ruin.
He closed his eyes, and data flowed deep within his consciousness, rapidly deducing various possibilities.
The success rate plummeted from the originally estimated 70% to less than 40%.
Extremely high risk!
But time waits for no one.
The threat of AI is ever-present, Hong Chengchou's army is like a thorn in his side, and the countdown to the collapse of the sun is silently ticking away.
He needs to break the deadlock, he needs resources, and he needs space to implement his plans.
Wuchang must be taken.
He opened his eyes, his gaze as cold as stars: "The plan remains the same. But adjustments are needed."
"How to adjust it?"
"Act ahead of schedule. Tonight." Ma Yongsheng said decisively. "Notify our inside accomplices to move the operation from midnight to 9 PM. At the same time, send a fast horse back to Huangzhou to tell Huang Zongxi and Xu Guangqi to hold off the pressure from the northern front at all costs, for at least three days! After three days, regardless of the outcome of Wuchang, I will give them an explanation."
The order was given, and the entire army entered the final preparations before the battle.
The soldiers silently inspected their weapons and took stimulant pills; the atmosphere was heavy and somber.
Ma Yongsheng then unfolded the Wuchang city defense map and made final arrangements.
He decided to divide his forces into three groups: Instructor Sun would lead a thousand men to attack the east gate and provide support to the inside; Tie Zhu would lead a thousand men to circle around to the south of the city to provide support, create chaos, and distract the defenders; and he himself would lead a thousand of his most elite men, carrying explosives and grappling hooks, to infiltrate the relatively weak northwest corner of the city, waiting for an opportunity to scale the walls and launch a strong attack, heading straight for the Qing army's command center and treasury.
"Remember, after entering the city, the primary objective is to control the treasury, granaries, armories, and government offices. Disarm any surrendered Qing soldiers and Zuo Quan troops; do not kill them indiscriminately. Those who dare to resist should be killed without exception. Quickly post notices to reassure the people and open the granaries to distribute grain." Ma Yongsheng repeatedly emphasized, "We are not plundering bandits, but a righteous army here to liberate. The hearts of the people are more important than the city itself."
Night fell, and dark clouds obscured the moon.
Three thousand elite troops, like ghosts in the night, silently approached Wuchang City.
The hour of Hai (9-11 PM) is approaching.
Wuchang City was silent.
Only the sound of the night watchman's clapper and sporadic barking of dogs could be heard.
Near the East Gate, several bribed soldiers were anxiously awaiting a signal.
On the watchtower at the northwest corner of the city wall, a sentry dozed off, clutching his rifle.
Suddenly, a thick plume of smoke rose from the direction of a granary in the city, followed by flames! The fire spread rapidly, and a great commotion erupted.
"Fire! Fire!" The shouts shattered the silence of the night.
The guards at the east gate were alerted and their attention was drawn.
Just then, the agreed-upon signal rang out—three urgent partridge calls.
"Quickly! Open the door!" the inside leader shouted in a low voice.
The heavy city gate was slowly pushed open a crack.
In the darkness outside the city, a glint flashed in Instructor Sun's eyes. He drew his sword and roared, "Brothers, charge with me!"
A thousand elite soldiers surged into the city gates like a flood bursting its banks, instantly engaging in fierce combat with the defenders who had not yet had time to react.
Almost simultaneously, deafening shouts of battle and the sound of gongs and drums rang out from the south of the city, and the Iron Pillar Division launched a fierce feint attack.
The alarm gongs sounded loudly on the city walls, completely waking the sleeping city of Wuchang.
The Qing army officers were startled awake from their sleep and hurriedly organized a resistance.
The remaining troops of the Left Army were in complete chaos. Some picked up weapons but did not know who to help, while others simply took advantage of the confusion to hide or flee.
While most of the garrison's attention was drawn to the east gate and the south of the city, the northwest corner of the city...
Looking at the torchlight figures being moved across the city wall, Ma Yongsheng whispered, "Now! Charge!"
Dozens of ropes with hooks were thrown onto the battlements, and agile figures began to climb.
Ma Yongsheng took the lead, moving like a monkey, and leaped onto the city wall in a few moments.
Two Qing soldiers, awakened by the shock, rushed forward, only to be struck by a specially made short stick in his hand that had a high-voltage electric shock function (using a rudimentary chemical battery and coil). They screamed in agony and collapsed to the ground.
"Take control of this section of the wall! Establish a defensive line!" Ma Yongsheng ordered, while he led a squad of personal guards straight to the Qing army command post and the nearest treasury at the foot of the wall.
Battles broke out in various parts of Wuchang City, quickly escalating into fierce street fighting.
Although the Xinghan Army was outnumbered, it was well-prepared, had clear tactics, and was superior in equipment and morale.
The Qing army was caught off guard and its command was chaotic. In addition, some of the left wing troops defected or passively avoided battle, and gradually fell into a disadvantageous position.
Ma Yongsheng personally led the team and successively captured an armory and a granary near the West Gate.
He ordered his men to open the granaries and shouted to the people who followed him, "The Xinghan Righteous Army has arrived! Open the granaries and distribute grain! We will only kill the Qing invaders, and will not harm the people!"
The starving and freezing people were initially afraid, but seeing the strict discipline of the rebel army and that they were truly only targeting the Qing army, and seeing the white rice and grain, they suddenly became bold. Some helped to carry the supplies, and some even picked up sticks and joined the battle.
Around midnight, the east and west gates were basically under the control of the Xinghan Army, and Tiezhu's troops, who had been feigning an attack in the south of the city, also took the opportunity to break in and join forces with Sun Jiao's troops.
The remnants of the Qing army were confined to the area around the government offices and military camps in the north of the city, where they stubbornly resisted.
However, just when victory seemed within reach, bad news arrived.
The scouts reported that the vanguard of the 5,000-strong detachment sent by Hong Chengchou had reached a point 20 li northeast of Wuchang and was expected to arrive at the city walls before dawn! Meanwhile, in Huangzhou, the Qing army on the northern front intensified its offensive, putting immense pressure on the remaining troops, and the plea for help sent was filled with anguish.
Ma Yongsheng stood in the main hall of the Wuchang Prefectural Government Office, which he had just seized, looking at the map with a grim expression.
With remnants of the enemy still at large and reinforcements on the way from outside, our hometown is in grave danger.
The situation has once again reached a critical juncture.
"Chief, what should we do? Should we retreat tonight, or..." Instructor Sun, covered in blood, asked urgently.
Ma Yongsheng did not answer immediately.
He walked slowly outside the hall and looked eastward.
The sky was beginning to lighten with the first hint of dawn.
The night is about to pass, and dawn is about to break.
With Qing reinforcements on their way, Hong Chengchou's scheme seemed about to succeed.
But he, Ma Yongsheng, returned from beneath the ice of Europa, from the edge of the event horizon of a black hole, from the other side of time and space in the 25th century, not to fail here.
He turned around, his gaze sweeping over the weary but fervent-eyed generals, his voice steady and powerful, piercing through the morning mist:
"Order: Concentrate all forces and, before dawn, wipe out all resisting Qing troops within the city, and be sure to capture the military camp and armory in the north of the city. Immediately distribute the captured grain and cloth to the poor people within the city, and mobilize able-bodied men to assist in the defense of the city. On the way to reinforcements, rely on the city walls and the houses outside the city to set up multiple lines of defense and lay landmines and explosives. Also, send men to swim across the Yangtze River to shout to the remnants of the Left Army who may still be observing on the other side, promising them great rewards and inviting them to fight against the Qing army together."
He paused, a resolute glint in his eyes: "Spread the news as widely as possible that I am here and have captured Wuchang. In particular, let Hong Chengchou know."
"Chief, why is this?" Tie Zhu asked, puzzled. "Won't this just embolden Hong Chengchou to attack even more fiercely?"
"What I want is for him to go crazy." Ma Yongsheng's lips curled into a cold smile. "He wants to besiege the city and attack reinforcements, but I want to turn the tables. Wuchang is the bait to lure out his main force. As for Huangzhou... I believe Huang Zongxi and Xu Guangqi can hold it. At least until the outcome is decided here."
An even bigger storm is rapidly brewing, with Wuchang as its focal point.
Here, Ma Yongsheng will engage in a high-stakes gamble with Hong Chengchou, with the hidden AI, and with the ever-forward wheels of history.
The stakes are the future of Chinese civilization.
As dawn broke, it illuminated the newly erected "Revitalize Han" banner atop Wuchang city walls, and also the young yet resolute face of Ma Yongsheng.
A new day begins, and the life-or-death struggle has just started.