Episode 52: Outsmarting the Fortress

Xiang Xiaoqiang held the "Edict on Clothes and Belts" and thought fiercely in his mind whether he should take the opportunity to realize his ideal of "running away" or risk his life and fortune to break into the Purple Mountain Fortress and save the Queen.

Running away like this is an opportunity. Everyone wants to retreat, and there is nothing wrong with retreating by yourself. Even Zhu Yourong himself can't say anything.

Breaking into the fortress to rescue the driver is very risky. If not, you will be ruined. Even if you succeed, you may have to fall out with Zheng Gongyin. Next, you will also have to supervise the capital garrison, defense troops, and even the Supreme Command to put this situation into perspective. The battle to defend Nanjing continues.

Adding all this together, how big is the chance of winning?

However, once he succeeds, he will become the emperor's first favorite, and Zhu Yourong's trust in him will surpass Zheng Gongyin, Mrs. Li, and Shen Rongxuan.

The People's Guard will also surpass the Imperial Guard and become the real first army of the Ming Dynasty.

…

Suddenly, a violent explosion occurred nearby, and the ground shook. Xiang Xiaoqiang heard a "buzz" in his ears, choked in his chest, fell into the car, and fell unconscious.

Then there was a clanking sound of objects falling on the roof of the car, probably broken soil and cement blocks.

I don’t know how much time passed, but Xiang Xiaoqiang opened his eyes and looked at the bright light outside the car door. He felt strong pressure on his chest, as if a big stone was pressing down on him. It was indescribably uncomfortable, but he felt lucky to have escaped death. Look. The officers in the car were all pale and speechless. The little palace maid squatted on the ground holding her head, shivering.

Oh, I probably only fainted for a few seconds...

Xiang Xiaoqiang ignored her and stood up unsteadily. He looked at several military policemen lying on the ground outside the car. Some of them were still trying to get up, but two could no longer get up. More than ten meters away, a deep crater appeared. There was black smoke and asphalt blocks everywhere.

This is probably a 150mm class howitzer. I was still in the armored vehicle, but I just opened the door and was still stunned by the shock wave. This shows the terrifying power of this heavy artillery shell.

The nearby military doctors rushed over and carried the two injured military policemen for treatment.

Xiang Xiaoqiang held the door of the car and looked around. He found a black car overturned on the ground ten meters away from the bomb crater. A military truck stopped in front of him. A dozen soldiers were jumping out and rushing towards the overturned car.

Huh? Those are soldiers of the People's Guard!...Who is that person in the car?

Inside the rear window of the overturned car, an arm was banging hard inside, breaking the broken glass, and then trying to climb out. Several soldiers gathered around and shouted:

"Your Highness Princess! Are you okay?"

"Hold on, Your Highness, we will save you right now!"

Xiang Xiaoqiang was startled: Which princess is this?... There is only one princess protected by the People's Guard: Princess Liaoyang! He quickly ordered:

"Go help!"

Suddenly, more than twenty People's Guard soldiers surrounded the car. They smashed their rifle butts and pried them with bayonets. They quickly opened the door. With their help, Fourteen Gege climbed out. She ignored the blood on her arms and said anxiously:

"Save Xiao Wu quickly, Xiao Wu is still behind!"

Soon the rear door was completely removed, and Xiaolin Wuyue was pulled out, hugging Shi Shige and bursting into tears.

The nearby military doctor came up immediately and checked the injuries of the princess and her servant. Fortunately, they were all okay. Shirifeng Gege's arm was scratched by the glass and bled a lot. A female military doctor was specially called to clean her wound and bandage it.

Xiang Xiaoqiang hurried over to inquire about the princess's injury. When the soldiers escorting the princess saw the commander, they all stood at attention and saluted.

Seeing Xiang Xiaoqiang, Shi Shigege's tense nerves relaxed. Only then did her legs feel weak, and her body swayed, frightening the military doctor to help him repeatedly.

At this time, Li Changgui came over to see the ceremony and reported to Xiang Xiaoqiang that this was a temporary decree issued by Her Majesty the Queen after she learned that the defense line had been breached, and that all the princes and nobles still in Nanjing, such as the Princess of Liaoyang and the Ryukyu royal family, should be killed.

Enter the Purple Mountain Fortress to escape.

Xiang Xiaoqiang asked:

"When did you receive His Majesty's order?"

"Well, it's been two hours."

Well, that's pretty much it. Not long after Zhu Yourong issued the decree, he was placed under house arrest.

Xiang Xiaoqiang looked at Fourteen Gege and suddenly said:

"You guys come here first, I want to talk to Princess Liaoyang alone."

After speaking, he pointed to the command car and made a "please" gesture to Shi Shi Ge Ge. Shi Shi Ge Ge entered the command car with him without saying anything.

Xiang Xiaoqiang kicked all his subordinates out of the car and closed the door.

Fourteen Gege was filled with suspicion, but she looked at him with a smile, calmly waiting for him to speak first.

Xiang Xiaoqiang stared at Shi Shigege, hesitated for a moment, took out the "Belt Order" and pushed it in front of her.

Shi Shigege read Zhu Yourong's words and raised her head in surprise. It took her a long time to say:

"Sir Xiang, this is..."

Xiang Xiaoqiang put the Marquis of Changping and Mrs. Guangde under house arrest and prepared to kidnap Zhu Yourong to escape. Zhu Yourong sent his personal maid to ask for help. He told Shi Shi Ge Ge these things. Then he looked into Shi Shi Ge Ge's eyes and said:

"Your Highness, do you still remember what I said to you when we were on the train?"

Fourteen Gege's eyes trembled, and Xiang Xiaoqiang's voice clearly echoed in his mind:

...Now we are going to war, and war can bring about many variables. What you cannot do in a lifetime during peacetime, you can do in a few years during wartime. Anyway, you are not the only one with ambitions in this world... If you don't have confidence

If so, shall I turn this over with you? Haha, I hope one day we will be friends instead of enemies...

She lowered her head and thought for a moment, then raised her eyes and smiled:

"Master Xiang can't make up his mind. Should he run away and keep what he has now, or should he risk his wealth and life to become the first person in front of the emperor?"

Xiang Xiaoqiang sighed, held his head and shook his head:

"Not bad, not bad..."

Seeing Xiang Xiaoqiang like this, Shi Shigege couldn't help laughing. Suddenly her heart softened and she thought: Oh, it's rare that he has always been nice to me. Let's think about him for once... If I succeed, I will have the most powerful one.

backing.

She smiled and said:

"Sir Xiang, do you think you can keep everything you have by running away now?"

Xiang Xiaoqiang seemed to be hit. The worry hidden in his heart was revealed by Shi Shigege's words. He raised his head suddenly.

Fourteen Gege said again:

"If this battle is lost, Nanming will not be able to win. The best case scenario is that Nanming can keep a small piece of Sichuan and become the 'Southwestern Ming'. Uh... Mr. Xiang, are you still willing to be the people of the 'Southwestern Ming'?

Commander of the Guards? Well, according to general experience, if the "Southwestern Ming" can be initially stabilized, the military and political leaders will definitely reshuffle. Do you think that with your foundation, experience, and skills, you can still maintain the current situation without the emperor's trust?

Everything?

"Of course, the risk of taking this gamble is not small, but it is not as dangerous as imagined. Regardless of success or failure, as long as His Majesty is alive and you are alive, then you will at least get His Majesty's gratitude. Your Majesty will not treat you badly.

...Of course, no matter what, they are His Majesty's relatives, and His Majesty will definitely be fine. My lord... be careful, it is best not to rush in front."

Xiang Xiaoqiang felt the concern in her last sentence, felt warm in his heart, nodded, and said nothing.

After pondering for a long time, he sighed to Xiaoqiang and said:

"If a person's life is not exciting enough, what's the use of having it so long?"

"...what did your lord say?"

"I said, do it!"

…

Xiang Xiaoqiang came out, immediately picked up the field phone to dispatch troops, and ordered a hundred young and strong male agents from the security team to be selected, fully armed, and gathered in the Xiaoling Guard Camp to stand by. Ten more young men were selected.

The female agents put on the clothes of maids and also gathered to stand by.

Then Xiang Xiaoqiang left his staff here to direct the battle. He, Li Gensheng, Shirong Gege, and Xiao Wu sat on an armored personnel carrier, leading the truck of Princess Guards, and set off for the Purple Mountain Fortress.

I must personally participate in this matter. Although commanding street battles is also very important, everything in the Purple Mountain Fortress is fundamental. If Zhu Yourong is kidnapped, even if he is very capable, he will not be able to do it when the entire army is distracted.

Defend Nanjing.

Besides, he must appear in person in front of Zhu Yourong, let her see him when she is extremely surprised, and leave a deep impression on her. Only in this way can the results of victory be maximized.

Also, without the sign of the Commander of the People's Guard, it might not be easy for his subordinates to break into the fortress.

…

When they arrived at the People's Guard barracks at the foot of Purple Mountain, Stomachache and Snails had already gathered more than a hundred male and female agents. They were still confused and didn't know what was going on. They saw Xiang Xiaoqiang and Li Changgui bringing Princess Liaoyang with them.

, Monk Zhanger was even more confused.

Xiang Xiaoqiang didn't have time to explain to them, so he asked the car of ten mobile team members protecting the princess to get off, and then asked the twenty security team agents to change into the clothes of the mobile team. They clearly held submachine guns and secretly inserted two box guns into their waists.

They took two trucks and pretended to be Princess Liaoyang's bodyguard.

The ten female security agents also disguised themselves as maids, with two box guns hidden in their waists, and followed them into the fortress.

However, Xiao Wu, the real maid of the Fourteenth Princess, stayed in the military camp.

In this way, the first batch of people to enter the fortress will be thirty security agents. Once they control several checkpoints of the fortress, a large number of People's Guard security teams can enter and control the entire fortress.

Xiang Xiaoqiang specially asked the security team to take the lead this time. Because firstly, the mobile team has to defend Nanjing, and the security team is relatively idle. Secondly, although the mobile team only has a few hundred people, it is enough to take on this operation. And they are all specially trained.

The agents were from the commandos, Dongchang, Jinyiwei and other units. Their individual combat capabilities are much stronger than those of the mobile teams, and they are especially good at using box guns. Xiang Xiaoqiang estimates that submachine guns cannot be brought in. Going in and taking action will all rely on concealment.

Box gun.

The Guards unit has about a thousand people, each armed with a submachine gun. They are highly disciplined and very powerful. Currently, there are only more than a hundred people in the Purple Mountain Fortress, and the others are still in the Guards camp outside the Forbidden City.

Ministry.
To be continued...