Southern Ming Rebel Army

Chapter 344 Duoduo is critically ill (Part )

February 26, the third year of the Yongli reign, sunny.

Xiaochang City, the temporary residence of Prince Yu.

In the mansion, a depressing atmosphere enveloped every corner. People were walking in a hurry, with furrowed brows, and their faces were full of anxiety and sorrow.

From time to time, doctors with medicine boxes in their hands, led by guards, hurried into the mansion, and most of these people looked worried.

The door of Duoduo's room was closed, and only a faint light came through the gap in the door, shining on the ground and forming a faint band of light.

In the room, Duoduo was lying on the bed, his face pale and his breathing weak. His body, like a dead leaf in late autumn, seemed to have reached the end of its life.

Jirgalang received the news that Duoduo was critically ill and rushed to the palace. Jirgalang pulled a doctor over and asked in a deep voice, "How is Prince Yu doing?"

The doctor said hesitantly, "Your Highness...Your Highness...He has a cold in his body and is overthinking. You can't use strong medicine. You can only...rest quietly."

After hearing this, Jirgalang suppressed his temper, but still said in a bad tone: "We must protect Prince Yu. If there is any mistake, I don't need to say more about the consequences."

After saying this, Jirgalang ignored the doctor and strode into the house. The doctor who stayed there had a pale face and cold hands and feet.

Jirgalang entered the house, which was filled with the smell of herbs and a rotten smell in the air. Jirgalang frowned and asked, "Can you open some windows to get some fresh air?"

A doctor who was checking Duoduo's pulse hurriedly shook his head and said, "No, no, the prince is weak and must not catch a cold!"

Jirgalang had no choice but to give up, then sat beside the bed and looked at Duoduo. Duoduo raised his eyelids and said weakly, "Here it comes."

Jirgalang hummed, then asked hesitantly, "Prince Yu, do you have anything to say?"

Duoduo shook his head and pointed at the desk.

Jirgalang stood up and walked over. He saw that it was a memorial. Jirgalang asked, "Prince Yu is going to submit a memorial to the regent?"

Seeing Duoduo nodded, Jierhalang sat back beside the bed and asked in a low voice: "Prince Yu has fought with Meng Jun before. Does he have any flaws?"

Duoduo turned his head, and seeing this, Jirgalang waved away the doctor beside him.

Seeing that there were only two people left in the room, Duoduo sat up with great effort, leaned against the back of the bed, took a few deep breaths, and then calmed down a little. He looked at Jirgalang and said, "The Meng bandit's troops have a fire gun battalion equipped with a large number of light and heavy artillery. In the field battle, they defeated our white banner in one fell swoop, and even Tulai was killed in the battle..."

After talking for a while, Duoduo took a few deep breaths. Jirgalang quickly picked up the water bowl beside him and fed it to Duoduo. Duoduo drank two sips, coughed a few times, and then continued: "If there was no fire gun battalion at that time, we could have defeated the Meng bandits. If we could kill Meng Jun, the bandits would be leaderless, and the bandit problem in Jiangnan would be solved."

Hearing this, Jirgalang shook his head and said, "I know this is an obvious truth, but how can we kill Meng Jun when he is surrounded by a large army? Even if he returns to Nanjing, it will be extremely difficult to assassinate him."

Duoduo said: "The water network in the south of the Yangtze River is dense, and it is difficult for cavalry to move around. In my opinion, if we want to fight the bandits in the south, we can only fight fire with fire."

Jirgalang said in a deep voice: "Firearms? Kong Youde is dead, and that firearms battalion has long been a thing of the past. It will be difficult to reorganize it and rely on firearms to defeat the Meng bandits."

"The Meng bandits' muskets have been improved, and their firing rate and range are superior to those of the previous Ming muskets. In the southern land, since our Eight Banners cannot take advantage of our cavalry and archery, we can only form a large-scale Shenji Camp." Duoduo said slowly, panting.

Jirgalang was silent for a while, and then he replied: "In the battle of Huguang, our dynasty suffered heavy losses, and recovery is difficult. Moreover, the matter of reorganizing the Shenji Camp will inevitably cost a lot. However, I will write a letter to the Regent on your behalf."

Duoduo shook his head and said, "I have already written it in the memorial. I hope Prince Zheng can submit a memorial of support."

Jirgalang sighed and said, "I will, but the Shenji Battalion is not something that can be built overnight, especially the creation of tens of thousands of refined muskets. It is not something that can be done overnight. Without one or two years, the Shenji Battalion will not be able to form combat power."

After Jirgalang finished speaking, he looked at Duoduo deeply and said, "Besides, Wu Sangui has secretly occupied Nanyang, and Baiyintu has decided to withdraw from Jingzhou. In this way, our Huai River and Han River are completely lost. I am afraid that Meng Jun will lead his troops to the north before we can raise troops to the south again."

Upon hearing this, Duoduo showed a painful expression on his face, and said with all his strength: "Our dynasty has just been defeated, so...so, we need time. Sun...Kewang, Li Chengdong, Zhu Youlang, these people may be our greatest helpers!"

Jirgalang looked thoughtful, but at this moment, Duoduo suddenly vomited a large mouthful of blood, his face showing pain, and he shouted: "It hurts so much!"

Then he tilted his head and collapsed on the bed, still shouting unconsciously: "Hateful! Hateful!"

Jirgalang was shocked and shouted: "Someone come! Someone come quickly!"

The first to rush into the room were the personal guards. Jirgalang was furious and said, "Where are the doctors? Bring them in. If anything happens to Prince Yu today, I will not let him off lightly."

Several doctors came in trembling with fear. After one of them felt Duoduo's pulse, the doctor frowned and said, "The pulse is floating and rootless, and the heart qi is very weak. This is a sign that the yang qi is about to escape. The pulse is disordered, the liver fire is strong, and the string is tight, like a bowstring about to break. The liver qi is stagnant, the qi and blood are not flowing smoothly, phlegm and dampness are blocking the body, and the qi mechanism is disordered!"

Jirgalang frowned and said in a bad tone, "Please put it simply!"

The doctor swallowed and said, "Your Majesty, Prince Yu... no medicine can cure him, and he is irreversible!"

The doctor saw Jirgalang's gloomy expression and said hurriedly: "Your Highness, I have a good prescription that can make Prince Yu sober up, but this is a poisonous drug. After using it, you can be safe for one day, but after one day, you will definitely... definitely die!"

Jirgalang asked in a deep voice: "What if you don't take this medicine?"

"Then Prince Yu won't last more than an hour."

"Then use it!"

The doctor hurriedly took out the medicine box and was about to take out the pills when he heard Jirgalang say grimly: "Except for this man, all the other quacks will be beheaded!"

The doctor looked horrified and looked up at Jirgalang, only to see that Jirgalang's hand was pointing at him.

"Please spare my life! Your Majesty, please spare my life!"

There was a constant noise and crying. Jirgalang was annoyed and shouted, "If anyone dares to make a sound again, not only will he be killed, but the whole family will be beheaded!"

As soon as these words were spoken, the doctors who were escorted out all had sad and desperate expressions on their faces, but no one dared to make a sound, only the tears silently rolled down their cheeks!