"What?" Li Zicheng was furious when he heard this, and immediately shouted: "How can there be such a thing? ”

Song Xiance listened to it and said a little ashamedly: "This is my fault, I should have thought of it, but I ignored it, and asked the general to punish it!" ”

Li Zicheng originally wanted to reprimand him, but he didn't expect him to admit it on his own initiative. At this time, he was still relatively rational after all, and after a moment of silence, he still didn't get angry, but said sternly: "You immediately take people to find out those who disturb the morale of the army and behead them!" ”

"General, now that the rumors have spread, I'm afraid I can't distinguish who is disturbing the morale of the army, I really want to arrest everyone who has said it, I'm afraid it won't be caught." Song Xiance replied regretfully.

Seeing Li Zicheng's gloomy face, which seemed to show a little ruthlessness, he understood what Li Zicheng was thinking at this time, so he reluctantly added: "When I was inspecting, I found that even many soldiers in the old battalion and child soldiers have been affected. ”

When Li Zicheng heard this, he immediately felt troubled. If it was just those cannon fodder-like consumption of troops, he might really not care how much, he would disturb the morale of the army so much, kill and pull down. But now, even the old battalion and the child soldiers are saying this, and he can't kill people casually.

Thinking about this matter, Li Zicheng suddenly found that he had no good way to solve this matter.

In the end, Li Zicheng could only order: it is strictly forbidden for such things to happen in the army again. If anyone dares to talk about it, no matter who it is, there will be no mercy!

At this time, they obviously haven't realized that this is actually a public opinion war on the side of the imperial court. They thought it was caused by the captives who came back and spontaneously told what they had seen and heard.

They found out about this situation at the beginning. It's just that they didn't believe it at all, because those who came back even took Princess Kunxing with a female soldier to give this kind of big-headed soldier, and for them, it was still a big-headed soldier of the thief soldier to bandage his wounds and deal with his injuries or something, how could this be possible!

Now, although they have confirmed that this should really be the case, however, in addition to being surprised by this, they feel that it is such a shocking act that causes these people who have returned to promote such a thing.

It is true that there has been such a high-level thing as public opinion warfare since ancient times, but for the vast majority of people who lead troops to fight, they are actually ignored. In particular, this kind of indirect war of public opinion, which is not a battle of morale in front of the two armies as on the first day, is even more easy to ignore.

Perhaps this kind of thing is something that a knowledgeable and cultured person may have seen in history and knows the importance of public opinion warfare. However, for Li Zicheng, who was born as a thief. Faced with such a situation for the first time. It's a bit of a struggle.

Even Song Xiance, who understands the people's hearts and minds the most in Li Zicheng's army, proposed that "eighteen children should be the main artifact", but in fact, he is just a fortune teller like Zhou Kui.

Besides, in the army of thieves, as soon as the military order of the forbidden word was given, the entire camp became deserted all of a sudden.

However, as the saying goes, the mouth of the people is better than the defense of Sichuan. No matter how powerful Li Zicheng was, how could he prohibit ordinary soldiers from speaking anymore.

And the more Li Zicheng did this, the more disgusted the ordinary soldiers naturally became. So they secretly carried the leaders behind their backs and talked about these things in private. But if you talk too much, there will be a time when you will be caught.

"General, I have arrested more than 600 people on patrol today, and I am still secretly discussing things in the imperial court." Towards evening, Niu Jinxing came to Li Zicheng and said, "Among them, there are eighteen child soldiers!" ”

When Li Zicheng heard this, he was immediately furious, and there were so many people who treated his military order as a fart, so he shouted: "Just hang them in the army for three days and then kill them, I want to know, who else wants to be like them!" ”

Niu Jinxing was slightly stunned when he heard this, and hurriedly confirmed: "Are those child soldiers also dealt with?" ”

You must know that these child soldiers were carefully selected and cultivated by Li Zicheng. It can be said that Li Zicheng has poured considerable effort and placed considerable expectations on him.

Hearing Niu Jinxing's words, Li Zicheng was even more angry, and said sharply: "A group of white-eyed wolves, dare to ignore my military orders, kill!" ”

could hear the resoluteness in his words, Niu Jinxing didn't say anything more, and took the order out to carry it out.

The so-called children's camp does not really mean that they are children, but that they are selected and cultivated from an early age. Just like Zhang Xianzhong's side, there is also such a practice, and the famous Li Dingguo and others in later generations are one of the many righteous sons cultivated by Zhang Xianzhong, that is, outstanding figures among the children's soldiers.

At this time, on the side of the children's camp, a group of people surrounded the eighteen companions who had been arrested, comforting them or asking questions.

"You guys are really, the general has said it, you can't say it anymore, why do you still say it?"

"What, do you think Princess Kunxing can't be so good? In fact, I also think that if the emperor's daughters were so good, we would not be orphans, and there would be chaos in the world today! ”

"You don't have to worry too much, after all, we are all the general's people, although we just said a few words, but our loyalty to the general is not comparable to others. Don't worry, the general will definitely reprimand you a few words, or spank you! ”

“……”

In the midst of their discussions, Niu Jinxing came over with a military order. What they never expected was that there was no difference, and they would hang these eighteen companions for three days and then be executed.

Hearing this military order, for a while, many child soldiers didn't believe it, and they were a little furious.

"The surname is Niu, are you slandering?"

"The general will definitely not be so ruthless, it is estimated that it is a fake military order surnamed Niu!"

“……”

Among them, the one who made the most trouble was Li Laiheng, Li Guo's righteous son; There is another one, according to the original historical development, Zhang Nai, who would be named the righteous marquis by Li Zicheng, and later fought against Jianyu, and died in Shiniuzhai without retreating.

At this time, the two of them are the best of the child soldiers, and naturally they have to fight for their companions.

Niu Jinxing was also annoyed by what they said, and immediately pointed at them and shouted: "The two armies are still fighting, and those who disturb the morale of the army should not be killed?" The general's orders are not strict, how can he win the world? If you don't accept it, go to the general! ”

He is not afraid of these child soldiers, it is not a system. Therefore, in anger, he showed no mercy and asked his subordinates to tie up those child soldiers and hang them.

Li Laiheng and others were naturally unconvinced. Although they thought that it was indeed their companion who did something wrong, they did not deserve to die, so they immediately went to Li Zicheng's side. As a result, needless to say, he was scolded by Li Zicheng cracklingly, and almost disposed of them.

In the face of Li Zicheng's severe military law, in the thief camp, the others immediately did not dare to speak anymore.

However, those who were caught, knowing that they were going to die, had no scruples.

"It is said that the emperor is mediocre and traitorous ministers are in charge, is it true that the regulations on the preferential treatment of soldiers in the Ming Dynasty are fake?"

"My family of four generations is in the same house, and it was originally good, but the Li thief came, causing my family to be ruined, and now I am the only one left. Don't you know who is the scourge in this world? ”

"Xingguo Gong is a good official, dedicated to the country and the people, and wants to level the world and open a prosperous world, which is better than Li Thief I don't know how many times!"

"Why is the king coming and not paying food, I'm sorry!"

“……”

Originally, Li Zicheng meant to kill a hundred people, so these people were watched by a large number of soldiers, but they didn't expect them to say these words, which made Li Zicheng angry and ashamed, and he couldn't wait for three days at all, so he was directly killed and hung up to show the public.

In this way, the effect of the ban in the army is indeed better than before, but what the real situation is, it may not be as calm as it seems.

Li Zicheng's side is like this, and Luo Rucai's side is actually similar. However, the impact of these events on the war is not visible for the time being. At this time, they are all worried about the same problem.

The strength of the army is both an advantage and sometimes a disadvantage. For example, in terms of food and grass, the more people there are, the more food and grass they need. Whether it is Li Zicheng or Luo Rucai, they are all having a headache about the problem of grain and grass.

The teams they had sent out to collect grain and grass had already returned to the camp one after another, but without exception, no good news had been brought back.

"What's going on?" After Li Zicheng heard too much, the more disappointed he became, and he couldn't help but burst into anger, "Are you lazy?" Or rather. You guys went late, and you were preempted by Luo Rucai's men? ”

In this regard, the subordinates he sent out naturally did not admit that they were lazy, and they all said where they went, but they still got nothing, as for Luo Rucai, they said that they met occasionally, and when they were there, they didn't get anything. From these signs, it should be that before the arrival of their army, the government carried out a fortified wall clearance!

Song Xiance was very worried when he heard this, so he said to Li Zicheng: "General, if there is no food and grass supplement, I am afraid we will not last long!" ”

In fact, he doesn't need to say this, everyone present knows it. If the army does not have food and grass, something will happen!

However, no one can make more food. For a moment, there was silence in the tent of the Chinese army.

In the end, Niu Jinxing on the side broke the silence and said to Li Zicheng: "General, the current situation is nothing more than opening up sources and reducing expenditures. Since it can't be open source, there is only one way to throttle, and the army has fewer mouths to eat, and it can last longer. ”

Song Xiance shook his head when he heard this, and immediately said, "This method is not appropriate!" ”

"What's wrong?" Niu Jinxing was immediately unhappy when he heard this, so he hurriedly asked.

Seeing that Li Zicheng was also paying attention to their conversation, Song Xiance looked at Li Zicheng and explained: "General, this imperial court army is elite, if it can't be attacked for a long time, and there are too many defeats, it will definitely affect the morale of the army!" In today's situation, if the morale of the military plummets, it is likely to lead to an unexpected situation. General, don't be defeated again! ”

Li Zicheng frowned when he heard this, and he was a little in a dilemma for a while. Grain and grass in the army is a big problem, but morale is indeed very important and must not be ignored. So, what should we do?

Just thinking of this, he suddenly remembered something, and hurriedly confirmed with a little expectation: "Didn't you say before that the imperial court officials and soldiers didn't have much food and grass, right?" Is this the case? ”

"The general has a really good memory, there is indeed such a saying!" Niu Jinxing listened, nodded hurriedly, patted his farts and said.

"But how much grain is there for the officials and soldiers of the imperial court, and how much food is left now? Does anyone know about this? Li Zicheng immediately asked.

Niu Jinxing was a little dumbfounded when he heard this, and he suddenly regretted a little, maybe he shouldn't have picked up this topic just now.

No one can answer Li Zicheng's question. In the end, they found the soldiers who had been released from the imperial court and asked them in detail, but they did not get accurate answers. just said frankly that Xingguo Gong had told them that the grain and grass of the officers and soldiers were insufficient, so they were released.

In this way, this matter is more difficult to do, how much grain and grass is there for the imperial court officers and soldiers? Is it because they can't support it first, or can't they support it on their own side first?

Regarding this issue, Li Zicheng and others did not come to a conclusion after discussing it for a while, and the final conclusion was to take a look at it first.

On the issue of grain and grass, Luo Rucai's side is similar. As for the war with the imperial court officials and soldiers, the first is that they are afraid that losing the battle will affect their morale, and the second is that they are afraid that they will not be able to defeat the court officials and soldiers and lose their military strength in vain, so no one thought about going to war with the court officials and soldiers first when they were forced to do so.

The battle of Kaifeng was stalemate under such circumstances, although it did not rain every day during this period, but it was intermittent, which also made the roads muddy, the Yellow River roared even more, and it was impossible to cross the river easily.

Of course, the scout war between the two sides continues.

On the side of the thieves, they want to trap the court officials and soldiers in the camp. And the officials and soldiers of the imperial court naturally want to send out the night to investigate the movements of the thieves.

This kind of small-scale cavalry confrontation is also a stalemate. If the court officials and soldiers did not stay far away from the camp at night, they would inevitably be surrounded by the superior scouts of the thieves, and the losses would be many.

However, if the scout battle is not far away, then the court officials and soldiers can take advantage of their advantage in equipment and run away if they don't collect at night, so it is often the court officials and soldiers who take advantage of it more.

On this day, Zhang Mingwei was on the watchtower, looking at the camp of thieves in the distance with a telescope, as well as those thieves who were moving outside to explore horses, and he suddenly found a situation, that is, the morale of the thieves was a little low.

For this situation, in fact, it was expected by him. It's just that now I found that it has already worked. In this regard, Zhang Mingwei is of course pleased.

"Hehe, it's time too, it's time to surprise the thieves and continue to stimulate them!" Zhang Mingwei smiled and turned his head to Wu Sangui, the accompanying general behind him, and said.