After killing Tang Jiuzhou, Chuang Wang Yingxiang did not make any stop, led his troops to evade Zukuan who defended Dengzhou, and then evaded the governor Wang Mengyin and Yunyang to pacify Song Zushun, smuggled the Han River from Guanghua into Yunyang, and joined forces with Li Zi as planned.

At that time, because the terrain in Guanzhong was flat and broad, which was conducive to cavalry, at the invitation of Hong Chengchou, Lu Xiangsheng ordered Zu Kuan and Li Chongzhen's troops to go to Shaanxi. Because of the lack of salary, the subordinates of the deputy general Wang Jinzhong mutinied, and many soldiers under Luo Dai and Liu Zhaoji also fled.

When Lu Xiangsheng heard the report, he urgently ordered the general Qin Yiming and the deputy general Lei Shisheng to rush from Nanzhang and Gucheng to intercept the attack, and at the same time transferred local soldiers from Sichuan and Xiaozi to rush over to participate in the search, arrest, encirclement and suppression.

In order to buy time for Li Zicheng's department, King Chuang Yingxiang first made a big show and attracted all the officers and soldiers, and then suddenly the truth and falsehood, and his whereabouts were erratic, and Yun Xiang entered Xing'an and Hanzhong to find Zhang Xianzhong's department.

After Huo Qiu divided his troops again, because he adopted the advice of the military advisor Xu Yixian to "avoid the enemy and protect himself", Zhang Xianzhong's troops did not suffer much losses, but Zhang Xianzhong was still not happy.

Xu Yixian, the military advisor, said: "Compared with the Ministry of King Chuang, our department is still lucky, why is General Chuang still depressed?" ”

Zhang Xianzhong said disdainfully: "The reason why our department is still lucky is not because the Ministry of Chuang Wang has restrained the officers and soldiers for our department?" If our troops did not avoid the enemy and protect themselves, Hong Chengchou would not be able to spare his strength to support Lu Xiangsheng, and King Chuang would not have suffered such a big loss at all. ”

The military advisor Xu Yixian was stunned for a moment, and quibbled: "King Chuang's defeat is completely caused by the rout of his subordinates, how can General Chuang blame us for it?" ”

Zhang Xianzhong said: "That's just a direct reason, indirect, we still can't get rid of it." ”

The military advisor Xu Yixian pretended to ponder and said: "The general said this, which shows that the general has a good conscience, and he will not be ruthless if his conscience is not clear, but it is a taboo for those who want to achieve great things." ”

Hearing what he said seriously, Zhang Xianzhong couldn't help but look at him curiously.

He smiled to himself and said solemnly: "Whoever speaks most effectively in the righteous army is naturally King Chuang, but it is not because King Chuang has the same power as in the court officialdom, but because King Chuang has the most powerful power. In other words, it is the forces that speak the most.

At present, the imperial court no longer fantasizes about appeasement as in the past, but wants to completely exterminate the rebels. In this case, how is it possible to develop without sacrificing something? And if you want to speak in the rebel army, you can't do it without power.

Undoubtedly, the forces are always in one place, and it is precisely because of the strengths and weaknesses of the forces that the right to speak in the rebel army should also change, and it cannot always be decided by one person. This is naturally the reason why we should rely on the development of King Chuang. ”

Zhang Xianzhong thought about it, but he still glanced at him and said, "Even the emperor can't be ruthless." ”

He said: "The emperor's so-called affection, it is all said on the lips, aimed at winning people's hearts, let's think about it seriously, which dynasty and which generation of emperors have killed fewer people?" Don't say that the emperor, even if it is a general, there is a saying that 'one general will succeed and ten thousand bones will wither'. ”

When it comes to talking, he always talks like this, although Zhang Xianzhong disagrees, he is often speechless. At this time, too, just thinking about how to argue, a Chinese army hurriedly came in and said: "Qi Yu Chuang General, Qi Yu Military Division, King Chuang sent someone to send a message, saying that he is leading his troops to meet with our department." ”

"King Chuang led his troops to make peace with my troops?" Zhang Xianzhong asked rhetorically, seeing that the Chinese army nodded, the sense of dependence on King Chuang in his heart came up again, and he was about to speak, but he saw Xu Yixian waving his hand at the Chinese army, signaling him to retreat, and said dissatisfiedly: "What do you mean?" ”

Xu Yixian said: "This king is not the king of the other king, we have to discuss how to receive it first, so that the people below will hear it." ”

As he spoke, seeing Zhang Xianzhong's puzzled face, he said: "The previous King Chuang was powerful, and the current King Chuang is less than 10,000 horses, is the Chuang General still willing to obey him?" ”

Zhang Xianzhong said: "Otherwise, what else? King Chuang is not thin on my old Zhang, and I can't be ungrateful. ”

Xu Yixian sneered: "Not thin on you? Hmph, what is the comparison to Li Zicheng? ”

After speaking, he didn't wait for Zhang Xianzhong to answer, and continued: "Naturally, it's not as good." Do you know, the reason why he came to meet us with great fanfare was to give Li Zicheng a chance to break through.

What kind of intention is this, for the sake of Li Zicheng, he actually led the officers and soldiers to us. Don't believe it, according to the secret agent's report, Hong Chengchou has transferred the cavalry of Zu Kuan and Li Chongzhen to Guanzhong, and is preparing to attack us. ”

Zhang Xianzhong said in disbelief: "Didn't Li Ziguo really come along?" ”

Xu Yixian said: "How could he come with him?" It is estimated that he should have broken out of the encirclement by now. ”

Zhang Xianzhong let out an "oh" and hesitated: "What should we do?" ”

Xu Yixian said: "I sent Li Dingguo to pick it up, and the good wine and meat were treated, which can be regarded as a general who has done his own benevolence, and when he talks about it in the future, it will not make people say that he has lost his righteousness."

The general only refused to see him in the name of going to the army to patrol or getting drunk. King Chuang is thin-skinned, and after three times and twice, he will leave.

When he leaves, the general may as well pretend to regret it, send someone to catch up, and pretend to stay. He will not stay, and if he gives money and food to his people, he will definitely not accept it.

In this way, the general can not only free himself from his shackles, but also allow him to contain the officers and soldiers for us and reduce our pressure, which can be described as 'killing two birds with one stone'." ”

Zhang Xianzhong said with great unconfidence: "Is this appropriate? ”

Xu Yixian said firmly: "This is the best way, there is no other way." ”

When Zhang Xianzhong heard this, although he felt that it was inappropriate, he still acted according to Xu Yixian's plan.

Chuang Wang Gao Yingxiang didn't know his calculations, and when he heard that he had already connected with him, he said excitedly: "Let's make peace with Xianzhong, not only to take this opportunity to rest, but more importantly, to mobilize the officers and soldiers and break the plan of the officers and soldiers." The fact is that our goal has been achieved. ”

As he spoke, he paused for a moment, and then said: "After a short rest, we will re-enter Huguang, form a solid iron triangle with Xianzhong and Zicheng, and swear to break the purge of officers and soldiers." ”

As soon as the words fell, Li Dingguo and the others had already led their troops to greet them.

Gao Yingxiang, the king of Chuang, knew that Li Dingguo, Liu Wenxiu, Ai Nengqi, Sun Kewang and other four people had followed Zhang Xianzhong since they were young, and they were accepted by Zhang Xianzhong as their adopted sons, and they were fully able to represent Zhang Xianzhong. Therefore, he was not polite, and followed him straight into Zhang Xianzhong's Chinese army tent.

The banquet is arranged, but Zhang Xianzhong is not there! This has never been done before!

King Chuang Gao Yingxiang was stunned for a moment, and before he could speak, Hao Shaoqi and the others had already said angrily: "Zhang Xianzhong, this dog has a long ability, and even King Chuang dares to disappear?" ”

Hearing Hao Shaoqi and others' disrespectful words, Li Dingguo was also furious in his heart, but he still rushed forward and said: "Father Shuai has been waiting for King Chuang, but when he heard that Hong Chengchou had transferred cavalry, he was afraid and made some trouble, and his father had to rush to deal with it in person. ”

King Chuang's premonition in his heart was confirmed, but he calmed down a lot, and when he saw that Hao Shaoqi and the others were going to make trouble again, he hurriedly stopped it, and said: "Official business is important, since Zhang Chuang is busy, I will wait for another three days." ”

After speaking, I took the lead and sat down, and ate my heartily.

Hao Shaoqi waited to see him, and if he didn't make any more trouble, he also went to sit down.

Three days have passed in this flash, Zhang Xianzhong is naturally nowhere to be seen, Hao Shaoqi and others want to make trouble again, Chuang Wang Gao Yingxiang said: "Don't make trouble, let's go, before leaving, I ordered someone to tell Zhang Xianzhong that although the rebels are not subordinate to each other, they should echo each other." ”

As he spoke, he got on his horse.