After breaking away from King Gao Yingxiang, Zhang Xianzhong led his troops to Yunyang, Hubei Province according to the original plan.

Zhang Xianzhong originally thought that as long as there were fewer fetters and competitors, the team would develop as rapidly as a soap bubble.

The fact is that although there were no encounters with officers and soldiers along the way, no one joined the team, not only did no one join the team, but even the homeless people were rarely seen.

Just as he was wondering, the military advisor Xu Yixian came over and whispered: "It seems that Yunyang can't go." ”

Zhang Xianzhong was stunned for a moment, and then said, "Why?" Did you know that changing plans at will is a big no-no for using soldiers? ”

Xu Yixian shook his head helplessly and said, "According to the report of the secret agent, Lu Xiangsheng, whom we met in Wu'an, came to Yunyang. ”

Zhang Xianzhong was shocked, and looked at Xu Yixian with straight eyes.

Xu Yixian understood, and continued: "Because his Lu Yi army has captured six counties in Yunyang Mansion, the imperial court is furious, and Lu Xiangsheng is ordered to replace Jiang Yunyi as the right capital imperial historian to take care of Yunyang.

This Lu Xiangsheng is also a strange person, as a civil official, but he is brave. Soon after arriving in Yunyang, he won successive battles in Wulinguan, Qijiagou, Shiquanba, Kangningping, Lion Rock, Taiping River, Zhumutou, Jingkou and other places, killing more than 5,600 righteous troops and pacifying Hannan.

This is not counting, Lu Xiangsheng also applied to the imperial court to increase the number of garrisons in Yunyang City, reduce taxes, repair the city, and then borrow rice from neighboring prefectures and counties, recruit merchants to mine copper and make money, and settled Yunyang in a daze. ”

When Zhang Xianzhong heard this, he calmed down and said, "No wonder, I'm wondering." As you said, this Yunyang is really going to be gone. ”

Xu Yixian said: "Yes, if you want to raise troops, the place must be chaotic first, otherwise, the soldiers cannot be replenished, not to mention, the troops are without the cover of the displaced people, and it is difficult to act." ”

Zhang Xianzhong pondered and said: "What I said is very true, in the current view, the most lively thing is Shanxi, otherwise, let's go to Shanxi and go there to join in the fun." ”

Xu Yixian sighed and said: "Although Shanxi is lively, it is not as good as before. ”

Zhang Xianzhong said: "What do you say? ”

Xu Yixian said: "Cao Wenzhao went to Shanxi, we are all familiar with this Cao Wenzhao, in Shaanxi back then, which righteous army did not suffer from him?"

This Cao Wenzhao, under the order of the little emperor, arrived in Huozhou in the first month, defeated the righteous army in Fenhe and Yuxian, and pursued to Shouyang by victory, if it were not for the governor Xu Dingchen to retreat, the consequences would be unimaginable.

In February, Cao Wenzhao took advantage of the victory to pursue, and killed the king of the mixed world in Bixia Village, and the rest of the troops were driven away by the fierce tiger, and were defeated by Cao Wenzhao in Fangshan, and Wutai, Yuxian, Dingxiang, Shouyang, etc. were pacified one after another. Immediately afterwards, Cao Wenzhao fought in Taigu, Fancun, Yushe and other places, and Taiyuan was also pacified.

In March, the rebels ascended the Taihang Mountains from Hanoi, and Cao Wenzhao routed them in Zezhou. They fled to Lu'an Cao, Cao Wenzhao let them go in Yangcheng, secretly sent troops from Qinshui to abduct them, attacked them in Qindi and Liu Village, and captured more than 1,000 heads.

In April, the rebels marched to Runcheng, and the other rebels laid down Pingshun and killed Xu Mingyang, the magistrate. The other rebels learned that Cao Wenzhao was coming, and took the initiative to withdraw, and Cao Wenzhao actually attacked Runcheng at night and captured 1,500 peasant troops. Subsequently, Cao Wenzhao defeated Zijin Liang, who fled to Wuxiang, and Guo Tianxing, who fled to Gaoze Mountain, and relieved the siege of Shexian and Licheng.

In May, Cao Wenzhao defeated the rebels besieging Qinshui, captured its leader Dahu alive, and suffered heavy losses in Maolingshan, Liaocheng. Since then, in order to avoid Cao Wenzhao, most of the rebels have gone north of the Yellow River. Cao Wenzhao was ordered to move his troops to the crusade, and attacked the rebels who defeated Deng Xi in Lin County at night.

In July, he defeated Huaiqing's peasant army at Chailing Village, beheaded its leader Rolling Dilong, and pursued other rebels at Linyuan. ”

Zhang Xianzhong thought for a while and said, "This Cao Wenzhao is really heroic, so it's better to mess with him less." But if we don't go to Shanxi, where else can we go? ”

Xu Yixian obviously didn't think about it either, he just lowered his head and pondered.

Zhang Xianzhong snorted coldly and said: "A living person can't let people urinate to suffocate to death, it's really not good, let's go to Shaanxi, after all, it is our old Zhang's hometown, and the activities are more calm." ”

Xu Yixian already had an idea, but he was embarrassed to say it for a while, and was thinking about what to say, although he still didn't know how to say it, he still said: "No, never." ”

Zhang Xianzhong said a little impatiently: "This doesn't work, that doesn't work, how can it be done?" Say it. ”

Xu Yixian said patiently: "The reason why we chose is naturally not to fight hard with the officers and soldiers, but to develop." Before it is developed, we must not fight hard with the officers and men unless we have no choice but to do so. ”

As he spoke, seeing Zhang Xianzhong's disbelief, he said: "Of course, as the target of the officers and soldiers, you can't develop if you don't work hard. The current situation is that there are so many rebels from all walks of life that if we want to fight hard, we just let them fight, so why do we have to be stronger? ”

It should be said that Xu Yixian can be regarded as seeing through Zhang Xianzhong, and after saying this, Zhang Xianzhong's face really darkened.

Xu Yixian was secretly happy, and then said: "What about us, just develop with our heads bored, and at that time, wouldn't it be logical to fight hard?" This is the right way to achieve great things.

How to develop? Naturally, you have to survive first. If even survival is a problem, then what is the development? This is also the fundamental reason why I oppose returning to Shaanxi.

The general should not forget, there is a Hong Chengchou in Shaanxi, and there is a Chen Qiyu, these two guys, one is more ruthless than the other, and they will also buy people's hearts. ”

Zhang Xianzhong thought about it, but still said: "The corruption of the court is rotten to the roots, and they will not last long." ”

Xu Yixian said: "Yes, that's why we have to wait and see, in fact, not only us, Li Zicheng has always adopted this strategy." ”

Hearing him mention Li Zicheng, Zhang Xianzhong's heart moved, and said, "Then, according to you, what should we do?" ”

Xu Yixian plucked up the courage and said: "Turn to Hebei and continue to rely on Wang Yingxiang to seek development." ”

Zhang Xianzhong also had such an idea, but he couldn't convince himself, and when he heard the words, he just looked at Xu Yixian.

Xu Yixian said: "Looking at the rebels from all walks of life, King Chuang Yingxiang is the most angry, and he is the leader of the rebels from all walks of life, isn't this the reason why we chose him in the first place?" What's more, he now has Li Zicheng's eight battalions, which is like a tiger with wings.

And most importantly, Li Zicheng is also there, we can keep abreast of his movements at any time, and if necessary, we should also contain a little. However, our containment should be a little more subtle, and it should not be as direct as it used to be. In my opinion, Li Zicheng has also changed in the later period. ”

Zhang Xianzhong thought so, but still said: "This, how embarrassing? Besides, how do we know that they are in Hebei? ”

Xu Yixian said: "When parting, didn't King Chuang say it? ”

Zhang Xianzhong said: "The situation is ever-changing, and what I said may not be realized. ”

Xu Yixian said: "There has been news over there, saying that King Chuang Yingxiang adopted Li Zicheng's suggestion, took the Yinping Ancient Road through the Sky Ridge, avenged Wu'an's revenge, and attacked Zhangde, Huaiqing, and Weihui. ”

Zhang Xianzhong was determined to make up his mind, but he let out an "oh" and said, "But, let's go like this, it's always a little embarrassing, right?" ”

Xu Yixian said with a smile: "Just pick up a few soft persimmons on the road and pinch them." ”

Zhang Xianzhong said excitedly: "What you said is very true. ”