North Zhili Baoding Mansion, Qingdu County south of Qingfeng shop.

The horses' hooves tuked and tread slowly on solid ground until they came to a complete stop in front of a stream.

"Master Wu, please stay, just send it here." On the brown horse, Chen Hongfan hugged his fists and saluted, "This is already the realm of Dingzhou, and it is too far away from the army, I am afraid it will cause inconvenience to Wu Ye." ”

"Okay." Wu Sangui jumped off the white horse and beckoned to the left and right, "To Gong Chen." ”

Chen Hongfan took a package from Hu Cong's hand, only felt heavy, and listened to Wu Sangui again: "Chen Gong is far away, and I, Wu Sangui, can't send it away, so I can only add some pestering and chatting to apologize." ”

"Wu Ye is polite." Chen Hongfan nodded and handed the package to Zhao Yuanheng on the side. Yu Guang saw that Zhao Yuanheng lowered his head and lowered his eyes, but he didn't even look at Wu Sangui with his eyes.

Chen Hongfan sighed secretly, but when he saw the money rat tail pigtail dangling behind Wu Sangui's head when he spoke, he couldn't bear to look at it.

Wu Sanguimin felt that he had noticed the attitude of the two, his face was gloomy, and he said astringently: "Gong Chen, Brother Zhao forgive me, the shape is forbidden, otherwise it is impossible to protect the Guan Liao army." ”

In the battle of Shanhaiguan, in order to ask the Qing army to help, Wu Sangui shaved his hair and surrendered to the Qing. After the defeat of the Shun army, the commander of the Qing State and the Prince of Rui, Dolgon, immediately undertook to make Wu Sangui the king of Pingxi, and gave jade belt python robes, mink fur saddle horses, exquisite bags and other things to show grace. The officers and men of the Guan Liao army from Wu Sangui down also shaved their hair.

The Qing army was victorious, and Wu Sangui's army kept chasing and defeating the defeated Shun army, and successively fought in Funingwei, Lulong County, Tongzhou and other places. The Shun army retreated to Beijing, and Li Zicheng thought that the defeat was irretrievable, so he hurriedly ascended to the pole and became emperor under the persuasion of Liu Zongmin, Niu Jinxing and other civil and military personnel, and then fought a field battle with the Qing army and Wu Sangui's army outside Beijing, intending to fight hard. However, the victory and defeat were clear, the morale of the Shun army was low and there was no intention of resuming the war, Liu Zongmin, Tang Tong and other generals were wounded in the battle, and the Shun army was defeated repeatedly. Li Zicheng was helpless, and coerced Wu Sangui's father Wu Xiang to go to the city, shouting that Wu Sangui surrendered. Wu Sangui asked Wu Guogui to shoot the soldiers of the Shun army who held Wu Xiang hostage, and Li Zicheng saw that there was no hope of surrendering, so he immediately killed all 38 members of the Wu family and hung it high to show the public.

Wu Sangui was filled with grief and indignation, urging the soldiers to storm the city, Li Zicheng consulted with the civil and military ministers, and decided to abandon Beijing, so he set fire to the palace city, the mansions of the powerful and the grasslands outside the city, and the soldiers broke out in several ways. Wu Sangui had few people and failed to stop him, and the words of "thinking that the first emperor was mourning and supporting the East Palace" entered Beijing and won the support of the old officials and subjects in Beijing. However, when the Qing army entered the city later, everyone was shocked, and they asked each other for some reason. It wasn't until Dolgon issued a decree, claiming to mourn Emperor Chongzhen, and led the army to "cleanse the past with the gentry", that everyone knew that the Qing army was a rescue soldier invited by Wu Sangui. But a few days later, the prince and even the two princes who were rumored to be "recaptured from thieves" by Wu Sangui did not appear, and Dolgon then began to select and recruit officials, and even issued a decree, and people with a discerning eye could see that the Qing army's "crime of hanging the people and cutting down the people" was false, and it was true that they entered Beijing. For example, Gao Eryan, Zhang Jiayu, Dang Chongya and many other old officials of the Ming Dynasty were unwilling to surrender to the Qing Dynasty, and they secretly went out of the city and could not escape, but there were also people like Feng Quan and Gong Dingxi, who made mistakes and were ordered by the Qing army to serve.

On the one hand, Dolgon set out to stabilize the situation in Beijing, and on the other hand, he sent Wu Sangui, Azig and others to lead the army to continue to pursue the Shun army, and won successive victories against the Shun army in Zhuozhou and Baoding. Yesterday, the Qing army caught up with the Shun army in Qingdu, fought in the east of the city, the Shun army was defeated, and Gu Ying, the marquis of Dashun Qi and the former battalion general, was killed in battle, and suffered heavy losses. After this battle, the threat of the Beizhili Shun army was basically eliminated, and Dolgon immediately ordered Wu Sangui and Azig and other military divisions to temporarily return to Beijing. Chen Hongfan and Zhao Yuanheng had been following Wu Sangui's army during the period, and since they would not return to Beijing, they took the opportunity to propose a return to the south, and Wu Sangui went out of the camp to send him here.

Chen Hongfan was silent for a moment and said: "Wu Ye is compromised, and Chen saves it, but in a barbarian state, you must not forget your homeland." ”

Wu Sangui's fair cheeks were slightly red, and he nodded: "Gong Chen rest assured." As he spoke, he said, "The thieves lost Beijing, and rebellions broke out everywhere. On the way, you need to be careful. ”

At the same time, when the Shun army captured Beijing, many officials were assigned to Shandong, Beizhili and other places. The original Shun army was under pressure, and most of the localities were obedient, but now the Shun army has been defeated, and riots are surging everywhere under the banner of "opposing Shun and restoring sight", and there are wars everywhere.

Chen Hongfan didn't say much and was about to leave, but Wu Sangui stopped him again and said, "There is something, please ask Chen Gong to help pay attention along the way." ”

"What?"

"A few days ago, I went out of Beijing and met Xiong Wenju, Gong Dingxi, Tu Bihong and others outside the city."

"Oh, it's them." Chen Hongfan nodded, knowing that these people were all officials of the Guozijian.

"It's also miserable, at first they wore short jackets and pants, and covered the heads of their wives and concubines, like homeless, I haven't recognized them yet." Wu Sangui shook his head and said, "It's Gong Dingxi's concubine, although she is afraid of attracting attention by smearing her face with mud, she still recognizes it for me." ”

"Wu Ye recognizes Gong Dingxi's concubine?"

"His little concubine's surname is Gu, her name is Hengbo, and she was the Oiran of the Qinhuai River in her early years, quite famous, and her appearance is gorgeous, not a few handfuls of mud to cover. But I knew her through my side room. ”

"Wu Ye's side room?"

"Well, my side room is surnamed Chen, and I am also a famous person in Wu, and I know the Gu family. I entered Beijing two years ago, and I was accepted. I have been in charge of military affairs in Liaodong for most of the year, and when I rarely return to Beijing, she stays at home in Beijing. Wu Sangui said slowly, "There is no way to break into the thief, harming my whole family, I went into the city to bury my family, but I couldn't find the Chen family alone, I was wondering, but I heard from the Gu family that the Chen family went out of the city early with the rebel army." ”

Chen Hongfan said clearly: "Wu Ye wants Chen to help inquire about Chen's whereabouts. ”

Wu Sangui said: "Exactly." I was ordered to march and had no time to look around, and now I have to go back to Beijing, and I can't find it. Since my family in Beijing was in trouble, I only have a few family members left, and it is good to find one more. On the way back to Chen Gong, if there is news, I hope to inform him completely. ”

Chen Hongfan responded: "Okay, I'll pay more attention." ”

Wu Sangui said gratefully: "Thank you Gong Chen!" ”

Chen Hongfan sighed: "This kind of thing, Wu Ye doesn't say it, Chen also does his best, it's just a national event, Wu Ye must not forget his original intention at all times." ”

Wu Sangui promised: "I keep in mind the words of Duke Chen, the will of the southern court, I will wait at any time, but if I can serve the country, I will not hesitate to go to the soup." ”

Chen Hongfan didn't say anything more and smiled slightly. At the moment, Wu Sangui galloped away with his own horses, Zhao Yuanheng looked at the smoke and dust flying at the end of the road, and said: "Gong Chen, Wu Sangui is in such a situation, how can you tell the lord when you go back?" ”

"The lord wants us to protect the Guan Liao army as the first priority, and this matter has been done."

Zhao Yuanheng said: "It's all right, but tens of thousands of Guan Liao troops have braids." And said, "Wu Sangui said earlier, 'Lianyu Ping Kou', and now Kou is a little flat, but he has put himself in. ”

Chen Hongfan tightened his bridle and said: "The Tartars are ambitious, and they are really my fierce rivals. Let Guan Liaojun keep braids, and make Wu Sangui the king, making it clear that the plan is very big, and it is not simply a reinforcement. Wu Sangui demolished the east wall and made up the west wall, and did the best he could. At the time of life and death, life is the first priority, and it is normal for people to do so. ”

Zhao Yuanheng shook his head and said: "In the end, Liaodong is too far away, and my court whip is beyond the reach of the whip." He added, "I hope that the move of keeping braids is an expedient measure, as Wu Sangui said." ”

Chen Hongfan smiled and said: "This kind of thing, just listen to it, whether it is an expedient measure or not, it is not Wu Sangui, but our army." ”

"What do you mean by that?"

If Wu Sangui's shaving of his hair can be regarded as a last resort, then the subsequent acceptance of the reward shows that his heart may not completely contradict the Tartars. But he was respectful to you and me, and sent dozens of miles. What do you think of him? ”

Zhao Yuanheng said angrily: "This guy wants to ride the wall." ”

"If he doesn't ride the wall, he won't be able to live, or the Guan Liao army will be difficult to protect." Chen Hongfan said, "From the fact that he is willing to give up his family to protect the Guan Liao army, he knows how heavy the weight of the word 'right' is in his heart. If he wants to protect his power, he can only choose to do things. He has all his braids, what do you expect him to be? ”

When Zhao Yuanheng heard this, he felt cold all over his body, and couldn't help stuttering: "According to this, if Wu Sangui follows the Tartars, then the battle of Shanhaiguan seems to have expelled the thieves for my Ming Dynasty, but in fact, it has attracted a strong enemy into the room?" ”

Chen Hongfan sighed: "It's too early to say that. What the Tartars do, we have to observe slowly. But you and I must inform the lord of the situation in the north as soon as possible. In any case, the situation in the world has changed, and our army needs to make preparations in advance. ”

Zhao Yuanheng sighed: "I thought the battle of Shanhaiguan was an endgame, but I didn't expect it to be a beginning. ”

Eighty miles north of Xi'an, on the outskirts of Sanyuan County.

A battle has just ended here, and the Ming Yichuan stallion Wan Nian and Chongxin Hou Tan Hong led the army to ambush here, blocking the 10,000 people who wanted to rush to the aid of Xi'an from the northwest to the Dashun Xining Jiedu to make the party keep the vegetarian. Dang Meng'an, the vanguard of the party guard, attacked the gun formation under Ma Wannian and Tan Hong several times to no avail, retreated slightly, and prepared the two wings of the Feijie left, Feijie right, Yichong, and Zhongguan four battalions of horse troops immediately took advantage of the situation to attack. The party was defeated and retreated to Yaozhou, Tongguan and other places.

The Ming horse army chased more than ten miles away, and the four battalions commanded Han Gon, Ma Guangchun, Zhou Yuji and Lu Yue to meet temporarily.

"The party guards have dared to be cut to aid Xi'an regardless of the back road, and it seems that Sun Chuanting has left Ningxia." Ma Guangchun analyzed.

Han Gon said: "The prince has said that Sun Chuanting may not come to Xi'an. ”

Zhou Yuji snorted coldly: "Our army in Xi'an is heavily gathered, and there is no shortage of his 20,000 people. ”

Ma Guangchun said: "Sun Chuanting is going to northern Shaanxi, and Yulinwei is the only way. I heard that recently, Gao Yigong's troops and horses who had retreated to Shanxi also went around Yulinwei, and with the original defenders of Wang Liangzhi, the strength of Yulinwei thieves also reached 10,000. The party guards the battlefield general, suffered a loss in Xi'an, and will not come to the wall again, I guess he will turn the spearhead nine times out of ten and follow Sun Chuanting to Yulinwei. At that time, the soldiers and horses of the Yulin guard may not be less than that of Sun Chuanting, and Sun Chuanting will be attacked by the enemy on his back, and his situation will be in danger. ”

Han Gon smiled bitterly: "Sun Chuanting wants to go to Beijing, but ten cows can't be pulled back, haven't you persuaded him as a prince?" ”

Ma Guangchun said: "Li Chuang was defeated in Beijing, according to the prince's speculation, he will return to Shaanxi, Gao Yigong went from Shanxi to northern Shaanxi, thinking that he was guarding the gate in advance." Even if Sun Chuanting is undefeated in the face of Yulinwei, when Li Chuang's army arrives, he will definitely be defeated. He also has 20,000 people in his hands, and it would be a pity if he folded in Yulinwei in vain. ”

Zhou Yuji echoed: "The words of the horse control are very true, and it is good for Sun Chuanting to be the first rafter, but if he ends up with the annihilation of the whole army, it will be a big loss to the situation of our army in the entire Shaanxi, and we have to think of a way to contain the thieves and leave a way for Sun Chuanting to survive." ”

Ma Guangchun immediately said: "I've been thinking about this for the past few days, but I have an idea. Then he said what he thought.

Zhou Yuji scratched his beard and said, "This method is also feasible, but there are some risks." ”

Han Gon smiled and said, "A little risk is nothing compared to the overall situation. I think Lao Ma has a good idea, which can not only contain the thieves, but also lose flexibility, so that our army's strategic deployment in Shaanxi will not be too rigid. ”

Lu Yue said: "You can try, I'm afraid it's too late." ”

Ma Guangchun smiled and said: "Since you don't have any objections, then the right is decided." When I return to Xi'an, it will be more appropriate for the four of us to ask the prince for his life. ”

Han Gon also smiled and said: "In the battle for a month, Lao Hou and Lao Xu were in the limelight, and we finally have a day to emerge." ”

Ma Guangchun pouted and said: "The tone of the prince's siege of Xi'an has been set, and if we follow them, we will have no future, and if we want to make achievements, we have to rely on ourselves." With that, he raised his whip aloft.

Seeing this, Han Gon, Zhou Yuji and Lu Yue also raised a whip to show their concentricity.