Zhang Ganxian never thought that he would one day be able to compete with the world-famous Zhang Xianzhong. But when the first arrow crossed the sky, he instantly let go of all his previous worries and hesitations, no matter who the other party was, all he thought in his heart was the belief that he would win.

The Dadu River in the south of Jiading Prefecture is about 300 steps wide, and there are straw shoes to cross the river, but Zhang Dang first hid all the ferries at the ferry to the north bank in advance, and rushed to build a pontoon bridge to connect the two ends.

Half an hour ago, Zhang Xianzhong led the crowd to arrive at the straw shoe crossing, the river is quite deep, it is difficult to force crossing, and it is difficult to find a boat to carry the ferry for a while, so he walked along the south bank of the river, and finally found a pontoon bridge to cross the river. Zhang Xianzhong was cautious, first sent Zhang Wenxiu and Zhang Nengqi to take a hundred horsemen to pass first, and when they arrived on the north bank the whole process was unharmed, he personally rode a horse and slowly walked across the pontoon bridge.

However, this pontoon bridge is after all for Zhang Dang's first department to do tricks, hidden in the woods Zhao Ying soldiers and horses saw that Zhang Xianzhong himself had crossed the pontoon bridge, the sound of the arrow of the herald fired, early in the morning to adjust the angle of several No. 2 Hongyi cannons immediately fired in unison, pointing directly to the middle of the pontoon bridge, but seeing the iron bullet whistling, splashing, the pontoon bridge that was loose immediately fell apart from the middle, the Western soldiers who were crossing the bridge turned on their backs, and countless people fell into the river, and those with good water quality swam back to the shore, and those with bad water quality drowned and drifted.

The timing of these artillery guns was extremely good, and two-thirds of the soldiers and horses of the Western Army were intercepted on the south bank, cutting off Zhang Xianzhong on the north bank. Zhang Xianzhong, Zhang Wenxiu, and Zhang Nengqi only had a hundred rides around them, and when they saw that the situation was not good, they turned their horses and wanted to run. Almost at the same time, the mountains on the north bank of the Dadu River shouted to kill the sky, and the flags were swayed, and Ma Weixing, the sentry officer in the training camp, commanded the bird gunners and gunners to operate the guns from several arranged positions to attack Zhang Xianzhong's headquarters in the area. Zhang Dangxian led 500 carefully selected spearmen to march forward bravely under the sky covered by arrows and bullets, and soon broke into the panicked and disorderly Xiying queue, stabbing continuously.

"Kill the thief and catch the yellow tiger!" Zhang Dang first mixed among the soldiers and waved his knife to greet. Looking everywhere, a blue-armored knight swept in front of him, and the military newspaper said that Zhang Xianzhong's two sons, Zhang Wenxiu, were wearing red armor and Zhang Nengqi were wearing blue armor. I saw that the blue armor was well-made and shining, and its owner must be Zhang Nengqi.

"Don't go!"

Zhang Dare first put away his sword and bow, and drew his arrow to shoot, but when another Pegasus approached, he shouted loudly: "Hugh hurt my brother!" Looking at it in a hurry, the knight in iron armor and red armor was holding up the head of his spear and poking at him quickly.

"Good time!" Zhang Dang was angry and shouted. The strong wind on the side swooped down, and he leaned back, dragging the heavy armor and then turning over, deftly avoiding the blade of Zhang Wenxiu's spear who charged with all his strength.

Raising his eyes, Zhang Wenxiu was too anxious, and the war horse had not yet stopped its pace, exposing its entire back. The war horse was in pain, and began to bounce and bump frantically, Zhang Wenxiu couldn't react, and suddenly four spears poked out from all sides, all of them gathered towards his armor.

"Catch it alive!" Zhang Dang shouted first, and at the same time put away his bow, pulled out a lacquer gun inserted in the ground, turned around and ran a few steps. On the other side, Zhang Nengqi, who flew over, saw that Zhang Wenxiu was knocked off his horse by a few spears, he was so anxious that he didn't care about his safety, he urged him to turn around and kill him, and Zhang Dangxian, who was standing with a gun, was blocking his way.

"Isn't this man afraid of death?" Zhang Nengqi couldn't help urging the horse to speed up, seeing that the distance between him and Zhang Dangxian was getting closer and closer, he couldn't help but secretly speak. In a short distance, although the war horse can't gallop to the extreme, it can still cause the power of breaking muscles and bones when it trots up and crashes into people.

Before this idea stopped, Zhang Nengqi and Zhang Ganxian had already looked at each other, their eyes were facing each other, just a breath, Zhang Ganxian, who had been prepared, suddenly retreated, turned around, and waited for the moment when the horse's body was staggered, and the paint gun in his hand was tilted upward, but seeing that the blood was spraying like a column, the head of the gun was inserted into the chest of the war horse impartially.

The war horse galloped wildly without knowing the pain, and the blood was sprinkled all over Zhang Dangxian's armor, staining the cold iron pieces with bright blood. Just because of this, Zhang Dangxian, who was shocked by the strong impulse, was already drenched in blood. But he was not stagnant, and just as the horse was about to gallop away, he clinged to the saddle with both hands, roared and leaped vigorously, was dragged a few paces, and then found his body and jumped on the horse's back.

Zhang Nengqi was at a loss, Zhang Dang didn't draw his knife first, sat behind him and put the small bow around his neck, and then twisted with force and strangled his throat with the bowstring. Zhang Nengqi was suffocated, and after a few swings of his fists, he was unable to relax.

At this time, the war horse also slowed down a lot due to excessive blood loss, and staggered and swayed. Zhang Dangxian took advantage of this time to jump to the ground with the unconscious Zhang Nengqi in his hand.

After tying Zhang Wenxiu and Zhang Nengqi together, Zhang Dang first asked Ma Weixing, who had stopped the salvo and led the men and horses to kill the lower ridge: "Where is the sacrifice thief?" ”

Ma Weixing sweated profusely and said: "I haven't seen any of them, I'm looking for them." He also said, "The thieves on the north bank were killed and wounded, and they killed the thief Qu Wang Zhibang, Wu Zisheng, Guo Youming, etc., and captured the thief army Wang Bingzhen and Xue Zhengxian. The thieves on the south bank scattered in a hurry, and our army was about to cross the river in pursuit! ”

Zhang Dang nodded first and said, "Good job, but if the thief is not won, this battle will not be over." The east, south, and north sides are either rivers or our army, and the thieves can't go, they must run into the mountains to the west, you take the men and horses to clean up the situation, I'll chase him! After that, he immediately pointed out more than ten brave people and went west with his non-stop.

Five miles to the west, Zhang Xianzhong was fleeing alone on horseback.

has been in the world for more than ten years, this is a scene that Zhang Xianzhong has never encountered. In the past, no matter how down-and-out he was, he could always call for friends, and he was followed by many people. But now, except for a scarred war horse, he is the only one walking alone under the mountains where the sunset shines.

"Whew...... Whoop......"

Ascending a low ridge, the horse's footsteps became more and more sluggish, and the panting sound became louder and louder. Zhang Xianzhong scolded angrily twice, jumped down immediately, and sent a knife into the horse's neck. The war horse neighed and fell to the ground sideways, Zhang Xianzhong, who had a dry mouth, didn't care about thirty-seven twenty-one, put his mouth on the wound, and took a few deep mouthfuls of horse blood, Fang Jue was relieved.

He staggered along the ridge for hundreds of steps, stumbling over a stone under his feet, and rolling down the ridge with his bones. The slug was lost in the bumping, and his body was covered in dust and fine pieces of dead grass.

Lying in the haystack for a long time, even though he knew that the situation was extremely urgent, Zhang Xianzhong couldn't help but squint his eyes and take a nap. Even after several sleepless days and nights of riding a horse, he had never felt so tired as he did now. In a daze, a face appeared in front of him.

Wang Jiayin, Gao Yingxiang, Ma Shouying, Luo Rucai, Li Zicheng, Zhao Dangshi...... Some of them were friends, some were rivals. Some went from rivals to friends, and some from friends to rivals.

Thinking of these people, Zhang Xianzhong's originally vain and weak body suddenly became full like chicken blood, but when he wanted to bounce up, his body was still so light and fluttering without half of his strength. Boasting that he could get up no matter how many times he fell, he finally believed that he really couldn't get up this time.

This time, I'm afraid that the damn thief God is going to kill him Zhang Xianzhong.

"Woo woo woo ......" I couldn't remember when I cried last time, but Zhang Xianzhong couldn't help crying at this time, the voice was very difficult to hear, and the cracked and even degenerated and atrophied tear ducts were even more intensely painful. After crying, I don't know if he cried because he was sad or because he cried because of severe pain.

His cry drifted through the barren mountains like a wolf's howl, rising and falling, endlessly. After crying for a while, tiredness hit, and then squinted his eyes and rested for a while, and then he was awakened by the sudden noise on the ridge.

"There's a horse here!"

"His grandmother's, the thief must be around here."

Everyone scattered and searched carefully, but the thief had no horse and could not run far. To live to see people, to die to see corpses! ”

The gossip and the summons were clear and word-for-word into Zhang Xianzhong's ears. Holding up his heavy eyelids, he could see that the sunset was slowly sinking along the steep ridge in the distance, and the light in all directions was slowly closing in the direction of the setting sun, and the sky and the earth were slowly dimming.

Forget it, Zhang Xianzhong sighed secretly. Now, he just wants to close his eyes. Rong Ma has been drinking for most of his life, and he suddenly looked back and realized that he had not slept peacefully for more than ten years.

When Zhang Dangxian led the crowd to hurry to the haystack where Zhang Xianzhong was lying, all he saw was a person who was sleeping soundly.

According to Wang Laixing's earlier military order, the battle on the bank of the Dadu River ended, and Zhang Dang first escorted Zhang Xianzhong and some prisoners captured along the way to join Ma Weixing, who was cleaning the battlefield. Then follow the Dadu River and go straight to Mangxi. I didn't want to be halfway down the road, and bumped into Lu Yue, who was always walking alone.

Lu Yue covered his abdomen with one hand and crutches with a wooden stick in the other, limping away.

"Didn't you kill the thief?" Zhang Dang first asked the soldiers to send a stretcher and carry the injured Lu Yue up.

Lu Yue said astringently: "The villain is lucky and has escaped the vital point. As he spoke, a string of captives passed by, and the unkempt Zhang Wenxiu was looking at the coming, and the two looked at each other slightly, and each turned his head.

Wang Laixing, Zhang Ganxian, Ma Wannian, Liu Jiayin, San Tan and other troops gathered in Mangxi, and all parties in this battle counted and summarized, and killed more than 2,300 soldiers of the Western Army, captured more than 1,000 people, and hundreds of others drowned in the river or escaped from the mountains and forests. In terms of generals, the "King of the West" Zhang Xianzhong or below, or captured, killed or surrendered, almost nothing was missed.

On the issue of the resettlement of more than 1,000 prisoners, Qin Qigong suggested to Wang Laixing that these officers and men of the Western Army, who had galloped for many years, should be reorganized into a horse army camp to make up for the shortcomings of the current Zhao camp lacking horse troops. Wang Laixing agreed with his suggestion and decided to send a letter to Zhao Dangshi to report the matter, and also recommended candidates for the post of officers.

Among them, the selection of the commander of the camp is more controversial, because Wang Laixing wants to push Lu Yue up.

Wang Guangying objected to this matter: "Lu Yue is newly surrendered, and it is difficult to convince the public. And there are injuries in the body, it is not appropriate to lead troops. Even if he wants to appoint a thief general, there are many people with a higher status than him. ”

Wang Laixing, who has always been gentle and good at accepting advice, insisted on his own opinion, and said: "Lu Yue is new, and it is difficult to accept the old man of Zhao Ying, who has served under the thief for many years, and his position is not low, and it is useful to control the old department of Xiying." Then he added, "The wounds on the body can be healed, but if there is a lack of heart, it is difficult to make up for it." Looking around the Xiying Surrender Generals, on the righteousness of the people, on the loyalty and courage of my Zhao Ying, no one can beat it. ”

Qin Qigong knew his intentions, and also said: "Let's bring people to the lord, and how to arrange it depends on the lord's decision." ”

When he said this, the generals were speechless.

Wang Laixing found Qin Qigong privately and said: "Mr. Qin, I pushed Lu Yue, firstly, because of his resolute character of sacrificing himself, and secondly, I felt a little indebted to him in my heart and wanted to make up for it. I do this, is it appropriate? ”

Qin Qigong said with a straight face: "As a general, you must first consider the whole army and the overall situation, and at this point, your personal safety and conduct can be ignored. But the overall situation has been decided, how can the conscience be extinguished and there is no distinction between good and bad? The sacrifice made by Lu Yue for our army has a righteous style, and he is reasonable and reasonable, and he is worthy of the position of the commander of the battalion. ”

Wang Laixing nodded thoughtfully.

Qin Qigong smiled and continued: "The commander is ruthless, and he is forced to do so. But to be a human being, you still have to be humane in order to gather people's hearts. ”

Wang Laixing also smiled heartily: "I have been taught, and I have benefited a lot from having Mr. by my side." ”

The army was reorganized and returned to the camp outside the city. Early the next morning, Wang Laixing ordered Zhang Xianzhong to be brought.

In cold weather, Zhang Xianzhong, who grew up, was naked, and he was tied into a zongzi by a wrist-thick hemp rope. After tying all night, the bruises and bruises on the deep part of the rope were clearly visible, and he only loosely tied a turban, and his slightly yellowed hair and beard had long lost the momentum of the lion and tiger in the past, but were like dry grass and branches, which made him even more depressed and lonely.

Wang Laixing looked at Zhang Xianzhong for a long time, Zhang Xianzhong stood silent, his eyes closed.

"Get on your knees!" Zhang Dang stepped forward first and kicked Zhang Xianzhong to the ground. In the past, the heroes who could decide the life and death of thousands of people with just a few words are now just ordinary flesh and blood after all rolling on the ground.

"Drag it down, cut it!" Wang Laixing slowly stood up and waved his hand, this was the privilege given to him by Zhao Dangshi. For Zhao Dangshi, he only needs to see Zhang Xianzhong's head.

"Wait!" Zhang Xianzhong, who had not spoken, twisted his body, knelt on the ground and said loudly.

"Something to say?" Wang Laixing asked.

Zhang Xianzhong held his head high, his face was cold, and only at this moment, he reproduced his compelling momentum.

"Chongzhen Xiao'er said that those who can kill Lao Tzu should be rewarded." Zhang Xianzhong said in a loud voice, turned his head and looked at Zhang Ganxian, "Lao Tzu has always been righteous and angry, this brother arrested me, and he should be given a full reward, don't break your word!" ”

"Never break your word." Wang Laixing nodded coldly, raised his hand, and kept watching Zhang Xianzhong, who looked like a bear, being escorted and disappearing outside the big tent door in the sunlight, before turning around and walking back to his position, and slowly picked up the three eagle arrows that were neatly placed side by side on the table, and sighed.