A month before the decisive battle between the Shaanxi soldiers and the Chuang army, in early August, Wang Laixing led his army up the river to Kuizhou Prefecture. At this time, Zhang Xianzhong, who had fled into Sichuan earlier, had already led his army to conquer Qutang Pass and occupy Fengjie County and Qutangwei.

Under the instruction of Qin Qigong, the three brothers Tan Hong, Tan Wen, and Tan Yi in Kuizhou Prefecture gathered their troops and retreated in the direction of Dazhou with Qin Qigong's headquarters, so the garrisons in Yunyang County, Wanxian County and other places along the river were empty, and Zhang Xianzhong was able to drive his troops forward and reach Wanxian directly.

The turmoil in Sichuan has been in turmoil for a long time, and the military towns in various places have embraced their own troops. In order to raise military salaries, each drew up a regulation and imposed a tax rate to forcibly increase the tax rate and exploit the people. The people could not bear the suffering, so they rose up more often, and some of the fierce ones had the courage to take the initiative to attack, that is, the so-called early "fighting beetles" to today's "removing the five beetles".

The so-called "five beetles", "one is called the ya, which is called the state and county officials Xu Kuai soap; The second is called the house beetle, which is said to be dedicated to the palace and the arbitrary township song; The three are called the beetles, which are also called the strong people of the people; Fourth, it is said that the eunuch beetle is also a righteous man of the gentleman's family; The common people formed associations to attack the officials and officials, the children of the gentry, and the minions of the royal palace, and so far the atmosphere has become more and more intense, and because of hunger and cold, they began to plunder the rich on a large scale, and the government has been repeatedly suppressed.

Zhang Xianzhong obviously attached great importance to this entry into Sichuan, and took advantage of such local contradictions to continue to advance, but seized the opportunity to reorganize the army and continue to strengthen his own strength. In addition to coercing the people along the way, they also sent people to lobby the community to join the gang. His prestige was very famous in Sichuan, and in less than half a month, the size of the Western Army stationed in Wanxian County was expanded to nearly 30,000 people.

Wang Laixing then went to Dazhou to meet Qin Qigong and Santan, gathered 13,000 troops, and waited and watched. Zhang Xianzhong saw that the soldiers and horses of the Zhao battalion were patrolling, and he also sat firmly on the Diaoyutai platform.

It was not until mid-to-late August that the stalemate was broken by Chen Shiqi, the governor of Sichuan.

Chen Shiqi never dreamed earlier that the Western Army would one day break through the two barriers of Nanzhili and Huguang and return to Sichuan. He was shocked, and urgently consulted with Zhu Zhishu, the king of Shu, in Chengdu, and finally decided to go to Chongqing Mansion to command the war to exterminate the Western Army. Sichuan warlords, big and small, he can not command much, so he dispatched the deputy general of the standard battalion, Bian Xianjue, the general of the mighty battalion, Zeng Ying, and the Han and Qiang soldiers to prepare the road to sit under the standard of the battalion, and Zhao Ronggui, the commander of the battalion, rushed to Chongqing from Chengdu and the Sichuan-Shaanxi border respectively, and ordered Liu Linchang, the political counselor of the eastern Sichuan Province, and Qin Liangyu, the wife of Shi Yan's second grade, to lead the army to Chongqing to obey the order. In addition, the officials of various prefectures, prefectures, and counties were told to strengthen local defenses, and those with cities strictly guarded the cities, and those without cities built forts and forts to protect each other.

After hurriedly arriving at the Fucheng of Chongqing, the Western Army remained unmoved, Chen Shiqi hurriedly deployed defenses, first concentrated all the ships on the south bank of the Dajiang River and the north bank of the Jialing River in Chongqing Fucheng around the Fucheng, cut off the communication between the two rivers, and hindered the attack of the Western Army. Later, he believed that the Western Army would take the waterway along the river to attack the capital of Chongqing through the Causeway Gorge, so he invested heavily in defending the downstream gateway Causeway Gorge. At the same time, the Fotu Pass was strictly controlled to prevent the western army from invading the city by land. His series of arrangements seemed to be leaky, but in fact, he put his own army in a passive defensive position from the beginning, and ceded the initiative to the Western army.

After a period of relatively thorough reorganization and adjustment, Zhang Xianzhong began to march. At the end of August, Ma Yuanli, the commander of the Western Army, had 20,000 troops and fought fiercely with Zeng Ying's troops stationed here on the lake beach forty miles north of Wanxian, and fought for three days, and finally defeated Zeng Ying by virtue of the numerical superiority and the conflict to the death. Zeng Ying was hit by an arrow in his back and fled. The Western Army then mobilized the whole army to go up the river, taking advantage of the situation to attack Zhongzhou in the northeast corner of Chongqing Prefecture and garrison Huluba. Zeng Ying and Liu Linchang retired to Fuzhou, while Zhao Ronggui took refuge in Liangshan County.

At this time, it was the beginning of September, and the soldiers and horses of the Zhao battalion temporarily took Wang Laixing as the main and Qin Qigong as the deputy, and the whole army also went south to Liangshan County.

"Zhao Dusi, I have admired the name for a long time."

Jincheng Walled City, Wang Laixing and Qin Qigong and others met with Zhao Ronggui.

Zhao 'Ronggui, who was over forty years old, and He Zhen both worked for Shangluo Bingbei Dao Fan Yixuan in his early years, but He Zhen stayed under the Shangluo Bingbei Dao mark, and he was transferred to Hanqiang Bingbei Dao after Fan Yixuan left office. And because Zhang Xianzhong and Luo Rucai joined forces to enter Sichuan, Sichuan was short of troops, so they lent it to Sichuan as a guest army. Later, although he was subordinate to Shaanxi in terms of organization, Sichuan never let him go, so he was stationed on the Sichuan-Shaanxi border for a long time and accepted the dispatch of the Sichuan governor Yamen.

"Where to be a big name, it can only be a little famous." Zhao' Ronggui sighed.

"I heard that the thief has gone to Chongqing?" Qin Qigong's face did not change, "Our army came here to fight fiercely in search of thieves, but I didn't expect it to be empty." ”

Zhao Ronggui said: "Yes, it is reported that the thief has arrived in Fuzhou a few days ago. ”

"Oh? What about the situation? ”

"It's still not good." Zhao Ronggui shook his head, "Feng Liangmo, the governor of Fuzhou, is as timid as a mouse, and it is said that before the war started, he abandoned the city and fled to Pengshui County. The thieves broke the city, and Zeng Shen General and Liu Shoudao dragged Feng Liangmo down, and hurriedly retreated to Wangjiang Pass five miles outside the city. The thief clenched and did not let go, Zeng Shen will fight with it in the field, the thief and the horse army are fierce, and the Zeng Shen will be cut in the cheek between the gallops, and the Zeng Shen will roll down the steep slope and faint, and he will not die until late at night for Liu Shoudao to be saved, and then retreat to Nanchuan, Qijiang and other places. ”

Qin Qigong and Wang Laixing glanced at each other, and pretended to be surprised: "If this is the case, then there are not many officers and soldiers in Chongqing Mansion who can fight at present!" ”

Zhao' Ronggui frowned and said: "Isn't it, Liu Junmen used Zeng, Liu and I as the opportunity to fight with the thieves in this issue, and now Zeng and Liu are defeated, and it is difficult to clean up in the short term, and it is difficult for my army to support it." In addition, only the two armies of Bian Xianjue and Gu Jing, the commander of the standard battalion, were left in the city of Chongqing to be responsible for the city defense, and they would never go out of the city easily. ”

"Where's the Stone Soldiers?" Wang Laixing asked, the scene of the battle with the stone soldiers in previous years was still vivid.

"Liu Junmen's order has passed, but there is no movement now. Ahem, Shi Yan puts Old Madam Qin first, but she is already rare this year, where can she still lead the army to fight. I heard that since the death of his son, he has passed the military order to defend the land. ”

The most respected person in Shi Yan's Xuanwei Division is Qin Liangyu, the second-grade lady of the command, Zhao Ying entered Sichuan for the first time and fought against her. Her son Ma Xianglin was a consolation envoy and was extremely brave, but Zhang Xianzhong and Luo Rucai, who followed Yang Sichang to suppress the rebellion in Sichuan, died in battle, and the remaining Xuanwei Division Qin Yiming, Qin Gongming, Qin Zuoming, Qin Zuoming, etc. are all Qin Liangyu's nephews, and they all have military achievements, but in terms of loyalty to the monarch and the desire to forge ahead, there is no comparable to Ma Xianglin. For example, Qin Yiming, Sun Chuanting asked him to lead the army to Shaanxi to help the Sichuan commander-in-chief, and he also pretended to be deaf and dumb and did not accept it, and his intention of being passive at home can be seen.

Tan Hong also said at this time: "Even if Old Lady Qin's sword is not old and has the intention of killing thieves, but Shi Yan has been fighting abroad endlessly in previous years, and her vitality has actually been greatly lost. Now the strength of the army is only four or five thousand, and self-protection is acceptable, but if we want to divide troops to rescue Chongqing, I am afraid that we will lose one or the other. ”

Zhao Ronggui smiled bitterly: "The towns and armies in Sichuan, from hundreds to thousands, are all self-interested people. In the past, there was Yang Inspector as a co-ordination, and he was still able to unite as one and gather the strength of the whole province to drive out the thieves, but looking at the current situation, Liu Junmen went to Chongqing in person, and the rest of the generals still held the attitude of watching the fire from the other side, and every family swept the snow in front of the door, for fear of getting involved in disputes. Don't say that if you don't have the heart to kill a thief, you have the heart to kill a thief, and you don't dare to come here alone to die! ”

Qin Qigong smiled: "Then why is Zhao Dusi here?" You're the farthest away from your station! ”

Zhao Ronggui sighed and lowered his head and said: "I'm not afraid of your jokes, in fact, Shaanxi has called me back many times in the past two years, and I have agreed with the yamen in Sichuan, and I deliberately pressed it and didn't leave." At this time, people are not destroyed for themselves, why do you say that I, as a general in Shaanxi, have relied on the Sichuan Governor Yamen for a long time? It's just to observe the direction of the wind. Now there are thieves in Henan and thieves in Sichuan, I ignore Sichuan's order, and I have to follow Sun Junmen in Shaanxi to fight the thieves. The lesser of two evils, I think it's better to come and fight against the thief than the thief. ”

Wang Laixing, Qin Qigong and others all smiled and said, "Zhao Dusi said that he was laughing. ”

Zhao' Ronggui's face was melancholy and silent. Qin Qigong patted his thigh and said: "If Shi Yan doesn't come out, then the officials and troops in Chongqing Mansion will inevitably fall into the dilemma of only defending and not attacking." ”

"Definitely!" Zhao' Ronggui suddenly raised his head, "Isn't there still a noble army?" Speaking of Wang Laixing and the three brothers of the Tan family, they looked at each other, "I see that your army is very strong, and the soldiers are full of horses, if you drive into Chongqing Mansion, you may not be able to stop the thieves." ”

"This ......" Qin Qigong hesitated slightly, "When our army arrived in Sichuan, the original intention was only to help the neighboring Kuizhou Mansion sweep away the thieves, without Liu Junmen's military order, how could it be transferred at will?" ”

Zhao Ronggui sighed, rubbed his hands anxiously and said, "When is it, still care about these side matters." If your army is willing to help and solve the crisis in Chongqing, how can Liu Junmen refuse to leave? What's more, "Otherwise, Zhao will repair the book and send it to Liu Junmen!" ”

Qin Qigong looked at Wang Laixing and pretended to hesitate, but Wang Laixing got up and said in a loud voice: "What Zhao Dusi said is extremely true, the matter of suppressing thieves should be a heavy responsibility shared by my provinces. If the Sichuan thief is not removed, he will become a Chu thief in the future, Sichuan and Chu are really in a relationship of solidarity, and now we happen to be here, and we should work side by side with the brothers in Chuanzhong. If you don't advance but retreat, you can be said to be ashamed of the country's heavy favor and high hopes for the brothers in Sichuan! ”

Zhao Ronggui nodded heavily and said: "Mr. Wang has insight, Liu Junmen is there, let me say it, and he will be safe." Then he continued, "I have 2,000 soldiers and horses here to join your army, and I can march tomorrow and tomorrow!" ”

Qin Qigong said at this time: "The matter of marching is a matter of duty, but the march is not in a hurry. ”

Zhao Ronggui said: "What is Mr. Qin's opinion? ”

Qin Qigong replied: "At present, the thieves are newly victorious, the morale is booming, and they are scattered and flowing in Wangjiang Pass, Lengshui Pass and other places, our army may not be able to protect the victory once it goes, even if it is defeated, with the thieves running away, I am afraid it will be difficult to find its main force to completely annihilate it." ”

"This ......," Zhao Ronggui pondered.

"Since the thief has entered Chongqing Mansion, it is difficult to enter Chongqing Mansion City, so he will go to Mansion City next. However, Chongqing Mansion is a hundred pheasants and impregnable, far from being comparable to the capital city of Kuizhou and the county seat of ordinary prefectures. My intention, as long as our army secretly provokes it, and when it is tired of the city and becomes the end of the strong crossbow, our army can secretly cooperate with Liu Junmen in the city, attack inside and outside, and immediately break the thief under the city. At that time, our army will ask the old lady of Shi Yan Qin to block behind the back, cut off the retreat of the thief, and the thief will not be able to do it every day, and the earth will not work, and it will become a turtle in the urn, and it can only be captured! ”

When Zhao Ronggui heard this, he felt that it was reasonable, and said with his fingers folded: "I hope that this time I can really capture the thief, and it will not be in vain for me to come all the way here." ”

Qin Qigong smiled kindly and said: "Zhao Dusi rest assured, with our army here, Sichuan affairs will definitely happen." After a pause, he pointed to Yutu and said, "Our army will rest for another day, and the day after tomorrow will set off, go to Zhongzhou first, and at the same time send people to test the oral style of Old Lady Qin." Wait for the thief to leave Fuzhou, and then go to Xudu County. The thieves attacked the city of Chongqing, and then entered Fuzhou, waiting for Liu Junmen's instructions. Step by step, steadily, and there are no mistakes. ”

Zhao Ronggui listened, and he didn't have a better idea, so he just nodded his head.