The city of Xi'an has been besieged for more than a month.

The so-called siege is not to use soldiers to surround the city impermeable, if this is the case, not to mention the tens of thousands of people currently in Guanzhong Zhao Dangshi, just give him tens of thousands more, and the city wall of Xi'an Mansion with a circumference of more than ten miles is also stretched. And once something changes, the besieging army that stretches like a long snake in a circle will not be able to make adjustments in time, and will even fall into a situation where they can't take care of each other and collapse themselves.

Zhao Dangshi led his army to besiege the city of Xi'an, and gathered several heavy troops to cut off all the main communication arteries around the city to prevent large-scale military operations by enemy forces inside and outside the city. They also set up troops to roam on roads and roads day and night, intercepting and killing spies and messengers of the enemy army who were taking small roads in and out of the city, and cutting off the news. In this way, the defenders inside the city could not break through the layers of defense outside the city, and it was difficult to communicate with the outside world, like being imprisoned.

In addition, soldiers were assigned to cut down all the big trees within a radius of three or four miles around the city, the river was blocked by sandbags, and the people and belongings of the people in Guanxiang were also collected and moved to the periphery. The battalions guarding the main roads or patrolling were for the front line, taking turns to defend them, while the main force was camped in several large battalions farther away from the city as a reserve, and at the same time raising subsidies such as food, woodcutting, and even business to maintain military supplies.

If the water is used as a metaphor, the Shun army sitting in the city of sorrow is like a pool of stagnant water, and the Ming army besieging the city is a continuous stream of living water.

Of course, it is impossible for a giant city like Xi'an Fucheng to be completely besieged, just as Li Zicheng besieged Kaifeng Mansion at the beginning, although heavy troops were gathered, but the Ming army in the city still often went back and forth inside and outside the city, as far as the banks of the Yellow River. But even though the Shun army in the city of Xi'an often took small roads to sneak out small groups of troops to wander around the outskirts of the city in search of useful resources, they were all insignificant, so that sometimes the patrolling Ming army did not bother to pay attention to it - the Ming army blocked the biggest gap, which was enough to make the Xi'an Shun army difficult and anxious, and the purpose had been achieved from the point of siege alone.

During the siege of the city, Zhao Dangshi would go to the outskirts of the city every once in a while to inspect. As far as the eye can see, the mountains are dotted with bare tree stumps and countless puddles of stagnant water that rot and stink due to congestion. Mosquitoes, flies, rats and finches abound, and jackals can occasionally be seen running amok. If it weren't for the fact that there was a magnificent city standing in the distance, it would be hard to imagine that such a miserable scene was the current situation in the Chengguanxiang area of Xi'an, an important city in the southwest.

"Is there an echo in the city?" Zhao Dangshi vaguely smelled a strong stench, so he stopped and turned his head to ask Guo Ruke, who was with him. The front line of the siege has always been under the command of Guo Ruke.

From the first day of the soldiers coming to the city, Zhao Dangshi insisted on writing letters into the city every day to persuade Tian Jianxiu, at first Tian Jianxiu also replied to refuse, and later saw that Zhao Dangshi continued to give up day by day, so he no longer cared about it. Zhao Dangshi didn't think about it and persuaded him to surrender as before.

Guo Ruke smiled and said: "It's still the same, pretending to be deaf and dumb." Hey, it's like we can't get in. If the surnamed Tian had a little vision, he should know that taking the initiative to surrender would have a better result for him and tens of thousands of soldiers. ”

"Tian Jianxiu is Li Zicheng's old brother, and he has experienced many ups and downs, and he is not bad this time." Zhao Dangshi shook his head, "Just like Lao Guo, let our army and thieves fall apart, you guard Xi'an, and you will not waver." ”

"That's natural, but my old Guo doesn't have the good temper of his surname Tian. Trapped in the city and idle, I will treat each other with courtesy, write a letter seriously and scold back, and there will be no aside. ”

Zhao Dangshilang said with a smile: "Fortunately, it is Tian Jianxiu in the city instead of Lao Guo, otherwise I would have been scolded three or two times and just thought of writing a letter." He turned to say, "Didn't you say that more than a dozen households were found outside the Andingmen Gate Gate in the west this morning, what's wrong?" "Even if the Ming army implemented the strategy of clearing the wilderness outside the city of Xi'an, the land was vast and the terrain was complex, and there were always omissions. Since the siege of the city, many fish have been found one after another.

"The old rule, when the house is burned, the people and everything in the house are moved outside, and no one is left for Tian Jianxiu." Guo Ruke replied, "The people have given money for support, and they are all happy. "Many of the people on the outskirts of Xi'an are tenants who depend on the local gentry and eunuchs, and the fields and houses are not their own, but the Ming army does not study it carefully, and pays compensation together, and they have benefited from it without any complaints.

"Put these people in good places, and give them small profits for my use." Zhao Dangshi admonished. Xi'an is the number one town in Shaanxi, although many people from far and near the city hid in the city, but there was also a lot for the Ming army. There was a stalemate inside and outside the city, and there were many chores such as transportation, furnace burning, and maintenance of weapons in the barracks, which were too resource-intensive for the soldiers to do. For example, when the Shun army attacked the Guan Liao army in Shanhaiguan, both sides temporarily recruited a large number of people, which were used as assistants to do logistics chores. Zhao Dangshi marched into Shaanxi, and there was no coercion of the people along the way.

"Don't worry, my subordinates are all aware." Guo Ruke nodded.

The two of them rode around the periphery of the city for a while, and there was nothing else to do. Just as he was about to return to the camp, Zhou Wenhe galloped over, and immediately saluted and said, "My lord, an envoy from the north has arrived in the camp, and Mr. Gu and Mr. Xu are receiving him." ”

"The Northern Envoy?" Zhao Dangshi wondered, "Li Zicheng's person?" ”

"It's not." Zhou Wenhe responded, "The person who came claimed to be on the orders of Dorgon, the regent of the Qing Kingdom, and asked to see the lord. ”

Guo Ruke snorted and said, "Li Zicheng didn't come, Tartar came first." ”

Zhao Dangshi's face was serious, and he immediately beckoned the horsemen to quickly return to the camp.

When they arrived at the big tent of the Chinese army, Gu Junen and Xu Yixian greeted each other, and at the same time introduced the northern envoy and said: "This is Mr. Chi Qilongchi, the envoy of the Qing Kingdom, who has come to meet the lord." ”

Zhao Dangshi looked over and saw that his person was elegant in his wide robe and big sleeves, and the weather was hot, but he was still tightly covered with a six-fold hat on his head. On closer inspection, the back of his neck and temples were shaved and pale in color, presumably wearing a hat to hide the striking braid inside.

"The contemptible man is late to rise to the dragon, and on behalf of our country's Prince Regent Rui, he pays a visit to King Ningnan." Chi Qilong behaved in a proper manner, spoke fluently, and seemed to be born as a pure Han Chinese.

Zhao Dangshi returned the salute and invited Chi Qilong to sit down and greet each other. It was learned that Chi Qilong belonged to the Eight Banners of the Qing State, inlaid with red flags, and the Han Army was under the command of Gushan Ezhen Shi Tingzhu. Shi Tingzhu's ancestor was originally a Jurchen, for the Jianzhou Jurchen Guarjia clan, his family was close to the Ming Dynasty, served in the Ming army for generations, his father's name was Shi Han, and then took "Shi" from the Han surname, and he took Shi Tingzhu as his real name.

In the second year of the Apocalypse, Nurhachi attacked Guangning, Shi Tingzhu surrendered, and then followed the army to make repeated military exploits and became a fierce general of the Qing army. Although Chi Qilong is under Shi Tingzhu, his actual identity is the coat of Prince Li's Daishan, and his identity is extraordinary. Guo Ruke sat next to him and accompanied him, secretly disdainful when he heard Chi Qilong claiming to be Dai Shan's servant, but on the other hand, Chi Qilong's face was full of pride.

Chi Qilong had previously been entrusted by Dolgon to arrive in northern Shaanxi via Mongolia and handed over Dolgon's letter to Wang Liangzhi, the general of Yulin Wei Dashun. However, Zhao Dangshi learned from Chi Qilong that Wang Liangzhi had died at the beginning of the month.

"The contemptible people passed through Yulinwei, the soldiers were in chaos, it seemed that there would be a war, and I asked about the flag, but it was your country's Sun Governor Qingye who was preparing for the siege. Fortunately, General Wang sheltered and successfully crossed the danger, but soon after leaving, he heard that General Wang had been killed. ”

"There is no way to break into thieves, cannibalism is like a common thing, and it is not surprising that Wang Liangzhi will die."

Zhao Dangshi said this in his mouth, but he thought differently in his heart. Wang Liangzhi, as a general of the Great Shun system, was knighted as the Commander of the Mountain, and guarded the Yulin Guard, a high and powerful position, and it goes without saying that the only one who can kill him and quickly stabilize the situation is Gao Yigong, who transferred from Shanxi not long ago. Gao Yigong is Li Zicheng's relative and left and right hand, and he went to Yulinwei to get Li Zicheng's instructions, so he has no fear. As for why Gao Yigong suddenly killed Wang Liangzhi, the biggest possibility is that Gao Yigong was aware of the correspondence between Wang Liangzhi and Chi Qilong, the envoy of the Qing State. At present, it is a sensitive period for the Shun army to breathe and calm down, the situation in Beijing is unclear, Sun Chuanting is pressing forward step by step, and Yulinwei has a major role to play as a key point in transportation, Gao Yigong must not be able to tolerate Wang Liangzhi having the slightest possibility of repetition, so that he would rather kill by mistake than let go. It's ridiculous that Chi Qilong is sitting here now sighing, but he doesn't know that he is the important reason for killing Wang Liangzhi.

"Our country knows that the thieves are violent, and they are only temporary. Rebellion and arrogance will not be tolerated in heaven and earth sooner or later. Prince Rui was considerate of the feelings, remembered the old friendship with your country and the righteousness of the way of heaven, and resolutely raised millions of troops to enter the customs, hanged the people and fought crimes, and avenged the first emperor. Assisting Wu Sangui in defeating the thieves and recovering Beijing is a clear proof of this. Chi Qilong straightened up and said, "Now the thief has led 3.4 million troops to fight in Shanxi, but in fact, he can't form an army, and he should be annihilated in one go." Our soldiers are from east to west, and your army is from west to east, and the two will work together to get rid of this national thief! ”

At this point, Qing Guo's meaning is obvious, he wants to join forces with Zhao Dangshi to deal with the Shun army.

Zhao Dangshi didn't say anything for the time being, and asked first: "Before Your Excellency comes to Xi'an, can you go to Fan Jing?" ”

"No, I didn't."

"Why? Zhao is only a martial artist with a soldier, and he only knows that he serves the country with the holy will, and major national affairs still need to be decided by hundreds of officials in the imperial court. Your Excellency did not go to Fan Jing to meet the emperor of our country, but came directly to Zhao, I am afraid that it is a little inappropriate. ”

When Chi Qilong heard this, he was not embarrassed, and arched his hand and said: "In the past, King Cheng had Duke Zhou, Xiaowu had Xie An, the lord believed in good ministers, and the political affairs were peaceful. Nowadays, the emperor of our country has Prince Rui as the regent, and the emperor of your country is assisted by the king of Ningnan, which is also the reason. My lord is still young, your lord is still shallow, and the current political affairs are handed over to those who can do it. There is nothing wrong with despicable people coming to the prince. ”

Zhao Dangshi thought secretly: "The Tatar business outside the customs has been around for a long time, and it seems that such Han people who are well-educated are also used by them, which shows that they have great ambitions. Chi Qilong does not come to the Central Plains often, but he knows the truth about the regime of our dynasty very well, and the Tartars are well-versed in their ears and eyes, which is really not to be underestimated. After thinking about it, he said: "That is the case, your country wants to send troops, but as far as I know, when the soldiers and horses arrived at Zhending Mansion, they took the summer vacation. ”

Chi Qilong immediately said: "The prince doesn't need to worry, a few days ago, Prince Rui has asked Wang Aoyong, the former minister of your country in Beijing, to appease Shandong, and escort me with my Eight Banners Gushan Ezhen Bahana, Shi Tingzhu and Wu Sangui and other troops, tell the army and the people, and pacify the thieves." On the Shanxi side, I also sent your country to pay homage to Wu Weihua to appease him, and escorted him with my Eight Banners Gushan Ezhen Yechen and other troops. Shanxi and Shandong have taken action, not just to show off their tongues. ”

Zhao Dangshi pondered: "The word 'appeasement' is said beautifully, who doesn't know that the restoration of the Ming land is false, and the attack on the Ming land is real." But when he thought of Ye Chen, he asked, "Have your country's soldiers from Shanxi been dispatched?" ”

"When the contemptible people came, the soldiers and horses were preparing in Beijing, and I think now they are at least on the road." Chi Qilong replied, "Ye Chen is a famous general of my Eight Banners, and he is the best at attacking cities. Then he added, "The prince can rest assured, whether it is Bahana or Ye Chen, they can only be regarded as the vanguard of our army, and when the situation in Beijing is stabilized in the future, Prince Ying and Prince Yu of our country will lead the main army to fight in the future, and they will not break the thief's vow." ”

Zhao Dangshi remained silent, and then asked: "The northern capital has been recovered, but there is the whereabouts of our country's crown prince and two princes?" ”

"Not yet." Chi Qilong replied truthfully, "The regent has searched for it to no avail, and I heard that they have all been plundered by the thieves. ”

"Does Jiang Jiu have anything to do with your country?"

"This ......" Chi Qilong listened to Zhao Dangshi's repeated questions, slightly alert, and silent.

Zhao Dangshi accepted it when he saw it, and said with a smile: "Regardless of these, let's go back to the topic." Your country is righteous and alleviates the difficulties of our country, and I, Zhao, as a minister of the Ming Dynasty, should be grateful. However, when your army entered the customs this time, Mi Shi spent his salary, and he also moved his vitality, and he wanted to wait for the thieves to decide, and it was natural to get some compensation. Zhao took the liberty of asking, what does your country want? ”

Needless to say, I also know that the Qing army entered the customs, and the plan was not small. Zhao Dangshi knew that the Qing Kingdom must have a plan, but it was difficult to ask directly, so he tactfully tested Chi Qilong. Chi Qilong was ordered to come over and propose to join forces, and the punishment of the aftermath must have been instructed by Dolgon and other Manchu magnates.

Chi Qilong obviously made full preparations for this, shook his sleeves, and said without hesitation: "Although my country spent money and lost his sons to enter the customs, although it is a righteous act, it must also have an explanation for the subjects. I obey the will of Prince Rui, convey Prince Rui's meaning, wait for the thieves to be calmed down, our country does not want much, follow the story of the five generations, please your country in the past Yanyun Sixteen Prefectures land reward our army, the two countries have become generations of brothers, forever friendship. ”

Before the words fell, he heard a loud noise on the side, and Zhao Dangshi looked at it urgently, but it was Guo Ruke who couldn't help but shoot the case at this time.