Hou Dagui, who had been ordered to march into Shanxi, arrived in Jiangzhou in early June, but the situation he faced was far less rosy than it had been.

Jiang Jiu's plan to attack and kill Zhang Tianlin to occupy Datong Mansion and return to Shaanxi by the northern route of the army did not work, so he turned west from Zhending Mansion in Beizhili, entered Shanxi through Guguan, and immediately carried out a series of military deployments.

Although the Qing army temporarily returned to Beijing to escape the summer, Li Zicheng became an accident prevention, leaving Guo Yi's general Ma Chong's 5,000 men to defend the boundary west of Zhending Mansion, and to guard the key passes of Jingcheng that controlled the communication between Shanxi and Beizhili. In Shanxi, Li Zicheng, who was already aware of the situation in Shaanxi, sent Li Guo, the marquis of Bo, who had changed his name to Li Jin, with 20,000 soldiers and horses from the rear battalion to the north to Xinzhou to garrison Jiang Huang. He also ordered the mighty generals Liu Zhong and Liu Rukui to enter Lu'an Mansion and Henan Weihui Mansion with 5,000 soldiers and horses to consolidate the south. He personally led 50,000 soldiers and horses from the center, left, and right battalions to Taiyuan Mansion for a short-term rest. The strength of the Shun army in the whole of Shanxi and the surrounding areas is still 80,000 or 90,000, which far exceeds the number of Hou Dagui's army.

Hou Dagui originally wanted to pass through Pingyang Mansion before Li Zicheng's troops arrived in Taiyuan, and enter Yongning Prefecture, Linxian and other places in the west of Taiyuan Prefecture as soon as possible, so as to escape the clamping of the Shun army. However, it was temporarily reported that Li Zicheng had separated Mianhou Yuan Zongdi and led the right battalion of 10,000 people to rush into Jiajiazhuang in Linfen County, Pingyang Prefecture, so he urgently stopped the army - from Jiangzhou to the north, he must pass through Jiajiazhuang, Li Zicheng did this, obviously intending to block Hou Dagui's army in the southwest of Shanxi.

Although Hou Dagui's independent combat strength this time is not much, there are many talents under his hands, including people with wisdom such as Mu Gongchun and Yan Licheng, and generals such as Han Gon and Ma Guangchun. Therefore, he did not panic in the face of unexpected situations, but inherited the fine tradition of Zhao Ying handed down by Zhao Dangshi and convened a meeting of civil and military affairs.

Looking at the civil and military officers who entered the military tent one after another, Hou Dagui's heart was overjoyed. It's not that he hasn't presided over the military conference, but it seems that Han Gon and Mu Gongchun, the top ministers of the Zhao camp, can gather together for their own use, and the sense of accomplishment is not comparable to that of the past.

"Now that the situation is changing, our army is going north, but there are three difficulties." When everyone sat down, Hou Dagui didn't know how to start, and glanced at Yan Licheng twice, Yan Licheng knew him very well and knew his temperament, so he said the opening remarks that had been prepared a long time ago.

"Yes, there is a trilemma." Hou Dagui pretended to nod solemnly, and then looked at Yan Licheng.

Yan Licheng coughed lightly, and said: "The lord negotiated with Jiang Huang, the result is unknown, Jiang Huang is an enemy or a friend still needs to wait for news, although our army does not go to Datong, but we can't ignore Jiang Huang, this is difficult." ”

Han Gon said: "According to the news that our army has inquired by itself, after Jiang Huang and Wang Yue, the chief soldier of Shanxi, betrayed the thieves and killed the thief general Zhang Tianlin, they gathered the border soldiers and the thieves surrendered the troops, and there were more than 20,000 horses, even Li Chuang didn't take him for a while, and only let a tiger go to Xinzhou for temporary precautions. If he can return to the imperial court, it will be of great benefit to our army's operations in Shanxi. ”

Hou Dagui said: "It's such a reason, but it's hard to say what people think in their hearts, this difficulty can only depend on the progress of the lord's side now, and we must not easily provoke Jiang Xuan." "It's a conclusion to this difficulty.

Yan Licheng first said "What the governor said is extremely true", and then said: "The thieves retreated from Beijing and all entered Shanxi, with a large number of soldiers and horses. At present, our army is only 12,000 soldiers and horses, which is really less, and I am afraid that it will be difficult to determine the overall situation of Shanxi, and this two difficulties are also difficult. ”

Hou Dagui clapped his hands and said, "This is simple, let the lord increase his troops." ”

Ma Guangchun shook his head and said: "At the beginning of our army's troops, it was the idea of quickly seizing Shanxi, who would have thought that Jiang Hao would suddenly rebel and cut off the way back for the thieves, which caused tens of thousands of thieves to flock here. Shaanxi is equally important, and it is impossible for the lord to increase his troops. ”

Zhang Xianbi whispered: "It's better to retreat back to Puzhou and Ruicheng for the time being, and hold the ferry between Jin and Shaanxi, not only to prevent thieves from crossing the river into Shaanxi, but also to wait for a good opportunity to go to Shanxi." ”

Han Gon also said: "The Shanxi incident, but the lord did not let us go back, but let us change the route to the north, which shows that he is not willing to give up the opportunity to enter Shanxi easily." How can we, when we have high hopes, retreat from the battle? ”

Hou Dagui nodded heavily and said: "What Lao Han said is that he fled without fighting a battle, is it my Zhao Ying's disciple's style?" Glaring at Zhang Xianbi as he spoke, "Brother, talk a little, you kid learn more, don't do anything but brains!" ”

Zhao Dangshi had previously sent an envoy to consult Hou Dagui on the diversion of the army, and Hou Dagui was of course opposed to the temporary withdrawal of the army. He finally snatched this opportunity from Xu Hui, and he made up his mind to perform well, and he returned to Xi'an before Shanxi arrived, and he also fell too much. At present, Zhao Dangshi did not recall him, but instead set the goal of turning him to Yulinwei, which shows that he is serious. As the commander of the side, he should find a way to solve the problems in front of him, instead of retreating from difficulties and seeking the assistance of the upper peak.

The proposal to march into Shanxi was first made by Han Gon, Ma Guangchun, Zhou Yuji, and Lü Yue, which was not only to enhance the overall strategic flexibility of the Ming army, but also to open up new battlefields and gain military exploits. Therefore, on the point of firmly marching into Shanxi, Hou Dagui and Han Gon and others have a consensus, which also makes Hou Dagui's army work together and is quite cohesive. Although Zhang Xianbi was a lieutenant officer in Hou Dagui's standard battalion, his status was still inferior to Han Gon, Ma Guangchun and other Zhao camp generals.

Yan Licheng said at this time: "Our army has few soldiers, and we can't invite troops from Shaanxi for the time being, so we can consider absorbing the local armies in Shanxi." ”

Han Gon was mainly in charge of the sentry, and answered: "Shanxi has been in turmoil since the thieves, and there has been turmoil in all directions. The thieves withdrew from Beizhili, and countless displaced people migrated to follow, attracting large and small forces from all over the country to swarm, and Jiang Huang was anyway, which seemed to have lit a fire in Shanxi. Nowadays, there are famous people, Lu'an Mansion has the Tukou Hu Guoding wreaking havoc, Zezhou also has Chen Du, Zhang Douguang and other generations, Puzhou has Yu Yin, Han Zhaoxuan, Li Qisheng, and so on. In addition, the former dynasty abolished the official Wan Lian to attack the partial pass, Liu Qian, Zhang Wugui, Yanmen Pass, Daizhou, Fanzhi, Wutai and other places. These forces, the big ones are tens of thousands, and the small ones are more than 1,000 people, and they are scattered all over Shanxi, and if they can be appeased and collected for their own use, it will undoubtedly be conducive to the growth of our army. ”

Yan Licheng nodded and said: "Regardless of the bandits who gathered in the incident, just like Wan Lian, Liu Qian and other abolished officials of the previous dynasty, since they dared to raise troops, although they were encouraged by Jiang Jiu anyway, it can also be seen that they have the heart to restore the imperial court." When we go to contact us in the name of the imperial court, we will get a response. ”

Han Gon said: "If you treat Hu Guoding and other bandits with the stories of Li Jiyu, Liu Hongqi and others, you will be more sure of receiving them. ”

Hou Dagui stroked his palm and smiled: "Okay, good, as long as it can make our army stronger, no matter where we come from, we can use it." Saying that, he said to Yan Lichengdao, "Mr. Yan, you can take care of the affairs of dealing with these forces." ”

Yan Licheng had expected this result, and said calmly: "Obey." ”

Hou Dagui continued: "This second difficulty has been agreed, now let's talk about the third difficulty. ”

Yan Licheng responded: "The third difficulty is just around the corner, the thief marshal Yuan Zong's 10,000 people are guarding Jiazhuang, our army wants to advance north, and we can't get around this pass." ”

Ma Guangchun said: "Li Chuang went straight to Taiyuan in Shanxi, and sent Yuan Zongdi to intercept our army, and it can be seen that he still wants to keep Yulinwei." He added, "I'm afraid that when Taiyuan reorganizes the army, Li Chuang will send troops to aid Yulinwei and go to Shaanxi from there as usual." ”

Zhou Yuji held his chin and said: "Li Chuang will use troops, and he knows that when he goes south at this time, whether he goes to Guanzhong or Henan, he will face the danger of being attacked on all sides by going to Shaanxi, so he still insists on going north to Yulinwei, first, he can defeat Sun Chuanting's army head-on, and secondly, there is only one Jiang Jiu who has Li Guo staring at the enemy on his back to worry about, which is undoubtedly more secure." When he relieves the siege of Yulinwei and joins the thieves of Yulinwei and the party guards who are wandering in Qingyang Mansion, he will be able to gather more strength and go down to Guanzhong. ”

At present, the situation is very clear, Li Zicheng arranged Ma Chongxi in Zhending Mansion to prevent the Qing army, arranged Li Guo in Xinzhou to prevent Jiang Xuan, arranged Liu Zhong and Liu Rukui in Lu'an Mansion and Weihui Mansion to prevent the Henan Ming army, and arranged Yuan Zongdi in Pingyang Mansion to prevent Hou Dagui, and his 40,000 troops in Taiyuan Mansion could withdraw to Yulinwei and unite with Yulinwei's more than 10,000 Shun troops to defeat Sun Chuanting. After that, the party guards who were wandering in Shaanxi were absorbed, and the number of troops rushing to the aid of Guanzhong would reach 60,000, plus the 30,000 troops of Guanzhong Tian Jianxiu, with nearly 100,000 troops against less than 70,000 troops of Zhao Dangshi in Shaanxi, and still have an advantage.

Hou Dagui said with a cold face: "He wants to be beautiful, is it really my old Hou who eats dry rice?" ”

Although it was Zhao Dangshi's established policy to let the Shun army enter Shaanxi for a decisive battle, if the Shun army was to develop according to this situation, the situation of the Shun army in Shanxi would gradually stabilize, which could be said to be offensive and retreating, which was contrary to Zhao Dangshi's strategy of trying to force the Shun army to a dilemma and then annihilate them in one battle. In other words, once Li Zicheng calmly went to Shaanxi with no worries, defeated Sun Chuanting, and then integrated his strength to rescue Guanzhong, his Hou Dagui's action to enter Shanxi this time would be meaningless.

"Li still wants to win in defeat, and he lives up to the name of a hero." Ma Guangchun had insight into the overall situation and knew that Zhao Dangshi was certainly well planned, but Li Zicheng also dismantled and demolished beautifully, creating a stalemate in many places, thus successfully transferring the success or failure of the overall battle situation to the gains and losses in a corner of Yulinwei, and he himself still took the initiative.

There are only two ways for the Ming army to break the deadlock.

Yi Zhao Dangshi launched a general attack on Xi'an in advance, quickly ate Tian Jianxiu's 30,000 people, and then turned his head to fight a decisive battle with Li Zicheng. But in this way, the Shun army has Shanxi as the back road, and even if it fails, there will be a chance to breathe, and Sun Chuanting's 20,000 people will inevitably be sent away in vain. For the Ming army, it can only be regarded as not losing or earning.

The other is that Hou Dagui's Ming army's surprise army in Shanxi exerted force, creating a threat that was enough to contain Li Zicheng's main force, leaving Sun Chuanting time to break through Yulinwei. If Jiang Hao returns, then the road to Shaanxi by the Shun army to the north is still locked, and the forces of the Shun army are still cut and separated, and Li Zicheng goes to Shaanxi again, and the main force will face the dilemma of being threatened by Hou Dagui, Sun Chuanting, Jiang Hao and other armies. In this way, the strategic situation can be regarded as greatly beneficial to the Ming army.

Han Gon's eyebrows gathered slightly, and he said: "Yuan Zongdi is a fierce general of thieves, and the 10,000 people he stationed in Jiajiazhuang are also the elite of the right battalion of thieves, and the number is on a par with our army. I am afraid that it will be difficult for our army to win a quick victory. ”

It was undoubtedly the quickest way to attract the attention of Li Zicheng's main army, so that he did not dare to rush to Yulinwei and defeat Yuan Zongdi, so that the Shun army's defense line in southern Shanxi would be porous, but experienced battlefield veterans such as Han Gon could see that Yuan Zongdi's army might not be easy to deal with.

Hou Dagui is confident but not conceited, and he also knows that it is difficult to defeat Yuan Zongdi in a hurry, but he can't help it, and his bold words are released, and they have to be implemented, so he looks left and right, and wants to hear what opinions this full of civil and military ministers has, but after looking around for a long time, Yan Licheng, Han Gon and others are all silent.

"Damn, is it inevitable that my old marquis will end up with a big joke?" Hou Dagui was anxious in the face of the silent scene. If breaking the situation cannot be achieved by his own army, then for the sake of the overall situation, his best thing to do is to take his troops back to Xi'an Mansion obediently to listen to Zhao Dangshi's instructions. But in doing so, he would lose face.

"Boss, Xiaosheng has a way, or he can solve the dilemma in Jinnan."

Just as the tense atmosphere in the huge army tent was spreading irrepressibly, a familiar voice came into Hou Dagui's ears, which shocked him and saw the dawn of hope.