In the middle of May of the second year of Chongxing (1644 AD), Monk An led all the soldiers and horses of the second town of the Tang Army, set off from Chongqing, and went all the way to attack Shizhouwei in the west of Huxi.

When Monk An set off with his troops, he was already prepared. The eastern Sichuan Prefectures of Chongqing under it have been garrisoned by Zeng Ying's Tenth Town, ensuring that the rear is safe, so that Monk An can devote all his strength to attack Zuo Liangyu's department.

The soldiers and horses of the second town of the Tang Army, totaling nearly 50,000 people, had enough soldiers and food, and many firearms, and slaughtered out of eastern Sichuan and went straight to the Shizhou Guard, which had an extremely weak defense of Zuo Liangyu's department.

The area of Shizhouwei, that is, the Enshi area of modern China, is located in many barren mountains, and most of them are hiding places for poor and displaced people, which can be regarded as a poor place where birds do not. Zuo Liangyu thought that his real estate was barren and there were many toasts, so he didn't pay attention to this place at all, and the entire Shizhou Wei only garrisoned more than 2,000 soldiers. Therefore, now once the Tang army starts to attack, it will completely catch Zuo Liangyu off guard.

The soldiers and horses of the second town of the Tang Army, of which the two battalions of A and B went south from Kuizhou, and the mighty troops went straight to Shizhou Weifu, and the other C battalion was a separate road, starting from Wanxian County, attacking the Jiannan Division on the south bank of the Modao River. The soldiers and horses of the two roads were dispatched separately, and the momentum was like a broken bamboo, and where they went, the enemy army fell in the wind.

In just over half a month, the Tang army quickly captured the entire territory of Shizhouwei, and most of the Tusi in its territory were subdued, and only a very small number of stubborn resistors were completely wiped out by the Tang army, and their entire village was completely razed to the ground, and all the men, women, and children in the village were captured as prisoners of war and sent to the labor camp in eastern Sichuan.

When the Tang army was playing the song of Wei Kai in Shizhou, urgent letters asking for help were also quickly sent to the Ningnan Marquis Mansion in Wuchang. Soon, his son Zuo Mengeng, with the fastest running speed in his life, personally handed over the letter for help to Zuo Liangyu, Marquis of Ningnan.

Seeing that the Tang army suddenly sent troops from eastern Sichuan to attack cities and plunder land in western Hubei, Zuo Liangyu, who was already feeling a headache because the defense line in the southeast was very tight, was depressed and anxious after seeing these hateful urgent letters, and the depression and anxiety in his heart were indescribable.

His whole body trembled, his teeth rattled, and the expression on his face was inexplicably frightened and terrified.

I didn't expect it! The Tang army moved so quickly that they defeated Zhang Xianzhong's troops, and they immediately turned around to deal with themselves, but they were caught off guard by themselves.

When Zuo Liangyu was panicking, his son Zuo Menggeng's frightened words came from the side in a trembling voice.

"Father, now that this Shizhou Wei has been quickly lost, then the Tang army will definitely not stop there, and will definitely continue to attack Yunyang and Jingzhou and other places, if we don't hurry up and find a way, these two important state capitals, I'm afraid they will all fall into the hands of the Tang army!"

When Zuo Liangyu heard this, his heart was even more worried and uneasy, he was ruthless, and the letter in his hand was already tightly clenched.

The trembling words of the son Zuo Mengeng next to him were still continuing: "Father, in the child's opinion, the current western Hubei area is weak, and it is not enough to confront the Tang army at all. If we want to keep those state capitals, counties and towns, the only feasible way is to transfer troops from the eastern front line to the western Hubei area, only in this way can we block the Tang army's offensive and temporarily protect our army's territory. ”

As soon as Zuo Mengeng's words came out, Zuo Liangyu became more and more restless and uncomfortable.

He didn't know that the only feasible plan now was to dig the east wall to make up the west wall, and transfer a large number of troops from the heavy defense line in the east to garrison the state capital in western Hubei, so that he could protect the state capital, county and town in western Hubei and prevent it from falling into the hands of the Tang army.

However, if this is done, one of the greatest dangers and drawbacks lies in the eastern defensive line.

Because a large number of troops were transferred to aid western Hubei and the troops stationed on the eastern front were insufficient, the strength of the Tang Army in the east was afraid that it was also about to move.

If there is a loss in the east, the situation will be even more dangerous.

After the Tang army broke through the border towns on the Eastern Front, it would lead its troops to Wuchang, its nest. As soon as Wuchang is lost, its forces in the north of Huguang will completely collapse, and then, if he does not surrender, he can only flee south to Xiangxi, and survive in this way.

Thinking of this, Zuo Liangyu's face couldn't help but ooze cold sweat, and his face became more and more ugly.

He rose from his chair, ripped off his shirt in irritability, and paced back and forth like a trapped beast on the steps.

Seeing his father so irritable, Zuo Mengeng, who originally wanted to say a few more words, closed his mouth knowingly, and he looked at his father with a pitiful face, looking helpless.

In the entire room, except for Zuo Liangyu's clicking footsteps, there was no sound, showing a depressed dead silence.

Zuo Liangyu paced back and forth on the steps for a long time before he stopped, and scolded in a low voice: "Damn, Yu Ling's plan can only be gambled." ”

"But please make it clear to my father."

Zuo Liangyu turned around, his eyes were very complicated, and he said in a deep voice: "The land of western Hubei is the back and belly of our army, and there must be no mistakes, in order to protect its land from the poison of the Tang army, we can only draw troops from the eastern defense line and send them to the west to ensure that it will not be lost again." ”

"Father, if that's the case, then the east ......" Zuo Mengeng looked anxious.

Zuo Liangyu waved his hand, signaling that he didn't have to say any more, and then sighed and said: "The situation is so critical, we can only take one step at a time, how can there be a foolproof strategy." In my father's opinion, the Tang Army in the east is now in the greatest danger than the Ninth Town of the Tang Army that is endangering Jiujiang City, that is, the soldiers and horses of the traitor Huang Degong's department. If Jiujiang City is lost, the Tang army should be able to approach Wuchang from both land and water, and its momentum will be unstoppable, which is a situation that must never occur. ”

"What does Father mean?"

Zuo Liangyu snorted coldly, his eyes as cold as iron: "Since the troops of Hao Xiaozhong's troops stationed in Jiujiang are so urgent that they cannot be adjusted, then they can only be transferred from Jin Shenghuan's troops stationed in Susong, Wang Deren's troops stationed in Macheng, and relevant prefectures and towns in southern Henan, a total of 100,000 troops can be transferred to urgently aid Yunyang Mansion and Jingzhou Mansion in western Hubei Province." ”

"Father, it's just ......"

Zuo Liangyu waved his hand again, signaling that he didn't need to say much, and then continued: "Meng Geng, I know, you will definitely say that if so many soldiers and horses are transferred from Macheng to Susong, as well as the entire southern part of Henan, then the entire eastern defense line will be very loose, so that the Tang army will have a chance to take advantage of it. This point has been carefully thought about by my father, but in the current plan, only to win in danger is the only feasible strategy, and we can only gamble hard. ”

Zuo Liangyu paused, and then said in a deep voice: "Now, my Hongguang Imperial Court has formed an alliance agreement with Li Zicheng in the north, then, we can urgently ask them for reinforcements, and let them send troops and horses to the south of Henan, in this way, to consolidate the defense line in the east, so that the Tang army does not dare to act rashly." Therefore, my father orders you to quickly send an envoy to the territory of Li Zicheng in the north of Henan to ask for reinforcements, so that they can urgently enter the southern part of Henan, so that the Tang army in the east will not take advantage of the fire to rob and invade our territory. ”

Zuo Mengeng whispered, but asked back with a hesitant face: "Father, such a plan, the child also approves, but you don't have to worry, in case that Li Zicheng's troops and horses can enter my southern Henan Zhuzhou County, he will not retreat, and come to invade my territory, what should I do?" ”

Zuo Liangyu sighed lightly, a look of unbearability appeared on his face, and he shouted softly: "Meng Geng! Do you think that fatherhood doesn't see this? It's just that things have priorities, and the one that needs to be solved the most now is Tang Jun, who can be my confidant! In order to solve the Tang army, Hugh said that now let Li Zicheng send troops to garrison the southern part of Henan, and if necessary, it is okay to temporarily give this Wuchang City to Li Zicheng! ”

Seeing that Zuo Mengeng was silent with a tense face, Zuo Liangyu continued with a heavy face: "That Li Zicheng, who started as a rogue, is a wolf-hearted and dog-lunged person who has no faith at all, and wants people like him to help, without the slightest sweetness and no actual benefits. With the empty slogans of an alliance, can they be expected to send reinforcements immediately? Isn't it just a joke! Therefore, this southern part of Henan is also a bait given to them by his father, so that Li Zicheng is greedy for this land, so he immediately sent reinforcements. As long as Li Zicheng sends troops into the south of Henan, then they can be responsible for the local defense, and we only need to make every effort to deal with the line from Macheng to Susong, so that even if 100,000 troops are sent to aid western Hubei, we will have a good chance of winning in dealing with the attack of the Tang army in the east. said a thousand ways and ten thousand, as long as the Tang army can be repelled and the place where we can survive and live, then even if the southern part of Henan is occupied by Li Zicheng for a while, it is not impossible. When we arrive, we can completely find another way to drive Li Zicheng's forces out of southern Henan and retake these places. ”

Listening to Zuo Liangyu's nagging words, although Zuo Mengeng's face was ugly, he also knew that in the future, his father's words were the only feasible plan.

Even more pessimistic and humiliating is that such a seemingly humiliating strategy needs to be implemented immediately and must not be delayed, otherwise, the eastern defense line will collapse, and even if Li Zicheng's troops enter Henan, it will be useless.

Zuo Mengeng let out a long sigh and replied: "What the father said is very true, the child understands." The child arranged for a messenger of his cronies to rush to Dashun to ask for help, and his father waited for good news. ”

Zuo Liangyu's plan is set, and next, start acting immediately.

He immediately transferred 100,000 troops from Macheng, Susong, and southern Henan, led by his son Zuo Mengeng, to urgently aid Yunyang and Jingzhou in western Hubei. And when his soldiers and horses arrived in western Hubei, the envoys sent by Zuo Mengeng also hurried to Kaifeng City in northern Henan.

Last year, after Li Zicheng captured the Beijing Division, Chen Yongfu, the chief soldier of Henan, received an order from Emperor Chongzhen to lead all his troops and horses, and rushed north day and night.

Unexpectedly, the army rushed all the way to the north, neglected reconnaissance, and finally fell into the ambush of the Liukou in the area of Hejian Province, and the whole army was defeated, Chen Yongfu's father and son were killed, and as many as 50,000 or 60,000 soldiers surrendered to the Liukou.

After Chen Yongfu's main force in Henan was destroyed, Li Zicheng's nephew Li Guo, the general Tian Jin and others immediately led their troops south, and quickly occupied the capitals of northern Henan, such as Luoyang, Kaifeng and other big cities, all of which fell into the hands of the enemy.

Zuo Liangyu, who was stationed in the south of Henan, originally thought that after Chen Yongfu led his troops to the north, he would come to the black and eat the black and seize the northern prefectures and counties, but before he sent troops, he heard the news that Chen Yongfu's entire army was wiped out in Hejian Province, and he was almost frightened.

As a result, he was frightened, so he could only retreat to Nanyang Mansion and Guide Mansion in southern Henan, and did not dare to make any moves. In the end, the Liukou was overwhelmed and seized the entire northern part of Henan.

But speaking of which, Zuo Liangyu's house was able to keep the southern part of Henan in the end, thanks to Li Xiao.

Because just when Li Zicheng swallowed the northern part of Henan and was about to go south in a big way and wipe out the entire Southern Ming Dynasty in one fell swoop, Li Xiao, the king of Tang, made a quick move to seize the important town of Shanhaiguan, and turned the strategic goal of the Dashun army to the ground.

In order to eliminate Li Xiao and get rid of this worry that was like a thorn in his back, Li Zicheng and the Qing court joined forces to attack Shanhaiguan, but he did not expect to be treated by the Tang army with ease and work, and he was defeated by a joint attack by sea and land.

Then, Li Zicheng became the revenge of the defeat of Shanhaiguan, and joined forces with the Qing court, sent heavy troops to attack Li Xiao's Xuanfu North Road, but lost the generals, there was no inch to advance, the time has passed more than half a year, and it is still outside Jintang City, and the fourth town of the Tang Army is fighting against each other, who wins and who loses, it is difficult to say.

The Dashun army went all out to the north to attack Li Xiao's forces, but it gave Zuo Liangyu enough time to rest and breathe, so that in addition to the two southern provinces of Henan, which Gong Yin relied on, he also embezzled the entire Huguang and most of Jiangxi, with as many as five or six hundred thousand troops.

Other military towns, except for Zheng Zhilong, who occupies the two provinces of Fujian and Guangdong, can barely be compared with it, such as Huang Degong, Liu Liangzuo and others, whether it is the strength or the territory, can not be compared with Zuo Liangyu at all.

Therefore, after such an analysis, Zuo Liangyu's ability to develop and grow so rapidly is due to Li Xiao's shadow.

After the envoy entered Kaifeng City, he was immediately summoned by Li Guo, the chief general of the Dashun army who was guarding here, into the palace.

At this time, Li Guo's life was aggrieved and dull.

After the defeat at Shanhaiguan last year, although Li Guo was a deputy general, he always had to bear the crime of defeating the army, so after leading his division back to the capital, he was severely reprimanded by Li Zicheng and lost face. 、

Next, Li Zicheng ordered him to stay in Beijing and not give him the opportunity to attack the Tang Army's Xuanfu North Road again. Although Li Guo was helpless, he could only obediently accept his order.

As a result, I didn't expect that this time the joint use of troops with the Qing court to attack the north road of Xuanfu, hundreds of thousands of Dashun troops, was first defeated and then stalemate, and the war wanted to end in a long way at all, Li Zicheng returned from the front line in a gloomy manner, and saw his nephew Li Guo who stayed in Beijing, and the two sides felt even more embarrassed.

In order to be out of sight and out of mind, Li Zicheng ordered Li Guo to lead 50,000 troops south to defend the northern region of Henan. Therefore, since this period of time, Li Guo has been in a state of idleness, just drinking and spoiling every day. Compared with the glaring battlefield killing, this day is mediocre and boring.

Hearing that Zuo Liangyu sent an envoy to come urgently, Li Guo, who was drunk, instantly widened his bloodshot eyes, and a cold light flashed in his eyes.

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