"Wozi, if it is indeed difficult for the governor to mobilize Liu Zeqing's troops, this official is willing to share the worries on his behalf and dispatch my Chifeng Fort soldiers and horses to exterminate the Liukou!" Li Xiao said in a sincere tone. Pen? Interesting? Pavilion wWw. ｂiquge。 ｉｎfo

Hearing Li Xiao's statement, Chen Zilong was not surprised. He came to Chifeng Fort this time, but because he had a good impression of Li Xiao, he came here to play. didn't expect his unintentional chat, but he got such a solemn statement from Li Xiao.

Chen Zilong's heart was full of joy and suspicion.

What he was happy about was naturally Li Xiao's willingness to send troops to fight the rogues in order to share the worries of Governor Li Maofang. And what is suspected is that this Li Xiao's Red Phoenix Fort soldiers and horses, there are many new formations, although they defeated Zheng Longfang's troops with a trick before, it is difficult to say whether they can really defeat those cruel and cunning rogues with a large number of people.

Moreover, this matter is very important, and it is impossible for Chen Zilong to make an assertion. So, he groaned for a while, and then said, "Lord Li, you are willing to send troops to suppress the thieves, which is very good. However, students need to inform the Governor of the matter before making a decision. ”

"Haha, it's nature. Wozi, please tell the governor that if you have to use Li's place, Li Xiao will lead the army to fight the thieves and drive away for the governor's life. Li Xiao replied with a smile on his face.

Soon at noon, Li Xiao held a banquet to entertain Chen Zilong and his party, and the relationship between the two became more and more intimate.

After the banquet, Li Xiao sent Chen Zilong and his entourage off the fort and returned to Jinan. Subsequently, he sat alone with Wu Liang and chatted secretly in the hall.

"My lord, the student secretly thought that the adult was a little more anxious to deal with Mr. Chen today." Wu Liang hesitated and said to Li Xiao.

"Oh, why did Mr. Wu say that?"

"My lord, my Chifeng Fort has just been built, and the number of soldiers is still insufficient, so there is really no need to be strong for the governor. You must know that this trip to the border of Shandong and Henan to suppress thieves, across Shandong, a journey of thousands of miles, victory is not enough to benefit, defeat will shake the foundation of our army. Wu Liang said with a heavy face.

"Mr. Wu, I understand your painstaking efforts. It's just that this official wants to tell you that the reason why this official is willing to send troops to Yanzhou to help Governor Li fight against the rogue is because it is profitable. Li Xiao looked out the window, and his words were low.

"Oh, what good is it for your lordship?"

"Iron Ore!"

Seeing Wu Liang's stunned face, Li Xiao lowered his voice and said to Wu Liang: "This official has learned that in the territory of Shanxian County, Yanzhou, there are a lot of iron ores, and no one has yet discovered them. If it is in the hands of our army, it is a solid basis for the future development of our army! ”

Li Xiao from the previous life knew that at the beginning of the 21st century in the later generations, several extra-large iron ores were discovered in Yanzhou, with a total reserve of 50 to 6 billion tons, and in Shanxian County on the border of Shandong and Henan, at the intersection of Daliuzhuang and Longwang Temple, the total reserves of shallow hematite were proved to be 1.4 billion tons, of which the rich veins with high taste were more than 100 million tons!

This is a rather astonishing number, you must know that in the middle of Wanli, the peak of the Ming Dynasty's national strength, the entire Ming Dynasty produced only 160,000 tons of steel a year, and the iron ore consumption was only nearly 400,000 tons.

"Your Excellency is really a man of God, but where did you hear such news?" Wu Liang looked at Li Xiao with an incredulous look.

Facing Wu Liang's surprised eyes, Li Xiao felt embarrassed. This is the news that he has learned in later generations, so he naturally can't say it to Wu Liangming. So, he made up a lie full of loopholes, saying that he had met a golden ironman before, and found out that there was an iron mine here, and he told him the news when he was chatting.

"I see. It turns out that the Lord wants to take advantage of the opportunity to suppress the bandits, send troops to Nadan County, and garrison the land of its iron ore in the name of sticking to the thief, so as to occupy the local iron mine and make it the foundation of our army? ”

That's exactly what it means! According to this official's understanding, the land of Shandong, iron ore and iron fields, etc., are concentrated in the Luzhong area, especially in Zibo. In these places, there have already been various officials and merchants, powerful generals, and even local vassal kings have started to occupy good mines and enjoy the fertilizer. It is very difficult for us to intervene in it. Moreover, reaching out to cross the border like this will definitely attract the dissatisfaction of our army from officials to generals in Shandong. If there is such a name for suppressing bandits now, going to Shanxian County in Yanzhou to dig iron ore is a different way. If this is the case for our army, even if others are dissatisfied and jealous, they will have no choice but to do it. Li Xiao said with a smile.

"Adults are good at planning, and students admire." Wu Liang had a comfortable smile on his face.

"Mr. Wu, I can't tell anyone about this matter for the time being, and after I wait for the raw rice to be cooked, this matter will be decided logically."

"Well, students understand, don't worry, adults."

The two looked at each other and smiled, Li Xiao changed the topic, and said to Wu Liang again: "Mr. Wu, do you think that the governor will agree with this official's statement?" ”

"My lord, this is hard to say, although our army has shown its willingness to send troops. But what the governor thinks, it is difficult for students to guess. If they can trust an adult, they may send an adult, but if they can't, they may not agree. Wu Liang also said bluntly.

In Li Xiao's eyes, a cold light flashed: "If Governor Li really doesn't agree, this official will never give up this rare opportunity." ”

"What do you mean?"

"Lead the cowards to respect themselves and force them to comply." Li Xiao's voice was low and clear.

。。。。。。

Jinan Mansion, Governor's Office.

In the living room, Chen Zilong and Li Maofang sat opposite each other.

Chen Zilong told Li Xiao that he was willing to send troops to Yanzhou to fight the idea of thieves, and truthfully reported to Li Maofang.

"Dong Weng, from a student's point of view, although this Li Xiao is in the realm of Denglai, it is rare for him to be so interested in the rogues on the border of Luxi."

"Oh, although I said so, Ben Xian felt strange, what does this matter of Lu Xi have to do with him Li Xiao?"

"The students thought that this Li Qianhu was afraid that he wanted to be anxious to show himself in front of Dong Weng and make contributions, so he should express his position so positively."

Li Maofang fell into a deep groan.

He secretly thought, this Li Xiao has always been a person who does not want to be famous, but is keen to seek practical gains. Is he really so selfless, I'm afraid it's not that simple.

"Wozi, Ben Xian is thinking, this Li Xiao is afraid that he has other plans, so he is so positive." After a long time, Li Maofang said slowly.

Chen Zilong was stunned, he thought for a while and said: "Dong Weng, the students think that since ancient times, the famous generals have good fortunes, and it is also human nature that Li Xiao has a plan. If it works for me, it's a good thing. Li Xiao can really fight the rogue, the adult is his superior, no matter how great his credit is, it is also because the adult has a good leadership. ”

Li Maofang nodded, but still didn't say anything immediately: "Wozi, what you said is very reasonable. The matter of sending Li Xiao to send troops will be decided after this constitution is considered clearly. ”

"This 。。。。。。 So on Li Xiao's side, how should the student reply? ”

"There's no need to reply, then Li Xiao is a smart person, knowing that if I don't reply, I don't agree for the time being. Let's wait and see. Li Maofang frowned and said.

。。。。。。

The setting sun is like blood, smearing the field on the south bank of the Yellow River into an oppressive dark red. But it made the scattered and noisy group of rogue soldiers on this field more eye-catching and dazzling.

A leader of the Liukou, dressed in shabby cotton armor and wearing a captured six-helmet tasseled helmet of the Ming army, was looking north at the surging Yellow River, and his face was full of horizontal flesh, but his face was helpless and gloomy.

This leader of the Liukou, who doesn't know what his surname is, there is only one nickname called Black Scorpion in history that has been handed down.

At the end of last year, Zhang Miaoshou broke into the sky, flew all over the sky, Xing Hongwolf, Chuang General (Li Zicheng) and other rogues, successfully surrendered to the Ming army's Wang Pu Zuoliangyu and other troops, and when the Ming army was paralyzed, he took advantage of the opportunity of the Yellow River to freeze and fly across the river, jumped out of the encirclement of the Ming army's heavy troops, and then transferred to Huguang.

The black scorpion was unlucky, after being ordered by Zhang Miao's hand to lead the troops to be cut off, he was caught up by a soldier of Henan Governor Yuan Mo, and under the relentless pursuit, the black scorpion lost the road, and did not go south with the army to join Zhang Miao's hand, but went all the way east, and came to the mountains and wilderness of the boundary of Yucheng, Defu, and survived.

Because he fled all the way to the east, he lost a lot of soldiers, and the Henan official army that pursued him, seeing that he had fled into the barren mountains, his momentum was already weak, so he followed the intention of the governor Yuan Mo and returned to the southwest to intercept the other Liukou soldiers who had not withdrawn to Huguang.

The Black Scorpion Department survived the winter, and absorbed many bandits and famine displaced people in the vicinity, and its momentum recovered, sweeping away many villages one after another, and plundering a large number of people.

After the power was reinvigorated, the black scorpion called himself the commander, and his subordinate generals called themselves generals, and so far, plus the captivity of the people, there were more than 5,000 people in the whole army, and it became the largest rogue force in the territory of Yucheng.

It's just that it's easy to gather troops, but it's hard to raise them.

Since last year, Henan has suffered from military disasters and droughts, and the misery of the people is almost no different from that of Shanxi, Shaanxi, the hardest-hit area.

Lu Weiqi, the secretary of the Nanjing Military Department of the Ming Dynasty, described the tragic situation in Henan at that time in "The Soul of the Central Plains": "In the third, fourth, fifth, and sixth years of Chongzhen, there was a severe drought for many years, and there was no harvest in autumn, and it was difficult to plant wheat. There is no grass in the wild, and ten rooms are empty. So there are those who have a bucket of rice worth five coins of silver, there are those who cannot raise rice for a day of work, there are those who pick grass roots and leaves to satisfy their hunger, there are husbands who abandon their wives and mothers abandon their children, there are those who sell one child and have less than a few meals, there are those who hang themselves in the forest and fill the ditches, there are those who starve to death on the side of the road, there are those who beg for quails and vegetables, there are those who die by pillows, there are those who flee through mud doors, and there are people who eat flesh and bones。。。。。。 ”

Lu Weiqi sighed with literary strokes: "Mourn me Henan, how can I continue!" There are no barking dogs in the village, and they are still knocking on the door of urging; The tree has a cries, sprinkled with the blood of the whip. Huang'ai Chidi, the countryside is a few people; White bones and green phosphorus, often hear ghosts crying every night. There is the sound of wind and cranes in the ears, and the eyes are full of desolation。。。。。。 ”

Given that the nearby villages had been looted, there was no way to get food. The black scorpion was not capable of attacking the state capital, so he planned to lead his troops to leave Yucheng and plunder elsewhere, but where to go, but he was very hesitant at this moment.

In the past few days, his generals have also been arguing about this matter. Some people say that they want to advance to the east and go to the more affluent Nanzhili Dangshan and other places to plunder, while others say that they want to turn southwest and go to Huguang to join Zhang Miao's hand. Some people also said that they would go north to Shandong and go to Shanxian and other places to plunder and eat.

All kinds of opinions made the black scorpion irritable and helpless.

It's just that he is so hesitant, and the already small stock of food in the army is consumed at an alarming rate every day.

"Black Marshal, our army's food and salary are already extremely insufficient, and we will run out of food in a few days. Now the plan, where to go, please make a quick decision! A rogue general with a thick and hideous face whispered to the black scorpion.

Before the black scorpion could reply, another rogue soldier with fierce eyes shouted in a low voice: "You are very panicked, the mountain tiger! The handsome man has his own plans. It really can't be done, first kill those people who are attached to the army, and use their meat to fill the army food, as long as we can keep the old camp in Shaanxi, these new soldiers will be as many as they will be in the future. ”

The black scorpion's face moved, and he was about to reply, when a soldier came to report that the leader of An had something to report to the black marshal.

After the sergeant finished reporting, a bald general with two hideous scars on his face in the distance strode towards the black scorpion.

This leader of An was Monk An, who was the deputy sentry chief of Li Xiaojun's spearmen at the time.

Li Xiao waited for a few days, but did not get any news from Jinan Mansion back, and knew in his heart that Li Maofang must still be hesitant about himself, so he no longer waited, but immediately started his next action plan.

Li Xiao then arranged for a deputy lancer sentinel who had been a bandit and had experience in dealing with bandits, and led dozens of cronies to sneak across the Yellow River from Shanxian County in Yanzhou to Yucheng, Henan.

At this time, the secret sentinels of the Security Division had already learned about the Black Scorpion, the largest local rogue, and under their secret guidance, soon, in a deserted village, Monk An found the Black Scorpion Department.

After seeing the leader of the black scorpion, Monk An, who pretended to be a mountain bandit in Yanzhou, immediately showed him that he was willing to lead the crowd.

Monk An's rough speech and bold style made the black scorpion very appreciative. In addition to letting him command the dozens of spearmen who pretended to come to throw, he also pulled dozens of other people to him and appointed him as the leader of the hundred-man team.

"Marshal, but are you worried about where our army wants to go?" Monk An asked in a rough voice from afar.

"Oh, monk, if you have any opinions, you can say them directly." The black scorpion replied sullenly.

"Marshal, in my opinion, our army will take Shandong directly, and it should be the only way."

Seeing that Monk An said it so categorically, the generals who were squatting or standing next to him were not surprised.

"This is strange, I want to ask, how can you Monk An say so sure?" A hair on the side, asked in a yin and yang tone.

Monk An didn't look at him, and continued to say to the black scorpion: "Dashuai, what you said below is not a matter of truth, but it is really thoughtful. Our army now has several opinions, one is to go east to the south and directly subordinate to Dangshan, and the other is to return to the southwest to chase Zhang Dashuai's department, but in the lower opinion, all of them are impossible. ”

"Monk, go on." The black scorpion's eyes lit up, and he said hurriedly.

"Marshal, our righteous army has been making trouble in Henan for a long time, and has reached the border where Henan and Nanzhili intersect many times, so now there are many defenses in various parts of Nanzhili, and the number of our army is still small, and it is not easy to raid and attack. If our army continues to advance to the east, it will be Xuzhou Dangshan, which is an important town in Xuzhou, and it is well-prepared. ”

"It makes sense, then why can't our army go to Huguang?" The black scorpion nodded and asked again.

"Marshal, our army is still in the territory of Defu, and we need to cross the entire Henan to reach Huguang, the road is far away, and it is not easy to go. And along the way, there are many imperial court soldiers to intercept, our army is lucky to escape, now in the land of Henan, everywhere hunger and drought, our army is also difficult to eat along the way, I am afraid that the people will be scattered because of lack of food. ”

Monk An had a solemn expression, and the black scorpion's face was gloomy, and he sighed lightly.

"Cut, what the fuck you say! We want to hear why we can go to this Shandong boundary. A hair snorted coldly beside him.

"That's right, An Heyi, our army can't go here, and we can't go there, so why can we go to Shandong, you fucking say that you're ugly." The mountain tiger on the side also came over with a curious look.