The dry season in Annam was coming to an end, and the Ming army had ceased almost all military operations, and all the soldiers were stationed in important cities in the plains to rest. Chen Zhengyuan's political power also gradually established an effective county system and bureaucratic rule in various localities.

The Governor's Office of Annam received reliable information that there were several rebel farms in the mountains southwest of Dongguan City and between the Li Xian River, and that there were men and horses of the Li Li tribe operating there.

Perhaps because of its proximity to the center of Annam's rule, the Governor's Office decided to send an army to destroy the rebels' farmland and warehouses.

It was an infantry army of two hundred-household teams, plus a few scout banners. The main force, nearly two hundred men, was marching along the narrow road between the mountains and forests. Centaurs can only advance in a formation like a long snake.

The surrounding mountains and forests are crisscrossed, the woods are lush and uninhabited, and the eyes of the people are full of green grass and trees. However, the scout team continued to enter the woods, searching for possible human tracks and avoiding a surprise attack on the main force.

A scout flag leader carefully brushed aside the branches of the bushes and looked down at the ground. He was a young low-ranking general, very careful in his movements, carrying a firewood knife in his hand, while inspecting the situation, while leading the way.

Some of the sergeants looked nervously to the left and right, and some of them followed weakly on foot. The surroundings were very quiet except for the birds, and the new sergeants of the scout team felt that the road was just rough. Some of them were armed with light guns and ammunition and arquebuses, while others were armed with shields and spears.

"Looks like someone has been here recently." The little flag chief said in a deep voice.

A sergeant behind him said: "There are no ghosts in this forest, isn't it Orion?" ”

"Perhaps." Xiaoqi said, "But everyone should be careful." ”

"Someone!" I don't know who suddenly whispered.

A moment later, the sound of two firearms suddenly sounded from the woods. Everyone was in a hurry, looking for shelter in the woods on both sides of the path, but immediately there were several screams of "ahhhhhhhh

When the little flag commander followed the sound, a sergeant hurriedly stepped into a pit! There must have been a trap inside, and the sergeant was still half outside, but his face was already pale, and he let out a scream of pain.

On the other side, a sergeant had fallen to his knees, clutching his leg and snorting in pain, when a sharpened bamboo stick pierced his leg.

"Bang bang...... a few sergeants with firearms shot at the place where the firearms had just been fired, but they didn't hit anything except a cloud of gunsmoke, and the lead bullets didn't know where they flew.

Not far away, the branches and grass shook for a while, and a figure swayed through the branches, as if they were fleeing. The two Ming sergeants threw their spears and shields, and angrily picked up their bows and arrows, trying to chase after them.

The little flag commander ordered: "Stop! There may be traps ahead. ”

Someone spat into the distance: "Cao He|Mother!" ”

Xiao Qi said: "Help the injured brother back and report to Mr. Zhang." ”

Everyone was busy trying to rescue the people in the pit, and immediately a few flies flew into the air, and a foul smell rose from the air, like a mixture of dead rats and feces. The sergeant's feet and fallen buttocks were stabbed with sharp bamboo strips and pieces of iron, which were smeared with rotting animal entrails and black feces.

"If it can't be cured, this filthy thing will stab so deeply, and the flesh will suppurate." There is humanity.

Xiaoqi said: "Carry it back first, and find Lang Zhong to see." ”

The wounded soldier suddenly said: "Brother, give me a good time, I don't want to live as well as die, and drag everyone down." ”

No one paid attention to the soldiers around him, but just went up and pulled out the bamboo strips and iron pieces from his body. "Huh!" The wounded soldier suddenly drew his waist knife and waved it in front of him, and the two sergeants hurriedly retreated.

Xiaoqi said, "What are you doing?" ”

"I've seen a brother with suppuration, but it's not cured! After venting this anger, it will be too difficult for me to die by then. The wounded man said.

Everyone fell silent.

The wounded soldier suddenly turned his waist knife and aimed it at his chest, then looked back at the surrounding jungle, looked back at the soldiers around him, and stayed on the face of the little flag chief: "Am I considered to have died in battle?" ”

Xiaoqi said: "It should be counted." ”

The wounded man laughed miserably, glared at his eyes and gritted his teeth, and suddenly shouted "ah", stabbing hard into the heart, and the man slowly fell.

The little flag commander bent down to salute the wounded soldier with his fists, and all the sergeants also clasped their fists and saluted the corpse. Xiaoqi said, "Carry it away." ”

…… Half a month later, in the office of the Annan Governor's Office in Dongguan City, Zhang Fu got a report. The Ming army burned and destroyed three villages and rice fields, and arrested dozens of Annan people, but most of them were old and weak women and children; More than 100 people were slaughtered on the spot by the Ming army because of "stubborn resistance". The Ming army suffered more than 20 casualties, not on the battlefield, but on the way to the harassment and traps.

According to the military law formulated by Zhang Fu, after the rebel soldiers received the letters left in the ruins, if they confessed to the government within one month, they could be spared death; Otherwise, all captives will be sentenced to exile in Qiongzhou. But on the way to escort them, the soldiers of the Ming army, who were full of resentment, would definitely make the prisoners more auspicious, but those people would not die in the territory of Annan.

Zhang Fu personally met with the lowly general, and after inquiring in detail about the experience of the soldiers, Zhang Fu ordered the whole army: When all units enter the mountains to clear and suppress, they should not hide at will when they encounter an attack, and they should stand by in place.

At this time, I don't know when it rained outside, and the rain in Annan was usually very urgent, and the surroundings were soon filled with the sound of rain.

Zhang Fu, who was wearing a red official uniform, walked to the window to watch the rain with his hands behind his back. Huang Zhong and the other generals all stopped speaking and kept quiet respectfully.

After a while, Zhang Fu turned around and paced on the ground.

Only then did Huang Zhong speak: "The last general heard the news that the imperial court is preparing to attack Japan's Tsushima Island, and the war may expand. The official army did not have many troops at first, but if the imperial court sent large troops to attack in the future, would the candidate for the general be Marquis An Yuan (Liu Sheng)? ”

Zhang Fu ignored it and did not react at all.

Another general said: "Dashuai, the last general thinks that we have Tuntian in the northeast of Annan, and the post station official shop has also been set up; It is better to withdraw to the place where the army is stationed earlier, and there is no need to care about the scattered guerrillas hiding in the mountains and forests. Let Empress Dowager Chen's people clean up the mess. ”

At this time, Zhang Fu finally spoke: "The strategy is set by the imperial court, and it should be done sooner or later." However, if this strategy is implemented, most of the Beijing camp should be allowed to return to China, and the strength of the Ming army in Annam will be reduced by half, leaving less than 30,000 men. So let's take care of the aftermath first. ”

"Against Riley?" The general asked.

Zhang Fu nodded and said, "The Chen royal family is still very weak, and most of the officials in Annam don't try their best to deal with this person." ”

He looked over the faces of the generals, and said, "Although the rebels are hiding in the mountains and have a favorable location when they attack, we are not unable to deal with them.

Rebels are also human beings, and they need food, clothing, fields, and houses. The fields in the mountains are small and barren, and they are bound to be poor and have a hard time making a living, and they have to worry that everything may be destroyed by the government at any time. If there is no control of Li Li and others, intimidate and incite the thieves; These rebels will quickly collapse under the grace and power of the Governor's Office, and there is no cause for concern. Capturing the thief and capturing the king first, finding and getting rid of Li Li is the top priority of the Governor's Mansion. ”

Everyone hugged their fists and said: "The last general and others will obey the precepts of the commander!" ”

Zhang Fu said quietly: "What the Holy Lord cares about most about Annan is also Li Li's life and death. It is the duty of a man to share worries for the king. ”

When Huang Zhongren heard this, their faces were all sudden.

With the combat strength of the Ming army at this time, it is not very difficult to win on the frontal battlefield, and Liu Sheng's ability to break through Qinghua, Yanzhou, Yi'an and other places cannot prove that he is very talented. If Liu Sheng is called to deal with Li Li and other rebels hiding in the mountains, I am afraid that there will be no way to do it; Zhang Fu thinks that the only one who can deal with this kind of person is himself!

The Ming Dynasty has been in civil war for many years, the southern conquest and the northern war, and today's generation is simply a general, and the princes and Hou Bo of the Beijing division are all somewhat capable. Zhang Fu felt that he did not lack military merits and identity, and the most important thing was to gain the true trust of the emperor.

The war against Japan may have begun, and so many generals may not be able to lead the troops by Liu Sheng, nor necessarily by Zhang Fu. However, in the matter of getting rid of Li Li, Zhang Fu did not leave Annan, so it must be his.

Therefore, Zhang Fu gave up the matter of entering Beijing to sacrifice prisoners; Zhang Fu also took the initiative to give up the possible military merit of conscripting Japan. All the glory that floats on the surface is just floating clouds. Only with the emperor is the secret of the longevity of the noble family.

"The rainy season is coming, and all departments should pay attention to the cleanliness and disease prevention of the barracks." Zhang Fu said and waved his hand lightly.

Everyone clasped their fists and said: "The last general will obey the order and leave." ”

Zhang Fu returned the salute, and after the generals went out, he stayed in the signing room and did not leave.

As the rainy season approached, Zhang Fu was still in a hurry to send men and horses to the mountains southwest of Dongguan not long ago, because he received news from the rebels who had surrendered that Li Li had been stationed there. But the battle was still fruitless.

Li Li is quite a powerful person, and his prestige among the rebels is also very high. Zhang Fu believed that most of the rebels did not know where Li Li's lair was, and Li Li only appeared in various places from time to time and stayed for a short time.

Li Li had taken precautions in advance, and coupled with the dense mountains and forests in the western part of Annan and the difficulty of marching, Zhang Fu wanted to catch the thief head It was like looking for a needle in a haystack.

But this man must be eliminated! The emperor who was far away in Beijing also understood who was the key figure in the rebels, and Zhang Fu and Zhu Gaoxu often held the same opinion on major matters, and this time was no exception.

Maybe we should think of something else instead of just sending troops to search for them.

Zhang Fu stood in front of the window again, looking at the rain outside and pondering. He thought there must be a way, but he didn't think of it for a while.