Chickens and dogs jumped in the city, drums and horns outside the city were connected, a team of garrison officers and soldiers who had been preparing for battle for a long time, as well as guards like Yang Fan, held swords and guns, with various moods, under the leadership of one after another anxious officers, hurriedly ran up to the city, entered the battle position that they had already assigned, and greeted a real battle to the death in three hundred years.

The knives and guns flickered and the murderous atmosphere was soaring, the former leader of the Northern Shaanxi Righteous Army, General Zhang Cun Mengzhang, who was not sticky to the mud, was now wearing the bright helmet of the imperial court from the sixth grade, wearing the brilliant armor from the sixth grade, standing on the city wall of Pucheng after half a year of additional repairs, looking at the wilderness outside the city, extending to the edge of the sky, I felt a burst of pain in my back molars, the huge helmet, usually with infinite majesty, but at this time I felt that it was heavier than a thousand jun.

Lu Shimao's child is no longer the guy who can cry bitterly on the battle array, and now, it is no longer possible to describe it as strong and strong.

For how long? Zhang Cunmeng squinted his eyes and thought about it carefully, in October of the first year of Chongzhen, this kid was alone, and he went to Woniu Mountain to borrow troops for the sake of an old man in the countryside, yes, he borrowed soldiers, and then began to step by step, and he came to the present.

Look at the hairy boy who originally treated him coldly, now he can really be called the king of Chuang, and then look at himself, several generations of business, once no longer settled and moved his ambitions, but the more he fights, the more bleak he becomes, in the end, only the five thousand brothers behind him, the rest of the old and weak, according to the regulations of the original recruitment, one person gets fifty catties of grain, and a copper coin is dismissed.

Fifty catties of millet, what can you do with a copper coin? How long can you live? Everyone knows it, but they also know that this is still taken out by Zhang Yuan, and the government can't even take it out.

At that time, I watched those fathers and elders who had followed me for generations, looking back step by step, and watching the cottage built by my generations of hard work collapse in the fire, how could my heart feel good? What awaits them is either starvation to death, or they are once again being held into poles, but becoming poles again will not be treated as well as themselves, but just dirt and rocks to fill the ditches in a great war.

Fortunately, with the permission of the government, he chose these 5,000 men and his family to follow him, and Zhang Yuan was in charge of eating and drinking for a month, and he also gave one or two or five dollars of silver every month to support his family.

This two or five dollars of silver according to the Ming military salary, that is a small pitiful, but this is a real monthly distribution, unlike the Ming official army, the military salary sounds very high, but in fact, it can't reach the hands of the military man, that is, the rest, it is a year and a half to see a little, all of them are hungry and can't hold knives and guns.

With this two or a half dollars of silver and a high-sounding name, it makes these poles who have followed them for many years infinitely grateful, and looking at the eyes of Zhang Seventeen, who have made them have today's garrison, in addition to the fear of their superiors and subordinates, there are countless more gratitudes.

This look made Zhang Cunmeng, who was originally their parents and their heavens, really uncomfortable in their hearts when they looked at them, and they had a sour feeling.

But all this is helpless, this time, I am even more convinced that Lu Shizi has a grasp of the current situation, and he is sending troops at this time when the whole Shaanxi is empty, and he really hit the weakness of the official army.

Lu Shi, you have a vision. Actually, more luck.

Now, Zhang Cunmeng has absolutely no confidence in the final victory over Lu Shi and a decisive victory, but he has some confidence in holding this Pucheng.

Because, in this Pucheng, there are not only 5,000 elite soldiers and strong generals of their own lineage, but also 1,000 officers and soldiers armed by the Zhang family.

What is especially important is that the officials and soldiers in the surrounding counties have taken the Zhang family and the money raised, and at the same time, the governor of Xi'an has also made a bloody investment, the money and grain are distributed like flowing water, and the rich Chinese army has already planned a plan to stop, as long as Lu Shi comes to Pucheng, it is a chain of strategies waiting for him.

Lu Shi's defeat has been certain, and for this result, Zhang Cunmeng felt a burst of relief for no reason.

"General Zhang, what do you think is the difference between the thieves outside the city and the original?" Spare the group of brothers who pointed at the camp of thieves outside the city, the current Pucheng garrison, the fifteenth brother of the Zhang family, asked softly to the muddy face full of contemplation.

Zhang 15 is the leader among the rising stars of the Zhang family, this newly rising group, has the spirit of infinite progress, and has not been contaminated with the twilight problems of the official army at all. In this Pucheng garrison battle, Zhang Yuan and others unanimously recommended him to be the Pucheng garrison.

However, of course, the superior knows that this little fifteen is only twenty-seven or eighteen, he is still young, he lacks military experience, and the real generals of Shaanxi are all conscripted and sent to lead the troops to the east to Gyeonggi Qinwang, and the generals who are older than the army are really lacking, so they dispatched the non-muddy who has dealt with the thieves many times to assist him, and there are 20,000 scheming and non-muddy to help him, and then there are 20,000 officers and soldiers and signers in hand, to hold Pucheng, it should no longer be a problem, and at the same time, it is also possible to train these rising stars through this guard war, and want to become a talent. Still have to be in the face of adversity.

Although Zhang Shifu has a high position at a young age, he can still maintain a sense of modesty, especially for the senior he relies on, who is familiar with the thief, and is even more respectful and dependent.

Looking at Xiao Fifteen with an open face asking for advice, Zhang Cunmeng was very satisfied, although he knew that what the Zhang family relied on most was not the five thousand children behind him, but the absolute understanding of Lu Shi in his heart. But at the same time, he knows better that he is tied to the carriage of the Zhang family in his life, and everything he eats and drinks is given by the Zhang family, but he never dares to trust these promising juniors.

So, he hurriedly turned around and saluted: "Lord Garrison, I see that the thieves outside the city are different from half a year ago. When he said this, his face couldn't help but bring heaviness.

"How is it different from the original? Please also ask the old general for advice. Zhang Shoubei hurriedly asked.

"If you don't dare to instruct, your subordinates will tell you what you know."

After being modest, he stood up straight and pointed to the tents outside the city, the towers lined with towers, and the neat and orderly patrol sentry like ants: "Lord Garrison, please see, originally, Lu Shi was just a group of poles, although the camp was more regular than other poles, but it was only a few rules, but if you look at the camp of thieves outside the city, now, even the officers and soldiers are much inferior." ”

Zhang Wufu nodded, with deep thought on his face.

Looking at Xiao Fifteen's thoughtful appearance, Zhang Cunmeng couldn't help but praise in his heart, the son can be taught.

"Look again." Zhang Cunmeng pointed to the strange-looking cart in the east again. "The thieves no longer use poles to collect military rations and equipment, but use the old nest behind them to transport, so as to not only ensure that their own grain and grass are sufficient, but also ensure that they will no longer disturb the people, so as to win the hearts of the people."

Xiao Fifteen's gloom deepened, holding on to the wall with both hands, biting his lip and listening quietly.

"Especially the firearms battalion." Zhang Cunmeng once again pointed to the core of the army, a red banner with the word fire written on it.

"I see it, what's the difference?" Little Fifteen looked at the huge camp in confusion.

Zhang Cunmeng said worriedly: "I know that the thieves originally had a firearms battalion, mainly with elm spray and Lu's longbow, but this battalion is only one-tenth of the share of the entire team of thieves, and it is mainly longbow. ”

"I know this, but what does this have to do with the current bandit camp?"

"Lord Garrison, look at the size of the firearms camp now." Zhang Cunmeng pointed out to Xiao Fifteen again. "The thief firearms battalion has accounted for thirty percent of the entire thief camp, that is to say, looking at the size of the battalion, the thief army has sent 40,000 troops, and his firearms battalion has more than 10,000 longbowmen, especially I have observed for a while, the cart transported into the firearms camp actually has forty percent of the entire convoy of materials."

Zhang Cunmeng couldn't help but say worriedly.

At the beginning, when Gao Yingxiang fought against Chenjiabao Fortress, the terrifying scene of thieves firing thousands of arrows is still vivid, and the scale now is much larger than at that time.

"This old hero has already introduced to my handsome brother, and this Lu Shi longbow is indeed extremely powerful." Xiao Fifteen thought so, but turned his face and said excitedly: "However, this longbow is extremely simple to make, and now, there are two thousand in this Pucheng, this time let the thief Lu Shi reap the consequences." As for the arrow cluster, it is even more of a problem, we have a full reserve of 50,000, especially when we stand on the top of the city and are condescending, the two armies are shooting at each other, we have a geographical advantage, hahahaha, cocooning ourselves, this is it. ”

Zhang Cunmeng was also excited, now, this longbow is no longer the exclusive secret of Lu Shi, about the incomparably precious iron material for the pole, it is no longer a difficult thing for the wealthy government, the Zhang family, buying iron materials everywhere, and then with the strong support of the imperial court, it can already fully support a big war.

It is indeed appropriate to be evenly matched and cocooned to oneself.

After watching the camp of the thieves, Zhang 15 began to carefully inspect the defensive preparations of his men.

Walking all the way along the city wall, I saw that under the supervision of my brothers, the master who was like an ant was requisitioned, on several city wall roads, carrying materials up and down, an old man and an aunt-in-law staggered up and down the city with a thick piece of wood, and when they came to Zhang Fifteen, one was struggling, the wood was crooked, clanged, fell to the city, and almost smashed the foot of the garrison.

When the two old men saw that they had almost smashed the feet of an official master, they were so frightened that they quickly knelt down, buckled their heads again and again, and pleaded in their mouths. Even those masters who came and went shook their heads with Qi on their faces, and quietly avoided the point, for fear of being splashed with blood.

At this change, the soldiers who followed Zhang 15 immediately rushed out, drew their knives and were about to cut down this old thing that didn't know whether to live or die.

At this moment, Zhang Wuyi grabbed his own soldiers and shouted: "Hugh is rude." Then, in front of everyone's eyes, he stretched out his hands to help the two old men who were kneeling on the ground, who had already knocked blood out of their foreheads, and said kindly: "Don't be afraid, two old men, nothing will happen, get up quickly." ”

Helped up by this kind little general, the two old men were grateful to Dade for constantly saying good things.

Zhang 15 smiled and asked, "Why are the two old men supposed to go to the city?" What about the young and strong family? ”

Asked by this, the two old men hurriedly replied tremblingly: "Master Hui, the general, there is only one son in the family, and the master has been requisitioned, but the government still needs manpower, and our old couple can only serve in the army, but one person and one bowl of gruel in the morning are really unbearable, and they really can't do it, I almost hurt the master just now, and I ask for forgiveness." ”

Zhang 15 hurriedly said kindly: "Don't worry, don't worry, it's just that you've worked hard, the second elder, wait a minute, I will immediately order my subordinates to add food to all the masters, the steamed bread broth is enough, everyone is full of food and drink, so that we can resist the thieves together." ”

Hearing the additional meal, the left near master cheered together, the news slowly spread in the city, and the cheers were even worse, making the originally mournful and dull atmosphere flourish for a while, and seeing everyone's hands and feet began to be sharp.

Zhang 15 whispered to the brother behind him: "Why use a knife to do what you can do with a full meal?" ”