Han Wantao did not arrive in Luoyang, but Zhou Lei had already led the cavalry division to Luoyang for a while. Datong was about 1,500 miles away from Luoyang, and the cavalry division took ten days to reach Luoyang. Yang Sichang and Hong Chengchou had already received orders from the imperial court to gather all the soldiers and horses around Shaanxi in Luoyang, and only Lu Xiangsheng with more than 10,000 of his own people was still stationed in Yan'an.

However, this cavalry division only came with 5,000 people, and Andreas led the remaining 1,000 cavalry elites and did not reach Luoyang. Jiang Beiming made an arrangement before leaving Datong, and repeatedly told Zhou Lei to pay close attention to Lu Xiangsheng's situation in Yan'an. Because Jiang Beiming knew that the relationship between Yang Sichang and Lu Xiangsheng was not very good, he was very worried that once the Mongols and Li Zicheng attacked Lu Xiangsheng on both sides, Yang Sichang might not move. Zhou Lei had an extra mind, and asked Andreas to take a thousand cavalry to find a place to secretly station in Yan'an Mansion, and once Lu Xiangsheng was in danger, he would be rescued no matter what.

Zhou Lei was the first reinforcement to arrive in Luoyang, and he was very satisfied with the well-equipped cavalry unit of 5,000 people, both Yang Sichang and Hong Chengchou. With this cavalry, at least they can fight another battle with Li Zicheng, not to mention Qin Liangyu's white pole soldiers, the artillery and infantry of the Yulin Army, and the troops around Nanjing will also rush over one after another, and the waists of Yang Sichang and Hong Chengchou will begin to harden again.

Tao Min returned to Shengjing and found Tao Gong waiting for him in the fast gun team.

"Brother, why are you here?" Tao Min was a little surprised, "Is something happening in North Korea?" ”

"Brother, don't be nervous, it's okay." Tao Gong replied, "Everything is normal, I arranged everything after I received your letter. It's just one thing I can't decide, and after thinking about it, I think it's better to ask you in person. ”

"What's wrong with you?"

"Didn't we send a letter to the Mongols and Li Zicheng?" Tao Gong said, "Let them flank Yulin and open up the passage from Mongolia to Xi'an." Now the guns have reached the Yalu River, but your letter says that these guns will not be given to Li Zicheng, so I don't know if I should talk to the Mongols again, the situation has changed. ”

Tao Min smiled slightly: "There is no need for this. Our letter to the Mongols was borrowed in the name of Huang Taiji, even if it is too late to change their minds now, I estimate that the Mongols and Li Zicheng should have already marched to Yulin. Let them open up this channel, I just finished negotiating with Xu Lang, let the Ming Dynasty and Li Zicheng go to the death first, let's think about how to deal with Huang Taiji. ”

Zhou Lei's cavalry division has been stationed outside Luoyang for more than ten days, and there has been no news these days. Yang Sichang and Hong Chengchou did nothing except strengthen the city defense of Luoyang and collect straggler food everywhere, and they were waiting for reinforcements from all over the country, but a new reinforcement did not arrive.

On this day, Zhou Lei and Yang Tao inspected the camp of the cavalry division, and the two of them were just about to return to the big tent, but they saw three horses running from afar, and there was only one corporal in the uniform of the Yulin Army.

"Stop, stop, don't rush the camp." The sentry at the door raised his gun.

"Woo ----" the corporal grabbed the horse and saw Zhou Lei at the gate of the barracks at a glance.

The corporal jumped down from his horse and ran in front of Zhou Lei: "Report to the chief, Chief Andreas ordered his subordinates to come and report that Lord Lu Xiangsheng was attacked by 20,000 Mongolian Tartars and 30,000 rogues, and the situation was critical. Commander Andreas asked for reinforcements from Governor Zhou. ”

Zhou Lei grabbed the corporal: "What about Andreas, what are his 1,000 people doing now?" ”

"Back to sir." The corporal replied, "Chief Andreas has been ordered to lead our cavalry to reinforce Lord Lu. It's just that there are too many Tartars and rogues, so Governor Andreas sent his subordinates to report the news. ”

Zhou Lei secretly shouted in his heart, he was not worried about Lu Xiangsheng, but worried about Andreas. Although this German is loyal and brave, he also has the problem of a German tendon. Zhou Lei's original intention was to let Andreas pay attention to Lu Xiangsheng, and if he really waited until the critical moment, he would treat a thousand cavalry as a fast mobile force and rescue Lu Xiangsheng alone. Now it seems that Andreas should have brought all these thousand people into the battlefield, which is likely to lead to sheep in the mouth of the tiger.

However, Han Wantao had not yet arrived, and he only had 5,000 cavalry on his side, and there was not a single artillery. How long can Lu Xiangsheng hold out, and whether Andreas will have problems, Zhou Lei has no bottom in his heart.

Zhou Lei thought for a while, then turned his head to Yang Tao and said, "Yang Tao, order the troops to prepare for the pullout, we are likely to start tonight." You arrange everything, and I will go into the city to meet Yang Sichang and Lord Hong Chengchou. ”

"Yes, sir." Yang Tao replied.

Zhou Lei arrived at Yang Sichang's station in Luoyang City, and just jumped off the horse when he saw a person crying and walking out of it. The man cried and scolded: "My family is fighting against the Tartars and Liukou in Yan'an Mansion, but you can't save you when you see death." Xiaguan will go back and tell my family, even if Xiaguan dies on the battlefield, he will not come to beg you again. ”

Zhou Lei grabbed him: "This lord, are you from Yan'an Mansion?" How is Lord Lu doing now? ”

"Yes, I'm from Yan'an Mansion." The man turned his head and glanced at Zhou Lei a few times, and then looked up and down at the military uniform on Zhou Lei's body, "The lower official dares to ask the general, but is it Zhou Lei and General Zhou of the Yulin Army?" ”

"Yes, I'm Zhou Lei, who are you?"

"General Zhou, I am Yang Tinglin, the head of the Ministry of War, and now I am under the command of Lord Lu. Xia Guan met General Zhou when he was in Beijing, but General Zhou did not recognize Xia Guan. ”

After Yang Tinglin finished speaking, he knelt down on one knee in front of Zhou Lei: "General Zhou, please save Lord Lu." A total of 50,000 soldiers and horses of Tartar and Liukou besieged Lord Lu, Yang Sichang refused to send troops, and the subordinate officials were helpless and could only implore the general. ”

Yang Tinglin was about to kowtow after speaking, but Zhou Lei hurriedly pulled him up: "Lord Yang, don't do this." Ben Jiang followed Lu Shuai to recover Guihua City that year, and Ben Jiang greatly admired Lu Shuai's loyalty and courage. Please wait here for a moment, and I'll go in and see Lord Yang Sichang. Lord Yang doesn't have to worry, there are still 6,000 elite cavalry under the general, even if Lord Yang Sichang does not move, he will go to Yan'an with Lord Yang. ”

Yang Tinglin was very surprised: "General Zhou, this, isn't this disobeying the military order?" ”

Zhou Lei smiled lightly: "If Lord Lu is in trouble, I will not be able to protect it." I, the Yulin Army, are only for the emperor and the common people in the world, so what should I do if I disobey the military order. Lord Yang can wait for a while. ”

After Zhou Lei finished speaking, he turned around and walked into the door, leaving Yang Tinglin staring at Zhou Lei's back in a daze.

Yang Sichang was sulking in the house, and someone came to report: "My lord, Yulin Army Zhou Lei asks to see you." ”

Yang Sichang didn't react for a while why Zhou Lei came to him at this time, and said casually: "Let him come in." ”

Zhou Lei walked into the house quickly, hugged his fist at Yang Sichang, and didn't say anything: "Xiaguan see Lord Yang." The lower officials received the news that Lord Lu Xiangsheng was under siege, and asked the Lord to decide. ”

Yang Sichang didn't expect Zhou Lei to come up and talk about Lu Xiangsheng, so he paused for a moment: "This official already knows about this matter, and this official has ordered Lord Lu to retreat to Luoyang, we just wait here." ”

"Your Excellency." Zhou Lei hugged his fist again, "The Mongolian Tatars and Liukou have 50,000 troops, and Lord Lu only has more than 10,000 soldiers and horses, and now they are under siege, how can they come to Luoyang." If the lord is really in trouble, the lower official is willing to rush to Yan'an Mansion to rescue Lord Lu. ”

"General Zhou must not be rash." Yang Sichang waved his hand again and again, "At present, the momentum of the Liukou is flourishing, Luoyang only has one of you to support the army, and if Luoyang loses, the Beijing division will not be guaranteed." ”

"If Lord Lu fails, I will not be able to protect it, and I will leave the official." Zhou Lei didn't say anything more, turned around and walked out of the house.

Zhou Lei went out of the gate, and Yang Tinglin was still waiting for him. Zhou Lei stepped forward and grabbed Yang Tinglin: "Lord Yang, follow me to Yan'an to rescue Lord Lu." ”