After Li Zicheng and Luo Rucai went around Xiangcheng for a while, they found that Xiangcheng was well defended and difficult to attack, so they attacked to the north to take advantage of the victory. However, they also knew that Kaifeng now had enough troops, and they had no intention of attacking Kaifeng, but chose to go west, in the direction of Xuzhou.

And Zhang Xianzhong, who was in the Huai River area, also came to the vicinity to join in the fun when he knew that Li Zicheng and Luo Rucai were fighting with the army near Xiangcheng. However, when he came, He Renlong and Li Guoqi left from Shenqiu with their troops, and Li Zicheng and they were doing their best to deal with Fu Zonglong, who was besieged. So Zhang Xianzhong went to besiege Shenqiu,

For Li Zicheng and Luo Rucai, he has some resentment. At the beginning, he agreed with Li Zicheng to raise the banner of righteousness at the same time, but Li Zicheng did not move, quietly developed his strength, and let him face the encirclement and suppression of the official army alone. and Luo Rucai, isn't it just slaughtering a city, they fight and kill people, and they kill less? What's the big deal. actually fell out with himself because of this, and went to join forces with Li Zicheng, which made him very angry.

So at this time, he not only went to unite with Li Zicheng and them, but he was not even willing to say hello. He attacked Shen Qiu around Li Zicheng and them, ignoring Li Zicheng's siege of Fu Zonglong.

However, it is a pity that he suffered a lot of losses in the previous battle with Zuo Liangyu's Xinyang, and the small group of thieves who defected later were not very successful, so the attack was not very smooth.

"Rubbish!" Zhang Xianzhong scolded dissatisfiedly in the big tent: "I can't even beat a small county town!" How did you survive all these years?! ”

All his subordinates were silent, including Yuan Laoshan and Shi Qian.

"Father," Zhang Dingguo clenched his fists and said: "Li Zicheng and they are next to him, and He Renlong and they have just left a few days ago, and the officers and troops in the county town are naturally vigilant and well-guarded. ”

"That's right, big handsome." All his subordinates said: "The county town is not easy to fight, why don't we go somewhere else?" ”

Zhang Xianzhong yelled: "Look at a fart! Where to look?! Can you still find a place with food around?! ”

Zhang Kewang immediately glanced at Yuan Laoshan and Shi Qian, and said, "Leader Yuan, Leader Zhang, you are walking in this area, you should know where you are richer, right?" ”

"Yes, it's just the two of you!" Zhang Xianzhong also pointed to the two of them and said, "Tell me, where can I get food?" It's better not to hit the county seat. ”

He can't help it now, his strength is not as good as before, and the fifth battalion of Gezuo has not come, so he can only take advantage of it. Only after those new recruits have been tempered and some officers and soldiers have been recruited can their combat effectiveness be improved.

Yuan Laoshan and Shi Qian glanced at each other, Yuan Laoshan stood up and replied: "This, let's get some grain from Shenqiu County first." There is some grain in Guide Mansion in the north, but the defenders there are relatively strong, and I am afraid that they will not be able to take it for a while. ”

"You're not talking nonsense?!" Zhang Nengqi said dissatisfiedly: "I can't fight it now, how can I get the grain out?!" There is a lot of food in Kaifeng City, so it must be able to fight down! ”

Yuan Laoshan explained: "Guide Mansion doesn't need to fight the county seat, there is grain in the villages there, but it is not easy to fight. And the guard there is Li Yan, who likes to go out of the city to fight, and it is not easy to deal with. Therefore, we must get some food now, lest the war be unfavorable and the soldiers will go hungry. ”

"Hahaha," the others laughed, and someone said, "We will give him three points to attack the city, but as long as he dares to come out, then there is no discussion about destroying him!" ”

"That's right, without the cover of the city wall, we won't be afraid of 30,000 or 50,000 officers and soldiers!" The others said proudly.

"Okay," Zhang Xianzhong raised his hand to signal everyone to calm down, and ordered: "Get ready, let's go to Guide Mansion." ”

"Dashuai!" Shi Qian hurriedly dissuaded: "Please think twice!" That Li Yan is not simple, not only is the army strictly organized, but the bows and crossbows and cannons are very powerful! We had 50,000 horses and horses, and we besieged more than 1,000 of his troops, but we couldn't get any benefits. ”

Zhang Xianzhong frowned and asked, "How are Zuo Liangyu's troops?" ”

Yuan Laoshan shook his head and said, "Zuo Liangyu's troops have not been seen before, so it is not easy to compare." However, Li Yan's troops are different from all the officers and soldiers we have seen, from clothing and armor to the arrangement of troops. The morale of the soldiers is high, and it is difficult to break them down. ”

"How are the troops of Bihuang Degong?" Zhang Xianzhong asked again.

Yuan Laoshan thought for a moment and said, "Maybe not as brave as Huang Chuangzi, and not so many horse troops." However, if you want to say that it is powerful, I think it is still Li Yan's troops that are more powerful. ”

"No horse team is afraid of him as a bird!" Zhang Kewang interjected: "No matter how powerful he is, how many people can there be?" We robbed him of his food, and by the time he came, we were already three hundred miles away. Can his cannon hit three hundred miles? ”

Zhang Xianzhong nodded and said, "Yes, a group of foot soldiers, what is there to be afraid of?" Get ready, and head north tomorrow. It is enough to find some food along the way, the key is whether their village has enough food? ”

"There must be enough food, and Li Yan's favorite thing is to let people go to farming." Shi Qian hugged his fists and said: "In the whole of Henan, the fields of Guide Mansion must be the least abandoned. However, if we are entangled by Li Yan's troops, we will be in danger. ”

Zhang Xianzhong nodded with a smile: "As long as there is food, it's fine." You just have to rest assured to lead the way, if you encounter that Li Yan's troops, my people will take the lead. You are frightened by him, and you are terrified. This time, take a good look at how we cleaned them up! Li Yan is just a small person. ”

Yuan Laoshan and Shi Qian didn't persuade anymore, and it was useless to persuade them. Zhang Xianzhong has always been arbitrary in his march and operation. The military advisor or something, that is, ask when you want to ask, but how to decide, he alone has the final say.

In this way, Zhang Xianzhong surrounded Shenqiu County for two days, lost more than 100 people, and did not get any food. Then he began to reorganize his ranks and advanced to Guide Province to the north.

They took the route of Dancheng and went directly to Luyi County. Yuan Laoshan and Shi Qian both knew that if you want to talk about wealth, it must be Qixian. But at the same time, they also knew that Qixian was Li Yan's lair, and if they really went, they might really suffer a big loss. So they discussed it privately and decided to take Zhang Xianzhong to Luyi. It's not close to Qixian and Fucheng, maybe you can really grab a ticket before Li Yan arrives.

Zhang Xianzhong's troops went all the way to the north, looting all the way, looting a few villages, barely able to scrape together some grain, and advanced to Luyi County.

What they didn't know was that as soon as their team passed through the territory of Dancheng County, Li Yan received the news that there were thieves attacking, and began to prepare for the battle.

...