In a village five miles southwest of Gucheng, Gao Junshan and Li Zicheng met in a two-story earthen house with a single courtyard.

The cold wind howled, rustling the leafless branches, and the gray sky was filled with clouds.

In the courtyard, Li Zicheng's young generals Li Shuangxi and Zhang Nai vigilantly guarded the door, and Sun Kewang, the captain of Gao Junshan's guard, rode back and forth around the village on horseback.

Downstairs in the earthen house, there was a fire in the hall, two chairs were placed next to the brazier, and several burning candles were swaying on the candlestick, Li Zicheng sat on one of the chairs and pondered: The rebels from all walks of life, under the military pressure of the Ming court, surrendered to the Ming army one after another, in addition to Gao Junshan, Cao Cao and Wang Guangen and other nine families also surrendered to the Ming army in the area of Junzhou and Fang County. In Yinghuo Mountain, He Yilong, the king of the world, and He Jin, who fought for the world, also had plans to surrender to the Ming court, and the old Hui Ma Shouying in southern Henan was said to be pedaling two boats. Among the thirteen families and seventy-two battalions, those who have been wiped out are not counted, and now only Gao Yingxiang, who is inherited by Li Zicheng, is the only one who does not surrender.

If everyone surrendered, his situation would be even more difficult. When the Qing army withdraws from the Great Wall, the imperial court will also concentrate the officials and troops of several provinces to deal with him, and even more people and horses than Hong Chengchou and Sun Chuanting have gathered, if such a day comes, even if he will not be completely wiped out, but it will be very difficult to open up the situation.

The purpose of his visit is to persuade Gao Junshan to raise the banner and rebel with him, if Gao Junshan can raise the banner of righteousness again, opening up a new situation is just around the corner.

Li Zicheng's face was much thinner, wearing green cotton armor and an iron helmet, completely dressed as a Ming army, and he still spoke as loud as a bell.

Gao Junshan stepped into the house with one foot, and Li Zicheng, who had been looking forward to it for a long time, hurriedly greeted him, stretched out his big hand, and the two big hands were tightly held together, and the two did not say a word, and after a long time, they slowly let go of their clenched hands.

Gao Junshan spoke first: "Brother Zicheng, when I saw you, my hanging heart finally let go of half of it. ”

Li Zicheng sighed and said, "Cough! Your sister is still missing, so she shouldn't have been left alone. ”

Gao Junshan was a traverser, knowing that Gao Guiying would be fine, he comforted Li Zicheng and said: "You don't have to blame yourself too much, maybe you can see my sister after you go back." ”

Li Zicheng's eyes were moist and he said, "I hope so!" ”

Gao Junshan said: "This place is very quiet, you can stay here for a few more days." ”

Li Zicheng was worried: "This place is indeed quiet. ”

Gao Junshan said tentatively: "Brother Zicheng, you might as well follow me to surrender to the court, so that you don't have to run around every day." ”

Li Zicheng is full of confidence: "Victory and defeat are a common thing in soldiers. If there is no defeat, there will be no victory. Since ancient times, how can there be smooth sailing? ”

Gao Junshan smiled: "It's good, this is like my own brother!" My father is not mistaken about you. What are you going to do in the future? ”

"I'd like to hear your opinion."

"My opinion?" Gao Junshan shook his head, "What can I give you?" ”

Li Zicheng said with deep feelings: "Since the Xingyang Conference, our thirteen families have twisted into a rope and fought together, turning the world upside down in the Central Plains. But in the past two years, our thirteen families have been divided into several shares, you, Zhang Xianzhong, Cao Cao, me, Lao Huihui, and Ge Liyan, each fighting their own fights, like a plate of loose sand, have all suffered the losses of the official army. ”

Gao Junshan thought to himself, what are you embarrassed to mention the thirteen families, Ma La! Which of you is following the established guidelines? They all acted according to their own interests, and almost gave Lao Tzu a yin! You people who don't have quality still want to sit in the world? It's like a toad that wants to eat swan meat!

Gao Junshan did not show emotion on the surface, and asked: "In your opinion, what is good in the future?" ”

Li Zicheng said: "Now that the Tartars have gone deep into Jifu, Hong Chengchou and Sun Chuanting have gone to King Qin, and the mainland officials and troops are empty, it is a good time for us to do a big job." You say, what should we do? ”

Gao Junshan didn't want to show his hole cards in front of Li Zicheng too early: "If you want to regain your strength, of course it's good." How do you want me to help you? ”

Li Zicheng emphasized: "I didn't come to Gucheng to ask for you, but to discuss with you what we should do in the future." ”

Gao Junshan said in his heart, you are poor now, I wish I had pulled the flag to rebel, and there were fires everywhere, and there was smoke in eight places, so you can strike while the fire is hot. So he replied: "Brother Zicheng doesn't need to discuss with me, you pull up the banner first, and I have to take a look." ”

Li Zicheng was silent, added charcoal to the brazier, and suddenly asked: "Brother Junshan, one day, the Ming Dynasty will be defeated, who will be the master of you and me?" ”

Gao Junshan expected that Li Zicheng would ask this question, he sneered with his nostrils and said, "Brother Zicheng, you can't help but think too early. ”

Li Zicheng said: "The sooner this question is clarified, the better, it is impossible for the two of us to sit side by side on the Jinluan Palace, right?" ”

Gao Junshan thought to himself, who wants to sit in the Jinluan Hall with you? It seems that if he doesn't give a reassurance pill to Li Zicheng, he won't cooperate well, so he stood up, walked to the wooden window, opened the bolt, opened the wooden window, and a gust of cold wind blew in, he said: "Sitting in the warm room and saying things are not counting, I now swear in the face of the raging cold wind, and swear to be horns with Brother Zicheng, until Brother Zicheng sits in the Jinluan Palace, otherwise, let me Gao Junshan freeze to death in this cold wind!" ”

Li Zicheng jumped up from the chair excitedly and said, "Wow, these words are really happy!" You said it very sincerely, and it is also the true character of heroes, our brothers are determined by their words, and each other is horns. ”

Gao Junshan stretched out his big hand and held Li Zicheng's hand tightly.

After the two sat down again, Li Zicheng asked what he wanted to ask the most: "Brother Junshan, when are you going to start an incident in Gucheng?" ”

Gao Junshan said: "I'm here to say, I've been ready for a long time, and I can raise the banner of righteousness again at any time, but I don't know when you can do it." ”

"I think you'd better start next year when you've harvested the wheat."

Gao Junshan Chengruo said: "This is the beginning of wheat harvesting in April and a half, so let's decide to start at the same time within a day or two after the Duanyang Festival." ”

Li Zicheng emphasized: "Brother Junshan, this matter is not trivial. Let's make a decision, you don't want to change your mind halfway! ”

Gao Junshan said: "Brother Zicheng, please rest assured, without you, I can't become the climate alone." For my father's sake, I won't sell you, plus my sister, this is all a friendship that breaks bones and tendons! ”

In ancient times, this kind of family affection was very close, and Li Zicheng did not doubt Gao Junshan's attitude, his plan to come to Gucheng was successful, and he was very happy, but in order to guard against unexpected changes, he decided to leave Gucheng immediately. He held Gao Junshan's hand tightly and said, "I believe in you, a word is a certainty, and you will do it at the same time within a day or two after the Duanyang Festival." ”

Gao Junshan said: "The matter has been decided, you don't have to rush back, you can stay here for a few days with peace of mind, and I will send someone to find my sister." ”

Li Zicheng stood up and said: "The matter has been decided, and there is no need for me to stay here longer, I will leave immediately and rush back to Shangluo Mountain, there are still many things waiting for me over there." ”

Gao Junshan also stood up and held Li Zicheng's hand again: "Your heart has been decided, I won't be reluctant, be more careful on the road!" ”

"Take care!" After Li Zicheng finished speaking, he turned around and walked towards the door, "Double happiness, Zhang Nai, prepare to go on the road immediately!" ”