Early the next morning, Chen Yongfu ordered Li Yan to send people to the sentinel to investigate the enemy's situation. Although Li Yan knew the specific situation of Li Zicheng, he was unwilling to tell Chen Yongfu. Although he is a deputy general, he doesn't want to listen to Chen Yongfu's command, so even if it is such a small matter, he responds with an uncooperative attitude.

Chen Yongfu saw that Li Yan did not agree, so he had to send scouts out by himself. At this time, it is better to determine the movement of the thief first, otherwise what to do is in suspense.

This sentry lasted for two days, and none of the sentry sent out returned. He had to send out sentry after sentry, but none of them could come back, so that the scouts did not dare to go out. Even if they went out, they didn't dare to go south, so they all found a place to hide, and their lives were important first.

In the end, Chen Yongfu sent more than 30 personal soldiers, and only a few escaped death, and finally brought back a little news. The thieves are fighting with the official army in Zhuxian Town, but the thieves and cavalry are tightly blocked, and the battle situation is unknown.

At this time, Kaifeng City became nervous again. If it is said that the battle situation is unknown, doesn't this mean that the officers and troops are not good? If the official army had the upper hand, the thieves would not have been able to send such a strong force to block the news. Therefore, all the civil and military forces still gathered in the palace of King Zhou to discuss countermeasures.

"Lord Wang," Chen Yongfu first suggested, "At this time, reinforcements should be sent as soon as possible to attack the thieves from behind, so as to reap the effect of flanking from both sides." As long as the attack is effective, the thief will be defeated. ”

Gao Mingheng said worriedly: "What if the official army has been defeated? The troops sent out were not in danger of being routed. Kaifeng has just gone through a major war, and the troops are already stretched, so it is really a waste. ”

The other civil servants also nodded in agreement. If the thieves come to besiege the city again, Kaifeng must ensure that there are enough troops. And the grain is now being mobilized from Hebei. Although Yuan Shizhong also rebelled on the north bank of the Yellow River, after all, it could not compare to Li Chuang's scale, and some grain could still be collected.

Chen Yongfu glanced at Li Yan and said with a smile: "Ladies and gentlemen, isn't there still Vice General Li?" Vice General Li's team is elite, and it has always been invincible against thieves. Even if the thieves really defeated the official army, I believe that Vice General Li will be able to return safely with his troops. ”

Everyone was looking at Li Yan, but no one persuaded Li Yan to attack. Being able to leave such a strong army in Kaifeng is something that can reassure each of them. And if the thieves really defeated the official army, and then defeated Li Yan, then Kaifeng would really become an island, and there would be no troops to come to the rescue.

Chen Yongfu saw that the officials did not say anything, so he had to go into battle himself. He said, "General Li, this is a great opportunity to defeat the thieves. The first war and the peace of the society, this is a great feat. ”

Li Yan hugged his fists and said: "It's okay to attack at the end, but~"

King Zhou also didn't want Li Yan's strong army to leave Kaifeng, so he immediately asked, "Do you have any requirements?" ”

Li Yan said: "The lowly troops are mainly infantry, and the shortage of cavalry seriously affects the combat effectiveness. In view of the large number of cavalry of the thieves, the lowly position needed enough horses to be able to send troops to fight the thieves. ”

King Zhou continued to ask, "How much is appropriate?" ”

"Eight thousand horses." Li Yan had already thought about it, and he would come as soon as he opened his mouth.

King Zhou looked at Chen Yongfu again and asked, "Chief soldier Chen, how many war horses do you have there?" Evenly, come out and give it to Vice General Li, how about it? ”

Chen Yongfu gritted his teeth as he listened. With 8,000 war horses, it is better not to chase the thieves. Where does he have so many war horses? His cavalry, plus his own troops, was only 5,000 cavalry.

"There aren't so many war horses." Chen Yongfu clenched his fists and replied: "And Vice General Li's combat power, all of you have seen it with your own eyes. At the beginning of the year, he could still fight in and out of the rogue brigade, so why do we need more cavalry now? ”

Li Yan explained: "The movement speed of the military formation is too slow, and the thieves are intercepted by cavalry. When the last general arrives in Zhuxian Town, Premier Ding is afraid that he will be more than lucky. ”

Chen Yongfu said dissatisfiedly: "Henan's safety and danger are all gathered in this battle, how can you march slowly step by step?!" Do you still have the court in your heart? Is there still a prince? ”

Li Yan snorted coldly and said, "Since General Chen is so loyal to the Duke, and he has 10,000 foot soldiers and 5,000 cavalry under his command, why don't you go out of the city to flank the thieves?" ”

"If the general leaves with his troops, how will Kaifeng City be guarded?" Chen Yongfu blurted out.

Li Yan immediately clenched his fists and said: "Chief Chen just rest assured to kill the thief, and the general will ensure that the iron bucket of the Kaifeng guards is the same." After that, he hugged his fist to the king of Zhou and said: "Chitose, the last general is willing to take on the responsibility of defending the city, please allow the prince." ”

Chen Yongfu regretted it a little at this time, he had already seen that although he had successfully defended Kaifeng City three times, his status in the hearts of King Zhou and the officials was still not as important as Li Yanlai, who had won a hundred battles. He immediately spoke first: "Lord Wang, the minister's soldiers are not good at field battles, and if they go out of the city to fight, there will naturally be no good results." However, I think that Vice General Li's soldiers are also not good at defending the city, and the so-called art industry has a specialty, nothing more. ”

All the officials looked at Li Yan again, as if they were considering whether Li Yan was really not good at defending the city as Chen Yongfu said.

Mr. Chen was surprised by this. Li Yan said unceremoniously: "Kaifeng was besieged three times, and General Chen's troops were almost beaten back to the city every time, allowing thieves to gallop outside the city. Kaifeng is such a big city, fortified everywhere, passive everywhere, the troops are stretched, and the situation is as dangerous as an egg. Staying in a lonely city is really a good idea. There are soldiers who can fight outside the city, and the defenders in the city form a horn momentum, mutual support, Kaifeng will be as solid as a rock, unshakable. ”

Everyone nodded their heads one after another. These few times Kaifeng was surrounded, and they were all frightened. Only the defense of that wall is really unreassuring.

Chen Yongfu saw that everyone was about to defect en masse again, and immediately said: "The minister's soldiers know the defense of the city well, if they change people in a hurry, I am afraid that under the attack of the thieves, they will inevitably be in a hurry." The minister is willing to lend all the 5,000 cavalry under his command to Adjutant General Li, plus the cavalry under Adjutant General Li, it should be about the same. ”

King Zhou frowned and said: "Chief Chen, the current situation is unknown, let's take a long-term view!" ”

Li Yan clenched his fists at this time and said: "Lord Wang, General Chen is willing to give the last general 5,000 war horses, then the last general will take this errand, lead the soldiers and horses south, and join the reinforcements to attack the thieves in Zhuxian Town!" ”

King Zhou looked at Li Yan suspiciously, a little confused.

And Chen Yongfu was excited, and he could finally drive Li Yan away. Immediately said loudly: "Please allow Vice General Li to go south to kill the thief, and the minister is willing to fully cooperate." ”

King Zhou saw Li Yan constantly signaling to him, and finally nodded and said, "Okay, then you can hand over the five thousand war horses to General Li." ”

"Obey." Chen Yongfu immediately agreed. However, he reacted later, raised his head and asked, "Didn't you lend 5,000 cavalry to Adjutant General Li?" ”

"Vice General Li wants a war horse!" King Zhou scolded dissatisfiedly: "Hurry up and prepare, don't delay the opportunity!" ”

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