In fact, Li Zicheng came to Huguang with a large army, and the most nervous was Zuo Liangyu in Wuchang. Don't look at his current claim to be an army of 500,000, but the number of troops under his command is only 100,000. He didn't get any credit in the new emperor's accession to the throne this time, don't look at the fact that he has the most troops, but the food and salary given by the imperial court is only slightly more than that of Huang Degong and other four towns.

Huang Degong and others are only 30,000 or 40,000 horses, and the gap between them can be imagined. However, Zuo Liangyu is not a law-abiding person, his troops have always exceeded the number of soldiers, and he can still feed his soldiers by relying on the exploitation and looting of the localities.

But now that Li Zicheng has fled to Huguanglai, Wuchang will become the first target of attack. And the fiasco in Zhuxian Town back then also made Zuo Liangyu unable to think much about confrontation, so he kept thinking about countermeasures.

It's really a godsend, since the Chinese New Year, Nanjing has been full of strange things. First, a swaggering monk came, saying that he was a prince, the king of Qi for a while, and the king of Chu for a while, and finally knew that he was a liar after being caught. Then it was rumored that the prince went south, and for a while, the people in the southern capital were turbulent, and many people were looking forward to Emperor Hongguang's abdication and return to power.

Then came another princess, a princess with a broken arm, who claimed to be Princess Changping. The most important thing is that Princess Changping was still escorted by Li Yan's troops to the confrontation area between the two sides. Princess Changping took a full set of honor guards and a large team of palace maids and eunuchs, and it was quite like that, after being sent to Nanjing, she was about to see the prince from the south, but then there was no follow-up.

Zuo Mengeng hurriedly entered Zuo Liangyu's main hall and said in a low voice: "Father, Nandu has sent a letter." ”

"How?" Zuo Liangyu didn't raise his head, looked at Wuchang's defense map and asked.

He knew that Wuchang would become Li Zicheng's primary target, so he didn't dare to slack off, and he had to organize his defense well. However, the soldiers from other places should not be transferred too much, and if there are no soldiers in the locality, then the food and salary will not be collected. The civil servants did not have a good face for him as a warlord, and the people did not want to pay such heavy taxes.

Zuo Mengeng said in a low voice: "The prince is fake, the princess is not sure, but few people seem to care about the princess's authenticity." ”

"Fake?" Zuo Liangyu was a little disappointed.

Zuo Mengeng continued: "However, from officialdom to the people, there are still many people who believe that the prince is real. It is said that this is an unjust case that King Fu is unwilling to return to power, so Jinyiwei made it. ”

Zuo Liangyu didn't say anything, still staring at Jiang Fangtu.

"I don't think it's an unjust case, the prince should be fake." Zuo Mengeng explained: "Wang Duo, Liu Zhengzong, and Li Jinglian are all former speakers of the East Palace, they all say they don't like it, so can it be true?" Besides, these people are all decent men and gentlemen, and they won't wear the same pants as Ma Shiying. ”

Zuo Liangyu smiled indifferently and asked, "Is there any news about Ma Shiying?" ”

Zuo Mengeng pursed his lips and said: "What else can I say, there is no intention of letting us retreat eastward at all, or let us stick upstream." said that Yuan Jixian had been sent to respond, and said that he would raise the title for you again, and he would be crowned. It's all a joke. ”

"Humph!" Zuo Liangyu sneered: "He feels that Huang Degong and others are supporting him, and he can't look down on us." But he didn't look at it, the four towns in Jiangbei, except for Huang Degong, who still had some loyalty, the other Gao Jie and Liu Zeqing came back from the rout in the north, Liu Liangzuo has always been an opportunistic guy, which one can be relied on. ”

Zuo Mengeng said sourly: "People have a good life, if they can help an emperor, even if it is a straw bag, it will be reused." ”

Zuo Liangyu shook his head and did not speak.

At this time, a pro-soldier hurriedly rushed in, half-knelt and clenched his fists, and reported loudly: "Master Hou, it's not good, the army has crossed the river." ”

Zuo Liangyu glared and reprimanded: "Nonsense! The main force of the army is still confronting me in Jiangbei, why did you cross the river?! ”

The soldiers reported anxiously: "It is indeed across the river, not on the other side of Wuchang, but in Shahu Town, just yesterday." The defeated troops under General Wang's command have fled back, and it is said that there are already 100,000 people who have crossed the river. ”

With a bang, Zuo Liangyu slammed his fist on the defense map on the table, and sat down on the chair with his chest undulating. He has been guarding to the death near Wuchang, and confronted the main force of the Chuang army in Jiangbei, but he didn't expect Li Chuang to cross the river from a hundred miles away. Although he did not believe that the Chuang army had already crossed the river with 100,000 troops, as long as there was a crossing, sooner or later the Chuang army would cross the Yangtze River moat in large numbers.

As soon as he thought of the intrusive army pushing the dirt carts and surrounding them, countless flowering bombs exploding around him, and the impact of the fierce horse team, he felt two wars. Back then, he pursued him all the way for 200 miles, and if his horse wasn't good, I'm afraid he would have been beheaded by the invading army.

"Father, father." Zuo Mengeng hurriedly went to help.

Zuo Liangyu sat for a while, thought for a long time, and finally gritted his teeth and ordered: "Pass the order, let the troops in Jiangbei withdraw." Let the troops in the rear levy the food ships and prepare to go east along the river. ”

"Withdrawing?" Zuo Mengeng asked in surprise, and then reminded: "But the imperial court is there for us to defend it, and there are Yuan Jixian, Huang Degong, and Liu Liangzuo behind." ”

Zuo Liangyu gritted his teeth and said, "This is not a retreat, but to go to the side of Qingjun!" ”

"Qing, Qingjun's side?" Zuo Mengeng was shocked by this decision and was already a little stammered.

Zuo Liangyu said with a smile: "Isn't there a prince, it just so happens that we are also going to support an emperor." My 200,000 troops are heading east, and I see who can stop them in the four towns! ”

"But, but, only us, can we make it happen?" Zuo Mengeng was still a little worried.

Zuo Liangyu said easily: "Ma Shiying has the backing of the four towns, and Donglin jumps up and down in a hurry, but what's the use?" It is in vain to get a monk to swagger and deceive, and then get a fake prince to disturb people's hearts. But it's different when we raise troops, even if we don't communicate with them in advance, as long as we play the banner of Qingjun's side, they know what to do. ”

Zuo Mengeng suddenly realized, and said with a smile: "Oh, I see, my father is handsome and wise." ”

"Go and give the order, and don't delay. Li Chuang was chased by Li Yan, and he wouldn't leave us much time. Zuo Liangyu urged.

Zuo Mengeng didn't dare to rub in, and hurriedly ran out to give orders.

Two days later, a strange scene appeared in the Wuchang area, Zuo Liangyu retreated along the river with a boat carrying heavy goods, and Li Zicheng's troops in the back also escorted the boat along the Han River and occupied Wuchang City. Zuo Liangyu fled in a hurry, but Li Zicheng did not pursue bravely, but spread troops around Wuchang and began to collect food.

The people along the river are full of complaints, hoping that this war will end soon and live a peaceful life.

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