The leaders of the thieves searched for each other in the crowd, and they wanted to discuss what to do. But how can so many people come together and find each other?

Li Yan waited for a while, and saw that the surrounding thieves did not react, so he ordered: "One salvo, all artillery fire ready"

He still has to chase down the big bands of thieves who have escaped, and he doesn't have time to waste time here for these two thousand thieves.

After a while, the sound of the release of the crossbow strings sounded, and the crossbowmen in the first row fired their crossbow arrows one after another, and then bent down to wind up and load the crossbow arrows. Then they crouched on the ground, waited for the captain's unified instructions, and finally stood up again, in case they might interfere with the second platoon's shooting.

"Ah~", "Ah" As a row of crossbow arrows fired, the crowd in the front row of the thieves let out a series of screams. Due to the tight crowding of the thieves, many of the crossbow arrows pierced the thieves in front and caused damage to the thieves behind. This launch caused them a lot of casualties.

"Surrendered, we surrendered"

"Drop, don't let go of the arrows"

……

Some of the thieves shouted loudly, and they didn't know if it was the minions who shouted or if their leader made a decision.

Li Yan instructed: "Let them throw all their weapons to the ground, and if they find that they have hidden weapons, they will be killed."

After a while, the soldiers began to shout. The sound of "jingle bells" sounded, and the thieves obediently threw their weapons on the ground.

Li Yan commanded again: "Let them raise their hands." Tell the city to lower the drawbridge and put the thieves into the urn. ”

The pro-soldiers split up to give orders. The thieves all obediently raised their hands. They know that it is useless to resist, rather than die so inexplicably, it is better to surrender first, and maybe there is still a way to live.

And the defenders in Fucheng have already seen Li Yan's army. They were all surprised, and they didn't know how Li Yan's troops appeared here. When they came back to their senses, they did not dare to fire at the thieves outside the city, for fear of accidentally injuring their allies.

So they all watched Li Yan's troops fight, and watched Li Yan's troops surround a group of nearly two thousand thieves outside the moat within a quarter of an hour.

At this time, he got Li Yan's instructions, and he carried them out without hesitation.

"Whoa-la-la-la-la The chains of the drawbridge rattled, slowly lowered, and rested on the trench. And the gate of the urn city also squeaked and slowly opened.

Wu Ding came to the west of the city at this time, and he mobilized more than 500 troops to deal with these surrendered thieves. They prepared the ropes, and as soon as the thieves entered the urn city, they began to tie up a dozen or so together.

Wu Ding came to the outside of the city, found Li Yan, hugged his fists and said, "General, why did you come so fast?" ”

Li Yan said with a smile: "I didn't go far. This time, I came out on behalf of the soldiers, just so that I could lure these thieves over so that they could be annihilated in one fell swoop. Now you lock up these thieves first, and I'll be useful when I come back. ”

"Yes, obedience." Wu Ding clenched his fists and agreed. After that, he asked, "Do you also bring some soldiers with you to pursue the thieves with the general?" ”

Li Yan refused: "No." Defend the city, and when you have taken these thieves into custody, send your troops to the west to search for the thieves who have escaped. Remember, don't harass the people, or I will punish you severely."

Wu Ding immediately assured: "Please rest assured, the general will definitely restrain his subordinates and will not harm the people in the slightest."

Li Yan nodded and ordered, "I'll leave it to you here." After that, he said to Li Mou: "Gather the team and chase those who escaped." ”

"Okay." Li Mu agreed loudly. After that, a few personal soldiers were sent to track down the escape route of the thieves, to see if there was an ambush and so on. After that, the troops began to re-line and prepare for pursuit.

After the troops were assembled, Li Yan and Li Mu led the troops to continue the pursuit. The troops pursued in the state of a fast foot army, without running. All the artillery in his troops was carried by artillery wagons or mules and horses, and even the fastest marching speed could be caught up as long as the road conditions permitted. As long as they know the direction of the thieves' escape, the thieves will also be tired, as long as the thieves stop and rest, they can catch up.

Li Mu asked Li Yan, "Fourth brother, what's the situation this time?" Suddenly, I was asked to assemble my team. The troops are still scattered to eliminate the thieves, and they almost can't catch up with the time. ”

Li Yan said helplessly: "The officials and soldiers are about to come to Henan, so we must first clean up the thieves in our territory, so as not to be found by others to come to us to spread wilderness." ”

"Then we have less than 2,000 people, that is, we can drive them out." Li Mu said puzzledly: "Wait another three or two months, and we will be able to dispatch at least six or seven thousand people." At that time, the thieves will be able to surround them. Wouldn't that be better? ”

Li Yan said with a smile: "It is to annihilate them without destroying them." ”

"Huh? What is the rationale for this? Li Mu asked curiously.

Li Yan explained: "Without the mixing of these guys, those big families would not be willing to pay taxes. ”

Li Mu said nonchalantly: "That's not easy, just kill a few households." Fourth brother, you are too soft-hearted, those guys are all vain, building bridges and paving roads to make meritorious monuments, they are all willing to do it, but they are not willing to pay taxes to the court. Of course, they don't want to pay taxes to us. ”

"It's not time yet." Li Yan said in a low voice: "Let's take a look at the battle between the official army and Li Zicheng this time." This time it feels different, Li Zicheng and Zhang Xianzhong seem to be more strategic, stronger than before. ”

Li Mu nodded and said, "Well, it's a little different. However, it is also because there is too much food shortage and too many displaced people in other places. ”

Li Yan and Li Mu led their troops to pursue all the way, and when evening, a personal soldier came to report that the bandwagon had stopped near Yanjiaji. It was more than ten miles away from them.

"Fourth brother," Li Mu asked, "Do you wait until tomorrow to fight, or do you want to go now?" ”

Li Yan thought for a moment and said, "Let the troops rest first, and then attack in the middle of the night, so that they can't sleep well and see how fast they can run." ”

Li Mu said with a smile: "This method is good. ”

Li Yan ordered again: "Send out the cavalry and do a good job of blocking it." You don't have to go too far, just three or four miles. As long as the sentry of the thief is found, he must be strangled immediately, and the thief cannot be allowed to discover our traces in advance. ”

"Understood." Li Mu agreed, and personally went to inform Bai Shixiong of the cavalry team.

This time the cavalry came with one hundred and fifty men, and after they had taken control of several other counties, they were given some horses. Now all but the more than fifty horses that remained at the training base are in charge of training.

...