After Li Yan saw it, he said to Liang Zhenfang: "Zhenfang, I can only leave you half of the cavalry, and I will take the other five hundred away." ”

"Oh, okay." Liang Zhenfang subconsciously agreed. He knew something must be wrong, but he didn't dare ask.

Wang Renfu asked, "Dashuai, what's wrong?" ”

Li Yan stood up and walked out, and said, "Li Zicheng's troops have counterattacked Datong, and General Li Mu said that it might be an opportunity. I'm afraid he may have already attacked, so let the cavalry prepare now, and I'll leave at once. ”

Wang Renfu said regretfully: "At this time, there shouldn't be a war everywhere. When our troops are enough, it's not too late to fight. ”

"His temperament is more anxious, although the letter did not say that he was going to attack, but I am afraid that he has already moved, just take precautions." Li Yan said: "Don't relax here, you must take all the passes as soon as possible." It's still the same as Jizhen, train the defenders of the pass first. ”

"Obedience."

Li Yan reminded again: "It is also a hidden danger for the captives to be sent to Tianjin and transferred to Shandong, and to stay here. The damaged Great Wall and the city, hire the people to do it. ”

Wang Renfu arched his hand: "The humble duty has been recorded." ”

After Li Yan had lunch, he immediately led the guards first, followed by the cavalry troops. Two days later, Li Yan returned to Beijing. But he saw Li Mou.

"Why are you here?" Li Yan asked strangely.

Li Mu replied: "The letter was just sent to the fourth brother, and there was a new situation on the third day, so I think it's better to come and tell the fourth brother in person." ”

Li Yan nodded casually. Since Li Mu came back in person, there should be nothing big about the front line, so he went to wash up first. Galloping back all the way, the whole person was disgraced.

After Li Yan freshened up, Li Mu said with a smile: "Congratulations to the fourth brother, the news that just arrived yesterday, on the second day of the seventh month, the sister-in-law gave birth to a son to the fourth brother." ”

Li Yan also smiled. When he set off from Beijing, he felt that it was almost time to have news. But the war was urgent, so he didn't wait. Now that there is news, it can be regarded as reassuring. Although I have a son, I can't be careless, and the death rate of children is still very high. Even his son Yuan Bin, who is six years old, still said that he was gone.

He said: "Well, this news can be announced to the whole army. ”

"Well, the fourth brother is wise." Li Mu nodded with a smile.

Li Yan said: "Okay, let's talk about the situation, right?" ”

Li Mu also accepted the joke and began to report: "On the fourth day of the seventh month, a force of Li Zicheng came from northern Shaanxi, with about 30,000 or 40,000 horses, and attacked Jiang Xiang in Datong. I think this is a good opportunity to take down Datong while Jiang Xiang is in the west. However, two days later, a group of Qing troops and Mongolian troops came in from the mouth of the tiger and helped Jiang Xiang fight Li Zicheng together. ”

"Qing army? How many centaurs are there? Li Yan frowned and asked.

He didn't expect the Qing army to cross the Great Wall and head south so quickly. The Han army captured at Shanhaiguan confessed that the Eight Banners of the Qing State had distrusted each other and had no intention of going south again, so why did they come in again so soon?

Li Mu replied: "There are probably more than 10,000, all of them are cavalry." Thirteen scouts died, but fortunately, the corpses and equipment were recovered, and the Qing army was not taken advantage of. ”

"Wu Sangui has already got our handcuffs." Li Yan said.

When Li Mu heard this, he immediately became angry and shouted, "What's the matter?!" This is our weapon! If the Qing army also knows, how can we fight the Qing army?! ”

"It's already happening, and it's useless to get angry. And these things, sooner or later, will be learned by the enemy, the key is that we have to do better, not rest on our laurels. Li Yan said lightly.

Li Mu still said angrily: "That's going to kill a lot of people!" ”

"Now our troops have shown signs of relying too much on firearms." Li Yan said: "If this development continues, in less than three or two years, maybe the troops will not dare to attack and fight in close combat." Such a unit will die if it encounters a strong enemy! The advantage of firearms has become smaller, but it can keep the troops brave to fight. ”

Li Mu disagreed and said, "How can it be so fast? There are no cowards in the current troops. ”

Li Yan didn't talk about this topic anymore and asked, "Go on, how is the situation in Datong?" ”

"Hmm." Li Mu agreed, so he had to continue to report: "Originally, Li Zicheng's troops were dominant, and Jiang Xiang was about to be unable to hold on. However, after those Qing troops joined, Li Zicheng's troops could not withstand it, and now they retreated to the edge of the Yellow River. ”

Li Yan frowned and said, "Li Zicheng's troops are getting worse and worse, why doesn't he send more people over?" There is no containment in the direction of Taiyuan? ”

Li Mu said with a smile: "It is said that those former Ming generals in the northwest are a little unstable, so Li Zicheng does not dare to transfer too many troops over. Thinking about it, he was about to sit in the Dragon Court, but he ascended the throne in a hurry and fled back to Xi'an in embarrassment, so it's no wonder that those generals have ideas. Taiyuan doesn't seem to have sent troops to cooperate. ”

Li Yan thought for a moment and said, "It seems that Zuo Xian, Niu Chenghu, and they are all in the northwest, right?" ”

"You mean, get in touch with them?" Li Mu immediately asked.

Li Yan smiled and nodded: "Li Zicheng was scared by the Qing army, and began to collect taxes from the people again, and all places began to be dissatisfied." He offended the gentry, but he did not hold the people, and now the military spirit is not as stable as before, it seems that it will not work. Niu Chenghu and others are smart people, otherwise they would not have surrendered to Li Zicheng in the first place. Let them surrender to us now, and they may not be happy. However, it should not be a big problem for them to turn against Li Zicheng. ”

Li Mu listened to Li Yan's words, and also said with a smile: "Well, that's the truth. It's better to mess up, and it's easier for us to clean up in the future. Then the fourth brother will write a few letters, and I will ask people to send them to Niu Chenghu. ”

Li Yan continued: "Not only do I have to send a letter to Niu Chenghu and them, but I also have to send a letter to Li Zicheng. ”

"To him?" Li Mu asked a little puzzled.

"Let's cooperate with him, flank Jiang Xiang and the Qing army on both sides, and then divide Datong equally." Li Yan explained.

Li Mu said: "Just let them fight, let's shoot now, and we can also take down Yanghe." ”

Li Yan explained: "This letter, one is to enhance Li Zicheng's confidence and ask him to send some more troops over to continue to fight against the Qing army. The other is to completely crush, or even annihilate this Qing army, so that they will not dare to go south again for a period of time. Wait for us to stabilize the situation, and then go back to compete with the Qing court. Otherwise, if we fight on two or even three fronts, we will be consumed to death like Da Ming. ”

"Then what if Li Zicheng doesn't believe it?" Li Mu asked.

Li Yan said with a smile: "Now people are panicking, he is trying to stabilize people's hearts with a big victory, he has to believe it if he doesn't believe it." ”

...