Outside Kaifeng City, Li Zicheng's big tent.

"What do you guys think?" Li Zicheng asked: "Li Yan's house only gave us 8,000 stone of grain, which is enough for us to eat for three or five days." ”

And they did not speak. In the past few days, they have broken the lockdown, and the losses are not small. The digging tunnel was discovered, and there were only twenty or thirty people who were stuffed into it. However, in order to cover the tunnels, the troops who forced to attack the city suffered heavy losses. The cannonballs and arrows on the top of the city could hit them, and the defenders at the base of the city walls also learned to fire shotguns, and they were knocked down in pieces as they got closer.

At this time, they actually have a negative attitude towards attacking the city and attacking Li Yan. So now everyone doesn't say anything, waiting for Li Zicheng to decide for himself.

Li Zicheng saw everyone's reaction, so he ordered: "Okay, let's all go back, we can rest a little in the past two days, let's go to the south and defeat the reinforcements of the official army first." ”

"The general is wise." All the generals clenched their fists and agreed, and easily got out of the big tent.

When Luo Rucai also went out, Li Zicheng asked, "How is the tunnel dug?" ”

Li Guo replied: "It's only three or four zhang away, as long as there are two or three more days, you can dig the root of the city wall." ”

Yuan Zongdi opened his mouth and said: "Why don't you fight for a few days, as long as we defeat the first Kaifeng City, those officials and soldiers will not come." ”

Tian Jianxiu reminded: "And Li Yan, if he comes to attack, those officials and soldiers may not come." Recovering Kaifeng is also a great achievement. ”

Yuan Zongdi said with some dissatisfaction: "He is only tens of thousands of people, I don't believe that we can't help him!" After the fight is over, let's divide into more than a dozen ways to fight him together, I don't believe he can defend it! ”

Tian Jianxiu sneered: "Have you ever seen the fortress under Li Yan's jurisdiction?" Which is not six or seven feet tall? There were moats two or three zhang wide in front. As long as it delays for a while, Li Yan's troops will be able to rush to reinforcements. Moreover, the fortresses in Qixian County are being strengthened and heightened, and Li Yan has been preparing. ”

Liu Zongmin said: "No matter which one you fight, you must first let the brothers rest for two days, eat, drink and have fun, and raise morale." These days, the casualties are not small, and the morale of the brothers is not high, and if they do not mobilize their morale, it will be difficult to fight anyone. ”

Li Zicheng hesitated for a while, touched the blindfold on his left eye, and ordered: "Plug the tunnel entrance, mark it, and hide it." Kaifeng, sooner or later, we will have to fight down. ”

Li Guo nodded and said, "Well, I'll get it right." ”

Li Zicheng instructed Tian Jianxiu again: "Yufeng, you go to Qixian again, tell Li Yan, and do what you have discussed before." As for the food, let him give it to us earlier. ”

"Okay, I'll go again tomorrow."

Qi County, barracks.

Li Zhong reported to Li Yan: "In the past three days, a total of 283 mules and horses have been requisitioned in Qi County, and there are only 17 good horses in the middle, and the others are horses, mules, and donkeys. ”

Li Yan frowned and said, "That's it?" There are less than 300 heads, plus those from other states and counties, there are no more than 2,000 horses, right? ”

Li Zhong sighed: "This is still a big shortage of food in our Qi County, like Yongcheng, Xiayi and other counties in Guide, there are even fewer mules and horses to feed." ”

"Those big families, especially the relatives in the army, have also gone to collect them, right?" Li Yan asked suddenly.

Li Zhong said uncertainly: "I should have been there." ”

Li Yan instructed: "You go and check it out again." This person always doesn't have enough, and when he has a little power in his hands, he will think about changing it for some benefits. If you get caught, you will be punished heavily! Directly confiscate the livestock! ”

"This," Li Zhong hesitated, "The big war is coming, will it affect the morale of the soldiers?" Anyway, this battle won't be needed, so why don't you wait until this war is over to deal with it? ”

Li Yan said sternly: "Don't wait! I'm not used to their bad habits! Correct them from the small things. lest they be emboldened in the future and do even more outrageous things. You inform all the troops about this and let them know about it. Even if they are angry in their hearts and defect before the battle, I am not used to them! ”

Li Zhongyin smiled and said: "It shouldn't be possible to defect before the battle, who will get the land for the sake of a mule at home, and the family will not want it." At most, I feel uncomfortable and complain. ”

Li Yan nodded and said, "I hope they can take their grievances out on the enemy." If I really get dizzy and affect the battle situation, I can only make an example of it. ”

Luzhou (Hefei), state ya.

Zhang Xianzhong took advantage of the opportunity of the Dragon Boat Festival to take advantage of the lax garrison of the official army, rushed from Shucheng to the city overnight, opened the door of the city, and captured Luzhou. This is his old routine, always using sneak attacks to capture cities. This is also where he is complacent, he feels that he is smarter than Li Zicheng, and will not use the lives of his brothers to storm the city.

He held a banquet in the palace and drank heavily with his generals. Here they captured Luzhou, and Ge Liyan and others also captured Wuwei Prefecture. He has already sent someone to contact to see if he can join forces to occupy this place and not leave.

Strange to say, although they are all active in this area, they have not yet been associated. If they meet, they will cooperate, and at other times they will still do their own things and do not interact with each other. Now that the two are close, there will be another opportunity to cooperate.

"Father," Zhang Nengqi said with a smile: "I heard that Li Zicheng is still attacking Kaifeng." How many times has this been? also put on an eye, it's really a nest. ”

"Hahaha, that's it. And Cao Cao is too, he has to go to the joint venture with Li Zicheng and ask for his own hardship! The other generals were also smiling and laughing.

Zhang Xianzhong also laughed twice and said, "Don't talk about him, let's just take care of our own affairs." After that, he said to Shi Qian: "Brother Shi Qian, this Luzhou is a big city, much stronger than Shucheng. There is no shortage of craftsmen and bronzes, you go to catch me, and I will catch all the craftsmen. There are also those big families, and I have cleaned up all the bronzes at home. Isn't it just a cannon, let's cast it ourselves! I don't need those robbed looks! ”

They grabbed some artillery pieces before, not to mention the small caliber, the large caliber is also a huge gap compared to Li Yan's artillery. Not only is it heavy, but it is not far away. This time Zhang Xianzhong has made up his mind, he has already set up an official position in Shucheng, left the defenders, and now he is going to contact the Fifth Battalion of Gezuo, just to settle down in Luzhou, so that he can have time to cast a batch of artillery.

Shi Qian hugged his fists and said: "Don't worry, don't worry, you will do a good job." After that, he glanced at the generals and said, "Actually, it's still a little powerless to let the lowly department do it. The subordinates felt that all the generals could help, as long as the craftsmen and bronzes were gathered at the end. ”

He didn't dare to take over all the work of this looting alone, and he always had to share the profits together in order to be harmonious.

Zhang Xianzhong nodded and said, "Okay, it's right." But be careful about the impact, we are going to be here for a permanent stay, don't mess around! ”

"Subordinates obey!" All the generals agreed with full confidence.

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