After Li Zicheng defeated Gao Jie's general Li Chengdong's blockade, the depression of nearly half a year was suddenly eliminated.

"Let the baggage ship dock and unload!" Li Zicheng ordered in high spirits: "The first batch of Shi Jincai's department to cross the river, we must catch the mountain harrier (Gao Jie) for me!" ”

Tian Jianxiu hurriedly stopped Li Laiheng, who was going to give an order. persuaded Li Zicheng: "Zicheng, don't be impulsive." ”

"It's not impulsive," Li Zicheng explained: "Although the prefectures and counties in Jiangbei have the intention of surrendering to Li Yan, Li Yan's men can only be slowly received from north to south. As you can see, Gao Jie's department is not our opponent at all. Before Li Yan's brigade came over, it was enough to clean up Gao Jie. ”

At this time, Liu Zongmin, who finally didn't have to take on the task of guarding, said in a muffled voice: "There are still 200,000 troops of Zuo Mengeng in Jiangbei, and we are still chasing Chen Yongfu's 10,000 soldiers and horses. Once trapped in Jiangbei, Li Yan's troops should soon surround him. Nanjing is just around the corner, and the lives of more than 100,000 brothers are here, so you can't make a decision casually. ”

"Yes," Tian Jianxiu persuaded: "These 100,000 horses are the last strength of our Dashun." If we take the southeast, Dashun will still exist, and if we fail again, we will be nothing more than a group of rogues. It's almost impossible to rebuild a new world. ”

Gao Yigong also persuaded: "Your Majesty, you must focus on the overall situation." Some people who fled from Shaanxi said that He Zhen, who surrendered to Li Yan in Hanzhong, had been captured by Li Yan. The more ambitious a person is, the more corrupt his military discipline is, the more dangerous he will be after surrendering to Li Yan. When Gao Jie arrives under Li Yan's hands, he will definitely not end well. ”

Li Zicheng looked at the old brothers under him, all of whom made him focus on the overall situation. At this time, even if he had monstrous anger in his heart, he could only endure it. He glanced at the crowd, and had no choice but to order Li Laiheng: "Go and inform the battalions, rest for a day, and continue to march to Nanjing tomorrow." ”

"Your Majesty is wise." Gao Yigong and Tian Jianxiu hugged their fists and praised.

Liu Zongmin praised: "Good job." It is not too late for a gentleman to take revenge. ”

Li Zicheng gave up his plan to cross the river to pursue Gao Jie, but Zuo Mengeng and Gao Jie, who had crossed the north of the river, confronted each other. Since they all crossed the river to take refuge, they not only had to guard against Li Zicheng in the south of the Yangtze River, but also had to pay attention to Li Yan's troops, so they did not go to war, but only confronted each other. At the same time, he also took advantage of the small number of garrison troops along the river to quickly get some money and food from the people, so as to prepare for the continued escape in the future.

At the same time, Huang Desheng of Huai'an also followed Li Yan's orders and began to move south to Yangzhou.

Liu Zeqing, who was stationed in Yangzhou, after getting the news that Li Yan's troops were heading south, the first thing he did was to collect grain and taxes from Yangzhou. Yangzhou is rich, especially the salt merchants in the city, and the family is rich and silver. Therefore, Liu Zeqing was not polite, and directly posted to the salt merchants of the Salt Merchants Guild, and agreed on an amount for each salt company, with hundreds of thousands of dollars at the most and 20,000 or 30,000 at the least. The grain was also distributed to the big landlords, and no matter how much it was, it was paid within two days.

All of a sudden, the residence of Wang Duo, a bachelor stationed in Yangzhou City, became the most lively place. Countless salt merchants and gentry came to Wang Duo to intercede. After all, Wang Duo is a court official, and they can still speak with some money. Unlike Liu Zeqing, who directly told them that if they didn't pay the amount within two days, the soldiers would take it themselves.

Wang Duo was also helpless, he went to intercede, and Liu Zeqing turned to him to ask for money and food. It is said that the imperial court ordered a quick retreat to the south before, and all the food and salary fell in Huai'an, and if there was not enough food, he would not be able to control the army.

The salt merchants and gentry had no choice but to raise money and food from everywhere. Those soldiers and ruffians have no reason to say, if they really have to wait for them to rob them, then there may be nothing left of Wanguan furniture. Now I just regret it, I shouldn't let Liu Zeqing enter the city, I should stick to the city like I did with Gao Jie back then, and keep these military ruffians out. Now it's too late to regret it, so I can only give up my money.

But the situation was even worse than they thought, and the next afternoon, nearly a day before Liu Zeqing's request, Liu Zeqing released his troops and began to loot directly in the city. Because Huang Desheng's marching speed exceeded Liu Zeqing's expectations, the main reason was that there was no resistance from all over the way, and in only one day, it was only a hundred miles away from Yangzhou. If you wait until tomorrow, you don't know if you will have time to cross the river to the south, so Liu Zeqing decisively started to rob it.

In the mansions of the major salt merchants, the samurai they worshipped with high salaries, as well as the captive family members, began to do their duty and fight against the soldiers who broke into the mansions. To say that they can still deal with thieves, but when they encounter an army, even if the combat strength is not strong, it is difficult to resist.

Liu Zeqing's troops had also fought with the Qing army, and the basic cooperation of all arms was still known. When encountering a martial artist with strong kung fu, he used a bow and crossbow to serve at a distance, and a spear and a waist knife when he was close. In the face of an organized army, individual bravery is almost useless.

Soon, the mansions in the city became a mess, and the ladies in the mansions were inevitably defiled. After nightfall, many mansions were on fire, illuminating the entire Yangzhou city red.

The common people in the city are closed doors, men are holding kitchen knives and harpoons in their hands, and old and weak women and children are also holding scissors and sticks and huddle in the inner house. They don't lack courage, it's just that there is no one to organize them. Moreover, those huge riches in the city are rich enough to sprinkle gold leaf into the river, and it does not seem to be a pity for them, the small people, that these huge riches were slaughtered.

"Liu Dashuai!" Wang Duo angrily entered Liu Zeqing's line and asked unceremoniously: "What are you doing?!" Yangzhou is an important place for the imperial court's finance and taxation, how dare you plunder?! Moreover, the gentry and merchants are already raising money and food for Liu Dashuai, and now that the deadline has not yet arrived, why can't Liu Dashuai restrain his subordinates? ! ”

Liu Zeqing sat on the chair and said calmly: "Li Yan's troops have arrived in Gaoyou, where can the people in this town be restrained?" The soldiers got some money and were about to flee across the river. ”

"What?" Wang Duo said in surprise: "The will of the imperial court is to garrison Liu Dashuai in Yangzhou, how can he retreat south without authorization?" Moreover, Li Yan's troops to the south are only a few thousand, the commander has 30,000 elite soldiers, and there is a strong city in Yangzhou, are you still worried that you can't defend it? ”

Liu Zeqing said disdainfully: "If you compare the number of people, the Qing people should honestly fish and hunt in Jianzhou, where can they seize the land of thousands of miles outside the Guan?" If the university scholar wants to see the strength of Li Yan's army, then although it is good to stick to Yangzhou, Ben Shuai is going to cross south. ”

"This, this~" Wang Duo was so shocked that he didn't know what to say.

"The scholars should go back early and prepare, and before noon tomorrow, I will leave a ferry boat for the scholars at the ferry." Liu Zeqing's fluttering words made Wang Duo lose his bearings, and he immediately left in a hurry.

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