"Supervisor, the army of thieves has suddenly arrived, our department has been dispersed, and three thousand stone of grain has also been robbed." As soon as Niu Chenghu entered the big tent of the Chinese army, he anxiously reported to Sun Chuanting.

Although Sun Chuanting knew that something must have happened as soon as he saw Niu Chenghu coming back in a panic, he didn't expect it to be such a serious situation. He didn't have as many baggage carts as Li Yan, and he couldn't afford to raise so many mules and horses. Except for some grain and grass on the train, the grain and grass he brought was only enough for five days, and the rest was left in Xinye.

Sun Chuanting said dissatisfiedly: "You have more than 10,000 people, and you can't even protect the grain transportation team?!" Give you three days, you regroup your troops, and bring me food, otherwise this superintendent will use your head to enforce military law! ”

Niu Chenghu knelt down and said, "Supervisor, there are too many thieves, there are hundreds of thousands!" And there are tens of thousands of cavalry among them. My scouts spotted a rogue attack, and before I was ready, their cavalry overwhelmed my ranks. I tried to gather my troops, but the foot soldiers behind the thieves rushed over in an instant and surrounded the general's troops. If it weren't for the last general who came out with his own soldiers to fight to the death, he would have died at the hands of the thieves by now. ”

"Tens of thousands?!" Sun Chuanting snorted coldly: "Do you believe it yourself? Where are they hiding? ”

Niu Chenghu nodded and replied seriously: "I don't know where they are hiding, but they do have more than 100,000, only a little more." The thieves have already come after him from the south, so please prepare for the Inspector. ”

"Report~" As if to prove Niu Chenghu, a scout ran in and reported: "Inspector, five miles away in the north, a brigade of thieves has been discovered." They were digging trenches and preparing to set up camp. ”

Although Sun Chuanting was horrified in his heart, he didn't show it on his face. He commanded lightly: "How many centaurs?" Go and find out and report again. ”

The scout replied, "Many, no less than 100,000." The brothers who fled said that the thieves' trenches were dozens of miles long and did not look like a guard for the camp. ”

Sun Chuanting immediately ordered Niu Chenghu: "You go and gather the troops, let the officers come out to recognize their subordinates, if you can't name them, they must be the 'spies' of the thieves, and they will be sent to 'mess' with our army!" You have to deal with it decisively, and you must not be moved by compassion. ”

Niu Chenghu said in embarrassment: "The officers are also separated, and the last general can't do anything." ”

"Gao Jie, send your people over, take custody of all the soldiers who have fled back, and release them when they are clearly screened." Sun Chuanting turned to Gao Jie's order.

"Report~", Gao Jie hasn't received the order yet, and another scout came in: "Inspector, a brigade of thieves has been found in the east, and it has passed the white water." ”

Sun Chuanting immediately asked, "What about the troops sent to restore Suixian and Zaoyang?" No news? ”

Bai Guangen shook his head, and Gao Jie also said that there was no news.

Sun Chuanting knew that this was planned by the thieves a long time ago, and the troops he sent were only 5,000 people, and he was afraid that they had been surrounded and annihilated by the thieves. However, he immediately ordered: "General Gao, immediately send someone to the west to investigate." ”

After that, he commanded: "The whole army is on guard, guard the barracks, and do not act rashly without orders!" Assign 3,000 trains to each east and north, and arrange them properly to prevent thieves from attacking at night! ”

Yang Chengzu reminded at this time: "Supervisor, let's hurry up and break through." The thieves are powerful, and we can't be surrounded. Li Yan can't be trusted, he reached an agreement with the thief last year, and the thief gave Henan to him. ”

Sun Chuanting already knew that Li Yan had a problem at this time. Hundreds of thousands of thieves are hiding on the edge of Henan, Li Yan must have known, but he didn't tell him. This also just explains why Li Yan insisted on refusing to send a single soldier out of the Henan territory.

But at this time, he wanted to maintain the morale of the army, and scolded: "Don't talk 'nonsense'! You pacify the troops and make sure there is no 'chaos' tonight! Wait until dawn to find out the arrangement of the thieves, and then we will take care of it. You don't have to worry, there are no thieves in the west now, there are still Xunyang defenders there, and there are 20,000 partial divisions sent out by this superintendent. Whatever the situation, we still have a way out! ”

The generals had no choice but to take the order. They also had nothing to do but hope that the troops would break through. Especially Gao Jie, he abducted Li Zicheng's concubine 'servant', others can surrender, but he can't. So after he returned, he sent his most trusted 'elite' soldiers to the west overnight to investigate. He had already made up his mind, no matter what, he must not wait for death here, and he must not fall into the hands of Li Zicheng.

When all the generals went out, Sun Chuanting leaned softly on the back of the chair as if he had been 'pumped' his spine. The staff immediately surrounded and comforted: "Supervisor, don't worry, we still have 70,000 or 80,000 troops, and there is still hope for breaking out." ”

Sun Chuanting suddenly laughed, laughing so lonely: "Ridiculous, ridiculous." The emperor's relatives, the courtiers, the generals, and the chief military officers of the imperial court, but they secretly communicate with the thieves. I'm Ming, isn't there any hope? ”

A staff member persuaded: "Supervisor, in this 'chaotic' world, there will naturally be one or two ambitious people who will take advantage of the situation. Thieves, thieves and other thieves, including that Li Yan, are all in this generation, so it is not surprising. Since ancient times, there has been no dynasty for all ages, and the rise and fall are replaced, which is the way of heaven. We only need to do our duty as courtiers, and the overseer does not need to be angry. ”

"The duty of a courtier," Sun Chuanting smiled bitterly, "What's the use?" I raised food and salaries in Shaanxi, recruited and trained new troops, and supervised the manufacture of equipment. However, the gentry in Shaanxi urged the imperial court to 'force' me to go on the expedition as soon as possible. The soldiers are not strong, the equipment is not 'fine', the grain and grass are insufficient, and the enemy situation is unknown, so that there is today's siege. The gentry officials only knew 'private' interests, regardless of justice, and in the current natural disasters, they did not reduce taxes but increased taxes and salaries. The gentry and merchants are rich in the world but have no taxes to pay, but they are urging the poor peasants to 'force' even more. ”

Another staff member said: "Supervisor, it is important to plan for a breakthrough now. Since Li Yan in Henan has merged with the thieves, it is absolutely not advisable to stick to it and wait for help. Zuo Liang's 'jade' did what he wanted, and there were no more powerful reinforcements around. And my grain and grass are only enough for three days, and the thieves are strong and clear, so the top priority should be to contact Governor Xunyang Gao. Regardless of whether there are thieves in the west or not, only a two-phase attack can smoothly get out of the encirclement. ”

Sun Chuanting nodded: "What Mr. said is exact, this is not the time to say this." No matter what, this fighting army must always be reserved for the imperial court. Otherwise, Da Ming Ke really has no hope. ”

The staff advised: "It is absolutely impossible for the whole army to break through the encirclement, and a strong force should be left to block it." Gao Jie, Yang Chengzu and others all have a grudge against the thieves, so they will naturally fight to the death to cover the whole army. ”

"Well, I've got a plan in my mind. Wait until tomorrow to find out and make a decision. Sun Chuanting nodded and said, "Gentlemen, go back and rest, I will send more guards to protect you." ”

"Inspector, be careful."