After the "Great Victory on Agate Mountain", the officers and troops made persistent efforts, and in March they pursued Zhang Xianzhong, who fled westward, one after another. On the ninth, tenth and fifteenth days of the first month of March, Zhang Xianzhong was defeated consecutively. Zhang Xianzhong lost nearly 4,000 troops, and there were also a dragon in the left battalion (Xue Chengcai), a king in the right battalion (He Guoxian), and two tigers in the front battalion who led their troops to surrender, so that there were three or four thousand fewer people.

Zhang Xianzhong had no choice but to flee into the mountains with the remnants to take refuge. At this time, it seemed that Zhang Xianzhong could be captured in one fell swoop and complete Emperor Chongzhen's instructions, but Yang Sichang was in big trouble. Zuo Liangyu stopped the pursuit, not only stopped the pursuit, but also sent a letter to Yang Sichang, saying that he was going to return to Xing'an with the troops.

Yang Sichang hurriedly sent a letter and reiterated Emperor Chongzhen's wish, as long as Zhang Xianzhong can be eliminated, it will be the fulfillment of the emperor's wish. And let Zuo Liangyu continue to pursue, that is, it will really be Xing'an, and he must continue to supervise the soldiers to chase and suppress, and he must destroy Zhang Xianzhong before he can stop.

Now Yang Sichang doesn't dare to force Zuo Liangyu's orders, and after the "Agate Mountain Victory", Zuo Liangyu's reputation has risen greatly. Now several great victories have also been reported, Chen Xinjia's letter said that Emperor Chongzhen intends to add Zuo Liangyu as the crown prince. Yang Sichang can only focus on persuasion, know the benefits, and let Zuo Liangyu continue to lead the troops to chase and suppress.

Zhuxi County, Zuo Liangyu Xingyuan.

Zuo Liangyu put down Yang Sichang's letter and said with a smile: "This Yang Pavilion Department, now I know that I am begging, it's too late." ”

Zuo Mengeng came in, hugged his fists and said: "Father, He Guoxian (Zhang Xianzhong's right camp Shuntian King) brought it." ”

"Let him in." Zuo Liangyu nodded and ordered.

After He Guoxian came in, he immediately knelt down, kowtowed, and said, "Descend to He Guoxian, knock to see Zuo Dashuai." ”

Zuo Liangyu got up, came over to help He Guoxian up, and said: "General He doesn't need to be polite, I have already sent someone to hand over your surrender form, I believe that in the near future, we will be able to be ministers in the same palace, how can we surrender to the general or not?" Come, sit down and talk. ”

He Guoxian said gratefully: "The general of the defeated army, where you dare to sit down and speak, the sin general just stands." ”

Zuo Liangyu insisted: "No need to be formal, since you have already lowered me, that is my deployment." Look at Liu Guoneng and Li Wanqing, didn't they rebel like you before? Now they are all my generals, and I still let them stay in the Xunyang camp. As long as I am loyal now, I don't care about the past! ”

"The villain thanked Zuo Dashuai for giving him a seat." He Guoxian hugged his fists and thanked him, and then sat down peacefully.

After waiting for tea, Zuo Liangyu asked, "General He's still living habits?" Are there any requirements? ”

"Habit, habit." He Guoxian hurriedly said: "There are no requirements, there is food and drink, and you don't have to be chased like a dog, it's very comfortable." ”

Zuo Liangyu nodded and smiled: "There are still some women in the camp, let the dogs pick a few for you to send in a while, so that it is really comfortable." ”

"Uh, hahaha. It's best that there's nothing missing. Hahaha. He Guoxian said with a happy laugh.

"So, how many soldiers and horses does Zhang Xianzhong have now?" Zuo Liangyu suddenly asked, "Can General He tell Zuo someone?" ”

He Guoxian was a little hesitant, after all, he had also followed Zhang Xianzhong to rebel for a long time, so he betrayed others like this, which was morally unjustifiable. But he has surrendered now, Zuo Liangyu treats him really well, and seeing that Zhang Xianzhong is really not good, maybe he will surrender again one day, and it is nothing for him to say now.

Zuo Liangyu did not urge He Guoxian's hesitation, but quietly drank tea and waited. Zuo Mengeng was not angry, but his father didn't speak, and he didn't dare to talk nonsense, so he could only stare at He Guoxian to exert pressure.

He Guoxian finally spoke: "Zuo Dashuai, in fact, King Zhang doesn't have a few soldiers, and at most there are four or five thousand men and horses to follow him. If Zuo Shuai intends to surrender, the villain is willing to go for a trip. As long as the imperial court can guarantee that King Zhang can still lead an army alone, I believe that King Zhang will not resist to the end. ”

"Four or five thousand?" Zuo Liangyu stroked his beard and said, "It's not too little." ”

"Not much, not much." He Guoxian hurriedly said: "It turns out that King Zhang has 30,000 people, and now the dead are dead, those who flee are fleeing, and those who are surrendering are left." It's really not much, and there are a lot of injuries, and the combat power is not as good as before. ”

Zuo Liangyu nodded and said, "Well, okay, I see." As for whether it is suppressed or appeased, it has to wait for the Jun order of the Yang Pavilion Department. General He should go back and rest first, and if you have any requirements, please mention them. ”

He Guoxian stood up, hugged his fists and said, "Okay, the villain has retired." ”

Zuo Mengeng sent He Guoxian out, and finally sent a woman or something, and he ordered a small school to do it. After sending two steps, he returned to the living room and said, "Father, according to the confessions of several generals, Zhang Xianzhong should still have 3,000 to 6,000 people now, and his strength is not weak, what should we do?" ”

"Well," Zuo Liangyu nodded: "Three thousand to six thousand, not too little, not too much, just right!" ”

"Exactly?" Zuo Mengeng asked suspiciously.

Zuo Liangyu smiled and asked, "You say, what should we do?" ”

Zuo Mengeng thought for a moment and said, "Don't move!" Anyway, you can't do it according to Yang Sichang's old foolish meaning! He doesn't know anything, and if he does what he says, he will definitely not be able to accomplish anything! If we do what he says, we won't be able to defeat Zhang Xianzhong in Agate Mountain at all. ”

Zuo Liangyu nodded and praised: "Well, this idea is not bad." ”

Zuo Mengeng grinned happily, this was the first time his opinion was adopted.

"No more, no less than three or five thousand." Zuo Liangyu said to himself: "Since it can cause trouble to the imperial court, it is just right that it can pose too much of a threat to us." As long as Zhang Xianzhong, the rabbit, is still alive, the court will have to rely on us, and the food and salary will have to follow us first. ”

"What does my father mean is that not only will he not go to the attack now, but he will also let Zhang Xianzhong go?" Zuo Mengeng asked: "Are we going to raise Kou self-respect?" ”

"It's to feed yourself." Zuo Liangyu shook his head and said: "All the food and salary in the world are given to Liaodong, if there is no noise in the Central Plains, these sons and daughters under us will also be hungry." We also reserved this official army for the imperial court, if they can't open food and pay like the three sides, the Central Plains will be all thieves. The court should be grateful to us. ”

"What my father said is that the court should thank us." Zuo Mengeng said thoughtfully.

Zuo Liangyu nodded, and then ordered: "You take the five thousand people of Jin Shengheng's department to the Guide Mansion to have a look." Hou Gongzi (Hou Fangyu) wrote to say that bandits were raging in Suizhou, and his cousin-in-law had been killed, and asked me to help clean up the township. Although Hou Butang (Hou Sui) is in prison, we must repay the kindness. Without Hou Butang's recommendation and promotion back then, I would not be as rich and prosperous as I am today. ”

"Order!" Zuo Mengeng happily clenched his fists and replied. He finally had a chance to lead the troops.

"When it comes to Guide, you can't make a mistake!" Zuo Liangyu instructed: "After all, it is Hou Butang's township, don't affect Hou Butang's reputation." ”

"The child obeys his father's command!"