At noon the next day, Li Yan took 20,000 infantry, 3,000 cavalry, and a musket team to Zhengzhou. Li Zhong was left behind, taking care of Kaifeng and Qixian.

On this departure, Li Yan took almost all the ammunition in Kaifeng City to prevent Li Zicheng from breaking the kettle and having a decisive battle with him. In Kaifeng, Li Zhong was waiting for the ammunition from Qixian to come over, ready to go to reinforcements at any time. In order to communicate quickly, Li Yan brought more than a dozen carrier pigeons, all of which went straight to Kaifeng.

Li Yan didn't go fast, although Kaifeng to Zhongmu was only fifty or sixty miles, he could get there in one day. However, in order to allow Li Zhong to get more supplies before the war, he still chose to send troops in the afternoon and spend the night in Guandu Town, which was more than ten miles away from Zhongmu.

In Zhongmu, the party has always been staring at the direction of Kaifeng. After discovering that Li Yan really sent troops, he was not prepared to resist at all, and withdrew overnight after getting the news. and sent someone to report to Zhengzhou.

As soon as the Zhengzhou direction heard that Li Yan was really coming, he immediately fried the pot, and he wanted to withdraw immediately. Li Zicheng had no choice but to agree to retreat south. In fact, the battalions have already packed their things, and as soon as they say retreat, they will be able to leave immediately. Even Li Zicheng disagreed, when Li Yan approached Zhengzhou, they could also go by themselves.

These local thieves in Henan took refuge in Li Zicheng in order to preserve themselves under the encirclement and suppression of the official army and to achieve greater development. Li Zicheng was powerful before, and they endured such and such restrictions on them. But now Li Zicheng obviously can't afford to provoke Li Yan, and wants them to stay and go crazy with Li Zicheng, so they won't accompany them.

Fortunately, Chen Yongfu in Zhengzhou City did not dare to come out, and he had been watching them withdraw south from the city. So they withdrew smoothly, and they withdrew from Zhengzhou to Changge in one go.

After Li Yan knew that Zhongmu's thieves had escaped, he judged that Li Zicheng should not fight with him. So he didn't stop in Zhongmu for more, and marched quickly directly, and rushed to the city of Zhengzhou in the afternoon.

But by this time the thieves had gone far and had not caught up with a single force. Only Chen Yongfu came out with his own soldiers to greet him.

Chen Yongfu looked at the countless baggage vehicles in Li Yan's team, and said enviously: "This Li Yan really has courage, look, there are so many grain baggage." Even if we loot Zhengzhou, we can't get so many things. ”

Chen De snorted angrily and said: "We are from Kaifeng, we can also be wealthy, not to mention that he is still the guest of honor of the Zhou Palace, so naturally he lacks nothing." ”

When they saw Li Yan coming on horseback, they all greeted him. Chen Yongfu clenched his fists and said: "Chen, thank you General Li for coming to the rescue." ”

Li Yan dismounted and said with a smile: "Chen Dashuai doesn't have to be polite. Even if Li doesn't come, isn't General Chen always at peace with the thieves?"

Chen De heard that there was a thorn in his words, and interjected: "What does Li Dashuai mean by this, the thieves will besiege the city and not attack, is this our fault?"

Chen Yongfu hurriedly told Chen De to shut up, and said with a smile: "The dog is reckless, so Li Dashuai laughs." ”

Li Yan glanced at Chen De and sneered: "It seems that General Chen is very aggressive." This is very good, after a while of chasing the vanguard officer, let Chen Shen take the lead in the future. ”

Chen Yongfu asked: "Pursuit"

"Does Chen Dashuai think that he can explain the past to the imperial court without firing a single arrow like this?" Li Yan said coldly.

Chen Yongfu frowned, and said dissatisfiedly: "How to chase down the thieves, Chen has his own arrangements, and there is no need for Mr. Li to worry about it." ”

Li Yan smiled faintly and arched his hand: "Then please ask Chen Dashuai to do it himself." What happened here, Li would naturally report to Kaifeng. Our department pursued overnight, and the people were sleepy and tired, so they camped outside the city to rest, Chen Dashuai, please take care of yourself. ”

He didn't ask Chen Yongfu for food supplies at all, he almost had a big fight with Chen Yongfu because of the food problem in Qi County, and now he naturally won't be bored.

And Chen Yongfu, in order to explain the past to the imperial court, will naturally lead troops to chase after him. Chen Yongfu had more than 10,000 soldiers, and he didn't dare to bring fewer people, so Zhengzhou was naturally handed over to him to garrison at that time. Zhengzhou has been cleaned by Li Zicheng, and it will be much easier to control. So to force Chen Yongfu to send troops, this is what Li Yan thought about on the way here.

Li Yan asked his troops to set up camp in the east and north of the city, and sent a letter to Li Zhong to inform him of the latest situation, and asked Li Zhong to send some troops to Zhongmu. At the same time, he also sent a letter to Gao Mingheng, explaining the situation in Zhengzhou, and asking Gao Mingheng, the governor, to put some pressure on Chen Yongfu. This is not an emergency, so naturally there is no need for carrier pigeons, but to send people back to deliver the letter quickly.

Chen Yongfu returned to the city with a black face. He originally wanted to thank Li Yan and have a good relationship with Li Yan. The person who can let the thief retreat neatly, he naturally has to make good friends, and he will have a good response in the future. But I didn't expect that Li Yan was here to find fault.

Chen De hurriedly came in and reported to Chen Yongfu: "Father, Li Yan sent a fast horse to deliver a letter to Kaifeng. ”

"What are you panicking about," Chen Yongfu frowned and scolded.

Chen De reminded: "Father, he is the son-in-law of King Zhou, so his words are naturally heavier. If he is allowed to report it indiscriminately, the court will blame us. ”

Chen Yongfu closed his eyes and did not speak. Although he has some generals in his hands, but there is a Li Yan next to him, if the imperial court really wants to take him, what should he do And he and Li Zicheng are mortal enemies, and he can't take refuge in the past, his choice is actually only to pursue this way.

He waited for a long time before he opened his eyes and ordered: "Send a letter to Kaifeng, and say that we will do our best to pursue the thieves overnight." ”

"Go all" Chen De asked, "What about Zhengzhou City?"

Chen Yongfu gritted his teeth and said: "At this time, it doesn't matter what Zhengzhou City has passed through the imperial court first." If the court blames it, it will be said that your father and I will be the second He Renlong. ”

"This, this, not so much" Chen De said in surprise: "We don't have any great evil." "He just wanted his father to send a letter to Kaifeng too, and he couldn't let Li Yan pour dirty water on them.

"In Henan now, do you still use us Li Yan alone can defeat the thieves, and the imperial court will naturally not value our ten thousand soldiers." Chen Yongfu said distractedly.

Chen De came up with an idea and said: "Let's chase it tomorrow, just stay away from the thieves, and don't need the whole army to go out." Zhengzhou said that it can't be cheap, Li Yan's house"

"Forget it," Chen Yongfu waved his hand and said, "Do as I say." As long as we leave Zhengzhou, we may be surrounded by thieves, and we are counting on Li Yan to save us. If he wants it, give it to him. As long as we can pass this hurdle, the imperial court will always arrange a station for us. ”

Chen De had to clench his fists and said, "Okay, the boy will send a letter to Kaifeng." ”

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