At the same time, Li Yan rushed to Luoyang and received the news that Li Zicheng had stayed in Baishui for two days. He knew that it was impossible for Li Zicheng's main force to continue northward, so he immediately ordered Zhao Datong to start the offensive against Tongguan one day earlier, on the 11th.

At the same time, he also sent a pigeon letter to Li Mou, so that Li Mu no longer had to threaten, but really began to attack Yulin. Taking advantage of the fact that the ice surface of the Yellow River can still pass some baggage, at the same time, the Qing State has not yet reacted and wants to take Yulin as soon as possible. Although Li Mu only brought four trebuchets and six four-inch guns, and there was no more powerful four-and-a-half-inch artillery, there was no problem in capturing Yulin City.

When he arrived at Tongguan on the 13th, he saw that the head of Tongguan had almost been burned, and the soldiers were watching the captives clean up the ruins, extinguish the remaining fires, and clear the roads. Seven or eight of the more than a dozen earthen platforms outside the city also collapsed, and it seemed that the battle was quite fierce.

"What about the casualties," Li Yan asked.

Zhao Datong reported: "Report to the commander, there are not many casualties, more than 300 people, but a lot of ammunition has been used. Before we attacked, the thieves had just given the defenders an order to defend to the end. The twelve forts outside the city, we collapsed one after another, and it was only after the last few that they were abandoned. The defenders in the city are the same, the head of the city can't hold it, so they fight with us in the streets. Fortunately, our muskets are more effective than bows and arrows, so we can take Tongguan in one day. ”

"The resistance is very stubborn," Li Yan asked.

Zhao Datong nodded and replied solemnly: "Well, it's more tenacious than what I've encountered before." And there was a force of more than 300 people, which was similar to the formation we had set up, but there were no muskets. I suspect that those people were trained by Shi Jincai. There is also a small cannon of the Franc machine hidden, which has caused more than 30 casualties to us. Later, they were blown apart with a tiger squat cannon. ”

"Then notify it, let the departments pay attention, don't cover your head and rush forward, and then fight after seeing the situation clearly." Li Yan commanded. There wasn't much surprise or anger in his heart, he had expected such a situation for a long time. However, he is still relatively optimistic, and it has only been the first time he has encountered a team of 300 people in so many years, which shows that Shi Jincai cannot play a greater role in Li Chuang, so it will not cause him much trouble in defeating Li Zicheng.

Zhao Datong said: "The humble post has been notified. ”

"General, ten miles away on the north bank of the Wei River, I found that there were about 10,000 thieves, and 2,000 enemy cavalry had already arrived at the Wei River."

Zhao Datong looked at Li Yan and waited for instructions.

Li Yan instructed: "Let the troops prepare, let's just wait here to see if Li Chuang will come over and seize this Sanqin portal." If he doesn't come, we'll go. ”

"Obedience"

At this time, Gao Yigong also stopped on the north bank of the Wei River, and did not dare to go south. He already knew the news of the fall of Tongguan, and he didn't dare to go to confront Li Yan alone. Thirty miles behind is Li Zicheng's main force, and he will definitely be able to come over to meet before nightfall. What he is doing now is to start setting up a camp to prevent Li Yan from coming to attack him.

And Tian Jianxiu, who was already in Huayin, went to Gao Yigong's camp in person.

"Yigong, only you, ten thousand people" Tian Jianxiu immediately asked after seeing Gao Yigong.

Gao Yigong said: "There is still His Majesty's 40,000 army behind, and I will be able to come over in a while." ”

"That's good, if it's only you with 10,000 people, we'll have to retreat immediately." Tian Jianxiu said with palpitations.

"Brother Yufeng," Gao Yigong asked, "Didn't Your Majesty ask you to send five thousand elite horsemen to assist in guarding Tongguan, why did Tongguan still fall so quickly?"

Tian Jianxiu said helplessly: "I came over with the cavalry, and when I arrived in Huayin, Tongguan was already a sea of fire, and it had fallen for more than an hour. The cavalry was useless in the past, so I stopped at Huayin, ready to block Li Yan's continued westward advance. Fortunately, Li Yan did not attack, otherwise Huayin would definitely not be protected. ”

"Alas," Gao Yigong sighed: "It seems that what Zong Min said is right, Li Yan did use a new weapon." By the way, are the trebuchets and fire oil prepared by Your Majesty ready?"

Tian Jianxiu replied: "How can there be such a thing as a trebuchet so fast, I haven't used it for a long time, and the craftsmen don't have much experience in manufacturing. I have already ordered it to go down, and the artisan battalion says that it can make the simplest cannon. If you make a return cannon, it will take time. ”

"How far can you hit, Li Yan's trebuchet can hit more than one hundred and fifty steps." Gao Yigong asked with concern.

"You don't know until it's made."

An hour later, Li Zicheng, Liu Zongmin and others came over with more than 10,000 cavalry, and the infantry was still more than ten miles away.

Li Zicheng asked Tian Jianxiu: "When did Tongguan fall?"

"Before nightfall on the eleventh."

"In other words, there hasn't been a day," Li Zicheng asked with a frown.

Tian Jianxiu hurriedly said: "The soldiers have done their best, more than 10,000 defenders, only less than 2,000 escaped, and the rest died in battle." ”

"10,000 troops, Tongguan is also a famous pass in the world, I haven't been able to hold out for even a day, what else is there to say" Li Zicheng was furious.

Before, Liu Zongmin said that Tongguan could not be guarded for a day, but he didn't believe it, but the reality proved him wrong. Tongguan and Taiyuan can't hold it for a day, and where else can it hold is Xijing, how long can it be held, two days or three days, so Tongguan must be taken back, otherwise Shaanxi will not be able to keep it.

Li Zicheng then ordered: "Arrest all the generals above 100 who have fled back." The troops immediately crossed the river and marched towards Tongguan. ”

"Zicheng, what are you going to do" Tian Jianxiu asked with some concern.

Li Zicheng said loudly: "Escape from the battle, the crime deserves death, I will kill their heads, and the flag will be strictly enforced."

Liu Zongmin asked in disbelief: "You don't want to recapture Tongguan, do you?"

"Tongguan is the gateway of my Sanqin, the terrain is dangerous, and the Xiongguan is guarded. If we can recapture Tongguan, we can still gain a foothold in Shaanxi. If Tongguan is not guaranteed, we will become lost dogs again" Li Zicheng said viciously: "Tongguan, we must take it back, and we will take it back soon"

Liu Zongmin immediately stopped: "Li Yan's troops are defending, let's attack, isn't this looking for death, how many people are not enough to fill in." Li Yan has his back to the city, and it is also next to his rear, and there is no shortage of food and ammunition, this is for the brothers to die."

"Then what do you want to do" Li Zicheng's one-eyed eyes were a little bloodshot, staring at Liu Zongmin and asking, "Can you stay in Xijing?"

Liu Zongmin also glared at Li Zicheng, and said dissatisfiedly: "That's better than going to send Li Yan to death, and when Li Yan comes to Xijing City, our cavalry will be able to cut off his grain route." When his large army is gone, let's send someone over to occupy Tongguan, isn't it better than sending him to death now, what the hell are you thinking, no brothers, you are nothing"

At this time, Li Zicheng's head, which was short-circuited by the loss of Tongguan, finally regained his ability to think, and he felt that what Liu Zongmin said was reasonable, and he couldn't let his men go to death, otherwise the army's morale would be lost.

However, he is also quite dissatisfied with Liu Zongmin's attitude. So he ordered: "Okay, what Zong Min said makes sense." The large army directly withdrew to Xijing, Zong Min, you stay and organize the states and counties along the way to defend against the enemy. Hold on as long as you can, and give us some time to prepare. You have to be careful. ”

Liu Zongmin looked at Li Zicheng in a daze and didn't say anything. And Li Zicheng didn't wait for Liu Zongmin to agree, so he turned over and withdrew westward with the guards.

Tian Jianxiu stepped forward, patted Liu Zongmin on the shoulder, and reminded: "It's just delaying time, not stubbornly, don't work too hard." "To be continued.

...