Chapter Ninety-Four: Collecting the Net, Robbing and Killing, Capturing Fenyang

Li Jing and the others rested for a while, and immediately led Lin Feng and Wei Xiang to track down the Dashun army all the way south.

Chen Yufeng ordered Fan Chengkun's navy, carrying a division of infantry in a boat, to go up the Fen River that night, to the confluence of the Renyi River and the Fen River, disembark after dawn, and attack south along the Fen River. At this time, Liu Yun led two divisions to attack and advance north along the Fen River. The resistance encountered by the Yaogang People's Army in the north and south was very weak, and it didn't take much effort to crush them. It is impossible to count the soldiers killed by the Dashun Army, but more than 50,000 people were captured.

After solving this section of the Dashun army, Fan Chengkun still continued to go north with an infantry of a division, and after arriving in Lingshi County, there were no soldiers of the Dashun army in Lingshi County.

The soldiers of the Dashun Army here are not knowing what to do. Because they already knew that the route of the southern escape had been blocked by the Yaogang people, and those soldiers who fled to the area between the Renyi River and Huozhou had been wiped out by the Yaogang people. At this time, the Yaogang people killed from the Lingshi again, and the soldiers of the Dashun Army, who had no leader, threw the heavy wagons and horses everywhere, and there was no intention of resisting at all. When the Yaogang People's Army arrived here, it simply became a containment team, and the first thing those soldiers of the Dashun Army did when they saw the Yaogang soldiers was to ask if they had anything to eat. There was no way, Fan Chengkun had to move a lot of grain from the ship. The soldiers at the kiln gang organized themselves and began to cook. Where there was smoke, the soldiers of the Dashun Army automatically gathered over. In two days, another 60,000 people were taken prisoner.

After getting the news, Lu Chengxiang and Yang Jing also took people from Jiexiu to Lingshi to help count the loot. This time, Lu Chengxiang brought a reserve division, and they were responsible for escorting the prisoners back to the kiln in batches.

Chen Yufeng organized people to set up a prisoner camp in Huozhou, because these prisoners were transported back to Yaogang, which cost a lot of manpower, and it was not possible to transport them all at once.

Lu Chengxiang and Yang Jing came to Huozhou, and they were very happy to see Chen Yufeng and Ouyang He, needless to say, after greeting each other, Lu Chengxiang said: "Mr. Chen, Mr. Ouyang, I discussed it with Yang Jing, I see that you continue to fight south, it is better for you to hand over the prisoners to us." We transported them to the kiln in batches, and when we arrived at the kiln, we worked on them again. Our camp over there could be a prisoner camp. If the captive camp is here, you will have to distract from them. In this case, you can continue to go south, and if there are any more prisoners, you will still hand them over to us. ”

Chen Yufeng said: "Of course, it would be good if it could be like this. It's that you're going to be burdened. ”

Ouyang He said: "Mr. Lu, you also have a lot of work, where Li Zicheng evacuated, we have to send someone to receive it." After taking over, the people's hearts need to be appeased, and the land that has not been planted will still help to farm. ”

Lu Chengxiang said: "You can all rest assured. These things have been prepared for a long time, and they will not be able to figure out a way until this time. Let's just say that last year, we bought so many more sheep, and we were going to give them to those who had no land to grow and no skills, so that they could herd a few sheep and earn some food rations to feed themselves. ”

Chen Yufeng said: "We have a lot of mountains in Shanxi, so there are too many people. Give them some food, as long as they are diligent, they can lay a few lambs every year, and they will be well slowly. ”

After Chen Yufeng handed over the prisoners and booty to Lu Chengxiang and Yang Jing, he rested for a day and then led his army south.

Lu Chengxiang and Yang Jing also brought Chen Yufeng and them news from Liu Chenghuang and their side.

The order given to Liu Chenghuang was that after occupying Jiaocheng, he would first cross the Wenyu River to the west and occupy Wenshui County, and then seize Fenyang, where Li Yan and Hongniangzi were guarding, to the south, and it was best to seize the grain and grass of Fenyang. Then it goes south.

For the army that defeated Li Yan, Liu Chenghuang was not at all worried. But for the complete seizure of grain and grass, Liu Chenghuang felt unsure.

Just when Liu Chenghuang was reorganizing his team and preparing to set off, news came from Tanma that Li Yan led the army to build a bridge over the Wenyu River near Wenshui County and prepare to cross the river.

Liu Chenghuang looked at the map and almost laughed out loud.

Although Li Yan knew that the Yaogang people were very powerful in fighting, especially firearms, which were extremely lethal, but until now, he had not been in contact with the Yaogang people, and he had never experienced what it was like to fight with the Yaogang people. When he heard that the grain and grass base in Jiaocheng was occupied, he was furious. Although Li Zicheng's order for him to guard the grain and grass is false, it is true to branch him out. If the grain and grass are fine, there is nothing to do with him. But now that the grain and grass are gone, then everything is his. Li Yan knows this better. Li Yan had a total of more than 50,000 horses in his hands, 40,000 stationed in Fenyang and 10,000 in Wenshui County. This time, Li Yan and the Red Lady lit up 30,000 horses from Fenyang and went north to Wenshui County, preparing to cross the Wenyu River with the 10,000 horses here and recapture Jiaocheng. After they arrived at Wenshui, they sent people to build a bridge over the Wenyu River.

Fan Chengkun thought about it, so he ordered an infantry regiment to be left to defend Jiaocheng, an infantry regiment to defend the place where Li Yan and they had built a bridge, and a cavalry regiment to defend here. Liu Chenghuang himself led the remaining infantry division and four cavalry regiments south along the Wenyu River until they came to the opposite side of Fenyang, preparing to build a bridge to cross the river. At this time, the horse exploration found that there was a shallow place where you could ride a horse and wade across the river.

Liu Chenghuang sent people to tie a big rope, sent people to withdraw across the river to tie it first, and then the infantry waded across the river with the rope, and the cavalry rode horses and waded through the water. Overnight, Liu Chenghuang's men and horses all crossed the river.

Liu Chenghuang's brigade that crossed the river was ambushed in the woods, without a fire, and ate dry food, and they had to wait for the news that the horses had come back from reconnaissance. Until noon, the horses came back one after another. Because Fenyang is very large, the grain and grass are all in the city. The soldiers in Fenyang City did not find that the danger was approaching, and there were many wagons carrying grain in and out, but they were strictly checked.

Liu Chenghuang said: "Okay! We immediately sent a detachment of men, disguised as grain drivers, to suddenly seize the gates, and then we went in as if we were taking the city. ”

After receiving the order, the generals took their own actions. A moment later it was reported that a convoy delivering food had been intercepted.

Yoo Sung-hwang ordered: "Start the action and try to settle the battle before dark." ”

The main force of the defenders here in Fenyang is Li Yan's army, but they are basically on the second line, and these officers and soldiers guarding the city gate are some second-rate troops. Although they knew that the Yaogang people had begun to attack and conquered Jiaocheng, Li Yan and Hongniangzi led their troops to capture Jiaocheng. However, they considered the war to be far from their own, and only to be more strict in the inspection of people and vehicles entering and leaving the city gates. They had no idea that a kiln soldier would come to them posing as a coachman, and that they would not even give them a chance to inspect it, picking up an automatic rifle from the cart and shooting at them. Most of the soldiers defending the city had never seen a rifle, but most of them didn't see what a rifle looked like, and they were beaten and fell to the ground.

After the soldiers in makeup opened fire, Liu Chenghuang immediately ordered the soldiers to rush into the city. The first to ask where the grain and grass depot was captured by the captive, and when the soldiers guarding the grain depot of the Dashun army did not react, they seized the grain and grass depot. However, there are more than 10,000 elite soldiers of Li Yan in the city, and it is inevitable that they will be killed for a while. No matter how brave Li Yan's soldiers were, after half of them were killed, the rest saw no hope and obediently surrendered.

Fenyang's big victory was unexpected by Liu Chenghuang. It was even more unexpected than Li Yan.

The Yaogang people watched Li Yan's army repair the bridge to the east bank of the Wenyu River and did not move. When the bridge builders repaired the bridge until they reached the east bank, it was already dawn, and they found that there were kiln men on the other side, and they did not dare to repair it any further. However, the bridge is not far from the east bank.

After Li Yan heard the news, he ordered to rush across the river and seize the bridgehead on the east bank.

Li Yan's soldiers rushed to the bridge with shields and knives and shouts, and rushed towards the east bank.

The commander of the regiment guarding here, who was also a veteran of Yaogang, looked at the soldiers of the Dashun Army who rushed over with a "roar", and ordered: "Everyone don't move, listen to my orders." ”

He came to a heavy machine gunner, whom he knew, and said: "Li Laofu, when they are halfway through the rush, they will open fire at my command." ”

Li Laofu said: "Okay! I'll do it all by myself! ”

When the soldiers of the Dashun Army were almost gone, the regiment commander ordered: "Fire!" ”

"Da Da Da!" Li Laofeng's heavy machine gun began to shoot rhythmically, and the soldiers of the Dashun Army who rushed to the bridge had nowhere to hide, nowhere to hide, nowhere to hide. Because the formation is too dense, some bullets can penetrate two or three in one shot. Some of the fallen soldiers fell into the river, some fell on the bridge, and even worse, those who had broken their arms and legs could not die for a while, screaming miserably on the bridge. However, Li Yan's team, in Li Zicheng's Dashun army, can be regarded as capable of fighting, their military discipline is stricter, and the soldiers who did not die still rushed forward one after another.

It was Li Yan's mind that calmed down first, and he ordered to stop the attack. He knew that if he attacked like this, he would not have enough people. The terrible thing is that the kiln people seem to only use one person to shoot, and if everyone else participates in the battle and starts shooting, their tens of thousands of people are simply lambs to the slaughter. No wonder Li Zicheng and they can't beat the Yaogang people. But now, this battle can't be left unfought, so Li Yanyou tried to let the soldiers push the cave cart to rush forward from the bridge, but the cave cart didn't push far, and after the kiln gang people shot, they were smashed by the kiln gang people's machine guns. The soldiers in the back fell even more incompletely. At this time, Li Yanjin was not allowed to retreat or retreat, and when he was discussing with his generals whether he was looking for a place to cross the river, a soldier who ran out of Fenyang told him that Fenyang was lost. Li Yan, who has always been elegant, stomped his feet and sighed.

He immediately returned to Fenyang with the Red Lady, he knew that he had to recapture Fenyang no matter what, otherwise, he would be a dead end. However, Li Yan, who withdrew in a panic, forgot one thing, he did not destroy the bridge they built. The people on the Yaogang side, seeing that the Dashun army had withdrawn, immediately led people to cross the Wenyu River and rushed straight to Wenshui County, and easily took Wenshui County. Leaving an infantry battalion to guard Wenshui County, the others followed behind Li Yan's army and also came to Fenyang. However, when Li Yan brought people to Fenyang, it was already late. After Li Yan led the people to set up the camp, his mind cleared up a little. The red lady came over, poured a cup of tea for Li Yan, and said, "We will attack Fenyang tomorrow, and the odds of victory are not much, and the morale is not good." You have to think twice! ”

Li Yan now felt that the end of the hero was the end, and sighed: "Alas! I know that tomorrow's battle is something that I know I can't do. We have no other way. I don't know how many people around Li Zicheng want to see our jokes. They will take advantage of this opportunity to attack us. ”

The red lady held Li Yan's shoulder with one hand, attached to his ear and said, "Aren't you close friends with Ouyang He in Yaogang?" It's not as good as ......."

The red lady didn't finish her words, and Li Yan already understood what he meant. However, Li Yan shook his head and said: "No, in this case, I was originally loyal and innocent, but I was actually a chaotic minister and thief by others." ”

The red lady said: "Husband, don't be too stupid. It was Li Zicheng who was unkind and unrighteous and snubbed us first. In the Dashun army, no one knows who doesn't know. The ants are still surviving, and we can't wait for death! Besides, the people who will attack Fenyang tomorrow and die are all brothers who have followed us for many years, and without them, we are nothing. ”

At this time, someone outside the tent reported that a letter had been delivered with a ringing arrow.

The red lady took the letter and immediately handed it to Li Yan. Li Yan saw that this was a letter written by Ouyang He, the military advisor of Yaogang, saying that Zhang Zhimu of Yaogang was the leader of today, saying that Zhang Zhimu also respected Li Yanhe, and hoped that Li Yan could come over and do something for the people of the world together.

Li Yan was very moved when he read the letter, and the people of Yaogang persuaded him not to conspire with the world, but to do things for the people of the world together, which was very much in line with Li Yan's appetite. It can be said that Li Yan's heart was shaken at this moment.

But before dawn, another letter made Li Yan's wavering heart go back. It turned out to be a letter from Song Xiance, the military division of the Dashun Army, ordering Li Yan to retreat south to Tongguan, and to bring as much grain and grass as he could with Fenyang, and to burn what he couldn't take away.

After Li Yan received Song Xiance's order, he immediately regained his spirits, and he still wanted to return to Li Zicheng's side to be a loyal minister. So as soon as the morning dawned, he ordered a troop to drive in front of Fenyang, pretending to attack the city, and he led a large group of men and horses, bypassing Fenyang, driving south, and carrying out Song Xiance's orders. However, he had no chance to destroy Fenyang's grain and grass.

Liu Chenghuang had seen Li Yan's brigade on Fenyang City with a telescope, but Liu Chenghuang did not send anyone to pursue. Not only did he not pursue, but he also summoned the soldiers of Li Yan who had been captured in the city and told them that Li Yan had already gone south, and those who were willing to follow Li Yan could immediately go out of the city to chase Li Yan. The captives were treated well by the kiln people, which the captives did not expect. Especially as a prisoner, the food is better than the original. Despite this, Li Yan's soldiers were willing to follow Li Yan, and as a result, more than 2,000 captives went out of the city to chase Li Yan.

Someone asked Liu Chenghuang why he released so many prisoners. Liu Chenghuang said: "These captives have learned about our army in Yaogang, and they will help us to publicize it well when they go back." When they fight us again, their first thought will be surrender. ”

Fenyang, a grain and grass base, is much larger than Jiaocheng, and there are more than 500,000 stones of grain in it. There are countless cars, horses, and camels. Liu Chenghuang passed the book through the flying pigeon and continuously reported the situation to the Yaogang side.

Liu Chenghuang did not rush to pursue the Dashun army on his side, he assisted the officials sent by Yaogang to take over all the places above the county seat east of the Yellow River and west of the Fen River, in fact, in each county town, Liu Chenghuang instructed to send out a company of soldiers, accompany the officials and police of Yaogang to take over, and the soldiers helped the officials settle down, and the police were responsible for the security of the place.

In the end, Liu Chenghuang's team fought all the way to Hejin, the mouth of the Fen River to the Yellow River, where it stopped.

The people of Yaogang went all the way south, invincible, and attracted the attention of the entire Ming Dynasty. Emperor Chongzhen is also looking forward to seeing the battle report every day. The news that Gonggong Li flew back every day made Emperor Chongzhen always feel unquenched. However, he still had a general understanding of the battle situation of the Yaogang people, because Zhang Zhimu did not hide anything from Gonggong Li.

Emperor Chongzhen was of course happy to hear the good news of Yaogang. He no longer has to worry about when Li Zicheng will be able to hit Beijing. Chongzhen thought to himself, it seems that this Zhang Zhimu is really not talking big, he said that if he is there, he will not let Li Zicheng fight Beijing through Shanxi, it seems that he is doing what he says. Originally, this Zhang Zhimu didn't want to fight anymore, but as soon as my holy decree arrived, Zhang Zhimu immediately sent someone to fight out, and it seems that Zhang Zhimu still obeys me.

But the ministers of the court came to trouble again, and they said one after another, now that the kiln gang people are bigger, we have to guard against it. Don't beat Li Zicheng away, there is a Zhang Zhimu that makes us feel at ease.

Emperor Chongzhen said: "Without Zhang Zhimu, I don't know if you can chew your tongue here today." ”

The ministers came to that set again, knelt down and said, Your Majesty, we are all thinking about the country!

Emperor Chongzhen was most annoyed by this, and said, "Get up!" If you have something to say, don't kneel down without moving. Tell me what to do first, shall we? ”

One of the ministers said, "Your Majesty, we don't have any silver in our treasury, so the Emperor will see if we can borrow some more silver from the Yaogang people." Let's also see if the kiln people are loyal to the imperial court. ”

Emperor Chongzhen was so angry in his heart, and said in his heart: "People are fighting desperately in front, and you don't think about how to help others, but you are worried about other people's money." The imperial court is too often when there is silver left in the treasury. ”

However, Emperor Chongzhen also wanted to borrow silver from the kiln people, and even wanted to see if Zhang Zhimu was like this now, and whether he could still lend himself silver. Emperor Chongzhen said: "It seems that I have to borrow silver from the kiln people." They were besieged for half a year, and they fought such a big battle. Our court can't help people at all. Now I have to borrow money from others. My face is a little red! ”

The ministers did not speak, but they said in their hearts, "If only you could go and borrow money." We don't care if you're blushing or black.

After the ministers retreated, Emperor Chongzhen summoned the prince and said, "You are familiar with that Zhang Zhimu, so you can do something for me." ”

The prince said: "Please ask the emperor to command, the slave will never give up." ”

"You go and borrow a million taels of silver from that Zhang Dongjia, and we won't be able to open the pot again." Emperor Chongzhen, lying on the chair with his head up, didn't look at the prince and said.

"What if Zhang Dongjia doesn't have or doesn't borrow?" The prince asked.

"What to do? If you don't borrow it, you can rob it, can you rob someone? Emperor Chongzhen was a little angry and continued: "I found that you are not good at it, but there is a lot of nonsense. ”

Chongzhen's words frightened the prince and the prince to squeak anymore.

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The Song and Yuan armies went to war in Japan. The Mongols annexed Western Europe and moved on to Africa. --Progress of "Memories of the Southern Song Dynasty".