On September 20, Li Yan met Tian Jianxiu on an earthen embankment outside the west of the city.

Tian Jianxiu hugged his fists and said, "General Li, let's meet again." ”

"Leader Tian," Li Yan also arched his hand: "Li Chuang is really unkind, such a dangerous job will be assigned to Leader Tian." ”

Tian Jianxiu said with a smile: "General Li said that he was joking, Tian came to meet General Li, where would there be any danger." ”

"The two sides agreed that they would cooperate, but not only did you not fulfill your promises, but you also gathered a large number of soldiers and came to open the seal. If it weren't for Li's slackness, this Kaifeng City would have fallen into your hands. If that's the case, who will Li go to? Li Yan still said with a smile.

Tian Jianxiu was not nervous, and arched his hand: "It's not a secret, General Li is also helpless." There are many Henan locals in the team, and they are reluctant to leave their hometowns. General Li had no choice but to make this decision, so that those generals who were unwilling to go south would see that with General Li in Henan, they would not have a chance. ”

"Really?" Li Yan asked curiously: "So, all this is Li Chuang's strategy?" ”

Tian Jianxiu nodded and said, "It's not false at all." Otherwise, how could our righteous army be more than one million, how could it be that only more than 300,000 came? And after only one day of siege, they withdrew from the siege. This is General Li's goal has been achieved, and the soldiers in the army have no resistance to going south to Huguang. ”

"What do you mean by Leader Tian here?"

Tian Jianxiu arched his hand and said: "The contemptible people came to reaffirm the cooperation with General Li. ”

"So, this battle was fought in vain? So many soldiers were also killed and wounded in vain? Li Yan straightened his face and asked coldly.

Tian Jianxiu said with a smile: "This General Li has already thought about it, we will give General Li 10,000 taels of silver, 1,000 pieces of cloth, and 200 sheep." It's a little compensation for General Li, what does General Li think? ”

Li Yan said disdainfully: "Just give such a little thing, Li Chuang is also stingy enough." ”

"Then, what does General Li mean~" Tian Jianxiu asked.

Li Yan didn't think about it, and immediately spoke: "The silver costs 100,000 taels." Everything else is doubled, and the gold must be 10,000 taels. ”

As soon as Tian Jianxiu heard the gold and silver that Li Yan wanted, he was relieved. Gold and silver, which are the most common in those large households, are hidden in cellars. They basically don't need it, at most they buy some horses with Shanxi merchants.

"Well said, well said." Tian Jianxiu readily agreed.

Li Yan raised his hand and motioned to Tian Jianxiu not to speak: "Li hasn't finished talking yet, the most important thing is that I want the whole of Henan this time." By the way, the 80,000 stone of grain that was promised to you at the beginning will not be given to you again. ”

Tian Jianxiu also smiled, and said coldly: "General Li, your appetite is too big!" Beware of breaking your belly! ”

"The rice is eaten by Li himself, and whether he can support it or not is Li's own business, so the head of the field doesn't have to bother."

Tian Jianxiu sneered: "Then what if we don't agree? ”

Li Yan said: "It's simple, let's just continue to fight." ”

"Now that the imperial court has no reinforcements to come to Henan for reinforcements, General Li has miscalculated." Tian Jianxiu said with a sneer.

Li Yan laughed and said, "Could it be that Leader Tian thinks that Li still needs those fleeing soldiers from the imperial court to help?" ”

Tian Jianxiu looked at Li Yan and didn't speak. He was thinking about whether what Li Yan said was true or whether he was opening his mouth.

Li Yan didn't give Tian Jianxiu much time, and arched his hand: "Leader Tian, please go back." Tomorrow Li will lead his troops eastward, and we will see you in battle. I think that the head of Tian is still handable, and I advise the head of Tian that there is no mercy on the battle array, and it is best for the head of Tian to leave as soon as possible with his subordinates. ”

Tian Jianxiu had seen Li Zicheng and knew how big the losses were in this Kaifeng battle. It was not only a loss of personnel, but also a mental defeat. At this time, they were at their weakest, and if Li Yan led his troops to fight over, a big rout would be formed.

But now Li Yan already has a cavalry of thousands of people, and they will have a large number of casualties in the rout. Although they still have some elite soldiers in other places, but if these elite soldiers are lost, then their strength will be greatly reduced, let alone against Li Yan, even if they go south to Huguang, it is impossible to defeat Zuo Liangyu. Then their efforts for two years have been in vain, and they have to start again.

"Why is General Li so anxious." Tian Jianxiu said calmly: "General Li knows that contemptible people can't call the shots. Naturally, this negotiation will take a long time to go back and forth before it can be negotiated, so why rush at this time? ”

Li Yan hugged his fists and said: "Leader Tian doesn't need to say much, Li has already decided, and he will set off for the east tomorrow." As for cooperation, we can continue to talk, but then we have to talk about it while fighting. Tian Chief, please. ”

Tian Jianxiu was helpless, so he had to clench his fists and say goodbye. He left the earthen embankment and immediately hurried to Zhengzhou. Regardless of whether they agree to Li Yan's request or not, it is good to let Li Zicheng and them prepare in advance.

Early the next morning, he finally rushed to Zhengzhou and informed Li Zicheng and others of the negotiations with Li Yan.

Li Zicheng kept a gloomy face and didn't speak, and the other generals didn't have any suggestions.

As for Luo Rucai, there is nothing to say, now he only has the mind to watch jokes. Several leaders have already come into contact with him and want to join forces with him. It won't be long before the leader of this rebel army will be the leader of the rebel army, and he Cao Cao will be the leader.

"Have you talked to the party shousu in Zhongmu?" Li Zicheng finally asked.

Tian Jianxiu nodded: "I told him." He told you to make a quick decision here, he will not defend the city, and his soldiers will not agree to defend it. ”

"Cao Cao," Liu Zongmin asked, "what is your opinion?" ”

Luo Rucai was not polite, and said directly: "Before the fight, I told you that it is best not to open the seal, and not to provoke Li Yan." Cooperate with Li Yan well, let's go to Huguang for development. But I didn't listen, so I had to give it a try. I was~"

"What is your opinion, just say it, don't be wordy!" Li Zicheng finally got angry and loudly interrupted Luo Rucai's tirade.

Cao Cao wasn't angry, anyway, now that the leaders were starting to be disappointed in Li Zicheng, there was no need for him to fight for this idleness. So he said lightly: "I still have the original idea, if I can fight, I will fight, if I can't beat us, we will leave, what is it to waste with him?" Li Yan's artillery is farther than ours, and the cavalry is more powerful than ours, what should we fight him? In a word, let's just withdraw. ”

Those local leaders in Henan are constantly nodding. They don't want to fight Li Yan anymore, in this Kaifeng battle, their people died the most. They just want to stay away from Li Yan at this time, and they especially agree with Cao Cao's opinion now, if they can't beat it, they will run, and if they fight hard, they are not looking for death.

Yuan Zongdi saw that Li Zicheng was already very angry, and he was afraid that he would fall out with Cao Cao at this time, so he hurriedly said: "You don't have to worry, it's just Li Yan's empty words, why should everyone be so nervous." Let's wait a little longer and see what the situation is in Mou. ”

Everyone is right to think about it, so there is no need to come up with a solution immediately. However, the battalions are quietly preparing and ready to run away at any time.

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