Gao Mingheng confirmed that it was Chen Yongfu who came down from the city, and on the one hand, he asked the soldiers to seal the Heavenly Mandate Army outside the city with bows and arrows to prevent the Heavenly Mandate Army from approaching the moat, and on the other hand, he opened the water city and received Chen Yongfu into the city.

Liu Jianyi saw that the Ming army was about to enter the city, but he couldn't get close to them, so he was so angry that he rushed forward with arrows and arrows, and his own soldiers didn't dare to let him take risks, so he used shields to protect the surroundings.

After such a delay, hundreds of Chen Yongfu's people had already entered the water city, and as soon as the city gate was closed, it was difficult to open it from the outside.

Liu Jianyi jumped like thunder, he has always been short-tempered, and when he was angry, he wanted to attack the city at night, and was finally persuaded by his own soldiers, "My lord, we didn't carry siege equipment, even if we crossed the moat, we still couldn't climb the city." ”

Liu Jianyi looked at the shadow of the arrows under the moonlight, and knew that if he was willful, not only could he not attack the city, but he would also lose the lives of the soldiers in vain, so he reined in the war horse and slowly withdrew from the range of the bow and arrow.

Returning to the military camp in Xiguan like this, Liu Jianyi was really unwilling, and finally had the opportunity to kill the enemy, or let Chen Yongfu enter the city, he immediately released the rangers, looking for another part of the Ming army, and finally found the Ming army north of Xiguan.

Liu Jianyi did not have any sympathy for these Ming troops, in his eyes, the Ming army was his military exploits, the Ming army in Kaifeng City, he really had no choice, and the Ming army in the field did not have such good luck.

The Mandate of Heaven army rushed to kill, and the Ming army was either killed or surrendered, and only a very small number of soldiers were able to escape.

After dawn, Li Zicheng led people to clean up the battlefield, and the Ming army that was killed and seriously wounded was close to 3,000, and the lightly wounded and captured soldiers, nearly 2,000, fled into Kaifeng City and those whose whereabouts are unknown, but more than 1,000.

The corpses of the Ming army were gathered, a fire was burned, the lightly wounded soldiers were treated, and they would join the Mandate of Heaven army along with the prisoners of war.

Chen Yongfu's Ming army was annihilated, not only weakened the strength of the Ming army, the Mandate of Heaven Army also got a large number of armor, weapons, shields, etc., Henan's newly recruited Mandate of Heaven Army, unlike the main force of the Mandate of Heaven Army, not only did not equip rifles, mountain artillery, even knives, guns, armor and other cold weapons, but also very scarce, this capture, can greatly improve the equipment of recruits.

Li Zicheng convened the commanders of each battalion to discuss the matter of retiring the troops, Liu Jianyi quit, "Governor, Chen Yongfu just brought back hundreds of soldiers into the city, is it because of the hundreds of soldiers in the battalion and retreated?" ”

Although everyone didn't speak, they all looked at Li Zicheng, obviously not agreeing to retreat, when they moved to the ladder, but the siege of the city lasted for two days, and only the west city gate was a strong attack, and the scale of the attack on the other city gates was not large, mainly to contain the defenders in the city, did you give up Kaifeng like this?

Li Zicheng glanced at everyone, kept everyone's expressions in mind, and said with a smile: "What is your opinion?" Is it the same as General Liu? ”

Li Xin was stunned for a moment, there was a little throbbing in his heart, and he always felt that there were vague thoughts in his head, but he couldn't sort them out clearly, so he lowered his head and tried his best to think about something.

Seeing that everyone didn't mean to speak, Li Zicheng smiled faintly and said, "Even if you break down and open the seal, what can you do?" Can we hold it? Even if it can be defended, won't the main force of the Heavenly Mandate Army be pinned down in Kaifeng? ”

A glimmer of inspiration suddenly appeared in Li Xin's mind, coming from Qixian County, along the way, the Metropolitan Governor did not say much about the strategy of the Mandate of Heaven Army in Henan, and now he is giving up Kaifeng, is it for this strategy?

The Mandate of Heaven Army came to Henan to wander, initially to contain the Ming army and win time for recovery and development for Gansu and Sichuan, but the Mandate of Heaven Army has already established a foothold in Luoyang, so there is no need to "hide and seek" with the Ming army, right?

What if you take the opening?

If the Mandate of Heaven Army can't concentrate the main force, it will definitely not be able to hold it, even if the main force is sent to garrison here, it will be surrounded by the superior forces of the Ming army, whether it can hold Kaifeng or not, at least lose the opportunity for development.

The imperial court most hopes to fight a decisive battle with the Mandate of Heaven Army and solve the Mandate of Heaven Army once and for all!

"Grand Governor, has the strategy of the Mandate of Heaven changed?"

"Li Gongzi is right," Li Zicheng nodded at Li Xin, "The Mandate of Heaven Army is still mainly on the move, but unlike before, the current Mandate of Heaven Army is based in Luoyang, wandering around the periphery of Luoyang, looking for opportunities to annihilate the enemy army!" ”

Niu Jinxing also realized, "The Metropolitan Governor is saying, just like he did with Chen Yongfu's department, looking for opportunities to break each one?" ”

"What Mr. said is very true," Li Zicheng secretly rejoiced in his heart, with the Gemini constellations of Li Xin and Niu Venus, he would be much easier, and the specific mundane affairs could be handed over to them in the future," Li Xianfeng, the governor of Henan, was about to cross the Yellow River and came from the north; Governor Yang Wenyue and Zuo Liangyu of the general army respectively from the direction of Baoding and Huguang, as well as the army of Shaanxi, are not only to reinforce Kaifeng, but also to surround the Mandate of Heaven army outside Kaifeng. ”

Everyone seemed to understand Li Zicheng's thoughts, and they couldn't care too much about the gains and losses of one city and one place, but while wandering, they were looking for opportunities to annihilate the Ming army, and at the same time strengthen their own strength, Li Ji said: "Metropolitan Governor, then what should we do next?" ”

"Well, I'm going to ask Mr. Li Gongzi and Mr. Niu," Li Zicheng said with a smile: "Henan has established a temporary governor's office, and the people of the Military Affairs Department can't just take money and not work, right?" ”

Niu Jinxing glanced at Li Xin, seemed to understand his thoughts, and said lightly: "Although the Ming army from all walks of life is coming to Kaifeng, the distance and marching speed are different, and the generals' minds are also different, so the time when they arrive in Kaifeng will also be in order, which just gives us the opportunity to break through." ”

Liu Zongmin and Liu Jianyi don't have so many fancy intestines, they just like the war itself, whether it is for military merit or the pleasure brought by the battle itself, it is what they expect the most, "According to Mr. Niu, which way the Ming army arrived in Kaifeng first?" ”

"Li Xianfengbu," Niu Jinxing narrowed his eyes and looked thoughtful, "He is the governor of Henan, Henan is ravaged by rogues, and he has a great deal of responsibility, so the Ming army in the north will be the next reinforcement to arrive in Kaifeng!" ”

Li Xin said: "What about the rest of the reinforcements? If we retire from Kaifeng, will they still come? ”

"Huguang is the hardest hit area of the Liukou, Zuo Liangyu will definitely not continue to advance, the Ming army in Shaanxi has not moved at all," Niu Jinxing suddenly opened his eyes, nodded and said: "Look down, Yang Wenyue, the governor of Baoding, is already very close to Kaifeng, and he should come to take a look, if the situation is in their favor, or the pressure of the imperial court is too great, it is likely that there will be a large-scale battle!" ”

Li Xin nodded and said, "Then let's ambush Li Xianfeng first, and then turn around and fight Yang Wenyue!" ”

Li Zicheng said with a smile: "Don't forget, although Chen Yongfu has entered Kaifeng City, there is still a part of the rear army of Chen's department, blocking our westward advance!" ”

Liu Jianyi hurriedly arched his hand and said: "Metropolitan Governor, the remaining soldiers of the Chen Department, there will not be too many of them, so hand them over to their subordinates!" ”

Li Zicheng nodded and said: "The remaining soldiers of the Chen Department are at least nearly 10,000, General Liu should not be careless, try to ambush as much as possible, don't kill innocents indiscriminately, Ao, Li Gongzi will go in person, take the first regiment of the independent battalion!" ”

"Yes, Grand Duke!" Although Li Xin agreed, he looked at Li Zicheng.

"Li Gongzi is worried that there are not enough people here?" Li Zicheng said with a smile: "There are still five regiments here, more than 25,000 people, and if Li Gongzi can quickly solve the remnants of the Chen Department, he can turn back and give Li Xianfeng a fatal blow when the time comes!" ”

"The subordinates understand, and the subordinates will go to find the remnants of the Chen Department!"

…………………………………………………………

Li Xianfeng was indeed the first person to arrive in Kaifeng, but at this time it was already the nineteenth day of the first month, and the Mandate of Heaven Army had been west for two days.

Gao Mingheng has impeached Li Xianfeng, and the crime of the fall of Luoyang and the killing of King Fu was completely pushed to Li Xianfeng's head, when Kaifeng was besieged, Li Xianfeng was in Weihui to suppress bandits, only across the Yellow River, but he waited until the Mandate of Heaven army went west, and then rushed to Kaifeng, obviously stopping and stopping along the way.

He did not let Sang Kaidi open the city, but asked to see Zhu Gongfang, the king of Zhou, and told him Li Xianfeng's careful thoughts.

Zhu Gongfeng was furious and ordered the city gate to be closed, not to let Li Xianfeng enter the city, and let him go to pursue the Liukou and make the blame, Li Xianfeng had no choice but to lead the soldiers of his headquarters and follow the Heavenly Mandate Army.

Li Xianfeng was ambushed by the Heavenly Mandate Army in Baisha along the Jingshui River, and most of the soldiers were lost and retreated to Zhengzhou.

Because Zhu Gongfang and Gao Mingheng jointly impeached Li Xianfeng again, and Gao Mingheng made meritorious contributions in defending the city, Zhu Youzhen decided to arrest Li Xianfeng and escort him back to Beijing for punishment.

Before Li Xianfeng received the holy decree, he already knew the content of the holy decree.

Every time the Ming army was defeated, Zhu Youzhen must kill the minister, the minister as a scapegoat, although Kaifeng was kept this time, but Luoyang City was broken, and Zhu Changxun, the king of Fu, was killed.

Li Xianfeng is the governor of Henan, the highest civil official in Henan, he knew that he could not escape death, and before the holy decree arrived, he committed suicide in Zhengzhou!

The holy decree said that Zhang Kejian, the deputy envoy of the Xiangyang military garrison, replaced Li Xianfeng and served as the governor of Henan, but Zhang Kejian had died in the battle in Huguang, and then Zhu Youzhen redrafted the decree and appointed Gao Mingheng as the right capital of the imperial history and governor of Henan; Chen Yongfu is the chief military officer and the governor.

Gao Mingheng and Chen Yongfu were ordered to guard Henan, they first recruited strong men, repaired the damaged Kaifeng city wall, and then concentrated the soldiers in the city.

At this time, Zuo Liangyu had retreated to Huguang, but Yang Wenyue, the governor of Baoding, traveled all the way, and after coming to Kaifeng, he did not enter the city, but only asked for part of the military rations from the city.