Henan, Xuzhou, Henan Kaigui General Army Gao Di's station, just yesterday, he got the news, the Ming army divided the army into two routes, one along the Yellow River north, has approached Guide, the other road from Nanyang to the north, attack the Fengfu, although the two roads are not many, the total is only 40,000 people, but for Gao Di, it is also under pressure.

Gao Di had already learned from Wu Shengzhao, who had fled to Henan, that the Duoduo army in the south was all over, and Azig, who attacked Xiangyang, had also retreated to Shaanxi five days ago, and he knew very well that the next thing was the Ming army facing the counterattack in his stomach, and deep down, he was not willing to do such a thing.

"General Gao, the current army can already be said to be a soldier in the city, you and I are courtiers of the Ming Dynasty, when in Shanhaiguan, Wu Sangui surrendered to the enemy, we are all unaware, we are forced to surrender in desperation, now the Ming Dynasty is in the south of the Yangtze River, this time Duoduo was defeated, the whole army was destroyed, who would dare to say that the Ming Dynasty has exhausted its numbers, why don't you and I surrender and return to the Ming Dynasty, and the future of the province will be scolded as a traitor. You and I are deeply favored by the emperor Chongzhen, entrusted with important positions, this time to return to the Ming Dynasty, it is not too late! ”

Wu Shengzhao had already moved this mind when he learned that the Ming army began to go north, on the one hand, he was attached to the Ming Dynasty, after all, he was born with the Ming Dynasty, and it has been forty years, and there is always some nostalgia, on the other hand, this time he was defeated and lost, and he was defeated in Huainan in a row, he was worried that it would not be long before the Qing court would punish him.

Of course, he is also smart, self-sufficient, there are only a few hundred people, and there is no merit when he goes there, and there is a stain on his body, and it is difficult to be reused, but there is also a Gao Di by his side, he can see that Gao Di is not desperate to surrender to the Qing Dynasty, if he can persuade Gao Di to surrender, if the two of them go together, it will be different, they are dedicated to the land, they are meritorious ministers, and the Ming court will naturally treat them well.

In the face of Wu Shengzhao's words of persuasion with affection and reason, Gao Di said that it was false if he was not moved, but first from the Ming Dynasty to the Qing Dynasty, and now there are defectors to the Qing Dynasty and return to the Ming Dynasty, he still feels a little worried in his heart, and he also feels embarrassed on his face.

"If General Gao has scruples, it is better to send someone to inquire about the news first, and test what the situation is on General Cao's side, you must know that in Liaodong back then, we were all old acquaintances, and General Cao should take care of the old feelings."

"Oh well! Let's take a look at General Cao's tone first! After some mental struggle, Gao Di also immediately agreed with Wu Shengzhao's meaning.

The next day, in the Yingshui Ming army camp, among Cao Bianjiao's handsome tent, Wu Shengzhao's envoy arrived, it was Wu Shengzhao's brother Wu Shengqin.

"You said that Wu Shengzhao and Gao Di want to return to the Ming Dynasty?" Cao Bianjiao also seemed a little surprised, how long have these two people surrendered, they are in high positions, how could they surrender, Cao Bianjiao is also suspicious at the moment.

When Wu Shengqin heard this, he hurriedly replied: "General Qiyu, this is indeed the case, the general should also know that my brother and General Gao Di were both guards of Shanhaiguan and belonged to Wu Sangui's account, when Wu Sangui descended to the Qing Dynasty, General Gao and my brother were not aware of it in advance, and I learned afterwards that it was also a remorse, but the matter has come to this point, I have no choice, I just want to keep a useful body, and then try to do great things, this time the general led the army to recover Henan, it is really a blessing for the general, my brother and General Gao Di are willing to return to the Ming Dynasty and serve the country, Unshaken! ”

In the face of Wu Shengqin's sworn words, Cao Bianjiao also sneered in his heart, what is there to be useful, if this is the case, he Wu Shengzhao should have surrendered Huainan as early as after he attacked Nanjing in a self-sufficient manner, but he was worried that he would be punished for defeat and punishment, but he was also very willing to fight south of the Yellow River without blood.

"Good! If Wu Shengzhao and Gao Di are willing to surrender sincerely, I will lead the army to the city of Xuzhou tomorrow, and let them come out of the city to meet me when the time comes, to show their sincerity. ”

"Thank you General, then I'm going back to resume my life, waiting for the General to go!" Wu Shengqin received Cao Bianjiao's assurance, and he was also full of joy at the moment.

"Wait a minute, I'll write a letter in person, and you can bring it to the two generals of Gao Wu so that they can understand what I mean, which is also my sincerity." Cao Bianjiao summoned Wu Shengqin, immediately took paper, ink, pen and inkstone, and handed a letter to Wu Shengqin.

"Thank you, General, I'm leaving!"

After Wu Shengqin left, Cao Bianjiao turned to look at Li Yan beside him and asked his opinion, this time they didn't plan to recover Henan, but when they were reinforcing Xiangyang and preparing to repel Azig, they found that Azig had retreated to Shaanxi, and arranged troops and horses in Shangluo to prevent the Ming army from attacking, Cao Bianjiao naturally would not be stupid enough to lead an army of 20,000 to attack Shaanxi, but since he came, he couldn't help but make a move and run in vain, so he ordered Yuan Shu to transfer 10,000 soldiers and horses to capture Ruzhou as a flank support for Fengyang, At the same time, his purpose is to prepare to capture Lushan and Xiangcheng, as the place of Nanyang's arch defense, he didn't expect to achieve such a result, in fact, after taking Xiangcheng, he is already ready to withdraw the army tomorrow, pie in the sky, not then it will not be him Cao Bianjiao.

"I think it's credible, but I have to be wary of inviting them out of the city first. Let Liu Wenxiu lead the army to take over the city defense of Xuzhou, and after confirming it, it is not too late to enter the city, also just in case. Li Yan's meaning is also very clear, you can believe such a surrender, but you can't help but be vigilant, it's always right to be cautious.

"Okay, let Liu Wenxiu lead the army to receive the city defense of Xuzhou, we are also ready to set off from the camp, go to Xuzhou, prepare to receive the land on the south bank of the Yellow River, if we can really take the land of the Nanhe River without blood, I can rely on the Yellow River and the Huai River, and the sailors will respond to it, hold the southern land, develop the economy, rectify the internal affairs, and then carry out the Northern Expedition, first take the Shaanxi Guanzhong, and then drive the Manchu Qing out of the Guannei."

Before dusk the next day, Cao Bianjiao's vanguard, Liu Wenxiu's department came to Xuzhou City, Gao Di and Wu Shengzhao got Cao Bianjiao's written guarantee, and they were also willing to surrender, and then handed over the city defense to Liu Wenxiu, and they went to meet Cao Bianjiao, which is an attitude, an attitude that must be had.

"I've seen the General!"

"Two generals, I haven't seen you for many years, excuse me! You can hide in the enemy camp, endure humiliation and burden, it is really my Ming loyalty, now to help me recover Henan, in the court is also a great achievement, Cao will show the truth to the court, restore your officials, reward you, from now on, continue to serve my Ming! Although Cao Bianjiao felt unhappy, the surface article was still quite good, and the wording was also carefully considered.

"Thank you general, Gao Di is a minister, committed to the thief, this is a big crime, how dare you say reward, the last general is willing to defend the border between the two Guangzhou, and live this remnant to atone for the previous sins!" Gao Di also fell to the ground at the moment.

This was out of Cao Bianjiao's expectations, and he immediately picked up Gao Di and said with relief: "General Gao doesn't have to blame himself, pursue advantages and avoid disadvantages, human nature, it is wise to be able to turn back to the shore, since you have this heart, after Henan is stable, I agree with your opinion, I will transfer you to Ganzhou, Liangguang is too far, go to Ganzhou!" ”

"Thank you, General! The last general ordered that all the 30,000 soldiers and horses of the second government should be opened, and most of these soldiers and horses were recruited by the last general that year, and there were only 3,000 Manchu Qing soldiers, who could not stop the general from recovering Henan. Gao Di also followed Cao Bianjiao's meaning.