After the annihilation of the 70,000 Jiangnan Army led by Xiangfa, Li Yanqing ordered Wang Gui to be the vanguard, led 8,000 cavalry along the canal to the south, and went straight to Qiantang County, Hangzhou, it took only one day and one night, 8,000 cavalry arrived in Yuhang County, Hangzhou, Yuhang County is only 40 miles away from Hangzhou, Wang Gui ordered the cavalry to rest for two hours, and set off at five watches.

At present, there are still 2,000 troops in Qiantang County, and 2,000 troops are insignificant for 8,000 cavalry, but Li Yanqing, the commander of the capital, has a clear requirement that he not disturb the people of Qiantang, cannot cause losses to the county, and cannot let 2,000 people escape.

Wang Gui spread out a map of Qiantang County on the table and said to everyone: "This is the latest map of Qiantang County, which shows that the city wall has been demolished, and our cavalry can go all the way into the county seat when they go south, but the question is, will these two thousand troops hide in the county town and fight with us in the streets, so the loss will be big, let's talk about it!" Is there a good solution? ”

Next to him, Cao Meng said: "Is it possible to send someone to negotiate with the leader of this army, only if they are willing to lay down their arms, we can pardon them." ”

Gao Chong shook his head, "The commander of this army is Wang Xiao, the son-in-law of Xiang Zongliang, and it is impossible for him to surrender unless he opens his mouth to his family." ”

At this time, Hua Rong said in a low voice: "Isn't there an arrangement for Dutong?" ”

Wang Gui's face suddenly became a little ugly, Dutong Li Yanqing gave them an alternative before they left, if they had nothing to do, they could use this alternative, to be honest, Wang Gui would not use this plan unless they had to.

After being silent for a long time, Cao Meng and Gao Zhong both nodded and said, "The alternative can be used!" ”

Wang Gui had no choice but to order the soldiers outside the door: "Bring people in!" ”

In a moment, two soldiers brought Zheng Chen in, Zheng Chen was Li Yanqing's alternative, and asked Zheng Chen to persuade the Qiantang defenders to surrender, on the condition that Zheng Chen be exempted from his crimes.

Zheng Chen changed into civilian clothes, he walked into the room and said, "Please ask General Wang to give orders!" ”

In addition to Wang Gui in the room, he was very familiar with everyone else, including Hua Rong, who was also a general of the forbidden army back then, and also knew one of the four yamen in Tokyo in the past.

Wang Gui said coldly: "I believe that Dutong has already told you, this is your last chance, the defenders will come out and surrender before dawn, otherwise I will not be able to guarantee the safety of your Zheng family when the scuffle occurs!" ”

Zheng Chen scolded secretly, but had to agree, "I'll leave now, can you give me another half a day and surrender before noon!" ”

Wang Gui thought for a while, "Yes!" ”

Zheng Chen saluted and left, and Wang Gui immediately arranged for two soldiers to follow Zheng Chen south to Qiantang County.

As soon as dawn, Wang Gui led 8,000 cavalry to continue the journey and kill Qiantang County, forty miles away.

.........

The time has reached the third watch, and the Zheng Mansion located in Jishanfang is brightly lit, and the Zheng family and the Zhu family are urgently discussing countermeasures.

Just half an hour ago, Zhu Xiaozhang received the news that more than 100 people from the Zheng family left Qiantang County on more than 20 passenger ships, which made the Zhu brothers very nervous and immediately rushed to the Zheng family to negotiate countermeasures.

The head of the Zhu family is called Zhu Xiaosun, who is about forty years old, but he is the eldest brother of Empress Zhu, and the people who came with him tonight are not only his brother Zhu Xiaozhang, but also their uncle Zhu Jun.

Zhu Xiaosun said with anger on his face: "The Xiang family is really a scourge, they fled by themselves, but they still control the army and trap us in injustice." ”

"Are you sure Wang Xiao didn't leave?" Zheng Nan, the head of the Zheng family, asked.

Zheng Nan is the younger brother of the Empress Dowager Zheng and the father of Zheng Chen, the title of Zheng Guogong, the crown prince and the young master, the opening of the palace and the three divisions, with a very high status, and he is also the second person in this rebellion.

"He certainly didn't leave, I saw him patrolling the city with my own eyes."

Zheng Nan was silent, he knew why Wang Xiao didn't leave, just to buy time for the Xiang family to retreat, but in this way, not only other families would suffer, but also the people of the whole city.

At this moment, the housekeeper hurriedly ran in and whispered to Zheng Nan: "Family master, Xiao Yanei is back!" ”

Zheng Nan was immediately overjoyed, and hurriedly said, "Bring him in!" ”

After a while, Zheng Chen was brought in, stepped forward and knelt down to salute his father, "The child greets his father!" ”

"Chen'er, are you okay?"

Zheng Nan hurriedly stepped forward to help his son, he loved this little son very much, he had received a flying pigeon message before, saying that the Jiangnan Army was wiped out, and his son did not know whether he was alive or dead, which made Zheng Nan very worried, and now that his son came safely, he actually had a kind of excitement that cried with joy.

"Father, the child was captured by Li Yanqing, and it is important to go home this time."

Zheng Chen glanced at the Zhu brothers next to him, and stopped talking, Zheng Nan shook his head, "If there is anything, just say it!" The Zheng and Zhu families are now in the same boat, and there is nothing to taboo. ”

"Li Yanqing gave the child a condition, if the child can make the defenders of Qiantang County surrender or disband, Li Yanqing can be exempted from the child's crime."

Zheng Nan was stunned, this condition is a bit difficult to do, the children of the Zheng family are exempted, so what should the children of the Zhu family do? Zhu Hongying and Zhu Hongliang brothers are also in the Jiangnan Army!

At this time, Zhu Jun on the side asked urgently: "Nephew, how is the situation of Hong Liang and Hong Ying?" ”

Zhu Jun's two sons are Zhu Hongying and Zhu Hongliang, Zheng Chen smiled bitterly and said: "They didn't die, they were all captured." ”

Zhu Jun immediately breathed a sigh of relief, he thought for a while and said, "Virtuous nephew, if I also participate in persuading the army, will the two brothers be exempted?" ”

Zheng Chen shook his head, "I really don't know this, I can't talk nonsense." ”

Zhu Xiaosun, the head of the family next to him, did not want the benefits of meritorious service to fall on the second uncle, this was the interest of the family, and could not be monopolized by the second uncle, so he hurriedly said: "Second uncle, no matter whether it can be exempted or not, as long as the Zhu family makes meritorious service, there will always be benefits, I believe that Li Yanqing will not ignore this." ”

Zhu Jun was helpless, so he had to sigh. "Alright! At this point, we can only take one step at a time. ”

At this time, Zheng Nan muttered and said: "Although Wang Xiao holds the military power, it is his four generals who command the two thousand troops. ”

"It makes sense, it's better for us to act separately and find two people each, I believe that under the general trend, they all have a heart of self-preservation."

The two of them deliberated for a moment, and then went their separate ways.

........

Wang Xiao is the son-in-law of the Xiang family, he shoulders the heavy responsibility of covering the retreat of the Xiang family this time, he must lead the army and the Jingzhao army to fight fiercely to the end, to buy time for the Xiang family to the maximum, in return, Wang Xiao's son will be reused by the Xiang family, in addition, the Xiang family also told Wang Xiao about the two places where the money was hidden, as a reward for his contribution to the Xiang family.

Wang Xiao was also loyal to the Xiang family, personally escorted the Xiang family to leave by boat, and then he led two thousand soldiers to be stationed in the Beikou Pass of Qiantang County, in front of the Beikou Pass is the Huantang River, a bridge spans the north and south, and the Beikou Pass is in the south of the bridge, which is the only way to enter Qiantang County.

As the day gradually dawned, Wang Xiao received news that the 8,000 cavalry of the Jingzhao Army had arrived north of the Huantang River, only five miles away from the Huantang River, and he led more than 100 soldiers to rush to the Huantang River.

There were still three miles to the North Pass, and a soldier rushed to report anxiously: "General Qiyu, the big thing is not good!" ”

Wang Xiao was taken aback and hurriedly asked, "What's wrong?" ”

"General Sheng and General Li presented the Beikou Pass and surrendered to the Jingzhao Army, and the opposing cavalry has crossed the Huantang River and is coming here!"

Wang Xiao was taken aback, turned around and fled into the city, but only escaped more than a hundred steps, only to see an army coming in front of him, which was a thousand soldiers who rushed to Beikou Pass to support him on his military order.

Wang Xiao hurriedly waved and shouted: "The army stops!" ”

A thousand soldiers stopped, and when Wang Xiao approached, he was suddenly stunned, one of the generals at the front was actually Zheng Chen, didn't Zheng Chen follow Xiang Fa and the whole army was destroyed? How did he end up here? Wang Xiao's first reaction was that Zheng Chen had fled back.

But whether Zheng Chen escaped back or not, he should not have appeared in his army, and he had become the leader of the army.

Wang Xiao was suddenly dissatisfied in his heart, he rushed forward and shouted, "General Zheng, what's going on!" ”

Zheng Chen stopped his horse and raised his hand, and a thousand soldiers rushed forward, and at the same time raised their crossbows and aimed them at Wang Xiao and his men.

Wang Xiao was so frightened that he stammered: "Zheng.... General Zheng, I have something to say.... Say! ”

"Shoot the arrows!"

Zheng Chen gave an order, and a thousand soldiers released arrows at the same time, and suddenly the arrows were fired in unison, Wang Xiao and his subordinates were hit by arrows one after another, and there was a scream, and after a round of arrows, there was no one standing.

"Kill!"

Zheng Chen gave the order again, and hundreds of soldiers rushed forward and killed all the undead.

Wang Xiao was hit by seven or eight arrows in a row, and he was already dying, Zheng Chen slowly walked in front of him and said to him coldly: "Taiwei Li promised me, as long as I take your head, I can be exonerated, General Wang, I can only blame you for not knowing the current affairs!" ”

He raised his sword high and stabbed it down fiercely, Wang Xiao screamed miserably, and died of anger instantly.

At this moment, the dust was flying in the distance, and the sound of horses' hooves like muffled thunder was heard, and a cavalry of several thousand men had appeared three miles away.

Zheng Chen immediately ordered: "Put down your weapons, take off your armor and surrender!" ”