After the arrival of Zhang Fuzhen, the governor of Yansui, the officers and soldiers from all walks of life under the city of Ningsai gathered, and their morale was greatly boosted. The rebels in the fort of Nimsay were also terrified by the great increase in the combat strength of the officers and troops under the city.

However, Zhang Fuzhen did not choose to attack immediately, but first summoned Zhang Mengjin, who had shown great power before, to the front, and after praising Zhang Mengjin, he said that he would report his loyalty and duty to the imperial court, and then transferred him to the north of Ningsaibao.

At the same time that Zhang Mengjin was ordered to defend the Mongols who did not know whether they would arrive, he also asked him to send his subordinates to investigate the movements of the Mongols far beyond the border wall. After that, the officers and soldiers stopped at the foot of the city of Ningsai camp and waited for the rebels in the city to change. Because Zhang Mengjin expressed his opinion to Zhang Fuzhen and Dai Junen, there will be changes in the short period of time when there is a shortage of food in the city.

After the rebels raised the flag again, there was not much food in the fort of Nimset. Although the time of rebellion of the descendants coincided with the autumn harvest. However, under the continuous attack of Zhang Mengjin and the troops of Duhe Fort, the soldiers in Ningsai Fort did not grab enough food. It should not last long to supply thousands of people in the city, including the small families of Dingding. Therefore, Zhang Fuzhen decided to continue to wait for a while and understand the situation around Ningsai before launching an offensive.

During this period of waiting, Zhang Mengcheng followed the sentry cavalry led by Fan Shunjiang, Zhou Shaoteng, and Che Jibao, constantly outside the border wall in the distance, to reconnoiter the movements of the Mongols outside.

In addition to Zhang Mengcheng's good level of cavalry and archery, which can indeed enhance his combat power, Zhang Mengcheng himself also wants to accumulate combat experience far beyond the wall, and at the same time try to see if he can kill one or two Mongols in exchange for military merits, because he has decided to develop in the military rank.

Since Yang He has fallen, it turns out that Yang He's promise to restore Zhang Mengcheng's fame can no longer be counted on. And what the three governors failed to do immediately, they expected to spend energy on Zhang Fuzhen and Dai Junen, and Zhang Mengcheng felt that the cost was not equal to the income.

And obviously in the future, holding the military power at hand is a more practical choice, so Zhang Mengcheng persuaded his eldest brother Zhang Mengjin, and after spending a lot of effort, he finally got the permission of the eldest brother.

"Xiucai, you dig this pit a little deeper, and it's better to dig a wider bottom, narrow at the top and wide at the bottom, don't remember it wrong." Fan Shunjiang instructed Zhang Mengcheng to dig smokeless stoves in the wild. Although they could use dry food to hold up for a while, this time they went out of the side wall and planned to run a little farther to explore the condition of Qingshan Lake. Eat something cooked to help them keep their energy up.

"Xiucai, I think it's better for you to take the top exam, you have such a big knowledge, why do you have to be a soldier?" Zhou Shaoteng had already returned to Jiangduhe Fort with Guan Zhiqing, and he was a little puzzled by Zhang Mengcheng's decision to take the route of marching.

Zhang Mengcheng listened to Fan Shunjiang's guidance and dug the pit deep again and widened the bottom. While answering Zhou Shaoteng, he said: "I haven't been able to find a way to restore my fame, rather than wasting time on this matter, it is better to fight on the battlefield." And the days of this imperial examination are too sad, it is already difficult enough to take the exam, and it is even more difficult to take the Jinshi examination. Even if I passed the exam, I had to start step by step as a petty official in other provinces, and my life was too grinding. ”

Zhang Mengcheng, who took a breath, wiped the sweat from his forehead and continued: "Also, I see that this world will become more and more unpeaceful in the future. If I am far away from my brothers and serve as an official in a foreign land, if I fall into bad luck, no one will be able to take care of me. So I might as well fight with my brothers, and it shouldn't be difficult to have a background with the help of my brothers. ”

Che Jibao, who inspected other subordinates and came back, said with some confusion after hearing Zhang Mengcheng's words: "The days will become more and more chaotic in the future, what's going on, aren't our thieves in Shaanxi about to stop now." ”

Zhang Mengcheng, who started digging again, replied while waving the tools at hand: "Most of the thieves who ran to Shanxi before will run to other provinces, and the Dongyu in the east is not guaranteed to be killed again in the following days." And in order to deal with these two things, the imperial court will definitely continue to levy more food and silver to make up for military supplies. Once those corrupt officials and corrupt officials handle it, there will only be more and more people who can't survive, and won't the people who can't survive only turn to thieves? ”

"Xiucai is right, the more thieves there are, the more opportunities we have to make meritorious contributions. I think it's better to enter the army, and it shouldn't be difficult to cut off some heads and come back for a military position with Xiucai's ability. Fan Shunjiang quite supported Zhang Mengcheng to enter the ranks, and from time to time came to him to ask him for archery kung fu Zhang Mengcheng, now just in terms of riding and archery kung fu, Xiucai is definitely the top ten in the armed forces of Jinding Mountain and Duhe Fort, thousands of people, and some of the Mongolian soldiers in Duhe Fort are not his opponents.

"That's fine, in the future, when my son grows up, it's convenient to find Xiucai to teach him to read and read." Zhou Shaoteng, like Guan Zhiqing, was very satisfied with Guan Yuze, who was taught by Zhang Mengcheng. plans to hand over his children to Zhang Mengcheng to teach in the future.

"I see, Xiucai continues to stay with us, and it is best to pay attention to the big boss. If we hadn't listened to Xiucai's words this time, and the gang of people who followed Shen Yikui would have made a fuss again, and as soon as the official army came, we would have really finished. Che Jibao was really afraid of the idea that Duhebao was almost a thief again, but he didn't expect that Li Laochai's gang in Central County would be leveled by the officials and troops so quickly, and they were not as strong as the original Hequ Wang Jiayin.

Hearing Che Jibao's exclamation, Zhou Shaoteng and Fan Shunjiang both expressed their gratitude, fortunately they did not choose to rebel against the water at the beginning, and after quickly reporting to Dai Junen, they were appreciated by the imperial court. Coupled with the military exploits they made later, it is likely that they can be promoted again.

Zhang Mengcheng ignored the sighs of the three leaders on the side, and he continued to dig the smokeless stove seriously. In order to avoid revealing their whereabouts, ensure that the reconnaissance mission can be completed smoothly. The preparation of the smokeless stove must be completed carefully. Although Fan Shunjiang and others do not call this kind of stove smokeless, the actual function is the same.

As early as the Hongwu period of the fishing Erhai Campaign, the Ming army took the measure of "cooking in the cave and no fireworks". Although the Ming army has never achieved such a brilliant record after that, digging a smokeless stove may not be able to successfully evade the Mongol sentry horse. But something is better than nothing, and Zhang Mengcheng still attaches great importance to this kind of detail.

After hearing that Fan Shunjiang knew about this smokeless stove digging method, Zhang Mengcheng immediately asked for advice and began to study. He planned to write it down with pen and paper after returning from this mission, not only to record the written description, but also to draw a sketch to make it easier to understand, and to spread it throughout the army in the future.

According to Fan Shunjiang, this was something he had figured out when he didn't collect it that night. He used to rely on this to avoid the eyeliner of many Dazi sentry riders. However, he didn't know if the other Ming soldiers would also dig this pit in the field, anyway, Fan Shunjiang didn't notice much.

Zhang Mengcheng has never been in the regular army, and the armed forces of the cottage, although with the concerted efforts of many leaders, also have good combat power. But because of the complex composition of personnel, there is still quite a heavy gangsterism.

In addition, many places are not formal, so Zhang Mengcheng attaches great importance to the experience of veterans, has been paying attention to registration, and has taken a lot of notes, planning to reorganize the army's combat strength in the future.

After spending some effort, Zhang Mengcheng finally dug up the smokeless stove. The cavalry unit of more than 60 people in Duhe Fort continued to march towards the destination after a slightly simple meal.

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In the official army camp under the city of Ningsai, Zhang Fuzhen inspected the surrounding situation, called Zhang Mengjin to his front and said: "You once told me that the grain reserves in Ningsai City are insufficient, and the rebels will make moves after the rest of the month. It's almost a month now, and when do you think the rebels in the city will make a move? ”

"Lord Qiyu, we will see it in ten days." Zhang Mengjin was very confident in the governor's questioning.

This time, although the Shenyi Kui tribe rebelled at the beginning, they plundered some grain, but because of the decisive attack on Duhe Fort, the rebels in Ningsai did not loot much grain. According to the observation of Zhang Mengjin and his gang, it is very difficult to feed the thousands of people in the city, and there will be cannibalism in a month at most. The rebels in the city are complex, and if there is such a situation as cannibalism, it will inevitably cause internal relations to be shaken, and then there will be strife.

Seeing Zhang Mengjin's confident appearance, Zhang Fuzhen was very satisfied. Some time ago, he ordered Zhang Mengjin to send his subordinates outside the wall to investigate the activities of the Mongols, and Zhang Mengjin did so without saying anything. Judging from the current news, the Mongols outside the wall are powerless about the affairs of Ningsai.

And Zhang Mengjin, who was active outside the wall, looked quite brave before. Not only are their horses very robust, but their weapons and armor are also quite sophisticated, and their riding and archery skills are even more outstanding.

"If you want to capture Ningsai as soon as possible, you have an idea that you might be able to try." The reason for Zhang Mengjin's self-confidence is not just that he has been observing, but that he already has old acquaintances in the rebels in the city, and he privately sent someone to contact Zhang Mengjin and them. While informing him of the situation in the city, this old acquaintance also proposed a plan to dedicate the city. After discussing with other leaders, Zhang Mengjin now intends to propose it for execution.

"Oh, if it does help the war, you can say it." Although Zhang Fuzhen is not in a hurry to take down Ningsai at present, he is willing to think about it when he hears that Zhang Mengjin has a plan to give it a try.

"There has been a shortage of food in the city for a long time, and the people's hearts are ......" Zhang Mengjin prepared to recite the speech he had memorized before. But before he could finish his sentence, he was interrupted.

"My lord, there is word in the city that the thief god is dead, and the rebels in the city want to surrender." One of Zhang Fuzhen's subordinates suddenly arrives to inform the city that they want to surrender.

Zhang Fuzhen heard that the thief leader was dead, and hurriedly ordered his subordinates to bring people from the city. At the same time, he comforted Zhang Mengjin: "It seems that you don't need your strategy, but you don't have to be disappointed, after the rebellion is quelled, Benfu will definitely protect you." ”

Although Zhang Mengjin scolded secretly in his heart, he still pretended to be very calm, and saluted Dai Junen and said: "This is the duty of the humble duty, I don't dare to complain, and the adults don't have to worry about it." ”