Meng Zhixiang also had to admit that when he was defeated and retreated from Xuanwu County, his mood was panicked, especially when he was deep in Longmen Mountain and was chased and killed by a tiger-wolf-like king, there was even a trembling chill in that panic.

Hanzhou Ruxian County failed to provide Meng Zhixiang with a chance to breathe, Li Congjing's decisiveness in using troops, Rao is based on Meng Zhixiang's experience, and he can't help but be shocked. From Meng Zhixiang's point of view, looking at Li Congjing's strategy of using troops in Shu, he basically took it step by step and focused on stability, like a farmer who cultivates intensively in the crop field.

But this time, after Li Congjing's victory in Xuanwu City, he ordered Wang Shi to chase and kill his own momentum, but it was an abnormal situation, it was completely a hands-off fight, tens of thousands of troops were piled up in Longmen Mountain overnight, and Li Congjing was not afraid of any chaos.

On that day, if it weren't for Zhao Tingyin sacrificing himself to save him, Meng Zhixiang's self-imposed situation would have been extremely dangerous.

Meng Zhixiang clearly knew the limit of the Ma army's pursuit, and also knew that the guards in Yizhou would not be like the Hanzhou guards, who were frightened by thousands of cavalry.

Yizhou is Meng Zhixiang's last reliance against Li Congjing, and it is also the last barrier to protect his life.

Those who travel a hundred miles are half ninety, and before the last step is reached, it is still unknown who will kill the deer.

When he saw Chengdu City again with the remnants of the hundreds of horsemen, Meng Zhixiang stopped outside the moat, ignoring the pedestrians near the city gate and the officials who came to greet him after hearing the news, he raised his head and looked at the city tower, and fell silent for no reason.

After being silent for a long time, Meng Zhixiang's expression was sad and motionless.

The sky was a little overcast, probably a scene of mountain rain coming and the wind filling the building.

I don't know how long it took, Meng Zhixiang burst into tears.

Li Renhan, who had been following Meng Zhixiang's side, was the first to notice Meng Zhixiang's strangeness, this discovery made him a little overwhelmed, and hurriedly said: "Now that the handsome man has returned safely, it is the time to be happy, why is this so?" ”

Meng Zhixiang looked up to the sky and sighed, and said sadly: "Tens of thousands of soldiers are buried in the battlefield, but my old and crippled body is still surviving, when I sent my sons and daughters out on the expedition in the past, how high-spirited I was, who would have thought that in less than a month, I only escaped back like this!" The city is in front, but a certain does not dare to step into the city gate, as the lord of Xichuan, what kind of face does a certain have the grandmother and wife of the sons? ”

"When I read history in the past, I read that the overlord of Western Chu would rather die than cross the Wujiang River, and I couldn't understand it, but I thought that with the talent of the overlord, if he made a comeback, the outcome was still unknown. Today, so-and-so can understand. After that, Meng Zhixiang suddenly pulled out his saber and put it across his neck, and was about to kill himself, "Since you have no face to see Jiangdong's father, why do you have to live in time shamelessly?!" ”

Li Renhan's face changed greatly, and he hurriedly rushed up and snatched the saber from Meng Zhixiang's hand.

After Li Renhan's words were finished, the lieutenant generals and colonels who had fled back all turned over and dismounted, drew their knives and crossed their necks, and shouted in unison, "The sin is waiting for us", and they were about to commit suicide in front of Meng Zhixiang to apologize.

Meng Zhixiang dismounted and stopped them, crying out bitterly, "You and the others are all Xichuan warriors, fighting bloodily, what is the crime?" ”

Having said that, Li Renhan said: "The last general, as the commander of the former army, caused the army to lose the battle, and the crime is unforgivable. All the generals are fighting, all have merit, and now that we are employing people, please allow the generals to make meritorious contributions, and Li will go! ”

These words are the key, the Xichuan army was defeated in Xuanwu County, tens of thousands of soldiers were destroyed, the crime is great, and someone must bear the responsibility for this crime, otherwise how can the people's anger be calmed down, and how can military law be maintained?

Xichuan has to continue to fight with Wang Shi, Meng Zhixiang, as the lord of Xichuan, naturally can't carry this pot, all the generals in the army, Zhao Tingyin and Zhang Zhiye have all been killed in battle, Li Renhan is the commander, if he doesn't carry this pot, who will carry it?

"The general is the pillar of Xichuan, how can he bear to kill him?" After some cognacious behavior, Meng Zhixiang ordered with tears, "Someone, remove General Li's armor, put him in prison, and wait for his fate!" ”

After dealing with the issue of culpability for this defeat, Meng Zhixiang announced the compassionate strategy for the deceased in front of everyone here.

As the person in charge of Xichuan, Meng Zhixiang clearly knew that at this time, it was necessary to awaken the regional consciousness of the Xichuan military and civilians, so that Xichuan could have the strength to fight in the face of the next expedition of the king's division, so he began to recall the past with a sad voice, telling everyone in front of him about Guo Chongtao's romance in Shu, telling Guo Chongtao's grievances of unjust death, and also telling the merits of the soldiers of the current Shu war, and the suspicion and unfair treatment of the imperial court, so as to arouse everyone's emotional resonance.

"A certain person lives in Xichuan, and the reason why he has all kinds of actions is that he is not equal to the merits of the soldiers and cannot be rewarded, but he is subjected to the unfair treatment of the court's suspicion! Some time ago, a certain asked the court for his life, asking the families of the soldiers to be sent into Xichuan, but he never thought that the court would not agree. Meng Zhixiang's sad and indignant accusation easily aroused everyone's hatred and hatred.

Drawing a clear battle line, strengthening the fighting spirit, and gathering the will are the measures that Xichuan must have if he wants to continue fighting.

Meng Zhixiang further affirmed the relationship of interests, "If the imperial court and the royal division attack Xichuan, then none of these 'chaotic ministers and thieves' will survive the disaster, that is, they will be lucky to save their lives, and with the consistent attitude of the imperial court towards the Xichuan military and civilians, Xichuan will also suffer disasters." Such a court, how can you and I be loyal, and how dare you and I not resist with anger? ”

"He who gives me food and clothing is his father and mother, and he who takes my food and clothing is his enemy, and he treats me like an animal, so how can I not regard him as an enemy? Ladies and gentlemen, the soldiers and civilians of Xichuan just want what they deserve, they just want to live in this land, and the imperial court should not allow it, what should we do? What kind of prince will Xiangning have? But if you are a hot-blooded man, what can't you get right away? Meng Zhixiang raised his arms and shouted, "The husband has a clear distinction between right and wrong, throwing his head and spilling blood, why are you afraid of death?" His children and grandchildren will also feel glory when they think of the battle between you and me today! ”

Outside the city gate, Meng Zhixiang, who returned from defeat, except for the initial grief and self-blame, did not have half a state of decline, he climbed to the top of the place, and began a provocative speech to the officials who came to greet him and the people who kept surrounding him.

He complained about the injustice of the imperial court, affirmed Xichuan's grievances, and called on the Xichuan military and people to rise up for their own fate and interests. He is like a king, even after the defeat of the battle, the firm will has not diminished by the half, he is fierce and fierce, he wants to gather the strength of his people, and once again fight the enemy to the death.

Now, only by simply opposing the two armies of Xichuan and Wang Shi and further emphasizing the confrontation between Xichuan and the imperial court, can Xichuan continue to fight.

Meng Zhixiang's speech quickly captured a large number of people's hearts, and the crowd shouted from time to time, either sad and angry, or passionate, or enthusiastic.

In the depths of his love, Meng Zhixiang pulled out a horizontal knife and raised it high, the old man who was over sixty years old was no different from a hot-blooded child of the age of the crown at this moment, his white beard was flying wantonly in the autumn wind, and his voice was sonorous and powerful, and it was doubly demagogic.

"Ladies and gentlemen, Xichuan is in an emergency, Chengdu is in an emergency! I, the sharp warriors of Xichuan, are fighting bloodshed everywhere, and do not hesitate to die, can you watch their horse leather shrouds and be indifferent? In the coming day, if the thief army is coming to the city, even if they are old, they will take the lead and rush to the battlefield first! ”

"Now in Xichuan, the tiger and wolf division of the thief army is slaughtering your son, grandson, your husband, and your brother! Tomorrow, they will come to slaughter our grandmother and wife, can we agree? ”

"You don't distinguish between officials, businessmen, farmers, you and others are the same as a certain one, they are all the lords of Xichuan, and we only have one Xichuan! Our ancestors were born and raised in Sri Lanka for generations, and our ancestral graves are buried here, can we allow the thieves to trample on them? ”

"Only Xichuan knows Xichuan, only Xichuan can benefit Xichuan, and at present, only the people of Xichuan can form a rope and fight hard, so that they can live and work in peace and contentment in the coming day without the suspicion and oppression of the faint court! I beg you, take up your plough for ploughing, draw out the latch of your bolt, take up your butcher's knife for slaughtering, and retreat from a certain way! ”

What instigated Xichuan's hatred of the imperial court, Meng Zhixiang has done enough over the years, otherwise the Xichuan military and civilians would not be willing to be driven by him, he is very skilled in doing this kind of thing, and then as long as he scatters wealth and kindness, the military and the people will be grateful to him. Isn't this how the feudal towns buy people's hearts?

Unlike Li Shaobin, who was temporarily clinging to Buddha's feet, Meng Zhixiang knew the importance of buying people's hearts from the beginning, and his persistent efforts over the years are the main reason why the situation in Xichuan and Dongchuan is very different

Meng Zhixiang, who returned to the Shuaifu, began to deal with various matters without a moment's rest. The first person he summoned was Su Yuan to inquire about the investigation of the imperial court's eyeliner, but Su Yuan's report made Meng Zhixiang's face change, and he burst out with rare anger.

"Stop your actions immediately, immediately!" Although Meng Zhixiang's face was hideous, he was more aware of the urgency of time, so he didn't say a word of nonsense, even though he had a lot of anger to vent.

Su Yuan didn't expect that he thought he had made a great achievement, but when he came to Meng Zhixiang, he had such a reaction, which caught him off guard, but he clearly felt Meng Zhixiang's anger, and did not waste time to ask what was going on, Su Yuan hurriedly ran out of the meeting hall and ordered his subordinates to stop the action related to the investigation and the traitorous officials, and then quickly turned back in sweat.

"The Chengdu officials you arrested, pick out the three most responsible ones, behead them after parading through the streets, and release them all after showing grace." Meng Zhixiang instructed Su Yuan like this, as for the reason why Su Yuan wanted to know, he didn't have time to explain to Su Yuan one by one at this time, but the actions arranged by the other party, Meng Zhixiang still gave an explanation, "Since some Chengdu officials choose to rebel, this commander needs to use a few heads to deter Xiaoxiao, but he can't kill too many people, and the most important thing at the moment is Xichuan's common hatred." ”

Blindly leniency cannot gain love, that is called weakness, and blindly iron and blood cannot make people loyal, that is called ruthlessness. By taking advantage of the two and grasping the heat, Meng Zhixiang can make Xichuan appear the unity situation he most wants to see.

In addition to unity, Meng Zhixiang did not think that Xichuan had other ways to defeat Wang Shi.

Immediately, Meng Zhixiang began to arrange Xichuan tactics, mainly to defend, strictly prohibiting the garrisons in various places to fight with Wang Shi, and must rely on the city to defend it, and use the fortified cities to consume the living force of Wang Shi, so as to increase the possibility of victory for the final decisive battle in Chengdu.

At the same time, he ordered all parts of the country to clear the wilderness, and did not give Wang Shi the opportunity to "fight the enemy because of food".

After basically arranging the major events, the housekeeper found an opportunity and hurriedly came in to report the news of Meng Yanyi's "disappearance" to Meng Zhixiang.

"The maid who has tortured the little lady, the little lady is going to chase the handsome, and the servant has sent someone to chase after her, but because she found it late, she lost the trace of the little lady when she chased it to Hanzhou."

Meng Zhixiang's face was even more ugly, he closed his eyes and leaned on his back, breathing heavily, and he didn't calm down for a long time.

"Send someone to look for it again, you have to see people in life, and you have to see corpses in death!" Meng Zhixiang felt very sorry for his little daughter, but he also knew that he couldn't be too distracted by Meng Yanyi at this time, so he didn't send out the forces in the army to search for it, but just asked the housekeeper to use the guards of the Shuai Mansion to do this.

However, the housekeeper still saw from Meng Zhixiang's terrifying eyes that if Meng Yanyi really had any accidents, none of him and the maids in Meng Yanyi's courtyard would end well.

After instructing the housekeeper, Meng Zhixiang stood up and washed up briefly, but then did not go to rest, but changed into a set of bright armor and cheered up to inspect the barracks.

Now, the military spirit is something that Meng Zhixiang must guarantee.