After Liu Fan announced that he was going to set up a staff department, most of the generals in the army realized that this was a rare opportunity, because these staff officers mainly helped Liu Fan to give advice. As a result, officers at all levels recommended their talents. In just three days, Liu Fan got a list of several hundred people.

The list is there but Liu Fan is worried, because most of the main officers in the army are cadets of the first phase of the military academy, in terms of military talent, these low-level officers with little training can not be compared with the cadets of the second phase of the military academy.

At the same time of selecting talents, the army did not stop, and under the leadership of Liu Fan, the army broke the captivity according to the established marching route, all the way north through Weifang to the west. After a long journey of more than half a month, on the fifth day of October, the broken army finally arrived outside Handan City.

After arriving in Handan, Liu Fan personally led his own troops to the city of Handan, and the defenders in the city did not dare to slack off when they saw nearly 20,000 troops outside the city. Yes, that's right! Just know the county! Although Handan is a historical city, its status in the Ming Dynasty is not high, and it is just a county according to the administrative division of the Ming Dynasty!

Liu Fan waited patiently under the city of Handan, and after a while, a middle-aged literati wearing the official robe of the county appeared at the head of the city, and when he saw Liu Fan under the city, he opened the city gate and personally led people out of the city. After meeting, the two exchanged pleasantries for a while, and the magistrate of Handan said, "Liu Shoubei came from afar, worked hard all the way, and the Handan squire raised 100 stones of rice and grain, and 15 pigs and sheep to reward the army, and I will send someone to the army in a while!" ”

Liu Fan arched his hand and said: "On behalf of the soldiers of the Broken Army, thank you, Lord Zhixian!" The magistrate of the county, my ministry was ordered by His Majesty to come to Jinan to suppress the thieves! I don't know how the battle is going now! I hope you will solve your doubts! ”

The magistrate waved his hand and said, "Liu Shoubei doesn't have to be polite, just a little heart!" As for the situation! Since July, most of the thieves have retreated to the Taihang Mountains, and Handan and other places have not been attacked by the thieves, and I don't know the specific situation! Now the war has been taken over by Yuan Mo, the governor of Henan! Liu Shoubei wants to ask, and he has to find the governor of Henan! ”

Liu Fan was helpless and continued to ask, "Does the county magistrate know where Wang Pu of the Beijing camp and Zuo Liangyu of the Changping army are stationed now?" ”

Zhixian thought for a moment and replied, "Wang Pu is now stationed in Cizhou, and Zuo Liangyu seems to be near Wu'an now!" Liu Shoubei should go to Wu'an to have a look! ”

Liu Fan bowed his hand again and said, "Thank you, Lord Zhixian!" The army is outside, and if you leave for a long time, you may have trouble, so you won't bother your adults in the future! Leave! ”

Liu Fan said goodbye to Handan Zhixian and returned directly to the barracks, starting from Shihe to Handan, a distance of more than 1,000 miles I don't know how many towns I passed, but almost no city officials dared to let them enter the city! Especially in Shandong, as soon as the name of the Broken Army was heard, most of the cities closed their gates. Liu Fan's name in Shandong has reached the level of "stinky street", and even Zhu Dadian, who once fought side by side, avoided Liu Fan, and just sent someone to send some food! Now Liu Fan has become accustomed to the attitude of these prefects!

After discussion, Liu Fan felt that it was better to go to Wu'an! When Liu Fan first arrived in Jinan, he didn't know much about the battle situation here. Second, Liu Fan still doesn't know whose command he should listen to! It stands to reason that he belongs to the governor of Henan! But now that the governor of Henan is far away in Kaifeng, Liu Fan is too lazy to visit!

The next day, the army marched west to Wu'an, all the way in the afternoon, the broken army has arrived near the west gate of Wu'an, looking from afar, Wu'an at this time is only a small county, far from the prosperity of later generations. Liu Fan ordered the army to be stationed on the spot, and he took his own army to go directly to Wu'an City, unlike Handan, after seeing Liu Fan's holy decree and the order of the military department, Wu'an Zhixian warmly greeted Liu Fan and others, and directly led everyone to the Zhixian Yamen.

In the back hall of the Zhixian Yamen, after Liu Fan sat down, he asked, "Lord Zhixian, this official has just come to Wu'an, I don't know how the battle situation is now?" Where are the thieves now? ”

Wu Anzhi County smiled: "Jimin, don't be polite!" You and I are the same at a glance, and you can directly call me the word Yusong immediately! Alas! Tell the truth! The former magistrate died at the hands of thieves! This official was also appointed to Wu'an Zhi County three months ago! It's winter now! Most of the thieves have basically retreated to the mountains now, they are camped in the mountains near Wu'an in Taihang Mountain, stretching for dozens of miles, there are as many as seventy-two places in Wu'an alone, Anziling, Motianling, Mahu Mountain, Baiyun Mountain, Dazhai Mountain, Phoenix Mountain and other places are full of thieves' cottages! Wu'an, Cishan and Cishan were directly threatened by thieves, I was a small surprise in two days, and a big surprise in five days! In recent months, I have been unable to sleep at night, lest I know when I fall asleep and move with my head asleep! ”

Seeing this, Liu Fan comforted: "Brother Yusong, don't worry! This time, I, Liu Fan, led an army of more than 20,000 people and more than 300 cannons, and I came on the orders of His Majesty to exterminate the thieves! Don't worry about just thieves! ”

Li Yusong felt a little relieved in his heart, and sighed, "I will be relieved as soon as Jimin comes!" With your army by my side, I can finally get a good night's sleep! Alas! My Wu'an is in tatters after the last battle! I really don't have the power to treat your army! Don't blame the people! ”

Liu Fan smiled and said, "Brother Yusong, where do you speak!" I've seen the situation in Wu'an! The people have been ravaged by thieves, and I can't bear to add to the burden on them! This time I came prepared, all the military quarters of the army have my own Liu Fan to bear independently, and I will not bother Brother Yusong anymore! ”

Li Yusong was ashamed when he heard this, and arched his hand and said, "Then I will bring the people of Wu'an to thank the people!" ”

Liu Fan smiled and said, "Brother Yusong is serious!" I don't know where Zuo Liangyu, deputy chief soldier of Changping, is now! I'll have to talk to him about the war! Allies after all! It's also good to have a little more power! ”

Li Yusong nodded and said, "Hmm! I have already sent someone to Cishan Town to inform the left deputy commander-in-chief! I guess he'll be there tomorrow! ”

Liu Fan got up and said, "That's the case, then I'll leave first!" ”

Li Yusong said, "I have ordered someone to prepare a wing room, why don't you take a rest in the city!" ”

Liu Fan declined: "Thank you, Brother Yusong, for your love!" It's really inconvenient for the army to stay outside, so we'll meet another day! ”

Bidding farewell to Li Yusong, Liu Fan returned to the barracks to tell everyone the news he had received, and instructed Wu Tao to send scouts to explore the surrounding situation, collect news, and deal with the upcoming war! (To be continued.) )