Before dawn the next day, Zhen Youcai returned to Datong.

Also returning to the city with Zhen Youcai were Tang Sheng and Monk Zhang's two thousand-man team, because Wei Daben had already led Minzhuang to block all the four gates of Datong City, so they climbed into the city along the ladder.

Regarding Wang Pu's move to give up the Lei Gongshan camp to the thieves, Zhen Youcai didn't understand a hundred.

Following the horse road down the city wall, Xiao Qi and Zhen Youcai climbed on the fast horses that had been prepared long ago, and rode straight to Wang Pu's general army, while Tang Sheng and Monk Zhang went directly to the garrison with two thousand musketeers.

When Xiao Qi and Zhen Youcai arrived at Xingyuan, Wang Pu had just gotten up and was washing.

"See the general."

When the two saw Wang Pu, they hurriedly hugged their fists, Wang Pu waved his hand, quickly wiped his face indiscriminately, and handed the towel to the young lady beside him, and asked anxiously: "Xiao Qi, talented, everything is going well, right?" ”

Xiao Qi nodded and said, "It's going well." ”

Zhen Youcai looked left and right, and said in a low voice: "General, let's talk about it in the tent." ”

"Hmm."

Wang Pu nodded, when he entered the big tent first, Zhen Youcai and Xiao Qi also followed into the big tent, Lu Liu, who was guarding outside the tent, immediately took two steps forward and blocked the tent door, his vigilant eyes kept searching the surroundings, except for Nenniang, no one was allowed to approach Wang Pu's general army tent without authorization.

In the big tent.

Zhen Youcai asked in a low voice: "General, is it too much to give the Lei Gongshan camp and the 20,000 stone grain and more than 8 million catties of bacon on the mountain to the thieves?" ”

Wang Pu indifferently asked: "Why does Youcai think so?" ”

Zhen Youcai said: "General, there are too many people who know about this, and it is definitely impossible to hide it." ”

Wang Pu said: "Why hide it? ”

Zhen Youcai said: "General, this is a thief, if someone is stabbed to the Lord of Long Life, it will be a big crime to destroy the Nine Clans!" ”

"Destroy the Nine Clans?" Wang Pu suddenly had a teasing smile on his face, and said lightly, "Then you have to have that ability, hehe." ”

"Hiss......" Zhen Youcai suddenly gasped and lost his voice, "General, you don't really want to rebel, right?" ”

"Rebellion?" Wang Pu smiled and shook his head, "Only fools will rebel." ”

Zhen Youcai frowned and said: "Then I don't understand the humble position, since the general doesn't want to rebel, why would he do such a blatant thing against the court?" ”

Wang Pu said indifferently: "Do you think that I am blatantly against the court by doing this?" ”

Zhen Youcai said: "Could it be that the humble position is wrong? ”

"Youcai, let me give you a few examples." Wang Pu said indifferently, "Mao Wenlong, the chief soldier of Dongjiang Town in the Ming Dynasty, you should always know, right?" That's the general soldier with the general's seal. ”

"Yes." Zhen Youcai said, "During the Apocalypse, Mao Wenlong was Jiannu's confidant. ”

Wang Pudao: "As far as I know, during his tenure as the commander-in-chief of Dongjiang Town, Mao Wenlong often sold strategic materials such as salt, iron, silk, and cotton from the Ming Dynasty to Jiannu in order to make huge profits from it. But Emperor Tianqi and Emperor Chongzhen didn't treat Mao Wenlong well. ”

"Hmm." Zhen Youcai nodded and said, "That's true, if it weren't for Yuan Chonghuan, maybe Mao Wenlong would still be his commander in Dongjiang Town." ”

"And Zu Dashou." Wang Pu said, "Dalinghe City was besieged by Jiannu, the food in the city was exhausted, the living people were cannibalistic, and the defenders were all wiped out, but Zu Dashou returned to Jinzhou alive, is there no imperial historian in front of Emperor Chongzhen to tell right and wrong, saying that Zu Dashou once surrendered to Jiannu?" Of course there is, but in the end, didn't Emperor Chongzhen do anything to Zu Dashou? ”

"Huh." Zhen Youcai nodded again, "It seems to be the same thing." ”

"There are also two brothers, Jiang Rang and Jiang Zhuang." Wang Pudao, "The Jiang family has been entrenched in Yulin for generations, and has opened a horse market to communicate with the Mongols all the year round, so Emperor Chongzhen doesn't know anything about it?" Of course this is impossible, the governors of the three sides of Shaanxi have changed one after another, but the Jiang family firmly controls the one-third of an acre of land in Yulin, do you know why? ”

Zhen Youcai asked in a condensed voice, "Why?" ”

"Four words."

Wang Pu picked up the brush and waved it on the paper, and Zhen Youcai read it out: "Raise thieves and respect yourself!" ”

"That's right, it's self-respecting to raise thieves." Wang Pu said, "Emperor Tianqi and Emperor Chongzhen didn't dare to do anything to Mao Wenlong, because they had to rely on Mao Wenlong to contain Jiannu; Emperor Chongzhen didn't say anything about Zu Dashou because the ancestral family was a wealthy family in western Liaoning, and Emperor Chongzhen still had to rely on Zu Dashou to resist Jiannu in Jinzhou; Similarly, Emperor Chongzhen didn't do anything to the Jiang family in Yulin, also because the Jiang family was a wealthy family in Yulin, and Emperor Chongzhen still had to rely on them to resist the Mongols in the north. ”

"Understood." Zhen Youcai said in a condensed voice, "Even if the general gives the thieves food, Long Live Lord will not and dare not do anything to the general, because the Wang family is a wealthy family in Datong, and Long Live Lord still depends on you to maintain the situation in Datong, and it depends on the general to resist Jiannu, and it depends on the general to suppress the thieves." ”

Wang Pu smiled and said: "That's it, as long as the thieves are still there, as long as the Jiannu is still there, as long as I don't openly pull the flag and rebel, even if I make a fuss in Datong, even if those imperial historians quarrel in the court, Long Live Lord won't and won't dare to do anything to me, what's the point of giving the thieves a little food?" ”

"But why did you give up the camp of Lei Gong Mountain to the thieves and give them the grain from the mountain?" Zhen Youcai asked again, "Does the general really think that the thieves will join forces with us to fight against Jiannu?" ”

"It's hard to say." Wang Pu shook his head and said, "I don't know much about Li Yan, I only heard that he is a very faithful person, it is said that I saved him once, and gave them the Lei Gongshan camp and food, which is equivalent to saving him again, if he is really a person of faithfulness, it is very likely that he will join forces with us, but I don't do it all to join forces with the thieves to fight against Jiannu." ”

Zhen Youcai said: "What is that for?" ”

Wang Pu said: "No matter what, these thieves are also Han Chinese, I can't watch them die under the butcher's knife of Jiannu, if you don't give them the camp of Lei Gongshan and the grain on the mountain, they can't run away, they can't win the fight, and in the end they will inevitably be slaughtered by Jiannu, and there are ......."

"What else?"

"Also, there are no eternal enemies in this world, and there are no eternal friends, and now we are enemies with the thieves, but who knows if we will really become friends one day? Now sell it to Li Yan and the thieves, in case the situation changes in the future, wouldn't there be one more way to go? ”

There is an old saying that is called the three holes of the cunning rabbit.

Wang Pu never thought of being a loyal minister and filial son to the Ming Dynasty, in case one day Li Zicheng really became the climate like in history, and Wang Pu didn't have time to open the situation, then temporarily change his course and put himself into the thief's banner first, and then Xu Tu's development is not impossible, after all, the thief is also a Han person, not a slave.

"High!" Zhen Youcai quickly understood Wang Pu's intentions and complimented, "The general is far-sighted, and his humble position is far inferior. ”

■■■

Lei Gong Mountain Camp.

Li Yan was checking the grain in the granary accompanied by the red lady, looking at the mountains of grain in front of him, the red lady couldn't help but sigh with emotion, and said to Li Yan: "Xianggong, I didn't expect Wang Pu to really give us this impregnable camp, as well as so much grain and bacon, the slave family really can't believe it's true." ”

"yes." Li Yan nodded and muttered, "Wang Pu saved us again." ”

The red lady was puzzled: "But why did he save us?" ”

"I've been thinking about this question for a long time." Li Yan said, "Wang Pu's true thoughts in his heart are only known to him, but I think that he may be raising thieves for self-respect, or maybe for the sake of everyone being Han Chinese, he doesn't want to see us slaughtered by Jiansuo." ”

The red lady said again: "Xianggong, then do we really want to join forces with Wang Pu to fight against Jiannu?" ”

"Lady, you overestimate the strength of the rebel army." Li Yan shook his head and smiled bitterly, "I'm afraid Wang Pu didn't expect us to help him anything, but then again, whether we can help or not and whether we have the heart to help are two different things...... There cannot be no faith. ”

The red lady said worriedly: "But in case someone tells you, let King Chuang know about it." ”

Li Yan said indifferently: "The gentleman is frank, there is no need for others to tell the truth, I will report this matter to the king myself, with the king's talent, he will understand." ”

■■■

In the morning of the next day, the two Jiannu armies entered the city of Datong at the same time, and Dolgon immediately ordered to set up camp, and the 170,000 troops set up four camps respectively, blocking the four gates of Datong.

In the afternoon of the same day, Dolgon ordered a fence to be built around Datong, completely cutting off Datong from the outside world.

This time, Dolgon is bound to win, no matter how difficult it is, he must break Datongsheng and capture Wang Pu, this is not only to avenge Huang Taiji, but also to establish his prestige, because this is the first time that Dolgon has led a large army after becoming regent, and Dolgon must make achievements.

Dolgon's Ledger.

When Dolgon was finishing discussing with Fan Wencheng and Ning, Duoduo suddenly strode in and said loudly: "Fourteenth brother, the younger brother has already inquired clearly. ”

Dolgon looked up and asked, "What the hell was going on with that battle?" ”

Duoduo said: "It is not the Ming army that fights with the twelve brothers, but the thieves of Shaanxi, before we arrived, the thieves have besieged Datong for two days, and they have fought a vicious battle outside the south gate!" ”

"It turned out to be a thief." Dolgon frowned and whispered, "It's not the Ming Army. ”

For the thieves who ravaged the Central Plains, the Jiannu outside the gate had already heard that as early as the Huang Taiji era, they wanted to join forces with the thieves of the Central Plains to deal with the Ming Dynasty, but unfortunately the mountains are high and the road is far away, and the news is difficult to pass, so this matter was delayed, but I didn't expect to collide in Datong today, and there was a vicious battle.

"Master." Ning Wan's expression moved, and he said in a flattering voice, "The thieves want to rebel against the Ming Dynasty, and they are mortal enemies with the officials and soldiers, so why not give them a little benefit, and use them to consume the Datong defenders first?" ”

Dorgon nodded happily, "That's an idea. ”

Dodor said, "But we just had a fierce battle with the thieves, will they agree to cooperate?" ”

Ning Wan said: "Prince Yu doesn't know, the thieves are all rats who are greedy for small profits, as long as they are given a little benefit, they will even sell their ancestors." ”

"Hmm." Dorgon nodded, and asked Dorgon "Where are these thieves now?" ”

Duoduo said: "It has been ascertained, and it is stationed in Lei Gong Mountain in the north. ”

"Okay." Dolgon said to Ning Wan, "This matter will be done by my husband, who can bring two thousand stone of grain, two hundred fat sheep, and fifty good horses, and after the work is done, it will be a great achievement." ”

"Wow." Ning Wan I hurriedly got up and knelt on one knee, and said with a servile face, "The slave will never disappoint the master." ”

Dorgon smiled, "The king is here waiting for good news from the gentleman." ”

"The minions are gone."

I bowed to Dorgon again before turning around and going off.

When Ning finished and I walked away, Dolgon said to Fan Wencheng again: "Mr. Wencheng, just now Tong Yang used the Hongyi cannon to fire two cannons at the north gate of Datong, and it turned out that Wang Pu really blocked the city gate with stones like Zu Dashou, it seems that the city gate cannot be opened, and now he can only dig tunnels." ”

Fan Wencheng said: "This is also expected. ”

Dorgon said, "Where does the gentleman think the excavation should be?" ”

Fan Wencheng said: "Fiction and reality. ”

Dolgon said, "Fiction and reality? ”

Fan Wencheng said: "In the art of war, the virtual is real, the real is virtual, the master can make Tong Daren set up artillery to bombard the east wall of Datong, and secretly send people to dig tunnels underground, directly under the east wall, and set up artillery to bombard the city can cover up the sound of digging tunnels, and can attract the attention of the defenders, so that they will not pay attention to the underground." ”

Dolgon said, "And then? ”

Fan Wencheng said: "Datong is soft, and it will be dug under the east wall in less than ten days, and when the tunnel is dug and the gunpowder is buried, the master will secretly mobilize heavy troops to gather outside the west gate, and then deliberately sell a flaw to let the officers and soldiers discover the movement of our army, and induce Wang Pu to mobilize the main force of the defenders to the west gate for defense, while the master will secretly ambush a strong army outside the east wall." ”

Dolgon nodded his head and couldn't help but praise: "Good plan, good plan! ”

Fan Wencheng had a subtle hint of pride on his face, brushed the goatee under his chin, and then said: "Then, boom, the east wall exploded, and the strong army ambushed by the master took the opportunity to grab the gap in the city wall, and the main force of the defenders had been transferred to the west gate, and our army took advantage of the weakness to enter, and Wang Pu was unable to fly." ”

■■■

Datong East Gate.

When Dolgon and Fan Wencheng discussed the strategy of breaking the city, Wang Pu, Zhen Youcai, Zhao Xin, Tang Sheng and others also climbed the arrow tower together, and were overlooking the virtual reality of the slave military camp outside the city on the top floor.

Wang Pudao: "Youcai, I have already seen the situation of the North Gate, the West Gate, the South Gate and the Little East Gate, plus the East Gate, in your estimation, how many people have come to Jiannu this time?" ”

Zhen Youcai pondered for a moment, and replied in a condensed voice: "I think that this time Jiannu has dispatched at least 150,000 troops!" ”

"Almost." Wang Pu nodded and said, "This time Jiannu is menacing, with a strength of at least more than 150,000, but Jiannu has few people after all, even if you add the Eight Banners of the Han Army and the Eight Banners of Mongolia, 200,000 is already their limit, so the strength of the troops should be between 150,000 and 200,000." ”

"General, the situation is very serious." Zhen Youcai said in a condensed voice, "Jiannu is no better than thieves, they can ride and shoot well, and they also have siege weapons Hongyi cannons, with at least 150,000 troops to deal with our defenders of less than 8,000, the strength is almost 20 times that of us, the difference is too great!" ”

"Yes, it's going to be hard, but we don't have a choice."

Wang Pu's heart is also bottomless, more than 150,000 Jiannu army pressed over, that kind of mountain-like sense of oppression is enough to suffocate, if you can choose, of course Wang Pu is not willing to fight with Jiannu so early, but things in the world will not be transferred because of people's will, and Dolgon will not give up attacking Datong because of Wang Pu's will.

If you win this battle, you have to fight, and if you don't win it, you have to fight it!

Wang Pu never thought of being a loyal minister and filial son to the Ming Dynasty, and never thought of being a martyr for Emperor Chongzhen, but he also never thought of being a cloth for Jiannu, dragging the pig's tail all day long, shouting "master" and "slave", that is definitely not the life Wang Pu wants, even if he dies.

"General." Tang Sheng suddenly said, "Do you want to go out of the city and kill him first, and destroy Jiannu's sharp spirit?" ”

"Nope." Wang Pu shook his head and said, "Jiannu is not a thief, it is too risky to go out of the city rashly. ”

"yes, don't go out of town." Zhen Youcai also said repeatedly, "Our army is not many in the first place, so we can't take risks." ”

"I'm afraid of him." The bearded man said loudly, "Jiannu's cavalry cattle, but they couldn't rush to us at all, and they were all knocked down by the brothers." ”

"That's because Jiannu is careless." Wang Pu frowned and scolded, "Don't think that after a small victory, you will be invincible in the world if you kill a few Jiannu, firearms are powerful, but not only we have firearms, Jiannu also has them, and some of them are even more powerful Hongyi cannons!" ”

"Boom! Rumble! Rumble! Rumble! Rumble! ”

Wang Pu's voice fell, and a deafening roar sounded outside Datong City, followed by a huge crashing sound, as if a heavy object had smashed heavily on the city wall, and the entire east city wall of Datong City began to shake slightly, and Wang Pu and others who were standing on the arrow tower also felt a shaking under their feet.

The bearded head immediately drooped down, and he did not dare to speak.

"It's the Hongyi Cannon." Zhao Xin's face changed, and he said in a deep voice, "The shell should hit between the East Gate and the Little East Gate." ”

Zhen Youcai's brows tightened for a moment, shook his head and whispered, "Could it be that Jiannu really plans to use the Hongyi cannon to blast open the city wall?" ”

"No, it won't." Wang Pu said categorically, "If you want to use Hongyi cannons to collapse the city wall of Datong, it will take at least two months, and it is impossible for Jiannu to delay in Datong for so long." ”

Zhen Youcai said: "Then why do they want to fight?" ”

Wang Pu shook his head and said, "I don't know, but the war has just begun, and Jiannu may be exploring our reality and reality." ”

"That's not right." Zhen Youcai shook his head and said, "There must be an article here." ”

"Don't think about it so much." Wang Pu patted Zhen Youcai's shoulder, then turned to the bearded man and the others, and said loudly, "Before the big attack, Jiannu estimates that there will be several days of preparation, and in these days, the brothers must eat well, drink well, sleep well, and raise their mental and physical strength sufficiently, so that they can work hard with Jiannu!" ”

"Yes."

"Yes."

"Yes."

The bearded, scarface, and Tang Sheng and others agreed with a bang.

■■■

Lei Gong Mountain Camp.

Ning Wan, who was wearing a horse coat and had a money rat tail, was led into Li Yan's tent by two volunteer soldiers, Ning Wan patted my sleeve and was about to play a thousand times, when I suddenly remembered that the other party was just a thief leader, why use a big salute? Immediately, he stood in the tent and said proudly: "Why don't you even have a seat when you come from afar?" ”

"Presumptuous, seeing that the marshal of my family dares to be so rude!" Li Hu snorted and rushed forward, kicked Ning Wan in the crook of my leg, and shouted, "Kneel!" ”

Ning Wan screamed like a pig, and knelt down in front of Li Yan.

(To be continued)