Li Yan sent someone to invite Li Xuan over, and as soon as Li Xuan arrived at the main generals of the righteous army, he was counted.

On the occasion of the garrison of Lei Gongshan, Li Yan reorganized the remaining 25,000 or so rebel troops, abolished the original five battalions of Gezuo, reorganized them into the Qingyang battalion, Pingliang battalion and Yan'an battalion, and appointed Jing Maocheng, Li Xuan, and Li Hu as the leading generals of the three battalions.

Among these three, Li Hu is Li Yan's brother, Jing Maocheng is the senior brother of the Red Lady, Li Xuan has always respected Li Yan, so that after rectification, Li Yan completely grasped the actual leadership of the righteous army, and the entire Shaanxi righteous army has truly achieved the unity of orders.

"The last general will see the marshal." Li Xuan clasped his fist to Li Yan, and then said, "The handsome man is urgent, I don't know what is urgent?" ”

Li Yan's gaze fell on Li Hu and said, "Huzi, you first talk to General Li Xuan about this." ”

Li Hu replied and said to Li Xuan: "That's the case, Wang Pu just sent someone to deliver a letter, asking us to help him transport the 500,000 catties of nitrate soil that was placed on the Lulu Mountain back to the city, and said that this batch of nitrate will only be used to kill Jiannu, as long as we don't take the initiative to attack Datong, he will never use this batch of gunpowder made of nitrate to deal with us." ”

Li Yan said to Jing Maocheng and Li Xuan: "Huzi has already expressed his opposition just now, and Ben Shuai still wants to hear the opinions of the two generals. ”

Li Xuan looked at Jing Mao and said, "Dashuai, it's too hasty to help Wang Pu transport nitrate soil just by relying on his verbal promise, right?" Although Wang Pu has been kind to our rebels twice, and it is appropriate to repay favors, the last general thinks that he should not risk the life and death of the rebels, after all, there are Jiannu guards outside Datong City, and if we transport nitrate to the city, we are bound to have a fierce battle with Jiannu. ”

"Don't fight hard." Xiao Qi hurriedly said, "According to the general of my family, the grain and grass of Jiannu can no longer support a few days, and when the time comes, they will inevitably send troops to plunder everywhere, Jiannu's strength is already insufficient, and it will be even weaker after the division of troops. ”

Li Yan couldn't help but move when he heard this, and secretly marveled that Wang Pu really took everything into account, and being an enemy with such a person, I really don't know if it's my luck or misfortune?

"Then you can't help the officers and soldiers for nothing." Li Hu said, "I want the king to know about this, I don't know what to think yet?" ”

Jing Maocheng and Li Xuan's faces changed when they heard this, and the red lady also looked at Li Yan with concern, Li Hu was right, the key to the problem is not whether to help the officials and soldiers, but how to tell King Chuang after helping the officials and soldiers? What will King Chuang think?

If King Chuang decided that Li Yan had taken refuge in the official army, it would really be indefensible.

Seeing that the opposition of the generals of the rebel army had prevailed, Xiao Qi had no choice but to show the killer weapon that Wang Pu confessed that could not be used in the end, and said hurriedly: "Okay, my general also said that this is just a deal." ”

"Deal?" Li Yan asked, "What deal?" ”

Xiao Qi said: "As long as the righteous army can transport 500,000 catties of nitrate to the city, they can get 10,000 sets of armor and 20,000 weapons!" ”

10,000 sets of armor were taken from the Mongolian banner soldiers who died in battle, and 20,000 weapons were also collected from the battlefield, all of which were ready-made.

For the rebels, what is most lacking is always weapons and armor.

Sure enough, as soon as Xiao Qi finished speaking, Li Hu, Jing Maocheng, and Li Xuan all showed a heartbeat on their faces, if they could really exchange 500,000 catties of nitrate for 10,000 sets of armor and 20,000 weapons, then this deal would be really profitable, with this batch of weapons and armor, the equipment of the righteous army could be greatly improved!

"And." Xiao Qi then threw out another bait and said, "My general also said that if the leader of Li Yan can trust him, after the delivery of the nitrate, our two families can continue to cooperate to destroy the 30,000 Jiannu outside the city, and all the weapons and armor captured will belong to the righteous army, and we only need horses!" ”

"Think beautifully." Li Hu said loudly, "Since it is cooperation, of course the captured horses must be divided in half." ”

Xiao Qi said indifferently: "My general said that the conditions can be discussed again when the time comes." ”

"Okay." Li Yan said categorically, "Deal!" When Jiannu divided his troops and plundered, we will go to Lulu Mountain to transport nitrate, hoping that General Wang will be true to his words and prepare 10,000 sets of armor and 20,000 weapons as soon as possible. ”

Xiao Qi said: "Although the leader of Li Yan can rest assured, my general even gave 20,000 stone of military food and more than 8 million catties of bacon to the righteous army without hesitation, and he will also be heartbroken with 10,000 sets of armor and 20,000 weapons?" ”

Li Yan snorted, and a trace of embarrassment flashed across his face.

Li Yan is a gentleman after all, and suddenly he feels that he has a little bit of a villain's heart to spend the belly of a gentleman, think about it carefully, Wang Pu is actually a gentleman, 20,000 stone grain and more than 8 million catties of bacon are given, without even blinking an eye, such a mind, such a spirit, Li Yan sighed to himself.

■■■

Yanjing, the Forbidden City.

Bingbi eunuch Wang Chengen trotted into the Qianqing Palace, shouting at the top of his voice: "Long live the lord, long live the lord......"

Emperor Chongzhen, who was reviewing the recital, raised his head from behind the imperial case, frowned and asked, "What's wrong?" ”

Wang Chengen wiped the sweat from his forehead and gasped: "Just now, Zhang Zi'an sent an urgent letter from Datong, which said that the master of the horse had three battles and three victories in Datong, defeated Jiannu, and beheaded more than 50,000 people!" ”

"Oh?" When Emperor Chongzhen heard this, Huo Ran stood up, his originally slightly pale face suddenly turned flushed, and he asked in a slightly trembling voice, "Chengen, are you...... What did you just say? ”

Wang Chengen said: "Long live the lord, the slave maid is saying that the master of the horse defeated the slave in Datong and beheaded more than 50,000 people. ”

"Good! That's great! Emperor Chongzhen fought hard and said, "Tiger general, Wang Pu is really a tiger general, I originally attacked Jiannu in a big way, Datong will definitely not be guaranteed, I didn't expect Wang Pu to defeat Jiannu three times, and beheaded more than 50,000 levels!" Since the beginning of the Ming Dynasty, we have never won such a major victory. ”

Wang Chengen said: "Who said no, if you want to say that you want to lead the army to fight, you have to take the horse." ”

Emperor Chongzhen said: "Then what is the situation in Datong now, has Jiannu returned to the desert?" ”

"This ......" Wang Chengen choked, for embarrassment, "This ......"

Emperor Chongzhen hurriedly said: "You slave, say it quickly!" ”

Wang Chengen said: "Zhang Zi'an said in the letter that Jiannu has been divided into two routes, in addition to leaving part of the troops to continue to besiege Datong, the other part of the army may have come to Beijing. ”

"Huh?" Emperor Chongzhen was suddenly taken aback when he heard this, the flush on his face dissipated in an instant, and he hurriedly said, "Quick, quickly summon Zhou Yanru and Chen Xinjia into the palace!" ”

"The slave obeys."

Wang Chengen took the order and went.

As soon as Wang Chengen arrived at Chengtianmen, he met Zhou Yanru and Chen Xinjia, and the two had just received the Tang report from Wang Pu from Datong, and also received the urgent Tang report from Zijing Pass.

At that moment, Wang Chengen led the two back to the Qianqing Palace.

Seeing the driver in the Qianqing Palace, Zhou Yanru said: "Long live, the captain of the horse is in Datong......"

"I already know that." Emperor Chongzhen hurriedly interrupted Zhou Yanru and said, "Jiannu has already divided the troops into two routes, all the way to Jingshi, do you know this?" ”

Chen Xinjia and Zhou Yanru exchanged a look and said: "Long live Qi Song, the minister and Zhou Ge Lao entered the palace for this matter, just now the military department received an urgent Tang report, saying that the army of more than 100,000 Jiannu is approaching Jingzi Pass, and Jiannu is menacing, it seems that they are planning to approach Jingshi." ”

"Hey." Emperor Chongzhen anxiously paced back and forth for two steps and asked, "Where is Hong Chengchou's army?" How many days are left to get to Jingshi? ”

Chen Xinjia said with a bitter face: "Hong Chengchou's army has just passed the Daimyo's Mansion, and it will take at least half a month to reach the Beijing Division. ”

"This Hong Chengchou." Emperor Chongzhen said angrily, "It has been more than half a month since I issued the edict of King Qin, and I actually walked to the Daimyo's Mansion, how can it be unreasonable!" ”

Zhou Yanru and Chen Xinjia lowered their heads, neither of them spoke for Hong Chengchou.

Chen Xinjia and Hong Chengchou have never had a good relationship, and there is even some schadenfreude in their hearts.

This is the Ming Dynasty's cabinet chief assistant and military department Shangshu, this is the book of sages and sages, deeply influenced by science, no matter how difficult the country is, the top priority in these people's minds is always to dump each other and fight political enemies, rather than to help each other and go to the country together.

Emperor Chongzhen asked again: "Hong Chengchou will not arrive for more than half a month, what about Wu Sangui and Zu Dashou?" ”

Chen Xinjia said: "Wu Sangui and Zu Dashou jointly sent a report to Tang, saying that a large number of Jiannu spies have recently appeared in Jinzhou, Ningyuan, and Songshan, and they are worried that Jiannu will attack Ningyuan and Jinzhou in the near future, so they have not moved, and they also asked the imperial court to send reinforcements quickly. ”

"What?" Emperor Chongzhen was furious and said, "The Jiannu outside the pass has obviously moved and entered from the Datong Destruction Pass, how can there still be an army of Jiannu in Liaodong?" Wu Sangui and Zu Dashou are clearly disobedient to the decree and unwilling to raise troops to serve the king, how can this be reasonable, how can it be justified! ”

Zhou Yanru and Chen Xinjia both lowered their heads and did not dare to say anything.

Emperor Chongzhen's face had turned from pale to iron-blue, and he said sharply: "Wang Chengen." ”

Wang Chengen hurriedly stepped forward and responded: "The slave is here." ”

Emperor Chongzhen said: "Immediately draft an order, let Hong Chengchou speed up the march, and rush to the capital within ten days!" ”

Wang Chengen said: "The slave obeys the order. ”

■■■

Daimyo's house.

Eighty thousand Ming officers and soldiers are marching along the official road to the north.

On the hill on the right side of the official road, Hong Chengchou frowned and looked at the army slowly marching on the official road, and behind him stood Cao Bianjiao, Bai Guangen and Liu Zeqing.

Hong Chengchou is a typical bachelor of science, the idea of loyalty to the monarch in his mind can be said to be deep-rooted, on the day he received the edict of King Qin, he did not hesitate to lead the army out of Kaifeng, straight to the Beijing Division, and also gave a death order to the whole army, must rush back to the Beijing Division as soon as possible.

It's really unlucky to say, Henan Province has not rained for more than half a year, but on the day the army started, it rained heavily, and it lasted for three days, Hong Chengchou's army can be said to be the only remaining elite of the Ming Dynasty, in addition to the horse army and the infantry army and the Shenji battalion, there are even more than 30 Hongyi cannons.

Heavy rains washed away many roads and bridges, made the roads muddy and difficult to navigate, coupled with the fetters of a large amount of grain and grass, and the constant harassment of thieves, the army could only march less than fifty miles a day at most, and it took more than half a month to walk down before it could reach the Daimyo's mansion.

At this time, there happened to be a carriage dragging Hongyi cannons at the bottom of the mountain and fell into the mud pit, and more than a dozen soldiers were shouting the horn to pull the carriage out, seeing that the wheels of the carriage trapped in the pit were about to be dragged up, but it slid down again, and even the whole carriage turned over, and the Hongyi cannon on the car was lifted to the side of the road.

Hong Chengchou's brows furrowed even tighter, and he said quietly with his hands behind his back: "At this speed, how long will it take to reach Jingshi?" ”

Cao Bianjiao, who was behind him, said: "It is estimated that the last general will walk for at least more than half a month." ”

"Alas......" Hong Chengchou sighed long and said, "This time Jiannu is moving and menacing, although Wang Pu has some ability, but after all, he is alone, from the perspective of time, Datong is only afraid that it has been lost, at this moment, Jiannu is only afraid that it has begun to advance to the Jingshi, long live the Lord is afraid that Longyan is already angry......"

"We've done our best." Bai Guangen said, "It's the weather that slows down our marching speed. ”

"But Banzai wouldn't think so." Hong Chengchou said faintly, "What I see is that we have only walked to the Daimyo's Mansion in more than half a month, and we are still thousands of miles away from the Jingshi...... No, it was no longer possible to continue the march like this, so the governor decided to rush back to Beijing with 8,000 light cavalry. ”

Cao Bianjiao said: "Commander, isn't this too risky?" ”

"yes." Bai Guangen also persuaded, "In case Jiannu is really already in the city, it is useless for the commander to only bring back eight thousand light horses?" Instead, put yourself in an extremely dangerous situation! The last general thought that if he wanted to defeat Jiannu's Eight Banners Iron Cavalry, he would have to rely on the Shenji Battalion and the Hongyi Cannon. ”

"You don't have to persuade anymore." Hong Chengchou said categorically, "This governor has made up his mind. ”

"Ugh."

Cao Bianjiao and Bai Guangen sighed lightly and said no more.

■■■

Lei Gongshan, Li Yan Xingyuan.

Li Yan was watching the red lady practice martial arts in the courtyard, Li Hu suddenly broke in in a hurry, and hurriedly said, "Big brother, Jiannu is dispatched." ”

"Oh?" Li Yan's expression moved, and he asked, "How many cavalry did Jiannu dispatch?" ”

At this time, the Red Lady also collected her sword and walked over, Li Hu's eyes couldn't help but glance at the Red Lady's bulging chest, and then avoided it like an electric shock, and gasped: "Jiannu transferred two thousand cavalry from each of the four camps, and plundered them all the way south along the Yuhe River Valley. ”

"Okay." Li Yan said, "Jiannu dispatched 8,000 cavalry, and the remaining 20,000 people have to divide their troops to guard the four gates, the troops are already very weak, the time has come to transport the nitrate, Huzi, let Jing Maocheng and Li Xuan come to see me immediately, without further ado, we will leave this afternoon." ”

In the afternoon of the same day, Li Yan left Li Hu and 5,000 men to guard the camp of Lei Gongshan, and then took Jing Maocheng, Li Xuan and 20,000 righteous troops straight to Lushan Mountain.

When he arrived at Lushan Mountain, Li Yan packed 20,000 small bags of 500,000 catties of nitrate, each with 20 or 30 catties, and ordered the 20,000 righteous soldiers to carry them separately, and then went straight to Datong.

When Li Yan led the rebel army to the outside of Datong East City, it was already dawn the next day, and Jiannu's horse rangers soon discovered this army that suddenly appeared, and quickly reported it to Haoge.

Hauge urgently summoned Xifu and Sonny's uncle and nephew to discuss countermeasures.

Hauge Ledger.

"Slaves, see the prince."

Sifu and Sonny knelt down to Haug and hit a thousand.

"That's it." Haoge waved his hand and asked, "Just reported from the horse, there are about 20,000 thieves approaching Datong East City, how do you think this matter should be handled, do you want to send troops to stop it?" ”

"The minions don't think it's necessary." Sonny shook his head and said, "Although this gang of thieves is menacing, it doesn't look like they're coming at us, and there are no heavy vehicles in the army, and it doesn't look like they're going to deliver food to the city, so the minions think that as long as the thieves don't take the initiative to provoke us, there is no need to deal with them." ”

Xifu said: "Sonny is right, and the minions also think that it is not appropriate to send troops to block it, so as not to suffer the enemy when the time comes." ”

"Okay." Hauge nodded and said, "Sony, you immediately rush to the East Gate camp, keep a strict watch on the thieves, and don't act rashly." ”

"Wow."

Sonny said yes, turned and walked away.

(To be continued)