Xiangshan camp, Wang Lanping's tent, three days after beheading Li Zhi.

Wang Lanping, who had just laid down to rest for a while, ran to wake up Song Dali and Song Xian, who had come in with the curtain.

Originally, Song Dali lifted the curtain and saw that Governor Wang was resting there, he hurriedly signaled Song Xian to walk lightly, meaning to let him sleep more, there are too many things to deal with these days, killing Li Zhi and knocking on the mountain and shaking the tiger, not only completely controlled the three thousand battalions, but also made the other thirteen battalion generals dare not have more dissent, let them know that they either obey the unified command of the commander, or kill the commander and pull the flag to rebel, anyway, they will not give you any nominal obedience, but they actually hold the military power in private.

Of course, the thirteenth battalion will not be so stupid, but it is a pity that this group of people is not in harmony, some people know that once they hand over the military power, they may end up inferior to Li Zhi, but there is no way, who in the thirteenth battalion secretly colluded with Wang Dushuai, no one knows, especially Zheng Hongkui, the chief soldier of the Zhenjiang Water Division, was the first to stand up after Li Zhi's death, saying that the military power of the Zhenjiang Water Division was handed over to Nanjing Complete Yamen, and Ma Cheng of the Fifth Army Battalion followed, which made the other people who were undecided restless.

After receiving the full support of Zheng Hongkui, Ma Mian and the 3,000 battalions, Wang Lanping's confidence was greatly increased, and in the past few days, he has been making every effort to stir up the affairs of the remaining battalions, and his attitude is very clear: as long as the generals of the various departments respect the dispatch of the complete yamen in Nanjing, their status and status will remain the same, and the right to command the troops is still in their own hands, but the right to transfer troops is in the garrison camp in Nanjing, if so, bloodshed like Li Zhi will not happen again.

The generals of the various ministries can be said to have completely disbelieved in such assurances and promises, and there is no transfer of troops, and there is a name for an empty general, which is equivalent to the commander of the light pole, and Wang Dushuai can kill whenever he wants, but there is no other way to do it at the moment.

Because since Li Zhi was killed, all the generals were invited by Wang Lanping to the Chinese army tent, called consultation, but in fact house arrest and persecution, outside the Chinese army's tent, the five army battalions were on the right, and the three thousand battalions were on the left, Zheng Hongkui's 500 warships turned their guns and aimed at the Xiangshan camp, Wang Lanping's most loyal 200 Fengzi battalion surrounded the Chinese army's big tent, and the knife was out of the sheath and the arrows were wound, and no one wanted to get out of the big tent without negotiating a charter.

However, these people's soldiers and horses were stationed in their own camps, and they were completely unaware of the scene in the big tent of the Chinese army, and they only felt that something big was about to happen, but there was no commander, and no one dared to make decisions on their own, so they could only wait anxiously, and some people wanted to lead troops to rush into the Chinese army, but when they thought of the experience of the 3,000 battalions, they gave up.

For three days and three nights, eating, drinking, and sleeping, the generals were like going to prison, they were hungry, sleepy and afraid, and finally someone began to compromise, so a stalemate is not a way, Wang Lanping, this kid is willing to give up his life, and he can't take this life, anyway, the power to command the army is still in his own hands, that is to say, he can turn back the water again at any time, because his subordinates have been born and died for many years, and it is not comparable to a piece of military power, so the generals have successively handed in their own military talismans in exchange for a freedom.

Wang Lanping heard the footsteps and hurriedly got up from the collapse, Song Dali walked over with a smile, helped him tidy up his clothes, and said, "Master Hou, I'm overjoyed."

Wang Lanping could see from the expression on his face that for three days, everyone had been worried, and their brows had never stretched.

Song Xian took the brocade box in his hand, came to Wang Lanping and said with a smile, "Congratulations to the commander, all the remaining twelve talismans are here, please take a look at the general."

Wang Lanping yawned and glanced at it casually, this matter was expected, sooner or later, these generals thought about it, they had already made trouble when Li Zhi died, and they were just unwilling to do so now.

"Hmph, a group of lords who don't cry when they don't see the coffin, they know why they have to suffer this sin, vigorously, take my battle armor, I'm going to meet them" A big stone in Wang Lanping's heart finally fell to the ground, he couldn't eat or drink these days, and it was no better than those people trapped in the big tent of the Chinese army.

Song Dali took off the armor and said while putting it on for him, "Master Hou, what should we do next after receiving the military power of this group of generals?" Is it that Shuojiang will join forces with the Hezhou General Army to flank Li Laixiang's rebels and fight back to Anqing?"

Wang Lanping stretched out his arms and said, "It's so simple, this is the Beijing Garrison, without the emperor's holy decree, we can't go anywhere, not to mention that collecting their military power does not mean that the combat effectiveness of these soldiers will soar, before we won a small victory under Huaining City, that is luck and the courage to die and then live, there are few people but the heart is united, these 60,000 military horses, a few days ago are still the same water and fire, people's hearts are different, once on the battlefield, as long as a small defeat, the army will be defeated like a mountain, when the time comes, all the efforts we make today will be in vain"

Song Dali tightened the armor on Wang Lanping's body, took a step back and glanced at it, and said, "Yes, yes, Hou Ye has always been meticulous in his work, and he will never fight unprepared battles."

Wang Lanping glanced back at him and said with a smile, "Yo drink, you kid has also learned to pat on the back?" ”

Song Dali smiled embarrassedly.

Wang Lanping snorted, turned his head to Song Xian and said, "Song Xian, can this dragon robe fit?" ”

Song Xian not only survived from death, but also received this great favor on weekdays, and was also promoted to the deputy general of the 3,000 battalion, this promotion he remembered in his life, bowed his head and said, "The grace of the commander knows the encounter, although the last general will not forget it

Wang Lanping nodded and said, "Then Li Zhi was also your general, do you feel unfair to his death?" Rest assured, to be honest, I won't blame you"

Song Xian hesitated and said, "Back to the commander, forgive the last general for offending, although General Li is not forgiven, but the last general has followed him for more than ten years, he is not thin on the last general, if the last general says a little kindness, it is a villain's behavior."

Song Dali's face sank when he heard this, and he suppressed his voice and said, "Song Xian, what nonsense are you talking about?" ”

Wang Lanping laughed, and knocked Song Dali's chest with the back of his hand, "What are you doing, Song Dali, listen, people are called the truth, learn a little" Then he put his hand on Song Xian's shoulder and said, "Okay, Song Xian, forget Li Zhi, you have no conscience, but if you want to go back to the era of Li Zhi, it is irrational"

Song Xian hurriedly knelt down, "No, Commander, the last general will never have such intentions, in this life and this life, Song Xian is only the commander of the horse, and he will never have two hearts."

Wang Lanping believed in Song Xian's loyalty and confession, stretched out his hand to help him up, and said softly, "I believe in you, although the three thousand battalions are nominally under the control of Song Dali, in fact they still rely on you, you and I both understand, you have a relationship with them for many years, and only you know how to train cavalry, do it well, train me a wind-like iron army, do a good job, in the future, I will transfer all the cavalry of the whole army to you."

Song Xian nodded gratefully, as if the old Huang Zhong had to meet the Lord when he was old, and said earnestly, "The last general will obey the order"

"Kindness, pass on my handsome order, beat the drum and raise the account"

After Song Xian left, Song Dali took Wang Lanping's sword, tied it around his waist for him, and said, "Master Hou, you believe in Song Xian so much?" ”

"It's a loyal man, his little thoughts are all written on his face about you, unlike you, you have learned to flatter in a few days, this problem has to be changed for me"

Song Dali grinned, "This, this is also for you, Master Hou, I don't bother to take care of others."

"Poor mouth!" Wang Lanping packed up his lisu and asked to leave the camp, walked a few times and then stopped and said, "By the way, I asked you to send someone to Anqing to inquire about my mother and Yun Niang's family, and is there any news about Li Dingguo?" ”

Song Dali shook his head embarrassedly, "There are several groups of people who have come back, but they haven't been found, but Hou Ye can rest assured, Mrs. Tai Jiren has God's protection, and it will be fine, and there will be news in a few days."

Wang Lanping nodded as if comforting himself, the old lady has been a father and a mother all her life, she has worked hard to raise herself, she has not enjoyed a day of happiness, and she has been separated in the chaos of the war, and now she is a marquis, and her son wants to raise her and her relatives are nowhere to be found, Wang Lanping feels deeply remorseful, and that Yun Niang, who has been a childhood sweetheart since childhood, has a deep love for herself, and has served the old lady like a daughter for so many years, when will this love be repaid.

Song Dali said again, "Master Hou, in my opinion, instead of looking for a needle in a haystack, it is better to issue a notice in the name of your Lord Hou to inform the state capital of the world, the old lady will definitely come when she sees it, and the local officials will definitely serve carefully all the way."

Wang Lanping shook his head, "I have too many enemies now, especially the four towns of Jiangbei and Ma Shiying, as well as these battalion generals, I am worried that I can't find my weakness, so open, they are more dangerous, you first look for it secretly and slowly, don't make a noise, and, last time I asked you to inquire about the family of Liu Zeqing, the chief soldier of Huai'an, have you figured it out?" ”

"This has been inquired clearly, the general is leading the troops on the border, the family will have the mainland, the imperial court has always sent people to monitor, I spent some silver, from the palace eunuchs, I heard that the Liu family of twenty-eight has moved from Shandong to Hangzhou last year, and there are brothers who have been monitoring there"

Wang Lanping smiled knowingly, "Okay, secretly send someone to send his whole family to the vicinity of the Huai'an General Military Mansion, this matter must be confidential, and Liu Zeqing must not know about it, so that in the name of the emperor, this matter must be handled within ten days."

"Yes, that's what I commanded."

"Okay, let's go with me first, let's take down all the camps in Beijing this time, and don't give them a little room to maneuver.

The general will be promoted to the account, integrating the power of life and death, and the handsome order is as high as the emperor's order.

As soon as Wang Lanping walked into the big tent of the Chinese army, the generals hurriedly got up, God knows what will happen next, and they all stood in fear.

With the rumbling and passionate drums, Wang Lanping walked towards the handsome case, glanced around at the generals, and stood by the sword, the kind of arrogant momentum jumped on his face.

"See the Overseer!" The generals stood up and bowed down reluctantly.

"Everyone, please get up, this governor is raising the account for the first time, just to discuss one thing" Wang Lanping sat down calmly, now he doesn't need to be kind to these people, the Qing army is resting in Beijing, and will invade the south at any time, but Nanming is still like a plate of scattered sand at this time, each of them is in their own way, if they want to calm the Quartet in a short time, then they must thunder means.

Wang Lanping said, "Since everyone trusts the governor so much, and hands over the military talisman to me, and seeks his own government in his position, the governor will definitely do his best to seek a good future for everyone."

The generals said in their hearts: Who believes you, isn't this forced by you? If you don't want to fall into the grass, you will be slaughtered a long time ago, and it will be your turn to give orders in this account, the future, the Ming Dynasty has reached this point today, how can there be any future at all, just mix day by day, or good, since you have handed over the military power, you have no official and a light body, so you don't have to worry about it every day.

Wang Lanping continued, "I know, you must think that I am doing this for my own selfishness, fighting for power and profit, but today I want to tell you, whether you believe it or not, I have no selfish intentions, the world has fallen to this, the soldiers should have drawn their swords and killed themselves to thank the countrymen, you are all veterans who have led the army for many years, and you can also be called the loyalty of the Ming Dynasty, seeing the country like this, don't you feel ashamed?" Look at the state capital of the world, corrupt officials are rampant, officials force the people to rebel, from thieves and rebels, since the apocalypse, the party has been constantly fighting, the power of the ministers to get power, the country and the people, now the Ming Dynasty has only left this half of the south of the Yangtze River, everyone does not want to serve the country, but in this like a plate of scattered sand, for the little fly camp dog, you are mostly the generals relied on by the first emperor, see today's situation, is there not a little shame? ”

The generals did not expect that the aggressive commander everywhere would say such a sentimental word, everyone recalled the way is also sighing, who does not want to make meritorious contributions, the marquis worships the general, helpless Chongzhen when he was in power, the general army with all the soldiers in his hands are waiting and seeing, our group of young generals are also powerless to return to the sky, now in the Nanjing court Ma Shiying covers the sky with one hand, and always wants to annex all the departments of the Beijing camp, and can only fortify everywhere to protect their own strength, so as to seek a peace, without this little soldier, it is nothing.

Wang Lanping stood up, pressed his hand, and motioned for everyone to sit down, "Among you, there is no lack of loyalty, think about what a great husband your ancestors are, for the long-term peace and stability of the Ming Dynasty, he did not hesitate to die on the battlefield, Cao Dingjiao, your uncle Cao Wenzhao, the first good general of the Ming Dynasty, made great achievements for the Ming Dynasty's expedition to the east and the west, don't you want to revive the glory of your ancestors?" ”

Cao Dingjiao, who was sitting in the last row, blushed and lowered his head.

Wang Lanping chuckled lightly and walked back and forth, "I don't want to say more nonsense, I just want to tell you that I have only one purpose, to recover my homeland, only to shed the last drop of blood, whether I can do it, please wait and see."

As soon as the words fell, Cao Dingjiao stood up suddenly, knelt down in front of the handsome case, a dignified seven-foot man, but his eyes were tearful, and he hugged his fist hard, "Commander, the commander of the iron cavalry battalion makes Cao Dingjiao willing to follow the general to the death, for the Ming Dynasty, but also for the past glory of the ancestors, although there is no regret in death."

"The last general Fang Guoan, obey the general's dispatch at any time"

"The last general, Chen Wanliang, is willing to kill the enemy to serve the country, follow the commander, and never have two hearts"

As several hot-blooded young generals were fooled out by Wang Lanping to express their determination, the remaining generals saw that they were about to be isolated, and hurriedly seconded the proposal.

While everyone was bowing down, Zheng Hongkui, the chief soldier of the town's chief water division, and Wang Lan looked at each other and smiled, and it was done.

Of course, Wang Lanping could not completely believe that these people were all sincere and obedient, and in order to prevent the generals from having too heavy personal relations with his old subordinates, he spent five days reorganizing the entire army of 60,000 people, except for the three special arms of the 3,000 light cavalry battalion, the sailor division, and the iron cavalry battalion.

The old, weak, sick and disabled of the whole army were eliminated one by one, and about 8,000 people were all transferred to Taipingfu, which was 700 miles away from Nanjing and only one river away from Huang Degong's Hezhou defense line.

Cao Dingjiao led the Dingyuan battalion, Fang Guoan led the Huaiyuan battalion, and Chen Wanliang led the Anyuan battalion, each battalion had 10,000 people, and it was divided into six main arms: infantry, archers, cavalry, firearms, engineers, and scouts.

Zheng Hongkui's sailors did not move, the iron cavalry battalion and the 3,000 battalions were merged into a battalion, called the Fengzi battalion, led by Song Xian light cavalry, Song Dali led the heavy cavalry, Song Dali controlled Song Xian, directly under Wang Lanping, the original Fengzi battalion of 200 people is still as the personal guard of the commander.

Since then, the whole army has been reorganized, collectively referred to as the Ming Dynasty Champion Army, 50,000 troops gathered at the foot of Xiangshan Mountain, the military prestige has been greatly boosted, and the battalions have stepped up their training of soldiers and horses, sharpening their knives for everything that is coming.

The generals looked at the handsome flag of the word 'Wang' floating in front of the big tent of the Chinese army, and pressed the ecstasy and excitement in their hearts one by one.