In a chaotic shack in the northeast of Laiyang County, Zhao Xuan took a few of his subordinates and came back from the big shopkeeper Yu Dacheng, smelling the stench of the camp of the Xiangjiao Sect, garbage everywhere, women screaming constantly from the shacks on both sides, some sect members were cooking outside on fire, talking and laughing loudly, they had robbed the big households nearby, at least recently there was no need to worry about not having enough to eat. Although the officers and soldiers of Dengzhou may wipe them out at any time, they can't take care of it.

The sect members who knew Zhao Xuan along the way saluted him, and Zhao Xuan held his head high, bowing his head slightly at most. Most of the congregation knew him because he was familiar with the doctrine and his eloquence was good, and he often lectured to the congregation.

The White Lotus Sect has a long history, the earliest can be to the early years of the Southern Song Dynasty, the doctrine originates from the Tiantai sect and the Pure Land sect of Buddhism, the initiator is a monk named Mao Ziyuan, the organization at that time was similar to the Buddhist pure industry group, calling itself the white lotus vegetable, the congregation is like a vegetarian chanting sutra like a Buddhist, but can become a biological child, often engage in congregational gatherings, and is regarded as a foreign way by Buddhist orthodoxy.

The White Lotus Society was banned as a cult in the Yuan Dynasty, but secretly it became more and more popular, and the White Lotus Sect at the end of the Yuan Dynasty merged with the Ming Sect, and the Red Turban Army that overthrew the Yuan Dynasty regime was the White Lotus Sect Army, Liu Futong and Peng Yingyu were all White Lotus disciples, and Han Shantong regarded himself as Maitreya's descendant. Zhu Yuanzhang, Taizu of the Ming Dynasty, was also a Red Turban Army at that time, but after he developed to a certain level, the clerical power inevitably clashed with the regime, and Zhu Yuanzhang did not engage in the integration of politics and religion, and directly declared the White Lotus Sect as a leftist evil art, and since then the White Lotus Sect has been involved with the Ming Dynasty regime, even in the era of Hongwu and Yongle, there were continuous uprisings of the White Lotus Sect, and after the middle of the century, the social contradictions intensified, and this underground organization became more powerful.

Because the White Lotus was officially banned, they changed their appearance one after another, and many branches were derived, including Smelling Incense, Nirvana, Luozu, Pure Space, Wuwei, Red Yang and so on. Zhao Xuan's elder brother saw the chaos of the factions, and pretended to be the descendant of Zhao Guyuan, the head of the White Lotus Sect in Zhejiang during the Wanli period, and fabricated two copies of "Maitreya Buddha Says the Ten Treasures of the Red Sun" and "The Guide Sutra", preaching that the Red Sun robbed the White Yang and lived. As a result, a part of the congregation was obtained.

And Zhao Xuan's current Wenxiang Sect, formerly known as Shandong Mahayana Sect, was founded by Xu Hongru's master Wang Sen, Wang Sen was originally just a leather worker, and later he claimed to get the demon fox fragrance, and took the name of Wenxiang, and was later arrested and died in the prison of Jingshi. This sect likes to use violence the most, with nearly two million members, and the most hateful thing is that Xu Hongru also made the army wear red scarves, and the people called them the Red Turban Army, which was enough to revive Zhu Yuanzhang's anger.

Although they themselves claimed that the gods descended to earth, the degree of organization still could not be compared with the official, and the noisy scene in front of Zhao Xuan's eyes also made him feel that the cult was even more unreliable.

A few of them walked all the way back to where Zhao Xuan lived, he was a pioneer and had the reputation of the leader, so he occupied a nearby house, he only brought one person into the house, and the other people were guarding the door.

As soon as the door was closed, Zhao Xuan immediately bent his straight back down, and said flatteringly to the entourage behind him: "Lord Nie, then Yu Dacheng is going to attack the city again today, when will Lord Chen arrive, don't let Yu Dacheng really knock down Laiyang." ”

Nie Hong, who was disguised as a retinue, raised his face, revealing his fierce eyes, and said to Zhao Xuan: "Just a demon like you, you still want to capture the county seat, do you think it's our Wendeng camp?" ”

"Yes, yes, the villain lost his words, don't blame Lord Nie, the villain is just worried that the adult is late, and if Yu Dacheng sees that the situation is not good, it will be difficult to catch him if he runs away."

"When the adult arrives, he has his own arrangements, you just need to keep an eye on Yu Dacheng and Li Shengming, and don't let him lose his whereabouts."

Zhao Xuan said worriedly: "I can't be next to him at any time, after all, I am not his most confidant, in case I ......"

Nie Hong interrupted him coldly: "There is no case, if you lose their traces, I will personally cut off your head and give it to the adults, along with your sister-in-law and nephew." Then the adults cut off my head. ”

Cold sweat broke out on Zhao Xuan's forehead, and his voice trembled a little, "The villain must do his best." It's just, just following the two of them, what about the future? ”

"It's better to catch them in battle. If we don't catch him, we have to follow him all the way, let him run to Zhaoyuan or Qixia, in short, in the direction of Dengzhou. ”

"Why Zhaoyuan?" Zhao Xuan asked worriedly, Laiyang went to Zhaoyuan County to govern a full hundred and fifty miles, such a long distance, he was really afraid that Yu Dacheng would run away.

"The reason is not something you can ask, whether your sister-in-law and nephew can survive depends on your ability."

Zhao Xuan rubbed the sweat on his face: "Laiyang to Zhaoyuan and Qixia, the road is hundreds of miles, there are many mountains along the way, and there are many small roads in the mountains, how can I let Lord Chen and them follow." ”

"It's up to me to do that. Looking at the situation for the time being, if he doesn't have a henchman by his side, I will capture him first. ”

Zhao Xuan was very afraid of this Nie Hong, but he had to ask more, because now he was talking about his nephew and sister-in-law, and his own life had not yet been mentioned, so he said tentatively: "My lord, if this matter is over, how does Lord Chen settle the villain, and has he revealed it to Lord Nie?" ”

"You can be a tunhu or clerk in my Wendeng camp, and your nephews and sisters-in-law are no different from ordinary tunhu. If you want to live in peace, you can't talk to anyone about this incident. ”

Zhao Xuan was a little relieved, still a little worried that Chen Xin was not trustworthy, but he didn't dare to question it directly, and was about to continue to knock on the side, when the entourage standing guard outside pushed the door in and muttered a few words in Nie Hong's ear. The entourage was also pretended to be Chen Xin's own soldiers, and when Nie Hong heard this, he immediately stood at the door and looked south, only to see some scattered sect members in the distance running towards this side in the distance, still shouting in a panic all the way.

Nie Hong turned his head to look at Zhao Xuan, and said with a sneer: "It's here." ”

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On the city wall of Laiyang County, there was a thunderous roar, an official army came from the south of Singh Village, the sentry horses roared back and forth, killing the lonely Wenxiang Sect and the rebellious people, a large number of infantry teams arrived in the back, the black iron armor of the killer team and the red cotton armor of the firearms team were intertwined, all over the eastern wilderness, the forward was unfolding, all the soldiers were wearing bright helmets, and from the city, the eyes were full of beating red tassels.

The officials and people of Laiyang had never seen such a neat military appearance, and while cheering, they were surprised where the Ming army came from. At this time, a Chinese army wearing chain mail and carrying a flag went straight to the bottom of the moat and said loudly to the city: "Please answer the county magistrate of Laiyang." ”

One of the people in the city replied: "The magistrate went to the north wall, and I am Zhang Wenguang, the county minister, so you can talk to me first if you have something." ”

"My lord is Chen Xin, the sentinel of the Wendeng camp, and today I am ordered by Lord Zhang, the chief soldier of Dengzhou Coastal Defense, to kill the demon people of the Wenxiang Sect, and I am here to inform you."

Zhang Xiancheng said loudly: "Then Lord Chen needs me to go out of the city to attack him?" ”

The sentry also replied loudly: "Lord Chen, please ask the lords of Laiyang to guard the city." ”

After the sentry cavalry finished speaking, he went back to the Chinese army, and Chen Xin's six-foot Chinese army red flag with a corner also arrived outside the city, after the Chinese army flag was set, he continued to send out flags and drums, and commanded three thousand headquarters to be unfolded one after another, the left wing was the first department, the middle second department, the right wing was the third department, and the detachment, a cavalry flag team and the Chinese army guard team remained in the position of the Chinese army as a reserve.

The second part in the middle unfolds the two divisions in parallel, and the front of each division is placed in three rounds, each of which is preceded by two rows of firearms teams arranged horizontally, and behind which are two rows of killer teams of mandarin ducks. Because of the enemy's low combat strength, their formation was not thick, but spread out into a wide front, so that more soldiers could be on the front line.

The first and third parts of the two wings each sent a bureau to move farther away on the two wings, as a suspicious soldier to disturb the military heart of the demon people.

Chen Xin looked at the chaotic people pouring out in the distance, and said to Liu Pojun and Haigouzi beside him: "I'm afraid that these chaotic people will not be beaten, after they collapse, let the Chinese army guards pursue Yu Dacheng and Li Shengming, and it is best to catch them alive." Yu Dacheng and Li Shengming, these two people regard Li Shengming as important, and Yu Dacheng is based on him, what is it called Lingbao. Also, dog, you have to keep your eyes open a little wider, don't hurt Nie Hong and them."

The sea dog smirked: "What about that Zhao Xuan? ”

Chen Xindao: "Since I promised him to let him live, I will try not to hurt him." It's not bad that this man can do this. ”

Liu Pojun agreed, and at this time, the three departments all sent banners, and Liu Pojun said to Chen Xin: "My lord, the whole army is in place, whether to advance." ”

"Wait, wait until those chaotic people are lined up, there is a rare opportunity, let these soldiers stay on the front line for more time."

Compared with the ease of the Wendeng camp, the Wenxiang Sect on the opposite side is very wolf, they have no cavalry, and some horses are also used by the head of the meeting to show their prestige, and there is no warning for the arrival of the Wendeng camp, until the nearby robbery cultists see it, they rush to attack, the big and small leaders with their respective sects, also roughly lined up in a line, the organization of the Wenxiang Sect in addition to the title of shopkeeper and pioneer, there are also the leaders of the general association, the teaching, the head of the scriptures, the head of the meeting, etc., and the organization is stronger than the ordinary homeless people.

Zhao Xuan, with more than fifty of his own people, hurried to the location where Li Shengming and Yu Dacheng were, and mixed in the shopkeeper's team, because it was too hasty, the formation was originally patchwork, not to mention strict, so he was able to monitor the two targets at close range. Twenty steps in front of him is Li Shengming's banner, on which a lifelike Maitreya Buddha is drawn, Li Shengming, the spiritual treasure of the Laiyang Smelling Fragrance Sect, sits on a Taishi chair, carried by eight people all the way to swagger, and the people along the road kneel down and worship.

Nie Hong had no choice but to kneel down, looking at Li Shengming, who was pretending, while cursing secretly, he also felt that this person did have a bit of a fairy wind and bones, with a childish face and white hair, and a goose feather fan in his hand, looking calm.

He whispered in Zhao Xuan's ear and asked, "Does your brother look like this?" ”

"Well, this, my brother is a young man, and he may be better looking than him. But if you want to deceive people, it is better for Li Shengming to look like this. ”

"You're a bunch of liars."

Zhao Xuan and the others stood behind, and from the sparse crowd, they could see the array on the opposite side, the firearms team in the front row were all red short armor, and the leg armor was also red, coupled with the red tassel on the top of the head, as if a red wall was built on the horizon.

When Zhao Xuan saw them, he remembered the fierceness of the Wendeng camp when they attacked the cottage, if he hadn't surrendered quickly when he saw the opportunity, he was afraid that he would have been cut down by them, and now he was actually on their opponent's side, not only worried about being killed by mistake, but also worried about running away Li Shengming and the others, so nervous that he sweated again.

Nie Hong looked at him and said disdainfully: "What are you afraid of with me." You just don't go to the first row, the firearms of Camp Wenden are powerful, and when you hear the horn, you squat down......"

After another quarter of an hour, the rebels finally formed a chaotic formation, also the left and right flanks plus the Chinese army, but the front of more than 5,000 people was not as good as the Wendeng battalion of more than 2,000 people. Dozens of cavalry from the Wenden battalion roamed on both flanks, pushing the flanks of the rebels further towards the center.

Li Shengming, who was in front of Zhao Xuan, waved his goose feather fan, and the two strong men of the Smelling Fragrance Sect beat the big drum, and the Smelling Fragrance Sect members crowded together and began to move forward tremblingly.