Now that he has signed the covenant and pressed his handprint, the big guy is his own. So, Xu Liang put away and signed the covenant, re-ordered the kitchen to prepare wine and food, and the four of them drank happily that night, He Huchen and He Renlong returned happily.

"Xu Liang, form an alliance with He Huchen and He Renlong, and Xu Yi's interests are enough, why bother sending the soldiers we worked so hard to recruit to them again?" He Huchen, after He Renlong left, Dai Feng was a little incomprehensible, and said in a regretful tone.

Xu Liang smiled weirdly, "Empty interests, although they can make Lianghe obey for a short time, how can they directly send soldiers once and for all." I have inquired, Yansui general soldier He Huchen fought less than 200 people, Qingyang garrison He Renlong is even worse, there are only 30 people left, now is the time when the two of them are in urgent need of manpower, at this time we directly send people over, for the two generals, there is no doubt that it is a charcoal in the snow. ”

"It's a pity that these five or six thousand recruits have been training in the Dongda Battalion for half a month, and they already have a certain combat effectiveness." Dai Feng sighed.

Xu Liang glanced at Dai Feng lightly, and said proudly: "The old man is too worried, the recruits I gave to the two generals were not given for nothing." When these recruits grow up under the two generals, maybe we will be able to firmly control these two armies? ”

Dai Feng's eyebrows moved, and he looked at Xu Liang in surprise, and suddenly, "Ah, Xu Liang, ...... you mean?" ”

Xu Liang said twice and said indifferently: "I didn't say anything." ”

As Dai Feng guessed, Xu Liang sent He Renlong and He Huchen's troops, and naturally refused to give them away in vain, among which Xu Liang secretly mixed some Liang army veterans in it, and it was foreseeable that it would be in the near future. These veterans will stand out among the recruits and become middle- and lower-ranking generals.

At the end of March of the second year of Chongzhen. Qingyang garrisoned He Renlong, and He Huchen, the general soldier of Yansui, with the help of Xu Liang. The soldiers and horses under his command were reorganized, and each of them restored the establishment of two or three thousand men.

When Hong Chengchou, who participated in the politics of Shaanxi, regained his sadness, turned his grief into strength, and stood in front of the officials again, he was surprised to find that almost all the civil and military generals in Pingliang City were faintly centered on Xu Liang. Hong was very surprised, and secretly heard that there seemed to be some promise between Xu Liang and several generals, and vaguely felt that it was inappropriate. But at present, the great enemy is present, and Xu Liang is actively commanding the forces of the whole city to prepare for war. Hong Shenzheng swallowed back the words that were to the bottom of the matter.

Just when the whole city in Pingliang City was preparing for war, on the third day of April in the second year of Chongzhen, the people's army suddenly appeared at the gate of Lingtai County, Pingliang Prefecture, and launched an attack on Lingtai County. The people's army marched forward in triumph. Bing Feng pointed directly at the next target, Jingzhou.

Nearly 100,000 people and horses of the People's Army camped 30 miles outside the city of Jingzhou, waiting for dawn tomorrow. and sent troops to attack the city.

In the camp of the people's army, the military tents are continuous and the lights are bright. Patrolling civilian troops shuttled back and forth. In the big tent of the Chinese army, Huang Ziren, the commander of the People's Army, was so angry that he dropped the cup again.

According to the report of his subordinates. Among the defender generals who remained in Fengxiang Mansion, three more were assassinated. In the last ten days. Almost every day, the generals of the People's Army are assassinated and killed, and there is a mysterious killer who specifically targets the generals of the People's Army, and it is also those generals in the middle and lower ranks, who will die from assassination if they are not careful.

Huang Ziren naturally knew that this was the Ming army's retaliation for the assassination of the Ming army general by the military advisor Gao Zilin. Judging from the torture from the mouth of the arrested killer, it was Xu Liang's personal guard unit, Tsing Yi Wei, who shot it.

Huang Ziren had also heard a little about this guard named Tsing Yi Wei, and knew that it was a pro-soldier unit secretly formed by Xu Liang.

"They're too much! Unexpectedly, he attacked the team leader stationed in Fengxiang Mansion! Huang Ziren's face was gloomy and he said angrily.

Tsing Yiwei's assassination seems to be a bit taboo, it seems that as long as he is the leader of the people's army, even if he only commands more than a dozen people, he will become the target of Tsing Yiwei's assassination. This approach is too despicable and shameless than the military advisor Gao Zilin's only attacking the senior generals of the Ming army.

Military advisor Gao Zilin sat aside with an indifferent face, and said when he heard the words: "Although Xu Liang's method is a little shameless, it is extremely effective. However, as long as we conquer Pingliang City as soon as possible and take Xu Liang, Tsing Yiwei's assassination will be self-defeating. ”

Huang Ziren nodded slowly, his eyes were deep and cold, he licked his lips, and said, "Not bad." Tomorrow to capture Jingzhou City, you can drive straight into Pingliang Mansion! ”

On the side, King Chuang Gao Yingxiang frowned and said, "Our army came in a hurry, and the follow-up food and grass are insufficient, so this battle can only be resolved quickly." After a long delay, once the grain and grass in the army are not continued, and the Ming army takes advantage of the loopholes, this battle will not be easy to fight. ”

When Huang Ziren and Gao Zilin heard this, they both frowned and remained silent. In fact, although the people's army went out this time, although it was huge, known as a 100,000-strong army, it looked scary, only Huang Ziren himself knew that more than half of the people in the army were temporarily forcibly recruited, and at best they were just pulled to make up a number, and the real combat effectiveness could only rely on the veterans brought out from Hanzhong Mansion.

The reason why the troops were sent in a hurry was that Huang Ziren also had a last resort. Although on the frontal battlefield, the Ming army was about to collapse at the first touch, and the prefectures and counties of Fengxiang Prefecture were captured by Shun, but in the dark, I don't know how many killers sent by Tsing Yiwei aimed at the generals in the people's army. Like batches of wolves that do not know how many they have, as long as they see that those middle- and lower-level generals have fallen behind or have few men, they will be assassinated coldly.

What's even more disgusting is that these killers are not as high as Gao Zilin. These people don't have exact names, and they don't even know what they look like. They lurk in various places, such as the shopkeeper of a teahouse, the small roadside vendor, the farmer in the village, the beggar begging on the roadside, and even the horsemen and gang leaders of the people's army...... I don't know the number of people, I don't know the name, I don't know the face, I can't prevent it!

The continuous assassinations and the continuous deaths will not shake the foundation of the people's army for a while, but it is really disgusting to Huang Ziren, Gao Zilin and Gao Yingxiang, senior generals of the people's army.

The military advisor Gao Zilin once led his troops to hunt down and kill a group of Tsing Yi Wei killers, but the effect was slight. It seems that as long as Xu Liang is alive, Tsing Yiwei's assassination will not stop.

At this time, Huang Ziren got a piece of news that made him ecstatic: after Gao Zilin successfully assassinated Liu Zhilun, the governor of Shaanxi, Wu Zhiwang, the governor of the three sides, actually committed suicide!

In just half a month. The first and second leaders in Shaanxi Province burped one after another. The Ming army was leaderless, and it was a good time for Huang Ziren to attack on a large scale.

Yes. Although the preparation was not sufficient, the rear areas of Hanzhong Mansion and Fengxiang Mansion were not very stable, and middle and lower-level generals were assassinated every day, but Huang Ziren still resolutely led the army towards Pingliang Mansion.

Huang Ziren frowned, and asked Ye Yanqing instead, "How much grain and grass is left in our army?" ”

"General, our army's food and grass are only for five days." Ye Yanqing said in a deep voice.

On the fifth day, it was enough for the people's army to attack the city of Pingliang. Stay two more days. Huang Ziren thought in his heart, and said to Ye Yanqing: "Order the guards of Fengxiang Mansion to order them to collect grain and grass for the use of the army!" ”

Ye Yanqing should go down.

Gao Yingxiang said worriedly: "Pingliang City is the lair of the Liang army, and the Liang army has been operating in Pingliang for a long time, and the guard force is definitely not weak." In five days, it is almost impossible to capture Pingliang City. ”

Huang Ziren glanced at Gao Yingxiang, and it was Xu Liang who he wanted to face in the end. I was very annoyed in my heart, and I turned around the room, and said in a vicious voice: "I want you to say this!" When Xu Liang first arrived in Shaanxi, he was still the magistrate of Zhenyuan County. Dare to build a small town and the original county seat like a turtle shell. Pingliang City is the foundation of Xu Liang, and it is certain that it is easy to defend and difficult to attack. ”

Huang Ziren turned to look at Gao Zilin and asked, "Military Division." Is there a way to sneak into Pingliang City, like in Fengxiang Mansion. Secretly kill a few Ming army generals and frustrate Xu Liang's spirit? ”

Gao Zilin couldn't help but sigh. Spread his hands, his expression was quite helpless, "Since the first day when Tsing Yiwei assassinated our generals, I wanted to sneak into Pingliang City, but I hated that Pingliang City was heavily guarded, and I had to carefully check when I entered and exited the city." What's even more infuriating is that I don't know where they got my portrait, but they are posted everywhere at the city gate, and they are checked one by one! As he spoke, Gao Zilin took out a crumpled portrait from his arms, spread it in front of Huang Ziren and Gao Yingxiang, and said angrily: "Look what they have painted me!" Am I that ugly?! ”

Huang Ziren took it suspiciously, smoothed out the portrait, and looked at it, vaguely similar to Gao Zilin. He sighed, "I can't imagine that they have such a means!" ”

The tried-and-true path of assassination doesn't work. Huang Ziren had a headache, and said in a deep voice to Ye Yanqing: "Order, from now on, the rations of each battalion will be halved until Fengxiang Mansion sends grain and grass." ”

Ye Yanqing looked at Huang Ziren in surprise and said, "General, if you reduce the rations, I'm afraid the army will be unstable." ”

Huang Ziren glanced at him sideways, and said helplessly: "I know, notify the generals of each battalion and do a good job of explaining to the soldiers." This battle is actually the most dangerous battle since our army set out on the expedition, and our army must make careful plans. ”

Ye Yanqing listened, and then looked at the military advisor Gao Zilin and the king Gao Yingxiang. Seeing that both of them nodded slightly. Ye Yanqing was helpless, turned around and walked towards the outside of the tent.

Kankan walked outside the tent door, and suddenly rushed into a soldier from outside the tent, and collided with Ye Yanqing.

Ye Yanqing was furious and scolded: "You don't have long eyes when you walk?" ”

"General's forgiveness ......" The soldier bumped into Ye Yanqing, frightened in his heart, and walked in again and again, while arching his hands.

Ye Yanqing's eyes were focused on the arrow in his hand, and the arrow was tied with a circle of paper, and he was about to go inside when he bypassed him, so he couldn't help but stop him and shouted, "Stop, what are you holding in your hand?" ”

When the soldier heard this, he hurriedly smiled and said, "This is something that someone has just shot into the camp." The small one was about to be presented to the marshal and the military advisor. ”

Ye Yanqing listened, and his face became gloomy. From the soldier's tone, Ye Yanqing once again reluctantly realized that although he could be classified as a senior general of the People's Army, in the minds of the majority of the People's Army, he did not have much sense of retention. The leaders in the minds of the soldiers are only Huang Ziren, Gao Zilin, and Gao Yingxiang.

Ye Yanqing stretched out his big hand and shouted in a deep voice: "Bring it!" ”

"General Ye, this ...... Isn't that right? The soldier wondered.

Ye Yanqing slapped him with a big slap, snatched the arrow with his hand, kicked the soldier again, and shouted: "Get out!" ”

The soldier took a slap and a kick in vain, covered his cheek with his hand, and obediently withdrew from the Chinese army's tent.

Ye Yanqing held the arrow in his hand, and he couldn't wait to immediately open the note on the arrow with his own hands, his hand trembled for a long time, and finally he couldn't bear it, turned around and folded it back, presented the arrow to Huang Ziren, and said: "General Huang, this is someone who has just shot into the camp, please take a look." ”

Huang Ziren took the arrow, opened the note, looked at it, his face became extremely exciting, and he laughed out loud.

Gao Zilin, Gao Yingxiang, and Ye Yanqing all looked at Huang Ziren in disbelief.

Gao Zilin said: "General Huang, what is written on it, why does it make the general laugh so much?" ”

Huang Ziren couldn't stop laughing, threw the note to Gao Zilin, and said with a smile: "Xu Liang is in a hurry to die because he has a long life." ”

Gao Zilin saw the handwriting on the note clearly, and then transferred the note to Gao Yingxiang and Ye Yanqing to see. Gao Zilin groaned and said, "Xu Liang actually took the initiative to ask our army to fight a decisive battle under Pingliang City? Xu Liang has always been scheming, will there be fraud in this matter? ”

Huang Ziren shook his head and said affirmatively: "The handwriting on the note is written by Xu Liang himself, and General Ben is very familiar with Xu Liang's handwriting, so there will be no mistake in this." Hehe, we are worried about how to take Pingliang City, I can't imagine that Xu Liang actually took the initiative to make an appointment with our army! Well, very good! ”

After reading the note, King Gao Yingxiang hesitated and said: "The decisive battle time is set for the day after tomorrow, will the time be rushed?" Tomorrow, our army will defeat Jingzhou City, and then rush to Pingliang for a decisive battle...... It's too late. ”

Huang Ziren laughed heartily and said: "Jingzhou is just a small city, it doesn't matter if it is defeated or not. Since Xu Liang took the initiative to make an appointment, let's change our plan and bypass Jingzhou City tomorrow and go straight to Pingliang. ”

Gao Yingxiang was silent, and Ye Yanqing asked out loud: "Then general, has the order to reduce rations been issued?" ”

Huang Ziren glanced at Ye Yanqing lightly and scolded: "Are you a pig brain?" The day after tomorrow, there will be a decisive battle with the Ming army, what rations will be reduced at this time? Go get a few pigs over, add meals to the whole army, eat and drink well, and then have the strength to clean up Xu Liang! ”

Ye Yanqing was scolded mercilessly by Huang Ziren for a while, secretly annoyed in his heart, responded with a red face, turned around and walked out of the Chinese army's tent angrily.

Gao Zilin and Gao Yingxiang looked at Ye Yanqing's angry appearance and sneered respectively.

Gao Zilin twisted his beard with one hand, frowned and said: "General Huang, if this is a trick by Xu Liang's envoy to send our army outside Pingliang City, but he himself guards the city and refuses to fight, this is not good." ”

Huang Ziren waved his hand and said with a long smile: "It's okay, as long as our 100,000 troops reach Pingliang City and surround the city, I will have a way to capture Pingliang City in one fell swoop." Have you forgotten that we still have more than 20 cannons with us? ”

Gao Zilin suddenly realized that when Huang Ziren gathered the people's army, he specially transferred more than 20 cannons from Hanzhong Mansion and Fengxiang Mansion, and when attacking Lingtai County, Huang Ziren did not use cannons, and now it seems that Huang Ziren has long planned to attack Pingliang City with cannons. (To be continued......)