Chasing to the bank of the Weishui River, it was another fierce battle. Hundreds of officers and soldiers were killed, but Li Kerang and others escaped from Weiqiao unharmed. Their martial arts are truly amazing!

They did not dare to stay along the way, so they grabbed a boat at the Xiayang ferry and crossed the Yellow River eastward. He entered the Yanmen Pass non-stop before he settled down.

A year later, Li Keyong was recruited by King Anqin. Li Kerang was reinstated and entered Beijing to continue to serve as his general Jin Wuwei. Unexpectedly, I met "the city is full of golden armor", so that: I hope that this growth will serve the country, why should I give birth to the epitaph of Zhimo and do not hesitate to write and ink to invite credit for Zhimo: "Persuade Brother Helianduo to give preferential courtesy to the rank, caress the Tuguhun tribe, and cherish his heart." The lonely army sleeps peacefully, and the neighboring towns are all cooperative. Because it was a person who recorded the current events at the time, although there was an exaggeration, it should not be possible to break blindly, which also shows that Zhi Mo spared no effort to deal with Li Ke.

At the same time, the epitaph also vividly describes the crusade against Li Keyong and the toughness of the Shatuo army: "Keyong is rebellious and well-behaved, and he is stubborn." The division of the day is the one who wants to be the pillar of heaven. Light riding treacherous, second to Pingyang. ”

In December 878, Cui Jikang led the Hedong Army, Li Jun led the Zhaoyi Army and Li Keyong rebels to fight in Honggu. This was the second battle between the two armies in Honggu after a gap of four months. As a result, the government army was defeated again, and the Zhaoyi army killed Li Yun.

Cui Jikang returned to Chang'an in disgrace, and what awaits him will be "double opening" and suspension for investigation. The prime ministers sat around the round conference table in the government hall, and I don't know which good deed person nominated him, and the post of envoy of Hedong Jiedu was taken over by the little-known Kang Chuangui.

The meeting also made an important decision, because Lu Xi had recommended Gao Biao as the commander of the camp, that is, the commander-in-chief of the bandit suppression (Huangchao). And Zhang Luan, the general of Gao Piao's department, repeatedly broke the grass army. Then he recalled Lu Xi and restored his subordinate squire and Tongping Zhangshi as prime minister. Degraded Wang Duo to the crown prince's guest division.

Another year has passed in the midst of all the disturbances. In February of the first year of Guangming (880), Shatuo Iron Cavalry once again galloped into Yanmen Pass. "Greetings" to Xin and Dai Erzhou, wantonly plundering. Another 20,000 troops were divided to capture Taigu County near Jinyang.

The imperial court urgently dispatched the defense of Ruzhou, so that Bochang led the Ruzhou soldiers and Zhuge Shuang led the defense troops of the eastern capital to save Hedong. Kang Chuangui, the new envoy of Hedong Jiedu, is not idle, and he is determined to show the prime ministers of Chang'an with outstanding results to prove: I am not Cui Jikang! So, he lit three fires one after another.

The first fire - forcibly collecting money and grain from rich households, and also calling it a beautiful name: a family of soldiers and civilians.

The second fire - Wen Taigu fell, and sent Su Hongzhen to recover Taigu and returned defeated. Commander Kang was furious, and he didn't discuss it. Visible. His working methods are much simpler and cruder than Duan Wenchu's.

The third fire, the Shatuo army, has returned to Daibei with a full load of spoils, Kang Chuangui refuses to give up, "Send the capital coach to make Zhang Yanqiu chase after him with 3,000 soldiers." ”。 When the soldiers arrived at Baijing, the soldiers did not leave, and coerced Zhang Yanqiu to return to Jinyang City.

This seems familiar, by the way, it is the "Chen Qiao Mutiny". It's just that he didn't put the yellow robe on Zhang Yanqiu's body. Because their ultimate goal is not to seize the Tang Dynasty (of course, the strength is far from enough. Just to kill Kang Chuangui, Kang Chuangui's fire finally burned on his body.

He could never have imagined that his nightmare would come so quickly. Someone in the city secretly opened the Ximing Gate, and the rebels poured in and killed Kang Chuangui with a knife. Fortunately, the Hedong Supervisor Zhou came out of the apartment to clean up the chaos, and the army's heart was determined.

This kind of thing. The imperial court has long been accustomed to it, and it is not news. Therefore, after learning the news of the Hedong mutiny, his first reaction was to send an envoy to express his comfort. He said: "The envoy of the slain festival." It happened in a moment. Let everyone be at peace with himself, and do not be afraid. That is to say: let it pass when it has passed. You need not be afraid.

It is worth mentioning. This was the case beforehand. After killing the Jiedu envoy Kang Chuangui, Zhang Yanqiu could completely draw a scoop according to the gourd, and he would only wait for the Son of Heaven to be crowned after he was appointed to Hedong. However, when Zhou Congyu, the overseer of Hedong, appointed him as the capital of the capital of the city (three levels lower than the Jiedu envoy), his attitude was very calm. People who understand things like this are really rare in the late Tang Dynasty!

You can't go without a commander in the army for a day, let alone when the arrogant soldiers are rampant. The imperial court sent the most powerful prime minister, Zheng Congyan, to sit in Jinyang, retain the titles of his subordinate squire and Tongping Zhangshi, and concurrently serve as the envoy of Hedong Jiedu. and gave him the right to act cheaply and choose his own counsellors (staff). Historical commentary Zheng Congyan "is energetic and gentle, resourceful and decisive." "If a soldier has a plot against him," he will be punished from the first time. "He" knows that Zhang Yanqiu has a strategy, and the change of Baijing is not his intention. Only a few people led by him were executed, and Yanqiu was appeased and entrusted with military power, and since then Yanqiu has been working for Zheng Congchen with all his heart.

From June of the fifth year of Qianfu (878) to February of the first year of Guangming (880), in this short period of one year and eight months, the imperial court changed its commander in Hedong Town four times in order to deal with Li Keyong. They are: Cao Xiang, Cui Jikang, Kang Chuangui, Zheng Congyan. Who will be the next Hedong Jiedu envoy?

Enter the Yanmen Gate.

In April of the first year of Guangming (880), Li Zhuo, a servant of the imperial court, recruited the commander-in-chief of Weishuo, that is, the commander-in-chief of the bandits (Li Keyong), and led tens of thousands of troops to Tundaizhou. Under his careful planning, a large net used to encircle and annihilate Li Ke is quietly opening to Yunzhou, the base camp of the Shatuo rebels......

It's a net!

Northwest: A number of Fan army groups with Tugu Hun Du Governor Helian Duo as the backbone attacked Zhenwu, Li Guochang was outnumbered, led more than 500 cavalry to withdraw from Tiande, and broke through to the south. When Li Keyong heard the news, he hurriedly led 3,000 cavalry to the west to respond. Then return to Yunzhou City together.

Yunzhou guard Li Youjin and Li Guochang are cousins, he unexpectedly closed the city gate, and let Li Guochang shout outside the city, if he can't open it, he won't open it! Li Guochang was so angry that he scolded him for being a villain who saw the wind and steered the rudder.

Li Youjin said: "Brother, you are wrong. Back then, under the edict of the Son of Heaven, I followed you thousands of miles to fight Pang Xun, have you ever seen the wind and rudder? Rebellion is a heinous sin, you know; The state is kind to us Shatuo people, you know; I don't need to say more, let's learn from my brother and surrender! ”。

Li Guochang was helpless and speechless, and left silently. Along the way, the father and son only felt that the future was confused, and they didn't know where to go. After discussion, Li Guochang decided to take his headquarters to Ulzhou. There are the family members of his Zhu Xie family for several lifetimes.

Li Keyong was stationed in Xincheng, between Ulju and Shuozhou, and he was ready to retake Yunzhou. Send the general Fu Wenda to Shuozhou to transfer troops. How did Li Keyong know that the Shuozhou Assassin Shi Gaowen Collection had been rebelled by Helian Duo. Surrendered to the imperial court. As soon as Fu Wenda arrived in Shuozhou, he was taken down and handed over to Li Zhuo in Daizhou.

As soon as the Shatuo army left, Helian Duo arrived. The gate of Yunzhou was wide open, and Helian Duo rode an Arab horse that he got out of nowhere, carrying a forty-pound nine-ring machete, and led the Tuyuhun army into the city. He was full of spring breeze and waved frequently to the Yunzhou troops standing on both sides of the line.

North: Hedong Jiedu's deputy envoy Zhi Mo has been operating near Yunzhou with a part of his armed forces. He didn't dare to confront Li Keyong head-on, he just played guerrilla warfare. Just like the epitaph of Zhimo: "Restraint is used to multiply the breath of Tunan." Back in the thin clouds, the tiger fights the eagle, and the motorcycle is challenged. Gong (Zhimo) showed cowardice and quietly seemed to be uninhabited. The thief speaks slightly, and does not worry about it. The public immediately ordered the iron horsetail to attack ......".

South: Commander-in-Chief Li Zhuo sits in Daizhou, that is, Yanmen Pass. The area north of Yanmen Pass is commonly known as Daibei. Tens of thousands of government troops have gathered the main force here, like an impregnable wall, which will be pressed from the south to the north at any time.

East: Lu Longjiedu made Li Keju lead 20,000 Youzhou troops to Ulzhou with great momentum. Lu Long Town, which has always disobeyed the orders of the central government, is particularly obedient and active this time.

Li Keyong got the information and was uneasy. He was afraid that his family would fall into the hands of Li Keju. temporarily gave up the plan to attack Yunzhou, and took tens of thousands of Shatuo troops to Xiongwu to block the attack. The two armies faced each other for several days, and Li Ke could not move an inch and was in a dilemma.

The news of Gao Wenji's surrender of the official army reached Xiongwu. Li Keyong was very angry, he hated the person who betrayed him the most in his life. Now. He was angry and confused, and desperately returned to Shuozhou to find Gao Wenji to seek justice. It was a major mistake in his tactics. Li Keju lost no time in sending a marching army, Sima Han Xuanshao, and pursued him closely.

Yaoerling in early summer is full of life. There are many straight and towering pine trees here, and there are cypress trees with lush foliage. All the slopes and ravines are overgrown with weeds and shrubs that are more than one person tall, so that one can still smell the smell of spring.

What broke the silence of the mountains? A cavalry team of "the dragon sees the head but does not see the tail", formed a four-way column, and appeared on the mountain road of Yaoerling. But see: jet-black armor, jet-black flags, jet-black helmets with jet-black tassels. - This is the symbol of Li Ke's army, because Li Ke's nickname is "Crow", so it is called "Crow Army".

Among these many black flags, there are also some red flags, and in the middle of the flags is embroidered with a big black seal character - "Tang". Someone wants to ask: "Is this Li Ke using rebels?" Why are you still under the banner of Tang characters? ”

It should be noted that Li Keyong's rebels are fundamentally different from An Lushan, Zhu Zhu, and Huang Chao. Their purpose is not to overthrow the Tang Dynasty, their purpose is to emulate the three towns of Heshuo, and I am the master of my territory! Therefore, Li Keyong never denied that his army belonged to the Tang Army.

At a narrow mountain pass in Yao'erling, Li Zhuo's tens of thousands of troops had been waiting for a long time. The crossbowmen were ready, and tens of thousands of arrows sprouted from the lush green. The retreat of the "Crow Army" has been blocked by the Youzhou Army that followed.

Li Keyong really arrived at the Jedi of "Tiger Falling Pingyang".

As the sun sets, the clouds on the horizon that meet the distant mountains are steaming. A chirping dysprosium pierced the sky, causing bursts of "woo, woo, woo-" sounds, one after another. It's like wolves singing lingering love songs – no! It's the sound of a trumpet, a trumpet for life!

Flying arrows rained down from the high ground on three sides, and the Shatuo cavalry who walked in front were hit by arrows one after another, and people turned over on their backs. The already narrow pass was soon blocked by fallen men and horses. This road is not working! You can't go in the front, you can't go back, and it's a mess. Frightened horses with arrows stumbled on human bodies on the surrounding hillsides. Among the corpses all over the place, two were the masterminds of the Datong mutiny, one was named Li Qianzhong and the other was Cheng Huaixin, both of whom were killed by random arrows.

It's not so much war as target shooting!

There is a famous saying: If you come out to mix, you will have to pay it back sooner or later! Maybe this is "karma", right? Fate played a big joke with the magnificent Tang Dynasty - Shatuo Iron Cavalry, who had guarded the border for the Tang Dynasty for generations and fought in the south and north; Shatuo Iron Cavalry, who had made great achievements for King Qin's rebellion; Shatuo Iron Cavalry, once regarded by the emperor as the wife of the government army, has now become a rebel army that the whole country fights against. Isn't that thunderous? There's even more shocking!

For more than 100 years, Lu Longjun has played the villain role of the rebel army (except for Li Zaiyi and Liu Zong's second envoys. ）。 Today, I finally became a glorious government army, and I can finally make a cameo appearance in positive energy. The Lulong soldiers, who have always been scolded as thieves, this time it was their turn to raise their eyebrows and scold the Shatuo soldiers as thieves. Why don't you tell them to be aggressive? Why not be scrappy? It seems that this kind of role reversal is nothing new in the middle and late Tang Dynasty.

Li Keyong was in the ranks of the Chinese army, and the shouts of "capture Li Keyong alive" and the sound of metal hitting each other in close combat reached his ears one after another. After all, he is a general, and he is not chaotic in the face of danger, but he is secretly complaining in his heart. The terrain here is like the hills in the south of the Yangtze River, neither high nor steep, but the mountain roads are rugged and tortuous, and the cavalry cannot be used, so there is no place for use.

Several important members of the rebel army, such as Gai Yu, Xue Tieshan, Li Cunzhang, and Kang Junli, gathered around Li Keyong. Li Keyong said: "Pass my order, the rear team will become the front team, and return the same way!" ”

As they walked, the team stopped moving again. I saw a few thick smoke billowing in front of me, and in an instant, the fire spread with the wind, sealing the road. It turned out that Han Xuanshao's gang was carrying out a fire attack. Gai Yu said: "Lord, you have to find a way to rush out quickly." Otherwise, we will all become roasted whole sheep. ”

With the reins in one hand and the lance in the other, Li Ke yelled, "Follow me!" The horse stood on its hind legs, let out a long neigh, and ran over all the barricades into the depths of the firelight......

The weeds are burning and extinguishing quickly, and smoke is curling along the valley road. Li Ke rushed all the way with his wave army, unstoppable! Okay, it's time to rush out of this unlucky Yao'er Ridge. A Biao military horse blocked the way, and the first general, dressed in Mingguang armor and holding an iron sword, shouted loudly: "Who is Li Keyong?" ”

Li Ke stepped forward with a hurry: "I am, who are you?" ”

"I am Lu Long's marching Sima Han Xuanshao is also, Li Keyong, a good traitor, and still under the banner of Tang Zi. Seeing that you are also a man, it is not too late to dismount and surrender now. I can keep you from dying, but as for the official, according to the normal procedure, it is decided by everyone (note: the title of the emperor), and it is inconvenient for me to act as a substitute, right? ”

Li Ke used a lot of spare time to talk nonsense with him, but just said a few words lightly: "Oh Lu Long, the first rebel town in the world, I have heard of a big name for a long time, like thunder." I won't worry about my business, look at the lance! ”。

This lance came too quickly, Han Xuanshao was not mentally prepared at all, and the tip of the lance was close to his throat. It was too late to parry, so he was in a hurry and dodged. Before the body could regain its balance, the piercing lance swept back with a whistling. Han Xuanshao couldn't dodge anymore, hit the ribs, fell off the horse, and was rescued by his subordinates.

Rick took the lead and charged the enemy, finally leading the army out of the land of death. (To be continued......)