After all, the planning and deployment of the operation have been prepared for a long time, and it is very unrealistic to carry out large-scale changes in the middle of the operation, and this will also make the originally well-prepared plan become incomplete.

Zheng Xunrui fell into hard thinking, seeing that the Cao boat was heading towards Luoyang day and night, leaving him little time to make a decision, in fact, at this time Zheng Xunrui needed to think about two aspects of the problem, the first problem is that according to the original plan, after the Zheng family army arrived in Luoyang, immediately started fighting, the second problem is that if you learn the news that Li Zicheng led the army back to the division, the Cao boat will no longer go to Luoyang, return to Huai'an, cancel the battle plan.

Apart from these two options, Zheng Xunrui could not have any other choice.

After thinking hard for a whole day, the map has been full of all kinds of symbols, Zheng Xunrui has never been so embarrassed, Xiong Wencan's move to break the kettle made Zheng Xunrui fall into a dilemma.

Zheng Jinhong, Liu Zeqing and others, who were on the same boat as Zheng Xunrui, would not bother Zheng Xunrui under normal circumstances, and Zheng Xunrui had a separate cabin, and many times, Hong Xinyu was waiting outside the cabin, and the boat was heading in the direction of Luoyang, and there was nothing to ask for.

After dark, Zheng Xunrui went to the deck to breathe as usual, Zheng Jinhong and Liu Zeqing sensitively found that Zheng Xunrui's mood was not very right, and his face was even worse, which they had never seen before.

Zheng Jinhong walked to Zheng Xunrui's side.

"Young master, your face is not good, is it better not to rest."

Zheng Xunrui looked at Zheng Jinhong and Liu Zeqing, and sighed slightly.

"You are the chief soldier and deputy chief soldier of the Zheng family's army, and I don't want to hide it from you, the situation in Luoyang Mansion City is very likely to change, and it is not what we expected before."

Zheng Jinhong and Liu Zeqing's faces changed rapidly, they had followed Zheng Xunrui for many years, and they knew Zheng Xunrui's ability well, and when they faced battle. Zheng Xunrui's performance is light and light, even at the most critical moment, he has never seen Zheng Xunrui nervous, but this time Zheng Xunrui's expression is so ugly. This shows that the changes that have taken place are not ordinary.

After Zheng Xunrui finished speaking, Zheng Jinhong thought for a while, and his face turned a little pale.

"Young master, is it possible for the 80,000 rogues led by Li Zicheng to return to Luoyang Mansion City."

Zheng Xunrui nodded.

Zheng Jinhong and Liu Zeqing's bodies trembled at the same time. What does this mean, they know very well that the Zheng family army only has 15,000 soldiers, and in the face of Luoyang City, which is defended by 110,000 Liukou, there is almost no possibility of attacking, and if they are not careful, it may lead to heavy casualties in the Zheng family's army.

"Young master, Li Zicheng has been leading 80,000 Liukou to set off for several days, how could he suddenly have plans to return to Luoyang Mansion City, isn't he ready to attack Xiangyang Mansion City."

"That's because Lord Xiong Wencan, the governor of the five provinces, led a large army to leave Wuchang Mansion. Entering Nanzhili, now he is heading in the direction of Fengyang Mansion, his ultimate goal is to receive Nanzhili, enter Henan, and attack Luoyang Mansion City, Lord Xiong's move at this time is very strange, I have carefully analyzed it, this should be Lord Xiong's desperate bet. If Li Zicheng was allowed to capture the city of Xiangyang, Lord Xiong would definitely suffer the punishment of the imperial court, and since Lord Xiong became the governor of the five provinces, he had not had a single battle with the Liukou. ”

Liu Zeqing couldn't help it.

"Your Excellency. Why is Lord Xiong preparing to attack Luoyang Mansion City at this critical moment, isn't this adding to the chaos. ”

Zheng Xunrui looked at Liu Zeqing and slowly spoke.

"There's nothing strange about this, empathy, Lord Xiong knows that he may be punished by the imperial court, so he must have to find a way. There are only more than 20,000 soldiers under his command, and he directly faces the 80,000 rogues under Li Zicheng's command, which is impossible, and the only choice is to directly attack Luoyang Mansion City and disrupt all Li Zicheng's deployments. ”

"With the 20,000 soldiers under the command of Lord Xiong, wouldn't it be too conceited to want to take Luoyang Mansion City."

"General Liu, your analysis is accurate, but think about it, if Lord Xiong doesn't choose to attack Luoyang Mansion City, what kind of choice can he make, can he directly face the 80,000 rogues under Li Zicheng's command."

Liu Zeqing was stunned for a moment, speechless.

Zheng Jinhong pondered for a while, then raised his head and spoke.

"Young master, if there is such a change, it will be impossible for the Zheng family's army of 15,000 soldiers to directly attack Luoyang Mansion City."

Zheng Xunrui nodded, he still has such self-knowledge, no matter how brave Zheng Jiajun is, with 15,000 people against 110,000, such a choice madman will not choose.

There was silence on the deck, and even Hong Xinyu, who was standing not far away, had a changed face.

This seems to be a dead knot, if Li Zicheng chooses to return to Luoyang, then this battle will not be able to be carried out no matter what, and Zheng Xunrui will not gamble with the lives of 15,000 Zheng family soldiers.

After a long while, Zheng Xunrui spoke again.

"After a whole day of hard thinking, my head is going to explode, thinking about going to the deck to breathe, I can't imagine being asked by you, do you think this is a dead end."

Zheng Jinhong is very honest, Zheng Xunrui just finished speaking, and he spoke.

"Young master, if this is really the case, the suggestion of the subordinates is to go back to Huai'an and think of other ways to open up the Caoyun channel, and the subordinates can't think of other methods."

Liu Zeqing looked at Zheng Xunrui and Zheng Jinhong, and did not speak, obviously agreeing with Zheng Jinhong's opinion.

Making such a decision, Zheng Jinhong, Liu Zeqing and others must be unwilling, after preparing for such a long time, they are about to arrive in Luoyang Mansion City, who knows that they suddenly encountered a special situation, and returning home is a big blow to the morale of the Zheng family's soldiers.

A smile appeared on Zheng Xunrui's face, and he reached out to expand his chest and spoke again.

"It's not completely impossible, it depends on whether Lord Xiong is willing to cooperate, and it also depends on whether we can seize the time and opportunity to end the battle in the shortest possible time."

Zheng Jinhong and Liu Zeqing looked at each other, they didn't understand what Zheng Xunrui meant.

"Okay, you continue to breathe on the deck, I go back, I don't believe it, this is a dead knot, and there is no difficulty that can make Zheng Jiajun retreat."

Zheng Xunrui went back to the cabin, Zheng Jinhong and Liu Zeqing discussed quietly on the deck for a long time, they really couldn't help it, the sudden change in the military situation involved the fate of 15,000 Zheng family soldiers, obviously it looked like there was no hope, could Zheng Xunrui think of a solution.

It was already time to arrive, and Zheng Jinhong and Liu Zeqing on the deck finally came to the outside of Zheng Xunrui's cabin.

Outside the cabin was Hong Xinyu waiting.

The two were a little surprised, usually the soldiers take turns to wait at night, but this time it was Hong Xinyu who was waiting in person.

"Zheng Zongbing, Liu Zongbing, the adults know that you will come, and they are waiting in the cabin."

The three of them entered the cabin together.

The three oil lamps illuminated the inside of the cabin very brightly, and there were many marks on the map spread out on the table, including two very thick red lines, indicating the direction of the boat's operation and the direction of the army led by Xiong Wencan.

"The army will act according to the original plan and make no changes, my only requirement is that the Zheng family army must give full play to the advantages of the Mauser gun and the Hongyi cannon, and take Luoyang Mansion City within one day."

After Zheng Xunrui said such words, I don't know why, Zheng Jinhong, Liu Zeqing and Hong Xinyu were all relieved, and the expressions on their faces were much better, which should be caused by their absolute worship of Zheng Xunrui.

"I have calculated the time, we arrived at Luoyang Mansion City, it should be around May 16, if the 80,000 Liukou led by Li Zicheng will go towards Luoyang Mansion City early tomorrow morning, then no matter how fast we attack Luoyang Mansion City, there is no chance, but there is one thing that restricts Li Zicheng, that is, the marching speed of Lord Xiong Wencan."

"Lord Xiong set out from Wuchang Mansion on April 30 and made a detour to Nanzhili into Henan, the sergeants, cavalry and foot soldiers under Lord Xiong were mixed, and the marching speed could not be very fast, even if they marched day and night, they arrived in Kaifeng Mansion at least in mid-May, and I concluded that Lord Xiong would also find Lord Wu Fu, the governor of Henan, to discuss, and ask Lord Wu to send a large army to cooperate, so that the time for Lord Xiong to attack Luoyang Mansion City would be at least at the end of May."

"I don't know why Lord Xiong would make such a stupid move, if Li Zicheng made up his mind to attack Xiangyang Mansion City, it is very likely to be taken in mid-May, and when Li Zicheng returns to defend Luoyang, Lord Xiong is likely to encounter the same situation as Lord Lu, not only losing Xiangyang Mansion City, but also falling into many dangers."

"One of the things I gamble on is that Li Zicheng is not so wise, he must also be hesitating, thinking about attacking Xiangyang Mansion City, but he is afraid that there will be an accident in Luoyang Mansion City, so his marching speed is very slow, and he has not left Henan for a long time.

"The information I got yesterday, Li Zicheng left Li Yan and the Red Lady in Luoyang, Li Yan should be the most powerful strategist under Li Zicheng, I don't know why such a critical battle, Li Zicheng did not take Li Yan with him, Li Zicheng achieved today's strength, Li Yan contributed a lot."

"Of course, we also have to make preparations with both hands, if Li Zicheng makes up his mind to return to Luoyang Mansion City, then I will ask Xiong Wencan to cooperate, drag Li Zicheng's army, even if it is worth paying some sacrifices, as long as the Zheng family army takes Luoyang Mansion City, Li Zicheng will definitely evacuate quickly, he does not dare to fight Zheng Jiajun head-on." (To be continued.) )