"Ladies and gentlemen! Based on the proceeds of the interrogation of prisoners and the reports from the detectives, we have learned that there are two bandits in Shaanxi, one is Zhang Xianzhong's department that was repelled by us in Ruzhou; One is Gao Yingxiang and Luo Rucai, who are now in Guide Mansion. ”

"These two Shaanxi bandits, Zhang Xianzhong's department is estimated to be more than 300,000, and Gao Yingxiang and Luo Rucai's department of Guide Prefecture are estimated to be more than 350,000, and there are constantly bandits joining their ranks, and the number of these two Shaanxi bandits may increase even more at that time. The only good news is that now all the famous thief chieftains have appeared in these two bandits, so there should be no other big bandits facing our Runing army. ……”

In the house where Wu Shigong used to live, the senior officers of the Runing Army gathered together, and they were discussing the next move of the Runing Army. And now Zhou Xun is briefing those officers on the combat situation of both sides.

After Zhou Xun's introduction, Wu Shigong said: "You have clearly heard what Deputy Commander Zhou said just now, we are facing two Shaanxi bandits. But we have so many troops in the Runing Army, and we can only deal with one force wholeheartedly. Now that we have arrived in Guide, let's deal with the Shaanxi bandits in Guide. ”

"The first step is to clear the Shaanxi bandits under the city of Fu, and to relieve the siege of the city of Defu. As long as the city is not lost, it is an explanation to the imperial court, and it is also an explanation to the place of Guide Mansion. ”

"The second step is to drive the Shaanxi bandits away. In which directions? Three places: one in the direction of the Grand Canal; One is in the direction of Xuzhou; One is in the direction of Kaifeng City. Try not to drive the Shaanxi bandits to Fengyang, if something happens there, it will be very troublesome for us to explain. ”

"And those three directions are all military important places, and they are also heavily defended by the imperial court. This time, our Runing Army is fighting against the Shaanxi bandits alone, and we should also let other Ming army activities be active! ”

"The third step doesn't have to be taken, we can do it with the camera. That is to find an opportunity to exterminate 20,000 or 30,000 Shaanxi bandits. The Shaanxi bandits who entered our Henan this time were only 300,000 at the beginning, and we also trapped more than 300,000 in Ruzhou. Grass! I didn't expect it to be just a month or two. The Shaanxi bandits have engulfed nearly 700,000 rebels in Henan. It made us run at both ends of Nanyang and Guide, and we were a little in a hurry. ”

"Therefore, it seems that this Shaanxi bandit cannot be exterminated overnight, and we must also abandon the illusion of a battle. However, the number of Shaanxi bandits who coerce the rebellious people is limited after all, and it will come to an end one day. As long as we are patient and eat one bite at a time, we will eventually wipe out the Shaanxi bandits. ”

"As long as we have the results of exterminating 20,000 or 30,000 Shaanxi bandits, plus the more than 5,000 heads we have obtained in Ruzhou, we can explain to the imperial court. And we also need time to recuperate. After our Runing army arrived in Henan, we have fought five or six major battles, and those small bandits have not yet been counted, and it is time to recuperate for a few years. ”

"Three years! It only takes three years of hard work. Our Runing Army will definitely be able to expand to 30,000, and the local militia can also be expanded to 20,000. At that time, even if there are the same two bandits, we can still attack from both sides. Therefore, we must also beat the Shaanxi bandits now, so that they will not dare to approach the territory of our Runing Army in the future. ”

"But we also have to look at the opportunities. We try not to fight battles where the losses are too great. Don't fight any war of annihilation regardless of casualties, just defeat and disperse the Shaanxi bandits. But don't cringe for the fear of loss, too. When it's time to fight a tough battle, you have to be tough. This time, Deputy Commander Qian did a good job. ”

"Yuko! How is Qian Qi's body? Wu Shigong asked.

Xue Yong immediately stood up and replied, "Deputy Commander Qian has woken up. But the doctor said that he would have to recuperate and that he would not be able to work again for a few months. ”

Wu Shigong nodded and said, "Let him rest in peace!" Let's go back to the army when you're well! For the matter of the Guide Corps, Yongzi, you will work a little harder. ”

"Three Rivers! Did the cavalry detachment get out? In this weather, and in the wilderness, there are no good people, within twenty miles. If you see someone, we will arrest them, and if you can't catch them, we will clean them up, but we can't let the besieging bandits notice our movements! ”

"Your Excellency's order has already sent more than a dozen detachments with cavalry companies as units." Li Sanhe immediately stood up and reported.

Wu Shigong nodded. said: "Everyone, go back to your respective troops and reorganize your army. Yongzi, you take the Guide Corps or hold the line of Ningling County and Qianhusuo Fortress, and the rest of the troops will set off tomorrow morning! ”

"No!"

On the 21st, the main force of the Runing Army, 14,000 men and horses, set out from the fortress of Qianhusuo and attacked the peasant rebels besieging the city. However, due to the disappearance of a large number of spies, the main forces of the peasant rebels such as Gao Yingxiang and Luo Rucai, who had a keen sense of smell, had already withdrawn from the vicinity of Guide City and fled towards the path of the peasant rebels on the North Road.

However, because of the urgency of time, the retreat of Gao Yingxiang and Luo Rucai's troops was not notified to all the leaders of the peasant rebel army, so the sudden appearance of the Runing army also intercepted a small part of the peasant rebel army.

The peasant rebels scattered and fled. Therefore, the Runing Army sent a cavalry corps and a Runing Army to sweep the southern part of Guide, and the rest of the troops were stationed under the city of Guide to prevent the peasant rebels from coming back from the northern part of Guide.

In the process of sweeping, the Runing army defeated more than 30,000 peasant rebels, beheaded and captured more than 6,000 people, and seized more than 13,000 taels of property, mules, horses, and weapons. But the biggest gain was the killing of the bandit chief Jiutiaolong near Sui County, which was the first Shaanxi bandit leader to be killed by the Ming army after the peasant rebel army entered Henan for the second time.

On the 25th, the Runing army in the south of Guide Fu converged again under the city of Guide Fu, and Wu Shigong was invited to enter Guide City with his own personal army.

Wu Shigong saw from a distance that a group of officials from the Guide Mansion were coming to greet him at the gate of the city, so he immediately dismounted and hurried over. Seeing the leader of the old lady Hou, Wu Shigong immediately knelt down to salute the old lady Hou and said: "The prince personally came out to greet him, and the younger generation is ashamed!" ”

Old lady Hou hurriedly said: "Changjing, after years of not seeing, you are still majestic!" ”

Wu Shigong also immediately complimented: "The younger generation is also in good spirits when he sees Taigong, and he is also very happy in his heart!" ”

The two are hahadaxiao. Then Wu Shigong saluted Qian Zhifu, Zhao Ming and other officials of Guide Mansion for several weeks, and saluted one by one. After the greetings, the officials welcomed Wu Shigong to the mansion, preparing to discuss the military situation of the Guide Mansion before the evening banquet.

After arriving at the mansion, everyone sat down, and Wu Shigong opened his mouth and said apologetically: "Wansheng came late this time, and it is really ashamed to let the place of Guide Mansion be brutalized by Shaanxi bandits!" ”

Governor Qian also hurriedly said politely: "It's not too late for General Wu to come now!" I hope that the general's army will drive the Shaanxi thieves out of Guide Mansion as soon as possible. ”

Unexpectedly, Wu Shigong immediately said indignantly: "Originally, the Guide Mansion could not enter the Shaanxi bandits, because of the troubles of others, which made the disaster move eastward." Therefore, this account will have to be settled with them well. ”

Hearing Wu Shigong suddenly say something that smelled of gunpowder, the officials present were immediately speechless in surprise. (To be continued......)