Luo Bingzhang endured shelling every day like a pillow cushion, he didn't understand that the rebels didn't attack the shells of the rebels, and it was difficult for the rebels' shells to blow in the wind? A month later, the truth was revealed, and I was shocked to hear that Meishan was occupied by rebels, and bad news followed. Leshan was lost, Zigong was lost. Immediately after Luzhou was conquered, Zuo Shiqing committed suicide. Luo Bingzhang's head was big, and he couldn't stop worrying. Xichang is far away from the theater of operations, and has inadvertently lost its strategic value and has completely become an isolated stronghold. He wanted to retreat back to Chengdu, but he quickly dispelled this idea, and retreated and died faster.

"Report to your lordship, scout cavalry, the rebel cavalry has been found in the northern region!" A subordinate hurriedly reported. When Luo Bingzhang was stunned, a staff member said worriedly: "My lord, it is obvious that the rebels are pointing at us, hundreds of thousands of rebels are killing from behind, and Xichang can't hold it at all." Another staff member said: "My lord, the rebels swept through southern Sichuan for more than two months, and it is by no means just 60,000 horses, and Lord Zuo is afraid that he will have no way to return to heaven, and the defeat is a foregone conclusion, but it is a pity that I have hundreds of thousands of children from Xiangjiang, how many orphans and widows will be left behind." ”

An adjutant general stood up and said, "My lord, my subordinates are presumptuous, and Lord Zuo is our food and clothing parent." We are loyal to Lord Zuo and not to the imperial court, but Lord Zuo is fighting for the imperial court. At present, we are in a desperate situation, and the brothers do not see hope and do not want to work for the court anymore. Where to go, please think twice. "My lord, you have to think about the more than 30,000 brothers!" Another lieutenant general chimed in, and several other generals agreed.

Seeing the clamor of his subordinates, Luo Bingzhang knew that the brothers had lost the will to resist, and if he insisted on going his own way, his subordinates would scatter and even rebel against him. Thinking of surrendering, Luo Bingzhang felt a little distressed. After being silent for a long time, Luo Bingzhang said with a pale face: "Send someone to contact the Northern Expeditionary Army to see what the other party's attitude is!" He changed his name, and when everyone heard it, a stone fell to the ground and hung in his heart.

Half a month later, in the headquarters of the Meishan City Corps, the generals sat together to study the next move. According to the Corps Headquarters, the Chongqing region and the northeastern region in southeastern Sichuan will be occupied by troops, and Zuihou will encircle Chengdu. Due to the fact that He Meng's troops and Khalid's troops needed to rest and recuperate after repeated battles, Leng Yifei decided to have Lu Changlin's troops and Lin Xiong's troops occupy Chongqing and northeastern Sichuan one after another, and Jihua launched an attack on Chengdu in mid-September.

The battle plan was basically finalized, and the sound of horses' hooves sounded outside the kung fu tent, and a fast horse galloped over. Leng Yifei said with a smile after reading the letter: "Let me tell you a good news, Luo Bingzhang, the commander of the Hunan army defending Xikang, led 30,000 Hunan troops to announce their surrender, and he only has one request not to fight against the Hunan army!" haha！ Human nature, I can promise him now. The crowd laughed happily.

He Meng said: "Since Luo Bingzhang defected to the Northern Expeditionary Army, he can't be idle. I don't fight with the Hunan army out of feelings, but I can always fight against the green battalion soldiers! Leng Yifei said with a smile: "The deputy commander's reminder is very timely, I announced that the planned operation will be changed, and the Lu Changlin Department and the Lin Xiong Department will be on standby on the front line of Shuangliu and Jianyang in the direction of Chengdu, and be ready to take the lead in attacking Chengdu." ordered Luo Bingzhang to immediately go to Leshan to accept the adaptation. ”

10 days later, Leng Yifei, He Meng, and Khalid stood under the north gate of Meishan to welcome Luo Bingzhang's arrival. A few people talked and laughed. "Commander, the logistics unit of the headquarters has brought 120 artillery pieces, and it looks like it's time for our artillery brigade to expand." Khalid said with joy. Leng Yifei said with a smile: "Not only the artillery brigade should be expanded, but also the cavalry brigade should be expanded. According to the requirements of the headquarters, by the end of the year, the 10 field divisions of our West Route Corps should be fully manned, and Sichuan is the country of abundance! It can fully meet the logistical supply. ”

"It seems that the commander-in-chief has already considered the western strategy!" As soon as He Meng's words fell, the sound of horses' hooves was heard in the distance. As far as the eye can see, a cloud of dust and smoke rises from the road in the distance. A few minutes later, dozens of war horses came to the front. Luo Bingzhang jumped off the war horse, quickly recognized Leng Yifei's military rank, stepped forward and raised his hand to salute: "Report to the commander, come and report to Luo Bingzhang!" Luo Bingzhang was wearing a new military uniform, with blue light on his temples under his big cap, looking more than ten years younger. But his expression was a little apprehensive and reserved.

"General Luo, welcome to join the Northern Expeditionary Army, and I sincerely welcome you on behalf of the Guangzhou Military Government and Commander-in-Chief Deng." Then Leng Yifei introduced He Meng and said: "This is Deputy Commander He, you are old acquaintances!" He Meng smiled and nodded. Luo Bingzhang's eyes widened in surprise and said: "Deputy Commander He's prestige is like thunder, I didn't expect to be so young, admirable,"

Then Leng Yifei introduced the chief of staff and other generals respectively, and the generals gave Luo Bingzhang a minimum of respect, which made his heart extremely warm, and a trace of gloom dissipated. After everyone entered the city and took their seats at the headquarters of the corps, Leng Yifei said with a serious face: "General Luo, considering the special situation of your department, I promise your department not to fight against the Hunan army." Luo Bingzhang was secretly happy when he heard this. Leng Yifei continued: "Your unit will be reorganized in Leshan, and the Corps Headquarters will appoint you as the commander of an independent division. ”

"Thank you, Commander, for your kindness! In the next set of dogs and horses! Luo Bingzhang stood up and bowed his head. After the reorganization of your troops, the number of personnel will be 10,000, and the old, weak, sick and disabled will be singled out and redistributed, and the corps headquarters will form a rear service unit and a public security force. The junta demanded that those who had abandoned the shadows and turned to the light, including the captured officers and soldiers, not be dismissed, but at least that they should be fed. At present, the army is very tired from continuous combat, so after the reorganization of your unit is completed, pull to Neijiang and launch an attack on Chongqing! ”

Luo Bingzhang said with a difficult face: "There is no problem with the operation of the green battalion, but I am afraid that our department will face a tough battle, and I am afraid that it will ・・・・・・." Leng Yifei smiled and said: "I know what you have to say, the newly formed 4th Artillery Regiment will follow your unit, and the 1st Cavalry Regiment will also follow your unit." At present, it is impossible to replace all weapons, so you can only temporarily provide 3,000 standard rifles and 10,000 grenades. In order to improve the operational efficiency of your unit, the Corps Headquarters has assigned you 5 combat staff officers, what other requirements do you have? ”

Luo Bingzhang was excited when he heard this: "Commander, there is nothing to say, I promise to take Chongqing, if you can't complete the task, I will come to see you with my head!" He Meng said: "The Northern Expeditionary Army is powerful in the world, you are now the Northern Expeditionary Army, the green battalion in Chongqing does not know the truth, and now they are already frightened birds, I think it will not be too difficult for your troops to occupy Chongqing." The next step is to consider the issue of the northeast of the river. Regarding the defense of the Qing army in Chongqing and even northeast Sichuan, the Corps Headquarters will provide you with accurate information! ”

Zuo Zongtang in the Chengdu Governor's Mansion suddenly aged, although it was not like Wu Zixu's head turned white overnight, but his white hair was very eye-catching. The defeat on the battlefield may be acceptable, and his skills are inferior, but the betrayal of his subordinates has caused him to suffer a serious mental blow. In fact, deep down in his heart, he admired Deng Zixuan's invincible army very much, but in his bones he couldn't accept the fact that he rebelled.

The betrayal and death of the subordinate made him sad and numb, but there was no anger. In 3 months, the imperial court delivered weapons, ammunition, and silver taels to him, which can be said to have done better than the previous campaigns, but not a single soldier came up to reinforce him. Most of the soldiers in Shaanxi and Gansu are green battalions, and most of them are responsible for guarding the city, and even if they are transferred, they are still a group of straw bales, which do not work at all, and failure is a foregone conclusion.

Not long ago, the Empress Dowager Cixi issued a holy decree that he must guard the front line of Chengdu. He also said that Zuo Gong was the pillar of the Qing Dynasty, and he had turned the tide in danger several times, and he would definitely be able to make meritorious contributions again this time. The Empress Dowager Cixi promised that reinforcements would arrive in two months. Zuo Zongtang knew that reinforcements were a shadowless thing, but he was moved by the grace of the Empress Dowager Cixi. In the past, when they were in war, they had to raise food, raise money, and recruit people, but this time, the imperial court has invested heavily in money, food, and arms.

But there is no way to return to heaven, and Deng Zixuan's birth may be the will of God. Faced with the certainty of failure, Zuo Zongtang Zuihou's confidence is fighting for honor, and drawing a tragic end to his decades of horse career, as for the merits and demerits, history can only be evaluated. But with tens of thousands of soldiers under his command, is it difficult to shed rivers of blood for his own selfish interests? Zuo Zongtang was pondering, and a subordinate came in and said, "My lord! Zuo Shiqing's family members were picked up from Xi'an, did the adults see her? ”

"Forget it! What to say when you meet? Let him go to Luzhou, and wear filial piety for his deceased husband," Zuo Zongtang waved his hand and sat on the chair with some sadness. Cheng Qian, the commander of the victorious army, walked in. "My lord, the scout cavalry reports, the rebel soldiers are moving towards Chengdu, and it looks like the rebels are going to make a move!" Zuo Zongtang was very calm and said that he knew. Seeing that Zuo Zongtang was a little abnormal, Cheng Qian continued: "At present, rumors are spreading in the city, and there are many people who shake the morale of the army. "Have you finished killing what the heart desires you?" Go with the flow! Zuo Zongtang's abnormality shocked Cheng Qian.

In mid-August, Luo Bingzhang successfully occupied Chongqing, and then waved troops to the northeast of Sichuan, and the Qing troops defending the city surrendered one after another. At the same time, the main army also launched a siege of Chengdu. He Meng led his troops to outflank the west side, Khalid led his troops to outflank the north side, Lu Changlin led his troops to outflank them from the east side, and Leng Yifei led his headquarters to sit in Lin Xiong's department and outflank them from the south.

In late August, the ministries successfully completed the outflanking. The attack was imminent, but to everyone's surprise, something unexpected happened.