In the middle of the night, in a certain col in the Lushi Mountains, the fires flickered, and the fires seemed to be dotted everywhere. Groups of rebels sat around the fire, back to back, and fell asleep.

There was silence in the col, except for the whimpering of the wind and the crackling of burning wood.

In the very center of the camp, Li Zicheng, Gao Yingxiang, Ma Shouying, Zhang Xianzhong and others sat around the fire, and their reactions were mixed, either in high spirits, or in low spirits, or exhausted. But without exception, no one fell asleep.

At this time, Li Zicheng took out a simple map from his arms, and while slowly unfolding it, he also said aloud: "Leaders, you must be very puzzled, why do I have to insist on coming to this Lushi Mountain, this place where birds don't. ”

"Cut, and know that this is where birds don't. There is nothing but mine thieves, I really don't know what to do here? Zhang Xianzhong was the first to go crazy and muttered interrupting Li Zicheng's speech, which made the atmosphere more or less embarrassing.

However, Li Zicheng smiled faintly, did not take it to heart, held up the unfolded map, with the help of the dim and yellowed firelight, in front of everyone, pointed to the Lu clan on the map and said: "Leaders, our current location should be in this area of the Lu clan. Leaders, you might as well take a look and think about it, if we march along this route and cross the mountains, we will be able to reach the inner countryside of Nanyang Province. Moreover, along the way, there will never be any official or military resistance. ”

While speaking, Li Zicheng's hand drew an arc on the map, and finally stopped at the inner township mark of Nanyang Mansion, Henan, and the finger seemed to be fixed somewhere, and then retracted it and looked at everyone.

Li Zicheng's words came to an abrupt end, although he stopped, and seemed to understand something instantly, everyone's eyes lit up, Gao Yingxiang showed excitement, and couldn't help but come to the front, starting from the inner countryside, and drew a few more routes, and his mouth also made amazing words.

"If we can really reach the inner countryside, we can capture it, and use it as a springboard to further capture Dengzhou and Xichuan, and then we can enter the land of Huguang, where the imperial court is the weakest. When the time comes, it will really be the sky is high and the birds will fly, and the sea will be wide and the fish will leap! ”

"Yes, it does." Ma Shouying sighed, nodded slightly, and then further added: "Moreover, once we capture the Inner Township, Dengzhou, and Xichuan, if we enter, we can go to Huguang to replenish rice and grain; You can retreat to Sichuan and use the mountains to avoid the pursuit of the official army. The most important thing is that although the inner countryside is also the land of Henan, it is affected by drought, and wheat is abundant there. ”

At this time, Zhang Xianzhong poured a basin of cold water on everyone, which made people feel a little disappointed.

"Hey... Chiefs, it's too early to rejoice, isn't it? Zhang Xianzhong pursed his lips, with a disapproving look, and continued: "Don't forget, we are all new to this place, the Lushi Mountains are heavy and mountainous, and the mountain roads are rugged and difficult to walk, not to mention entering the inner countryside of Nanyang Mansion, it is good to be able to get out of the Lushi Mountains." ”

"Also, the inner countryside is known as 'guarding the gateway of eight hundred miles of barberry, and choking the key points of Qin and Chu traffic', even if the imperial court's troops in that area are weak, how can there be no heavy troops in such a critical place? The inner countryside shouldn't be so easy to fight, right? ”

A word woke up the person in the dream, and everyone remembered that they were waiting for themselves in the mountains, if it was a sunny day and the sun was better, once it was cloudy, they couldn't even touch the direction, how could they go to the inner countryside?

Of course, for the danger and importance of the inner countryside that Zhang Xianzhong said, there will be heavy guards, and everyone does not take it to heart, so many troops can still take a city?

For a while, everyone's eyes turned to Li Zicheng again, hoping that this general could have a solution, and Li Zicheng did not disappoint them.

"Hehe... Leaders, don't worry, since Li said so, there must be a way to deal with it. Li Zicheng smiled faintly, not stumped at all, and then continued: "Before dinner, I once asked those mining people and asked, they are all local people, and they are very familiar with the mountains and rivers here. Moreover, they also know the nearby trails, and they are willing to lead the way for everyone to get out of the Lushi Mountains and go to the inner countryside. ”

"What willingly or not? It's all accepted by you Li Zicheng, those people can't wait to lead the way, no wonder they can't wait to collect those mining thieves, not only replenish the source of troops, but also indirectly control the Lu family, and enter and exit the Lu family's mountainous area, as if entering a no-man's land. Zhang Xianzhong's expression was a little unsightly, more like envy, jealousy and hatred, and he muttered to himself, but the others didn't hear it clearly.

"Great, so we can leave tomorrow and head to the inner countryside." Ma Shouying exclaimed, his face was excited, he was looking forward to it, and his eyes were shining.

However, at this moment, Li Zicheng shook his head again and again, and vetoed: "Leader Ma, tomorrow is not the time, do you need to wait for two more days?" ”

Before Ma Shouying could speak, Gao Yingxiang couldn't help but ask, "Zicheng, why wait two days?" Isn't it better to attack the inner countryside as soon as possible? In that way, the officers and soldiers defending the city could be taken by surprise. ”

"Uncle, what you said is right, it stands to reason that it is true." Li Zicheng echoed, and without waiting for Gao Yingxiang to have any other reactions, the conversation changed and said: "Uncle, let's come here, nephew, I just recruited those people, and it will take two days at the shortest, they need to pack up and settle down their families before they can leave with us and go to the inner countryside." ”

"Hey~ It's just to lead the way, and you don't need so many people, one or two will do." Zhang Xianzhong interjected in a strange way, and then said: "Besides, they are all your people, what do they have to do with us?" Why should we wait for them? ”

Li Zicheng sneered, glanced at Zhang Xianzhong obliquely, and did not react too much, knowing why the other party was always targeting him, but it was just red-eyed, almost all the miners in this Lushi Mountain area were recruited by themselves, and the other leaders barely added a little troops.

For a while, the lively atmosphere just became a little awkward again, but Li Zicheng said loudly again: "Of course, the main reason is that I want to wait until all the officers and soldiers are gathered in this area, and then we will set off, detour through the Lushi Mountains, go to the inner countryside, and enter the rear of the officials and troops, so that they will not be able to guard against it." ”

Although the words are exhausted, the meaning is endless, and all the words behind are heard, the sound outside the strings.

At that time, once the officers and troops gather in this area, they will be entangled by other rebel armies, and they can leave calmly, if they attack Neixiang, Dengzhou, Xichuan and other places at that time, it will be easier, and the resistance will be greatly reduced.

After all, no matter who casts a net in this area to encircle and intercept the officers and troops, they have to transfer troops nearby, and this is also the fastest and most effective method. And with Zuo Liangyu, Li Bei, Deng Xi and others with so little troops, it is very difficult to search the mountains.

Therefore, once the fight starts here, Nanyang Mansion will more or less draw some troops, and the city defense battalion of the Gongacropolis will be reduced accordingly, and most of the officers and troops will be concentrated in the area where Henan, Sichuan and Shanxi meet.

At this moment, no one pierced this layer of window paper.

Otherwise, there will be some schadenfreude, and it will be a bold target for other rebels, and if it spreads, it will not only damage the reputation, but also provoke public anger.

"Okay, Brother Li, just do as you say, everyone will rest here now, and in a few days, after leaving the Lushi Mountains, we will go to the inner countryside." Ma Shouying responded with a word of harmony, and said with some flattery, and the other leaders did not object, which was regarded as acquiescence.