On this day in September, near Jincheng in Zezhou, Shanxi, a group of rebel troops roamed here, with more than 10,000 people, who were Li Zicheng's Li Jiajun. In less than a month, Li Zicheng's subordinates directly increased by several thousand, and they came to the bank of the Danshui River in the south of Jincheng.

The turbulent river flows, the sound of the tumult echoes, and in late autumn, the grass and trees wither.

At this time, Li Zicheng stood on the top of the hill, climbed high and looked to the south, and Xu Xiake was introducing softly beside him.

"Boss, in front of you is the Tianjing Pass of the imperial court, continue to walk south, cross Hengwangling, it is Huaiqing Mansion in Henan." Seeing Li Zicheng's calm expression and calm appearance, Xu Xiake further reminded: "Boss, if the army wants to cross Hengwangling smoothly, it must take Tianjing Pass. ”

However, Li Zicheng said speciously: "Mr. Xu, how are Captain Tian and Wu Ruyi doing?" Haven't listened to what's ahead? ”

Xu Xia paused for a moment, then reacted, and immediately replied respectfully: "Boss, Tian Jianxiu led a team of people disguised as ordinary people and blended into the Tianjing Pass, and there has been no news so far. As for Wu Ruyi and the others, they have already sneaked into the area of Hengwangling, looking for a shortcut to cross and explore the way. ”

Without waiting for Li Zicheng to respond, a whining voice suddenly echoed in the air, interrupting the conversation between the two.

"Boss, I really don't understand, why don't you let the brothers act? Boss, don't you know, there are more rich families and landlords in this area, and there are countless bullies in the township. If we can take action, kill these rich and unkind, and sweep away the bullies, not only can we get a lot of money and food, but we will also be supported by the people, and the army can increase by a few thousand more. ”

At this moment, another whining voice came, followed by a somewhat lazy voice.

"Brother-in-law, the old fox is really cunning enough to use us, and we can easily master the flying dragon chariot and various tactics to capture some cities. No, we just separated from Yangcheng, and Xing Hongliang slipped to Lu'an Mansion with a puff of smoke, and I no longer have nostalgia at all. It's really not interesting, and I don't want to send us to help us attack Tianjing Pass and enter Henan. ”

While talking, Li Zicheng and the others followed the prestige, only to see Liu Fangliang and Gao Yigong striding over, looking beaming, with a face full of indifference, more like a dull and depressed person.

Li Zicheng did not answer the doubts of the two, but asked rhetorically: "Captain Liu, Captain Gao, how did you hear the news?" Did you encounter any emergencies while patrolling? ”

Hearing this, Liu Fangliang's grumbling suddenly disappeared, his face was overjoyed, and he replied a little proudly: "Hehe... Boss, these officers and soldiers are all in vain, what are they invincible? They are all a group of cowardly people, more like shrunken turtles, hiding in Jinyang City and not daring to come out at all. Even if we find out about our whereabouts, at most we will close the city gates and dare to take the initiative to attack. ”

seemed to feel something, Gao Yigong also said: "Yes, boss." Since we and the lord of the Wang League captured several cities in a row, turning Qinzhou and Zezhou upside down, as the momentum of the various rebel armies is gaining momentum and getting bigger and bigger, the officers and soldiers in this area of Shanxi seem to be frightened, and they have all hid like grandsons, shrunk in the city, and dare not come out. Even Zhang Zongheng, the governor of Xuanda, and Xu Dingchen, the governor of Shanxi, retreated one after another, constantly moving to the southeast and northeast of Shanxi to avoid the troops of the rebel armies from all walks of life, panicking like a lost dog. Before the rebels arrived, they were gone. ”

Liu Fangliang's words didn't have anything, but Gao Yigong's words made everyone's expressions move, and they looked very approving, Xu Xiake added approvingly: "It's nothing? It's normal. There are not many good generals in the court. Most of the people who can fight well are concentrated in Liaodong and Shaanxi, and the war is the most tense place. The remaining elite divisions were also sent to Laizhou in Shandong. ”

Moreover, since the Tumubao Incident, the status of military attachés in the imperial court has declined sharply. Even for civil officials and military generals of the same rank, the status of the latter is far inferior to that of the former. Not only that, but in the army, the situation of those generals is even better, and as for the soldiers at the bottom, they are often deducted from their salaries. Even at the forefront of the most intense war, the situation of the soldiers on the border was even worse, and the tuntian system implemented by the imperial court had long been abandoned, and the soldiers had been reduced to tenant farmers of military generals and magnates, without even an acre of fertile land, so they could only get some food by helping their superiors farm the fields. ”

"So, looking at the land of the North, mutinies are a regular occurrence among soldiers. It is not difficult to understand that when the rebel armies from all walks of life besieged the county seat, the officers and soldiers defending the city often did not resist at all, but joined the army and rebelled together. ”

Hearing Xu Xiake's words, Liu Fangliang and others were most deeply touched, they accompanied Li Zicheng to lead the troops to mutiny, and they were the most clear and deeply touched by the fact that their bosses were deducting food and salary.

However, at this moment, Li Zicheng put forward a different opinion.

"Mr. Xu, Captain Gao, do you really think that things are as simple as that, Zhang Zongheng, the governor of Xuanda, and Xu Dingchen, the governor of Shanxi, are all cowards? Frightened of the rebels? As soon as they heard that the rebel army was attacking Zezhou, Lu'anfu, Fenzhou and other places, they began to flee to the eastern part of Shanxi? ”

As soon as this remark came out, it immediately attracted everyone's attention and aroused their curiosity, Gao Yigong was even more unconvinced, and felt that he wanted to shout the word "brother-in-law", and suddenly remembered Li Zicheng's explanation a few days ago, he should be called like everyone in front of people, calling himself the boss, and he can't be special.

At that moment, Gao Yigong was somewhat incomprehensible, between the two, could they be so clearly divided? However, when he thought of Li Guo, whenever everyone was present, he would never shout "uncle", and Gao Yigong would balance his heart and understand it.

Therefore, as soon as he thought of this, the words that came to his mouth were swallowed back by the first year of high school, changed his title, and said instead: "Boss, what can Zhang Zongheng and Xu Dingchen do?" These two people were just cowards, and in the face of the various rebel armies galloping in Binh Duong Province, they did nothing at all, but moved to other places with the generals. ”

Li Zicheng smiled faintly and didn't explain much, but asked meaningfully: "Captain Gao, whether it is Xu Dingchen, the governor of Shanxi, or Zhang Zongheng, the governor of Xuanda, do you know where they are now?" Or, to be more specific, do you know what the two of them are doing? ”

Hardly there was any hesitation, Gao Yigong opened his mouth and replied: "Boss, of course I know where they are, Zhang Zongheng fled to Lingchuan City near the junction of Zezhou and Lu'an Mansion. As for that Xu Dingchen, he hid in Liaozhou, and he didn't dare to confront Zhang Xianzhong at all, and Fenzhou City, where he was stationed, was being occupied by Zhang Xianzhong. But what are they doing? Needless to say? Of course, he was deaf and dumb and avoided the rebels from all walks of life. ”

Li Zicheng's expression remained unchanged, showing that he hated iron but not steel, shook his head, and didn't say anything, but asked again: "Then let me ask you again, what are the characteristics of the place where these two people are stationed?" ”

Gao Yigong was suddenly asked, not knowing how to answer, Liu Fangliang, Dang Shousu and others also didn't know why. However, Xu Xiake had a thoughtful look on his face, and after a while, his expression moved, as if he had thought of something, and couldn't help asking, "Boss, ......what do you mean?" ”

"Mr. Xu, let's not talk about Xu Dingchen, if there is no Zhang Zongheng and others leading troops to garrison there, once the rebel army crosses the junction of Shanxi and Henan, continues to march eastward, and walks out of Henan, where is it?" Li Zicheng pretended to be profound, talked eloquently, and asked again, but it seemed that he was asking a little knowingly.

For a moment, Xu Xiake did not answer immediately, but a picture appeared in his mind, the map of Shanxi and Henan, as long as the rebel army continues to attack to the east, it will be in Shandong, and then think of the current situation in Shandong, especially the two prefectures of Lai and Deng.

As soon as he thought of this, Xu Xiake was stunned, and while knowing it in his heart, he also replied: "Boss, I understand, the reason why this is the case, Xu Dingchen and Zhang Zongheng do not fight against the rebel army is because they have other plans. ”

Hearing this, the curiosity of Liu Fangliang and others had already reached the highest point, and Gao Yigong couldn't help but say, "Mr. Xu, what kind of dumb riddle are you playing?" Don't grind and chirp here, sell off. Hurry up, what is the reason, you can make it clear, I was itched by you, and I was almost confused. ”

Suddenly interrupted, Xu Xiake was not angry, but was amused by Gao Yigong's eager temperament, glanced at Li Zicheng, smiled at each other, nodded slightly, and Xu Xiake immediately continued the topic just now.

With Xu Dingchen stationed in Liaozhou, as the governor of Shanxi, he was able to integrate the officers and troops of Taiyuan, Liaozhou, and Fenzhou, and mobilize troops to protect the safety of the Beijing Division, in case the rebel army entered Shuntianfu from Liaozhou and threatened the Beijing Division. At the same time, troops could also be sent from the northeast to stop the spread of the rebel army, and gradually push it to the west of Shanxi, so as to fix the rebel army west of Shuntianfu. ”

Xu Xiake's tone was stunned, his voice was raised a little, and he reminded him meaningfully: "Captain Gao, especially Zhang Zongheng, the governor of Xuanda, has a great plan, and the main purpose is to prevent the rebel army from spreading eastward. You might as well think about it, once the rebel army and Kong Youde in Shandong are united, the situation of the imperial court will not be good. ”

Moreover, the most important thing is that Zhang Zongheng is in the southeast of Shanxi, and Xu Dingchen is stationed in the northeast, and the two form a corner trend, which can stop the spread of the rebel army to the east, and retreat can protect the Beijing division and isolate the rebel army. Not only that, but they could also concentrate their superior forces and push the rebels to the west. At that time, Cao Wenzhao entered Shanxi from Shaanxi and used troops from the west, and the three formed a triangular trend, and the rebel armies from all walks of life would be trapped in the center, and the 36th Battalion would have the possibility of being completely destroyed. ”

Hearing this, especially the last sentence, in an instant, everyone was stunned, and then gasped, full of excitement, and some fear! Although I have the heart to refute it, I have already believed most of it, and I don't know what to say?

After being stunned for a while, Dang Shousu still didn't believe it, and said: "Mr. Xu, won't you?" ”

"Why not?" Li Zicheng spoke, and after asking a rhetorical question, he further said: "In this way, the imperial court can completely quell the rebellion between Shaanxi and Shanxi." Looking back, the official army can also concentrate all its forces and completely solve the problem of Kong Youde and others, which can be described as killing two birds with one stone, why wouldn't the imperial court do that? ”

Although Li Zicheng's last sentence was a question, he said it with great certainty and could not be vetoed.

Gao Yigong took a deep breath, a hint of happiness appeared on his face, and he couldn't help but say: "Boss, fortunately, you are far-sighted and far-sighted, and brought the Li Jiajun here and out of Shanxi." As long as we cross the junction of Shanxi and Henan and enter Henan, we will be able to escape from the encirclement of the imperial court, turn the danger into a disaster, and escape. ”

However, Li Zicheng shook his head, his expression was not so relaxed, Xu Xiake explained: "Captain Gao, what you think is still too simple. Even if we successfully capture Tianjing Pass, safely cross Hengwangling, and successfully enter Huaiqing Mansion in Henan, it does not mean that we are safe. ”

"Mr. Xu, why do you say that?" Liu Fangliang asked, with a puzzled look on his face.

Xu Xiake's expression was a little dignified, and he explained: "Captain Liu, although he escaped from Shanxi, it seems that he is far away from the encirclement built by the imperial court. However, there is still a natural danger in the south, and if we can't cross the Yellow River, we are still not safe. ”

Everyone suddenly realized, and Liu Tichun couldn't help but echo: "Yes! The Yellow River is rolling, and if there are no boats, officers and soldiers stationed at the ferry, and sailors from the imperial court, it will be difficult for us to cross the Yellow River. When the imperial court solves the rebellion in Shanxi, it will be able to divide some troops and go all the way south to deal with us. Only by crossing the Yellow River can we truly turn danger into a disaster and escape. ”

For a while, the atmosphere was a little tense, and everyone looked at Li Zicheng with hope, but the latter waved his hand indifferently, and did not show worry, but said loudly: "There must be a road before the car reaches the mountain." Moreover, we have not yet entered Henan, and we do not know the situation of the Yellow River crossing, what can I do? ”

Xu Xiake nodded, not as sad as the others, a little disappointed, but suggested: "Boss, I think that while the idea of the imperial court is all focused on Wang Ziyong, the lord of the Wang League, and wants to solve the trouble in Shanxi, we can send some people to take the first step and enter Henan to find out the situation in Huaiqing Mansion, especially on both sides of the Yellow River." ”

"Well, Mr. Xu, what you said is right, knowing yourself and knowing your opponent is the only way to survive a hundred battles." Li Zicheng echoed approvingly, and then said: "When Captain Tian comes back, I will arrange for him to be in charge of this matter." ”

Obviously, there was no objection, and there was no one better than Tamihide for the task. After all, Tian Jianxiu is one of the few Confucian generals in the Li family's army, and he is calm and good at strategy.