Xiong Wencan heard that Liu Guoneng was a famous talent, and there was an old mother in the house, and he was extremely filial, and he was about to send someone to pick up his mother to help persuade him to surrender, thinking that he would first appease one or two thieves, one to lure other thieves to surrender, and the other could combat the arrogance of the thieves. When Zhang Xianzhong heard the news, he immediately responded and posted a notice: "This camp is determined to be chaotic, and it has fled far away. If you want to release your armor and return to the dynasty now, it will not harm the people. "The people of Gucheng saw that he had not committed any crimes, and they bought and sold at a reasonable price, and they did not take precautions. The two fallen talents, Pan Duao and Xu Yixian, went out of the city to take refuge and became Zhang Xianzhong's military advisors.

Chongzhen received Liu Yuanbin's excerpt and confirmed Zhang Xianzhong's surrender, and he was really unwilling to pardon Zhang Xianzhong's crime, but he was worried that he would not be allowed to change his ways, so he was forced to jump over the wall in a hurry, and when he hesitated for a long time, he only criticized the soothing on the fold and used four big characters. Xiong Wencan decided to surrender in Gucheng, and Huguang Xun conspired with Lin Mingqiu, Xiangyang Daowang Ruihan and Zuo Liangyu. Unexpectedly, Xiong Wencan knew about it and strictly forbade it. Zhang Xianzhong guessed that the imperial court must be suspicious, and according to the idea of the military advisor Pan Duao, he invited the local squire and the elder Gu to be a guarantor, and he was willing to submit to it, but he was only restrained by Chen Hongfan; The 30,000 horses were reduced by half, and those who were reduced worked on the spot and built hundreds of houses on Baishazhou, fifteen miles outside the city, as a permanent residence. Xu Yixian personally acted as a matchmaker, married a local woman with a high surname as a concubine, and gave him a literary ---- Jingxuan. After Zhang Xianzhong and Liu Guoneng surrendered, the mixed 100,000 Ma Jinzhong, Li Wanqing, Cao Cao, Luo Rucai, Guotianxing Hui Dengxiang, Wang Guoning, Chang Guoan, King Chang Guoan, Yang Youxian, and Wang Guangen, Huaguansuo, surrendered one after another, and Huguang, Henan and other places gradually pacified.

The autumn breeze is cool, and the northern geese fly south. In October, Zhang Xianzhong's injuries had recovered, and he listened to Xu Yixian's explanation of Sun Wu's art of war every day. Thinking that Xiong Wencan's firearms were powerful, he secretly created three-eyed guns, maces, crossbows and other weapons, and specially created a three-eyed gun inlaid with gold and silver, Zhang Xianzhong loved it very much, and never left his hand all day long. On this day, when he was fiddling in the tent, a personal soldier came in and said, "King Li Zicheng is here." ”

"What's wrong with him?" Zhang Xianzhong was taken aback, couldn't help but stand up, and said anxiously: "How many pairs of eyes in the world are staring at Gucheng, how many people suspect that we are fraudulently surrendering, he came to Gucheng at this time, if the officials and soldiers know, but he will cause big trouble." ”

"Don't worry, the marshal", the military advisor Xu Yixian came in with a smile, "God-given opportunity, don't miss it." ”

"What opportunity? The soldiers and horses have not yet rested, if the officers and soldiers find out that we are in contact with Li Zicheng, how can they sit idly by? ”

"It's easy to do. Li Zicheng threw himself into the net, and the marshal just took the opportunity to arrest him, escorted him to Wuchang, and handed him over to Lord Dutai. On the one hand, it can show loyalty to the imperial court, and on the other hand, it can also remove the big trouble of the henchmen. ”

"I just have a little grudge with him, I don't have to kill you to death."

Xu Yixian said with a smile: "The handsome man misunderstood. Li Zicheng failed miserably through Tongguan, and he should have prolonged his life, hid in the mountains, and waited for the opportunity. But he was willing to take a risk, only took two entourages, traveled hundreds of miles, and came to Baishazhou in Gucheng to meet the handsome, which shows that his courage is extraordinary. In the future, he can compete with the handsome man for his strengths and weaknesses, and he must not be kept! ”

Zhang Xianzhong groaned: "We are brothers for many years, we can't turn our faces and be ruthless, and break the rules of the rivers and lakes." You run and get him in, and don't show your sights. ”

Li Zicheng hadn't seen such a delicacy for a long time, smelling the aroma of wine, he couldn't help but think of his wife and daughter whose whereabouts were unknown, and his heart ached. Zhang Xianzhong saw that he was distracted by the wine and food, patted him on the shoulder, and said a little mockingly: "The days in the mountains are hiding in Tibet, and they must be bitter." Brother Li might as well follow me and surrender to the court, wouldn't it be better than running around and suffering? ”

"Hahaha......" Li Zicheng laughed on his back, "Brother, how can I compare to you?" Now that there are less than 100 people under my command, I have long lost the capital to surrender, who is willing to spend money on me? I came to Gucheng to eat wine and rice, or my brother looked at the past love! ”

"Brother Li is a hero in the world, where is there a shortage of wine and food? You must have something in mind. ”

"Happy!" Li Zicheng slapped his thigh, "Don't tell lies in front of real people, I'm here to persuade you to make trouble." ”

"Life is peaceful, what happened?" Zhang Xianzhong swallowed a glass of wine and said: "You taste this is the famous flower and stone wine in Gucheng, it is very mellow!" ”

Li Zichang sighed and said regretfully: "I can't imagine that the heroes and heroes who were so powerful and spanning the world back then were so short of breath." It seems that I came to Gucheng for nothing. After that, he stood up, stopped talking, and said goodbye: "There will be a period later." ”

"Wait, it's not too late to finish speaking."

Li Zicheng sneered: "Brother, you think you are happy and blessed in Gucheng, but in my opinion, you are suspicious of the imperial court, and you are not given a title, no customs defense, and no food; He was blackmailed by the local officials and gentry, and asked for bribes every day, but he was just trapped in the house, not by the eldest husband. ”

Xu Yixian snorted coldly: "The wishful thinking is good, but it can't deceive people." When we got into trouble, we caused the officers and soldiers to fight, but it was you who got the cheapest. Be a happy fairy in the mountains, so you can live freely! ”

"As the old saying goes: Rather be a chicken's mouth, not a cow's queen. Which one is at ease, Brother Zhang understands in his heart. ”

"It's better to be happy ...... your own house" Zhang Xianzhong laughed endlessly, and a soldier flew in and said hurriedly: "Ruan Zhitian, the county magistrate, has come to worship and has arrived at the camp gate." ”

"Ruan Zhixian must have heard something." Zhang Xianzhong glanced at Li Zicheng in surprise.

"My brother can give me credit."

"People in the rivers and lakes, righteous words come first. Brother Li, let's go! After going out of the camp gate to the east, cross the river from the immortal pontoon bridge, and then go northwest along the official road, it is sparsely populated, and the mountains overlap, it is not difficult to hide. Zhang Xianzhong left the table.

Ruan Zhitian is the magistrate of Gucheng, Zhang Xianzhong is right under his nose, no matter how secret he is, it is difficult to ensure that he will not make the slightest movement, the so-called country is easy to change, and his nature is difficult to change, and he can't bear it for a while, and he will eventually show his feet. When Zhang Xianzhong was stationed in Gucheng, he did not take a single grass and tree from the people, bought and sold fairly, and sometimes borrowed grain from a few squires who were unkind to the rich, but he did not dare to do anything wrong. Day and night to make weapons, every day to train troops, stockpiling food, and recruit more than 10,000 people from the disaster victims from Henan, and to carry the baggage to Junzhou, Fangxian and other areas of the rush, it seems that he is not a thief, and the trouble is not sooner or later, and Premier Xiong, who is close to Xiangyang, is pretending to be deaf and dumb, but Gucheng is his own territory, and he cannot shirk or escape, and there is really no way to retreat. He took a sedan chair to the Baishazhou camp, the seven-grade red official uniform on his body was extraordinarily bright, and he saw Zhang Xianzhong sitting high on the tiger skin chair, thinking of the rumors outside the city that Zhang Xianzhong had surrendered, and was secretly worried, but thinking of being trapped here, he should live and die with Gucheng, either at the hands of thieves, or because of the national law, he stepped forward with a heart, and asked with a split face: "General Zhang, where is the thief Li Zicheng?" ”

Zhang Xianzhong saw that he was alone, without any soldiers and horses, and knew that he had no corroboration, and intended to deceive people, so he said quietly: "You should go and ask Hong Chengchou and Sun Chuanting, you should not come to Baishazhou and take this unjust road." ”

Ruan Zhitian sneered: "Rebellious ministers and thieves, everyone will be punished, why bother looking for Hong and Sun?" It was clear that he had entered the camp. ”

"If the magistrate is suspicious, he might as well search my camp, and it can be regarded as helping me clear my name."

Ruan Zhitian understood that when a person entered the camp of 100,000 soldiers and horses, he would be like a bird returning to the mountains and forests, and a fish would enter the sea, even if he was incarnated into a hundred thousands, it would be difficult to find his shadow, so he couldn't help but be discouraged, and Wen Yu persuaded him: "General Zhang might as well catch him and dedicate him to the imperial court......

Zhang Xianzhong interrupted him impatiently and said, "Do you want to ask the court for officials?" His grandmother's, the title of deputy general promised at the beginning has not been granted, and the customs defense has not been issued, and the court clearly does not take us to heart, so why bother to trouble yourself and provoke those idle people? Don't say that Li Zicheng didn't come, even if he came, it doesn't matter to us! ”

"There are a lot of rumors outside, whether it's true or not, and don't care about him, the general doesn't want to take this opportunity to confess his loyalty? Wouldn't the general see General Liu Guoneng, anyway, after the sincere service, the Son of Heaven issued an edict to seal the official, a generous bounty, and a wife and a son, what a scenery! ”

"How many loyal ministers have had a good end since ancient times? If others ignore it, why should they rush to flatter and please! Haha, do you think we have a rare copper seal of the imperial court? When did Lao Tzu be happy, wouldn't it be much more generous than the imperial court's defense when he carved a golden seal with a big wheat bucket! Zhang Xianzhong stroked his loose beard, leaned back in his chair and laughed loudly.

"Looks like you're harboring a thief?" Ruan Zhitian's voice was full of emotion.

Zhang Xianzhong jumped up, pointed at Ruan Zhitian's nose and asked, "What?" You, a seven-grade county official with big sesame seeds, dare to teach Lao Tzu a lesson! We are harboring the criminals, what can you do? ”

"Students can't move you, and they can't mess with you. But there are also the Prison Guards, the Patrol, and Lord Xiong, if they know that you still have objections, they will naturally have a way to deal with them. Ruan Zhitian looked directly at Zhang Xianzhong with both eyes, and did not give in at all.

"You informed Zhang Dajing and Lin Mingqiu?"

"Not bad."

"Look at this is the document you wrote to Xiong Wencan? Saying that loyalty will be opposed, but it can be tried before it is sent. Zhang Xianzhong took out a crumpled piece of paper from his arms and snorted contemptuously: "He believes in your papers, or does he like white silver?" Lord Xiong sat in Xiangyang, scooped up the silver, and reached Gucheng with his hand. Those bosses of yours, except for Xiangyang Dao Wang Ruiyang, which one has not used our silver? You eat the country's money, you are an official for thousands of miles, just for food and clothing, how many of you think about the common people? ”

Ruan Zhitian saw that the secret letter was intercepted by Zhang Xianzhong, and thought that Premier Xiong was still blinding him, and he was restless, but the four gates of Gucheng were guarded by Zhang Xianzhong's people, and there were soldiers patrolling dozens of miles outside the city, and it was difficult to get out of the situation, and it was difficult to send the news to Xiangyang. Is this providential? He sighed secretly, but his face was very calm, and he said coldly: "The student came to see the general today, it was a good intention, and he wanted to cherish his talents for the imperial court. ”

Zhang Xianzhong glared at him and scolded hatefully: "Hmph, you sue Prime Minister Xiong about Lao Tzu, or play a copy to Chongzhen, whatever your mother wants, Lao Tzu doesn't care at all!" Come on, put him up first! ”

Ruan Zhitian raised his eyebrows, and shouted at the soldiers who stepped forward: "I am an official of the imperial court, you must not be presumptuous!" ”

"Don't be rude!" Zhang Xianzhong smiled, waved his hand and said: "Ruan Zhixian, you still have some integrity, we don't want to kill you, but I want to teach you to understand." Come on, take my order arrow and invite Zhang Dajing to come! ”

Ruan Zhitian put the two soldiers behind the big tent, and after a while, Zhang Dajing sat in a sedan chair to the Yuanmen, Zhang Xianzhong greeted the second door, Zhang Dajing hurriedly drank the sedan chair, did not wait for the sedan chair to settle down, hurriedly got down, and said pantingly: "The students are here to supervise the army, and they have always had a good relationship with the general, what is there to offend, today they actually use the order arrow to recruit each other, this, this is inevitably a bit unorthodox, the general should save a little face for the students." ”

Zhang Xianzhong laughed twice, arched his hand and said: "We are a rough man from the army, we don't understand those stinky rules, because the matter is urgent, I just want to see you sooner, what's wrong, Duoduo Haihan!" ”

"That's a big deal." Zhang Dajing sat down in the guest seat.

Zhang Xianzhong glanced at the back, estimated that Ruan Zhitian could hear clearly, and said with a smile: "Lord Zhang, please come here today, I want to vomit the bitterness in my heart." ”

Zhang Dajing was surprised and said: "The court's decree is coming soon, and the general's six-month salary has been allocated, it's time to drink the general's happy wine, what else is the bitter water?" ”

"We both have the surname Zhang, we were a family five hundred years ago, and we are still closer to each other as brothers in private. How old are you, let's call you big brother! ”

"This, this ......"

"You are a fourth-rank official of the imperial court, don't you think we are from a reckless background and can't climb high?"

"Where...... How dare you...... Then, let's call each other brothers. Zhang Dajing told him the central matter, his expression was a little embarrassed, and he called out his newly taken words, and covered up: "Jing Xuan, who made you angry?" ”

"It's not anyone, it's ...... Ahem, I can't tell you for a while. We were born in poverty, and the rebellion was also due to injustice, and we couldn't swallow that bad breath. In Gucheng, he returned to the imperial court and also wanted to benefit the local community. Now that I have been in the sea of eunuchs, it has been more than half a year, and all I have seen are officials who are greedy for ink, gentry who are rampant, and officials and soldiers who are looting everywhere, and the people really have no way to live. Back then, we were in the green forest, drinking wine in big bowls, eating meat in large pieces, and we had never seen such a messy thing, but now we want to see it all day long, and we can't think about it, even if we close our eyes, we also dangle in our hearts. We really can't stand it, to be such a bird official, it's better to occupy a mountain and live happily, if you are willing to work with us to do great things, you will never lose you in the future. If you still want to be an official and eat a good meal, we don't force it, and when we leave the boundary of Gucheng, we will release you immediately! ”

Zhang Dajing was so shocked that his face was pale, and he secretly thought: Since he knew that Zhang Xianzhong was going to rebel and it was a matter of confidentiality, he would never let himself escape from Gucheng alive. If Zhang Xianzhong's army was defeated, he insisted that he did not surrender to the thief, but was coerced and coerced by the thief. Between the lightning and flint, Zhang Dajing thought about it a few times, got up and said, "Jing Xuan!" You ask for the people's life, and then set up a banner of righteousness, the foolish brother is full of admiration, and is willing to follow the left and right, plan great things together, and go out of the people in fire and water. If there are two hearts, heaven and earth will not tolerate it! ”

"Wow! This is a hero who understands current affairs, not like the rotten and poor sour who reads hard. Come on, please come out of Ruan Zhixian! Hahahaha......"

Ruan Zhitian walked out proudly and sneered at Zhang Dajing a few times. There is a lot of difference in the official ranks between the two, but he didn't say a word of greeting, and he didn't bow and salute, he only rolled his eyelids, and he actually regarded Zhang Dajing as nothing and didn't put it in his eyes, which was really contemptuous. Zhang Dajing's face was secretly hot, and he didn't expect that there were colleagues in the camp tent, and he sat sneering, embarrassed. Zhang Xianzhong asked: "The four dignified officials of Lord Zhang are willing to participate in great things with us, what else do you want to be nostalgic for?" ”

"I have read the books of the sages since I was a child, and I have not remembered anything else, but I have only memorized one loyal character. Zhang Dajing is willing to be a thief, I can't take care of him, but I am afraid of his ancestors, and I am afraid that no one will take care of the ancestral tomb of the Zhang family in the future. ”

Pan Duao, a military advisor who had just entered, retorted: "You are really a rotten Confucian who doesn't know how to change from time to time! Since ancient times, the winner is the king, the loser is the coward, Lord Zhang abandons the dark and throws the light, and raises the banner of righteousness, the next day is the founding father of the new dynasty, not only the ancestral tomb does not have to worry about no one to take care of, but also to chase up the three generations, the glory of the ancestors! ”

"Phew! You unconscionable thief, you have failed this turban! Ruan Zhitian scolded loudly.

Pan Duao was furious, and Sen Ran shouted: "If you dare to talk nonsense again, cut off your tongue!" ”

"Since I dare to come to Baishazhou, I have already put life and death aside, and I don't plan to go back alive, don't be verbose, hurry up!"

"Good man!" Zhang Xianzhong laughed, "Let's not kill you, keep it to see Xiong Wencan, no, no, see what Chongzhen does with you." ”

"No need. It's just death, so why should you be afraid! The corners of Ruan Zhitian's mouth twitched a few times, knelt down and bowed four times to the north, then bit his fingers and wrote the tent, which turned into a short poem:

Read all the books of the sages,

This is the heart of Haoran.

Reluctantly killed,

No negative virtuous and square.

---- Guyi's minister, Ruan Zhiyou, bowed and bowed

Zhang Xianzhong ordered: "Come here, escort Ruan Zhixian back to the Yaya, and serve him well, don't teach him to leak the news." Several soldiers came in, dragged Ruan Zhitian and pushed him, and sent him back to the county office.

The four gates of Gucheng have been replaced by Zhang Xianzhong's men and horses, and no one can get out of the city without an arrow. Someone kept coming in to report it, and after a while saying that the official treasury had been opened and the money in the treasury had been removed; After a while, it was said that the prison had been opened, and all the prisoners were released. Zhang Xianzhong laughed and exclaimed, "Hurry up and bring the wine and drink a few glasses with everyone!" ”

The best Huashi wine was brought up, Zhang Xianzhong raised a big glass in his hand, three glasses of wine in his stomach, and suddenly said with annoyance: "We have been crisscrossing the world for ten years, and I don't want to compromise in Gucheng, but I want to act according to other people's faces, I really hate it!" ”

Pan Duao persuaded and explained: "The big husband can bend and stretch, such as the dragon in the clouds, can be big and small, can rise and hide, and change with time." The big ones are spitting out the clouds, and the small ones are hidden and hidden. The rising is soaring between the universe, and the hidden is lurking in the waves. Being able to rest in Magu City and recuperate is the capital of today's big move. ”

"It's still Lao Pan who knows our hearts. Come on, come on...... Eat wine, eat wine! He took the lead in making a toast and asked left and right: "Keep an eye on Lin Mingqiu, don't teach him to run." ”

Pan Duao walked outside the tent, came in with a bloody human head, and said: "The dog official has already realized that he is going to run away by boat, and he will bring someone to catch up and kill him, this is Lin Mingqiu's dog head, please take a look!" ”

Zhang Xianzhong is worthy of the devil who kills people without blinking, and when he saw the bloody head, he didn't have the slightest look of surprise and fear, and lifted the long hair on his head with his hand, and scolded: "This is the fate of corrupt officials!" ”