Even if Yang Sichang took out the military horses of Lu Xiangsheng's department, even if the Guan Ning army of the Gaoqi Diving Department gave gifts to the Qing army all the way, even if Zhang Qiping, the governor of Baoding, did not provide military salaries and food, Lu Xiangsheng was not discouraged, and Lu Xiangsheng burst out with great courage in the predicament, and the Tianxiong army also broke out with strong courage.

"I entered Baoding and saved the people!" Lu Xiangsheng resolutely led the army into Zhending Mansion.

Like the people of Gaoyang, when the people of Zhending learned that Lu Duchen, who took the initiative to resist the Qing Dynasty, was short of grain, they donated their family's grain reserves, they didn't care about the attitude of the imperial court, the people were so simple, and they believed whoever could protect them.

With the grain and straw, Lu Xiangsheng fought continuously in Zhending and Dolgon, and the two sides won and lost each other, but the Qing army was outnumbered, and Dolgon divided his troops into several ways, on the one hand, he was entangled with Lu Xiangsheng, and on the other hand, he attacked and advanced to the south, intending to attack Lu Xiangsheng with the division of Duoduo.

There are many generals in the eastern captives, and Lu Xiangsheng's department only has 5,000 troops left after several fierce battles, and some local gentry persuaded Lu Xiangsheng: "The governors have been fighting hard for more than a month, and the soldiers have suffered heavy casualties, so it is better to retreat to the Guangshun area, gather righteous divisions, raise money and food, and then fight against the eastern captives." ”

Lu Xiangsheng categorically vetoed: "Since I am a courtier of the country, I should share the worries of the country, how can I sit back and watch the people as Tartar captives and plunder?" The city was destroyed by the Tartars? Fathers, old wives, and children killed for the Tartars? If the ministers of the court do not think of the people, how can they have the face to take advantage of the country? ”

The gentry were shocked by Lu Xiangsheng's iron bones, and they all contributed money, food, and people, and the Tianxiong army was transferred to the Julu area.

In the face of the stalker Tianxiong army, Dolgon was also a little helpless, after all, Lu Xiangsheng was fighting on the inside line, and the material replenishment still had an advantage over the Qing army, and the Guanning army also followed Lu Xiangsheng to Jize, which was not far from Julu.

To tell the truth, after the battle of Qingdu, Dolgon had doubts about being able to completely annihilate Lu Xiangsheng's department, after all, the food and straw of the party were insufficient, if Lu Xiangsheng was surrounded and annihilated, the Guanning army joined the battlefield, and there was no food on the side, and the army would be in turmoil at that time, and the consequences were not something that Dolgon could bear, so he had to force Duoduo to immediately transfer the grain to the giant deer.

By the end of November, the puppet Qing Yu Prince Duoduo led the army to Julu, the main force of the Qing army was divided, and the main force of Dolgon had reached more than 60,000 people.

As Duoduo swept all the way through the counties of Zhending and obtained a large amount of grain and grass materials, Dolgon decided to take advantage of the gathering of the main forces of the party to completely annihilate Lu Xiangsheng in order to achieve the goal of deterring the Ming army.

For Dolgon's decision-making, Rosh and Ekesu and others all have opposing opinions, especially Ekesu, he believes that Lu Xiangsheng's combat strength is no less than that of the Qing army, if after the engagement, the Guanning army attacks, the Qing army is likely to be attacked by the Ming army internally and externally, even if the Tianxiong army is eaten, if the loss is too great, it will be more than worth the loss, after all, this expedition to the Ming has already folded more than 10,000 Eight Banner Army.

Prince Yu Duoduo sneered again and again when he heard this: "Guan Ningjun? Do they dare to go out of town? In the Battle of the Hunhe River, let's besiege the Zhejiang Army and the Tusi Army, did the Guanning Army move? Let's conquer North Korea, did they move? Let's fight Mongolia, did they move? Let's besiege the Jingshi of the Ming Kingdom and kill Man Gui who dared to resist, did they move? ”

Duoduo tried his best to fight the main battle, and what he said was not without a target, so all the generals of the Qing army were relieved, and Dolgon made up his mind to encircle and annihilate Lu Xiangsheng in Julu.

By December 11, Lu Xiangsheng led his troops to encounter a large number of Qing troops in the area of Julu Artemisia Water Bridge.

In the face of the Qing army, which was several times larger, Lu Xiangsheng was not afraid.

Like Sun Chengzong, Lu Xiangsheng quietly faced the direction of Beijing, bowed three times and bowed nine times to the emperor, raised his sword and said to the generals: "Today's slave army is large, if you want to leave, you can say it bluntly, otherwise once you take over, there is no possibility of escape." ”

Hu Dawei and Yang Guozhu burst into tears and said: "The governor wants to fight to the death with the slaves, and the last general is willing to join the tail, and today is just death." ”

Lu Xiangsheng was overjoyed, so he ordered Hu Dawei to be the left wing, Yang Guozhu to be the right wing, and personally led the Chinese army to fight a decisive battle with the Qing army at the Haoshui Bridge.

Although the cavalry of the Qing army was numerous, and although the infantry were all heavy infantry, the strong crossbows of the Tianxiong army were made for these hoplites.

Relying on the terrain of the Artemisia Water Bridge, the Tianxiong army fought bloodily, and they used strong crossbows, spears, and broadswords to block round after round of attacks by Jiannu.

In order to boost morale, Lu Xiangsheng personally went into battle, holding a big bow, and where the bowstring sounded, a Tartar would fall off his horse.

Hu Dawei and Yang Guozhu also fought hard, and took the guards to kill in front.

One soldier after another fell, and one soldier after another stepped forward,

On that day, the water of the Artemisia River was blood-red, and the soldiers of the Eight Banners, who were known for their bravery, were timid, and in the face of the desperate Tianxiong army, they were actually defeated and retreated.

The fierce battle of Artemisia Water Bridge is in full swing, but the Jize City, which is less than fifty miles away from the battlefield, is a song and a swallow dance, and Gao Qiqian, the director of the Guanning Army, and Zhang Qiping, the governor of Baoding, are feasting the generals of the Guanning Army.

A county hall has become a place for Yingying Yanyan, and the general of the Guanning Army, Zu Kuan, and other generals leaned on the red and green one by one, and drank happily.

After three rounds of wine and five flavors of food, Zhang Qiping got up and said: "Director Gao worked tirelessly, personally led the army to rescue Baoding and Zhending, and ensured the safety of our city. ”

Gao Qiqian's face was already red, and he waved his hand and said: "The east is ferocious, if it fights with it, it will consume the army's strength in vain, the art of war is cloudy, its Xu is like a forest, the invasion is like fire, not moving like a mountain, now the east is strong, our army should stabilize the city defense, thinking that the rock is solid!" ”

"Director Gao is worthy of being a rare master of using troops in the DPRK, and the last general will be subdued."

"The east is trapped in the wilderness, and we are sticking to the city, which is in line with the right way of the art of war, and the senior director is wise!"

Zhang Qiping, Zu Kuan and others touted one by one with big tongues.

"Bang!"

There was a loud bang, and the closed door of the lobby was kicked open.

Gao Qiqian, Zhang Qiping and others were shocked, and they hurriedly raised their eyes to see that it was Yang Yanlin, the director of the Ministry of War.

"The cannon rang out over there in Jiazhuang for a day, and you are actually drinking and having fun here, is it right, Your Majesty? Is it right to start the imperial court? ”

Gao Qi was silent, and Zhang Qiping didn't dare to speak.

Yang Yanlin originally praised military affairs in Lu Xiangsheng's army, but due to the lack of soldiers and food in the army, Lu Xiangsheng sent him to the Guanning army to borrow troops and borrow food, so he was in Jize City.

"Director Gao, Governor Lu is fighting to the death, when will Director Gao send troops?"

Gao Qiqian was still silent, as a eunuch trusted by the emperor, when had he been so insulted.

"If Director Gao refuses to send troops, he can lead the army to Jiazhuang with 5,000 soldiers from his own officer."

At the critical moment, Yang Yanlin even put down his dignity and knelt down in front of Gao Qiqian.

"Smack!"

"The soldiers are in danger, and how can you be pecked by a small master."

Gao Qiqian slapped the case suddenly, but ignored Yang Yanlin, who was kneeling in front of him, and left the lobby by himself.

The generals of Guan Ning and Zhang Qiqing also glanced at Yang Yanlin hatefully, and followed Gao Qi and dived away.

"Governor Lu, the lower officials can't stand you!"

Yang Yanlin, who fell to the ground, almost fainted, forced himself to get up, went out of the house to gather his subordinates, and prepared to reinforce Jiazhuang alone.