"Now the exile is full of roads, and the road is full of bones. The yin wind is miserable, and the green of the forest is roaring. And there are those who close the door...... There are those who eat wattles and tribulus terrestris, there are those who eat earth and stones, there are those who moan like ghosts, and there are those who are stiff and unable to speak...... There are thousands and hundreds of people gathered around the corner of the city to uncover the pole. ”

This is a retired Henan official's description of his hometown.

Due to Zhao Han's growth in the south, the Ming court's finances were struggling, and the exploitation of Henan became more serious. Coupled with the continuous famine, there are a lot of vassal kings in Henan, and many prefectures and counties have become ghosts in the world.

First, there was a mutiny in Henan, and the official army defected to Li Zicheng.

When Li Zicheng led his troops to Henan, people from all over the country surrendered. The leaders of the local rebel army, Yidougu and clay pots, were the first to bring soldiers to vote, and the number increased by tens of thousands in an instant. Then, there were another dragon, Zhang Juanzi, Song Jiang, Yuan Laoshan and other leaders, each with at least 10,000 troops under his command!

Yongning County.

Zhu Caiqing, the king of Wan'an (next to the golden character), and a hundred landlords and inferior gentry, were taken to Xiguan, the county seat, for public trial.

Li Zicheng sat on the main judging table, and Niu Jinxing stood next to him, holding a copy of "Datong Collection" in his hand.

"Take the guilty king Zhu Cai to the court!" Niu Venus shouted.

A soldier then shouted: "Take the guilty king Zhu Cai to the court!" ”

King Wan'an was pressed to the ground, hissing and wailing and just crying, while the onlookers were excited.

"Poof!"

Li Zicheng asked, "Zhu Caiqing, are you guilty?" ”

Zhu Cai replied with a weeping light: "The king spares his life, I am willing to give all my treasures, and there is still silver in my cellar." ”

"First of all, where is the money?" Li Zicheng said.

Zhu Cai wiped away his tears and said, "The king promised to spare me not to die first." ”

"Dare to bargain, let's beat it first!" Li Zicheng said angrily.

The soldier knocked Zhu Cai down lightly and beat him to death with a stick. After a while, Zhu Caiqing cried and shouted: "I said, I said, I said where the silver is hidden!" ”

A prince and hundreds of landlords were tried within a day, and all of them were beheaded on the spot and punished.

The people rejoiced.

Li Zicheng said to the people in the audience: "A certain person does not kill civilians, only kills officials." A certain is going to fight Luoyang, and when the officers and soldiers come, don't give them food, and a certain will come back soon to be your master! ”

"Long live the king, long live the king!"

Li Zicheng not only killed the prince and the landlord, but also opened a warehouse to release grain two days ago, which has already won the hearts of the small people.

Now, Li Zicheng's troops were divided into two routes, leading the cavalry, the officers and soldiers of Toucheng, the Yidougu and the clay pot troops, and went straight to Luoyang along Luoshui. The rest of the Henan rebel army is bypassing Ruzhou at the moment and killing Luoyang along the official road.

A few days ago, the officers and soldiers were defeated, Henan Governor Chang Daoli was questioned and imprisoned, and the new Henan Governor Li Xianfeng was afraid of the enemy and did not dare to fight.

Yang Sichang is personally sitting in Luoyang at this time!

The strategy of encircling and suppressing the rogue from all sides has completely failed. Because there are too many rebel armies, they can't be encircled and suppressed.

Moreover, the imperial court could not give food and salary, so it could only rely on military force to rob itself.

The small people have no way to rob, and the landlords have suffered again. Some landlords who had been robbed by officers and soldiers and whose homes were ruined simply turned to Li Zicheng with their clans, with the result that Li Zicheng now has dozens of scholars in his hands.

Of course, Li Zicheng's most trusted is Niu Jinxing, who first took refuge.

Although the timeline is messed up, the return of Niu Venus has not changed. Because as early as two years ago, Niu Jinxing was framed by the gentry, was dismissed from his fame, and served in the army in Lushi County.

Niu Jinxing's family is wealthy, but he is still a person, and his family is ruined by the gentry. Li Zicheng led troops to kill, how could he not take the opportunity to take refuge?

After Niu Jinxing joined the army, he immediately suggested "less torture and killing, relief of the hungry, and collection of people's hearts".

Li Zicheng did as planned, and after opening the warehouse and releasing grain, he really won the support of the people. He no longer killed civilians indiscriminately, not even small landlords, but only large landlords, big businessmen, and officials.

After the public trial, Li Zicheng began to recruit soldiers.

This time, there was no large-scale expansion of troops, only 2,000 young men were selected, and they practiced for more than a month to attack Luoyang in the north.

Niu Jinxing said: "If the king breaks through Luoyang this time, when he recruits displaced people to reclaim, it will only take a year or two, and he will have enough food, and there will be no need to loot in the future." With Luoyang as the foundation, seek to take the whole of Henan, and then take the place of Shanxi, you can attack Beizhili on both sides and seize Beijing to look at the world. ”

Li Zicheng said worriedly: "It will take a year or two to reclaim the land, what if there is another catastrophe?" Haven't these two years been in vain? The gentry in various places are strong and strong, and there is a lot of food at home, so it is still cost-effective to rob them. ”

Niu Jinxing said: "The king, the one who has won the world without hearing of the rogues." If you want to seek the world, you must have a foundation, and Henan is the land of Longxing. ”

Li Zicheng thought seriously.

Niu Jinxing took out the book of "Datong Collection" and said: "Zhao Tianwang of Jiangxi, sitting on two and a half provinces, has a great trend of prosperity. This book is the essence of its political strategy, although it cannot be blindly imitated, but the policy of dividing the land and freeing slaves is excellent. ”

Li Zicheng felt reasonable: "When Luoyang is taken, if the officers and soldiers no longer come to fight me, then try it in Tuntian." If you can release the slaves, you don't need to divide the land, and let the displaced people and tenants come to farm for me. ”

The two were chatting, and the soldiers came over to report.

"King, there are rebels coming to vote, and the leader is still a warlock."

"Bring him in."

Song Xiance was brought in, reported his name, and bowed his hand to Li Zicheng.

Li Zicheng asked, "What are you capable of?" ”

Song Xiance replied: "Qimen Dunjia, the art of war, the secret arts, everything is perfect. ”

Niu Jinxing frowned, he used to be a lifter, and he hated this kind of magic stick very much.

Song Xiance also said: "There are many White Lotus disciples in Henan, and the White Lotus Sect has a saying: 'Eighteen sons, the main artifact. 'The contemptible people watched the heavens at night, and burned incense and divination, and finally unraveled this prophecy. Eighteen sons, Li Ye, this prophecy means that Li Chuang won the world. ”

"It must be so!" Li Zicheng was overjoyed.

It's not that it's a magic stick, Li Zicheng really believes it.

It is this proverb that circulates in the White Lotus Sect. As long as he has anything to do with the prophecy, Li Zicheng can get the support of the White Lotus Sect, and at least he can cooperate with the White Lotus Sect.

And the White Lotus Sect has a great influence in Henan, even ordinary people, and there are many people who have been bewitched. Once the "Eighteen Sons, the Main Artifact" is confirmed, the people of Henan will be sure that Li Zicheng is the true son of heaven.

When Fengyang was captured, Zhang Xianzhong was anxious to become the emperor, also in order to subdue the White Lotus Sect, because the emperor name was also transmitted by the White Lotus Sect.

Song Xiance smiled and said: "The contemptible people also made up two nursery rhymes: 'Open the gate to welcome the king, and when the king comes, he will not accept food.'" 'Let the king send many fine works and spread them in all the places. In this way, everyone knows that the king is benevolent and righteous, and when the city is attacked, there will be people who will break through and sacrifice the city. ”

"That's a good idea, Mr. really has the ability!" Li Zicheng became more and more happy.

Niu Venus secretly shouted that it was bad, this god stick would do bad things.

Confucian students hate the gods!

……

Dozens of miles northwest of Ruzhou.

The sun is scorching.

Zuo Liangyu did not move and sent a large number of cavalry to find out the information.

"Kill!"

As fierce as a tiger sitting in the command of the Chinese army, his son Meng Xianjie, guerrilla Guo Kai and Li Shizhong are fighting.

Yilong, Zhang Juanzi, Song Jiang, Yuan Laoshan, the four major leaders commanded more than 50,000 troops. They planned to join forces with Li Zicheng to attack Luoyang, but who would have thought that the officers and soldiers who were suppressing thieves in Kaifeng Mansion and Runing Mansion would have quietly killed them a long time ago.

Just when the formation of the peasant army was unstable, Liu Shijie, a staff general, led 200 Ding cavalry to attack the flank.

Two hundred cavalry of the family Ding slaughtered into the large array of thousands of righteous troops, penetrating like a knife cutting tofu.

The thief's first sentence didn't react, Liu Shijie had already ridden a horse to kill him, and cut him down here with a knife.

The thieves are in chaos.

The sentry rode back: "General, the thieves will be defeated!" ”

Zuo Liangyu turned over and got on his horse, raised his arms and shouted: "Sons, follow me to kill the thief!" ”

Zuo Liangyu led his troops to kill, and the thieves were defeated. This goods not only robbed people's heads, but also robbed goods, and divided troops to plunder the baggage of thieves.

As fierce as a tiger, he was furious, and he didn't chase and kill the thief, so he led his troops to stop Zuo Liangyu: "Lao Tzu fights, you wait and see from afar." If the thieves are defeated, you will come to grab the merit, believe it or not, I will fight you today! ”

Zuo Liangyu knew that he was wrong, and said with a smile: "Brother, don't worry, the soldiers under your command are not long-sighted, and I will immediately restrain them personally." ”

The two discussed how to distribute the spoils, and immediately led their troops to start the pursuit.

The general Liu Shijie chased the deepest, and when he reached the vicinity of Niangniang Mountain, a large number of anti-thieves suddenly appeared in ambush.

However, Luoyang was difficult to overcome, Li Zicheng took the surrounding county towns first, and listened to the people fleeing from the south to say that many officers and soldiers were found in the direction of Ruzhou.

Li Zicheng immediately led the main force and rushed to Niangniang Mountain to ambush.

At this moment, Li Zicheng's cavalry waited for work and rushed towards Liu Shijie, who had been chasing for a long time.

Liu Shijie was shocked, but instead of turning around and fleeing, he charged at an enemy several times his size. He knew that he couldn't escape, so he could only fight hard at the moment, because the war horse under his crotch was already tired, and he couldn't outrun Li Zicheng, who had been waiting for a long time.

A fierce cavalry hedge battle appeared.

Liu Shijie pulled his bow and released two arrows in a row, and without looking to see if he shot the enemy, he hung up his bow and arrows and moved forward.

It is not a dense cavalry formation, and there is a wide distance between the horses. Liu Shijie stabbed the oncoming enemy with one shot, raised his hand and smashed another enemy, and rode his horse straight in the direction of Li Zicheng's handsome banner.

Li Zicheng was equally brave, and rushed towards Liu Shijie with a knife.

When the two fought, Liu Shijie was already injured and his movements became much slower. As soon as he raised his spear and stabbed it, Li Zicheng had already swung his knife and slashed, and he was immediately beheaded under his horse.

"Kill back!"

Li Zicheng's cavalry was not much, and after the defeat in the first two years, there were only more than 1,000 cavalry left, and it was expanded to 2,000 cavalry.

He took 2,000 cavalry, followed the direction of the anti-thief rout, galloped for a moment, and saw the pursuers of the official army.

In the course of the pursuit, the formation of the officers and men was already in great confusion, or it was not formed at all.

Li Zicheng's 2,000 cavalry came to kill, and the officers and soldiers suddenly collapsed, and the main general was completely unable to restrain him.

"Withdraw!"

Zuo Liangyu slipped away directly with the elite, and he didn't want thousands of miscellaneous soldiers, anyway, he could be recruited at any time.

Fierce as a tiger but very upright, he ordered his son and his generals to lead their families to meet the battle.

Song Jiang, the leader of the thieves, was not dead, and seeing Li Zicheng's rescue, he beat gongs and drums and began to gather troops, and soon gathered hundreds of people to kill back. Many of the rebel troops who fled also subconsciously turned around and followed, and more than 6,000 people quickly gathered around Song Jiang.

Meng Xianjie was killed.

Guo Kai was killed.

The officers and soldiers collapsed on all fronts, and only the family members were left to hold on.

As fierce as a tiger saw his son fall, his heart was dripping blood. But this battle has been lost, so he can only flee with the rest of the troops, and he really wants to go back and cut down Zuo Liangyu who escaped from the battle!

If Zuo Liangyu attacks with his troops, this battle still has to be fought, and he may be able to kill Li Zicheng.

Outside Luoyang City, the officers and soldiers won a great victory.

Li Zicheng's camp stretched for more than ten miles, and it scared Yang Sichang at first. Knowing that the county next door had been conquered, Yang Sichang immediately dispatched troops to attack the camp outside Luoyang City, killing hundreds of thieves, capturing more than 3,000 and escaping more than 2,000.

Li Zicheng and Yang Sichang both won the battle, but the more the rogues fought, the fewer and fewer officers and soldiers.

The situation in Henan has deteriorated, not to mention that there is also a Zhang Xianzhong who is bigger in Hubei.

(Ask for a commuter pass.) ）

(According to Mr. Gu Cheng's research in this book, Li Yan and the Red Lady are both fictional characters, so they will not appear.) ）