It all started in early March.

On the sixth day of the first month of March, that is, around the time Yang Chengying arrived in Hunchun, Yang Sichang received a report from the palace.

Di Bao said that Li Zicheng was squeezed out by Zhang Xianzhong, so he led a thousand old and weak to the south and arrived in Yiling.

"Is this true?" Yang Sichang was not at ease.

"It's true. Li Zicheng's subordinates were strictly disciplined, and wherever they went, they did not harm the people, and only took money and grain from large local families. ”

The herald said: "The content of the report was learned from the squire who escaped from Yiling, so there should be nothing wrong. ”

Yang Sichang walked around the yamen, thoughtful.

"The squire also said that Li Zicheng only has a thousand old and weak under his command, and he doesn't even have a war horse, so it's easy to deal with him."

The herald's head was fixed on Yang Sichang, swaying from side to side as he walked.

Yang Sichang listened to it and stood up: "Come here, pass on Yao Zongzhong." ”

Outside, there was a "good order", and then there was a sound of footsteps, which faded away until they disappeared.

Yang Sichang ordered someone to take this herald down to entertain him.

In the study, he was the only one.

After a short while, Yao Zongzhong came in:

"The cabinet suddenly summoned Poor Dao, I don't know what is important?"

"I got a secret report from the front that the thieves appeared in Yiling, and there are a thousand old and weak soldiers under his command."

Yang Sichang said: "This person is too dangerous and must be eliminated. However, You Shilu's reorganization of the peasant army has not yet been completed, and Chen Hongfan's defense of Yunyang to prevent thieves is urgent.

As for the others, I can't believe them. Pontourdo ran out of ideas for a while, and asked the Taoist chief to dial one or two. ”

"The cabinet said with a smile, how can you know about military affairs."

Yao Zongzhong said modestly.

Yang Sichang stared at him, smiling but not speaking.

Yao Zongzhong relied on fortune-telling and his relationship with Yang Sichang, not only to eat well with Luo Rucai, but also to have close contacts with the generals of the Ming army.

Yang Sichang deliberately asked him to come up with ideas, in fact, he wanted to hear Yao Zongzhong's views on Luo Rucai and the others.

"Cabinet Department, Poor Dao thinks that this matter is absolutely true. Zhang Xianzhong's shop is a big bully, thinking that the soldiers and horses are strong, not only a thief, Zhang Xianzhong doesn't even pay attention to Luo Rucai. ”

Yao Zongzhong understood very well, and only analyzed the peasant army: "The thieves are nominally the general commanders of the thieves from all walks of life in Shaanxi, and Zhang Xianzhong is very jealous, which eventually leads to the thieves leaving.

Cabinet, eliminate the thieves, this is the best chance! ”

Yang Sichang really made up his mind and picked up his pen to write an order.

He ordered Fang Kongzhi, the governor of Huguang stationed in Wuchang, to lead the Chu soldiers, and Chen Ruimo, the governor of Biyuan stationed in Yuanzhou, to lead the Yuan soldiers in Hunan.

This order is not only based on realistic considerations, but also suspected of underestimating the enemy.

Yang Sichang thought that it was very difficult for Chu soldiers and Yuan soldiers to deal with tens of thousands of people such as Zhang Xianzhong and Luo Rucai, but it should be easy to beat Li Zicheng's more than 1,000 old and weak.

However, both he and Yao Zongzhong miscalculated one thing.

Yao Zongzhong stayed in Xiangyang these days, eating and drinking with the money given by You Shilu, completely unaware that the situation on the front line had changed.

What is this change?

Luo Rucai and the other peasant army went south.

It turned out that Zhang Xianzhong had tens of thousands of soldiers and horses to raise, Fang County and other places were poor, and the support was still insufficient, so how could there be money and food for Luo Rucai.

Luo Rucai was angry and pulled Hui Dengxiang, Hei Yunxiang and other peasant army leaders, and went south to join Li Zicheng.

Of course, the most important reason is to find a place to continue plundering.

Li Zicheng, on his side, is thinking about whether to go north and continue to follow Zhang Xianzhong to live a good life.

Because the GIs are pressing.

Liu Zongmin resolutely objected: "This is the western part of Chudi, there are mountains everywhere, and I am afraid that there is no place to hide?" Zhang Xianzhong, a son of a bitch, forgot to eat shit together after eating bones for a few days, it's not a thing. ”

"We don't have to partner with Zhang Xianzhong, and Lao Cao Cao (Luo Rucai's nickname)."

Li Guo said.

"You are deceiving yourself, he Zhang Xianzhong has a lot of people, and he is domineering. Let's join forces with Luo Rucai, can we do without Zhang Xianzhong's consent? ”

Liu Zongmin was quick to talk and went back on the spot.

Li said: "Since the day of its establishment, the righteous army has made three chapters of the law, and each battalion is in charge of the affairs of each battalion, and only when there are major matters can they be solved together. Why does Zhang Xianzhong care about us! ”

"Why? With his big fists, he speaks hard! ”

Liu Zongmin waved his fist the size of a sandbag, "Our fists are small, and we are being chased by the officers and soldiers." ”

The smell of gunpowder at the scene became a little stronger.

"That's it!" Li Zicheng interrupted their conversation, "Before the fight started, our own people will fight first." ”

Li Guo and Liu Zongmin quieted down at this time.

Everyone looked at Li Zicheng, the soul of this rebel army.

Li Zicheng said: "This is Yiling. We have all heard the drama, and it was here that Liu Bei was defeated by the burning company camp of Eastern Wu.

Liu Bei has been running around for half his life, taking refuge in Yuan Shao, Cao Cao, and Liu Biao, but he still achieved great things in the end.

Why don't we learn from him and take it as the best plan? As long as we survive, there will always be a day when we will emerge. ”

Everyone listened and nodded their heads.

Li Zicheng decided to retreat north and defected to Zhang Xianzhong!

Avoid the encirclement and suppression of the Chu soldiers and the Yuan soldiers, and then talk about the next step.

As they packed their bags, there was exciting news.

Luo Ru is here!

Li Zicheng hurriedly greeted: "Haha...... Old Cao Cao! ”

"Hey...... Break the king! ”

Two large, rough hands stacked on top of each other.

Luo Rucai got straight to the point and said: "Zhang Xianzhong, a white-eyed wolf who eats meat, doesn't take us seriously, let's go to King Chuang." ”

Saying that, he introduced Hui Dengxiang and others to Li Zicheng.

Li Zicheng hugged his fists one by one and saluted.

The crowd returned the salute.

Li Zicheng smiled: "You can come, it really helps me a lot." If you don't come, I'll go to Zhang Xianzhong in disgrace. ”

"What's going on?" Luo Rucai was stunned.

"The Chu soldiers from Huguang are calling, and according to me, it is only three days' journey here."

Li Zicheng explained the matter in detail.

As for why Yuan Bing didn't come, he didn't know.

"Good guys, we're in time."

Luo Rucai laughed: "King Chuang, don't worry, with our tens of thousands of horses, I'm afraid we won't be able to deal with those wastes." ”

It's really not Luo Rucai who looks down on it.

It's okay for Chu Bing and Yuan Bing to bully Miao Min, but if they want to deal with the soldiers under Luo Rucai's command, it's not enough to see it at all.

What's more, the soldiers didn't come.

Li Zicheng said: "Don't force it, I already have a plan." ”

As he spoke, he pulled out the saber at his waist and slashed the ground with the tip of the knife.

At first glance, it was a simple map.

Li Zicheng pointed to a triangular "mountain" with the tip of his knife and introduced: "This is Xiangyouping, located in the depths north of Yiling.

Chu Bing didn't know that you had arrived one step ahead of them, so he would have been careless about underestimating the enemy. I have used myself as bait to lure them into the mountains, and you are ambushing them and surrounding them. ”

Immediately afterwards, Li Zicheng pointed to the "stream" that looked like a line and continued: "There is only this one stream in the mountains, and we will withdraw from the path, and then cut off the water source, trapping them to death and dying of thirst. ”

"Wonderful!" The leaders slapped their thighs.