Li Zicheng gave up chasing Sun Chuanting, who was defeated in Zhuxian Town, but chose to go south.

It's a helpless choice.

After the death of Gao Yingxiang in the peasant army, although Li Zicheng was in charge of the peasant army, he was targeted by the Ming court.

Over time, Li Zicheng's prestige in the peasant army was insufficient, and the peasant army was like a plate of scattered sand.

The most direct embodiment is the southward march of the army.

The cause of the incident was that the Fifth Battalion of the Revolutionary Left took advantage of the time when the combined forces of Li Zicheng and Luo Rucai were resting after the great victory over Sun Chuanting in Jiaxian, and took the initiative to break away from the coalition forces and go to the eastern part of Huguang to develop.

Why go to Huguang?

It's not because people who don't have much strategic vision like to eat big in more affluent areas.

Then, the trouble came.

The previous opponent of the 5th Battalion was Liu Liangzuo - the rookie of rookies.

As a result, the combat effectiveness of the 5th Battalion of the Revolution Zuo plummeted.

In the two battles of Xinyang and Queshan, the Chu soldiers who were temporarily brought together under the leadership of the governor Song Yihe were beaten and lost their armor.

The leaders of the 5th Battalion had no choice but to ask Li Zicheng for help and beg him to pull his brothers.

In order to cover up their unauthorized departure, the leaders made up a reason, saying that Yang Wenyue was still in Runing Mansion and should be killed, which shocked the hearts of the people of Henan.

Li Zicheng felt that he could not be said that he was not righteous, so he was forced to lead the army south, and attacked Runing Mansion at the end of July.

Yang Wenyue, the governor of Baoding, was executed, and the Ming Dynasty's Chongwang, Heyang and other clans were beheaded.

After occupying Runing, Li Zicheng summoned Niu Jinxing, Song Xiance, Li Guo, Tian Jianxiu, Liu Zongmin and others to discuss their next move.

"The 5th Battalion of the Revolution and the Left acted without authorization, and even broke away from the coalition army and went to the Guangdong part of Huguang, but they were beaten and could not send people to ask for help, so they could no longer condone this situation."

Li Guo became excited for a while, couldn't bear it, and kept pounding the table with his fists.

It is easy to understand that he is so excited, and it is much stronger to destroy his rival Sun Chuanting than to occupy any land.

Niu Jinxing reassured, "General Li, don't get excited. Compared with the Fifth Battalion of the Left Movement, Lao Cao Cao's problem is the big problem."

"yes. When we besieged Kaifeng, we found that Luo Shuai was secretly communicating with Gao Mingheng. In addition, the Ming army dug the dike, and most of the people who drowned were his men and horses, so it is difficult to settle the account on our heads."

Tian Jianxiu said worriedly.

"Can this still be counted on our heads?" Liu Zongmin thought it was incredible.

"If you want to split up, you can think of any reason, and it's a real contradiction."

Song Xiance said helplessly: "To give an example, Lao Cao Cao secretly gave people the title of official Xu Jue behind our back, and made the territory we occupied together a county official."

"There are no two heavens, and there are no two lords for the people. After Sun Chuanting's fierce rival is eliminated, Lao Cao Cao is afraid that he will have to separate from us."

Niu Jinxing said: "King Chuang must plan as soon as possible, and we can't let the situation that we have fought so hard to be buried in vain."

Everyone felt that Niu Jinxing's words were reasonable, and they all nodded in agreement.

"Rival?" Li Zicheng pounded the table with his fist.

He disagreed.

Sun Chuanting is powerful, but Shaanxi has been beaten to pieces, and it is difficult for him to turn things around alone.

What is really worrying is the fierce rival of the Northeast.

After all these years, there has been no reliable news about them.

Niu Jinxing was mistaken and said, "Lu Xiangsheng and Hong Chengchou are still there, the main force of the Ming Court is still there, and it is still not easy to seize the world. However, the Fifth Battalion of the Revolution and the Left Wing could not see this clearly, and even left the righteous army privately."

"He Jin is good, but it's a pity that he can't resist the instigation of the other four." Song Xiance said fairly.

Everyone, you say a word to me.

Some people think that Lao Cao should not have been rescued in the first place, saying that he is a white-eyed wolf.

Some people also said that it was better to take advantage of the vitality of the Ming Court to take down Lao Cao Cao together.

Some people also said that they ignored them, led the army to the west, entered Shaanxi and killed Sun Chuanting.

Seeing that the more the conversation became more and more complicated, Niu Jinxing hurriedly corrected: "This argument

It's not a way to go down, it's better to listen to what King Chuang has to say."

Then the crowd stopped.

Li Zicheng said: "The wood is already in the boat, and it is too late to regret it. Our army fought hard against Lao Cao Cao and the leader of the Fifth Battalion of the Revolution, but they cut off their hands and feet."

He pondered for a moment and said, "I think that in this way, I will simply lead the army to the south, seize Xiangyang, and establish political power. Take this opportunity to test the bottom line of Lao Cao Cao and the Fifth Battalion of Ge Zuo, and then deal with it according to the actual situation."

Everyone nodded in agreement, and Li Zicheng led the army south.

The camp is in a meeting, and Cao Ying is the same.

Luo Rucai is not as good as Li Zicheng in battle, but his sense of smell is extremely sensitive.

He had already felt the malice from the camp.

"The intruders are getting stronger, and we have to think about another issue."

Ji Jue was deeply worried: "Our army has been cooperating with the Chuang army for so long, and Luo Shuai has privately appointed many officials, and the contradictions will break out sooner or later."

"King Li Chuang isn't that kind of person, is he?" Luo Rucai hesitated.

Although he is known as "Old Cao Cao", he can't forget that Li Zicheng rescued him several times.

Ji Jue saw it and said, "Even if you don't break up, you can't stay forever. When Sun Chuanting is eliminated, they can part ways."

"I'm afraid it won't end peacefully." Someone said.

The rest of the generals present all had worried expressions on their faces.

At this time, the herald walked in and clenched his fists and reported: "King Chuang has issued an order, and the army will go south and attack Xiangyang."

Who is the general who guards Xiangyang?

Of course, the familiar You Shilu.

After so many years of ups and downs, his heart has been completely eroded, as if he has changed as a person.

Because the imperial court did not pay silver, in order to feed more than 100,000 soldiers under his command, You Shilu connived at the soldiers of various departments to plunder the people and the local gentry.

Even if he doesn't connive, there is no way to control it.

Due to the battle of Zhu Xianzhen, You Shilu's soldiers and horses were lost. The troops currently available under his command turned out to be the scum of the peasant army who stayed in Xiangyang.

For example, "Over the Sky" Hui Dengxiang, "Mixed 100,000" Ma Jinzhong, "Tuo Tianwang" Chang Guoan and so on.

There are also Ma Shixiu, Du Yingjin and others who participated in the massacre of the Ming army's family members in Yunyang.

Therefore, hearing that the peasant army was moving south, You Shilu had no confidence that he could win the battle.

Where to go next, You Shilu didn't think about it.

You Shilu pointed to the map and said, "The thief army is coming, are we going west, east or south?"

"To the west, of course, Yunyang has our family." Whitden was the first to speak.

"Yunyang is too small to accommodate so many of us."

You Shilu shook his head and refused.

"It's better to go down the river to Wuchang, Wuchang is rich enough to support the army."

Ma Jinzhong proposed.

"It's a good idea." You Shilu's eyes lit up, "The sacrifice thief is also thinking about Wuchang, we can use the excuse of attacking the sacrifice thief and go to Wuchang."

Quite a few people agree.

Whitden's brow furrowed, and he didn't agree with this decision at all.

You Shilu seemed to see it, and patted him on the shoulder: "Brother, don't worry about those bottles and cans in Yunyang, you can buy them again if they are gone."

Whitden agrees on the surface, but has other ideas in his heart.

"Ma Jinzhong, you go and organize the warships, put away all the ships, and you must not leave a single one for the thief army!"

You Shilu ordered.