As early as when Yang Sichang led the elite of the Ming army to pursue Zhang Xianzhong's headquarters in Agate Mountain, Sichuan, Li Zicheng led tens of thousands of thieves into Henan, taking in hungry people along the way, and the thieves grew rapidly.

Later, Zheng Lian recorded Li Zicheng's grand occasion of helping the hungry in "The Chronicle of the Yu Change": "The thief used it to show the opening of the warehouse to help the hungry." Hungry people from near and far are hoeing, and those who respond are like flowing water, day and night, calling for millions, and its momentum is unstoppable."

Since then, the army of thieves led by Li Zicheng has grown to tens of thousands in a very short period of time, and if you add the homeless people who have been coerced, it is known as a million people!

It was at this time that Li Zicheng's strategist Li Yan put forward the slogan: "Juntian is exempt from endowment", and also sang praises to the people: "Welcome the king, do not pay grain." "

For a time, the clouds of displaced people in Henan and Shanxi were from there, and Li Zicheng's prestige was greatly shaken.

Li Zicheng immediately led the main army to besiege Yongning County, Henan, and the army of thieves attacked the city with a thin cloud ladder, and fell into the city in a few days, burning all the soldiers and civilians in the city, and the army of thieves killed the king of Wan'an.

Subsequently, Li Zicheng led his troops to sweep the city around Yongning County, and the army of thieves broke through 48 villages in a row, and the thieves responded one after another, and the army of thieves then captured Yiyang, and the army of thieves increased to hundreds of thousands.

In the blink of an eye, in the middle of December, Li Zicheng led the main army to be stationed outside Yiyang County, and the army of thieves was jointly camped for more than ten miles, and hundreds of thousands of soldiers and horses gathered in one place, covering the sun with flags and hustle and bustle.

In the big tent of the Chinese army, Li Zicheng sat at the top, and in the camp tent, a group of strategists and generals gathered together.

The first person is Liu Zongmin, the word Jiexuan, wearing a felt hat and a leather robe at this time, and he is shouting with the generals around him, and his expression is very arrogant.

Next to it is Li Guo, born Li Jin, also known as Li Chixin, is Li Zicheng's nephew, known as a tiger, talking about its combat bravery, like a tiger descending the mountain.

Li Guo's side, Tian Jianxiu and Gao Yigong were talking about something, both of them were fierce generals under Li Zicheng. Tian Jianxiu is known as the Sky Harrier, and he is the general of the commander's camp. And Gao Yigong is Li Zicheng's brother-in-law and a fierce general in the thief army.

On the other side, Liu Fangliang, the general of the left battalion, was drinking tea alone, not knowing what he was thinking, and Yuan Zongdi, the general of the right battalion sitting in front of him, looked at Liu Fangliang with interest, as if he was guessing what he was thinking.

In addition, the general He Jin didn't look at anyone, just drank tea and ate dry food by himself, as if he was very hungry, and the food was very sweet.

Sitting on the outermost side was Li Guo's righteous son Li Laiheng, looking at everyone present at this time, a pair of sword eyebrows furrowed slightly, not knowing what he was worried about.

In addition, sitting next to Li Zicheng were Niu Jinxing, Li Yan, Gu Junen, and Song Xiance.

Among them, Li Yan is the most versatile in civil and military affairs, especially good at the art of war, very far-sighted at the strategic level, and among Li Zicheng's several strategists, his ability is also the strongest.

Niu Jinxing is good at scheming, and has many suggestions for Li Zicheng at the tactical level, and is deeply valued by Li Zicheng.

Song Xiance is proficient in mathematics, and once suggested the proverb of the eighteen sons of the main artifact, but Song Xiance was narrow-minded and excluded Niu Jinxing and Li Yan who recommended him.

And Gu Junen knows the art of war and has many strategies, although he is a new strategist who has recently defected to Li Zicheng, but he is also valued by Li Zicheng, and he asks a lot about every war.

At this time, Li Zicheng looked at the strategists and generals in the big tent, and his heart was happy.

Not long ago, Zhang Xianzhong was surrounded and killed by the main force of the Ming army, and Li Zicheng was also shocked at that time, worried that the Ming army would come over with the might of a great victory. However, the subsequent development of the situation made Li Zicheng very excited.

Originally, the relationship between Li Zicheng and Zhang Xianzhong was not very harmonious, and the two often fought openly and secretly. But after the excitement, Li Zicheng felt a little lost in his heart, after all, everyone knows the truth of cold lips and teeth, and after the relationship between Li Zicheng and Zhang Xianzhong was both friend and foe, it also made Li Zicheng's heart very lost.

"Everyone!"

Li Zicheng said loudly: "What is the purpose of summing you here today, you should have heard of it, just to discuss the matter of Li Dingguo, Sun Kewang, and Ai Nengqi. ”

Since Zhang Xianzhong was killed by Liu Yan's troops, Li Dingguo, Sun Kewang, and Ai Nengqi led the remnants all the way north, preparing to take refuge in Li Zicheng. On the way to escape, the three also regained their original surnames, and finally met the main force of Li Zicheng's department in the area of Yiyang County.

After Li Zicheng finished speaking, Liu Zongmin said: "King Chuang, do you still need to discuss this matter?" Of course, Li Dingguo, Sun Kewang, and Ai Nengqi are under his command! ”

"What Liu Shuai said is reasonable!"

Yuan Zongdi said loudly: "I see that the three of them still have tens of thousands of soldiers and horses in their hands, all of them are Zhang Xianzhong's old battalion soldiers, although they were defeated by the official army, but they are all elite, and a little rectification is a strong army, just to supplement the old camp of our army!" ”

The rest of the crowd agreed.

Li Zicheng looked at Li Yan and asked, "What does Mr. Li think?" ”

Li Yan wore a Taoist robe, as if he was a Confucian scholar somewhere, and at this time he arched his hand and said: "The students also think that King Chuang should accept the three generals Li Dingguo, Sun Kewang, and Ai Nengqi. First of all, the three of them are all fierce generals under Zhang Xianzhong, each of them is a talent who can fight habitually, and the help of the three of them is tantamount to adding wings to the tiger. Secondly, King Chuang should have heard that Zhang Xianzhong was killed by the Shandong soldiers in the official army, that is, the current Qinglai Town Chief Military Officer Liu Yan's department, the soldiers and horses of the department are very brave, and even the Tartars outside the gate have been repeatedly defeated in Liu Yan's hands, which shows the strength of his troops. ”

When Li Yan said this, his expression also became a little dignified, and he frowned and continued: "With the addition of Li Dingguo, Sun Kewang, and Ai Nengqi, King Chuang can learn the details of Liu Yan's department from their mouths, and know how Liu Yan's department fought, how much strength they had, how well they were equipped, etc., and if Chongzhen recruited Liu Yan's department to attack in the future, King Chuang could also respond in advance." ”

"Hmm!"

Li Yan's words were very much in line with Li Zicheng's wishes, and he immediately ordered someone to go to Li Dingguo's three-person camp and send a letter to invite Li Dingguo and the three to meet in the camp.

In the evening of the same day, Li Dingguo, Sun Kewang, and Ai Nengqi came to the thieves' camp with dozens of guards.

Li Zicheng summoned his subordinates to wait in the big tent of the Chinese army, and arranged a banquet to entertain Li Dingguo and the three.

"The last general, Li Dingguo, pays a visit to King Chuang!"

Li Zicheng looked at the three people who bowed to him, laughed and got up and walked to the three of them, pulled up the three of them one by one, and then affectionately pulled Li Dingguo, Sun Kewang and Ainengqi to the seats, and pressed the three of them to sit down one after another.

"Come, don't say any polite words today, the three of you are the righteous sons of King Daxi, that is, the righteous sons of my Li Zicheng. Although the king of Daxi and I are a little estranged, but we are also righteous men who resist the tyranny of the imperial court. ”

Li Dingguo, Sun Kewang, and Ai Nengqi were all very moved when they heard this, and they all got up and saluted again.

Li Zicheng smiled and asked the three of them to sit down, and then introduced the generals and strategists in the tent to the three of them one by one.

Li Dingguo, Sun Kewang, and Ai Nengqi also saluted everyone one by one.

After another round of greetings, after everyone was seated, Li Zicheng asked for the details of the battle of Onyx Mountain.

When it came to the battle of Onyx Mountain, Li Dingguo, Sun Kewang, and Ai Nengqi all showed fearful looks on their faces.

After a brief exchange between the three of them, Li Dingguo described the battle on his behalf.

Li Zicheng, Liu Zongmin, Li Guo and other generals, Li Yan, Niu Jinxing and other strategists all listened attentively.

When everyone heard that Liu Yan's troops were well-armed, and the bird's gun battle array could continue to fire a salvo, like a torrential rain, and Zhang Xianzhong's troops could not advance to within eighty steps of Liu Yan's army formation, everyone's faces showed shocked expressions.

Everyone has seen the firearms of the officers and soldiers, but they have never seen such fierce firearms.

And when everyone heard that Liu Yan's more than 20,000 soldiers and horses were equipped with more than 200 artillery pieces of various types, everyone, including Li Zicheng, was so shocked that they almost stood up.

"Impossible!"

Liu Zongmin immediately shouted: "No matter how strong the officers and troops are, it is impossible to equip more than 200 artillery pieces, this is impossible!" ”

Li Zicheng also frowned, and asked: "The battlefield is chaotic, could it be that the artillery of other parts of the Ming army was requisitioned by Liu Yan?" ”

Li Dingguo shook his head and said, "No." King Chuang didn't see the situation on the battlefield at that time, when the main forces of the official army were pinned down by Ge Yan, Cao Wei, and Guo Tianxing, and the official army besieging my father-in-law was originally Zuo Liangyu's department. ”

"In the face of Zuo Liangyu's troops, our army has won the victory after a bloody battle, but at this moment, Liu Yan led his troops to arrive. He ......"

"How is Liu Yan?"

Li Zicheng hurriedly asked, and the rest of the people were also interested.

Li Dingguo said: "Liu Yan actually divided his troops, he divided his troops into two ways, and attacked my father's army and Zuo Liangyu's army at the same time!" ”

"What!"

At this time, Li Zicheng couldn't sit still anymore, Liu Yan defeated Zhang Xianzhong's troops and killed him, and only half of his troops were used!

"On the battlefield at that time, Liu Yan's troops and horses attacked in two directions, and we led our troops to fight with them, and Zuo Liangyu's troops also resisted hard, but in the face of Liu Yan's attack, they were powerless to resist at all, it was a complete massacre."

"Liu Yan's bird guns are numerous, and the rate of fire is extremely fast, and in the ordinary time when the officers and soldiers shoot two rounds, Liu Yan's bird guns can shoot four to six rounds. Liu Yan's bird guns are all tap firearms, no fire rope, can still be used in the wind and rain, and the range is very long, you can break the armor a hundred steps away, more than 100 elite euphorbia soldiers in our army are protected by shields, but they were defeated dozens of steps away in front of Liu Yan's formation, and Liu Yan's troops suffered few casualties! ”

"As for artillery, Liu Yan's artillery battalion occupies the high ground on one side of the battlefield, and you can know by just looking at the flag that more than 200 artillery pieces of all kinds are fired in a salvo in turn, and the official army and the general Zuo Liangyu were severely damaged by artillery."

Li Dingguo also learned about the details of these battlefields after the war. On the way to retreat to the north, Li Dingguo and others not only collected the rout of the Great Western Army, but also encountered a lot of rout of Zuo Liangyu's army.

After listening to Li Dingguo's description, a trace of gloom surged in Li Zicheng's heart, the official army is a good general, if such a strong army really kills, how will he deal with it?

At this time, Li Yan spoke: "King Chuang, as early as when Liu Yan was not the general of the Jimo Battalion in Shandong, the white shopkeeper sent by the students to Shandong fought with him. ”

"White shopkeeper?"

Li Zicheng remembered that figure and said regretfully: "It's a pity, the white shopkeeper died in Shandong." ”

Li Yan said: "Yes, the white shopkeeper was killed by Liu Yan. At that time, Liu Yanna's military strength was not so strong, it was already very tricky, and now Liu Yan is already the chief officer of Qinglai Town in the official army, and his strength and power do not know how much to swell! ”

Song Xiance suddenly sneered and said, "In this way, Liu Yan is invincible in the world?" One day, King Chuang encountered Liu Yan's troops on the battlefield, do you still have to retreat? ”

Li Zicheng said with a smile: "Master Song said that he was joking, Mr. Li didn't mean that, let's listen to what Mr. Li said." ”

Li Dingguo, Sun Kewang, and Ai Nengqi also looked at Li Yan one after another, all of them knew that Li Yan was a strategist that Li Zicheng valued very much, and they had already heard of Li Yan's name.

Li Yan said: "King Chuang, everyone! In the opinion of the students, the strength of Liu Yan's department lies in two points: strong firearms and brave soldiers! ”

"If you want to say that the soldiers are brave, our righteous army is by no means worse than Liu Yanbu, and the old camp can even fight with the slaves and thieves outside the border without falling behind. The only gap between our righteous army and Liu Yanbu is firearms. ”

"So ......"

Li Yan said: "King Chuang should send a message to all battalions, let the officers and men of the whole army vigorously collect all kinds of firearms, and select craftsmen who know how to make firearms from among the captives, select officers and prisoners who are proficient in firearms, and form our army's own firearms battalion!" ”

When Li Yan said that he was excited, he stood up and said loudly: "If you want to defeat Liu Yan, you have to use firearms against firearms, so Liu Yanbu has nothing to worry about!" ”

Some people died, but not completely......