Lock mouth hole, big pot stove rice, big pot boiled meat.

The air was filled with the smell of meat, so that the Ming officers and soldiers sitting around the bonfire couldn't help but moisten their tongues.

Because, it is rare for them to eat meat.

can eat meat, unless it is a New Year's festival or a big victory, so they are hungry to death.

The meat cooked in the pot was not brought by Wang Wu from Wujiayuanzi, but Zhang Tianwang had more than a dozen pigs killed.

said that it was for the brothers to make a tooth sacrifice, and they had enough strength to rescue Liu Shuai.

Like the rest of the Ming army, the Suokoudong side is also self-reliant, in addition to training and fighting, the defenders also reclaim the surrounding mountains and work with the people, try to achieve self-sufficiency in food, and do not increase the burden on the people, so the Ming army is very supported by the local people.

This is one of the reasons why the Ming army was able to persist in resisting the Qing Dynasty in this area for nearly 20 years.

However, although Zhang Tianwang raised some pigs and sheep in the camp, the number was not too much, mainly because of the lack of food.

In order to obtain meat, he often organized people to hunt in the nearby mountains, and the initial harvest was quite good, and after a long time, the wild beasts were difficult to find.

This is also the case in other regions.

Wang Wu heard that Hao Shaoqi had sent people to hunt in the deep mountains and old forests in the north, and if Wang Wu's geographical knowledge was not wrong, it should be Shennongjia.

This place was later known as the "Savage".

If he can't break through and can't hold on, Wang Wu has the idea of going to Shennongjia to be a savage until Wu Sangui raises troops.

I just don't know if I can hold on.

After all, going to that place is no different from being isolated from the rest of the world, and it is impossible to provide it with any supplies to raise troops, let alone "build high walls and accumulate food".

When you enter this place, there is a high probability that you will go in with your clothes and come out with your bare buttocks.

As a last resort, Wang Wu will not choose to self-exile.

Otherwise, he really could have become the first bare-assed rebel in history.

"Second brother, give everyone a share of meat!"

Zhang Tianwang, who was obviously a landlord but looked like a butcher, saw that the pork boiled in the pot was cooked, so he asked his younger brother Zhang Tianfang to bring people to share the meat with everyone.

The Zhang family also has a third child named Zhang Tianling, who died in Hunan more than ten years ago.

Zhang Tianwang raised the army back then, so in addition to the third brother Zhang Tianling, more than 30 clansmen from the Zhang family died because of the resistance to the Qing Dynasty in recent years.

This is also the reason why Zhang Tianwang still cooperated with these old Shun soldiers to persevere to the end, even though he hated the loyal battalion from the Shun army, but when the hearts of this person were lost and shaken.

It is said to defend against foreign insults.

From the accident in the morning to the present, everyone has only eaten some dry food on the road, which will be hungry for a long time, and many people are looking directly at the pot, waiting for a full meal.

Wang Wu is no exception, but as one of the leaders of the Ming army, he still maintained a minimum "shelf" and exchanged information with Ma Sizhong, Xu Deyi and Zhang Tianwang.

What happened in Wu Jiayuanzi Ma Sizhong told Zhang about it, and Zhang couldn't help but sigh after hearing it, but he didn't curse Suo Yanlong and them, just shook his head.

Wang Wu saw it in his eyes and knew that Zhang Tianwang had a previous idea with him, that is, they could continue to fight to the end, but they would not have too much hatred for those who didn't want to fight.

It's going to rain, my mother is going to get married, and the times are forcing it, so why be too harsh.

Ma Sizhong asked if the lock hole had received a rescue order from Lao Mugang, or an emergency from other places.

He desperately wanted to know if Liu Shuai would live or die.

Zhang Tianwang was silent for a moment and informed everyone of the two news.

It's all bad news.

The first news is that there is indeed chaos in Lao Mu Kong, and several nearby Ming army settlements have been affected, and some people who escaped from Lao Mu Kong asked Zhang Tianwang to lead troops to Lao Mu Kong to quell the chaos.

Hearing this, Ma and Xu couldn't help but feel a sudden burst in their hearts, and their expressions were different.

Wang Wu couldn't help but be vigilant in his heart.

The reason is that the defenders of the lock hole did not rescue Lao Mugang.

Seeing this, Zhang Tianwang knew that everyone was suspicious of him, and hurriedly explained: "I wanted to take someone to Lao Mugang to rescue Liu Shuai, but I was afraid that something would happen to me and block your back road..."

What he refers to is that the situation is unknown, if he takes the lock mouth defenders to Laomugang, if this place is occupied by the rebels, then the Ming army hanging alone in Wujiayuanzi in the west will be cut off, and if one is not careful, the whole army will be annihilated.

Therefore, after thinking about it again, Zhang Tianwang did not dare to take anyone to Lao Mugang.

"If I know that Suo Yanlong has a second heart, why should I worry about it."

Zhang Tianwang sighed slightly, originally intended to guard the only passage in the rear for the thousands of Ming troops in the west, but he didn't want the thousands of Ming troops to disperse in an instant, leaving only this team of less than a thousand people.

It's really a destiny.

At this time, everyone had put aside their suspicions and put themselves in their shoes, so that they were afraid and did not dare to leave the lock easily.

"Let's eat something first!"

Zhang Tianwang's second brother Zhang Tianfang brought over a few pieces of cooked meat and distributed them to everyone one by one.

This person is different from his butcher-like brother, and looks somewhat similar to Tian Wen, the "Xiucai" under Wang Wu, who looks crepe at a glance.

Like a teacher, not a martial artist with a sword.

"Thank you!"

Wang Wu raised his head and nodded to Zhang Tianfang, not in a hurry to eat, because Zhang Tianwang obviously had something to say.

Gou Yu, Zhang Pengyu, and dumb Zhu San couldn't wait to gnaw on them, even if the meat pieces that had just come out of the pot were very hot.

The same is true for the officers under Ma and Xu, and the officers accompanying Zhang are almost the same.

Sven was a joke at this point.

The meat was boiled in white water, without any seasoning, so I put some oil, and I would not have an appetite in Wang Wu's previous life, but it would also be greedy, but because I wanted to know more about it, I couldn't help but didn't move my mouth.

Ma Sizhong was the same, and asked suspiciously: "What is the other thing?" ”

Zhang Tianwang glanced at everyone and said in a deep voice: "There is news that Jing Guogong and Mao Governor's Yuan have also descended. ”

"What, Jing Guogong and Mao Duyuan have descended!"

The people who were eating meat were shocked by the news, and they all looked at Zhang Tianwang, and Ma Sizhong stood up in disbelief even more in surprise.

Wang Wu's brows were also deeply locked.

Who is Jing Guogong?

Wang Guangxing also!

In his early years, this person rebelled with his brother Wang Guangchang in the Chongzhen period, and was later appeased by the Ming Dynasty official Xiong Wencan, and followed the governor of Yunyang, Wang Mengyin, to defend Xiangyang and made meritorious contributions.

After the fall of Xiangyang, the Wang brothers and Xu Qiyuan of Jingxi Province defended Yunyang, and Li Zicheng failed to capture it after several sieges. Wu Sangui, who later led the Qing army into the customs, summoned Xu Qiyuan and Wang Guangchang to join forces to suppress the thieves.

Because Wang Guangchang was trapped in Xunyang for two years and did not know the Ming and Qing dynasties, he raised troops to go, and when Wu Sangui's camp knew that the general trend had gone, he shaved his hair and descended to Qing.

Wang Guangxing refused to surrender after learning of his brother's surrender, and led the people to hold on to the Qing army for more than ten years.

Its territory is in the Shizhouwei area on the south bank of the Yangtze River, echoing the north and south of the east side of Kuidong, so if Wang Guangxing surrenders to the Qing Dynasty, it means that the Qing army on the north bank has completely become a lonely army.

The tens of thousands of Qing troops who were supposed to deal with Wang Guangxing would immediately free up their hands to join the encirclement of the Ming army on the north bank of the Yangtze River, which was undoubtedly worse for the already precarious Ming army.

That Wang Wu of the Mao Governor's Yuan heard Tian Shouyi mention it in the past, saying that it was the highest official appointed by the Yongli Imperial Court to contact the Ming army of the various departments in Kuidong, which was equivalent to the governor of the three provinces.

It seems to be called Mao Dengshou.

His previous term was Wen Anzhi, who died depressed in Fengjie a few years ago.

At the military level, the leader of the Ming army in the Kuidong region was Liu Tichun, the Duke of Anhui.

At the political level, this Mao Dengshou is the commander-in-chief of the Ming army.

Therefore, Wang Guangxing's surrender to the Qing Dynasty militarily made the Ming army in Kuidong cut off an arm and became a lone army, while the surrender of Mao Dengshou in the ministry declared the complete defeat of the Ming army politically.

At this time, those who insisted on resisting the Qing Dynasty were truly the last people with lofty ideals in China.

It's a lonely minister.

In other words, it is the last symbol of the integrity of the Han nation.

"Brother Jing Guo was innocently killed by the Tartars, he once said that he would not stand with the Tartars in this life, how could he suddenly descend to the Tartars?!"

It was Tian Wen who said this, and the brother Wang Guangxing he was talking about was not Wang Guangchang, but another brother Wang Guangen.

This person was appointed by the Qing court as the chief soldier of Xiangyang after the surrender of the Qing Dynasty, and later had a discord with Pan Shiliang, the Xunyang Fuyuan appointed by the Qing court, and was framed against the Qing Dynasty and sent to Beijing to be killed.

Therefore, the Qing army repeatedly recruited Wang Guangxing, but he firmly refused, saying what "Xunyang was in one fell swoop that day, and so far there are tears in Jiuyuan", "not the first Yang is hungry, and he dies here Yunyun", but he didn't expect it to fall suddenly today, so it really surprised Tian Wen.

Zhang Tianfang, who was dividing the meat, put down the plate, looked at Tian Wen, and said in a sullen voice: "In the current situation, what is not sudden, not everyone wants to die for Daming like us." ”

Listening to his younger brother's words, Zhang Tianwang felt something in his heart, thinking of the third brother who died in his early years and dozens of members of the Zhang family, and then thinking that the whole country was occupied by the Eastern Captives, and there was only this last place with a big palm and such a loyal minister and righteous man who were willing to sacrifice for the country, he couldn't help but feel sad, his nose was sour, and his eyes were red.

Wang Wu also smiled bitterly in his heart.

There are not too many emotional fluctuations, nor are there any feelings about the situation, some are just a dead heart.

Everyone had different expressions, but what remained unchanged was the firmness in their eyes.

"What is Zhang Dusi going to do?"

Ma Sizhong wanted to ask Zhang Tianwang if he planned to go to Lao Mugang with them to save Liu Shuai.

His title to Zhang is a formal official position, not because of rejection of Zhang Tianwang in his heart, but out of respect.

"You all beat Wu Jiayuanzi and withdrew, there is no point in guarding or not guarding this lock, I will take someone to Lao Mugang with you to save the Duke of Wan, if you can rescue the Duke of Wanguo, if you can't, just die there, and my Lao Zhang is worthy of this Ming."

Looking at the second brother between words.

There was no inquiry, but guilt in his eyes.

He is worthy of Daming, but he is sorry for his brother and sorry for the Zhang family!

"What do you think I'm doing, big brother? It's good to go to see the third child early, so that he won't be chattering below, mom, I haven't burned paper for the third child for several years, so I can't blame him. ”

After speaking, Zhang Tianfang stopped looking at the eldest brother, and directly grabbed the meat in the basin and devoured it.

No alcohol.

The limited amount of food is not enough for people to eat, so how can it be used to make wine.

"Okay, after seeing the third child, I, who is the eldest brother, will compensate him!"

Zhang Tianwang smiled.

Wang Wu also smiled, picked up the piece of meat on the table and took a bite of it, chewing and swallowing it into his stomach along with the fat meat he didn't like to eat the most in the past.

With these heroes who are not afraid of death by their side, how can they be lonely on Huangquan Road!

.........

Before dawn came, the monstrous fire reflected the lock hole red.

Zhang Tianwang, who started a family, with more than 700 soldiers and more than 300 family members under his command, stood silently in the valley and watched their residence where they had lived for more than ten years being burned by the fire.

The people nearby were alarmed by the fire outside, and stood in the dark with the old and the young looking at the Ming troops who were about to leave.

After more than ten years of getting along, the people here are already familiar with the Ming army.

Although they don't know what happened, the people know that the Ming army may never come back.

There was no parting greeting, just reluctant eyes from both sides.

Zhang Tianwang did not choose to take the people here with him, doing so would only harm these people.

The food and materials that could not be taken away, Zhang Tianwang asked people to gather together, and let the people divide them after dawn.

Although the grain was likely to end up in the hands of the Qing army, Zhang did not order it to be burned.

Perhaps, it is to make the loss of the people smaller.

"Let's go!"

After taking a long breath, Zhang Tianwang threw the ancestral tablet in his hand into the flames.

The second brother Zhang Tianfang, who followed him, also threw his father's spiritual seat into it.

but he carried an altar on his back.

Inside the altar are the ashes of the old three spirits.

The one who opened the way in front was still the Lao Shun army commanded by Ma Sizhong, Wang Wu's team was in the middle, and Zhang Tianwang's people were at the rear.

The entire team increased from more than 900 to nearly 2,000 people, and the march along the valley snow trail was more than ten miles long.

It was soon dawning, and from the valley above, it looked like a long snake winding its way.

It was like a swarm of poor ants passing through the mountains and mountains.

There was no sound as the procession marched, and the atmosphere was somewhat oppressive.

This depression awaits an eruption.

Maybe somewhere on the way, maybe in Lao Mugang.

But everyone is sure that this outburst must be accompanied by an unyielding fighting spirit, a final cry.

About three hours later, the old Shun army, which had opened the road in front, suddenly sent someone to inform the rear to suspend the march.

Wang Wu thought it was a temporary rest, and was about to order the soldiers to rest on the spot, when Ma Sizhong sent someone over and asked him to hurry to the front.

Wang Wu hurriedly called the blind man Wan Si to bring a team of people to follow him, and when he arrived at the ground, he found that the old Shun army had not entered the battle state.

This made Wang Wu breathe a sigh of relief, he thought that the enemy had been discovered from the front.

After following the leader to a slope, Wang Wu saw that Ma Sizhong, Xu Deyi and others were looking forward on the slope, so he also climbed up with a few pine trees.

"Brother Ma, what's wrong?"

As soon as he arrived on the slope, Wang Wu asked.

Ma Sizhong didn't answer him, but pointed to the direction of about two or three miles ahead for him to see, and handed Wang Wu a clairvoyant mirror that he regarded as a treasure with a broken lens.

Seeing that it was a clairvoyant mirror, Wang Wu hurriedly took it and looked ahead with half-squinted eyes.

Although the lens is cracked, it can still be used.

At this look, I found that there was a team in front of me, numbering about 1,000 people, holding a flag, and the flag seemed to be embroidered with the word "horse".

"Horses?"

Wang Wu didn't know which general of the Ming army was surnamed Ma, and Xu Deyi on the side said in a low voice: "It's Ma Houye." ”

"Master Mahou?"

Wang Wu was stunned: Who is this person?

"It was Ma Tengyun, the Guoyi general of our Dashun, and the marquis of the Yongli Emperor of the Ming Dynasty."

When he said this, Ma Sizhong did not see the joy of the friendly army on his face, but his face was solemn, which made Wang Wu wonder, since they were the old Shun army, why they were like a great enemy.

"Fifth Brother Wang, take a closer look!"

Ma Sizhong didn't say much, and asked Wang Wu to use a clairvoyant mirror to look again.

With doubts, Wang Wu picked up the clairvoyant mirror again and looked at the team, which looked nothing unusual at first, because Ma Tengyun's troops were wearing the clothes of the Ming army.

After more than a dozen breaths, Wang Wu's eyes gradually began to change, and his breathing began to become heavy.

Because, he saw the braids!