The emperor sent Zuo Liangyu to come, firstly, to make a superficial statement and calm the panic of the squires in various parts of Henan, and secondly, to express his dissatisfaction with the ineffective supervision and suppression of bandits by both Hong and Zhang.

It's just that Zuo Liangyu himself doesn't think so. This general soldier of the left was a famous general in the Ming army, very good at fighting, he had military exploits on the border of Liaodong back then, and was known as "the first fierce general in Liaodong", and now he led the army to Henan, of course, he did not want to go back just after a passing scene. He only had 2,500 cavalry under his command, and it was of course impossible to recover Huaiqing City, which was occupied by more than 30,000 rebels, so he turned his attention to Biluo Village.

Biluo Village is the nest of the righteous army, when the 36th battalion of the righteous army first arrived in Yujing, it was gathered in the Biluo Cottage in the middle of the Kunshan Mountain, and then sent troops to attack Huaiqing City. Ending the lair of the rebels, although it is better to recapture Huaiqing City, but the credit is not small, and it can also cut off the retreat of the rebels and give Gao Yingxiang and Li Zicheng a dismount.

Therefore, after Zuo Liangyu led the army into the Yu realm, he did not march towards Huaiqing, but quickly crossed the Yellow River and approached Kunshan. The troops he led were all cavalry, and they were running quickly, and when the news came from the "Thousand Flowers", the brigade was less than two days away from the Biluo Cottage.

After hearing what Chu Yiyi said, Yang Jiangyi couldn't stay for a moment, and said, "No! I want to rush to save Ning Ning immediately, as well as Uncle Huang's family, they are too dangerous on Biluo Mountain!"

Hua Bushi was still able to keep his composure and said, "Sister, don't be dry, and listen to me." According to Mrs. Yiyi, Zuo Liangyu's men and horses will be killed in Biluo Village within a day or two, and even if we immediately ride a fast horse to go back day and night, it will take at least two or three days, and we will definitely not be able to rush to the cottage before Zuo Liangyu. ”

Yang Jiangyi hurriedly said: "What can I do then?!"

Hua Bushi said: "When we left the mountain before, there were two or three hundred soldiers left in the cottage, plus five or six hundred people who escorted the grain and grass back a few days ago, and now there should be eight or nine hundred righteous troops in the Biluo cottage, Zuo Liangyu led the cavalry from afar, it is impossible to bring too many siege weapons, as long as these hundreds of righteous troops are firmly fortified in the village, there should be no problem in supporting them for three or five days." ”

He rolled his gaze and continued: "But even if we go back, there are only 200 people in the Perak camp, which is no match for Zuo Liangyu's 2,500 officers and troops, and it can't save the tens of thousands of homeless people in the cottage. The current plan is to go to Huaiqing City to inform the righteous army of the news, and at least two or three thousand men and horses must be gathered to go back before they can fight with the official army. ”

Yang Jiangyi said: "Okay! Then what are you waiting for, I'll accompany you into the city and find Brother Li to move troops!"

Hua Bushi knew that the situation was urgent, and he couldn't delay at all, so he ordered someone to prepare a horse at the moment, and instructed Chu Yiyi to inform Li Hu and Ximen Tong, and told the Thunderbolt camp to pack up and prepare to go, so he and Yang Jiangyi rode on horses and went straight to Huaiqing City.

Qingyang Town is only more than 20 miles away from Huaiqing City, and it should have been possible to arrive in a moment, but the two of them quickly whipped their horses, but they still felt that the road was too long, and the horses were running too slowly.

Entering the city from the south gate, Hua Bushi took Yang Jiangyi and went straight to the place where Li Zicheng's men and horses were camped. The two dismounted at the gate of the camp and let the guards of the rebel soldiers go in to report, but after a while, it was Li Guo who came out.

"I have a very urgent matter to find Brother Li, can he be in the camp?" Hua Bushi was no longer polite, and asked as soon as he saw Li Guo's face.

Li Guo replied: "Uncle Hongji and Gao Dashuai left Huaiqing City together three days ago, and they have not returned yet. ”

Li Zicheng and Gao Yingxiang were going to Zhangde to meet the leaders of several Yujing rebels, and Hua Bushi had heard him talk about it before, but now that a few days have passed, it should have been almost time to come back.

"Do you know when they'll be back?" asked Hua Bushi again.

Li said: "I don't know. Shi Gongzi has any important matters, can you tell Li Guo a thing or two?"

Li Zicheng didn't come back, and Hua Bushi had no other way, so he immediately pulled Li Guo aside, led Zuo Liangyu into Henan, and directly attacked Biluo Village.

Hearing this, Li Guo was taken aback, his face immediately changed, and he stomped his feet and said: "This is terrible! Now our main forces are all in Huaiqing City, and the cottage is very empty, and it is very bad to be attacked by the official army!"

Hua Bushi said: "There are still hundreds of rebels in the cottage, it must not be a problem to hold for a few days, for today's plan, the only way to rush back to rescue as soon as possible, the thousands of men and horses under the command of Brother Li should be enough, but the matter cannot be delayed, and the troops must be sent immediately!"

Li said: "It seems that this is the only way! However, when Uncle Hongji left the city, he handed over the power of commanding the army to Liu Ye, the chief outpost, and if he wanted to send troops back to Biluo Mountain, he had to give an order. ”

Hearing Li Guo talk about the chief whistle Liu Ye, Hua Bushi's heart suddenly sank, and a hint of foreboding rose. But now he didn't care much about it, and only said, "Okay, then you can take me to him." ”

Li said: "Please come with me." ”

Liu Zongmin's camp is next to the big tent of the Chinese army, and the size of the camp tent is second only to Li Zicheng's big tent. Li Guo led Hua Bushi, Yang Jiangyi came to the tent door, called the soldiers to go in to report, and after a while, the soldiers came out of the tent and said: "The chief sentry is invited!"

Hua Bushi and Li Guo entered the account, and Yang Jiangyi walked in Zuihou.

As soon as I entered the tent door, I saw that it was clean and tidy, and the decoration was quite luxurious, and the furniture table was made of one color of ebony. Although it is a military tent of a military general, there are no swords and weapons in it, but there are several antique ornaments stacked on top of the cabinet, as well as many books, one of which is spread on the table, but the cover is a "Spring and Autumn".

In ancient times, Yun Changye read "Spring and Autumn" at night, but I didn't expect that this chief whistle Liu Ye also had the taste of imitating the ancients.

Seeing the three of them enter the tent, Liu Zongmin stood up from the table, clasped his fists and said: "What kind of wind blew Shi Gongzi and Shi Girl here, it is really a distinguished guest, Zong Min is very honored!"

He was still dressed in a blue and white brocade robe, with a smile on his face, and his words were very polite, but the gaze shot out of a pair of phoenix eyes was a little gloomy, which made people inevitably have a strange sense of incongruity.

Hua Bushi and Yang Jiangyi both returned the salute, but Li Guo couldn't wait any longer, and said: "Chief Sentry Master, Shi Gongzi is here for an important matter, our Biluo Cottage is in danger now, and we must immediately send troops to rescue!"

Liu Zongmin said: "Oh, what is the danger, you can tell me about it." ”

At that moment, Li Guo told the story again. After Liu Zongmin listened, the look on his face was uncertain, and he paced a few steps in the tent, but walked to the table and sat down, bowing his head and muttering.

Li Guo hurriedly said: "What is the chief sentry still hesitating? If you don't hurry up and send troops, it will be too late!"

Liu Zongmin said: "Nephew Li Xian, don't be bored, did you listen to Shi Gongzi all this news?"

Li Guo was stunned and said, "Yes." ”

Liu Zongmin smiled slightly, and said: "How can you believe what outsiders say casually? There is no letter for help from Biluo Cottage now, and I don't think this matter is untrue. ”

Li Guo was already anxious, and said loudly: "How can Shi Gongzi tell a lie? Mr. Liu, you ...... it."

His face was red, and when he was about to argue, Hua Bushi had already reached out to grab him and said to Liu Zongmin: "Is General Liu doubting the truth of the information I said?"

Liu Zongmin said in a deep voice: "Although Shi Gongzi has a righteous relationship with Brother Li, as far as I know, you did not accept the appointment letter of the senior marshal and did not want to take on the post of general staff of the army, so you are not our own rebel army. Liu should be cautious in handling such a big matter as sending troops, how can he just listen to what an outsider says and make a rash decision?"

Hua Bushi stared at Liu Zongmin's eyes and said: "Even if this son has never joined the rebel army and is an outsider, now that he has come to report the news, General Liu should also consider it! You must know that this matter is related to the safety of Biluo Cottage, in addition to tens of thousands of displaced people in the village, there are also eight or nine hundred brothers of the rebel army, do you just ignore their life and death just because you doubt my words?"

Liu Zongmin said: "Shi Gongzi made a special trip here to report the news, of course Liu is grateful, but the dispatch of troops is a big matter, and he must wait to confirm the authenticity of the information before he can act." This is our own business in Biluo Mountain, and the safety of the rebel brothers and displaced people in the cottage Liu will also consider it, so Shi Gongzi doesn't have to worry about it!"

Hua Bushi said: "Then may I ask General Liu, how do you want to confirm the truth of this matter?"

Liu Zongmin said: "I will send a scout horse to investigate, or wait for the letter of help from Biluo Village, and I will know if it is true or not." ”

Before Hua Bushi could answer, Yang Jiangyi on the side had already preemptively said loudly: "Zuo Liangyu's cavalry will reach Biluo Mountain in a day or two, and by the time you find out that the cottage has already been captured by officers and soldiers! Liu Zongmin, don't you have a grudge in your heart for what happened at the banquet that day?"

Liu Zongmin smiled and said, "How can Liu be that kind of stingy person? What's more, at the celebration banquet that day, I invited Miss Shi to drink to accompany the sin, but the girl refused to drink, and I am afraid that it is you who cares in my heart, not me Liu Zongmin, right?"

Biluo Cottage was originally the nest of the rebels, and it was also the foundation that Li Zicheng had built for many years. Whether it is Hua Bushi or Yang Jiangyi, they originally thought that as long as they informed the officers and soldiers of the attack, they would immediately send troops to rescue, but they didn't expect that this Chief Sentry Liu would have such an attitude!

Li Guo said: "Chief Sentry Master, what Shi Gongzi said must be true, I, Li Guo, can use my life as a guarantee! Now that the situation of the cottage is critical, we may be able to save it in time to send troops immediately, otherwise it will be too late!"

Liu Zongmin glared at him and shouted: "Brother Li entrusted me with the power of the army when he left the city, and Liu Mou had the final say on whether he sent troops or not! Now that the situation is unclear, I have decided to stand still and find out the situation, and then say, as a general, you only need to follow the order, and you must not say much!"

Li Zicheng was not there, Liu Zongmin was the commander in the army, Li Guo's fists were clenched, but he didn't dare to disobey the order.

Yang Jiangyi bit his lip and said: "General Liu, if you care about Jiangyi's rudeness to you at the banquet that day, I can make amends for you, if you want to drink, I will accompany you to drink, just ask the general to take pity on the lives of tens of thousands of homeless people in Biluo Village, and save them immediately!"