Delong

Chapter 237 Array Row (3)

On May [-]th, here in Lihu, it has been raining again since the morning.

Zhang Xing received Li Shu's report that the officers and soldiers in front had crossed Fan County and continued towards Dong County without any hesitation or awareness.

At the same time, Lihu's place is also troubled and progressing - someone proposed to keep a reserve team of 5000 people, not to be included in the army, but to hide in the rear army camp, so that it can be dispatched in any direction, so as to fill in the gaps. This seems to be a feasible suggestion, but some people worry that it will lead to the lack of strength of the front-facing army, and it is a fart when they take off their pants; Concentrated use, the leaders of the actual control troops have different attitudes towards this, some people are very resistant; Some soldiers visited their relatives nearby, which also caused a disturbance.

And when Zhang Xing appeared to be well-done, decent, almost commanding, but inside he was almost embarrassed and made all the decisions blindly. Little did he know that Dongdong, which had been stable for almost a year, was due to the mobilization and gathering of the army. In County and Jiyin County, the hearts of the people began to gradually become turbulent, and the order began to show signs of failure.

Internally and externally, many problems that were covered up due to the previous military presence tended to spiral out of control as the military operations unfolded.Many things, also passively accelerated due to the tense atmosphere, came to a crossroads.

There is no way around it. When people clenched their fists desperately, they would unconsciously cause damage to the surrounding bits and pieces, bottles and cans, and unconsciously, their veins would be exposed, and the The wound burst open.

Of course, as long as you win, everything seems to be easy to say.

The only thing is that things always have two sides. No one knows how much these bottles, cans, bits and pieces, and these original small wounds will affect the punch itself?

Unceasing accidents and the trend of the times will always be the symbiosis of the double helix.

The weather is different in a hundred miles, although it is in the rainy season, but when it is raining lightly at Lihu's place, Jiyin City is just gloomy and rainy. Jiyin City, which was originally the core and busiest place in Jiyin County, seemed a little empty.

As the first city to realize that a full-scale war is about to start, the merchants have long since disappeared. After every household was recruited by half-forced half-bait, they seldom go out unless necessary, that is, there are occasional folks who come and go to deliver supplies. Sometimes, it seems that the city can temporarily come alive.

On the morning of the [-]th, under the gloomy clouds, the prison in the county mansion in the west of Jiyin City was as dull and dark as ever, mixed with the year-round foul smell and the infestation of insects and ants, coupled with the recent humidity, it was particularly It's unbearable... But there's no way, no one will care about the treatment of these guests in the prison, if you don't forget to give stutters and drinks, it's already very good.

Footsteps sounded, and a figure was reflected on the wall of the prison by the torch, but it seemed to be slightly different from the past.

Sitting on a stool with his limbs shackled and dirty, Li Qingchen leaned his back against the cell wall, and was routinely tormented by wounds in his chest and abdomen. This month's rainy weather was too difficult for him, but Hearing the sound at this time, he frowned and looked at it, but unexpectedly behaved strangely, so that he remained motionless, just staring at the corner through the fence, waiting for the other party to appear.

A moment later, a young woman dressed in men's clothes appeared in front of Li Qingchen holding a torch.

However, this person has a handsome appearance, fair skin, and excessively clean clothes, which really doesn't fit the atmosphere of the cell.

Seeing the person coming, Li Qingchen heaved a sigh of relief, then got up weakly: "Thirteen Niang, why did you come today?"

The woman said nothing, first put the torch on the socket in front of the prison door, then pulled out a standard embroidered machete from her waist, channeled the true energy of Duanjiang, and continued to slash vigorously. At last the prison door was unlocked.After entering the prison, after repeated actions, he split Li Qingchen's anklet and bracelet, but he quickly dragged him out.

At this time, the rest of the people in the prison had already been startled and shouted for help. Li Qingchen staggered and pointed to the two people opposite him: "Thirteen Niangs, don't care about the rest. These two are my companions in the county. If you don't save them, go back. It’s hard to see their family members in Huaiyang.”

"You also know that it's not easy to see other people's family members?" The so-called Thirteen Niang, Li Qingchen's sister Li Qingzhou, who is also the newest black ribbon stationed in Huaiyang County, finally sneered. "There are so many corpses on the Bianshui Wharf, what's the difference between these two?"

Li Twelve was ashamed and angry for a while.

But having said that, Li Shisanniang still stepped forward and tried her best to open the door lock. The two of them had no chains on their hands and feet, and they were not injured. Li Qingzhou, with his strong combat power, left room for it.

However, the four escaped quickly, climbed over the wall and left the prison, and then jumped into a house on the street opposite the prison, without bumping into anyone, let alone using force.

It is also strange.

"What's going on?" As soon as he sat down on the stone steps in the courtyard, Li Qingchen became dazed. "Why is it so empty?"

"What can I do? Just come out of the nest." Li Qingzhou quickly walked into the house to get something, while explaining a little. "There is going to be a war in the east. Zhang San, the Dragon Slayer, has already led his troops to Lihu. Not only Jiyin, but all the government servants in various counties have been dispatched, and almost all the civil servants have been conscripted. Today, even the prison guards I went to Cangcheng and Ferry in the north to help distribute things, I tied up the remaining two, and they went in grandly... Hurry up and wipe your face, there are clean clothes here, let's climb over the city wall immediately, and go from the south!"

Li Qingchen responded, and went to wash and change clothes with his two subordinates, but when the three of them changed their clothes, the other two would be fine, Li Qingchen was still a little unwilling:

"If his city is so empty, why don't we go and burn his warehouse city?"

"You think too much." Li Qingzhou became even more angry. "Do you really think there are no people left in the city? It's just that they are all placed in important places like Cangcheng! And you are all like this, so I should burn it? Where do I get the manpower and skills?"

Li Qingchen remained silent.

The four of them climbed out of the city wall without any risk, but there were only two horses here. Li Qingzhou simply made it clear to the two of them and asked to part ways.

The two of them had nothing to say, so they could only walk away with their hands together, and fled westward on foot, while the Li brothers and sisters walked southwestward on horseback.

But after walking for two or three miles, Li Qingchen finally couldn't bear it anymore, and he reined in his horse and called to his sister: "Thirteen Niang, since there is going to be a war ahead, how can we, as court officials, just run back like this? If we can't burn Cangcheng, we should burn down the Fuya Prison, to surprise him, it's best to divide up the troops and come back..."

"Let me tell you the truth." Li Qingzhou sighed, reined in his horse and turned around, telling the truth. "I dare not! Sister Sisi is now in Lihu, mingling with that dragon-slaying knife. If we burn down the mansion or something, there will probably be no soldiers. I am afraid that there is a Yitian sword. At that time, even I will lose it." I want to be taken back together with you... If you have such a mind, you might as well go back to Huaiyang to recuperate."

After finishing speaking, Li Shisanniang immediately hit the horse and left. After walking for more than a hundred steps, she found no one around her, and turned back again. have no choice:

"Are you going back to Huaiyang?"

"What's going on in this battle?" After a while, probably having regained his strength, Li Qingchen asked seriously while holding the rein with one hand and pressing the wound between his chest and abdomen with the other. "Who is Zhang Xing going to beat? Why did Sister Sisi come? The British government directly turned against me? I have only been locked up for a few days, how can the situation change drastically!"

"How can there be so many things?" Li Shisanniang was completely helpless and could only tell them one by one. "It's the thing that you, Qian Tang, Lu Changheng and the others planned for Zhongcheng. The three families joined forces to wipe out the Dragon Gang. Now Zhang Xing is going to the east because Zhang Xuguo is the best at fighting, and he suddenly pulled out the cloud. Li Shu came back in a big defeat, so he had to go to join the battle. As for why Sister Sisi came, how do I know? I only know that she came over suddenly a few days ago, in the middle of nowhere, and did not shy away from anyone. There is also the British Duke, anyway, I am I haven't heard of the British public rebellion."

Li Qingchen was silent for a moment, and then asked again: "When I was in prison, it was said that Zhang Xing ate Ma Hu?"

"Yes."

"What about Han Yingong? Still in Xiao County?"

"No, I came to Xiayi and Dang County. As soon as you were captured, Zhongcheng sent me to continue sending letters to him. Later, Zhang Xuguo captured Yuncheng and asked Lu Changheng to rush across the county to bring the news. Xiao County, it is said that they have made a huge concession, so they brought troops here." After finishing speaking in a hurry, Li Shisanniang glanced at the gloomy clouds above her head, and agreed. "So far, what do you still want?"

"I want to do something!" Dark clouds rolled over his head, and Li Qingchen gritted his teeth. "I don't care how useful it is, but I can't do nothing like this, I can't stay out of it like this, I have to do something!"

"What do you want to do?" Unexpectedly, Li Shisanniang, who had been a little impatient, didn't get angry anymore.

"Go to the south and ask Han Yingong to send troops. Jiyin is so empty, how can it stop Han Yingong's army?" Li Qingchen said simply. "As long as Han Yingong comes, Zhang Xing will definitely be defeated."

"Then go to Xiayi?" Li Shisanniang was also straightforward.

Li Shisan didn't say a word, just turned his horse's head and turned to the south, Li Shisan had no choice but to keep up.

The two are galloping fast, how can it be compared with marching?But in the afternoon, they crossed the Bianshui River, and arrived at the city of Xiayi in the evening, where Han Yingong's [-] troops were located.

Not to mention the Captain and Hei Shou from Huaiyang County next door, nor the messengers who have been negotiating privately with Han Yingong from the Eastern Capital all this time, but the Twelve Langs and Thirteen Niangs from the servants of the Li family in Longxi who have in-laws. And finally, Mr. Han Yingong will also welcome him.

In fact, Li Qingchen was chosen to be in charge of this matter before, which in itself meant that.

When the two sides met, Li Qingchen couldn't wait to get up after each of them sat down. He directly narrated something, and then asked the other party to send troops.

Han Yingong is just in his early forties this year, with slender beard and eagle eyes. After listening to this, he just twisted his beard and smiled: "Li Twelve Lang, Thirteen Niang, you are late. In fact, I already knew about the emptiness of Ji Yin yesterday. gone."

Li Qingchen was stunned for a moment, and immediately came to ask: "So, why is General Han still in Xiayi at this time?"

This is a bit rude to ask.

But Han Yingong knew the dispositions of these high-school disciples, so he just continued to laugh: "How can it be so simple to deploy an army? Besides, if Jiyin is an empty city, if we only take an empty city to cut off their retreat, why do we need the whole army to go there? "

Li Qingchen was stunned for a moment, and immediately came to his senses: "Is the general going northward with the five thousand troops from Dang County?"

"That's right." Han Yingong answered frankly, and pointed his finger outside the tent by the way. "And I arrived later. Here in Xiayi, those servants have been attacked for a few days, and they are already extremely poor... They just think that I'm still showing face to those father-in-laws in Jiangdu!"

Li Qingchen hesitated for a moment, and continued to persuade: "General Han, there is a priority, and Jiyin is what Zhongcheng focuses on."

"That's the case." Han Yingong was not polite. "Why don't you ask Li Twelve Lang to come into the city to persuade me to surrender? You go in and tell them clearly that now that I have received the grace of Zhong Cheng, I don't care about Niu Dugong or Ma Dugong... If Xiayi surrenders, I will only rectify it One day, follow the [-] troops in Dang County and continue northward."

Li Qingchen was completely powerless when he heard the words.

Why can't he see that the other party seems to be smiling and treating Yan Yan with courtesy, but in fact he is stubborn and stubborn, and doesn't take himself seriously at all.

And this is kind of the norm.

Because even within the Guanlongmen Clan, there must be a famous family and a noble one.

For someone like him, who was born in a famous family in Kansai, but needs to climb up step by step by himself, it is a bit embarrassing for someone like the Han family who has just risen up for a generation or two, but is in power... What kind of relative's house did you go to when you were young? Zai Zhi and Zhu Guo often slap their thighs and say that this child is good, and he can be in my position in the future, but in fact, which child would not say that?It's really over. You can be Zaizhi and Zhuguo because your surname is Li, and because your grandfather and great-grandfather have been Zaizhi and Zhuguo. What about the current son of Zaizhi and Zhuguo?
Even if you don't care about this and return the Zai Zhi and Zhu Guo seats of your ancestors, but you big families, with four or five families in each house, and dozens of young people in each house, there is not enough for a Zai Zhi seat.

That is to say, the few families like the Bai family, Dou family, and Zhang family can continue the family name while actually holding power for a long time, so that they are worthy of the name.

Of course, being from Kansai after all, they are ten thousand times stronger than Hebei aristocratic families and Jiangdong Eight Great Families. At least there is no invisible ceiling, it just takes hard work on a few thresholds.

Turning back to his eyes, Li Qingchen realized the other party's arrogance, but there was nothing he could do about it, especially because the other party, as Han Bolong's younger brother, did not rely on his elder brother's support, but had his own reputation for bravery. , The resume and strength are all here, even with the backing of Uncle Cao, how can he be qualified to mobilize him face to face.

So, Li Qingchen just thought about it, but forced a smile under the astonished eyes of his family sister: "General Han likes me, so I naturally feel obliged... But before entering the city, there is one more thing I want to ask General Han. "

"Say it." Han Yingong was also a little surprised.

"Lv Changheng, Captain Lu." Li Qingchen mentioned a person who was reliable to him. "It is said that he came to see General Han. I think it was he who told General Han about the military situation in Yuncheng. I don't know where he is now? Do you mean to act with those 5000 people?"

Han Yingong smiled and nodded directly: "That's right, Captain Lu is going north with those 5000 people, and I even told those generals directly that once they go north, let them temporarily listen to Captain Lu... However, Captain Lu At this time, it is really not in Dang County, but in Mangdang Mountain, it is said that they want to recruit a group of bandits before going north."

"In that case, I'll go into the city right now." Li Qingchen knew it in his heart, he couldn't help but let out a long breath, nodded again and again, and then stood up.

In all conscience, the situation was much better than he thought.

"Don't you need to change and wash it?" Han Yingong also relaxed accordingly.

"Just use this sour body to prove that Jiyin's emptiness is not a lie, and then prove that a five thousand army is enough to easily cut off the northern retreat." Li Qingchen answered frankly. "It's also good for the nondescript internal servants in the city to see the situation earlier - even if the court encounters difficulties, it's not like they are messy people who can take advantage of the opportunity to make trouble."

"It's a bit of Cao Zhongcheng's disregard for himself." Han Yingong squinted his eyes and smiled, stood up, and then called the attendants by his side. "Bring the wine, I'll toast Li Twelve Lang."

In this way, Li Shisan drank a glass of wine, and went straight to the city to be a lobbyist regardless of his exhaustion. Although Li Shisan was discouraged by his brother's troubles, he couldn't rest assured after all and could only leave with him.

And Han Yingong just sat there, watching the two disciples from the Guanlong clan come and go in such a hurry, with an erratic expression, as if he was remembering something or thinking about something.

Not to mention what happened to Han Yingong, but the brothers and sisters of the Li family came to Xiayi City and easily summoned a basket - it can be seen that there has been communication and discussions inside and outside the city, and it is definitely not Han Yingong's lies.

In fact, when the two entered, they easily met Wang Gonggong, the leader of the internal guards. Even Wang Gonggong was more respectable than Han Yingong. After the other party briefly explained the situation, he actually prepared enough hot rice and hot soup for the two brothers and sisters.

That's all for Li Qingzhou, Li Qingchen was really hungry, so he simply swept away the air.

After eating, I came to see Eunuch Wang again. The thin-faced latter just smiled: "I thought Li Twelve Lang was here to scare me, but unexpectedly he just escaped... Is Jiyin City so empty?"

Only then did Li Qingchen come to his senses, but he took advantage of the situation to persuade him: "Eunuch Wang, since you know the pros and cons, you should make a quick decision, because deposing the Dragon Army will undoubtedly be defeated. Don't worry, the result will be even worse in the future... Don't count on Duke Niu's face, General Han is going to Dongdu after this battle."

The prince gave a dry laugh: "I know all of this, it's just Li Twelve Lang, do you know what conditions General Han offered?"

Li Qingchen was slightly taken aback, and then asked back: "Is it to kill the chief culprit? So it is difficult for the prince to accept?"

"No." The prince shook his head. "If that's the case, I'll agree... He asked all of our servants to surrender naked, without a single piece of clothing or a weapon, and go out of the city shirtless and enter the camp as coolies."

"So what's the matter?" Li Qingchen was silent for a while, but then asked back. "You have seen the scene before. It is good to have such a result. It is better than losing a lot of lives."

The prince shook his head, and answered seriously: "He didn't mention the results of the thousands of palace people and local people in the city, otherwise I would have surrendered earlier."

Li Qingchen and Li Qingzhou were stunned on the spot.

After a while, Li Shisanniang bit the bullet and asked cautiously, "Didn't you ask General Han?"

"I asked, and I just said 'only to surrender or not to surrender'." The prince answered calmly. "Otherwise I would have dropped too early."

Li Shisanniang came to see her clan brother, who was silent for a moment, pressed his abdomen and tried to ask: "Then what are you going to do?"

"Before you two came, you wanted to keep a watchful eye." The prince said with a straight face. "After the two of you came, I still wanted to keep it in my heart, but if I kept it, it would be meaningless. Instead, I want my sons to die in vain, so what can I do? So, what you two said is true? Han The general wants to go to the Eastern Capital, so he doesn’t have to sell Jiangdu’s face? The imperial court is besieged on three sides, and the Eastern Route has already been broken through, and the Delong Army is forced to face eastward, leaving Jiyin empty and vulnerable?”

Li Shisanniang came to see her clan brother again, but Li Qingchen pressed his belly and relaxed for a long time, but nodded heavily: "I swear to the sky, what I said is true... Now that Yuncheng is broken, Long Jundong will be demolished." The front line collapsed, I can't imagine what Zhang Xing can do with the [-] left behind troops on the western front? I don't believe that he can repeat the old example of Ma Hu. Even if he can do something, it is just to support the accident, and it's just a matter of going away. "

At this point, Li Qingchen looked seriously at his sister again: "I know why Sister Sisi is here, she is going to take Zhang Xing to escape... I should have thought that it is impossible for a smart person like Zhang San to I don’t know that rebellion is inevitable… Sooner or later, the Dragon Clan will make a comeback, and Zhang Xing is indeed a serious problem for the imperial court.”

Li Qingzhou also woke up, but she was still a little uneasy, because she vaguely remembered that she had been lurking in Jiyin for the past few days, and the transportation of materials was not like responding to an accident at all, but instead felt like going all out.

But it seems that going all out will not change the situation, right?

So, just be silent.

Similarly, when Wang Gonggong heard the words of the two, he also opened his mouth, as if he wanted to say something, but finally fell down.

There was a muffled thunder, followed by a crackling sound. Obviously, it started to rain again outside. The weather is like this, so what is the misfortune of mortals?

"I will lead the crowd to surrender in the future." The prince sighed. "Li Twelve Lang, I know I'm not qualified to ask for anything, but since you've been involved in this matter, please make sure you protect it and try to be considerate for the innocent in the city."

Li Twelve opened his mouth to speak, but it was obvious that he knew how the army behaved after he had been an official for a long time, and he also knew Han Yingong's rebelliousness from the communication just now.

On the other hand, Li Shisanniang, who just joined the Fusi of Jing'an Taidong Township this year, blurted out: "It's natural."

The prince nodded heavily.

Almost at the same time, tens of miles to the east of Xiayi, in Mangdang Mountain, in the Juyi Hall on the top of the mountain, the great leader Wang Zhen, nicknamed the Tongarmed Great Sage, summoned several of the following leaders, and just explained My own difficulties:
"Everyone, you should also know that these days, many of my old colleagues have come to me in turn. Some want me to go north to fight against the army, and some hope that I can be recruited to be an officer and fight against bandits. Now I am in a mess. Don't know who to help?"

As soon as the words came out, the people below knew what the other party meant, and immediately someone came to laugh: "Could it be that the big leader means that the two will not help each other, and just sit on the mountain, so as not to spoil their loyalty?"

Wang Zhenqian laughed, he really thought so.

Besides, for Wang Zhen, the previous promise and loyalty to Zhang Xing were definitely not discounted in the slightest, but Sima Zheng had too much influence on him. At that time, he was really completely shaken. When the soldiers came out, he didn't recognize Han Yingong or anything, but Bai Yousi's arrival and Zhang Xing's call did shake him back again.

However, isn't this the old buddy Lu Changheng who came to look for him again? At this time, it is Wang Zhen's true idea that they should not help each other so as not to ruin their loyalty.

Seeing Wang Zhenlai laughing, the other leaders were not willing to send troops at first, but they agreed one after another, and the matter seemed to be settled like this.

But at this moment, the second master in the hall, Cook Fan Fan Laoliu suddenly said: "The chief master, do you know that another colleague of yours, Zhou Xingfan, also came from the southeast today, has he arrived on the mountain?"

Wang Zhen was taken aback for a moment, then his expression changed: "Where is Xiao Zhou now?"

"In my fairy cave." Cook Fan said while rubbing his belly. "When he came, Lieutenant Lu hadn't left yet. I was afraid that they would get angry, so I comforted him with me."

Wang Zhen took a deep breath and nodded again and again: "It's hard work, old six."

"It's not hard." Cook Fan continued to speak calmly. "The reason why he is willing to stay is because I promised him that I will be able to persuade you to send troops to the north to fight against the officers and soldiers... Otherwise, judging by his appearance, I am afraid that he will have a life-and-death relationship with Captain Lu, so forced You have to submit."

Wang Zhen was stunned again, and then he wanted to say something, but he was stunned again and again, and finally he realized what the other party meant: "What does the sixth brother mean? You didn't complain about the incident that the third brother came to the mountain to drive the tiger down the mountain and cross the river. Are you brooding? How did you have such a clear stand?"

"It's natural to be brooding. Who wouldn't be grumpy when encountering such a thing?" Cook Fan stood up and said while rubbing his stomach. "But chief, so what?"

"Then..." Wang Zhen, who was sitting on the middle chair, didn't know what to say for a moment.

And Cook Fan has already continued to talk: "The reason is very simple. He was an official at the time, and I was a thief. He was an official to deal with the thief. Although I didn't feel good about it, I knew the truth. It's hard to blame others. I only blame myself No ability... In the same way, the head of the family, in today's situation, if you surrendered to the army due to the situation and became an officer, there will naturally be an officer's argument, and I have nothing to say."

Wang Zhen twisted his body in the seat a little uneasy.

"But now that you haven't become an official, you are still a thief. Since you are a thief, you must have a reason for being a thief... How can an officer and a soldier show a reason for not helping each other when they are fighting life and death with a rebel? If you look like this, no matter which one wins, the officers and soldiers or the bandits, can you be spared?" Cook Fan continued.

Wang Zhen was silent, and the other leaders in the hall were also talking about it, as if they all felt that Fan Erdao's words were very reasonable.

"So, big boss." Cook Fan continued to ask seriously. "Are you going to surrender the officers and soldiers, or continue to be a thief?"

Wang Zhen continued to be silent for a while, and then he opened his mouth under the watchful eyes of the leaders who gradually calmed down: "If Second Brother Sima doesn't come, how can those other things convince me? I won't be demoted."

"That's to continue being a thief." Cook Fan looked around with his stomach shy. "Since you are a thief, you should act like a thief... I propose here that Chief Zhou should be invited to come up, and then we will discuss the matter of sending troops to the north to help destroy the Dragon Gang! Chief, and everyone, what do you think? "

PS: It is routine to sacrifice a book "Reopening Back to Daming Hongwu"... Good night everyone.

(End of this chapter)