Prince Chongzhen

Chapter 393 You guys think about your own things, I don't care at all

January 7

Outside Guangyuan City
At this time, both the temperature and humidity in the Sichuan Plain have reached their limit. Coupled with the thick clouds that visit all year round, it almost makes people feel suffocated.

But even in such weather, tens of thousands of soldiers in full armor were still lined up at both ends of the ruins outside the city, for the big event that had been brewing for a long time.

After receiving Liu Wenxiu's letter, Hauge sent a large number of scouts to Guangyuan. After obtaining sufficient intelligence, he sent an envoy to discuss the details.

Honestly speaking, although Zhang Xianzhong's capture was a big deal, it only took more than an hour. However, the discussions on the prisoner exchange lasted for several days, making both sides feel exhausted.

This is understandable. After all, the location and method need to be weighed and considered again and again.

If we are not careful, not only will the efforts of a large number of people for such a long time be wasted, but the situation will also slide into an unpredictable situation.

Under such circumstances, who would dare to take it lightly?
"My Lord, the other side has sent a signal."

"Ah."

Following Goshaha's report, Hauge rode out directly.

Normally speaking, all matters have been discussed by the envoys, and a commander like him does not need to show up in person.

But to everyone's surprise, after the details were finalized, Liu Wenxiu proposed to meet with Hauge when exchanging prisoners, which made several envoys unsure whether they should agree or not.

Hauge was a veteran of battles and had great martial arts skills, so he was not worried that Liu Wenxiu would suddenly attack him when they met. Faced with such an obviously strange request, he just mentioned a private meeting and said nothing else, which showed that he had great confidence in his own skills.

In just four or five breaths, Hauge arrived between the two armies. At this time, Liu Wenxiu on the opposite side was still coming here slowly. He glanced at the mount which was obviously of inferior quality and looked at the opponent's army with disdain.

I have to say that Liu Wenxiu is quite capable.

Previously, most of Guangyuan's elite troops had been brought to Jinniu Road by Zhang Xianzhong, and in the battle to encircle and suppress them, Hauge also witnessed the true combat power of the Dashi Army.

Originally, Hauge was full of praise for these men and even wanted to bring all the captives under his command.

But now, looking at those strong soldiers in the Dashi Army uniforms from afar, he suddenly felt that the captives in the Jinniu Valley were not so attractive.

This is not because Hauge judges people by their body shape.

The weather was so hot and unbearable at that time that even the inner lining of his armor was soaked with sweat. However, the Daxi soldiers opposite him not only kept their clothes neatly dressed under such circumstances, but even their military formation was not disrupted at all.

After all, Hauge was a veteran who had led troops for many years. He naturally understood where the army's combat effectiveness came from. Seeing that the military discipline under Liu Wenxiu was so strict, he naturally felt excited.

Of course, Hauge was also very clear in his mind that the soldiers placed on the outermost layer were mostly used by Liu Wenxiu for show, and the combat effectiveness of most of his soldiers was only at an ordinary level.

Otherwise, even if Liu Wenxiu had fewer troops, he would not be able to worry about anything else with these nearly 10,000 brave soldiers. Why would he insist on exchanging prisoners outside Guangyuan city?

"I've always heard that General Funan is a good commander of the army. Seeing him today is really better than hearing about him."

Although Liu Wenxiu's horse was a little slower, the distance between the two armies was not far.

Just when Hauge was making his wishful thinking, Liu Wenxiu had already come to him seven or eight steps away. He then bowed slightly and began to praise him directly.

"Let's not talk about small talk. I invited you to see me because I have something important to discuss with you."

To be honest, Liu Wenxiu's behavior was quite rude, but Hauge, as the victorious party, still showed enough magnanimity.

When he finished speaking, a faint smile still remained on his face.

"Logically speaking, you and I are enemies, not friends, but I wonder what General Liu wants to discuss?"

"You and I have been fighting in Guangyuan for several months. We are exhausted but not exhausted. After exchanging hostages, each family has their own affairs to deal with. Why not just stop fighting and go back?"

Liu Wenxiu did not beat around the bush and expressed his thoughts directly in a few words. After hearing this, Hauge, as the winner, frowned and waited half a breath before replying with a smile.

"Of course, but General Funan's family has a lot more things to do than Xiao Wang's."

Hauge knew what Liu Wenxiu was referring to, and he could not escape the mess in the court anyway.

But after all, he did capture the Ming Emperor this time. Even if he had to fight with Dorgon and others, he would not necessarily be like Duoduo.

After all, the morale of the court is no longer as high as it was when the general took control of Beijing, and it even used the division of the river and the rule as a condition for negotiations with the Ming Dynasty.

You have to know that this was what the Hongguang emperor and his ministers had been chasing after but could not get. If they had not been frightened by the little emperor, who could have allowed the situation to turn around like this?
But that is all in the past. Today, that kid will fall into my hands. If I can handle it properly, there may be a regent position in the court again.

Thinking of this, Haoge's mood improved again. Then he glanced at the figure of Emperor Minghuang hidden behind the army formation. Liu Wenxiu's hidden attack had no killing power at all.

"We can continue to fight the Ming army, but you have to make peace with the dynasty."

"This matter has nothing to do with today, and you don't have to expect to disturb my mood with this. We can talk about the matter after the prisoner exchange. Let's get started now."

Normally, since Hauge had said so much, he should get to the real point. But unexpectedly, just as he was about to turn his horse and leave, the other party showed a trace of confusion on his face, and then called out again.

"Your Majesty, please walk slowly and listen to me."

Ok?
Liu Wenxiu had clearly looked like he had nothing to say before, but in the blink of an eye he changed his face. If he said there was nothing wrong, I'm afraid no one would believe him.

With this in mind, Hauge stopped with the idea of ​​finding out the situation, but after waiting for a few breaths, the other party still didn't say a word, as if he was weighing something.

Faced with this situation, Haoge was naturally confused, but he was one of the top few people in the Qing Dynasty after all. However, a flash of inspiration came to his mind in a moment.

Oops! I had thought about it, how come I forgot it!
He secretly blamed himself with a feeling of annoyance. In his eyes, Liu Wenxiu's behavior had another meaning. Then he thought about it for a moment and spoke directly.

"I have long admired General Funan. If you have any request, I will do my best to fulfill it."

As soon as he finished speaking, the confusion on Liu Wenxiu's face turned into astonishment in an instant, as if he had never expected that Haoge valued him so much.

After noticing his change, Hauge was not at all complacent, but immediately struck while the iron was hot.

"I am not trying to sow discord. Although the general is called Zhang Xianzhong's adopted son, he is actually just a general's servant. You have done this much and you have repaid a great favor. Why not give up and surrender?" "Your Majesty said this. Do you think I am a living Lu Bu?!"

"How could the general misunderstand my intention? If Zhang Xianzhong was a wise leader, I would be happy to fight him to the death on the battlefield. But he is cruel by nature and does not look like a wise leader at all. I feel sorry for the general!"

After hearing this, Liu Wenxiu's expression changed again and again. When Hauge spoke again, he clenched his fist and rode away.

Faced with this kind of behavior, Haoge was confused and annoyed, but when he returned to the army and told these things to Luo Luohun, the other party's explanation made him feel better again.

"Liu Wenxiu certainly has the intention to surrender, but he is a little reluctant because of his reputation for loyalty and bravery. If the time is right, it won't be difficult to say that he has surrendered."

Hauge agreed with Luo Luohun's statement.

After all, Liu Wenxiu's behavior was indeed somewhat abnormal. If he didn't have some ulterior motives, how could he be like this?

However, at the moment, this was not a first-class conversation. The two of them only exchanged a few words, and the captured Zhang Xianzhong and others had already been brought before Hauge.

His original plan was to take advantage of the opportunity of exchanging prisoners to shoot both the young emperor and Zhang Xianzhong.

But after a few days of deduction, he suddenly realized that killing the little emperor did not seem to be the best option.

Of course, he didn't expect that a little emperor could do anything to the Ming Dynasty.

There was the example of Emperor Yingzong in the distant past and the incident of Emperor Hongguang in the recent past. Even if the young emperor had a lot of direct subordinates, he would not necessarily betray the Ming Dynasty and surrender in Kaesong under the influence of these two events.

But then again, the dead are dead, but the living can be killed again.

Keeping a living little emperor in hand always gives you more choices, which is not necessarily a bad thing.

As for Zhang Xianzhong
To be honest, Hauge didn't care about Zhang Xianzhong's life or death, even though the other party had beaten him and forced him to flee in panic. But in Hauge's eyes, such bandits who only knew how to kill indiscriminately but didn't know how to gather their troops were not a threat.

just
"Your adopted sons are all outstanding people. It is indeed a bit of a buoyancy for them to be around you."

After taking a look at Zhang Xianzhong who was no longer seriously injured and Sun and Ai who were lying on stretchers, Hauge said lightly.

On the one hand, this was what he really thought, but on the other hand, it was mixed with other thoughts.

However, Zhang Xianzhong at this time seemed to have lost his fighting spirit due to the disastrous defeat. Even though Hauge's disdain was evident in his words, he still hung his head and said nothing.

Seeing this, Hauge didn't say anything more. When he saw that the figure of the Emperor Ming had reached the front of the opposite army, he waved his hand, and then several teams of soldiers took Zhang Xianzhong and others to the front of the army.

"Recognize it carefully, and don't make any mistakes."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

As Hauge's voice was heard, a voice was heard among the soldiers, and then both sides went to the center of the army at the same time. The huge field became tense because of the actions of just dozens of people.

"Stop!"

When the two sides were still forty or fifty steps apart, most of the soldiers who had gone out to fight together stopped where they were because of a loud shout.

At this point, everyone knew that the matter had reached its final moment. Not only did high-ranking generals like Hauge focus all their attention on the approaching figure, but even ordinary soldiers stretched their necks to see the specific situation ahead.

But there are exceptions to everything. When the huge field had become silent, several generals in the rear of the Dashi army were surrounding a young knight and listening to his words.

"When the fight starts, you must use your best efforts to entangle the Tartars. I am still not confident about Liu Wenxiu's cavalry."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

"Is everything settled down here?"

"It's all right. Once they have exchanged the prisoners, our army will head straight for the Tatars' main camp."

"The Central Army is also clear about this, right?"

"Understood. Protect the rear flanks of the army and never let the Tartars get close."

As Xiang Rensheng and Mei Chun's answers came, Zhu Cilang still frowned, but he felt a little more at ease.

Unlike Liu Wenxiu and Hauge, he was completely focused on how to bite off a piece of meat from the Qing army, but had no interest in this "prisoner exchange".

No wonder.

Although Zhang Xianzhong was still struggling to survive at this time and many of his troops remained in Sichuan, the ruling foundation of the Dashi Kingdom had been completely destroyed. This regime established by the peasant army had in fact perished.

Of course, Zhang Xianzhong was still alive, and so were Liu Wenxiu and a number of Dashi high-ranking officials.

But in the Dashi Army that is now confronting the Qing Army, except for a hundred or so Liu Wenxiu's personal guards, all of them are the Central and Rear Armies in disguise.

Under such circumstances, even if Liu Wenxiu could really exchange Zhang Xianzhong back safely, what awaited them would either be being controlled by Zhu Cilang, or fleeing in embarrassment and starting all over again.

If Zhu Cilang wants to regain his former glory, unless he repeats Chongzhen's old path and forces the people under his rule to rebel, otherwise the peasant army that has spread across the Ming Dynasty will probably only have its last song today.

"Li Guo and the others. Forget it. Haoge is not a fool. He will find out that something is wrong after fighting for a while."

Originally, Zhu Cilang wanted to ask about the location of Li Guo and others, but he changed his words halfway through his words.

After all, although the number of Tatars was 20,000 to 30,000, as long as the rear guard took action, everyone would understand that it was not the Dashi Army that was facing them.

If it were in normal terrain, as long as the central and rear armies could hold back the Tatars, they could buy enough time for the cavalry of Li Guo and others.

But this is at the Jinniu Crossing after all. Anyone who is more cautious would retreat into it after realizing that something is wrong.

In this way, even if reinforcements really arrived, there would be no room for them to maneuver. Zhu Cilang's goal would be achieved if he could destroy some of the Eight Banners headquarters in this battle.

(End of this chapter)