Late Ming Dynasty: Oops, I am surrounded by the Donglin Party

After listening to Zhang San's words, Zhang Shikang narrowed his eyes and stared at him and said:

"Should I call you Song Lao San?"

"The Marshal is very talented and wise!" Song Lao San raised his head with a hint of surprise.

Judging from his conversation and shrewdness during the meal just now, Song Laosan is obviously different from Zhao Liu and Du Qian.

When talking about the reasons for the rebellion of the refugees in their tribe, the three of them tried hard to express their difficulties in order to gain Zhang Shikang's sympathy.

But Zhang Shikang keenly sensed a sense of unwillingness in Song Laosan's words.

Refugee, refugee, this refugee can be displaced or drifting with the tide.

But unwillingness is different. The person in front of him has his own ideas, and his participation in the rebellion is certainly not just for food. In other words, he is an ambitious person.

By comparing the general situation and age of Song Laosan with those found out by the factory guards, Zhang Shikang roughly guessed that this person was Song Laosan himself.

After all, how could an ambitious person be willing to be inferior to others? When there are refugees everywhere, he will definitely raise his arm and become the leader.

"Tell me about your strategy." Zhang Shikang asked again when he saw that he had guessed correctly.

Song Lao San was still kneeling on the ground. Seeing this, he was delighted and said:

"I dare not deceive the commander-in-chief. I, Cao Shangfei and Chuangtatian have always been in contact with that group of rebels.

In fact, most of the weapons and food in the camp were supplied by those rebels."

After Song Laosan finished speaking, he looked up cautiously at Zhang Shikang's reaction.

He knew very well that his life and property depended entirely on Zhang Shikang's decision.

And what he is doing now is more like gambling.

After all, it is hard to believe that he was negotiating with the court for appeasement while secretly accepting support from other rebels.

"I already knew about this. What next?" Zhang Shikang's expression showed no trace of sadness or joy. He calmly took a sip of tea and continued.

These three gangs of bandits started the rebellion only two or three months ago. In terms of time, they are definitely gangs that have not yet left the Novice Village.

However, the number of troops and weapons under his command was much higher than when Gao Yingxiang first started the rebellion in his early years. According to investigations, Song Laosan had more than 10,000 subordinates, among which there were more than 3,000 so-called elite soldiers with complete weapons and armor.

What's even more outrageous is that there were more than 800 cavalrymen, which was difficult to achieve when the rebel army was just starting out.

Although Gao Yingxiang gathered 20,000 to 30,000 people soon after the uprising, at the beginning they were just a group of farmers armed with sticks or even steel forks. It took a year or two for Gao Yingxiang to gather elite troops equipped with complete weapons.

Zhang Shikang didn't believe that there was no one supporting him.

"Reporting to the commander, the person in charge of contacting me is a man named Qian Chengren. When he came to deliver supplies last time, he told me that if I felt that the matter was not feasible, he could report to Xu Hongji and find a way to transfer me to Jiangnan.

At that time, I also had the idea of going west to join the thief Li, so I did not agree immediately.

As long as the Marshal nods, I am willing to pretend to be friendly with the rebels in Jiangnan, lead my 4,000 troops to cross the river first, and establish a bridgehead for the Marshal. "

After saying this, Song Laosan stuck his head to the ground and dared not say another word.

Although the great marshal in front of him was young, Song Laosan did not dare to show any contempt for him. Not only that, he was respectful and full of admiration for the young man.

He is over 40 years old and has worked his way up from the bottom of society, so he has the ability to judge people.

Even if you haven't read too many strategies, you should know that those who can fight their way out of the shackles of corrupt officials in the decadent Ming Dynasty are not ordinary people.

Therefore, he did not hide his thoughts and even told the truth about his idea of joining Li Zicheng.

It is definitely not a smart thing to try to be clever in front of smart people.

After two breaths of silence, seeing that he hadn't received a reply from Zhang Shikang, Song Lao San couldn't help but said:

"My family has died out, and the only relative around me is my nephew. I am willing to leave my nephew as a hostage in the Grand Marshal's army."

"What do you want?" Zhang Shikang put down the tea bowl and asked calmly.

During the entire process of questioning and confrontation, he stared into Song Laosan's eyes, and his words were not gentle, and even a little cold.

Song Lao San was a little flustered when he heard this, and his hands unconsciously clenched together.

"I, a commoner, want to follow the Grand Marshal and accomplish something." Song Lao San struggled for a moment and said through gritted teeth.

Zhang Shikang smiled.

"Achieve great success? What do you mean? I will not rebel."

"I just don't want to be an ant that is bullied and humiliated by others any longer!"

Song Laosan lowered his head, perhaps thinking of the humiliation he had suffered over the years, and said with red eyes and a little grief and anger.

"Oh? Then why don't you go and join Xu Hongji? It is said that he has 300,000 soldiers, and now he has a navy controlling the Yangtze River. I can't even cross the river!" Zhang Shikang teased.

Song Lao San hesitated for a moment and replied:

"The reforms of the Grand Marshal are for the benefit of all the people in the world. Although the common people are dull, they also know that an ant cannot shake a tree, and a mantis cannot stop a chariot.

The Grand Marshal is in charge of the situation. The rebellion in Jiangnan will be quelled by him sooner or later."

Song Laosan said this very firmly, which made Zhang Shikang look at him with admiration.

You're full of rhymes. Do you want to take the postgraduate entrance examination?

"Have you read the book?"

"Reporting to the commander, I only learned a few words."

"Get up and talk." Zhang Shikang's tone softened a lot.

The stone in Song Laosan's heart finally fell halfway. Just a moment ago, he vaguely felt the murderous intent.

After Song Lao San sat down in fear, Zhang Shikang said again:

"I accept your proposal. Anqing Prefecture will soon be garrisoned. It is no longer safe for you.

You should contact Xu Hongji and cross the river as soon as possible."

Although Song Laosan claimed to have more than 10,000 subordinates, Xu Hongji would certainly not agree to transport all of his troops to Jiangnan. At most, he would only transport the more than 3,000 so-called elite armored soldiers.

Therefore, it is unrealistic to rely on this opportunity to seize Xu Hongji's troop transport ship and transport his own troops over.

After all, the imperial court does not have the power to control water. Compared with this, it is better to let Song Laosan lead his troops across first. With time, it can also help him cross the river.

After all, when crossing the river in batches, the most feared thing is that when the troops are halfway through being transported and have not yet formed a battle formation, they are attacked by a large-scale enemy force.

Song Lao San was overjoyed when he heard this, and immediately stood up and bowed, saying:

"I obey your command! I will send my nephew to the Grand Marshal when I return."

"No need for that. I have always trusted people I employ and will not employ people I doubt. I will promote you to the rank of guerrilla general. If you perform meritorious service in this mission, I will assign you to another position." Zhang Shikang shook his head.

He had been staring at Song Lao San for a long time, and judging from his words and actions, he was telling the truth.

Being able to judge the situation through current affairs and standing up decisively when big storms come is also a talent.

Of course, he was not afraid that Song Lao San would turn against him after crossing the river. Not to mention that if he did not want to surrender, he could have crossed the river long ago. Even if he really turned against him, he would only have three or four thousand more enemies.

After hearing this, Song Lao San was both happy and grateful, and immediately knelt down on the ground:

"I am willing to die for you, Marshal! I will never let you down!"

After expressing his loyalty, Song Lao San seemed to remember something and said with some worry:

"General, last time Qian Chengren said that they had helpers in the west and north in order to win over the common people.

Although I don't know who they are, I still hope that the commander-in-chief will pay attention to them and not let the rebels take advantage of them."

……