Two days later, Yang Sichang preserved Zhang Xianzhong's body and the more than 40,000 beheaded heads in saltpeter, along with Zhang Wenxiu's seal, armor, and a large number of captured flags, etc., and transported them to the capital.
In order to ensure that nothing went wrong, Yang Sichang specially dispatched his own supervision camp, and sent fast horses to notify the states and counties along the way that they would send troops to assist in the escort.
Liu Yan stood outside the gate of the New Army camp, watching the carriages and horses of the brigade slowly leaving, and thought to himself: "It's over, it's time to go back."
Miao Shao, Xu Ming, Wang Yue, and Shen Tuo were chatting on the side. Especially when the carriage and horse carrying the head passed by, several people's faces showed dissatisfaction.
"grown ups!"
Miao Shao was furious and said to Liu Yan: "Yang Sichang and others were shameless and took away 20,000 of our heads. This time they made a lot of money!"
Liu Yan said with a smile: "This time it is considered an exchange of equal value. I exchanged 20,000 heads for 100,000 taels of silver, 80,000 stones of grain and grass, and a batch of armor from Yang Sichang and others' army. It is not a loss." "
"These heads are all those of escaped thieves and are worthless. Even 20,000 of them won't bring much merit. We still have the merit of killing Zhang Xianzhong and Zhang Wenxiu. The imperial court will definitely reward our army vigorously this time."
After listening to Liu Yan's words, Miao Shao felt better.
At this time, Xu Mingde, the commander of the central camp's night flag, rushed over on horseback. He first went to the commander Shen Tuo to report something, and then Shen Tuo suddenly changed his color and hurriedly brought Xu Mingde over.
"My lord, something happened."
Liu Yan looked at the people coming and going around him and said, "Let's talk in the tent."
Miao Shao, Xu Ming, Wang Yue and other commanders also entered the tent one after another. In the tent of the New Army Central Army, Shen Tuo said: "This is Xu Mingde, the commander of our camp who does not collect the flag at night. He detected a News: Zuo Mengeng is collecting testimonies of the defeated troops, and has also selected a few reliable generals, preparing to send people to the capital to file a complaint!"
"Um?"
Liu Yan didn't expect this. Zuo Mengeng was really difficult to deal with and wanted to fight him to the end.
Forget it, since Zuo Liangyu has been killed, let’s send Zuo Mengeng down now so that their father and son can be reunited.
So Liu Yan said: "Xu Qizhang, where did you get the news?" 33
"Your Excellency, two days ago, you ordered all the camps to stay closed at night to pay attention to the movements of the Zuo Army. In the past few days, my subordinates have sneaked into the Zuo Army camp and used some means to catch someone's tongue. This person is a sentry commander in the Zuo Army. , was one of the witnesses Zuo Mengeng looked for. His subordinates took him back to the camp and tortured him, and then he confessed everything."
Liu Yan asked again: "When will the Zuo Mengeng sect leave?"
"Tomorrow morning."
"How is the defense of the left army camp now?"
Xu Mingde became more and more excited as he talked, and said: "They are very lax. Those Zuo Army soldiers have been beaten and disabled. They just enjoy eating and drinking every day, and even fight. There is no military appearance at all, and there is nothing inside or outside the Zuo Army camp." Be vigilant and patrol, otherwise my subordinates won’t be able to easily sneak in and arrest people.”
Liu Yan nodded and said: "In this case, I will leave one thing to you..."
Then Liu Yan whispered, explaining this to Xu Mingde. The expressions of Shen Tuo, Miao Shao, Xu Ming, Wang Yue, Chen Xun and other commanders changed: It seems that your Excellency is ready to eradicate the root cause!
"What this general wants is death without evidence, do you understand?"
Xu Mingde knew that his opportunity had come, and he immediately clasped his fists excitedly and said, "Please rest assured, sir, my subordinates will definitely handle this matter!"
Soon, it was nightfall, and it was dark inside and outside the Zuojun camp.
At this time, the rest of the Ming army lit bonfires, and there were groups of soldiers patrolling inside and outside. But here in the Zuo Army camp, the remaining defeated generals only focused on scrambling for supplies, gambling and fighting, waiting for the reorganization of the army. At this time, the left army's military morale had already dissipated. Naturally, no one paid attention to defense and patrol matters anymore. No one even lit the bonfire. The whole camp was dark, with only scattered torches scattered everywhere.
Xu Mingde led a team of more than a dozen elite troops to go out at night. The soldiers infiltrated from all parts of the left army camp and then stood by in the southwest.
There are more than a dozen piles of fodder here, but there are few war horses in the Zuojun camp at this time, so these fodder are unattended.
Xiao Dongzi looked around and whispered: "Boss, this place is too far away from the Chinese army. It's difficult to get there."
Xu Mingde was well prepared and whispered: "When I came in to catch my tongue, I saw good things in a tent not far ahead. They were all uniforms and flags of the Left Army. After a while, we went over to change them and went directly to The Chinese military is on duty."
Then everyone touched the camp tent, put on the flags and clothes of the left army in a hurry, and walked towards the central army in a swaggering manner.
From time to time, we met Zuojun generals along the way, but these Zuojun soldiers turned a blind eye to Xu Mingde and others. They either wandered listlessly, or solicited people to make money. Some even got wine and started drinking outside the camp.
"Is this considered a soldier?"
Xiao Dongzi thought with disdain, and followed the team for a while. The surrounding gradually became quiet, and there were basically no soldiers from the left army here.
At this time, Xiao Dongzi raised his eyes and saw the Chinese army's tent in front. He felt happy and looked at Xu Mingde.
Xu Mingde nodded slightly to everyone, and Xiao Dongzi took a few nights to disperse around, searching for any left army soldiers around. Xiao Dongzi and the others went there for a while, and solved two unlucky guys who passed by. , and then quietly returned to the original place.
At this time, the lights in the Chinese army's tent were flickering, and Zuo Mengeng's angry voice could be heard from time to time. Xu Mingde listened, vaguely cursing Liu Yan, and suddenly became furious: "I am about to die, but I still dare to curse you! "
"Fuck me!"
Xu Mingde asked Xiao Dongzi to lead people to stand guard outside, and he rushed in with a few people without stopping. They all held short knives in their hands, which looked cold under the swaying lights.
Zuo Mengeng never dreamed that such a group of assassins would appear in his military camp. He immediately pushed the food table away in panic, and a jar of good daughter's red wine was also overturned. The aroma of alcohol instantly filled the entire camp.
"Who are you!"
Xu Mingde said nothing, looking at Zuo Mengeng, whose face turned pale and had retreated to the corner, and stabbed him directly in the chest. The other Ye Bu Sui also surrounded him, and one of them covered his left hand with all his strength. Menggeng's mouth made him unable to make a sound. The other two people held down Zuo Menggen's hands hard, and they all aimed at Zuo Menggen and stabbed him randomly.
A moment later, Zuo Mengeng fell to the ground like a broken sack. There were blood holes on his body and neck. He was already dead and could no longer die.
"Boss, what should I do with this body?"
Xu Mingde said: "Just leave it here and don't worry about it."
"Ah? Is this okay?"
"This is what the adults have told me to do."
Xu Mingde whispered: "Those generals in the Zuo Army are all irresponsible. When they found Zuo Mengeng's body, they must be worried that they will be implicated, and they will help us clean up the mess."
"real?"
Xu Mingde asked without hesitation that night, and said: "What the general said, has anything ever gone wrong? Hurry up, pack it up, don't forget our own things, and leave as soon as you're done."
Soon, Xu Mingde and others left the camp, called Xiao Dongzi and others to return the same way, and soon left the Zuojun camp.
Early the next morning, Yang Sichang summoned all the generals to discuss matters in the Chinese army's tent.
Liu Yan strode into the Chinese army tent and saw Zheng Chongjian, He Renlong and Li Guoqi whispering something. When they saw him coming in, they all looked over and greeted him with a smile.
Liu Yan also clasped his fists and saluted. After all, the three of them are Shangguan, so etiquette must be in place.
Then Yang Sichang also walked into the Chinese army's tent. Liu Yan, Zheng Chongjian, He Renlong, and Li Guoqi all stood up and saluted. Yang Sichang said with a smile: "There are no others, so you don't have to stick to customary etiquette."
Yang Sichang sat down and first spoke to Shaanxi Governor Zheng Chongjian: "Now the army is temporarily stationed at the foot of Agate Mountain, but after His Majesty's reward comes, the Ministry of War will make additional transfer orders. By then, Governor Zheng and the two generals will probably return to Shaanxi."
"Li Chuang is having a lot of trouble over there, and even Henan is not at peace. Then Governor Zheng will have to worry more."
Zheng Chongjian said: "Don't worry, Commander. As long as the court orders it, Commander He and Deputy General Li, I and I will do our best to kill the enemy and strive to put an end to Li Chuang's disaster as soon as possible!"
"Haha, that's good."
Then Yang Sichang said to Liu Yan: "The first credit for this battle should be given to General Liu. In the victory report, the governor also wrote so, and the governor also recommended General Liu to the court. I believe that your Majesty will definitely reuse General Liu." .”
Liu Yan knew that this was Yang Sichang trying to win over him and killed Zhang Xianzhong in one battle. His status in the court and in the heart of Emperor Chongzhen would skyrocket. Yang Sichang pulling him over would be of great help to his future power.
Liu Yan cupped his fists and thanked him with a smile on his face, but kept his distance. This made Yang Sichang a little unhappy, but it was fleeting.
At this time, Yang Sichang said: "I have sent someone to inform General Xiao Zuo to come to discuss the matter. Why hasn't he arrived yet?"
Liu Yan frowned slightly, and Zheng Chongjian smiled and explained: "The Superintendent has drawn up the Zuo Army's reorganization strategy, so I invite General Zuo to come over and discuss it."
To put it bluntly, Yang Sichang, Zheng Chongjian and others were preparing to carve up the defeated troops in Zuo Liangyu's army, so they called Zuo Mengeng over to inform them.
Liu Yan just said lightly: "This is a good thing." and there was no more words.
Everyone waited for a long time, but Zuo Mengeng still didn't come.
Yang Sichang was a little irritable, so he sent someone to urge him again. Half an hour later, the sent guard rushed over anxiously, clasped his fists and said, "Report to the Commander, General Zuo is missing!"
"What!"
Yang Sichang stood up suddenly, and then stared directly at Liu Yan, as if he wanted to see something from Liu Yan's face.
Zheng Chongjian, He Renlong, and Li Guoqi also looked at Liu Yan in surprise, but Liu Yan said calmly: "Gone? What did the Zuo Army generals say?"
The guard said: "All the generals of the Zuo Army said that General Zuo disappeared last night. Everyone searched for him for a long time, but there was no trace."
"Then why not repay it!"
Yang Sichang said angrily: "The generals of the first army are missing. Are all the generals of the left army blind?"
Liu Yan said: "Supervisor, please calm down. In my opinion, Zuo Menggeng may have been too sad, so he packed up his things and left here. There is no need to look for the Supervisor any further. It is better to discuss with Supervisor Zheng the reorganization of the Zuo army's generals." "
When everyone heard this, they couldn't help but feel a chill in their hearts: This Liu Yan was too brave to take action!
Yang Sichang stared at Liu Yan, his expression constantly changing, and he was speechless for a long time.
Zheng Chongjian said hurriedly: "Haha, Superintendent, what General Liu Shen said is true. Don't delay military and political affairs just because General Xiaozuo left without saying goodbye!"
Yang Sichang nodded upon seeing this, waved his hand and said, "In that case, let's leave the matter of reorganizing the left army to Governor Zheng, as long as I leave three thousand elite soldiers in the Governor's Biao Battalion."
Zheng Chongjian was overjoyed and immediately accepted the order.
After the military meeting, Liu Yan left the Chinese army's tent and was stopped by Zheng Chongjian. Zheng Chongjian smiled and said, "General Liu Shen, please stay."
"Do you have any advice from Governor Zheng?"
"Haha, I have a business deal that I would like to discuss with General Liu."
Some people died, but not completely...
