On September 11, Liu Yan led the battalions of the New Army into Henan. The army marched westward from Changyuan County, and it took only two days to reach Fengqiu County, north of Kaifeng Prefecture.
Fengqiu County was the land of Fengfu in ancient times. In the Western Han Dynasty, Fengqiu County was established. The city is located on the north bank of the Yellow River, facing Kaifeng City across the Yellow River.
The battalions of the New Army were stationed a few miles south of the county seat. Liu Yan took Miao Shao, Xun Jingyun, and a banner of guard soldiers into Fengqiu County, preparing to ask the county magistrate for some money and food.
But when Liu Yan and others rode into the city, they were all dumbfounded.
The streets in Fengqiu County were quiet, and the houses everywhere were dilapidated. Except for the occasional wild dog passing by, there was no living thing in sight.
Two wild dogs in the distance were lowering their heads, baring their teeth and growling at Liu Yan and the others, making a whimpering sound.
Miao Shao frowned slightly and said, "Sir, those wild dogs have all eaten people. The dogs' eyes are already blood red. It seems that the situation in Fengqiu County is not good!"
Liu Yan nodded and looked around. Not only was there not a single figure in the city, but there were no defenders or government officials near the south gate where everyone was passing. The entire city was like a ghost town.
"Deputy Xun, take a team of soldiers and look around to see if you can find a treasury or a shop. If you find none, go back to the camp first."
"yes."
Xun Jingyun called a group of guards, took the first step, and rode towards the city.
Then Liu Yan, Miao Shao and other soldiers rode towards the county government office in the city. A moment later, a dilapidated county government office appeared in front of everyone. Not only was the plaque incomplete, but even the door of the county government office was wide open. Open, a door panel has fallen to the ground.
Liu Yan frowned and rode his horse directly into the county government office without saying a word. Miao Shao and other soldiers hurriedly rode to follow, and everyone went all the way to the backyard.
The county government office was also silent, and no one was alive. It was not until everyone arrived in the backyard that they saw a thin man with a haggard face, laboriously chopping firewood in front of a house with the doors and windows removed. . The man's clothes were so dirty that they were in tatters and one sleeve was missing.
Liu Yan and others rode in. The man had obviously heard the noise, but he did not raise his head and was still chopping wood.
Liu Yan asked: "Who are you? Do you know where the magistrate of Fengqiu County is?"
"County magistrate?"
The man stopped, panting, and sat slumped on the ground. He lifted up his clothes with a wry smile, took off a seal from his belt, threw it on the ground, and said, "I am the magistrate of Fengqiu."
"you?"
The man stood up with great effort, clasped his fists and said, "I am Shang Wenyuan, Fengqiu County Magistrate."
Liu Yan got off his horse and picked up the seal on the ground. Sure enough, it was the county government seal of Fengqiu County. He asked, "What happened in Fengqiu County? Where have all the people gone?"
"Ha ha!"
Shang Wenyuan suddenly burst out laughing, and then suddenly shouted at the top of his lungs: "People? Where are there people!"
Miao Shao was worried about being deceived, so he stood in front of Liu Yan. Several other guards also rode their horses to search everywhere to prevent an ambush.
Liu Yan signaled to Miao Shao that it was okay, and then looked at the excited Shang Wenyuan, only to see Shang Wenyuan yelling: "Half a month ago, the rogue soldiers and horses raided Fengqiu County, and the three hundred soldiers and fifty government officials in the county were all wiped out. He died fighting hard, and the people in the city were also killed and injured."
"Those bandits, who suffered a thousand blows, kidnapped all the surviving people, and also plundered all the money, food and materials in the city. If there was even a little resistance, the whole family would be killed. In just two days, I, Fengqiu County, There are 12,700 households and more than 40,800 people. Except for the tens of thousands of people who were killed, the rest have all become prisoners of the bandit army, and they don’t know whether they are alive or dead!”
After saying that, Shang Wenyuan sat on the ground exhausted. It was obvious that he had not eaten for a long time and was already very weak.
Liu Yan felt very uncomfortable looking at Shang Wenyuan sitting on the ground crying. If what Shang Wenyuan said is true, those people who were kidnapped by the bandits are destined to become cannon fodder for the bandits' army. It is estimated that many people have been driven by the bandit soldiers and died on the way to attack Kaifeng City.
"There are also many women who are tied up by those inhuman thieves and hung at the city gate. It is said that this can offset the luck of the court and make the court's defeat faster. It is simply stupid and crazy!"
"There are countless children, because they cannot charge for the army of bandits and have no use, they are gathered together by the bandits and they are all killed in the north of the city. It's really..."
Having said this, Shang Wenyuan couldn't speak any more and fell to the ground and cried bitterly.
Liu Yan was silent for a while, and then winked at Miao Shao. Miao Shao directly called two guards to explain, and the two guards rode away directly.
Liu Yan then asked: "Then how did you survive? Where are the other officials in the county government?"
"I?"
Shang Wenyuan sobbed and said: "I led everyone from the county government to guard outside the treasury, wanting to die for the country. But when the bandits rushed into the city, they set fire and killed people everywhere. I don't know who else, the county magistrate and Zhang Baihu They were all killed in front of me, and I was knocked unconscious, and when I woke up, the city had fallen.”
"Haha, it's ridiculous that I read poetry and books, but when I woke up, I felt timid and found a cellar to hide. I only dared to peek out from the crack at the cellar entrance. I didn't have the courage to die to serve the country. I don't deserve to be a Earthly parents!"
Liu Yan sighed. Fengqiu County is located to the north of the Yellow River. Even though it has been tortured by the bandit army, the situation in the rest of Henan is probably not much better.
"It seems that the idea of obtaining supplies locally in Henan is unrealistic. We can only rely on seizures and supplies from the court."
Liu Yan thought in his mind, and then asked: "Then what are your plans?"
Shang Wenyuan pointed to a small pile of firewood not far away and said: "When I finish chopping the firewood, I will use these to set a fire. I should have died a long time ago, and now I have figured out that living in this world means that It’s better to die than die in the Netherworld!”
Liu Yan was noncommittal, just staring at Shang Wenyuan and thinking about something.
"General, where are your troops? There are armies of thieves everywhere in Henan. What are you doing here?"
"My name is Liu Yan, the chief military officer of Qinglai Town, and I have been ordered to rush to the aid of Kaifeng Mansion."
"Liu Yan?"
"Liu Yan!"
Shang Wenyuan jumped up suddenly. Maybe it was because he was too weak these days. He stumbled and almost fell over. "Your name is Liu Yan!"
Liu Yan raised his eyebrows, feeling a little unhappy and said, "Do you recognize me?"
Shang Wenyuan's eyes, which had been dim just now, were now flashing with hope, and he said: "I have heard about the general's feats in the battles of Julu and Jinan. The reputation of the new army in Qinglai Town has long been known, but the general is not Are you leading your troops in Liaodong? How did you end up in Henan!"
"As soon as the imperial court orders it, this town will come."
"Ha ha!"
Shang Wenyuan laughed: "It's ridiculous that Li Zicheng thought that his great cause was imminent. Who could have imagined it? The new army in Qinglai Town has arrived, and Li Zicheng's defeat is just around the corner!"
Liu Yan looked at Shang Wenyuan who was laughing non-stop and said, "So, you're not planning to die?"
"Immortal!"
Shang Wenyuan grabbed Liu Yan's hand and said excitedly: "I'm sure Mr. Liu will accept me. I can write and plan for Mr. Liu. It doesn't matter if he doesn't like me. I can do laundry, cleaning, or even work as a coolie, as long as I would like to follow the general and witness Li Zicheng’s defeat with my own eyes!”
Liu Yan did not agree, but just took his hand out and said: "Shang Wenyuan? I really want to hear it. You were a Jinshi in the previous dynasty and a Yuanwailang in the Ministry of Rites before. It can be said that your starting point is very high, but you are not good at flattering, and you are not good at flattery. Because he reported his superior's corruption to a senior official when he was appointed, he was demoted to Henan, right?"
Shang Wenyuan looked at Liu Yan in surprise and said, "The general actually knows about me, a nobody like me?"
It's not that Liu Yan had a strong memory, but on the way south, Wu Guojin, who was born in Jinyiwei, had done his homework in advance, gathered the situation of the chief officials in the counties along the way, and reported it to Liu Yan individually, so Liu Yan still had an impression.
"This town naturally knows that in today's world, officials like you are rare."
At this moment, two guards came back on horseback. One of them reported: "Sir, my subordinates discovered a backfilled earth pit outside an abandoned house in the north of the city. After excavation, they found that there were children inside. a lot of……"
Hearing this, Shang Wenyuan burst into tears again, and Liu Yan also looked gloomy, and the hatred for the bandit in his heart became even stronger.
The mainstream ideas of later generations believe that Li Zicheng was the leader of the peasant uprising army. He led countless oppressed peasant armies to resist the tyranny of the Ming Dynasty and dealt a heavy blow to the corrupt rule of the ruling class, etc.
But what is the real situation?
What Li Zicheng led was not a rebel army, but an army of bandits. Wherever they passed, there was no liberation or the establishment of a new order. Instead, they brought endless killings. Countless people were coerced and driven to the battlefield, becoming the innocent souls who died on the battlefield. Countless people who were originally rich and happy The city was burned down and leveled, becoming a paradise for wild dogs and wolves.
The rogue army led by Li Zicheng indeed dealt a heavy blow to the rule of the Ming Dynasty, but at the price, the Ming Dynasty also lost its ability to resist the invasion of foreign Manchu and Qing people, and indirectly became an accomplice of the Manchu Qing's invasion of China.
It can be said that after the Jiashen National Disaster and China's decline for three hundred years, Li Zicheng and Wu Sangui can be said to be the number one sinners!
However, these facts will not be written or mentioned in the history books of later generations.
At this time, Liu Yan looked at Shang Wenyuan and asked, "Are you willing to follow me?"
"willing!"
Shang Wenyuan gritted his teeth and said angrily: "As long as you can kill the bandits, I will accept it even if you want me to be a cow or a horse!"
Liu Yan thought for a while and said: "You have the title of county magistrate. According to the imperial law, now that Fengqiu County has fallen and been looted, you are guilty. You should find a job in the shogunate of this town to atone for your sins."
"Thank you, sir!"
Liu Yan then appointed Shang Wenyuan as Sicheng of the Government Affairs Deployment Department, responsible for the coordination of specific government affairs of the General Military Mansion, and was regarded as a subordinate of Wang Wenzhen, Minister of Government Affairs.
When Liu Yan, Miao Shao, Shang Wenyuan and others left the city and returned to the camp outside the city, Shang Wenyuan burst into tears again. Seeing the mighty soldiers and horses of the new army, he cried loudly: "If the imperial court had come earlier, How could the situation in Henan deteriorate to such an extent if the new army is sent in!"
Entering the guard camp, Xun Jingyun had already come back first, so naturally he returned empty-handed and gained nothing.
Liu Yan summoned the generals, introduced them to Shang Wenyuan, and then announced that the army would go south early tomorrow morning to Chenqiao Town on the north bank of the Yellow River, preparing to cross the river south and go to Kaifeng Fucheng.
At noon the next day, Chenqiao Town.
Chenqiao Town was originally a ferry. Later, more and more pedestrians and goods crossed the Yellow River from here, and it gradually formed a town. Even the imperial court set up an inspection department here, with a hundred people stationed there. Household.
However, at this time, Chenqiao Town was already occupied by a group of rogue soldiers and horses. A yellow flag of the Invading Army was flying at the ferry, and it was clearly the soldiers and horses of the rear camp of the Invading Army.
"Director, we have been guarding here for several days. When can we change our defense?"
The one who spoke was a sentry commander. According to the military structure of the bandit army, from top to bottom they were General Quan, General Zhi, General Guoyi, General Weiwei, Duwei, Commander-in-Chief, Headquarters Commander, and Commander-in-Chief.
The sentinel commander leads about dozens of troops, and the headquarters commander has about one hundred to three hundred troops. The strength of each battalion is different, and it is very random.
There are about one hundred and seventy people under the command of the general stationed here in Chenqiao Town.
At this time, there was no one else in Chenqiao Town except these soldiers. They had obviously been looted.
Hearing the inquiry from the sentry commander, the commander said angrily: "How the hell do I know? I still want to follow General Gao to live happily. Do you think I want to be here..."
Before he could finish speaking, the general stood up abruptly and saw an army of cavalry appearing in the north. The flag was the Ming Dynasty's sun, moon and golden wave battle flag.
"Officers!"
As soon as he finished speaking, the cavalry of hundreds of people rushed forward, and then several thunderbolts were thrown in. With a bang, the horses and roadblocks blocking the road into Chenqiao Town were blown to pieces. Bits and pieces.
Then the cavalry soldiers of the brigade rushed into Chenqiao Town, and the surrounding bandit soldiers stepped aside in panic, for fear of being scattered and knocked down by the cavalry army.
The commander of the right cavalry battalion, Lu Yuan, rode his horse and rushed to the front. Looking at the bandit soldiers who had gathered in a hurry in the town, he shouted: "Kill me, no one will be spared!"
Some people died, but not completely...
