The dense sound of horse hoofbeats caused a panic to the escapees, because they also combined with the encounter with Guo Jingke just now, guessed that this wave was probably Cheng Dalang's cavalry, and Cheng Dalang's armored cavalry had given this wave a heavy blow in the past two days. The bandits coming from Qinghe brought extraordinary psychological pressure.
This is completely different from facing his former colleague, the horse dealer.
As a result, even Zhang Jinsheng's soldiers began to flee in the dark... It was really easy to escape at this time, just join the group of deserters who passed by.
"Big boss."
Among the sparks and ashes, the leader of the soldiers was thirsty, but he still looked at his big leader. "Can you ride a horse now?"
Zhang Jinscale, half of his face darkened, nodded awkwardly... His body memory and a period of adaptation allowed him to operate the horse by himself.
"But don't ride a horse now." The leader of the soldiers said seriously. "Get off your horse and follow the deserters that just passed behind you. As long as we can return to Gaotang, we will have to do it all over again... We were defeated in such a confused way."
Zhang Jinscale realized something. In fact, he felt like he was gradually waking up since he woke up from his previous sleep.
This kind of sobriety does not mean that the leader of the Qinghe Bandit Army gradually got rid of his miscalculations about the battle and gradually gained a correct judgment on the battlefield... To this day, he still firmly believes that this battle belongs to Cao Shancheng. Handwriting...that is another deeper level of sobriety. He gradually realized that he should not have ridden in that strange car before, that he should not have coveted territory and manpower and stretched the army to 40,000 to 50,000 men, and that he should not have killed people casually.
Riding in that kind of car makes you forget all your proudest horse-riding skills;
Coveting territory and manpower, and wantonly expanding the army, they have completely lost their true control over the army. When it comes to winning, they don't know how to win, and when they lose, they don't know how to lose;
And wantonly killing is the reason why many old brothers and many true heroes are alienated from him.
It was like suddenly waking up from a dream and returning to the state before the rebellion. Looking at the subsequent performance, I felt that something was wrong.
However, it seems that I woke up a little late, but it seems that it is not too late.
"Big leader, hurry up!" The leader of the soldiers dismounted directly and helped the opponent down. "There are not many officers and soldiers, otherwise they would not have set fire, so we will definitely not be able to capture all the prisoners. Our core soldiers are all from Qinghe, your hometown. As long as they escape, they will definitely return to Qinghe, and the big leader only needs to return to Gao Tang, if we hold on to the city and the weapons and property that we gathered before, we can definitely gather another two to three thousand soldiers. Isn’t this better than the situation two months ago?”
Zhang Jinheng was helped off his horse by the other party's true energy. He nodded on the hot field and planned to escape according to the other party's arrangement.
However, before he left, he couldn't help but look back and said sincerely: "Jia San, although you are from the North, when you return to Gaotang, I will definitely make you the second leader!"
The leader of the soldiers named Jia was not polite. He just nodded, got on the opponent's horse, and then ordered the Chinese army to form a whole team and take the initiative to meet the sound of horse hooves.
There were two moons above the head, and there were countless fires around them. After a moment, the two soldiers and horses, who were actually in a hurry, met each other and realized what the other party was.
It was indeed Cheng Dalang and his cavalry who came, and Cheng Dalang was a well-known tycoon in the Dengzhou, Jeju, and Bohai areas in the lower reaches of the river. He was recognized as a man of cultivation, means, and vision; and what greeted him was Zhang Jinscale. Jia Yue, the hero of the Northern Wilderness, wandered from the Northern Wilderness and wandered around Hebei. In just two or three years, because he had no conflicts of interest with the locals, he easily exchanged his skills for a confidant position with Zhang Jinscale.
Frankly speaking, at this time, Cheng Dalang was terrified.
Because in order to succeed in the battle, ensure the advancement of the infantry in the middle, and to show his loyalty, he gave all his armor and cavalry to Zhang Sanye. This resulted in only a few hundred light cavalry behind him. He fell behind and lost an unknown number of people along the way. But on the opposite side was The famous Beihuang Jia Laosan came towards him with a number of soldiers two or three times his own.
It seemed that he had to use his real skills to strike hard.
"Jia Yue!"
Cheng Dalang jumped out of the horse and waved his long spear. Duanjiang's true energy grew along the long spear by half a foot, which was astonishing. "I have heard your name a long time ago and know that you are a capable hero in the Northern Wilderness. How can you be a kid with a thief who massacred the city? I thought that we had a chance encounter two years ago, so I allow you to fight in a one-on-one fight. If you can support me for twenty So why not allow you to take people away after the round?"
Na Jia Yue paused for a moment, with a look of helplessness and fatigue on his face, and then he turned over and dismounted, abandoned his weapon under the horse, half-kneeling and saluted: "Cheng Dalang, I know your cultivation level, and I also know that your skills are not as good as others. , knowing that you have won a complete victory in this battle, so you are willing to surrender, but you must ensure the safety of my soldiers."
Cheng Dalang was startled for a moment, then he was overjoyed, and was about to dismount to help the other party, but just as he was about to dismount, he remembered something and hesitated: "Jia Sanlang, were you involved in Tu Qingquan's matter?"
"No! I am from the Northern Wilderness. I have no stakes. I have been doing military law beside Zhang Jinscale since the beginning. I only kill leaders who violate his military orders for him!" Jia Yue almost blurted out, but as soon as he finished speaking, he He was startled for a moment, and then asked immediately. "Are you really a member of the Deposed Dragon Gang, clearing the door for the rebels?"
Cheng Dalang chuckled. Since he admitted it, he didn't deny it. Instead, he stepped forward and helped the other person up: "In that case, we are brothers from now on. Come with me, and I will take you to meet your true heroes in the North." ...However, if any of these soldiers want to massacre the city, I'm afraid your fellow countryman will have to use some means... What do you think, can you come with me?"
"I knew on that day that Zhang Jinsheng was going to cause trouble with Qingquan!" Jia Yue was stunned at first, then shook his head. "But I have done my best to benevolent and righteous. Now that things have come to this, why don't you surrender?"
Cheng Dalang became even more delighted.
Let's talk about it. How could this Eastern Realm tycoon personally conduct reconnaissance for days? How could he not know that Zhang Jinscale's people, not to mention the periphery, the core force is actually two to three thousand fully equipped soldiers, usually divided into three groups. Among them are not Qinghe children. They are just deserters with military experience, plus heroes with cultivation on Hebei Road. Taking into account Zhang Xing's political commitment, Li Shuijun's attitude, as well as the experience of this battle and the future situation, even if Cheng Dalang were to take charge of Pu Tai, it would not be possible to retain too many troops.
In this case, recruiting thousands of core troops is the most important and natural way to expand strength.
In fact, after Cheng Dalang collected the troops and turned around, he heard that Zhang Xing had also surrendered another group of soldiers from King Qinghe's Second Division, and he was even more certain in his heart that this battle, no matter how chaotic it was, was already over. A complete victory.
Only Zhang Jinscale left.
But there seemed to be nothing that could be done about it. Forty thousand people collapsed overnight, and Zhang Jinscale was among them. Where could he find them? At dawn, when the armies began to clean up the battlefield on a large scale and collect prisoners, some surrendered soldiers informed them of the relevant matters. It was hard to say that Jia Yue was wrong at that time.
Because it is so in line with feudalist values!
Isn't it a classic moral role model of feudalism?
Not to mention, this Mr. Jia seems to have a strange relationship with Mr. Zhang.
"Aren't you Zhang Xingyi?" Jia Yue finally couldn't hold back and spoke to the young man who was surrounded by a group of generals. Although the other person's face was covered with black ash that he had not had time to wipe off, Chaoyang Even though he was rising, he could still recognize it. "How did you become Mr. Zhang?"
"You recognize me?"
Zhang Xing naturally remembered the information he saw in Jing'an Terrace, so he didn't panic... In fact, he still sat there and ate the roasted wheat ears calmly.
delicious.
"Don't you recognize me?" Jia Yue was extremely speechless, but as a descendant, he did not dare to move forward under the gaze of a group of people. "We came to Hebei from the North by boat together... You went to join the army, and I went to explore the world... After the Second Expedition to the East was defeated, I heard people say that all the five armies were wiped out, and not a single person was left alive. I thought you were dead...how did you become Mr. Zhang?"
"During the second expedition to Dongyi, I encountered a real dragon. I was so frightened that I couldn't remember many things." Zhang Xing was quite grand. "As for why I call myself Zhang San, the main reason is that I don't want to be under Li Silang in my life... I have to put him down no matter what, so I call myself Zhang San!"
As he said that, Zhang Xing sucked the ears of wheat and pointed out whether there were any black-faced people in the seats, but Li Ding, who couldn't help but black-faced at this time... The latter was very sure that the other person seemed to be Zhang San before he saw him. , and he has always known that this guy always comes with his mouth.
But at this time, people around him seemed to agree with it, as if they had heard some secret, and they were afraid that this statement would spread in the future... There was no way to refute the rumor.
"Where am I from?"
After Zhang Xing finished explaining, he continued to ask out of curiosity. "Where did the Seven Guards and Seven Towns come from, the east or the west of Northland? Are there anyone else in the family?"
In fact, until just now, everyone from Li Ding to Li Ding was a little surprised, but they didn't have much additional reaction, because Jia Yue's words were consistent with Zhang Xing's usual self-narration - he came from a poor family in the north, or even a farmer, and came to Hebei. After wandering around, he conquered Dongyi twice to escape, and then returned to the west with his body on his back, hanging out in the east capital until today.
The only problem is the name, but that's not a big deal. It's more common for country people to change their names when they go to the city.
Didn’t the governor who built the Tower of Babel change his name as soon as he became prosperous?
But when you ask this question, it seems strange... Do people really forget all this? Even if you were injured and can't remember it for a moment, it's been two or three years and you still can't remember it?
Only at this time, it seems that this Mr. Zhang has succeeded in exchanging his great name for strength, and everyone above and below him recognizes his status as a superior. No matter how weird he is, they can only hide it in their hearts.
Li Ding may not have to hide it, but he has a lot of thoughts about Zhang Xing, which is not bad at all.
This was really painful for Jia Yue. Hearing this, the man became even more cautious: "You really don't remember?"
"If I remember." Zhang Xing frowned. "You still have to stand there?"
Jia Yue finally suppressed his surprise, but he still felt a little weird, so he could only respond in a low voice: "You were actually born in Guanhai Town. Your father is from Hebei and your mother is from Guanhai. However, they both died young. He is your uncle." He raised you up as a mid-level protector of Tieshan Guard among the Seven Guards of Dangmo, so your boy actually hung out with Tieshan Guard in Guanhai Town... We all actually went to school with Tieshan Guard. Practice, and then find the boat from Guanhai Town and Tingtao City..."
Zhang Xing thought about the distribution map of the Seven Towns and Seven Guards in the North, and he knew it in his mind... It can only be said that it is not unexpected, and there is no hidden information. The intermediate guardians are not high-end people under the special system of Demon Guards. , it’s just more convenient to practice. The only thing worth noting is that the Seven Demon Guards of the North are a remnant of the system from the Black Emperor's period. Since its evolution, it has become a special system that integrates religion, military, politics, tribes, and gangs. With such a background, naturally It would inevitably make him think about the Black Emperor.
"Your uncle's name is Huang Ping. You also have an aunt, a cousin, and a cousin... Your uncle also sent a message before, saying that if he sees you again, he will definitely beat you to a limp!" Jia Yue continued. "I just thought you were dead and didn't dare to reply..."
Zhang Xing nodded, ignored it, and asked seriously: "In that case, Brother Jia, have you participated in the Qingquan Massacre?"
Jia Yue recalled Cheng Dalang's previous gesture, and was startled in vain, shaking his head repeatedly.
"Help me sort out the soldiers who participated. I want the officers to be killed on May 1st and the soldiers to be killed on 11th to set the record straight." Zhang Xing ordered calmly, but then glanced at the others. "Do you have any different opinions?"
Everyone below Li Ding was silent.
"Well, the three leaders Niu, Zhou and Guo are going to help." Zhang Xing nodded, his expression unchanged. "After killing the people, take out two hundred more, and give them to Commander Niu Da together with the previously surrendered cavalry. They will take them back to Puyang. After the weapons and weapons are counted, they will be sent to Jiyin."
Niu Da was overjoyed, Guo Jingke was relieved, and Xiao Zhou was also enlightened.
After Zhang Xing finished speaking, he wiped his mouth and turned to look at Cheng Zhili, who was standing silently: "Cheng Dalang, don't be idle. Use your local connections to talk to Fangxian Lieutenant and Cheng Xiaowei." Let’s work together to handle this matter officially for Fourth Master Li! We must also make preparations from the political arena and make a clear statement to Chishiro and the others!”
Cheng Zhili nodded repeatedly: "I know. The officials have taken care of the official who is in charge of the official seal, and they have carefully planned it. They will also give some heads and seizures. They must insist that this matter was defeated by me with the assistance of Li Shuijun's army and the soldiers from Bohai, Dengzhou, and Jeju." If you are a bandit, you must use the name of the Deposed Dragon Gang on the road, and make it clear that it is Mr. Zhang who is here to clean up the rebels!"
"We must also establish the dignity of your side." Zhang Xing did not shy away from it at all. "You have done what you promised me, then I must do what I promised you... As soon as Li Silang leaves, you will take over the military power of Putai as the leader of the Deposed Dragon Gang, but after all, this army is Li Silang built it all by himself, so Captain Fangxian and Lieutenant Cheng will also join the gang, and it is inevitable that they will be your deputy as the leader... Do you have any words?"
"I am only grateful to you two!" Cheng Dalang did not hesitate and swore directly to the sky. "I would rather join Mr. Zhang to depose the Dragon Gang, eliminate the violent Wei, and stabilize the world!"
Zhang Xing nodded. Cheng Dalang is a smart man. After fulfilling his political commitments, he will make up for various things by himself without having to say much. So he only looked at Cheng Mingqi. Li Ding also looked away from Cheng Dalang and glanced at Fang Yanshi. .
Cheng Mingqi was the quickest to react, and immediately stood up and saluted: "I will never let you down in the honor of Third Master Zhang and Fourth Master Li. From now on, I don't care whether the officials or the people are right or wrong. I only want to listen to what you two say."
Cheng Dalang smiled and said nothing, while Zhang Xing nodded with satisfaction.
Then, Fang Yanshi also looked at Li Ding and chose to salute: "Since Fang has received great kindness from Li Shuijun, why not?"
Cheng Dalang smiled again, but remained silent.
Zhang Xing didn't care, he just nodded again, then stood up and looked around.
It turned out that at this time, the morning sun was rising, the wind was blowing, and although the fire had subsided, the smoke and dust still remained. In the surrounding wilderness, the colors of black, yellow, and green merged, and the sounds of people, horses, donkeys, and wind were mixed together, which actually corresponded to the current dilapidated and chaotic situation.
However, Zhang Xing knew very well that this was just the beginning and no one could stop it. In the next few years, the turmoil in the Eastern Border, Hebei, Central Plains, Jianghuai and other places would only get bigger and bigger. Guanlong, Jiangdong, Jingxiang, Bashu will also gradually loosen up and cannot avoid disaster.
So from a long-term perspective, last night's victory and the smooth succession of Po Tai's troops are just a small test, the beginning of everything.
"Why did Zhang Jinsheng run away?" After watching for a while, Zhang Xing suddenly became angry. "Caught, the body was broken into thousands of pieces, who dares to underestimate the Deposed Dragon Gang?!"
Li Ding was too lazy to pay attention, while everyone below Cheng Dalang chatted and then went about their own business.
Let’s not talk about how to deal with the aftermath here in Douzigang. I will only say that Zhang Jinsheng escaped alive, but he kept an eye on it. At dawn, when he realized that the defeated troops were heading towards Dongguang, he made a prompt decision and took the initiative to choose He left the team and headed southwest... Obviously, he was planning to return to Gaotang quickly according to Jia Yue's reminder.
Not to mention, along the way, there was chaos and broken troops everywhere, and no one paid attention to him. After Zhang Jinscale regained his clarity, he quickly snatched a horse, but the horse was galloping faster and faster.
Then, sure enough, two days later, he arrived at his hometown, Gaotang City, that afternoon.
In the past few months, he had used this as a base to hold a stalemate with Cao Shancheng, the magistrate of his hometown, E County... Even when he went to get food and weapons from Putai, he was planning to play a big game. After trying to supplement the logistics, he defeated Cao Shancheng. Capture Yi County and then advance north of Qinghe.
"Open the door!"
Zhang Jinscale came to the city and saw that the city was quiet and the flag remained unchanged. He was finally relieved and called the door directly. "I'm back!"
The guard on the city stuck his head out, wondering: "Why is the big boss here? Several gangsters on horseback came here this morning. They only said that the front was defeated and you were dead... I only took it as nonsense!"
Of course it’s nonsense, but it’s not completely nonsense!
Zhang Jinheng was about to have an attack, but after this defeat, he made up his mind and became calm. He gritted his teeth and responded: "A defeat is a defeat, but I am fine. The soldiers and horses are just scattered...Open the door quickly! Get ready!" Accommodate the defeated troops!"
The guard responded immediately, then disappeared.
After waiting for a long time, the door still didn't open, and Zhang Jinsheng's patience almost disappeared... If he hadn't been running away for days, he was too exhausted, and the weak water zhenqi he cultivated had no similar use, he would have almost been ready to climb the city.
However, the door finally opened, and Zhang Jinheng was about to rush in.
But at this moment, he didn't know what was going on. He suddenly stood on his head with cold hair and hesitated in front of the door.
"Fire the crossbow! Shoot with both men and horses! If you escape, send your best men and horses to chase!"
As if realizing that the ambush had failed, a series of crisp orders suddenly came from the city gate above their heads, and then a slim figure wearing a warrior's crown and full armor flashed out.
Zhang Jinsheng instinctively wanted to run away at first, but for some reason, when he heard the sound, he reined in his horse and saw the figure, but he felt relieved. He actually stopped where he was, sat on his horse and pointed towards the city head with a smile:
"Cao Shancheng! I knew it was you! If not you, who in Hebei could defeat me? Come on, come on, I'll give you this head and make you a county magistrate!"
The people on the city didn't bother to pay attention at all, but a moment later, crossbow arrows suddenly rained down from the top of the city. They first shot down the already exhausted war horse under Zhang Jinsheng's crotch, and then focused on shooting at people. In just an instant, they shot down Zhang Jinsheng. Zhang Jinsheng, who was also extremely exhausted, was ejaculated into a honeycomb.
During the whole process, not even the cavalry was dispatched.
ps: Good night everyone.
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