In the tenth year of Chongzhen, February 25th.
Shaanxi Province, Xi'an Prefecture, Jingyang County.
The sky outside Jingyang City was filled with smoke and dust, and countless messy banners were constantly swaying under the blow of the north wind.
The crowds of people and horses were so dense that they seemed to stretch endlessly.
The large army of soldiers and horses blocked the official road, and the queue spread all the way to the surrounding fields.
Looking up, the mountains and plains are filled with undulating crowds of people, and the darkness is overwhelming.
There were thousands of banners, like mountains and seas, almost covering the entire wilderness outside Jingyang City.
Among the densely packed banners, a large banner with a height of one foot and three feet stood out among the crowd of banners.
The black flag has a black width and a mysterious pole with a mysterious handle, four feet long and three feet wide.
The top of the flag is decorated with pearl tassels and the bottom is connected to the tail of a pheasant. The seven-foot-five-inch-long ocher yellow trumpet is constantly fluttering in the fierce north wind.
The flag tassel is red, the flag gun is silver, and the flag stretches in the wind, revealing a big white character - "Chuang"!
Under the towering banner, Li Zicheng rode a green horse and stood in front of everyone.
This green horse is all green from top to bottom, without any variegation.
Originally Zhang Waijia's mount, this horse became Li Zicheng's mount after the Battle of Sanshui.
Li Zicheng wore a red hat on his head and a green cloth arrow jacket, looking into the distance.
Spring has arrived, which is the time when everything revives, but the cold has still not completely dissipated.
The weather is getting colder year by year, and Shaanxi is getting drier every year.
As far as the eye can see, there is loess and black sand, and there are no lively scenes anywhere.
Li Zicheng and Gao Yingxiang's eyebrows are somewhat similar. They both have high noses and deep eyes.
However, it is only their facial features that are similar, and there is no other similarity between the two of them.
Just as Li Zicheng was observing Jingyang City not far away, a faint low sound suddenly came from a distance.
Li Zicheng suddenly looked back and tightened the reins in his hands. He knew that what he just heard was definitely not a hallucination.
The green horse under the seat also snorted lightly at this time and moved its front hooves.
Li Zicheng's eyes narrowed slightly, and he raised his eyes to look into the distance.
At the end of the horizon, the originally calm horizon seemed to suddenly start to slowly squirm for some reason.
"coming……"
Li Zicheng raised his head slightly and whispered to himself.
Liu Zongmin and Gao Yigong, who were following Li Zicheng, also calmed down their expressions at this moment, and raised their eyes to look into the distance together.
As time went by, the faint whisper became clearer.
The horizon in the distance was still moving, but everyone could see clearly why the horizon was moving.
Just to the southeast, a large group of horsemen and cavalry in gray armor were sweeping in from the wilderness to the east.
Li Zicheng did not hesitate, raised the riding whip in his hand and drove the green horse under him to rush straight towards the direction of the large group of cavalry from the east.
A group of guard cavalry also whipped their horses and followed Li Zicheng eastwards.
Following Li Zicheng's movements, everyone's eyes were directed towards where he was heading, whether it was a group of invading troops south of Jingyang City or the Ming army further south of Jingyang City.
Sun Chuanting looked solemn and wore the same armor as before, including a high-top helmet.
Beside him, Luo Shangwen and Li Yuchun also had the same look, but there was still a little fear in their eyes.
Li Yuchun was seriously injured in the Battle of Heishui Valley and had to recuperate for almost half a year before returning to the battlefield.
Luo Shangwen has been transferred and is now directly led by Sun Chuanting.
Now, in addition to the 3,000 Qin soldiers under Sun Chuanting's command, the other two battalions are composed of two people. The three battalions have a total of more than 9,000 people.
"Where are Cao Wenzhao, He Renlong and the others?"
Sun Chuanting frowned, looking at the two approaching waves in the distance, and asked in a deep voice.
Upon hearing Sun Chuanting's question, the soldiers beside him who were responsible for receiving and delivering intelligence immediately drove forward and reported the matter.
"Half an hour ago, we reported back from the expedition. Commander Cao, He... He Renlong has led troops into Xianyang. Calculating the distance, the vanguard troops should arrive in two to three hours."
Sun Chuanting's eyes narrowed slightly, and when he heard He Renlong's name, he glanced at Luo Shangwen and Li Yuchun each.
Luo Shangwen didn't squint his eyes, showing no emotion at all.
Li Yuchun lowered his eyebrows and lowered his head, unable to see his face clearly.
Sun Chuanting withdrew his gaze and sighed secretly in his heart.
Last September, General Qi, King Renyi, King Hunshi and others under Li Zicheng occupied Baoji, and He Renlong was ordered to attack.
He Renlong led his troops into Jiajia Village and fought fiercely for a long time and finally won.
However, during the pursuit, Li Zicheng suddenly led the elite cavalry to attack, and the situation on the battlefield was instantly reversed.
Although He Renlong fought and retreated, and was later reinforced by Sichuan general Zeng Guangrong, he was still unable to stop Li Zicheng and others. His troops suffered heavy losses, and He Renlong himself suffered several wounds.
The enemy was outnumbered and we were outnumbered. We were helpless in defeat and should not have been harshly criticized.
However, the final result of the Ministry of War's decision was to directly seize He Renlong's position as deputy commander-in-chief and temporarily retain him to perform meritorious service.
Since the campaign of suppression, He Renlong has made great achievements in battle and has a high prestige among the towns in Shaanxi. This time he was deprived of his official position, which caused an undercurrent in the army.
Although most people did not speak, the dissatisfaction could be detected without speaking.
Nowadays, the Chinese language in the DPRK emphasizes force over force, and it is normal for generals to be punished after defeat. He Renlong was originally dismissed from office, but Hong Chengchou saved him and gave him the opportunity to make meritorious service.
Someone must pay for a defeat. These things are secret rules.
Sun Chuanting knew the inside story very well and also understood what those in the court were thinking.
This situation has been going on in the DPRK for a long time, but it has always been like this, but it does not mean that it is right.
The arrogant generals Zu Kuan and Li Chongzhen relied on the large number of soldiers and horses under their command and their strong strength to do whatever they wanted, and even went so far as to plunder.
After they were defeated, they even disrespected orders, but the Ministry of War didn't even say a word and just ignored them.
Sun Chuanting knew something was wrong, but he was just the governor of a province. He seemed to have a high and powerful position, but in fact he had many constraints and his real power was not great. He could not change this situation.
Sun Chuanting always feels that if the current situation continues to spread like this, and the court's policies and methods have not changed, I am afraid that this will sow the seeds of disaster...
Sun Chuanting shook his head, driving away all the messy thoughts in his mind, and then turned his gaze back to the crowd in the distance.
"After you return to the camp, restrain the troops, guard the camp, closely monitor the remnants of the Chuangni troops, wait until Gao Yingde, Scorpion Block and other troops pass, and block the eastward intersection."
After a brief period of confusion, Sun Chuanting regained his former composure and coolness, and decisively issued new military orders.
At this time, two groups of soldiers and horses were close together outside Jingyang City. One entered Fengxiang Mansion from Gongchang Mansion and escaped Li Zicheng who was pursued by Hong Chengchou.
The other part is about the remnants of the breakout army led by Gao Yingde, Xing Zikuan, Zhang Miaoshou and others.
Gao Yingde was Gao Yingxiang's adopted son. When Gao Yingxiang entered Ziwu Road, he handed over all the troops and soldiers of some of his elite cavalry corps to Gao Yingde.
The current situation is very clear. The two departments may have secretly contacted each other through some channels and decided to find a place to meet and take action.
Sun Chuanting's eyes were deep, staring into the distance, and suddenly asked Li Yuchun who was standing aside.
"What banner was Gao Yingde using when he came here?"
"banner?"
Li Yuchun raised his head, looking slightly confused.
"like……"
Li Yuchun recalled the flags he had encountered in previous battles, but he didn't have much of a clue.
"Have you ever raised the banner of 'Crossing the King'?"
Sun Chuanting was silent for a while, and then asked more clearly.
"That's not true. In the past few battles, it seems that each team has encountered many generals, but no one has used Gao Yingxiang's previous name."
Li Yuchun realized later. He was startled and understood why Sun Chuanting asked such a question.
Sun Chuanting's eyes flashed, and several thoughts flashed through his mind.
After Xuxiang, Zhang Xianzhong and other troops broke through the defense line, according to deductions, the entire army should have entered southern Zhili together.
But the final result was that Gao Yingde, Xie Zikuan, Zhang Miaoshou and other tribesmen who originally belonged to Gao Yingxiang suddenly transferred to Shaanxi and parted ways with Zhang Xianzhong and others.
Therefore, Sun Chuanting was caught off guard and allowed Gao Yingde and other troops to enter Shaanxi Province.
At the end of last year, Sun Chuanting had almost reorganized the four guards of Xi'an. The main army's shortcomings had been fully supplemented. Now each guard and each battalion has sufficient food and salary, and has initially formed combat strength.
If it hadn't been too sudden, Sun Chuanting could have mobilized tens of thousands of soldiers from the Four Guards of Xi'an with just one order, directly blocking the road for Gao Yingde and others to enter Shaanxi, and trapping them in Henan Province.
It's a pity that nothing happens without what-if, no one can imagine that such a situation will happen.
When the news reached Xi'an, Gao Yingde, Xie Zikuan and other troops had already led their cavalry troops into the Xi'an mansion.
"It seems something happened in the south..."
The most likely possibility is that Zhang Xianzhong wanted to take advantage of Gao Yingxiang's death to annex the tribes that originally belonged to Gao Yingxiang, but Gao Yingde and others were unwilling to join, so differences arose.
Sun Chuanting had already guessed the inside story of the matter.
Gao Yingde did not call himself a king all the way here, while Xie Zikuan, Zhang Miaoshou and others still called themselves kings.
It should be that Gao Yingwen's qualifications are relatively low and his means are not sufficient. Although he is Gao Yingxiang's adopted son, there is no way for him to make Xie Zikuan, Zhang Miaoshou and others willing to obey.
Gao Yingde and others entered Shaanxi this time, and preparing to join Li Zicheng may not be as simple as joining forces together.
During this period, Li Zicheng had turned Shaanxi Province upside down. I am afraid he had already known about it.
Gao Yingde and the others brought him here, probably because they wanted to nominate a new King of Chuang.
Li Zicheng is Gao Yingxiang's nephew, and they are related by blood.
And most importantly, Li Zicheng's reputation among the 72nd Battalion is not low. Although he is a general, his reputation among the 24th Battalion ranks first in the capital, almost equal to Zhang Xianzhong.
The new king who is about to be elected is probably Li Zicheng.
Most of the elite troops of the Chuang Army were destroyed in Heishui Valley along with Gao Yingxiang.
However, the power of the remnants of the break-in army cannot be underestimated. They originally fell apart due to Gao Yingxiang's destruction.
But now that Li Zicheng has inherited the title of King Chuang, and gathering them together, it will have a great impact on the situation.
"Order, the Hanzhong vanguard, the Hanzhong left guard, and the Hanzhong right guard, leaving only the garrison sergeants, and the rest of the soldiers who can fight, all move closer to Miyuan."
Sun Chuanting looked solemn, and with his thoughts turning, he made up his mind.
"Report to the Governor, the remnants of the Chuang Rebellion Party are reunited this time, and they want to elect King Chuang again and stir up trouble again."
"It is advisable to gather heavy troops when it first rises, use thunderous means to break the conspiracy, and destroy it immediately. Only in this way can the crowd be frightened!
…
Outside Jingyang City, a high platform was built at some point.
On the high platform, Li Zicheng looked solemn, raised his hands, and solemnly took the golden seal from Gao Yingde's hand.
Liu Zongmin, Gao Yigong, General Manager Qi, King Hun Tian, King Renyi, Little Red Wolf, Scorpion Block, Zhang Miaoshou and other battalion leaders were all looking at the golden seal.
Everyone has different expressions, some are curious, some are sad, some are careless, and some have a bit of greed in their eyes...
Li Zicheng took the golden seal, looked around at the people standing on the stage, then stretched out a hand, held the golden seal and slowly raised it.
"Now the situation is critical, even life-or-death is at stake."
"Thanks to your trust, I would like to temporarily take the title of King of Chuang."
Li Zicheng's voice was sonorous, firm and resonant.
There was no hatred or anger in his eyes, only perseverance and composure.
"Now that I have been entrusted with this important task and promoted to King Chuang, I must stain my soldiers with blood and avenge them!"
…
Sun Chuanting's conjecture was correct. Gao Yingde and the others came to Shaanxi really to elect a new king of Chuang.
But Sun Chuanting's speculation is not without problems.
For example, the biggest problem is the selection of the new King Chuang.
Sun Chuanting speculated that Gao Desheng was not capable enough and had insufficient experience to convince Xie Zikuan and Zhang Miaoshou, so he had no choice but to support Li Zicheng.
But in fact, when Gao Yingxiang entered Ziwu Road, he had already decided everything and appointed Li Zicheng as his successor.
This is not the original process...
The original process was that Gao Yingen, Gao Yingxiang's younger brother, took over as king of Chuang. Then Gao Yingen was defeated and died, and the last elite of Gao Yingxiang's command were lost as a result.
But Gao Yingen died in Pizhou, in the hands of Cao Bianjiao...
The reason why Gao Yingen died in the hands of Cao Bianjiao was because Cao Wenzhao did not die in Qiutou Town in the battle, but was arranged to be in Pizhou after the war.
The Ming army won a battle that they had not won originally, and also achieved great results.
Gao Yingen's death made Gao Yingxiang finally replace his successor...
The breeze caused by the gentle flapping of the butterfly's wings is getting bigger and faster under the constant changes...
At this time, Chen Wang was working hard, gathering his troops, and preparing to face the coming storm according to the original plan.
He did not expect that the series of chain reactions caused by Gao Yingen's death would soon change everything beyond recognition, far exceeding his previous worst expectations...
(End of chapter)
