"Great victory in Mianzhou! Great victory in Mianzhou!"
"Beheading 5,720 levels, capturing 40,000 bandits, Yuqi, the remnants of the rebels are fleeing towards Jiangyou!"
In early May of the eleventh year of Chongzhen, the Tangbao from northern Sichuan swept through the whole of Shaanxi like a hurricane, and then spread to the whole country.
Chen Wang was ordered to guard Qipanguan and received the news earlier than other officials in Shaanxi Province.
The writing of reporting victory and narrating achievements is so bold and majestic that when you read it, you just feel that it flows smoothly, the writing is excellent and hearty.
Then the remnants of the insurgents escaped towards Jiangyou in the north. Cao Wenzhao, Cao Bianjiao, and Zuo Guangxian joined forces to pursue them. The intruders also fortified Jiangyou. The two sides fought fiercely for a long time. When they could not attack for a long time, Hong Chengchou received a letter begging for surrender.
The thief chief Qi, General Manager, and King Renyi were in front of the battle anyway, and Li Zicheng's defense line under Jiangyoubu collapsed.
News of Jiangyou's victory also spread from northern Sichuan in mid-May.
"A great victory in Jiangyou, beheading 2,127 levels, capturing 16,000 bandits, and the intruders fled in all directions, rushing out in all directions!"
Only about 10,000 of the remnants of the intruders escaped and fled into the deep mountains and valleys in the northern part of Long'an Prefecture, where they disappeared without a trace.
Various rumors circulated in various places. Some said that Li Zicheng led the remaining soldiers to escape into the northern mountains of Long'an Prefecture.
Others say that Li Zicheng died on the battlefield while leading troops in Jiangyou, and his body was so damaged that it was impossible to identify him.
There are different opinions as to whether Li Zicheng died in the battle, and there is no definite news.
The officers and soldiers did indeed find the body suspected of Li Zicheng, as well as the bodies of several thieves.
Except for Li Zicheng's body, which was difficult to identify, several other thieves were identified by General Manager Qi, King Renyi, and some surrendered prisoners. It was confirmed that they should be the leaders of the invading army, King Zhengshi. With Mahadeva.
Long'an Mansion, north of Jiangyou City, is the Ming Army camp.
Hong Chengchou sat on the first seat, studying the detailed battle report in his hand, and kept thinking about the two battles that broke out not long ago in his mind.
In the lower position, Cao Wenzhao and Zuo Guangxian sat opposite each other on the left and right, but there was no one else in the huge military tent.
After the two battles of Mianzhou and Jiangyou, everything was settled. Nearly 80,000 of the 90,000 soldiers and horses who followed Li Zicheng into Sichuan were killed, and only a small number of them fled into the mountains of the north.
Li Zicheng's life or death was uncertain, and the main force of the rogue bandits was defeated. Logically speaking, victory was declared at this time.
However, the reports of victory had already been handed over, but Hong Chengchou still did not issue the order to withdraw the troops.
The atmosphere in the military tent was silent. Cao Wenzhao and Zuo Guangxian both lowered their eyebrows and lowered their eyes, silently and slowly drinking tea from their cups.
Hong Chengchou frowned and his eyes stayed on the Tang newspaper he had just finished writing.
Mianzhou and Jiangyou fought hard for nearly a month and finally won.
The main force of the invading army has indeed been annihilated, which should be a happy event. However, Hong Chengchou not only did not have a smile on his face, but he also did not feel the slightest sense of relaxation in his heart.
Although both battles were hard-fought, and they killed King Zhengshi and Great Heavenly King, Manager Qi and King Renyi had already surrendered and chose to fight anyway.
After half a month of searching in the surrounding mountains, there was still no news about Li Zicheng. Even the remaining gang members who captured the thieves in the deep mountains and huge valleys had no news about Li Zicheng. Li Zicheng might really be dead.
But for some reason, Hong Chengchou just couldn't let go.
He instinctively felt that something was wrong. Although he had won these two battles, he felt that things were far from that simple.
The clues are obviously close at hand, but they can't be caught. There is only a layer of window paper missing, but they can't be pierced.
Hong Chengchou put down the Tangbao in his hand. Continuous battles had made him more and more exhausted.
He is already in his forties this year, and more and more government and military affairs have piled up in front of his case. He has not had much rest for a long time, and his health is not as good as before.
"Now most of the intruders have been defeated, but there are only a few remnants left. The commander has been fighting for years and is very tired. It is better to take some time to cultivate temporarily."
Cao Wenzhao bowed slightly, saluted and admonished.
"It doesn't matter..."
Hong Chengchou waved his hand, raised his hand and slowly rubbed his temples, looking down at Zuo Guangxian and Cao Wenzhao.
They were ordered to quell the thief within a hundred days, but they failed to quell the thief when the time limit expired. Therefore, they were demoted and kept their posts, and their salaries were reduced. "
At this time, it had been overdue for nearly two months. Although Li Zicheng was missing, the main force of the intruders had indeed been wiped out.
This is the time for the good news to be delivered and Pegasus to deliver it to the capital.
but……
"You two should have noticed some problems, right?"
Zuo Guangxian and Cao Wenzhao were both slightly startled, looked at each other, and nodded slowly.
"Li Zicheng is as cunning as a fox and unpredictable with his troops. Although we have laid a net on all sides, before the net is completed, Li Zicheng completely leads the army to advance to other places."
Zuo Guang pondered for a moment, and finally replied in a deep voice.
"But Li Zicheng has been entrenched in the Jiangyou and Mianzhou areas since he entered northern Sichuan. Although he has sent troops to invade other places, they were basically exploratory attacks. He seemed to be waiting for our arrival..."
"Li Zicheng..."
Hong Chengchou's eyes were slightly focused, and a fierce light flashed in his eyes.
He had already noticed the doubts Zuo Guangxian mentioned, but he knew something was wrong and didn't know what Li Zicheng was planning in his heart.
Hong Chengchou never regarded the body found on the battlefield as that of Li Zicheng as the real Li Zicheng.
Li Zicheng traveled thousands of miles and passed mountains twice, and he was full of clever tricks.
How could he simply die on the battlefield like this? In the Chunhua battle, Li Zicheng was not able to be saved, but now he is left with Li Zicheng so simply. How is it possible?
"Wen Zhao, what do you think about this matter?"
Not getting much help from Zuo Guangxian, Hong Chengchou turned his attention to Cao Wenzhao sitting on one side.
Cao Wenzhao thought for a while and then spoke to break the silence in the tent.
"Li Zicheng is waiting..."
"Waiting?"
Hong Chengchou's eyes brightened slightly, and he felt that he had already caught the most important clue.
"What are you waiting for?!"
"chaos."
"chaos?"
Hong Chengchou's eyes suddenly condensed, and Cao Wenzhao's words were like an enlightenment that made him realize completely.
…
"chaos……"
"A strong man cuts off his wrist and is reduced to pieces."
Chen Wang was holding a strange fire gun, standing on the wall, looking at the scene down the mountain, and couldn't help but sigh.
"What a good strategy..."
After fighting thousands of miles across the mountains and rivers, and escaping danger, Li Zicheng made his own choice when the uprising was at its lowest point.
No one knows Li Zicheng's plan better than Chen Wang.
Because Chen Wang knows very well how the situation will change in the future, and also knows how the impact of future famines will reach its peak.
Li Zicheng broke into pieces and dispersed into the mountains. He was waiting, waiting for the Ming court to be in chaos.
Zhang Xianzhong is not a person who always sticks to his rules. Xiong Wencan has forgotten the persuasion of Kong Yin in the past...
An additional 2.8 million yuan has been raised in various places. As long as there is another famine year, places like Henan and Huguang will undoubtedly become huge powder keg.
At that time, it only takes a little spark to fall into it, and it will trigger a shocking explosion.
There was an unexpected situation today, something happened in reality, and there is a little bit missing. I really forgive you, I will try to make it up tomorrow, and I will definitely make up for it!
(End of chapter)
