"What does the Duke mean?" Wu Sangui asked doubtfully as he was confused.
After hearing this, Zhang Mingwei smiled and pointed to somewhere outside and said, "Look over there, the leader of the bandits often looks over our camp. The man is dressed as a scribe and is very short. If I guessed correctly, he is Song Xiance, the military advisor in Li Zicheng's army"
Song Xiance is also known as Song Shorty, which shows how tall he is.
There were only a few scholars in the bandit army, and their characteristics were so obvious. Wu Sangui also held up the telescope to observe for a while, then nodded and said, "The Duke is right, that person must be Song Xiance, the rogue strategist."
However, he still had doubts in his heart. He didn't know how this was related to what the Duke just said.
Zhang Mingwei naturally knew that he was still confused, so he continued to explain, "When I released the prisoners of the bandits before, I made it clear that our army does not have much food and grass. I believe that the leaders of the bandits already know this news. During this period of time, I have not asked the army generals to raise their voices. In fact, I want the bandit leaders to guess how much rations we have left."
When he said this, he pointed at Song Xiance and others who were still watching and said, "I discovered a few days ago that these bandit leaders come to observe our camp every day. If I am not mistaken, I just want to know how the situation is in our army. I can’t hold on anymore.”
When Wu Sangui heard this, he suddenly realized that this was the case. It seemed that the Duke's observation was really careful.
Zhang Mingwei looked at his expression and understood what he was thinking at this time. He was not satisfied. He continued to point to the bandit camp and introduced Wu Sangui, "Use the telescope to take a closer look behind the bandit camp. Although you can't see very well." It is clear, but compared to the past few days, the figures of the wandering thieves have been significantly reduced. In this case, judging from the current situation, it should be that the bandits have reduced the ration supply and are living with their belts tightened. "
This is the advantage of having a telescope. It allows you to observe more details than with the naked eye.
When Zhang Mingwei said this, he said what he wanted to express at the beginning. He smiled and said to Wu Sangui, "I am going to let the soldiers move and show their vitality. Let the bandit leaders, including the bandits, Knowing that not only are we not short of food, but our morale is also very high, this contrast can stimulate them even more and allow them to make decisions in anger, which will help the war continue to tilt towards our side."
It can be said that these days, the bandits have been mainly besieging, and there has been no large-scale attack. Nine times out of ten, it is because Zhang Mingwei released the lie to the bandits that the official army did not have much food and grass.
When Wu Sangui heard this, he truly understood what Zhang Mingwei said. He couldn't help but marveled and said, "What a wonderful plan, what a wonderful plan!"
Zhang Mingwei at this time is no longer the same person he was when he first traveled through time. He has become immune to compliments. Even though Wu Sangui is also a historical celebrity, the number of people like him praising him cannot be said to be overwhelming, but the number is indeed quite large, and he has become numb.
Returning to the central military tent, Zhang Mingwei immediately held a military meeting and issued general orders for all armies to publicize it.
When hearing such military orders, the military generals were naturally happy, they liked this best.
On a high ground not far from the imperial army camp, there were a dozen or so bandits on horseback watching. Judging from their clothing, these should all be generals among bandits. The leader, who looked in his thirties, was saying to a young general next to him who was in his twenties, "What happened is over. Don't leave any resentment in your heart. Do you understand?"
After hearing this, the young general was obviously a little angry and said to the leading general, "Father, even though Big Tou and the others are talking, who doesn't know that they are just like the children and are loyal to the general. Why is the general like this?" He was so hard-hearted that he cut them all down, even if he hit them with military sticks, a child would understand."
Hearing this, the general, who was actually a tiger named Li Guo, sighed and said to his adopted son, Li Laiheng, "I know you are still angry in your heart and you are holding it in."
At this point, he suddenly became a little more serious, stared at Li Laiheng and said, "Military orders are like mountains. No matter who it is, it is not a joke to violate the military orders. Otherwise, everyone will rely on their relationship with the general to disobey the general's orders." Order, how can we conquer the world?"
"Why do you really want to conquer the world? Maybe we will all be killed under his excuse." Li Laiheng was still a little dissatisfied and muttered in a low voice.
Although his voice was very low, Li Guo still heard him. Suddenly, Li Guo became furious and raised his whip to hit him.
Unexpectedly, Li Laiheng was also a stupid young man. Seeing this situation, not only was he not afraid, but he frowned and said, "Emperor Taizu used to kill meritorious officials back then. He has started to kill them now. If he really becomes the emperor, how can he not kill them?"
Upon hearing this, Li Guo couldn't help but be stunned for a moment. When he came to his senses, he asked angrily and funnyly, "How can this be the same?"
"Why is it different?" After hearing this, Li Laiheng immediately retorted.
After hearing this, Li Guo turned around and looked at the other people around him. They were all his trusted subordinates. Seeing that they were all looking at him, he decided to make it clear. He pointed at the officers and soldiers and said, "The general and the incompetent general The imperial court is different. It obeys the destiny and becomes stronger with each war. This is God's help for the general. Think about it."
Before he could finish his words, Li Laiheng interrupted again, "What about the regulations on pensions and exemptions for soldiers of the Ming Dynasty? They also say that the Duke is a good official, so what about the reduction of court taxes in half?"
He had a good friend who was killed by Li Zicheng, and he had always had a problem in his heart. In addition, Li Guo was very kind to him and he was straight-tempered, so he took this opportunity to express his feelings.
When Li Guo heard what he said, he was stunned. He couldn't help but recall the time in front of the two armies. He was the closest.
Of course, the person who saw it was indeed the Di newspaper. Although he couldn't see the content clearly, he also understood that nine times out of ten it was true.
To be honest, it was quite shocking to him at the time. Although he didn't say much about it afterwards, he just kept it in his heart and never forgot it.
When Li Laiheng mentioned it, he immediately thought about it again. Somewhat surprisingly, he fell silent.
Although thieves coerce people into doing evil, a simple concept still exists.
There are many records in the history books that in the cities conquered by bandits, officials and local gentry were mostly used to recover stolen goods and pay them. However, there are also a few officials with good reputations who will let them go if they fail to surrender.
The sudden change in the court has made these thieves who still have conscience in their hearts become a little confused.
If the imperial court has always been evil, then they will definitely not have any idea and just do it. But now, is the best way out to continue working with the imperial court, or to be recruited like Xiao Yuanying?
If this time point is pushed forward, then maybe they will think that recruitment is the way out. On the other hand, if they had waited until Li Zicheng won the Central Plains War in the 16th year of Chongzhen, then they might not think about recruiting anymore.
It happened that in the fifteenth year of Chongzhen, at such a time point before the Central Plains War, this choice was not easy to make.
As Li Zicheng's nephew and some other trusted generals, of course they regard Li Zicheng as the main one, but this does not prevent them from thinking
After thinking for a while, Li Guo suddenly came back to his senses and thought to himself, what is wrong with him?
So, he looked at Li Laiheng, who was staring at him, and said seriously, "Don't think too much. The court is just because it can't defeat us and is about to be defeated by us, so they changed their ways and gave them some benefits to survive." "
"Then what do they say why they haven't fought for so long?" After hearing this, Li Laiheng pointed in front of him and said, "Don't think you can't beat them."
Having more soldiers and fewer soldiers is really not the most critical factor in the eyes of those who know how to fight.
Although Li Laiheng was young and had a straightforward temper, he was a young general who knew how to fight. This was why Li Guo took great care of him and adopted him as his adopted son.
After Li Guo heard this, he also pointed at the army camp and said, "I'm afraid you don't know. The imperial army is also short of food and has few troops. I believe it won't take long for us to destroy this army." "
As soon as he finished speaking, there was suddenly a loud noise, which attracted the attention of all of them, and they all turned their heads to look.
"The wind is roaring and the horses are howling"
Just listen to the loud and majestic singing from the army camp, which can be heard far and wide.
What can be heard from this song is the high morale of the officers and soldiers. If you say that the officers and soldiers are short of food, who will believe it?
"Father, what can I say?" Li Laiheng came to his senses and immediately looked at Li Guo and asked.
Li Guo ignored him and just stared at the army camp.
"Defend your hometown, defend the Yellow River, and defend North China"
Listening to this song, coupled with the feelings Li Guo had just had, he suddenly sighed for some reason.
This song is really magical. I have listened to it a lot. In fact, many people here among the bandits can already hum it. However, no one dared to hum it. And, when I hum this song, I always feel guilty.
Li Guo's attempt to educate Li Laiheng ended up being abandoned due to unexpected circumstances at the imperial army camp.
Li Zicheng convened his men to discuss the matter. At the beginning, he still had illusions and suspected that this was a strategy of the imperial government to strengthen external forces and interfere with the internal affairs.
However, the next day, new singing came from the army camp, which shattered their illusions. If the officers and soldiers were really short of food, how could they still have the leisure time to teach the soldiers to sing new songs?
And this song, the imperial officers and soldiers can really do it
"General, we can't go on like this." Song Xiance didn't dare to think any more and quickly said, "We must fight, otherwise our morale will be really gone."
