Outside the pass, the Tumote tribe stationed on the grassland was commanded by both left and right wings. Guluge and Hanggao were both here, listening to the news from their men. Beneath them sat the Jurchen Niulu Ezhen from Jianzhou.
The subordinate who reported the news was the one who had rushed into the pass before. He said that the Ming army in the pass had inspected the horses and had reported the news to the Governor's Mansion. He should be released soon.
Hearing this, both of them breathed a sigh of relief. It would be best if the Ming Dynasty could be trustworthy. In the past, they had been worried that Ming would default on their debts. If so, they would have no choice.
Of course, if the Ming Dynasty wants them to give another thousand war horses and show their endless blackmail attitude, then they will not care.
No matter what, they have tried their best and will report everything to Liaodong. I believe that the Qing emperor would not be willing to let the Ming army extort him like this. After all, war horses are very important military supplies. The more the Ming army wants, the stronger they become!
In fact, they had actually sent people to Liaodong to report the news. It's just that the Ming Dynasty limited one day to reply, and it couldn't wait for the reply at all, so it had to deal with it first.
"It seems that Ming people are still trustworthy!" Gu Luge sighed with a smile and said to Hang Gao.
After hearing this, Hang Gao was about to nod in agreement, but Niu Lu Ezhen seemed to have been stepped on a pig's tail, and immediately screamed: "What's the credit? You're not afraid of our Qing Dynasty! Besides, Ming Gou is treacherous." , maybe there will be some conspiracy, is it too early for you to be happy now?"
"..." When Guruge and Hanggao heard this, they looked at each other speechlessly and did not dare to refute.
Thinking about it, there is no news about this person yet, and there is a possibility that the Ming Kingdom might engage in some conspiracy. So, they waited and watched.
After waiting for a few days, news came back that the person had been sent to the border customs and was expected to be released soon.
At this time, both Gu Luge and Hang Gao were relieved. If the Ming Dynasty still wanted to play some conspiracy, they wouldn't send people out of prison, right?
However, Niu Luerzhen still insisted, saying that if he didn't see anyone, Ming Gou might be playing tricks, and he had to be careful about Ming Gou's tricks.
In this regard, Guluge and Hanggao did not dare to violate it, and they were also wary of the Ming Dynasty's deception.
However, a few days later, someone came back to report that the Ming Dynasty had informed them that they would be picked up at the pass in three days.
When Gu Luge and Hang Gao heard this, they were very happy and immediately began to make preparations to pick them up. But Niu Lu'er was really worried. He said to Gulu Gao and Hang Gao: "Ming Gou hates us so much, would he let us back so kindly? There must be something wrong! Maybe, they just took the head... No, no, no , cut off the ears, noses, etc. and put them back, or just put some people back and hold Master Turg captive. If something like this happens, we must not let it go!"
Gu Luge and Hang Gao couldn't help but feel relieved again. However, they themselves understood that if the Ming Dynasty really did this, their Tumote Department alone would not be able to do anything to the Ming Dynasty.
On this day, the appointed time arrived. These Mongols and Niu Lu'erzhen came to the pass early and shouted from a distance, asking the Ming Dynasty to release the people.
"The Ming Dynasty is a country of etiquette and has always been about trustworthiness. Our Tumut Department is convinced of this. Please release him as soon as possible!"
In order to welcome their master safely, they even resorted to all kinds of verbal means to try to save Akito's face.
The Ming army on top of the city obviously had no intention of talking nonsense with them. The city gate was quickly opened and a group of bald heads were escorted out and pushed out of the city gate like trash.
Turge turned around angrily and stared at the Ming soldiers with hateful eyes. I have been on the road these days, and I am half-starved, eating pig food, and I really have no energy. And there is no weapon in his hand, so he really can't fight. Otherwise, I really have to kill a few bright dogs to vent my anger.
He was thinking about it when suddenly, there was a sound on the top of the city. He looked up and recognized Han Leyu from the Ming Dynasty Hussars Camp. He was standing on it with a mocking look on his face. He looked at them and shouted loudly: "Bows and arrows." Keep your hands ready, wait for me to hit the Tatar dozens of times, then shoot the Tatar and report him to be beheaded for military merit!"
Immediately, Turg saw many Ming army archers emerging from the battlements. They opened their bows and arrows excitedly and began to aim at them.
Turge was shocked when he saw it. It would be an injustice if he finally came out and died here.
"one two three……"
On the top of the city, Han Leyu's voice began to sound slowly, and he started counting so quickly.
As a result, Turg didn't dare to say a harsh word. He quickly turned around and ran away, shouting in barbaric language: "Run quickly, the Ming dog is about to shoot us to death!"
The other Jianlu soldiers actually had little strength. It can be said that they were retaliated by the Ming army. But when I heard it, I felt as if I had been beaten to death. I was suddenly full of power and could run faster than a rabbit. It was like an arrow leaving the string. Even a few Jianlu fell down, rolled forward, got up and continued running, which really corresponded to the word: rolling and crawling.
"Hahaha..." On top of the city, the Ming army laughed heartily.
After running to a stone's throw away, many Jianlu were so exhausted that they could only breathe out but not in. They lay on the ground panting like dead dogs.
Turge did the same thing. He just lay there, staring at the city head, and punched the grass hatefully, as if he had endless anger that could not be vented.
"Lord Turge, how are you? Are you okay?" Niu Lu'erzhen arrived on horseback, immediately rolled his saddle and fell off the horse, and hurriedly went to help Turge.
Behind him, Gu Luge and Hang Gao also quickly followed. Seeing the bald heads everywhere, they couldn't help but look at each other. Although he had no missing arms or legs, he was shaved bald by the Ming army. This was quite a humiliation!
However, neither of them dared to show it, showing worried expressions. They also approached Turge and said, "Sir, it's okay. It's important to go back and recuperate quickly."
"Yes, Lord Turg, it's a blessing to have you do that. Let's go back!"
Turge turned to look at them, the unbridled hatred in his eyes startled the two people in front of him. The two of them quickly introduced themselves and said that in order to save Turg, they had thousands of good war horses. They gave them to him immediately without any hesitation.
Turge finally stood up, turned to look at the city head again, looked at the Ming troops in the distance, gritted his teeth and said with hatred: "Wait, Ming Gou, I will definitely ask you to pay the price ten times or a hundred times." !”
After finishing speaking, he turned back and shouted to both of them: "Go back immediately. I have important things to do. You two tribes must cooperate fully. Afterwards, all the spoils will belong to you, and I will also report to the emperor." , please give me credit!"
When Gu Luge and Hang Gao heard this, they couldn't help but be shocked. Did Gu Shan'e really mean that he wanted to enter the customs for revenge?
I'm a little worried, but also a little curious. I wonder why Gu Shan'e really thinks he can win and get trophies, and why he wants to ask for credit?
On the top of the city, Han Leyu saw the Mongolian Tatars rolling away with the captives surrounding them. He immediately sneered and ordered the people around him: "Immediately send someone to report to the governor. They have been released from prison."
Obviously, there are actions both inside and outside the customs.
But at this time, in Luonan City in the southeast of Shaanxi Province, Li Zicheng's group among the bandits had just captured this place. The ordinary thieves were happily breaking into the houses, but their leaders, gathered in the county government office at this time, all had very serious expressions, and there was even a faint trace of traces on a few of their faces. disturbed.
Because the news about the officers and soldiers was finally confirmed.
It is true that the emperor personally went on a military expedition.
More importantly, money and food were sent out of the princes' palaces in various places. It was said that they were exchanged for silver notes and food stamps from the Royal Bank of the Ming Dynasty. They didn't understand the Ming Dynasty Royal Bank, but they knew one thing: the feudal prince's palace really provided money and food, and the problem of payment and food arrears for the border troops in various places was solved. And according to the latest news, the governors of the three sides mobilized their troops, and even the troops from Gansu, to encircle and suppress them.
The situation is extremely severe.
"Damn it, the court still wants to be shameless?" In the silence, Liu Zongmin suddenly cursed, "When did we collude with a pig like King Rui? Damn it, if we meet him, it's too late to kill him. , you actually said that we had colluded with King Narui, why are you so shameless?"
After scolding him, he looked at Li Zicheng, but there was no response; then he looked at Li Guo, who also had his head lowered; and then looked at the others, but none of them responded to him, which made him feel very bored, so he said directly to Li Zicheng: "Brother, what are you going to do? No, let’s expose the Dog Emperor’s shameless conspiracy and frame the blame on us, how fucking shameless!”
When Li Zicheng saw that the question was coming to him, he couldn't help but sigh, looked at Liu Zongmin and said: "You think others don't know? Those who are officials are clear about this kind of thing. But now King Narui has committed suicide, and Who will make the decision for him, who can do anything to defeat the emperor? Besides, what can you be angry about? We have already rebelled, so why do you care about taking the blame?"
Hearing this, Li Guo also said: "None of this is important. What is important is that after the emperor punishes King Nari, it will definitely scare other vassal kings. I am sure that the other vassal kings will obediently hand over their money and food." .The problem now is that the armies in various places have been stabilized by the government, and the Royal Forest Army has come to encircle and suppress them. What should we do?"
"Actually, it's more than that." Gao Yigong said with a worried look on his face, "The border army brothers who defected to us before seem to be showing signs of instability. I'm worried that they...may turn against them!"
"What?" When Liu Zongmin heard this, he jumped up and said, "Damn it, if you dare to betray me, I'll kill them!"
Seeing that he was about to leave, Li Zicheng became a little angry and shouted: "Stop, what do you want to do? Don't you think it's troublesome enough now? If you go like this, they will have to betray you! How many sides are there in the army? Military brother, don’t you know? If something goes wrong, we don’t even need the imperial army to come to encircle and suppress us, we will be finished!"
Upon hearing this, Liu Zongmin stopped and asked a little anxiously: "What should we do? Let them kill those officials and hand over their names? It's not like they have never done it before!"
If it was the previous dynasty, as long as you handed over this kind of certificate of surrender, it might be useful.
However, during this period, even the thieves led by them were recruited by the court many times, and they were still fine. Even Zhang Xianzhong excavated the imperial tomb and was fine. It must be said that the Ming Dynasty was the most tolerant of them in the history of the dynasties. It's just that if the food problem is not solved, recruitment and security measures alone are of no use at all.
In any case, let me explain that the certificate of nomination at this time is basically not binding.
In the lobby, it became quiet again. It was obvious that no one had any good ideas at this time.
After a while, Yuan Zongdi suddenly suggested: "Now the Qin border army has come to encircle and suppress us. This is a certain thing, and it is not something we can resist at the moment. As for the emperor's personal expedition, I think it is more I'll go after Huang Hu. Otherwise, let's go to Henan?"
Huang Hu is Zhang Xianzhong’s nickname. As far as the current momentum is concerned, Zhang Xianzhong's side has the strongest momentum.
When Yuan Zongdi said this, he obviously didn't want to go back to Shangluo Mountain. However, Gao Yingxiang and others were suppressed by the Qin border troops. They were also surrounded and suppressed by Qin soldiers many times, and the lessons were profound. With a head-on confrontation, they would definitely not be able to defeat the Qin border troops.
Gao Yigong heard Yuan Zongdi's words, thought for a while, and said: "I agree. If we fight the Qin soldiers here, first of all, we can't defeat them, and we have to guard against changes in the army. It's better to stay away." In the land of Qin, the army might also be able to stabilize."
After hearing this, Li Zicheng did not agree immediately, but lowered his head and thought hard.
Li Guo looked up at his uncle, and then at the other people present. He hesitated for a moment, and finally said, "I heard that the emperor brought food with him for this expedition. If this happens, it will probably be difficult for us. Who dares to rebel when they have something to eat? Even if we force them, believe it or not, they can run back and betray us by the way!"
That is to say, in the past, after they held the people hostage, there was no way back for those people. Because they can’t go back, they won’t have anything to eat, and the government won’t provide disaster relief, so they can only starve to death. But Li Guo also said that the situation is different now, and even coercion has become a problem.
"Then what do you think we should do?" Li Zicheng frowned and looked at his nephew and asked.
Others also looked at him. The difficult situation made them all think that a tiger could come up with a good solution.
"How about..." Li Guo hesitated for a moment and then said, "How about if we accept the imperial court's offer, at least we still have a way to survive!"
"What?" When Liu Zongmin heard this, he immediately jumped up and shouted, "A tiger, you are a fucking cat, are you crazy to give your life to those officials?"
Speaking of which, Li Zicheng's lineage really never surrendered to the imperial court. Even if Zhang Xianzhong surrendered, they hid in Shangluo Mountain.
Li Guo was not angry when he heard Liu Zongmin scolding him. He just explained: "You see, it has been a year since even Huang Hu was recruited. Isn't it true that the court didn't care about him? Now that the emperor is on the expedition in person, the situation is so critical, you Do you think we can still fight our way out?"
"Then Huang Hu has rebelled again!" Liu Zongmin immediately retorted, "Damn, I'm used to being free. Even if those dog officials no longer make things difficult for us, I'm not used to the old days anymore!"
When Li Guo heard this, he wanted to say more, but Li Zicheng spoke first: "Okay, that's it for now. Don't talk about it anymore. I think Brother Yuan is right, why don't you go to Henan!"
The policy of "equalizing land and eliminating taxes" he proposed was extremely effective and gave him some confidence. Therefore, he felt that if he went to Henan, he might have the opportunity to grow stronger and have the strength to fight against the imperial court.
As Liu Zongmin said, he was used to being the eldest brother, but now he was asked to put down his sword and gun to hold a hoe, or to be managed as a minor official. He really looked down upon him. And he was not willing to hide in Shangluo Mountain and live a hard life. Therefore, there is only one way to try.
However, there is still a hidden worry. If you don’t know where the emperor is, don’t run into him. With this in mind, Li Zicheng decided to send a vanguard to test more, and the main force should be more careful.
Others in the lobby saw that Li Zicheng had made the decision. They only followed Li Zicheng's lead, so naturally they had no choice but to prepare.
On the grassland, after a day of rest, Turge also announced his decision.
