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Huang Degong and others only had 30,000 to 40,000 people, and the gap between them can be imagined. However, Zuo Liangyu was not a law-abiding person. His troops were always more powerful than those of the troops. By exploiting and plundering the local area, he could still support his troops.

But now that Li Zicheng fled to Huguang, Wuchang would become the first choice target of attack. The crushing defeat in Zhuxian Town back then made Zuo Liangyu unable to raise much of the confrontation, so he was always thinking about countermeasures.

It was a god-given opportunity. Since the Chinese New Year, there have been constant strange things in Nanjing. First, a monk who cheated came, saying that he was the prince, sometimes King Qi, sometimes King Chu, and finally, he knew he was a liar after being caught. Then it was said that the prince went south. For a while, the people in Nandu were in great danger, and many people were looking forward to Emperor Hongguang abdicating and returning to power.

Then another princess came, who was a broken arm, claiming to be Princess Changping. The most important thing was that Princess Changping was escorted to the confrontation area between the two sides by Li Yan's troops. Princess Changping brought a full set of ceremonial guards and the brigade of palace maids and eunuchs, which seemed quite like that. After being sent to Nanjing, she was about to see the prince from Nanlai, but then there was no further information.

Zuo Menggeng hurried into Zuo Liangyu's main hall and whispered: "Father, I've written to Nandu."

"What do you mean?" Zuo Liangyu didn't raise his head and asked, looking at Wuchang's defensive map.

He knew that Wuchang would become Li Zicheng's primary target, so he did not dare to neglect and had to organize defense well. However, the soldiers and generals from other places could not be transferred too much. If there were no military troops in the local area, the food and salary would not be collected. The civil servants had no good face to him, the warlord, and the people were unwilling to pay such heavy taxes.

Zuo Menggeng whispered: "The prince is fake, the princess is not sure, but few people seem to care about the authenticity of the princess."

"Fake?" Zuo Liangyu was a little disappointed.

Zuo Menggeng continued: "However, from the officialdom to the people, there are still many people who believe that the prince is true. They all say that this is an unjust case caused by King Fu's unwilling to return the power, which made the Jinyiwei cause."

Zuo Liangyu didn't say anything, and was still staring at Jiang Fangmao.

"I think it's not an unjust case, the prince should be fake." Zuo Menggeng explained: "Wang Duo, Liu Zhengzong, and Li Jinglian were all former lecturers of the Eastern Palace. They all said they didn't look like each other, so how could it be true? Besides, these people are all gentlemen, and they wouldn't wear a pair of pants with Ma Shiying."

Zuo Liangyu smiled indifferently and asked, "Is there any news about Ma Shiying?"

Zuo Menggeng pursed and said, "What else can there be news? There is no intention to let us retreat eastward. We will let us defend the upstream. He said that Yuan Jixian had been sent to support him, and he also said that he would lift the title for you and be appointed Duke. He was just talking nonsense."

"Hmph!" Zuo Liangyu sneered: "He felt that Huang Degong and others supported him and looked down on us anymore. But he didn't even look at it. In the four towns of Jiangbei, except for Huang Degong, they were still a bit loyal and righteous. The other Gao Jie and Liu Zeqing came back from the north. Liu Liangzuo has always been opportunistic guys, who can rely on them?"

Zuo Meng said sourly: "I'm lucky enough to help an emperor. Even if I'm a fool, I'll be reused."

Zuo Liangyu shook her head and said nothing.

At this time, a personal soldier rushed in, half-kneeled and clasped his fists, and reported loudly: "Marty, it's not good, the army has crossed the river."

Zuo Liangyu stared at her eyes and scolded: "Nonsense! The main force of the rebel army is still confronting me in Jiangbei, why did he cross the river?!"

The personal soldiers reported anxiously: "It is indeed crossing the river, not on the other side of Wuchang, but on Shahu Town. Just yesterday, the defeated soldiers under General Wang had fled back. It is said that there are already 100,000 rebels across the river."

With a thud, Zuo Liangyu punched the defense map on the table, and his chest slumped on the chair.

He had been guarding the rivers near Wuchang and confronted the main force of the rebel army in Jiangbei. Unexpectedly, Li Chuang actually crossed the river from a place a hundred miles away. Although he did not believe that the rebel army had already crossed the river with a hundred thousand troops, as long as there was a ferry crossing, the rebel army would sooner or later cross the Yangtze River.

When he thought of the rebel army pushing the dirt cart around, countless flowering bullets exploded around him, and the fierce horse team attacked, he felt that the two wars were fighting. He had pursued him for two hundred miles back then. If his horse hadn't been pretty good, he would have been cut off by the rebel army.

"Father, father, father." Zuo Menggeng hurriedly went to support him.

Zuo Liangyu sat for a while, thought for a long time before finally gritting his teeth and ordered: "Send an order to withdraw all the troops in Jiangbei. Let the troops in the rear collect food and pay ships and prepare to go east along the Yangtze River."

"I'm going to withdraw?" Zuo Menggeng asked in surprise, and then reminded: "But the imperial court asked us to defend the situation to the death, and there are Yuan Jixian, Huang Degong and Liu Liangzuo behind."

Zuo Liangyu gritted her teeth and said, "This is not a retreat, but a clearing of the king's side!"

"Qing, Qingjun's side?" Zuo Menggeng was shocked by this decision and was already a little stuttering.

Zuo Liangyu said with a smile: "Isn't there a prince? We'll also support an emperor. My 200,000 army goes east. I see who can stop them in the four towns!"

"But, but, can we do it alone?" Zuo Menggeng was still a little worried.

Zuo Liangyu said relaxedly: "Ma Shiying has four towns as a backer, and Donglin jumped up and down in a hurry, but what's the use? It's useless to get a monk to cheat, and then a fake prince to disturb people's hearts. But it's different for us to raise an army. Even if we didn't communicate with them in advance, as long as we put forward the banner of clearing the monarch, they know what to do."

Zuo Menggeng suddenly realized and said with a smile: "Oh, so that's it, the father and the commander are wise."

"Go and send the order quickly, don't delay.

Li Chuang was chased by Li Yan, so he would not leave us much time." Zuo Liangyu urged.

Zuo Menggeng didn't dare to procrastinate and ran out to pass the order.

Two days later, a strange scene appeared in Wuchang area. Zuo Liangyu, who was carrying supplies and property in front of him, retreated along the river with his ships. Li Zicheng's troops behind him also escorted the ships along the Han River and occupied Wuchang City. Zuo Liangyu escaped in a hurry, but Li Zicheng did not pursue him bravely, but instead spread troops around Wuchang and began to collect food and salary.

The people along the river complained, hoping that the war would end soon and live a peaceful life.

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