About six hours later, Luo Rucai finally rushed back from Yushan.
Zhang Xianzhong and Xu Yixian, who were feeling suspicious and uneasy in their hearts, suddenly jumped up from their chairs and strode forward to greet them.
Zhang Xianzhong originally wanted to know the conversation between Luo Rucai and Li Zicheng as soon as possible, but he did not want to show his urgency in front of the generals in Cao Ying, so he had to deliberately say: "Brother Cao, I am going to Yushan to see Zicheng, please tell me
Did he come during the night?"
Luo Rucai smiled and said to him: "Zicheng was very happy when he heard that you were coming. He is waiting to see you in the old camp of Yushan. He has ordered Li Shuangxi and Wu Ruyi to lead a team to greet you. They will be here soon.
He asked me to accompany you and Zhangfu, and meet you in his old camp at noon. Jiexuan and Yigong, besides, they are also very happy to meet you here."
Zhang Xianzhong's heart suddenly skipped a beat. He murmured whether Liu Zongmin, Li Guo and others really wanted to see him, but on the surface he pretended to be very happy and shouted: "My dear, it's really like the sky is not turning around. This old acquaintance is here again."
We all met together!"
Luo Rucai stepped forward and stretched out her hand to hold Zhang Xianzhong. She glanced at Ji Gui and Xu Yixian each before they walked back to the back house together. They sat down in one of his concubine's rooms, turned away from the idlers beside them, and then said: "
Let’s talk a few words quickly, Li Shuangxi and the others are arriving soon.”
Zhang Xianzhong asked anxiously: "According to your opinion, does Zicheng have any compatibility with me, Lao Zhang?"
Luo Rucai said in a firm tone: "You also know Zicheng. He usually has a deep and secretive attitude. He never speaks out easily when he has any opinions. But once he acts, he is extremely decisive. What's scary about him is
Right here.
However, this person is also extremely calm in dealing with things. He always thinks deeply and has no problem with impetuous behavior. He will not act rashly due to temporary joy or anger. It is precisely because of this advantage that he has made it easy for me to get along with him.
I told him, "You came here after defeat and wanted to see him," and he said, "He is very happy and looks forward to meeting you." He also said, "I hope you will stay and work together to build a great cause together."
He also ordered the old god Shang to be waiting for you in the old camp of Yushan, ready to heal your arrow wounds. Today you are on the verge of an arrow, you must go to see him, and you must not create any further barriers with him.
If he cannot tolerate you, it will be in the future, not today, nor tomorrow. As long as I, Cao Cao, am here, I will ensure that nothing happens to you.
As for when you should leave, I, Lao Luo, will make careful plans for you, so don’t worry!"
Zhang Xianzhong said gratefully after hearing this: "Brother Cao, you are really my friend in times of need, Lao Zhang!"
As he spoke, he asked in a low voice with doubts on his face: "Brother Cao, what do Jiexuan, Buzhi and others think of me? Are they really eager to see me?"
Luo Rucai said with a serious face: "Besides Zicheng, Jiexuan, Buzhi, and Yigong, these three people have always been the most trusted, and most of the troubles were decided by their participation in secret discussions.
Last winter, not long after arriving in Henan, Niu Ju and Song Xiaozi were added to the list, just like Chen Ping and Zhang Liang beside him. Then there was Mr. Li, whose name was Yan and Lin Quan. He was also trusted by Zicheng and often participated in secret discussions.
, but not as close as Niu, Song and Zicheng.
It is these individuals that I am worried about right now. They can only make plans for Zicheng, but they cannot make plans for others.
When you meet them today, you must be good at dealing with them, and must not contradict or offend them face to face. If they want to persuade you to stay, they will become their master and cancel the banner of Xiying.
You even want to pretend to agree and make a decision later..."
Zhang Xianzhong didn't wait for Luo Rucai to finish his words before he cursed: "What a fucking bitch! Even though we, Lao Zhang, were defeated for a moment, how can we be inferior to others?"
When I held Yang Sichang by the nose, I beat him and scattered his hundreds of thousands of officers and soldiers. Who in the world knew that there was another Li Zicheng in Henan?
Our old man hit the jujube tree with a bamboo pole, but he bent down and picked up the jujube. He defeated Luoyang and gained power. He defeated Luoyang, and we immediately defeated Xiangyang and poked the den of Yang Sichang, an old court dog.
It has to be even better.
I am the Eighth King of Xiying, and he is quite famous among the Thirteenth Family. We usually have many soldiers and horses, but my words were like thunder, my feet shook the mountains, and my breath filled the sky with dark clouds. This...
This... you, Marshal Cao, know.
Our Lao Zhang was only defeated temporarily, so why should I be his subordinate to Li Zicheng?
Even if I, Lao Zhang, agree, my bosses, big and small, will not agree. They are all tough guys and a hundred of them will not agree!"
Luo Rucai always kept a smile on his face. It was not until he finished speaking that his expression became serious and said to him: "Jingxuan, I guessed that you would say such silly things.
You must know that I am only advising you to pretend to agree on the surface, and we will discuss it separately. I have never really asked you to stay and become your own general.
Although I, Lao Cao, have no great ambitions and are unwilling to become his own general, how can I sincerely advise you to stay and become his general? You listen to my words for the time being, but you must not suffer the immediate loss.
Now that you are here, you have to meet Zizheng. After meeting him, he will not say anything about asking you to regard him as your master, but he will definitely bring it up when he controls these people.
If they really brought this up, how would you respond?
Can you tell him ‘no’ to his face?
Can you really scold them in person?"
After Luo Rucai issued the fatal "three questions" in succession, he turned to Xu Yixian and said, "Zhangfu, what do you think? Tell me, Jingxuan always obeys your words."
Xu Yixian said: "I have already thought about this in my mind. I would like to ask you to remain calm and never act impatiently. In the affairs of the world, small impatience often leads to big plans, so Han Xin is willing to accept the humiliation..."
Ji Gui also nodded and interjected at this time: "The tongue will survive if it is soft, but the teeth will die if it is strong!"
Xu Yixian nodded to him, and then continued: "I have thought about how to deal with the situation if the commander-in-chief is temporarily forced to stay here by King Chuang."
After Zhang Xianzhong heard this, he hurriedly asked: "Have you thought about how to deal with it?"
Xu Yixian nodded and said, "I have thought about it."
He continued: "A man who can bend and stretch is a true hero. How can you not bow your head when walking under a low eaves?
I remember that at the beginning, King Gou Jian of Yue was defeated in Kuaiji and he humbly served King Wu Fu Chai. However, Fu Chai was ill. Gou Jian even tasted Fu Chai's feces and told Fu Chai that his illness was not serious and that he would be cured soon.
Fu Chai was deeply moved and released him back to his country. After Gou Jian returned to his country, he spent ten years living together and educating him. Eventually, the country became rich and powerful. Only then did he destroy Wu in one fell swoop and avenge the humiliation of Kuaiji.
I think that if the commander-in-chief is forced to stay in the camp by Li Zicheng, he should take the Yue King Gou Jian as his teacher, so that he can turn danger into good fortune and eventually become the overlord of the world."
Zhang Xianzhong, with one half-closed eye and one wide-open eye, looked sideways at Xu Yixian with a look of contempt for him, which made both Luo Rucai and Ji Gui worry that he would not accept this proposal and would not bow his head before King Chuang.
Unexpectedly, Zhang Xianzhong suddenly grinned sarcastically and said: "When the dragon is still trapped in shallow water, the tiger is also embarrassed by the dog. Okay! I don't want to fight for the moment. Let's act according to the situation later."
Only then did Luo Ru feel relieved. He said: "Jingxuan, I have thought about all the unconvincing words you just said. In the past three years, the imperial court has tried its best to contain you Zhang Jingxuan. Who pays attention to it?"
Better than Li Zicheng?
In everyone's eyes, he really can't be compared with you. However, my old friend, that time was the same as this time. Today's situation has changed, and heroes should also have their twists and turns. This has been the case since ancient times.
In life, who always takes the straight path?
Make a turn when it's time to turn, don't dare to bump into the south wall, just promise them that they are willing to be their master, and I can leave all future articles to me, Lao Cao."
Zhang Xianzhong also wanted to get rid of it at this moment. He shook his beard and said decisively: "Okay, we, Old Zhang, will bow our heads again!"
…………
Li Shuangxi and Wu Ruyi saluted Zhang Xianzhong and Luo Rucai before they could speak.
Zhang Xianzhong jumped up from his chair. He walked forward, grabbed one with one hand and said happily: "Good boys, we are about to leave for Yushan. You came here quickly. Are you afraid that I will run away?"
Can’t do it?”
Wu Ruyi hurriedly clasped his fists and said: "The general has been ordered by the general to greet Zhang Shuai. The general has prepared a small amount of wine in the old camp of Yushan this afternoon, specially for Zhang Shuai, Military Advisor Xu and the generals of the Western Camp to greet him and invite him to wash away the dust.
The general and Mr. Ji are also going to accompany us."
Li Shuangxi also continued to say: "My father, the commander-in-chief, heard that the arrow wound on Uncle Ren's leg had not healed. He was very concerned about it and asked the old immortal to wait at the camp so that Uncle Ren could be cured of his stubborn arrow wound as soon as possible.
In addition, a doctor accompanying the army was sent along with his nephew, so that he could treat the injuries of the soldiers in Xiying. After he arrived here, Brother Ning Yu had sent someone to take him to the Xiying garrison.
My father, the commander-in-chief, has urgent military affairs and cannot come to greet you in person. Now he and all the civil and military officials are in the Yuzhai camp, waiting for the arrival of Uncle Ren."
Zhang Xianzhong said very enthusiastically: "I'll go right away, I'll go right away. Even if you don't come to invite me, I'm going to go there with Marshal Cao right away."
Wu Ruyi reported to Zhang Xianzhong again: "The general has ordered the general to invite all the civil and military personnel from Xiying to come to Yuzhai together."
Zhang Xianzhong immediately became suspicious when he heard this. He thought to himself: Are we going to catch them all in one fell swoop?
With an uncertain future, he naturally would not risk all his strength, so he immediately said to Wu Ruyi and Li Shuangxi: "King Chuang is giving me a banquet, so all the leaders should go.
It's just that some of them have failed to recover, some of them have been running continuously in recent days and are really exhausted. There are also a few confidants who are rushing to Queshan and Xinyang areas to recruit the scattered soldiers, but they really can't do what they want.
ah.
I think it’s just me and Commander Xu who will take Dingguo with us, and the rest shouldn’t go!”
When Wu Ruyi saw this, he didn't dare to force himself too much. He just smiled and said to Zhang Xianzhong: "Since Commander Zhang refuses to honor him and wants to leave them to rest here, I naturally don't dare to force him. I am just waiting for King Chuang to blame me for not being able to do things.
King Chuang also guessed that not all the generals of your camp would go, so he ordered the general manager of the camp to send wine and meat to comfort all the soldiers of your camp. In addition, at noon tomorrow, another banquet will be held at Cao Camp to welcome the generals of your camp for the second time.
Wash the dust.
Zhang Shuai, I heard that you have a Mr. Pan under your command. King Chuang said that he must please Mr. Pan to honor him and come to Yushan with Zhang Shuai to meet him."
Zhang Xianzhong could not refuse this, so he immediately ordered Zhang Dingguo to send a soldier to the outside of the stronghold to ask Mr. Pan to come over immediately and go with him to pay homage to King Chuang.
After a while, Mr. Pan Duaopan came galloping over.
Zhang Xianzhong, Xu Yixian, Zhang Dingguo and Pan Du'ao, accompanied by Luo Rucai, Ji Gui, Li Shuangxi and Wu Ruyi, galloped away towards Yushan.
On the way, Pan Duao, who arrived later, was very uneasy. He deliberately pulled the reins and rode at the end with Luo Rucai's military advisor Ji Gui.
Pan Duao asked in a low voice: "Ziyu, how about the Bihongmen Banquet?"
Ji Gui was afraid that Li Shuangxi and Wu Ruyi would hear something and become suspicious. He just shook his head slightly but did not answer. Then he galloped forward on his horse and said loudly: "The weather is really nice today!"
…………
Li Zicheng did not go out of the stronghold to greet Zhang Xianzhong and his party. His purpose was to deliberately lower the etiquette.
Zhang Xianzhong was naturally unhappy when he saw this: "Oh, I, Old Zhang, came to beg him today!"
But he just sighed secretly in his heart, but on his face he was still as enthusiastic and bold as usual. He talked and laughed with Li Zicheng and others along the way, and there seemed to be no grudges.
After everyone sat down in the military tent, he said to Li Zicheng: "Brother Li, your brother was defeated in Xinyang and was about to go to Funiu Mountain to defect to the treasure tent. Unexpectedly, Brother Li and Brother Cao led their troops here. It's really a godsend.
With a good marriage, we brothers can meet each other soon!"
Li Zicheng also said to him: "Thanks to Jingxuan for not giving up and coming to meet me, I am indescribably happy. As for losing the battle, it is nothing. As the saying goes, 'Victory and defeat are common matters for military strategists.'
Who among us has not suffered several defeats? In the winter of the 11th year of Chongzhen, I suffered defeats in Tongguan Nanyuan, but I suffered more defeats than you. As long as you are not discouraged after defeats, you will gain wisdom after suffering defeats.
Jingxuan, please don’t go out and stay with me for the time being. Once your soldiers have recovered from their injuries and are well rested, it won’t be too late to go find Zuo Liangyu to settle accounts.”
Zhang Xianzhong immediately responded: "Yes, we have to settle Zuo Liangyu's debt with him. As long as Brother Li is willing to be my backer, Lao Zhang, it will not be difficult to deal with Zuo Liangyu, this bastard!"
Luo Rucai was very worried that Liu Zongmin and others would use words to ridicule Xianzhong, or bring up those unpleasant things in the past, causing Zhang Xianzhong's displeasure, and then things would be bad today.
Originally, he hoped that Zhang Xianzhong would say that he was willing to serve Li Zicheng as his master as soon as he saw Li Zicheng, but Zhang Xianzhong did not mention a word.
Obviously, Zhang Xianzhong himself was very unwilling to say this, and it was difficult for him to say it first!
Luo Rucai felt very uneasy about this, so he muttered a few words in Li Zicheng's ear. Li Zicheng kept nodding his head, seeming to be very satisfied with what Luo Rucai said.
He immediately stood up and said to Liu Zongmin, Niu Jinxing, Li Yan and others: "Jingxuan and I will go to the back tent to talk for a while. You guys sit here with Military Advisor Xu, Mr. Ji and Mr. Pan.
Shuangxi, you take Dingguo with you..."
Li Zicheng suddenly turned his head and asked Zhang Dingguo with a smile: "Ah, it seems that your given name is Ning Yu, right?"
Zhang Xianzhong said from the side: "This child Dingguo is your little nephew in front of you. Don't call him by his name or you will offend him!"
Li Zicheng smiled and said: "Although he was only half a baby when he came to you, I watched him grow up on the battlefield. Now he has become your most capable general and has made many contributions.
You should call him by his name."
He then said to Li Shuangxi who was beside him: "You and Ning Yu are little brothers, take him out to play, so as not to be inconvenient sitting here. Zhang Nai's camp is practicing firearms, take him to see it too."
As he spoke, Li Zicheng grabbed Zhang Xianzhong and said, "Come on, Jingxuan, let's go to the back tent with Lao Cao to talk. Come and give me some advice..."