At noon on December 24, the thirteenth year of Chongzhen's reign in the Ming Dynasty, outside the west gate of Kaifeng Fucheng, the leading cavalry of King Chuang Li Zicheng had arrived.
However, Zhang Nai's plan to surprise Ximen failed to come true. Instead, he lost forty or fifty of his elite cavalry from the old battalion. Now thousands of rebel cavalry are arrayed outside Xiguan to protect the banner. Although their array is not neat, it is not scattered either.
, five to six hundred men and horses were gathered into a pile.
Chuang Wang Li Zicheng led the generals Liu Zongmin, Liu Tichun, Zhang Nai and others into Xiguan to observe the defense of the city wall on the west gate. I knew that the Kaifeng city wall was thick before, but now I can only feel its majesty if I look closely.
"what a pity!"
Liu Zongmin sighed, and then said: "If the hungry people had not blocked the way, my army would have rushed into the city at this moment, and I am afraid they are attacking the palace of King Zhou."
Zhang Nai was already upset because he failed to capture the west gate of Kaifeng. Now after listening to the words of Commander Liu Ye, he felt his face burning even more.
Li Zicheng smiled and said: "The strategy of attacking Ximen by surprise is to steal chickens. It's best if you steal it. Don't be afraid if you can't steal it. Even if Kaifeng's defense is more solid and tight than Luoyang city, so what?"
Even if we can’t win this time, we can just fight again next year!”
Liu Tichun also said: "King Chuang, since the surprise attack cannot be successful, let's wait for Mr. Niu and the military advisor to arrive before we plan to attack the city."
Li Zicheng nodded and said, "That's fine. You and Xiao Naozi stay here to wait for the army. Jiexuan and I will take a detour to Beicheng."
Liu Tichun seemed a little worried, he said: "Let's ask Xiao Zhang Nai to accompany him with a few hundred riders to protect his safety."
Liu Zongmin smiled and said: "Erhu, do you think that Brother Li and I are made of mud?"
But he immediately realized that he was looking for a step for Zhang Nai to come down. He turned around and scolded Zhang Nai with a smile: "Little boy, what are you waiting for? Go recruit a hundred cavalry, follow me and Chuang Nai."
The king goes to Beicheng to have a look."
Li Zicheng saw Zhang Nai riding his horse happily to summon the cavalry, turned his head and laughed knowingly with Liu Zongmin.
…………
Gao Mingheng, who was on the west gate tower, saw the intruders retreating deep into the west gate to observe the city gate. He felt a little relieved. He turned to guard Su Zhuang and asked: "Is there any news about Vice General Chen's men?"
"Several couriers have been sent out, but no news has been returned yet."
He pondered for a while and then said: "However, news has just come back that an army of more than two thousand people has appeared in Tao's store twenty miles north of the city."
Wang Xie, the magistrate of Xiangfu County, interjected: "There was news that Vice General Chen was accompanying the governor to suppress bandits in Hebei. Could it be that Vice General Chen's army returned to Kaifeng to aid?"
Su Zhuang shook his head and said: "No, the news also said that although the people in Tao's store are dressed as officers and soldiers, they have many chariots and horses. I don't think they look like local officers and soldiers.
Besides, if Vice General Chen returns to support us, he will go straight to Kaifeng and will never garrison Taojiadian."
"There are many carriages and horses?"
Huang Shu, the promotion officer of Kaifeng Prefecture, said with some doubts: "Could it be Zhang Cheng, the commander-in-chief of the reinforcement and suppression force from Xuan Town?"
"Zhang Cheng?" Gao Mingheng turned to look at Huang Shu.
Just listen to him continue: "I remember that this general soldier had many carriages and horses under his command. After he left Fucheng to the west to aid Luoyang, I only know that he recovered Yanshi and rescued the prince of Fufan, and then lost it.
The traces are mysterious and elusive, could they be his soldiers and horses?"
Gao Mingheng said anxiously: "No matter which soldiers and horses they are, they should be the official army without a doubt. At this time, the rebel army has not yet gathered in large numbers. Send people quickly to call for reinforcements. If the rebel army surrounds the city on all sides, it will be difficult for us to leave the city to ask for help."
La."
Su Zhuang, the guardian, said at this time: "Master Yintai, I would like to go to Taojia store in the north of the city to investigate. I will risk my life to bring that army to Kaifeng."
"So there you have it, Master Laosu."
As soon as Gao Mingheng finished speaking, Cao Kun, the official in the palace of the Zhou Dynasty, said: "Master Su, please tell the general of the Taojiadian army that if you can come to help Kaifeng and ensure that Kaifeng is safe, the prince will personally write a letter
, please take credit for it!”
After Su Zhuang saluted Cao Kun, he clasped his fists and said to the officials: "Without further delay, I will take a few of my followers and rush to Tao's shop to find out what's going on!"
"Go quickly, I'm looking forward to your good news!"
After a while, the north gate of Kaifeng reopened, and a group of more than ten riders hurried out of the city gate, then rushed out of the north gate and disappeared into the bone-chilling cold wind.
…………
"The roaring waves of the Yellow River come from all over the sky, making loud noises like Yin thunder."
The cold wind howled and the Yellow River surged, as powerful and unstoppable as thousands of horses galloping together.
Zhang Cheng stood on a large ship, feeling like a leaf falling in the river and sea, erratic, and the violent shaking made him slightly dizzy.
No matter in his previous life or in this life, this was his third time crossing the Yellow River by boat, but he still couldn't adapt. He couldn't help but remember that in his previous life, he had also crossed the sea in a large ship, traveling back and forth between Liaodong and Shandong, but it had never been like this.
bumpy.
Yang Liying was standing next to him, but her condition was much better than Zhang Cheng. She asked softly: "Husband, can you hold on?"
Although Zhang Cheng's face was a little pale, he could still hold on. He forced a smile and then said: "It doesn't matter, the first two times were not as big as today, and they were not as bumpy as today."
"Husband, there are fewer people on the boat. You see, the women's army under my command is much better than the elite soldiers under your command."
Zhang Cheng looked in the direction she pointed, and saw all his own soldiers sitting on the board of the boat, looking depressed, and many of them had vomited. On the other hand, the female soldiers were not in such a condition, although some of them had expressions on their faces.
Pale and depressed, but not serious.
At this time, the captain of the ship came over with an apologetic look, lowered his head and said: "Commander, the wind and waves are strong today, and the boat is moving a little too fast. Please forgive me, Commander."
How could Zhang Cheng argue with him? He just asked: "Shipman, how long will it take before we can reach the south bank?"
"Come on, come on, there was a strange wind just now. The boat has moved forward a little further and is about to dock at the small ferry below!"
"Go and do your work. I have nothing to do here. It doesn't hurt to be a little further away."
…………
Huang Shu, the official of Kaifeng Prefecture, is sitting in the military camp south of Taojiadian. Now he has confirmed that the garrison here is the border suppression army led by Zhang Cheng of Xuanzang Town. He feels lucky in his heart that there is such a strong army here.
Now, Kaifeng is worry-free.
Especially when he heard that the army under General Chen of the Beijing Camp would cross the river to aid Kaifeng in the near future, he felt at ease and was already thinking about taking the risk of coming to Taojiadian to ask for help. Although the journey was risky, it was worth it.
It turned out that when he led his ten cavalry guards out of Kaifeng Beiguan, he met Li Zicheng, Liu Zongmin and other bandits who came here to observe the city defense.
Zhang Nai was already angry because his surprise attack on the west gate failed. Now when he saw someone leaving the city, he knew that he wanted to seek help elsewhere. Without waiting for King Chuang's military order, he led dozens of horsemen to chase after him.
Huang Shu was also panic-stricken. He only had ten cavalry on his side, but the rebel army had hundreds of cavalry. How could he keep calm? While calling for guards to intercept the rebel army, he whipped his mount on the crotch with all his strength.
Run north.
He heard howls and screams behind him, but he didn't even dare to look back. Fortunately, he met Zhang Cheng's sentry cavalry on the way, and he was able to intercept the dozens of cavalry and thieves, and he was able to save a life.
He lost his life, but none of the ten knights who escorted him survived.