As soon as Zhang Cheng entered the camp, he came to see Su Zhuang, the official of Kaifeng. His face was still pale, but his energy had returned to normal. He continued: "Master Su's information is very well-informed. You arrived before I arrived!"
"
"Ahem."
Su Zhuang coughed twice and then said: "As soon as Zhang Shuai's servants crossed the river, there was a place where Li Jia reported to the city. I didn't expect to come so urgently to see Zhang Shuai. It's just that at noon today, an army of thieves came to the city and wanted to seize the west gate.
Attempt.
Now that there are few soldiers in the city, the city defense is particularly important, so I urgently came to see Zhang Shuai and asked Zhang Shuai to lead his troops south to save Kaifeng, protect His Highness King Zhou, and protect the people of the city."
When Zhang Cheng learned of his arrival, he already guessed that it was the intruders who came to attack Kaifeng, so he was so eager to visit him. He only heard him say: "This general was lurking near Luoyang City.
We waited to recapture Luoyang and severely inflicted heavy losses on the intruders. Unexpectedly, we regained Luoyang from the bandit army and detected the information that the bandit army was planning to attack Kaifeng. I led my soldiers to gallop through the starry night and finally arrived here today."
Su Zhuang had seen Zhang Cheng's Tangbao before and knew about the recapture of Yanshi and the rescue of the Prince of Fu. When he heard that Luoyang had been recaptured, he couldn't help but be a little surprised, but he also knew that if Zhang Cheng had regained Luoyang, he would
Crossing the river to return to Kaifeng, we will never arrive here today.
However, everyone is a veteran in officialdom, and he also knows what things can be revealed and what things cannot be said.
He naturally understood the mystery, and just said: "Shuai Zhang wholeheartedly supports the country, and we really admire him. However, Kaifeng is in danger, and His Highness King Zhou has no sleep day and night. Your Highness has something to say, if Shuai Zhang can protect Kaifeng from being attacked by thieves."
, I will definitely write a letter in my own hand to protect the imperial court and ask for a reward for the general!"
Zhang Cheng's face was full of embarrassment, and he said: "I was concerned about the safety of King Zhou, so I traveled all night to rescue Kaifeng. However, the soldiers were tired and their morale was weak. If they didn't dare to fight, they really couldn't fight.
Mr. Su, don't be impatient. Please rest in my camp for a day. When the soldiers recover a little from their fatigue, I will form an army and line up at the gate of Kaifeng City. I have pledged my heart to the country and will definitely protect the King of Zhou from worries."
Su Zhuang originally wanted to persuade him again, but he also saw that Zhang Cheng's face was full of fatigue, but he was not pretending. Although he did not believe that Zhang Cheng returned to Kaifeng on a starry night trip after regaining Luoyang.
However, it was also seen that Zhang Cheng and his men were very tired. In such a state, it was not easy to rush to Kaifeng City. If they were defeated, Kaifeng would be left without help, and he would become a sinner.
Seeing that it was indeed impossible to march into Kaifeng today, he asked: "I heard that General Chen's troops from the Beijing camp have also arrived on the north bank. Has General Zhang ever encountered them?"
"Oh, Chen Jiugao."
Zhang Cheng laughed and said: "I have joined forces with Mr. Chen. Today we will cross the river to set up camp. Tomorrow, Mr. Chen's troops will cross the river. After the army has gathered, we can go to Kaifeng City to fight with the intruders.
A battle."
Hearing what he said, Su Zhuang was determined. Because Zhang Cheng had passed through Kaifeng before, he knew that Zhang Cheng had eight or nine thousand soldiers and horses under his command. Now coupled with the soldiers and horses of Chen Jiugao in the Beijing camp, not to mention defeating the intruders, Kaifeng could not be defeated.
Worry is not a problem.
Seeing that Su Zhuang no longer asked him to march to Kaifeng City immediately, Zhang Cheng said: "I heard that Mr. Su's bodyguards have fallen into the hands of thieves. Don't rush back to Kaifeng for now. You will stay in my camp tonight, and we will worry about it tomorrow.
It’s a war between thieves.”
…………
Outside the west gate of Kaifeng City, piles of bonfires were lit, and an army of tens of thousands of thieves camped here. They were so rampant that they didn't even build a wall, but just hundreds or thousands of people gathered in a pile, divided into dozens of groups.
A small camp.
In the huge camp, there were only less than half military tents, and most of them were dens. Although they had plundered a lot of money, food and weapons in Luoyang City, they wanted to make a surprise attack on Kaifeng this time, so they only brought the necessary military supplies.
Most of the bandit soldiers did not have military tents.
Fortunately, they were used to living in huts on weekdays, and there were many bonfires in the camp, but they didn't feel cold. There were only those firemen in the camp, and the handymen were quite busy. The rest of the people gathered around the bonfire, laughing and chatting.
Waiting for the meal to begin.
It was already dusk, and from time to time there would be a group of armored soldiers patrolling the camp.
In the Chinese army tent of King Li Zicheng, Niu Jinxing, Song Xiance, Li Yan and others were all there, as well as the general sentry Liu Ye, as well as Liu Fangliang, Liu Tichun, Gu Ying, Li Shuangxi, Zhang Nai, Bai Wang and other members of the camp.
Generals, there are also Shaanxi and Henan thieves who are newly attached, such as Cun Guan, Yi Dou Gu, etc.
Among the people, Zhang Nai was the only one who was not very interested. He first made a surprise attack on the west gate of Kaifeng but failed, and then when he intercepted the cavalrymen who were leaving the city to beg for help at the north gate of Kaifeng, he was not able to intercept them all. He was really upset.
I heard Li Zicheng ask Song Xiance: "Military advisor, the surprise attack plan has not been successful. The only way to capture it now is to attack by force."
Song Xiance stroked his sparse beard and said: "Although the surprise attack on Ximen failed, it is true that there are not enough guards in Kaifeng City at present. Our army has already entered the city. No matter what, we will always give him a blow."
Let’s try again.”
Li Zicheng didn't know if it was possible, but looked at Li Yan and asked for his opinion. Li Yan said: "My army has traveled a long way, and we can't just return empty-handed. Even if we can't capture Kaifeng City in one fell swoop, we still have to give him a blow."
Just a little bit..."
King Chuang saw that he was about to speak but hesitated, so he said: "Lin Quan has something to say, but there is no harm in saying it."
"I'm just worried. I'm afraid that if I get angry again after this fight, I'm afraid that the veterans will be tired and the officers and soldiers will take advantage of them!"
Li Zicheng nodded and asked Liu Zongmin: "Jixuan, what's your opinion?"
King Chuang is like this. He almost never makes decisions easily. Whenever there is a major matter to be discussed, he will let everyone speak freely, and then consult Liu Zongmin, Gao Yigong, Li Guo and other generals for their opinions. Finally, he will
Make the decision yourself.
Liu Zongmin said directly: "Let's fight. We can't just come here and hang out for a while and then go back in despair. Even if we can't defeat Kaifeng City, we still have to scare the king of Zhou in the city and pee his pants."
"Hahaha..." There was laughter in the military tent.
Li Zicheng looked at Liu Fangliang again and saw that he was nodding his head, so he said in a deep voice: "If we fight, we must really fight."
He looked firmly at the generals in the tent and said: "Although we failed to seize the gate, there are currently insufficient guards in Kaifeng. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Kaifeng is richer than Luoyang. If we really conquer it in one fell swoop, then
There will no longer be a fortified city in Henan.
At that time, we can hold Kaifeng to cut across the north and south, then recruit troops and horses to attack Shandong and Shanxi, go south to Huguang, and go straight to the south, and seize the power of Chongzhen, the old emperor."
"Brother Li, you can assign a specific strategy." Liu Zongmin said.