In the middle of May of the twelfth year of Chongzhen, Zhang Xianzhong raised his flag to rebel again in Gucheng!
The refugee army stormed into the Gucheng County government office, demanded official uniforms and seals, released prisoners, opened the treasury, and left a book on the wall, listing the various crimes of corruption and bribery committed by Xiong Wencan, the current Secretary of the Ministry of War, and vowing to be incompatible with them!
Soon, "Cao Cao" Luo Rucai, Bai Gui, Hei Yunxiang and other three refugee armies who were also in Huguang responded immediately. They joined forces with Zhang Xianzhong, and in early June, they captured Fang County and approached Xiangyang City!
Xiong Wencan's dream of trying to quell the resistance of the refugee army through "appeasement" was completely shattered!
At the same time, Li Zicheng's tribes who were "recuperating" in the Shangluo Mountains of Henan Province also began to prepare for action. The entire Ming Dynasty's refugee army instantly showed the potential of starting a prairie fire!
At this time, Xiong Wencan, the new Minister of the Ministry of War and the Prime Minister of the five provinces, who was still hot in the buttocks, was shocked. In order to prevent the refugee army from attacking Xiangyang, he urgently ordered Kong Mei, the governor of Chu, to defend Jingmen and Dangyang. He also ordered Wang Aoyong, the governor of Chu, to defend Jiangling and the police.
On the front line, Ding Qirui, the governor of Shaanxi, and Shao Jiechun, the governor of Shu, each guarded their own territory and set up nets for defense!
But in mid-June, the Xianthi tribes withdrew into the mountains around Fang County. Xiong Wencan urgently ordered Zuo Liangyu to lead his troops to pursue and suppress the refugee army!
But Zuo Liangyu believed that 'the road is dangerous and the pay is difficult, so we cannot pursue it!'
In order to reduce his own guilt, Xiong Wencan forced Zuo Liangyu to march into the mountains to encircle and suppress the Xian thief tribe!
"Commander Father, that guy named Xiong is too bullying! We have soldiers but no food, and the morale of our men is low. If we go into the mountains like this, we will be in trouble!" Zuo Mengeng said angrily from the side.
They had just received the news of the Xian bandits' rebellion and rushed from Henan. Unexpectedly, before they could take a breath, Xiong Wencan ordered them to go into the mountains to hunt down the remaining Xian bandits!
In the past few years, Henan has suffered from natural and man-made disasters, and food and grass have been in short supply. Zuo and his son originally thought that Xiong Wencan could supplement their salary and food and grass by running to Huguang, but who would have thought that Xiong Wencan actually wanted to catch a duck!
Zuo Liangyu glanced at Zuo Mengeng and couldn't help but let out a deep sigh, "Geng'er, why are you so angry? At this point, do you think there is still a possibility for us to refuse?"
Zuo Mengeng was startled and said hurriedly: "Commander father, but that traitor is extremely cunning. We don't have enough food and grass, and our army is exhausted. I'm worried that we, we, may suffer big losses!"
Zuo Liangyu looked at Zuo Mengeng's eager look, suddenly smiled, and nodded approvingly, "Geng'er, if you can see this, it means you have really grown up! As a father, this is relieved! However, since I
The soldiers have already spoken, so we must fight this battle!"
"Father, what is this?" Zuo Mengeng was still a little confused and asked hurriedly.
"Why?" Zuo Liangyu suddenly smiled self-deprecatingly, "For the sake of this meal for us! I am now deeply attached to the Holy Spirit. Is it possible that we, father and son, will have to fight with him?"
"Father, you, you mean..." Zuo Mengeng's eyes widened instantly!
Zuo Liangyu nodded, "Whether it's a mule or a horse, it must be pulled out for a ride! The thief and you and me, father and son, are inseparable! Don't think about it anymore, let's go into the mountain tomorrow. Today, you can go to the army again."
Over there, begging for our food and grass!"
"Yes! Father!" Zuo Mengeng also understood what his father meant. He gritted his teeth and hurried out of the tent!
Zuo Liangyu looked at his son's retreating back, and a deep worry could not help but appear on his brows. He had been in the army for many years, so how could he not see the dangers this time? However, at this point, did he still have a choice?
After all, Zuo Mengeng failed to get any more food and grass from Xiong Wencan.
At this point, Xiong Wencan was also very worried. He didn't have any talent in the world. He just relied on his good relationship with Yang Sichang, the elder of the Pavilion, and his ability to "unwin the world".
Only then did he win the high position he has today!
At this moment, Xiong Wencan is in need of soldiers and food. He can only place all his hopes on Zuo Liangyu, the thief general who is said to be 'good at fighting'!
Early the next morning, Xiong Wencan came in person to see Zuo Jun off!
Zuo Liangyu also really sold his face to Xiong Wencan, and immediately ordered Henan deputy general Luo Dai to lead an army of 5,000 as the vanguard and enter the deep mountains and forests of Fang County, while he himself led a main army of 100,000 to follow closely behind!
"General Zuo, I'll leave everything to you this time!" Xiong Wencan held Zuo Liangyu's hand with hope, "As long as you annihilate the main force of the thieves this time, I will definitely pay back the food, grass, wages and silver I owe.
Sex will make up for it for you!”
Zuo Liangyu smiled and nodded, "My soldier, don't worry! As long as the food and grass can keep up, I will capture the thief alive and sacrifice his head to my soldier!"
"Okay, okay! General Zuo, I wish you a safe journey and success!" Xiong Wencan was overjoyed. He suddenly discovered that Zuo Liangyu was so pleasing to the eye for the first time.
Zuo Liangyu nodded solemnly, shouted loudly, and a hundred thousand troops marched towards the depths of Fang County and into the vast virgin forest!
~~~~~
Fang County is located in the northwest of Huguang and borders Sichuan to the west. Within a few hundred miles, there are majestic mountains and primeval dense forests that are rarely visited by people!
Even in later generations, transportation in this area was extremely inconvenient, let alone at this time!
Zuo Liangyu did not expect that the road conditions here would be so bad. The army had walked for ten days on a journey of seventy or eighty miles. They had not yet found the main force of the thieves, but their food and grass were almost
It's about to run out!
And the most frightening thing is that there are so many unknown mosquitoes in the deep mountains and dense forests, all of them are as big as an adult's little finger. If a sergeant is stared at by one of these mosquitoes, he will immediately feel dizzy and have a fever, just like the plague, and there is no way to kill him.
control!
"Father, what the hell should I do? This battle hasn't been fought yet. If it continues like this, our sons will probably be killed in half by this weather!" Zuo Mengeng frowned.
Bu Zhan, he has never encountered such a difficult situation.
Zuo Liangyu also frowned. Most of the soldiers under his command came from Liaodong, Shandong and Henan. Facing the complex terrain at the junction of Shaanxi, Hubei and Sichuan, many soldiers in the army were already overwhelmed!
In this era, no less than later generations, there was no aspirin, no penicillin, and often minor illnesses would kill soldiers!
In just these ten days, Zuo Liangyu's men had already suffered nearly a thousand non-combat casualties.
But to this extent, he can neither advance nor retreat. He is really in an extremely dilemma.
"Geng'er, you lead 10,000 troops, stay here for the time being, and wait and see what happens! My father is sending people to the front to check and see if there is any news from Luo Dai!" Zuo Liangyu thought for a long time, but still
Made a relatively safe decision!
"Father, this is not possible! The child must follow his father!" Zuo Mengeng said hurriedly.
Just as Zuo Liangyu was about to speak, he heard a sentry report from the front: "Commander, Commander, General Luo's vanguard army has found out the news. The main force of the thieves has been found in Luohou Mountain, ten miles ahead!"
Zuo Liangyu couldn't help but be overjoyed. The father and son looked at each other. Zuo Liangyu said hurriedly: "Geng'er, without further delay, you are responsible for cutting off my father's queen here! I will fight for my father to defeat all the thieves in one blow."
, let’s leave this ghost place as soon as possible!”
Zuo Mengeng wanted to say something else, but seeing his father's firm look, he could only nod his head.
The mountains here are undulating and the trees are lush and lush. If you want to enter the hinterland of Luohou Mountain, you must first pass through a low valley.
At this time, on the mountain peak on one side of the valley, Zhang Xianzhong, accompanied by Sun Kewang, Li Dingguo and other adopted sons, was inspecting the mountains here!
In fact, ever since Zuo Liangyu entered this deep mountain and old forest, his every move has not escaped Zhang Xianzhong's eyes.
"Father, will Luo Dai be fooled by us?" Sun Kewang looked at the majestic valley and asked with some doubts.
After all, this is too obvious. Anyone who knows military skills will definitely see the huge flaw left here at a glance!
Zhang Xianzhong chuckled, but did not answer Sun Kewang. He turned to Li Dingguo and said, "Dingguo, can you tell me?"
In a few years, Li Dingguo has grown into a great young man of eighteen or nineteen years old. Zhang Xianzhong no longer calls him by his nickname "Yichun", but instead calls him by his larger nickname "Dingguo".
Li Dingguo cupped his hands and said with a smile: "Brother, if it had been normal, Zuo Liangyu and his son would not have been fooled by us so easily! But right now, they are short of food and grass, and their formation is not organized, so they must want to fight quickly.
Make a quick decision and defeat us in one battle! If my prediction is correct, after the left thief sees the flaw exposed by his father, he will definitely attack in a big way! This is no longer us fishing, but this fat fish, insisting on attacking
They hit us on the hook!"
Only then did Sun Kewang react and gave a thumbs-up to Zhang Xianzhong standing beside him, "My father is handsome and wise, and I admire him so much!"
Zhang Xianzhong laughed loudly, "Children, cheer up for me! In a moment, it will be time for you to make a name for yourself!"
In the evening, the left army's deputy generals Luo Dai and deputy generals Liu Guajie divided their troops into two groups and charged straight into the valley. The "bait" refugee army fought and retreated, and soon retreated deep into Luohou Mountain.
.
The Zuo Army was immediately overjoyed. Tens of thousands of troops and horses rushed into the valley. But at this moment, the refugee army ambushed all around, like an overwhelming force. The Zuo Army was caught off guard!
Zuo Liangyu was shocked when he saw this, and quickly ordered the rear army to change into the front army, and rushed towards the rear camp where Zuo Menggen was stationed!
However, Luo Dai and Liu Guajie rushed too deep and had no way to retreat, so they were captured alive by Sun Kewang!
At this point, Zuo Liangyu returned with a great defeat, discarding nearly 100,000 troops and armor, and nearly 10,000 soldiers died in battle. Henan deputy general Luo Dai and Zuo army deputy general Liu Guajie were also executed by thieves alive!
After this battle, the strength of Zhang Xianzhong's tribes increased dramatically, and the officers and soldiers in various places in Huguang had almost completely lost the initiative!
~~~~~
When the news reached the capital, Emperor Chongzhen was furious and immediately ordered Xiong Wencan and Commander-in-Chief Zhang Xueren to be dismissed from their posts for investigation. Zuo Liangyu was demoted to the third level and was punished for meritorious service!
Immediately, Yang Sichang could no longer sit still. He might still be able to escape from the Manchu and Qing wars, but Huguang was his hometown and he had no choice but to avoid it!
In the middle of the month, Emperor Chongzhen ordered his elder Yang Sichang to personally go to Xiangyang to take charge of the governors, governors, and general soldiers of Huguang, Shaanxi, Sichuan, and Henan, and was fully responsible for the encirclement and suppression of the refugee militia!