Li Siqi smiled slightly and said: "To show sincerity, Li has handed over all the weapons and armor of the army. Even if Marshal Xu will arrive in Lanzhou soon, Li will come here to wait for you every day." After that, Li Siqi stood up and cupped his hands and said: "Zhang General, Li has prepared a mansion for General Zhang in the city. Although it is not luxurious, it is clean. I hope General Zhang will move there and stay."
Dakui smiled slightly, knowing that this was Li Siqi's attempt to please him, but it would have been too much for Li Xiaguotai, so Dakui declined politely.
"Thank you General Li for your kindness. It's just that our soldiers are very lazy and will neglect their duties if we are not careful. Therefore, Zhang cannot leave here for a while. I hope General Li won't blame me," Da Kui said hahaly. Even though he had received military orders to guard the east city gate, Da Kui could not live in the house prepared by Li Siqi just for pleasure.
But Dakui then said: "Of course, if it is convenient for General Li, he can rest here. If the marshal arrives, he can also greet him. Wouldn't it be troublesome to come and go?"
"This..." Li Siqi couldn't help but feel very embarrassed when he heard this. He knew that it was because Da Kui was worried about him, so he left him here to take precautions. In other words, this was Da Kui's helpless move. Now that the city of Lanzhou was destroyed, as long as he stayed in Everything will be fine here once the army arrives, and Da Kui doesn't want anything to happen.
Li Siqi followed Da Kui and stayed in the city gate cave. There was nothing in the city gate cave except a table and two chairs. In desperation, Li Siqi ordered his subordinates to move them and brought them a large carved bed, gold quilts, etc. For daily necessities, the entire city gate was cleaned by Li Siqi's attendants, and all household items were available.
After all, Li Siqi is a high-ranking official and a noble prince, so even if he lives here in a humble way, he must be very particular.
Two days later, Xu Da personally led 100,000 horse and infantry troops to the outside of Lanzhou City. The east gate of Lanzhou was opened wide, and Dakui and Li Siqi each led the generals of the Yuan and Ming Dynasties to greet him. Lanzhou was recovered from then on.
When Timur learned that Li Siqi had come to the Ming Dynasty, he was not only furious, but now that the Ming army was so powerful, Timur could only swallow his anger because he was short of food and grass and his troops were weak.
Li Siqi was originally a magistrate in Luoshan, Henan. Although he was just a low-ranking official, he was very prestigious in the neighboring villages. As the saying goes: There are all kinds of birds in the forest. Back then, the Red Turban Army in Jiangbei became big and spread everywhere. The people who conquered the city suffered greatly from the war, so naturally there were no green forest bandits and scum among the Red Scarf Army.
Li Siqi saw that the Red Scarf Army was committing crimes of burning, killing and looting, so he spent all his wealth to form a team, called the Hometown Protection Group, and joined forces with another private armed force to defeat the Luoshan Red Scarf Army. The one who joined forces with Li Siqi was Later, Chahan Timur, a famous general of the Yuan Dynasty.
At that time, the Yuanting government was overwhelmed by the Luoshan uprising army. Suddenly it heard that local troops were helping to fight the Red Scarf Army. Chahan Timur was granted the title of Zhongshun doctor, and Daruhuachi of Runing Prefecture (an official name in Mongolia and the Yuan Dynasty, the largest supervisor of the army and government offices in the place where he was located) was granted the title of Li Siqi as the prefect of Runing Prefecture. Li Siqi then began his lifelong military career.
When Taizu Zhu Yuanzhang learned that Li Siqi had surrendered, he couldn't help but be overjoyed and issued an imperial edict, announcing that Marshals Xu Da and Li Siqi would lead the army.
After receiving this news, Dakui was overjoyed. The war was finally over, at least he no longer had to fight.
Lanzhou is bordered by the Yellow River to the north and Jiangjun Mountain to the east. It can be said that it is surrounded by mountains and rivers.
On this day, Da Kui rushed to the Yellow River to take a beautiful bath, changed into clean clothes, and then hurried back to the camp.
In the Chinese military tent, Marshal Xu Da was drinking tea and chatting with Li Siqi. Dakui walked to the tent, bowed, clasped his fists and said, "General Zhang Dakui, please see me."
Seeing this, Xu Da in the tent smiled at Li Siqi, and then said in a deep voice: "Come in," Dakui straightened his robes and entered the tent.
"Marshal, when will the army set off?" Dakui asked urgently.
Xu Da's face darkened: "Didn't you see that I am talking to General Li?" After a pause, Xu Da asked: "This is why General Zhang is here."
Dakui nodded, but didn't even look at Li Siqi who was standing aside.
Xu Da smiled slightly and said in a deep voice: "Now that General Li has surrendered to the Ming Dynasty, Lanzhou can be recovered, but the surrounding counties are still under the control of the Yuan soldiers. How can we withdraw the troops before the battle is over?"
Hearing this, Dakui hurriedly said: "Returning to the marshal, the surrounding counties are all small and fragile. We only need to send a few generals and thousands of troops to defeat them one by one. There is no need for the marshal's army to delay."
Xu Da shook his head and said: "A thousand-mile embankment was destroyed by an ant nest. How can military aircraft be trivial?"
Dakui didn't even think about it and said anxiously: "Marshal gives me five thousand fine cavalry. Zhang Dakui can capture all the prefectures and counties in one month."
Xu Da smiled slightly when he heard this, and then said: "This matter has been handed over to General Tang He. If you are eager to fight, you can discuss it with General Tang. There is no need to ask me again."
Dakui cupped his fists and said, "General, please retreat," and then turned around and left the Chinese army's tent.
Da Kui returned to the forward army, put on his helmet and armor, and carried an iron gun before leaving. However, Yang Xiaohu was feeding the horses. Seeing Da Kui dressed like this, he couldn't help but asked: "Father, what are you going to do?"
Da Kui said angrily: "Don't ask any more questions, prepare your horses quickly."
Yang Xiaohu did not dare to delay and quickly saddled the horse. As Dakui picked up his gun and mounted the horse, he said to Yang Xiaohu: "You pack it up and wait for me when I come back." Yang Xiaohu quickly agreed and watched Dakui ride the horse away.
Dakui raised his whip all the way and arrived at the left army camp in a short time.
The soldiers guarding the camp all recognized Dakui, so they did not stop him. Dakui rode all the way to the left army's tent.
He dismounted from his saddle and handed the reins to the soldiers in front of the gate. Dakui walked quickly into the tent. In the tent, Tang He was discussing matters with a general. As soon as Dakui entered, he heard Tang He laughing and saying, "Cao Cao is really the best." arrive,"
Not only was Dakui puzzled, Tang He chuckled and said, "Brother Dakui has come just in time. Let me introduce you to him." He pointed to the general sitting next to him and said, "This is your fellow countryman and your fellow sect. You Do you still remember who it is?"
Dakui was startled when he heard this, and looked carefully at the man Tang He said was from his hometown. This man had a thin face but was full of energy. He was already over his age. Dakui looked for a long time without recognizing who he was.
Tang He couldn't help but smile when he saw this. The general stood up and clasped his fists and said, "The last general, Zhang Wen, has met General Zhang."
Dakui didn't say anything, but Zhang Wen smiled and said: "When I first met the general, the general was still a woodcutter who collected firewood. He had not seen things and people changed for many years. The general is now famous all over the world, and Zhang Wen admires him very much."
After saying this, Da Kui not only suddenly realized that the scene when Da Kui and Tang He first met in Jeju was still vivid in his mind, and this Zhang Wen was one of the hunters who followed Tang He in the army (see Chapter 3 of Volume 1 for details)
"Oh, it turns out we are really from the same hometown," Dakui stepped forward and shook hands with Zhang Wen, chatting and laughing. After a long time, they both sat down.
It turns out that Zhang Wenben served in the Privy Council of the capital, but this time he came to Lanzhou as a messenger. As the saying goes: After a long drought, there is manna, when you meet an old friend in a foreign land, when the wedding room is full of flowers and candles, when you are named on the gold medal, you are now a stranger in a foreign land, and you can see him. It is really rare to have an old friend from my hometown.
After reminiscing about old times for a long time, Dakui asked about sending troops to conquer the surrounding states and counties of Lanzhou.
Tang He sipped the tea and said with a smile: "The war in Lanzhou has been decided now. Only Huining, Jingning and Pingliang are still under the control of the Yuan soldiers. The Marshal ordered my left army soldiers to divide into three groups to capture these three places. Prefectures and counties, this matter has nothing to do with Brother Dakui’s vanguard,”
Hearing Tang He's words, Dakui said angrily: "How can you say it has nothing to do with me? Brother's business is my business, Zhang Dakui's. Three prefectures and counties are divided into two for me."
Not only did Tang He burst out laughing, Dakui asked anxiously: "Why are you laughing?"
Tang He laughed for a while and then said: "Brother Dakui is probably anxious to go home and live a happy life."
When Dakui was mentioned as the centerpiece, not only did his old face turn red, but Tang He continued: "Now that brother Dakui's military exploits are shining brightly, Emperor Taizu will not care about the past grudges. Now that our master has returned to the capital, brother Dakui will be able to fly as high as the sky. It's a joy to congratulate him." ," After that, he took another sip of tea.
Zhang Wen nodded and said: "Brother Dakui entered Lanzhou single-handedly, and his 50,000 elite soldiers destroyed the city in one day. I think the marshal's 150,000 troops besieged Qingyang in March and defeated the city. I think this Lanzhou is taller and thicker than Qingyang. Calculate this Brother Lai Dakui is truly a god,"
Tang He also said: "When it comes to meritorious deeds, brother Dakui is the most important. This time, there is no need for brother Dakui to worry about these small and small lands." As he said this, he looked at Zhang Wen and smiled, saying nothing.
Dakui looked at Tang He with a smile: "Brother Tang, don't beat around the bush, just tell me where I'm going."
Tang He changed his smile and said seriously: "Although the three places are small areas of prefectures and counties, there are still 30,000 Yuan soldiers and garrison troops. I have ordered my subordinates to pay attention. Dai and De will each bring 10,000 soldiers and horses to meet with them." In Ning and Jingning, only Pingliang’s general Ao Dun, who is both wise and brave, is very difficult to deal with, so I need to personally lead the troops there.”
When Dakui heard this, he stood up and shouted: "Why does Brother Tang need to go out? I will bring five thousand fine horses to fetch Pingliang."
Hearing this, Tang He dissuaded him and said, "Brothers, please don't act out of emotion."
Dakui was unconvinced and asked: "How can Ao Dun have three heads and six arms?"
Tang He sighed and said, "It's not like the eldest brother's ambition can destroy his own prestige. Ao Dun is proficient in the art of war, and he occupies an advantageous location. It is difficult to win with bravery alone."
Hearing this, Dakui laughed and said, "Brother Tang, there is no need to worry about it. I, Zhang Dakui, am not a brave person. I'll take my leave." After saying this, Dakui strode out of the camp without waiting for Tang He to persuade him to stay.
Dakui returned to the forward army and ordered five thousand elite soldiers, and together with Yang Xiaohu, the army was defeated.
Pingliang is located at the eastern foot of Liupan Mountain and the upper reaches of the Jinghe River. It is the intersection of the three provinces of Shaanxi, Gansu and Ningxia across Longshan (Guanshan). It borders Xianyang of Shaanxi to the east, Dingxi and Baiyin of Gansu to the west, Baoji of Shaanxi and Tianshui of Gansu to the south, and Guyuan of Ningxia to the north. , adjacent to Qingyang in Gansu Province, has been a battleground for military strategists since ancient times.
When the Ming army conquered Qingyang and marched to Lanzhou, they passed by Pingliang, but they did not go to capture Pingliang. They were concerned that Pingliang's terrain was easy to defend and difficult to attack, so they gave up in order not to waste time.