After listening to Lu Zhen's words, Zhang Shicheng was silent for a long time and said, "So, Zhang Yangquan already knew about our contact with Chen Youliang?"
Lu Zhen said: "Yes."
Zhang Shide said: "Brother, make a decision immediately!"
Zhang Shicheng glanced at him: "What is the decision?"
"Gather troops immediately and raid Jiangdu Mansion!"
Zhang Shicheng snorted and said: "Together, we only have 60,000 troops. There are indeed hundreds of thousands of troops in Jiangdu Prefecture!"
In fact, Zhang Shicheng initially had close to 200,000 troops. However, because he could not expand, his territory was too small and he could not support so many troops.
So the army was slowly dismantled, and in the end only 60,000 were left.
Zhang Shide said: "That's why we should strike first and raid the camp in the north of the city! If Jiangdu's army attacks us first, our army will definitely be defeated!"
Zhang Shicheng looked around and said, "What do you think?"
Although Lu Zhen was an envoy on a mission, she was not willing to fight a tough battle with Jiangdu's army.
"I thought we only needed to gather our troops, hold on to the city, and then take a look at the situation of the other rebel armies."
Li Boxheng said: "Chen Youliang's claims that Jiangdu Army was doing something detailed are also very suspicious. Maybe it was to induce us to take action against Jiangdu Army!"
Zhang Shide wanted to say more, but Zhang Shicheng waved his hand and said: "No need to say more, first gather the troops and act according to the opportunity."
The Gaoyou Mansion's mobilization of troops was immediately discovered by Geng Si and reported to Zhang Yangquan.
Fu Youde called for battle: "Your Majesty, since Zhang Shicheng is unkind, don't blame us for being unjust. We should destroy him first with lightning speed!"
Zhang Yangquan looked at Liu Bowen and said, "What do you think, Mr. Liu?"
Liu Bowen mused: "I agree with Marshal Fu. Since Zhang Shicheng has joined forces with Chen Youliang, Zuo Junbi is probably on the way to attack Wuwei. With Wuwei's 10,000 defenders alone, it is difficult to defend for a long time! We need to be fast to control slowness!"<
/p>
Zhang Yangquan recalled his last conversation with Zhang Shicheng, sighed, and said: "Then let's attack Gaoyou Mansion as you two said!"
As soon as he finished speaking, the personal guards came to report, and Sun Hu asked to see him.
Zhang Yangquan saw Sun Hu's pale face and hurriedly asked: "General Sun, what's wrong?"
Sun Hu took a deep breath and said: "Your Majesty, the scouts from the north just sent news that Mao Gui is dead!"
Zhang Yangquan was shocked and stood up suddenly.
Although he had known that such a day would come, when he suddenly heard that Mao Gui had been killed, he was speechless for a moment.
Liu Bowen was almost the same as him, and he was astonished with a bit of regret.
Fu Youde had a bit of joy on his face and asked: "How did Mao Gui die?"
Sun Hu said gruffly: "When he and Zhao Junyong were hunting together, he was shot dead by Zhao Junyong's men! His grandmother, Zhao Junyong was ruthless enough. He purged Mao Gui's tribe and occupied Yidu. At present, the entire Dong
Lu Songjun was thrown into chaos by him!"
Liu Bowen suddenly said: "Once Mao Gui dies, neither Zhang Shicheng nor Zuo Junbi will attack our army again. I thought I could postpone the use of troops against Zhang Shicheng!"
Fu Youde wondered: "How did Mr. Liu know?"
Zhang Yangquan slowly sat back and said: "With Liu Futong on his side, the only enemy of the rebel army is the rebel army. Now that Mao Gui is dead and Liu Futong is in danger, the leaders of the rebel army will remember that the real enemy is actually
It’s Yuan Ting!”
Fu Youde was stunned for a moment, nodded and said: "If Liu Futong is really destroyed and the Yuan Dynasty moves south in a big way, Zuo Junbi and Zhang Shicheng will be the first to bear the brunt!"
At the same time, Anqing Road.
Zuo Junbi was marching eastward with his own army and Chen Youliang's 50,000 horses, heading straight for the Wuwei Road.
At this moment, the scout reported Mao Gui's death.
Zuo Junbi was also taken aback. He waved his hand and shouted an order: "The whole army retreats and returns to Anqing!"
Kangtai was in charge of commanding Chen Youliang's 50,000-strong army. After learning the news, he rode up to Zuo Junbi and asked, "Commander Zuo, why did you suddenly withdraw your troops?"
Zuo Junbi said coldly: "Mao Gui is dead!"
Kangtai was stunned for a moment and said: "He is dead as long as he is dead. What does it have to do with us? Why should we withdraw our troops?"
Zuo Junbi glanced at him sideways and was about to explain when another scout came from behind and whispered: "Commander, the lady escaped at night while you were leading the attack!"
Zuo Junbi was furious, waved his riding crop in the air, and said: "This stinky girl must be looking for Zhu Yuanzhang!"
Kangtai wanted to ask again, but Zuo Junbi said angrily: "I don't have time to explain to you, so you can ask Chen Youliang yourself!"
After that, he took the troops and returned to Anqing.
……
Zhu Yuanzhang walked silently on the streets of Raozhou City. After searching for a long time, he finally found a harness shop.
He took the broken saddle in his hand and strode in.
This broken saddle was the harness he was assigned before the battle in Xiangcun.
During the war, he was assigned to Chang Yuchun's team, and the entire team was made up of cavalry.
However, I don’t know if someone is targeting it. There is nothing wrong with other people’s harnesses. Only his saddle is crooked and it is very uncomfortable to sit on it.
Zhu Yuanzhang knew that he had fought against Jiangdu's army and had secret grudges with many soldiers, so he did not tell Chang Yuchun about it.
After the battle in Xiangcun ended, while his army was repairing near Raozhou City, he came to the city alone, intending to repair his saddle.
The shopkeeper of this saddlery shop was a good man. Two hours later, Zhu Yuanzhang came out with the repaired saddle.
I looked up and saw that the sun was setting in the west and it was already dusk.
He was about to return to the military camp when he suddenly saw a tall girl standing on the street ahead, holding a horse in her hand, staring at him for a moment.
Zhu Yuanzhang was slightly startled and walked over quickly.
"Why are you here?"
The girl was Zuo. She bit her lips and said with tears in her eyes: "Husband, it wasn't that I didn't want to leave Anqing with my sister... I was..."
Zhu Yuanzhang raised his hand and said: "No need to explain, I know your brother, he must have been forcing you at that time!"
Zuo couldn't hold back her tears anymore, threw herself into Zhu Yuanzhang's arms, and cried loudly.
Zhu Yuanzhang patted her shoulder and said, "Are you going to follow me in the future?"
Zuo rubbed his cheek up and down Zhu Yuanzhang's chest a few times to express his approval.
Zhu Yuanzhang smiled and said: "Well, you should hurry back to Jiangdu Mansion and wait for me at home. I will go back after this battle."
Zuo raised his head and said: "Husband, my brother has colluded with Chen Youliang and is marching towards the road of inaction!"
Zhu Yuanzhang was taken aback, his eyes instantly became sharp and thoughtful.
Zuo continued: "Even you can't defeat Jiangdu's army. Even if my brother joins forces with Chen Youliang, he will never be his opponent! Husband, you have to save my brother!"
Zhu Yuanzhang pondered for a long time and said: "The king is a man who loves talents. After catching your brother, he should be surrendered!"
Zuo said anxiously: "Brother is arrogant and will never accept surrender!"
Zhu Yuanzhang touched his forehead and said: "Then there is another way. You go back to your brother immediately and make a bet with him!"
Zuo was stunned and said: "What bet?"
"Bet on the outcome of this battle! If he can defeat our army, you promise him to sever ties with me. If he loses, he must surrender to Jiangdu's army!"
Zuo was dissatisfied and said: "Husband!"
Zhu Yuanzhang smiled and said: "He will definitely lose. Don't you still believe me?"
Zuo thought for a moment and said, "I'm just afraid that my brother won't bet with me!"
Zhu Yuanzhang said: "Although your brother is arrogant, he is not an unreasonable person. He will agree!"
Zuo stared at him for a while, then gritted his teeth and said, "Okay, I'll listen to you. If you lose, I will kill myself!" After saying that, he got on his horse and left without looking back.
Zhu Yuanzhang watched her disappear into the street, stood there for a while, and then walked towards the city gate.
As soon as I arrived at the city gate, I suddenly heard a greeting coming from the side.
"Brother, would you like to sit down and have a cup of tea?"
Zhu Yuanzhang turned around and saw a man wearing a bamboo hat sitting on the tea shed. He raised the eaves of the bamboo hat slightly, revealing a familiar face.
"Haha! Brother Xu, I was looking for you everywhere, but I didn't expect you to be here!" Zhu Yuanzhang was surprised and happy, and ran over quickly.
That man was Xu Da, but there was no smile on his face. He looked serious and said: "Brother, what's your situation now?"
Zhu Yuanzhang walked up to him, pointed towards the city gate with his thumb, and said, "Let's talk as we walk. I have to go back to the military camp to report an urgent military situation!"
Xu Da agreed and drank the tea in the bowl in one gulp.
The two of them left the city together and headed towards the military camp.
Zhu Yuanzhang said slowly: "Brother, as you can see, I was defeated, and the King of Chu helped me find my wife and children, so I surrendered him!"
Xu Dadao: "I know."
Zhu Yuanzhang was stunned: "Then what did you mean just now?"
Xu Da stopped and stared at him for a moment.
"I just want to ask you, are you really surrendering or are you pretending to surrender?"
Zhu Yuanzhang was silent for a long time and said: "If I said it was a fake surrender, what would you do?"
Xu Da said in a deep voice: "If you follow Chen Youliang's example, from now on, you and I will be separated as brothers!"
Zhu Yuanzhang laughed, patted Xu Da on the shoulder, and said with a smile: "I knew you would say that, Xu Da, you haven't changed at all!"
Xu Da still had a straight face: "You haven't answered me yet!"
Zhu Yuanzhang put away his smile, stared at him and said: "Since you are still the Xu Da before, am I not the Zhu Yuanzhang before?"
Xu Da finally showed a smile on his face and said: "I took my brothers to be water thieves on Nanshan Island. You go and ask King Chu for orders to surrender us. I will wait for you on Nanshan Island!"
Zhu Yuanzhang knew that Xu Da wanted to give him a credit, so he hurriedly raised his hand.
"No!"
Xu Da was stunned and said: "Why?"
Zhu Yuanzhang said in a deep voice: "If you are ordered to be safe by me, you will be like Tang He and Hua Yun, who will not be reused. I hope you will take the initiative to vote for Marshal Xu Baisheng!"
Xu Dadao: "I don't care."
Zhu Yuanzhang smiled bitterly and said: "Tang He, Hua Yun and the others have made me feel guilty. If you are also burdened by me, do you think I, a loyal general, can still do something interesting?"
Xu Da was silent for a while and said: "Okay, I'll go find Xu Baisheng."
Zhu Yuanzhang winked and said with a smile: "You all have the surname Xu, and maybe you are related. In the future, Brother Xu will be a high-ranking brother, but don't forget your brother!"
Xu Da glared at him, turned around and strode away.