"Lu Bingxian was blinded by fog and did not realize that he was in danger. We reminded him many times, but for some reason he remained indifferent. Now Director Gao is far away in Cangzhou and Tianjin. It is difficult to save the fire from afar. Only Hong Bingxian can perhaps
You can change your destiny and turn things around."
Listening to Zheng Jiada's story, Hong Chengchou was hesitant.
Lu Xiangsheng was in danger, so of course he was worried.
After all, in today's Ming Dynasty, there are not many people who can fight and are loyal and honest.
He knew Lu Xiangsheng's talents best.
But regarding this matter, the Ming court and all the Ming armies were calm. Why did the Xia Kingdom come to ask for help?
Is there any conspiracy in this?
Thinking of the responsibilities strictly imposed on him by the imperial court, Hong Chengchou couldn't help but be more cautious.
"Director Zheng is an old friend. It stands to reason that I should treat him with sincerity. It's just that I don't understand something, so please enlighten me."
He didn't need Zheng Jiada to ask.
"Between the Ming and Xia, we are enemies and not friends. If Lu Bingxian is in trouble, it will be a hundred benefits and no harm to your country. But I don't know why your country is so concerned?"
Facing the unabashed accusation, Zheng Jiada was really angry.
"This is His Highness's personal instruction, and we are strictly ordered to comply with it. Although I have never heard His Highness reveal the inside story, I am secretly guessing, but I understand a few things."
He paused for a moment, his face looking more serious than ever before.
"Although there is no room for relaxation between Ming and Xia. Regardless of victory or defeat, it is just internal fighting among the Han people. The Manchu and Qing Dynasties were barbarians from the East. They entered the pass and burned, killed, and looted. What they destroyed was the vitality of our Han family. I don't know this.
Do you believe Hong Bingxian?"
Hong Chengchou was stunned. Although he felt that these words were too false and empty, he was also touched by the national justice in them.
"Thank you for your kindness. I will get started now."
For this matter, Zheng Jiada negotiated with many officials of the Ming Dynasty. Hong Chengchou was the only one who was moved and willing to take action.
This relieved him somewhat.
"Then I wish you success."
Zheng Jiada felt relieved and said goodbye.
He didn't know whether Hong Chengchou was moved or not, but nothing changed.
"Sir, the imperial court has strictly ordered our troops to protect the Xia Kingdom. If we send troops to the north, we will actually be resisting the decree. The guilt involved is very important."
Hong Chengchou gathered the generals together to discuss rescuing Lu Xiangsheng, but they were opposed by everyone.
Faced with the ferocity of the Qing army, these Ming generals had long lost their will to fight and did not go far to fight the Qing army.
Not to mention that with the strict orders from the court, they hid even more calmly.
Although it seems that the Xia army is more powerful than the Qing army, the Xia army is so civilized that even if they lose, they can just surrender.
If this happened to the Qing army, no amount of heads would be enough to chop them off.
Seeing that no one supported him, Hong Chengchou was helpless.
Of course he can act decisively and march north. But in that case, regardless of victory or defeat, all the blame will fall on him alone.
The emperor in the Forbidden City was so jealous that he couldn't help but shudder.
At the critical moment, Hong Chengchou's true nature as a civil servant was exposed, and he chose to protect himself wisely.
"In this case, someone should be sent to inform Lu Bingxian that it is advisable to retreat early so as not to give the Donglu the opportunity to take advantage."
I heard that I just sent someone to deliver the message, and no one had any opinions.
On the same day, Hong Chengchou's messenger quickly set out from Zhangde Mansion and galloped all day and night to reach Lu Xiangsheng's army.
"My Bingxian discovered that the enemy's situation is strange and seems to be harmful to Lu Bingxian, so he came here to report it."
Hong Chengchou's messenger did not see Lu Xiangsheng directly, but Li Chongzhen, the deputy commander-in-chief of the Governor's Biao Battalion, received him.
"Thank you Hong Bingxian for your great righteousness. My family will deeply appreciate it."
After sending away Hong Chengchou's messenger, Li Chongzhen sat in the dim candlelight with a gloomy expression.
After a long time, he called a confidant over.
"Wang Erdao, how long have you been following me?"
The man buried his head deeply and his face was not visible.
"This little person's life was saved by an adult. He has to go through water and fire without any hesitation."
Li Chongzhen showed a satisfied smile.
"Your family will be looked after as if they were your own nephews."
The man kowtowed a few times and retreated quietly.
Lu Xiangsheng was still troubled by the military situation in front of him.
"The Donglu seem to be retreating. If they are allowed to come and go as they please, how disheartened will the people of the world be? I decided to go out and fight the Donglu at Julu. Dear friends, back then the overlord of Western Chu made great efforts here to overthrow the Qin Dynasty.
We should imitate the sages, how can we lose the ambition of the Han family?"
When the generals here heard that he claimed to be the overlord of Western Chu, they all looked gloomy.
I'm afraid it won't be a disaster, but it will be besieged on all sides!
"Sir, can you wait until General Wang returns so that we can join forces together before we proceed?"
Hu Dawei instinctively felt that Lu Xiangsheng's decision was unreliable, so he planned to find an excuse to delay it for a while.
Lu Xiangsheng was extremely determined.
"According to the reports from the scouts, there are many soldiers and horses of the Eastern captives who have taken the people away. If we wait any longer, we will lose all our chances of fighting."
Under his strong insistence, the Ming army began to act with a black eye.
It took Yang Sichang and Gao Qiqian, who were far away in the capital, three days in Cangzhou to learn about his movements.
This frightened the two of them, and they quickly sent someone to contact Lu Xiangsheng, asking Lu Xiangsheng to retreat quickly and get closer to Gao Qiqian's troops.
But unfortunately, everything is too late.
Lu Xiangsheng thought that the Qing army had begun to retreat, but he had no idea that around him, the Qing army's encirclement had already taken shape.
"This area is as smooth as a mirror and cannot be defended. It is a good time for us to defeat the Ming army. Each banner must fight to the death and not be afraid of retreating after death."
Haug issued the order for a decisive battle.
The Qing army began to take action.
First, a group of troops went north and got stuck outside the Daima Pass.
With just this move, Wang Pu, who had left the Duoma Pass, was unable to return.
Many books denounced Wang Pu for escaping in the face of the battle, but in fact Wang Pu was sent by Lu Xiangsheng to go out of Daimaguan, hundreds of miles away from his headquarters, and his return route was cut off by the Qing army, making him unable to return.
In the original history, Gao Qiqian was stationed in Linqing, which was about 220 miles away from Julu, which was not the fifty miles mentioned by many historical inventors. Naturally, there was no Gao Qiqian who refused to save him.
matter.
Lu Xiangsheng has become a lone army.
On the morning of December 11, Yang Guozhu was attacked by Mongolian cavalry.
He didn't know how many enemies there were, so he immediately formed a formation and stood firm.
But at this time, there was still a gap of more than thirty miles between him and Lu Xiangsheng, which completely became a smooth road for the Qing army.
In the afternoon, Hu Dawei was also attacked.
As a veteran on the battlefield, Hu Dawei keenly sensed something was wrong.
He immediately sent messengers to inform Lu Xiangsheng, asking him to guard Lijiakou and cover his retreat.
But what Lu Xiangsheng received was...
"Sir, General Hu has already made a hand on the Donglu. He has killed two generals and is in urgent need of reinforcements."
"Oh? Commander-in-Chief Hu is indeed a Tiger General. Send the order and march quickly. We must rush to Jiazhuang tonight. We will join forces with Commander-in-Chief Tiger tomorrow to defeat the Eastern captives."
Lu Xiangsheng was in high spirits and issued the most fatal wrong order.
He didn't notice at all that Li Zhongzhen on the side showed an imperceptible evil smile.