Chapter 148 Lu Xiangsheng catches up with Gao Yingxiang
In July of the sixth year of Chongzhen.
In Shaanxi and Hanzhong areas, the drought that has lasted for many years has been alleviated, and rainfall has increased significantly this year.
However, Shaanxi has sparse vegetation and numerous high loess slopes, which cannot store rainwater, but serious floods broke out.
The people who had been hungry for many years, and their desire for a good harvest, once again came to nothing.
Of course, the imperial court has long announced that the people of Shaanxi will be exempted from taxes for three years. The local government has also distributed some high-yielding crop seeds such as potatoes, corn, and sweet potatoes for free to teach the people how to grow them. Because the ruling class is not stupid and knows that it oppresses the people too much.
What will happen if the people are wiped out and the country is an enemy?
Various measures have also achieved very good results. A small number of people have achieved good harvests relying on these high-yielding crops, and even have surplus grain supplied to the grain market.
Therefore, the situation in Shaanxi this year, even if it is still not optimistic, can barely survive. In addition, the government does not dare to be too oppressive. This year, the mood of the people is relatively stable, and few are so violent that they want to rebel. Instead, they have seen the use of high-yield crops
, the hope of escaping famine.
Because high-yield crops such as potatoes, corn, and sweet potatoes can be planted in two or three acres and ensured with sufficient water and fertilizer, which will be enough for the family for a year. There is no need to take risks and rebel.
But in June of this year, Gao Yingxiang, the king of Chuang, who had been hiding in Henan, Huguang and other places for several months, returned to the devastated Shaanxi with more than a hundred people.
They once again recruited hungry people, attacked large government households, and used the familiar method of opening warehouses to release grain and win over people's hearts, leading more hungry people to a road of no return.
In fact, a considerable number of hungry people feel that it is inappropriate to continue doing this. The government has announced that it is tax-free. If we rely on potatoes and other high-yielding crops, we can barely survive. There is really no need to eat this bowl of decapitation rice.
But the hungry people are too hungry, and the temptation to eat is too great, and they still account for the majority. The small number of people who have escaped from the hunger crisis by growing potatoes and other high-yielding crops are not only unable to stop them, but have become hungry people.
The first batch of looted objects.
collapse.
The fragile order in Hanzhong Prefecture collapsed rapidly. In a short period of time, the peasant army of King Chuang Gao Yingxiang occupied most of Hanzhong. Their number snowballed from more than a hundred to more than 200,000, and their vitality was restored.
Got restored.
Hong Chengchou, the governor of the three sides of Shaanxi Province, immediately led his troops to suppress the attack.
Chen Qiyu, governor of the military affairs of the five provinces, also led tens of thousands of troops to dispatch.
Qin Liangyu, the chieftain of Shizhu, Sichuan, led five thousand white-armed soldiers and entered Shaanxi through Ziwu Valley to suppress the bandits.
There are also more than 6,000 soldiers from Changping's general Zuo Liangyu's army.
As well as the troops led by generals such as Cao Wenzhao, Li Bei, Ai Wannian, Tang Jiuzhou, etc.
The 30,000 elite troops stationed in Shanxi Province, led by Yang Yufan, Wang Hong, and Deng Qi, also heard the news and mobilized, crossing the Yellow River and entering Shaanxi Province.
For a while.
At least more than 100,000 elite troops from the imperial court poured into Shaanxi from all directions to extinguish the rekindled flames of rebellion in Hanzhong Prefecture immediately.
However, among the dozens of imperial armies, one moved the fastest, marching more than 120 miles per day on average. In just ten days, it marched more than 2,000 miles in a hurry, entered the Hanzhong Basin, and quickly engaged in battle with the rogue bandits.
, the rogue bandits were defeated one after another, and they were completely defeated, unable to resist at all.
In just three to five days, facing this special imperial army, the rogue army suffered heavy losses. Everyone became frightened and even fled after hearing the news.
What is it about the military that performs so well?
Tianxiong Army!
Lu Xiangsheng's Tianxiong Army.
After being equipped with a total of 7,000 Jinlong brand bicycles, the Tianxiong Army, which has high mobility, has undergone a radical change.
In order to further reduce his dependence on logistics, Lu Xiangsheng borrowed 100,000 silver dollars from Tianxiatong Bank and purchased a large number of compressed biscuits, cans, etc. as military rations. In the case of high-intensity combat, he did not need to make a fire to cook, but just gnawed the compressed biscuits and then ate some.
Canned meat and some water can fill your stomach, so you don’t have to carry all kinds of baggage.
Therefore, while other imperial armies could only march thirty to fifty miles a day, his Tianxiong army could march at least one hundred and twenty miles a day, and the plain terrain allowed them to march two to three hundred miles a day.
In addition, there are 1,000 war horses and 2,000 pack horses (it is unrealistic to have 3,000 war horses, the logistics pressure is huge, and only 1,000 war horses can be maintained, and the rest are pack horses that only eat grass).
Therefore, such a new type of army came into being in this era.
Use it to deal with low-configuration opponents like rogue bandits.
It can only be described as crazy!
On July 3rd, the Tianxiong army and the rogue army engaged in battle for the first time, beheading 800 people and capturing 3,000 prisoners.
On the fourth day, the Tianxiong army fought again with the rogue army, beheading 1,200 people and taking 5,000 prisoners.
On the fifth day, Tianxiong's army fought for hundreds of miles, intercepting the bandits' retreat many times, beheading a thousand more and capturing seven thousand.
On the sixth day, he fought four battles with the bandits, beheading 700 people and taking 6,000 prisoners.
In seven days, 300 people were beheaded and 12,000 prisoners were taken.
By July 10th, the bandits in the Hanzhong Basin were almost wiped out by the Tianxiong Army. Nearly 10,000 people were beheaded and 100,000 prisoners were taken. After careful screening, Lu Xiangsheng released more than 50,000 of the good people who had been held hostage.
The other 50,000 were handed over to the Xujiazhuang caravan for repayment and debt settlement.
After dealing with these prisoners.
On July 13, Lu Xiangsheng mobilized 300 strong horses, 500 Jinlong brand bicycles, 800 elite people, and enough compressed biscuits, canned meat and water, and set off quickly to go to Chuang Wang Gao Yingxiang.
Chase in the direction of escape.
But at this time, Gao Yingxiang and other remaining bandit leaders had been running away for four or five days after their defeat. They also knew that there were imperial troops in all directions, and they would definitely die if they encountered them head-on, so they chose to go northwest.
Qishan Road, first arrive in Tianshui, Gansu Province, and then follow the ancient Silk Road to the Hetao area controlled by the Mongols. If it is not possible, then go north along the Hexi Corridor. As long as they avoid the limelight this time, they will do it again in a while.
Fight back.
However, this time Gao Yingxiang and other bandits' wishful thinking turned out to be a serious miscalculation.
Lu Xiangsheng led people to chase him.
And it was not an aimless pursuit, but with the intelligence support provided by Xujiazhuang, we knew the general direction and route of Chuang Wang Gao Yingxiang's escape.
In addition, there are magical objects such as high-power telescopes. Fires lit twenty or thirty miles away can be seen very clearly. Even through extinguished fires, one can judge how long the bandits have been walking, how fast they are traveling, and their approximate number.
How much is it?
So chase, just chase with all your might.
It's just that on the more than 300-mile-long Qishan Road, the distance cyclists need to get off and walk exceeds the section allowed for riding.
So it took three days to get out of Qishan Road.
After leaving this mountainous area, the plateau terrain in front of us was quite flat and there were no trees to cover it. In just one day, the bicycle covered nearly three hundred miles, leaving the cavalry behind.
The Silk Road ahead is mostly flat and desolate terrain, which is more suitable for bicycles to take advantage of.
Lu Xiangsheng simply gave up all the cavalry, climbed on a bicycle himself, and set off with a bicycle team of 500 people toward the Hexi Corridor.
At this time, the 500 elite troops led by Lu Xiangsheng had already chased Gao Yingxiang, the king of Chuang, and the remaining bandits of about 800 people could be seen, each riding one or two tall horses, escaping toward the northwest.
In terms of the number of troops, Gao Yingxiang's side clearly has the upper hand. They all have superb riding skills. Perhaps they can defeat Lu Xiangsheng's 500 men with just one U-turn and charge.
Even so, Gao Yingxiang and other long-standing bandits still did not have the courage to turn around and fight, because they did not have a set of half-body plate armor and alloy knives. The consequences of turning around and fighting for their lives would most likely result in heavy losses or even the annihilation of the entire army.
They are unwilling to pay such a price, let alone sacrifice themselves. They came to this world. In the first half of their lives, they really struggled to survive and just wanted to have enough to eat. But now, what they pursue is glory and wealth, and peace between emperors and generals.
How could you possibly be willing to sacrifice yourself?
run!
Keep running like crazy.
Lu Xiangsheng led people on bicycles to chase after him.
In fact, in terms of speed, the fastest running speed of a war horse can exceed 50 kilometers per hour, and can maintain this speed for a period of time.
In such an environment that is not flat enough, is covered with gravel, is full of dust, and has headwinds, the maximum speed of a bicycle is 30 kilometers per hour, which is very good. Moreover, once the tires are cut by sharp stones, they will lose their ability to move and have to
Stop for repairs.
Therefore, it is theoretically impossible to catch up with a cavalryman using a bicycle.
However, horses are made of flesh and blood and tire easily. At their fastest running speed, they can only last for about a moment at most.
Then the speed will drop significantly, even to the point where it is only slightly faster than human walking.
War horses will also feel hungry and thirsty, and must replenish fodder, beans, and water in time.
It's just that in the Hexi Corridor, apart from yellow sand and gravel, where is there any fodder?
And because of long-term drought, rivers are rare, and not a single river can be seen for hundreds of miles.
So after escaping for more than thirty miles.
"King Chuang, I can't help it anymore, my horse is going to be exhausted and can't run any more!"
"We can't go any further north. Without grass and water, the horses will all die of exhaustion, starvation and thirst!"
"We chose the wrong path and should not have come to this deserted area."
The gangsters around me said one after another.
"Then let's fight them. This King of Hell is chasing us. As long as we kill him, we can escape!"
Gao Yingxiang gritted his teeth when he heard the clatter of the bicycle getting closer and closer behind him.
"Okay, fight them and find a way to survive!" Li Zicheng shouted.
"We have more people, but they have fewer people. The bicycles we ride are much lighter than war horses. We can defeat them with just one charge." Luo Rucai said.
"Kill them! Take off their armor and take away their bicycles. No one in the world can catch us!"
"Kill! Kill! Kill!"
Seeing how strong everyone’s will to fight is.
Gao Yingxiang ordered the horses to be turned around and put into a forward formation to bury Lu Xiangsheng and others in this Hexi Corridor.
"Push it to me!"
Gao Yingxiang gave an order and urged his horses to charge towards the elite of the Tianxiong Army.
However, during the charge of several hundred meters, the horses Gao Yingxiang and others were riding could not pick up speed, and more than a dozen horses fell to the ground foaming at the mouth, causing more than a dozen people to fall off their horses.
Just when the two sides were about to fight hand to hand.
Li Zicheng suddenly pulled the reins, causing the horse to swerve a little, and led dozens of people towards the southwest, shouting: "King Chuang, you have been so kind and kind, and I will repay you in the next life!"
Luo Rucai on the right followed suit and led dozens of subordinates to break away from the large army and headed northeast. He cupped his hands and said, "King Chuang, please help us delay for a while. Thank you very much!"
Buzz~
The remaining bandits were in chaos, and no one was willing to charge forward. They immediately fled in all directions, and their formation completely collapsed.
Only Gao Yingxiang led a few people forward in confusion.
"Bastards, traitors, wolf-hearted people! I, Gao Yingxiang, misjudged you!"
Chuang Wang Gao Yingxiang cursed loudly, knowing that he had become an outcast, and as the leader of the thieves that the court must catch, he could not escape. This was the end of his career in the world.
"Even if I, Gao Yingxiang, die, I will not die in the hands of the imperial court!"
Gao Yingxiang drew out his sword and was about to kill himself.
However, an alloy wild goose feather knife hit his arm and the sword fell off.
Then several more big nets were thrown at him, covering him. Lu Xiangsheng couldn't restrain his joy and said: "Hahaha, this thief first captures those alive and presents them to His Majesty!"
"Kill me, kill me quickly!"
"King Lu Yan, give me a pleasure and take my head to ask for credit!"
"Succeed as a king and lose as a bandit. I, Gao Yingxiang, am not guilty! I am the king of Chuang, and I should die like a king!"
Gao Yingxiang struggled hard in the net and screamed unwillingly! Demanding a dignified death.
Lu Xiangsheng ignored him and snorted coldly, "They are just first-class bandits. How can we correct the court's laws without cutting them into pieces? How can we restrain hundreds of billions of subjects? Such giant bandits must be executed without delay!"
The only regret is that apart from Gao Yingxiang and another hundred and ten old thieves who were killed and captured, the remaining hundreds of thieves fled in all directions, and some small and medium-sized thieves escaped.
However, if they are divided, they are weak. As long as it is difficult for them to gather together, they will not be able to make much waves, and the threat level will be greatly reduced.
Moreover, Lu Xiangsheng is also confident that no matter how these rogue bandits reappear, his Tianxiong Army can extinguish them in time and cause them to spin up and perish, without even thinking of causing great harm to the Ming Dynasty!