Daming kill

Chapter 139 Xiangyang in the Night
On the night of the third day of December in the 15th year of Emperor Chongzhen of the Ming Dynasty, Zuo Liangyu, the commander-in-chief of the Ming Dynasty who withdrew from Baimadu, led the army back to Xiangyang City.

As soon as he entered the city, he ordered the gates of the cities to be closed and not to be opened again.

The lesson that this city was cheated by Zhang Xianzhong's elite team last year made Zuo Liangyu extremely cautious in such a chaotic moment.

Although Wang Yuncheng, the deputy general who caught up with him and entered the city with him, repeatedly stated that he never found the bandit army following him, Zuo Liangyu still did not dare to take it lightly, because he really couldn't predict what Li Zicheng, who was more cunning than Zhang Xianzhong, would do.

And not long after entering the city, Zuo Liangyu returned to the west gate (west gate) where he entered the city, and stood there for a long time in the dark corner of the city gate and urn wall.

No one knew what he was thinking.

At this time, although the sky was dark, there were still a large number of soldiers and horses who wanted to enter the city outside the super wide moat of the city gate.

These soldiers and horses are basically all kinds of armed forces originally stationed outside the city. Because of the difference in the time of receiving the news and the reaction and sensitivity of the generals, even if Zuo Liangyu's army has been defeated and retreated to the city, there are still many forces that have not responded in time. Shrink into the city.

Of course, there were also part of the defense troops along the river who were closer to Xiangyang and wanted to withdraw into the city after completing their security and cover tasks, and there were even a few small groups of infantry who returned from Baimadu but were too tired to run and were left far behind.

These people were blocked outside the city, and one could imagine the chaos and clamor.

They crowded around, shouted, begged, and even a few with good water skills even swam to the bottom of the city wall and begged, but the city gate was resolutely closed, the suspension bridge stood tall all the time, and even more so on the city wall. It was always silent.

There are six gates in Xiangyang, and there is an urn outside each gate.The moat is 130 to 250 meters wide, named "City Lake".

Such a wide moat naturally blocked the possibility for most people to come to the city without tools, and it also made the defenders on the city wall basically not have to worry about whether bandits would sneak in and take advantage of the chaos to attack the city.

Without organizing the crossing of the river, it is impossible to attack the city.

Gradually, most of the soldiers and horses no longer had extravagant hopes, and many began to walk south and east of the city, presumably intending to enter the big bend of the Han River in the east of Xiangyang City to escape, but there are also some unwilling to give up. Near the Iron Buddha Temple, and many seem to have entered the temple.

The Tiefo Temple and its surroundings are brightly lit, and even the sound of monks chanting can be faintly heard.

After an unknown amount of time, Zuo Liangyu, who was full of tiredness and exhaustion, finally moved his body that had not moved for a long time, and turned to look at the same brightly lit and chaotic city, but he staggered and almost fell down.

Zuo Menggeng, who was standing by, hurried to help.

Seeing Zuo Liangyu so haggard, the generals Wang Yuncheng, Ma Jinzhong, Zhang Yingyuan and Wu Xueli who were quietly waiting nearby also rushed forward to check the status of the chief general.

Zuo Liangyu, who was being supported, didn't want to break free for a while, it seemed that he was really exhausted.

He frowned and looked at the flames rising around the city, and shook his head when he heard the loud noises outside the city, his face was even more gloomy.

A large number of troops crowded into the city, and even if you think about it, you know it won't stop.

What's more, the defenders of Fancheng also withdrew into Xiangyang, which exacerbated the panic and panic among the troops in the city.

As for the vast residential areas of common people and merchants between the south of the city and Yanggu Mountain and within the Great Turn of the Han River, the chaos is even more conceivable.

In fact, it was only after Zuo Liangyu entered Xiangyang that he found out that Chen Keli, the deputy commander-in-chief and Fang Guoan, the commander-in-chief who stayed behind in Fancheng, had abandoned the city and retreated to Xiangyang shortly after he left the city. Fancheng had no defenders.

Then, Fancheng has not yet been occupied by the peasant army, which is simply ridiculous.

Zuo Liangyu glanced at the surrounding generals, said nothing, but turned around again to look to the west.

Lieutenant General Wang Yuncheng was finally the first to be unable to restrain himself. He muttered with a sad face: "Commander, Xiangyang has become an isolated city. We are short of food, and so many people gather together. This city is hard to defend!" very bad.

Zuo Liangyu turned her head abruptly when she heard the words.

In the night and in the darkness, Wang Yuncheng couldn't see Zuo Liangyu's expression clearly, he only thought that Zuo Liangyu was expressing his dissatisfaction with him, he lowered his head in shame.

But Zuo Liangyu's face was actually not angry, let alone blamed, on the contrary, it was full of thoughts, and his eyes were even more erratic.

Wang Yuncheng's fright made Zuo Liangyu think of Kaifeng all of a sudden, today's Xiangyang has too many similarities with Kaifeng, which also touched the deepest part of Zuo Liangyu's most worried heart.

If Fancheng is still there, if there are defenders on Yanggu Mountain, Zuo Liangyu still plans to check the situation again.

Yanggu Mountain!
That's right, there is an abnormal darkness and silence on Yanggu Mountain, which is close at hand. There is no explanation except that the defenders are no longer there.

Zuo Liangyu didn't even bother to check.

Isn't this bullshit!

Zuo Liangyu was no longer as depressed as usual, he found that his control over the army seemed to be declining, and it had dropped drastically.

The loss of Fancheng means that the fleet on the river has lost its security, but if Yanggushan is not guarded, Xiangyang will surely die!
"Is the defender on Mount Xian still there?" Zuo Liangyu finally spoke.

"Except for me and a few personal guards, the last general's horse gear is in Xianshan, and he has never tampered with it." Deputy General Ma Jinzhong hurriedly answered with his fists clasped.

But Zuo Liangyu didn't answer for a while, but just stared at Ma Jinzhong.

Ma Jinzhong had no choice but to look at Zuo Liangyu calmly.

After a while, Zuo Liangyu nodded his head lightly, and then suddenly said in a deep voice: "Fancheng is lost, Xiangyang is beyond defense, and there is fear of changes."

In the astonishment that the generals did not recover, Zuo Liangyu turned to Zuo Menggeng firmly and resolutely and said, "My son, immediately send someone to send an order to the general above Guerrilla. Next. Remember, you must tell all the generals that this order must not be passed on to the subordinates, so that they know it in their hearts. Otherwise, once the news spreads, the whole army will be panicked and the battalion will be bombed, which will be a bad thing.”

"But? Commander-in-law, what should I do if the Chuangjun will retreat tomorrow morning and surround me tonight?" Zuo Menggeng just turned around but turned back and asked hesitantly.

"The thieves are exhausted, and they haven't seen their army for a long time. They are either resting or worried about being ambushed. There is no longer any army in Fancheng, but it is still not lost. In this way, the thieves will not come to investigate until tomorrow at the earliest. It will take more work for the large group to cross the river. Today our army is going eastward at night, not to mention that during the day my elite are weak due to prolonged fighting, and when the order is sent suddenly at night, the troops are already terrified, and there will be changes in the fearful army. It is better to be on the safe side. "Zuo Liangyu patiently explained a few words.

In Zuo Menggeng's bewilderment, Lieutenant General Ma Jinzhong took a small step forward, and after cupping his hands, he interjected and asked, "How can the troops still outside the city be notified?"

Zuo Liangyu immediately looked up to the sky and sighed, and then used his exaggerated limbs to express his grief and said: "Liang Bi has retreated westward, so there is no danger. The other armies can only temporarily feel sorry, especially the guerrilla Li Ping, even more so." It's a pity. I just hope they can understand my difficulties. It's not that I don't want to pass it on. If it's really a pass on the order outside the city, it's hard to guarantee that there won't be a traitor who takes credit for the bandit army. As the general, I can't make a small mistake!"

Zuo Liangyu said that Prime Minister Huideng's word Liangbi originally meant to show closeness.But because Li Ping was under 20 years old and had no words, he couldn't.

Although rituals and music collapsed at the end of the Ming Dynasty, and many men adopted characters in their teens, since Li Ping was considered to be from a wealthy family, it was normal for him to strictly abide by rituals and music, and no one suspected him.

"It's embarrassing for the old general." After Ma Jinzhong cupped his hands sadly, he retreated silently.

Seeing this, all the generals also bowed and left.

Compared with the decadence of Zuo Liangyu, the highest military officer in Xiangyang, Yunfu Wang Yongzuo, the highest local governor in Xiangyang, is completely anxious.

Yunfu is Yunyang Fuzhi, the full name is "Fuzhi Yunyang and other localities and supervising military affairs".This is an official position set up in the 12th year of Chenghua in the Ming Dynasty (1477), and it is located in Yunxian County, Yunyang Prefecture (now Yunyang District, Shiyan City, Hubei Province).

Lu Xiangsheng, a generation of Zhongliang who died in the anti-Qing war in the 11th year of Chongzhen, once held this position.

Wang Yongzuo originally stayed well in Yunyang, but after the fall of Xiangyang and the killing of King Xiang last year, he had to move to Xiangyang to preside over the overall situation.

Since Zuo Liangyu was defeated and returned to Xiangyang from Henan, he was depressed enough, because the looting of the place by the Zuo army made him unbearable, and he could hardly sleep day and night.But for the sake of the overall situation, he had to endure it.

This time the peasant army went south, Wang Yongzuo thought that with Zuo Liangyu's 20 army and the danger of Xiangyang, the peasant army would have to be beaten to death no matter what.

But this is only one day, Fancheng is no longer defending, and Zuo Liangyu, who went out of the city to resist the enemy, also retreats in defeat.

What's happening here?
Wang Yongzuo was completely dumbfounded.

He was anxious to go to Zuo Liangyu to ask him clearly, and discuss what should happen next?
But Wang Yongzuo found out that he couldn't even see Zuo Liangyu's face.And not to mention not being able to see anyone, or even knowing where the person is, all the soldiers of the left army will be completely clueless.

Isn't it a child's play if the main general is not found in the face of the enemy!
----

When Wang Yongzuo went mad with anxiety, Li Ping was leading his army through the passage between Yanggu Mountain and Wanshan Mountain.

He walked very smoothly, surprisingly smoothly, which surprised him who was worried about being intercepted, and was speechless.

"There are only camps on Yanggu Mountain, but no officers and soldiers." Li Ping's jaw almost dropped to the ground from the scouting report brought by this scouting company.

To guard Xiangyang, one must guard Yanggu Mountain. Now that there is no one on Yanggu Mountain, Xiangyang will die tomorrow.

Isn't this an international joke!
It is not surprising that there are a large number of soldiers and horses blocking the gate of Xiangyang City who want to enter the city.

Li Ping knew very well in his heart that except for Zuo Liangyu, there was absolutely no possibility of the Xiangyang city gate being opened again at night.Zuo Liangyu asked him to retreat to Yanggu Mountain first because of this consideration, not for Li Ping to guard Yanggu Mountain.

But now, Li Ping doesn't seem to have a big problem if he doesn't go to Mount Yanggu, because the original defenders have already fled.He didn't fill in the hole, and his reasons were strong enough.

Is this worry or joy?Li Ping was a little dumbfounded.

---

At the same time, in Zhao Jin's camp, Zhao Jin, Shi Ming, Wang Chengwuzheng, Liu Shixiong, Zhao Meiling, Gao Lei, and Zhao Lanyue, who were in a panic, were also discussing together.

As for Li Shengcai?
Since this guy left the city and fell behind, no one has seen him again, and I don't know where he has been hiding?Then everyone is not in the mood to care about him now.

But the so-called discussion is nothing but lamentation. The chaos in Xiangyang has confused everyone.

Especially Zhao Jin and Shi Ming were keenly aware that the situation was very bad, because this battle could not be fought any longer.

Apart from huddling together to keep warm, everyone can't discuss anything else now. After all, the situation in Xiangyang is completely out of their control.

"What about Li Ping and Song Baolai? Can they enter the city tomorrow? Otherwise, wouldn't they be even more dangerous when hundreds of thousands of peasant troops arrive?" Gao Lei was always worried about Li Ping and Song Baolai, and kept asking about their situation. information.

"Sister, don't worry about those two idiots, they are in a much better situation than us." Zhao Lanyue, who had been thinking, said depressedly.

"Ok?"

Gao Lei turned her head to look at Zhao Lanyue in confusion, and Zhao Jin and Shi Ming also turned their heads in confusion.

Zhao Lanyue had no choice but to smile bitterly and said: "Cheng Wu also said that if the peasant army didn't pursue, then Li Ping should be able to go to Song Baolai safely. They are hiding in the mountains. It's a bit bitter, but at least we're safe. If the city is besieged tomorrow, it will be really fatal. I heard a little girl who escaped from Kaifeng in the Zhuangzi talk about the tragedy of Kaifeng being besieged. A safe house, but more likely a cage."

After Zhao Lanyue finished speaking, Zhao Jin slapped his thigh fiercely and cursed himself: "I'll go!"

Everyone else also looked at Zhao Lanyue in astonishment, as if they understood something.

Just when everyone was about to discuss again, a soldier of Zhao Jin shouted outside: "Master General, the deputy commander urgently ordered."

……

At this time, in a woodland in the southwest of Wanshan, Song Baolai was huddling in a carriage shed to avoid the cold night. From time to time, he lifted the curtain of the carriage and looked north, hoping that Malan outside the carriage would give him some help. What new news.

Behind him, on the winding mountain road, the long convoy and the anxious crowd sitting on the ground made everything extremely strange.

This location is actually somewhere not far from the mountains, not too far from the villa and Baimadu.

Although the soldiers and horses escorting the wounded brought Li Ping's suggestion or order to hide deeper in the mountains, after that, the cavalry of the reconnaissance company ventured again to inform that the Baimadu officer army had withdrawn and Li Ping Song Baolai did not intend to carry out the order to evacuate them immediately.

Song Baolai had a hunch that Li Ping would definitely come to look for him tonight, and he would come here to take a look first. He was willing to wait a little longer, and he blindly believed in Li Ping.

In addition, Song Baolai was actually very frightened and uneasy.

When this moment really came, he realized how afraid he was of being alone, especially the wounded he received made him full of confusion about the situation of the accident.

He was very worried that once he fled further into the mountains, it might be a farewell.

Ma Lan is naturally willing to take risks, let alone persuade him desperately.

Although they didn't know how long they would have to wait, and although they knew that the Peasant Army might threaten them by directly advancing south, they knew that they would not leave easily.

(End of this chapter)