The wind rises at the end of the Ming Dynasty

Chapter 440 Strong Wind
"Western Army, do you want to surrender?"

There was a commotion in the Hanzhong army's tent at this time.

Zuo Liangyu looked shocked. Even though he had been in the officialdom for decades and had experienced many battles, he had seen all kinds of storms.

But it's still a little hard to believe to hear such news.

Not only Zuo Liangyu found it hard to believe, but Cao Bianjiao, Luo Rucai and others also felt the same way.

Although Cao Bianjiao looked calm, he was no less shocked than Zuo Liangyu.

Luo Rucai's eyes flickered. He knew Zhang Xianzhong best.

Although Zhang Xianzhong died, Sun Kewang also died in Nanjing.

But the other lords under his command are no ordinary people.

Ai Nengqi was extremely brave and good at commanding cavalry. On the battlefield, he was often able to anticipate the enemy's moves and destroy their formations, which was very similar to Cao Bianjiao.

However, Liu Wenxiu's command ability was the weakest among the four adopted sons of Zhang Xianzhong.

However, although it is the weakest, its military ability alone is enough to lead an army and defend an area.

Moreover, Liu Wenxiu was proficient in government affairs, and Zhang Xianzhong handed over almost all military and political affairs to Liu Wenxiu.

When Zhang Xianzhong occupied Wuchang and ruled the three prefectures, Liu Wenxiu was basically in charge of the people's livelihood affairs of the three prefectures.

Liu Wenxiu governed the three prefectures and also managed military affairs. Under Liu Wenxiu's governance, the three prefectures were well organized, orderly and stable.

The reason why the Western Army is still popular among the people is largely due to Liu Wenxiu's efforts.

If Ai Nengqi was a fierce general, then Liu Wenxiu was undoubtedly a Confucian general.

Li Dingguo combined the advantages of Ai Nengqi and Liu Wenxiu. He was both civil and military, and had the potential to be a famous general.

Among Zhang Xianzhong's four adopted sons, his understanding of Sun Kewang and Luo Rucai is limited.

Sun Kewang was often relied upon by Zhang Xianzhong as his deputy to help manage the army.

Li Dingguo was often regarded as a vanguard general by Zhang Xianzhong.

Li Dingguo was strict in military discipline, sympathetic to his soldiers, and set an example himself. All officers and soldiers in the army respected him.

Not only that, Li Dingguo was not inferior to Ai Nengqi in bravery, and had completed four merits: beheading the general, seizing the flag, being the first to climb the ladder, and breaking the formation.

He was extremely brave and was known to be able to defeat ten thousand enemies. He was called "Little Weichi" in the army.

However, if it was just about his extraordinary bravery, Li Dingguo would be just a fierce general like Ai Nengqi, and could not be called a real general.

But Li Dingguo was not only able to charge into battle, but also to command in the face of the enemy, judge the situation, and stabilize the military.

In the Battle of Jiujiang, the two armies were engaged in a fierce battle, and the person who finally decided the outcome was Li Dingguo.

If Li Dingguo had not commanded his troops to rescue Zhang Xianzhong in time, the outcome would still be uncertain.

Li Dingguo, Ai Nengqi and Liu Wenxiu were all mentally strong people, how could they surrender easily?

Luo Rucai was a little puzzled, but at this moment, he did not speak out and be the first to speak out.

Zhang Xianzhong is dead and the great hatred has been averted.

He didn't really want to work hard for Chen Wang for the sake of his future.

The purpose of sending troops to Hanzhong Town was just to find a way to survive for the soldiers under him.

"Western Army, are you trying to delay time by pretending to surrender?"

Liu Guangzuo frowned and talked to himself.

They had been in a stalemate with the Western Army for so long, and when they heard the news that the Western Army wanted to surrender, their first reaction was disbelief.

Liu Guangzuo's words aroused the approval of many camp commanders.

Especially the former commanders of the 72nd Battalion, such as Wang Guangen and Xu Kebian, who had had many interactions with Zhang Xianzhong.

They also have a certain understanding of these adopted sons under Zhang Xianzhong.

It was hard for him to imagine that Ai Nengqi and others would choose to surrender, so his first reaction was that there was something fishy going on.

"A false surrender can only delay a little time at most, but in the current situation, no matter how much the Western Army delays, it will be useless."

Cao Bianjiao shook his head and said.

It would be disadvantageous for the Western Army if they delay time.

There are 300,000 Western troops in Wuchang City. The daily food and fodder consumption for people and horses is an astronomical figure, not to mention that there are also many civilians in Wuchang City, so the consumption of food and fodder will only be higher.

Luzhou Prefecture has now fallen under the control of Hanzhong Town.

The only places controlled by the Western Army were Wuchang Prefecture and Anqing Prefecture.

Anqing Prefecture was able to provide blood transfusions to Wuchang Prefecture by transporting a lot of military rations.

However, even if some military rations were delivered, it would only allow the Western Army to survive a little longer, and it would be of no help to the overall situation.

"The Western Army should really surrender."

Chen Wang looked at the surrender letter handed to him by the Western Army envoy and spoke slowly.

As Chen Wang's voice fell, it also suppressed all the noise in the central military tent.

"Zhang Xianzhong was killed by Li Yan, and most of the Western Army was swallowed up by the Wanmin Army. After Li Dingguo led his troops back to Wuchang, the Western Army has not made any major moves."

"The death of Zhang Xianzhong has shaken the Western Army. Over the past few months, the Western Army has been trying to stabilize its internal problems."

From the death of Zhang Xianzhong to the present, which has been almost four or five months, the Western Army has not expanded its territory at all.

Chen Yongfu had only more than 10,000 soldiers and horses under his command. When they marched south to Luzhou Prefecture, they did not encounter much decent resistance.

Except for Lu'an and Hefei, many cities controlled by the Western Army had already opened their gates and surrendered before Chen Yongfu led his troops to arrive.

"Western Army."

"It's the end of the road..."

In just a short moment, Chen Wang had figured out the key.

All the officers and soldiers in the central military tent had solemn expressions. Chen Wang's words opened their eyes and made them suddenly enlightened.

The Western Army was internally unstable, half of its elite troops were lost, Zhang Xianzhong was killed, and Sun Kewang fell into the city. Trapped in Nanjing with him was the Western Army's strategist Xu Yixian and hundreds of thousands of Western Army soldiers.

There still seem to be 300,000 Western troops in Wuchang City today, but in fact they are of no use at all.

Whether defending or retreating, the future is hopeless.

Under such circumstances, choosing to surrender is completely understandable.

"Since the Western Army's surrender is true, should we allow the Western Army's envoys to enter the camp?"

Hu Zhili, who was sitting below, pondered for a moment and asked tentatively.

Chen Wang put down the surrender letter sent by the Western Army.

"Since the Western Army is sincere in its submission, this envoy will meet them."

There is no harm in incorporating the Western Army.

Although there were many unqualified people among them, the Western Army had a total of 300,000 people, among whom there were still many elite soldiers and strong generals.

Even if most of them are eliminated, they can still provide a certain amount of combat power.

Moreover, Ai Nengqi, Liu Wenxiu and Li Dingguo are all rare generals.

A thousand troops are easy to get, but a general is hard to find.

Chen Wang’s current predicament is that the land is vast and the population is sparse.

The Henan Arsenal has begun restructuring, and various water conservancy projects are being built on a large scale. It won’t be long before large quantities of weaponry can be mass-produced.

The problem of soldiers was also easy to solve. The North-South Canal was cut off and a large number of canal workers lost their livelihoods.

These canal workers are the best source of soldiers.

They are physically tough, hard-working, orderly and obedient.

Once the imperial edict for conscription was sent to the southern Zhili area, hundreds of thousands of qualified recruits could be easily obtained.

It only takes a few months of training, and then they are sent to the battlefield of the Southern Kingdom. It won't be long before we can get a group of battle-hardened elite soldiers. With Chen Wang's consent, the Central Army's staff officer, holding the goose-feather knife at his waist, walked to the tent door under the gaze of everyone.

"Announce, the Western Army's envoys are here to see you!"

Following the loud orders from the central army staff, the armored soldiers of the Hanzhong Army outside the tent repeated the orders one by one.

When the voices reached the central army's gate, the shouts of the Hanzhong soldiers were so loud that it sounded like a tsunami, and the earth seemed to be shaking.

A moment later, the tent curtain was lifted, and a tall, burly warrior wearing fish-scale iron armor strode in from outside the tent.

The general had broad eyebrows and features, a strong body, and a thick, long beard under his chin.

The two elite soldiers of the Hanzhong Army who followed behind him, although fully armed and holding swords at their sides, were actually weaker than the general in momentum.

Chen Wang narrowed his eyes slightly, his heart moved slightly, and a thought flashed quickly through his mind.

Soon, the general walked to the center of the tent and half-knelt down. His subsequent words also confirmed Chen Wang's guess.

"I, Li Dingguo, pay my respects to the general."

A gleam of surprise flashed in Chen Wang's eyes.

Suddenly, a poem he had read came to his memory:

The Hu people moved southwards and the grass lay flat, and the king abandoned his suspicion and left Yunnan for the sake of justice.

He has traveled thousands of miles and once held up half the sky with one hand.

But soon, Chen Wang suppressed the excitement in his heart.

The present Li Dingguo is not yet the King Li Jin of later generations.

Today's China has not fallen into the trap of Hu Feng.

"I've heard your name."

Chen Wang sat on his seat without moving an inch, looking down at Li Dingguo who was kneeling below with sharp eyes.

"Since you are entering the camp as an envoy, you must have something to ask for. Otherwise, we can just send an ordinary officer."

Chen Wang's mind was clear. If he had met Li Dingguo when he had just arrived in this world, he would probably find it difficult to suppress the excitement in his heart.

The Li Dingguo in history once held up half the sky with one hand. With the southwestern corner, he challenged the entire Qing court. He became two famous kings and shook the world.

If it weren't for the subsequent internal strife, the world would probably never have fallen into the chaos of the barbarians again.

A history of the Southern Ming Dynasty, full of absurdities...

Chen Wang sighed in his heart. It has been seven years since he came to this world.

Seven years of hardships, seven years of life and death, allowed him to climb to the top of the mountain step by step.

He is no longer the servant who can only go with the flow.

The world's general trend rises with him, and the rivers and torrents move with him!

"Since the commander-in-chief wants to ask this, it would be disrespectful if I continue to speak in a cryptic way. So, I will speak frankly this time."

Li Dingguo stood up slowly, his back straight and head held high.

Even though all the officers and soldiers from Hanzhong Town in the central military camp focused their attention on him, Li Dingguo still did not show the slightest fear.

Li Dingguo clasped his hands together and said solemnly.

"The general is a tiger in the Central Plains, straddling the Yangtze and Huaihe Rivers, his name is known all over the world, and he attracts the attention of the world."

"Although we have 300,000 people, we are still not enough to catch the general's eye. We all know this."

"Li Yan betrayed me, killed my adoptive father, and slew my adoptive brother. We have a deep blood feud and we cannot live together!"

Li Dingguo clenched his teeth, slowly lowered his head which had been held high, and said in a stern voice.

"We surrender this time, with only one condition..."

"Do not……"

“It’s a request.”

Li Dingguo raised his head, looked directly at Chen Wang who was sitting at the top, and spoke in a serious voice.

"If one day, the general attacks Li Yan, please allow the three of us brothers to lead the army to avenge the murder of our brother and father!"

As soon as Li Dingguo finished speaking, all the officers and soldiers in the central army tent were moved.

Many of the people present here have heard of the name Li Dingguo.

Even Luo Rucai, who hated Zhang Xianzhong deeply, had lost a lot of hatred in his eyes.

Luo Rucai was extremely angry towards Zhang Xianzhong, and he also hated Li Dingguo and several of Zhang Xianzhong's adopted sons.

But after listening to Li Dingguo's words, Luo Rucai was left with only admiration in his heart.

Only those who can bend and stretch can be called real men.

Li Dingguo was able to judge the situation and remained calm even when he entered the camp alone.

He is loyal and righteous, and even in such a situation, he can still firmly express his demands.

How could a man like Zhang Xianzhong raise such an adopted son?

Luo Rucai sighed softly and closed his eyes.

Zhang Xianzhong's betrayal led to him being surrounded.

Later, he suffered betrayal and died, which was the cause and effect left by Zhang Xianzhong himself.

More than a decade had worn away Luo Rucai's edge, and being surrounded in the mountains had also exhausted his spirit.

Only after death did all debts disappear, and Luo Ru finally let go of his obsession.

Chen Wang looked at Li Dingguo, slowly leaned forward, and slowly uttered a word, agreeing to Li Dingguo's request.

"can."

Li Dingguo suppressed all his sharpness, lowered his head, bent his waist, bowed again, and spoke sincerely.

"General, your kindness will be remembered in our hearts!"

With Li Dingguo's final bow, the surrender of the Western Army had become a foregone conclusion.

It was noon when Li Dingguo entered the tent.

When Li Dingguo returned to Wuchang, it was just dusk when the 300,000 Western troops in Wuchang took off their armor and left the city.

Li Dingguo, Ai Nengqi and Liu Wenxiu, led by Feng Shuangli, Bai Wenxuan, Ma Yuanli, Zhang Hualong and other generals, crossed the river and presented the tiger talisman of the Western Army to the east of Hanyang Prefecture and swore an oath of allegiance.

July 15th, the 15th year of Chongzhen.

Chen Wang led his troops across the river to the south and accepted the surrender of the Western Army.

July 20th.

Chen Wang led his troops to take over the defense of Wuchang, disbanded 270,000 troops of the Western Army, and sent them to various garrisons in Henan to serve as guards, specializing in farming.

Only 36,000 men were left, organized into three divisions and placed under Henan Town, temporarily led by Li Dingguo, Ai Nengqi and Liu Wenxiu.

It took Chen Wang three years from being a battalion commander to guarding Hanzhong.

It took Chen Wang two years from being appointed to Hanzhong Prefecture to being the governor of Yunyang Prefecture.

It took Chen Wang a year from coming to Henan to command the towns in Henan.

It also took Chen Wang a year from going south to assist in the suppression to establishing his own regime in Southern Zhili.

But this time.

From entering Hanyang from the south to incorporating the southern towns and unifying the Western Army.

But it only took fifteen days.

The country is prosperous and the rivers remain the same.

The trend of the world is to get rid of the old and get rid of the new!