Zhang Ximeng kept whipping his whip and beat him ferociously, beating Lao Wang until his skin was torn and his flesh was dripping with blood. His voice was hoarse and he could no longer make a sound. He was left with a constant whimpering, which seemed to be asking for help, but also seemed to be crying.
I don't know how long it took, but Lao Wang fainted, and Zhang Ximeng was sweating profusely and exhausted all his energy. He sat on the ground, breathing heavily.
At this moment, Zhu Yuanzhang handed him a glass of water.
"Drink!"
Zhang Ximeng took it, the temperature was just right, and he drank it into his mouth. It was so sweet that it even had honey added!
"It was sent by our sister."
"Madam? Thank you madam for your concern..." Zhang Ximeng was greatly moved, but Zhu Yuanzhang stopped him and suddenly hesitated: "Sir, we always feel that you are a little afraid of us. You seem to respect us, but you just don't kiss... Are you right?
?”
Zhang Ximeng's whole body was trembling violently, and his forehead was sweating even more... You are the Hongwu Emperor, and Zhu Chongba is a murderous man. Under your command, he will naturally have to think about how to save his life.
If you don’t believe me, go to the comment section and see how many readers are reminding you about this!
Zhu Yuanzhang sighed deeply and changed the topic, "Sir, why do you hate that servant so much? Are you so cruel?"
"Well... although he didn't kill my parents, he betrayed our family and took away my mother's dowry jewelry when he was at his lowest. How could I forgive him for such an act? I, I
I want to chop him up!"
Zhang Ximeng rarely hates someone so much... But the initial experience was too painful. He was at the end of his rope and both his parents were dead. It was like a knife stabbing in his heart, bleeding out continuously with no intention of healing.
"Hey!" Lao Zhu sighed, "Sir, do you know our experience?"
Zhang Ximeng was startled for a moment, and he naturally knew that his parents died, and Lao Zhu died and his whole family was even more miserable than Zhang Ximeng. He begged for a cemetery but couldn't get it. He wandered for three years and fought for food with wild dogs. After returning to the temple, he continued to be beaten.
He was bullied, and even had the temple burned down... all the bad things happened to him.
"Lord, you..."
Zhu Yuanzhang waved his hand, "Don't call it that... It stands to reason that you are from a scholarly family, and we are from a poor family, so we can't get together. But it is such a world that made us meet, and made us pick up weapons. Sir,
Yuanzhang followed you to read and learn, and understood a lot of truths. Yuanzhang intends to take drastic measures to create a peaceful world and a bright future!" When Zhu Yuanzhang said this, he stood up suddenly, with dragons and tigers leaping. A kind of domineering aura of pointing the country came to his face.
Come.
"Sir, are you willing to help us conquer the world and bring peace?" Lao Zhu asked enthusiastically.
Zhang Ximeng was greatly shocked. He thought he could control Lao Zhu, but what happened today, Zhu Yuanzhang first sent his servant Lao Wang, and then talked with him about his ideals and ambitions, and directly told him his thoughts.
Both of them had suffered family breakdowns, so naturally they felt sympathy for each other and joined hands with each other to create peace. This was also a reasonable thing.
Zhu, you are so good at deceiving people!
Does Zhang Ximeng have any other options?
"My lord, not only am I willing, but I also want to assist my lord in ascending the throne, help my lord conquer thousands of miles of rivers and mountains, and create a new world!"
Zhu Yuanzhang was overjoyed. He reached out and grabbed Zhang Ximeng's arm and shook it vigorously. He could not conceal his joy.
Zhu Yuanzhang had always known that Zhang Ximeng was in awe of him, even for no reason... He naturally didn't know about time travel, and he didn't know what kind of existence Emperor Hongwu was.
He only thought that Zhang Ximeng came from a well-known family and could not get along with him, the son of a generation of tenant farmers. Then he took advantage of today's incident to open up his heart, open his heart, and be honest with him.
Obviously, the effect is quite good.
Zhang Ximeng really began to understand Zhu Yuanzhang. He was not a heartless person, on the contrary, he was a kind-hearted person who never forgot his original intention.
And it is this kind of person who, in extreme despair, will wave his butcher knife and look at those old brothers who have gone bad... There will be blood and heads rolling on the knife!
When love reaches the depths, it is inevitable to be heartless!
"My lord, I have already thought about it. Now that the generals in Haozhou are in peace for the time being, and the Yuan soldiers will not go south immediately, it is a good time for my lord to show off his skills." Zhang Ximeng said to Zhu Yuanzhang in high spirits:
"I suggest that we capture Dingyuan immediately, then go to Chuzhou, drink horses from the north of the Yangtze River, and then choose an opportunity to cross the river!"
"Crossing the river?"
Zhu Yuanzhang did not expect Zhang Ximeng to suggest this.
"Why cross the river? We are from Huaixi, and we are not familiar with Jiangnan."
Zhang Ximeng laughed loudly and said, "My lord, if you want to fly to the sky, you cannot be trapped in the land of Huaixi. I proposed going south early because I want to plot Jiangnan. With my lord's talent, I should be able to see that the Yuan soldiers still have great advantages."
, if they are only entangled in the north, they will be easily destroyed by the Mongolian cavalry. But after crossing the river, the situation is different. Relying on the natural dangers of the Yangtze River to block the northern cavalry. Then in the sacred land south of the Yangtze River, strengthen your troops and horses, save money and food, so that you can sweep across
The world, unify the Central Plains!"
Zhang Ximeng and Zhu Yuanzhang became more and more happy as they talked, and the more they talked, the more speculative they became.
When Zhu Yuanzhang decided to go south, he had already set his ambition to compete in the world... No one knows when he figured it out, but in history, it was not much later than now. Lao Zhu met Li Shanchang and asked when
To bring peace to the world, Li Shanchang told Zhu Yuanzhang that it took Emperor Han Gaozu five years to conquer the world. As long as he followed the example of Emperor Gaozu of Han Dynasty, it would not be difficult to conquer the world.
It was this question and answer comparable to that of Long Zhong that laid the foundation of the Ming Dynasty and pushed Li Shanchang back to the throne of the first hero.
Zhang Ximeng talked more with Zhu Yuanzhang, including military strategy, soldier training, money, food and land... In short, Lao Zhu benefited a lot.
While they were talking, they even forgot about lunch. It was not until dusk when Ma came over holding a candle that the two of them stopped. Lao Zhu's face was filled with red light.
"Sister, now our hearts are open and clear, it's time to prepare to go south."
Zhu Yuanzhang did what he said, and he quickly ordered the troops to be reorganized.
How many subordinates does Lao Zhu have now?
Let's do a simple calculation. Almost 3,000 people were brought from Haozhou, and 3,000 people were absorbed from Yuan soldiers' prisoners. Lao Zhu returned to his hometown and recruited more than 700 villagers, but less than 800.
Coupled with the two to three thousand people who have come to seek refuge in recent days, Lao Zhu's strength is almost 10,000.
Naturally, these 10,000 people are also uneven.
First of all, the most capable ones are naturally those who have experienced the defense of Haozhou.
The most loyal ones are serious fellow villagers like Xu Da and Hua Yun.
Zhu Yuanzhang first found three thousand elites after selection.
These three thousand people were all equipped with war horses and armor, and they were encouraged to practice archery, horse riding, and archery.
Among the entire Red Scarf Army, those who have the ability to produce iron cavalry are very rare.
Lao Zhu relied on grabbing the spoils of war to rob Cheri without spending any money.
It was a miracle that such a team was created.
There is no doubt that once the three thousand cavalry are officially formed into an army, they will have a crushing advantage over any surrounding forces.
It's just that strong men eat more.
Although the cavalry is good, the food consumed by one war horse is equivalent to ten or eight ordinary soldiers... Most of the food originally grabbed from Linhuai has been lost, and now it can barely survive by doing business with Huaiyuan.
Food pressure was also a key factor in Lao Zhu's decision to go south.
He can't afford it.
"This time I personally lead the troops and explore the road ahead. Mr. Zhang is in charge of the overall situation in Linhuai. He will make the decision on any major issues without asking us."
Lao Zhu gave Zhang Ximeng great power. In the past, Zhang Ximeng might have resolutely refused, but since they talked about it, they are of the same mind and cannot play tricks.
Zhang Ximeng readily agreed.
"Lord, how many troops and horses are you going to bring? All three thousand cavalry?"
Zhu Yuanzhang laughed and said, "No need, thirty people are enough."
"Thirty? That's too few. Why do we need three hundred people!" Zhang Ximeng said seriously: "My lord, you have to pay attention to your own safety and don't be reckless."
Zhu Yuanzhang understood what Zhang Ximeng meant, but did not want to change his mind.
"Sir, there is no need to worry. We are just going to check the situation. If there are too many people, it will scare them. Sir, just wait for the good news."
Zhu Yuanzhang immediately asked Fei Ju and Hua Yun to follow him, along with twenty-eight cavalrymen, each with two horses, and set out from Linhuai and immediately headed south.
In history, Lao Zhu led nine infantrymen and walked south for six days before reaching the Baogong River. It was hard to die, the weather was hot, and Lao Zhu fell ill. But even so, Lao Zhu
The mission of recruiting and surrendering was still completed and 3,000 young and strong militiamen were obtained.
But this time, Lao Zhu had left a few months earlier, the weather was still cool, and his men became thirty cavalry, powerful and even more majestic.
Across the Baogong River, there is a village on the opposite side, named Lvpai Village. Thousands of people gathered inside, and the momentum was quite high.
As soon as Lao Zhu arrived, an envoy was sent from the opposite side. He waded across the Baogong River and knelt in front of Lao Zhu.
"The village is short of food. I am begging for food for three thousand dan. I am willing to be a pioneer!"
Three thousand shi of grain can buy three thousand people. This business is really cost-effective.
Zhu Yuanzhang pondered for a while and then said calmly: "Since you are willing to surrender, then cross the river first!"