After the meeting of the 36th Battalion, various peasant armies marched northwestward under the command of Chuang Wang Gao Yingxiang.
After receiving the report that the bandits were marching to the northwest, Chen Qiyu took the map, looked at it carefully for a long time, and said to his subordinates: "The thieves have an expert and saw that entering Sichuan is a dead end. This time they are marching north just to kill the enemy, which is ridiculous. They relied on the fact that the road between Xing'an and Xunyang was rugged and difficult to navigate, and it was inconvenient to pursue and suppress them, so they made a wishful thinking, but forgot that high mountains and deep valleys are the easiest way to set up ambushes. There is a carriage gorge in Xing'an County, which is forty miles long. Surrounded by cliffs, it is a suitable place for an ambush. Yu Xi was sent to practice state affairs, and he was ordered to surrender and lure Gao Yingxiang and others into it, trap them and kill them!"
After Lian Guoshi, the governor of Shaanxi Province, received Chen Qiyu's military order, he immediately secretly ordered his Ming army to open their doors and wait for the arrival of the bandit leaders led by Gao Yingxiang.
........
In Shenyang, Tong Yangxing, who congratulated the new Khan on his succession to the throne, fell ill. According to the doctor, his condition was very serious and he was afraid that it would only happen in the past few days.
Tong has made great achievements in cultivating his nature in gold, and he is the prince-in-law in the west room, and he is the great-uncle of the new Khan Hauge. He is also here to congratulate himself on his succession to the throne. He is ill, and Hauge must go to visit him both emotionally and rationally.
Except for the city wall that still exists, Shenyang City had all its buildings burned down by the Ming army. It was being rebuilt at this time and there was no suitable residence. Tong Yangxing and his party temporarily stayed in the Eight Banners camp outside the city.
Hauge came into the tent to visit. Tong Yangxing was already dying. When he saw the new Khan Queen, he struggled to get up and salute. Hauge hurriedly stopped her.
"King Khan, the old minister and the old Khan met when they were just eighteen years old. The old Khan made an impassioned speech that made my blood boil. From then on, I followed the old Khan and embarked on the grand cause of unifying the Jurchens and establishing Dajin. Old Khan, Xianhan is indeed my daughter-in-law, a hero who has brought great success to the world, and has really achieved great things. This is the most gratifying thing in my life. Everyone is destined to die, and I will die without regrets in my life."
He looked at the tent roof, his face glowing with great satisfaction and happiness: "Old minister is leaving. Before leaving, I would like to say a few words to King Khan. One is about Jilharang's envoy, and the other is Even if things don’t work out, King Khan still has to be prepared for war between the Ming Dynasty and the Ming Dynasty, and he can’t have any illusions about peace talks.”
"Father Khan had planned before his death that the Ming Dynasty was just a smoke. As soon as the money and food for the Korean troops arrived, I would personally lead the army to the gate and enter the pass. This time I will definitely break the Ming Dynasty's capital!" Hauge said bitterly! explain.
"Good, very good." Tong Yangxing was relieved. He was really angry when he heard that Jierharang envoy Ming was discussing peace. It doesn't matter that Shenyang was burned by the Ming army, it doesn't matter that the women and children of the Eight Banners were killed, what matters is that the Ming Dynasty Jin can't vent his anger!
"I heard that King Khan is going to ascend the throne and proclaim himself emperor? Do you want to change the name of our country?"
"It is said that the jade seal of the country is in my country. How can I not ascend the throne and proclaim the emperor? This is the will of God. Besides, when my father Khan was still alive, he also thought that our country could truly compete with the Ming Dynasty. I decided to ascend the throne and proclaim the emperor. It was in fulfillment of my father Khan’s last wish. As for changing the name of the country, it was Mr. Fan Wencheng who suggested it. He said that the name of our Jin Dynasty is not good, and it will easily make the people of the Ming Dynasty hostile, which will not be good for the future control of the Central Plains."
"Whether he is proclaimed emperor or the country's name is changed, this great power is not liked by the southerners after all. It's good to change it, it's good to change it." Tong Yangxing nodded repeatedly, "But I don't know what the new country's name is?"
"The Ming Dynasty was a country of fire, so our new country must use water to extinguish fire, which is called the Qing Dynasty."
"The Qing Dynasty...the Qing Dynasty..." Tong Yangxing murmured to himself, a light flashing in his eyes.
"King Khan can do whatever he wants. Our Eight Banners all support King Khan. However, after the Ming army conquered Shenyang, many people in Han Banner rebelled against him. Now many people under Han Banner also have second thoughts. Before I came, We have uncovered two cases of rebellion by the Ming army, and we must be on guard against this."
Hauge said: "Don't be soft on these people. Kill them if they deserve it. You must not let them go."
"With the grace of the First Khan, most of the soldiers of the Han army would not betray the King Khan. However, sometimes the commander-in-chief often has no control over matters in the army, such as mutiny. Therefore, the veteran thought that we should start from Manchu and Mongolia. The Eight Banners will transfer some generals to the Han Army Banner, and then transfer some people from the Han Army Banner to the Manchu and Mongolian Eight Banners. In this way, if something unexpected happens, it can be dealt with in time."
Seeing how hard Tong was talking about cultivating his nature, Hauge advised him: "Sir, it's important that you take care of your health first. We can talk about these things after you recover."
"No, King Khan, my days are numbered. You have to listen to my words and be sure to mix the sand in to prevent accidents." Tong Yangxing insisted, as if Hauge would die in peace if he didn't agree.
Hauge held Tong Yangxing's bony hand and was full of gratitude to the old prince-in-law: "My prince-in-law, don't worry, I will just do as I am told."
"That's good, that's good." Tong Yangxing continued, "I have something I have been holding in my heart for a long time. I have always wanted to say it but have not said it out loud. Today can be regarded as my last words."
Hauge comforted and said: "Sir, what are you talking about? You are still strong. If this disease can be cured, it will definitely be cured."
Tong Yangxing shook his head: "Life and death are determined by destiny, wealth and honor are in heaven. I am already seventy-five years old. Among the veterans who founded the country, I am the longest-lived. It is a miracle that I can live to this day. I regret that I will not be able to live in the future." I can witness King Khan leading his troops into the capital and ascending to the Golden Palace."
"I hope to get more help from my brother-in-law. Don't worry, I will ask the best doctor from the Kingdom of Jin to come and he will take good care of your illness."
"It's useless, it's useless. I know that my life is over. If I want to help, I can only go to another world to assist the First Khan. King Khan, it is not easy for the Kingdom of Jin to be what it is today. From the old Khan's Thirteenth Lieutenant From the time when Yi Jia launched his army to this day, how many great heroes have spilled their blood on the battlefield, and some even their corpses cannot be found in the capital. As Xian Khan said, on the one hand, we are starting a business, and on the other hand, we are also keeping a business. Starting a business is difficult, but keeping a business is even more difficult. Difficult...King Khan, you must carry forward the great achievements of the two generations of great Khans and let us Jurchens become the masters of the Central Plains again...The defeat of Shenyang is just a small setback. King Khan must not really think that Ming people are powerful. .." Tong Yangxing's voice became smaller and smaller as he spoke, and he could no longer speak.
Seeing this, Hauge knew that he could no longer let Tong nourish his body and waste his energy, so he hurriedly said: "Sir, you take good care of your health, and I will come back to see you later. Don't worry, I, the Aixinjueluo family, will never let down the high hopes of the Tong family. "
Tears overflowed from the corners of Tong Yangxing's eyes: "Go, go, King Khan has important things to do. How can you stay here with me, an old man? King Khan, go quickly..."
That night, Tong Yangxing died of illness.
........
At the fourth watch, the sky was full of stars. Gao Yingxiang, who was marching to the northwest, ordered Li Zi to be the vanguard. After Zhang Xianzhong's decision, he brought his own scorpion block, with Zhang Miao's hand in the middle, and led a large group of troops to break out of the camp.
The officers and soldiers blocked them with bluffs for a while, and Lian Guoshi personally led his troops and chased them for several miles, shouting and shouting. Seeing them going deep into the mountains, they fired several trumpets, then turned back to the camp and ordered people to fly to report to Chen Qiyu.
Chen Qiyu urgently ordered Lian Guoshi to lead his elite troops day and night to ambush at the mouth of the valley north of Chexi Gorge. He led his deputy general Liu Qian to guerrilla He Renlong, followed by Yang Hualin and Liu Guozhen, and also transferred Lu Xiangsheng as backup.
Gao Yingxiang and others got into the deep mountains and dense forests. As the shouts from behind gradually faded away, they reined in their white horses and looked at the surrounding mountains: "These mountains are worth tens of thousands of officers and soldiers!"
Xie Zikuan laughed and said: "As long as we go to the mountains and go around in circles with the officers and soldiers, no matter how many people they have, they will drag them to death. They spend all their time living and drinking, how can they endure such hardships?" ?It’s not like we all come from poor backgrounds, and our feet have long been ground as hard as iron.”
"Not only are our feet hardened, but our lives are cheap and we are brave and willing to risk anything. Unlike Chen Qiyu, who is rich in wealth and wealth, a second-grade imperial official, how can we throw away the wealth so casually? What are we afraid of? ?You are waiting for death at home, and you will die if you come out to rebel, but you can die heroically and with a loud voice like this!"
Gao Yingxiang stroked the silk reins, got off the white horse, held the riding whip, and pointed to the rugged mountain road: "Chen Qiyu doesn't have to walk on such a mountain road. He has eight sedans to carry him, cheering from the front and the back. If he has enough food and clothing, he doesn't need to work as hard as we do. It's certainly not easy for him to take risks."
Scorpion Block also dismounted and laughed loudly: "How could he be so angry for a rotten scholar? He goes around all day long and speaks lies. How can he be as happy and comfortable as we are!"
The two of them slowly walked forward with the team, and the mountain road was twisting and turning. Looking back, they saw tens of thousands of troops pulling horses, carrying food, grass and baggage, squirming in the mountains, like a winding giant dragon, appearing or disappearing, sometimes closing and closing. , traveling is extremely difficult.
It was past noon, so he buried a pot to make rice, filled his stomach, and then moved on. It was getting late, and after walking for half a day, he turned back to his original place. Just as Gao Yingxiang was about to send someone to the front to question him, Li Zicheng rushed forward with two soldiers. Lai said: "King Chuang, the mountains and ridges here are connected, and the path is twists and turns. We lost our way."
"Lost?" Scorpion Block and Zhang Miaoshou, who had followed him, looked at each other and said in surprise: "No wonder the place where the pots are buried just now looks familiar. I spent a long time working on them, and then I turned back again. How good is this?" ?”
Zhang Miaoshou glared and said: "Zicheng, didn't you encounter a ghost and hit the wall? How can you turn back? Don't you remember the path you took?"
Gao Yingxiang waved his hands and said: "The only people who encounter ghosts and wall-attacks are those who walk alone late at night. How can there be tens of thousands of troops who fight against ghosts?" Although he comforted everyone, his heart sank involuntarily. Seeing the dusk and sunset, If tens of thousands of troops were to circle in place, it would be difficult to block their way. Once the pursuers came up and attacked from all sides, the situation would be extremely critical. Seeing Zhang Miaoshou's face looking a little panicked, he turned around and asked, "Zicheng, what happened? thing?"
Li Zicheng scratched his head, cursed fiercely, and then replied: "I found that the path was wrong, so I ordered people to mark the path along the way, but I still turned back to the original path. There are many paths in this mountain, and there are forks everywhere. It's really confusing. Not sure which way to go out?"
Gao Yingxiang was worried that spread of Zhang Miaoshou's trick would be detrimental to the army, so he made a quick decision and said: "Quickly find a guide!"
"There is no one around here. Finding a guide is harder than hunting a tiger..."
Li Zicheng was quite embarrassed. When he saw Gao Yingxiang's face turned gloomy, he had to change his words and said, "It's not difficult for me to spread out a few more brothers."
He turned around to leave, but saw Li Guo escorting a big man over, shouting: "We've caught a spy from the army, we've caught a spy from the army!"
Li Zicheng looked at the big man, who looked to be in his early thirties, wearing a tattered short coat of coarse cloth, trousers rolled up above his knees, and wearing a pair of hemp shoes. He had a burly physique and a copper-colored complexion, as if he had suffered from living in the open for many years.
Then he sneered and asked: "Seeing as you are also a man from a poor background, why are you willing to serve as a hawk for the court and kill your own brothers?"
The big man said aggrievedly: "Uncle, I was a woodcutter here, and when I came home from cutting firewood, I suddenly saw these people and horses. I was so frightened that I hid behind the rocks. I didn't want to be frightened, so I accidentally dropped my ax and chopped it on the rock. I gave it to this little man." When the master heard this, he led his men to rush forward, tied up the villain, and insisted that he was some kind of spy."
Li Zicheng looked at him closely and said: "There are no people living here for miles around, and the mountain roads are rugged and difficult to navigate. How can anyone live here?"
The big man didn't panic at all and replied: "I must be passing through this place for the first time. I saw that this place is full of rocks and strange peaks, and there is no human habitation. This is not surprising. It is said that this place is the hometown of Nuwa Empress. At that time, Nuwa Empress I practiced using colorful stones to mend the sky and threw the remaining stones here. It is inconvenient to walk on the mountain road, but there are often some Orion woodcutters. Walking only fifteen miles ahead is Xing'an County. There are many shops in the city and business is booming. It is a place A prosperous place.”
"Oh, is Xing'an County ahead?" Li Zicheng stepped forward to untie the rope and unintentionally picked up the clothes on the big man. There were several round brown scars on his back, shining with a faint cold light. He looked carefully After a while, he suddenly asked: "You are a woodcutter, how did you get the arrow wound on your body?"
Li Guo and others heard the sound and surrounded the big man with swords and scorpions. Zhang Miaoshou also shouted: "Speak quickly! If you tell any lies, you must be a spy of the government and army, and you will not be spared!" "
Gao Yingxiang strode forward, separated from the crowd and said, "What kind of enemies are you hiding in the mountains to avoid?"