Of course, Xiong Wencan would not let Zuo Liangyu fight alone. On the one hand, he stepped up the mobilization of Huguang's officers and soldiers. On the other hand, he rushed to Nanyang with orders. Henan general Zhang Renxue, who was originally preparing to participate in the encirclement and suppression of Zhang Xianzhong and Luo Rucai's peasant army, asked him to
He led his troops of more than 7,000 troops and rushed to Fang County to join Zuo Liangyu's troops.
On the official road on the edge of Runing Mansion City, two teams of people gathered together. In front of the team, Wu Shigong and Li Lu said goodbye in Yiyi.
"Brother Li! I'm really reluctant to let you go!" Wu Shigong sighed.
"Don't worry, mother-in-law, I'm going back to the capital to be a father. How can you stay in Henan and suffer hardships? I envy you so much." After making a few jokes, Li Lu also sighed, "Hey -! I'm finally relieved.
"
Li Lu's memorial to beg for his bones was approved with rare efficiency, and the court allowed Li Lu to return to the capital to retire. In fact, both Wu Shigong and Li Lu understood the court's intentions. They wanted to cut off the right and left arms of the Runing Army. The only thing worth it was
Fortunately, the candidate for the new Nanyang Commander-in-Chief has not yet been decided.
"Are you really willing to give up such a big family fortune in Nanyang?" Wu Shigong asked.
Li Lu didn't answer. He looked at the two birds in the distance playing happily on the branches. After a while, he touched his lame leg and said, "Originally, I came to Nanyang to take care of myself. So many
Years ago, I feel that all my life has gone to dogs. To tell the truth, the days spent with you, brother-in-law, these years are really the most comfortable. But I have no ambition anymore, and I keep fighting.
In Hejian, more than 1,500 brothers followed me, and only about 700 came back. I couldn't bear it anymore. I couldn't sleep all night after I came back, and I haven't been able to sleep! I'm old!"
Seeing the white hair on Li Lu's temples, Wu Shigong was a little sad. But seeing the vicissitudes of life on Li Lu's face, he still said a joke to liven up the atmosphere: "You are not old, I have been watching you jumping around.
.To be honest, there are so many widows without husbands in Henan waiting for you to save them! Are you so heartless to abandon them?"
Li Lu was suddenly off guard. He choked and coughed at these words. While coughing, he couldn't help but laugh. After finally calming down, he pointed at Wu Shigong and laughed and cursed: "Brother-in-law, just laugh at me! I'm fifty."
Now, I have three grandsons and granddaughters. How can I not grow old? Forget it, it’s too late to say anything now. When you return to the capital, we two brothers can have a good drink together. By then, the world should be at peace!"
"Peace in the world! Hey--! Peace in the world!" Wu Shigong chewed the word repeatedly and shook his head unconsciously. After seeing Wu Shigong's actions, Li Lu also understood in his heart that with the world in such chaos, if he were less lucky,
, I will never wait until the world is at peace in this life.
Besides, Wu Shigong was also on guard against the disadvantages the court would bring to him, so he would definitely not return to the capital and be put in danger. Therefore, this parting was tantamount to their eternal farewell. Therefore, the two of them felt very melancholy.
"Brother-in-law! You should pay more attention to the brothers who stay in Nanyang. Treat them as your own subordinates. If they do something wrong, don't be polite. You can beat or scold them as you wish, but you must arrange their escape. These days, there are
If you have a room, you will be lucky if you have a mouth to eat!" Li Lu warned.
"Don't worry, the patrol has already been arranged in Nanyang, and everything will be done according to the standards of our Runing Army. Those who don't want to join the army will be assigned rooms and land, and they will not suffer any loss. Also, you
I will pay all the money for the burial of the wounded and wounded brothers this time, and they will all be in accordance with the standards of our Runing Army, so you can go back to the capital and be a master with peace of mind!"
"Then I'm welcome." Li Lu said with a smile, "I didn't expect that I could trick you before I left. I feel so comfortable!"
After laughing a few times, Li Lu put away his smile and said, "Be careful and don't charge into battle all the time. If money is really tight, the property I left in Nanyang will be at your disposal. You're welcome then."
Wu Shigong didn't say a word, and the two of them had already become emotional after saying this. Wu Shigong stepped forward, hugged Li Lu tightly, and whispered: "Take care!"
"Take care of yourself!"
After finishing speaking, Li Lu suppressed his tears and did not want to show his childlike appearance in front of everyone, so he immediately turned around and limped towards the carriage. As he walked, he murmured nonsense: "Ride."
I have been riding horses all my life, and I can finally ride on a carriage. Enjoy it! Have mercy on me, a lame person."
Watching Li Lu get on the carriage, Wu Shigong waved to Li Lu's soldier captain. The soldier captain immediately knelt down to Wu Shigong and saluted: "Master Wu!", but he shrank and refused to approach.
"What! Are you afraid that I'll beat you up?" Wu Shigong yelled.
"Don't dare! Mr. Wu! Little one..." Amidst the roars of laughter from the people around him, the soldier captain took a few steps closer to Wu Shigong.
"Boy! You must listen carefully and take good care of your master! Otherwise..." Wu Shigong said while looking at the soldier captain up and down with evil intentions.
"Master Wu, don't worry! I will never let you tire me out!" the captain of the soldiers immediately promised.
Wu Shigong nodded and waved his hand to ask the soldier captain to move away. Li Lu also did not show up in the carriage again until their motorcade moved further and further away...
It wasn't until the convoy turned into black dots on the horizon that Wu Shigong recovered his thoughts. He said to a man in his thirties who was dressed as a military attache next to him: "The veteran general sent you here this time with the intention of training you.
. Let me tell you something. General Li has returned to Beijing after serving as an official, and I want to push you to take charge of the army in Nanyang. I don’t dare to say whether it will work out, but I must first achieve some military achievements for you. But on the battlefield, there is no eye for swords and guns.
There are risks, but are you willing to make meritorious deeds on the battlefield?"
Seeing Wu Shigong's Runing Army repeatedly making military exploits, the old man Zhao Ming, the commander of Guidewei, finally couldn't hold himself back anymore. He also wanted to catch a ride on the Runing Army. So this time he sent his eldest son Qianhu to join the army.
Zhao Degong was sent to Runing, hoping that Wu Shigong would help him and help Zhao Ming's family background to a higher level.
Of course Wu Shigong would not refuse Zhao Ming's trust, and after discussing with Deng Qifan and others, he felt that Zhao Degong was a suitable candidate to succeed Li Lu. The military attache from the Runing Army system who takes over Li Lu's position now is definitely not suitable, otherwise,
The imperial court would not approve Li Lu's memorial service so quickly. So from the perspective of official position, age and friendship, Zhao Degong's replacement is in the best interests of the Runing Army.
Of course, Zhao Degong's official position is still low, so Wu Shigong is going to give him some military honors and elevate him to guerrilla level. In this way, if he uses money and connections to move around in the officialdom, he might be able to make Zhao Degong the commander of Nanyang's army.