Immediately afterwards, Niu Chenghu and Chen Yongfu also came one after another, and their words were almost the same.
Niu Chenghu was the commander-in-chief of Lintao, and Chen Yongfu was the commander-in-chief of Henan. They were not affiliated with the Qin army system. Zhu Yixi felt a little embarrassed, but she still reluctantly agreed.
However, among these people, it was Chen Yongfu who Zhu Yixi valued so much that he didn't even ask for anything.
"This -" Chen Yongfu was quite surprised and said with an moved face: "Brother Zhu is so selfless even though he is penniless..."
"General Chen, although you don't have any troops, you are worth an army of 100,000 people."
Zhu Yixi said seriously.
I don't covet your troops, I only covet you.
"Huh?" Chen Yongfu was shocked and said with a wry smile: "You praise me too much. I am just a defeated general who has been defeated repeatedly."
"No, you are fighting after repeated defeats."
"Huh?" Chen Yongfu was surprised: "What's the difference?"
"The difference is huge." Zhu Yixi chuckled and said, "You are unyielding. Isn't this the style of a famous general?"
"So?" Chen Yongfu looked at the young man, puzzled.
"Since you don't have any troops under your command anyway, why not train them for me?"
Zhu Yixi said sincerely: "As long as you help me train soldiers for three months."
Hearing this, Chen Yongfu began to think about it.
Now, he has no soldiers and horses under his command. According to the personality of the imperial court, he must be the chicken who kills the chicken to scare the monkeys.
However, if his name is on the memorial, at least he can be punished and perform meritorious service, and he can even retain his position as commander-in-chief.
It took three months to just go back and forth to Beijing, so it was worth it.
"Okay!" Chen Yongfu nodded and sighed: "Others avoid me. Since Brother Zhu doesn't dislike it, let me give it a try!"
"Okay!" Zhu Yixi clapped her hands and laughed: "With Mr. Chen, it's really great!"
The next day, Zhu Yixi told Sun Chuanting about sharing the credit.
Governor Sun smiled and said, "You are quite shrewd, and you are able to handle both the rain and the dew."
"If it's appropriate, just follow what he said and draft a memorial!"
"Yes!" Zhao Shu, the staff member on the side, couldn't help but nodded and smiled.
After a while, a memorandum of apology was drafted.
Sun Chuanting took special care of him and let him take a look.
Zhu Yixi took a careful look and saw that the beginning was Sun Chuanting's self-apology, stating the reasons for his defeat, and also wrote down several achievements. He ranked first from the bottom.
Zhu Yixi was very satisfied to be able to go to the court and be previewed by the emperor.
"Thank you, Supervisor." Zhu Yixi said with great emotion.
"Ahem, it's okay!"
Sun Chuanting coughed and his face became paler. Zhao Shu on the side also had a face full of concern.
"Jingming, among everyone, although you and I are the shortest, you are closer to me. Do you know why?"
"I'm assuming my position is too low, but I'm afraid it's because of my identity."
Zhu Yixi raised her head, took a look at his face, and said cautiously.
"That's right, it's identity."
Sun Chuanting nodded and spoke loudly: "Whether he is Niu Chenghu, Gao Jie, or Bai Guangen, or he is a bandit, or a frontier soldier, although he has no fear in fighting, he cannot be trusted in his bones."
"You are different. You are from a clan, with a clean family background, and you are loyal and honest. If there is any disagreement, I will be most at ease when I entrust my wife to you."
"Ashamed of my humble position..." Zhu Yixi lowered her head, feeling quite embarrassed.
This is the truth, and it feels good to hear.
"The situation is so corrupted, what can be done?"
Sun Chuanting sighed, his expression becoming even more ugly.
With only these 20,000 people, we have little hope of holding Tongguan, but we always have to try.
"Report, enemy troops outside the pass are attacking——"
Suddenly, soldiers came to report.
"Huh?" Sun Chuanting's expression changed. He was helped up and walked away slowly.
Zhu Yixi saw this and hurriedly helped the other side.
Immediately, when they arrived at the city head, the other generals had already arrived.
I saw that outside the pass, the flags blocked the sun, and on the uneven ground, hundreds of thousands of intruders could not be seen at a glance. They were black and dense, like ants, stacked up in rows and rows of huge waves.
Those at the front are still the skinny hungry people, or the people behind the broken city. They are at the forefront and become cannon fodder.
The innermost layer is Laoyingkou where the Chuang Army is located. There are about 20,000 to 30,000 people, all of whom are guarding Li Zicheng and will not move easily.
"The intruders are coming with force."
Niu Chenghu's eyes widened and he said in a deep voice.
"I had expected it."
Gao Jie glanced at Sun Chuanting, who was silent, and said: "The purpose is probably Shaanxi."
"No, there's still me."
Sun Chuanting said coldly: "If I don't die, he won't give up."
Everyone's heart sank.
I don’t know if this ancient pass can withstand these hundreds of thousands of people.
Moreover, entering Guanzhong is not limited to Tongguan. You can also reach it by crossing the Yellow River and jumping from Shanxi.
With the many soldiers and horses of the intruders, once the troops are divided, the consequences are unpredictable.
"I have ordered all the boats at the ferry to be destroyed. It will take at least ten days and a half for the thieves to cross the Yellow River."
Sun Chuanting said in a deep voice: "Let's defend first to wear down their energy, and then retreat."
"Yes!" Several people hurriedly responded, and Zhu Yixi, who had just been promoted to guerrilla general, also hurriedly handed over.
"Yeah!" Sun Chuanting nodded, his expression not very good.
Outside the city, Li Zicheng was riding on a horse. Even if he became King Shun, he would not act as a sedan chair.
Years of running have made him always remember mobility and dare not leave the horse for a moment.
He raised his head and looked at the world.
Tongguan is high in the north and south, but it is bounded by the Yellow River in the north and Linzhiyuan and Qinling Mountains in the south.
To the west are Forbidden Valley, Ziwu Ridge, and then the endless Weihe Plain.
And to the east, where he is, is Yuanwanggou.
However, in the early Ming Dynasty, the section of the Tong River that entered the Yellow River was included in Guancheng, so that the Tong River flowing into the Yellow River from south to north passed through Tongguan City.
Therefore, there are more than 1,000 acres of land in Tongguan City.
In a sense, Tongguan is self-sufficient.
"There is no other way except hard work and taking too many lives."
Li Zicheng narrowed his eyes and said in a deep voice.
Regarding Li Guo's death, he was very calm at this time, and all his resentment was placed on Sun Chuanting.
"Human life is the least valuable thing."
Song Xiance rode a horse and accompanied him by the side. He also looked up at Tongguan and chuckled:
"It just so happens that the entire Henan Province is running out of food. Grab more refugees and let us and Governor Sun consume them."
"Ten for one, a hundred for one, it's all worth it."
Everyone has become accustomed to such cold-blooded words, but Li Yan sighed and did not agree.
In the past few years, even if he tried every means, he still could not change the tradition of bandits in the army. Although he pretended to be a shun king, in his heart, he was still the same as before.
And he looked up to oppose him, but Niu Jinxing, who was born in Juren, also had a look of unbearable expression on his face.
Over the years, Niu Jinxing repeatedly persuaded Li Zicheng to let go of scholars and common people, which made him change his mind a lot.
Obviously, if Tongguan is captured at any cost, at least tens of thousands of people will be killed or injured.