On March 30, in the countryside of Zhushan County, Huguang, Li Zicheng's 150,000-strong army camped ten miles apart, forming a mighty force.
In Li Zicheng's Chinese army tent, Li Dingguo, the adopted son of Zhang Xianzhong and the leader of the bandits in the Huguang area, led his generals to greet Li Zicheng.
It is more appropriate to say that it is to welcome him, rather than to form an alliance. Li Dingguo has been active in Huguang for many years, traveling around, and the government and army have never been able to do anything to him. But the current situation is very critical. Now the new imperial army is stationed in Shaanxi.
, may go south at any time. Li Dingguo is eager to join forces with Li Zicheng to overcome unprecedented difficulties.
Li Zicheng's army was no match for the New Army, and their escape to Huguang showed the New Army's combat effectiveness. Under such circumstances, Li Dingguo did not dare to neglect. He came to Li Zicheng, firstly, to show his goodwill that he was willing to join forces with Li Zicheng, and secondly, to make
It is clear how strong the new army in the Beijing Camp is.
Li Dingguo walked to Li Zicheng's military show and took a look around. He suddenly snorted: "This Li Zicheng is such a big arrogant person. We came to Zhushan County to greet him, but he didn't leave the Chinese army's tent. Let's go find his tent."
meet him!"
Li Dingguo looked at Liu Wenxiu and was silent.
Under the leadership of a school officer, Li Dingguo walked into the Chinese army's tent and saw Li Zicheng.
Li Zicheng is King Chuang, and is nominally the highest-ranking person in the rebel army. Although Li Dingguo also has his own faction, he is a junior after all. Li Dingguo looked at Li Zicheng, who was dressed in military uniform, and led his generals to salute Li Zicheng and said: "King Chuang,
We haven’t seen King Chuang for a long time!”
Li Dingguo inherited Zhang Xianzhong's power and had been in Huguang for a long time. He had hundreds of thousands of soldiers and horses, so he was considered his master. Li Zicheng escaped from Shaanxi and was considered his guest. Li Dingguo took the initiative to welcome Li Zicheng in Zhushan County because he thought highly of Li Zicheng. As soon as he entered the tent, he raised his hands and saluted.
It also gave Li Zicheng enough face.
Li Dingguo originally thought that Li Zicheng would definitely stand up from his seat and bow to him in return. He would even hold his hand affectionately and talk about their past friendship.
However, Li Zicheng did not. Li Zicheng sat on the chair, looked at Li Dingguo, laughed loudly, and said, "The last time I saw Dingguo was seven or eight years ago. Dingguo has really grown up now."
Hearing this, Liu Wenxiu, who was next to Li Dingguo, turned dark and was about to fall out.
Even Li Dingguo felt a little embarrassed, with a hint of displeasure on his face.
Li Dingguo, the dignified leader of the rebel army, Li Zicheng actually said that he had grown up. Li Zicheng acted like an old man when he came up. He had no intention of being a guest. He wanted to be superior to Li Dingguo.
Li Dingguo and Liu Wenxiu looked at each other, both looking a little disappointed. It seems that forming an alliance with Li Zicheng is not that simple.
Both parties had their own thoughts, and the guests and hosts sat down separately, and then some guards brought drinks. Li Zicheng emptied out Shaanxi and Henan provinces, and was extremely rich in material. At this time, all the food was served, and a large table was filled with good wine and meat.
Li Dingguo took a look at the food and wine on the table and felt that Li Zicheng did not seem to have fled to Huguang, but rather like a wealthy man traveling.
The generals under Li Dingguo were all rough men. When they saw such food and wine, they immediately started eating and drinking. Niu Jinxing from Li Zicheng's side kept coming up to toast, and the banquet was quite lively.
After drinking for three rounds, Li Zicheng glanced at Li Dingguo and asked lightly: "You have been guerrillas in Huguang for several years. Do you have any difficulties?"
When the generals on Li Dingguo's side heard this, they looked at each other for a while and fell silent.
It took a long time for Li Dingguo to become the number one general. Ai Nengqi, another alias of Zhang Xianzhong at the time, said: "King Chuang doesn't know that when we were guerrillas in Huguang, we were also chased by a large number of officers and soldiers. We were going north and south, and those officers and soldiers were chasing us.
No. But because we dare not stay long wherever we go, we often cannot attack the county town. Therefore, the army is very short of food and grass."
After hearing Ai Nengqi's words, the generals on Li Dingguo's side all raised their heads and looked at Li Zicheng.
Li Zicheng evacuated two provinces and had plenty of food and grass on hand. If he could support Li Dingguo with some food supplies, Li Dingguo's embarrassing situation would be greatly improved.
If Li Zicheng could release such goodwill, it would be greatly beneficial to the alliance between the two rebel armies.
Li Zicheng looked at Ai Nengqi and smiled. Putting down his wine cup, he said, "I heard that Ai Nengqi independently led an army of 30,000 people to operate in the Changde Mansion area?"
Ai Nengqi nodded and said: "Exactly!"
This Ai Nengqi was also Zhang Xianzhong's adopted son and had a high status among Li Ding's men. Although he obeyed Li Dingguo's orders, he usually followed Li Dingguo's deployment to contain the officers and soldiers in southern Huguang. He was considered a semi-independent team.
Li Zicheng certainly knew this.
Li Zicheng stroked his beard and said: "Li Dingguo is in the north of Huguang and has fewer officers and soldiers, so he can still attack counties calmly. Ai Nengqi is in the south of Huguang to contain the officers and soldiers. That is where the gentry is the most powerful. It is estimated that they are exhausted every day to collect food and grass.
The lack of it is understandable.”
Li Dingguo frowned when he heard this.
Sure enough, Li Zicheng said: "I will not support Li Dingguo's department. Ai Nengqi, your department is the most difficult. I will support you with 10,000 stones of rice and flour, which is enough for you to eat for a month!"
Hearing Li Zicheng's words, Ai Nengqi was overjoyed.
Li Dingguo frowned and said nothing, with a look of disappointment on his face. But Liu Wenxiu became angry and slammed the wine cup on the table.
Liu Wenxiu couldn't help it anymore and shouted loudly: "Li Zicheng, don't try to alienate our brothers! If you want to annex our troops, just say so. Why use such little tricks?"
Li Zicheng looked at Li Dingguo but said nothing.
Niu Jinxing stood up and said: "General Liu's words are wrong. King Chuang is the leader of the rebel army. Seeing that Ai Nengqi is in a difficult situation and giving him some food and grass, why does it turn into a rift in your eyes?"
Li Dingguo sneered and put the wine cup on the table.
Ai Nengqi couldn't help but feel a little embarrassed when he saw Li Dingguo's face. But he was really short of food and grass, so how could he be willing to return the 10,000 stones of rice and noodles?
A banquet became very awkward, and everyone drank a few sips of wine in a hurry before it ended.
After walking out of the camp, Li Dingguo sighed.
"This Li Zicheng is obsessed with power. Even if he is lucky enough to succeed, he will not be able to cope with the changes in the situation. He is not a wise leader. We cannot vote for him."
Liu Wenxiu also sighed: "In such a critical moment, Li Zicheng came to Huguang and was eager to play power and annex us. He didn't even think about what we would do if the new army went south."
Li Dingguo got on his horse, but did not drive the horse forward for a long time. He sat on the horse for a long time, and his face became worse and worse.
Liu Wenxiu asked: "Commander? How about it?"
"There are new troops from the Beijing Camp in the northwest heading south at any time, and there is the Tiger and Ben Army, the world's most powerful army, in the northeast. There is also the Jiangbei Army of the gentry in the southeast, watching with eager eyes." Li Dingguo sighed and said, "The era of our rebel army marching across the Central Plains is over."
