Anti Qing

Chapter 71
Li Zijing rode on a horse, facing the direction of the setting sun, and led nearly ten thousand soldiers from the front battalion to keep moving forward.

When starting from Xi'an, Li Zijing's status as the little Chuang Wang once again played a role.

Under Li Zicheng's arrangement, the Dashun Army squeezed out a large amount of grain and rice from the meager supplies, enough to feed the former battalion for a month.

In other words, even if they climbed to Xiangyang, the food would be enough for the less than [-] people in Qianying along the way to eat and chew.

In order to transport these materials, Li Zicheng distributed an additional [-] mules to the front battalion, which greatly increased the marching speed.

Li Zijing had to sigh, Li Zicheng, who had been fighting for many years, was thinking much more thoughtfully than himself.

But Li Zijing also learned a lot from him, and these details will become the nourishment for Li Zijing's growth in the future.

The sun was dazzling, Li Zijing held the rein of the horse with one hand, and raised the other hand to cover it. From between his fingers, he saw the towering archery tower in the distance.

Li Zijing didn't come up with his own unique method of marching. For marching in the hinterland and in enemy territory, the Dashun Army had its own set of effective regulations.

Moreover, it is still in the territory of Guanzhong, and there is no need to do these things. What Li Zijing needs to do is to follow Li Zicheng's arrangement.

At least for now, Li Zicheng's light can still shine on him.

Looking around, the archery tower of Longju Village in the distance is quite simple compared to Xi'an, and it doesn't look so grand.

But this is the first transfer station that has been reached since the four-day march, and it is also a place where the front battalion can rest for a while.

From Xi'an to Longjuzhai, the journey was about 180 li. There were not many people in the front battalion, and the preparations were complete at the time of departure, so the march was relatively fast.

Going forward from Longjuzhai, you will arrive at Wuguan. When you leave Wuguan, you will enter Hunan from Guanzhong and arrive in Henan.

Compared with the fairly peaceful border of Guanzhong, the territory of Henan is not peaceful.

The Dashun Army in Henan suffered a devastating blow from the Duoduo Department of the Qing Army between November and December last year, and even the main general Yuan Zongdi had returned to Xi'an.

In addition, a considerable part of the former Henan Dashun Army is still resisting, or retreating to Shandong.

Most of the important places in Henan are currently taken over by Duoduo's troops. Duduo himself was injured after the defeat in Tongguan, and he is reorganizing the army in Huaiqing.

It is said that Dorgon was terrified when he heard about the battle at Tongguan, and troops from the towns of Datong, Xuanfu, and Jizhou were continuously being transferred to the northwest.

But that's all. In today's troubled times, there are really not many channels to get news, and Li Zijing doesn't know the specific situation.

As far as the situation in Henan is concerned, it means that the world is divided into three parts.

The Qing army of Duoduo is Wei, the remnant Ming army is Wu, and the remnant Dashun army is the least powerful Shu.

The situation in Henan is extremely complicated, changing almost every day.

To Li Zijing, entering Hunan was just passing by, and it was difficult to change the current local situation with the few people in his hand.

Li Zijing's main goal along the way is to ensure his own safety without any problems and reach Xiangyang safely.

Not all of Wu Zhaosheng's more than 4000 soldiers were completely convinced and joined the front camp. Li Zijing also realized the benefits of this one-pull, one-dozen model.

Dai Zhijun's death made the remaining 3000 soldiers of the Qing army more honest, at least on the bright side, and Wu Zhaosheng became more diligent, doing many things by himself.

As Longjuzhai is an important place to enter and exit Wuguan, and it is also a port for land and water exchanges, Dashun still has some garrisons here.

The original walled city had long been destroyed by war, and Dashun was only a garrison, and no funds were allocated to rebuild the city, so it was just an earthen village structure.

From the wall of the village to the archery tower, they were all temporarily built with trees in the surrounding forests.

Part of the Dashun army on the wall of the village saw a big black banner from a distance, with a little doubt on their faces, they immediately started talking.

"The big black banner, could it be that General Gu Kecheng has returned?"

"How did I hear that the former battalion was wiped out in Qingdu! Even General Gu was killed!"

"Then who is this team?"

Longjuzhai's position on the map is located in the southeast of Xi'an, with Wuguan in the east, Zijingguan in the south, and Tongguan in the north, so it is unlikely that there will be an enemy army of this size.

Especially now, when Tongguan has not fallen and there is no news from Xi'an, it is even more impossible for a large number of enemy troops to suddenly appear here.

Although the Shun army left behind on the wall was a little puzzled, they still did not attack rashly. Only when this group of troops approached did someone cheer happily.

"Brother Waving the Flag is here!"

"It must be that His Majesty has military affairs, open the door quickly!!"

It's not that Li Zijing was recognized, but someone recognized Hao Yaoqi, who had been a flag officer in the Chinese army for many years.

During the war in the past, the banner was used as the flag of the army, and the whereabouts of many Dashun soldiers were the most concerned. Hao Yaoqi's appearance was also more conspicuous, so many people knew him.

Seeing Hao Yaoqi, Longju Village immediately opened the gate, and the Dashun Army stationed here came out to greet him.

The leader is a general, dressed in a blue arrow jacket, lined with cotton armor, which is the standard of a general.

However, since the military generals of Dashun were basically dressed in the same uniform and did not wear official uniforms, Li Zijing couldn't tell what official position he was, and he didn't have any relevant memories in his mind.

Seeing this person approaching step by step, Li Zijing's eyes were fixed slightly, and he chose not to speak, and waited for the other person to speak before answering.

Unexpectedly, this person stepped forward to glance at Li Zijing, Wu Zhaosheng, and Hao Yaoqi, but he was indifferent to Li Zijing who was at the front, and said with a smile.

"Brother Waving the Flag, have you taken over as the former battalion general?"

"My brother, I want to congratulate you."

"Stay in Longjuzhai tonight and don't leave, you and my brother, catch up on the past!"

Hao Yaoqi was taken aback when he heard the words, and quickly got off his horse.

"General Ma, you read wrong."

"This is King Chuang, the third younger brother of His Majesty, he is the one who took over as the general of the former battalion. I transferred from the central army to the front battalion, and I am still in charge of the banner!"

The scene was a little awkward for a while, and this Dashun general surnamed Ma quickly knelt down on one knee.

"Little King Chuang!?"

"I-I don't know."

Li Zijing was also a little surprised that the other party didn't notice it, but he really didn't care too much about this kind of thing.

Li Zijing got off the horse with his hands and helped him up.

"General Ma has been guarding Longjuzhai all year round. It is normal not to know that he will take over as the former battalion general in the past few days."

With that said, Li Zijing took out the dagger that Li Zijing had given him.

Looking at the familiar dagger in front of him, coupled with the solemn expressions of Hao Yaoqi and the surrounding Dashun soldiers, the general surnamed Ma was shocked.

"The low-ranking guard of Longjuzhai, the general of Wuwei, Ma Shitai, see Xiao Chuangwang!"

It has been heard in the army for a long time that Emperor Yongchang has one or three younger brothers who are famous for self-respect, but they only know their names, and most people have never seen them.

The Battle of Tongguan has only been over for more than ten days, and the news may not even spread throughout Guanzhong, let alone Henan and Huguang.

Li Zijing also understood very well the disadvantage of lagging news, especially during the war, when the war zone in Dashun was divided by the Qing and Ming armies, let alone being able to convey it in time.

But Li Zijing also understands that once this kind of thing happens, there can't be a second or third time, and it will affect his prestige in the army.

When you arrive in Xiangyang, you need to show your face a lot. If you can't even recognize the people below, then you, a former battalion general, are too low-key.

Li Zijing helped Ma Shitai up and followed him into Longju Village.

"There's no need to salute. The general ordered Jingxiang to rectify. He only stayed in Longjuzhai for one night. After a short rest, he left Wuguan and transferred to Huguang."

(End of this chapter)