At this time, he had led his troops to retreat to Yutai County.

Upon hearing that he was going to go further south, the gentry and wealthy families in Yutai County could no longer sit still.

They came to Zhu Guobi one after another and begged him not to withdraw his troops.

Zhu Guobi was also helpless: "Don't say anything, everyone. The main force of the enemy army is coming. I don't have enough troops, so I can only retreat to the south bank of the Yellow River to defend instead of attack."

A gentry cried and begged, "Sir, please don't leave. We will provide money and food to recruit soldiers. As long as there is enough money and food, we can quickly raise an army of 100,000."

"Alas!" Zhu Guobi sighed, "Without hard-trained soldiers, it would be useless even if we had a million-strong army."

Amidst the cries of pleas, Zhu Guobi led his troops across the Yellow River and returned to Xuzhou.

On September 30, the main force of the Royalist Army arrived at Anping Town.

Huang Degong, the governor of Pingliao, did not follow the main force south, but was left in the capital by Chongzhen.

He has been fighting for half his life.

Now that I'm old, it's time to enjoy life.

Liu Zhaoji, Gao Yigong, Li Guo, Li Laiheng, Liu Fangliang, Liu Wenxiu and others followed the main force south.

Since they were all old acquaintances, the central military tent soon became lively.

Liu Zhaoji was the first to say to Zhu Cijiong: "Congratulations, Your Highness, for defeating 70,000 with 9,000!"

Others followed suit to congratulate.

Zhu Cijiong waved his hand and said, "I don't know how to command troops. It's all thanks to Li Dingguo and Li Xianzhong."

Li Dingguo and Li Xianzhong hurriedly attributed the credit to Zhu Cijiong: "If it weren't for your highness's planning, we wouldn't have won the victory thousands of miles away."

Zhu Cijiong laughed loudly: "When did you, a bunch of military generals, learn the flattering skills of the civil officials?"

"Your Highness is too modest. This is what I am waiting for."

Zhu Cijiong looked outside and said, "Okay, okay, let's not talk about this for now. Zhang Rong's people are here, let him come in and talk."

The door curtain was lifted and a eunuch walked in.

After the ceremony, the eunuch handed a booklet to Zhu Cijiong.

That's a ledger.

The amount of money and grain raised is recorded above.

Zhu Cijiong was shocked after reading it.

He didn't expect that Zhang Rong could raise hundreds of thousands of taels of silver in just over ten days.

He closed the account book and coughed loudly.

The scene immediately became quiet.

Zhu Cijiong said slowly: "Everyone, now that we have enough money and food, it's time to send troops to Xuzhou!"