When he reached Lintong County, 50 miles away from Xi'an, Li Zicheng met the messenger sent by Li Yan.

"Wuguan Pass has been lost. Your Majesty, please return to Xi'an as soon as possible to evacuate your family!"

"What?" Li Zicheng was so shocked that he stood up and asked, "When did it happen?"

"Two days ago." The messenger answered honestly.

"How did you lose it?" Li Zicheng asked with one eye wide open.

"The battle of Wuguan was extremely brutal," the messenger said with lingering fear. "Lü Daqi first ordered the Ming army to bombard the city with artillery, trying to break down the wall and enter the city through the gap. But Mr. Li personally climbed the city wall and led the soldiers to block the gap with earth bags, stones and wood, and counterattacked with artillery, causing huge casualties to the Ming army."

"The Ming army used ladders and other equipment to attack the city, but our army used kerosene, firearms and bows and arrows to stop them. Mr. Li also used the terrain outside Wuguan City to set up an ambush, and attacked the Ming army camp while the Ming army was attacking the city, killing countless enemies."

"How did it get lost?" Li Zicheng asked angrily.

"The city wall was knocked down by the Ming army's heavy artillery. The Ming army rushed into the city through the gap and engaged in street fighting with our army. Our army was defeated and retreated from Wuguan."

"Where is the main force of the Ming army?" Li Zicheng asked hurriedly.

The messenger thought for a while and then said, "According to the marching speed of the Ming army, their main force should be in the Shangluo area and heading towards Lantian."

Li Zicheng sat on his warhorse and began to lose consciousness.

Shangluo is 250 miles away from Xi'an. Lu Daqi can reach the city of Xi'an in seven days at most and five days at least.

No...

And there is Qin Liangyu.

Her main force has reached Huazhou, east of Weinan, less than two hundred miles away from Xi'an.

It only takes two days for the light cavalry to reach the outskirts of Xi'an!

There is a high probability that the old, weak, sick and disabled people in Xi'an will surrender without a fight.

"Everyone," Li Zicheng took a deep breath and said to everyone, "Our army first lost Tongguan and then Wuguan. Xi'an has no strategic location to defend."

"Return to Xi'an as soon as possible to transfer your family!"