"Liu Zongmin, you are just a country boy. You were appointed as the general of Dashun because of the emperor's appreciation. What qualifications do you have to blame us?" Niu Jinxing began to fight back.

Liu Zongmin was so angry that he rolled up his sleeves and said, "Say it again if you dare?"

Niu Jinxing looked at Liu Zongmin's strong arms and fists as big as sandbags, and suddenly felt guilty.

He stammered, "I...I won't tell you."

"I don't think you would dare!"

"What's there to be afraid of? I just don't want to say it!" Niu Jinxing continued to be stubborn.

Seeing that the situation was getting more serious, Li Zicheng hurriedly spoke out to stop them: "Shut up!"

"Your Majesty!" Everyone present bowed at the same time.

Li Zicheng scanned everyone's faces and said, "Today's defeat is my fault."

"It is our fault. We did not fight the war seriously and failed to assist the emperor well!" Everyone lowered their heads with a depressed tone.

"Right or wrong is not important anymore," Li Zicheng sighed, "Hurry up and pack your bags and take your families with you and flee with me, just like we did in the eleventh year of Chongzhen, when we fled into the mountains around Shangluo."

In the spring of the eleventh year of Chongzhen, Li Zicheng was defeated in Nanyuan of Tongguan. According to records, corpses piled up like mountains. In the end, only 18 riders broke through the siege and fled to a mountain stronghold near Fushui Pass, 200 miles southeast of Shangluo.

He plans to make a comeback using the old methods.

"Your Majesty, you can't do that!" Li Yan said suddenly.

"Why?" Li Zicheng asked somewhat puzzled.

Li Yan answered truthfully: "As I said just now, the middle strategy is to flee in small groups. If we flee together, the Ming court will find us and we will be in danger of being wiped out!"

"Secondly, a small number of our elite troops are stationed in Datong with General He Jin! If we flee into the mountains of Shangluo, it would be tantamount to abandoning them."

"What I mean is to send someone to inform General He immediately and have him lead his elite troops to abandon Datong and escape into the mountains. At the same time, have the generals of each unit go north separately and meet with General He Jin in the mountains."

"Wait!" Li Zicheng frowned, "If we flee separately, won't I really be alone?"

"This...the situation is urgent, and the emperor can only take some risks." Li Yan said helplessly.

Li Zicheng nodded meaningfully, "Okay, everyone go back and pack your luggage quickly, and leave in batches after lunch!"

"We obey your command!" Everyone took the order and left.

As soon as Niu Jinxing left the Prince of Qin's Mansion, he was invited back by Li Zicheng's personal soldiers.

"Your Majesty, does he have something to ask me?" Niu Jinxing asked.

"Indeed, there is something wrong," Li Zicheng said with a serious expression, "What does Niu Zuofu think of what Li Yan just said?"

Niu Jinxing looked embarrassed: "Your Majesty..."

"Just say whatever you want to say!"

"I think Li Yan is quite ambitious! Sending troops north will weaken the emperor's forces. If he encounters a small group of Ming troops, he can still resist them. But if he encounters a large group of Ming troops... the emperor will be in danger!"

Li Zicheng's eyebrows were twisted into a knot.

He stood there and thought for a long time before asking the last question: "Will Niu Zuofu help me?"

Niu Jinxing was stunned for a while before he understood what Li Zicheng meant.

He first looked around nervously, then replied in a low voice: "Don't worry, Your Majesty, I will definitely help you."

"What's the exact time?"

"I will do it right away!"

Li Zicheng rarely raised his hand to Niu Jinxing and said, "Then I'll have to trouble Niu Zuofu!"

Niu Jinxing was almost crying with excitement. He bent down and knelt down and kowtowed to Li Zicheng.

After leaving the Prince of Qin's Mansion, Niu Jinxing found a horse and returned to the mansion as quickly as possible.

After making some simple arrangements, Niu Jinxing rode his horse to the door of Li Yan's mansion.

He shouted to the gatekeeper, "Please inform Mr. Li that Niu Jinxing is here to visit us."

The servant did not dare to delay and ran into the mansion to tell Li Yan the news.

Li Yan was packing up his belongings with Hong Niangzi, and they were both stunned when they heard the news.

Lady Hong smoothed her hair on her forehead and asked, "Husband, what does Niu Jinxing want to see you for?"

Li Yan shook his head: "I don't know. He and I have never gotten along well. It would be bad luck if he came to me alone."

"Well," Red Lady began to instruct, "We are going to retreat soon, don't let him trick us!"

"Don't worry, my lady. He wouldn't dare to do anything to me!"

"So will you meet him?"

"Of course I have to meet him!" Li Yan said with a smile, "If I don't meet him, won't people think I'm afraid of him?"

Lady Hong was still a little worried. She walked over to Li Yan, held his face and said seriously, "Don't be careless! Don't be careless! You must not be careless!"

"Niu Jinxing is a bad guy, you must always be careful!"

"Don't worry, my lady. I'll be back soon!" Li Yan hugged Hong Niang tightly in his arms.

After walking out of the room, Li Yan quickly walked to the front hall.

Niu Jinxing was admiring the fake paintings on the wall in the front hall.

He shook his head as he read: "Tsk tsk, Mr. Li of Dashun can't even afford a real painting. It's a shame for Dashun!"

After hearing this, Li Yan laughed deliberately: "Hahaha, Niu Zuofu is wrong!"

He walked into the front room and continued, "In my eyes, a real painting is a painting, and a fake one is also a painting. As long as you don't care about the price, it doesn't matter whether it's real or fake."

Niu Jinxing shook his head and said nothing.

Li Yan asked, "I wonder what business Niu Zuofu has for visiting my humble abode?"

Niu Jinxing sighed: "Li Yan, do you think there is still a chance to make a comeback after this defeat?"

Li Yan didn't know what Niu Jinxing meant, so he could only perfunctorily say, "It worked then, and it works now."

"I don't think so!" Niu Jinxing sighed again: "The Ming court exempted the people of the country from taxes for two consecutive years, and the people had enough food and clothing. Even if they can make a comeback, they won't be able to get as much support as they did in the past!"

Li Yan didn't know how to answer and could only stand there in silence.

"Li Yan," Niu Jinxing raised his voice, "We have been fighting for so many years, and Dashun is about to be finished before the winner is decided. I can't accept this!"

"What do you want?" Li Yan asked vigilantly.

"I don't know when we will meet again after this separation! Since we can't win in the officialdom, how about we fight at the wine table?"

"Drink...?" Li Yan was a little surprised after hearing Niu Jinxing's suggestion, "Is this necessary?"

"Yes!" Niu Jinxing blushed, "I, Niu, am a competitive person! If you don't dare or feel that you are not as good as me, just say it in front of me."

Li Yan was aroused by Niu Jinxing's words and said, "Why should I be afraid? Let's compete!"

"Okay, I've prepared a table of food and wine and more than a dozen jars of good wine at home. We must drink to decide the winner today!"

Looking at Niu Jinxing's excitement, Li Yan suddenly felt a little regretful.

He hesitated for a while and then asked directly: "Niu Jinxing, you won't take this opportunity to poison me, right?"

Niu Jinxing's eyes widened as he angrily said, "You can insult my talent, but you can't insult my character. If you're worried, let's drink from the same cup and use the same set of bowls and chopsticks!"