As time went on, most of the rebel forces in Henan concentrated in Ruzhou.
The number is so large that it could easily exceed one million, including families.
Li Hongji, on the other hand, relied on Li Qin's prestige and the corresponding temptations.
He became the leader of this army.
Outside Ruzhou City, another army arrived.
This time, however, it wasn't the disorganized peasant army that arrived.
Instead, it was a well-organized army with Jurchen cavalry on the side.
At the forefront of the army was the commander of a large force sent by Li Qin.
Liu Shengwu, and Wanyan Gun, a Jurchen.
After arriving in Ruzhou City, they saw the so-called million-strong army outside the city.
After seeing their chaotic state.
Both Liu Shengwu and Wanyan Gun frowned.
Because at that moment, they all had a question in their minds.
Is this also part of the military?
They had all seen the army in the heart of the Great Wu before.
They also knew Dong Zhonglou.
They all thought that defeating a small fry like Dong Zhonglou would be easy, given his extremely incompetent army.
Isn't it possible to just grab any army and have hands and no problem at all?
But after they saw the chaotic so-called army in front of them...
The two who initially believed that Li Hongji and his team were destined to win began to waver in their belief in their victory.
Because the so-called army in front of them was less an army and more a group of refugees carrying wooden sticks.
As they appeared in the distance from Ruzhou, Li Hongji's garrison on the Ruzhou city wall immediately ran to report to Li Hongji.
After hearing that Li Qin's army had arrived.
Li Hongji immediately stood up excitedly, led his personal guards, and summoned leaders such as Zhang Bingwu, and went outside to welcome Li Qin's army.
After leading his personal guards outside the city, he saw Li Qin's army.
He was also taken aback, because out of caution, Liu Shengwu and Wanyan Gun had ordered their troops to be fully armed and prepared in advance.
In case Li Hongji and others make any underhanded moves.
Upon leaving the city, Li Hongji immediately encountered Li Qin's fully armed army.
The sight of the fine armor and equipment, and the orderly ranks, truly astonished them.
Especially the sheer presence of the entire army; the vast army of tens of thousands before them, yet not a single person whispered to each other.
This demonstrates the strictness of military discipline.
After all, they were in Henan, the heartland of the Great Wu, and in their memories, the imperial army was nothing but useless troops under Dong Zhonglou.
I have never seen those disciplined and elite border troops before.
In their minds, Dong Zhonglou had government troops, and so did Li Qin. Even if Li Qin's troops were stronger, it was common knowledge throughout the land.
However, given their overwhelming numbers, they should be able to hold them off.
But now, facing these elite border troops, they themselves are starting to feel uneasy.
Especially Qi Anyao and Sun Chao, who were behind them, could clearly sense the elite nature of the opposing army.
Meanwhile, Liu Shengwu and Wanyan Gun, riding forward on horseback, addressed Li Hongji, who was also on horseback:
"We two were sent by the Duke to lead a large army and assist General Li in punishing the treacherous Dong Zhonglou."
We also brought the weapons and armaments that the Duke had allocated to the General-in-Chief.
"Alright, I have already made preparations for everyone in the city. Please follow me into the city. Once you have rested, we will immediately set off to attack Dong Zhonglou."
Li Hongji stepped forward and bowed to the two people in front of him.
He then gestured behind him, inviting the two men into the city.
In response to Li Hongji's request, the two ordered the troops to set up camp and then, with their personal guards and other fully armed men numbering over a thousand, followed Li Hongji into the city.
It wasn't that they were careless, but rather that they genuinely didn't take these peasant soldiers in front of them seriously.
With over a thousand fully armed elite soldiers, their safety can be fully guaranteed.
After entering, he took out the exquisite armor that Li Qin had prepared for Li Hongji, as well as the fine official robes of a second-rank official.
"This is the armor that the Duke presented to the Commander-in-Chief, along with the official robes of a second-rank official. Please accept them, Commander-in-Chief."
After seeing the exquisite armor and the official robes of the second-rank official, Li Hongji...
His face lit up with joy.
He accepted the gift and said:
"I thank you very much, Duke."
As he spoke, he bowed in the direction of the capital.
He then eagerly called out to his men, and the armor was put on him.
At the same time, he put the large official robe of a second-rank official over his armor.
After changing into this official robe, Li Hongji's entire demeanor changed completely.
Looking at his exquisite armor and the official robes of a second-rank official, Li Hongji burst into laughter.
Zhang Bingwu, standing to the side, looked at Li Hongji's exquisite official robes, befitting a second-rank official, and his eyes flashed with a strange expression, revealing a hint of resentment.
Li Hongji patted his official robes and immediately ordered the servants outside to serve the dishes, while simultaneously hosting a banquet for all the peasant army leaders in the city.
They dined together, and he wore the official robe of a second-rank official. Sitting next to him were Liu Shengwu and Wanyan Gun, two generals sent by Li Qin.
We can certainly leverage Li Qin's prestige to intimidate them and further solidify our dominant position in their hearts.
Jizhen.
Li Qin and his generals looked at the map drawn outside Jizhou and the latest report about the Tatar army.
His face gradually darkened.
According to the intelligence gathered so far, the Tatar army is clearly heading towards his town of Ji.
They intend to attack Jizhou directly, and then enter the pass to attack the capital.
How arrogant!
However, their arrogance was built up by Emperor Zhu Qizhen over the past twenty years through a series of defeats.
But that's perfect.
His arrogance and contempt for them are exactly what they want.
I can take advantage of his arrogance and find his weaknesses.
Give him a good beating.
Just as he and his generals were discussing how to deal with the Tatar army on the grasslands.
Suddenly, a message arrived that shocked them all.
This disrupted all their plans.
A scout from the grasslands returned and reported to him.
The army of 200,000 Tatars was originally heading towards Jizhou.
But for some reason, it suddenly headed east, heading straight for Liaodong.
Upon hearing this news, everyone present was restless.
Liaodong was their ancestral homeland.
Why did the Tatars suddenly head in that direction?
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