Looking at the thick smoke rising from the city, Hongniang already knew what had happened.
Although the Dashun Army also burned, killed and looted, she and her subordinates never did so.
It is precisely because of this that he is deeply loved by the people.
It was also with the help of the people that she was able to remain safe and sound during the encirclement and suppression by the government troops.
She glared at Li Dingguo and asked, "Is this how you, the Dashi Army, treat the people?"
Li Dingguo was silent.
He and Ai Nengqi were both adopted sons of Zhang Xianzhong.
In terms of seniority, they are equal.
He could manage his own subordinates, but he couldn't manage Ai Nengqi's troops.
"Speak!" Hongniang's eyes were wide open and her cheeks were puffed up with anger.
"I... can only take care of myself, not others." Li Dingguo looked ashamed.
"I am so blind that I would help someone like you. Goodbye!" Hong Niangzi turned around and was about to leave.
Li Yan reached out and held her arm: "Wait."
Under Hong Niangzi's angry eyes, Li Yan dismissed his attendants and asked Li Dingguo in a low voice: "Dingguo, do you think Zhang Xianzhong is still the same Zhang Xianzhong as before?"
Li Dingguo cautiously took a half step back and asked cautiously, "What do you mean?"
Li Yan smiled bitterly and answered his own question: "Anyway, Li Zicheng is no longer the Li Zicheng he used to be."
"In the past, he loved the people like his own children and led them to fight against the corrupt Ming court."
"Now he seems to have changed. He only wants to be the emperor and doesn't care about the lives of his subordinates. Not only does he allow his subordinates to rob the people, but he also excludes those generals who are unwilling to rob food."
"Tell me, what went wrong?"
After hearing what Li Yan said, Li Dingguo was stunned for a long time, lowering his head, at a loss.
Li Yan continued, "The Ming court has exempted the people of the country from taxes for a year. The people have finally saved up some food, but you have taken it all away. Some even lost their lives."
"I know this matter has nothing to do with you, but our cooperation can only go so far."
Li Dingguo raised his head and before he could say anything to persuade them to stay, Li Yan and Hong Niangzi turned around and left.
Without the support of the Shun army, Li Dingguo did not dare to advance deep into the enemy territory alone.
After weighing the pros and cons, he decided to transfer another 10,000 elite troops from Jingzhou.
In this way, the total number of troops he and Ai Nengqi had reached 30,000.
"Where should we attack next?" Ai Nengqi asked while riding on horseback outside Jingling County.
"We..." Li Dingguo suddenly changed the topic and asked, "As a righteous army, we should love the people. Next time we capture a city, can we please not plunder it?"
Ai Nengqi laughed: "If we don't strengthen the people, what will all of us eat and drink?"
"But if they rob the people, they will have no way to survive!"
"Isn't it a good opportunity for this guy to join us in the rebellion against the Ming court?"
Li Dingguo couldn't argue with him and said no more.
After some discussion, the army broke camp and set up camp.
......
North of Mianyang County, on the south bank of the Han River.
Hui Dengxiang and Ma Jinzhong set up their camp here.
In ancient times, when leading troops into battle, one had to defend oneself by taking advantage of dangerous terrain.
The city wall of Mianyang County is no more than two zhang high and one zhang wide. Apart from this, there are no other natural barriers.
There is the Han River between Mianyang and Jingling. It would be better to build defenses along the river than to defend the city.
As long as there are enough scouts, the enemy will not dare to cross the river.
While the two of them were warming themselves by the fire, a scout came to report: "More than 10,000 bandits were found on the north bank of the Han River, setting up camp by the river."
Camping?
Ma Jinzhong and Hui Dengxiang immediately left the camp and looked towards the other side.
Sure enough, countless bandits were setting up camp.
"The bandits want to... confront us across the river?" Hui Dengxiang was a little surprised.
Ma Jinzhong nodded first and then shook his head: "There is a problem, there is definitely a problem here."
They were all born as bandits.
The characteristic of bandit warfare is roving warfare!
It was precisely because of the characteristics of roving warfare that the government troops were unable to figure out the direction of their next attack, resulting in repeated failures.
Setting up camp and confronting each other is not the style of bandits!
Sure enough, bad news came ten days later.
Li Dingguo successively captured Yingcheng and Yunmeng County northwest of Wuchang, and headed straight for Xiaogan.
Ma Jinzhong spread out the map and was horrified: "It's bad. Xiaogan is the northern gate of Wuchang. We must not lose it. If we lose it...the bandits will be at the gates of Wuchang."
Hui Dengxiang nodded vigorously: "Indeed, although the Wuchang garrison can ensure that the city is not lost, it will also cut off Governor Yuan's food supplies."
"what to do?"
Ma Jinzhong thought quickly and made a decision: "Divide the troops. You stay here to confront Ai Nengqi, and I will go back to Wuchang to ensure that the food supply route is not lost."
"That's all we can do. Be careful along the way."
At the same time that Ma Jinzhong returned to Wuchang, Yuan Jixian also received news of Li Dingguo's meritorious service.
"How many garrisons are there in Xiaogan?"
"Two thousand five hundred people, most of them are local people."
"How long can you hold out?"
"If you don't surrender... you'll have enough food and fodder for three months."
"No help!"
"But..."
"No buts. If you can hold it, then defend it. If you can't, then surrender. I don't blame them." Yuan Jixian stared at the map and clenched his fists.
It is especially important not to mobilize the main force, especially the navy, during such times.
However, Zhang Xianzhong would not be fooled if there was no transfer.
"How about this? Send 3,000 armored soldiers to Wuchang to assist in the defense. As long as Wuchang is not lost, my food supply will not be cut off."
"Yes, sir."
The next morning, three thousand armored soldiers marched out of the city in a swagger and sailed downstream on the navy warships.
On the 30th day of the first lunar month, Zhang Xianzhong received news that Yuan Jixian was supporting Wuchang Prefecture.
He was already tired of waiting.
The role of Li Dingguo and Ai Nengqi was to attract the main force of the Ming army and create opportunities for him to enter southern Huguang.
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