Liu Tichun understood what Wu Zhiqi meant, looked around at the surrounding mountains and woods, pondered for a long time, and then said: "It's time for a big change in the situation of fighting each other, and now is a good time."

After a pause, he added: "Xingshan County cannot support the various armies and their families, but as the most core and safe base. The Qing army is pressing down on the border, and it is inevitable that our army will shrink and gather its strength into a fist.

."

Under the three-sided siege of the Qing army, if you still divide your troops to defend everywhere and defend the enemy outside the base area, you will be passive and will be defeated one by one.

In Liu Tichun's view, Maolu Mountain in Xingshan County has a dangerous terrain, and it is a hundred miles in radius, so there is enough room for movement.

The family members were sent away, and the troops only defended a few important places. They could defend them properly, but if they couldn't, they would move towards Xingshan. Sooner or later, they would have to join forces, and now he was just helping Xingshan protect the west wing.

As for who will be the leader after the joint venture, Liu Tichun doesn't care. Originally, he was the leader, but it was just a name and he didn't have much real power.

"The third prince will not allow one family to dominate. At least at the command level, there must always be a few princes. Even if the little tiger is the strongest and is the first to discover the third prince, he will not be able to take over all the power."

Liu Tichun had already thought clearly about it, and he also saw clues from the good news sent by Yuan Zongdi, which strengthened his idea of ​​taking this opportunity to join forces.

"With the third prince in the middle to communicate and coordinate, all the troops are united, united sincerely, and facing the enemy side by side. This great situation that I once longed for and expected is finally taking shape."

Liu Tichun let out a long breath and suddenly turned his gaze to the north, where he saw a dozen riders galloping towards him.

The letter with the seal of fire paint was presented to Liu Tichun. The messenger bowed and said: "The Duke of Linguo has ordered that this matter is urgent. Please read the letter and reply quickly to the Duke of Anhui."

Liu Tichun was a little stunned. He had just won the great victory in Yiling, so what could be so urgent?

Could it be that the military situation is not going well? It can't be possible. The main force of the Qing army in Huguang is in Yiling and has been nearly wiped out. It is impossible to mobilize troops and generals so quickly to make a comeback. Where is the threat?

With a feeling of anxiety and suspicion, Liu Tichun opened the letter and read it.

His brows slowly opened and then furrowed, and Liu Tichun read the letter carefully again.

After a long while, he slowly said: "The matter is so big that I can't explain clearly through the correspondence. In this way, you will reply to Duke Lin and rush to Xingshan in a few days to discuss with him and Mr. Huang face to face."
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The messenger hesitated for a moment, then bowed and said: "I would also like to ask the Duke to write a brief reply, so that I can do business when I return from my humble post."

"That's right." Liu Tichun nodded with a smile and said, "You guys go down and have a rest first. I will write a reply right away."

When he attacked Wushan again, Liu Tichun's first feeling was the same as Li Laiheng's, thinking that Yuan Zongdi and others had drifted and inflated after their great victory.

But when he saw that Huang Li agreed and would soon return to Xingshan to prepare for the counterattack against Wushan, Liu Tichun felt that it was not that simple.

"Could it be that just like the tunnel blasting, the Third Prince has the miraculous ability to break through Wushan?" Liu Tichun entered the house and wrote a letter, guessing in his mind.

Although conquering Wushan means completely crushing the Qing army's three-province encirclement and suppression campaign, even if the Eight Banners soldiers arrive, they will have to gather forces again and mobilize food and grass, which cannot be prepared in a few months.

But Liu Tichun also knew that Wushan was difficult to attack and Sichuan Governor Li Guoying was difficult to deal with.

And once it fails, all the fruits of victory in the Yiling victory may be lost, and the renewed morale of the military may collapse again.

"If you are really sure, you might as well strike while the iron is hot and use the remaining power of the victory to attack Wushan. But the specific decision must wait until we discuss it with the third prince, Li Laiheng."

Liu Tichun finished writing the letter, dried the handwriting, put it in an envelope, sealed it with wax, and then ordered his soldiers to deliver it to the messenger.

………………

River ships docked one by one, and thousands of prisoners became laborers carrying large bags. They transported grain and grass supplies from the city and loaded them on ships for shipment, but they did not dare to resist or complain at all.

"Why is it that once you become a captive, you are like a docile lamb, with no desire to resist or escape? Is it because you don't have enough to eat and have no strength?"

Huang Li couldn't understand this. A few Ming soldiers with guns and knives could guard a large group of prisoners and beat and scold them at will.

Hao Yaoqi and Ta Tianbao led 15,000 troops and an auxiliary force composed of 5,000 prisoners, and had already set off to advance towards Dangyang.

The remaining prisoners only had one meal of gruel a day, and their eyes were so hungry that they were blue-eyed. Finally, they came to work and had enough food to eat. These Qing soldiers were very motivated, and they just had to shout slogans.

.

Even so, the Ming soldiers who guarded them did not have a friendly attitude. They just looked displeased, their fists and kicks were light, and their sticks and riding whips fell from time to time.

"It looks pitiful, but it is really hateful. He is not only an enemy who fights with swords, but also a bandit who harms the people and an executioner who slaughters his compatriots."

Huang Li turned away his eyes and saw a hundred and eighty wooden cages hanging on the city in the distance.

That was the head of an officer of the Qing army. It was not only a deterrent to the remaining prisoners, but also a punishment for the crimes they committed against the people.

As for Dong Xueli, Mu Shenghui and other senior generals of the Qing army, the suggestions put forward by the spy chief Gao Hongzhi were strongly endorsed by Yuan Zongdi, Hao Yaoqi and others.

The captured people were executed secretly, and the bodies of those killed in battle were also collected, and it was collectively referred to as surrender anyway. Since you are a traitor, you must have the consciousness to be liquidated.

Although they are dead, they are still alive in the hearts of the Qing court, resenting their rebellion and incompetence, and will punish them to serve as a warning to others.

After the news spreads, the Qing government will definitely not be polite to their families. Let those traitors who still work for the Qing government see that not only do they get no benefits, but they also offend their families.

It was Huang Li's suggestion to kill officers and retain soldiers to see the consequences. From the perspective of avenging the people and upholding justice, he wished he could kill all the captives of the Qing soldiers.

In the end, reason prevailed. He could not create greater difficulties and troubles for future battles just for the sake of pleasure.

If the Qing army knew that there was no way to survive if they surrendered, they would resist desperately, causing the Ming army to shed more blood and kill more people.

Alas! This is really a difficult choice. You can only settle for the next best thing, which makes people feel depressed and confused.

Several artillery pieces were transported to the dock, all of which were copper artillery pieces weighing four to five hundred kilograms. There were also heavier ones, but there were no suitable lifting facilities. It was very difficult to transport them onto the ship and then unload them, so they would be transported back by land.
Chapter completed!