Daming kill

Chapter 170
Imposing manner is the first impression Chen Sheng left on Li Ping.

And Chen Sheng's neat coarse plain clothes made people feel that this is definitely not a scholar who likes to be arty and boastful.

Then his family is still very good, which is even more rare.

According to Yang Ming, who had a pleasant conversation with him, Chen Shengzhi's talent is indisputable.

Shi Lei also believed that his reputation in Huangzhou Prefecture should be authentic and credible, because Shi Lei found enough witnesses easily and quickly.

After some conversation, Li Ping knew that his feeling was not wrong.

This is a scholar who is full of knowledge but very down-to-earth, and he is both gentle and elegant but also very quick-witted, which is easy to make people like him.

And Chen Sheng's series of abnormal actions before his arrest also seemed to confirm that he was definitely not a member of the peasant army, nor would he take the initiative to seek refuge with the peasants.

At least he didn't want the peasant army to think that he took the initiative to defect.

Although Chen Sheng came to Huangpi to visit friends, the reason why he couldn't escape was very lame.

"Sir, since you have done such a confidential matter, why did you say it so easily? Don't you worry about leaking it and making the matter fail?" Li Ping was very puzzled.

He simply couldn't believe what he was hearing.

But Chen Sheng smiled wryly and said: "General, your subordinates are like a pack of wolves who have found their prey. I really don't know how to get out. If I don't tell you, I won't even have the chance to go to the office. How can I fail?" !"

"That's not enough to tell the whole story! Don't you think you've said too much? This is the first time we've met, and we're not familiar at all!" Li Ping's doubts did not diminish in the slightest.

He is not one to be easily persuaded.

Although Li Ping also knew that Shi Lei might make Chen Sheng feel bad, and he might even make Chen Sheng feel depressed.

But it is too unreasonable for a spy who has such a heavy responsibility and has worked so hard to find refuge in just one morning to easily throw up his hands and admit defeat.

And how can a person who is willing to do such a dangerous thing not be mentally strong?How can you not be scheming?
"But if I hide it, how can the general judge the truth of what I said? Besides, the general can conquer Huangpi against the trend, so he is naturally a loyal minister of my Ming Dynasty. If I don't even believe you, who else can I trust?"

Chen Sheng had a determined expression, as if he was confident in his judgment.

"But if you tell me everything, will I believe it?" Li Ping still couldn't help asking.

"The general already believed it." Chen Sheng smiled.

Li Ping didn't like Chen Sheng's self-obsessed smile.

He also doesn't like to let others think that he can be determined, he can't help retorting angrily: "Don't be too confident!"

But Chen Sheng didn't take it seriously, he just suppressed his smile and said, "It's up to the general to believe it or not. But the general should understand that no matter what I say is true or not, I am actually harmless to you."

"Then you still say?" Li Ping almost blurted out.

"I need the general to help me. The general conquered Huangpi, which made me lose the opportunity to passively join Luo Rucai's army. And if I want to be trusted by them quickly, someone like me can't take the initiative to join me, because there is not enough reason." Chen Sheng said helplessly.

This time Li Ping didn't get stubborn again, and he didn't keep asking questions like before, but just said politely: "I need to think about it."

"It should." Chen Sheng's answer was very reasonable.

Then Chen Sheng ignored Li Ping and walked directly to the window of the hut where he was imprisoned, gently opened the window, and silently looked up at the clear sky outside.

Chen Sheng seemed to be extremely confident in everything, and he also knew that he needed to give Li Ping time.

Of course, Chen Sheng also seemed to be a little worried.

Li Ping didn't hesitate, and directly called Shi Lei, who was the only one allowed to listen, to leave the room.He had to digest the shocking news he had just heard, and he needed to discuss it with a smart person.

Li Ping felt that he was not good enough to complete the judgment, because it was too unbelievable.

Chen Sheng is a spy sent by the Ming government to sneak into Li Zicheng and Luo Rucai's side. The amount of information is too large and shocking.

This is a bit like the plot of a spy war drama in the 21st century, and it seems a bit out of tune with this era.But what Chen Sheng said was so plausible, and he also cited a lot of evidence.

In June of the 15th year of Chongzhen, Hou Xun, the right servant of the Ministry of War, said: "All the ministries of the joint operation among the thieves, such as Luo Rucai, can see that they have the heart of mergers, and they can guess from the shadows... Sincerity can save the court's discussion and practice foreign military law. , disregarding blame, disregarding favoritism, gathering troops thickly, raising prestige and accumulating strength, taking advantage of the gaps, crushing their hearts, and turning their hearts into evil."

This opinion was finally adopted by the Ming government, and several Ming generals stationed in Henan at that time carried out this task.

In the autumn of the 15th year of Chongzhen, the peasant army surrounded Kaifeng, and the governor Gao Mingheng implemented countermeasures.

He specially wrote a fake letter to Luo Rucai, but let the sender intentionally be captured by Li Zicheng's soldiers and horses on the road. Make an appointment with Luo Rucai to meet him.

Li Zicheng probably did not inform Luo Rucai of this matter, and the location of Luo Rucai's troops was later mobilized by Li Zicheng to stay away from Songjiazhai.

In September of the 15th year of Chongzhen, Yushi Wang Han, who patrolled Henan and was ordered to manage the reinforcements, also adopted countermeasures.

When he recovered a identifiable Li Zicheng spy, he deliberately pretended not to know his details, and asked if he was sent by Luo Rucai. Gone is the spy.

……

This series of vivid and directly named incidents really does not seem to be made up, and it is difficult to make it up, and it is not even necessary to make it up.

However, Li Ping couldn't figure out how these incidents could be known to Chen Sheng strangely.

Chen Sheng knew too much and too much detail.

According to Li Ping's experience from spy war dramas, Chen Sheng should not know about other spy operations.

This is basic common sense secrecy.

But Shi Lei thinks this is not contrary to common sense.

He believed that if Chen Sheng was completely ignorant of previous business affairs and high-level decisions, it would be difficult for anyone to persuade an already talented scholar like Chen Sheng to take the risk of death and directly infiltrate the enemy.

Chen Sheng should be the person or one of a group of people preparing to carry out the final blow.

This may also be the source of confidence for Chen Sheng to believe that he can complete the task of "adding firewood and fire", and it also shows that Chen Sheng was directly dispatched by a fairly high-level civil service system.

Zhou Wen affirmed Shi Lei's judgment.

Zhou Wen was the smart guy Li Ping was looking for.

Although he has doubts about Zhou Wen, Li Ping has to admit that Zhou Wen is currently the only person who can check and make up for omissions and remind him on key issues.

And Zhou Wen also recognized Shi Lei's judgment from his understanding of the scholar group and his values, and made further analysis.

Whether active or passive, there are very few Juren groups who join the Peasant Army, and few people hear about it except Niu Jinxing (Li Yan is not counted, whether he really exists is a controversy in the historical circle), mainly because this is completely inconsistent with the vast majority of scholars. value orientation.

Of course, the group of Ming officials who were captured and surrendered did not count, because the Peasant Army did not trust them at all.

If he didn't know a lot and be able to connect with the highest level, there is really no need for Chen Sheng not to take an official career that is easy to show his name and become a spy. Scholars usually think that they don't need to go through the desertion.

"I think what Chen Sheng said is credible." Shi Lei decisively gave his answer after receiving Zhou Wen's support.

But Duan Qiang was still in astonishment and disbelief, he was completely speechless to Li Ping's consulting gaze.

Duan Qiang is another person whose scope of knowledge has been expanded, because he is Shi Lei's immediate boss, it is not good to avoid him.

As for Ma Yong, he has already taken the head of the pseudo magistrate to report victory.

But with the opinions of Shi Lei and Zhou Wen, it was enough for Li Ping, he knew that he also had the answer.

……

At noon that day, the news that Huangpi officials and gentry asked to kill all those who had defected to the bandit army accidentally spread to the prison camp.

The prisoner camp soon became restless, and the officers and soldiers had to use force to suppress it.

But in the afternoon, the captives heard the officers and soldiers guarding them reassure them that they don't have to worry about their lives at all.

Chen Sheng, a scholar in Huangzhou who was briefly captured by their bandits, fought against Huangpi's elders and expressed his firm opposition to the indiscriminate killing.Afterwards, Chen Sheng also petitioned guerrilla Li Ping in person.

It is said that Chen Sheng received preferential treatment after he was taken into captivity.

Under Chen Sheng's lobbying, guerrilla Li Ping had clearly rejected the opinions of Huangpi officials and gentry.

The captives soon began to cry with joy one by one, and the name of Chen Sheng was engraved in the hearts of each of them.

When it was getting dark, Li Ping and Song Baolai listened to Shi Lei's latest report on a section of the city wall.

Song Baolai, who had just arrived and was already crazy about music, could miraculously endure and listen to the side all the time, all because he was also a curious baby.

And it is indeed rare to hear such a magical spy war plot.

Of course Li Ping had to fully cooperate with Chen Sheng in acting.

He has to do this in both public and private, because it might be a good line to catch up with the Daming civil official group.

As for whether Chen Sheng will succeed, he can't care about it.

But at least Li Ping knew that when Li Zicheng entered Beijing, Luo Rucai had indeed disappeared from the ranks of the peasant army.

"Tell Chen Sheng that he will suffer some grievances and hardships in the past few days. The officials and gentry in Huangpi will inevitably criticize him, and we will fan the flames again, so as not to cause trouble." Li Ping confessed.

Shi Lei immediately replied respectfully: "Mr. Chen also means the same thing, and I hope we can help him more."

"Well! Now that he understands, it's time for us to cut off all contact. This is the best protection for him."

"Understood, General." Shi Lei replied immediately, but immediately he asked for instructions again: "General, when do you think it is appropriate to arrange the escape of some of the prisoners?"

"As soon as possible! But be as real as possible, don't let all He Yilong's veterans run away, and don't let the officers and soldiers surrender and the Huangpi people who defected to the bandit army run away." Li Ping Some worriedly said.

"Please rest assured, General. But when will we withdraw from Huangpi?"

"I think it's just a couple of days, but it also depends on Zuo Zongbing's attitude."

While he was talking, Ma Yong appeared in a hurry. Seeing Li Ping from a distance, he couldn't help speeding up his pace and trotting, looking very anxious.

"Sir, the burglars have arrived in Hanchuan." Ma Yong shouted hastily before he stopped.

"What!" Song Baolai burst out.

"Is the news accurate?" Li Ping asked urgently, suppressing the shock in his heart.

Hanchuan is less than [-] kilometers away from Li Ping's garrison in East Lake in a straight line. The cavalry advances rapidly and can arrive in a few hours.

Without the river as a screen, East Lake would be very dangerous, and Li Ping's combat forces only retreated to a small part during the day, and most of them were still in Huangpi.

Ma Yong stopped steadily, took a few breaths, and said as calmly as possible: "The news is accurate. The general soldier has confirmed the news and asked me to inform the general that our men in the north of the Han River can arrange north Pass the water as a barrier."

Song Baolai couldn't help heaving a sigh of relief immediately, but then asked first: "Did you arrange it when you passed by East Lake?"

Immediately, Ma Yong looked at Li Ping strangely, and Shi Lei, who hadn't left yet, also changed his eyes.

"Crossing the river?" Li Ping asked in confusion.

After receiving an affirmative answer, Li Ping still only explained the matter as it stood: "Let's make arrangements immediately! We will immediately transfer half of our troops in Huangpi back to defense."

"Yes." Ma Yong answered loudly.

Ma Yong's sudden loud voice made Song Baolai finally realize what had happened, and for a moment he secretly glanced at Li Ping in embarrassment.

But Li Ping just said to Shi Lei as if nothing unusual happened: "The timing is very good tonight, it is inevitable that the guards will be in chaos."

"Understood." Shi Lei replied hastily.

"What did the commander-in-chief say about Huangpi?" Li Ping asked Ma Yong again.

"The commander-in-chief was overjoyed and praised him greatly. He also specially said that he would hold a banquet tonight to celebrate the general." Ma Yong finally said with a smile.

"A banquet tonight?" Li Ping was stunned.

Notes:

Chen Sheng is a real historical figure, some say he was sent by Ma Shiying, some say he was sent by Zuo Liangyu.

This article is more inclined to Chen Sheng being appointed by the civil official group, because he was taken captive in Huangzhou (Huangpi is not sure). From the perspective of geographical location, time point and trust relationship, the possibility of Zuo Liangyu is relatively small.

(End of this chapter)