Begging in late Ming Dynasty

Chapter 217 Break up
"Damn it, the officers and soldiers are so unreliable!"

On the battlefield, any tactical action of the army is extremely dangerous, especially retreating. If you don’t see the battle of fat and water, the 98 former Qin army killed more than [-] Beifu soldiers because of improper retreat. The sun had already set in the west, and the peasant army also had scruples and did not pursue and kill them. They maintained their formation and retreated cautiously. They retreated for more than a mile, which can be regarded as a safe radius of retreat. Come down to camp.

Outside they were still busy setting up tents and setting up Luzhai, while inside the Chinese army had just been set up, Song Qingshu smashed his knife on the ground in a rage.

The military order that Qiu Ming received was to support Xinzhou within five days and to join other armies. Now that the Yanmenguan army has arrived, there is no sign of any army, especially Xu Dingguo, the commander-in-chief. The magistrate is a replica of Ximen's high official, and he is not even allowed to enter the city.

Now it is equal to the side of Yanmen Pass, independently fighting against Cao Ying and the 8 peasant army of Gezuo Fifth Battalion. Why is Song Qingshu so loyal to the Ming Dynasty?Help the government fight against the bandits by yourself?

I could also see Song Qingshu's anger, for fear that he would retreat and leave him behind, Qiu Ming put on a bitter face again, and said good things sadly from the sidelines.

"Calm down, Commander Qu, what kind of morals are our officers and soldiers? You, you know, sometimes they say that they are seven percent effective in defending against thieves, and very effective in defending against the army. I am afraid that I will enter the city to rob. He handsomely understands."

Seeing this pitiful appearance, Song Qingshu almost laughed out of breath. Qiu Ming is no one who can degrade himself to such a degree. He shook his head dumbfounded, and Song Qingshu sat down on the handsome chair again. superior.

However, this also vividly reflects the grotesqueness of the Ming Dynasty. On the one hand, it has to rely on these soldiers and horses, generals to resist the Manchus and suppress the peasant army. The deduction was so severe that I really wanted to tell the horse to run away, but I didn't give the horse any grass, so I said that the guards at Yanmen Gate had owed their salary for more than five months.

It's no wonder that Qiu Mingke deducted the military salary to feed his family and soldiers. This amount of money is not enough to maintain the combat effectiveness of the army. If it is distributed on average, no one can have enough food. At critical moments, there is not even an assault force that can be used. Waiting for death in the war, right?

"Don't worry, Shuai Qu, we won't let us enter the city. The Xinzhou government must say something. Before long, there will definitely be some people who will send food and money. We don't want a single penny of the money and food. We will give it to Shuai Qu!"

Qiu Ming followed up with a flattering face again, and said with a smile, at this time, a soldier outside really came, hurriedly knelt outside the tent, and reported loudly: "Report, General! Xinzhou City Come on!"

"Look, I said it! Please!"

Qiu Ming was overjoyed immediately, turned his head and shouted to the outside world.

You still have to pretend in front of people, Song Qingshu and Qiu Ming changed positions, he stood, Qiu Ming sat on the handsome seat, the two of them waited, and after waiting for a long time, a guy who looked like a master wandered in at the door , that pace is really like a duck, with two splayed feet, head held high, and only a few beards can be seen.

"General Qiu, isn't that right? Old master Xinzhou Mansion Master, Zhao Zhifu asked this old man to bring you a message, telling you to turn the army two miles southeast and guard Zhuangzi by the river, don't squat under the city wall."

Qiu Ming came to happily wait for the money and food to be delivered to his door, but he suddenly said something that made Qiu Ming's smiling face froze there, and Song Qingshu was also dumbfounded for a long time, and he was simply happy.

"Is Zhifu Zhao crazy? Now that we are outnumbered, leaning on the city wall, supported by artillery fire on the wall, our army still has the strength to fight. Let me guard Pozhuangzi next to the Hutuo River. Is there any use for defending Pozhuangzi? "

Really angry to the extreme, Qiu Ming roared like thunder, slapped the table and jumped up.Hearing his anger, the master who came actually narrowed his eyes and stared at him dangerously like a snake.

"Po Zhuangzi? Do you know that the Po Zhuangzi you are talking about is the property of the governor of Xuanda, the property of the governor of Shanxi, and the property of a large number of censors and cabinet masters in the capital. Selling thousands of you poor soldiers It’s not worth it, you poor man, I’ll tell Lord Zhao when you go back to the old man! Lord General, whether you want to move or not, you can decide for yourself!”

After finishing speaking, the old man flicked his sleeves arrogantly, turned around and went out.

The blood vessels on his neck were jumping with anger, and the veins on his forehead were even more bulging. Qiu Ming turned around several times like a lion caught in a trap, and finally pulled out the knife abruptly, and slashed into his side with a click. in the chair.

It was the first time I saw this person so angry, and I definitely couldn't pretend it. It was rare to sympathize with him. Song Qingshu helplessly persuaded: "General Qiu, you have been in the officialdom for a long time, and you should have known about the virtues of the officialdom. ?”

"That's right, since my father, he has been called around like a dog by this group of officials, so my father fought desperately and left such a thousand households for me. Before he died, he told me to give it to Qiu. Do your best and hold your chest out like a human being!"

"At first, I thought that if I became this independent general, I would be able to look like a human being, and I would be able to honor my ancestors like a master, damn it! I can see it clearly. Even if I become the general soldier, in the eyes of these masters Still barking around like a dog, you bastards!"

Holding on to the armrest, Qiu Ming panted heavily and sat back on the chair, turned his head and punched Song Qingshu fiercely again: "Shuai Qu, our old Qiu is helpless now, you have an idea! You say retreat , let's go tonight!"

It's no wonder that according to the history books, these generals will leave with their soldiers and horses at every turn, and throw the supervisors to the battlefield to die. Sometimes it is indeed to the limit, and sometimes it is because the attitude of these civil servants is too Grass!

Song Qingshu also wanted to leave, but unfortunately, now is not the time.

The Ming army lost consecutive battles, but the generals became more and more domineering. As the peasant army ran across the country, the court's control over the generals declined. For example, He Renlong fled without a fight in the Battle of Xiangcheng, and directly threw Governor Wang Qiaonian away. On the battlefield, he was killed by Chuangjun, but the imperial court did not dare to deal with him, so he could only be dismissed and retained. Instead, several generals and lieutenants who had fought desperately with Li Zicheng and wiped out all their own soldiers were killed and dealt with. This is unfair, making the Ming army more and more alienated.

But that happened 13 years after Chongzhen. Now the peasant army is still limited to Shanxi and Shaanxi provinces. It has not traveled across the country. Going back like this, even if he doesn't lose his head, Qiu Ming will lose his official position, and all his investment in him will be in vain!
Besides, Song Qingshu had other plans.

"Don't worry! Come with me tonight and make plans then!"

Full of mystery, Song Qingshu smiled and shook his head without any hesitation, Qiu Ming still raised his fist.

"Qu Shuai, Lao Qiu will go wherever you say!"

…………

After staying until midnight, almost all the army had completely set up their camp under the city. Only then did Song Qingshu call Li Tiezhu, and carefully walked out of the camp with a dozen of his own soldiers.

It's so dark at night, even if the city can't see a range of tens of meters, a dozen people are holding a lantern, it's like a will-o'-the-wisp at night, I'm not afraid of being discovered easily, I followed Song Qingshu, and I was still angry at first Humph, but after walking for seven or eight minutes, Qiu Ming couldn't bear it anymore, looked around and shouted in astonishment.

"Qu Shuai, are we going to the thief camp?"

"Yes, to meet some old friends."

Listening to what Song Qingshu said plainly, Qiu Ming was suddenly in a trance, and now he remembered that he, the boss, was also a member of the 36th Rogue Battalion, but after being in contact with him for so long, Qiu Ming still couldn't distinguish Song Qingshu from what he used to fight. The thieves who have passed are linked together.

Just when Qiu Ming felt awkward, Song Qingshu said with a smile.

"Okay, here we are."

The listening place is a small dirt bag, and several people have been waiting there for a long time. Looking closely, there are also a circle of guards parked around, sitting cross-legged beside a fire. The innermost one is a pointed head with triangular eyes, waxy yellow. The guy with a rather gloomy face, the blue-eyed guy next to him is not a Han at first glance, with a curly yellow beard and a ragged cotton jacket, the two men on the opposite side are wearing the old military uniform of the Ming army, and the last one is a private Saltmonger dress up.

Not next to the fire, there was a man yelling for meat. He was also in tattered military uniform of the Ming army. His son had cross-eyed eyes, and he couldn't see clearly. The contrast with his strong body was too great.

"Hehe, Cao Shuai is so excited to drink and barbecue on the moon!" Song Qingshu laughed and chanted from a long distance away, and the six people around the fire trembled when he heard it. He didn't stand up, just sat cross-legged on the ground, sneered and said sarcastically.

"My old Luo said that the man looks familiar today. After the Battle of Hequ, the Big Idiot Battalion disappeared. It turned out that he had taken refuge in the government and became a dog for the government army!"

Except for Lao Huihui, the other four also showed disdain and sneered.

After all, I have worked with Song Qingshu for a while, so I have some friendship. When I came back to Ma Shouying, I smoothed things over and said, "Perhaps Brother Song has some unspeakable difficulties, and we have no other choice. It happened that our seven battalions met. Brother Song simply turned against his mother." Yes! Let's take down the city of Niaozhou together, what do you think?"

"Reverse?" Song Qingshu himself sneered, facing the six people, his giggling laughter was like that of a night ghost in the dark night, Ge Liyan, Zuo Jinwang and the others felt their hairs stand on end. , Cao Cao also groaned uncomfortably, "Fool Song, what are you laughing at?"

"You guys made a mistake. It wasn't that I took refuge in the government army, it was that the government army took refuge in me! You don't care if you beat me in Xinzhou, but I will tell you one thing when I come here. The north of Xinzhou is my territory. You No one is allowed to take another step north!"

"Why?"

Hearing Song Qingshu's arrogant tone, the faces of the six people became ugly, especially Cao Cao, who had a long time ago. Luo Rucai squinted a pair of triangular eyes, and asked coldly. Song Qingshu's laughter stopped suddenly, and his hands came out like lightning. He took out a short gun from his waist.

Six consecutive gunshots were fired, and a series of sparks hit Cao Cao in front of his feet. The jumping guy roared in shock and backed up seven or eight steps. With a whoosh, all the peasant soldiers in the surrounding darkness drew their knives and rushed up. At the same time, Li Tiezhu and the others also pulled out the double revolvers from their waists, pointing proudly forward, and Song Qingshu said with a sneer to Cao Cao who was startled and furious.

"Just rely on the firearm in my hand!"

It seems that the talk has collapsed, and even the wine and meat are not needed. The Fifth Battalion of Ge Zuo and Cao Cao retreated on guard, and Song Qingshu did not stay long. The two parties put away their weapons in tacit agreement almost at the same time, and hurriedly galloped backward into the darkness.

This short gathering, which seemed like a meeting between the black bosses, just broke up...

(End of this chapter)