Chapter 151 Betrayal
Chapter 151 Betrayal
Senggelinqin had just been awarded the title of Prince Bodolgatai by the imperial court, a hereditary title, and was authorized to command and dispatch troops from the five provinces of Zhili, Shandong, Henan, Hubei, and Anhui to encircle and suppress the Nian bandits.
The Huai Army has now theoretically become his subordinates and must obey his orders.
After delivering the monk king's order, the Mongolian messenger walked away with his head held high. Suddenly, a stone somehow happened to hit the horse's leg, causing the horse to stumble and the Mongolian soldier fell down in a mess, landing face first in the mud.
Seeing the Mongolian soldier's teeth knocked out and his mouth full of blood, Tian Xing laughed, "I recognized him. He whipped my back outside Shunyi City. I finally got my revenge."
"Brother Tian, you always slander me and never take revenge on me. You are really petty."
"I call this taking revenge, and you call this being petty."
Well, it's always easy to criticize others when you can't cut yourself...
The two brothers laughed and talked for a while, and then Zhang Zhidong came over. The three of them squatted down by the Huai River and whispered.
"Brother, how did Zhang Lexing suddenly come to his senses? He just lost a battle. Wouldn't it be easy for the Nian Army to recruit new troops?"
"Dong Zhixin's rebellion this time made him sad. Dong Zhixin controlled the musket troops, and they were his absolute confidants. He defeated Senggelinqin several times, but the imperial court's troops were endless, and the more they fought, the more they grew. It seemed that the Nian Army had no way out. Brother Zhang was tired, and it had something to do with you, my second brother."
"I didn't hit him, I even gave him money and guns..."
"But you managed the northern Anhui Province in an orderly manner and dug out the roots of the Nian Army. After his defeat in Qi County, he wanted to advance to Xuzhou via Luyi and then to southern Shandong as before, coercing the people along the way and expanding his strength. As a result, when he entered Bozhou, we found that there were weirs everywhere in our territory. We couldn't take it down in a hurry, couldn't rob the food, and couldn't coerce the people. So he had to withdraw from Anhui in disgrace and return to Henan."
Shao Quanzhong and Zhang Zhidong smiled at each other. The Huai Army's territory was solid, and this strategy was most effective against bandits like the Nian Army.
"My second brother, if all the local officials in the court acted like you, wouldn't the court become increasingly powerful? Would we still be able to rule the country?"
Zhang Zhidong narrowed his eyes and smiled, "Commander Tian, you are worrying too much. Setting up an insurance team is a huge expense, and we are the only ones who have the money. Other local officials, even if they have money, put it in their own pockets. Are they willing to spend it on the people?"
Shao Quanzhong chuckled, "If all the officials in the court could be like me, I would immediately be an obedient citizen and have no other ideas. But is this possible? How did the Qing Dynasty become what it is now? Why did so many people follow the Taiping and Nian Rebellions? It's because the court keeps these bastard officials who can't stop eating shit."
"Oh, second brother, Brother Zhang Lexing is not completely disappointed. He still has a way to go to Shaanxi to meet up with Chen Decai. However, we have to get out of the way——"
"That won't work!"
Shao Quanzhong shook his head firmly.
"Now that Duolong'a is winning victory after victory in Shaanxi, we don't have to go to Shaanxi. If Zhang Lexing and Chen Decai join forces and become more powerful, Duolong'a will not be able to resist. The delaying tactics formulated by Brother Zhang have finally succeeded, but will be in vain. We must not lose the opportunity to expand into Nanjing."
"Brother Zhang said that he can choose to rush through our defense line to Shaanxi. Even if he rushes alone, his prestige can instantly attract tens of thousands of people. He can also surrender to Shao instead of the Tatars, but there is one condition - kill Senggelinqin."
Senggelinqin was Zhang Lexing's old rival. He had been defeated many times over the years, and then went back to recruit soldiers and came back again. Zhang Lexing was disgusted by the old guy and could not vent his anger unless he beat him to death.
Shao Quanzhong closed his eyes and thought deeply. He remembered that Senggelinqin should have lived for more than two years, but he died at the hands of Zhang Zongyu and Lai Wenguang. But since he was here, it would not hurt to kill him earlier...
Shao Quanzhong looked at Zhang Zhidong. Zhang Zhidong closed his eyes and thought for a moment. Then he opened his eyes, flashing a cold light. "It's not difficult to kill the monk king, but it's hard to let someone take the blame. I have a plan. Zhang Lexing needs to sacrifice one of his subordinates and pretend to surrender to the enemy."
Shao Quanzhong laughed loudly, "No need to pretend, I know a man who will definitely surrender to the enemy."…………
In the wilderness between Xiangcheng and Xuchang, the five thousand Nian troops were in low morale and lying everywhere.
Zhang Lexing stood with his hands behind his back, looking at the wilderness with a melancholy face, and beside him was the bearded bandit Skywalker.
"Report! Report to King Wo, the latest scouts report that Senggelinqin's pursuers are still 150 miles away from us. With the speed of his cavalry, he can catch up with us in two days of rapid march. Yinghan, the governor of Suzhou, led 2,000 militia to help the tyrant and set up camp ten miles to our east. Ahead, between Xuchang and Tongbai, the Huai Army has dug deep trenches and high fortifications, and has dug countless trenches. There are dense mines in the middle, which has blocked our way to Shaanxi."
"I see, let's go."
Zhang Lexing was not worried about the road ahead being blocked or the pursuers behind him. Unlike Chen Yucheng who did not trust Tian Xing, Tian Xing was a good friend he had made before the rebellion, so he still trusted him very much.
"Brother Tian, will Li Qinbang really betray me? He is my old brother who helped me start my career."
"Is Dong Zhixin your old brother? When the tree falls, the monkeys scatter. After Chen Yucheng left, the Heavenly Kingdom was about to end. How many people in the Heavenly Kingdom would be like King Ying and King Fu and refuse to surrender to the Qing Dynasty? Not to mention the Nian Army."
"I still don't believe it—"
"Report, the leader of the Blue Flag, Li Qinbang, wants to see you."
Li Qinbang took the initiative to lead 2,000 blue flag soldiers to fight against Yinghan. Zhang Lexing's face was ashen, "It's really no use. People's hearts are scattered. Can you kill Senggelinqin this time? I won't do it anymore. I will listen to you and accompany King Ying and King Fu."
Zhang Lexing fought Senggelinqin to death and suffered heavy losses. Li Qinbang was Zhang Lexing's close confidant and sworn brother. Zhang Lexing made him a reserve soldier to preserve his strength. Now -
"Alas! When we first became sworn brothers——"
Zhang Lexing looked up at the sky, tears streaming down his eyes.
The next day, when Senggelinqin's army was still one day away, Li Qinbang claimed that he had defeated Yinghan and cordially invited Zhang Lexing to inspect the results of the battle.
Zhang Lexing led a few personal soldiers into the Blue Flag military camp, and swordsmen and axemen came out, and Zhang Lexing was tied up.
Yinghan burst out laughing, "Zhang Ni, did you ever think this day would come?"
Zhang Lexing was not afraid. "My son Zhang Xi is in charge of the troops in the camp. Even if I die, the Nian Army will not disperse. I will not surrender to you, a mere prefect. If Senggelinqin comes to persuade me personally, Zhang can persuade my son and all the Nian Army to surrender."
"Okay! I will meet your request."
Yinghan curled his lips. Zhang Ni actually wanted to rely on his merit in winning over the Nian Army to surrender to avoid death. I'll let you live for one more day, and then you and your son will be tortured to death together.
He didn't notice that a bearded soldier had been following closely behind Li Qinbang. Li Qinbang's face was not very good, probably because he had just betrayed his master and brother...
A day later, Senggelinqin's army arrived.
(End of this chapter)