: Wang Yangwei

The road to Shu is difficult, but it is harder than going up to the sky. If you don’t walk in Bashu for a while, you will never know how important this sentence is.

Li Zicheng did not think that Bashu was difficult to catch. In his opinion, as long as he had confidence and the troops worked together, there would be no mountains, rivers that could not be broken through. However, when he came to northern Sichuan, he finally understood the meaning of the difficulty of Shu Road. Here, it was not the imperial army or the chieftain soldiers entrenched everywhere, but the mountains and rivers that were lying all over the surroundings.

There are high mountain cliffs on both sides of Jianmen Pass and steep mountain roads. From the low point, it looks like a giant city built on a high place. The blue city wall is like a bloody mouth, swallowing the passing creatures. Under the dark clouds, one man is the pass that cannot be opened, and the natural pass is led. Li Zicheng and Li Yangchun have taken turns to launch countless attacks on Jianmen Pass. They have attacked for several days in a row, but they still have not been able to seize this world's majestic pass.

As the first month was about to pass, even Gao Yingxiang felt the pressure at this time. The reinforcements from the court were probably already halfway. If they could not take Jianmen Pass, there would be only two roads left to go. They would either retreat back to Hanzhong, enter Shaanxi northward, and continue to plunder the northwest with Wang Ziyong, or fight with them, and strive to take Jianmen Pass before the reinforcements of the government arrived.

To be honest, by this time, the peasant army had already lost confidence. Qin Liangyu on the city was not a woman, but he was no worse than Wu Guofu. He thought that Wu Guofu was killed in battle and the troops and horses in northern Sichuan were in chaos, but he never thought that Qin Liangyu was so difficult to deal with. Niu Jinxing asked someone to inquire, and gradually got some understanding of Qin Liangyu and Sichuan.

In Bashu, what is really scary is not the imperial army, but the chieftains entrenched in various places. These chieftains live here for generations and have been passed down for generations, such as Qin Liangyu's husband's family, and are also old chieftains who have been passed down for more than ten generations. Qin Liangyu can control the imperial army and not cause trouble, which is also due to this. Many chieftains in Bashu followed Qin Liangyu's leader. Qin Liangyu defended Jiange to the death, and chieftains from all over the country did not dare to neglect them. What's more, the chieftains did not want the peasant army to make trouble on their territory, and they fought desperately.

To the north of Jianmen Pass, in the dilapidated town, Gao Yingxiang and others gathered together to discuss the next plan. Everyone was hanging their heads, not daring to breathe, and even Li Zicheng did not dare to speak nonsense. Now Gao Yingxiang is full of anger, and everyone is afraid of saying the wrong thing and causing trouble.

Since Wang Jiayin's death, the peasant army has been divided into two parts. Gao Yingxiang and Wang Ziyong are not convinced and compete in secret, and they both want to compete for the new top position of the peasant army. They go south to Hanzhong and leave Shaanxi to create a new world.

The land of Bashu has thousands of miles of fertile soil, which is easier to defend and difficult to attack, and is also a place that the court does not care much about. Gao Yingxiang’s first idea was to learn from Liu Xuande, occupy Bashu, and develop slowly, even radiate to Huguang and become kings. Everything went smoothly, and the army went south and took Hanzhong without any effort. Unfortunately, the Hanzhong Plain is a place that is easy to attack and difficult to defend. Otherwise, Gao Yingxiang would have been like staying in Hanzhong and not leaving.

Continue to go south and enter the land of Bashu, but he never wanted to attack the first Jianmen Pass, and he was bleeding. In contrast, Wang Ziyong was in a prosperous position in Shaanxi. Taking advantage of the opportunity of the officers and soldiers' attention to Bashu, he actually took down the Hetao Plain in one fell swoop.

The Hetao Plain is a grain bag in the entire northwest. I heard that there are still many places waiting for development in Hetao. If Wang Ziyong has been able to develop for two years, what would it be?

In any case, Gao Yingxiang didn't want to lose to Wang Ziyong, "Everyone, do you have a wonderful plan? If we can't get the Jianmen Pass, it will be difficult for us to move forward."

Feeling Gao Yingxiang's sharp gaze, Li Zicheng and others felt bitter in their hearts and their heads lowered. Gao Yingxiang glanced around and his eyes fell on Niu Jinxing. Niu Jinxing only felt his back tight and his thoughts were changing. Niu Jinxing knew very well that if he didn't want a satisfactory plan, his fate would not be very good, because the plan to go south to become independent was proposed by Niu, who was proposed by him.

Now the army is parked in front of Jianmen Pass, and it is impossible to advance or retreat. If something really happens, Gao Yingxiang must be the first person to kill him. Compared with Wang Jiayin, Gao Yingxiang looks more kind, but Niu Jinxing knows that Gao Yingxiang is much more decisive and cruel than Wang Jiayin. When he betrayed Wang Jiayin and defected to Gao Yingxiang, he was attracted by these qualities of Gao Yingxiang. In this chaotic world, only people like Gao Yingxiang can achieve unparalleled careers.

With his eyebrows deep and thinking for a long time, Niu Jinxing bowed and said, "King of Chuang, let's see, Qin Liangyu guards the Sword Gate to the death. In this case, if there is no miracle, it will be difficult for us to hit Jianmen Pass. For the sake of the present, we can only turn to other places. As long as we can get out of this hundred-mile mountain, the court still has no way to do anything to us."

Gao Yingxiang frowned, and a hint of impatience flashed in his eyes, "Mr. Niu, now we are trapped here, how should we break out? You don't want your brothers to go west to Long'an Mansion, do you?"

Gao Yingxiang smiled, but the slight chill in his eyes was still captured by Niu Jinxing. Niu Jinxing's heart skipped a beat, and cold sweat had already oozed out of his forehead. He believed that as long as he said he would go to Long'an Mansion, Gao Yingxiang would chop Niu Jinxing's head down and pour it into the chamber pot without hesitation.

If the army enters Long'an Mansion, it looks like it will be happy, but to the west of Long'an Mansion is Minshan Mountain, and Songpanwei at the foot of Minshan Mountain is even more full of chieftains. At that time, the chieftains gather heavy troops to block Minshan Mountain, and the imperial soldiers and horses block Jianmen Pass and Chaotian Pass with Qin Liangyu. By that time, the peasant army will have to be trapped in Long'an Mansion and wait for death.

So, looking the easiest to the west, but it is actually a dead end. Niu Jinxing tried hard to calm himself down, and a smile appeared on his face. He raised his hand, shook his sleeves, and coughed twice, covering up his panic.

"King of Chuang, in fact, we are not the only way to the south. Since this road is not open, why don't we go east? As long as we can cross Baizhang Pass, cross Qingshui River and Bajiang, break into Kuizhou, and then enter Huguang Zhushan along the north. At that time, we want to go to Huguang to Huguang, and to Henan to Henan, what can the official army do to me? However, the subordinates suggest that those who have obtained the Central Plains have won the world since ancient times. As long as the King of Chuang goes out of Huguang and enters near Luoyang, they will surely shock the world. At that time, people who have heard the news will definitely be in constant force. With the supplies from the Central Plains, we will find another place to live, and we will surely achieve a stunning hegemony."

Niu Jinxing's eyes shone with a little hysterical madness. Gao Yingxiang narrowed his eyes, as if he had seen the magnificent blueprint realize little by little in front of him. Gao Yingxiang smiled, but Li Zicheng and others were furious.

Li Yangchun stood up and pointed at Niu Jinxing and said angrily: "Niu Jinxing, I think you are crazy. If you don't talk about Baizhang Pass, just say that Bajiang is a natural dangerous place. The water flows in the Bajiang River. It's still winter. Let your brothers cross the Bajiang River. Are you asking your brothers to die? What are you feeling at ease?"

Since ancient times, there has been a saying in northern Sichuan that you can cross the Bajiang River in winter and meet the King of Hell alive. The meaning of this sentence means that the Bajiang River is difficult to cross, and even if you don’t die, you will have to peel off your skin. It is equivalent to saying hello to the King of Hell.

Li Yangchun had been to Bajiang before, and he knew how terrible the Bajiang was. In winter, Bajiang was a giant python that swallowed people. In winter, crossing Bajiang, three out of ten times. When Li Yangchun thought of countless brothers dying in the vast Bajiang, he felt heartbroken.

In fact, since Niu Jinxing killed Wang Jiayin's leader, Li Yangchun has disliked him a little. Li Yangchun always felt that Niu Jinxing was not upright and too cruel, but why did King Chuang reuse this person?

Wang Yan, Hua Xiaorong and others also disagreed. Faced with the accusations of everyone, Niu Jinxing remained unmoved. When Li Yangchun sat down, he shook his sleeves and smiled coldly and arrogantly: "Captains, you must always sacrifice for victory. As long as you cross Bajiang and break into Henan, all the casualties are worth it. Don't forget that you can get another person if you lose it."

Li Yangchun only felt a sense of hostility coming, and his head buzzed. For some reason, he felt that he understood Niu Jinxing's eyes. What the peasant army lacked the most was people, right?

I don’t know which sentence touched Gao Yingxiang, but it seemed that he hadn’t hesitated for long. Gao Yingxiang raised his hand and said, “Okay, don’t argue anymore, just do as Mr. Niu wants. Instead of being trapped here, it’s better to break through Baizhang Pass and Naba River!”

At this moment, Li Yangchun felt a little cold. He even began to wonder if it was wrong to surrender to Gao Yingxiang. Crossing the Bajiang River, was the idea that Niu Jinxing thought temporarily, or had already made a plan, but he just didn't say it, but to use Niu Jinxing's mouth to say it. Because in this way, no matter how many people died, it had nothing to do with the King of Chuang. The one who was cruel and ruthless was Niu Jinxing, not the King of Chuang.

In fact, what Li Yangchun guessed was also Niu Jinxing guessed.

Li Yangchun was just suspicious, while Niu Jinxing was sure. King Chuang had long thought about how to go next, but many people would die across the Bajiang River, so the idea of ​​King Chuang could not be said, and there must be another person to resist the infamy.

The King of Chuang said to go west at first, but not east. This is the King of Chuang. It is precisely because of certainty that Niu Jinxing is full of confidence.

......

A long time ago, there was a legend in northern Sichuan, called Sword Gate locking the throat, which was a hundred feet high to the sky.

Jianmen Pass guards the important road of Bashu. Chaotian Pass and Baizhang Pass are like two arms, guarding the northern sides of Jianmen Pass. No matter who breaks in, it is like breaking into a pocket. This is the charm of Jianmen Pass. From ancient times to the present, many heroes have failed here, and Gao Yingxiang is just one of them.

On the 24th day of the first lunar month of the third year of Chongzhen, a large number of peasant soldiers rushed towards Baizhang Pass. They followed the cliffs, not afraid of life and death, just to climb the bluestone at the top of Baizhang Pass. The team of thousands of people under Li Zicheng was like crazy, rushing to Cangxi Ridge on the south side of Baizhang Pass. After two days of fierce battle, Li Zicheng successfully broke through Cangxi Ridge. The peasant army immediately pressed the west side of Baizhang Pass south, passed Songjiang, and crossed Cangxi Ridge.

The Baizhang Pass defenders rushed to Cangxi Ridge, trying to block the gap, but were blocked by Li Yangchun's army. Qin Liangyu was also shocked. She really didn't expect the peasant army to break through Baizhang Pass, because to the east were Qingshui River and Bajiang River. It was okay to say that the Qingshui River was fast, and the waterway that the most powerful boatmen in northern Sichuan were unwilling to take.

"No, we must hold back these rebels and cannot let them cross the Bajiang River!" Qin Liangyu made a quick decision and immediately recruited chieftain soldiers and ordered his two brothers to lead troops to help Baizhang Pass in person.

Qin Liangyu's reaction was extremely fast, but the peasant army had already responded. Li Zicheng led more than 4,000 people to block the west of Baizhang Pass and blocked the chieftain soldiers who were rushing for help. Qin Liangyu made his last effort, but he still watched the peasant army flee from Jianmen Pass to Bajiang.

The Cangxiling Bridge was destroyed, and Qin Liangyu couldn't catch it even if he wanted to. The land of Bashu was covered with mountains and rivers, with many rivers, and 30,000 mountains were thrilling step by step. No one knew when he would fall into the trap.

The ancient Bajiang River, even though it still roared in winter, gave birth to the Bashu Plain and also divided Bazhou into two. Thinking about passing Bajiang, they must take Bazhou, but with the current situation of the peasant army, they did not have enough time to attack Bazhou, so they could only force the Bajiang River from the northern part of Bazhou.

Faced with this death chasm, the peasant army did not stop advancing eastward. Gao Yingxiang secretly ordered Li Yangchun to lead his troops to block the road to the west and force everyone to cross the river. The winter is as cold as a knife, the river roars, crossing the Ba River, and the ending can be imagined.

The limited ships were left to the leaders, and the poor soldiers could only cross the river in groups. The number of peasant soldiers was too large, and it took three days to cross the river.

After crossing the Bajiang River, 30% of the people were swallowed up by the Bajiang River, and some of them were infected with the cold, which caused heavy losses. At this point, many people in the peasant army cursed Li Yangchun, saying that he was as dark as ink and took human life into consideration.

Li Yangchun could only bear it. How could these people know that the order was given by Gao Yingxiang. It was not him who killed him, Li Yangchun, but Gao Yingxiang.

Who would like to do such a thankless thing? The King of Chuang couldn't bear to let Li Zicheng, so he asked him to take on it. Hey, he is not his own.

......

After crossing the Bajiang River, the peasant army robbed Kuizhou and headed eastward. In early February, they broke into Huguang and were in Zhushan County.

No one can understand this era, nor can one can understand people's hearts. Crossing the Bajiang River, the peasant army suffered heavy losses, but when the peasant army arrived in Zhushan County, its troops not only did not decrease, but also increased by 30,000 people. Gao Yingxiang's troops, a large army of 100,000, like locusts passing through the border, crushing everything.

On the second day of the second month of the third year of Chongzhen, the dragon raised its head, and the peasant army surrounded Zhushan. The Zhushan County Magistrate opened the city to surrender. The peasant army occupied Zhushan without any effort.

At this point, Gao Yingxiang's troops finally won a chance to breathe and had more ways to go.

Gao Yingxiang traverses north of the river and seizes Zhushan. He is well-known for his reputation as the King of Breaking in the Formation, and is no longer limited to the northwest.
Chapter completed!