Chief Armaments Master of the Ming Dynasty

Only a few key figures remained by the campfire: Li Zicheng, Liu Zongmin, and Gu Jun'en.

Lin Fan stood at the edge of the crowd, listening silently.

"What does Zhang Xianzhong want?" Liu Zongmin spoke first. "To recruit us? Or to devour us?"

"Anything is possible." Gu Jun'en stroked his goatee. "Zhang Xianzhong, known as the 'Eighth King,' had several thousand men under his command and was one of the most powerful forces in Shanxi. His initiative to contact us was simply because he coveted our manpower and wanted to win us over to bolster his own power."

"I'm not going!" Liu Zongmin spat. "We're doing just fine in northern Shaanxi, why should we come to Shanxi? And now we have to rely on someone else? Brother Li, if you ask me, let's go back to northern Shaanxi! If the government troops are chasing us hard, we'll just go into the mountains. I don't believe they can search us forever!"

"There's no going back." Li Zicheng shook his head. "Du Wenhuan has already surrounded northern Shaanxi like an iron barrel. Going back would be suicide. Although Shanxi is unfamiliar, various rebel armies are gathered here, and the government troops are scattered. That's where we have a chance to survive."

"So we have to surrender to Zhang Xianzhong?" Liu Zongmin protested. "Can't we do it ourselves?"

"Even if we do it ourselves, we need territory, supplies, and manpower," Gu Jun'en said. "We have nothing right now. We have several hundred men, and we can't even get enough to eat. If we don't find partners, we won't last long."

Liu Zongmin fell silent, his expression shifting between anger and uncertainty.

Li Zicheng pondered for a long time, then suddenly looked towards the edge of the crowd: "Master Lin, what do you think?"

Lin Fan was stunned for a moment.

He didn't expect Li Zicheng to call his name.

All eyes were on him—some scrutinizing, some curious, some disdainful, and some expectant.

Lin Fan took a deep breath and stepped forward.

"General, I am not knowledgeable in military strategy and dare not speak presumptuously." He carefully chose his words, "but I think that meeting Zhang Xianzhong may not be a bad thing."

"Oh?" Li Zicheng looked at him. "What do you mean?"

"We're new to Shanxi, unfamiliar with the place and its people. We know nothing about the situation, the various factions, or the government troops' deployment. Zhang Xianzhong is a local strongman. Whether he's genuinely cooperating or has ulterior motives, we can at least get some intelligence from him. Knowing ourselves and our enemy is the only way to decide what to do next."

"As for whether or not to surrender..." Lin Fan paused, "We'll see how things go. If we can reach an agreement, we'll talk; if not, we'll leave. There are several hundred of us. If Zhang Xianzhong tries to swallow us whole, he'll break a few teeth in the process."

Gu Jun'en nodded: "Master Lin is right. It won't hurt to meet him. If things don't go well, we can always leave later."

Liu Zongmin snorted and didn't object anymore.

After a moment of contemplation, Li Zicheng made a decision: "Alright, let's go to Xizhou and meet this 'Eighth King'."

---

After daybreak, the group changed direction and headed towards Xizhou.

Lin Fan continued to lead his team of craftsmen, walking in the middle of the procession.

Han Jinhu leaned closer and whispered, "Brother Lin, do you know anything about Zhang Xianzhong?"

Lin Fan thought for a moment.

Zhang Xianzhong.

A controversial figure in history, he was a leader of the peasant army at the end of the Ming Dynasty who was as famous as Li Zicheng and the founder of the Great Western regime.

Some say he was cruel and bloodthirsty, and that he slaughtered all the people of Sichuan.

Some say that this was a slander by the Qing court, and that the real Zhang Xianzhong, although rough and bold, was not a man of indiscriminate killing.

There are many different opinions about the truth.

But one thing is certain—this person is definitely not simple.

"I've heard some things about him," Lin Fan said vaguely. "He's a formidable character."

"Even more powerful than General Li?"

"It's hard to say," Lin Fan shook his head. "They each have their own strengths. General Li's advantage lies in his composure and ability to win people's hearts. Zhang Xianzhong... I've heard he's even more ruthless and willing to take risks."

Han Jinhu nodded, seemingly understanding but not quite.

Lin Fan didn't say anything more.

He was thinking about something else—

Historically, Li Zicheng and Zhang Xianzhong did indeed cross paths during the Chongzhen era.

The two men were once both generals under Wang Jiayin, but later they each established their own factions, sometimes working together and sometimes fighting against the Ming Dynasty.

Ultimately, the two met with drastically different outcomes—

Li Zicheng captured Beijing, forced Emperor Chongzhen to commit suicide, and established the Great Shun Dynasty, but quickly failed and perished.

Zhang Xianzhong occupied Sichuan, established the Great Western Kingdom, and eventually died at the hands of the Qing army.

Now, due to his unexpected intervention, Li Zicheng crossed the river into Shanxi ahead of schedule, and his meeting with Zhang Xianzhong was also brought forward.

What impact will this have on history?

he does not know.

But he knew that the river of history had already deviated from its original course.

---

Two days later, Xizhou was in sight.

It was a small town built against the mountain. The city walls were not high, but the terrain was strategic and easy to defend.

Various flags fluttered on the city wall, the most numerous being yellow flags with the character "Zhang" written on them in large and small sizes.

Outside the city, along the mountainside, countless shacks and tents were set up, with wisps of smoke rising from their chimneys and a cacophony of voices filling the air.

At a glance, there are at least three or four thousand people.

"What a grand display." Liu Zongmin narrowed his eyes, his tone filled with resentment, but also a hint of apprehension.

Li Zicheng didn't speak, but just stared at the large banner with the character "Zhang" on it, his eyes deep and thoughtful.

The troops stopped three miles outside the city and set up camp.

Before long, the city gates opened wide, and a group of men galloped out, heading straight for Li Zicheng's camp.

Leading the group was a burly man dressed in worn-out iron armor, covered by a yellow battle robe, and riding a magnificent chestnut horse with a broadsword hanging from the saddle.

He was in his early thirties, with a slightly yellowish complexion, a short beard, and large, bright eyes that revealed shrewdness and sharpness.

What's most striking is his nose—high and straight, like an eagle's beak, giving it a sharp look.

"Which one of you is General Li Zicheng?" He reined in his horse at the camp gate, his voice booming and carrying a heavy Shaanxi accent.

Li Zicheng stepped forward, clasped his hands in greeting, and said, "I am Li Zicheng. May I ask who you are...?"

"I am Zhang Xianzhong!" The man dismounted, laughing as he patted Li Zicheng on the shoulder. "I've long admired General Li! Your rebellion in northern Shaanxi, killing officials and inciting unrest—what audacity, what spirit! Meeting you today, you truly are a hero!"

His generous attitude and sincere smile naturally endeared him to others.

Li Zicheng laughed and said, "You flatter me, Eighth Prince. I've heard of your great name in northern Shaanxi for a long time."

"It's all because my brothers are too kind and call me that." Zhang Xianzhong waved his hand, his gaze sweeping over the camp behind Li Zicheng, a hint of assessment flashing in his eyes, "Brother Li, your troops... don't have many men."

"I'm sorry to have made you laugh, Eighth Prince," Li Zicheng said frankly. "I only brought about five hundred men from northern Shaanxi."

"Five hundred men..." Zhang Xianzhong nodded. "That's quite a lot. When I first started my rebellion, I only had about a hundred men. Brother Li's ability to fight his way from northern Shaanxi all the way to Shanxi despite the heavy encirclement and suppression by the government troops—I, Old Zhang, admire that!"

He took Li Zicheng's hand and said warmly, "Come on, let's go into the city! I've had a feast prepared to welcome Brother Li! Let's drink and chat!"

Li Zicheng did not refuse and, along with Liu Zongmin, Gu Jun'en, and several personal guards, followed Zhang Xianzhong into the city.

Lin Fan was not invited.

He was just a small-time "craftsman foreman" and not qualified to attend a meeting of this caliber.

But he could sense the change in atmosphere while he was in the camp.

Was Zhang Xianzhong's enthusiasm genuine, or was it feigned?

How would Li Zicheng respond?

Will this small force be swallowed up by Zhang Xianzhong, this fierce tiger, or will it be able to remain independent?

Everything is unknown.