Late Ming Dynasty: Starting with the overthrow of the county magistrate, a rebellion was launched to

After Zhang Da angrily resigned from the Prince of Fu's residence, his heart filled with resentment and frustration, he was further enraged by the sight of the once-great city of Luoyang, where starving and freezing people were scattered and the dead lay strewn along the roads, a scene of utter desolation and national ruin.

However, he did not immediately head south back to Nanyang. Instead, he reassembled the more than one hundred elite cavalrymen who had accompanied him to Luoyang at the post station.

The post station was humble and cramped, with cold winds blowing in through the windows. The stove was cold and the firewood was scarce, and the four walls were bare. It was a world apart from the warm and cozy interior of the Prince Fu's mansion, with its brocade carpets and delicacies.

However, Zhang Da felt more comfortable here, so he ordered the gates to be closed, the palace to be cleared, and outsiders to be strictly prohibited from entering or leaving. He then gathered his hundred cavalrymen in the central courtyard.

"Since you gentlemen were personally selected by General Zuo to accompany me to Luoyang and provide thorough protection, you must all be his trusted and elite soldiers. Therefore, there is something I must tell you frankly today—Li Zicheng's claim of attacking Luoyang from the east is actually a feint, a bluff to mislead the government troops. His entire force of 30,000 men is fleeing in disarray, with the real target being Nanyang!"

Before anyone could react, Zhang Da explained in detail the consequences of Nanyang not receiving any aid.

"How many troops does Nanyang have left? Can they withstand the rampage of the rebels? I'm afraid your general won't live more than a few days."

A lieutenant in the crowd, his eyes blazing with fury, stepped forward, gripping his sword, and responded in a stern voice.

"My lord! We are all loyal soldiers under the Left General. How can we not come to your aid when you are in trouble! We are willing to break camp immediately and rush back to Nanyang overnight to fight the enemy with you!"

The remaining soldiers also raised their arms in unison, their shouts shaking the heavens.

Zhang Da's eyes showed a hint of pity upon hearing this, and he slowly sighed.

"Your loyalty and righteousness are commendable, but you are only a little over a hundred men. What good will it do if you go? It's less about resisting the rebels and more about dying together."

Moreover, once you die, who will care for your elderly mother? Who will protect your wife and children? You will surely be forced to wander, freeze, and starve, and die in ditches! Do you think the likes of Prince Fu and General Wang would show any pity or compassion? The Ming army has suffered defeats year after year; its generals are cowardly and its soldiers exhausted. They are barely able to protect themselves, how could they possibly care for your families?

Upon hearing this, all the soldiers fell silent. Some lowered their heads to wipe away tears, while others clenched their fists and choked back sobs. Their sorrow and confusion were palpable, and they did not know what to do.

After a long silence, the adjutant stepped forward, knelt on one knee, bowed his head, and wept.

"Your Excellency, you possess unparalleled wisdom and foresight. We, mere uncultured warriors, are utterly bewildered and know not what to do. Now that things have come to this, we are only willing to obey your orders, even unto death, to protect the General, Nanyang, and our families!"

Seeing that his goal had been achieved, Zhang Da quickly bent down to help the leading lieutenant to his feet and said loudly...

"That's it! As long as you gentlemen are willing to listen to me, I will guarantee with my life that General Zuo will be out of danger, Nanyang will be temporarily safe, and you will all be able to achieve great things and return to your wives and children!"

After saying that, he assigned each person what they should do.

……

……

Just then, in the Funiu Mountains, at Li Zicheng's camp.

At this moment, the wind and snow subsided, the clouds and fog dispersed, and the cold sun shone brightly, illuminating the camps stretching for more than ten miles. Li Zicheng had already deployed his army, with Liu Zongmin as the vanguard, leading more than ten thousand men to advance first towards Neixiang and Xixia to contain Chen Yongfu's forces;

Li Guo led 4,000 elite cavalry straight to Sanya Road, intending to break through the pass and reach the city of Nanyang.

The high-ranking troops, with their detached forces, made a show of force, feigning an attempt to spy on Ruzhou and Luoyang, thus misleading the government troops.

He, along with Niu Jinxing and Song Xianze, led the main force of the central army, numbering over ten thousand men, advancing along the mountains. Their banners covered the fields, and their spears and halberds were like a forest. They had taken countless starving people with them and marched in a mighty force towards Nanyang.

Li Zicheng, draped in a black felt cloak and with a curved sword at his waist, stood atop a high slope, overlooking his army, his heart filled with pride and confidence.

Now is a critical moment of life and death. Only by continuously attacking cities and seizing territories, capturing supplies, and expanding our military strength can we gain a foothold in this chaotic world.

Take Nanyang first, and Luoyang will soon be in my hands!

At this moment, Song Xianze, who was standing beside him, stroked his beard and smiled.

"At this time, the generals of Nanyang must be divided. Chen Yongfu is old and cowardly, Zuo Guangxian is isolated and in danger, and Huang Degong is a guest general who is unwilling to fight. Now, with our army raising many flags and declaring that we will attack Luoyang, the people in Luoyang are in a panic, keeping the four gates tightly closed and not daring to send out a single soldier. The generals of Nanyang will surely be complacent and unprepared. This is an opportunity bestowed upon Li Zicheng by Heaven. Nanyang will surely fall within ten days."

"After conquering Nanyang, we will seize its grain and supplies, incorporate its surrendered soldiers, and then march eastward. The wealth of the Prince of Fu in Luoyang will be within our grasp!"

Just then, a scout rode up at full speed, dismounted, and tumbled from his horse.

"Reporting to the King of Chuang! General Liu, the vanguard, has reached the outskirts of Neixiang. The government troops have all retreated into the passes, fortifying their positions and refusing to come out. The fodder and provisions along the way have been burned, and there is not a blade of grass in the fields. The people have all moved into the city. General Li Guo has entered the area north of Sanya Road. The government troops are guarding the passes, and no reinforcements have been seen. There are not many flags, and it seems that they are unprepared."

Before Li Zicheng could react, another scout arrived, covered in dust.

"Reporting to the King of Chuang! General Gao Yigong has deployed numerous feints and set off fires between Ruzhou and Yiyang. Luoyang is under martial law and closed off. The people are terrified, and the officials are in a panic. Not a single soldier has been dispatched."

Finally, a scout arrived, panting heavily.

"Inside Nanyang City, the government troops, having heard that our army was advancing eastward to attack Luoyang, relaxed their defenses slightly. However, there were still guards at the four gates, and patrols continued as usual. No large-scale mobilization was observed."

Just as I expected!

Upon hearing this, Li Zicheng laughed loudly, his voice echoing through the woods, as if Nanyang were already within his grasp.

"The officials of the Ming Dynasty are all pigs and dogs! Order the three armies to advance at full speed, first break through Neixiang and Sanya Road, then surround Nanyang. Anyone who arrives late will be executed!"

With Luoyang refusing to send reinforcements, Li Zicheng's only concern was gone. He then led his army on a rapid advance, tens of thousands of troops pressing down on Nanyang like a dark cloud, now an isolated city.

When Zhang Dazheng was about to go to Luoyang, he insisted that Li Zicheng's attack was merely a feint and that the final target would be Nanyang, urging the generals who had retreated to the city to defend it properly. However, the other generals only saw this as him being pretentious and trying to save face.

However, out of fear of Li Zicheng, they remained suspicious and dared not be completely complacent.

After Chen Yongfu withdrew his troops, he still left scouts thirty miles away; Zuo Guangxian withdrew his troops from Sanya Road, and also continued to send out scouts to scout the movements in the mountains... The other generals also took precautions.

Isn't it shameful?

Therefore, although Nanyang withdrew its outer defenses, the city's defenses remained in place, with patrols and reconnaissance continuing day and night, and military equipment and provisions being transported to the city walls in succession.

The storm is brewing.

However, it was mostly the generals' luck.

If we calculate based on Zhang Da's prediction of the number of days until Li Zicheng's attack on Nanyang, today should be the eleventh day.

That afternoon, as the wind and snow gradually subsided and the setting sun cast a pale glow, a scout on horseback, covered in dust, galloped ten miles west of the city gate, arriving at the city walls and urgently knocking on the gate.

"Urgent military situation! The enemy cavalry has reached the outskirts of the city!"

The guards were alarmed and hastily opened the city gates, letting in the scout. The scout tumbled off its saddle and immediately galloped towards the Zhenlu Hall of the prefectural government, shouting...

"Reporting to the General! Thirty li to the west, in the direction of Neixiang, a large band of cavalry has been spotted. They wear red turbans, carry spears and halberds, and their banners bear the large character '闯' (Chuang, meaning 'to break through' or 'to charge'). They are covering the mountains and plains, heading straight for Nanyang!"

Generals Chen Yongfu, Zuo Guangxian, and Huang Degong were gathered in the hall discussing matters when they heard this news and looked at each other in astonishment.

Could it be that Zhang Da actually guessed correctly?

No, no, no, what if they're just passing through? Maybe they just want to take a detour and launch a surprise attack on Luoyang...

Just as everyone was still clinging to a sliver of hope, another scout stumbled in, weeping as he reported...

"From the direction of Sanya Road, Li Guo's bandit cavalry has breached the outer outposts of the mountain pass. Our scouts have suffered more than half their casualties, and the bandit cavalry could reach the city walls in an instant!"

Shortly after, the garrison commander of the south gate also rushed to report.

"Ten miles south of the city, a cloud of dust rises; enemy detachments have arrived, intending to cut off our reinforcements and encircle the city!"

…………

In an instant, alarms blared, and stacks of battle reports were displayed in the hall. At this point, no amount of self-consolation from the crowd could be of any use.

The war eventually reached Nanyang.