Chapter 11 4. Zhang Rou wins more with less and defeats Martial Immortals

In the first year of Jin Weishao King Chongqing (1214 A.D.), the late spring was so long and cold. The cold wind that ravaged the winter was wrapped in sharp ice balls as hard as a blade, and once again crazily cut the entire North China Plain. The cold atmosphere permeated the open fields. It looked cold and heavy.Since the Mongolian army went south last year, the North China Plain suddenly lost its former vitality and vitality. The people were slaughtered, gold and silk, children, cattle, horses and sheep were swept away, and government offices and houses were burned.In May, in order to avoid the Mongolian army's re-invasion, Wanyan Xun moved the capital from the central capital to Bianliang despite the opposition of his ministers, and the confidence of the people dropped to the lowest point in history.Throughout the North China Plain, weeds overgrown, bandits swarmed, starved to death for thousands of miles, and human beings were eaten by flesh and blood.

Zhang Rou lives in Dingxing Liuzhai, Yizhou.He has been good at martial arts since he was a child, practicing formations, and he is generous and righteous, known as a hero.When he was young, he and Yan Shi took part in the martial arts examination at the same time. They each showed outstanding martial arts and general talents, but they were abandoned by the dark examination room and both failed.Back then, as frustrated people with the same disease, they shared their sorrows with wine and expressed their dissatisfaction with the Kingdom of Jin.Now, seeing that the bureaucrats and aristocrats of the Jin Dynasty only knew how to save their lives and did not think about resisting, they blindly ran away, so they gathered the young men of the tribe and formed a self-defense group to practice marksmanship, martial arts and fitness, and prevent robbers from harassing.Because of Zhang Rouxing's chivalry, courage, and daring to fight, he specially dealt with those who harmed the Li people, so all the twenty-seven villages in the surrounding thirteen villages came to join him.Soon, Zhang Rou had a team of nearly a thousand people and became a well-known local armed force.Under their protection, the vicinity of Dingxing in Yizhou gradually showed a scene of prosperity.

At the same time, Mongolia's offensive in the north did not stop.After Genghis Khan captured the central capital, he appointed Mu Huali as the grand master and king, with full authority to direct the gold cutting affairs, and returned to the grassland by himself.Mu Huali led the victorious army to attack all the way, and the generals of the Jin army fled.The Mongolian army concealed and killed all the way, broke through customs and looted, and was invincible. In order to resist Mongolia, the Jin Dynasty had to try its best to win over the local armed forces in Hebei.Therefore, Zhang Rou was promoted to Dingxing Order, and later he was promoted to Qingzhou Defense Envoy and Yongding Army Jiedu Envoy, in an attempt to use local armed forces to block the Mongolian army's attack.However, these local separatist forces attacked each other in order to compete for interests, and Yan Yu could not control the situation at all after the Jinxing Marshal's mansion was over. In May 1218, Miao Daorun's lieutenant Jia Yu planned to kill Miao Daorun. Not only was he not afraid of the revenge of Miao Daorun's subordinate Zhang Rou, but he sent someone to mock Zhang Rou, saying: "Thanks to General Zhang, you didn't send troops to help me. , I was able to kill Dao Run."

Zhang Rou was taunted by this, she was furious, and reprimanded the emissary: "Go back and tell Jia Yu that he killed me, Miao Shuai, and robbed me of my territory. Even if I eat his flesh, I can't relieve my hatred. Let him remember that blood debts can only be repaid with blood debts! If I don't kill Jia Yu, I swear I won't be a human being!" As he spoke, he cut the messenger's ears, picked his nose, and beat them out with sticks. At the same time, Zhang Rou summoned all the generals, and preached to Daorun's troops to jointly lead the troops to Zhongshan.

Unfortunately, at this time, the right army of Shimaming'an in Mongolia was attacking south along the Yizhou, Anzhou, and Baozhou lines, and the two sides encountered each other in Langyaling. Facing the powerful Mongolian army, Zhang Rou was not timid at all.For the Mongolian army, Zhang Rou has already made preparations for the battle.In the past few days, the scout horses he sent came back many times to report that the Mongolian army was in full swing, and they would soon conquer Taiyuan and head south all the way.He also heard that this year the Mongolian army was under the full command of Mu Huali, who had just been canonized as the Grand Master and King by Genghis Khan. This Mu Huali was good at recruiting talents and listening to the opinions of the Han people. .Now, he has accepted the suggestions of Shi Tianni, Yelu Chucai and others, and has changed the past practice of slaughtering and destroying every city that the Mongolian army captured. Instead, he occupied the city and appeased the people. different.

Shi Moming'an had long heard that Zhang Rou was the most powerful local armed force in Hebei, and before leaving, Mu Huali repeatedly warned that Zhang Rou could only be outsmarted, not capable of fighting.Therefore, he planned to use a surprise attack to catch him off guard, but he didn't expect Zhang Rou to be ready here, so Shi Mo Ming'an couldn't help but feel a little apprehensive.If the sneak attack failed, they had to attack by force. Shi Momingan waved his horsewhip, and the Mongolian army came over. The two sides started a fierce battle. In an instant, the sky was dark and the earth was shaking. Intertwined.Zhang Rou's long spear rushed left and right in the Mongolian army camp, as if entering a land without people, the Mongolian army fell one after another.Seeing that they could not get close, the Mongolian army took their bow and set up an arrow. With a "swipe", it hit Zhang Rou's horse, and the horse fell to the ground with a "plop". He was knocked to the ground by several Mongolian soldiers.Seeing that the coach was arrested, Zhang Rou's subordinates tried their best to rescue them, but the Mongolian archers had no choice but to flee in all directions.

Seeing that Zhang Rou was caught, Shi Moming'an was overjoyed.In the big tent, Zhang Rou was standing with her hands tied behind her back, and forced Zhang Rou to kneel down. Zhang Rou scolded, "He and I are both coaches, but it's just death. I won't kneel to others in order to steal my life." After Mu Huali heard the news that Zhang Rou had been captured alive, he immediately ordered him to be brought in front of him.Mu Huali personally untied Zhang Rou, persuaded him well, and finally released him. This kind care and great trust touched Zhang Rou's heart.Over the past few years, Zhang Rou, as an official of the Kingdom of Jin, is well aware of the intrigues and intrigues in the officialdom of the Kingdom of Jin.The Jurchen aristocratic bureaucrats seized the people's land and extorted money, which has already made the Han people hate it to the bone.Today, in a place with a very different environment, what he felt was sincerity and respect, which reminded him of that martial arts exam again.right!As the old saying goes, those who know current affairs are brilliant.No matter who it is, as long as the common people are regarded as human beings, that is the object of my allegiance.The Mongolian army is an ascendant force, its momentum is like the raging waves of the sea, and no one can stop it.Zhang Rou believes in her own eyesight, and also firmly believes in her own judgment.

After dispelling all the worries, Zhang Rou immediately surrendered and asked to persuade Yan Shi.Mu Huali was overjoyed, and immediately gave him the power to control the old ministry, and immediately arranged to recruit Yan Shi. Then, as a general of Mongolia, Zhang Rou fought bravely, had a resolute character, was not afraid of sacrifice, and was fearless. In a short period of time, Zhang Rou took down Xiongzhou, Yizhou, Anzhou, and Baozhou, and then stationed troops all over the city. .Jia Yu entrenched Kongshan to resist, because the way to go down the mountain to draw water was cut off, and finally surrendered, Zhang Rou cut Jia Yu's heart to sacrifice Miao Daorun.

In order to consolidate the base, Zhang Rou also moved the official office to Mancheng.In order to build a full city, he gave loose and extensive policies, often reduced taxes and lowered loan interest to reduce the burden on the people; in order to encourage the people to develop agriculture, he also personally promulgated regulations, "persuading the people to repair Leisi and cultivate mulberry and hemp"; Thousands of slaves and maidservants in the army were sent back to their hometowns and changed to civilians.For those old and young women and children who were displaced in the war, he often provided relief.These measures not only developed the economy and provided sufficient guarantee for his operations, but also won the admiration and support of the people in the city.

In the winter of this year, the Mongolian army was led by the deputy commander to continue the conquest, while Zhang Rou stayed alone in the Mancheng government office.Suddenly it was reported that Jin Zhending Shuai Wuxian led tens of thousands of troops to attack.When everyone heard this, there was an uproar immediately. There were only a few thousand soldiers and horses in the city. Once the enemy attacked the city, the consequences would be disastrous.Therefore, some advocated abandoning the city and fleeing, while others advocated a fight to the death.Zhang Rou thought for a while and said nothing. Running is impossible in front of the enemy. That is not Zhang Rou's personality.How can we retreat from the enemy?

Suddenly, a bold strategy emerged in Zhang Rou's mind.Since Wuxian has been repeatedly defeated by our army recently, he must have become a frightened bird, so why don't I bluff, come up with a strategy, and sing "Empty City Strategy" with him?He believed in his own judgment, and even more in the sincerity of the people in the city towards him. With a firm mind, Zhang Rou immediately ordered the women and children in the city to be summoned, distribute armor and equipment, and act according to the plan.The old and the weak squatted under the battlements, with only their helmets and silver guns exposed; the younger ones formed square teams or patrols, and showed off their soldiers on the city walls.At the same time, hundreds of strong women were selected to ambush quietly in the woods behind the mountain with banners and fireworks. When they heard the sound of cannons, they waved their flags and shouted. Open the door and attack when you hear the cannon.He led 2,000 soldiers and quietly sneaked out of the city, detouring behind the enemy's rear. Wuxian was also a leader of the rebel army, and was later entrusted with an important task by Jin Guo.When Zhang Rou was grateful to Mu Hua and Li Enyi for leading troops to attack Jin, a rebellion broke out in Zhongshan City.Zhang Rou led the army to besiege the city.At that time, the guard was Wuxian.His soldiers were brave, and when they saw Zhang Rou's army attacking the city, the archers released their arrows together. In an instant, arrows rained down, and the siege soldiers fell to the ground one after another, but Zhang Rou remained motionless and commanded calmly.Suddenly, a sharp arrow shot towards Zhang Rou, and Zhang Rou couldn't dodge it. The arrow hit two front teeth. The soldiers in the city shouted: "Shot Zhang Rou!" Pull out the arrows and throw the arrows at the ground, take the arrows and stones in person, and take the lead in climbing the city.Zhang Rou was shot by a bow and arrow again, and fell to the top of the city. The martial arts soldiers shouted: "Shot Zhang Rou!" "Shot Zhang Rou!" , the city was broken, and Zhang Rou was victorious.Since then, he has fought against Wuxian and won every battle. As soon as Zhang Rou made the arrangements, the Wuxian army and horses arrived.One shot at the ground, hold your ground.Seeing the city gates wide open, and looking at the dazzling silver helmets all over the city, Wu Xian couldn't help muttering in his heart: "What the hell is this Zhang Rou doing?" Way?" An old soldier said: "This is Zhang Rou's lair, the old fox Zhang Rou will definitely not be sloppy." The soldiers all stared wide-eyed and looked at Mancheng suspiciously, but they dared not go any further. One step forward. While hesitating, he suddenly heard the sound of a cannon, and then Wuxian's rear army was in chaos.No one knows where so many Mongolian troops emerged from, and they came over like a whirlwind.The soldiers behind were not fools, so they pushed forward desperately.The soldiers in front didn't know what happened behind them, and when they were about to turn around to complain, a group of people rushed out from the city gate and rushed towards them.On several hills in the distance, banners were flying, dust was flying, and shouts and killings continued.The Wuxian army was caught off guard, thinking that the reinforcements had arrived, everyone panicked, everyone ran for their lives, and there was a sudden chaos.Zhang Rou took advantage of the momentum and waved the flag to hide and kill.Wu Xian didn't expect such a surprise soldier, and was flustered for a moment, so he hurriedly reined in his horse and fled.Zhang Rou clapped his horse and chased after him, took out his bow and set up an arrow, and with a sound of "swipe", he hit Wuxian's right shoulder injury.The rest of them saw that the master was running away, so they also let go of their feet and ran for their lives.Zhang Rou commanded the army to pursue him closely, and after a day and a night of pursuit, they arrived at Drum City in Xishan.Seeing Zhang Rou's men and horses chasing after him, Wu Xian was afraid of repeating the disaster of the real destiny, so he dared not enter the city, and fled straight to the Jinjing. At this time, Zhang Rou thought about another plan, and ordered Wu Xian to send troops to the city, call to open the city gate, and enter the city alone, no one dared to stop.Zhang Rou told the city guards what was good and bad. After hearing Zhang Rou's words, the city guards were filled with remorse and immediately surrendered to Zhang Rou.At this time, Shi Tianan happened to lead his troops to help, and the two groups of people joined together to cover up and kill the Wu army. Wu Xianjun was bitten by a snake once due to repeated losses, and was afraid of well ropes for ten years.In this battle, Zhang Rou used the principle of being startled by a bird, grasped these psychological characteristics of the Wuxian army, cleverly set up suspicious soldiers, and boldly adopted an empty city strategy, and finally defeated the Wuxian army with less.