Mang Mao said: "I didn't expect this city to be so difficult. It seems that we can only gather the army and make an emergency landing in this city."
Lord Xinling said: "The war is coming. We can't waste more time or use more troops. It's good to be able to make an emergency landing, otherwise we can only fight. Whether it's a war or a peace, it must be decided quickly."
Jin Bi said: "Once the war breaks out, I can lead the civilian army to charge into the city. I just say that after the city is broken, we can distribute the food. Don't worry about it."
Mang Mao said: "What the doctor said is to achieve two goals with one stone. I think it is feasible!"
Lord Xinling said: "I can't believe that there is such a city just a hundred miles away from Daliang City. It might as well be pulled out! In your opinion, how many troops will be sent here?"
Mang Mao said: "This city only has more than a hundred households. I thought a thousand people would be enough to break it!"
Jin Bi said: "No! The city here is small and the soldiers are thin. It is not difficult to break through, but the difficulty is to fight quickly. It is best to attack with a drum to boost morale in preparation for the war. Therefore, I thought that a partial army could be mobilized to come. "
Lord Xinling said: "What the doctor said is true. It is the old man who seeks the country."
Mang Mao said: "The allocation of each army has been decided. If we want to transfer one side, not only the labor army, but also the entire formation will be shaken."
Lord Xinling said: "May I ask General, how are the three armies currently deployed?"
"According to the decision made by the minister and the young master last night, the Chinese army entered Guancheng and repaired the city walls and homes as a stronghold; the rear army entered the camp left by the Chinese army and repaired it heavily; the front army...entered to camp outside the south gate of Guancheng, and then gradually Extend the camp.”
"In this way, there are two armies and four camps inside and outside Guancheng. If we select ten elite soldiers from each camp, we can get 4,000 men. Adding the thousand here, it will be enough to meet the needs."
Mang Mao said: "Selecting soldiers to lead the front is a common practice in battle, but it is usually led by the headquarters. When a partial army is temporarily gathered, the top and bottom are not in harmony with each other, and the formation is not harmonious, fearing that they will get into trouble. Especially the right side. They are all ordinary farmers who are not familiar with battle formations. If there are no strong people to maintain them, they may not be of great use."
Lord Xinling said: "If you choose the vanguard and go forward, you should be rewarded and punished heavily to boost morale. It is said that Mr. Wei will be rewarded heavily after the city is broken."
Mang Mao and Jin Bi looked at each other. Jin Bi took off a box from his waist. Mang Mao picked out a talisman from it very skillfully and said: "This is a major matter involving the three armies. It is beyond the reach of ordinary messengers. It requires close trust." Only those close to you can do it.”
Lord Xinling said: "Mang Gongzi has seen himself in the army and is loyal to his confidants, so he is worthy of this post."
Mang Mao said: "The dog is always there to protect you..."
Lord Xinling said: "How can there be any mistakes in the depths of the army? General, there is no need to worry too much."
So Mang Mao turned to Mang Shen, handed him the military talisman and said: "Order the front and middle armies to select ten elite soldiers each, and select the brave commander to lead the army, prepare all the siege equipment, and set off immediately. You lead one soldier Go forward to deliver the order, and leave ten people in each camp as guides to bring them here. You lead the other half to respond back and forth, and report the progress of the march at any time."
Mang Shen took the talisman, went out of the tent and left.
"The order has been sent out. Nothing happens now, just wait for the army to arrive!" Seeing Mang Shen leaving the tent, Mang Mao said to Lord Xinling easily.
Lord Xinling replied: "Let's take advantage of this free time to scout the city first, roughly decide on the strategy for attacking the city, and designate a camp for the army."
After hearing this, Mang Mao had to go out again and order the car to be prepared.
The city is not big, with a radius of less than one mile, and the city wall is about ten feet high. It is surrounded by fields, which follow the shape of the water and look messy.
Jin Bi said: "There is a river in the east of this city, and there is a swamp in the west. Our army comes from the northeast. We can divide our troops into the north and south. We can either build mountains or hit the city wall, and we can level it with a drum."
Lord Xinling said: "Since we are attacking from the north and the south, we need two generals to direct their commands separately so that things don't go wrong!"
Mang Mao said: "For such a small battle, it doesn't take much effort for the generals. It's enough for one of them to climb high and beat the drum!"
Lord Xinling said: "This is true. However, this time is unusual. When attacking this small city, there is the army of Prime Minister Qin behind it. The attack must be fierce and smooth, with few casualties and high morale to prepare for the subsequent war. If The attack is not sharp, the morale is not high, the casualties are heavy, and the attack will be defeated. Therefore, the three of us must go out to build up our power."
Jin Bi said: "Although your concerns are true, I and General Mang are on both sides of the town and will not miss anything. You can just sit quietly in the formation."
Lord Xinling said: "Although I am young, I dare not avoid the danger and abandon the country. The enemy is facing us and our army has been defeated. I have to take the lead and sacrifice my life in the ravine."
Mang Mao said: "Young Master, what are you saying, how can I treat you like this? But please sit down peacefully, Young Master, I will try my best to supervise and lead the soldiers, so as not to make any mistakes."
Lord Xinling said: "How can we boost morale if the generals don't come out? Please listen to me, sir."
After the convoy circled the city, it returned to the east of the city. Lord Xinling pointed to a lake in the east of the city and said: "My banner is set up on the high ground beside the lake. The two ministers camped on the two wings in the north and south. After the army arrived, they made a fire and cooked on the spot. After the city was captured, they camped in the city. Is this possible?"
Mang Mao and Jin Bi looked at each other, bowed and said, "Young Master is wise!"
"Second Qing, who is in the south and who is in the north?" Lord Xinling asked, but before the two of them could answer, he added, "Let's go back to the camp and make a divination."
When the three of them returned to the camp, a messenger had returned, reporting that the five partial armies had completed their orders and were selecting soldiers. The two front troops were already lining up when the messenger returned and passed by. They would arrive in about an hour or two. The two armies were afraid that it would be dusk.
After listening to Chuanyi's report, Lord Xinling said to Mangmao: "The army is approaching, and I am in the front. I dare you to set up camp for the rear army."
Mang Mao said: "Young Master leads the troops, don't you dare to disobey orders!" He went out to the tent again and prepared to dispatch. Lord Xinling also followed out. Jin Bi seemed a little surprised, but he followed him out.
Mang Mao said to the military supervisor: "With this camp as the center, one mile east, west, north and south, each has a military camp. Don't move the carriages. Each camp only has two halberd gates and halberds in the four corners."
Lord Xinling suddenly spoke: "Besides, it is only five miles away from the city, and one mile ahead of the sudden attack. The camp is placed outside the city. How can we organize the army to fight! It is better to place it on the left and right sides of the middle camp, which will also be easier to attack."
Mang Mao was surprised and said: "Is there any reason to put the camp in front of the formation? If there is a loss, the three armies will take it all!"
Lord Xinling said: "They are just young farmers. The Chinese army is the elite of the whole army, so it should bear the brunt. It is easier to attack with two wings separated from each other. If you form a square formation, you need to change your formation when you attack. Things cannot be slowed down. , just form a wing formation!"
Mang Mao sighed helplessly: "Young Master is good at battle, but I am not as good as me."
Lord Xinling said: "I was taught by the general."
Mang Mao once again said to the military supervisor: "Take the Chinese army as the forward, one mile to the left and right, and set up two schools and four battalions in each wing shape. Each tree still has a halberd gate." Marking the ground with his finger, he explained in detail the location of each battalion and the surrounding area. Matters such as scope, setting up forts and adding stoves. After saying that, the military supervisor agreed, took the talisman, and turned around.
When Mang Mao ordered the military supervisor, Lord Xinling looked thoughtfully at the distant city. It was so blurry and so small... After Mang Mao finished giving instructions and the military supervisor took the order and left, he asked : "The three assassins said they would prepare some small gifts. What did they give?"
Mang Mao said, "But I never asked." He turned to an officer and asked, "Do you know?"
The officer replied: "You can call me with a halberd in front of the door and you will know after asking!"
After a while, the officer took a soldier and stood with his hands crossed. Mang Mao asked: "In the afternoon, there are soldiers in the city. Do you know?"
The soldier replied: "Yes, it is the common people who are on duty and led to the tent!"
"How many are there in total? What did they bring?"
"Five of them came, an old man and two strong men, both wearing robes; and two short-haired men, carrying two picks, one carry two cans, maybe wine; the other carry firewood."
"Where are you now?"
"The two short browns put down their picks and left. After the three people went in, they did not come out again. The picks are still in front of the camp."
Lord Xinling said, "Let's go over and have a look."
A group of people went outside the camp and saw two pairs of picks. Mang Mao said to a soldier: "Open that jar first and see what it is?"
The soldier responded and went over, opened the mud seal, smelled it, dipped his hand in a little, put it in his mouth and tasted it, and said loudly: "It's just sake!"
After hearing this, Mang Mao also walked over and asked the soldier to get a bowl, poured out a little, looked at it, smelled it, took another sip, and said: "I'm afraid it's not even sake, it's just well water." Hand it to Lord Xinling. Lord Xinling took it, poured it down on the ground, and said: "The assassins must be prepared for what they have prepared. The two cans of wine are sealed here. This load of firewood is very dry, and it has been distributed to each camp. It can be heated when the army arrives. Fire.—Oh, did the military diviner accompany you?"
Mang Mao said: "The diviners are usually stationed in the middle army, advancing and retreating with the carriages, and do not go with the army. They should have arrived in Guancheng by now. If necessary, the master can send someone to Guancheng to summon him."
Lord Xinling said: "Seeing that I can't go back to take charge of the city today, I'll prepare a post carriage, ask the diviner to move it, and prepare the three sacrifices and several cases."
Mangmao once again performed the talisman and gave it to a messenger who came to Guancheng to tell the fortune teller and prepared three sacrifices and other sacrificial objects. Then he said: "Young Master has been tired for a day, so you can rest for a while."
Lord Xinling said, "General and officials, please have a rest while I go to check on Mr. Zheng."
Jin Bi said: "I will go with the young master!"
Lord Xinling said: "Master Zheng has been tired all the way. Mr. Zheng is at the big tent. Just send a soldier to lead the way. Sir, please sit down with the general and discuss the attack on the city. I will take a break for a while."
Mang Mao said: "Since the young master said this, I will wait and retreat."
Lord Xinling pointed to a soldier holding a halberd on duty and asked, "Do you know where Mr. Zheng is?"
The soldier replied: "I know!"
"Okay, take me there. The general will inform the commander."
The soldier responded to the "order" and walked in front holding his halberd. Lord Xinling bowed deeply to Mang Mao and Jin Bi. The two quickly stepped aside and bowed back. Lord Xinling turned around and followed the soldiers away. Mang Mao and Jin Bi bowed to each other, and then the guest and host entered the tent.
