Lord Xinling patrolled from camp to camp. Those civilian soldiers had met him at dusk yesterday, and some of the respectable ones even exchanged a few words with him. Seeing Lord Xinling this time, I felt a little more familiar; and this time Lord Xinling walked from camp to camp, almost passing by everyone. He talked to everyone very casually, asking about family affairs in the village. The younger ones asked about their age, the older ones asked about their sons, and the older ones asked about the harvest honestly. Then, as if inadvertently, he talked about the future war, as if he was talking about a war. The wealth that is about to be obtained. After passing four or five campsites, the drums started beating. Lord Xinling said goodbye to the civilian soldiers and hurriedly led the retainers towards the small town. Those camps that had not yet turned around had long heard the laughter and cheers coming from the distant camps, and naturally knew that this was related to Lord Xinling. Although they did not know why those camps were cheering, they were in a good mood without knowing it. After a lot of pain, the courage returned to the body, and the fatigue and frost of the night seemed to gradually dissipate.
Lord Xinling rushed to the city, and Mr. Cao had already assembled the elite soldiers. With the support of the military commanders, the elite soldiers from the civilian army also received some of the equipment of the military soldiers: a pair of leather armor, a halberd or a spear. Lord Xinling said a few words of encouragement and ordered to set off. The hundred or so people soon disappeared in the morning light.
The work camps that had broken out first had already settled down. At this time, wood for bridge and road construction was being requisitioned in the city, which usually refers to door panels and fences of other people's houses. The women and children who were requisitioned often hid in corners of their homes without uttering a word. Some old ladies would sometimes chase them out and cry out in protest. Naturally, other than being beaten, it had no effect.
Under the urging of the drums, all battalions have completed their formation. Mangmao, his sons, and retainers also went out of the city to meet Lord Xinling. Lord Xinling said: "I am invincible today. I am just preparing for war. May the general teach me!"
Mang Mao said: "Heaven helps you, sir! If the enemy attacks today, it will be really difficult for the four thousand people's army to deal with it. But the enemy is slow to move, so they give me one day, just in time to use the people's army to strengthen the camp and dig trenches. Master, you can The civilian army was ordered to be divided into two squads, and they dug along the ditch, dug up the soil at the bottom of the ditch, and piled it on one side to build a wall. The soldiers were also divided into two squads, patrolling back and forth to eliminate spies and suppress the people's hearts. The people were one hundred steps at a time. , In this way, one school can build a parapet of hundreds of miles in one day, and the people do not work. Tomorrow the enemy will arrive, so they will be waiting for work. "
When Lord Xinling heard this, he was overjoyed and said, "How could you come here without a general?" Then he said to Zhong Yue, "Sir, please consider and supervise this matter."
Zhong Yue said: "It's such a small matter, what's the difficulty! But please call Mr. Jin to guide the terrain."
Lord Xinling asked: "Where is Mr. Jin going?"
Zhong Yue said: "I was ordered to follow Mr. Cao to the enemy."
Lord Xinling said: "Recall with your cavalry."
After Zhong Yue accepted the order, he called out several of his disciples and gave their orders. Then a man took a horse from the city and drove away. Others went to each camp to deliver orders.
Lord Xinling said: "Today's business is over, so I don't dare to stay here. I'll bid farewell to the general in a short time, and then I can go to the king's business."
Mang Mao said: "I see that the young master is in a hurry, and he has no provisions for sleeping with him. All the gentlemen under the disciples only have food for them. How can they survive the war? When I left the army, I prepared plenty of provisions. Please stay with me for a while and chat. Chef!"
Lord Xinling said: "Why do you deserve this?"
Mang Mao said: "It's such a trivial thing, it's not worth mentioning!"
When the three-tone drum sounded, all battalions took action. Lord Xinling, together with Mangmao and his entourage, entered the palace in the city. The two of them bowed in the hall for a while, bowed to each other and sat down. Their guests also sat down in order behind them. Lord Xinling and Mangmao talked about trivial military affairs and gossip. Sometimes they even asked their retainers to say a few words, and gradually they became more and more prosperous.
While everyone was talking in a lively manner, Mr. Fan, who had gone out to scout the camp early in the morning, hurried over with Ma San and others, and saluted outside the lobby door. Mr. Xinling avoided the table and returned the greeting: "Sir, please come in and have a seat." Mr. Fan and Masan entered the hall and sat down at the bottom. Lord Xinling said: "Sir, I have no respect for your hard work!"
Mr. Fan said: "How dare you!"
Lord Xinling asked: "What are the movements of the Qin army?"
Mr. Fan said: "I dare not speak!"
Lord Xinling said: "It's okay to say so!"
Mr. Fan said: "I sent my sentry to the old camp of the Qin army, but there was no one in the camp. I looked at the rutted tracks, but they were completely swept away and I didn't know where they were going!"
When Lord Xinling and Mangmao heard this, they both straightened up. Mang Mao said: "Sir, where did you come from?"
Mr. Fan said: "I walked diagonally to Xingnan until I reached the old camp of the Qin army."
"Didn't you see anything along the way?"
"Nothing to see!"
"Then the Qin army is coming to Xingbei?"
"I've never seen anything like this before!"
Mang Mao turned to Lord Xinling and said, "Please report to the Jin officials immediately. The camp will go to Yingbei to investigate. Can the Qin army stop?"
Lord Xinling said to Zhong Yue: "Please ride to the ruined city to report to the Jin officials!" Zhong Yue led a retainer out.
The relaxed atmosphere in the hall was swept away, solemnity fell on everyone's hearts, and the hall fell into silence for a while.
After a long time, Lord Xinling said: "You guys must be able to teach me the Qin army's movements!"
Everyone was still silent. Mang Mao coughed lightly and wanted to speak, when suddenly the sound of drums came from the city. Everyone was shocked: Alarm! They all stood up in unison.
Lord Xinling and Mangmao were in front, followed by all the guests. They left the palace gate and went straight to the city gate, where they met the chief minister who came to call the police. Lord Xinling asked: "Where are the police?" Shichang said: "The South Great Wall is bursting with smoke!"
Lord Xinling and others went to the city gate and saw a column of smoke rising straight into the sky from the south. It was indeed an alarm. Mang Mao's expression changed and he stammered: "Qin, Qin's army... actually went around to the south!"
After a while, Mang Mao seemed to have made a decision: "The Qin army has circled to the south, and the young master is as safe as Mount Tai. I will return to Daliang immediately."
Lord Xinling said: "I wanted to bid farewell to the general. I would like to ask him to have a drink..."
Mang Mao said: "Young Master loves me so much that I should not resign! However, the military situation is urgent and we cannot delay even a little bit. The road may be cut off in a short time!"
"What should we do here? May the general teach me!"
"At the moment, we are just organizing the army into a tight formation, with deep ditches and high fortresses. We will make a decision after the king gives instructions."
"I have a plan, and I hope the generals will decide it. The army can either follow Qin and advance southward, or it can flank the enemy and head east. Either way, it can defeat the enemy!"
"Young Master is wise. However, the army is not yet stable. If you leave the camp and attack the enemy, you may be taken advantage of by the enemy. And it is not a good idea to enter the Great Wall rashly! If the people are in chaos, it will become an elbow and an armpit, and the disaster will be even worse for the Qin army. In my opinion, it is better to seize this opportunity and build a strong wall, thinking that the main beam will be far away to respond. The Qin army will not dare to go eastward with all its strength, considering its flanks, and then the main beam can be captured."
If Lord Xinling wanted to say anything else, Mang Mao said: "The army of one hundred thousand cannot be moved in a hurry. I will meet with the king immediately to present the matter. I will listen to the king's instructions in everything!"
Lord Xinling said: "In this case, thank you for your hard work, General! I will definitely be able to organize the army here to wait for the king's orders!"
The two saluted each other. Mang Mao said to Mang Shen: "Prepare the carriages and return to the city! Leave all the carriages behind!"
