In Anle City, Xiao Rui was pacing back and forth in front of the map. According to the hidden stake report, the Turks attached great importance to this revenge. After Asmo's failure, they were much more cautious. Instead of rushing to bring cavalry to plunder and kill people, they practiced siege techniques. It is said that they even built several ladders.
This surprised Xiao Rui. It's not that I'm afraid of the Turks attacking the city, but my strategy is to use straw boats to borrow horses. If they attack the city, they will come with infantry. How can I earn their horses?
Moreover, Anle City apparently had three thousand defenders. If the Turks came to attack the city, they must capture it within three days, requiring at least ten thousand siege troops. If you want to capture these 10,000 siege troops, Youzhou's reinforcements of 5,000 are far from enough, at least 20,000 are needed.
Based on this calculation, this straw boat fishing plan may be aborted.
The Turks were also deeply touched. They originally wanted to bring 10,000 people to raid Rufeng and kill everyone in Anle. However, the scouts found out that Anle City was afraid of Turkic retaliation, so it implemented a policy of fortifying the walls and clearing out the wilderness. All the people who lived hundreds of miles outside the city moved away with their families, either fleeing to the hinterland of Youzhou or into Anle City.
In this way, even if Qi Bi Heli led 10,000 cavalry and circled Anle City several times, they would not gain anything at all. At most, they would rob two unsighted caravans. This is the work of bandits. How can I, the powerful Turkic general, do this? I can't afford to lose this person.
In desperation, we can only follow the advice of Tuli Little Khan and train his warriors to attack the city. The city defense of Anle City is not strong. We have the numerical advantage and it is possible to break through it in three days.
Although Qibi Heli was reluctant, he still followed the suggestion. In the ninth year of Wude, he followed Jieli Khan to raid Chang'an. There were many battles to attack cities and territories along the way, so he was not new to siege warfare, but he didn't like it very much. He didn't have the pleasure of galloping back and forth like the wind. .
In Youzhou City, the governor Chai Shao was also worried. Cui's food and grass in Qinghe had been put in place, but the Turks were still not coming. He had already prepared ten thousand soldiers and horses for the war. The people were eating what the horses chewed, and they were just waiting. It's not a problem either.
In Anle City, Xiao Rui sighed: "Compassion does not control troops, and justice does not protect wealth. The original plan of strengthening the wall and clearing the country was to reduce unnecessary casualties, but unexpectedly, the Turks changed their attack methods. Do we want to let the people back? No, in this way , people will definitely see through, this is using the people as bait."
"It would be great if there was some way to mobilize the Turkic cavalry." Su Lie pondered.
"How about we really ask the Governor to make a trip?" Xiao Rui smiled bitterly.
At this moment, a guard came to report: "Chang Shi, General, a group of people came outside the door, claiming to be from Chang'an and came to join Chang Shi."
Xiao Rui was puzzled, "A person from Chang'an? Want to defect to me? There is no letter to tell you. Please go to the living room, the general and I will be there soon."
The living room was crowded. As soon as Xiao Rui and Su Lie appeared, they were surrounded by people. "Brother Xiao, I finally found you..."
"you……"
Xiao Rui really didn't expect that Cheng Huaimo, Qin Huaidao, Yuchi brothers, etc. How could these young men come to Youzhou? Don't you know there will be war here?
After some explanations, Xiao Rui finally figured it out. It turned out that he had learned about the good news about Anle City, and these second-generation people came to get gold plating. Isn't this adding to the chaos? I'm busy enough, now I have to be a babysitter for a bunch of boys?
No, you are just a group of generals. What's going on with you, Fang Er? You come from a civil service family.
The second housekeeper lowered his head obediently and whispered: "Xiao, Xiao... Xiao Prince Consort, my father asked me to come and follow you. I will do whatever you ask me to do. Even if it's washing your clothes or helping you feed your horse. Chop firewood, it’s all up to you.”
Phew...washing clothes? I can't afford a washing machine as expensive as yours.
Looking at this guy's dull look, Xiao Rui felt a little embarrassed when he remembered the time he pranked someone. He looked at the other second-generation people again, and Xiao Rui scolded him with a dark face: "It seems that on the way here, you didn't Stop bullying Fang Er, right?"
Everyone laughed awkwardly, and Cheng Huaimo joked: "This guy is not good at writing or martial arts. He is obviously here to share the credit, in case it affects Brother Xiao's big things again..."
Xiao Rui waved his hand to stop this guy's nonsense, "Okay, we are all loyal and good people. We should help each other and not belittle each other. Since you have the courage to come all the way to the border, your sincerity is not suspicious. Fang Er, in the past There’s no need to mention it during the holidays. Just like everyone else, can you call me Brother Xiao?”
Fang Er nodded happily. Only he knew the sadness along the way. After leaving the house, no one was protecting him. He thought he was in peace, but Xiao Rui also treated him as an outsider. Unexpectedly, this first caring turned out to be It's from someone else.
Calling Brother Xiao with tears in his eyes, the second roommate actually started sobbing.
Xiao Rui stepped forward and patted Fang Er on the shoulder and comforted him: "Okay, a tall and thick man can bleed without shedding tears. You bunch of cowards, listen, from now on, you must not bully Fang Er, and you must help and take care of him." , whoever lets me find out that Fang Er is being bullied behind his back, immediately go back to Chang'an and don't follow me."
"Yes! I don't dare." After all, he is a child of a military commander's family, and military etiquette is very standard.
"Come here, tell Zuixianlou to hold a banquet. I want to entertain these childhood friends today." Xiao Rui shouted loudly.
Everyone was surprised and said: "What? There is also Zuixian Tower in Anle City? It's great. I ate and slept in the open all the way. I almost had a bird's eye in my mouth. Being able to eat the delicacies of Zuixian Tower is just... Brother Xiao, Zuixian Tower in Anle City Is there a guest room? I want to take a shower before eating."
Xiao Rui waved his hand, "General Su, send someone to lead all the young masters to bathe and change clothes, and then settle down at the governor's mansion. Everyone will wear casual clothes for today's dinner, and you must also attend."
After seeing off a group of gilded second generations, Su Lie and the two returned to the war conference hall.
Su Lie worriedly said: "Chang Shi, there might be a war in Anle. There are so many young masters coming at this time. If one of them makes a mistake, we..."
Xiao Rui lowered his voice and laughed: "I came just in time. I was worried about fishing without bait. Since these guys dare to come, they have to work together. Is it so easy to get military merit? General Su, just thirty miles away Set up an ambush on the slope. Order your engineers to stay in hiding day and night, and you can start building fortifications."
What? ? ?
Su Lie then realized, "You, you mean to use these young men as bait? This, this is too dangerous. We only have three thousand defenders and one thousand cavalry. The enemy is coming in large numbers. We, a thousand people, cannot protect us." These guys belong to this bunch.”
Xiao Rui clapped his hands and praised: "Yes, this is what I want, and I want the Turks to think the same way. You go arrange the engineers and soldiers to prepare, and I will send a letter to the Governor to take action."
Anle City originally did not have specialized engineers. It was specially trained and set up by Xiao Rui. Those who were not good at riding, archery and martial arts, but had brute strength, were simply trained and incorporated into engineers to be responsible for building fortifications.
In ancient times, civilians and corvees were mobilized for such things, but this time Anle's affairs had to be kept secret, so they could only specially train engineers who had always been secretive.
