Zhao Deyan was speechless. He didn't expect that the dignified champion Hou was still a scoundrel. Can he say this? I really misjudged him before.
After hesitating for a moment, Zhao Deyan gritted his teeth and said: "Okay, let's bet. Zhao Deyan has a small life. If he can gamble with the Marquis before he dies, his life will not be in vain. I am very curious, where does the Marquis get the confidence to catch it? To sweat?"
"Let's make it clear first that if the representative catches him after chasing him to the royal court, it won't count."
Xiao Rui clapped his hands and praised: "It's so refreshing! Of course, if we catch up to Wang Ting, he has strong soldiers, and we may not be able to catch him. Let's take five days, no, three days as the limit. We can catch Jie Li in three days." .”
Zhao Deyan clapped his hands and said, "Okay, if the Marquis can really catch Dahan in three days, Zhao Deyan will be convinced. From now on, this life will be at the disposal of the Marquis, and you will be the only one to obey."
"It's a deal! Come on, come on, study with me and see where Jie Li is hiding?" Xiao Rui pulled Zhao Deyan's sleeve and started looking at the map together as if he was familiar with it.
Zhao Deyan:...? ? ? You're right, I support you and you can't find it, so how can I help you with ideas?
Isn't this a joke? Can you really find someone using a map? How to find a needle in a haystack? You don’t know Jie Li, how do you know which way he takes?
Xiao Rui held a special ruler in his hand, then took out a piece of paper and kept writing calculations, marking on the map from time to time. He concentrated and didn't say a word to Zhao Deyan.
Zhao Deyan was a complete spectator. Seeing Xiao Rui's focused look, he secretly admired him in his heart. Sure enough, it was a strange man and strange deeds. It was not easy to see this person carrying out a precise plan with his own eyes.
"This...is all a water source? Does the Marquis want to find the Great Khan through the water source?" Zhao Deyan said in surprise: "I understand, this map was specially made by the Marquis himself, and it can actually draw a map better than any of us. With the detailed map of water, land and vegetation, it seems that the Marquis has been prepared for it."
"I'm afraid I am destined to disappoint the Marquis. The Khan is one man and one horse. It is extremely simple to drink and eat. You can survive with a little water source everywhere. As long as you run for two days, you will never be able to catch up again."
Xiao Rui nodded and praised: "Yes, what the military advisor said is absolutely right. That's why I made a three-day appointment with you. It's meaningless if you can't catch up in three days."
Seeing the confidence on Zhao Deyan's face, as if he had won the bet, Xiao Rui asked jokingly: "Military advisor, do you know my title?"
"The title of Champion Hou is as famous as the legendary Han Dynasty champion Hou Huo Qubing. Who doesn't know?" Zhao Deyan was puzzled.
Xiao Rui asked again: "Then do you know the inherited skills of past champions?"
ah?
What, what kind of inherited skills?
Why are you so confused all of a sudden? It's just a title for a champion. You and Huo Qubing are not relatives. We have only heard of blood inheritance. Is there any inheritance for this kind of title?
Zhao Deyan's face was full of disbelief, and his eyes said: Are you kidding me?
Xiao Rui took advantage of the situation and talked about history, "Legendary champion Hou Huo Qubing, three thousand cavalry entered the hinterland of the Xiongnu, and they swept across the grassland at the mercy of the enemy. They could always accurately find the gathering place of the Xiongnu, and killed countless of them. They even attacked the Xiongnu. From the royal court, countless Hun princes and nobles have been captured and returned.”
Zhao Deyan rolled his eyes, "Are you talking about your own achievements? Didn't you do this before? It's exactly the same. Is this the unique skill inherited by the champion?"
No, no, you misunderstood.
Xiao Rui shook his finger: "That's not what I want to say. It's about the method. Huo Qubing didn't have a map as detailed as mine. How could he not get lost in the grassland? And he could repeatedly find the main force of the Xiongnu in the grassland?"
Zhao Deyan said disdainfully: "It's easy not to get lost. You can identify the stars in the sky. As for finding the main force of the Huns... is it a water source?"
Having said this, he looked at the map on the table and suddenly realized.
"That's right, the Xiongnu were nomadic and lived by water. No matter where they migrated, they always had to be close to water sources. Hou Huo Qubing, the champion of the Han Dynasty, must have locked onto water sources. The more lush the water sources were, the more likely they were to attract large numbers of tribes to gather. . In this way, as long as you explore the water source of the grassland, you will most likely be able to find the main tribe of the Huns."
Xiao Rui smiled, "Yes, I did the same thing back then. Is this considered a unique skill passed down by the champion?"
Zhao Deyan rolled his eyes, weakly cupped his hands, and said nothing. It means you are awesome.
After a moment of silence, Zhao Deyan still didn't believe it, "But what does this have to do with how you found the Great Khan? The Great Khan would not stop in a certain tribe. He fled to the royal court alone with all his strength. There is no need for these water sources."
Xiao Rui gently patted the long case where the map was placed, and nodded proudly: "That's right, that's right, if he runs for his life alone with his head covered, I really can't catch him."
Then you still... hmm? Zhao Deyan was shocked, "What do you mean, Mr. Hou? Isn't the Great Khan a person?"
Faintly, Zhao Deyan had a bad guess.
Xiao Rui reminded: "General Su collected a lot of loot last night, but not many prisoners. Counting those killed and captured, there were less than 10,000 people. Thirty thousand people escaped. Tsk tsk... Will this group of people escape? Will they get back together? What if they meet Jie Li on the way?"
There have been such things in history, such as Cao Cao's Battle of Chibi, where 800,000 troops were completely burned by a fire, but in fact not many people died. Most of them were defeated by night attacks and camp bombings. In the end, no less than 500,000 people escaped back to the north and re-enlisted in the army. Cao Cao is still the well-deserved overlord of the north.
hiss……
Zhao Deyan panicked, yes, this was a big force. If the Great Khan encountered them, he would of course take over them again. It would be safer to have 30,000 troops to protect him.
But then... 30,000 people ate horse chews, marched and set up camp... It was over!
I saw Xiao Rui holding a ruler and compass and writing and drawing easily. After a moment, he relaxed his brows and pointed towards the top of the map, "This is it, the Drinking Wolf Pond four hundred miles northwest. According to Jieli's foot strength and the distance he wants to walk, The direction, as well as the direction of the route of the defeated troops, if there are no accidents, it would be here."
Zhao Deyan admired Xiao Rui's shrewdness, but until the last moment, he was still unwilling to admit defeat and forcefully defended himself: "So what? A four-hundred-mile journey requires your 10,000 cavalry to travel day and night. And the Great Khan has three men by his side. Tens of thousands of people will not give you another chance to sneak attack. Can you beat me head-on?"
Xiao Rui shook his head regretfully: "Commander, don't give up until you reach the Yellow River! I have never doubted General Su's ability. He is a fierce general."
"So what about 30,000 people? Don't forget, those were the reorganized 30,000 defeated troops. The general you called the Turks, after a battle last night, was either killed or captured. Now those 30,000 defeated troops are gone. Led by a general, they are just toothless tigers. Do you think they are Jieli's guards? Or are they a burden to Jieli?"
you……
Zhao Deyan was brought back to the prison camp in despair, and even refused Xiao Rui's delicious meal. How could he still be in the mood to eat?
Xiao Rui began to arrange supplies for the pursuers. In the evening, Su Lie, who had rested, set off again with his troops and horses.
