Si Xiaobai cursed angrily: "You are so shameless. You actually followed us. We discovered this."
Si Xiaosong grabbed Si Xiaobai. He saw that Erhei and the others had thrown away their baskets, and some of the children's shoes had run away. Until something must have happened.
"What happened."
"The Mongols are coming. There are all Mongols on the other side of the mountain." Three Rabbits couldn't hold themselves back and shouted loudly.
"We followed you into the black pine forest, and then we got lost. We didn't know how we walked through it. After climbing over the hill, we saw a river on the other side. There were many Mongolians setting up camp there." Erhei panted. He took a breath, calmed down and said. "
"Then what should we do? Let's go back to the city and report to the Yamen." A child said in panic.
Si Xiaosong thought for a while and said: "There are still more than ten miles to go back to the city. Let's do this. Erhei, you stay, and the others go back to the city to report. There are patrolling cavalry passing by here every once in a while. Let's put it this way." Report the situation to the army."
Erhei was a little scared and wanted to escape back to the city. After all, there were city walls protecting it and there were tens of thousands of people there. However, looking at Si Xiaosong's firm eyes, he was encouraged. He didn't want to be looked down upon.
"Okay, I'll stay with you and wait for the army to pass by."
"Brother Erhei, please come back to the city with us. It's too dangerous here." Santu said anxiously.
"Obey, you go back first. The Si brothers have never seen the Mongols. They can't explain it clearly to the army. You go back first. We will go back when we are done. Don't worry."
A dozen children hurried to the city.
The autumn harvest has been completed these days, and even the autumn harvest is about to end. The cavalry were also very tired. Fortunately, the surrounding Mongolian tribes retreated and stopped harassing them.
The military camp had two days off. Everyone took a nice hot bath and then fell asleep. Except for a few elite scouts who were sent out for reconnaissance from a distance, everyone was taking the time to rest and prepare for the upcoming battle.
Outside a barbed wire fence, there were several tents where a squadron of cavalry was stationed. Wang Hao fell down and went to sleep last night. He didn't get up until noon today. He was washing up when he saw the messenger coming in to report.
"Several children reported seeing large groups of Mongols"
Wang Hao was stunned. The scouts had been searching these days to prevent the Mongols from sudden attacks. They did not find the large group of Mongols. The tribes that had been harassing them all returned to their original camps.
"Where are the people?"
"It's outside the door"
"Tell them to come in,"
Erhei, Si Xiaosong and others entered the tent uneasily. They couldn't help but look around curiously. This huge tent was filled with iron beds on two levels, with a table and a chair in the middle.
"Where did you find the Mongols?" asked a young officer of medium build. "Don't be nervous. My name is Wang Hao. You can just call me Brother Hao. I am the squadron leader here."
"It's at the foot of the mountain on the other side of the black pine forest. There are many Mongolians setting up tents, and many Mongolian women fetching water. There are also many cattle and sheep."
In the black pine forest, Wang Hao pondered for a moment. Not far away, the Mongolians had sneaked in. It was really dark under the lamp, but they didn't search carefully in the vicinity.
Carrying family papers and flocks of sheep, these people came from the original way, not from the nearby tribes. It must be the Haraqin people. Only such a distant tribe would take the entire tribe to attack another tribe. Because nomads can take them all away, there is no need to leave a camp for the enemy to take advantage of.
And bringing all the cattle and sheep can also ensure logistics.
These people are not the small surrounding tribes that they harassed before, they are the real enemies.
"Is this here?" Wang Hao pointed to an S-shaped Hetao area on the west side of the black pine forest on the map.
"Yes, it's right here." Although Erhei couldn't read a map, the map on Wang Hao's desk was very clear, even the small mountain was marked. Erhei understood immediately.
"We are just lying here and can see clearly. There are tents all over the mountains and plains below. I don't know how many people there are."
"Okay, I understand. Don't talk nonsense when you go back, so as not to cause panic. I will report this matter to the superiors. Register your names. If the situation is true, the Yamen will reward you."
Erhei and the Si brothers were walking on their way back to the city. Each of them got a bag of candy, given to them by Wang Hao.
Cavalry often perform missions outside for long periods of time, and it is common to run out of food under special circumstances in order to prevent hypoglycemia due to hunger. Lots of chocolates and candies were given out.
Regardless of whether this is true or not, these children should be rewarded, after all, it shows their enthusiasm for their homeland. Wang Hao asked the communications soldiers to give each of them a bag of candy as encouragement.
"It's so sweet. This is fruit candy, it's so delicious." Si Xiaobai squinted his eyes, shouted a piece of candy, and said with satisfaction.
"I don't know how the army will deal with it. It looks like there is going to be a war." Erhei said.
"Last night, my father took out his sword, gun and armor and wiped off the oil seal with a cloth. It looked like there was really going to be a war."
Erhei gritted his teeth and said: "These dog Tatars can't see how others are doing well. We almost didn't starve to death last year. We finally got to the grassland. We just had a good harvest this year, and they are coming to rob us. Fight with them."
"That's right, let's fight with them. How wonderful this city of Duolun is. There are no landlords and bullies, no rogues, and no philanderers. Every family has enough to eat. There is no charge for medical treatment. There is no need to pay back for medical treatment. Clear usury. No one wants us to go back to the past." Si Xiaosong also said bitterly.
"Brother, we are too young to be of much help,"
"I heard that there will be a special firearms counter in the store in the future, and the government will allow civilians to possess firearms. When we save enough money, we will buy a firearm. Whoever dares to rob us will use it. Hit him with a firecracker."
After the children left, a few fast horses rushed out of the temporary outpost and rushed to the various camps and the general manager's office in the city.
The steward's house immediately became busy. The officers gathered around a map on a large green table and pointed.
An Sanxi said: "I didn't expect the Haraqin people to be quite thieves. They quietly played with us under the light and ambushed so many people in the west of the black pine forest. I really underestimated them."
"Where are the soldiers and horses from other tribes?" Huang San asked loudly.
A combat staff officer came forward and said: "According to the reports from various scouts, the two large groups of Haraqin people have arrived more than sixty miles to the west. The seven Taijis of the Tumut tribe are about a hundred miles due south. Place. To the east are the tribes of the thirty-six families of Duoyan, which are less than thirty miles away from the castle. To the north is the territory of the Chahar people, where is the Ujimqin grassland. We are now completely surrounded It’s here.”
Everyone looked at An Sanxi, waiting for his order. Huang San is one level lower than him, and the master clearly said that the task of the infantry led by Huang San is to protect the castle, dock and Duolun City. The mission is to perform defense duties. An Sanxi was responsible for the specific operations. Huang San is just the garrison commander of Duolun City.
"Mobilize all personnel, strengthen the walls and clear the fields, collect all the crop straws in the fields, and burn those that cannot be collected, and do not provide horse feed to the Mongols. All wells in the fields are filled up, and all hand-pressed wells are taken back."
"Take back the barbed wire and surround it outside the city walls and crenellations. Distribute weapons and organize militia according to communities. Move all three cavalry regiments back to the city. We have enough food and water. As long as it keeps snowing, we will be Mongolia by then. When people can’t bear it anymore.”
Huang San also nodded and said: "Yes, we rely on the fortified city and have sufficient food. There is no need to fight a tough battle with them. It is best to kill them to death, which will minimize the loss. When it snows, they stay in the wild and freeze to death."
"However, we cannot completely passively defend. This is too easy for them. I led three cavalry regiments and ten thousand cavalry to raid the Mongols near the black pine forest. After the battle, I retreated directly to the city. Let them know about Duolun The city is not that easy to fight." An Sanxi said while looking at the red circle on the west side of the black pine forest on the map.
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