Long before Zhang Xing received the message from the eastern front, a fierce debate had broken out in Dongping County and Fan County on the south bank of the river.
The two leaders were unwilling to withdraw to Dongjun, because they knew very well that once they left the scope of Dongping County and returned to Dongjun, the Eastern Expedition, which lasted for more than half a year, would be completely defeated, and all the previous gains would be in vain. .
It's really all in vain. Not only the money and materials, but also the talents and soldiers acquired from the three eastern counties will be separated by then.
Moreover, when they return to the Western Front, they are likely to be overwhelmed by people like Xu Shiying and Niu Da in the gang after losing their strength, and lose their right to speak. Their combat experience, their efforts and hardships will also lose meaning in front of those on the Western Front... The latter reason is also true for Xiong Bonan.
Cheng Zhili, the short-seller leader with nothing, also objected because it was getting further and further away from his hometown.
However, leaders like Shang Huaizhi and Zhai Qian, who came from lower-level powerful families, generally agreed that they had not received much dividends before, and now they wanted to go home and guard one-third of an acre of land, which was natural.
This kind of dispute has happened once before in Yuncheng, and the last time it was Li Shu, the leader of the left wing, who turned the tide, but this time, he couldn't help but have some shortcomings in his words.
Theoretically, it should be because he lost Yuncheng, resulting in the lack of voice.
But in fact, the entire Eastern Expedition team, not just Li Shu, who among Shan Tonghai, Wang Shuyong, and Cheng Zhili did not lose their territory and troops in front of Lao Ge from Qi County? Yuncheng was able to defend it because of Li Dalongtou's perseverance. Who can laugh at whom?
Even when Zhang Xing came over, I'm afraid no one said anything, but some people still sneered in their hearts - you are only guarding the Western Front, how have you ever touched Qijun Lao Ge?
Therefore, Li Shu's silence actually has two meanings. First, he is different from last time. This is a hidden statement... In fact, his mind has reached the point of giving up all bases south of the river. Not to mention whether to stay or not; the second and most important point is that the morale of the army is so low and the situation is so bad that these big leaders cannot stay if they want. The situation will force these people to give up.
Sure enough, in the next few days, although the Qilu army in Yuncheng strangely did not move, the morale of the troops was declining due to the continuous rain, and it became increasingly difficult to supply supplies while guarding a small Fan County.
Under this situation, the complaints of grassroots soldiers and officers became increasingly clear, and many scattered rebels in Juyeze and Jibei County even wanted to flee directly.
As a result, the pressure quickly spread from bottom to top to the big leaders. When Zhang Shanxiang, Ding Shengying, Xia Hou Ningyuan, and Liang Jiading all completed their stance changes in just two or three days, the big leaders did not hesitate. changed their stance.
This wave, this wave is called following the good as the flow.
The eastern front army, about 25,000 strong, began to retreat hastily.
This day was May 20th, and it was also the day that Zhang Xing received the worst news. It was rare that there was no rain in Juye Ze.
At this time, something strange happened again. Just like the previous few days, Yuncheng still did not send any pursuers. Instead, they stood still, as if they wanted to let the deposed dragon army escape... But this was not a conspiracy, nor was it a conspiracy. It's not that they were unable to do anything, but that just when the Dragon Army was in the quagmire of May, the Qilu army, which had achieved absolute military success, fell into a huge crisis almost at the same time.
Moreover, this crisis is not outside, but within.
A fierce confrontation and dispute broke out between the local Fan brothers and Jia Wugen and other military backbones in Qijun, and the foreign elites of the Wei Dynasty such as Zhang Xuguo, Zhang Changgong, and Yu Baimei.
Or to be more precise, it was the local backbones of Qijun such as the Fan brothers and Jia Wugen who jointly attacked Zhang Xuguo in the opposite direction.
The apparent origin of the incident actually goes back to the day when Zhang Xuguo and Yu Baimei raided Yuncheng.
In that battle, Zhang Xuguo and Yu Baimei succeeded easily. The next scene was supposed to be a two-sided attack with Fan Hu, just to the east and north of Yuncheng, with Liangshan as the core, to annihilate the East Dragon Gang. Even if the main force cannot be gathered and annihilated, half of the main force of the Eastern Front of the Deposed Dragon Army, which is not well established, can be easily disabled.
But that day, Zhonglang General Fan Hu, who led the remaining main force to fight on land, actually chose to withdraw his troops directly after Shantonghai withdrew in front of him, and went straight to Qijun.
From the perspective of the Deposed Dragon Army, including from the perspective of the vast majority of officers and soldiers, as well as from the perspective of pure passers-by, there is no problem with this behavior. Because Qijun's home base has been taken away, now that they have succeeded in one attack, they should quickly go back to put down the rebellion.
But in fact, only a few leaders of the Qi and Lu army knew that Fan Hu withdrew his troops before he knew that Yuncheng was successful. Zhang Xuguo only found out about this when he sent a messenger to ask Fan Hu to come to Yuncheng to meet up. information.
Then everyone was confused, no more confused than Li Shu at that moment, and it was precisely for this reason that they had to face the crazy counterattack of the main force of the Eastern Front of the Deposed Dragon Army alone in the next few days.
It depends on how you characterize Fan Hu's behavior.
To put it bluntly, say it was an escape from the battle or a betrayal, that’s fine. If you really kill it, it’s just a matter of killing... But how is that possible?
Killing Fan Hu who returned to Qi County, what did Fan Bao say? What do these two brothers say about the soldiers from Qijun who were brought in from the beginning? What about the other Qijun soldiers who were excited about the army's return? If these people knew that Fan Hu was punished by military law for taking them home to suppress the rebellion, where would this army, which had been established for a year and had made great achievements in combat, go?
What happened next fully demonstrated the unexpectedness of war and the instability of people's hearts in troubled times.
Fan Hu braved the rain and mud in May and quickly returned to Qijun along the Jishui channel. Qijun was caught off guard. But when he led his troops to attack Qijun's county city, Zuo Xiaoyou, the rebel in the city, unexpectedly surrendered. .
At this time, as the news of Yuncheng's success came, Fan Hu, who had just settled down and took over most of Qi County, became a little afraid and frightened. In the end, it was Zhang Changgong who took advantage of the opportunity of the deposed Long Army to retreat and went to Qi County in person with a letter from Zhang Xuguo promising not to pursue any further charges. With half force and half military orders, he immediately turned back with Fan Hu.
At this time, an important remnant of Zuo Xiaoyou's party, that is, the bandit leader surnamed Zuo who sent troops from Langya into Qi County, was not suppressed at all, and even stayed in a county southeast of Qi County without moving.
In other words, while the Deposed Dragon Gang lost Yuncheng and fell into overall strategic passivity, the actions of Zhang Xuguo, the armed group in the eastern border of the Wei Dynasty, were a process based on the concerns of the top leaders about the outbreak of conflict, mutiny, and rebellion, rather than the A process that is measured based on the success and thoroughness of military operations.
However, from an outsider's perspective, it seems that it is just a matter of military significance.
At this point, things seem to have eased. At this time, Uncle Cao, who had seen the overall situation in the east and hoped for peace because of Zhang Xuguo's capture of Yuncheng, also sent people and revealed the entire plan.
In fact, there is no need to hold it out?
Uncle Cao Huang's strategy is self-explanatory. Zhang Xuguo, Han Yingong, and Qu Tuda are encircling and suppressing them on three sides. As long as the three families join forces in Dongjun or Jiyin, the Deposed Dragon Gang will naturally collapse and fall apart. Some people will have no choice but to become blind. There is a way to go. And the East Territory, which was the most lawless before, will completely reverse the situation.
At the same time, Zhang Xuguo's tribe will also receive five thousand warriors from Dongdu as supplements, as well as countless grains and other supplies from Luokou Cang and Liyang Cang. Zhang Xuguo himself will also lead the general defense of Qi County from the commander-in-chief of the eastern border march to the general defense of Xingyang, and add a general to guard.
Emperor Cao was so eager to obtain such a loyal old man from Guanxi and such an army of native soldiers from the Eastern Region who were good at fighting. He and Zhang Xuguo are truly a perfect match, and they complement each other politically and militarily.
By then, together with Han Yingong garrisoning Tongguan and Qu Tuda garrisoning Jijun, not to mention the Eastern Capital, the situation of the entire Wei Dynasty will be reversed to a certain extent.
Even people with no strategic vision can basically realize how important the strategic significance of Zhang Xuguo's march to the west to join forces is.
The situation had reversed to a certain extent, and there was no longer any need to hide the high-level military discussions from many subordinate generals, so that day Zhang Xuguo held a banquet. Under him, about seventeen or eight people were seated, all coming to listen to General Manager Zhang's explanation of the situation. .
But for some reason, these people just remained silent while listening to Zhang Xuguo's slightly excited explanation. This put Zhang Xuguo, who was in desperate need of support, into some kind of embarrassment.
"Since no one is talking, let me tell you." The one who broke the silence was Fan Bao, who was obviously drunk, but he didn't seem to have drank too much just now. "Manager Zhang, we came here because we were worried that you were surrounded in Yuncheng. Now that we have come back and driven away the people from the Deposed Dragon Gang, shouldn't we go back to Qijun to clean up the situation? Why do we have to go west in this kind of weather? Woolen cloth?"
"Captain Fan, this is the imperial court's big plan." Zhang Xuguo explained patiently. "You have to know the importance."
"Is it the same imperial plan as the three conquests of Dongyi?" Fan Bao smiled directly in the audience.
Zhang Xuguo was slightly stunned and speechless on the spot.
"Fan Laoer." Yu Baimei finally couldn't bear it anymore and responded coldly from the other side. "Why are you pretending to be confused? How can Mr. Zhang be sorry for you and the Fan family? You brothers were originally powerful men in the county. They relied on Jishui to do black and white things. Now one is a lieutenant general and the other is a school captain. Is it possible? Shouldn't we be grateful for the kindness of the imperial court and Duke Zhang? Just because our village was lost once, it's over, right?"
Fan Bao looked at the other party with a sneer and was about to get angry.
But Fan Hu spoke before his younger brother: "General Yu is right. In fact, I, Fan Hu, have never forgotten Duke Zhang's kindness."
Yu Baimei was ready to wait for the next sentence, but found that the other party stopped talking after saying this, and he was at a loss for the moment.
But at the same time, Zhang Xuguo became serious: "Fan Hu, we must not forget the kindness of the imperial court!"
"May I ask Mr. Zhang, which court's kindness can't be forgotten?" Fan Hu, who was sitting in the first place on the right, paused, and then suddenly turned to look at his benefactor. "Jiangdu or Dongdu?"
"We don't need to get involved in the matters above." Zhang Xuguo also became more serious. "After all, it's Wei's kindness."
Fan Hu sneered and kept silent.
At this time, everyone understood what Fan Hu meant. This army was essentially an army of Qilu soldiers recruited and established by Zhang Xuguo as the leader. In addition, Zhang Xuguo could win battles and bring official positions to his men. And if he actually expands the territory and number of this army, everyone will naturally be willing to obey him.
As for the great righteousness of the court, it would be ridiculous to expect people here in the east to be grateful to the Wei court.
To put it bluntly, if Zhang Xuguo hadn't happened to be in Qi County, the Fan brothers would have either carried the flag themselves like the Meng brothers, or they would have become the backbone of the Deposed Dragon Gang like their acquaintance Cheng Dalang.
"General Fan." Zhang Changgong, who was wearing a mask, hesitated for a moment and then tried to explain and ease. This was something that he could only do with great effort. "I don't know anything else, but I'm just talking about the pros and cons. If we go west and help Dongdu open up the Wei situation, it will only be a matter of time before Qi County is stable in the future; but if we go back to the east, even if Qi County has been stabilized for a while, but if you leave the Deposed Dragon Gang alone, they will come back sooner or later, but Qi County will still be in chaos."
Fan Hu seemed to be quite wary of Zhang Changgong, so he just kept his head down and drank without saying a word.
Fan Bao, who had been suppressed by his brother before, finally couldn't help but get angry: "In the final analysis, what does the situation in Wei have to do with us, the children of Qijun?! Even if we want to be promoted and make a fortune, we should go back and clean up our hometown first. Go?"
Zhang Changgong was stunned and didn't know how to deal with it for a moment.
Yu Baimei, on the other hand, threw the cup on the spot: "Fan Bao! You brothers have refused here again and again. Do you want to disobey military orders again and do things on your own? Do you think you brothers survived last time because of the manager? I don’t dare to touch you? So you’re being unscrupulous, aren’t you?!”
When the matter came to this, everyone sitting here became awe-inspiring, because the matter was too sensitive, and most people were involved in it.
Sure enough, before Fan Hu could speak again, Fan Bao had already exposed his veins. He almost stood up and pointed at the opponent and shouted: "Yu! We Qijun people raised the army to defend our hometown from bandits. We never followed him. Why are you lackeys of the imperial court working so hard for the Wei Dynasty!"
"presumptuous!"
Just when Yu Baimei was about to get angry, and Fan Hu was about to get up, Zhang Xuguo suddenly roared, slapped the table and shouted. "Qijun is the Qijun of the imperial court, and all the officials and soldiers of the imperial court are here! No one is a lackey of the imperial court, they are all pillars of the imperial court! If you don't even accept this, you are not the enemy! Drag Fan Bao down, Twenty rods! Resign from the position of captain and be demoted to captain! Zhang Changgong, take him out to jail!"
As if Zhang Changgong had gained the backbone, he immediately stood up and dragged the strong Fan Bao out from the banquet with one hand. However, Fan Bao did not dare to resist at all and actually allowed the other party to drag him out.
That way, it's as easy as an adult carrying a baby.
After a while, the sound of execution sounded outside the hall, but Fan Bao just remained silent. Everyone else in the hall, either looking away or sitting upright, also remained silent.
This atmosphere is terrible.
At this moment, Zhang Xuguo squinted his eyes and looked at Fan Hu, who had an expressionless face. That look was both a warning and a plea.
After playing twenty boards, Fan Bao hadn't been dragged in yet. Fan Hu finally stood up and took advantage of the opportunity to bow down in the hall: "Manager Zhang."
Zhang Xuguo sighed and said solemnly: "General Fan."
"My younger brother is stubborn, his subordinates are unruly, and the morale of the army is turbulent. It is all my responsibility." Fan Hu kowtowed in response. "Please forgive me, Mr. Zhang."
"They are all members of our own family, how could I not forgive them?" Zhang Xuguo quickly answered.
"We have not forgotten Zhang Gong's kindness at all, but the morale of the army is slack. Everyone wants to return eastward and hates fighting. It is also true. Please give me three days, Duke Zhang, to convince my subordinates and appease the morale of the army before pursuing the pursuit again." Go west." Fan Hu continued to kowtow.
"It rains constantly, the roads are muddy, and supplies are difficult. We need time to prepare. You and I will spend five days." Zhang Xuguo felt relieved and quickly looked around. "I mean the same to you, don't delay."
Yu Baimei and others stood up quickly, but in the hurry they were divided into two. The locals and generals of Qi County followed Fan Hu's example and avoided the banquet to bow down, while Yu Baimei and other foreign officials just handed over their hands... Of course, consciousness When he realized something was wrong, Zhang Xuguo immediately left the table and came to help Fan Hu himself to comfort him.
After having a feast that day, we returned home happily.
In addition, Zhang Xuguo, Li Shu, and even Han Yingong and Qu Tuda earlier had already made decisions and taken actions. Zhang Xing was not idle either. He waited until noon on the next day, May 21st. Bai Yousi.
Although the sky was overcast, Bai Yousi's arrival in the sky during the day shocked the entire Deposed Dragon Gang in Jiyin City.
The two met at the backyard gate. Without any time to say anything, Zhang Xing summarized the current situation and some of his own judgments and made a briefing.
Bai Yousi, who was standing on the threshold holding a long sword, immediately understood: "Sanlang, do you already have an idea?"
"Yes." Zhang Xing answered calmly. "I already have an idea, but I have to wait until you arrive before I can muster the courage to make a decision. Once you come, I don't need to use any compass to ask my heart!"
"You can keep that thing and try it out when we are at the end of our rope!" Bai Yousi's words were sharp. "And since I already have an idea, and I'm here again, you just have to make the decision. You just say, what do you want to do, and what do you want me to do?"
"I want to fight, and I won't be willing to fight without one. I want you to fight this battle with me." Zhang Xing responded simply. "But before that, I want you to go to Mangdang Mountain first and tell Wang Zhen that I will send him a message every day, asking him to be prepared for medium and long-distance support and to be ready to support at any time... The matter is done, Go directly to the Eastern Front to find me."
"Okay." Bai Yousi nodded. "Xiao Zhou was taken out of Jiangdu by me. He is rushing here on horseback. Maybe he can catch up... I will go find Wang Zhen now, and then come back to you."
After saying that, he turned around and jumped away again without even taking a seat.
After Bai Yousi left, Zhang Xing was completely relieved and walked out of the room to the courtyard. However, he only set up a chair in the gloomy and rainy weather, and then sat there waiting for someone.
Sure enough, after a moment, Wei Xuanding, Jia Yue, Yan Qing, Zhang Jinshu and others, who were alerted by Bai Yousi, arrived first, but the latter two were asked to call people... Jiyin, as the original core garrison point on the Western Front, was originally There are many core members of the gang here, plus many so-called backbones of the gang who stayed here after retreating from the south. There are no less than a hundred people in total, and they swarm in at once, crowding the backyard of the county house.
There were even idlers like Protector Zhang Daxuan coming in, but they just watched from a distance with their arms in their arms.
"I have made up my mind. No matter what, I must first respond to everyone on the eastern front and prevent them from collapsing during their retreat. Otherwise, everything will be in vain." Zhang Xing looked around and remained still in his seat, but he said something unexpected, But it is not too surprising, because in the previous few days of debate, all plans have been discussed. "I ordered with Xu and Niu and the commanders of each county to immediately send all our troops to the east, and at the same time organize logistics transfers to support them."
It may be that the battle a few days ago seemed a bit powerful, or it may be that he had accumulated prestige through various military and civilian organization measures in the previous year. At this time, Zhang Xing said that he had no intention of discussing with the people around him. The backbone of the Western Front of the Deposed Dragon Gang were speechless and instead bowed their heads and obeyed orders.
Of course, there are still some technical issues that need to be clarified.
"Big Dragon Head, do you want Jiyin to send troops to the east?" Taoist Wei asked cautiously.
"This is natural." Zhang Xing responded calmly. "I will personally lead the troops, and you will be responsible for the logistics. We will set off together."
Wei Xuanding nodded, and couldn't help but ask again: "How many people should we take here in Jiyin?"
"All." Zhang Xing replied simply.
The chief of the Deposed Dragon Gang nodded, then froze on the spot.
Zhang Xing also continued to order: "Everyone, go. This time, just in case, there is no need to rush into white clothes and iron armor. All people with cultivation level must first get a pair of armor and put it on. No one can take off the armor unless ordered. Going right now."
By the end of the speech, the person had already stood up, and at this time, it started to rain again above his head.
Zhang Dalong looked at the top of his head and added something to Chief Wei who was still in a daze: "Open the inventory and chop all the silks that we took from the Queen before, no matter whether they are good or bad, with a knife to make temporary cloaks for everyone. , so as not to damage the armor."
Wei Xuanding could only respond.
ps: Good night everyone.
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