On the morning of the third day after the dinner, there was no wind and fog on the banks of the Maface River in Pingyuan County, and a large army gathered.
The early spring sun rises from the east, reflecting the mist-covered land of Hebei vividly and illusively. The Hejian army coming from Jiangling City in the northwest is like a wave, hitting this southwest, northeast Walking towards the edge of the creek, it stopped like a tide against a dam.
By this time, including the reinforcements on the way, plus the original civilians and auxiliary troops, the Hejian Army had nearly 200,000 troops. With baggage and flags, they lined up for more than ten miles along the Ma Mian River, which was really majestic.
"The general has an order, and each lieutenant will lead his troops to build three pontoon bridges. When all the pontoon bridges are complete, we will get the order and then cross the river! After crossing the river for five miles, we will go to the village in person! If anyone disobeys the order, rob others of the pontoon bridge. , Anyone who damages the pontoon bridge will be killed without mercy!"
The messengers with red tassels on their helmets and red cloaks kept coming and going along the river embankment, repeating the military orders of the supreme commander.
"Should we also build a floating bridge?"
In the midst of thousands of troops, Qian Tang, who was nicknamed the "Lord of the Mansion Mansion", seemed a little bored at this time compared to when he had angrily denounced the generals three days ago.
"It stands to reason that there is no need." Cao Shancheng, the Qinghetong guard who joined the horse, frowned. "The military order is obviously only for those Hejian Army generals and the two Youzhou generals, and has nothing to do with us... But let's put it up, otherwise our soldiers will have nowhere to cross the river."
"Then let's set it up." Qian Tang responded casually.
The ground was very muddy. Obviously, the temperature rose as usual during the first month of the year. With the gradually lengthening sunshine in spring, the frozen land began to completely thaw during the day. It was conceivable that the so-called freezing flood on the river, that is, the melting period, was indeed coming soon.
There is no problem in terms of timing for this advance.
The permanent pontoon was quickly built as required. To be honest, there was no difficulty except for being slightly muddy and making the people dirty. Because the water was so shallow, there was even no need to wet our feet in some places.
"This Horse Face River..." Cao Shancheng asked seriously when he saw that the bridge was being built smoothly. "Is there any difference between this section in Pingyuan County and Qinghe County?"
"What is Qinghe County like?"
"When the water rises in summer, you can ride across the shoal on horseback..."
"There's basically no difference." Qian Tang answered frankly. "It will be slightly wider when you reach the lower reaches of Bohai County. We have also seen it... When Zhang Gong was still alive, he once said that it was mainly because the late emperor renovated the clear Zhangshui River as the main transfer channel for taxes in Hebei and usurped a lot of Ma Mian River. The tributaries of the river have reduced the water flow, and even the estuary has gradually accumulated over the past ten years, and then the seawater reversed and formed tidal flats in the salt mountains."
"In this way, the logistics may be more difficult. As for this place..." Cao Shancheng nodded and continued to ask. "If this place is like this, does General Xue need to build so many pontoon bridges?"
"I think this is okay." Qian Tang looked at the open area in front of him where the mist gradually dispersed, and answered seriously. "On this side of this river are Ande, Pingyuan, and Jiangling, and on the other side are Banxian and Pingchang where the Qilong Gang set up bases. Like Douzigang in the south of Banxian, they are all natural boundaries of the battlefield. After this river The river is the battlefield, so there is no harm in having a clear retreat."
Cao Shancheng nodded again, but felt a little uneasy. He paused for a moment, and then asked seriously: "Qian Fujun... tell me the truth, he let Xue Wannian occupy your Ande City, do you feel it in your heart?" Have any resentment?"
"Can I still enjoy it?" Qian Tang looked at the Qinghe County Sheriff next to him blankly. "Chang He was robbed by his son years ago. He filled the three cities of Ande, Pingyuan, and Jiangling with a lieutenant general and 3,000 soldiers. On the contrary, I want to bring the county soldiers out to follow him. River...but what can I say? He also sent people to occupy Bohai Leling, to ensure a safe future. But so what, is there anything else I can do?"
Cao Shancheng sighed, lowered his voice and said, "Miss Qian, please don't think I'm too troublesome. What you wrote to me a few months ago, I have to say, Commander Qian, you were a bit bewitched by Zhang Thief." arrive……"
Qian Tang couldn't help but be startled.
"Qian Fujun, don't be careless." Cao Shancheng said quickly. "Zhang Thief is so cunning. He is so cunning that I have never seen him in his life. He is definitely a great harm to the country. It's just hateful that Cao Zhongcheng didn't kill him directly when he failed to accept him as his adopted son..."
Qian Tangfu laughed again,
"Qian Fujun, don't laugh." Cao Shancheng had no choice but to return to the original topic. "Look at the leaflets he has been distributing. If you look carefully and think carefully, they all seem to make sense. But in fact, he only talks about the truths that are good for him, not the truths that are harmful to him... And in the final analysis, these actions of his are It’s just to shake people’s hearts so that he can shake things up in Hebei.”
"What do Mr. Cao Fu want to say?" Qian Tang finally became impatient. "Are you afraid that I will turn against him after being persuaded by him? Let me tell you, this battle was won, and all the soldiers of the 25th battalion of the Dragon Army were choked in Ma Lian Henan. Even if I was persuaded by him, I would also There is no place to vote for him, right? On the other hand, if the 200,000 people in Hebei collapse here, we dare not say more. At least the two major counties of Bohai and Pingyuan will be gone, and Qinghe may also be gone... At that time, who can care about whom?"
Cao Shancheng looked hard and didn't speak for a while.
Qian Tang woke up and immediately laughed again: "Does Governor Cao think that I am going to defect before the battle? Don't worry, in the current situation, I am clearly being monitored as a prisoner by General Xue. Without Ande City in hand, defecting will be useless in the war. "
Cao Shancheng's expression became more and more serious: "Qian Fujun, that's not what I meant... I just think that the more difficult the situation is, the more loyal people should stick to their duties... He let out his breath with one thought, whether it is to go with the flow or to obey the crowd. , naturally everything is comfortable, but if no one does anything, the country and the court will really be doomed."
Qian Tang nodded expressionlessly.
When Cao Shancheng saw this, he knew he was being offended, so he stopped talking. Instead, he sighed and rode off to other floating bridges.
"It's the same as what Zhang Sanlang said in the leaflet." As soon as the man left, Lu Changheng, who had been reining in his horse, urged his horse forward, then shook his head and said: "This man has wasted half his life and has never had the glory of these two years. And the glory of the past two years has been achieved by suppressing the rebels. His life has basically been burdened with suppressing the rebels... Therefore, no matter what reason he comes to, it will only become suppressing the rebels... If you asked the country and the court just now, If there is really a way to save him, he will definitely say that if we defeat the dragon thief in Hebei, we will be saved."
"After all, he has some ability and ideas. He is already better than 99% of the people in the world. The only difference is that he is independent. Zhang San also has a bad mouth." Qian Tang also shook his head when he heard this. At this point, he was surprised again. "New flyer? When did it arrive?"
"Everyone took the ones that were scattered in front of several broken bridges and in the forts yesterday. I thought you had seen them a long time ago." Lu Changheng answered.
"No wonder you suddenly said these things to me." Qian Tang took a long breath and went out. "How can Zhang San have the demeanor of the Lord of the Eight Counties? This is going to drive people crazy!"
"It doesn't matter. The key is, should we stop like this?" Lu Changheng was a little uneasy. "We knew we were already chatting after we sent out troops during the Chinese New Year, but suddenly we just sat back and watched the outcome?"
"What else can be done?" Qian Tang asked. "Xue Changxiong occupied three cities and dragged me in. What can I do except watch the victory or defeat?"
Lu Changheng was silent for a moment, then asked again: "What do you think about the victory or defeat?"
"The outcome is unpredictable." Qian Tang remained straightforward.
"It's obvious that people here are divided and everyone has their own agenda." Lu Changheng tried his best to argue. "Xue Changxiong cannot convince people's hearts, and even Cao Shancheng cannot use him."
"Don't think that there is trouble only here... As I expected, Zhang San may not be able to convince people either." Qian Tang answered calmly. "Still a lot of trouble."
Lu Changheng wanted to persuade him again, but he felt it was a bit absurd - what on earth did he do? Officers and soldiers? Depose the deputy helmsman of the Dragon Gang? spy? Internal response? Friends? Or a messenger?
I was also depressed for a while.
The two of them were thinking wildly when suddenly they heard a burst of shouting and chaos around them, so they hurriedly looked around, and sure enough, following everyone's gaze, they saw a large group of people on the other side of the Malian River who were clearly out of specification. Depose the dragon army sentry cavalry.
Moreover, the sentries of both sides had been engaged in intensive battles for several days, and there were naturally those on the other side of the Mamian River at this time. However, these officers and soldiers were watching from a distance, and some reported in a hurry, but no one dared to step forward. Obviously, something happened before that prevented these sentinel riders from making any unnecessary attempts.
"Want to take a gamble?!" Qian Tang turned back to look at Lu Changheng. "Zhang Sanlang is over there."
"No need." Lu Changheng shook his head. "Zhang Sanlang must be here in person to see the strength of the army... If I really want to bet, why not bet on whether Xue Changxiong, as a master, will lead the army's masters to cross the river and attack them. If they don't expect to win, they can be driven away!"
"I bet not." Qian Tang replied quickly. "Xue Changxiong acted like a general and wanted to attack the powerful troops, but at the same time he was too precious about his own life. He would not rush into battle personally..."
While he was talking, a puma cavalry suddenly stepped over a newly built pontoon bridge and rushed straight to the other side, holding a flag, which turned out to be the Chinese flag.
"Luo Shu?" Qian Tang was slightly surprised. "Uncle Qin Bao doesn't know whether to praise him for his bravery or lament his lack of strategy...But his behavior in the past few days didn't seem like a fool's errand? Instead, he was a bit cunning."
"It doesn't look like Luo Shu." Lu Changheng looked over. "This flag has no trim and insufficient regulations. It is not a serious general's flag... Is it his son?"
Qian Tang suddenly realized.
The next moment, under the witness of tens of thousands of people, the more than a hundred Youzhou armored cavalry rushed straight towards the strange group of deposed dragon army light cavalry, and from far away, a full seven or eight Qijing masters released their true magic. When the Qi came, there was a vague intention of forming a small Zhenqi army formation. The leader directly raised his spear. Duanjiang Zhenqi was attached to the spear and stretched out almost ten feet abruptly. It was extremely powerful.
All I can say is that he is worthy of Shomon Ryuko.
However, when the two sides were more than a hundred steps apart, the Qingqi formation of the Deposed Dragon Army suddenly released its true energy. The true energy was colorful and rolled into one immediately. It was far more powerful than the more than a hundred Youzhou sudden cavalry. The Qi is more powerful and more substantial, but it is only gray-white, like a cloud that seems to be alive.
Not to mention, a large formation of true energy was formed, and the strength was clearly defined. The armored knights were caught off guard and slowed down in panic. However, the horses were unable to regain their momentum, so they could only follow the leader and try hard to turn to one side. At the moment when they barely turned around after a few dozen steps, the Zhenqi wave in the Dragon-Deposed Army formed, and a wave of Zhenqi two to three feet wide suddenly struck out like a gray-white lightning in the morning sun.
The first three or four cavalry generals escaped, but there were twenty or thirty cavalrymen behind them who were swept away by this infuriating energy. Everyone on the spot fell on their backs, life or death was uncertain, and the remaining dozens of cavalrymen no longer had the courage to maintain their formation. Just turn around and leave.
The power of one blow is so terrifying.
Not to mention what the spectators in the audience were thinking, just that the person involved, Luo Xin, escaped with his life. He only felt that life and death were in the blink of an eye, but he instantly put out all unnecessary thoughts and focused on escaping.
Fortunately, the other party did not pursue him, and even took the initiative to dissipate his energy. He just continued to wait and see.
Returning to the Ma Mian River, Luo Xin returned to his father, but did not apologize to his father. Instead, he rolled off his horse and bowed to the man sitting next to his father: "I am incompetent and I am extremely ashamed. Please The general punishes the crime."
That person was of course Xue Changxiong. When he heard this, he just laughed boldly: "It doesn't matter, who would have thought that the deposed dragon thief would be so stingy, with all the masters in the group, but he didn't even raise a flag... The gray-white true energy must be Thief Zhang's ice energy formed the base of the formation and he took action himself?"
"It must be so." Luo Shu answered for his son.
"I know how my second son died." Xue Changxiong sighed quietly. "I really can't blame Mr. Qiantang Qianfu for this. I blamed him wrongly before."
No one knew how to answer the call.
At this time, General Xue looked around again: "Listen, the deposed dragon thief must not be underestimated!"
"What the general said is true." Chen Bin spoke first, and the other generals agreed. At the same time, they thought about continuing to follow the general's wishes and withdraw.
But the next moment, Xue Changxiong stood up again, pulled out a straight knife from his waist, and looked around: "But since we are going to fight today, and we have already agreed on the strategy of taking turns to attack after the engagement, and strive to break through, how can we be afraid?" Is the enemy unable to advance? According to our military order, the Hejian Army has fifteen masters of Dan Ning and above, four of them are in the four cities behind them, with Xue Wanquan guarding the rear army, Chen Sima supervising the central army, two county guards and two Youzhou reinforcements. The remaining nine will lead the formation, and within a quarter of an hour, each will bring five elites above Qijing and above to come to this flag, and follow me to try this sword for a while! Open the way for the whole army!"
Everyone shuddered and obeyed the order.
After a moment, the generals gathered together, and Xue Changxiong did not hesitate. He only ordered his guards to raise the flag of his marching general, holding a straight knife, and jumped out on the horse himself. Without stopping for a moment, he beat the horse across the Ma Mian River. .
Not only that, before crossing the river, Xue Changxiong only looked like an ordinary armor. When he walked across the pontoon, the glowing true energy on his body was already aroused, like a human-shaped sun, shining in all directions. The generals behind him were encouraged and each released his true energy. Qi, and quickly formed a true qi army formation with extremely small regulations but extremely high quality.
The tens of thousands of people behind him were already stunned, and Qian Tang's face was even swollen for no reason.
Seeing this in the distance, the infuriating energy on the opposite side also surged, and the iconic gray-white infuriating energy also condensed again, forming a huge living body that seemed to be able to breathe. It was not afraid at all and waited in place.
Seeing this, Xue Changxiong did not ask the generals to speed up, but just moved forward slowly.
The two sides were a hundred steps apart. Unexpectedly, the gray-white military formation opposite suddenly displayed a red flag with the word "Depose", and then slowly started to move towards each other... Seeing this situation, Xue Changxiong felt secretly, the thief was like this The momentum makes it difficult to kill in one fell swoop, but the idea is to first angrily rebuke the thieves chief, and then calmly suppress the opponent's military formation in public, forcing the opponent to leave in embarrassment, and establish military prestige.
However, just when the two sides were forty or fifty steps apart and could almost see each other's faces, the deposed dragon army's true energy formation moved first.
The gray-white air mass suddenly accelerated forward, and in just a moment, it was about ten feet away.
At this opportunity, Xue Changxiong was furious and directly raised his sword to get his luck. Unexpectedly, his luck was not complete. First, a purple light flew from the opposite formation. The purple light was five or six feet wide. It flew to the front of the army formation ten feet away and was still solid. , but it hit Xue Changxiong's array that was as bright as the sun, and there was an arrow, wrapped in Duanjiang's true energy, hidden under the purple light, one behind and the other, one bright and one dark, one shot and the other stabbed, The glow around General Xue dimmed slightly.
Of course, it was just a moment of darkness, and it quickly returned to normal.
But on the other side, the military formation of the Deposed Dragon Army sneaked up. After a sudden strike, the whole army turned around and walked away without stopping for a moment. General Xue was stunned. The opponent had already moved seventy or eighty steps away, and it turned out to be The drama of escaping with one blow.
Not only that, among the bandits who continued to flee south, under the banner with the word "deposed" that had just been raised, there were people again encouraging their true energy, laughing loudly as they walked:
"Unexpectedly, the old dog still has the courage to fight the dragon!"
His voice entangled with the real energy, stirring up the surroundings, deafening... But I don't know whether to admit that Xue Changxiong has the ability, or to ridicule that he has no ability?
Xue Changxiong became more and more angry. Seeing the Qingqi on the opposite side walking fast, he had no choice but to imitate the shouting and scolding back. As a result, the opponent's military formation suddenly seemed to have been half-rehearsed, and began to "shout" in unison, responding to the previous voice, There was more movement.
I don’t know how boring these people are, but they actually practice slogans.
General Xue was completely helpless and could only watch as a group of people on the other side seemed to have won, shouting and arrogantly retreating while holding flags.
However, although Xue Changxiong felt that he was being teased, he didn't know that across the Ma Mian River, many people were already stunned - in the eyes of most people, this was a fight between gods, and they couldn't tell the winner or loser or the level of strength.
Before noon, the Hejian army crossed the shallow Ma Mian River on time as planned. After traveling no more than five miles, they began to set up camp under the warm sunshine at noon.
Although there was an attack by the Dragon Army in the middle, they still came to cover up the water and earth. Relying on the strength of the army, the elite troops, and the proper logistics, they calmly arranged the camp layout at night - the official army's Ma Mian River camp was very wide. Several miles, and it is still extending, with a depth of five miles in front and back. The trench outside the main gate in front is only ten miles away from the first line of defense of the Dragon Army.
When night came, Zhang Xingduan was sitting in the military tent, hesitating whether to attack and harass at night, or to take advantage of the opportunity to show weakness... During the day, he was lucky enough to get home, which made him realize that there was still a lot to say about the outcome of this battle.
At this time, Yan Qing brought Liu Zhouchen over and suddenly reported something.
"Are you serious?" Zhang Xing looked up blankly. "I didn't detect it before, but now it's revealed?"
"Yes...it has been found out." Liu Zhouchen was also a little uneasy. "It was the horse's feet that were exposed when the cage could not cover them during the retreat. Many people saw them."
Zhang Xing's face was expressionless, but he was extremely speechless in his heart - without him, Yan Qing and Liu Zhouchen reported a very simple matter. Guo Jingke's old habit relapsed and he didn't control his hands. When he went to Dawu Fort a year ago, , taking advantage of the convenience of staying in his base camp, he secretly hid a cache of gold and silver. He withdrew it a few days ago and was discovered.
(End of chapter)
