@@After dawn, the deposed dragon army slowly retreated southward after leaving two battalions in Shantonghai and Xiahou Ningyuan in Changhe as strategic support.
Starting on the way back, everyone clearly noticed the change in the wind direction.
It's not any other wind, it's a real wind. The northeast wind slowly turned into an east wind, and finally turned into a southeast wind. There was no longer frozen soil on the ground in the morning, and the mud soil exuded a vibrant smell, and there were new sprouts everywhere. and migratory birds.
But on the side of the army, no one dares to go to the fields to farm yet.
So Zhang Xing asked his soldiers to retake the abandoned Wubao along the way, and at the same time knock on the doors of every household in the village... He still maintained a certain degree of excessive caution on the issue of military rations, so there was no food in the early relief, not even any old rice.
I was willing to give it, but I just wished that these people would dig wild vegetables immediately, but I had some copper coins and weapons as support.
The land of Hebei is in such a depression that it is unrealistic to expect copper coins and iron tools to be of any use in a short time.
This action is mainly to dispel the wariness of the people. Free things are always good.
The day he arrived at Jiangling was the fifteenth day of the first lunar month. Zhang Xing was extremely busy and had no intention of celebrating the Lantern Festival... He stopped here and issued a series of military and political orders:
Officially appointed leader Qian Tang to lead Pingyuan County to stay behind;
Appoint leader Zheng Ting to stay behind for Bohai;
Appointed the big boss Chen Bin as the general manager of Hebei Public Security and Internal Affairs;
Bai Yousi was sent to lead the Dengzhou Army, and then he joined forces with the three leaders Cheng Zhili, Cheng Minqi, and Ma Ping'er and their troops to form the east route partial division. Among them, Bai Yousi was appointed as the commander of the partial division, and Cheng Zhili and Wang Zhen were deputy deputies to escort Zheng Ting eastward. Sweep and take over Bohai County;
Wei Xuanding, Xu Shiren, Wang Shuyong, Xie Minghe, Jia Yue, Xu Kaitong, Zhang Shanxiang, Guo Jingke, and Fan Wang were sent to lead their troops into Pingyuan City as a partial division on the west route. Among them, Wei Xuanding was the commander-in-chief, and Xu Shiren and Wang Shuyong were the deputies, responsible for monitoring the western front. and communicate;
Xiong Bonan and Liu Zhouchen were dispatched to lead the two military law battalions directly under them to return to the Mamianhe camp and form a military law team to clean up the battlefield, release the civilians, and at the same time conduct a routine eleven-day killing of the captured sergeants... Other surrendered troops in this battle The generals and soldiers turned back together;
Gao Shitong, Dou Lide, and Shang Huai'en were sent to lead their troops back to Ban County Camp to form a fielding group and supervise the fielding soldiers to quickly start fielding activities;
Wu Jingfeng and Lu Hongyue were dispatched to lead their troops to Lujiao Pass on the west side of Douzigang. They were responsible for preparing to cross the river after the ice melted and repatriate the wounded from the Eastern Border back to the Eastern Border, as well as dispatch supplies from the Eastern Border to the north;
Appointed Fu Boshi, Zhai Qian, Zhuge Dewei, Zhou Xingfan, Zu Chenyan, Yan Qing, Hao Yide, Wang Xiongdan, Fan Bao, Tang Bairen, and Wang Fubei to form a battle merit team and go to various locations to conduct merit verification for this battle. Review the meritorious deeds of soldiers reported by each battalion and clean the battlefield;
The commissioned combat merit team and two military judges, Xiong Bonan and Liu Zhouchen, jointly summarized the results after their respective affairs. Headed by Xiong Bonan, they combined the meritorious sergeants, auxiliary soldiers, and selected prisoners and surrendered soldiers, plus Wang Fubei's troops and Dengzhou army. In order to prepare for the second army reorganization, in addition to replenishing the battle-damaged personnel of each battalion and strengthening the craftsman battalion, five new battalions of combat soldiers must be formed. The experience of this battle must be learned and the establishment of scouts, long swords, light cavalry, heavy armor, and powerful troops. There are special camp heads for crossbows and other weapons;
In addition, each of the above groups must strictly implement the requirements related to spring plowing of the Deposed Dragon Gang, abide by disciplines at the station and during the march, and supervise spring plowing matters;
Finally, the heads of the generals Dou Pi and Guo Shiping who had been beheaded before, as well as those who were beheaded in this battle, including the generals and generals in the army, were presented to the public.
Things naturally seemed to be a matter of course. However, almost everyone noticed that Zhang Xing and Zhang Dalongtou’s various orders were all issued in the form of standard documents, and they were made in two copies, one for the parties concerned and one for the general bank. In the mausoleum city.
Moreover, a new signature appeared on the document - the deposed leader of the left-wing dragon of the Dragon Gang, Hebei Military and Political Commander-in-Chief Zhang San.
This caused everyone in the Deposed Dragon Gang to talk about it, but no one dared to delay the important errands assigned to them. Everyone quickly went on their way, and then continued to talk in private.
In addition, one thing that worries everyone is that although Zhang Xingren is in Jiangling, which is only a few dozen miles away from Ma Mian River Camp, Ande, Changhe, etc., there is only Xinjiang.
Only a few people, Chen Bin and Jia Runshi, stayed with the big leader and commander-in-chief.
Combined with the accident and attack that night, the leaders of the Deposed Dragon Gang could not help but become more cautious.
Of course, these people were overthinking it. Zhang Xingliu seemed to have his own work in Jiangling. He actually personally took on the task of the so-called "spring plowing group" and also handled some miscellaneous special matters.
For example, some strange prisoners and several special personnel issues.
"Sister Cao doesn't want to be the leader?" At the crossroads outside Jiangling City, Zhang Xing, dressed in casual clothes and sitting on a tree pillar, looked at the woman in front of him and frowned slightly. "Are you worried that Leader Dou is uncomfortable? Are you covering him up?"
"Yes... a little bit." Sister Cao, Mrs. Dou Cao Xi, who was wearing a simple leather armor, was obviously a little embarrassed. "But mainly, I still feel that all I do are chores in the camp. I have no credit for going into battle, nor have I directly managed key logistical matters such as the transportation and production of military rations and uniforms. I just lead people to distribute military rations, cook meals, Mend clothes, sweep the floor, bury cesspits... How can you become a leader just because of this? I'm just afraid that other people will gossip."
"I think these things are worth it." Zhang Xing said seriously. "You deserve to be a leader, otherwise I wouldn't have called my eldest sister here... Besides, we don't lack people who know how to fight and people who dare to fight hard. What we lack is precisely people like my eldest sister who are willing to do chores."
Sister Cao was obviously still uneasy.
"Then wait a little longer." Seeing this, Zhang Xing had no choice but to give up temporarily. "We'll talk about it in a few days. I have to go to Changhe City to help...the city is empty. We need to move some field soldiers there and clean up and resettle from scratch. Moreover, some Changhe people may come back in the future. I hope you can pay attention there in advance. Please help mediate if necessary."
Cao Xi breathed a sigh of relief, bowed and bowed, then turned to leave, but was stopped by Zhang Xing, who wrote a formal appointment document for her to hold and asked Shan Tonghai to cooperate with it. settled the matter.
As soon as the people left, Zhang Xing looked at a young man in civilian clothes standing aside: "Why didn't you just escape back before?
"Report to Uncle Master." That person, Su Jingfang, answered respectfully. "Mainly Chen Sima... Chief Chen was so unexpected anyway. I only realized that the war was about to start when the army came to attack... when I wanted to escape
, has been wrapped up by Xue Changxiong, unable to move. "
"How did you survive later?" Zhang Xing continued to ask. "Do you have any friendship with Fu Boshi?"
"No." Su Jingfang was a little embarrassed. "I told him that although I was an officer and soldier, I came from a wealthy family in Hebei and was the son-in-law of a certain leader... Although he was skeptical, he still held me down.":
Zhang Xing was silent for a while and then asked seriously: "Do you want me to be a matchmaker?"
Su Jingfang was startled when he heard this, and shook his head repeatedly: "It's just a joke... If a man has not accomplished his achievements, why should he take care of his family?"
"Your master didn't delay anything, right?" Zhang Xing immediately retorted.
"That's because Master Wife is capable and supports Master wholeheartedly." Su Jingfang immediately pointed out the key.
"So I think they delayed you..." Zhang Xing shook his head. "You'll regret it when you get older."
Su Jingfang was noncommittal.
"Do you know that your master is in Wuyang in the southwest?" Zhang Xing thought for a moment and stopped dwelling on this minor issue, but turned to business.
"Know."
"Tell your master when you go back and ask him if you can join forces with the other county governors who sent troops to ask Jijun for some food and stuff, and then we spend money to buy it... The people of Hebei have been so miserable in the past two years, and the poor are eating grass. They can't even eat it, and the food in the warehouses in Ji County is essentially the blood of the people of Hebei." Zhang Xing made two formal demands. "Besides, please ask him to help me ask about the whereabouts and results of Niuda and the prisoners of Chanyuan. Prisoners of war should be exchanged for prisoners of war, especially Niuda. I also have a Bohai prefect, so they can be exchanged; if Niuda is Just die, I will kill
He killed the prefect and exchanged his corpse with the court for his corpse. "
Su Jingfang couldn't help but feel sore after hearing this, and then seriously mentioned
A question emerged in his mind: "Uncle Master, since you want something from my master, why are you so aggressive?"
"What did I ask him for?" Zhang Xing asked earnestly, holding the tree trunk.
"Please ask him in exchange for food and find someone..." Su Jingfang was speechless.
"It's fair to find someone." Zhang Xing answered seriously. "Isn't it natural that the living should be replaced by the living, and the dead should be replaced by the dead?"
"But where is the food?" Su Jingfang continued to ask.
"I begged him for food?" "Isn't that right?"
"Xiao Su." Zhang Xing sighed, his words extremely sincere. "You remember these words I said today... I ask you, who am I begging for food for? For myself? For the Deposed Dragon Gang? There are more than twenty battalions of the Deposed Dragon Gang, and how many of them are still on board? The old grain from the prefecture and the support from the Eastern Territory after last autumn harvest, plus the military rations of the Hejian Camp just seized... If you want to say that there is still a shortage of food, but if you grit your teeth and tighten your belt, you will definitely be able to get through it... I want food for the millions of people in Bohai and the plains, as well as for the people in Qinghe, Wuyang, and even your Wu'an County. How come I want food?"
"But Uncle Master." Su Jingfang said seriously. "Aren't Bohai and Plains the territory of your Deposed Dragon Gang? Aren't Qinghe Wuyang regarded as yours? When you ask for food for them, aren't you asking for it for yourself?
Are we all stupid?"
"This is the problem between you and your master, putting the cart before the horse." Zhang Xing said angrily. "Why do you want to conquer the world and seize territory? Is it just to conquer the world and seize territory? I, Zhang San, came out to rebel because I couldn't bear the fact that ordinary people couldn't live their lives, and your master and you were all thinking about heroic achievements... …Especially your master, it’s not that he doesn’t understand, so he has to pretend not to see it… The so-called unification of the world is to reduce the number of wars in the future; changing dynasties is to eliminate violence and peace; deposing and killing dragons is to return the earth’s energy… The common people of Hebei The officers and soldiers didn't care about the lack of food, so I came to beg for them, but it turned out to be selfish on my part?"
Su Jingfang remained silent.
Obviously, he knew that he couldn't argue with this uncle who was almost the only one to talk. But he was not convinced, because no matter how many twists and turns the other party made, he could not change the fact that at this time, the counties on the Western Front were begging for food. , which is essentially beneficial to the Deposed Dragon Gang.
Unless one day Master Zhang is willing to sacrifice the major strategic interests of the Deposed Dragon Gang for the sake of the people under the imperial court, then that's it.
Zhang Xing certainly knew what the other party was thinking when he saw this, but this issue had already touched on the fundamentals. If he could convince the other party with just a few words, he wouldn't have to argue with Li Ding for so long, so he simply waved his hand and said:
"It doesn't matter, anyway, don't forget these instructions... Your subordinates asked them to take the northern route and go back directly... It's hard to give you a horse, clothes and equipment, otherwise you wouldn't be able to stay in the Eastern Capital. Make an explanation in front of people.”
"Yes." Su Jingfang cheered up and left.
After Su Jingfang left, it took a while before someone escorted another prisoner of war over. The prisoner was also dressed in civilian clothes. When I arrived, I was obviously nervous.
"Your name is Zhang Gongshen?" Zhang Xing only asked seriously from the tree stump. "Have we met twice?"
"Yes." Zhang Gongshen answered cautiously. "Zhang Longtou has a good memory."
"We belong to the enemy and we are merciless on the battlefield, but now that the dust has fallen to the ground, you should go back." Zhang Xing was particularly straightforward this time. "Take your young general away too... Tell General Luo that his son was really struggling and the people below him didn't know his cultivation, so he broke his leg and went back to have a baby. It's not a big deal."
Zhang Gongshen was startled for a moment, then he was overjoyed. He immediately leaned over and held his hands in his hands, sincerely thanking him: "I will never forget Zhang Longtou's kindness. I also want to thank you for my young general.
"It doesn't matter." It's rare to meet someone who doesn't need to be calculating, and it's rare for Zhang Xing to stand up and help him. "Not to mention that there is no conflict of interest between the two families... Even if there is, from time to time, no one knows when it will be time to ask for help. Besides, I heard Chief Chen said about you. You are a wealthy person. It’s a matter of friendship, it’s really innocent to be involved, but it doesn’t have to be like this.”
With that said, the two pushed aside a few more times before letting each other leave directly.
As soon as the person left, Zhang
Xinggan sat for a while, then turned around and picked up the shovel from behind the tree stump, then used his true energy to continue digging out the roots of the tree... It turned out that while he was sitting here, he was actually digging out the roots with the people from the camp directly under his headquarters. Those who were looking for firewood at the roots of trees were just doing some chores in between.
Not to mention how Zhang Dalongtou insisted on voluntary labor during the holidays, but on the other side, Su Jingfang rode westward and quickly passed through Qinghe County and arrived at Liaocheng, an important town at the junction of Qinghe and Wu'an. He met the imperial troops on the western front who were unwilling to patrol after hearing the results of the battle ahead. , but he easily found the county soldiers, and then met his father who was leading the troops in the camp.
As a result, before he could sit down, another messenger came to summon him and asked him to meet him in the army tent.
Su Jingfang did not dare to neglect, and hurriedly followed the envoy to the Chinese army's tent. After saluting, he stood up and saw that the tent was full of seven or eight people. The other generals were just listed below, and his master was only among seven or eight people. The middle man is sitting in the third position from the left, and the person in the middle is an older man with a graceful posture, who does not look like a general.
"This is Prince Ji of Ji County, then General Qutu, Duke Yuan of Wei County, Ambassador Lu of Yecheng, Duke Yuan of Wuyang County, Duke Zhang of Zhao County, and Duke Chen of Xiangguo County..." Li Ding gave a brief introduction Ichiban. "All the officials from Hebei West Road are here. Just answer whatever I ask you. Don't hide anything."
Su Jingfang quickly agreed.
As a result, Wang Huaidu, the highest-born, oldest and most senior person, spoke first, but he asked a nonsense question: "Is there really a big defeat at Ma Mian River?"
"Yes." Su Jingfang lowered his head and said something.
"To what extent was the defeat?" Another person asked hurriedly, but Yuan Baocun, the governor of Wuyang County, failed.
"More than 10,000 people were captured, with countless casualties. All supplies, weapons, and horses were taken away. Among the three Zhonglang generals who were masters of Chengdan, one General Dou Pi died in battle, and one General Murong Zhengyan was seriously injured and was sent away on the way. , only one general Gao Zhan, who was not present, remained. In addition, General Guo Shiping, the general of Zhonglang, was killed in the battle, General Luo Shu and General Li Li from the direction of Youzhou were seriously injured, and General Luo Shu's only son Luo Xin was seriously injured and captured. Hejian Camp Supervisor Sima Chen Bin, Zhonglang General Wang Fubei, Zhonglang General Feng Duan, and Zhonglang General Zhang Daoxian were surrendered as prisoners." Su Jingfang said roughly once. "Qian Tangju, the governor of Pingyuan County, surrendered, and the governor of Bohai Zhou was captured. Before the end of the world, the deposed dragon army had already begun to raid the cities in Bohai.
Even though everyone had probably heard a lot of information before, they couldn't help but look at each other in shock and turned blue when they heard the words.
"I'm asking you something, and you must tell the truth." Suddenly someone spoke up, it was Qu Tuda, the general of Dongdu with a yellow beard.
"Excuse me, General Qutu." Su Jingfang was extremely respectful.
"Do you know why General Xue didn't wait for us, divided his troops in vain, and gave the rebels such a good opportunity?" Qu Tuda's eyes widened, he stood up and walked forward to Su Jingfang and asked sternly. "Did Chen Bin, the one who did it on purpose, really do it on purpose?"
"If you ask anything else, the general may not necessarily know. On the contrary, the matter is clear because the general was in the Mamianhe stronghold of the Hejian camp at the time and could hear clearly." Su Jingfang raised his head, neither humble nor arrogant.
"Then make it clear." Qutuda couldn't rush him enough.
"Because everyone in the Hejian camp suspected that General Qutu would rely on his own merits after Chanyuan's victory and not come to his aid."
Su Jingfang spoke clearly. "The original intention of this partial army was to fake the name of General Qu Tu, first to seek victory, and secondly to urge General Qu Tu to march quickly... As for Chen Bin, the general made a bold guess that it should be Youzhou The partial army was suddenly defeated, and he was worried about being punished, so he made an impromptu decision because on the day of his arrival, he went to the main account to write a document to force Wang Fubei to go south..."
"Absurd!" Qutuda suddenly shouted angrily, turned around to his seat, and then remained silent.
The tent was quiet for a moment.
It was Li Ding who spoke: "Don't make random guesses. There are some things you don't understand at all. How can you guess clearly?"
"Yes." Su Jingfang was so well-behaved that she didn't even mention that she had discussed this matter in detail with Zhang Gongshen, one of the parties involved.
"I'm not saying he's ridiculous." Qutuda exhaled slowly. "In my opinion, what you, the student, said is all true... It was the same in the Eastern Territory before. We made an appointment to fight together, and there was always something wrong.
Some people can't help but take one step faster, and some can't help but delay a few steps... It's just that each of them regards their headquarters as their base and their friendly forces as their opponents, which is why the bandit army often takes advantage of them. And when I say it's ridiculous, it's because things like this are so simple, and everyone knows this truth. Even if the example is right in front of them, no one can really do things from a public heart. "
"Let me tell you." The local owner Yuan Baocun looked up to the sky and sighed. "It's not that the government and the army are ridiculous...the sectarian view has been like this since ancient times. Only the imperial court's prestige can be suppressed properly...The real absurdity is that thieves started from just a gang, a group of traffickers, scribes, and local powerful people can actually It’s ridiculous to unite sincerely and work together.”
There was silence in the hall.
After a while, Yuan Baocun came seriously and asked the person standing next to him: "Deputy Ambassador Li, I heard that in the east that day, Zhang Xuguo actually defeated half of the main force of the deposed dragon army. The army was almost defeated, but It was the rebel Zhang San who instigated it, gathered up the defeated troops, and waited for work, but he won a great victory... Is it true?"
The man next to him turned around, and it turned out to be Li Qingchen. His face turned slightly pale when he heard this, but he still handed over his hand sincerely: "It's true... Zhang San's ability to inspire people is something that Li has never seen in his life... It seems that the key is reached." At all times, everyone around him is willing to fight for him."
Yuan Baocun nodded and came to see Wang Huadu again: "No matter what, the prince should write that Chen Bin betrayed the master and formulate a strategy for dividing the troops for General Xue. Otherwise, General Xue will not look good."
"This is natural." Wang Huaidu nodded and looked at Su Jingfang in front of him again. "You were let go by Zhang Xing, so he must have some words to say, right?"
"Yes." Su Jingfang came back to her senses and quickly answered. "Reporting to the prince, the thief Zhang San has two things to convey to me. One is to exchange prisoners, especially the leader of the thief chief Niu Da... He said that he also has a Bohai Zhou governor in his hands. Soldiers are exchanged for soldiers, and governors are exchanged. Niuda, if Niuda is dead, the body can be replaced, and he can kill Prefect Zhou and continue to replace it."
Many people couldn't help but sneered, but didn't say much. Wang Huaidu thought about it and looked at Qu Tuda.
Although Qutuda was depressed, there was really nothing to worry about. He answered directly: "I don't know the whereabouts of Niuda, but exchanging prisoners is a common practice in the army... Captain Qin, you handle this matter."
A tall captain turned around and calmly handed over his hand. It turned out to be Qin Bao, who had been promoted after pacifying Jing Xiang: "The general will know."
After that, Su Jingfang continued to report back: "In addition, he also suggested that the governors of Hebei West Road counties should put people's livelihood first, and should ask for more grain from Jijun's warehouses and provide relief to Hebei counties. ...It is said that after years of fighting, the people of Hebei have no food to eat."
Hearing this, the room was filled with silence, and everyone had different expressions.
After a long while, Yuan Baocun was still serious and asked: "Everyone, this thief has already regarded us as nothing in his words, and regards several of our counties as his territory. What can he do?"
No one around answered.
Yuan Baocun waited for a moment, then suddenly stood up, walked out, walked to the door, turned around again, then lost his temper for no reason, and actually pointed his finger at the officials in the tent: "When we sent out troops, you all said, Xue Changxiong is this The tiger came down the mountain! It turned out that Tiger Xue was just a sick tiger! But today this line roared in the air! Do you know who is the real tiger?"
After saying that, he walked away.
The remaining people know that the position of Wuyang County where Yuan Bao is stored is in an awkward position, and may or may not be saved, so they have been tossing and turning in the past few days, making constant gaffes, but they don't blame him... But the others don't have this worry for the time being, so they are stable Some.
Therefore, after the people left, the tent was full of heroes, but there was still no sound, no one said anything easily.
As the saying goes:
The trees in the southern and northern mountains are dark, and tigers circle the forest during the day.
Xiang Wan was a Taoist, and there were no elk in the mountains.
