On the morning of the 22nd day of the twelfth lunar month, a group of field soldiers pushing carts arrived outside Jiangling City. The carts were filled with various items woven from reeds - mostly mats, baskets, and straw sandals. There were four or five carts in total. Make up goods.
In fact, there was originally only one family in this military camp who knew this craft, but since Han Erlang arrived, many things have changed. Han Erlang teamed up with several brothers who believed in him, and together they collected money and gave it to the man, asking him to teach him. , so the craftsmanship spread immediately. During the slack season, relying on the inexhaustible reed poles in the high chicken pond behind him, a small industry was quickly formed.
In a sense, these kinds of things can be regarded as daily necessities. In addition, the business here in Jiangling is very developed, so they can be sold almost immediately. And because the market here is prosperous, many times it is bartered. , and directly exchanged the New Year items that they originally wanted to buy, the soldiers in the field were naturally excited.
So, everyone discussed that they should go drinking together, and Chief Huang who took the lead went to see Han Erlang.
Unexpectedly, Han Erlang, who had been distracted a lot today, suddenly said: "Let's go back quickly, something may happen!"
Everyone was suddenly surprised, and then they immediately packed up. Only Chief Huang was a little puzzled. He frowned and asked: "What can happen in this situation? Could Han Erlang have made a mistake?"
"I'm afraid that troops will be sent out in a few days." Han Erlang said sincerely. "There are too many officers going to inspect the livestock camp. We just went to the big iron house and could only change the inventory. They were all repairing weapons... We walked three of the four avenues. As the New Year is approaching, there are many officers hanging whale strips on the road. , but it is rare to see them entering the store to drink and party. Instead, they all look serious and walk in a hurry, let alone leave the military camp and go home... I asked just now, and the store owner said that in fact, there were many such gatherings yesterday, and today they suddenly not enough."
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Chief Huang was convinced after hearing half of it, and immediately took the initiative to collect it.
The group of people scrambled to load the new year's goods and pushed the cart away together. When they walked on the road, they also noticed that there were too many patrols on the road, so they became even more frightened and even drove all night to cross the road. Chang He arrived at his residence late at night.
After taking a short rest, early the next morning, Chief Huang received an order from his superiors, requiring him to check the positions. He was not allowed to leave without any reason. However, there was no doubt about it. Instead, he asked several of his companions and subordinates to check the positions, and at the same time he came to look for the talents in the village. Han Erlang was the person to discuss and inquire.
"The purpose of sending troops at the end of the year is to make a surprise attack." Han Erlang analyzed carefully. "A surprise attack requires troops to move quickly. It may not necessarily require our field soldiers to go to the front line immediately. It is likely to be support and logistics... which is the work of civilians. But if the war is delayed, it is not certain."
Huang Tun breathed a long sigh of relief, but then sighed: "Han Erlang, don't laugh at me. Although I have experienced the chaos in the past two years, this is the first time for such a war... I always feel that the war will be the same in the future. It was different before. We ordinary people in this place are no different from grains of wheat in a stone mill, so we are very scared... When the war really starts, I will ask you to help be the backbone."
"We are all from the same village, I will definitely try my best." Han Erlang nodded with a natural expression, but shook his head. "However, like you, I am not willing to go to war... The year is not good, and there is still a war. Moreover, the current situation is that once a war occurs, it will be a big war, and the food shortage will be even greater... Why can't we wait a little longer? What about Nian? The gang's method is unmatched by other places. Once the situation changes in one or two years, it will be swallowed up directly. "
"That's not necessarily the case." Chief Huang had another opinion. "The food is like this. We can barely get through it here, but it certainly can't be done in other places. In Hebei, there is no way for people to be stopped by Zhangshui, Hutuosui and so on. In addition, the counties in the northwest are always There is chaos, so other parts of Hebei must be short of food first, and then people from other places will definitely flee, and we will all be short of food... So, it is better to fight down first and see if there is any way to rectify and manage it. .”
Han Erlang thought for a while and nodded: "It's the village chief who thought more deeply."
The two were talking in the Tuen Gong House. Suddenly, someone broke in from outside, but it was Wang Laowu who was serious. As soon as he entered the house, he reported a situation: "Second Brother Han and Tuen Chief Huang, there are so few people." The eldest son of Mr. Wang Xian’s family is missing.”
Tuen Chief Huang was rich in experience, and Han Erlang was visionary. The two of them knew it just by looking at each other. Han Erlang must have made a judgment yesterday. After returning, someone spread the word about it and spread it to Wang Xianjun's house, so he took the opportunity to run away.
You must know that although Mr. Wangxian is well-educated, and so is his eldest son, which makes their family's farm work very easy, it still cannot prevent Mr. Wangxian and his eldest son from becoming more and more depressed, because they are under the rule of Wei. How can the king of a county need to plan carefully for a year like now?
Therefore, grievances are inevitable, and there are sufficient motives for fleeing or informing others.
"I'm afraid that the Wang family's eldest man has been gone for a long time, and he has the cultivation of two positive channels... It would be fine if he just took the opportunity to escape, I'm afraid he went to inform the news." Huang Tuanzhang immediately became frustrated and uneasy. . "Will this be traced to us?"
"It's nothing." Han Erlang remained calm. "Even if I can see something, others can also see it. The message has been passed on a long time ago... The village chief only needs to follow the rules and report it to Mr. Wang's family at the same time. Then he will see what he wants and let him know. If you go and search, go and search, and if you don’t let me, don’t search.”
"Can……"
"Even if someone escaped, how could you easily see the manager? How could the manager believe that you are telling the truth when you see the manager? How could he not be a spy but a real escapee? How could the news be true and not deliberately leaked to the other side? Yours?" Han Erlang explained briefly. "It's of no use... I guess I just couldn't bear the hardship and took the opportunity to escape."
Only then did Chief Huang feel at ease.
Just as Han Erlang, who has rich military experience, expected, the self-righteous secrecy work of the Deposed Dragon Gang is simply a sieve. Even the shopkeepers on the roadside can detect that something is going to happen. Han Erlang knows at a glance that he will send troops, let alone elsewhere?
However, just as Han Erlang said, most of the information stopped in rural markets and at most grassroots officials, and did not reach the level of entering the palace at all.
At least Hejian and Xindu, which are generally regarded as the destinations of the operation, are really not there in a short time, and Xue Changxiong knows nothing about it.
"Where did Qin Erlang get the news?" On the evening of the 23rd, in the Bowang Mountain camp on the southeast side of Neihuang City, Qu Tuda asked seriously while looking at the people in front of him who were rushing from Linhe.
"A few businessmen." Qin Bao answered seriously. "Those who come to Ji County to sell straw mats hope to collect some old rice from the military camp here."
"The straw mat dealer came to report military information..." Qu Tuda was a little confused.
"They didn't file a complaint, I was the one who asked around...the Dragon Gang has suddenly tightened control of the military camp in the past few days. The troops are under strict control and there is no way to run away when counting the logistics ordnance." Qin Bao explained calmly. "I'm just saying it's possible."
Qu Tuda was silent for a while and nodded: "It stands to reason that if the Deposed Dragon Army attacks Hejian, more people will attack Hejian, especially that guy from Youzhou Luo Shu... Luo Shu seems to have some quarreling with the Deposed Dragon Army, so they will attack Hejian together. It’s unusual…”
Qin Bao's expression did not change, and he did not shy away from his relationship with Luo Shu.
"However, Zhongcheng went to Guanxi and should have arrived at Tongguan by now. It is normal for General Ling to get the news and come to raid us." Qu Tuda continued. "You really need to be on guard."
"How to guard against it?" Qin Bao asked.
"Send additional scouts, check the positions, gather troops in four cities, one mountain and one warehouse (Neihuang, Chanyuan, Linhe, Liyang, Bowang Mountain, Liyangcang), and do not make redundant dispatches." Qu Tuda said seriously.
"Zhongcheng went to Tongguan, where are our reinforcements?" Qin Bao continued to ask.
Qutuda responded silently.
Qin Bao had no choice but to declare seriously: "General, we only have 20,000 people, and there are five or six thousand soldiers from Ji County who bear my name. They are equivalent to new soldiers. They are distributed in four cities and one warehouse. If there are no reinforcements, wouldn't it be necessary?" Defeated by everyone? Even with our previous design, didn’t we also hope that the defense would be layered and be able to hold on until reinforcements arrived?”
"If they really come, Yecheng may be able to call for support, and the soldiers of Wei County can also come. There are also four to five thousand soldiers of Ji County near the county." Qu Tuda said seriously. "I'm sending a letter now to get them ready."
Qin Bao looked a little helpless, took a few steps forward with his sword, and asked in a low voice: "General Qu Tu, at this moment, the strength of the Deposed Dragon Gang is here. The two masters don't know whether they are true or false. Even if they are divided, there will be one. Not to mention the strength of the troops, if the Deposed Dragon Army comes now, it can easily come with more than ten or twenty battalions. It is not an exaggeration to even use the ice of the river to mobilize Jiyin Xingtai and come with forty or fifty battalions... ...Without the Grand Master as a deterrent, what is the use of the two lines of reinforcements you mentioned? The soldiers of the counties...the soldiers of Ji County and Wei County? When this person was in panic, was he the opponent of the field soldiers who deposed the Dragon Army? They were defeated under the city. It will only shake the morale of the military."
Kutuda sighed on the spot: "The current situation is like this, what can you and I do? Just do our duty faithfully."
Qin Bao was silent for a long time: "If it comes to fulfilling one's duty, does the general still remember what I told him last time?"
"I remember, but it's a bit difficult... The Ministry of War has called back." Qu Tuda said seriously. "It's a court rule. Now that you've entered the palace, you can't be treated like this..."
"But I am a captain and a local official." Qin Bao sneered.
"I know..." Qu Tuda looked slightly embarrassed. "But you actually serve in the military."
"Speaking of this." Qin Bao continued to smile. "I have never quite understood. Since I was transferred to Hebei, I have been fighting under the general. The general has been promoted from a general to a general. Can I not even be promoted to a general? If my merits are not enough, Li Twelve Lang will be transferred to Yecheng What does it matter if the palace ambassador and Lu Daobin fall apart? Everyone is getting promoted, but I can’t do it alone? If it is given to a general, and I come to the palace, I have nothing to say, right? "
Qu Tuda stood up, walked forward, and put his hand on the other person's shoulder: "Qin Erlang, you are brave and courageous, and you have always been determined. You will make your own future in the future, so I will never use my authority to suppress you easily. But this matter obviously involves the imperial court's employment habits, and also involves the dispute between Zhongcheng and Duan Shangshu..."
"Doesn't it mean that I'm not from Guanlong and I'm not related to Duan Shangshu, so you deliberately blocked me?" Qin Bao suddenly laughed. "It is clearly stated in "The Theory of Guo Wei"... The great Wei Dynasty died for this reason."
Qu Tuda's expression changed slightly, but then he sighed, but he still pressed his hand on the other party's shoulder: "Qin Erlang, I won't hide it from you. The approval given by Duan Shangshu is that if your mother and your first wife are not in Dongdu, , I am afraid that you have surrendered to Zhang Xing long ago, so it is impossible to send your family to Liyang."
Qin Bao still laughed: "Everyone in the world thought that I wanted to vote for Brother Zhang, as if I owed him something. However, I am used to being arrogant. I have always felt that as long as I do my job, I can't do anything wrong to anyone. I can live anywhere, so why do I have to be half-hearted? Not to mention my mother and my wife? However, if Cao Zhongcheng had no doubts about employing people before, now that Zhongcheng has left Dongdu, I don’t know if he can come back. Dongdu treats me like this, What should I do? General Qutu, if I really defected to the Dragon Gang this time, would it be Duan Shangshu who recognized the people first, or was I forced to rebel by him? And after I voted, I met those imperial officials who voted first , are they aware of the current situation, or am I not safe at the end of the year?"
Qu Tuda's hand was on the other party's shoulder. Hearing this, his heart was extremely complicated. He knew the other party's grievances well, but he had no words to reply. And the other party was jokingly discussing surrendering to the enemy in front of his immediate superior, which was also unreasonable. The bottom line had been reached, but he did not dare to make any unnecessary moves.
Without him, he could do neither.
The former is because he can't reach it, and the latter is because he knows full well that if they really turn against each other and fight hand-to-hand, with Qin Bao's strength, even if one of them makes a pill and the other condenses pills, they won't be able to tell who will die.
Of course, there is one thing that he is even more powerless to do, and it has already been discussed, and that is the possible military situation caused by Qin Bao's warning.
I don’t know if it was because everything was helpless, but it was easy to look away. Anyway, General Qu Tu suddenly felt relieved. He took back the hand on the opponent’s shoulder, walked back with his hands behind his back, sat down again, and spoke:
"Now that things have come to an end, everyone is at peace with their destiny... Qin Erlang, I still say the same thing. Your martial arts and integrity will bring you a future sooner or later. I won't say ridiculous words to you here... I just hope you can do it this time. If you can stay calm and fulfill your duties, even if you really want to surrender, don't surrender on the spot. If the Deposed Dragon Gang really comes, I only ask you to fight seriously in the military formation; if you are really defeated, with your ability and Longju, If you go back alone, take the family papers, and calmly turn around to defect, wouldn't it look clean? When the time comes, you can choose whoever you want, whether you choose Zhang Xing or Li Ding, it doesn't matter."
Qin Bao nodded and left.
At this time, Qu Tuda couldn't bear it anymore and continued to ask: "After the last time in Liaocheng, Zhang Xing didn't recruit you anymore? No letters or messages?"
Qin Bao shook his head seriously, then turned around and went out with his head lowered.
Facts have proved that the concealment-raid plan of the Deposed Dragon Army still played an excellent role, because even if many people were aware of the situation, they could not effectively pass it on to the corresponding senior officials. Xue Changxiong's Hejian Camp Counties did not know this at all. The incident was not noticed until the battalions of the Deposed Dragon Army suddenly activated; and even though Qin Bao in the west had noticed the situation early, and even though Qu Tuda hurriedly ordered to strengthen the layout and request reinforcements, he still could not detect it across a Wuyang They all felt that even if the Deposed Dragon Army was coming, it would probably send troops during the New Year, but they never thought that the Deposed Dragon Army could be mobilized so quickly and could be mobilized in just three days. send troops!
On the early morning of the 24th day of the twelfth lunar month, no less than seventeen or eight battalions of the deposed dragon army poured into Wuyang County along the official road. Even those in Wuyang County who had long been aware of the relationship between the two sides could not help but be shocked.
Some cities hurriedly closed their doors, some simply had their chief officials tie themselves up and leave the city, and of course there were also cities that calmly put on flags that had been prepared long ago and took the initiative to greet them.
But it was completely meaningless. These deposed dragon troops did not care about them at all. They just passed quickly and handed over the cities along the way to the rear army. And soon, the order from Guixiang City, the commander of Wuyang County, arrived - all cities, open City gate, organize logistics, and provide supplies for the Dragon-Deposed Army along the way.
Obviously, whether it is the choice of the highest level of Wuyang County's own bureaucracy, the number of deposed dragon troops that poured into Wuyang County, or the speed of the deposed dragon army's advance, this large county in Hebei, which was originally a buffer area, quickly Completed the inversion.
Wuyang County is a large county. From Liaocheng on the easternmost border to Neihuang, the neighboring county on the western border, the distance is a full 160 miles. This distance, based on the normal march speed, is only five or six days. , but that requires considering the baggage.
As Wuyang County completely changed sides, the Deposed Dragon Army continued to supply supplies along the way. Its forward battalions, namely the five battalions of Xu Shiren, Xu Shiying, Niu Da, Xiahou Ningyuan, and Zhang Shanxiang, under the order of the former enemy commander Xu Shiying, all Abandoning the baggage and recruiting mules and horses from various cities along the way, they actually crossed Wuyang and arrived at Jijun on the afternoon of the 25th, arriving at Huang County, a famous county in Hebei Province.
This speed is basically only slightly weaker than that of the Sentinel Cavalry, which is truly astonishing.
"Is it too fast?" On the side of the boundary between the two counties, Xiahou Ningyuan, who was relatively cautious, was obviously a little panicked. "Leader Guo's scout battalion has been dispersed. We can only count five battalions of soldiers. After the military parade, we took annual leave and left several hundred people in each battalion. There were thousands of people left behind on the road. Now there are only five or six thousand people. They are all extremely exhausted... ...And the enemy forces in front of them include 3,000 people from Neihuang City to the west, 5,000 people from Bowang Camp to the southwest, and reinforcements from Linhe and Chanyuan can come from the surrounding areas at any time. By then, the number will be 14,000-5,000... plus Qu Tuda , Qin Bao and other masters, we practitioners may not be able to defeat them. In a situation where we must win, we greedily failed for a while, isn't it ridiculous? "
"I know." Xu Shiying listened carefully to what the other party said, and then calmly announced his plan. "So now we are only going to attack the Inner Yellow City... If it succeeds, we will take the next step. If it does not succeed, we will retreat and camp here in Jiegou to wait for backup... Not only that, the big leader Niu also wants to go south quickly. , crossing Bowang Mountain to Chanyuan, on the one hand, it is to confuse the Bowang camp, and on the other hand, it is also hoped that this speed will cause terror and shock the enemy troops in the city. Chanyuan has been your station for many years... You know how to do this, right? Dongjun There will also be soldiers and horses taking advantage of the frozen river to come to your aid."
Niu Da just nodded... He had thought about it all, just to take back Chanyuan, not to mention that this time had already been arranged. Xu Shiren didn't say anything, as if as the leader, he knew some of the arrangements.
Since the big leaders were unanimous and gave explanations, Xiahou couldn't say any more, so the forward troops naturally took action quickly.
Of course, at this time, Qu Tuda of Bowang Camp also knew the situation, but he was at a loss - there was no way, the opponent was advancing too fast, and he was not sure about the vanguard force of the deposed dragon army in front of him.
After regaining his composure, he could only order all cities to be on guard. At the same time, he immediately sent a request for help to Yecheng, Dongdu, and Jijun, and sent additional sentries.
But soon, as the sentries reported back, he learned that the bandits actually divided their forces and continued to move forward. One group headed towards the northernmost side of the defensive network and the nearest stronghold of Bowang Camp, and the other group seemed to be heading towards Bowang Mountain. After arriving, he was even more confused, and after thinking for a while, he added another letter, one to Yecheng, telling Li Qingchen to be careful of being ambushed, because the deposed dragon army dared to attack Neihuang, which meant that there was likely to be support from the northern front. The other one was given to Qin Bao in Linhe, so that this man, who was probably the most skilled in martial arts among Jijun’s officers and soldiers, could come to Bowang Camp first just in case, just in case, because he was not sure about the team coming to Bowang Mountain. Depose the dragon army to be strong or weak.
In the afternoon, perhaps even Linhe's letter had not been delivered, and Qu Tuda once again fell into confusion, because as an alchemist, he saw with the naked eye on the mountain through the clear weather in winter, about a few miles away. On the east side of Bowang Mountain, there were about a thousand rebel troops flying the ox-shaped flag. They were obviously just a battalion of soldiers, crossing the Bowang Camp from north to south.
It seems that Niu Da, the defeated general and leader of the bandit army, is going to Chanyuan, where he once stationed and controlled for a long time.
This is likely to go wrong, because there is very likely to be Niuda's insider inside Chanyuan City.
But he didn't dare to move because this army was too much like a bait... The bandit army was advancing too fast. He now knew nothing about the situation in Wuyang County and knew nothing about the strength of the bandit army ahead, so he didn't dare Go and conduct reconnaissance in person. Who knows if there is a grandmaster ambushing inside?
He just let the other party walk past in a swaggering manner.
About two-quarters of an hour after Niuda crossed the Bowang Mountain camp, and it was barely approaching evening, Xu Shiying invaded Neihuang City.
Three thousand so-called elites of Dongdu (actually two thousand are from Dongdu, and one thousand are soldiers from Jijun), a general who is a master of condensation, a famous city three feet high, with a moat (although it is frozen), in order to prevent the masters from attacking A large iron gate weighing thousands of kilograms was specially installed at the city gate.
But it still broke within a stick of incense.
Because Xu Shiying arranged internal agents - some people with Eastern accents occupied one of the city gates and a turret. It is said that they were Zhongliang of Langya County who was persecuted by the Qianlong Gang. After successfully escaping, they actively joined the army and were very trusted in the city.
God knows how Xu Dalang persuaded these people? Maybe his sister married Langya before? Or is it Langya who was born in the rebel army and fished in troubled waters? Or are these people really influenced?
But no matter what, the city was broken.
A stream of light flew past, as if the general in the city had escaped.
"What are we doing now?" After entering the city and standing on the city gate, Xu Shiren watched the man go away, and then looked at Xia Hou and Zhang Shanxiang below who were hurriedly organizing troops to enter the city. He was obviously confused. He knew what had happened so far. Plan, but still a little confused.
"Guard the four gates, recruit surrenders, check the residents, eat enough, contact Niuda, rest for a while, and then send troops at night." Xu Shiying answered seriously.
"Where are we sending troops at night?" Xu Shiren became increasingly puzzled.
"Of course we go to Bowang Mountain, which is only ten miles away from this city." Xu Shiying had no reservations. "Qutuda's base."
"Have you also arranged an internal response there?" Xu Shiren was too late to ask. "Why didn't you say it before?"
"No." Xu Shiying said without reservation. "How can a place like that be easily infiltrated? But we have arranged internal agents for Chanyuan, Linhe, and Liyang, not just Langya heroes. For example, Chanyuan is a local hero that Niuda is familiar with, Linhe is a local businessman who travels to Jiangling, and Liyang It's a crony sent by Dongjun... There are also some in Yecheng, but it was an accident."
"I know this..." Xu Shiren was horrified and confused. "But even if this is the case, how can we capture the Bowang Mountain Camp?"
"Leader Xu Da." Xu Dalang looked helpless and could only explain to the end. "Since the beginning of this year, these so-called elites from the Eastern Capital have been permanently stationed in Ji County. They are just high-ranking officers. I wonder if the family records of ordinary sergeants should have been attached to them a long time ago? This place is next to Liyangcang. Having no worries about food and clothing is better than staying in Dongdu and being bullied, right? And when you come here, if you have to live in a military camp, you will naturally live in the surrounding cities..."
Xu Shiren shuddered violently, and then looked at the young general with the same surname. He finally understood why everyone said that this man was the real leader of the distinguished leaders of the Eastern Territory, and finally understood why Zhang Xing was reluctant to give this man to him. Disposed of directly.
"Since we have taken down the surrounding cities, we don't even need to take them all. As long as we take down two of the four cities, will there be thousands of families of Bowang Camp sergeants, county soldiers, and civilian husbands?" Xu Shiying continued Speaking plainly. "Tonight we won't attack by force. We just take advantage of the dark night to invite these families to go down the mountain and call their husbands and sons to persuade them to surrender... It's done. Why don't we go back? I don't believe that Qutuda dared to face the soldiers in the middle of the night. Jiajuan releases the arrow... If there is anything else Chief Xu wants to ask, I have no intention of hiding it."
Xu Shiren shook his head.
Xu Shiying nodded and reiterated: "In my opinion, if we just talk about fighting, this battle will be easy."
Xu Shiren could only nod again.
