As the night gradually fell, a layer of gray mist soon covered Bagong Mountain.
The mountains and forests that were supposed to be quiet are now filled with noise. A spacious road has been opened from the top of the mountain to the Tang Army camp outside Shouzhou City, and the Tang Army's troops are busy. The ground shuttled through it, and the fires lit by soldiers along the way made the surroundings look like daylight.
Viewed from a high place, one can clearly see a bright jade belt imprinted on the mountains. This is the best portrayal of manpower changing nature.
The area to the southeast of the Tang Army's camp near Bagong Mountain was occupied by the Qing Huai Army. Duan Chong, who had just turned 18 this year, was leading a dozen soldiers in a hurry in the camp.
Along the way, we kept encountering soldiers from the Tang Army who were working together to transport wood. Their sweaty faces looked particularly stoic against the firelight, and their rhythmic shouts kept hitting their eardrums.
When passing by a large vehicle, Duan Chong saw several soldiers who looked familiar. They were shirtless and unloading boulders from the vehicle through gritted teeth. The tight ropes instantly pulled out a horrific bloodstain on their shoulders, so he couldn't help but He wanted to lead his subordinates forward to help, but after all, he had his own mission, so he retracted his thoughts in a single thought and quickened his pace towards an arrow tower not far away.
Duan Chong, like most of the soldiers around him, is an out-and-out Shouzhou native. A month ago, his father passed away, leaving his family destitute. Duan Chong, who had been fond of martial arts since childhood, joined the Qing Huai Army in order to earn a living.
There have been few wars in Shouzhou since he could remember, and he thought it would be peaceful for a while. As a result, a few days later, a riot broke out in the military camp. Later, Duan Chong witnessed dozens of generals being executed in public. Before he could be frightened, he followed his brothers in the camp inexplicably and attacked a man who looked like a barbarian. The general bowed and saluted, and then he was inexplicably promoted to the head of the capital.
Faced with all this suddenness, Duan Chong, as a young man who had just fledged, ignored some of the remarks about Li Jinquan's rebellion that were secretly circulating in the army, and some of them were just fantasies about making contributions to the Tang Dynasty.
It wasn't until that day in the south of Shouzhou City, when Duan Chonghuai went into battle for the first time with trepidation, that the densely fluttering battle flags of the Tang army opposite him suddenly made him sober. He seemed to have become a rebel out of nowhere.
What followed was a thrilling battle. Liu Renzhan almost lost his life. Li Yuan led his troops to the rescue like a divine soldier from heaven. The situation was instantly reversed. Duan Chong's Qinghuai army also surrendered, and the rebels retreated back to the city.
After following the army to Bagong Mountain, Duan Chong, who survived the disaster, like many Qinghuai Army soldiers, felt lucky to be restored to the status of the Tang Army. At the same time, he also had a deep respect for the famous Tang general Marshal Li. The golden armor that fell from the sky changed their destiny, and it was hard to forget in their hearts.
Not long after, Duan Chong had led his soldiers to the arrow tower where the defense was about to be changed. The few soldiers on the tower looked tired. As soon as they saw Duan Chong coming, they immediately hurried down the tower as if they had been granted amnesty.
Then Duan Chong raised his head again and saw that there was still one person on the arrow tower. The soldier leaning against the tower wall seemed to have fallen asleep, so he coldly shouted: "Get down!"
This cold and stern sound shocked the soldier who was about to fall asleep. He suddenly opened his eyes and straightened his body, but did not turn around and get down from the tower. After a moment, he still stood there, staring blankly into the distance.
Duan Chong's face was gloomy, and when he was about to scold him, a gust of breeze suddenly came, blowing the surrounding branches and shadows, and the sound of horse hooves seemed to be rumbling in his ears gradually approaching, and then the soldier on the tower was caught off guard and shouted. : "Enemy attack! Enemy attack!"
...
At this time, in the Tang camp's commander's tent, Li Yuanzheng listened to the report of his sergeants with a depressed look. Since the military order was issued last night to make the trebuchet, he originally thought that the whole army would take turns to go up the mountain to cut wood and collect stones, plus hundreds of craftsmen in the camp. With great efforts, at least thirty trebuchets can be produced today, so that an offensive can be launched at dusk.
Unexpectedly, the plan could not keep up with the changes. All the craftsmen and soldiers were mobilized, and there were plenty of wood and boulders. However, the most critical material for making the composite throwing arm - animal skins and sinews - began to be in short supply.
Bagong Mountain has lush forests and deep mountain streams. Logically speaking, there should be no shortage of wild animals. However, making these behemoths, which often cover a four- to five-foot-long throwing arm, requires a lot of raw materials.
And these beasts are capable of wandering into the mountains, so they are naturally not stupid. After seeing people hunting with torches held high last night, they have already started running away. After all, the tribe grew up here, and their agility makes them more and more difficult to hunt.
Li Yuan had no choice but to accept this fact. Just as he was about to get up and go out for inspection, he saw Liu Renzhan hurriedly walking into the tent.
"Shuai Liu! Why are you so panicked?"
Before Liu Renzhan could sit down, he spoke directly: "The Baoxin Army led by Li Song, the governor of Luzhou, suddenly appeared in the dense forest on the east side of the camp..."
"Dense forest?" Li Yuan hesitated for a while, then said in a deep voice: "Hmph, do the rebels want to take advantage of our army to cut down trees and take stones to attack the camp? This was the route I led the attack that day. Did Li Jinquan think I would forget it? To defend this place? I have already ordered the Qing Huai army to build high arrow towers and strictly guard the dense forest roads. Unless Li Jinquan comes out in full force, it will be difficult for Li Song's troops to break through. Marshal Liu, how is the current situation of the battle?"
Liu Renzhan shook his head and said: "The rebels did not attack, and all the troops stopped three hundred steps away! This is a letter sent by Li Song, indicating that it is to be sent to Marshal Li!"
"Oh?" Li Yuan took the letter with some doubts in his heart, opened it and looked at it. What he saw was a strong handwriting, a little sloppy, and it seemed to be written in a hurry.
In the letter, Li Song first recounted the experience of being forced to raise troops, and then explained that the troops he led here tonight were under Li Jinquan's military order to attack the camp and burn the trebuchets. Then the conversation changed and he began to denounce Li Jinquan's atrocities, and finally expressed his sincere , willing to help the Tang army break the city. The most important thing is that this letter also comes with a defense map of Shouzhou City.
Li Yuan put down the letter and couldn't help but fell into deep thought. What he wrote in the letter was reasonable and well-founded. It was understandable that Li Song and Li Jinquan didn't get along. Coupled with this Shouzhou defense map, the meaning seemed obvious. If there is division within the rebels, it will definitely be a good thing. However, Li Song never expressed his intention to return to the imperial court from the beginning to the end, but directly pointed out that it was "helping each other". This tone seemed like the arrival of reinforcements from other countries. The intention here always felt a bit strange.
At this moment, Liu Renzhan saw Li Yuan's hesitation and suddenly said: "Commander Li, the Northerners are capricious. No matter what Li Song said in the letter, you must not believe it easily! Since they have come to die, I will immediately lead the army to meet the enemy. .....”
Li Yuan suddenly recalled that that day in the south of Shouzhou City, he fought head-on with Li Song's Baoxin Army. The soldiers under his command were considered brave, but correspondingly, it means that they killed Liu Renzhan's Wuchang Army. No mercy either.
Then he stopped him and said, "Commander Liu, wait a minute! You might as well read what Li Song wrote in his letter before making a decision!"
After a while, seeing Liu Renzhan's face turning pale, Li Yuan asked tentatively: "Shuai Liu, what do you think?"
Liu Renzhan said coldly: "This Li Song has helped the Tang Dynasty with each mouthful, and his heart is to be punished! It is a fact that this person has rebelled against the imperial court. According to my wishes, just like the story of the Huai Army of the Qing Dynasty, either he will lead his troops to surrender. Or destroy them on the spot!"
Li Yuan shook his head and replied: "Since Li Song dares to lead his army here, it means that he is well prepared and will not be afraid of a battle with our army. It will probably be difficult to make them surrender!"
Seeing the green veins appearing on Liu Renzhan's neck, Li Yuan had similar doubts in his heart, but he still continued to persuade: "Marshal Liu, the materials for making trebuchets are in short supply at the moment, and it is estimated that we will have to delay the attack for several days! Regardless of whether Li Song is surrendering or helping us, as long as he has a way to help us break the city as soon as possible, it will be a crime and meritorious service. How can we refuse it easily? Even if Li Song has a serious crime, he will report it to the court after the war and his Majesty will deal with it. At this time, even if If there is a glimmer of help, don’t let it go!”
After wandering for a few steps, Liu Renzhan frowned and sighed: "Oh! How many of my soldiers have these northerners killed!... That's all, Shouzhou City is important, I just obey orders! It's just Marshal Li. , A war is never tired of deceit, we still need to be careful!"
Li Yuan nodded, cupped his hands and said, "I'll keep this in mind! Then I'll ask Marshal Liu to take charge of the camp, and I'll go meet Li Song in person!"
