Eight thousand Wuping soldiers and horses were galloping along the narrow and long mountain road. Although the morning light was still thin, some warmth could still be felt through the sparse forest. The mountain tops on both sides were always shrouded in clouds and mist, making it difficult to see the true story.
For the Wuping Army officers and soldiers who had just arrived, the feeling of distance and confusion was extremely depressing.
Perhaps because they had heard about the cunning of the barbarian soldiers for a long time, even though they had clearly heard the conversation between Marshal Li and Shen Hong before setting off, they still couldn't help but be frightened. They just kept their heads down and followed the large army, hoping to get out of the ancient road as soon as possible. No matter how faint the trees are, it always feels very eerie. From time to time, the strange calls of birds follow each other in the sky, which is very unsettling.
Luo Erhu rode at the front, flanked by several generals under his command and more than a hundred cavalry guards. These soldiers were all specially selected from the army with the permission of the coach Li Yuan. Many of them were specially selected from the army. They were all old men who had previously served as soldiers in the Li Mansion in Jinling. They were very familiar with each other, so there was no need to say much about their feelings.
At this time, Luo Erhu was tightening the reins and riding the horse at full speed. The wind was whistling in his ears, but his face was extremely calm, because he always believed in the decision made by his elder brother Li Yuan. The scouts had not known everything from last night to dawn. , at this moment, I saw with my own eyes that the mountains and forests on both sides were so sparse, and I felt even more relieved. If there were really barbarian soldiers hiding, they would have been exposed by the slightest sign of trouble.
The ancient road is only more than ten miles long, and it seems that as the scouts reported, there is no enemy here.
The officers and soldiers of the Wuping Army were always on tenterhooks, and they were about to reach the end soon. Looking from a distance, this ancient sloping road was like a sharp blade, cutting the high cliffs on both sides in half, and at the end of the road, It seemed to be an empty area with only overgrown weeds.
Then the faces of the soldiers became even more anxious, and they quickly followed the leader Luo Erhu, speeding up their pace and galloping towards the bright light at the end.
...
Fifteen miles outside Xizhou City, there is Huixi Village, which is known as the thoroughfare of Five Streams. These five streams are Maxi, Jiangyang Stream, Shuangrong Stream to the west, Popo Stream, Taiping Stream, and Wuxi to the east. They are separated from the upper reaches of Youshui River and magically converge here.
As early as the pre-Qin period, I don’t know which saint visited here and conveyed the Dongxi barbarians’ thoughts such as "Heaven creates water", that is, everything in the world is generated by the change of water, and water is regarded as the root of all things. Mother, since then the barbarians of Dongxi have regarded Xizhai as a common holy place for all ethnic groups, and they often offer sacrifices to ghosts and gods here to pray to heaven.
After the Peng family took control of Xizhou, although they respected and complied with local customs, they even moved the copper pillar where they swore an alliance with Chu King Ma Xifan here and built a mountain pavilion to protect it to show the Peng family's respect for the holy land. However, at the same time, they also Keenly aware that the terrain here is dangerous and that it is the only way to Chenzhou, soldiers have been stationed here to guard it for decades.
At this time, in Huixi Village, a seemingly simple and large tent was being built in a clearing in the forest. It was covered with cut trees in the front and on all sides, making it very hidden. There was a cave of its own in the tent, with exquisite tables placed inside. Eucalyptus, and a lifelike battlefield sand table. In the open space around the camp, there are thousands of tent holes randomly made of forest and grass, densely distributed throughout Huixi Village.
As early as three days ago, the Dongxi barbarians had been waiting here for a long time.
When the sentry came to report and learned that Li Yuan's army had set up camp outside the ancient road, the deputy governor of Xizhou, Tian Hongyou, decisively issued a military order, appointing his younger brother Tian Hongbin and Xiang Zongyan, the leader of the Xiang clan. In order to defeat the thieves, the chief and deputy commanders led 10,000 barbarian soldiers out of the city to station in Huixizhai.
For Tian Hongyou, all his hopes now only rest on the strategy he proposed to Zongyan. If the poisonous miasma is as lethal as he said, then Li Yuan's Wuping Army will definitely fail here.
Tian Hongyou specially followed Xiang Zongyan back to the tribe and witnessed the making process of the poison sac with his own eyes. Tian Hongyou finally felt relieved and his face showed great excitement. He immediately and confidently handed over part of the military power to this former enemy of the Xiang clan.
Of course, Tian Hongyou is not that easy to deal with. Everything is unknown before the war begins.
Just in case, he decisively placed his younger brother Tian Hongbin, who usually had the most violent quarrels with Xiang Zongyan, in the position of Zhengdutong to suppress him, and secretly granted him the power to deal with the situation on an ad hoc basis, only saying, "There are differences between the Xiang family and , Immediately behead without mercy."
Therefore, since the two men led troops to Huixizhai, Xiang Zongyan felt as disgusted as a fly choking his throat when faced with the bossy Tian Hongbin. However, in order to take the overall situation into consideration, he could only endure it silently.
News from outside the ancient road kept coming, and Tian Hongbin gradually learned about the actions of the Wuping Army. The barbarian sentinels were extremely cunning. They grew up in the mountains and forests, and were good at walking. They were completely different from the Tang Army's Qingqi, who almost always went out alone. , can hide their tracks very well, and the company camp of Li Yuan's army is brightly lit all night, so they can already see it clearly.
However, Tian Hongbin didn't care at all about the situation of the Wuping Army's camp. He was still an outstanding military commander among the Tian clan. He knew very well that the ancient roads were sparse with forest and grass and were not suitable for ambushes and raids. Moreover, he relied solely on the strength of his troops. With the equipment, daring to attack Li Yuan's heavily guarded camp is tantamount to courting death, not to mention that a large number of Wuping Army's scouts and Qingqi have already been scattered outside and can provide early warning at any time.
As for the fire attack strategy proposed by his subordinates, after hearing the scouts' report that Li Yuan smeared the wooden fence outside the camp with thick soil and covered it with animal skins, Tian Hongbin decisively rejected this suggestion. It must be said that Peng Shiyu In the Tang camp, Li Yuan was told the barbarian soldiers' fighting habits thoroughly, which was very troublesome.
At this time, Tian Hongbin was only concerned about whether Wu Ping's army would come, and when they would start to advance along the ancient road. Once the opponent dared to leave the ancient road, it would be the beginning of the war, and it would also be an excellent opportunity for him to make contributions. After all, poisonous miasma and other deadly weapons are still there. Hands, how can you not be full of confidence?
"Report! The Tang army has sent out their exploration horses and is exploring Xizhou along the ancient road!"
"Report! The Tang Army sentry has returned to camp from the ancient road!"
"Report! The trumpets of the Tang Army's camp are sounding and they are gathering at the camp gate!"
...
Since dawn, the barbarian sentinels have been reporting the latest information to the generals in the camp, but Tian Hongbin just waved his hands gently and said: "I know! Let's investigate again!"
Until I heard a voice: "Report! The soldiers and horses of the Tang Army have left the camp and are running quickly along the ancient road!"
Tian Hongbin suddenly trembled, jumped up uncontrollably, and asked loudly: "Have you ever seen clearly how many soldiers and horses there are?"
"Going back to the capital, the soldiers and horses of the Tang army who are out of camp this time are covered with banners and the troops are densely packed. Look at the formation, I'm afraid, there must be 20, 30,000 people! I don't dare to get too close, so I can only come back and pay homage to the capital first. Report!"
Tian Hongbin shouted excitedly in barbarian language, then his eyes were bloodshot and he shouted loudly: "Well done! Pass on my military order and order the brothers in front of the ancient road to be ready. When the Tang army has more than half of its troops, let them have a taste of my Dongxi. The poisonous miasma is so powerful! We must wipe out all the invading enemies in this battle and make sure that Li Yuan’s body is gone and he can go down and keep company with Ma Yuan of the Han Dynasty!”
Several barbarian generals were about to accept the order, but they saw Xiang Zongyan blocking the way and raising his hands and saying: "Du Tong, the Tang army is marching with such a huge momentum, the generals always feel there is something fishy! That Li Yuan is a famous general of the Tang Dynasty, in case the person who comes is not the Tang army. The main force is a suspicious army. Isn’t it a waste of poisonous miasma? The powder used to make the poison this time is very precious. It has been collected by my tribe for many years. It is extremely difficult to obtain..."
Tian Hongbin glanced at Xiang Zongyan coldly, and then said contemptuously: "We are facing a powerful enemy. All the tribes in Dongxi must share the same hatred. Why did Xiang Dutong be stingy with a mere powder? The sentinel has reported clearly that the Tang army's soldiers and horses at least There are twenty or thirty thousand people, and this is not the main force? At such a great opportunity, you dare to block the military order of this capital. What is your intention? Are you the traitor of the rebellious son of the Peng family?!"
Saying this in public was like a heart-breaking move. Xiang Zongyan was about to argue hastily, but Tian Hongbin turned his head and asked several barbarians: "How many poison sacs have been prepared this time?"
A barbarian general quickly replied: "Back to the capital, I have done a rough calculation and found that there are more than 5,000 pieces in total. In the past few days, the north wind has been blowing, and all the trees over a foot high outside the ancient road have been cut down according to the order. These poison sacs should be enough to deal with the 20,000 to 30,000 Tang troops..."
Tian Hongbin waved his hand and shouted decisively: "No need to say more! You go forward quickly, no matter how many poison sacs there are, all of them will be used up by the capital! The poisonous miasma is here, you must take the antidote powder, and the whole army will step forward Charge and kill! No matter it is Li Yuan or the rebellious son of the Peng family, no one from the Tang army will be spared!"
"I will obey your orders!"
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