"We are all on your right, what about the left? Isn't it too weak?" Gu Da asked worriedly.
Li Dan did not blame him but looked at him with approval: "Don't worry, I have sent the rear battalion to support the right battalion. My left hand is thick enough to connect with them, no problem!"
After saying that, he turned his face and asked Huang Qin: "After crossing Jiufeng, you follow us. If you don't care about life or death, shoot him!"
"Here!"
At the moment Li Dan arranged it, Sheng Huai'en had quietly walked around to the bamboo forest behind the small village.
The sentry quickly reported back: "Commander, I counted about twenty people in total. Maybe there are still people in the house who haven't come out yet?"
"Even if there are people hiding in the house, there probably won't be many of them. How many people can fit in this short and small house?" Sheng Huai'en pointed with his riding crop:
"Surround them up and be quick, no one can escape. This is a reward of money!" The officers and soldiers spread their wings and quickly closed down the hillside.
The leader of the sentry on the left wing turned around the woodshed and saw three male and female corpses lying on the ground.
The sentry chief was a native of Hengfeng. When he saw the villagers being killed, he couldn't help but cursed "Red Man" in the local dialect.
Unexpectedly, someone next to him immediately asked: "Who are you scolding?" It turned out to be a gangster who came here to defecate. Thinking that he was disliked by his accomplices, he looked back angrily, and was horrified to find that the other person was an officer.
The whistle commander didn't expect there was someone in the grass and was startled. But after all, soldiers are trained to react quickly, so he immediately rushed forward with a strong step.
The gangster didn't have time to lift up his pants, so he grabbed the knife on the ground and pulled it back. Fortunately, the sentry commander was wearing a cloth face armor, and the blade only scratched the hem of his battle skirt.
The commander didn't give him a chance to do anything else, and slashed the knife along the base of his neck. Kick the corpse down again, don't care what the shoes are on, and don't lead others into the front yard.
There were screams, metal collisions, and screams, but it was all over before even a cup of tea was needed.
The prisoner was dragged aside for interrogation, and soon a small flag came over to report: "Sir, the thief has been recruited.
There are 450 of them in total, and they are the vanguard. The bandit group of more than 1,500 is behind them. They are only half a day away from here! "
Sheng Huaien was shocked, but restrained himself from screaming. He turned around slowly: "Keep the tongue and take care of the rest. Let's go down the mountain and attack him from both sides!"
As he said this, he stepped out of the low thatched hut. He heard a loud killing sound over there. He looked around and saw a group of jujube horses in front, leading hundreds of people into the enemy group from the east side.
For a moment, weapons were flying around and ghosts were crying and wolves howling. The hundreds of people instantly turned into a dozen small formations, gradually extending to the north. Behind them, a group of men riding mules fired arrows repeatedly, so that the bandits did not dare to step forward.
Sheng Huaien understood it at a glance and immediately ordered: "Quick, rush down and block the road to the north. Don't let the bandits rush out!"
When Li Dan first rushed in, there were two or three others who dared to stop him, but they soon realized something was wrong. This young boy cannot be touched. If he touches him, whatever he is holding in his hand will fly into the sky.
So everyone stepped back step by step, and Zao Liu kicked a few of them down. They were so frightened that they kept shouting: "Qingyi'er is powerful, step back!" Unexpectedly, a group of men and horses jumped out and stabbed the back.
Seeing that their own people were in a mess, a few cronies escorted the leader of the group and escaped and walked north. Unexpectedly, they looked up and saw the officers and soldiers coming down the opposite slope, and they collapsed to the ground in fear.
The right battalion had just received reinforcements from the rear battalion, and its morale immediately increased by 20%. Seeing that the bandits were in chaos and losing ground, Zhou Qin perked up, grabbed a spear, waved his hand and shouted:
"Brothers, the bandits have been defeated. Charge forward and you will be rewarded, life or death!" After speaking, he took the lead and rushed forward to stab one person.
The bandits were panicking when they couldn't see their leader, and the so-called rabble appeared. A few small leaders turned around and left first, while the rest were in a great rout.
Those in the front were frightened when they saw the sky behind them, and shouted in desperation: "It's down, it's down!" Within a moment, dozens of people had fallen to their knees.
Li Dan ordered everyone to intercept and arrest him.
He didn't care how many heads he cut off, so he hurriedly took his personal guards and messengers to find a high place to stand, and then sent the messenger to tell Yang Yi the news, and inquired whether Song Xiaoniu would repay him.
Then let the right battalion collect the dead and wounded of your own people, and the rear battalion is responsible for detaining the prisoners.
Send another message to Xiao Yingzheng of Zuoying, asking him to lead the team to Lingyan Temple first, guard southward and occupy the high ground on the west side.
Finally, let the rear battalion move forward past the right battalion that is being packed up and enter the original left camp section.
While he was busy, Sheng Huaien came over on horseback with five soldiers. "Haha, I haven't been this happy for a long time!" He jumped off his horse and ran uphill happily:
"Sanlang, there are 450 people in total. We captured more than 160, and there are more than 200 lying on the ground. We only missed less than 30 people. What a victory!"
"Has their leader been caught?"
"I didn't catch him, you nameless rat. But the head was taken off!" Sheng Huai'en replied with a smile: "It's a waste, only the head is of some use."
"Send two carts and ten civilians back to Xing'an. How to deal with the prisoners?" Li Dan looked at the blood all over his body and thought that this guy had been holding back for so long, and he finally saw the meat today.
"Send it to Lin Baihu, or take it back when he returns." Mr. Shengba was obviously not interested in the living ones. He waved:
"I want to tell you something." Then he whispered a few words into Li Dan's ear, and he suddenly became serious.
"Brother Sheng, this news... did the leader confess it before he died?"
"It's not him, it's almost the same. It was the little boss he left in the village who recruited him."
"That's too bad. We can't stay here for long. Sir, we have to evacuate immediately!"
"Where to retreat?"
"I have sent people to Lingyan Temple to investigate. The brothers are tired, the wounded need to be treated, and the prisoners need to be interrogated. We can only stay at Lingyan Temple tonight. Only by relying on the temple can we be safe.
When those 1,500 bandits come and find out that the front team has been wiped out, they will definitely seek revenge on us.
This place is open and there is no danger to defend. Unlike Lingyan Temple, at least it is sandwiched between two mountains and there is a pond to the east to rely on. The terrain is much better than here!
Let's go over there and guard. Your Excellency will take three hundred soldiers to join Lin Baihu and wait for foreign aid for us. Only in this way can we have a chance of winning! "
Sheng Huaien thought for a moment and looked at the battlefield and the sky. He knew that if he did not stay at Lingyan Temple at this time, if his opponent pursued him closely or ambushed him halfway, he might be in danger of turning victory into defeat.
Although the civilians resisted once, it was difficult to resist the second time, not to mention that this time the main force came up to the number of 1,500. If you can't take risks, this is the only option.
So he nodded in agreement and said, "It seems that's the only way. It's hard for Ziyuan to have such a plan in a hurry. Okay! Without further ado, you lead the team first. I'll ask the two hundred officers and soldiers to hold back. Let's go to Lingyan Temple immediately!" "
When Mr. Sheng and Li Dan rode to Lingyan Temple, they stood at the mountain gate and looked around. They all said: "It's a good place. The monk has a good sense!"
The two left their horses to the soldiers and ran around the mountains on the east and west sides. Li Dan smiled and said:
"This place is good, easy to defend but difficult to attack. Sir, look, from Antou Mountain to Leiwu in the north, there are open areas. The Piyunfeng Mountain behind is high and densely forested. It is difficult to detect the movement of troops and enemies.
Sir, feel free to go meet Lin Baihu, I can stay here for three to five days without any problem. When the enemy is exhausted and exhausted, we can attack from both inside and outside, and great things can be accomplished! "
Seeing that he was confident, Sheng Huaien felt relieved. There was not much time, so the two immediately went down the mountain to make arrangements.
It turns out that this area is full of Danxia landforms (Li Dan didn’t explain it, and probably Shanda people weren’t interested in hearing it either). The hills are steep and the red walls are steep.
Standing at the mountain gate and looking around, the terrain is high and open. It can be seen that this official road was originally a riverbed that has lasted for many years.
During the high water period, the floodwaters converge from the mountains on both sides and flood the valley, scouring the river channel and the cliffs on both sides; during the dry season, the water surface drops and the river bed is exposed, allowing vehicles to still pass by.
To the south of the riverbed (official road) road, in the gap between the steep cliffs on the east and west sides, there is a gentle slope of gravel stretching out like a tongue.
There is a stone archway built along the waterline up the slope, with the four characters "Lingyan Ancient Temple" vaguely written on it. The water stains on the stone indicate that it has been here for many years and has seen countless rising waters and rivers. fall.
Not far up the road, there is a mountain gate sandwiched between cliffs in the middle of the road. It is also built with stone legs, just like a pass. There are more than a dozen families scattered on the east slope inside the mountain gate, called Lingquanzhuang.
Walking through the village along the gravel path in front of the village, you can see the Temple of the Heavenly King surrounded by broken walls behind the woods after going uphill.
It seems that this small three-bay tile-roofed hall looks more like the main entrance of a temple. When the little novice monk holding a broom at the door saw the officer approaching, he turned around and jumped into the gap in the broken wall.
However, Mr. Sheng did not enter the temple. He came down the mountain road and returned directly to the archway, and hurriedly formed a team to go eastward.
Li Dan invited Zhu Yingzheng to the cave under the mountain gate to explain the matter, and then told everyone his and Sheng's general thoughts.
At this time, when the battle was just won and morale was high, no one was willing to make short talk. They all said that we also had thousands of people, so what should we fear if the two sides were equally powerful?
Li Dan then arranged for the right camp to suffer greater damage. This time eleven people were killed and nearly thirty wounded, so he arranged for them to defend the south where the terrain was more complicated.
There are many ponds over there like stars dotted among the hills. If the enemy comes to attack, it will be difficult to use their troops. The right camp only needs to guard the two places beside the west pond behind the temple and the entrance to the southeast.
The rear camp is responsible for the topographically advantageous Xishan Mountains. Not only is the location high, but the cliffs are towering. There are many caves and grottoes that can be used, and the trees are dense. Put hundreds of people there and it's almost impossible to observe from the outside.
Ma Jiu led the escort team, Gu Da and Yang Yi teams, and the remaining two banners officers and soldiers to guard Shanmen and Lingquanzhuang. Huang Qin's archery team also strengthened him.
Li Dan specially deployed the front camp in Dongshan. Although the terrain here is not too high, it is a powerful backing and reinforcement for Lingquanzhuang.
The other side of the east mountain is adjacent to a series of reservoirs. It is enough to prevent the enemy from bypassing the reservoirs to sneak attack the entrance.
Zuoying was ordered to guard the temple, because Li Dan ordered all the carts carrying goods to be gathered in the temple, and Zuoying wanted to protect the safety of the baggage.
But when you look through the gap in the wall next to it, you can see that this "temple" is not at all the densely packed, majestic temples that you imagined.
There is actually a wide open space behind the Tianwang Hall. There is no main hall except Sophora japonica!
He turned around twice in confusion, looked at Xiao Wanhe who was also surprised and said with a smile:
"Excuse me (Xiao Wanhe's pseudonym), could it be that the old monk knew we were coming and cast a spell to hide the Bodhisattva and the main hall?"
"How is this possible! But... since it is a temple, how can it not have a hall?" Xiao Wanhe was also confused. When he turned around, he saw a monk walking over from a distance:
"Well, the monk is here, so there should still be a palace."
"Ignore him, just ask people to expand the courtyard wall and gather all the vehicles in to form a car formation. I'll go meet the monk."
Xiao Wanhe agreed and walked away quickly, and Li Dan turned around to greet the monk, clasped his hands together and saluted: "Master is from Lingyan Temple? I don't know how to call him?"
The monk then chanted Buddha's name and replied: "The young monk Tongzhi will temporarily serve as the abbot of this temple. Donor, I am a pure land of Buddhism. I hope it is better to put down your swords and weapons before entering the temple."
