The first year of Emperor Xin's reign was the Qingming Festival.
Spring plowing had passed, and at the strong request of the nobles of Jiucheng, Mengchang conducted a massive ancestor sacrifice.
However, no human sacrifices were used in this sacrifice. In recognition of the declining population of Gu City, Wu Zhu and the nobles did not require the use of human sacrifices.
I think the kind ancestors would not blame them for such a trivial matter, but would be happy instead.
When going on an expedition, the Rong Zhu divination was needed to predict good or bad luck. The Rong Zhu divination skills in Gucheng were quite high. Under Meng Changming's dazzling sword, the Rong Zhu sang and danced until the tortoise shell was cracked, and then cheered loudly.
"Fu Liu, Fu Jiu, Zhenji! Zhenji!!"
"Our army will win, a great victory, a great victory."
The whole army cheered thunderously, shouting that they would win. Meng Chang couldn't help but smack his lips with the high fighting spirit. Feudal superstition was surprisingly useful in the eyes of this group of people. The quality of a hexagram is sometimes more important than the coach. The mobilization speeches are all effective.
Two thousand five hundred soldiers, five thousand soldiers, and five thousand servants, the south wind howls, set off for the Northern Expedition!
Eighty light crossbows, a few arrows, spears, shields, war swords, and war knives are enough to arm most of the army.
This is all the new power that Mengchang gained in Gu City.
They braved the heavy snow to make a surprise attack, and after breaking the city, they took over the military defense of Jiu City. They acted as if they were building Jiu City into a bridgehead, which gave the nobles in the city peace of mind. It was not enough to just run away after taking it.
However, are all Dashang’s troops so wild now? If the army goes deep alone, only food can be provided by the enemy?
It’s not that no one doubts the authenticity of General Mengchang. Beihai is now allowed in and out, and they don’t dare to take the initiative to go to Chongcheng and Chaoge to ask, is there a General Mengchang in your army?
Seeing that the army had done nothing wrong with the people, they also helped the nobles and common people to endure the cold winter months.
The nobles and people in the city could only watch with complicated expressions as Meng Chang led the last remaining force in the city to the Northern Expedition.
Praying for the victory of the army, otherwise the weak Jiucheng will really disappear into the dust of history.
They were in a state of embarrassment when they arrived, but the flags were flying when they left. Listening to the orderly footsteps of the soldiers arrayed in front, looking at these silent warriors in armor, in the eyes of the soldiers and servants in the rear, A powerful military force is more intimidating than a herd of strange beasts.
Beihai can also be regarded as one of the most fertile territories in Northern Xinjiang. It was also an important source of troops for those who followed Chonghou in his conquests from all directions.
But these people have never seen such an elite and powerful military force. Before the war started, the military appearance revealed made the nobles in Gucheng City put their caution away.
The large army of reconnaissance cavalry dispersed and went straight to Jiu City, the three city-states that connected the vassal areas, Fu, Nao, and Lu.
It is more like three settlements and villages than three cities. There are no tall city walls, and there is not much population to form a legion. The masters of these three small cities are just ordinary Bombers.
The stronger Mocheng could only muster a thousand armored men, while the weak Shucheng had even fewer armored men, with no more than a hundred armored men in the whole city.
Nowadays, the soldiers in Beihai are dying, and most of the drafted soldiers have also gone to Beihai. The ones who remain are basically the soldiers who stayed behind to protect their city-state.
Mengchang's army divided into three groups to attack, and finally gathered together.
The destruction of three city-states meant that there was no longer any obstruction between the southwest direction of Beihai and Tai City.
Facing directly behind you will be Qingyang Pass, the side gate from the countryside of Beihai to the inner Beihai.
After conquering Qingyang Pass, you will have an unobstructed view of the Great Plains. The sky will be high enough for birds to fly, and the sea will be wide enough for fish to leap.
The army can truly advance, attack, retreat and escape, gaining a sense of security and strategic capital.
In the early stage, we only need to stagger around Beihai City and loot the wealth of more than 30 princes in the pass. If we accumulate less, we can finally gather a large army to give Yuan Futong a big surprise.
If Yuan Futong cannot be defeated, he can still deal a cruel blow to the Beihai rebel coalition, and then his strategic significance this time will be considered complete.
As for the future, whether we can withstand the counterattack of the rebels and demons will be discussed later.
I am quite greedy for life and afraid of death, but I don't know when I started to be afraid. My mouth is still shrinking, but my body has been living toward death.
Hey, it's all Yuan Futong's fault. If something goes wrong, just blame him. Who made him fail to protect his own territory and turn his guns to rape demons and beasts?
But at this time, there were already shouts of killing in Fucheng on the left side. Bian Ji's Ghost Road was not as effective as before in this battle scene, but it was not completely useless.
Only the ghosts showed their bodies, wandering in front of the defenders on the city wall. They could not be killed, but could not be caught, and the various forms of the ghosts who died tragically made the soldiers on the city wall scream in fear.
Every time a claw goes down, a gray-white and transparent human soul can be visibly grasped by the naked eye. This is really scary for the soldiers, who are all hiding from these ferocious ghosts.
Upon seeing this, the soldiers and soldiers climbing the ladders under the city also accelerated their climb to buy time for the siege.
Shucheng on the right is even more vulnerable. Recently, Zhao Bing seems to have improved his bloodline power a lot. He has been complaining that his two copper hammers are getting lighter and lighter, and he is a little uncomfortable.
Meng Chang rolled his eyes in anger. Your copper hammer was melted and exchanged for money, which was enough to buy two slaves. You were so picky that you were not willing to replace your own axes, axes and spears. You kept tinkering with them and making do with them.
Mengchang missed his eldest brother Zhuoshou a little, and didn't know how his eldest brother was doing recently, whether he was resting well or not, and whether he thought about himself.
If you really miss me, how about helping me make three iron weapons when I get back.
Zhao Bing rushed in with two sledgehammers. The fragile wooden and earthen wall was smashed with two hammers, creating a gap. Two hundred soldiers under his command immediately rushed in to control the common people and nobles in the "town". ,Maintain order.
Mengchang's side is a little more difficult, but it's not too much to give in to.
Meng Chang, who was the first to climb the city wall, activated his three heads and six arms, and the flames were everywhere in the burning wasteland. He was like a player with the health lock unlocked in Cavalry. Regardless of the danger, he fought alone with his armored soldiers, holding on to the opponent's phalanx, fighting for the cavalry. They opened the city gate and attacked the armor formation.
This scene stimulated our newly conquered troops to howl, shouting that the general was mighty, and risking their lives to storm the enemy phalanx waiting inside the city gate.
The defenders of Mocheng were really scared and anxious.
What kind of monster is this? With three heads and six hands, a sword pierced his body, but it could only break through an inch of skin. The majestic blood and strong muscles resisted the dagger, but pushed back the guard on the opposite side for dozens of seconds. He took a step forward, then kicked him away, then raised his ax and chopped it in half.
Seeing the "Demon God" slowly approaching, the soldiers of Mocheng retreated in horror, not daring to look at the pair of scarlet blood eyes.
Not having a pair of halberds was very troublesome, and fighting in close combat was very disadvantageous. The two pairs of swords that I found temporarily had been chopped into pieces.
After glancing around, Meng Chang picked up the flagpole that had fallen to the ground without saying a word, and the hardwood as thick as a child's arm was broken with the force of his wrist.
Zuo Shou held up two short sticks and made some gestures. They were okay and barely usable. He would try to get two good knives in the future.
Mengchang, who had solved the weapon problem, finally waited until his siege phalanx was completed.
And just when Meng Chang was about to lead the soldiers into the formation, an old man with white hair and white beard walked out of the formation on the opposite side.
"Luo Liang, the uncle of Maocheng, has met the general. Since the general came to rescue Beihai, why did he attack my city and kill my soldiers?"
The old man seemed polite, but instead reprimanded Mengchang for his immoral behavior of attacking without warning.
When going on an expedition among princes, they must be notified in advance, and then they will sacrifice three animals together and then fight in a fair battle.
This general is so barbaric and launches a sudden attack without even saying hello. Who is the monster? They are simply more barbarians than barbarians.
"Are you worthy? We are both human beings. We help beasts and abuse them. If the other princes are being coerced, then that's it. You have followed Yuan Futong in Mocheng from the beginning to the end. There is no shortage of soldiers and soldiers."
"When dealing with people, you have to be reasonable. When dealing with wild beasts, do you have to be reasonable with them? How are you different from monsters?"
Bomberoliang was speechless. He glanced vaguely at the many ambush in the side room, and immediately waved his hand: "Do it!"
Hundreds of sharp arrows came at him. Meng Chang looked at Uncle Bang proudly, not afraid at all. The three weapons in his hands danced like airtight. Only a few sharp arrows hit his body, and they were stuck in his muscles by blood. .
"Is this your next move? Old man."
Bomber laughed loudly: "Reckless man, let's take a look at the arrow you were hit with. This is a highly poisonous thing contaminated with the juice of the soul-breaking grass. Just wait to die, monster."
Mengchang looked disdainfully at the complacent Bomber, opened the blood sacrifice, and under the high temperature and steam, directly squeezed the toxins that entered the body into the wound, and the arrow fell to the ground with a stream of blood.
Without giving Uncle Bomb a chance to quibble, Meng Chang waved his hand, and the soldiers immediately walked toward the phalanx in neat steps.
Uncle Bomb was really panicking now. What kind of elite force is this? With just his own number, even if he kills Meng Chang, is the invincible military formation behind him really something we can match?
Just when the old man doubted himself, Meng Chang charged forward. He was as fast as a cheetah. In the battle of swords, guns and swords, he grabbed the old man and threw him into his own position. Then he drove unparalleled and cut the grass.
The midday sun was already a little warm, Fu City and Zha City had been destroyed, and the remaining people knelt down and begged for surrender.
Mocheng was a step slower, mainly because this large city among Bangbo was no longer weaker than Weijue cities such as Gu City. It took a lot of effort to clean it up, and it took a long time to seal the four gates.
He had not experienced Yuan Futong's crusade, but had followed Yuan Futong to escape the cruelest human sacrifices from the beginning. The population of Mocheng was larger than that of Gucheng. It cost Meng Chang a lot of money to keep these people in check and not flee towards Qingyang Pass. time.
After entering the city, the army quickly occupied the city lord's palace and imprisoned Luo Liang and the Bangbo clansmen. After the city was reorganized and cleared, they were then transported to Gucheng for detention.
Although it was refreshing to kill them, it was also for the future. After all, he did not respect military orders and came to Beihai with the team originally planned to return to Yancheng.
No one sees their achievements, and no one knows what they have done. If they die in battle in the future, no one will remember their existence.
These batches of princes who took the initiative to rebel with Yuan Futong are the best evidence that they have been here.
"Wu Cheng, you have to handle the expansion and reorganization in person. There are more than 100,000 people here. There is no need to recruit one out of every ten. Select brave people, people who are dissatisfied with the Yuan thieves and have deep hatred for the monsters. Such people are The fighting power we need.”
"It's up to you to handle the specific matters."
"promise."
Although Wu Cheng is naughty, his ability to do things is very reliable. What Meng Chang needs now is time. He must deal with the problem of the three cities before Qingyang Pass is discovered, and then gather troops to attack the pass city.
Only in this way can the connection between the Inner North Sea and the Outer North Sea be cut off.
If Qingyang Pass cannot be taken, Yuan Futong can chase him around the countryside, or be united by the outer Beihai princes to enter a war of attrition mode. This is not a path that is conducive to his development.
Not to mention, in the middle of the wild countryside outside Beihai, there is a powerful fire-breathing beast - Bifang.
By the way, I have cleaned up a lot of crustaceans and ring dogs along the way. Do I really want to ignore these strange beasts? Or do they just not care?
After ordering the complete preparation of the grain collection matters, Mengchang went to the mansion of the Luo clan of the Hao clan.
The five hundred armored soldiers and two thousand sets of armor and weapons left behind in Mocheng are the city's most valuable assets. Even if they cannot recruit this group of people, they can still equip the two thousand five hundred soldiers to become semi-armored soldiers.
After searching around, there was no tiger talisman in the palace. Meng Chang was a little distressed, so he simply called the messenger to greet him.
"Let Xin Ping go to the prison and examine carefully where the thief and tiger talisman is hidden. Then dig deeper and dig out all their warehouses and places where the treasures are hidden."
"If you do this well, General, I will reward the three armies for the brothers, and organize a wave of merchants for the brothers to personally escort and transport them back to Chongcheng."
