At noon, the sun sheds thousands of golden lights.
Xiao Ying had never imagined that there would be a cavalry that could rush from Chang'an to Lujiang in just two days, and yet its combat effectiveness could still be so strong that no one showed any signs of fatigue.
He joined the team after Huo Qubing and others entered Lujiang County, and is now responsible for leading the way towards the enemy's nest.
"Zonghengdao has two locations in Lujiang County. One is in the largest city in Lujiang. The person in Zonghengdao hides his identity. On the surface, he is a ship merchant who uses river transportation. In fact, he is the spy of Zonghengdao in the city, responsible for using shipping. Cover and deliver various materials and supplies to the vertical and horizontal road halfway.
We just followed this line and found the hidden place of the vertical and horizontal road. "
Xiao Ying was also riding on a horse, and it was difficult to follow: "They opened a dojo in the mountains and fields, in a hidden location, and established a small settlement."
Huo Qubing hummed.
Xiao Ying hesitated and reminded: "Huo Shizhong, after my observation over the past few days, the hidden power of Zonghengdao is not weak, even though the settlement is deep in the mountains.
But there are at least a thousand people, and most of them are practicing.
They have been dormant for many years and have accumulated considerable power. "
He and Song Ran had the same worries. They were worried that Huo Qubing was too conceited and not well prepared. He would come with only two hundred men and kill him. If he attacked thousands of miles away but was defeated by his opponent in the end, the consequences could be imagined.
"Has Shizhong Huo ever considered asking the local garrison to send troops together?" Xiao Ying suggested.
"You just said that based on some signs, Zonghengdao has been hiding in Lujiang for several years. Since it has been so long, why have the local officials found nothing? How do you know they have no problem?"
Huo Qubing slowed down his horse speed slightly, and the team behind him followed suit and adjusted their speed accordingly.
He knew that Xiao Ying was worried that he was so happy with his achievements that if he underestimated his enemy and lost, it would be a devastating blow to his reputation.
But Huo Qubing did not explain. He rode forward. The horse showed incredible flexibility in the mountains and fields. Although it was off the official road and the road conditions were not good, the speed was not greatly affected.
Under his leadership, the entire team rushed straight into the rolling mountains and rivers in Lujiang County.
"We're almost there. Ten miles ahead is the hiding place of Zonghengdao... There are secret sentries ahead of them. We can send scouts to deal with them secretly."
Just as Xiao Ying finished speaking, he suddenly saw the scout at the front of the team taking out a bronze whistle, putting it in his mouth and playing it, making a very low-frequency sound.
In a short while, two figures jumped out of the forest in front of them, their movements as vigorous as apes.
"Shizhong Huo!"
Two figures appeared close by: "The other party has about 1,100 people. They used the mountains to form a natural barrier and built a small city.
The small town was originally a rebuilt village in the mountains. Among the more than 1,000 people, there are more than 800 ordinary members of the church, many of whom are practicing, and more than 100 female dependents... The secret sentry arranged by the other party here has been eliminated. "
Xiao Ying also investigated this information very clearly.
What surprised him was that Huo Qubing had other plans besides relying on their secret intelligence system.
The two men in front of me were obviously military scouts. When did they enter Lujiang County and conduct reconnaissance in disguise?
Well, it must have been the first time I received news that the location of the Zonghengdao in Lujiang County was confirmed, and Huo Shizhong arranged for them to come... Xiao Ying had ups and downs in his thoughts.
The sun is shining brightly.
Huo Qubing waved his hand forward, and the entire team continued to advance.
At this moment, more than ten miles away from Huo Qubing and others, there was a small city between two mountains. It was built on the mountain. It was majestic and the mountain was tall.
This mountain city is protected by mountains. There is only one gate for entry and exit, and the terrain on the other three sides is steep.
From a distance, the mountain city is bustling with people coming in and out, there are many people, and there are people watching from high places, and the defense is very strict.
"I received news the day before yesterday that the Chang'an Guards had cavalry out of camp and marching to the southeast. They asked me to be careful. How are the arrangements for exploring and setting up defenses in the past two days?"
Deep in the mountain city, a deep and deep voice came from a cave dug into the mountain.
Inside the hall, the floor is covered with animal skins, and there are candles burning on both sides.
Sitting on the animal skin was Zhenghengdao, who had two vice-popes and other high-level officials.
An old man with a normal body shape, fair complexion, and wearing dark brown clothes spoke:
"I was the first to receive the news the day before yesterday. After two days of exploration, no trace of the cavalry was found along the way from Chang'an to our Lujiang River."
The old man who spoke was very imposing and had a stern face. He was Ji Ran, the deputy sect master of Zonghengdao.
He added: "Even if they do come, with only two hundred people, my subordinates can defeat them."
"What the deputy sect said is that if the opponent really comes, they might as well take the initiative to attack them. We can set up an ambush halfway and intercept them. We will definitely surprise them and cause them to be defeated miserably."
Next to Deputy Zong Jiran stood a strong man, Tang Maoshan, the 'brave general' who guarded the mountain gate on Zonghengdao:
"When the time comes, we can capture or kill them, it's up to us."
"Counting the time, if the other party comes, can he arrive tomorrow?" The pope's voice echoed in the stone hall, but no one could be seen anywhere.
"Yes, we can arrive as soon as tomorrow." Ji Ran responded.
"It's better to be cautious. The director of our Zonghengdao is not a fighter. If we fight with them, we will suffer heavy losses. Send a team of people out to guard the mountain pass and pay attention to changes at any time." The pope's voice.
…
Chang'an, Weiyang Palace.
From the perspective of Liu Che and others, the speed and integrity of the team commanded by Huo Qubing are astonishing. Even the horses abide by the discipline and are not noisy at all.
At this time, the picture on the Sheji Map changed, showing the location of the mountain city where the vertical and horizontal roads were located.
"Huo Qubing brought a team of elite cavalry, traveling thousands of miles, just for this small town hidden in the mountains?" Princess Pingyang watched for a long time and said aloud.
Liu Che smiled and said: "The goal of Qubing is not actually this city, he wants to take the opportunity to train troops and go out for activities.
In my opinion, if it weren't for the rare opportunity to train troops, it would be difficult to arouse his interest in dealing with such a small town. "
Taichang Zhou Ping gave Zhang Xiaoyuan a wink, meaning that he should seize the opportunity to show himself.
Zhang Xiaoyuan looked at the pictures in the Sheji Map and said slowly: "Your Majesty, I have also practiced military strategy and know the essence of observing the military situation, terrain, yin and yang, qizheng and so on."
"Then tell me, if Qubing leads his troops to attack the Zonghengdao Mountain Gate, what will be the outcome? What strategy will he use to attack?"
Zhang Xiaoyuan thought steadily for a moment and answered: "There is a saying in the military book that it is as fast as the wind, as slow as the forest, as aggressive as fire, as motionless as a mountain, as unpredictable as the clouds, and as moving as thunder. This is what the sages of military strategists say in the military struggle chapter. Discourse.”
"Huo Shizhong led his troops to march quickly. The formation of the troops did not break up at all. The speed of marching is amazing. He must have used the military formation technique and the harmony of Qi and movement. He is worthy of praise for his speed as fast as the wind."
Liu Che nodded slightly, he was right.
Taichang and others also nodded, looking at Zhang Xiaoyuan with expectations and encouragement, asking him to continue.
Zhang Xiaoyuan became a little excited and talked eloquently:
"However, I see that although the opponent's city is small, it is built according to the mountain. This is a physical victory for the military and it has an advantageous location.
Huo Shizhong commanded two hundred troops and marched thousands of miles to attack. However, a cursory look at the opponent's city showed that there were more than a thousand people, and they were waiting for work. This is a harmonious situation. "
Liu Che smiled and said: "In your opinion, if the other party has the advantage of land and people, wouldn't Qubing be defeated without even fighting?"
In the Sheji map, Huo Qubing was approaching the mountain city. His speed suddenly increased, and he actually chose to rush straight into the mountain city without stopping to adjust. It was like a bayonet with a sharp edge!
The two hundred cavalry behind him seemed to turn into a torrent, sweeping away all opponents who dared to stand in front of them.
A Han soldier took out a red pill from his leather bag while galloping, put it into the horse's mouth and swallowed it.
I don't know if it was an illusion, but there seemed to be a mist surrounding the team headed by Huo Qubing, which was getting thicker and thicker, wrapping them in the mist.
The wind blows.
In the mountain city, the sentinels of Zonghengdao saw the traces of the Han army from a distance. They were horrified and immediately issued an alarm.
The atmosphere in the entire mountain city suddenly became solemn.
"From my perspective, Huo Shizhong seems to have underestimated his opponent. He rushed into the formation without even adjusting. How could he know that the opponent did not have an ambush?
I looked at it using the Confucian method of observing Qi. There was a faint aura in the mountain city, and I was afraid that the opponent had a hidden defense method. "
Zhang Xiaoyuan shook his head slightly, thinking that God was helping me. Huo Qubing had made the mistake of a arrogant soldier who would surely be defeated.
He was also quite scheming and did not say that Huo Qubing was going to be defeated. He just pointed out that it would be unwise for Huo Qubing to lead his troops directly towards his opponent.
Don't stick to your words, leaving room for twists and turns. But the meaning is clear. Huo Qubing committed a taboo among military strategists. He was exhausted from the expedition and attacked an opponent with geographical advantages without making adjustments. The possibility of losing was extremely high.
Princess Pingyang nodded slightly after hearing Zhang Xiaoyuan's analysis and said in approval:
"It seems that Xiaoyuan is really familiar with military affairs."
At this moment, next to Huo Qubing in the picture, Xiong San, who was originally sitting on horseback and accompanying him all the way, suddenly opened his mouth to inhale, and his face instantly turned purple.
The length of time she took this breath was amazing.
As she inhaled, her figure seemed to slowly grow in size, like a black bear.
Xiong San finally stopped breathing, jumped off his horse, and rushed towards the Zonghengdao Mountain Gate on the opposite side.
In the short-distance charge, Xiong San ran as fast as he could, and was actually no weaker than a galloping horse, keeping pace with the front row of cavalry.
The entire team is as fast as lightning, attacking the opponent as smoothly as silk!
