Huang An knew that he had to comfort Zheng Qianhu at this time, otherwise Zheng Qianhu's accusation would be enough to cause the camp to roar.
Although the commander-in-chief is not a high-ranking official, there are still many people eyeing this position, and he, the commander-in-chief, is not yet hot on his butt. If he really loses his position, all the money he spent to buy the official will be wasted. .
"Report, my lord, a team of people came from outside the camp, led by a member of the Baihu family. They said they were ordered by the commander." The messenger ran to Jujiangtai to report.
When Huang An heard this, he thought that the archer team that the commander had said was coming.
But how could he dare to let these archers enter the camp at this time? Once they entered the camp, what happened just now could no longer be concealed.
Huang An knew that although Ying Xiao just ignored him, Zheng Qianhu's cooperation was still needed to cover it up. He said: "Master Zheng, the troops sent by the commander have arrived. I still bothered Master Zheng about Ying Xiao's matter before. Conceal it with me, otherwise the news of Yingxiao will reach the ears of the Commander. Although I am guilty, Master Zheng will not be able to escape the blame."
"Are you threatening me?" Zheng Qianhu narrowed his eyes slightly.
"I dare not." Huang An raised a finger and said, "As long as Mr. Zheng agrees, I am willing to give up 10% of the benefits of suppressing the bandits this time."
Zheng Qianhu lowered his head and thought for a while, then said: "Deal."
Hearing Zheng Qianhu's agreement, Huang An breathed a sigh of relief and turned to the messenger: "Please command the hundreds of households sent by the messenger to enter the camp."
To deliver the order to the troops, he ran all the way to the outside of the camp to deliver the order.
Zheng Qianhu looked at the hundreds of households behind him and said viciously: "No one is allowed to tell anyone what happened today. If anyone asks, just tell them that after the generals made three rounds, soldiers did not arrive to enforce military law."
"My subordinates understand." Several hundreds of households were all under Zheng Qianhu's control, and they immediately agreed with clasped fists.
Some soldiers came down from the gathering platform and arranged for soldiers to collect the bodies on the ground.
At this time, hundreds of households from the commander's camp came to the gathering platform with two hundred archers.
The hundred households knelt on the ground with one leg, hugged each other with both hands, and said, "I have seen these two adults."
"It turns out to be Xu Baihu. I didn't expect that the commander would be willing to send you here. With you, Master Zheng and I will be more confident in chasing down the remaining bandits." Huang An smiled and helped Xu Baihu up.
After Xu Baihu stood up, he glanced at the blood stains that had not been cleaned up in front of the audience, and said, "Master Qianshi, did you just kill someone?"
Zheng Qianhu on the side smiled and said: "I beat the gathering drum this morning. After the sound of the three drums, there were still soldiers who had not arrived. I had no choice but to follow suit and killed a few soldiers who had not arrived yet. Soldiers.”
"I see, my subordinates are presumptuous." Xu Baihu said again, "I don't know when the two adults will pursue the remaining bandits. The commander is worried that the remaining bandits will escape, so he specially asked his subordinates to bring a message to the two adults. I hope you two adults can send troops to suppress the bandits as soon as possible."
"Since Xu Baihu has brought all the archers, I think we can send out troops now." Huang An turned to look at Zheng Qianhu and said, "Master Zheng, what do you think?"
Although Zheng Qianhu was dissatisfied with Xu Baihu's use of command to suppress him, Xu Baihu was the personal guard around the commander after all. He did not want to offend him too much, so he nodded and said: "Then send troops."
After the order was issued, several hundred households returned to their own teams and left the camp with the team.
With a thousand people from the Beida camp, plus the two hundred archers brought by Xu Baihu, a team of more than a thousand people left Quanliang Mountain in a mighty manner.
It was already three o'clock in the morning when the army left the camp, and it was a cool time.
Tan Ma took the lead and headed south to search for traces of the bandits.
The officers and soldiers carried a lot of baggage, and they were not moving very fast. An hour passed, and when the detective horse came back to report the bandits' traces, they had only traveled more than ten miles.
Xu Baihu, who had been walking at the end of the team, rode up to Huang An and Zheng Qianhu. "My lords, according to Malay reports, the bandits camped in Zhuzui Mountain last night and are now heading towards Yangyuan County. If we Speed up the march, and you have a good chance of catching up with the bandits before dark."
Zheng Qianhu, who was riding on horseback, raised his hand to cover his forehead, looked at the sky, and said, "Xu Baihu, I understand that you are eager to make contributions, but you have to understand that the team cannot keep going in such hot weather. Even if you can bear it, Xu Baihu, the soldiers below can't stand it either."
"But..." Xu Baihu was about to speak, but was interrupted by Huang An.
Just listen to Huang An say: "Xu Baihu, don't worry, I have brought the camp's baggage team. It doesn't matter if you can't catch up with the bandits today. As long as you keep chasing like this, I believe you will catch up sooner or later. It is impossible for a group of bandits to catch up." We are marching very fast.”
Xu Baihu looked serious and said: "I came here to see you two adults. I hope you can abandon the heavy baggage, bring a day's worth of food and grass, and speed up the pursuit."
After hearing this, Zheng Qianhu's face sank and he said: "Xu Baihu, do you know what you are talking about? Without the baggage, what do you want everyone to eat and drink? Don't forget that we went out to suppress bandits privately, but There is no right to collect military rations on the spot.”
"Don't worry, sir." Xu Baihu said, "Before coming, the commander asked his subordinates to bring a letter to the Yangyuan County Magistrate. Once we arrive in Yangyuan County, the Yangyuan County Magistrate will naturally come forward to prepare food and fodder for the army."
"Can you guarantee that Yangyuan County Magistrate will provide food and grass?" Zheng Qianhu asked back.
Xu Baihu said neither humble nor arrogantly: "If you don't want to believe what your subordinates say, don't you still believe what the commander says?"
Huang An, who was riding next to him, heard that the two people were about to choke, and hurriedly smoothed things over and said: "Master Zheng, since Xu Baihu has a letter from the commander to the magistrate of Yangyuan County, let's listen to Xu Baihu. , leaving one day of food and fodder, and arranging the baggage team to return to the camp."
Seeing Huang An speak, Zheng Qianhu snorted coldly, knowing that he could no longer object. After all, Huang An was a fourth-rank commander and had a higher rank than him. Xu Baihu also had the commander's letter in his hand. If he objected, Offended two superiors at the same time.
Seeing that Zheng Qianhu was speechless, Huang An acquiesced, and asked someone to notify the baggage team to leave provisions for one day, and then return to the camp.
Without the burden of the baggage train, the army's march speed was obviously faster. However, because of the hot weather, it was not suitable for long-term marching, and the team had to stop to rest near noon.
Zheng Qianhu grabbed the water bag and drank a few big gulps, stuffed it with a cork and threw it to the soldiers beside him. He took off his armor and lay under the shade of the tree.
Huang An came over with a water bag, sat next to Zheng Qianhu, and said, "Are you still angry?"
Zheng Qianhu lay on the ground and said angrily: "Who is he? He dares to appoint an official. If the army in Yangyuan County cannot get food and grass, let's see how he will explain!"
"He is the personal guard next to the commander." Huang An picked up the water bag and took a sip of water, and said, "Xu Baihu represents the commander. Xu Baihu's urgency means that the commander behind him is forcing him. tight."
Zheng Qianhu sat up and said, "I don't understand. The main force of the bandits has been trapped in Quanliang Mountain. Why does the commander want us to go out to suppress the bandits? Going out without mobilizing the army will be decapitated." He is not afraid of having his head chopped off for a serious crime?"
"You don't know this!" Huang An said with a mysterious smile, "Our commander has set his sights on the position of deputy commander-in-chief of Datong, but because he has no military merit, he has never had the opportunity. It just so happens that there is such a group of sluts The bandits came to the door by themselves, how can our commander let them go? Of course, the more people the better."
Zheng Qianhu suddenly realized: "No wonder the deputy commander of Datong has been vacant for so long without anyone taking over. It seems that there is someone behind our commander."
"So we can just listen to the orders with peace of mind. If someone gets an official position, we will get wealth." Huang An patted Zheng Qianhu on the shoulder.
Zheng Qianhu said: "Before, I thought you were the one who persuaded the commander to suppress the bandits. Now it seems that the commander has long been eyeing this group of bandits."
"Otherwise, how do you think I, a small commander, can persuade the commander to mobilize the entire Tiancheng Guard." Huang An then looked in the direction of Yangyuan County and said, "Did you feel that this group of bandits escaped? The leader is extraordinary, I’m worried that our trip this time will be in vain.”
