At this time, the sun was already hanging diagonally in the sky, and the sunlight was shining on the earth.
Outside the Xiaoxiao Valley, Zhang Cheng said to Liu Quan who came to see him off: "Liu Quan, the new army on your side must hurry up and train. The number can be replenished slowly, but don't wait for the drill.
When the training is almost done, you need to take it out to try the effect. Didn't you say last night that there are still many small groups of bandits in the mountains nearby? When the sergeant starts practicing, you can wipe them out one by one. This is not only training, but also Supplement some food and supplies. "
"Yes, Liu Quan has written it down." Liu Quan answered softly.
Zhang Cheng then asked: "Liu Quan, your three villages must join forces to attack one. This is also a drill. You and other sergeants are trained separately on weekdays. When suppressing bandits, you can take the opportunity to drill each outpost." cooperate in fighting,
All movements and stops must be treated as marching. Only by strictly managing the army can we build a strong army! "
Liu Quan and three other people received the order in unison. Under the watch of Liu Quan, Ma Huijun and others, Zhang Cheng and others galloped away from the Xiaoxiao Valley and headed towards the valley to the west of Tietou Valley.
Everything is stable here in Tietou Valley, and the iron mines are operating well. Compared with Diaotou Valley, there is no need to occupy villages and forts here. Tens of thousands of acres of fertile farmland can be reclaimed in the western valley alone.
This place can be used as a hidden granary and iron smelting ground. Even if there is any crisis, as long as there are two strong troops locking the north and south ends of the valley, foreign enemies can be kept out of the valley.
But when Sun Dashan said: "Yes, I will send people tomorrow to set up checkpoints at these two ends and choose a suitable location to build the mountain gate."
"You stupid roe deer!"
Zhang Cheng was so angry that he whipped Sun Dashan's body with his horsewhip. He laughed and cursed: "What? Are you afraid that people don't know that you are here to occupy the mountain and become the king? There is no need to go to that trouble first."
You only need to choose a suitable place in the south of the river valley, build a watchtower, and observe the surrounding area. If there are any changes in the future, you can form an army array to block foreign enemies. You can first build some wooden walls, wooden fences, The horses and the like are hidden in the woods on both sides and can be taken out when needed.
As for the mouth of the valley in the north, ask Zhao Shihu to keep watch nearby. "
…………
The river valley to the west of Tietou Valley is really good. The mountain springs in the remaining mountains of Yanshan on both sides converge, and the irrigation is indeed very effective. Sun Dashan continued to introduce: "General, there is a village with dozens of households not far ahead. The small village is called Changjiazhai. They are all old families in the mountains. They farm and hunt in the mountains on weekdays.
Let's go see if there are any mountain goods available in the near future and bring some for you. "
Zhang Cheng nodded and asked: "Have these mountain people been registered as households? Can we harvest their grain in this village?"
Zhao Shihu, who was riding beside him, rushed to say: "Back to the general, the terrain of Changzhai Village is steep. The mountain people in the village should not have registered households. Anyway, no one from the official family has ever come to collect taxes.
These village villages rarely come to cause trouble for them, because there are many hunters in this village. The young men in the village are very skilled in hunting with bows, and there is not much grain, gold and silver to rob.
Moreover, if they hunt something rare and good in their village, they will also pay some tribute to each village every year, so everyone has been in peace over the years. "
Hearing what Zhao Shihu said, Zhang Cheng also became interested. He shouted: "Let's go to Changjiazhai to have a look."
Sun Dashan didn't say anything, but Zhao Shihu stopped Zhang Cheng and said: "General, Changzhai is very vigilant and takes very strict precautions on weekdays. There are many tricks in front of and behind the village. Please send someone from Rongbei to inform him first, so as not to Cause unnecessary misunderstandings."
"oh!"
Zhang Cheng looked surprised at this moment. What would a mountain village look like that could make these bandits fearful?
Full of curiosity, he said to Zhao Shihu: "Go, it's still early, so we don't have to be impatient. You go and make arrangements. I will go to Changjiazhai."
…………
Zhao Shihu and Sun Dashan each brought more than ten guards, plus more than 30 elite cavalry such as Chen Zhong. Zhang Cheng's team of nearly 60 people made Changjiazhai very afraid.
Looking at the three cavalrymen running from a distance, Zhao Shihu introduced: "General, Changzhai sent someone to pick us up. This is the first time for me to enter Changzhai."
After saying that, he couldn't help but laugh a few times.
The three cavalrymen rushed closer, reined up their horses and stopped more than ten paces away. They clasped their fists and said to Zhao Shihu: "Master Zhao, our old village master has something to say. Although we have been neighbors for a long time, we have never been in contact with each other. Today, Master Zhao is going to enter the village." Worshiping the mountain is hard to refuse.
But I still have to ask, why did Master Zhao come here today? "
Although the speaker kept talking to Zhao Shihu, his eyes couldn't help but focus on Zhang Cheng, who was riding in the middle. He had a vague feeling that Zhang Cheng was the leader of this team.
After Zhao Shihu listened to the other party's question, he did not dare to answer directly. He first turned to look at Zhang Cheng. Seeing Zhang Cheng nodding, he rode his horse forward a few steps, cupped his fists and said, "Brother, please repay Mr. Chang. My Zhao Shihu’s Hawthorn Point is no longer a bandit stronghold. Now I, Zhao Shihu, am an official of one hundred households under the command of General Zhang Cheng, guarding the North Road of Xuanfu Town, guarding the guerrillas.
Today, my general is passing by this place and wants to visit the stronghold. I hope to ask Mr. Chang for permission! "
The knight who spoke just now rode his horse and looked around. In his eyes, the guards on both sides looked a little idle, but the more than thirty knights behind Zhang Cheng were all strong and strong. Although they were all wearing armor, looking at the posture of the horse, You will know that these people are no ordinary sergeants.
They were equipped with bows, arrows, swords, shields, long soldiers, and even fire blunderbuss, and all of them had murderous intent on their faces. They seemed not to care, but they were well-organized and seemed ready to kill at any time.
He glanced at him, clasped his fists and said, "Master Zhao, please inform your general. It will take a while, I'm sorry."
Looking at the backs of the three cavalrymen running back, Chen Zhong said: "General, this Changjiazhai is so big."
Zhang Cheng looked back at him and said without hesitation: "I am waiting for more than sixty people, all of them are capable. How many people in his village are capable of fighting? How dare you not be on guard?"
"I'll dismount first and rest my power."
At Zhang Cheng's suggestion, everyone dismounted and watched the terrain around them.
This place is located on the edge of the river valley, and there is a wide river valley outside. You can see that there are less than 2,000 acres of fields in the valley, all of which are planted with winter wheat, and they are golden.
There is a winding mountain road going up. It doesn't look steep, but less than a hundred steps away there is a bend, but you can't see what's going on inside. This mountain road is not wide, and at most five riders can go forward.
After a while, the sound of hoofbeats came from the mountain road. The horses' hooves trampled on the mountain road. It was much louder than elsewhere and could be heard from a long distance.
Five riders turned the corner, and they gradually saw clearly that the person in the center was an elderly man. He had his hair wrapped, but he could see that the beard on his chest was all white. He was estimated to be over fifty.
The group gradually advanced and reined in their horses more than 20 steps away. The old man turned over and dismounted first. Zhang Cheng saw that he was skillful in his movements. Although he was over fifty, he was still strong and strong. He couldn't help but secretly sighed: "What a skill! "
