The Eighth Army on Hedong Road was shaken.
Just because Captain Zhao of the Changning Army captured dozens of Khitan soldiers and horses in Kelan Mountain with his fifteen remaining soldiers and veterans.
It is reported that he also defeated two masters at the master level. How could such a method not surprise people?
The border defense army has been dealing with the Khitans all year round, so they are naturally aware of the Khitan's terrifying combat prowess. Their cavalry battles are far superior to those of the Qing Kingdom, not to mention the fact that they are led by two powerful masters.
No matter how you look at this battle, the Qing Kingdom is at a disadvantage, but in the end, it turns defeat into victory without losing a single soldier. Naturally, such a figure is regarded as a god among the border troops.
However, it was Kelan's army who publicized this incident, because they climbed up the hillside that day and happened to witness the end of the battle.
There is no news about the Changning Army involved. It stands to reason that such a figure should publicize and encourage morale, but the Changning Army did the opposite. The trick is self-evident.
At that time, Changning Army General Pang Luyi sat in the camp with a complicated expression, staring at the Kelan Mountain sand table map with a frown on his face. He couldn't figure out how Zhao Zhengli came back from the dead.
Of course he knew that the opponent of the fifteen remnant soldiers led by Zhao Zhengli was Yeluhe, one of the two dragons of the Khitan. He also knew that his father was Yeluxiao, the first national advisor of the Khitan.
Dragons give birth to dragons, and phoenixes give birth to phoenixes. Naturally, Yeluhe is also a dragon and a phoenix among men. How could such a person be forced back by Zhao Zhengli's sword?
Pang Luyi cherishes talents, but he also knows how to be grateful to Commander Ge for his promotion. Now that Zhao Zhengli has returned triumphantly, he is struggling with how to deal with it.
In the camp on the other side, led by Zhao Zhengli and Biyu, dozens of soldiers gathered around the remaining soldiers and veterans to celebrate.
A horse came from outside the camp, wearing a long robe swaying in the wind, looking brave and heroic, with a gentle smile on his face.
He turned over and dismounted. The guard took the reins and saluted respectfully: "Young Marshal Yao!"
"Hahaha, Brother Zhao is so powerful! It makes me want to defend the North with a gun and an army."
Yao Hanbei strode into the camp. His temperament looked like that of a young man who had traveled around the world.
Zhao Zhengli stepped forward to greet him: "Major General Miao Zan, that's all thanks to everyone, we were also forced by the situation that day!"
Yao Hanbei glanced at the joyful soldiers in the camp, and finally returned to Zhao Zhengli: "Brother Zhao is really a generous man. He is not proud of himself, nor does he monopolize military achievements! You must know that there were several teams before you to encircle and suppress the Khitan spies hiding in Lanshan Mountain. , it was all in vain, and Brother Zhao led the fifteen remnants of the old soldiers to a complete victory. It is reported that Commander Ge personally led his troops into the mountains yesterday, but returned without success!"
"How dare you, how dare you, it's just a fluke!"
Zhao Zhengli hurriedly found a place for himself to step down. The more he praised this guy, the higher he got. Who could bear it? How could he be the commander-in-chief of Hedong Road and spread the news? It's not that I'm afraid of offending Ge Hongliang, I just don't want to be used as a pawn!
The conversation between the two was actually more for others to listen to, telling him that Yao Hanbei and Zhao Zhengli were in the same camp, and that Zhao Zhengli was not only greedy for military merit, but also worth following.
The soldiers had different expressions, and it was obviously quite effective.
Later, Yao Hanbei and Zhao Zhengli chatted for some time.
The two deliberately walked to no man's land. Zhao Zhengli got straight to the point and said: "Can you try to get me temporary military power? I don't want to be tripped up by the backup force for the second time. The key is to have nothing to do with him."
He was remembering what happened to Kelan Mountain and was left behind by the two elite soldiers behind him. If he had had military power at that time and he was in the fourth rank and held the rank of Lieutenant of Light Vehicles, how would the two groups have dared to leave so simply? He escaped from the battle and killed the two leaders on the spot without anyone saying anything. It was a pity that he had a title but no real power.
Yao Hanbei smiled: "Someone will solve this problem for you soon."
Zhao Zhengli raised his eyebrows: "Who?"
He revealed in a divine tone: "General Pang Luyi of the Changning Army!"
Zhao Zhengli was surprised and said: "He was promoted by Ge Hongliang. It is reported that he is a fellow villager with Prime Minister Zuo He Jing. Although he did not express his support for the prince like He Jing, his son Ge Xiaojin's behavior is obviously closer to the prince's party. How can he care about it? I, the prince, am a stumbling block!”
Yao Hanbei said quite confidently: "Theoretically, this is true, but it also depends on what kind of person he is. There are many people who have betrayed their relatives and separated from each other throughout the ages. As far as I know, this Pang Luyi does know how to be grateful, but he also has a brain that can distinguish right from wrong. In the face of great kindness, He knows the trade-offs."
He took a breath and said, "Take the incident of going to Kelan Mountain to encircle and suppress the Khitan spies. Ge Hongliang didn't arrange for him to go there. Do you think the Khitan spies are so brave and invincible? Aren't you afraid that Pang Luyi will ruin his plan to plot against you? In General Pang's eyes, national favor comes first, and personal favor comes second, which is what I admire about him."
He sighed quietly: "Actually, it's not scary to be in the nest, but it's scary to lead outsiders to stir up trouble. The Yanyun Sixteenth Prefecture is a living example. Why don't these people learn their lesson?"
There was a terrifying aura in his dark eyes, which he quickly concealed.
No matter how quickly he took precautions, Zhao Zhengli noticed him and murmured in his heart: "Grandmaster realm?"
Yao Hanbei chatted for a few more words and left.
Zhao Zhengli looked at his back, what was his intention of exposing his realm at such a juncture?
Not long after, a man with a big belly came to the camp. He had a fat and honest face and a kind smile.
He Wen, the commander-in-chief of the small capital, quickly made a complacent look on his face. There was only one person in the Changning Army who made him do this, General Pang Luyi.
Pang Luyi patted his head with his belly raised, and the force gradually increased. He Wen's heart sank a little: "I will finally accept my punishment!"
Pang Luyi asked in surprise: "What crime is there?"
"The mission assigned by Commander Ge failed to be completed, so Zhao Zhengli actually..."
He stopped here because he looked up and saw Pang Luyi's eyes getting colder.
Pang Luyi comforted him by saying, "I will deal with it later."
He Wen's dark and rough face was relieved a little, and he gave a respectful military salute.
However, that night, the Changning army had an additional Centurion Zhao, who was appointed by General Pang in front of the entire army.
According to the custom, you have to work hard to get promoted and make a fortune in the military camp. If you can recruit five people to follow you, you will be named a captain, if you are ten people, you will be a captain, if you are a hundred people, you will be a centurion, and if you have five hundred or more, you will be a captain.
In short, it all depends on one's own ability, and there are examples given by the general, but Zhao Zhengli defeated two Khitan masters in a single time and captured dozens of soldiers, which is far less than the reason to be promoted to centurion.
There are nearly ten thousand people in Changning's army, including about a hundred centurions, nearly twenty junior captains, ten captains, four generals, two lieutenants, and a general.
They all gained their titles by sacrificing their lives on the battlefield, and they relied on their ability to build a team. However, Zhao Zhengli had achieved dozens or hundreds of dangerous feats in just one expedition. Naturally, most of the soldiers were dissatisfied, and even more were afraid of the imperial court. The title given to him resulted in a situation where he was polite to "little captain" in front of his face, but spurned "through the back door" behind his back.
Zhao Zhengli couldn't see the yin and yang faces of his soldiers, and he didn't bother to care.
If anyone dares to ignore his majesty, then he should follow the local customs, fight in single combat with groups, kill enemies and bandits, and finally count their heads.
——
Khitan camp.
Sitting on the tiger-skin armchair is an old man with a goatee and a white beard and white hair. He is tall and slender, with a solemn expression but not old. His thick eyebrows look down at the handsome young man under the tent.
The young man bowed his head and knelt down on one knee. Even so, his grace was still graceful and extraordinary.
Kneeling next to the young man was a burly man with his bare arms, bronze skin, and light stubble on his chiseled cheeks, making him look even more masculine.
It's just that the strong and strong man was trembling like a cicada at the moment.
The two of them were Yeluhe and Daheluohan who had escaped from Kelan Mountain.
Sitting on the tiger-skin armchair was Yelu Xiao, the Khitan's first national advisor. From another perspective, he was Yeluhe's father. He glanced at the two of them with a solemn expression and said the most threatening words in a very calm tone: "Again. I'll give you two a chance to lead two thousand troops south to Huangwei Mountain to cut off the Changning Army's connection with Daizhou, and then let Wan'er lead ten thousand troops to capture Yanmen Pass, are you sure?"
Wen Yan, a young man who had been kneeling down on one knee, raised his head in confusion: "Why did my father abandon the western front to attack Qingguo in the south? If we cooperate with Xixia, even if Qingguo is fully prepared, it will be difficult to resist our cavalry going south. The eastern front The high mountains and dangerous terrain in Daizhou seem to be even more unfavorable to our army!"
Yeluxiao stroked his goatee: "There is an old saying in the Qing Dynasty, soldiers need speed and surprise to win. They have made full preparations on the Western Front, and the complex mountainous area of Daizhou is only guarded by one army. If a surprise army can quickly occupy it, we can overlook the Qing Dynasty." In the two places of the country, Hedong and Hebei, when Qingguo reacts, we can use a large number of troops to resist their counterattack, and we will naturally take the lead strategically."
Yeluhe suddenly had an epiphany.
Daheluohan's eyes flashed fiercely, showing his eagerness to atone for his sins.
Yeluhe suddenly added: "In this case, the Western Front should cover the Eastern Front and occupy Yanmen Pass!"
Yelu Xiao and Dahe Luohan expressed doubts at the same time.
He stood up and pointed to the east and west lines respectively: "Sound in the east and attack in the west!"
——
night
Hengguzhai Volcano Military Camp on the west line of Hedong Road.
The commander-in-chief Ge Hongliang, who was in his middle year, was looking at the map carefully. He had been busy for a long time and his beard looked slightly greasy. His long, fluffy hair was randomly tied on his head.
Such concentration is deploying strategies for the Eighth Army on Hedong Road.
As one of the six lions in the northern part of the Qing Kingdom, and one who emerged from the conflict between the Ten Kingdoms, his strategic skills are naturally sharp. He needs to use the hands of the enemy to eliminate a young man named Zhao Zhengli while protecting the territory of the Qing Kingdom.
This was not his choice. If Zhao Zhengli died due to the imperial party struggle, Ge Hongliang could turn a blind eye or close one eye. But if he approached the deputy commander Yao Xuda, then he must die, and the death would be natural, and he would be given certain military power. , and then controlling the front line to confront the enemy is one of the best strategies.
In other words, Zhao Zhengli, who had the rank of Captain of the Light Vehicle and the real power of Centurion, became a spear between the two armies against Commander Ge, a spear that was not worried about being broken and destroyed.
This plan was also the real intention of the imperial court to pardon Zhao Zhengli and grant him a fourth-grade title.
In the past few days, while Ge Hongliang was monitoring Zhao Zhengli of the Changning Army, he also learned from spies that the Khitan direction has been in the repair stage. At best, he would send some small teams to continuously interfere with the border. It stands to reason that the Khitans are mostly nomadic and have insufficient food and pay. The army should be assembled quickly for a quick victory. Yes, the lack of movement is the most suspicious.
It's past midnight.
When he was puzzled, he suddenly heard the soldiers beating drums and gongs in the sentry tower.
Ge Hongliang frowned and exclaimed: "Night attack?"
At the same time, he grabbed a spear and rushed out of the tent, rushing straight to the temporary city wall.
The volcano army on the city wall has been assembled in place, and they have been greeting each other for a long time with crossbows and stones. The soldiers are busy and busy in an orderly manner. They have long been accustomed to this. Occasionally, you can hear the voices of the veterans swearing and venting, but they all disappeared as Commander Ge approached.
Ge Hongliang shook his soft armor and held the butterfly-patterned waist knife at his waist. He shouted to the man dressed as a general at the forefront of the Volcano Army: "Zhang Youping, how many barbarians have you sent?"
The man commanding the battle turned his head and responded: "Commander, about five hundred."
Then he added: "These barbarians are just wandering in the distance, and all the light cavalry are waving their whips to harass them. They don't seem to have any plans to attack the city."
In less than a quarter of an hour, spies from other armies on the west line of Hedong Road came to report that Khitan cavalry was attacking the camps of each army at night.
At the same time, a large number of troops fifty miles away from the defense line approached Qingguo. This was the first large-scale movement between the two armies in several months of confrontation.
The troops on Qingguo Hedong Road immediately tensed up and the battle was about to break out.
