After marching for more than three hundred miles, Xu Mucai led his men and horses to Lucheng.
After the beginning of spring, the frost and snow that had covered the entire winter around Lucheng began to slowly melt. Even further away, the fine sand in the desert is rising in the wind again, captivating people's eyes with its whirring sound.
"Chen Zhong pays homage to your lord!" Chen Zhong stood at the city gate and saluted immediately when he saw Xu Mu dismounting. Behind him, many Lucheng guards also clasped their fists.
"I'll wait to see my lord!"
"Get up." Xu Mu smiled, walked a few more steps, and punched Chen Zhong on the shoulder.
"When we were in Chengdu, during the New Year's Eve banquet, your wife came to ask why you didn't come back. The king then said, Madam, please rest assured that there is no clearing house in Lucheng. General Chen is pure-hearted and has few desires. He can't explain it. When I return to Shu to take a rest in the future, I can be a fat boy again."
Chen Zhong looked helpless.
"My lord, please don't make fun of me. You don't know that during this winter in Lucheng, countless good men howled like wolves at night."
"When the Liang expedition is completed, there will definitely be no shortage of military achievements and silver rewards."
At this time, many soldiers behind Chen Zhong laughed in joy.
"Chen Zhong, will there be any changes this winter?" The fun returned to fun, but when it came to the main topic, both Xu Mu and Chen Zhong's expressions became serious.
"As my lord expected, the Liang people sent more and more scouts. Even in the thick snow, people came to investigate every day. But I estimate that there are many defenders in Lucheng, and the weather is unfavorable, so Dong Wen did not come to attack. Besides, spring has just begun, and the lord's army has arrived."
"Can't wait any longer." Xu Mu suddenly frowned. For some reason, Dong Wen gave him the feeling that he always had a back-up plan to use against him.
"My lord plans to invade Liangdi when."
"Don't worry, the other army has not arrived yet."
The other large army was Yu Wen's men, who had previously received information that they had passed Xiandao due to Dongfang Jing's suspicious tactics and were preparing to rush to Bailu County to cross the river.
"By the way, how is Fan Lu over there in Wenlang City?"
"The same is true. During the heavy snowfall in the first half of the month, I even made a special trip to exchange some information and have a drink."
Xu Mu nodded, held his sword, walked to the edge of the city, and looked forward. The scenery in Liangzhou in front of us slowly revealed its outline as the snow and fog dispersed.
Time is not much, and the consumption of military rations must be taken into account. This cold war can only be fought quickly.
"Chen Zhong, the one standing in front of my army to conquer Liang is Ling Juguan?"
"Exactly." Chen Zhong nodded. "More than three hundred miles away from Lucheng, there is Lingju Pass, Dong Wen's garrison. It is not easy to defend and difficult to attack, but there is no place near Lingju Pass. Any stone forest slope is flat. In other words, if our Liang-defeating army goes deep, the first one to knock on it will be Lingju Pass."
"My lord, although Liangzhou has a vast territory and is known as the eight counties, in fact, three counties are desolate places, and the remaining five counties are all in the center of Liangzhou. In other words, if Lingju Pass is broken, the lord's army will It won't be long before the troops arrive at the royal capital."
"How many Liang troops have been stationed in Juguan?"
"No less than 100,000. There will probably be many Liangqi among them."
Although he had expected it, Xu Mu still felt a headache when he heard this number. Obviously, Dong Wen's intention was to use Liangqi to defeat the Shu army on flat terrain.
Moreover, these 100,000 are only a figure on the surface. Dong Wen occupies the three states of Liangdi, and the army he supports will not only be this many. Furthermore, Dong Wen had a crazy temper and it was not impossible to explode his troops in winter.
"Get the map. Also, ask someone to bring the generals and divisions up."
Even though the movement was already very fast, Xu Mu did not expect that Dong Wen's speed in mobilizing the army would also be unyielding. Previously, he wanted to try to launch a round of cold-weapon blitzkrieg, but the Liangzhou army had been deployed and everyone was on guard to perform their duties. The blitzkrieg could not penetrate the heart, so it was meaningless.
Soon, Jia Zhou caught up. What worried Xu Mu was that this time Jia Zhou, who was accompanying the army on the expedition, actually had a sickly pale look on his face.
"Wenlong, are you okay?"
He thought he was cold, but Xu Mu stroked Jia Zhou's forehead, and there was nothing wrong. Xu Mu wanted to ask again, but Jia Zhou pointed at the map and spoke calmly.
"General Chen, is there a small town near Lingju Pass?"
"There seem to be a few scattered towns, but the city walls are low and cannot be defended at all. I heard that the people of Liangzhou in these scattered towns have already left and fled the war early."
Jia Zhou's tone was serious, "My lord, General Chen, there are not many Shu riders. If we fight on flat terrain, we will definitely lose."
Xu Mu knew that Jia Zhou's words were not alarmist. Even if they had made a plan before to lure away the Scimitar Cavalry of the Xiqiang people, Liang Qi's military prowess was still unparalleled.
Of course, there are 800 white-armored cavalry, but these 800 people can only be used as surprise troops and cannot fight head-on with Liangqi.
"Throughout the ages, if you use your feet to block your cavalry, without taking advantage of the situation, most of your troops will be defeated like a mountain——"
"Wenlong, I have a plan." Xu Mu said seriously.
Jia Zhou and Chen Zhong, who were nearby, both looked at Xu Mu curiously.
…
In Lucheng, there was a long line of baggage trucks transporting grain and grass. Chen Sheng, who had lost his arm, was wearing a suit of armor and staring at the matter of food and grass with a stern face.
"Brother Sheng."
Hearing the voice, Chen Sheng quickly turned his head and saluted Xu Mu with one arm.
Xu Mu waved his hand and looked at the civilian workers and the baggage cart in front of him, not knowing what he was thinking.
“A few more rounds to deliver.”
Chen Sheng lowered his head and calculated, "There are about two rounds left. In addition, the baggage for the siege is coming soon. The people in Shuzhou have collected a lot of meat, and it will be delivered together in the next round."
Not only the troops, but even the food, grass and baggage were piled in Lucheng at this time.
A decisive battle between the two armies seems to be coming.
"Brother Sheng, I left five hundred empty carriages in Lucheng. Is there anything you can do?"
Chen Sheng thought for a moment and shook his head, "It's nothing. The largest batch of grain and grass has been delivered. Even if five hundred empty trucks are left, it won't take more than one round trip."
"But what does my lord want with these empty carriages? These pack horses are all old horses. Otherwise, they would be disabled horses retired from the battlefield."
"It has its own magical effect." Xu Mu patted Chen Sheng's shoulder. Chen Sheng smiled and didn't ask any questions. From the time he followed Xu Mu, he knew that his boss was a man with big ideas.
"I listen to my boss and I am willing to beg for food with my boss."
This sentence made Xu Mu feel a little silent for a moment. He returned to Wangzhou that year. He took Sihu Jiang Caiwei and five horsemen to beg for their lives in Wangzhou.
"My lord, it's still freezing cold at the beginning of spring, so you have to be careful."
When Xu Mu lost his mind, Chen Sheng had already led the troops from the logistics camp and slowly moved forward. An empty arm sleeve was swaying in the wind.
"Chen Sheng, find me someday, and my boss will take you to have some wine! The best restaurant, the most handsome girl!"
"Hey, thank you, boss." Chen Sheng turned around with a smile on his face, raised one arm, and waved to Xu Mu in the shallow sunshine of spring.
…
PS: Today is sunny, there is only one chapter, I will add it later, thank you for your support.
