Outside Dingbeiguan, everything is desolate. Even in the early summer weather, there is no long shade of trees or the sudden sound of cicadas.
There is nothing, just like a place of death.
In the early years, there were several towns outside Dingbeiguan. In the town, whether they are Ji people or barbarians, they can still trade with each other. Three clay pots can be exchanged for a whole sheepskin.
But later on, as the war escalated and Dingbeiguan became tougher, the last few trading towns were also exterminated by the barbarians, so that more than a hundred miles outside Dingbeiguan was a vast wilderness.
At this time, a long team of more than a thousand people was running in the wilderness, following the position of the Hu tribe.
The old man at the head was not riding a horse. He was probably extremely happy. His movements of raising the whip were quite youthful.
"Mr. Taishu, after asking the guide, there is the Dayuan tribe of the Hu people in front of us."
"Very good."
Taishuwang reined in the reins, unable to conceal the joy on his face. In fact, he could still find it even without a guide. In the early days, he had visited this area where barbarians lived together two or three times.
"Mr. Taishu, someone is coming."
"Don't worry, it's a patrol sentry from the Hu tribe." Taishu Wang smiled. It won't take long for him to meet the Hu Khan and convince the Hu army of 50,000 to attack Dingbeiguan by surprise. It shouldn't be a big problem.
"dismount."
Taking the lead in dismounting, Uncle Wang's robe started to flutter in the wind. He only felt that this surprise attack must be the best plan to break the siege of Cangzhou.
It can even allow the Yuzhou Army in Hebei to hurriedly mobilize a large army to return reinforcements due to the weapons produced in the inner city.
"Gongsun has been guarding the border for more than two hundred years, but he never thought that letting a fool ruin the situation."
"Wonderful, wonderful!"
At the end of the wilderness, Dingbeiguan.
"Enter the customs!"
At the city gate of Dingbeiguan, a patrol of more than a hundred people, covered with travel dust, galloped back to the city gate.
Lu Xiu walked down from the top of the city.
"General, I still haven't found it. Could it be...that the lord is overthinking it?"
"My lord has a long-term plan. No matter what, we can't take it lightly." Lu Xiu frowned.
On the Bingzhou side, he has mobilized another 10,000 troops to station at the Bingzhou border. If there is a war, we can arrive quickly.
Moreover, in Liangzhou, he also informed Chen Zhong, the general of Zhenzhou, that if there was any problem in Dingbeiguan, he would rush to help as soon as possible.
With full calculations, although there are only 50,000 people in the three states of Liangdi and Dingzhou, there are many veterans among these 50,000.
Furthermore, there is another advantage. That is Liangqi. Different from Jiangnan, in the northwest, he is extremely good at cavalry combat.
Lu Xiufu walked up to the city wall, pressed the knife, and looked silently at the desolation outside the pass.
He is thirty-eight this year, but since the age of sixteen, he has been guarding the border with his ancestors. At his most passionate age, the greatest thing he ever did was to lead a patrol of 300 people into the depths of the wilderness, and use a false strategy to force the 30,000 barbarians who were knocking at the pass to return to the aid of the royal court. .
"If the Hu people really dare to knock down the pass with their entire army, I, Commander Lu, will be the strong wall of Beiguan!"
The cloak blew up, and Lu Xiu's eyes became cold.
…
Pancheng.
The general who commanded the defense was named Jin Bao. Even though he was wearing thick armor, his eyes exposed from the helmet were full of murderous intent.
After Pancheng, there is Lidu City. And if Lidu City is lost, the allied military power will reach the imperial capital.
He understands this very well. He also understood better why his master would send him here to garrison the last big frontline city.
His headquarters is one of the strongest elites in Cangzhou. He also has the confidence to defend this place.
"General Jin, the spies reported that the Dongling Army outside Pancheng is already preparing."
Listening to the spy's report, Jin Bao's face was full of murderous intent, revealing a hint of expectation. He is not a Jiren, so he likes to defeat the famous generals of the Central Plains the most.
The first request he made was to fight against Xu Buyi of Xishu. It's a pity that Xu Buyi saw the beginning but not the end. However, the King of Dongling in front of him is also a man of some ability, and he cannot be considered as a man of talent.
"The rain will stop and the war will begin." Jin Bao smiled lightly. Compared with the Central Plains generals in Cangzhou, he seemed calmer.
"Prepare fortifications! Fight to the death with the Dongling Army!" Jin Bao roared suddenly as he pressed his knife.
The sound shattered the rain curtain, and the nearly 20,000 defenders in Pancheng also shouted angrily after just a moment.
"The meat army enters the city!"
The meat army transported from Lidu City must have been bewitched. Pity these people, they just thought they were going to the national disaster together, so they entered Pancheng wearing incomplete robes and armor, and carrying weapons that had been rusted for several years.
Counting all together, excluding Cangzhou's elite soldiers, civilians, and meat troops, there are already 70,000 people.
In the city, the extremely dull atmosphere was suppressed for a while.
Countless children began to cry and cry as if they were infected.
In the temporary camp under the city gate, a group of soldiers who had been seriously injured and retired gathered together. No one spoke, they held the rice cakes in their hands but couldn't take a bite. He just raised his head and stared blankly at the sky.
…
Outside the city, as Jin Bao heard, the Dongling Army was already preparing. The soldiers, who had been soaked in the rain for several days, began to have blisters on their exposed skin outside their robes and armor. The hand holding the weapon also turned white with soaking.
The humidity all over the world makes it difficult to even raise a bonfire.
The rice cakes in the grain bag tied under the body had softened until they turned into a puddle of yellowed crumbs. When it was time for the stove fire, the Dongling soldiers who had prepared themselves took off their grain bags one after another, scooped up the crumbs of rice cakes with their hands, and ate them with big mouthfuls of rainwater.
Zuo Shiren stood on the balcony and refused the suggestion to open a small stove. He raised his head, held a piece of semi-wet rice cake, and stuffed it into his mouth coldly.
The war has reached this point, and both the enemy and ourselves are fighting to the death.
"As long as Pancheng is captured, the siege of Cangzhou will basically be decided."
After Pan City, there is Lidu City. After Lidu City, there is the imperial capital.
And if Pancheng is captured, then we can attack with the Nanhai Allied Forces in the south until they meet up. The two armies join forces and send troops to Lidu City.
"Lord, the rain has stopped!"
Next to Zuo Shiren, a man who looked like a counselor suddenly looked ecstatic.
Upon hearing this, Zuo Shiren's calm face slowly showed a smile. As soon as the rain stopped, it was time to attack Pancheng.
Of course, Zuo Shiren knew that Cangzhou's power guarding Pancheng must not be underestimated. According to the report of the scout, I heard that in Pancheng, not only the civilians, but also many meat soldiers began to climb the city to defend the city.
"I don't know what means this demon queen used to bewitch so many people." Zuo Shiren sneered.
"Lord, if...the flesh army defends the city, what will we do?"
Zuo Shiren turned around, his face expressionless. The voice of King Dongling, who was famous all over the world, seemed extremely calm when he spoke.
"No matter who it is, as long as it blocks my Dongling army, it will be considered an enemy. Order, no matter whether it is the meat army, the civilians, or the soldiers of Cangzhou, there should be no mercy."
"Don't forget, these people have been bewitched by the Demon Queen! I, Zuo Shiren, respectfully ask you all to raise your swords and go forward to kill them!"
