With the arrival of Changbai, Gu Er abandoned all the stalls in the rear and concentrated on the frontline war. He joined forces with other imperial soldiers and horses and surrounded Haozhou for seven days. He also sent his own cavalry to set up positions on the only way through. He laid an ambush and used an old trick he had used in Luzhou.
However, the rebels were eager to save Haozhou. They knew that there might be an ambush on the road, but they had to save him.
Haozhou is the place where the anti-thief troops were raised. There are more than 10,000 anti-thief troops in Haozhou City, and nearly half of them are veterans who were the first to follow the anti-thief troops and are the elite among the anti-thief troops.
Previously, the rebels were defeated in consecutive battles in Dingyuan and Zhongli, losing more than 10,000 troops one after another. The losses were not unbearable.
Some of the more than 10,000 troops in Haozhou City stayed in Haozhou to resist the official army, and some were the defeated troops who fled to Haozhou after the defeats of Dingyuan and Zhongli. The remaining soldiers were recruited by Maitreya. The disciples of the Maitreya Cult who have just joined the anti-thief team are bewitched by the religion.
Gu Er originally thought that Haozhou, which had become an isolated city, would be ready soon, but he did not expect to encounter unprecedented strong resistance under Haozhou City.
Each of them had some kind of pattern painted with paint on their face, and tied a yellow scarf on their head. They shouted the slogan "Maitreya comes to the world to save all sentient beings!". They rushed towards the officers and soldiers without fear of death, but were shot. The spear pierced the body, and he shouted with a ferocious expression and stabbed the soldiers with the sword in his hand.
According to the intelligence returned by my scouts, there are several high-level officials of the Maitreya Sect in Haozhou City. Those rebels who are not afraid of death are the heavenly guardian soldiers of the Maitreya Sect. They are all carefully selected elite members who are taught by Maitreya. With the blessing of Buddha's light, you can enter the paradise world and your empty home after death.
Gu Er led more than 3,000 troops from his headquarters and more than 10,000 troops from other prefectures and counties. They fought hard for seven days under Haozhou City and lost thousands of troops. He climbed to the top of the city countless times, only to be defeated by those fierce men. The thieves who were not afraid of death drove down again.
However, all the rebel teams near Haozhou were wiped out by the army, and either became prisoners or fled into Haozhou City. Only a few escaped into the mountains and forests, and it is unknown where they fled.
Haozhou could not be captured for a long time, so Gu Er simply stopped fighting and allowed the rebels to occupy the city. He only led his people to move all the surrounding people into Dingyuan and Zhongli counties, cutting off all roads leading to Shouzhou. After hearing the news from Haozhou and Shouzhou, they secretly sent people to Shouzhou to spread the news, saying that the imperial army was arriving and that Haozhou City was in danger and could be destroyed soon.
Gu Er never likes to play his cards according to common sense. Since he can't get enough of Haozhou City for the time being, he will simply use some intrigues to give this group of rebels a taste.
Gu Er was sure that the rebels would never give up the five or six thousand elites in Haozhou City. Sure enough, the rebels in Shouzhou no longer expanded their territory to the surrounding areas, but mobilized troops and horses, divided into three groups, and headed towards Haozhou. .
In the Dingyuan County government office, Changbai, who has begun to grow a beard, is dressed in a green official uniform with embroidered ruffles. He is sitting behind a desk filled with official documents. He is reviewing them carefully, and from time to time he picks up a pen to make comments.
"Mr. Sir!" The personal Khan Niu walked in quickly and said hello with his hands in hand.
"What's the matter?" Changbai asked directly without raising his head.
Khan Niu said: "General Gu sent back a group of people. After asking, I found that they are all people from nearby Haozhou. There are about three thousand people. Most of them are women, children, old and weak, and few are young and strong!"
Changbai thought for a while and said: "Isn't the temporary military camp by the Yao River empty? Place the people there first! As for the food and grass, let's allocate two hundred stones there first!"
As he spoke, Chang Bai suddenly raised his head and looked at Khan Niu: "For the food and grass matter, you go personally and bring the soldiers left by Zhong Huai. If anyone dares to defraud Tan Mo, he will be punished for colluding with the rebels."
"promise!"
Khan Niu accepted the order and left with Chang Bai's handwritten seal of the magistrate.
Time passed by, and Changbai looked out the window. The sunlight had become a bit dim. He walked out of the house, stretched out, and looked up at the already fading fireball. He narrowed his eyes due to the dazzling sunlight. Eye.
"Ms. sir! Mr. Youyang is here. He has been waiting in the front hall for a while!"
"Uncle Wei?" Changbai immediately glared at Han Niu: "Why didn't you tell me earlier!"
Khan Niu hurriedly saluted and explained: "The eldest master heard that my husband is handling official business, so he is not allowed to make small announcements, so as not to disturb my husband!"
"From now on, Uncle Wei must notify you as soon as possible when he comes. Next time, go get the board yourself!"
"I know I made a mistake, little one!" Han Niu didn't defend himself. He immediately admitted his mistake and said he would never do it again.
Changbai didn't chase after him, but asked as he walked out: "Is it just the uncle?"
"There is also Mr. Changwu!" Khan Niu said.
Changbai nodded and couldn't help but speed up a bit.
When he came to the front hall, he met Sheng Wei. After saluting and exchanging a few words, Chang Bai also began to ask Sheng Wei's purpose of coming: "I wonder why uncle came here?"
Sheng Wei said: "It's not because of your brother Changwu! He went to Tokyo to take part in the martial arts examination before, didn't he fail? I originally wanted him to follow Zihou to Quanzhou to find a job, but I didn't expect that this evil obstacle came back by himself and said I want to go to the front line to join the army and kill thieves to serve the country! I also asked Zihou for a letter of recommendation to join the Wuwei Army."
Sheng Wei sighed and said helplessly: "I couldn't defeat him, so I had to comply with his wishes. It just so happened that your father wrote a letter saying that he had arranged an errand for you to be the magistrate of Ningyuan County, so I thought of stopping by to see you!"
"Thank you for your concern, uncle." Although Chang Bai has become an official, as his elder, in front of Sheng Wei, Chang Bai still behaves as respectfully as before.
"The battlefield is dangerous. Brother Wu really wants to go to the front line?" Chang Bai frowned slightly and looked at Chang Wu.
Chang Wu said: "If you are a great man and cannot protect your family and country and make great achievements! Wouldn't your martial arts be wasted in vain?"
Changbai looked at Sheng Wei, whose eyes were full of reluctance.
Chang Bai suddenly understood why Sheng Wei wanted to make this trip in person and why he came to him first instead of asking Chang Wu to go directly to Gu Er.
In an instant, Changbai had an idea in his mind: "Now the battle on the front line has reached a stalemate. The officers and soldiers attacked Haozhou for seven days in succession. They lost troops and generals and suffered heavy losses. However, they still failed to conquer Haozhou. According to the battle reports sent back from the front line, The rebels in Haozhou City are all elites of the Maitreya Cult. They are not afraid of death and are very brave. They still insist on charging and killing despite being equipped with swords and axes. Their morale is so high that they even surpass our army.
Although Brother Wu has martial arts skills, he has never been on the battlefield. The situation on the battlefield is changing, and swords and guns have no eyesight. If he goes directly to the front line at this time, it would be fine if he can achieve military exploits, but if he encounters danger or loses his If you risk your life, has Brother Wu ever considered Uncle Wei and Aunt Wei? Brother Wu just got married last year. Have you ever considered your sister-in-law who just came into the family? "
"Zecheng's words are wrong!" Chang Wu's expression changed slightly at first, but then he quickly turned firm and said directly: "Since I have decided to join the army, I am ready to die! As the saying goes, the earthen jar never leaves the mouth of the well. Damn, a general will inevitably die in battle. Since I have decided to go to the front line, I have long been mentally prepared to tuck my head in my belt, or to be a wife and a shadow, to make great achievements, or to die on the battlefield, wrapped in horse leather."
Chang Bai looked at Chang Wu and couldn't help but feel a little moved, but then looked at Sheng Wei who looked helpless and couldn't help but sigh again.
"It's just that the war ahead is stalemate now. If you go there alone, you will easily encounter bandits. In a few days, a batch of food and grass will be sent to the front line. It is for the Wuwei Army. How about brother Wu go with the army?"
"That's very good!" Chang Wu smiled hurriedly and thanked Chang Bai.
Changbai said: "We are all members of our own family, so there is no need to say these things to outsiders."
"I feel sorry for my uncle and brother to stay at my place for the next few days!"
It's night, the moon is bright, the stars are sparse, and the bright moon hangs high.
Sheng Wei couldn't sleep. After watching the lights in his son's room go out, he quietly put on his coat and walked out of the room. As soon as he left the yard, he saw the Khan Cow next to Chang Bai coming up with a lantern.
"Master!" Khan Niu bowed his hands respectfully.
"Khan Niu? Why are you here?" Sheng Wei was very surprised.
Khan Niu said: "My husband specially ordered me to wait for you here!"
"Is it Bai'er?" Sheng Wei was very surprised.
"Elder sir, please take a moment to speak!" Khan Niu took Sheng Wei aside and said, "My husband specially sent me to deliver a message. Please rest assured, my eldest sir. My husband knows the eldest sir's concerns and has already thought of countermeasures."
Sheng Wei couldn't wait to ask: "What countermeasures?"
"I must also know that our husband-in-law and General Gu are close friends. We just had dinner. My husband-in-law has already sent a letter to General Gu. He sent someone to deliver it to General Gu overnight. In a few days, Mr. Wu went to General Gu. Under the tent, General Gu will make the arrangements."
"It's just that in the past few days, I must not let Young Master Wu see the clues!"
"This is nature, this is nature!"
Three days later, Chang Wu set off with the soldiers and horses escorting the grain and grass.
In the large tent of the Chinese army, Gu Er looked at Chang Wu, who was somewhat similar to Chang Bai, and asked: "Although brother Chang Wu is Zecheng's cousin and has been recommended by Zi Hou, the army is not the place to be. , I wonder what brother Changwu is capable of?"
Since childhood, Chang Wu followed Sheng Wei to invite martial arts masters back home to practice spear, stick, riding and shooting. Later, he followed the instructor to read military books and passed the martial arts examination.
"So, Brother Changwu has never been on the battlefield or led a soldier?" Gu Er pinched his chin, showing a troubled expression.
Chang Wu was stunned for a moment, then he raised his hands and said, "It is true that I have never been on the battlefield, and I have never led an army."
Gu Er asked again: "Have you ever had any experience in fighting?"
Chang Wu said: "When Zihou took Minglan's sister to Quanzhou in the early years of the year, he encountered rogue bandits in Jinling. At that time, I killed several bandits with Zihou."
This is Changwu's only record.
Gu Er said, "That won't be easy! Brother Changwu has neither fame nor experience in leading troops in war. If he rushes to a high position, I'm afraid the generals in the army will not accept it!"
"Zihou made it clear to me when we came here, it's okay to be a big-headed soldier!" Chang Wu said calmly.
"Brother Changwu is a master of martial arts. Wouldn't it be unfair if he could only be a big-headed soldier?" Gu Er made a pensive look, and after pondering for a moment he said: "Well, why don't brothers Changwu go to the rear camp first and be responsible for escorting the grain and grass for the time being? General Ruan, who supplies supplies, how about being the head of the army?"
"Ah? Escorting food and grass?" Chang Wu looked at Gu Er with some confusion.
Gu Er said, "Brother Changwu has read military books. Have you ever heard of 'before the three armies are moved, food and grass go first'?"
"Of course I've heard of it!"
Gu Er said: "In this war, when leading troops, food and grass supplies are the most important thing. If the soldiers are all hungry, how can they have the strength to fight with the thieves? Brother Changwu thinks, is food and grass important?"
Chang Wu said with a serious face: "Of course it is important."
Gu Erdao: "I have ordered a few days ago to implement the strategy of strengthening the walls and clearing the wild areas around Haozhou, and moved all the people to Dingyuan, just to trap the rebels in Haozhou City. However, there are tens of thousands of rebels in Shouzhou." If they know the news, they will definitely come to rescue, and then the rebels will definitely send troops and horses to attack our army's food route."
"Brother Changwu, do you dare to take on such an important task?"
"Why don't you dare!" Chang Wu immediately replied loudly with his head held high.
"Okay! Whether our thousands of soldiers can fill their bellies and defeat the rebels depends entirely on Brother Changwu!" Gu Er also cheered loudly and called to the side: "Shitou, take Brother Changwu with you." Find General Ruan!"
"Subordinates take orders!"
Shitou who was standing next to him immediately raised his hand in response, and then led Chang Wu away. Not long after, Shitou in military uniform ran back.
"General, I guess Master Changwu won't be able to sleep tonight!" Shitou said with a smile on his face.
Gu Er cast a sidelong glance: "Can you sleep? If Haozhou City cannot be defeated, can you sleep?"
"We don't have enough troops! There are tens of thousands of people in Haozhou City. Even now, there are seven or eight thousand at least. Doesn't it say in the Art of War that if we are surrounded by ten people, we can bully and bully those mobs? It’s okay, but the elite rebels in the city are really hard to fight!”
"Oh! Do you still understand the art of war? How about I let you be the commander?" Gu Er said angrily.
Shitou hurriedly waved his hands: "The general is joking, I have no ability to control."
"Hey!" Gu Er sighed, looked at the map on the desk and said, "Tell me, the rebels came in three groups to save Haozhou. Which one should we eat first?"
"If you ask me, let's pick the soft persimmons first!" Shitou suggested: "With the reinforcements coming from Dingyuan in the past few days, we only have more than 3,000 people under our command. We just want to gnaw on the hard bones. I don’t have that strength!”
A clever woman can't make a meal without rice, and the elite of Wuwei Army were all ruined by the former commander Xie Bingde. Now these troops are only brought back together by Gu Er in the past six months. What's more important is that Wuwei led by Xie Bingde at the beginning The ordnance in the hands of the army also fell into the hands of the rebels, becoming an accomplice for the rebels to attack the city and quickly expand their victory.
Now more than half a year has passed. Although Gu Er is working steadily and is about to regain the entire territory of Haozhou, the rebels who were originally a ragtag group of rebels have also gradually transformed in the battles. Those young people who had only held hoes and hatchets before Strong, and gradually grew into a veteran soldier who has experienced many battles.
"Then let's eat the southern route first!" Gu Er's eyes fell on the map and asked: "Have you received any reply from the scout? Where are the thieves on the southern route?"
Shitou said: "Two hours ago, there was only forty miles away from Xihaoshui. With the speed of the rebels, they will definitely reach Xihaoshui before this evening."
(End of chapter)
