Both the community and the temple were a bit far away for Xu Xin'an, Tang Pan, Yin Peng and Tang Qing.
Before the Tongbai Mountain Bandit Rebellion, Tang Pan was just a small section-level officer in the Inspection Department's Junzhai; Xu Xin'an and Tang Qing stood out from ordinary soldiers and served as sentinels in the Inspection Department, which was even worse than a section-level officer;
Yin Peng's status was even lower. He learned boxing and blacksmithing from Xu Wuliang, and made a living by working hard in the market.
They are struggling at the bottom with no chance of getting ahead.
The banditry in Tongbai Mountain also allowed them to see the wisdom of the local gentry to protect themselves, as well as the corruption, incompetence, bullying and fear of force of the local officials. They even had a little sympathy for the vast majority of bandits who fell into despair.
After Xu Xin'an, Xu Wujiang and others fled the army, they also made up their mind to join the bandits. Yin Peng, Wu Liangsheng and others also almost went to join the bandits.
Although the Tongbai Mountain bandits wanted them to be truly tempered, they still had some expectations for the temple before leaving Tongbai Mountain.
And before, they had no idea about the disaster of the Red Huren described by Xu Huai.
If it weren't for Xu Huai's performance as a monster during the banditry in Tongbai Mountain, they would not even take the disaster of the Red Huren seriously.
In mid-February, everyone escorted Wang Xun out of Tongbai Mountain, first traveled to Heluo and Guanzhong, and then went north along the Fen River from Jinzhong to Lanzhou via Taiyuan.
This gave them a more comprehensive understanding of the various shortcomings of the current dynasty, but it was not as profound and thorough as their understanding after arriving in Lanzhou.
Only then did they really get in touch and learn about the situation of the Khitan people, Chihu people and Dangxiang people in the north.
The Khitan established the Dayan Kingdom in Linhuang Prefecture in Shangjing as early as two hundred years ago, and proclaimed themselves emperor long before the establishment of the Dai Viet Dynasty. They absorbed the farming, weaving, and smelting technology and regulations of the Central Plains. After nearly 160 years of confrontation with Dai Viet, the Khitan
Advantages in the medium and long term.
As a former vassal of the Khitan, the Chihu people emerged in thirty years and swept across thousands of miles of grasslands north of the Yin Mountains and west of the Daxianbei Mountains. The Khitan was in danger of subjugation. How could Xu Xin'an, Tang Pan and the others not realize it at this time?
Threat from the Red Husband?
And they have been studying under Wang Zhen and Lu Xiong for more than a year, and what they have learned is not Confucian classics. Together with Xu Huai, they have more to discuss the world situation in the past and present.
In their view, it was not unexpected that the Khitan people were already declining in the Western Mountains, and that Cao Shixiong, Cao Shili and other Han generals were moving southward.
And even if Cao Shixiong and Cao Shili are worried about it, it is most likely that after taking over Shuozhou City, Cao Shixiong will lead his troops to attack Yingzhou or Datong first; it is also possible that Cao Shixiong and Cao Shili will not have to surrender their troops, and Cao Shixiong and Cao Shili brothers will attack the clan first
Attachment, there is absolutely no need to raise a butcher's knife against the Khitan people and other Tibetan people at this juncture.
By doing this, even if the Khitan Xijingdao and others are lucky enough to be captured, it will be impossible to quickly control the situation and build a defense line against the Red Husbands. It may even prompt the remnants of the Khitan clan and other Tibetan forces to turn their hearts to the Red Husbands.
Xu Xin'an, Tang Pan and others could hardly imagine that the temple princes and generals like Ge Boyi, who had been guarding the north for a long time, were so indifferent to the threat of the Red Hu people at this moment.
Ultimately, it's still short-sighted.
Zhao Guan, the Duke of Lu, and Ge Yu, the Young Master, treated human life as nothing in Nuanxiang Tower yesterday. Zhu Zhi, Zhu Tong, Xun Tingheng and other officials and officials, even in their eyes, Zhu Hang and others were too knowledgeable.
They realized that most of the high-ranking princes and ministers were not fundamentally different from the state and county officials in Tangzhou and Biyang. Of course they did not want to conspire with these thieves.
Xu Wukun, Zhou Jing and others have always been at the bottom. In the past, they just stayed on the grass and joined the Jingsheng Army in conquering the north and south. They mainly did it to make ends meet.
Compared to Xu Xin'an, Tang Pan's chest was full of blood and he had the desire to help the world. They were more pragmatic and worldly, and they thought less about the court and the temple.
Not to mention Zheng Tu.
However, Xu Wuqi and Su Laochang had much more complicated emotions. Their inner feelings of loyalty and righteousness were much stronger than others. They had always believed that their family, country, court, and temple were both prosperous and destructive.
In their view, the tragic disaster more than ten years ago was caused by the officials and the princes of the court, caused by Cai Zheng and other treacherous ministers. Now, what they are thinking about is the side of the Qing emperor.
However, in addition to the severe situation mentioned by Xu Huai, they had a clearer understanding than others. They also knew very well that the reason why Wang Xiaocheng was executed by Cai Zheng with a fake edict was that not all military generals were bribed by Cai Zheng.
Not all generals did not miss their old friendship, but most of them were frightened by the false edict.
After Wang Xiaocheng was first controlled by Cai Zheng and a few people in Yuehai Tower, most people still imagined that the court would at most punish Wang Xiaocheng lightly, but they did not expect that Cai Zheng would kill him that night.
Xu Wuqi still regrets this.
If he and Xu Wuxuan had been determined enough to lead five hundred personal guardsmen in a deadly battle to snatch Wang Xiaocheng from Cai Qing, many things would have completely changed.
It's a pity that there is no if in the world.
Therefore, Xu Huai summoned everyone beforehand to fundamentally cut off everyone's illusions about the imperial court and ensure that Zhufengtang should make its own decisions without interference from outsiders. Xu Wuqi and Su Laochang also felt that it was extremely necessary.
Otherwise, after going north, Zhu Hang and others would have a much higher status than Xu Huai. Once Xu Huai and Zhu Hang and others had serious differences or even disputes, there would be no guarantee that the two hundred prisoners would be able to resolutely and quickly carry out Xu Huai's orders.
And when the situation is chaotic, any hesitation will be fatal in the future.
"Since the imperial court, Liu Shizhong, Cai Yuanyou and others placed their greatest hopes on a partial attack on Datong, they decided that they did not dare to fight the main force of the Khitan in Yingzhou,"
Xu Huai stared at the map solemnly and said,
"So when the Khitans and miscellaneous rebels in Datong City launch a fierce resistance, and the raiding troops cannot completely occupy and control Datong City within a day or two, the tragic defeat will be inevitable; and we must not count on Liu Shizhong.
Cai Yuanyou dared to lead the main force of the Eastern Route Army to bypass Yingzhou City and reinforce the partial division..."
The fog of the following period has been completely wiped away from Xu Huai's eyes. Of course, he can boldly predict how Liu Shizhong, Cai Yuanyou and others will react after the partial attack on Datong is thwarted.
To be honest, according to the established historical trajectory, if a partial division raided Datong, even if the mass killing aroused strong resistance, and even if Xiao Linshi led 3,000 cavalry to return reinforcements, it would not be possible for the Tianxiong Army to be defeated in just one day.
The main force and the partial division composed of the Shuozhou surrender troops were defeated and collapsed in one fell swoop.
The memory that emerged in Xu Huai's mind did not go into too much detail about the Battle of Datong. In the end, only Cao Shili and several hundred people fled back, but it can be speculated that the raiding troops were blocked in Datong City by reinforcements led by Xiao Linshi.
Inside.
If most of the raiding troops were stationed outside the city, even if they were defeated by reinforcements led by Xiao Linshi, it would be impossible for only "a few hundred people to escape back".
After Xu Huai met Cao Shili, he sat alone in his room and deduced the Datong raid in the established historical trajectory for a long time. He concluded that the raiding troops should be able to capture the outer city of Datong, but there would be a small number of defenders.
The army retreated to the inner city and held firm.
At this time, the Khitans and other Tibetan tribes in the city launched a fierce resistance. Until Xiao Linshi led his troops to return for reinforcements, the retreat of the raiding troops would be cut off.
The raiding troops will not be wiped out immediately, and they will probably be able to hold on to the outer city of Datong for a few days.
If Liu Shizhong and Cai Yuanyou dare to bypass Yingzhou City at this time and send an elite reinforcement directly to Datong - from Yingzhou to Datong, it only takes one day for the cavalry to rush forward, and it is still unclear who will win the battle.
.
But Xu Huai was able to conclude at this time that the raiding troops did not wait for any reinforcements to appear in Datong City.
Otherwise, even if Datong City could not be captured in the end, it would be impossible for only "a few hundred people to escape back".
Therefore, they now have to give up all their fantasies and extravagant hopes.
The core purpose of their trip north was not only to reduce the casualties of Zhufengtang's people as much as possible, but also to lead more raiding troops to escape from this death trap.
To achieve this goal, it would be difficult for him to personally lead two hundred soldiers.
Although it is only two hundred miles from Shuozhou to Datong, the long and narrow Huihe River Valley is surrounded by mountains. Shuozhou and Datong are located at both ends of the valley, and Yingzhou City is located in the middle and south of the valley, with Luoyun in between.
Zhong, Huairen, Jincheng and other cities.
This means that even if they can break out from Datong City, if they want to escape towards Shuozhou, in addition to being chased by soldiers behind them, they will most likely have to face enemy soldiers from Yingzhou, Yunzhong, Huairen, Jincheng and other cities to intercept them.
.
And before the Khitans and miscellaneous rebels in Datong City launched a strong resistance and the situation was not completely chaotic, Xu Huai could not rely on 200 soldiers, just like Zhu Hang, and others who had a higher status than him and commanded many more troops than him.
The generals clashed and argued.
Prior to this, as a general overseeing the military envoy and a subordinate assigned to Zhu Hang by Wang Fan, he generally had to obey Zhu Hang's orders, even if he was pretending.
Therefore, Zhufengtang must take action at the same time. It needs to enter Shuozhou almost when the raiding troops and horses gather in Shuozhou, and then go to Datong immediately after the raiding troops and horses...
"If we set off from Kelan City and arrive at Shuozhou too early, maybe someone will question the leak of the secret of Cao Shixiong's service to the south of Shuozhou, right?" Su Laochang asked with some worry.
"It doesn't matter. The transfer order should be passed to all the ministries today. The Tianxiong Army's commanders and envoys in all the capitals and Yuhou will really be able to abide by the rules?" Xu Huai said calmly.
Wanton massacre must be accompanied by wanton looting.
Shuozhou, however, let it go and massacred the Khitans and miscellaneous barbarians. This was carried out by Cao Shixiong, who led the Shuozhou surrendering army. The looted property naturally belonged to the Shuozhou surrendering army, but what about entering Datong?
The plundered property, gold, silver and jewelry, is secondary. It is small in size. The soldiers can just grab it and keep it close to their own. But how should the large amount of property be properly packed? Should private officials and soldiers be arranged to accompany the army? Ordinary generals may not.
Will you consider it? The commander-in-chief, the Marquis of Du Yu and even the Ge family will not consider it?
And since Wang Fan was able to tell him about Cao Shixiong's move to the south in the afternoon, he actually did not shy away from the possibility that the news would spread within a small area.
As a business name attached to the Wang family, Zhufengtang followed the raiding troops and rushed to Datong to make war fortune. In the eyes of others, they would only think that the Wang family and his son were complicit with them...
