(Completing yesterday's chapter, and thanking several big guys for their support around the beginning of the month - I didn't add an update before, so I don't have the shame to thank you. It's not that I didn't see it, haha...)
It was dusk, and the generals on the side lit torches.
Even with more than two hundred people and horses, it was quite majestic under the dark twilight.
Wang Zhen asked Lu Xiong to help him, and he and Wang Fan walked to Xu Huai.
"I have my armor with me. I would like to ask the king to report to your husband. Wang Fan will forgive Xu Huai for being inconvenient to salute! Is Ge Boyi afraid that we have surrendered to the enemy and dare not open the city gate?" Xu Huai squinted at the east gate tower of Shuozhou and looked over there.
The sparse bonfire called Ge Boyi, Ge Huaicong and others became clearer, and he asked the king for advice.
"Xu Huai, tell me, have you surrendered to the enemy?" Wang Zhen leaned on his crutch and asked with his head raised.
Xu Huaila turned his horse's head and ordered: "All generals, listen to my order, dismount, take off half of your armor, bare your chest, and ask the king to report your injuries to the Prime Minister!"
"Ho!"
Yin Peng and Han Qi led the men to dismount, take off their armor, unbutton their robes, and expose their shoulders.
Basically, none of the generals who could still fight on horseback suffered fatal or disabling injuries. However, after a hard day of fighting from Datong City to Wuzhou Mountain, Xu Huai had more than 20 deep and shallow arrow wounds on his body.
How could he not be injured at all?
"Well, after all, I am the older and better man!" Wang Zhen walked into the crowd and saw that all the generals had deep and shallow wounds from swords and arrows. He cried and said, "You are hurt, please bear with me."
I pay my respects!"
"Have Xu Huai and Zhu Hang met with misfortune?" Wang Fan asked anxiously, not seeing Zhu Hang, Zhu Zhi and his son.
"Get out of the way!" Xu Huai sent aside the old soldiers who escorted Wang Zhen and Wang Fan and his son out of the city. He got off his horse and said, "Mr. Zhu Kang is very kind. This time we are bringing a group of people with us."
The remaining ten thousand troops have withdrawn and are now stationed at Diotou Ao, thirty miles away from Shuozhou!"
"How is that possible?" Wang Fan asked in surprise.
Xu Huai led three to five hundred men and horses to break out from Datong City, and found a tribe of tribesmen who robbed horses and fled back. He still believed that, but in such a bad situation, Zhu Hang, Xu Huai and the others could actually lead
Ten thousand soldiers and horses retreated safely surrounded by tens of thousands of captives. How could he believe it?
"Ge Boyi went thirty miles around Shuozhou and sent out reconnaissance cavalry. If you really want so many people to enter Diantou'ao, it's impossible that Shuozhou doesn't have any warning?!" Lu Xiong also asked in disbelief.
, "No, a scout reported that they encountered a small group of Khitan cavalry near Dietou Au at dusk..."
Xu Huai smiled faintly, knowing that in this situation, it would be hard for people to believe that he and Zhu Hang really came back with ten thousand troops.
As for Ge Boyi, Ge Huaicong and his son, as well as the brothers Cao Shixiong and Cao Shili, no matter whether they have other intentions or not, they will definitely reject such a large-scale suspicious troops immediately and approach Shuozhou City directly, let alone enter Shuozhou City.
Inside.
However, as time goes by, when more than 10,000 soldiers and horses have indeed returned from Datong, Ge Boyi, Ge Huaicong and his son may have come to their senses, at least before confirming whether these soldiers and horses will continue to be under the control of his father and son.
Will open the city gate easily.
When Cai Ting seized the military power of the Jingsheng Army, even if the Ge family and his son were not participants, they were definitely bystanders.
So Xu Huai first came to Shuozhou City to meet Wang Fan. Unexpectedly, Wang Zhen also arrived in Shuozhou at this time.
This also made Xu Huai more sure that they were right in not bringing all the troops directly. Without even thinking about it, with Wang's temper, he should have been at odds with Ge Boyi, Ge Huaicong and his son after they arrived in Shuozhou.
Already.
"The scouts sent by Shuozhou asked us to deliberately pretend to be Khitan scouts to disperse them. We can't call Ge Boyi at this time. Ge Huaicong and his son realized that there were still 10,000 soldiers and horses to withdraw safely - this is a letter from Lord Zhu Hang
, Mr. Wang Zhen, Mr. Wang Fan, after you read it, you will know why we have arranged it like this!" Xu Huai took out a letter from his arms and handed it to Wang Zhen and Wang Fan, personally holding a torch to illuminate it for him.
"..."
Zhu Hang's letter was not long. It simply stated briefly and concisely that he would break out of Datong City and temporarily avoid Wuzhou Mountain, and then take advantage of Xiao Linshi's main force to go to Yingzhou, and then fight through Wuzhou Mountain to retreat to the west.
Wang reported that Wang Fan was shocked and excited after reading the letter, and shouted: "The sky has finally opened an eye, otherwise it would be hard to imagine how the situation in Hedong would deteriorate!"
"Since we have brought all the soldiers and horses back, why are we hiding them in Diotou'ao?" Zheng Shou asked in confusion.
"Wang reported that Prime Minister has been in Shuozhou for a few days. Has he already had sex with Ge Boyi and Ge Huaicong? Is Yue Hailou in Shuozhou at this time, or has he gone to Yingzhou to meet up with Liu Shizhong and Cai Yuanyou?"
The four gates of Shuozhou City were closed tightly, and the city walls were always full of guards. Xu Wuqi and Zhou Jing could only sneak in to observe Shuozhou, but they could not sneak into the city to contact Wang Fan. There were many specific situations in Shuozhou City.
I can't control it at this time.
Xu Huai was somewhat afraid of Yue Hailou and suspected that he might have guessed his life experience. Then Yue Hailou would definitely be the first to not allow them to lead troops into Shuozhou City.
"Wang Fan sent me a letter saying that Shengdemen was attacked and the Tianxiong army was trapped in Datong City. It was already one day late. He urged Guo Zhongxiong to assemble the Xiang army in Lanzhou and supplement the defenses in Ningwu and other places. He was delayed for another day.
Then three days ago in Ningwu, I learned that the entire Tianxiong Army had been destroyed, so I rushed to Shuozhou in panic," Wang Zhen said excitedly, "I took advantage of Ge Huaicong's unpreparedness and smashed his crutch, and there was no trace of him again after that.
Opportunity is available!”
"Yue Hailou returned to Shuozhou and stayed for a day before leaving!" Guo Junpan said.
Hearing that Yue Hailou was not in Shuozhou, Xu Huai felt relieved and told Wang Fan and Wang Fan:
"Mr. Zhu Han and I led 10,000 troops to break through. Wang Fanlang found it incredible at first. Ge Boyi and Ge Huaicong were probably even more surprised. He did not allow the two hundred cavalry behind me to easily enter the city, let alone
Ten thousand soldiers and horses may be allowed to enter the city. However, with the strong character of Mr. Wang Cun, he will definitely not allow the Ge family and his son to harm the east of the river. The Ge family and his son did not care before because they knew that Mr. Wang Cun and Wang Fanlang would not only participate in the concert
, there is no means to actually restrain him or hold him responsible for his crimes. When it comes to participation, there must be no shortage of Wang Zhenxianggong, Wang Fanlangjun, Liu Shizhong, Cai Yuanyou and others, who will also use every possible means to defeat the army.
The blame is put on their heads. What they are really afraid of is that they are afraid of Wang Fanlang. At this time, Wang Fanlang, you have the ability to directly bind him and hold him accountable..."
"Ten thousand troops and horses have been reorganized and returned, all following your orders?" Wang Fan asked in surprise.
"After breaking out of Datong City, only the soldiers of the Supervisory Army Envoy and the three battalions of Jie Zhong, Zhu Run, and Lei Teng were not dispersed. The rest were scattered soldiers," Xu Huai said, "We stayed in Wuzhou Mountain
It took two days to reorganize, but when most of the troops broke out, all the soldiers and armor were discarded. In the end, Jie Zhong, Zhu Run, and Lei Teng were reorganized with 1,000 soldiers from each of the three compartments, 800 soldiers and horses from the Supervisory Army Envoy Yuan, and the remaining 6,000 people.
They were all scattered in formation. However, in any case, they were in good order, otherwise they would not be able to deter Huairen, and the defenders in Jincheng and two places did not dare to leave the city to intercept. Ge Huaicong and other generals abandoned the army and fled, while Xie Zhong, Zhu Run, Lei Teng and others
Naturally, they were extremely disappointed with them, and even feared that instead of being rewarded for their merits, they would be harmed. They did not dare to return to Shuozhou suddenly and return to the command of Ge Boyi and Ge Huaicong..."
When Xu Huai said this, everyone in the inner circle would certainly understand what he meant.
Since Wang Zhen was here, everyone also looked at Wang Zhen.
Wang Zhen closed his eyes and looked up to the sky and thought for a long time. Then he opened his eyes, sighed and said:
"If you continue to allow the Ge family and his son to control the military and political affairs in Hedong, Hedong, not to mention resisting the invasion of the Chihu cavalry, may be invaded by the declining Khitan. And Ge Huaicong's generals are indeed guilty of deserting the army, and Ge Boyi has no protection.
In addition to his suspicion, he allowed the soldiers to violate discipline and kill the Tibetan people, which was also the reason for the defeat. He was also unable to command the Tianxiong Army and the Xiang Army of various states. As the military supervisor, Fan'er should temporarily take charge of the military affairs and wait for the court.
New decree! This is a matter of great responsibility!"
"What my father said is true, Wang Fan should try his best to do it!" Wang Fan said.
Lu Xiong, Zheng Shou, and Guo Junpan were very excited at this moment.
Guo Junpan rubbed his hands and urged Xu Huaidao: "You have traveled a long way back. You must have weighed it clearly during the journey. You can directly tell us what to do next, and don't keep it to us!"
"There is still a little uncertainty, how do Cao Shixiong and Cao Shili feel about the Ge family and his son?" Xu Huai asked.
Cao Shixiong and Cao Shili did not need to bear much responsibility for the defeat. As the new generals of the city, their direct troops suffered great damage. The imperial court would only give them more rewards to win over their hearts and it was impossible to punish them.
Xu Huai thought of Cao Shixiong on the way. The Cao Shili brothers should remain neutral on the matter of seizing the army, but when acting in Shuozhou City, and Shuozhou is the base camp of the Cao brothers, Xu Huai still needs to confirm their attitude first.
Just feel relieved.
"Cao Shixiong and Cao Shili thought that the Ge family was deeply rooted in Hedong and had many places to rely on the Ge family after surrendering to the imperial court. Therefore, even though the losses were extremely heavy this time, they did not show any pretense towards Ge Boyi, Ge Huaicong and his son, but indifference was inevitable.
The generals of the Qing Shun Army also had deep grievances, and some even openly expressed their dissatisfaction with the surrender of Cao Shixiong and Cao Shili, and forcibly suppressed them for the Cao brothers," Lu Xiong said.
"Then the matter is settled," Xu Huai said, "Master Lu, please return to the city at this time to report to Ge Boyi that in addition to our two hundred cavalry, there are still more than a thousand scattered troops and horses to relieve Zhong and Ge Congmi.
Ge Jie and other generals fled back. At this time, they were only ten miles away from Shuozhou. Wang reported to the Prime Minister and Wang Fanlang to go to meet the defeated troops and horses first. Later, these 1,200 troops and horses will advance..."
The Ge family has been generals in Hedong for several generations. In addition to Ge Huaicong, Ge Huai, Ge Yu and others, among the Tianxiong Army, there are also a group of middle-level generals such as Ge Congmi and Ge Jie who are from the Ge family.
In order to further relax Ge Boyi and Ge Huaicong's vigilance, Xu Huai specially asked Lu Xiong to rush back to the city to report the news. When he mentioned that two Ge family generals had led their troops to escape...
