The three counties in the north, Jinghu, Yumu and Yanhui, are not very large in area.
The three counties are built around Jinghu Lake. The terrain around Jinghu Lake is flat and covered with large areas of fertile black land.
Therefore, although the weather in the three counties is very cold, there are still many Yunchui people living there.
There are even several county kings living there.
Of course, these county princes are all royal families who voluntarily withdrew from the circle of Xingji City in the early years.
They have the title of county king, but they don't have any corresponding real power. They are just rich men.
The county is small and the terrain in the middle is flat, so marching is relatively easy.
At the beginning of February, the majestic Beihai Customs appeared in front of us.
Ren Ning looked up.
The ancient Great Wall is like a giant dragon entrenched among the snow-capped mountains, stretching far and west for tens of thousands of miles.
drive!
Chu Jinding came over on horseback and asked with a smile: "Is this your first time seeing the Great Wall?"
Ren Ning shook his head, "Back to General, I have seen the Great Wall before."
But that was the last life.
Chu Jin had no doubt that it was there, so he raised his head and looked around.
"This Great Wall has remained standing for thousands of years. Since its establishment, it has protected us from countless wind and snow attacks by foreign tribes from the north. Every time I see it, I can't help but feel sincere admiration for the strength of our ancestors.
.”
Ren Ning smiled and agreed, "What the general said is absolutely true. I think when Ren Ning saw him for the first time, his jaw almost dropped..."
The two chatted casually about the role of the Great Wall and continued to move towards Beihai Customs.
As he spoke, Ren Ning took another look at the towering city wall.
No matter how strong the wind and snow in the north are, there are times when they stop. No matter how fierce the aliens are, there are times when they are afraid.
The Great Wall, like the western fortress, was built to defend against foreign enemies.
However, neither the majestic Great Wall nor the fortresses armed to the teeth can deter greedy neighbors or block their attacks. Instead, they lock the footsteps and sights of some local people.
Instead of defending this section of the Great Wall for thousands of years, it would be better to go out and repel the enemy for tens of thousands of miles.
Of course, Ren Ning did not say these words.
Three more days later, the Xingluo Pioneer Battalion successfully settled in Beiguan.
The general guarding the gate, Huang Shitao, only came over to meet the two of them as a courtesy, and left in a hurry with his guards without saying a word.
"Avoid suspicion?" Chu Jinding hummed these two words coldly, "Maybe we are afraid that we will make some requests that will be difficult for him."
For example, they sent troops to Baekje together.
Ren Ning smiled and shook his head.
This was the first time he had met Huang Shitao in person, but the Starfall Legion's intelligence network contained detailed personal information on the Yunchui Sifang guards.
So it's not unfamiliar.
Huang Shitao's ancestor was a lieutenant of Hanoi County in the previous dynasty.
Six hundred years ago, the founding emperor of Yunchui led the Xingluo army to sweep across the entire country.
Adhering to the principle of joining if he can't defeat him, Lao Huang did not hesitate to order all the garrison troops in Hanoi County to lay down their weapons, and finally became the founding lord of Yunchui.
It's a pity that the descendants of the old Huang family, like the Zhongyong Bo Xiao family, are not very useful.
However, the Xiao family at least still has the title of Bo's Mansion, while the Hou's Mansion has become the General's Mansion in Huang Shitao's generation.
Huang Shitao also begged his grandfather and grandma everywhere, and then he gradually became the general guarding the Beihai Customs.
Perhaps because of the bitter cold in the north, other generals were unwilling to come, allowing him to take advantage.
Huang Shitao was looking forward to the war but was also afraid that the war would actually come.
If there is a war, then the Huang family will be able to make contributions like the Xiao family and restore the glory of their ancestors.
However, Huang Shitao's ancestor was from Hanoi County after all.
It was almost the geographical center of Yun Chui, and almost all directions from east to west, north and south passed through Hanoi County, so he knew the current situation of Yun Chui very well.
The treasury is empty, food and materials are insufficient, and the construction of weapons and armor is far away.
Therefore, if a war did break out, he was worried that he would not be able to defend the Beihai Customs at his feet.
As a general guarding the gate, the price for failing to guard it is death!
In addition, besides the war, Huang Shitao was also worried about one thing: his perception in Emperor Changxing's mind.
For example, in Zhennan Gongfu, every generation of descendants can make outstanding contributions, resulting in the emperor having no title. This certainly makes the royal family unhappy.
As for the Huang family, each generation was not as good as the last, which made the emperor even more unhappy.
Since Emperor Changxing decided to reform the Yunchui military system, he withdrew twenty county captains with a wave of his hand.
Although Huang Shitao was far away from Beiguan and was not a local garrison. However, every morning when he woke up and opened his eyes, he was worried that the black gauze on his head would be removed by Emperor Changxing.
"They are all generals guarding the pass. Yuan Xingwen in the south is usually quiet, but he is training his troops all the time. As long as there is a chance, Lao Yuan will not hesitate to kill Nan Feng."
"And this Huang Shitao..." Chu Jinding let out a long sigh.
Before he went north to take up a post, the Huang family was considered a high-ranking noble in Xingji City.
And Huang Shitao could follow his father into the palace from time to time. At least there was such a person in Emperor Changxing's heart.
Later, a joke about Huang Shitao spread out of Xingji City at some unknown time.
Once in the palace, Emperor Changxing bent down for some unknown reason, but he did not hesitate to lie on the ground as a sign of respect.
Ren Ning thought about this and couldn't help but twitch his lips.
Such a person only wants to guard the gate at his feet, and forget about the rest.
The two stood in front of an enlarged version of the Baekje map.
The sun representing the Japanese pirates on the map has moved a few inches westward, but it is still far away from the central Baekje region.
The snow was too heavy and the weather was too cold, so the Japanese pirates tried their best to attack westward.
However, every nation has its heroes. Now they are blocked by the Baekje Army in a mountainous area about 200 miles away from the east coast, and can no longer advance.
After reading the latest news, Ren Ning's eyes fell on Jinlongtan where Xiao Zheng was stationed in the south-central part.
He almost didn't have to think about it.
If progress on land in the east is not smooth, the Japanese pirates will intensify their attack on Jinlongtan in order to break through the confinement in the east from the sea.
"Uncle Xiao is probably not having a good time now," Chu Jinding said.
"Yes." Ren Ning nodded.
It's almost March, and the weather is starting to get warmer in both Unchui and Baekje.
If Xiao Zheng doesn't send troops, he will become increasingly sad.
"General, what is General Wei's strategic intention?" Ren Ning asked again.
Should we find a way to bring Xiao Zheng's more than 20,000 Japanese troops back to the mainland, or should we keep the Baekje royal family or even drive all the Japanese pirates into the sea?
If it's the former, it's relatively simple.
Just open a road through the vast mountains and forests in northern Baekje and lead them back.
If it is the latter, it will be an endless war between the Three Kingdoms.
Chu Jinding pondered for a long time, "I'm afraid it's not General Wei who has the final say on this matter."
Ren Ning raised his eyebrows and subconsciously looked to the south.
If Wei Junqian's words don't count, then Emperor Changxing of Xingji City's words will count.
Chu Jinding explained: "His Royal Highness King Qi is in Baekje now, and among the many princes Your Majesty has, he seems to be the most accomplished."
"So we prepare for the worst first."
At least Chen Xiuzhu's reputation cannot be stained.
In the days following, all kinds of news were flying.
Ren Ning and Chu Jinding were waiting for Wei Junqian's arrival while making preparations to march eastward.
On the sea, hundreds of warships were quickly refitted. Big trees were cut down and made into heavy crossbow arrows, which were then carried to the warships.
On land, the spies and engineers quickly crossed the border and headed east, checking out the sentinel points where they should be, and building the roads where they should be.
A few days later, when the weather cleared, I saw that some young teeth had appeared on the tree.