"What kind of music is this? It's so weird? Sister, can you understand it?"
On the top of the mountain, Zhang Ji looked at Feng Yong and his group walking away, then looked back at Guan Ji, who was standing quietly aside.
With a soft smile on her face, Guan Ji shook her head gently, "I don't understand either, but I know that these are the words of my brother's master. I have heard him sing before."
When he went to Hanzhong the year before last, didn't he just sing in his master's words for several days along the way?
At that time, I still felt it was extremely unpleasant, and several times I almost couldn't help but want to stop it.
And by the river in Nanxiang, her brother even sang to her alone.
Now that I think about it, my heart still feels sweet.
"I see!"
Zhang Ji tilted her head slightly, thought for a moment, then clapped her hands and said with a sweet smile, "Ha! I also remembered, Feng Langjun also taught me."
As soon as she opened her mouth to sing, her voice was extremely clear, "The pond is full of water, the rain has stopped, and the mud beside the fields is full of loaches. I'm waiting for you every day..."
Guan Ji's face froze after hearing this.
However, Huang Yueying, who was standing behind them, frowned slightly and tried hard to remember the accent Feng Yong sang.
At the same time, he was thinking in his mind, since these are the words spoken by his sect, if there is a chance to hear them in other places in the future, wouldn’t that place have to be connected with his sect?
The people below were about to disperse when they suddenly heard someone singing an incomprehensible tune. The voice was extremely clear and crisp, completely different from the ethereal and melodious voice just now.
So they couldn't help but look at each other, and a thought came to everyone's mind: After all, you still have to marry a good wife!
Bie County of Zhongke County is the northernmost county controlled by the rebels after the Nanzhong Rebellion.
At the beginning of the rebellion, Zhu Bao, the former prefect of Zoke County, wanted to pass through here and go behind Pingyi County to cut off Li Hui's retreat.
Later, due to poor coordination among the rebels and their own selfish motives, Zhu Bao was unable to compete with the Governor's Mansion on his own, so the plan came to nothing.
Later, due to someone's poisonous plan, militia groups swarmed southward like locusts. The northernmost Biet County was the first to bear the brunt and suffered greatly from the militia groups.
Not to mention the threatening and chaotic Cangtou common people and barbarian officials, as well as Zhu Bao's own soldiers, some of them disappeared from time to time. At night, they did not dare to step out of the city gate.
In addition, this place is too far to the north and far away from his hometown Qielan. Zhu Bao got to the back and was forced to abandon this place before the Han Dynasty sent troops. He completely retreated to the south, which is also a strange thing.
thing.
The rebels threatened most of the people and retreated south. The remaining people also fled and did not dare to stay any longer. The militiamen went south and basically supplied supplies in Pingyi County. When there is no profit here, who would
come over?
So this once prosperous county has now turned into a ghost town.
Today, this ghost town finally welcomed a large group of people for the first time.
"Look everywhere and look carefully to make sure there are no mistakes."
Zhao Guang stood at the gate of Biejian County and shouted loudly.
The soldiers behind him all agreed and then divided into small groups and filed into the city.
At this time, I saw someone coming to report: "Reporting to Mr. Lang, the militia in the mansion has sent someone over."
Zhao Guang raised his eyebrows and said, "Let him come over."
"I've met Mr. Erlang, I've met Mr. Third."
The person who came was wearing a simple leather armor, with a knife, a package, and a water bag on his waist, but nothing else.
First he saluted Zhao Guang, and then he saluted an old man next to Zhao Guang.
The old man squinted at him, nodded slightly, and closed his eyes again.
Zhao Guang saw the old man's appearance and knew that the person coming was right. He looked at the person carefully and felt that he looked familiar. It seemed that he was really someone from the house.
"No need to be polite. How did you go about the things I told you a few days ago?"
"Going back to Erlangjun, I have been to all the militia managers in Nanzhong these days. They are very easy to talk to. They all told me what they know about the situation. Therefore, I have a rough idea of Zhu Bao's movements.
."
"How could it be difficult to talk?"
Zhao Guang sneered, "Who in the Nanzhong militia dares not to give my brother some face? My brother has already found the financial backers behind them in Jincheng a few days ago. Those people are counting on my brother to find a way for them!"
The steward of Zhao's militia twitched his lips, and when he said "brother," Mr. Erlang sounded so smooth.
"You keep talking."
"Yes. Back to Erlangjun, this Turtle City has been deserted for a long time. Not only that, when Zhu Bao heard that the imperial army was approaching the border, he had gathered all his soldiers and horses to Qielan, so he headed south from Turtle City
, all the way to Qielan is unimpeded."
"When Zhu Bao gathered his troops, do you want to hold on to Qielan or flee south?"
Zhao Guang looked to the south and saw that all he could see were grass and trees. Even the official road was submerged in the grass, let alone any human figures.
The visitor looked ashamed, shook his head and said, "This little guy doesn't know. If it's north of Qilan, not to mention rebels, or there may be barbarians hiding on any hilltop, I can tell Erlangjun about it."
come out."
"It's just... this is the place where the barbarians have lived for generations after passing Qielan. The militiamen just went there, and at most they just explored the road. It was extremely difficult to find out the news, let alone find it.
Even if I find Lao Li, I'm afraid I won't be able to bring him back..."
Zhao Guang looked at the old man of Zhao Mansion in front of him speechlessly, thinking that with the little things you have in hand, you forced Zhu Bao to shrink to Qielan. This is already unbelievable. Do you want to go further south?
So what do you need the imperial army to do?
Besides, when did I ask you about labor? Are you addicted to labor?
But...labor is indeed a good thing!
Zhao Guang touched his chin, thinking that his brother planned to open more manors in Nanzhong, so the more labor the better, "Labour... are you still looking for labor now?"
The vigilante group manager shook his head, "Since the beginning of this year, Jincheng and Pingyi County have stopped selling dry food. How can we find dry food if we don't have it?"
"Then how did you know about Zhu Bao's movements?"
"Although there is no way to find more labor, the imperial court has issued a message. If it can provide useful information when the army marches south, it can sell some dry food as appropriate. Therefore, many people are now trying to find ways to find out the information."
When Zhao Guang heard this, he thought to himself, this is a good idea.
Thinking of this, he asked again, "You just said that you know which mountains north of Qilan have barbarians? Are there still barbarians north of Qilan?"
The militia manager grinned, "Not only are there, but there are quite a few of them. It's just that these barbarians are hiding in deep mountains and old forests. If no one leads the way, there is no way to find their stronghold."
"And here in Nanzhong, there is a lot of miasma in the forest. If a person accidentally enters the miasma forest, forty to five out of ten people will die. But those barbarians have been used to it for a long time, but they are not harmed by it. Therefore, ordinary people do not dare to
Go looking for it."
After Zhao Guang heard this, he couldn't complain. I wonder when you were so kind-hearted and willing to let them go.
"Okay, I understand. You go down first."
Zhao Guang waved his hand.
The visitor bowed and went down. After a while, he disappeared into the grass.
After a while, soldiers entering the city came to report that there was no one in the city.
Zhao Guang nodded and said, "Enter the city."
Ma Zhong, who was leading the Chinese army one day behind the forward, received the news from the forward Zhao Guang and immediately ordered: "Send the order and the whole army will speed up."
The order was passed down from level to level, "Speed up and move forward!"
So the troops walking on the official road began to gradually speed up their actions.
"Also, send someone to deliver a message to General Zhao, and ask him to rest for a day in Biet County, and then go south immediately without any delay."
"promise!"
After the military order was passed down, some of the staff said, "General, the army is already tired all the way here. General Zhao's troops are exploring the way ahead, fearing that they will be even more tired. Why not let the soldiers rest for two more days?"
So, let’s regain our strength and fight against that bandit army?”
Ma Zhong, who was in his thirties and in his prime, smiled proudly when he heard this and said, "Zhu Bao is a coward! Before my army arrived, he had retreated hundreds of miles. Now he has reduced all his troops to Qielan, and the army will only advance to
It’s not too late to rest at the foot of Qilan City.”
"What if Zhu Bao's plan is to wait for the distance while waiting for the near, and wait for the leisure to work, wouldn't it ruin the prime minister's important affairs?"
After Ma Zhong heard this, he immediately laughed, "If it were anyone else, I would still have this concern, but what about Zhu Bao..."
At this point, the look of contempt on Ma Zhong's face showed, "This man is a man of great ambition and talent. He was sent by the late emperor to Zangke to be the governor, but he rebelled against the Han Dynasty. This is unjust. During his tenure as the governor, he was brutal and unkind.
If he applies it to the common people, who will sincerely sacrifice their life for him?"
"In front of the militia, he can't even defend Turtle City, so how can he talk about tactics? It's obvious that there is nothing he can do."
Ma Zhong said this with a thoughtful look on his face, "If he arbitrarily defends Qilan, he will be trapped in a cage. Just be afraid, if he plans to gather his troops and flee south to join forces with the Yizhou rebels
, I’m afraid it’s not beautiful.”
"Draft another military order for the vanguard. After arriving at Qielan City, if you find that the traitor is trying to escape south, you must find a way to stop him!"
"promise!"
After Meng Huo and Yong Kai of Yizhou County rebelled, although Soochow Wu appointed Yong Kai as the prefect of Yongchang, Yongchang had no choice but to retreat because Yongchang's meritorious Cao Lu Kai and his wife led officials and soldiers to defend Yongchang.
Divide Yizhou County with Meng Huo.
Meng Huo was so powerful that he personally garrisoned Dianchi County and sent his younger brother Meng Yan to garrison Wei County.
However, Yong Kai, who initiated the rebellion, only gained a small part of Yizhou County with Tanglang County as the center, and he was already dissatisfied.
In Dianchi County, Yizhou County in the south, Meng Yan walked hurriedly into the Dianchi Mansion Office and suddenly ignored the barbarian soldiers guarding the door of the government office who were saluting him.
He stopped the barbarian soldiers who were about to report, and crossed the front hall. Before they reached the hall, he had already shouted, "Brother, I'm here."
"Ang Xiong is here?"
A man walked out of the front hall. He was short and stocky, with a dark face. He had a purple gold crown on his head. The tail feathers of the wild pheasant on the edge of the purple gold crown swayed from time to time. It was Meng, the head of the Meng family who occupied most of Yizhou County.
get.
"It's sultry outside, please come in first."
"Brother, I heard that both Gao Ding and Zhu Bao have sent people over. Do you want me to go and provide support?"
As soon as he sat down, Meng Yan asked.
"Exactly."
Meng Huo nodded.
"Then what's your plan?"
"It hasn't been decided yet." Meng Huo looked at Meng Yan with doubts on his face, "That's why I sent someone to call Ang Xiong back to discuss."
"Brother, have you considered it?"
"Yes, I originally intended for Yong Kai to lead his army to assist Gaoding. I will personally lead the troops to Qielan to join Zhu Bao. What do you think?"
"No!"
Meng Yan hurriedly stopped him and said, "Yizhou is the foundation of our Meng family. We must not lose anything. If my brother does this, wouldn't Yizhou County be empty? If Li Hui leads his troops south, who will refuse?"
"Of course it's you."
"I?"
Meng Yan's eyes showed a glint, and then he quickly covered it up. There was just the right look of doubt on his face, "Brother, what you mean is..."
"Then if Li Hui wants to go south, he must pass through Wei County where you are stationed. As long as Wei County is not destroyed, Yizhou County will be safe and sound. So this time I will personally lead the troops, and you will guard our retreat."
"Why don't you let me lead the troops there, and I can defend myself?"
Meng Yan's heart moved, but something else came out of his mouth.
"No. Although Zhu Bao is weak, he is still one of the leaders of the four major rebel armies in Nanzhong. If you go, you will not be able to take the position in name. When the time comes, he will deliberately ask you to lead the army to block the Han army. You
Do you want to listen or not?”
Meng Huo shook his head and said, "If you listen, the soldiers and generals in our hands will inevitably suffer losses. If you don't listen, there will be a gap again, and neither of them is happy. It would be better for me to go in person."
When Meng Yan heard this, he sighed in his heart. Even before the war started, everyone had their own selfish motives and calculations. How could it be a big deal?
"Brother, can you let me share your opinion?"
"It doesn't matter if you say it proudly."
Meng Huo knew that this younger brother was brave and knowledgeable in the art of war, so he sent him to guard Wei County, the gateway to Yizhou.
Now that I hear what he has to say, is there any reason not to listen?
"The Han army is powerful, several times larger than mine. Even if we divide our troops in three directions, we still have an advantage. The only thing we rely on now is the difficult terrain. If we divide our troops to meet the enemy like they did, wouldn't we be playing into their own designs?"
"It's better to concentrate our forces and attack one part of it. As long as we break all the way, we will have a lot more room for maneuver. When the time comes, whether we attack or defend, we have the final say. Wouldn't this be better?"
After hearing this, Meng Huo thought about it carefully and suddenly slapped his thigh, "That makes sense!"
He looked at Meng Yan again, with a happy expression on his face, "In your opinion, which way should I break?"
"Of course it's Zhuge Liang."
Meng Yan said without hesitation, "Gaoding has the strongest troops and is the closest to us, so it is convenient for rescue. Moreover, Zhuge Liang personally leads the troops on the opposite side, which is the main force of the Han army. As long as this road can be broken, there is no other two roads.
Retreat yourself."
"It makes sense! It makes sense!"
Meng Huo stood up suddenly and took a few steps back and forth. The more he thought about it, the more he felt that what he said was indeed true.
Although he is the head of the Meng family and is subordinated to the Yihan people in Yizhou County, he also knows that it is because of the power of the clan leader, his bravery, and his ability to deal with things fairly in daily life, so he rarely
Some people are dissatisfied.
But when it comes to leading troops, strategizing, and understanding people's thoughts, he is far inferior to his brother Meng Yan.
"What about Zhu Bao?"
After Meng Huo calmed down, he asked again.
"In my opinion, Zhu Bao definitely cannot defend Qielan. If we directly ask him to give up Qielan and continue to retreat to the south, then the distance between us and him will be much closer."
"In this way, not only can the momentum be connected to facilitate rescue, but the dangerous terrain can also be used to continue to block the Han army."
"I'm afraid he won't."
Meng Huo hesitated.
"If he doesn't want to, just leave him alone." Meng Yan's eyes showed a ruthless look, "The Han army is so powerful that we must not divide our forces. Just tell him the situation. If he knows something about current affairs, he will naturally know what to do.
."
"That's fine."
Meng Huo heard this and nodded.
After Meng Yan's analysis, he felt that what he said was reasonable.
In early April of the third year of Jianxing, Meng Huo and Yong Kai, the rebels from Yizhou County, led their troops north to Yuexun County in an attempt to rescue Gaoding.
At the same time, Ma Zhong of the East Route Army led his troops in a hurry and attacked Qielan.