On the morning of the third day after the dinner, there was no wind and fog on the banks of the Maface River in Pingyuan County, and a large army gathered.
The early spring sun rises from the east, reflecting the mist-covered land of Hebei vividly and illusively. The army from Jiangling City in the northwest is like a wave, hitting this southwest-northeast road.
Walking towards the edge of the creek, it stopped like a tide against a dam.
By this time, including the reinforcements on the way, plus the original civilians and auxiliary troops, the Hejian Army had nearly 200,000 troops, carrying baggage and flags, and lined up for more than ten miles along the Ma Mian River, which was really majestic.
"The general has an order, and each lieutenant will lead his troops to erect three pontoon bridges. When all the pontoon bridges are complete, we will get the order and then cross the river! After crossing the river for five miles, we will go to the camp face to face! If anyone disobeys the order, rob others of the pontoon bridge.
, Anyone who damages the pontoon bridge will be killed without mercy!"
The messengers with red tassels on their helmets and red cloaks kept coming and going along the river embankment, repeating the military orders of the supreme commander.
"Should we also build a floating bridge?"
In the midst of thousands of troops, Qian Tang, who was nicknamed "The Lord of the Mansion", now seemed a little bored compared to when he had angrily scolded the generals three days ago.
"It stands to reason that there is no need." Qinghetong guard Cao Shancheng, who was paralleling the horse, frowned. "The military order is obviously only for those Hejian Army generals and the two Youzhou generals, and has nothing to do with us... But let's put it up, otherwise
None of our officers have anywhere to cross the river."
"Then let's set it up." Qian Tang responded casually.
The ground was very muddy. It was obvious that the temperature rose as usual during the first month of the year. With the gradually lengthening sunshine in spring, the frozen land began to completely thaw during the day. It was conceivable that the so-called freezing flood on the river, that is, the melting period, was indeed coming soon.
There is no problem in terms of timing for this advance.
The permanent floating bridge was quickly built as required. To be honest, apart from being a little muddy and making the people dirty, there was no difficulty because the water was so shallow that in some places there was no need to wet our feet at all.
"This Ma Mian River..." Cao Shancheng saw that the bridge construction was going smoothly and asked seriously. "Is there any difference between this section in Pingyuan County and Qinghe County?"
"What is Qinghe County like?"
"When the water rises in summer, you can ride across the shoal on horseback..."
"There is basically no difference." Qian Tang answered frankly. "It will be a little wider when you go downstream to Bohai County. We have also seen it... Zhang Gong once said when he was still alive that the main reason was that the late emperor renovated the clear and turbid Zhangshui.
When it was used as the main transfer channel for taxes in Hebei Province, it usurped many tributaries of the Ma Mian River, reducing the water flow, and even the mouth of the sea gradually silted up over the past ten years, and then the sea water reversed and formed tidal flats in the salt mountains."
"In this case, the logistics may be more difficult. As for this place..." Cao Shancheng nodded and continued to ask. "If this is the case here, does General Xue need to build so many pontoon bridges?"
"I think this is okay." Qian Tang looked at the open area in front of him where the mist gradually dispersed, and answered seriously. "On this side of the river are Ande, Pingyuan, and Jiangling, and on the other side are the fortifications.
County, Pingchang, like Douzigang in the south of Ban County, are the natural boundaries of the battlefield. Crossing this river is the battlefield, and it doesn't hurt to have more back roads."
Cao Shancheng nodded again, but he felt a little uneasy. He paused for a moment, and then asked seriously: "Qian Fujun... tell me the truth, he let Xue Wannian occupy your Ande City, do you have any thoughts in your heart?"
Have any resentment?"
"How can I still enjoy it?" Qian Tang looked at Qinghe County Governor beside him in bewilderment. "Chang He was robbed by his son years ago. Ande, Pingyuan, and Jiangling were all filled with a lieutenant by him.
With the general and three thousand soldiers, I want to take the county soldiers out to cross the Ma Mian River with him... But what can I say? He also sent people to occupy Bohai Leling. He wanted to ensure a safe road back.
.But so what, is there anything else I can do?”
Cao Shancheng sighed and lowered his voice to answer: "County Governor Qian, please don't think that I am too troublesome. What you wrote to me in the past few months means that Commander Qian, you are a bit bewitched by Zhang Thief."
arrive……"
Qian Tang couldn't help but be startled.
"Master Qian Fu, don't be careless." Cao Shancheng said quickly. "Zhang Thief is so cunning. He is so cunning that he has never seen in his life. He is definitely a great harm to the country. It's just hateful. On that day, Cao Zhongcheng failed to accept him as his adopted son.
I didn’t terminate this person directly…”
Qian Tangfu laughed again,
"Qian Fujun, don't laugh." Cao Shancheng had no choice but to return to the original topic. "Look at the leaflets he has been distributing. If you look carefully and think about it carefully, they all seem to make sense, but in fact he only says the right things.
The principles that are beneficial to him are not those that are harmful to him...and these actions of his are, in the final analysis, just to shake people's hearts and make it easier for him to shake things up in Hebei."
"What do Lord Cao Mansion want to say?" Qian Tang finally became impatient. "Are you afraid that I will be turned against him by what he said? If you want me to say, this battle was won, and all the soldiers of the 25th battalion were killed.
Choking on the horse face in Henan, even if I was persuaded by him, I would have no time to vote for him, right? On the other hand, if the 200,000 people in Hebei collapse here, we dare not say more, at least in the Bohai Sea and the plains.
The big county is about to disappear, and Qinghe might just disappear too... By then, who will be able to care about whom?"
Cao Shancheng looked hard and did not speak for a while.
Qian Tang woke up and immediately laughed again: "Does Governor Cao think that I am going to defect before the battle? Don't worry, in the current situation, I am clearly being monitored as a prisoner by General Xue. Without Ande City in hand, defecting will be useless in the war.
"
Cao Shancheng's expression became more serious: "Qian Fujun, that's not what I meant... I just think that the more difficult the situation is, the more loyal and righteous people should stick to their duties... He let out his breath in one thought, whether it is to go with the flow or to obey the crowd.
, naturally everything is comfortable, but if no one does anything, the country and the court will really be doomed."
Qian Tang nodded expressionlessly.
When Cao Shancheng saw this, he knew he was being offended, so he stopped talking. Instead, he sighed and rode away to another pontoon.
"It's the same as what Zhang Sanlang said in the leaflet." As soon as the man left, Lu Changheng, who had been reining in the horse at the side and behind, urged his horse forward, then shook his head and said: "This man has wasted half his life and has never had the glory of these two years.
And his success in the past two years has been achieved by suppressing the rebels. His life has basically been focused on suppressing the rebels... Therefore, no matter what reason he comes to, it will only become suppressing the rebels... If you asked the country and the court just now,
If there is really a way to save him, he will definitely say that if we beat down the thieves in Hebei, we will be saved."
"After all, he has some ability and ideas. He is already better than 99% of the people in the world. The only difference is that he is independent. Zhang San also has a bad mouth." Qian Tang also shook his head when he heard this. He was surprised again when he said this.
"New flyer? When did it arrive?"
"The ones that were scattered in front of several broken bridges and in the forts yesterday... everyone took them. I thought you had seen them a long time ago." Lu Changheng had one answer.
"No wonder you suddenly said these things to me." Qian Tang took a long breath and went out. "Zhang San doesn't have the slightest bit of demeanor as the Lord of the Eight Counties. This is going to drive people crazy!"
"It doesn't matter. The key is, are we just going to stop like this?" Lu Changheng was a little uneasy. "We were already chatting after we sent out troops during the Chinese New Year, but suddenly we just sit back and watch the outcome?"
"What else can be done?" Qian Tang asked rhetorically. "Xue Changxiong occupied three cities and brought me in. What can I do except watch the victory or defeat?"
Lu Changheng was silent for a moment, then asked again: "What do you think about the victory or defeat?"
"The outcome is unpredictable." Qian Tang remained straightforward.
"It's obvious that people here are divided, and everyone has their own agenda." Lu Changheng tried his best to argue. "Xue Changxiong can't convince people, and even Cao Shancheng can't be used."
"Don't think that there is trouble only here... As I expected, Zhang San may not be able to convince people either." Qian Tang answered calmly. "There are still a lot of troubles."
Lu Changheng wanted to persuade him again, but he felt that it was a bit absurd - what on earth was he? An official and an army? A deputy helmsman? A spy? An internal agent? A friend? Or a messenger?
I was also frustrated for a while.
The two of them were thinking wildly when suddenly they heard a shouting and chaotic sound around them, so they quickly looked around, and sure enough, following everyone's gaze, they saw a large group of people who were clearly out of specification on the other side of the Ma Mian River.
Military Sentinel Cavalry.
Moreover, the sentinels and cavalry from both sides had already been engaged in intensive battles for several days. There were naturally soldiers on the other side of the Ma Mian River at this time. However, these officers and soldiers were watching from a distance. Some people reported back in a hurry, but no one dared to step forward.
Obviously, something happened before that prevented these sentinel riders from making any unnecessary attempts again.
"Want to take a gamble?!" Qian Tang turned around to look at Lu Changheng. "Zhang Sanlang is over there."
"No need." Lu Changheng shook his head. "It must be Zhang Sanlang who came to see the military situation in person... If we really want to bet, it would be better to bet on whether Xue Changxiong will lead the army's masters to cross the river as a master. Don't expect it.
Take it down and drive it away!"
"I bet not." Qian Tang replied quickly. "Xue Changxiong pretends to be a general and wants to attack the powerful army, but at the same time he is too precious about his own life. He will not rush into battle personally..."
While he was talking, a puma cavalry suddenly stepped over a newly built pontoon bridge and rushed straight to the other side, holding a flag, which turned out to be the Chinese flag.
"Luo Shu?" Qian Tang was slightly surprised. "Uncle Qin Bao didn't know whether to praise him for his bravery or lament his lack of strategy... But his behavior in the past few days didn't look like a fool? On the contrary.
A little cunning."
"It doesn't look like Luo Shu." Lu Changheng probed his head to look. "This flag has no borders and lacks regulations. It is not a serious general's flag... Is it his son?"
Qian Tang suddenly realized.
The next moment, under the witness of tens of thousands of people, the more than a hundred Youzhou armored cavalry rushed straight towards the group of strange military light cavalry, and from a distance, seven or eight Qijing masters released their true energy.
, there was a vague intention of forming a tiny Zhenqi military formation, and the leader directly raised his spear. Duanjiang Zhenqi was attached to the spear, and it suddenly stretched out nearly ten feet, showing an extraordinary momentum.
All I can say is that he is worthy of being a general.
However, when the two sides were more than a hundred steps apart, the army's light cavalry formation suddenly released their true energy. The true energy was colorful and quickly rolled into one, which was far more powerful than the true energy of the hundreds of Youzhou sudden cavalry.
It is grand and more substantial, but it is only gray-white, like a cloud that seems to be alive.
Not to mention, a large formation of infuriating energy was formed, and the strengths and weaknesses were clearly defined. The armored cavalry were caught off guard and panicked and slowed down. However, their horses were unable to regain their momentum. They could only follow the leader and try hard to turn to one side. That is to say, they barely turned around after dozens of steps.
At that moment, the true energy rippled in the military formation, and a two- to three-foot-wide wave of true energy suddenly burst out like a gray-white lightning in the morning sunlight.
The first three or four cavalry generals escaped, but twenty or thirty cavalrymen behind them were all swept away by this infuriating energy. Everyone on the spot fell on their backs, life or death was uncertain, and the remaining dozens of cavalrymen no longer had the courage to maintain their formation.
Just turn around and leave.
The power of one blow is so terrifying.
Not to mention what the spectators in the audience were thinking, but the person involved, Luo Xin, escaped with his life. He only felt that life and death were in the blink of an eye, but he instantly put out all unnecessary thoughts and focused on escaping.
Fortunately, the opponent did not pursue him, and even took the initiative to dissipate his energy. He just continued to wait and see.
Returning to the Ma Mian River, Luo Xin returned to his father, but did not apologize to his father. Instead, he rolled off his horse and bowed to the man sitting next to his father: "I am incompetent and I am extremely ashamed. Please
The general will punish you."
That person was of course Xue Changxiong. When he heard this, he just laughed boldly: "It doesn't matter, who would have thought that the thief would be so stingy, with all the masters in the group, but he didn't even fly a flag... The gray and white Qi must be Zhang San
The thief's ice energy formed the base of the formation and he took action himself?"
"It must be so." Luo Shu answered for his son.
"I know how my second son died." Xue Changxiong sighed. "I really can't blame Mr. Qiantang Qianfu for this. I blamed him wrongly before."
No one knew how to answer the call.
At this time, General Xue looked around again: "Listen, don't underestimate the thief!"
"What the general said is true." Chen Bin spoke first, and the other generals agreed. At the same time, they thought about continuing to follow the general's wishes and withdraw.
But the next moment, Xue Changxiong stood up again, pulled out a straight knife from his waist, and looked around: "But since we are going to fight today, and we have already agreed on the strategy of taking turns to attack after the engagement, and strive to break through, how can we be afraid?"
Is the enemy unable to advance? According to our military order, the Hejian Army has fifteen masters of Dan Ning and above, four of them are in the four cities behind them, with Xue Wanquan guarding the rear army, Chen Sima supervising the central army, two county guards and two Youzhou reinforcements.
The remaining nine people will be in the formation, and within a quarter of an hour, each will bring five elites above Qijing and above to come to this banner, and follow me to try this sword for a while! Open the way for the whole army!"
Everyone shuddered and obeyed the order.
After a moment, the generals gathered together. Xue Changxiong did not hesitate. He only ordered his guards to raise the flag of his marching general, holding a straight knife, and jumped out on the horse himself. Without stopping for a moment, he beat the horse across the Ma Mian River.
.
Not only that, before crossing the river, Xue Changxiong's body only had the appearance of an ordinary armor and stomach. When he walked across the pontoon, the glowing energy in his body had already stirred up, like a human-shaped sun, shining in all directions. The generals behind him were encouraged and released individually.
Zhenqi quickly formed a Zhenqi army formation with extremely small regulations but extremely high quality.
The tens of thousands of people behind him were already stunned, and Qian Tang's face was even swollen for no reason.
Seeing this from a distance, the infuriating energy on the opposite side also surged, and the iconic gray-white infuriating energy also condensed again, forming a huge living body that seemed to be able to breathe. It was not afraid at all and waited in place.
Seeing this, Xue Changxiong did not ask the generals to speed up, but only moved forward slowly.
The two sides were a hundred steps apart. Unexpectedly, the gray-white military formation opposite suddenly displayed a red flag with the word "Depose", and then slowly started to move towards each other... Seeing this situation, Xue Changxiong secretly thought, the thief is like this
The momentum makes it difficult to kill in one fell swoop, but the idea is to first angrily rebuke the thieves chief, and then calmly suppress the opponent's military formation in public, forcing the opponent to leave in embarrassment, and establish military prestige.
However, just when the two sides were forty or fifty steps apart and could almost see each other's faces, Jun's zhenqi formation moved first.
The gray-white air mass accelerated forward violently, and in just a moment, it was about ten feet away.
At this opportunity, Xue Changxiong was furious and directly raised his sword to get his luck. Unexpectedly, his luck was not complete. First, a purple light flew from the opposite formation. The purple light was five or six feet wide. It flew to the front of the army formation ten feet away and was still solid.
, but it hit Xue Changxiong's array that was as bright as the sun, and there was another arrow, wrapped in Duanjiang's true energy, hidden under the purple light, one behind and the other, one light and one dark, one stroke and one thrust,
The light around General Xue dimmed slightly.
Of course, it only took a moment for darkness to return to normal.
But on the other side, the army's military formation sneaked up. After a sudden strike, the whole army turned around and walked away without stopping for a moment. General Xue was stunned. The opponent had already moved seventy or eighty steps away, and it turned out to be a blow.
The drama of escape.
Not only that, among the bandits who continued to flee south, under the banner with the word "deposed" that had just been raised, there were people again cheering up, laughing loudly as they walked:
"Unexpectedly, the old dog still has the courage to fight the dragon!"
His voice entangled with the real energy, stirring up the surroundings, deafening... But I don't know whether to admit that Xue Changxiong has the ability, or to ridicule that he has no ability?
Xue Changxiong became more and more angry. Seeing the Qingqi on the other side walking fast, he had no choice but to imitate the shouting and scolding back. As a result, the opponent's military formation suddenly seemed to have been half-rehearsed, and began to "shout" in unison, responding to the previous voices.
, the movement is even greater.
I don’t know how boring these people are, but they actually practice slogans.
General Xue was completely helpless and could only watch as a group of people from the other side retreated boldly, shouting and holding flags as if they had won.
However, although Xue Changxiong felt that he was being teased, he did not know that across the Ma Mian River, many people were already stunned - in the eyes of most people, this was a fight between gods, and they could not distinguish the winner from the loser and the level of strength.
Before noon, the Hejian army crossed the shallow Ma Mian River on time as planned. After traveling no more than five miles, they began to set up camp under the warm sunshine at noon.
Although there was an army attack in the middle, they still came to cover up the water and the earth. Relying on the strength of the army, the elite troops, and the proper logistics, they calmly arranged the camp layout at night - the official army's Ma Mian River camp was more than ten miles wide.
, and it is still extending, with a depth of five miles in front and back. The trench outside the main gate in front is only ten miles away from the first line of defense of the army's camp.
When night came, Zhang Xingduan was sitting in the military tent, hesitating whether to attack and harass at night, or to take advantage of the opportunity to show weakness... During the day, he was lucky enough to get home, which made him realize that there was still a lot to say about the outcome of this battle.
At this time, Yan Qing brought Liu Zhouchen over and suddenly reported something.
"Are you serious?" Zhang Xing looked up blankly. "I didn't detect it before, but now it's revealed?"
"Yes...it has been found out." Liu Zhouchen was also a little uneasy. "It was the horse's feet that were exposed when the cage could not cover them during the retreat. Many people saw it."
Zhang Xing's face was expressionless, but he was extremely speechless in his heart - without him, Yan Qing and Liu Zhouchen reported a very simple matter. Guo Jingke's old habit relapsed and he didn't control his hands. When he went to Dawu Fort a few years ago,
, taking advantage of the convenience of staying in his base camp, he secretly hid a cache of gold and silver. He withdrew it a few days ago and was discovered.
