In late spring, when the stars and moon were dim, on the top of Licheng City, the guard Han Erlang was extremely nervous and was looking into the distance in a trance.
But it was so far away and it was midnight. It was impossible to see clearly whether it was Gaotang in the south, Zhangnan in the north, or Boping in the southwest. The distance was just pitch black.
Han Erlang was a little tired, but he had to force himself to think.
There was no way around it. As a person who had come up from the bottom of society but had no tyranny to rely on, he knew very well that troubled times were not the path to success. He didn't have the capital. He was just trying to survive from the beginning.
At the same time, he was just clear-headed, but not too smart. He couldn't clearly see the strategic situation or where the tide was heading, so he repeatedly fell into crisis.
Unfortunately, there are not many people who can discuss with him... Zhang Laowu is down-to-earth and able to do things, but his brain is too dull to discuss with him... This group of people still rely on him
A person's mind turns.
Of course, it is wrong to say that there is a group of people at this time. He is a deputy captain, leading thousands of troops wearing leather and iron armor with spears and wooden shields, and is in charge of an entire county.
In the past, he was also a very big person.
But this made Han Erlang feel even more overwhelmed, because it meant that he was responsible for more people's lives.
Everyone is the same, they are all living people. The living people in Qinghe Township all have a father, a mother, a wife and children... If not, then it is still a life, so what if you can throw it away?
Forcibly suppressing his unnecessary thoughts, Han Erlang withdrew his gaze from the distant night, turned around, and squatted in the corner between the city wall and the wooden house under the surprised gaze of the night guard behind him, and began to carefully sort out his past.
All information and knowledge of:
For example, let's compare the combat strength of the two sides. How many soldiers do you have on your side? How many soldiers can you help? How many condensed elixirs does Qinghe County have, and how many condensed elixirs and elixirs does the other side have? Which one has the stronger troops?
Then where are the positions of both sides, where are the distribution of troops, and where are the generals?
Where are the reinforcements?
There are actually not many of these things, and the answers are very simple. Soon Han Erlang identified three key questions:
First of all, there was no sign of the legendary reinforcements appearing.
As the defender of one of the four cities on the front line, he only received a military briefing on April 5th when the former army launched a large-scale siege of the city. It was said that there were reinforcements from the four neighboring counties and Dongdu, allowing him to defend the city with peace of mind, but until today
, there was no movement, but some bad rumors appeared.
The lack of reinforcements means that there is a huge gap in strength between the two sides in this battle. Our side is lagging behind in all aspects, and the battle situation is basically hopeless.
Secondly, just this evening, the sentinels reported that a troop of no less than ten thousand people, including Qinghe fellows, and even the "Dou" flag of Dou Lide, a native of Zhangnan, was so fast and unobstructed that from
The distance of five miles in front of the city was quickly crossed... without setting up camp at all, and without taking any precautions, they just sprinted towards Zhangnan County in the north. Why?
Finally, not to mention Zhangnan, there was such a big movement. Boping in the southwest has not reacted at all from evening to now. He has not waited for Cao Shancheng's military order.
This is not Mr. Cao's style.
Only considering the first question, in fact, the matter is still in a dilemma.
The first question and the second question are linked together, and there are only two possibilities - either the imperial reinforcements arrived, and Dou Lide and others rushed to stop them, or Dou Lide wanted to break Zhangnan quickly, or even Zhangnan surrendered directly.
And if the third question is added, then the possibility of reinforcements from the imperial court is basically ruled out, because if that is the case, there will definitely be military orders coming for him to react, block, delay, and pursue.
Therefore, the answer is ready to come out - Zhangnan is gone, and Boping's situation is not good. Realizing the seriousness of the problem, Han Erlang squatted in the shadow of the battlements and did not get up for a quarter of an hour before he shouted in a low voice: "Where is the fifth child?"
?My legs are numb, let him come over and give me a hand."
The patrol soldier on the top of the city gate tower immediately responded, turned around and shouted down,
Zhang Laowu immediately got out of the city gate tower, then looked for Deputy Captain Han and helped him up.
"The Lord has a military order." Han Erlang continued to speak in a low voice. "Don't make any noise, don't let everyone make a noise, and don't light too many fires. Go in person and call each barracks to get everyone up.
Prepare the dry food, drinking water and torches that I ask everyone to prepare on weekdays, and prepare to follow my orders and go in groups in the order I told you..."
Zhang Laowu didn't know why, so he just nodded.
Vice Captain Han grabbed the opponent again and said, "Some of those team generals are still convinced by me, but some have never been convinced. If someone forces you to ask, just tell the truth. It was the prince who asked us to retreat to the back."
Go to a safe place...but be careful of the army's cavalry on the road. We are also afraid that the army will hear the noise and attack the city, so we are asked to prepare to leave at this time."
Zhang Laowu woke up a little at this time, nodded again, and started to do it seriously.
And Han Erlang went down to the city, and also led a group of guards to the county government office without saying a word - this was not his residence. After he moved to the defense and gained all the power to act expediently, he did not interfere with the operation of the county government office.
The ones here are still the magistrate and his family of King Licheng.
When he arrived at the county government office, he stopped the guards and asked someone to make a report. Then he entered the backyard alone. However, he gave a brief explanation to County Magistrate Wang who got up hastily and spoke frankly:
"That's the thing. Zhangnan is 90% likely to be undefeated. If we don't retreat to the side in Licheng, we will definitely be surrounded... What does King County Lord mean? Come with us? If you leave,
Pack up now, don’t bring anything bulky, don’t worry about extra servants, it’s best to just bring your family and a few animals, and bring enough food and drink.”
Magistrate Wang only wore his middle coat, stood beside the fire pit in the courtyard with his hands folded, and remained silent for a long time.
Han Erlang thought for a while and then lowered his head in the dark night and spoke slowly: "If Mr. Wang County wants to stay, then you can stay, and I will leave two teams of local soldiers to you. It will be convenient for you when the time comes.
"
Magistrate Wang was stunned for a moment, and then suddenly sneered: "In the past two years, Mr. Cao has taken serious exams in school, and the most important one is whether the bandits are dealt with strictly... For this, Zhang next door
Magistrate Wei of Nan County two years ago guessed that Dou Lide had become a bandit just because the bandits from Gaojibo never raided Dou Lide's hometown, and then he killed his entire family until only one daughter and a distant nephew remained...
...Although I guessed it right in the end, I asked Deputy Captain Han, now that Dou Lide has returned to Zhangnan, what will happen if he can leave County Magistrate Wei's family? And although I have never killed a big bandit like Dou Lide, nor have I killed a small bandit.
I haven’t killed anyone before, can you help me?"
After hearing this, Han Erlang felt a little helpless. Hearing the uncontrollable movement outside, he could only sigh: "Mr. Wang County, now is not the time to put on airs. What do you think? Anyway, as long as you can communicate with
It's convenient for you, I won't delay..."
Magistrate Wang once again looked at this local man whom he had never looked down upon. He knew that what he said was reasonable, but he gritted his teeth and expressed his true intention: "I will go with you, but I won't go with you to see Cao Cao."
Mr. Fu, when we arrive at Fu County tomorrow morning, you can continue marching to Boping in the southwest to find Mr. Cao Fu, but I want to enter the city to rest for a while, and then I will go find my own way out at dawn."
Han Erlang came to his senses and immediately responded: "Yes, not only that, I can also hand over the two local teams in Qian County to Mr. Wang, who will take him with him, so that he can not only protect his own family, but also let them disperse when he leaves."
Drive home and find a way to survive."
Magistrate Wang glanced at this person again and again, and then finally nodded heavily: "I don't want you to have such knowledge."
In this way, Han Erlang was well prepared and made their respective assignments. In addition to letting two teams of county soldiers from Yi County follow County Magistrate Wang, he also found two teams of 300 county soldiers from the local area, two team generals, and six
The team leader made it clear that they should protect the old grains in the treasury and maintain public order in the city. Even if it didn't work, they would have to wait until their own side left, then quietly disperse and go home in the early morning, so as not to cause trouble for no reason.
The six captains of the two teams are all locals. They know the good and the bad and know that this is the best result. They are just grateful.
Immediately, in the middle of the night, Deputy Captain Han, together with Magistrate Wang, took the remaining more than two thousand county soldiers to the depths of Qinghe County, but they retreated to the southwest.
There was no other way. Since Zhangnan saw that he had no answer, the army would inevitably follow the Qingzhang River to capture Wucheng along the way, and then further capture the county seat of Qinghe City. At this time, the only way out seemed to be in the southwest.
Instead, we first went to Yi County, which is directly southwest, and then went south to Boping to find Cao Shancheng.
Of course, Magistrate Wang obviously wanted to take another route. He wanted to separate from the army here in Yi County and go directly west to Qingping or Qingyang to see if he could escape from Tangyi or Qingquan into Wuyang County.
Just jump out.
Let us also say that under normal circumstances, there is an approximate marching speed of the medieval army, which mainly relied on manpower and livestock carts. Depending on the road conditions, the status of the army, and the size of the camp, it would be about thirty to fifty miles per day.
However, this is an average speed, a general speed based on the background of long-distance marches and the behavior of baggage on land.
As for the specific cavalry and light infantry, it is easy to break through this limit in a short period of time if there is a rapid march of cavalry or light infantry, or if there are supplies from military stations along the way and water transportation.
Especially when you need to rush to attack and seize targets when fighting, you can often achieve jaw-dropping marching speeds and distances.
And on this late spring day and night, in addition to the short and fierce battles that broke out in Gaotang City, the entire Qinghe River was full of desperate marches at high speeds in all directions.
Han Erlang led his troops to set out in the middle of the night, holding torches, carrying dry food and water, and carrying weapons and armor. By morning, they had arrived at Yi County, forty miles away from Licheng.
Dou Lide set off at noon and arrived at Licheng, which was sixty miles away from Gaotang in the evening. Then his troops were so homesick that they did not stop for a moment. By midnight, after traveling for more than twenty miles, they had arrived in Zhangnan.
At this time, the accompanying Zhai Qian camp and Shang Huaien camp had fallen behind. Cheng Mingqi, who was also from Hebei, persuaded Dou Lide that although the Zhangnan County officer generals had surrendered, if the army was too scattered, the other party would probably rise up.
Yixin, we should camp on the spot and wait until tomorrow to gather all the troops and prepare their strength before advancing to the city and surrendering.
Dou Lide was convinced, so he stopped his advance.
On this day, they traveled more than eighty miles.
In comparison, although the gang's cavalry advanced faster, the distance was not too far. They ignored Chiping, who already had a tacit understanding, and passed directly through the southern border of Boping County, arriving at the foot of Liaocheng City before the evening of that day.
, completed the outflanking.
The total distance is only eighty or ninety miles.
The slowest marchers were the soldiers and horses of the Central Gang with the heaviest troops... But it’s not their fault, because they had plenty of time, and with a distance of forty or fifty miles, they would definitely be able to reach the gates of Boping City that night.
However, a perfect plan will always have accidents - in fact, it is hard to say that it is an accident, because Zhang Xing and Shan Tonghai had agreed from the beginning that the gang lacked experience in long-distance raids and outflanks, especially large-scale cavalry raids.
post-experience.
There are two specific points in performance.
First, the gang's cavalry was too fast and the infantry was too slow. There was no comprehensive cooperation experience between the two sides, which directly led to insufficient connection between the two, leaving a gap;
Secondly, for the first time, the gang of cavalry marched at high speed, leaving countless stragglers and lost people. Although the general direction was correct in the end and they regrouped, many people scattered on the road and went too far north.
He crossed the protective range of the sentry camp and disturbed Cao Shancheng of Boping County.
Cao Shancheng immediately realized that regardless of reinforcements or Gaotang, Boping would soon be surrounded.
So, he made a move that not only slapped Zhang Dalongtou's judgment in the face, but could not be said to be a real slap in the face - after seeing a large group of cavalry bypassing Boping, he immediately led the remaining thousands of county soldiers in his hands to leave and was about to be surrounded.
The county seat of Boping was moved to E County, dozens of miles away to the north, where he used to be the county magistrate.
Zhang Dalongtou said that he would not escape, and indeed he would not escape. Cao Shancheng had never thought of leaving Qinghe County. He chose to go to E County to continue waiting for news about Gaotang and Licheng, but this does not mean that he saw the knife coming.
Not even trying to hide.
As a result, that night, the main force of the 18,000-strong Army on the Central Road fell to nothing!
And Mr. Wangxian and Mr. Han
The captain was caught off guard when he saw his immediate boss, Cao Shancheng, Mr. Cao Mansion, in a mansion in the county seat of E County.
"Zhangnan?! Dou Lide, a native of Zhangnan, brought 10,000 people across Licheng without paying any attention to him, and went directly to his hometown in Zhangnan?!"
Even though Lord Cao had been mentally prepared, he couldn't help but turn pale when he heard this, and then smiled instead of being angry.
"I know, I know! All my captains and county magistrates have turned over to the bandits! But I don't know at all?! Zhangnan, Wucheng, Qinghe, Chiping, Boping...Gaotang
!Is all your hard work for three months in vain?!"
Just as Mr. Wangxian was about to comfort him, Cao Shancheng shook his head again: "No, it's not that three months of hard work have been in vain, but three years of hard work have been in vain... Back then, when the rebel army rose up, I defended the county alone. Within three years, I fought with all the people.
There were more than a hundred battles between the bandits on the road, and I thought they were gradually clearing up the situation, but I didn't expect that in the end, I was left with only one city in the county!"
Magistrate Wang immediately shut up. It was one reason that he wanted to jump off the ship but failed. The other reason was that the prince, who had been a little too tense in the past few months, was obviously greatly stimulated. It was another reason that he was not in a normal state.
At this moment, he could only hope that Lieutenant Han, who had always looked down upon him, would not sue him temporarily and say that he was planning to flee to the west. Otherwise, God knows what Cao Shancheng, who was in such a state under such a situation, could do.
In fact, beside him, the current Magistrate Zhao of Yan County had just remained expressionless and silent for a long time, as if he had seen something a long time ago.
"How many soldiers did you bring from Licheng?" Cao Shancheng, whose eyes were bloodshot, suddenly seemed to regain his clarity.
"Two thousand...there are too many stragglers on the road, especially the local soldiers in Licheng, who are hiding in the city and will not come out." Instead, Deputy Captain Han glanced at Mr. Wang nervously.
"Not bad." Cao Shancheng was silent for a moment, and actually nodded repeatedly. "Not bad. Marching forty miles in one night, three thousand soldiers brought out two thousand, but I couldn't... I brought them out in a hurry from Boping
Three thousand soldiers, leaving aside the five hundred who used my banner to lure the enemy, still only reached more than a thousand, and half of them were scattered on the road... How did you do it?"
Han Erlang answered seriously: "I usually ask them to prepare dry food, drinking water and torches."
"Did you think you would lose this battle from the beginning?" Cao Shancheng narrowed his eyes.
Han Erlang hesitated for a moment and told the truth: "Master Fu, I got used to this during the Three Expeditions. At that time, everyone wanted to escape, but those who escaped in a hurry and those who escaped early were caught and killed.
I had no choice but to be prepared to escape and try to escape based on the situation. Later I actually escaped, and I have been preparing like this since I relied on this to survive."
Cao Shancheng was silent for a moment, then asked inexplicably: "Is the Three Expeditions very hard?"
"It's definitely hard work, but the main reason is that I'm afraid of death... everyone died in the first two times, who dares to move forward?" Han Erlang obviously didn't want to start this topic, but he could only deal with it. "Go forward.
It means death, and running away means death, so why not try running away."
"If it's so natural, then do you hate me?" Cao Shancheng continued to ask. "I killed many people like you who escaped back that day. Aren't all Zhang Jin Shengjuan's gang like this?"
"How can you hate Fujun?" Han Erlang replied seriously. "Zhang Jinsheng also committed murder. It was Cao Fujun who dealt with him and allowed us and the people of Qinghe to live a stable life again...I
As a surrender soldier, I was not killed. I am grateful to Mr. Cao from the bottom of my heart. If Mr. Cao wants my life, I have nothing to say."
Cao Shancheng was slightly comforted and nodded: "That's good, that's good. In the end, I have an honest and capable person following me, which saves me a lot of worry... I'm too tired, let's take a rest."
Rest, I will leave all the military and political affairs in the city to you."
With that said, he ignored the two county magistrates and went directly back to his back house where he had lived for who knows how many years.
Just like that, the time came to the afternoon. Because they had easily captured Gaotang last night, it was Zhang Dalong who arrived at the foot of the county town ahead of the somewhat confused troops in the middle.
Then, he had Xue Sijiang sent into the city, and asked Cao Shancheng to open the city and surrender before this time tomorrow, and lead his neck to be killed.
Of course Cao Shancheng ignored him.
But Zhang Xing was bored, waiting for the army in the middle to gradually
When they gathered in the city, they picked and chose again and wrote a nonsense announcement in vernacular - "On the Death of Cao Shancheng", and then asked someone to copy several copies, one for the file and one for Xie Minghe to take.