In the evening, a group of crows rose from the battlefield and headed north together, causing a group of military sergeants who were cleaning the battlefield and repairing fortifications to look up in surprise. However, the crows disappeared into the night sky in a moment, and some of their crows gradually disappeared.
, the sergeants finally gathered their minds and focused on their work again.
Before dark, after Chief Zhang led almost all the highly cultivated leaders to fight hard and fell into a confrontation, because Xu Shiying took over the Niuda camp in time, and Ma Wei organized Wang Xiongdan, Zhou Xingfan led his troops to attack the camp.
On the east side of the river, we recaptured the main camp and squeezed Bai Liben and his two battalions of the Taiyuan Army. In the end, the enemy army was unable to advance further and had no choice but to retreat after dark, thus bringing today's battle to a temporary end.
After this battle, the morale in the camp seemed to be slightly improved, but in the evening, it seemed a bit low again.
This is something that can't be helped... For the middle and lower-level soldiers in the army, this battle is too hasty. Their reference position is still the large-scale march into the prosperous land in southwest Hebei a month ago. At most, it is a counterattack by the Dongdu army.
, even though it was specially explained before the war, this turn was relatively slow, so facing today's hard battle to defend, I couldn't help but feel a little frustrated; and for the middle and upper levels of the army, they knew the situation better, so
Many people were feeling despair and uneasiness before, but today they were excited to see that the formation was in effect. Chief Zhang held the treasure in his hand and was evenly matched with King Xiongtian and others. However, by the same token, they soon saw that
A new question has arrived.
"Can we take the opportunity to escape tonight?" Xu Shiying asked seriously, surrounded by a brazier in the Chinese army's tent.
At this time, the gang leader was holding one of Xiong Bonan's hands in his own, using the immortal energy to warm it.
"No." It was King Xiongtian who answered Xu Dalang. The most powerful man in the gang took his hand back and raised it high. Then he looked around and said seriously. "You have all seen it today. There is no such thing.
We are afraid that we cannot even stop the Taiyuan Army in the grand formation, let alone Bai Hengqiu, who can win four pieces in a row, and this grand formation is set up based on this camp, so once we set off, he will catch up...
…”
"He was the only one to catch up, so we just scattered and fled." Xu Shiying followed quickly, as if he had other considerations. "You can see from today's battle, from Bai Hengqiu to the Guanlong disciples in the army.
, are not willing to fight with us at all. Their thoughts are still in Kansai, and they just want to give us a hard blow. Now that we have stopped them and demonstrated our strength, the people in Hebei will be aware of it. When they leave,
Let’s just clean up the situation.”
"If that's the case, why not escape before? But why didn't you escape before?" Some unshaven Zhou Xingfan asked seriously. In three and a half years, he was completely different from the aristocratic disciple who followed Zhang Baishou.
"The reason we didn't escape before was because we didn't prove our ability before, or we didn't know whether we could block the other party." Xu Shiying blurted out. "Now it seems that we have this ability. That's enough. We can go."
Now. If you don’t leave..."
"What will happen if you don't leave?" Niuda, with bloodstains on his face, interrupted him coldly.
"You will be beaten to death!" Xu Shiying said sternly. "The King of Heaven made it clear that if you don't leave and can only guard this formation, then I am afraid that the chief and even the central army will not be able to leave, and the others will also be nailed to the spot...
...Although the other party has retreated today, Bai Hengqiu can't get in. But as long as the other party traps us, let alone the rebellion between Xue Changxiong's soldiers and the Cui family, as long as they withstand the reinforcements and logistics, I'm afraid it will be us
To be eaten alive."
"What you said is inconsistent." Niuda still retorted coldly. "You just said that the old thieves are in Kansai and want to leave. So why can't we defeat them?"
Xu Shiying opened his mouth silently.
Wang Shuyong also frowned at this time and responded: "Xu Dalang, what you said is indeed a bit unclear, and if you can't explain things clearly, you won't be able to convince people..."
"If you ask me, there is no need to say what happened in the past. Anyway, it has passed and we have defended it. This means that it was right to stay at that time." Xu Shiren also said from the side. "I just say now, now is to defend or leave...
… Chief Xu has made it clear that the disadvantages of staying are that if you are trapped and surrounded, you will probably be consumed to death, but what about the disadvantages of leaving?”
As Xu Shiren spoke, he actually looked at Ma Wei, who was a little sluggish. The latter was assigned to the Jia Yue camp at the rear early because of his low cultivation level, but he still participated in the command and dispatch of the war in the end.
More vocal.
Ma Wei also saw Xu Shiren's gaze. He hesitated for a moment and was about to speak, but unexpectedly someone took over the words directly.
"The bad thing about leaving is that the whole army will be annihilated!" Cui Suchen leaned on a pillar in the Chinese army's tent and said in shock. "At least now the whole army will be annihilated."
Everyone was surprised, but unlike the previous arguments and discussions, no one spoke to each other at this time... First, they had just learned that Cui Erlang returned due to the rebellion of the Cui family in Qinghe, and that he had risked his life this afternoon.
Yes, I really admire him; secondly, this man is usually taciturn and seldom speaks, but when he spoke at this time, everyone here was very thoughtful. They instantly remembered that he was the supervisor of the Xuzhou camp, Sima.
, who understands military affairs.
"What did Manager Cui say?" After a while, Xiong Bonan came to ask again.
"It's very simple. At this time, the enemy army, mainly the Taiyuan Army, has no reason to be completely discouraged and no longer obey the command because of the setback in the first battle. Moreover, it is several miles away. There is also the Dongdu Army. At that time, there is no reason to
We will stand by and watch while they get closer." Cui Suchen said seriously. "So, the previous dilemma is still there. As long as we make a move, it will not be just Bai Hengqiu who will be chasing us, but an army several times our size.
But we people just scattered and fled, what will happen to these seven battalions of soldiers and horses and all the preparations of the entire army?"
At this point, Cui Suchen looked at Zhou Xingfan: "Brother Zhou, we were unwilling to leave before because we were afraid that we would collapse as soon as we left... Everyone said that we could wait until Bai Hengqiu left before sorting out the situation and people's hearts, but the people's hearts and the situation are...
It changes according to how we respond. The better we do, the easier it will be to deal with the situation. If we don't do well, it will be out of control... That's why Leader Xu has this idea. He is
I want to say that we have done well enough and there is no need to continue taking risks!"
"What do you mean by your Excellency, can we continue to defend?" Xu Shiying said impatiently. "Then I will only say two points... First, continue to defend. We have managed to hold on ourselves, but people outside have not.
Knowing how hard we have worked, when people like Xue Changxiong come and surround us, outsiders will only think that we are locked up and cut off from news, and then people will grow up and become out of control; secondly, before we
We only have a few days to transport food. There is not enough food here, that is, half a month's worth of food. If you want to use it, you can only use it for half a month..."
"I understand." Zhou Xingfan suddenly interrupted Xu Shiying. "It's just a decision... It's the lesser of two harms. If you stay, there will be a lot of more difficult things, but if you leave, that is
If a few people in this room leave, these seven battalions and hundreds of preparations will probably come to nothing... Is this what you mean?"
Xu Shiying said nothing.
"If this is the case, I won't leave." Zhou Xingfan sighed. "It's not that I'm afraid of death, but that although I don't have the ability to condense the elixir and leap, my family background is there. There is still my uncle in Huangzhou, so I am defeated.
It's a complete mess. Those acquaintances on the opposite side will always spare my life, but what about my subordinates? I just took over this armored cavalry battalion, and I suffered so many chess pieces in today's battle, with so many casualties..."
"Then I won't leave either." Wu Jingfeng also put his hand on his chin and interjected.
"But if we run out of food, don't we have to do this again?" Xu Shiying tried to remind him.
"What nonsense is Xu Dalang talking about?" Wang Shuyong finally yelled with his arms in his arms. Under the firelight, everyone had a relatively high level of cultivation. They had already seen that the fingers of his right hand were shaking, and knew that he was hugging his arms at this time to cover up. "No matter what happens in the future.
How can it be as difficult as today? Today has passed, and we can't endure it in the future? Even if we break out later, it won't be as difficult as escaping now, right? Why can't we wait for half a month to run out of food, or ten or eight days before leaving?
"
Xu Shiying hesitated to speak, then glanced at the people present, then suddenly sighed, but then stopped at Zhang Xing.
"We are in the same group, so it is not appropriate to call me brother or address you by your position." Zhang Xing, who had been checking the list of dead members, raised his head, but did not directly ask the most important question. Instead, he seriously reminded him of the title issue.
.
Many people were a little confused, but Xu Shiying himself said that "Your Excellency" was originally angry, but he suddenly realized that he had no choice but to nod and admit his mistake: "I was negligent."
"The question of whether Xu Dalang proposes to go or to defend is right here. Should we raise our hands or should I directly make the decision on military affairs as the commander-in-chief of the army?" Zhang Xing then looked around and asked.
Xu Shiying had already come to a conclusion and did not want to argue, so she immediately replied: "Chief, let's make the decision!"
Wang Shuyong, Niu Da, Jia Yue, and Zhou Xingfan immediately nodded. Zhang Xing was also polite: "Shou!"
Everyone was relieved and Xu Shiying didn't say anything anymore. He had seen clearly just now that Wang Shuyong and Niu Da had decided to stay and continue wrestling with each other. Xiong Bonan also had a vague feeling that Wu Jingfeng and Zhou Xingfan might not continue.
Although he was willing to fight, he was unwilling to retreat for some reason; Cui Suchen was completely opposed to him... and these people basically defended one side.
Among the remaining players, Jia Yue, Wang Xiongdan, and Jia Runshi did not express their opinions and followed Zhang Xing. Ma Wei and Xu Shiren may be hesitant, but in fact they will follow the coach's decision.
Therefore, if Zhang Xingyi said he would keep it, he would naturally keep it.
"I still have to say a few words to explain." Zhang Xing glanced at the only person who strongly requested to retreat, and turned to speak seriously.
"First, Bai Hengqiu used the sons of Guanlong to control the Taiyuan army and brought other soldiers and horses hostage. The most powerful thing is the tyranny of force. We have overcome this. Compared with politics, Bai Hengqiu does not have an advantage here in Hebei.
Nothing can be worse than today, and we can even expect something;
"Secondly, escaping and cleaning up the situation behind is indeed one way. We will leave when we have to, but staying here is also a way to calm people's hearts. The more soldiers and horses come to surround us, the more attention everyone will pay.
The more we do, the more we can persist and show off our abilities;
"Thirdly, the seven elite battalions and hundreds of ready generals are the foundation and core of our army. If they are broken up, it means that their skills are inferior to others, but they cannot give up voluntarily! If you hold on, you may not be able to find a way to retreat!
"
"Finally." Zhang Xing finally looked back at Xu Shiying. "I know what all the people who are unwilling to defend are most worried about... Isn't it just that if we are gone, the people outside will fall apart? Will there be rebellion? Will there be rebellion?
If you surrender, will you separate yourself to protect yourself? Is that right?"
No one said anything, but more than one person looked serious.
"Then let me tell you the last thing. I don't have any great abilities. I can't be a good person if I don't know how to be a martial artist. I have been rebelling for three and a half years. The only thing I have done is to bring everyone together well in the gang... In fact, the gang is so
Big, we are trapped here. There must be people outside who surrender, have other thoughts, and disobey orders... But I believe those are just a few. We have to believe in our peers and believe that there are people in the same ranks who have the same ambitions and ambitions as us.
There are more people with ideas, and they can stabilize the situation." Zhang Xing said slowly. "As I said before, I believe they can withstand the test."
Everyone was silent.
"Now everyone returns to their respective camps." Zhang Xing urged. "Defend carefully to prepare for night attacks, and get enough rest."
Several generals and the big leaders who had arranged their places stood up one after another.
"The King of Heaven will stay here and I will recuperate with you." Zhang Xing stretched out his hand and waved out the rich vitality of immortality.
Most people only heard about it, but most of them just glanced at it and left. Even Ma Wei and Cui Suchen also went to rest in the side tent. Only Xiong Bonan, Jia Runshi and other guards stayed.
Zhang Xing held down the opponent's arm and wrapped it with immortal energy. He vaguely noticed the direction of the opponent's broken forearm bones and moved carefully.
After a pause, Xiong Bonan saw that there were not many people coming and going, and finally took the initiative to say: "Chief, so Xu Dalang actually knows everything, but he decided that those outside could not stand the test and would fall apart.
Do you want to get out first?"
"That's what he meant. At the very least, he thought that Hebei would be in chaos and Henan would take the opportunity to establish its own entity, and then he would have to make a choice." Zhang Xing answered casually. "At the very least, he thought
Maybe I feel that if we continue to hold on, even these ten or so people will fall apart."
"Chief, what you said is very good. I also want to keep it, and I believe you guys. It's just one thing..." King Xiongtian thought for a moment and sighed. "What if, I mean what if, what if it's like Xu Dalang
As worried, what if the outside really falls apart and cannot withstand the test?"
"It sounds like a broken jar, but in fact, if the whole gang falls apart after we are surrounded for a while, then this gang is not worth what we do." Zhang Xing wrote lightly.
"What if it falls apart here too?"
"Then it's the same here, it's not worth mentioning."
"What happens after it's no longer worth mentioning? What happens after it falls apart?" Xiong Bonan couldn't rush her enough. "There has to be something to do, right?"
"After that, those of us who have not fallen apart, whether it is one person or two people, will start over again!" Zhang Xing still wrote lightly. "If the world were just Bai Hengqiu, Cao Che, Xue Changxiong, and Luo Shu
It’s up to us to sort out the world and add some righteousness to it... In the final analysis, they are no match for us."
Xiong Bonan couldn't help laughing.
At the same time, ten miles away, at the central military office of the Taiyuan-Wu'an camp, beside the brazier and in front of the chessboard, Bai Hengqiu put his hands on his hands and laughed: "Duke Duan lost!"
Duan Wei looked down for a long time and then violently threw the chessboard away, causing an uproar, but Bai Hengqiu, who was at the level of a grand master, did not stop him.
"It's Mr. Bai who lost today!" After overturning the chessboard, Duan Wei came forward confidently.
In the open space in front of the chessboard, the seven or eight dignitaries who had come to watch looked at each other in confusion. Even Li Ding couldn't help but raise his eyebrows... Without him, Duan Wei had something in his words.
"Mr. Duan is in trouble." Bai Hengqiu's expression remained unchanged and he smiled calmly. "The most taboo thing in Go is to focus on the corner of the moment and ignore the overall situation. The outcome depends on the overall situation.
To the final count.”
"That's right, that's right." Duan Wei also smiled. "Well said, well said... If you lose here in Hebei, you will lose. Guanxi is still stable. With Guanxi, you can retreat from the Wu clan and win the victory.
If Bashu occupies the eastern capital, then Hebei will be just a piece of meat."
"That's not what they said." Bai Hengqiu still smiled. "Here in Hebei, at least I am not prepared to let go of the enemy in person, and the chance of victory is certain."
"Are you sure about today's battle?" Duan Wei also calmed down slightly, but his joking attitude remained unchanged.
"Yes..." Bai Hengqiu did not hesitate. "The main reason today is that I didn't expect that Zhang San got the Fulong Seal, and there was some support from the local atmosphere in Hebei, so he naturally restrained me. There is nothing I can do about it. It was my mistake."
But that's it. This kind of thing is unlikely to happen again and again... The current situation is that once they try to escape and break through, they will not be able to form a large formation, and without a large formation, it will be Fulong Seal.
You can't fight me even if you have it in hand, which means you will be completely defeated."
"At that time, the soldiers and horses of Dongdu will definitely not sit across the river and watch them escape. They will definitely resist across the river." Duan Wei said seriously. "But what if they are firm and hold on to the end?"
Bai Hengqiu laughed and turned to look at Li Ding: "Li Silang, tell me."
Li Ding stood with his hands tied, and was extremely respectful to his benefactor: "Reporting to Duke Duan, the gang probably got information during the march, and then suddenly decided to stop here and resist on the spot, so they only have two or three days to transfer supplies... I guess
, the camp’s rations are less than half a month.”
"Tsk!" Duan Wei immediately woke up. "Then we just need to keep an eye on them, wait for General Xue to arrive together, and then wait for them to break through and annihilate them in one fell swoop?"
"Logically speaking, this should be the case, but Zhang San cannot be treated with common sense." Bai Hengqiu shook his head. "Mr. Duan, we can't hold back anymore!"
"oh?"
"I hope that Dongdu's troops can be divided into groups to raid the core territory of the army. It is best to cut off the route of their reinforcements from the plains." Bai Hengqiu said sincerely. "As long as there are four to five thousand police posts here, we can separate them.
The river can hold it back...Next, I will also build the camp forward, and when General Xue and the troops from the northwest road come, we can really surround it and seal it."
"How many more days does Mr. Xue have?" Duan Wei asked seriously.
"Look at his speed. He's three days too fast, but four or five days too slow, right?"
"What kind of soldiers are there on the northwest road?"
"There are more than 20,000 troops from Zhaojun, Xiangguojun, and Changshanjun. Together, Feng Wuyi and old Feng are the leaders."
"I see."
"It's not just that Dongdu's soldiers and horses are divided up. When they arrive, everyone surrounds them and then divides them together. On one hand, they go to capture the city and seize the territory, while on the other hand, they eliminate the military forces on the outside of the thieves and suppress them internally. I believe that Zhang San and Xu Shiying, these brave warriors from thousands of miles away, will
A hero can persevere, but I don’t believe that a whole group of thieves can hold on! But if the thieves are to disintegrate and break up, they will eventually become desperate and leave in a hurry. This can be regarded as achieving the goal and the trip was worthwhile." Bai Hengqiu said more and more.
Be sincere.
Duan Wei nodded repeatedly and shook his head again: "Mr. Bai, ah Gong Bai, if you had arranged everyone well like this from the beginning and said nothing else, but just went to fight together today, how could you be forced to retreat?
?”
"Even if you come to fight today, you won't be able to survive. There are also Xiong Bonan, Wu Jingfeng, Xu Shiren, and Xu Shiying who are also very powerful." Bai Hengqiu said seriously.
"Then we have to wait until Mr. Xue arrives?"
"That's right, when Duke Xue arrives, we will also have Duke Huai Tong to attack together." Bai Hengqiu seemed to have already made plans. "It's not just about military affairs, but also about recruiting surrenders, alienating people, and plotting... no matter who the thieves outside surrender,
As long as the city and the troops are raised, they can be recruited. Here, for example, Xu Shiren was once an old subordinate of Duan Gong. Why can't several generals and fellow generals be recruited? There are also Wu Jingfeng and Zhou Xingfan, these two people only have enemies with the Cao family.
, If you are not the same as the thieves, you can give it a try. As long as these people come over and bring more troops, the formation will not be able to be erected. "
Duan Wei nodded again and again, but this time he did not shake his head: "In this way, it can be considered that he has tried his best... Bai Gong is right, the biggest problem among thieves is that there are many good and bad ones. There are many talented people like Zhang San, Xiong Bonan, and Xu Shiying.
There are few bandits, farmers, merchants, powerful men, and they are easily swayed."
Seeing that the other party finally agreed, Bai Hengqiu nodded: "Yes, Chen Bin is narrow-minded, Wei Xuanding is cynical, Dou Lide is reckless and ignorant, Li Shu is self-righteous, and the rest are ridiculous... none of them can be compared."
To be honest, even though Bai Hengqiu is so calm and unfazed by victory or defeat, tonight he invited Duan Wei over and allowed him to drop the chessboard, but he still had to explain his follow-up plan with a shy face.
Asking the other party to cooperate is actually asking for help in a cowardly way.
I just lost the battle and am here to ask for help!
It would be weird if it wasn't bad.
Duan Wei on the other side finished thinking and finally felt that he had nothing to say. He glanced at someone and saw someone. His heart moved slightly and he took the initiative to ask: "Li Silang!"
"Mr. Duan." Li Ding remained humble when facing his old boss and benefactor.
"You are a great talent in military affairs. Do you have anything to add?" Duan Wei asked seriously.
"Yes." Li Ding thought for a moment and immediately looked at Bai Hengqiu. "Mr. Bai, Zhang San only has half a month's rations, but we have so many soldiers. It is estimated that there will be more than 100,000 soldiers together in the end. What about the logistics and rations?"
Bai Hengqiu was stunned for a moment when he was asked, and then laughed: "Didn't Liyang Granary just open, and there are grains everywhere around it?"
Li Ding also smiled: "What does Mr. Bai mean by setting up an army to plunder?"
Bai Hengqiu wanted to nod, but suddenly realized: "Li Silang is worried that we will leave, and you can't hold it back?"
"If we lose people's hearts, I will definitely be no match for Zhang San." Li Ding nodded immediately. "But with all due respect, I am more worried that before I can take over, we will be manipulated by Zhang San because we have lost people's hearts.
You will suffer a big loss on the spot."
Bai Hengqiu disagreed: "According to your opinion, it is to be transferred from the remaining grain in Liyang warehouse? But for the transfer, the civilians must be recruited on the spot, right?"
Li Ding remained silent, but his attitude was already obvious.
If Bai Liben, Sun Shunde and others hadn't suffered so much today, they would have ridiculed him.
Dou Qi, on the other hand, said seriously: "I have to be careful, the people in Hebei are still suspicious of us, otherwise Zhang Xing would not have developed so fast in Hebei."
"I have an idea." Duan Wei suddenly said. "Just let Wuyang County transport the grain. Let Yuanbaocun do it. Isn't he a court official? I am the Minister of the Ministry of War. I will give him the next formal document and let him transport it.
, we don’t care!”
Anyway, someone from Hebei must do this job, or come up with this thing... Not only Bai Hengqiu, Li Ding, and Dou Qi thought so, but they were facing Duan Wei. Bai Hengqiu wanted something from him, and Li Ding was
Who would say it out loud if it was promoted by others?