Yu Tianxing clasped his fists with both hands and bowed deeply, saying: "Thanks to your great love, Tianxing will devote himself to death in order to repay your kindness in knowing me."
Hu Xiaotian said: "I will announce the news to everyone tomorrow."
Yu Tianxing said: "Your Majesty, there is no need to announce in a hurry. Although Tianxing has made suggestions, he has not done anything yet and it is difficult to convince the public. If the Yong army can be successfully retreated this time, it would be okay for your Majesty to issue another appointment. The top priority is to recruit fishing boats, fishermen and blacksmiths.
According to my calculations, we probably only have nine days left. If we want to build three pontoon bridges within nine days, time is also very tight. We must gather all the craftsmen to work day and night. As for hiding in the upper reaches to conduct an ambush
People must screen their cronies and must not leak the news in advance. Once Yong Jun is prepared, our plan will definitely come to nothing."
It was dark at night. Hu Xiaotian returned to the courtyard where he lived and saw the lights on in the room. He looked through the crack in the door and saw that Visa was already asleep at the table. Hu Xiaotian quietly walked in and took off his cloak for protection.
Sa draped over shoulders.
However, Visa woke up because of his slight movement. He opened his beautiful eyes, stood up hurriedly, bowed his head and said apologetically: "Weisa didn't know that the master was back, so he actually fell asleep."
Hu Xiaotian smiled and said, "You have worked very hard these past two days."
Visa shook his head and said: "It's not as hard as the master. I'll fetch hot water for the master."
Hu Xiaotian stopped her and said: "No, you go back and rest, I will do it myself."
Visa bit his lips, then went to make a cup of tea for Hu Xiaotian and brought it to him. Hu Xiaotian took a sip of tea and saw that Visa still hadn't left, looking at him with concern. He couldn't help but smile and said, "You still have something to do?"
?"
Visa said: "Master has lost weight recently and seems to have a lot of things on his mind. Why don't you tell me and Visa may be able to share some of your worries." His concern was palpable.
Hu Xiaotian shook his head and said: "It's nothing, don't worry."
Visa nodded and then left the room.
Hu Xiaotian closed the door and remembered the Soldier's Holy Formation that Qiqi had given him. He took it out and read it under the lamp. Although he knew that the Soldier's Saint's Formation was quite mysterious, he was not good at military affairs and could not see it.
How helpful is this book to me now? No matter in any era, talent is the most valuable. Zhu Guanqi's wisdom and profoundness, and Yu Tianxing's arrogance of talent left a deep impression on him. However, Zhu Guanqi was indifferent to fame and fortune. He also made it clear that he did not care about fame and fortune.
Willing to work for Dakang, although Yu Tianxing's plan tonight surprised him, it was not so easy to implement it. Hu Xiaotian felt unprecedented pressure. In the past, he would naturally not have so many scruples, no matter what the opponent was
He is powerful, and even if he gives it a try, he may not be able to win, but he believes that he still has the ability to protect himself. But now, as the city lord of Dongliang County, he still has to protect more than 100,000 lives in the city.
What makes Hu Xiaotian feel embarrassed is that the people of Dongliang County are not united with him. When Dayong's army came, many people even asked for it. The main force to fight this battle could only rely on those refugees. It can be said that Hu Xiaotian
The inner pressure is unprecedented.
Lying on the bed tossing and turning, I put on my clothes and went to the courtyard in the middle of the night. I looked up at the night sky. The bright moon hung half-curved like thin ice in the black velvet sky. In nine days, I would look at the sun. If there were stars in the sky,
The guess is good, then the night of the full moon is when the Great Yong navy launches a large-scale attack on the city. Three thousand versus thirty thousand or even more. Although it is theoretically feasible, it may not be easy to actually fight. In a trance, a dragon appeared in the moonlight
Xiyue's beautiful figure, thinking of her tearful appearance, Hu Xiaotian suddenly felt a throbbing in his heart, and an unspeakable sadness and guilt filled his mind. He didn't even dare to think about Long Xiyue's current whereabouts, and he had been
He thought she had abandoned him, but he didn't expect that the truth was that she was harmed by her sworn brother Zhou Mo.
I wonder if Yiren is okay now? Hu Xiaotian closed his eyes tightly and forced himself not to think about it. The cold night wind blew his face slightly, and Hu Xiaotian realized that tears were flowing out of his face, and he hurriedly raised the back of his hand to wipe away the traces of tears.
. He heard the soft breathing in the distance, and immediately judged that Visa was quietly watching him from a distance, and whispered: "Why don't you go to sleep?"
Wei Sa knew that Hu Xiaotian had discovered his trace, so he timidly walked out from behind the pillars and whispered: "Master!"
Hu Xiaotian slowly turned around, looked at Visa under the moonlight, and said softly: "Go to sleep!"
Visa said: "Visa is willing to do anything for the master."
Hu Xiaotian smiled and said: "I understand your thoughts, don't worry, I will definitely tell you when I need you."
Morning finally arrived, and a winter rain came unexpectedly at dawn. Because of the cold weather, the rain quickly condensed into ice when it fell on the ground, and the temperature suddenly dropped a lot. Xiong Tianba came to report early in the morning, but there was something wrong.
A fishing boat came from the other side, and it was a group of beggars. Because Hu Xiaotian had given an order, Dongliang County would no longer accept refugees for the time being. However, the other party kept saying that he wanted to see Hu Xiaotian and said that he was his old friend, so Xiong Tianba came over.
Report.
Hu Xiaotian heard that a beggar was looking for him. After thinking about it, the beggar he had a relationship with was Grandpa Xu Lingkong. Could it be that his old man was here? He immediately went there with Xiong Tianba.
When I arrived at Xiasha Port, I saw a shabby fishing boat parked on the pier, with about fifty beggars standing on the fishing boat. The garrison on the pier was waiting for them and did not allow them to dock.
Hu Xiaotian rode up to the front and looked up. The beggar standing on the bow of the boat was Zhu Ba. When he was in Kangdu, Zhu Ba once led the beggars to besiege him and Qiqi, so they got acquainted.
Later, when Hu Xiaotian escorted Long Xiyue to Dayong, Zhu Ba specially sent him a map of the distribution of Green Forest forces.
Hu Xiaotian sat on the horse and laughed and said: "Who do I think it is? It's Brother Zhu who is here!" He thought to himself that Zhu Ba would never come for no reason. The last time he gave him the map of the power distribution of Green Forest, he must have been inspired by it.
He accepted the commission from his grandfather, and this time there is a chance that it will be the same. Thinking of his grandfather Xu Lingkong, Hu Xiaotian couldn't help but smile secretly in his heart. He really didn't know what to call him.
Zhu Ba smiled and said: "Master Hu, you are so grand. I came here to find you in the dust, but when I got here, I couldn't even dock the boat. This is not the way to treat guests."
Hu Xiaotian quickly ordered the soldiers to disperse, and Zhu Ba came ashore with dozens of ragged beggars. Zhu Ba grinned, showing his scorched teeth: "Master Hu, these brothers of mine haven't eaten yet.
"
Hu Xiaotian immediately asked Xiong Tianba District to arrange for the military camp to light fires and cook meals to entertain these dozens of beggars.
When the group of beggars followed him to eat, Hu Xiaotian asked Zhu Badian: "Brother Zhu, what do you have to say when you come to Dongliang County this time?"
Zhu Badao: "I heard that you are in trouble. The Yong Navy will come to attack the city soon, so I brought some brothers here to help."
Hu Xiaotian said: "Brother Zhu is really well informed." He lowered his voice and said, "Who asked Brother Zhu to come here?"
Zhu Ba chuckled and said: "Anyway, I promised not to tell others, and you can guess it anyway."
Hu Xiaotian concluded that it must be Xu Lingkong, and he had a little more respect for the old man in his heart. Xu Lingkong still cared about him. He must have a quite respected position in the Beggar Clan, otherwise he would not have persuaded Zhu Ba to come and help.
, but Zhu Ba and dozens of people alone may not be able to help. Hu Xiaotian said: "I appreciate Brother Zhu's kindness, but the Dayong Navy has a large number of people. The force is dozens of times ours, so you still don't need to make this trip.
The waters are muddy.”
Zhu Badao said: "Don't you dislike the fact that we have few people?" He moved closer to Hu Xiaotian and whispered in his ear: "Is there more? Two thousand people will come one after another. All our brothers are worth ten.
A brave man."
Hu Xiaotian was overjoyed when he heard that he could actually mobilize two thousand people.
Zhu Ba chuckled and said, "I'm right. You don't want us to leave anyway. I'm here to repay the favor and have nothing to do with you."
Hu Xiaotian said: "Brother Zhu, go and eat quickly. We will return to the city later. Let's have a good chat."
Zhu Ba hugged his fists and walked away swaggeringly.
Not long after Zhu Ba left, Liang Yinghao, who had gone to Wuxing County to ask for help, returned to Xiasha Port. Hearing that Hu Xiaotian was in Xiasha Port, he immediately came over to meet him.
Seeing Liang Yinghao's depressed face, Hu Xiaotian guessed that his trip was not ideal. He did not immediately ask about the results of his request for help. Instead, he asked with concern: "You haven't eaten yet? Eat first and then talk about it."
Liang Yinghao shook his head, clasped his fists with his hands and bowed deeply to Hu Xiaotian: "Master, I have a great responsibility for you. Please punish me."
Hu Xiaotian held his arm and said: "Yinghao. You don't have to say that. How Wuxing County responds has nothing to do with you."
Liang Yinghao said: "Master, I went to Wuxing County this time to meet with the Navy Admiral Zhao Dengyun."
"How did he say?"
Liang Yinghao said indignantly: "That Zhao Dengyun is a bastard. I told Tang Boxi of Nanyang Water Village that he forced us to hand over Dongliang County. After hearing this, Zhao Dengyun not only did not agree to send troops for reinforcements, but also said that Dongliang County was a useless place. It was a useless place at the beginning.
It is natural for people to take the land of Dayong back now."
Hu Xiaotian said angrily: "Did he really say that?"
Liang Yinghao nodded and said: "It's absolutely true. He also said that His Majesty had already mentioned the matter of Dongliang County. The reason why he has not stationed troops in Dongliang County is because he is afraid that Dayong will go back on his word. Now the country is in an extraordinary period.
There is no need to start a war with Dayong over a city that does not belong to you."
Hu Xiaotian was not surprised that Zhao Dengyun had such a reaction. He raised his eyes and looked at the other side. Due to the drizzle in the sky, the visibility on the river was very poor. There was always a cloud of white mist gathering on the river. With Hu Xiaotian's eyesight, he could not see
Not seeing the scene on the other side, he whispered: "Have you seen Zhao Wusheng?"
Liang Yinghao said: "I saw it. I also told him about the situation we are facing here, but he didn't react at all."
Hu Xiaotian nodded. It seemed that Zhao Wusheng didn't want to wade into this muddy water. He patted Liang Yinghao on the shoulder and said, "Thank you for your hard work. Let's go eat something and have a rest first."
Since Zhao Dengyun has clearly rejected his request for help, he can only rely on himself. At least the situation has improved a lot compared to the beginning. In the next few days, two thousand people from the Beggar Gang will arrive one after another. In addition, he already has
Of the three thousand, the total number of people has reached five thousand. Although the teams are mixed, the disadvantage in numbers has improved after all.
There was a knight coming from a distance, but it was Yu Tianxing who had arrived. He came here early this morning to inspect the situation along the river, but he didn't expect Hu Xiaotian to arrive earlier than him.
Hu Xiaotian heard that Yu Tianxing wanted to take a look along the river, and immediately decided to accompany him. The two of them walked side by side along the bank of the Yongjiang River in the upstream direction. Yu Tianxing stopped at the narrowest place on the nearby river and pointed.
The man in front of the river said: "Sir, this is called Xiaomanyao. It is the narrowest place in the nearby water area. To say narrow is only relative. The distance between the north and south banks is about fifty feet. We can build a pontoon bridge here.
The ships are connected with each other using iron chains, and iron anchors are dropped below the iron chains, forming an iron cable across the river."
Hu Xiaotian said: "Are you going to build three floating bridges here?"
Yu Tianxing said: "The pontoons must be separated by a certain distance, and a pontoon bridge should be set up every fifty feet. When the enemy warships enter the predetermined range, we will send people to outflank them from the rear and use light boats to push the pontoons.
The front part is sharpened, and the surface of the floating raft is coated with tung oil. After it is lit, it flows down the river, and the fire uses the wind to attack the opponent's fleet."
Hu Xiaotian nodded and said: "Wuxing County has clearly rejected my request for help. We can only rely on ourselves."
Yu Tianxing said: "Although the number is insufficient, we can mobilize refugees to tie up the floating rafts."
Hu Xiaotian said: "It's not all bad news. We will have 2,000 reinforcements coming to help in the next two days, which means we can barely have 5,000 troops."
Yu Tianxing said: "Five thousand people are enough! Three thousand people stay here to defend the city, and two thousand people are responsible for outflanking the enemy from behind. Once the fire breaks out upstream, the enemy will speed up to the shore, and they will hit the pontoon bridge at full speed and try to reopen.
A gap, the faster they go, the greater their losses will be. Those who are lucky enough to intercept through the first pontoon may not be able to successfully pass through the second and third pontoons. In that case, they have no choice but to forcibly land ashore. We were there when they were scheduled to land.
Set up an ambush on the shore and give them a second ambush. After these two ambushes, they should lose most of their number, and we should be able to fight them with the remaining troops."
Hu Xiaotian said: "I'm afraid we won't be able to complete the three pontoons in a short time." Fishing boats to build the pontoons are easy to find, but the iron chains connecting the fishing boats may not be completed within nine days. Hu Xiaotian has ordered the blacksmiths in the city to gather to do this.
thing.
Yu Tianxing said: "Sir, don't worry. Every fishing boat has iron chains and anchors. We can directly cut off the anchor chains and use them. All the blacksmith needs to do is to melt and connect these iron chains. As for those anchors, they can be directly connected to
Connected by iron chains, this will naturally get twice the result with half the effort. But even so, relying solely on the blacksmiths in the city is very urgent, and we need to mobilize soldiers from the military camp to help."
Hu Xiaotian said: "What's the difficulty? I'll give the order when I turn around and let them all obey your orders." Don't doubt the people you employ. Since you have decided to adopt Yu Tianxing's opinion, Hu Xiaotian must give him full trust.
Yu Tianxing couldn't help but look excited when he heard this. A scholar dies for his confidant. Although he is full of knowledge and talent, he has never been appreciated by anyone. He only wanted revenge but had no way to serve the country. Unexpectedly, he met Hu Xiaotian in Dongliang County.
, and gained his appreciation. After Yu Tianxing gave Hu Xiaotian advice, he did not have high hopes for it, but he did not expect that Hu Xiaotian would adopt them all and give him such trust. Yu Tianxing was moved and said: "Tianxing will do his best.
I can win this battle for you."
Hu Xiaotian patted his shoulder and said: "It's not for me to win this battle, but for the people of Dongliang County. Defending Dongliang County is equivalent to protecting our home. If we lose this place, even if we can save our lives,
I'm afraid there's nowhere to stay." There was great pride in his heart. Dakang refused to give him any support. Tang Boxi wanted to take this opportunity to capture Dongliang County and give it to the new king as a gift. The more this happened, the more I
The more I don't let you get what you want, just fight. If you want to unite the people and dominate one side, you must rely on war to establish your majesty. If you can defeat more with less this time and defeat the invasion of Dayong Navy, perhaps the pattern of the world will be changed.
will change from now on.
In the camp of Nanyang Water Village, Tang Boxi looked at the map on the table quietly. The city of Dongliang County had no secrets for Dayong. Tang Boxi thought that sending the envoys would be enough to make Hu Xiaotian surrender without any effort.
The soldiers immediately captured Dongliang County, but they did not expect that Hu Xiaotian was so ignorant of current affairs.
At this time, Liu Yuncai asked to see him. After entering the camp, Liu Yuncai beamed with joy and said, "Congratulations, general! Congratulations, general!"
Tang Boxi frowned and said, "Why are you so happy?"
"I just received news from Wuxing County that Zhao Dengyun has rejected Hu Xiaotian's request for help."
Tang Boxi did not feel any surprise and said calmly: "Zhao Dengyun is extremely selfish. He is currently seriously short of military rations. It can be said that the Ni Bodhisattva cannot save himself when crossing the river. How can he still have the energy to take care of Dongliang County's affairs."
Liu Yuncai said: "Then Hu Xiaotian really doesn't know how to praise me. I persuaded him to surrender with nice words, but he refused me flatly. How could a ragtag group of three thousand refugee organizations also want to fight against my army? They simply don't know how to live or die."
, so stupid."
Tang Boxi said: "Hu Xiaotian is not a stupid person. He seems to want to use these three thousand people to defend Dongliang County." In his opinion, Hu Xiaotian can only resist for a while by holding on to the city gate.
Liu Yuncai said: "There is no danger to defend Dongliang County, and the city wall is not very high. If the general can trust me, if I give the general 10,000 troops and ten warships, I will be able to defeat him in less than a day."
Dongliang County captured it and presented it with both hands."
Tang Boxi sneered: "Are you so capable? Why didn't I know?"
Liu Yuncai blushed at what he said, but he thought that if Tang Boxi really agreed to his request, there would be no problem in taking over Dongliang County.
Tang Boxi said: "When two armies are fighting, it is most important to avoid underestimating the enemy. Although he only has three thousand people, a last-ditch battle will definitely bring out all his potential and courage. He must think that after you come back, I heard that he will be furious if he refuses to open the door and surrender."
, will soon send troops to march eastward." He slowly shook his head and said: "I never fight an uncertain battle. Since Zhao Dengyun is unwilling to reinforce, then he has no way out. In a few days, the fifteenth
, the west wind is strongest at this time of year, and our warships can follow the west wind down the river and reach Dongliang County overnight. By the time they realize, we have already reached the city."
Liu Yuncai said: "The general is indeed well-strategized and far-sighted."
Tang Boxi said: "You go and prepare. We must keep our soldiers in the best fighting condition. When the time comes, 20,000 soldiers will be left to guard the camp, and the remaining 30,000 will accompany me to conquer Dongliang County!"
The atmosphere in the White Tiger Hall in Wuxing County was also extremely depressing. Zhao Dengyun, the admiral of the Dakang Navy, had a gloomy face and looked at his nephew Zhao Wusheng coldly: "What did you say?"
Zhao Wusheng said: "Uncle, if we sit back and ignore this, I'm afraid we won't be able to explain it to the court."
Zhao Dengyun chuckled and said: "Are you suggesting that I send troops? The troops and horses have not moved, and the food and grass have gone first. How much rations do we have left? Go to the military port and take a look. Our soldiers are all sallow and thin, and they are extremely weak. How can we fight with them?
Dongliang County was originally the territory of Dayong. Since returning to Dakang, we have never stationed troops. This is also the emperor's intention. It is bordered by Dayong on three sides and the Yongjiang River is behind it. Anyone with a little common sense will understand that if we are in
When troops are stationed in Dongliang County, if a war breaks out, how many people will die. The emperor has long understood the mystery. When I went to the capital to worship, the emperor once told me personally that if Dayong sent troops to Dongliang County, he would simply
Just let it be."
Zhao Wusheng said: "Uncle, Dongliang County is our Dakang land after all. There are more than 100,000 people living in it. Should we just leave them alone?"
Zhao Dengyun said: "You think they are the people of Dakang, but they don't think so in their hearts. They are eager to return to Dayong."
Zhao Wusheng asked: "Are we just going to watch the Dayong army march in and capture Dongliang County without doing anything?"
Zhao Dengyun sighed and said: "We can't protect ourselves now, so how can we have time to take care of their affairs? What's more, if we go to the rescue, it may trigger an all-out war between the two countries. Who will bear this responsibility then?"
Zhao Wusheng felt sad. It seemed that not only Zhao Dengyun had given up on Dongliang County, but also the Dakang court had given up on Dongliang County. The Dakang Empire, which had dominated the Central Plains in the past, had now fallen to such a state, watching helplessly as others occupied its own land.
How sad is it for a Dakang soldier to massacre his own people without daring to resist at all?
Zhao Dengyun said: "Send someone to closely monitor the movements of Dongliang County. If there is any change, report it to me immediately."
"yes!"
Although it’s only one update, it’s a lot, six thousand words! (To be continued)
