Outside Dingzhou City, a puff of dust and smoke came from a distance, followed by the rumble of hoofbeats that shook the earth.
Xue Xiao, who had received the news in advance and stood at the top of the city, had his cheeks twitching.
Not only him, but all the officials in Dingzhou City were a little nervous and a little scared.
Shang Chaozong, the general who countered the rebellion, designated the capital of Dingzhou as a gathering place for Nanzhou troops. People from the Nanzhou border continued to gather from the southwest.
The reason why they were afraid was because they were worried that the Shang Dynasty's suppression of the rebellion was false, but that they were taking the opportunity to attack the capital city of Dingzhou.
But who dares to say something without evidence? But there is nothing to stop it.
The war was so urgent that the Shang Chaozong did not even mobilize the troops from the western part of Nanzhou, but directly sent the troops from the eastern part of Nanzhou to go ahead to avoid the delay of gathering and going back. This was also a reasonable thing. The Shang Chaozong insisted that this was the best place to assemble.
As a counter-rebellion general, it is up to others to decide how to use the troops. What happens if Dingzhou refuses? Do you want to delay the war?
The rumbling cavalry came with momentum like an overwhelming force. When they arrived outside the city and ordered to stop, they were as quiet as a mountain in the diffuse dust and smoke, with a large flag with the word "Shang" standing on it.
At the top of the city, Wan Qingyan, the head of the Xianyun Sect standing next to Xue Xiao, asked, "Could this be the Yingyang Wu Liewei?" Seeing Xue Xiao nodding slightly, he couldn't help but praise, "Just this move.
His murderous military appearance, as quiet as a virgin, is as fast as thunder, and his reputation is well-deserved!"
Seeing that the other party had no intention of attacking, Xue Xiao quickly turned around without saying anything, led a group of people down the tower, and then got on their horses and left the city.
"My lord, you have worked hard all the way!"
When he met Shang Chaozong in the army, Xue Xiao, who was sitting on horseback, laughed and saluted with his hands raised, and glanced at the female general holding a spear next to Shang Chaozong.
The dusty Shang Chaozong sat on his horse indifferently and said expressionlessly: "Are the war horses and food and grass ready?"
Xue Xiao was a little embarrassed, but still smiled and replied: "Of course the food and grass for the army to chew on the way have been prepared, and three thousand war horses have also been gathered."
Ga Miaoshui rode out of the queue, got between the two of them, and softened his words for Xue Xiao: "The army is tired from running around, Master Xue might as well welcome the prince into the city to rest first."
"Okay, okay!" Xue Xiao turned his mount to greet him, "Your Majesty, please!"
Shang Chaozong remained indifferent and continued to ask: "How many people from Nanzhou have come?"
Xue Xiao had no choice but to reply: "Currently there are less than 30,000 people, and they have camped five miles away from here." He pointed in the direction.
Shang Chaozong turned his mount around, struck the horse's belly with his legs, and galloped out first, heading in the direction of his finger.
Feng Ruonan rode up to catch up, followed by 20,000 cavalry like dragons.
After a while of commotion, only Xue Xiao, Ga Miaoshui and others were left at the scene, looking at each other speechlessly.
"What the hell? I kindly prepared something to reward the army, but I don't appreciate it." Xue Xiao couldn't help but curse.
Ga Miaoshui waved his hand, "Forget it, this is not the time to worry about this. If he doesn't enter the city, it will save you trouble. Send the things to reward the army and send them to the military camp where the troops are stationed in Nanzhou."
He didn't stay long, and led several eunuchs to follow him.
After a while, a group of people came out of the city, carrying pigs and sheep, chickens, ducks and fish, pushing carts of wine, and rushed to the Nanzhou Military Camp...
There were about 30,000 people at the temporary garrison of the Nanzhou army, and there were still more people coming from behind, but they were not as fast as Shang Chaozong, who set off later and was farther away. There was no way, Shang Chaozong led the cavalry.
As soon as Shang Chaozong reunited with his troops who had arrived earlier, he immediately ordered to take time to rest.
The gifts sent from the capital city of Dingzhou were not polite. What should be eaten was eaten, but what should be drunk was not touched at all. Whoever sent it was taken back by the same person.
The Shang Chaozong continued the rules from the Ning King's period. The army was not allowed to drink during battles. If it was necessary to drink, it was to drink celebratory wine after the war.
At the dinner table, Ga Miaoshui, who had returned from the camp, asked, "How long will it take for the 400,000 troops to arrive?"
The imperial court was satisfied with the troops dispatched by Nanzhou this time.
Nanzhou originally had 800,000 troops, but most of them were from the Tianyumen lineage.
After the Nanzhou power seizure occurred, how could the Shang Dynasty Zong rest assured that they would rather keep their talents and not overuse their resources? The 800,000 horses were purged by the Shang Dynasty Zong into 500,000.
Only a small part of the 300,000 people who were purged were killed, and the rest were all disbanded and became citizens.
Although due to financial problems, Nanzhou had the largest number of troops among the various princes, but with 500,000 people on hand, they were willing to dispatch 400,000 to quell the rebellion, so the court had nothing to say.
Compared with those princes who are only willing to send out 200,000 troops out of 400,000, their sincerity is not much better.
Zongdao of the Shang Dynasty: "I have given an order for all the people and horses to march in a hurry, covering two hundred miles a day!"
Ga Miaoshui was afraid of delays here. Hearing this, he felt relieved and nodded.
After the army rested, Shang Chaozong ordered to set off again.
After hearing the news, Ga Miaoshui came out of the camp, caught up with Shang Chaozong who had jumped on his horse and asked urgently, "Your Majesty, the army has not been assembled, why are we setting off now?"
"After the follow-up army gathers here, it will rush to the next assembly point. The military situation is urgent, and my forward troops must be in place first! At the same time, I will supervise all the way. If there are any slackers in the preparations in the various prefectures, don't blame our ruthless military law, they will be killed without mercy!"
Shang Chaozong dropped the words and led the army on the road again.
Ga Miaoshui looked stern, and quickly asked his entourage to summon the court, and asked the court to step up supervision of the officials of the various states. Shang Chaozong was so murderous, if he really ran into the hands of Shang Chaozong, he would be killed by then, and he would not even be able to find a place to reason.
arrive.
At the same time, I am also relieved. Zong Ruozhen of the Shang Dynasty is marching forward with 400,000 horses. It is really a worrying thing. Once something changes, it will be very troublesome.
After all, the court was still a little worried about using Nanzhou's troops, so Fang sent him to supervise all the way. If something was wrong, report it immediately!
After he led his men to catch up with the Shang Chaozong, he discovered something was wrong. Most of the 30,000 troops assembled were infantry. They could not keep up with the Shang Chaozong's cavalry, and almost all of them were left behind by the Shang Chaozong.
When I asked the Shang Chaozong why, the Shang Chaozong still had the same reason.
Because Xue Xiao hurriedly gathered 3,000 war horses, Shang Chaozong's cavalry lineup was accompanied by 3,000 more cavalry.
Many of them are not cavalrymen and can only learn through practice along the way.
Under the murderous persecution of Shang Chaozong, the state government, which received military orders along the way, worked hard to get the war horses he needed.
However, Shang Chaozong did not need it for the time being. He only needed to confirm that it was in place first, and then he led his men and horses to continue moving forward. The war horses were not taken away, leaving the infantry who arrived behind to catch up.
This is true all the way!
Ga Miaoshui secretly praised the Shang Chaozong for his speed in deploying troops. If all the princes had such a desire to suppress the rebellion, there would be no need to worry about the rebels being destroyed.
It wasn't until the Shang Chaozong officially stopped and set up camp in Jiezhou that Gamiaoshui realized something was wrong!
The wrong information came from Xue Xiao in Dingzhou, saying that there were no more anti-rebellion troops from Nanzhou crossing the border in Dingzhou.
Immediately afterwards, another news came from the eyes and ears in Nanzhou. After some movements, the troops in various places in Nanzhou had stopped. They had all stabilized and there was no sign of sending more troops.
According to statistical information along the way, it is estimated that Nanzhou only sent 100,000 troops. What is going on?
Ga Miaoshui realized something was wrong and immediately broke into Shang Chaozong's Chinese military tent. Outside the tent, he saw only Shang Chaozong, Meng Shanming and others as well as a group of generals discussing matters inside the tent.
Everyone in the tent turned around or looked up to look at the blocked Gamiao water outside the tent.
Shang Chaozong waved his hand and the monks and guards outside let Gamiao Shui in.
When Ga Miaoshui met, he asked with a calm face: "Your Majesty, where are the 400,000 horses?"
Shang Chaozong said calmly: "The people and horses are naturally on the way."
His demeanor changed when he was marching and fighting, and he was quite like his father, King Ning.
Ga Miaoshui said in a deep voice: "That's not right! As far as I know, Nanzhou has stopped people from leaving the country. The number of people on the way, including the prince's, is only about 100,000 at most!"
Shang Chaozong: "So what if there are 100,000 troops?"
Ga Miaoshui took two steps forward and confronted him across the table, "Your Majesty has agreed on 400,000 troops, and I have reported it to the court. Now that 400,000 has become 100,000, how can I explain to the court?"
Shang Chaozong: "Soldiers never tire of deceit, and there are many eyes and ears in the imperial court. How can I, the king, allow confidential military information to be easily leaked?"
Ga Miaoshui: "Two million rebels gathered at Wu Gongling. How can a hundred thousand troops quell the rebellion?"
Shang Chaozong: "One hundred thousand cavalry is enough! Aren't there also five armies of the princes?"
One hundred thousand cavalry... Ga Miaoshui was suddenly startled. He seemed to finally understand the opponent's arrangement. The purpose was to allow all the infantry in Nanzhou to have mounts. The so-called 400,000 cavalry was just a blindfold!
Shang Chaozong ignored him, looked to the left and right, and asked, "Do you understand the layout just now?"
"Understood!" All the generals responded with their hands raised.
The Shang Dynasty Zong's face was as dark as water, and he said coldly: "The war is about to begin. Military discipline must be strictly enforced, and military law is like a mountain that cannot be taken down! Immediately pass on my military law to the five princes, and my troops will serve as law enforcement and supervisors. They will only suppress the princes, not the rebels."
Army! Wherever the counter-insurgency war order reaches, those who delay the fight will be destroyed! Those who delay the opportunity to fight will be destroyed! Those who escape before the battle will be destroyed! Those who are lazy and ineffective in fighting will be destroyed!"
"Yes!" All the generals held their hands and accepted the order and dispersed.
Only suppress the princes, not the rebels! Ga Miaoshui was stunned on the spot, and until everyone in the tent was gone, he still had not recovered from the "four destructions".
Not far outside the tent, Luo Daan pushed Meng Shanming who was sitting in a wheelchair.
Huang Lie walked with his hands behind his back and walked beside him. He looked back at the dull figure in the tent and couldn't help but laugh. He had just learned that Nanzhou only sent 100,000 people to the expedition. The previous movements of Nanzhou's troops were all an illusion.
It was really hard for him to hide it.
"Commander Meng, can a mere 100,000 men supervise the five princes?" Huang Lie was worried.
Meng Shanming: "It's okay to disobey military orders. We'll beat anyone who doesn't obey orders! At this juncture, if we dare to fight them, will they dare to fight us? My 100,000 horses are all cavalry, and they can't even run away if they want to.
!”
"Haha!" Huang Lie couldn't help but laugh out loud, and clapped his hands softly: "He turned all 100,000 horses into cavalry without making a move. It's wonderful, wonderful, it's such a secret!"
Meng Shan sighed and said: "Oh, the prince has no choice but to do this. Just like the emperor's worries before, the imperial court and I are not of the same mind. After the war, they will cross the river and demolish the bridge at any time. Once our food and grass are cut off, the whole army will be annihilated."
With these 100,000 war horses in hand, we can kill them to satisfy our hunger when necessary, enough to support our return to Nanzhou. If not, why should we do this!"
PS: Two gangs of heroes, good things come in pairs, congratulations on the birth of the new leader "Mobile Number 0040" and "Ruyu^_^Golden House", thank you for your support!