Bowls of piping hot porridge were brought out, with leftover mutton sprinkled on the hot porridge.
The mutton was chopped and poured into the porridge, then a small spoonful of salt was added and stirred well. Then bowls of mutton porridge were brought to the soldiers of Guangrui Army.
The soldiers of Guang Rui took a bite of the porridge with wooden spoons and poured it into their stomachs regardless of the heat. Some people took out the dry food they brought with them and just chewed the porridge, for fear of eating too fast and choking.
gourmet food.
The heavy rain fell heavily, hitting the walls and floor tiles of Weiyuan Fort.
The soldiers squatted in the mud, holding up their bowls and eating. Bowls of hot mutton porridge were handed to their hands, which instantly warmed their hearts that were cold due to suspicion, desolation, and displacement.
Guang Rui's soldiers ate the mutton porridge greedily, and several of them held bowls with porridge in their mouths, but they couldn't swallow it, so they couldn't help crying.
A strong wind blew, the bonfire swayed, and after a period of flickering light and dark, Zhang Yue took a deep breath of the cold air.
Zhang Yue, the magistrate of Xizhou, was only in name only, and the only land he controlled was Weiyuan Castle. The center of Xizhou was Lintao City, which is now occupied by Mu Zheng.
There are two roads from Weiyuan Fort to Lintao City. One road goes over Niaoshu Mountain, passes through Qingping Fort, and follows Dongyu Valley to Lintao City. The other road goes through Zhuniuling, along Mobang Mountain and passes through Huichuan City.
Lintao.
As long as Lintao City is captured, Zhang Yue can live up to his name and radiate throughout Xizhou.
Now, under Zhiyuan's persuasion, Jiewu Chila has become a naturalized member of the Song Dynasty. As long as Zhang Yue raises his troops to the north, he can attack Jiewu Chila from the north and south at Mu Zheng under Lintao City, and Xizhou will be captured in one battle.
The reason why Zhang Yue is not sending troops now is because of supply line problems.
It is nearly 200 miles from Gu Wei (Tongyuan Army) to Lintao. Even if we send troops to capture it, we cannot defend it, and in the end it will be advantageous to others. Therefore, we must send troops from Weiyuan or Qingping Fort. Only in this way can it be included in the governance of the Song Dynasty.
, officially expanded the territory of our dynasty to Xizhou.
This is also the reason why Zhang Yue built Weiyuan and Qingping Second Fort.
This Qingping Fort was originally called Qishen Ping Fort. It was occupied by the Munrojiao and Moershuiba tribes who were attached to Muzheng. Wang Shao led his army to defeat the two tribes and changed its name to Qingping Fort.
Zhang Yue of Qingping Fort inspected it and found that the city wall was ready-made and only needed some minor repairs.
However, Qingping Fort only had more than 300 steps and could not accommodate many troops. Zhang Yue planned to wait until Weiyuan Fort was completed, then lead his troops to Qingping Fort and build a 500-step fort.
As long as these two forts are built, troops can be garrisoned here, and grain and grass can be continuously sent to these two forts from the ancient Wei village. Only then can we attack Lintao City and conquer Mu Zheng.
To be honest, Mu Zheng is really pitiful. He has always been deferential to the Song Dynasty. He is also the official governor of Hezhou. He is nominally a courtier of the Song Dynasty. He has no enmity or enmity with Zhang Yue. However, these big plans for the imperial court's strategy are not
Not worth mentioning.
Because it was difficult to eat salt, Zhang Yue unkindly occupied several salt wells near Weiyuan Fort.
When Mu Zheng found out, he was very angry and sent an envoy to question Zhang Yue, saying that Wang Shao and I made an oath that the Song army would not take the area around Weiyuan City, and they would not farm fields and take salt wells here. Why did you break your promise?
Zhang Yue helplessly spread his hands and said, this is the oath sworn by you Mu Zheng and Wang Shao, what does it have to do with me?
The messenger went back to report the situation with a depressed look on his face. He also taught Mu Zheng a proverb that Zhang Yue brought to him: "New officials ignore old accounts."
The next day, more than 3,000 Guangrui troops who set off from Qingzhou arrived at Weiyuan, and in the end, less than 2,500 people were left.
When they arrived at Weiyuan Fort, everyone was in ragged clothes, as if they were a group of beggars, and where were the once proud Imperial Guards.
Zhang Yue inquired about the situation and found out that they had been rebels. Therefore, the prefectures and counties along the way were very vigilant and stationed them far outside the city. They were not allowed to enter the military camp in the city. As for the provisions, they were not given enough, only one-half or
One-third like that.
Many people starved to death on the road.
As for their family members who are still on the road from Gyeongju to Qinzhou, why not arrange to go together? Because they have to be used as hostages.
Zhang Yue stood at the top of the city, looked at them, and said loudly: "I know that you have trekked here from Gyeongju. It has been a hard journey."
, but this is just the beginning, it will be more difficult in the future.”
The drizzle hit the soldiers' heads, but everyone remained silent.
"I have heard all about you. You once fought a bloody battle with the elite soldiers of the party at the gate of Dashun City. You couldn't defeat Bu Ba Zi. Even the iron kite couldn't force you to take half a step. You even shot and wounded the puppet leader Li Liang and beat him badly.
One hundred thousand party troops fled!"
"But Wang Wenliang took your merits for himself and pushed all the losses of the defeated army onto you, causing Yu Hou Wu Kui to be imprisoned, and you became rebels."
"For the record, Sheriff, we are not rebels!" a soldier from Guangrui said.
"Not rebels? How can they prove your loyalty?"
The whole place was silent.
Zhang Yue said: "You came to Weiyuan to guard the border. The word "guardian" was regarded as a lowly servant in this dynasty, and it was the return of assassins and desperadoes. There is a saying in the poem, when you went to guard the border, Li Zheng wrapped your heads. Now,
When your hair turns gray, you still have to go guard the border, and eventually you die in a foreign country."
"Is it hard to guard the border? It is hard. There are days with no end in sight, only suffering. However, this is where our loyalty lies. We who are guarding the border are by no means lowly servants, nor are we those who assassinate and join the army, but are here to serve
The country protects its borders."
"Without our contribution, how could the people in Guanzhong have a comfortable meal?"
After listening to Zhang Yue's words, Sergeant Guang Rui gradually raised his head and his expression became angry.
Zhang Yue said: "Today I have agreed with you for a period of two years. After two years, you can go or stay as you please. I will never force you to do so, and I will let you off the hook. You can go back to Qingzhou or other places if you like!"
"But now you must prove to me here that you are loyal. This loyalty is not to me, but to the country! Are you willing to clear yourself of the charges? Do you dare to say this?
Blood spilled on the ground? Can you follow me to defend the country's borders?"
Countless arms were raised to the sky, and the response was a roar like waves.
"I am willing to follow the governor and defend the country's borders!"
Not only the Guangrui Army, but also the Song Army, which had been following Zhang Yue for a long time, was like this.
"We are not thieves to build an army, but to defend the country's borders. That's right, that's what Commander Zhang said."
Word like this spread among the army.
Immediately, the soldiers of Guangrui Army put on new clothes, wrapped their heads again, and put on Fan Yangli.
All the soldiers took the food and had a hearty meal.
No one said a word, but the silence and calm contained terrible power.
It was already dark now, and the sky was like a big tent covering the land of Weiyuan.
The warm lights extend from the top of Weiyuan Castle to the river bed, and countless lights swaying in the wind stretch across the river valley.
Counting carefully, there were more lights and tents than before.
The Qiang flute sounded resentfully in the river valley, accompanied by the sound of the rapids and waves, spreading far away.
With the addition of Guang Rui's army, the Song army's power at the source of the Weishui River became stronger.
