In the end, Su Lu did not pursue the retreating Thule soldiers.
After more than a dozen bloody battles, there were less than 3,000 guards left in Guancheng. If they wanted to pursue Thule, they would have to leave at least 2,000 guards to defend the city. Su Lu didn't think he could outnumber ten by a mere 1,000.
Su Lu could only watch helplessly as the Thule army retreated.
Five days later, Su Lu was lying on the city wall basking in the sun when the guardsmen guarding the city woke him up: "Captain, reinforcements are coming."
Reinforcements are coming?
Su Lu lifted up the blanket on his body and looked at the brightly armored guards below the city. He couldn't help but spat angrily: "It's so slow to get here."
Seeing the guards at the top of the city who were also looking unhappy, Su Lu ordered: "Shout out, everyone. If you are not happy that the reinforcements are coming, shout out."
Weak cheers rang out from the top of the city.
"Rescue has finally arrived!"
"You are here, dear mother!"
The city gate opened, and Su Lu stood on the ground, facing the guard commander who was riding up, with a look of displeasure on his face.
Zhang Lu rode up and saluted Su Lu with his fists clasped in front of his chest and his voice was respectful:
"I met Governor Su. Zhang came late. I hope to atone for my sins."
Su Lu asked Zhang Lu: "The people who attacked the city that day were tens of thousands of Thule soldiers. Your army is here to save them, and there are not enough men and horses."
Zhang Lu said with a smile on his face:
"Captain Shao Ye is responsible for commanding the army. There are 15,000 troops in three armies in our headquarters. On the Zhengqu line, Commander Shao Ye and I have divided our forces. Governor Shao Ye has led the army to pursue the Tule people. I came to replace the governor and guard the Jade River.
Door."
No matter how Su Lu changed his face, Zhang Lu was always smiling. Without him, it was just that he made the decision to camp too slowly and arrived too late.
If the camp had made an early decision and dispatched troops five days earlier, most of Thule could be blocked under the Jade Gate. With the cooperation of the Soviet Army, which was invincible in infantry combat, it would have been possible to completely annihilate the guard.
This is Xingying's debt to Su Lu.
Su Lu was so angry that he turned around and gave instructions:
"Li Kun, give the order to go down, break camp, and prepare to return to the army. By the way, I want to ask those women and children whether they want to stay in Yumen or return to Beiyang with us. All those who want to return to Beiyang are taken away."
Li Kun responded and went.
Su Ping grabbed Li Kun and lowered his voice and said:
"The female medical officer named Song Xiaocao must be taken away. She can save lives at critical times."
Li Kun nodded and turned around. He also had people he needed to take away, and Xiaomi and her daughter had to be taken away.
Half an hour later, the guards were assembled and ready to go. Su Lu exchanged official credentials with Zhang Lu and led the army to set off.
Marching all the way, when passing by Zheng Qu, Li Xiaoqin stood beside Zheng Qu, looking at Lintao Mountain in the distance, silently recited the Liangzhou Ci, then rode up to catch up with Su Lu, and said in an envious tone:
"Captain, if you go to the Bada Hutong, you don't need any money, you will definitely be treated as a distinguished guest, and the girls from all the families will definitely chase you."
Su Lu looked displeased: "Director Li, you only know how to eat the king's meals and pick up the king's girls. This is a family tradition for your son."
Li Xiaoqin's face turned red, but he still argued: "It's different, it's different, Governor, you have made great achievements this time, and you might be promoted to a capital official. When the time comes, I will protect you when you go to the capital."
Speaking of rewards, Su Lu pinched his chin and asked Li Xiaoqin, who looked proud: "Old Li, according to your judgment, how big a reward can we get this time?"
Li Xiaoqin pondered for a moment: "My guilt in causing Ding Jun's mutiny must be gone."
Su Ping, Li Kun, and Fatty Zhao, who came over to listen to the award, slapped Li Xiaoqin on the face one after another, making Li Xiaoqin scream.
"Stop fighting, I said, I said, this time the governor must have done the most credit. He led the army to cross Lintao, recaptured Yumen, defended the city for fifteen days, and blocked the Thule army's return path."
"If Governor Shao Ye can arrive before Thule breaks the arch and moves the pass and blocks the great attaché of Thule, his contribution will be second only to the Governor."
Su Lu was delighted when he heard this: "The problem is that he didn't do it well."
Based on the experience of dozens of battles, Su Lu had some understanding of the Thule general who led the army this time. He was as cunning as a fox and would withdraw immediately if there was anything he could not do. Facing Gongqian Pass this time, all the troops must be overwhelmed.
Come on, Shao Ye, who came five days late, will definitely not be able to keep up.
Li Xiaoqin was stunned when he heard this, with a slightly surprised look on his face:
"In this case, Shao Ye has made a mistake. He allowed the Thule army to break the Gongqian Pass and escape back to the grassland. Xingying will definitely not bear the heavy responsibility. Then only Shao Ye can bear it."
Su Lu thought thoughtfully after hearing this. In Beiyang, Enshang was selected by the Xuan Mansion. He had no one in his court. If he really got into trouble with a powerful figure in the future, his life would probably be over.
Just like Shao Ye, although the battle has not yet started, the outcome is already determined.
He disobeyed military orders and went beyond expectations, which resulted in the Gongqian Pass being breached and the Beizheng Army suffering heavy casualties. This was all his fault.
It is conceivable that there are still countless stigmas that will fall on his head. If one day he loses the battle, I am afraid he will end up in the world he is in today.
I need to find a way to transfer away!
Su Lu thought about his own path and frowned. He wanted to be transferred from Beiyang, but he would have to find a way to offend others when he returned.
After several days of marching, Su Lu led his army to the camp in Beiyang and handed over his errands.
When Su Lu returned to his house, he saw that the dilapidated house had been renovated, and the originally narrow gate turned into a spacious gatehouse with carved beams and painted pillars, which was very grand.
This is the Jiedu Mansion's reward.
After entering the inner courtyard, I heard a burst of laughter like silver bells coming from the hall, and Li Qing's voice came from the hall:
"This time your brother has made great achievements. Although he failed to complete his achievements in one battle, your brother's achievements cannot be erased. I have already written a letter to express your brother's achievements to the emperor."
Su Yun's voice was pleasant: "Sister Qing, don't ask. I really don't know if it was written by my brother. You know, I don't understand poetry. I have never seen him write this at home."
Erniu said in a pleasant tone: "It must have been written by an adult."
Li Qing and Su Yun asked in surprise at the same time: "Do you know?"
Erniu said weakly: "Only adults in Beiyang are good at writing poems."
Su Yun and Li Qing laughed at the same time. At this time, Su Lu entered the hall and saw Li Qing, his voice was low.
"Princess, Su Lu has something to ask for."
A trace of surprise flashed across Li Qingqiao's face, but she still said seriously: "You tell me, I will definitely help you if you can do it."
Su Lu held his fists in front of his chest and saluted Li Qing:
"The princess knew that Su Yun and I were from Hewan Village, and our village was burned down by Thule soldiers. Later, I investigated and found that the marching route of the Thule soldiers should have been directly to the Nanguan camp. When they passed south
In the process of closing the camp, only two villages were massacred."
"In the two villages that were massacred, there were people who had a grudge against Jiang Changfu, the guerrilla general of Dongtang Camp, and some people witnessed with their own eyes that Jiang Changfu participated in the massacre of the villages."
Su Lu's gesture of clasping his fists and saluting remained unchanged, and his voice was firm:
"Princess, I have accomplished great feats this time. Not to mention anything else, just this Great Fu Shi gold medal and the two feats of capturing Yangguan are not incredible, but they are not small either.
I am willing to use this meritorious service in exchange for the imperial court’s thorough investigation of the guerrilla general Jiang Changfu, the Dongtang Camp, and the high-level officials of the Xuanfu Jiedu Prefecture.”
Li Qing's expression changed instantly, the blush on his cheeks disappeared, and his voice became unnatural:
"Haven't the spies in Dongtang Camp been thoroughly investigated? Why, are there still undiscovered spies?"
Su Lu said categorically: "That's why I said that we need to thoroughly investigate the senior officials of Xuanfu to find out who is covering up Jiang Changfu, who must be a spy, the head coach of Dongtang Camp, or a senior official of Jiedufu."
Li Qing's face turned pale and his voice was hoarse:
"You have to think carefully. In this war, your position will definitely be promoted to the level of governor or even the promotion officer of Jiedu Mansion, and your title will be at least General Dingyuan. Are you really willing to exchange for this thorough investigation?
?"
"Jiang Changfu is protected by someone. A thorough investigation by the imperial court may not necessarily lead to results. Jiang Changfu's backer may be in the Xuanfu or within the court."