After dark, the Luoyan Army was dispatched in batches and began to set up defense lines and build fortifications overnight. As the young and strong people of the village followed Qin Chuncao to the camp, the manpower increased by 3,000 people. There was a lively and busy scene up and down the pass and the hillsides on both sides.
.
In the camp, Lin Hu lined up with a thousand fully armed soldiers. These were elites selected from the former army and were about to follow Lin Hu to the front to carry out the containment mission.
After the formation was completed, Gao Muqing came to review in person.
"Brothers, you, a thousand people, are the key to the whole plan. If you want to surround and kill the Jurchens under the mountain col, you must tie the mouth of the bag tightly so that they cannot get out after they enter. In the specific situation, General Lin Hu should
I've made it clear to you, so I won't say more. I just want to tell you the importance and danger of this mission. To put it bluntly, many of you will most likely not be able to come back. I hope you understand this. If
You are not prepared, and it is too late to quit now. There is no shame in that. I don’t want you to have regrets and timidity in your hearts. If you have the slightest timidity, you will not be able to complete this important mission." Gao Muqing's voice echoed in the night breeze.
It's cold and serious.
The soldiers were silent. Lin Hu shouted sharply: "Are you all mute? The general asked you if you are afraid of death. If you are afraid of death, you will withdraw immediately. Why don't you answer?"
All the soldiers shouted in unison: "Please rest assured, General, we have made all preparations. We are willing to pay any price to complete the mission and will not be afraid."
Gao Muqing nodded slightly and said: "Okay, we are all hot-blooded and brave brothers, good soldiers of the Luoyan Army. Although this trip is extremely dangerous, I still hope that you can complete the mission safely and return in triumph. Come, serve wine, and give
Farewell, brothers."
After the wine was filled, Gao Muqing held a cup of rice wine in his hand, raised it high and said: "Come, drink this bowl of wine, I wish you victory and a triumphant return."
All the soldiers held wine cups and said in unison: "Thank you, General Gao."
Lin Hu held the wine cup and shouted in a deep voice: "It's done."
Everyone raised the wine cup and drank it up. Lin Hu threw the wine cup to the ground, bowed to Gao Muqing and said, "Auntie, Xiaohu is gone."
Gao Muqing breathed a sigh of relief, stepped forward and patted Lin Hu on the shoulder, saying softly: "Use your brain more and adapt to changes. Don't embarrass your Uncle Lin Jue. How many people are watching you when you go. But don't be too stressed.
Don't force it. It really can't be done... Your life is at stake. If you leave the green hills, you won't have to worry about having firewood. If you have any shortcomings, your uncle will hate me to death."
Lin Hu nodded solemnly. He knew that Gao Muqing was taking a huge risk by agreeing to let him go. Not only because of the risk of the entire battle plan, but also because of the problem of how to face Lin Jue. If he messed up, he would die.
That's all, Uncle Lin Jue probably blamed Gao Muqing for harming him. This time Gao Muqing really took the risk to let himself carry out this mission.
"Auntie, don't worry, I won't embarrass you. Just trust me. I will remember your words. Auntie, let's go." Lin Hu said softly.
Gao Muqing nodded, reached out and removed the leather bag of a tortoise box from his waist, handed it to Lin Hu and said: "You can take this firearm, it may come in handy at a critical moment."
Lin Hu said hurriedly: "No, no, no, you keep this firearm to defend yourself and kill the enemy."
Gao Muqing smiled and said: "Do you think I need this firearm for self-defense? Only your uncle needs it. Of course you don't need it either, but this time is different. This thing is useful to you. Take it and stop talking. It's time for you to leave.
"
Lin Hu said no more, bowed to thank him, took the pair with his hands and put them on his waist. He bowed his hands to Gao Muqing and said goodbye, then turned around and shouted: "Let's go."
More than a thousand soldiers agreed in unison and followed Lin Hu out of the camp gate, disappearing into the dark night a moment later.
…
Sixty miles away, on the bank of Lishui River to the north of Ye County, there was also a lively scene of flaming torches and bonfires at this moment. Countless figures were building bridges across the Lishui River in preparation for the subsequent army to cross the river.
Since Yalu Buhua sent troops from Shili Changgang, they have not dared to make any delays along the way. Although the rain disrupted their march plan, Yalu Buhua made quick adjustments to prevent the army from getting stuck in the muddy road.
Moving slowly on the road, he chose the fast march route. It can be said that it was a change forced by the weather.
Yalu Buhua learned from the leading generals under Lu Zhongtian who were accompanying him that the shortcomings of this official road were that the section of the official road near the Fangcheng Mountain Pass would be very winding and would need to pass through that pass.
The general who led 10,000 cavalry to attack Funiu Mountain with the Jurchen army for the first time was a former horse army general of the Zhou Dynasty Forbidden Army named Lu Zixing.
Originally, Lu Zhongtian hoped that Chen Bin would personally lead the army and fight with Yalu Buhua, but Chen Bin was so smart. He had witnessed the tragic experience of Guo Xu leading the imperial army to attack the mountain. Although Lin Jue's army was now trapped in Shili Changgang.
There are not many soldiers and horses in the village, and it looks like a delicious soft persimmon. But Chen Bin is an old Jianghu, and he will not take it lightly blindly. He does not believe what the Jurchen said in the intercepted letter from Lin Jue.
There are only more than ten thousand soldiers and horses left in the mountains. The more this kind of talk is, the harder it is to listen to it. Not long ago, Prime Minister Lu was deceived by an intercepted letter. Lin Jue may have repeated his old tricks and deceived the Jurchens again.
It can be known.
Chen Bin was unwilling to lead the army, so Lu Zhongtian had no choice but to let a general of the Ma Army lead the army. So he chose Lu Zixing. Lu Zixing was a captain of the Ma Army of the Forbidden Army and participated in Guo Xu's encirclement and suppression of Luoyan Valley.
He was a person who was familiar with the situation. The Jurchens did get a lot of useful information from Lu Zixing. Therefore, Yalu Buhua decided to travel day and night to reach Funiu Mountain as quickly as possible to launch an attack. He didn't want to
Let the Luoyan Army in the mountain have sufficient reaction time. However, for what Lu Zixing mentioned,
At the pass of Daofangcheng Mountain, Yalu Buhua didn't think so. Yalu Buhua believed that since the defense system in Funiu Mountain was very complete, the opponent should huddle in the mountain for defense. Pull it out and fight outside the mountain? Isn't that crazy?
?
How could Yalu not understand that this was the essence of the entire second battlefield encirclement and annihilation plan designed by Lin Jue. What everyone thought was impossible would happen precisely when someone was caught unawares.
There was originally an official bridge on the Lishui River, but that bridge was too narrow and could not satisfy the rapid passage of 70,000 troops. Therefore, Yalu Buhua sent pioneer officer Battelle to Lishui in advance to build two pontoon bridges. That was not only for the cavalry.
To pass, vehicles carrying grain, grass and baggage, as well as some catapults and ballistas carried for mountain attack, also need to pass. Battelle has been building pontoon bridges since the afternoon. One of them has been completed, and the remaining one will be completed soon.
.
After a busy night, in the early morning of the next day, the main cavalry from the rear set off in a mighty manner. Arriving at the shore of Lishui at about 4 o'clock, the army began to cross the river. Three hours passed, and it was not until late afternoon that the army completely crossed Lishui.
Yalu Buhua was a little annoyed. He felt that too much time had been wasted, so he ordered the army to set off immediately. He issued a death order to reach the east pass of Funiu Mountain before tomorrow morning.
At his urging, the cavalry hurried on their way immediately. The twenty or thirty miles of official roads around Ye County were fine. Although the spring rains a few days ago had some impact, this official road was the main official road and was paved with stone foundations.
So although it was muddy, it was generally doable without getting stuck in it. However, after entering thirty miles southwest of Ye County, continuous hills appeared in front of us, and the official road began to become rugged, winding and narrow as we penetrated them.
It was only at this moment that Yalu Buhua realized that what Lu Zixing said about the official road being difficult was true. Although it was only about twenty miles from here to the Fangcheng Mountain Pass, there were probably as many as fifty or sixty hills.
It's not a very high mountain, just some rolling hills. But it happens that cavalry and vehicles cannot cross it. It happens that they need to go around them and pass through the gentle slopes and valleys between them. This makes Yalu
Bu Hua was very upset.
The good news is that the most feared thing in this kind of terrain is an enemy ambush. However, the soldiers and horses in front were marching all the way, and people were sent to search the mountains. There was no trace of the ambush, which made Yalu not spend any time.
I felt a little more at ease.
It would be impossible to travel overnight in this kind of terrain, so Yalu Buhua followed the advice of his subordinates. After the army passed through the twists and turns of the official road, they arrived at the mountain col plain under the pass in front to rest for the night and prepare for another attack tomorrow.
He rushed to the east pass of Funiu Mountain and launched an attack directly.
As the sun sets in the west, the green wilderness mountains are a new green color. Between the valleys, a long cavalry team meanders on the official road for nearly ten miles, like a slowly crawling worm, slowly swimming towards the mountain col ahead. Where
It happens to be a place of shadow where the setting sun cannot shine, as if it foreshadows something.
