weaving

"Oh. By the way, there's one more thing."

Unknowingly, the group of people had arrived under the hillock. Yongning Bo Zhang Cheng suddenly remembered something and said to Yuan Shizhong: "Shizhong, Mr. He is busy with official duties and cannot stay in Wu'an for a long time, and your little Yuan Ying When it was first established, military regulations and disciplines were not yet familiar, so the post of governor was indeed indispensable.

Therefore, I would like to send Wang Yuanjing to serve as a governor in your Xiaoyuan camp, to help you appease the soldiers and reward and punish the meritorious deeds. What do you think? "

Yongning Bo Zhang Cheng's words seemed to be asking for Yuan Shizhong's opinions and opinions, but how could he not understand the meaning of the order inside?

"Consultant Wang once went to Xiaoyuan Camp to contact me about the governor, and he helped me solve the problem of Xiaochuang Camp. He is highly respected by the leaders in Xiaoyuan Camp. It would be a great thing for him to serve as the governor. ”

Zhang Cheng nodded with a smile and said to him: "In that case, it will be settled today. After Wang Yuanjing has tidied up, he will return to Wu'an with you."

"That……"

"You, Zhu Chengju, Wang Shikui, and Liu Dengkai will take a boat back to the north bank camp and wait. After meeting Wang Yuanjing tomorrow morning, we will set off immediately. I will send Zhang Chengfang and a hundred elite cavalry to escort you."

It was only at this point that Yuan Shizhong really understood the meaning of Uncle Yongning's words. It was obvious that he had issued an order to expel guests. Yuan Shizhong had nothing to do on the South Bank without him, so he and Liu Yuchi had no chance to say goodbye.

Although Yuan Shizhong still had many things to say to Liu Yuchi, he had no choice but to bid farewell to Zhang Cheng with fists clasped in his fists, watching Liu Yuchi follow Yong Ningbo and drift away...

"General Yuan, let's go to the ferry!"

Yuan Shizhong came to his senses after hearing this, and Wen Yan said to Wang Yuanjing: "What Staff Wang said is that from now on, Little Yuanying will have to worry about Staff Wang a lot more."

"What are you talking about, General Yuan? Aren't we all working for your uncle? Why bother?"

…………

Yongning Bo's temporary residence was set up in a large house in the southeast corner of Yangqiao Village. This was originally the ancestral home of a senior official named Chen. Due to repeated military disasters, he had fled to Kaifeng City early. Now it is occupied by Yongning Bo. A temporary camp was requisitioned.

"Mr. Shao, what do you think of this uncle's brave army? Can we fight against King Li Chuang's army?"

"The officers and soldiers under Yongning Bo's command are all capable and capable, and they are indeed not comparable to the officers and soldiers from other towns in the imperial court."

Shao Shixin sat on the lower chair. He first affirmed the strength of the Yongyi Army, but his next words were not so popular: "However, King Chuang has been raising his army for more than ten years and has experienced hundreds of battles, big and small. All his soldiers are warriors like tigers.

The imperial court mobilized more than 100,000 officers and soldiers from several provinces several times, but not only could they not harm King Chuang in the slightest, they actually lost their troops and generals. Not long ago, the two governors of Shaanxi, Fu Zonglong and Wang Qiaonian, were both killed by King Chuang's soldiers.

Although the Xuanda border troops under Yongning Bo are also very capable and brave, they only number in the tens of thousands. How can they compare to the hundreds of thousands of warriors under King Chuang who are accustomed to fighting? I think defeat will happen sooner or later, and Kaifeng will eventually be destroyed. King Chuang's army broke through. "

With a "swish" sound, Lieutenant Commander Zhang Chengfang had half drawn out the sword from his waist...

"Who are you? How dare you say such arrogant words? I'll kill you if you don't..."

Zhang Mingyuan was not as calm and composed as Zhang Chengfang. He drew the knife in his hand and cursed angrily. He was about to rush forward and hit Shao Shixin with a red knife in and a white knife out.

"shut up."

Yongning Bo Zhang Cheng stopped Zhang Mingyuan and said in a deep voice: "Mr. Shao is my guest. You must not be rude."

Although Zhang Mingyuan immediately stopped and sheathed his sword, his face was still full of resentment. He glared at Shao Shixin with a pair of tiger eyes and returned to his original position. Zhang Chengfang beside him also quietly sheathed his sword.

"Mr. Shao thinks so. It's understandable. I won't blame you. Who is strong and who is weak? Who will lose and who will win? Only in the future can we find out on the battlefield."

Zhang Cheng continued with a pleasant look: "There is something I need to explain to Mr. Shao face to face today."

"Oh."

Shao Shixin was not surprised by Zhang Cheng's reaction. In his opinion, those who can achieve great things must be able to tolerate things that ordinary people cannot tolerate. If Zhang Cheng got angry because of his words just now and even killed him on the spot, then he is destined to not be able to do it. Will be Chuang Wang's opponent.

But now Zhang Cheng actually said that he had something to explain clearly, which made him suspicious: "Uncle Yong Ning, please tell me something. I will definitely take it back and tell Miss Huimei."

"Okay, then there's Mr. Lao Shao."

Zhang Cheng said politely before getting to the point: "I always keep my word. There will be no problem with the safety of Mrs. Huimei and the soldiers of Xiaochuang Camp. I will also give priority to supplying various supplies. After Mrs. Huimei gives birth, He will also escort her safely back to King Chuang's camp.

However, I heard that the male soldiers around Mrs. Huimei were quite complaining and wanted to return to King Chuang earlier. Is there such a thing? "

"Returning to Uncle Yongning, there are indeed some soldiers who are impetuous. They often think about the time spent with King Chuang day and night, and want to go back."

"How about this……"

Yongning Bo Zhang Cheng fixed his eyes on Shao Shixin and continued: "After Mr. Shao returns to Xiaochuang Camp, please inform Mrs. Huimei and all the soldiers that except for the 200 female soldiers beside Mrs. Huimei, the remaining 300 male soldiers must be surrendered." Bows and arrows and weapons in hand.”

While Shao Shixin was stunned for a moment, Zhang Cheng continued: "If there are any soldiers who miss the days when King Chuang was with them, just report your name and I will arrange a boat for them to cross the river and escort them back safely. However, if someone doesn't If you are willing to hand over your bows, arrows and weapons, then I will not be able to guarantee their safety!"

"Uncle Yong Ning, isn't this inconsistent with the original promise?"

"My uncle's promise is to ensure your safety, and I will send you back to the King's Army in the future. But I didn't say that I won't confiscate the weapons in your hands!"

Zhang Cheng stared at Shao Shixin and continued: "I have allowed two hundred female soldiers to keep their weapons, which is enough to protect the safety of Mrs. Huimei. If I am willing, even if I add three hundred male soldiers, it will not be enough for my soldiers to fight." Half an hour."

Shao Shixin naturally knew that what Zhang Cheng said was true, but this move still surprised him: "But what if the soldiers are unwilling to put down their weapons?"

"Put down your weapons and you will be safe."

Zhang Cheng continued with a cold tone: "If they are unwilling to take the initiative to put down their weapons, I will just send troops in to collect them."

"This... I'm afraid it won't be easy!"

"That's your business."

After Zhang Cheng finished speaking, he immediately ordered Zhang Chengfang to lead a hundred Yulin Cavalry soldiers to escort Shao Shixin to the ferry, without giving him a chance to speak again. …………

"The thieves have escaped?"

"Yes, uncle. All the bandits outside Kaifeng City are heading to Zhuxian Town."

After hearing Zhang Mingyuan's affirmative answer, Sun Shixiang said, "Commander, should we also march into Zhuxian Town?"

"There's no rush. Inspector Ding and Zuo Ping have come all the way, but they have to fight Chuang Xian."

"My uncle means..."

Zhang Cheng said with a sly smile: "Since King Li Chuang has left, let's go into Kaifeng City to meet some old friends and pay a visit to King Zhou Qiansui."

"Pass the order."

Zhang Cheng shouted loudly and said: "The White Tiger Battalion marched to the new city ten miles southwest of Kaifeng Fucheng; the Qinglong Battalion marched into the Xinghua Camp and garrisoned; and the Mihe Battalion crossed the Yellow River and marched to the west of the city to garrison in the Xiaoluozhuang and Shilipu areas. The Tengshe Battalion was stationed outside Nanguan, Kaifeng; Xu Yousi's militia was stationed in Zhongmou."

"Is the headquarters of the commander-in-chief located in the city?"

"Do not."

Zhang Cheng raised his hand and pointed at the map on the desk, and said loudly: "My headquarters is located at Fanta Temple near Yuwang Terrace in the southeast of Kaifeng!"

After he finished speaking, he looked at Chen Zheng and said to him: "Chen Zheng, the new city is less than thirty miles away from Zhuxian Town. It can be reached by intruders in a day. So after you arrive, you must repair the new city's defenses and the fortresses." It is extremely strong, and there are at least three trenches outside the camp, as well as more arrangements such as antler and plum blossom stakes on the horse ground."

"You will finally understand."

Wei Zhice reminded him from the side: "Commander, if we have confiscated the weapons of the three hundred male soldiers of Xiaochuang Camp, are you not afraid of their resistance?"

"Hmph. If they get tired of living, I can help them to be reincarnated and go to the Western Paradise."

Zhang Cheng did not want to continue this topic: "In less than a month, the Xuanwu Camp will come from Wu'an South, and the Tiger Guard Cavalry and the Suzaku Camp Light Cavalry soldiers guarding the Xiaochuang Camp is not a long-term solution. Good swords still need to be used on the battlefield.

I want to leave an infantry headquarters of Xuanwu Camp to guard outside Xiaochuang Camp during the introduction, so I must collect the weapons and mounts of their 300 male soldiers, otherwise how can I completely rest assured! "

Chen Zheng interrupted at this time: "But the commander-in-chief didn't mention the mount just now?"

"General, this is a tactic of 'playing hard to get'. Taking away his weapons is fake, but taking away his mount is real."

"Haha, strictly speaking, it should be called the strategy of 'taking advantage of the situation'. After all, he will not hand over the weapons, so as a compromise, he must obediently hand over the five or six hundred war horses."

"High, really high. Without war horses, a thousand headquarters is enough. This will not involve too many of our troops, especially the cavalry."

Zhang Cheng smiled and said: "After all the battalions have crossed the Yellow River, the fleet will go down and pick up Governor Zhang and the soldiers of the Zhuque Camp to cross the river."

"Where is the Suzaku Camp located?"

"Director Zhang will definitely be stationed in Kaifeng Fucheng. The Suzaku Battalion will be temporarily stationed in Taojiadian."

…………

In the past few days, the area from Zhuxian Town in the south of Kaifeng to Shuipoji can be said to be a "gathering of armies."

There were soldiers and horses from all sides within a radius of dozens of miles, and there were very few ordinary people. Especially in the Shuipoji area, almost all the men, women, old and young had fled, and the few who could not escape were also captured. They were captured by the officers and soldiers and became their enslaved coolies.

With Shuipoji as the center, more than 100,000 officers and soldiers built many barracks and trenches on the side facing Zhuxian Town. The only drawback was that not enough trees were collected to prevent them from being planted outside the trenches. Pile up a large number of horse-repelling piles and other obstacles.

Judging from the entire battlefield, the official army was completely at a disadvantage. With Zhuxian Town as the center, the bandit army assembled more than 300,000 soldiers and horses in the northwest, due north, and northeast directions of Shuipoji. Among them, they were capable of fighting. There were more than 100,000 elite soldiers, forming a semi-surrounding force against the official army with an overwhelming advantage.

Moreover, judging from the topography, the areas occupied by the rebels were relatively high, while the official camp was low-lying and should have been a place where water flowed through.

At the beginning, the morale of the officers and soldiers was still very strong. Even though they were forced to withdraw from Zhuxian Town under the attack of the bandits, although they lost some geographical advantages, the loss of men and horses was not much, and their morale was not greatly affected. After all, they were known as the Second Army. There are more than 100,000 troops, but there are actually 170,000 to 80,000 soldiers.

But in the afternoon two days later, the situation took a turn for the worse, which greatly affected the morale of the officers and soldiers...

It turned out that the officers and soldiers suddenly discovered that the river had suddenly stopped flowing. There were only pools of stagnant water left in the low-lying areas of the river bed, but they were not deep enough and seemed to dry up soon.

This situation shocked the officers and soldiers, and their hearts suddenly became excited. Soldiers from all battalions ran out to grab water frantically, and quickly emptied the puddles of stagnant water.

In order to deal with the dilemma of water shortage, the officers and soldiers of each battalion began to make great efforts to dig wells. However, the weather was not kind and severe drought continued in various parts of Henan. Only a few wells dug water, and many wells were still missing even after they were dug two or three feet deep. Out of water.

There are few wells but many people and horses. Even if there are wells with water, there are more than a hundred. However, for an army of 178,000 to 170,000 people, they are still new to water mills. They can only cook rice and drink horses. Many soldiers are suffering from hunger and thirst. with...

During the process of digging wells and queuing up to receive water, a series of contradictions and conflicts arose, and many fights even occurred.

After another two days of this, Supervisor Ding Qirui finally couldn't hold his breath anymore.

That night, taking advantage of the moonlight, he and Zuo Liangyu and other generals came to the northwest of Shuipoji and looked at the enemy camp opposite, hoping to discover the opponent's weaknesses or negligence in defense so that they could select a group of troops. A group of elite soldiers rushed over and destroyed the earthen dam that blocked the river.

However, the Chuang army set up two military strongholds here, and the defense was very tight. There was no chance of taking advantage of them. Ding Qirui and others stood at a high place and looked at it for a while, shaking their heads, and finally returned disappointed.

The official and army's Shuipoji garrison defense line also made some adjustments in the past two days in order to cope with the pressure from the rebels.

Ding Qirui, because he was the most respected military governor and his troops were really not strong, so he stationed himself in the northeastern corner of Shuipo Ji Nei and Ji Wai. Pingthief General Zuo Liangyu had the strongest troops and he led his troops to station in Shuipo. Directly to the north of the gathering, they directly faced the main force of the bandits in Zhuxian Town, and their defense line stretched for several miles to the east and west.

Most of the battlefields that Ding Qirui and Zuo Liangyu inspected just now were within Zuo Liangyu's defense area.

Although Yang Wenyue, the former governor of Baoding, had fewer troops, his general Hu Dawei still had thousands of capable officers and soldiers, and the firearms ratio of his standard camp was relatively sufficient, so he also decided to use the northeastern location of Shuipoji. , transferred the defense to the northwest of Shuipoji and stationed Xiazhai, connected with the left wing of Zuo Liangyu's army, and in front of the supervisor Ding Qirui. His original station in the northeast of Shuipoji was filled by Zuo Liangyu's troops. . (End of chapter)