Late Tang

"Will Li Jing really launch an attack today?"

When Jing Shisanniang opened the curtain and came in with her beloved Suzaku-style sky-blue full-body armor, Liu Yunniang was carefully watching the collected military information under the lamp.Seeing Shisanniang Jing rushing in, she smiled and said, "You expect him to come?"

Jing Shisanniang curled her lips and said: "Come on, what joke are you talking about. Although I heard that Li Jing is very handsome, but we have already lost our body, and the two armies are at war. I think he will not be sympathetic to flowers and jade." Yes. I only came here because I squatted in this icy and snowy place for three consecutive days, and the snow stopped today, and you ordered the entire army to rest at night without taking off their armor. If they don’t come, they’re asking for trouble. My God, even if Li Jing really came, we would have already collapsed from exhaustion, so how could we fight?"

Liu Yuniang knew that she was just here to have a conversation with her, and she deliberately said this to ease her worries.Her husband hasn't arrived for a day, how can she stop worrying for a day.

"Come on, just tell me this joke of yours. It won't be good if the people below hear it." Liu pointed to the same neat drape on her body, "If Li Jing doesn't come, we just don't come when we are resting." It's just too comfortable. But if Li Jing really wants to come, then he doesn't need to put on temporary armor, and he can have more hope of victory." Although Liu is the commander of soldiers and horses, he is also wearing full armor like everyone else. Even if it is working in the tent at night at this time, it is not unreasonable.

Jing Shisanniang took out a gourd from behind and put it on the table in front of Mrs. Liu.

"Drinking is not allowed in the army, not to mention that there will be battles at any time now!" Mrs. Liu knew that Jing Shisanniang was a bold woman, and she also liked drinking.

"It's goat's milk. I just warmed it up. It's too cold and snowy, and you have to worry about everything. I specially made some goat's milk. You can drink it while it's hot." Jing Shisanniang took the bowl while Question: "Ma'am, if Li Jing really comes, how much will our victory be?"

Mrs. Liu pondered for a while, and said: "It's hard to say now, but if it really progresses as planned, there should be at least a [-]% chance of winning."

"Only fifty percent?"

Liu Yunniang laughed: "Do you think [-]% is small? If there are no accidents, it will be [-]%. This is mainly because Li Jing's intrusion is too fast now, and his follow-up troops can't keep up. Can't keep up, he didn't bring many soldiers this time, and he had to defend the newly occupied states, so there are fewer available, so there is a [-]% chance of winning. If not, we will fight against Li Jing, I’m afraid there is no chance of winning.”

"Is Li Jing really that powerful?"

"If he's not so powerful, then he won't be called Li Jing." Liu Yunniang said, but frowned again: "You haven't experienced the Battle of Daibei back then. Li Jing didn't use troops according to the routine. But it’s really great.”

Before she finished speaking, Jing Shisanniang pouted her lips and said: "Come on, Li Jing is like the god of war who came to the world, but back then King Jin fought on behalf of the north with one enemy and eight towns. Killing the commander of three quarters and defeating the soldiers of the seven towns, if Li Jing hadn't been hiding in the dark and playing tricks, even the eight towns would have been defeated. In other words, Li Jing's use of troops is nothing more than good at sneaking in and using tricks. Qin Jun It has always been based on the number of people, the strength of the number, and the well-equipped to use the strong to bully the weak. If you say that the few are against the many, and the weak are against the crowd, it depends on the spirit of King Jin and his wife."

Liu Yunniang shook her head and smiled wryly, and said: "Soldiers are deceitful! The war is not about the process, but the result. No matter how brave you are, if you lose, you will be called reckless. Resourcefulness. No matter what Li Jing used to win, but in just a few years, Li Jing was able to start from scratch and become the most powerful feudal clan in the world. But I still can't take it lightly."

Although they have already occupied a favorable position on the battlefield at the moment, and their strength is not weak, but the war is still fought by humans.

"Madam doesn't seem optimistic?"

"Wars are unpredictable, but the way to use troops is always the same. Seven points depend on planning, two points depend on fighting, and one part depends on God's will! It can also be classified as the right time, place and people. For example, the Qin army had more firearms. But now the rainy and snowy weather has a great impact on their firearms, which is for the advantage of the location. We also occupy the pass and wait for work at leisure, which is for the advantage of the location.”

"The rain and snow stopped today, and there was even no strong wind. Wouldn't this be more beneficial to the Qin army? We lost our time?"

Liu Yuniang took a sip of the hot goat's milk, and said with a light smile, "That's not entirely true. The so-called art of war uses the odd when the weak are weak, and the right when the strong is strong. For example, we are relatively weak now, so we need to set up an ambush under the pass, and It’s not about guarding the pass. Surprise soldiers are supposed to predict what the enemy can’t expect, twelve deceitful ways, show what you can’t do when you can, show what you don’t use when you use it, that’s the reason.”

Jing Shisanniang listened for a long time, but she was a little confused, she shook her head and said, "Madam has been talking for a long time, but I didn't understand anything, so just ask whether they will come tonight or not?"

Liu Yunniang also sighed, and said: "If I said they will definitely come, but they didn't come, it's better than saying they definitely won't come, but they did come, right? Shisan Niang, more preparations won't help." If there is a mistake, be prepared. In fact, I don't expect Li Jing to come, even if he comes, maybe our ambush plan will be successful. I would rather Li Jing not show up, so that we can wait in peace until the reinforcements from the King of Jin arrive. Meeting Li Jing on a narrow road, even if we are prepared in advance, this kind of battle is not something I would like to encounter."

Jing Shisanniang smacked her rosy lips, "I didn't expect Madam to be so convinced and admired by Li Jing. If King Jin finds out about this, I'm afraid he will be jealous."

"Respecting one's enemies is to respect oneself. To despise one's enemies is to despise oneself! Don't be misled by some rumors outside, Li Jing was able to defeat opponents one by one in a few years before the age of 30 and come to today , is definitely not an idle generation. If it is true that Li Jing in the legend is just lucky, relying on being the son of the commander-in-chief, being a disciple of the high-ranking family, marrying a wealthy family, colluding with pirates, flattering the emperor, and flattering the eunuchs, If you can go this far by hooking up businessmen, then their words are too superficial. Look at the enemies that Li Jing has defeated, Thirteen Niangs, we Sha Tuo were also defeated by Li Jing, don’t you think Jin Wang Will it be the defeat of such an unbearable person?"

Jing Shisanniang may not know Li Jing well, but she knows Li Keyong and Liu Shi very well.Since the Liu family, who was once the defeated opponent of Li Jing, admired Li Jing so much, it shows that this is indeed an opponent worthy of admiration.

Liu Yunniang finished drinking the goat's milk, put down the bowl, took the cloak and said to Shisanniang, "Let's go check it out again!"

Although there are officers on duty at night, Liu Shi still has to inspect the barracks every night before going to sleep, especially at the critical moment, the more she can't relax.Thirteen Niang nodded immediately and led the way.

As soon as they left the tent, Jing Niang, Liu's bodyguard commander, had already asked the bodyguards to bring their horses.The three of them got on their horses with a team of guards and just checked around, when they suddenly heard a commotion from the south, Jing Shisanniang listened, "What happened over there."

There are 5000 soldiers and horses in the valley, [-] female soldiers, and [-] Shatuo Qingqi.Liu's army is strictly organized, even if he leads a female soldier, the military discipline is not weaker than Shatuo's elite.Even if the Shatuo soldiers were not elite, they were stationed separately from the female soldiers in the valley, and noise was absolutely prohibited in the camp.

Jing Niang said: "The voice is coming from the south. It's behind the valley, where the male soldiers camp!"

"The noise is not loud, it doesn't look like an enemy sneak attack! Let's go and have a look." Liu Yuniang said.

They rode their horses to the front of the southern camp, and saw a group of people rushing towards them with several people dressed in common people's clothes.

Jing Niang stepped forward immediately, and shouted loudly, "Why are you making such a fuss?"

A military officer stepped forward and said: "The last general, Mi Zhi'an, the commander of the Southern Camp, reported to the princess that these men claimed to be soldiers under General Li Kening's command at Zhiguguan, and said they had urgent military information to report."

The Liu family led troops out of the pass and set up an ambush, and the military affairs of Zhigu Pass were handed over to Li Kerang's younger brother Li Kening to stay behind.Now that Li Kerang suddenly made a few of his own soldiers dress up as ordinary people, and came back from the back mountain in the middle of the night, something must have happened in the pass.

"Please come here."

A few Li Kening's soldiers in ordinary clothes came forward and knelt down five or six steps away from Mrs. Liu's horse. The first one said loudly: "The princess is here, I'll wait to see you."

Although this person is dressed in the clothes of Han Chinese people, but his face is indeed from Shatuo, and this person is Li Kening's personal guard general, and Liu Shi has also met him several times.Immediately, he no longer doubted their identities, and quickly asked, "What happened?"

The man hurriedly said: "Report to Wangfei, something serious happened. After dark, the Qin army suddenly appeared behind Zhigu Pass and raided the pass city. General Li Kening led us to resist desperately, but the bandits were so ferocious that they couldn't resist."

Liu Yuniang was taken aback. They squatted in front of Li Jing for three days, but they didn't notice any movement.Now people from Zhigu Pass reported that Li Jing had gone around Zhigu Pass in the evening and stormed Zhigu Pass, which is unbelievable.

"The small road! The Qin army must have copied the small road to the back of the pass." Jingniang said in a deep voice. When Li Jing led the army to enter Daibei in the battle of Daibei, Shatuo was also resisting the enemy at Zhigu Pass. The Qin army found a detour to break through the Zhigu Pass.

"But we have already built three stone forts on the trail and blocked the trail. How could the Qin army even destroy three military camps without us getting any news?" Jing Shisanniang couldn't believe it.

But apart from attacking from the trail, there is no other possibility.It is impossible for Li Jing to have mastered a path that they have not discovered.

"What's the situation in the pass now, how long can we stay there?" Liu asked anxiously.

Zhigu Pass is very important. If Zhigu Pass is lost, their 5000 people will be surrounded by Li Jingfan first.Immediately afterwards, the southern part of Weizhou will also fall, and the husband has not rushed back, so it is very likely that Li Jing will block him.

"General Li Kening asked the younger one to tell the princess that the bandit army is overwhelming and the Zhigu Pass is difficult to defend. Let the princess ignore the Zhigu Pass and find a way to go back to Yanmen. Be careful not to be besieged by Qin thieves, leave quickly!"

Li Kening's judgment is very clear, since Li Jing can quietly break through the three small army strongholds, he can reach the back of the pass.So now the movement of Liu's army must be under Li Jing's control, and he sent someone to report from the trail, just because he was afraid of being intercepted by Li Jing.Now he judged that the Zhigu Pass was undefendable, and asked Liu to find a way to evacuate immediately, and also to guard against possible ambush by Li Jing.

However, if Zhiguguan really falls, where can the Liu family retreat?

Zhiguguan was their way of retreat, and to the north, they had to break through Li Jing's camp, and then they had to enter the hinterland of the Datong army alone, make a big circle, and fight thousands of miles before returning to Yanmen.It's almost possible!

They have only one way to go, fight back to Zhigu Pass, take back Zhigu Pass, and hold Zhigu Pass!

"Immediately issue an order to discard all unnecessary supplies, set off lightly, and immediately rush back to Zhigu Pass through the trail behind the valley." Liu ordered in a deep voice.

"Ma'am, the path behind is difficult, and it will take more time to walk that way." Jing Shisanniang reminded.

Mrs. Liu replied: "I know, although the other way is easy to go, I'm afraid Li Jing is already waiting there."

The torches were lit one after another in the valley camp, and the [-] Shatuo troops began to abandon the camp and return to Zhigu Pass.

The soldiers and horses had just moved, but the melodious sound of horns had already been heard from the mouth of the valley in the north, falling back in the valley in the dark night, so thrilling!

With the sound of the trumpet, countless dots of fire light shone like the shiny scales of a huge fire dragon.

Liu Yuniang sat astride the horse, turned her head and stared at the north valley entrance for a long time, her face was as usual.

After a long time, Liu Yuniang rested her right hand on the hilt of her waist, slowly pulled out the sword, swung it northward, and said loudly: "Array, prepare to meet the enemy!"

The fire was getting closer and closer, and the sound of dull footsteps approached and gathered together.

In the valley, the two armies gradually approached, and finally stopped a hundred paces apart.

Under Liu's order, [-] Shatuo troops lined up with their backs against the bottom of the valley.

The same number of [-] Qin troops, under the personal leadership of Li Jing, gradually advanced from the mouth of the valley, and approached the Shatuo army in the center of the valley.

Li Jing rode a yellow puma, followed by the silver wolf, standing under the banner with the characters of Qin fluttering high, looking at Liu Shi who was riding a big white horse a hundred paces away.

With 3 horses, almost the entire valley was crowded, and the densely packed two armies confronted each other, but they were almost silent.

The two armies faced each other silently, Li Jing did not launch an attack, and Liu Shi did not order to retreat from the trail behind the valley.

Time passed slowly, and the two sides confronted each other for nearly midnight in such a strange atmosphere.

Seeing that the sky was pale and the dawn was coming, at this time, Yiqi galloped from outside the valley, breaking the eerie tranquility in the valley.

The black horse galloped to the front of the Qin army, and the knight immediately walked up to Li Jing to report.

"Hahaha!" After listening to the report, Li Jing let out a loud voice, and then rode out to the center of the front of the two armies, and said loudly: "General Liu, please step forward and answer!"

Immediately, Mrs. Liu looked at the face that became clearer not far away, slightly dazed. Although she was no stranger to the name Li Jing, it was the first time she saw a real person.Li Jing's face looked so young, compared with her husband who was originally younger than Li Jing, it seemed that her husband seemed older.Compared with her husband's one-eyed, ugly, and rude appearance and personality, Li Jing's appearance is handsome, unrestrained, and has a nice voice.

Jing Niang whispered behind her: "Li Jing is within my range, let me kill him with one arrow!"

Jing Shisanniang said: "This is not appropriate. It is contemptible to hurt someone in the back."

"Let's shoot!" Liu Shi in front suddenly said, her face was expressionless, no one knew what she was thinking at this moment!

Jingniang half-hidden on Liu's horse, quietly took out the horn bow, and instead of taking out the white-feathered arrows from the quiver at her waist, she took out three arrows from the Hu Lu taken from behind the saddle.The three arrows, which are shorter than ordinary arrows, have dark, dull and colorless arrow bodies, which are completely integrated and made of iron.The arrowhead of that arrow is longer than ordinary arrowheads, and it is a three-edged arrowhead.

Jing Niang took out three black iron triangular arrows, and took out a small bottle from her boots, opened it carefully, and poured a drop of foul-smelling blue liquid on each of the three arrows.

After doing all this, she put the three arrows on the horn bow together, and then aimed at Li Jing in the center of the formation! (To be continued.)