Song Dynasty

Chapter 282 Departure
Outside the city of Dingzhou, the camp where the cavalry army was located was located on a small hill. The Yuanshui flowed under the feet, and the wide river flowed into a lake in Dongting.

Strange to say, although this is the mouth of a lake, the terrain is flat, and there are no annoying water nets or swamps like other places, so it is suitable for large army operations.The reason why the cavalry army is placed here is its mobility. Once Dingzhou is besieged, Chen Lanruo can lead the troops to surprise the besieging bandits.

Relying on this move, Li Cheng made Zhong Xiang and Yang Yao suffer a lot in the past, and thus maintained the situation in Dingzhou.

However, the role of Chen Lanruo's cavalry in Hunan is limited to this. They have been here for almost a year, and they have not fought a few serious battles.

These five hundred cavalrymen were the last belongings left to her by Chen Lanruo's ex-husband Ma Gao. The army was full of battle-tested warriors, and most of them spoke with a Shaanxi accent.In the past, some of them were either from the white stile army of Souchong, or from the Shengjie army that Wang Teng fled to Tokyo.

Although the cavalry army does not have many troops, only 500 people, but the camp occupies a large area, that is because they are all rare heavy cavalry.Everyone has an expensive horse lance, not only everyone is covered with armor, but even the horses are also armored.

No powerful empire could afford such equipment.In fact, Li Cheng didn't know that this was the last cavalry in history, at least for the Han family.Without the strong national financial support of the Northern Song Dynasty, coupled with the emergence of firearms later, this kind of cavalry wrapped in steel was gradually replaced by the cheaper and more mobile Qingqi.

At this moment, the [-] cavalry had all assembled, one man with two horses, and a lot of long spears, all marching forward neatly, full of chilling spirit.

"Lan Ruo, I'm going to Taoyuan. The place is mountainous and not suitable for cavalry combat. Be careful. However, with Wang Daosi here, I am sure of this battle." Li Cheng laughed boldly: "It's a pity, I want to defend Dingzhou, I wish I could fight side by side with Wang Daosi."

"Yes, adoptive father, my daughter will be careful. Although this army was left by my daughter's ex-husband, if it wasn't for my father's support, it would have disappeared. We all know how much father has for his daughter and brothers. Although he didn’t say anything, he knew it in his heart. This time, he will be in charge of food and roads, guaranteeing transportation and communication, and will not sacrifice for nothing.” Chen Lanruo nodded: “The army belongs to Daddy, and the brothers are only Daddy. Follow the lead."

Li Cheng: "You can't say that. The hatred between Zhong Yao and us is as deep as the sea. How many brothers have been corrupted by the thieves in the past year, and this revenge must be avenged. My brother Wang has done a great job in this year. However, the old man admires his fighting ability very much. I also know your temper, don't play petty temper, and obey his orders."

Then he sighed again: "Lan Ruo, how old are you this year?"

Chen Lanruo was a little surprised: "Father, you forgot, my daughter is 26 years old this year."

"26, 26, you're getting old! In a few more years, the best age for a woman will be over." Li Chengdao: "A woman must find a home after all, and it won't work if it continues like this. Daddy knows You are high-spirited, and other men don't like it, but you still think of Wang Daosi in your heart. You and Dao Siben are in love with each other, and you have each other in your heart. But in the end, you still couldn't get together. Dad thought of this, I also feel sad. In fact, I also know what you are thinking this past year, and it is very sad. Hey, if I had known about this earlier, I should have let you go with him in the first place. It’s all my fault, it’s all my fault... this time It's a rare opportunity for you to go to meet him with him, and it's time to clear up the misunderstanding. Lan Ruo, I know you have a strong personality and refuse to bow easily. But there is no right or wrong in matters between men and women, so what if you say soft words ?”

Hearing what Li Cheng said, Tao Zisi's expression changed drastically, and he said anxiously, "The Heavenly King..."

Chen Lanruo shuddered, her eyes were red.After a while, she gritted her teeth again, straightened her back, and shook her head: "Father, the past is over. Daddy treated me and his soldiers very kindly. Without you taking me in back then, naturally there would be no me, no The present situation of all the brothers of Paoze. If I leave you, what is the difference between me and a beast? You don’t need to say too much, even though Chen Lanruo is a woman, but she understands the word loyalty. I can see I understand, Wang Shen is very ambitious, in his mind he only has power and position, only benefits. Back then, he abandoned my mother and daughter for his own future. How can such a heartless and ungrateful person be entrusted to him for life?"

She took out an arrow, snapped it into two pieces, and said loudly: "I, Chen Lanruo, swear that in this life, I only want to serve my father and never marry outside. If I violate this oath, I will shoot like this."

"Ah, Lan Ruo, how can you swear such a poisonous oath." Li Cheng was shocked: "It can't be like this, it can't be like this!"

Seeing this scene, Tao Zisi was overjoyed and asked, "General Chen, why did you agree to go to Taoyuan with the surnamed Wang before, and you were so disappointed when you didn't mean what you said?"

"Yeah, why did I agree...Maybe, the matter between me and the thief surnamed Wang needs to be resolved...Some things should be clarified face to face..." Chen Lanruo murmured language.

Seeing this, Tao Zisi became jealous and said angrily, "What else is there to say? Wang Shen has been in Dingzhou for so many days. If you have something to say, don't say it sooner or later. Why don't you say it when you go to Taoyuan?"

Li Cheng shouted: "Zi Si, what are you talking about?"

At this time, the whining horn sounded from a distance, and a long team was winding forward in the wilderness.It was the Sizhou Army, and Wang Shen had already given the order to move out.

Wang Shen Beiwei's army had 2000 people, and with the addition of the rear army and the conscripted civilians, it finally reached [-].However, it was seen that the troops gathered and scattered on the plain, and there were countless red flags, which seemed to be quite alarming.

Li Cheng: "Okay, Lan Ruo, go quickly, go quickly."

"Yes, Daddy." Chen Lanruo galloped away.

With an order, five hundred iron cavalry roared forward, and the ground trembled slightly under the impact.

Seeing her leaving back, Tao Zisi complained in a low voice: "Heavenly king, a woman has a needle in her heart, who knows if General Chen will change his mind when he sees Wang, and what will he think. This cavalry is our army. How can the elite field fighters be handed over to Wang Shen? If something goes wrong, it will be too late to regret! From now on, what will we rely on to win the world?"

"Otherwise, what else can I do? If I refuse to borrow five hundred soldiers, how can the world laugh at me?" Li Cheng sighed: "Lan Ruo's temper is the most stubborn. If the old man refuses to agree to let her go, I don't know." What will happen is not beautiful."

Yes, the cavalry is a special branch, and a qualified cavalry cannot be trained in a few years.

Back then, Chen Lanruo led his men to serve under Li Cheng's command. If it wasn't for the fact that Chen's troops were all cavalry, Li Cheng would have disintegrated them long ago.After mixing with sand for a period of time, it is not difficult to get it back.However, he didn't have cavalry at all, even if he wanted to send his confidants, he would not be able to gain a foothold in the cavalry army.

In this way, Chen Lanruo's cavalry army is like an independent unit in Li Cheng's department, and no one can dispatch it.

Because of this, Li Cheng could only win over Chen Lanruo with a good voice, and accepted Chen Lanruo as a righteous daughter to show her kindness.

This time Chen Lanruo insisted on going to Taoyuan to fight with Wang Shen, but Li Cheng had no choice.If Yongqiang refused, wouldn't that push this cavalry army into Wang Shen's arms?
Li Cheng continued: "Lan Ruo is also a man who knows how to fight. This time Wang Shen's army attacked, and Zhong Xiang suffered a lot at the hands of the Sizhou army. Especially after Wang Shen made that mandarin duck formation, Mo Ni's demon thief was already frightened." , naturally dare not go out to fight in the field. In this way, Wang Shen can only mobilize the infantry to attack hard."

"Five hundred cavalry dismounted to fight on foot, and went to attack the stronghold. The battle was over in one day. Lan Ruo would not be so foolish. Therefore, the cavalry army is only going to protect the grain road this time, and connect the front and rear. Zisi, you don't need it." I am worried that the cavalry army will be consumed by Wang Shen."

Tao Zisi naturally understood the truth in Li Cheng's words, "But, but... General Chen and Wang Shen are together all day long, but it makes people worry."

Li Cheng frowned, and couldn't help but said, "Zisi, you certainly know Lan Ruo's thoughts. Lan Ruo is my adopted daughter, and you are my most trusted advisor. Both of you are my confidantes. If you can be together , it is naturally a big happy event, do you know why I refuse to agree to your marriage?"

Tao Zisi: "Also ask the Heavenly King, my subordinates don't understand..."

Seeing him pestering blindly, Li Cheng felt unhappy.It's impossible for him to say that he doesn't want to see the first counselor and the first general under his command become a family, so he can't help himself?

His tone became cold, and he said: "Lan Ruo likes a man with a majestic appearance like Wang Daosi. Think about it, who is Wang Shen? He is one of the people who recruits the envoy, who opens his teeth and builds a mansion. Her husband Ma Gao is also the most important commander under the command of the Zongye, commanding thousands of horses and horses. He is a famous hero. Zisi, although you are also a character, you can be far from the dragon among people, from the dragon Haojie is still worse."

Hearing what he said, Tao Zisi blushed, "Is the Heavenly King humiliating his subordinates?"

"No, no, no, you're thinking wrong. But don't worry, Lan Ruo will never have second thoughts about this old man, she will come back. Because this is her home!"

Tao Zisi was startled, and it took him a long time to slap himself on the forehead: "I understand, my subordinate is really stupid!"

Li Cheng said lightly: "At my age, I can see everything clearly. For example, a woman can remarry after her husband's death, and a man's wife's funeral can continue. The relationship between a man and a woman is optional. However, parents, children It's God's arrangement, who can kiss father, son, mother and daughter, Lan Ruo will come back, I'm sure of that."

Tao Zisi: "Heavenly King, I'm going to borrow the baby to come to you." He already knew that Li Cheng wanted to take Chen Lanruo's daughter, Baobao, as a hostage.

Li Cheng nodded: "Yes, the old man is the baby's grandfather after all, and I like this granddaughter very much."

(End of this chapter)