When the army arrived at Pinghu County, it was already dusk, so Huang ordered the army to be stationed here, rest for the night, and then set off to Yingzhou City at dawn, and sent sentry cavalry to inquire about the news.

The tent of the commander of the Chinese army, which was brightly lit, Huang Xun was standing there, silently looking at the map on the table, with a contemplative look on his face, next to him, there was actually Li Xun.

Because of Huang Xun's explanation, Li Xun came in unimpeded, and the guards did not stop him, seeing Huang Xun pondering there, Li Xun did not bother, but also looked at the map, the map of this era and the map of the world in the past, naturally can not be compared, it is very simple, just depicting the main roads and cities, even so, such a map, is also very precious.

The control of the mountain and river map in the past dynasties was very strict, in case it was obtained by foreign enemies, and ordinary people could not reach it at all, so it was not easy to go far away.

"You're here, sit down!"

After a long while, Huang Xun came to his senses from his contemplation, saw Li Xun standing beside him, nodded, and sat down in a chair.

Li Xun sat down and asked softly, "The general's face is heavy, as if he has something on his mind. ”

Huang Xun glanced at Li Xun and asked rhetorically, "How does Judge Li feel along the way?" ”

Li Xun thought for a moment and said, "It's so quiet, you can hardly feel the atmosphere of war." ”

This journey is indeed very smooth, even if he enters the territory of Yingzhou, he has not encountered any resistance, although Li Xun can't say a thing or two, but he also feels quite strange and abnormal.

"Judge Li is right, it's really too quiet."

Huang Xun glanced at Li Xun appreciatively, and then said: "Yingzhou City is three hundred miles away, the cavalry can arrive in half a day, we can come to Yingzhou City at noon at the latest, when the army besieges the city, Zheng Ze will never have any chance, he is also a veteran who has led the army for many years, he will not understand this truth, but now he is delayed in holding the army, what is the reason?" ”

"The general is a little worried, our troops are several times the other party, what is there to be afraid of?"

Li Xun felt that Huang Chen's caution was a little too much, the strength of the two sides was not proportional at all, I am afraid that when the army arrives at the city of Yingzhou, maybe Zheng Ze will take the initiative to surrender, after all, if there are many feudal towns today, it is still necessary to do it to appease the magnanimity, as long as it does not make too much trouble and openly rebel against the imperial court, as long as it surrenders, it will generally not be punished by death, and it is still okay to be an idle rich man with no power.

"If there are no strong generals to lead the army, and the soldiers have no heart to fight to the death, no matter how many people there are, they are just a group of rabble."

Huang Zhi sighed: "Yingzhou is a big state, with a large population, very rich, Zheng Ze has been in Yingzhou for more than ten years, has been in charge of military power for a long time, and distributes a large amount of land and money to soldiers, so that the soldiers and generals are more effective and loyal to him, plus Zheng Ze is brave, can share weal and woe with his soldiers, and has the talent to lead the army, the rebellion of the White Turban Army five years ago, and the invasion of Annan three years ago, he has led the army to participate in the war, so the army in his hands is very strong in combat, if the leader comes to fight to the death with us, even if we can win, There must also be great losses. ”

Li Xun heard the meaning of Huang Xuan's words, and said in surprise: "What does the general mean is that the combat effectiveness of our soldiers is very poor?" ”

"Your Majesty since ascending the throne, lack of money, empty treasury, simply unable to recruit troops, but the court does not have the protection of a strong army, and it is a very dangerous thing, in order to make up for these shortcomings, Your Majesty took another shortcut, issued an edict, all the children of officials above the seventh grade, regardless of their descendants, as long as they bring their own weapons and armor, once they join the army, they will be rewarded with the post of captain of the nine grades of benevolence and bravery, in order to enter the career, this order is out, the soldiers are solved, but you think about it, the children of the official family, pampered, life-saving, what combat effectiveness can they have?"

Huang Zhen sighed deeply: "My original plan was to lead the army directly into Xiangzhou City, capture the 8,000 elite soldiers in Liu Xiang's hands, plus the 5,000 elite iron cavalry I brought from Jingping Pass, and use these 13,000 elites to go to Yingzhou to fight Zheng Ze, and the rest of the military horses can help in the battle, but it's a pity that ........"

Li Xun was silent, he knew Huang Xu's sigh, for the right army of the forbidden army, although he has the name of the leading commander, he is really just an outsider, Gu Yong, Zhan Tai Jingming, Zhao Feidu He can't adjust the three at all, even if it is Shan Qiu and Mao Fuan, they are relatively cooperative, many good suggestions and strategies cannot be implemented at all, and there are empty plans and ambitions, and in the end, they can only sigh.

Li Xun was silent, and he couldn't help but think of Fan Zhongyun's parting words in his mind, if it was a critical moment, could he really help him?

Huang Zhi was also silent, thinking about some things, thinking of the current emperor Zhao Zhi, not only worried that the leading generals would not work hard, but also worried that the leading generals would be too powerful, between trust and distrust, always be on guard, once there is any excesses, it will be a catastrophe, such as Zheng Ze's father Zheng Zhongming, loyal to the Great Jin, and after his death, he led the envoy of the right section of Long, and controlled the army of 100,000, just because his character was too upright, dissatisfied with the eunuchs' interference in politics, and he spoke too bluntly, and in the end he was not falsely accused by the traitor, and ended up committing suicide. As a result, the morale of the army was weakened, Longyou fell, and hundreds of people became slaves of other countries.

Just as the two of them were thinking about their own thoughts, there was a sudden noise outside, the curtain was opened, and a blood-colored strong man strode in, knelt on the ground, and shouted sadly, "General." ”

Li Xun looked at the person who came, it was actually a single enemy stationed in Mi County, how did he come back, and he looked so miserable.

Huang Yan stood up violently, strode forward, helped Shan Qiu, and asked urgently, "What happened?" ”

Shan said in a hateful voice: "Liu Xiang and Zheng Ze took advantage of the night to lead the army to attack, and the last general actively defended, who knew that hundreds of spies in the city suddenly rose up and opened the city gate, and the last general was defeated, so he could only break through." ”

Zheng Ze and Liu Xiang together?

"How many of them are there?"

"About twenty thousand."

Huang Xu's face changed several times, he staggered back a few steps, and said in a lost voice: "What an empty city plan, with 3,000 troops to contain our attention, but in fact, it is a Tibetan army in Xiangzhou, and Liu Xiang joined forces together, taking the opportunity to kill from behind, it seems that the two have already conspired, just waiting for the best time, to give us a fatal blow." ”

"Immediately gather the whole army and fight to the death with the enemy."

Huang Yu had just given the order and was about to go outside.

"General, it's not good."

A strong man rushed in in a hurry, this person is called Yuan He, he is Huang Xu's henchman general, stationed in Jingping Pass for many years, Huang Zhen brought back five thousand elite iron cavalry in Jingping Pass, which is led by him.

Huang Zhen has been fighting for many years, how experienced he is, just a moment of panic, at this time he has stabilized his mind, and said in a deep voice: "Why are you so flustered? ”

Yuan He hurriedly said: "Tanma has just come to report, Caizhou defense envoy Huang Baichuan led 30,000 troops, and he is coming towards us, and his forward 5,000 cavalry has been killed thirty miles away. ”

Huang Xun's face changed greatly, and he hurriedly turned around and walked to the front of the case, looking at the map, Li Xun and the others came to the front, and they all looked at him with a bumpy and uneasy look.

Huang Zhen stared at the map for a long time, looked up to the sky and sighed: "Our army is in danger!" ”

Shan Qiu said: "General, the enemy's strength has reached 50,000, and it is attacking from two directions, we are afraid that the whole army has not yet gathered the soldiers, and the other party has already been killed." ”

At this time, it was late at night, and most of the soldiers had already rested, and it would take at least half an hour for the whole army to assemble in formation, and the enemy army had already killed the enemy, and it was too late.

I couldn't help but think about it, just pondered for a moment, and sure enough, he ordered: "Yuanhe immediately gathers the troops and horses of the headquarters, and after the camp is broken, you immediately go and inform the generals to gather their troops and horses as quickly as possible, no need to line up, and quickly retreat in the direction of Ezhou." ”

"Yes!"

Shan Qiu bowed to Yuan He and left in a hurry.

Huang Yu put away the map on the case, put it in his arms, looked at Li Xun, and sighed: "Judge Li, you go to the prison army, explain the matter, and then retreat with the army!" ”

Li Xun heard something and said in surprise: "The general doesn't retreat with us?" ”

"I am the commander of the three armies, how can I leave my soldiers and flee alone?"

Huang Yu laughed out loud and strode towards the door.