Liu Yuan's heart was a little hairy.

It's not normal, it's so abnormal.

Xiangtan is eerily quiet.

Liu Yuan knew very well what kind of roles Liu Chen's subordinates were, but now that this army has entered Xiangtan, it seems that it has changed its temperament, and it has actually become a disciplined army.

At first, Liu Yuan didn't care about it, but after a long time, this taste was wrong. Because it is possible for a unit like Liu Chen to control discipline in a short period of time, but if it can be controlled for a long time, it will inevitably mean that something big will happen.

Wrapping the raincoat on his body a little tighter, looking at the troops advancing forward in the bleak rain and cold wind, Liu Yuan's heart was far less calm than his face showed.

There was a commotion ahead, and Liu Yuan frowned and looked ahead.

Moments later, several scouts approached him with a disheveled man.

"General, take down a spy." A scout unceremoniously kicked the man in the crook of the knee, and the man with his hands twisted went limp and fell to his knees.

"Who are you? Where did it come from? Liu Yuan looked at the calm man and asked.

It's not like an ordinary spy, if it's an enemy, it's either panic, anger, or hatred. Over the years, Liu Yuan has seen too many such people. Before the two armies fought, it was all too common for spies like this to be captured and killed.

Not just enemies, but also their own.

Scouts, always replenishing their staff. As one of the most dangerous branches of the army, they are the most elite, with the highest salaries, and they also do the most dangerous work.

"General Liu, the lowly position is subordinate to the third squad of the second brigade of the Jiangxi District of Neiwei, and the lowly position is called Niu Jin."

As soon as the man spoke, everyone around him was shocked.

"Credentials!" Although he was also surprised, Liu Yuan still asked calmly.

The man twisted his body, and several Tang Army scouts behind him immediately let go of their hands, but the knife they pulled out did not return to the sheath, and their eyes were still staring at the man.

The man stood up, moved his arms, reached out and took off a cowhide strap from his waist, tore it hard, tore the cowhide open, and a thin nameplate fell out from the inside, picked up the nameplate from the ground, and handed it to Liu Yuan.

After carefully examining the nameplate, Liu Yuan nodded and returned the nameplate to the man: "Brother Niu Jin, thank you for your hard work." ”

Hearing that the general recognized the identity of the other party, several Tang Army scouts around him returned their swords one after another, and one of the Tang soldiers who had just kicked him patted the other party's shoulder apologetically: "Brother, I'm sorry." ”

Niu Jin smiled, hugged his fists and returned the salute: "It's okay, brothers are so skilled, I haven't even reacted yet, I was overturned by you, and I didn't even have a chance to speak." ”

Everyone laughed.

Seeing that Niu Jin didn't speak, Liu Yuan waved his hand and let the surrounding Tang troops disperse, leaving Niu Jin alone.

"Is something wrong?" Liu Yuan asked.

Niu Jin nodded: "General Liu, I have been lurking by Teng Jian's side since Jiujiang, and he suddenly found me yesterday, which really scared me." It wasn't until this time that I knew that Teng Jian had already been rebelled by our people, and I didn't know that it was the powerful character who made it, which was really impressive. ”

"What did he say?"

"The matter is very urgent, Teng Jian didn't want to write a letter or anything, just told me the matter roughly, the matter was urgent, I left the brigade that night as if I was sent out to deliver the letter, and I came to look for you along the way." Niu Jin said: "Liu Xinda and Ding Hao in Hunan have colluded. Xiangtan is a trap, where is it, Ding Hao has prepared a trap waiting for you to guess it, and Liu Xinda's department, at this time, I am afraid that Zhuzhou has been snatched, and our back road has been cut off. ”

Liu Yuan's heart jumped, and his face changed suddenly.

"Teng Jian, Liu Chen, they have already received Liu Xinda's orders, they have all retreated along the planned route, and they will eventually return to Zhuzhou." Niu Jindao. "In order to cut off our way back."

"Yichun?" Liu Yuan suddenly thought of Yichun behind Zhuzhou, if Yichun did not have problems, then Yu Xiaowen's troops would be able to arrive in a few days, such a big loophole, a veteran like Liu Xinda would not fail to take it into consideration, unless they were sure to eliminate this elite Tang army of up to 10,000 people in a very short time.

Niu Jin shook his head, "Teng Jian said, Yichun has now been captured by the Jiangxi side, as for how many Jiangxi troops have also entered this battlefield, Liu Xinda did not say in the order. However, Teng Jianchai this time the layout was so exquisite, and the timing was so accurate, it was obviously aimed at General Ren, but I was afraid that Jiangxi also dispatched a lot of people. ”

Liu Yuan only felt that his heart was pounding and almost jumped out of his mouth, if Yichun was also lost, if there were also people from Jiangxi who joined the encirclement and suppression of his side, then this time I am afraid that it will be really difficult.

This is completely different from the earliest information about the infighting in Jiangxi.

"Niu Jin, I have to work hard for you, I will send someone to ride a fast horse with you and tell General Ren the news as quickly as possible." Liu Yuandao.

Niu Jin nodded: "General Liu, you can't move forward any further." Every time he takes a step forward, he will be one step closer to the other party's trap, and now he will turn back and go all out to fight Zhuzhou, maybe he can snatch Zhuzhou back, General Teng said, they will try to slow down as much as possible, and they will also find a way to slow down the time for Liu Chen's troops to return to Zhuzhou. ”

Liu Yuan shook his head slowly: "I can't stop, even if I move forward slowly, I have to go." Qin Kuan marched with me on the right flank, if I stopped and stopped advancing, his soldiers and horses did not know this situation, and they were still advancing at the original speed, and they would inevitably stand out alone, at this time, if the Hunan soldiers and horses seized this opportunity and ate the Qin troops who were protruding first, we would be more dangerous. ”

When it comes to the issue of military command, in terms of strategy and tactics, Niu Jin is obviously not on the same level as Liu Yuan.

"Although it is dangerous now, although we are walking towards the trap step by step, the three of us still maintain an unimpeded connection, even if the enemy makes a move to strike in one direction, it must also guard against our men and horses in the other two directions. This gives us a certain chance, as long as the three of us are together, then, it is not without the power of a fight. Liu Yuan continued. Let's go! ”

"Humble Orders." Niu Jin arched his hand.

"Now that you're out, can't you go back?" Liu Yuan asked suddenly.

"I can't go back, and when I finish the task of delivering the letter, I will become a warrior!" Niu Jin smiled.

Liu Yuan patted Niu Jin on the shoulder vigorously, summoned several other scouts, and asked them to accompany Niu Jin to find Ren Xiaonian, and at the same time sent people to inform Qin Kuan. Before Qin Kuan got the news, he had to keep moving forward. And there is a distance of two days between him and Qin Kuan. Between Qin Kuan and him and Ren Xiaonian, there is a distance of one day each.

After Niu Jin and the scouts left, Liu Yuan tried hard to calm his mood, and then ordered his own soldiers to gather the generals under his command.

Next, the whole army will enter a state of imminent battle, and no one knows when the battle will break out.

I'm afraid that this will be the most difficult battle since I joined the army, and it is so difficult that Liu Yuan doesn't know if he can go back alive. This feeling has never been felt before.

Liu Yuan was well aware of the current situation of his troops. The whole army only carried three days' food supplies, and the rest of the supplies were first sent to Ren Xiaonian's headquarters from Yichun and Zhuzhou, and then sent by Ren Xiaonian to the left and right wings.

Since Yichun and Zhuzhou have been lost, it means that all supplies are now gone. In such a season, food will become the greatest enemy of the Don army.

The Tang army is naturally brave, but if they are hungry one by one, how can they fight this battle?

Where is General Ren Xiaonian, I'm afraid that he has noticed something now, even if there is no Niu Jin, he will definitely find out that something is wrong. Because the grain in the rear will be partially delivered every day, if it does not arrive in one day, there must be some problems, and if it is less than two days, it will definitely be an accident.

When Niu Jin arrives, Ren Xiaonian will figure everything out.

Next, it is time for him, the prime minister, to make a decision.

Liu Yuan disagreed with Niu Jin's suggestion that the entire army stop advancing, not only because he was worried that Qin Kuan would become a lone army, but more importantly, he knew that there was no way out of retreating.

Now, they are much closer to Xiangtan than to Zhuzhou.

For Liu Yuan, now he would rather speed up and rush straight to Xiangtan, no matter what traps the enemy has, as long as he pierces the so-called encirclement of the other party in one fell swoop like a sharp knife, then the enemy's trap is just a joke.

Take Xiangtan, then there will be everything.

Supplies, grain and grass, there must be in Xiangtan City, as long as you can take Xiangtan.

So the same as before, is the only way out.

Even if he knew that he had fallen for the enemy's tricks, for Liu Yuan, there was no possibility of retreating.

Go ahead and smash all the intrigues of your enemies with a powerful iron fist.

In the face of absolute power, no small trick will lose its color.

After reaching a consensus with all the generals in the headquarters, Liu Yuan did not reduce his speed, but immediately increased the intensity of the march, and the Tang army of 3,000 people, like a sharp arrow, smashed straight into Xiangtan.

At this time, in Xiangtan, Ding Hao's first support army, five thousand Hunan cavalry led by Lu Yuan, had arrived.

In the other direction, the two teams of Jiangxi and Lingnan led by Ji Zhijiang also crossed Zhuzhou, and under the eyes of Liu Xinda's subordinates, they chased the Tang army.