Liu Ji and Zhang Qi dismounted, and a soldier pointed to the tavern in front of him and said, "Captain, this is General Ding's tavern." ”

Looking at Zhang Qi, Liu Jidao: "This is the ferry, and the Khitans will go from here to check the terrain." General Ding chose the right place here. Let's go in and see how General Ding has been harvesting these days. ”

After saying that, when the first went to the tavern and the door.

Ding Lingde was leaning against the counter and taking a nap, when he heard the movement, he opened his eyes and saw Liu Ji and Zhang Qi coming in, and hurriedly stepped forward to salute.

Liu Jidao: "The Juma River has been frozen, and the Khitans will come soon." Today, I took a look around with Mr. Zhang, and I heard that you are doing a very good job here, so we came over together. How about it, is there any news of the Khitans? ”

At this time, it is not a meal, and there is not a single customer in the store. Ding Lingde summoned the little servants, asked them to pay attention to the surroundings, and said to Liu Ji: "Tai Lieutenant, go to the back, and the lower official will tell you in detail." ”

Several people followed Ding Lingde to the back of the inn. Ding Lingde pointed to an inconspicuous house in the courtyard and said, "This is the place where we have daily discussions, and it is convenient inside." ”

As he spoke, he led a few people to the door, opened the door and went in.

The room was a little dark, and Ding Lingde came in and lit an oil lamp. The flame was turned up and placed on the table. He took out a scroll from the cabinet next to him, and said: "This is a map of the border with the Khitan, I originally wanted to confirm it for the last time and send it to Taiwei Zhang, but I didn't want to arrive today." This depicts the places where the Khitans may attack, as well as the routes they will take, which can be used for the reference and deployment of the Taiwei. ”

As he spoke, he spread the scroll on the table. Through the lights, it is clear that it is the map from Xiongzhou to Zhuozhou. The map is very rudimentary, with the names of places and lakes, rivers, roads, and miles.

With the help of the light, Liu Ji and Zhang Qi stepped forward and carefully studied the map. The map is different from later generations, according to the custom of this era, it is up the south and down the north. The top is Xiongzhou, and there is a Juma River in the middle, passing through Xincheng County to Zhuozhou below.

Ding Lingde said: "The Khitan soldiers and horses have arrived in Zhuozhou from Xijin Mansion, and the lower officials have already explored, there are about 6,000 people, all of whom are cavalry. There are still two or three thousand soldiers and horses in Zhuozhou, and these about 10,000 people are the Khitan troops who will cross the river. In other words, this time the Khitans will send troops from Zhuozhou, and Yizhou will not participate. With this map, it is a map of the situation of crossing the river from Zhuozhou to attack Xiongzhou. ”

Important places are marked on the map, and distances are written. Liu Ji looked at it and said: "Zhuozhou to Xincheng County is fifty miles, from Xincheng to Juma River, there are still more than thirty miles. If the Khitans want to come, they should rest in the territory for the night, and cross the Juma River on the second day. ”

Ding Lingde nodded: "What the captain said is true." Now the Khitan soldiers and horses are gathered in the city of Zhuozhou. If you want to come south, you should rest overnight at the border and cross the river in the early morning of the next day. As long as you watch carefully, from the place where the Khitans rest, you can judge where they are going to cross the river. ”

Liu Ji nodded and asked, "Where are the Khitans going when they cross the river?" ”

Ding Lingde pointed to the place west of Xiongzhou on the map and said: "When the Khitans come, they will definitely attack here." Where possible, I marked it on the map. To the north of Beiyishui, there are three military villages, which the Khitans may attack. Of course, the most capable is that the Khitan crossed these three military fortresses to the bank of the Nanyishui River. Then he crossed the river and plundered the people fleeing south on the south bank of the river. ”

Looking at the place Ding Lingde pointed to on the map, Liu Ji said to Zhang Qi: "Your troops and horses, have you deployed defenses against these places?" ”

Zhang Qi said: "The imperial court strictly ordered that the Khitans have a way to come and have no way out. These days, I have been sending people to inspect the terrain here, and the soldiers and horses are stationed in Ansu and Xiongzhou. When the Khitans crossed the river, they immediately sent people to intercept their return route, and the army surrounded them. ”

Liu Ji groaned: "10,000 Khitan cavalry, how many people do you plan to use to surround them?" ”

Zhang Qi said: "30,000 people. Now 10,000 are in Xiongzhou, and another 20,000 are deployed in the Ansu army. If the Khitans crossed the river, they immediately sent 10,000 cavalry to the east to cut off their retreat. The other soldiers and horses were surrounded by the Xiongzhou and Ansu armies on the left and the right, and the Khitan army was surrounded between the two rivers. ”

Liu Ji nodded: "With such an arrangement, it is good for the Khitans to go deep into the border." If you only cross the river for more than ten miles, and your army is dispatched, they will still have a chance to escape across the river. 10,000 cavalry went out, and it was not easy to hide from others. ”

Zhang Qi said: "Not bad. Therefore, the location chosen by General Ding is of the utmost importance. When the Khitans crossed the river, as long as they reached Nanyishui, they had enough distance to stop them. The better-informed, though. The dispatch was late, and I was afraid that they would return. ”

Ding Lingde said: "Taiwei is right, this attack, it is best to calculate where the Khitan is coming." The sooner the army is prepared, the better, so that the Khitans can calmly cut off their retreat as they march south. These days, Xia Guan is doing this. ”

After speaking, he pointed to the map and said: "These days, the Khitan has sent a total of five people to cross the river to explore the way. Needless to say, east of Xiongzhou, between Xiongzhou and the Ansu army, a total of three people were sent. Two times was to explore the north of Nanyishui, especially around the newly built station, and the investigation was very careful. Another time was to find a common man who lived by the Juma River, named Shi Yiming, and took them all the way to Nanyishui. The place where they went was the same place where the people who fled south in the summer were settled. ”

Liu Ji nodded: "This matter started because of these people, the Khitan people are here, how can they be willing if they don't take a trip here?" ”

Ding Lingde said: "The lower officials also think so. Judging from the routes taken by the Khitan spies these days, the places they have seen, and the words and deeds along the way, if the Khitan soldiers and horses cross the river, there are two places that are most likely to attack. One is where the people who fled south lived, and the other is the station that is now being built. Based on the words and deeds of the spies, we estimate that the Khitans are likely to attack both places at the same time. ”

As he spoke, Ding Lingde pointed out the location of the two places on the map. At the same time, he pointed to several places on the map and said: "This is all checked by Khitan spies, and it is the way to the south." ”

Liu Ji and Zhang Qi looked at the map, were silent for a while, and thought secretly. After a while, Liu Jidao: "The station is about 30 miles away from the Juma River, and the cavalry crosses the river peacefully, and you can get to the station without waiting for dark." If the arrangement is not made early, it will be difficult for the station to prevent the Khitans. ”

Zhang Qi said: "This is a bit difficult. If we had arranged the troops and horses earlier, it would inevitably arouse the suspicion of the Khitans. Why don't you take advantage of the cold weather to stop the station for the time being and send back the people who work there? ”

Liu Xiang shook his head: "How can that be?" The station stopped, and the Khitans must have doubted. Well, you might as well send troops and horses to protect the station. First, it is necessary to protect the place in a foolproof way, and not to attract people's attention. ”

Hearing this, Zhang Qi looked at the map and couldn't help frowning. This is easier said than done. There was no garrison at the station, and in the wilderness, if you want to stop 10,000 cavalry, you have to send a large army. But as soon as a large army is dispatched, the Khitans will get the news.

Ding Lingde said: "The officials have been thinking about this matter for a long time, and after thinking about it, it is unreliable. It is better to evacuate the people at the station immediately after the Khitans cross the river. As long as it doesn't hurt people, how many things can the Khitan grab? Later, they stopped them, and they couldn't move back to Khitan. ”

Liu Ji listened, thought for a while, nodded and said, "Okay, that's it!" I got the news that the Khitans had crossed the river in front, and immediately asked the people at the station to evacuate! A few supplies, let the Khitans move! When the army is encircled, where can they move? ”

Zhang Qi said yes and said, "In addition to the station, there are many people on the way, what should I do?" ”

Ding Lingde said: "The lower officials have investigated and understood that most of the people in this area are two losers. Most of the people of this dynasty lived by the Nanyi water. Therefore, this time to prevent Khitan, it should be bounded by Nanyishui. The Khitan people crossed the river, the north road intercepted their way back, and the south road guarded the south and Yishui. ”

Liu Ji looked at the map and thought for a while: "The spies found that the Khitans were gathering at the border, so they immediately reported back. On the second day, the Khitans crossed the river, all the way from the Ansu army, mainly cavalry, blocking the Khitans' return route. The other way starts from Xiongzhou and blocks Nanyishui in front. Just near the newly built station, encircle and annihilate the invading Khitan army! ”

Zhang Qi said yes.

Ding Lingde pointed to the map and explained in detail to Zhang Yu where the Khitan might cross the river and what route to take. 10,000 cavalry, in order to quickly cross and cross, must go to open and flat places. There are many rivers in this area, and there are many reeds, and there are not many routes suitable for this requirement. Ding Lingde sent people to carefully investigate, and he had already determined the possible route of the Khitans.

Zhang Qi nodded again and again. With the location of the Khitan crossing the river, with their marching route, with their goals, they have sufficient troops in their hands, and if they can't block it, they can't explain it.

Du Zhongxiao sent Ding Lingde here, not only because he was good at intelligence, but also because he was very familiar with military affairs. Based on the information obtained, it was possible to predict the enemy's route in advance. This is easier said than done, but as long as you are careful and familiar with the march, it is not too difficult. Ding Lingde has been keeping an eye on the Khitans crossing the river these days, and according to their route, it is not difficult to deduce.

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