After all the thieves had retreated, and there was no sign of another attack for a long time, Li Mu returned to the headquarters and found Li Yan.

"How's your situation going over there?" Li Yan asked.

Li Mu replied: "It's nothing, it's just a temptation." As soon as the artillery was fired from the north, there was no further advance on this side. After that, they retreated, and I haven't fired a cannon yet. ”

Li Yan nodded and said, "It seems that they are afraid, and they will retreat immediately after being hit in the north." As soon as the north retreated, so did the western. Then the whole offensive collapsed. It shows that the three of them are no longer of the same mind, they all look at each other, and no one wants to let their own capital suffer. ”

"The three families, as long as something doesn't go well, they will make trouble." Li Mu also said with a smile. Then he asked, "Fourth brother, how many did you shoot?" ”

Li Yan was stunned, he forgot about it. Then he said, "Not a single one." I retreated a hundred and fifty paces away, and I didn't waste any arrows. ”

Li Mu said happily: "Great, I shot three." Although it may not be the leader, it is too far away, and I shoot past. But that's also my win, right? ”

Li Yan said indifferently: "Well, you won." When I go back this time, you remember and I want to. ”

"Fourth brother, you can rest for a while, I haven't slept all night." Li Mu glanced at Li Yan's somewhat reddened eyes and said, "I'm staring here, I have something to call you." ”

Don't look at Li Yan's perseverance, he rejected Li Mu's suggestions to break through again and again, but it was the first time he had experienced such a thing as being besieged in the wilderness, and he was very nervous. Last night he just closed his eyes and recuperated, and at the slightest movement he got up to check the situation, for fear that the soldiers would be too tired and would be attacked by the enemy.

However, Li Mu slept soundly for one night, in the end, he had been mixed with thieves for a few years, and he had experienced a lot of winds and waves, so he was not so nervous.

Li Yan felt that there would not be much of a problem for the time being, so he nodded and said, "Okay, I'll go sleep for a while." ”

After Li Yan went to rest, Li Mu took over the management of the phalanx. There are quite a few things about arranging water for the soldiers, eating, taking turns resting, feeding the horses with water, and so on.

By the time Li Yan woke up, it was almost dark.

"No news of reinforcements yet?" Li Yan asked as soon as he woke up.

Li Mu shook his head and replied, "No." ”

Li Yan said helplessly: "Alas! I thought that I could hit these thieves hard with reinforcements, but I ran into friendly troops who didn't dare to leave the city. It's a pity! Forget it, let's retreat tomorrow too. ”

"That's right," Li Mou echoed, "It's still up to us." When we have gathered enough strength, these thieves will be fine! ”

Li Yan instructed: "You go and make arrangements, we must spend the first half of the night safely first, and we can't be sneak attacked." Wait for the fifth watch (three o'clock to five o'clock) to start. ”

"The oil is gone," Li Mou said, "If you want to prevent a sneak attack, don't you dismantle the basin and get some firewood?" ”

Li Yan thought for a moment and said, "Don't demolish it, if it is demolished, let the thieves know that we are going to break through at a glance." Use the captured and destroyed weapons, and light some bonfires, as long as they can burn until the fifth watch. ”

"Well, that's fine." Li Mu nodded and said, "I'll arrange it." However, in which direction are we going to break through? ”

Li Yan had already made a decision, and immediately said: "North! Although the defense to the north may be stronger, it is not far from Xie Zhai to the north. As long as we enter the stockade, we don't have to worry about the siege of thieves. ”

"Okay, just do what the fourth brother says." Li Mu nodded in agreement.

Li Yan also instructed: "Let the artillery prepare in advance, and the fire is not only for the north, but also on the other three sides." Let them be well prepared and don't have a problem when the time comes. ”

"Okay, got it." Li Mu agreed, and then went to inform the ministries.

Retreat is a major event, and it must be arranged well, otherwise it may turn into a rout. What Li Yan wants to arrange is the problem of several detachable sheds. They had to time their dismantling well, not only to be able to catch up with the time for retreat, but also to keep the enemy from knowing their intentions as much as possible.

Night soon came, and even when the thieves saw that Li Yan's troops had only lit a few bonfires to illuminate the perimeter, they had no intention of attacking. After all, it was the troops of the three families, and no one was willing to attack Li Yan alone, and let the other two take advantage of the fisherman.

At the time of the hour, the baggage soldiers began to carefully dismantle the dismantling shed. They kept their voices as low as possible, so as not to alarm the thieves outside.

In fact, Li Yan doesn't care about these dismantling sheds, the woods are everywhere, and the woodworking workshop can make a few for him at any time. The point is that he needs those carts, not only to transport supplies, but also to transport the wounded.

By the time of the fifth watch, the baggage and the wounded were put on the cart. Li Yan came to the artillery group in the north to see if it was ready.

"Are you ready?" Li Yan asked.

The artillery commander clenched his fists in return: "It's all ready, prepare ten arson bombs." ”

Li Yan nodded and said, "Okay, wait for my order." The direction should be aimed at and try to maximize the effect. ”

"Understood!" The gun commander agreed.

Li Yan was about to go to the artillery group in the south when suddenly there was a "bang" sound. He looked north and saw a bright light flying towards the sky, and then there was a "boom" explosion. A bright green ball lit up the sky and began to fall after reaching its apex.

"Reinforcements are coming, our reinforcements are coming." Li Mu said happily. This was their contact signal, and the fireworks were changed to only one glowing projectile in it, red and green. Red is a call for help, and green is a call for help.

The other soldiers were also demoralized, but they just grinned silently and did not shout.

It turned out that after Liang Zhenfang went to Guide City to pass Li Yan's military order, he did not stop, and immediately set off and ran in the direction of Qixian. He knew that the officials and soldiers of Guide Mansion could not be counted on, and they still had to rely on themselves. Although Li Yan did not let him go to Qixian to ask for help, and Li Mu did not give him instructions, he knew that whether the besieged team could come back safely depended on whether the reinforcements from Qixian County could arrive as soon as possible.

Li Yan was also happy in his heart, it was really the right time to come, just in time for him to retreat. He didn't ask who asked Li Zhong to come, he immediately ordered Li Mou: "You go and check the artillery group in the south and wait for the sound of artillery here." After hearing the sound of cannons, you also start firing from your side. After my side has stormed the camp to the north, you will go north with your troops. The second brother should be able to cooperate with us. ”

"I'd better take the cavalry up," Li Mou proposed. After all, there were only more than 100 cavalry in addition to the personal soldiers, and the danger of rushing into the large camp with thousands of people was still quite great, even if it was a somewhat chaotic large camp.

"Needless to say, you're more dangerous here." Li Yan ordered: "We must hurry up, and we can't let the enemy surround you again." ”

"Got it, fourth brother rest assured." Li Mu nodded in agreement.

...