At noon on the 29th day of the first lunar month, Zhu Pingjin, the prince of Shu, and Liao Daheng, the governor of Sichuan, were meeting with Liu Zhenfan, the deputy general of northern Sichuan, on the platform of Shouwangfu, and the newly formed 18th battalion of Wang Xingwu had crossed the Jialing River.

The Jialing River is very wide, and it takes a long time to cross the river. The cavalry was faster, and Wang Xingwu would not wait for Hou Yingqi's cavalry to cross the river later. When he saw that the whole camp had been crossed, he immediately ordered the whole camp and marched towards the city of Dahu, forty miles away by the East River. There are more than 100 officers and soldiers of Zhang Zuokai stationed in Dahou City, and the small village at the foot of the mountain is the camp that the 18th Battalion is scheduled to camp for today.

The marching army was two miles long, with the first, second, and third companies in front, and after the fourth company newly organized by Wan Jifu, Wang Xingwu led the battalion headquarters and the battalion to march between the third and fourth companies independently. This battalion independent platoon is composed of those Zhu family sons and nephews who asked Wang Xingwu to bring to Langzhong to make meritorious contributions, also known as the "Zhu family platoon". The Zhu family pai learned of the Tumenchang tragedy the day before yesterday, and before setting off this morning, they learned that the culprit Yuan Keyi's brothers had been awarded the head, and the great revenge was avenged.

But this Zhu family platoon also has a soldier who is not surnamed Zhu. That was the culprit of the Boryeong mutiny: Wang Chaoyang, a guerrilla general in the former northern town of Sichuan.

……

The mountain road was winding and rugged, and the troops did not carry their baggage, but threw off their arms and strode forward. The sun was high in the middle, and the soldiers were so hot that they unbuttoned their chests and rolled up their sleeves.

Wan Jifu, the former garrison of Nanjin Pass, the new deputy commander of the 18th Battalion and the commander of the fourth company, glanced at the back of the red armor and black helmet in front of him hurrying with a gray backpack on his shoulder, gently clamped the horse's belly, and came to Wang Xingwu, thinking about how to speak, but he didn't expect Wang Xingwu to speak to him first: "Brother Wan, how is the situation in the fourth company?" When the soldiers knew that they were going to fight hard, were they afraid? ”

"Fighting with the thugs, it's nothing! When a soldier eats food, he has to go into battle and fight hard. The brethren were paid according to the standards of the Protectorate, and they were very happy. Hey, don't hide it from the battalion commander, the brothers have been poor and scared all these years. They are not afraid of losing their lives, but in case there are three long and two short, the old lady, wife and baby in the family will starve to death! ”

Wan Jifu sighed again and again. Wang Xingwu thought that the morale of the fourth company was not as high as Wan Jifu said, which could be seen from Wan Jifu's own expression and tone.

The brothers in the official army fought for the Ming Dynasty for more than ten years, but they suffered unimaginable hardships, and then they felt disheartened!

He is the battalion commander and the supervising army. Let the morale of the soldiers of the whole battalion be high, and it is my responsibility to shirk it. But where do you start? Thinking of this, Wang Xingwu retracted his thoughts and smiled at Wan Jifu: "The team of the fourth company is so long, I heard that there were a hundred and ten veterans running last night?" ”

That's what Wan Jifu is worried about. Hearing the battalion commander take the initiative to ask, he answered honestly:

"It's not all veterans, either! Fifty-three people were veteran soldiers, and the remaining one hundred and nine were all recruits who were recruited nearby after they arrived in Langzhong. Wang Chaoyang hurriedly evacuated Boryeong without having time to inform the brothers in several passes near the county seat. They waited there stupidly for half a month, and there was nothing to eat. Later, when they heard that I had joined the Protectorate, they came to find me. They are all old brothers in the same battalion, I can't help it, I just ......, battalion commander, I don't want to hide it from you, it's just that I have some ......"

Wang Xingwu smiled generously: "Brothers are willing to join the National Protector Army and work with us to protect the country and the people, is this a good thing?" Welcome! The prince once said that everyone gathers firewood and the flame is high! Just ......"

As soon as Wang Xingwu said "just", Wan Jifu's heart suddenly turned high.

“…… It's just that they have to perform a ceremony of joining and be included in the roster of each company. The Protector Army supplies the company. Otherwise, if they are paid next month, how can they have their names? ”

It turned out that the battalion commander was worried about this! It seems that he is overhearted. Wan Jifu thought about it, and he smiled to himself, twisting the arrow scar on the left side of his face.

After eliminating the mustard in Wan Jifu's heart, Wang Xingwu ordered: "The four platoons of the four companies are not satisfied, and they can be filled up now." The surplus men were combined with the independent platoon to form a fifth company. Putting aside the over-compilation for the time being, we are going to war, and of course the more people there are, the better! ”

The fourth company lost so many brothers at once, Wan Jifu was naturally a little unhappy. But when he thought that the brothers had finally found a way out, he nodded and said yes. It's just that he still has to fight for the position of company commander.

"Brother Tong as a company commander?" Wan Jifu asked in a low voice.

"Let him continue to be the deputy company commander in the fourth company. Although Tong Ge'er was born as a general, he has never been in the battle formation and cannot be a chief officer. ”

"But he is a regular company level set by the prince himself......"

"There are a lot of high-ranking and low-level things to protect the country." Wang Xingwu glanced at Wan Jifu, "We are going to work hard." This is good for Brother Tong and your spring girl! ”

Wan Jifu suddenly realized, and a wave of gratitude welled up in his heart.

"Brother Wan also took the time to teach him more, the matter of the battle formation is not just a matter of paper......

"This is natural."

"The commander of the fifth company......"

"The newly arrived battalion chief of staff, Zhang Wenjiang, acted as the company commander and the supervising army. Don't underestimate Zhang Wenjiang. He is both civil and military, and he is a high-achieving student who came out of the Shu examination! As for the deputy company commander, he was represented by Zhu Jiayi, the platoon commander of the independent platoon. ”

While the two were talking, a cavalry horseman came running from behind. A general at the head, with a national face, a straight nose, thick eyebrows and big eyes, wearing silver armor, holding an iron gun, and a scarlet scarf around his neck trembled in the warm wind.

What a handsome guy!

"Generations will be gates! Tsk, it's different! Wan Jifu's envious eyes stared at Hou Yingqi's distant back.

"There are no generals in the Protector Army!" Wang Xingwu muttered to himself silently.

In the evening, nearly 1,000 men of the 18th Battalion finally arrived at the city of Dahu. But before they could touch the ground, a messenger with a red flag rushed in.

Wang Xingwu opened the envelope and looked at the afterglow of the setting sun. Without waiting to finish reading, he ordered the guards to give the order:

"Order the whole battalion to immediately prepare for a rapid march overnight! Passing down, the prince put forward a request to us, saying that one is not afraid of hardship, and the other is not afraid of death! ”

"What's so urgent?" Wan Jifu stepped forward and asked.

"Liu Zhen's clan moves very fast! The cavalry of the Liu Department had advanced to the periphery of Yuxi Field, and the infantry had passed the Thousand Buddha Field. The prince ordered our battalion to quickly move closer to Liu Bu and obey Liu Zhenfan's command! ”

Wang Xingwu explained the situation clearly in a few words, and then ordered: "Brother Wan, you immediately contact the official army and ask them to provide a ferry." I rushed to the pier and organized a river crossing! ”

"Really going to fight a big battle?" Wan Jifu was stunned.

"Is that still fake? Intelligence said that there were more than 10,000 local tyrants in Yuxichang! ”

"!" Wan Jifu scolded. But his daughter's warm and considerate figure flashed in his mind, which suddenly made him proud.

"Lao Tzu is also going to be a marquis immediately!"

……

The official army was under the city, and there were more than a dozen ships of 100 stones. The soldiers guarding the dock said they had sailed to Langzhong last night to load the military rations of the Liu Zhen Domain. Only a few small boats were left here, which could cross half a company at a time. Wang Xingwu and Wan Jifu had no choice and immediately began to cross the river.

After crossing the East River, the sky was already dark. The officers and men of the 18th Battalion crossed over a company in accordance with the battalion commander's orders, and without waiting for the follow-up troops to assemble, they immediately lit torches and rushed to the Thousand Buddha Field in a marching column.

From Dahou City to Thousand Buddha Field, it is a mountain road of more than 60 miles. On the way, you also have to pass through a large town east of Langzhong County - Fenggu Township (now Langzhong County Laoguanchang).

During the Northern and Southern Dynasties, Fenggu Township was the county of Yiyang County of Baima, and later Fengguo County was placed in this place, and the county was withdrawn from the Yuan Dynasty to the Zheng period. This place is the central town in the east of Langzhong County, which produces good rice, and has also gathered merchants, known as the dry wharf. However, when the Protector Army entered the town, the whole town was pitch black, and there was not even a single ghost to be seen.

After a brief search and confirmation that there were no residents, the avant-garde company sent someone to pass the place quickly after sending a message to the rear. Wang's battalion headquarters was with the 5th Company, which had been hastily formed at the docks, and marched after the 1st and 2nd Companies.

After entering Fenggu Township, a squad leader of the Second Company ran to report to Wang Xingwu that they heard the cry of a child when they passed through the town, so they launched a search and found two children, one older and one young.

"What about the kids? Bring it or not? Wang Xingwu grabbed his horse's head and asked.

As soon as the squad leader raised his hand, the torches lit up the two dolls in the corner of the street. The older boys are about seven or eight years old, and the younger girls are only four or five years old. The two children timidly grabbed each other, their four eyes staring nervously and curiously at the group of soldiers with torches.

"What about their family? Why are you crying? Are you sick? Wang Xingwu asked.

The squad leader hurriedly reported that they had asked the boy. Hou Yingqi's cavalry reached the outside of Fenggu Township, and the people of Fenggu immediately scattered and fled. The two dolls ran away from their parents and had to hide in front of their homes, waiting for their loved ones to return. They are crying because they are hungry and have now been fed dry food and water.

After thinking for a while, Wang Xingwu called Zhu Jiayi, the deputy commander of the fifth company beside him, and asked him to take a few soldiers and these two children to find the people in the town.

"It's dark around here, where can I find someone? Besides, there's going to be a big battle ahead, so let me go find someone at this time? Zhu Jiayi glared and shouted with dissatisfaction.

Wang Xingwu didn't have time to talk to Zhu Jiayi, who was stunned, and suddenly lowered his face and asked.

"What is the purpose of the Protectorate?"

"Protect the country and the people, and the world is peaceful!" Zhu Jiayi knew that something was wrong, but he had to answer.

"What is the first military discipline!" Wang's tone was even more severe.

"All actions are subject to military orders!"

"Then what nonsense are you talking about, execute it immediately!"

"Yes!" Zhu Jiayi agreed with a sigh of relief.

"We are a glorious national protector, and it is our mission to 'protect the country and the people, and the world is peaceful'! The battalion headquarters and the entire fifth company are there! Leave all the bags of dry food behind and put them on the curb! ”

Wang Xingwu shouted loudly as he bent down to untie the wooden buckle of the rucksack on the horse's back and pulled out the dry food bag inside.

In the silence of the night, Wang's voice traveled far and wide along the crooked and narrow streets.

A sweaty veteran at the end of the fifth company, who was slightly hunched, silently learned from the soldiers around him, wiped off the strap on his shoulder with one hand, and took out the bag of dry food inside.

Torches crackled and burned. On the tattered curb, a line of dry food bags was lined up in a neat straight line from front to back.

"What kind of army is this? Is this still an official army? ”

Wang Chaoyang, a veteran who has been in the army for decades, had doubts for the first time.

At noon on the 30th day of the first lunar month, the exhausted 18th Battalion finally arrived at the Thousand Buddha Field.

Ten miles outside the field, Wang Xingwu met Liu Zhenfan, the deputy general of northern Sichuan, who came to greet him in person. Liu Zhenfan waited on the side of the road with his own soldiers, until he saw Wang Xingwu himself, and then he beat the horse and went along.

Liu Zhenfan first described the deployment of the army to Wang Xingwu, then recounted in detail the summons of Shizi and Liao Fu, then showed the saber that had been given, and finally asked Wang Xingwu to give advice on the upcoming battle to relieve the siege.

Wang Xingwu happily arched his hand on the horse: "Since the prince has a will, he will obey the general's orders in all actions!" ”

"General Wang fought against Changping Mountain, and his reputation spread far and wide. With the help of General Wang, the general will win a few more points! ”

Liu Zhenfan was polite, and then said tentatively: "The Protector Army is tired from afar, so please repair it in the Thousand Buddha Field for one night." Tomorrow, when the grain ship arrives, can General Wang escort the grain for the army? ”

"The last general obeys!"

"I heard that Wang Chaoyang was a soldier in General Wang's camp, I wonder if I can see him?"

"The general is the commander of the main camp, so it is naturally possible."

Wang Chaoyang's fate made Liu Zhenfan sigh for a long time: "I think Wang Chaoyang was also a good man back then!" It's just that he shouldn't have been forced by Zhang Jimeng, a thief, to go astray! Fortunately, he met such a benevolent and wise gentleman as the prince! Does General Wang know that the prince ordered the general, Wang Chaoyang and the families of the mutinous soldiers to be taken care of and not to be harassed. Do not touch your belongings at home ......"

Singing rang out in the ranks, lifting the spirits of the tired soldiers. Liu Zhenfan and Wang Xingwu were sandwiched in the marching army, chatting all the way to the middle of the town. The two exchanged a lot of content on the road, life experience, hobbies, Protector Army, Shizi, Soil Tyrant, and Changping Mountain

However, Liu Zhenfan did not explain to Wang Xingwu his plan to lure the enemy with grain.