Luo Rucai asked, "How far is the official army behind?" ”

"Seven or eight miles." The subordinate replied.

Luo Rucai frowned and said: "They can catch up in half an hour, can we defeat the officers and troops in front of them in half an hour?" ”

His men were silent. If it had been placed in the past, if it were against other officers and soldiers, even Zuo Liangyu's troops, they would not have so many scruples. But since entering Qixian County, their previous faith has almost been lost.

"Or," one of his subordinates said in a low voice: "Let's go back to Kaifeng, we can still eat four or five meals of grain, and save some that should be able to last to Chenliu County." ”

Luo Rucai turned his head and saw that it was his cavalry general. This is his henchman, who has always been at the front, but now he has no confidence to attack.

The subordinate explained: "There is not enough forage, and the horses are starting to lose weight. If they don't get back in time, the horses will be ruined. ”

Luo Rucai looked at the other subordinates and found that although they didn't speak, they all looked a little approving. He gritted his teeth and shouted, "Cheer me up, they are only more than a thousand people, so they scared you like this?" We must defeat this army today."

"What about the pursuers behind?" A subordinate reminded.

Luo Rucai thought for a moment and ordered: "Hei Niu, you take your men and a thousand cavalry to lead the officers and soldiers behind." ”

The black bull agreed, and returned with 2,000 infantry and cavalry, wanting to wait for the officers and troops to approach before guiding the officers and troops in other directions.

Luo Rucai ordered: "Okay, let's take a rest." Wait for the black bull to lure the officers and troops behind, and let's start fighting again. ”

Li Yan saw that Luo Rucai's side began to rest, and he did not attack, but asked his subordinates to rest on the spot. This is the best way to spend it, and when his troops surround this bandit, his purpose has been achieved.

"Is there a well nearby?" Li Yan asked. He had to hold on for at least a day or two, but he couldn't do without a water source. The soldiers only carried enough water bags for a day, so they had to save on drink. And there are hundreds of mules and horses here, and you can't do without water.

Mr. Qian, who was guarding Ning Ling, looked around, pointed to the south and said, "Within three hundred steps to the southeast, there should be a well. ”

Li Yan nodded, handed the telescope to Liang Zhenfang, and ordered: "You see, if there is a well over there." ”

Liang Zhenfang carefully took the binoculars, asked the soldiers next to him to hold his horse, stood up with the help of stirrups, and carefully searched in the southeast direction. After a while, he finally saw the well, which was only half a foot high, and the mouth was covered with stone slabs.

"General, there is indeed a well." Liang Zhenfang reported, and at the same time carefully handed the telescope back to Li Yan.

This telescope is a precious thing, and their craftsmen can't make this kind of translucent glass, so now this telescope is still unique.

Li Yan instructed: "Pay attention to the enemy's movements. As soon as they want to move in the direction of the well, let's follow and make sure to keep the well under control. ”

"My subordinates understand."

Luo Rucai and the others waited quietly, and this wait was more than half an hour.

"No news yet?" Luo Rucai frowned and asked.

The soldiers replied: "The officers and soldiers have not caught up yet, and the black leader is still waiting three miles away." ”

A general said suspiciously, "General, something is wrong with this." ”

The other leaders also nodded in agreement: "Something is wrong." Those officers and soldiers are very fast, and they should have caught up a long time ago. ”

Luo Rucai thought for a moment and ordered: "Send someone to find out, where the officers and soldiers are." ”

After waiting for another half hour, there was still no news. At this time, it was already noon, and Li Yan's troops were already having lunch.

Luo Rucai's subordinates could only watch, but they didn't prepare dry food, and they had to make a fire to cook. They also carried water bags, and several of them poured the water from the water bags into the pot, cut some branches from the nearby woods to make firewood, and boiled some noodles to eat. It's still noon, and you have to eat something dry to withstand it. At night, they would have to eat gruel with vegetable leaves.

When they had finished cooking and were about to start eating, Luo Ru received a report that the ranks of the officers and soldiers were moving in a southeasterly direction.

Luo Rucai came to the front and watched the phalanx of the officers and soldiers move slowly. He wondered why the army had moved to the southeast instead of retreating to the east.

After eating, he finally got the news that the pursuing officers and soldiers had stopped outside a small village seven miles away, and did not begin the pursuit. His subordinates discussed for a while and came to the conclusion that the officers and soldiers were also tired and could not chase after them.

At this moment, they finally laughed happily, they are still stronger than the official army. Think about it before, Zuo Liangyu is as fierce as a tiger, which one can catch up with them? Now this group of officers and soldiers has been chasing for four or five days, and finally they are tired and lie down.

"It's okay now, if there are no chasing soldiers coming, we can clean up these guys in front of us."

"That's right, it's still an official army in the end, I thought I had met a heavenly soldier in the past two days."

……

The subordinates were all excited.

Luo Rucai was also glad that his subordinates had regained their confidence. He ordered: "Let the black bull guard there, if the officers and soldiers chase after them, I will block the group of officers and soldiers in front of me, and I must take it down today."

Soon, his troops began to slowly press towards Li Yan's military formation. This time he was no longer besieging, but only attacking the west and south, leaving the remaining two sides for the officers and troops to run away. His 5,000 cavalry was waiting in the distance, and as soon as the officers and soldiers wavered, it was time for his cavalry to show their skills.

Li Yan still followed the conventional arrangement, and did not weaken the defense forces in the east and north too much, but only transferred one Furlong machine gun on each side to the southwest side.

However, Luo Rucai and they also learned, and instead of charging in a dense formation as before, they used a giant shield to cover their artillery to approach the officers and soldiers. Now that they know how powerful the artillery is, they also want to take advantage of the cannons they carry. Although their cannons were not as far as those fired by the officers and soldiers, if they could enter 300 paces, they could also play some role.

"You all listen to me" Luo Rucai said loudly: "As long as you can go up, fire cannons at the officers and soldiers, and cause casualties to the officers and soldiers, I will give you a heavy reward for gold and silver women's food and cloth, as long as it is what you want, I can give it to you However, if you still dare to run away without permission this time, it is useless for me to ask you, you have figured it out for yourself"

The gunners who had surrendered from the officers and soldiers all nodded tremblingly. They had been left behind by their ability to fire artillery, and if they were useless, they believed that the thieves would kill them all without hesitation. So they all made up their minds this time, and they could only move forward desperately. It is still possible to live in the artillery battle with the officers and soldiers, but if you escape back, there is only one way to die.

...