Since a large number of war horses were captured, Xue Shao equipped all the foot soldiers with sufficient foot strength. Now even the mules that hauled grain were replaced by fine war horses, which seemed to anyone who led troops to be a staggering luxury.

But Xue Shao didn't care too much, he just wanted to speed up the march as much as possible.

But a long march of seventy or eighty thousand troops can never be as swift and swift as a small group of light horsemen, and a lot of time is spent on cooking and eating every day. Xue Shao couldn't wait. On the second day after the cavalry formation ended, he sent Zhang Renyuan and Zhao Yijie to lead 3,000 elite cavalry each as the vanguard of the two routes, each one step ahead. One way, he opened the road in front to inquire about the enemy's situation and searched for Cheng Wuting's news, and the second road went to Shuodai Erzhou to contact friendly forces to spread the news.

In addition to these two pioneers, the news net of "fisherman" Guo An has also spread. Although these scouts of the Tiger Division are not as easy to use as the old brothers before, the most basic reconnaissance can still be successfully completed.

Originally, there were two hundred scouts and subordinates under Xue Shao, but now there are only thirteen people left. So Guo An opened his eyes while casting a net and selected talents everywhere in order to be able to reorganize Xue Shao's scout and tribal team in the future.

After the battle of Nuo Zhenshui's defeat of Yuanzhen, Xue Shao's troops became famous and admired by the whole army, and the soldiers regarded them as real heroes in their hearts. Hearing that Guo An was going to reorganize this unit, many hot-blooded men in the army who yearned for honor rushed to join.

So Guo An and the other twelve veterans, just like Xue Shao, the commander of the Three Knife Brigade many years ago, became recruit instructors. Only now did Guo An understand why Xue Shao tied him up in the camp when the battle started that night. As a result, how much pain and nostalgia he had in his heart, how strict and responsible he was with this group of recruits.

The process of marching is also a process of training and running-in. Xue Shao didn't expect the army under his command to become like the previous Shuofang army in a short period of time, but it was necessary to improve every day.

A few days later, Xue Shao was less than 100 miles away from Shuozhou. At this time, the pioneer Zhang Renyuan sent back a message saying that he had encountered a small group of Turkic rangers and had fought about 120 miles north of Shuozhou. Zhang Renyuan successfully gathered and annihilated the enemy's hundred-man squad and captured several prisoners. From the interrogation of the captives, it was learned that as early as five or six days ago, that is, not long after Xue Shao defeated Yuan Zhen, Cheng Wuting led the army north to chase into an ambush and suffered a heavy defeat.

Cheng Wuting himself was killed.

Although this result had been expected by Xue Shao, Xue Shao still felt chills all over his body when he heard the news, and he couldn't speak for a long time. No matter what kind of conflicts Cheng Wuting had with the people in the court, he still had high prestige and influence in the army. Therefore, the soldiers who learned of this news felt very sorry.

Xue Shao couldn't help but think that when I left Luoyang, I privately instructed Yao Yuanchong to find a way to recommend Cheng Wuting to come back and take command to deal with the war in Hebei. Now that I think about it, I hurt him......

The scouts sent back by Zhang Renyuan also said that the Turkic squad that they had annihilated belonged directly to the command of the Turkic Khan Gu Lulu, who sent them out to reconnoiter the movements of the Tang army in Shuozhou and Daizhou. However, the army of Gu Lulu kept holding down and did not move, and Mo Si also retreated after defeating Cheng Wuting and did not continue to move.

Xue Shao estimated that Gu Lulu must have known the news of Yuanzhen's defeat at Nuozhenshui. Otherwise, according to their original plan, they would inevitably make a comeback and fight against the Shuo Dynasty again, taking advantage of the great loss of the Tang Army's new commander and leaderless combat strength, to counterattack Hebei in one go.

Although he failed to save Cheng Wuting, fortunately, he temporarily stopped the enemy's offensive and lifted the danger in Hebei, which became the only comfort in Xue Shao's heart. Now, he didn't have much mood and time to mourn Cheng Wuting, he ordered the whole army not to enter the Great Wall or Shuozhou, but to march straight to the Great Desert Beach twenty miles north of the Great Wall and set up camp there. The purpose was to strengthen a defensive line in front of Shuozhou City, in case the Turks counterattacked back. At that time, even if you can't resist it, you can still retreat into the city pass and defend it again. If tens of thousands of people enter the city directly, it is very likely that the Turks will take advantage of this chaos to rush in. At that point, it will be difficult to resist.

So the whole army once again accelerated the speed of the march, even the cooking things were temporarily thrown away, and quickly arrived at the great wilderness to start building fortifications and camping in the village.

Fortunately, the Turks did not take advantage of the situation to attack south. Zhang Renyuan reported the news that the Turkic army still did not move, and even a small group of rangers was not sent again. At most, they saw only sporadic enemy scouts, looking around in hiding.

Xue Shao asked Zhang Renyuan to withdraw. The rest of the intelligence work is left to Guo An, and the number of them is too conspicuous.

When Zhang Renyuan led the army to withdraw to the camp, Zhao Yijie also returned from Shuozhou with his troops.

came with Zhao Yijie, as well as Wang Yu and Guo Beifeng. When the three of them walked into the camp, Xue Shao happened to be listening to Zhang Renyuan talk about the details of Cheng Wuting's ambush.

Cheng Wuting handed over most of the soldiers and horses to Wang Yu and Dang Guo Er General to garrison the Shuodai city, and he only brought more than 10,000 people out of the pass to pursue. As a result, he encountered an ambush set by Yuan Zhen halfway through, and at the same time, Mo Si led the main wolf rider to fight back wildly. Cheng Wuting not only did not retreat, but fought forward, and the officers and men of the whole army fought bloodily all night, and the whole army was annihilated, and none of them were spared or captured.

"None of them were spared, none of them were captured?" Xue Shao's face was dead and silent, and he asked in a deep voice.

Zhang Renyuan nodded, "That's what the captive said. Presumably he didn't have to lie. ”

At this time, Wang Yu walked over. When Xue Shao saw him at a glance, he was like a ghost on his body, and he strode forward, rounded his arm and pointed at Wang Yu is a big ear scraper.

Wang Yu was still full of joy when he saw Xue Shao for the first time, and when he gradually saw Xue Shao's angry expression, his heart was cold, and when the big ear scraper was waved, his mind instantly became a blank.

There was a loud "pop" sound, and people almost a hundred paces away could hear it clearly.

Wang Yu fell heavily to the ground.

"Brute! Why didn't you stop him? ”

After scolding, Xue Shao dragged Wang Yu up from the ground, and his backhand was another big-eared scraper.

Wang Yu fell to the ground again, without saying a word.

Everyone was stunned and dumbfounded. Guo Zhifeng was even more frightened, and subconsciously shrank his neck to cover his face, feeling that the big ear scraper seemed to be thrown on his face.

"Why didn't you stop him?"

"Why didn't you stop him?!"

"Why don't you stop him!!"

Scolding, a big ear scraper.

At this time, Zhang Renyuan, Zhao Yijie and others could react, and hurriedly stepped forward to hold Xue Shao and prevent him from fighting again.

It's okay if they don't pull, but the more they pull Xue Shao, the more angry they are. The person was hugged, he kicked out and hit Guo Beifeng, Guo Beifeng screamed and covered his stomach and lay on it, but stretched out his left hand towards Xue Shao.

His left hand has only four fingers.

Xue Shao calmed down, pushed away the generals around him, walked in front of Guo Beifeng, pulled him up, and slapped the dust on his body for him.

Wang Yu knelt on the ground with his head down, motionless.

Xue Shao turned his head, looked at Wang Yu with residual anger, and said in a deep voice: "When Luoshui said goodbye, I gave you a box, what was inside?" ”

Wang Yu lowered his head and replied in a low voice: "Letter." Book of War. Guqin, ancient sword. ”

"The letter tells you to do things, and the book of soldiers teaches you how to use soldiers. I think you'll be mindful of both of these things. Xue Shao said coldly, "But the sword and the heart of the sword and the heart teach you to be a man, but you can't do it at all!" ”

"The student knows his mistakes......" Wang Yu lowered his head, and his voice was very small.

"You know what a fart!" Xue Shao shouted angrily, "The boss has died in battle, but you, as a deputy general, still have a dignified face to come to see me!" Have you ever wondered what it means to have a military order? Now, you are either fleeing with fear, or you are dereliction of duty by a criminal who has failed to advise you! ”

"The student is guilty...... Wang Yubai fell down and landed on his forehead, "Please punish the teacher!" ”

"There are no teachers or students here!"

"Please punish the young marshal!"

Guo Zhifeng heard that this was amazing, Xue Shao was about to play really! So he hurriedly knelt beside Wang Yu, clasped his fists and said hurriedly: "The young marshal is angry, there are quite a lot of hidden secrets in the evil things, and it is not all Wang Yu's fault." If you want to be convicted, your subordinates will not be able to escape the blame! ”

"Then go to jail together and be imprisoned!" After Xue Shao finished speaking, he strode away.

The generals were stunned, and they all said in their hearts that the young marshal was so angry today, and even his students and confidants were treated like this......

Instead, Guo Beifeng whispered urgently: "Quick, quickly escort us away and imprison us." Come on! ”

Zhang Renyuan reacted, and hurriedly called a few pawns to tie up Wang Yu and Guo Beifeng and put them in a temporary wooden prison.

Xue Shao returned to the tent and sat down, panting with anger. All the generals came to persuade him to dissipate his anger, and pleaded for Wang Yu and Guo Beifeng, saying that Cheng Wuting's matter was admittedly painful and sad, but fortunately in misfortune, Wang Yu and they were still guarding the two cities of the Shuo Dynasty, and the soldiers and horses under their command were not seriously injured. Although this is not a big credit, it can be worth it.

In the prison, Guo Zhifeng wiped the bloodshot on Wang Yu's mouth and whispered: "You kid is really stupid, I told you to kneel down and plead guilty when you see Xue Shaoshuai, but you are smiling with a mess." No, you've been beaten, right? ”

"I'm happy to see the teacher, can't I laugh?" Wang Yu was aggrieved, and tears came down, "Let me pretend, I won't." ”

Guo Zhifeng was angry and funny, and said: "After taking this good beating today, have you learned?" ”

"Still won't!" Wang Yu gritted his teeth and said, "How is it, I can't pretend!" ”

Guo Zhifeng was simply angry, "You kid, don't bring the scholar's temper to the army, sooner or later someone will cut off his head!" ”

"He who deserves to die, he dies." Wang Yu sighed heavily and said, "Thinking about what Teacher Fang Cai scolded me, it really makes sense. As a lieutenant general, I will either go into battle with the coach to kill the enemy and die in battle, or persuade the coach to change his course and stay together. Now that the boss is dead, I am alive, it is indeed a shame and a dereliction of duty! In case all the generals in the army act like Wang Yu, how can my Tang army be able to deal a blow? ”

"Hey, the kid has opened up!" Guo Zhifeng smiled, "Think about it, today the young marshal beat you up and angrily reprimanded you in front of the generals in the army, which is not only a teaching that hates iron but not steel, but also has the intention of warning the generals in the army!" ”

"Huh?" Wang Yu was stunned.

"Can't even see this?" Guo Zhifeng punched Wang Yu in the shoulder, "How did you become a student for the young marshal!" ”