Summer in Hexi is already very hot, the sun is high, the wind brings gusts of heat, and only in the morning can you feel a hint of coolness. Pen? Interesting? Pavilion wWw. ｂiquge。 Accompanied by many generals, the veteran Han Pu and Dou Tao, the commander of Jinxing County, rode their horses and rushed to a mound outside Jincheng, standing in the wind, watching the marching sergeants with great interest.

"Ka! Ka! ······" The sound of neat and heavy footsteps came in bursts, simple and rough but rhythmic. It was also mixed with the clatter of armor and swordsmen, and the chirping of horses, all revealing the fierce battle intent. The generals who were accustomed to hearing this kind of voice had an excited look on their faces, as if they had seen the great martial arts of Liangzhou Dama rampant all over the world.

Han Pu looked at the military appearance of the captive army from afar, and sighed with emotion in his heart: "In less than a year, the young general has already trained such a strong army, which is really terrifying······

The staff next to him said: "Just look at the appearance of the army, the conscription army is a strong army." But after all, I haven't really been in the battle array, so it's hard to say what the combat power is. Besides, the major general is too young, eager for quick success and hasty advancement, and he has to suffer a little loss to wake up. ”

Dou Tao also frowned and said: "It is not difficult to move on the north bank of Taoshui, but I am afraid that the Huns will set up a position and fight with us in the field." In the past two years, my combat strength has declined rapidly, and I am afraid that the major general will have to suffer some hardships. Fortunately, the 3,000 men and horses of my Jinxing County have also crossed the river to respond, and the pressure on the major general will be greatly reduced. It's just that there is only half a month of grain and grass, and even if there is some achievement, I'm afraid it won't be very big. ”

Han Pu said quietly: "More than 10,000 troops are on the side, and the safety of the young general is safe." If you can't take the city in fifteen days, you will naturally withdraw from the army, so it's good to let him try. ”

After hearing this, the staff said lightly: "What Han Gong said is very true, the young general is bringing his own soldiers and horses, and this battle is also dominated by him, even the general is at his toss, and the lord is not good at forcing him to stop." ”

On the side, Dou Tao frowned when he heard this, and didn't speak again. He felt that Han Pu was a little presumptuous when he talked to his staff, even if the young general acted a little bit like Meng Lang, it would not be your turn to talk more, not to mention that he also talked about the general, how could this be done for the courtiers?

Jincheng was not far from Caohan, and the captives traveled south by boat, and all of them arrived after a day and night. Landing on the land of the Huns again, Zhang Jun's excitement was beyond words, which also infected the officers and soldiers of the whole army. In the process of camping, all the soldiers were in high spirits, hoping to harvest a head of Hulu so that they could exchange land for their own family after the victory.

When the army was resting, Zhang Junxian ignored the generals, but recruited the leaders of the Chen Chamber of Commerce who had entered the Han Dynasty earlier.

Unexpectedly, Chen Zhou actually came in person. I haven't seen her for a long time, and her elegance has not diminished, but Zhang Jun didn't say a word of greeting, and after being stunned for a moment, he asked directly: "Is there any movement in the surrounding places such as Caohan?" ”

Merchants deal with all kinds of people every day, and they are also used to this straightforward way, Chen Zhou did not twist, bowed, and said: "My subordinates are in Caohan, and I have met people from Qinzhou five times before and after. The last time at the beginning of this month, Cao Han increased his troops several times, and the current garrison is at least 6,000 people, and the number of food, grass and ordnance is unknown. ”

"How's the combat power?" Zhang Jun asked.

"They are all Han people who belong to the Xiongnu, which are far worse than Hulu, but they can't be underestimated."

Zhang Jun memorized it in his heart, and thought about the main places north of Taoshui in his mind, and knew that these Han troops who came to help could never be the main force of Qinzhou, because if the Huns wanted to resist by the river, it would be impossible for the reinforcements to rush into the city to defend. According to the urine nature of the Huns, it is estimated that they would have rushed over to the field with a scimitar a long time ago.

He immediately said: "There is going to be a war here, you don't have to go back to Caohan, just stay here and set up an intelligence point, take over the detailed work of various places, ask for clarity and write down the situation." How is it? ”

Chen Zhou knew that this was because the Metropolitan Governor was worried about his safety, and although he didn't say it, he was still very moved. He replied, "My subordinates obey." ”

Zhang Jun then asked Chen Zhou to retreat, and then sent someone to inform the team leader and the general Zuo to meet with the Chinese army.

The generals at all levels of the three armies of Longxiang, Hujie, and Konghe under the jurisdiction of the conquest army arrived one after another, and Zhang Jun took Wang Meng, Zhou Tong, Han Hu, Hu Shuo, Li Yi, and Chen Zhen around him into the big tent quickly. All the generals clasped their fists and bent down to salute, and shouted in unison: "Meet the Grand Duke." ”

Zhang Jun walked to the main seat and sat down, waved his hand, and the generals stood in two columns in front and back according to the high and low order, and looked sideways at Zhang Jun.

"Tomorrow the whole army will leave the camp and march towards Caohan." Zhang Jun spoke first, and everyone looked at him and listened carefully, "From the big camp to Caohan, there is only one big road suitable for marching, and the early combat goal of my conquest army is very simple, that is, to eliminate any Haozu Wubao on both sides of this road that may threaten the back road and flanks." Most of these Hao clan forts are Han Chinese, so the killing should not be too heavy, and all those who have funded our army's food and grass last winter and assisted in laying pontoon bridges will all salute first and then soldiers, and send people to send a letter from the governor of Pontus to persuade them to return to their parents' state. But if there are stubborn people and those who are bent on being eagle dog minions for Hulu, they will not be tolerated and destroyed! “

"No!" All the soldiers said in unison.

"The governor of Pontus decided to use the right battalion of the Longxiang army to be the front, the left battalion to cover the flank of the army, the left battalion of the Hujie army in the front, the crane army in the center, and the right battalion of the Hujie army in the rear. All units of the army cooperated with each other, and the buildings and uncles under the left battalion of the Hujie Army took turns to attack and advance one after another. Within two days, give me all the dock forts west of Pingfanghan, do you understand? ”

"The last general understands!" The generals led the order, among which the left battalion of the Hujie Army was Han Hu's department, and he was also the most excited. If this battle is directly facing the elite of the Huns, then to be honest, no one dares to say that they will definitely win, after all, the prestige of the Huns is not boasting, and they are indeed extremely powerful. But this battle is similar to the work of cleaning up the battlefield, and no matter how strong the people in the dock fort are, they are vulnerable to the regular army.

This kind of good deed of sending meritorious service to the door in vain made other generals very jealous. At present, Hu Shuo, who has been demoted to a pawn, is still sent by the right battalion of the Hujie Army, he is bent on meritorious promotion, and when he saw that his department was ranked last in the whole army, he immediately said urgently: "The Governor of the Dudu, why is it the same Hujie Army, we are eating soil in the back, and the last general is willing to be the front, it doesn't take two days, and all the chickens and dogs will be cleaned up in one day!" ”

As soon as these words came out, the generals present vied with each other to ask for battle.

Zhang Junxin said: These generals usually seem to be in order, but they are not stupid, they all want to do this kind of good thing······ The dock fort in front of the city is just a stronghold of the wealthy landlords behind closed doors, and it is no problem to deal with the official servants who collect taxes, but if they resist the regular army that has formed into a formation, it is tantamount to using the mantis arm as a car.

Zhang Jun raised his arm to stop everyone from shouting, and waited for the tent to calm down, before he said in a serious tone: "You have to underestimate the dock fort, in order to protect themselves, people are all high walls and deep ditches, and traps are dense. Once careless, not only will the lives of the sons be wasted, but the plan for a quick victory will not be completed. ”

After saying that, he stood up and said in a loud voice: "The ugly words of the governor of Pontus are ahead, this battle is related to the success or failure of the entire Eastern Crusade, and countless people are waiting to see the jokes of our conquest army. If you ruin the plan of the governor of Pontus, don't blame my military law for being ruthless! ”

When the generals heard this, they had to pay attention to it, as the so-called strong dragon does not suppress the head snake, in case it really capsized in the gutter, there is nowhere to cry······

On the eve of the army, Chen Zhen will send a detailed battle plan to each army, and then the generals will arrange it separately, and Zhang Jun does not need to worry about it.

In this way, early in the morning of the second day, the whole army marched to Caohan one after another. The 3,000 men of the left battalion of the Hujie Army were divided into six buildings and dispatched in order. For a time, the road was mighty, like a steel dragon.

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There is only one road leading to Caohan, and the army stretches for three or four miles in front and back, not only to prevent the surprise attack of the Xiongnu elite cavalry, but also to take care of the baggage supplies, so there is no way to go fast, and the army can only march forty miles in a whole day. The sun goes down quickly, and before the hour of unitary time you have to set up camp.

In the evening, the soldiers, under the leadership of the veteran of the right battalion of the Longxiang Army, went to a familiar place to fetch water. This is the place where they used to come last winter, although the snow covered the ground at that time, but the main terrain can still be distinguished, so all the veterans of the army are familiar with the way.

The rest of the sergeants cut down trees to build camps, and some used stones to stack stoves to cook, and everyone worked together, but it felt a little like they were cooking. If it weren't for the war, maybe this kind of journey would be quite interesting.

Of course, this tranquility is only temporary.

Today, there is a battle not far from here······

A wealthy clan not only refused to return to their parents' state, but also killed the soldiers sent by the conquest army to deliver the letter. Without Zhang Jun's order, Han Hu attacked in a rage, and broke into the door with only a stick of incense, exterminating the stubborn local tyrant clan.

This battle was regarded as the first victory, and the captive army got off to a good start. Zhang Jun personally ordered the commendation of meritorious soldiers, and the morale of the whole army was greatly increased. Not only that, but the amount of food in this Haozu Dock Fort is also beyond everyone's expectations, it is simply a granary. Zhang Jun had to send someone to move the people in the dock fort to Jinxing County, and at the same time, a large amount of goods in addition to grain and grass were also specially escorted to the rear to take care of them.

In this way, the sound of fighting in the entire land west of Caohan was endless. Some of those local tyrants surrendered voluntarily, while others fled in despair.

On the first day, as Zhang Jun expected, the Haozu Dock Fort was simply vulnerable, and the front army fought very smoothly with the strong and the weak, pulling out 12 Dock Forts, and the capture was not counted.

Zhang Jun sent someone to order Han Hu: "Only punish the evil, and prohibit the killing of prisoners." ”

Military orders only need to be carried out and do not require any explanation. His idea of giving this order was not only to avoid desperate resistance from the other Dock Fort residents, but also to have a long-term plan. Now that he's eaten the turf in his mouth, he doesn't plan to spit it out. If you want to make a good living here, you can't kill too much, otherwise the hatred is too deep, which is not conducive to future rule.

Moreover, in the final analysis, everyone is Han, and the honest croppers know what is cool and Han? People obey the orders of the sect master, and it is entirely to protect themselves. As long as they try not to hurt the innocent, they will farm the same land for whomever they want. So there's really no need to kill for the sake of killing.

At dusk, Han Hu led his generals to return to the Chinese army, and the generals also gathered with great interest to listen to their boasting.

Han Hu's excitement has not subsided yet, and he said loudly there: "We got up in the morning, walked to the front of the Zou Family Fort to set up a formation, and didn't talk nonsense with them, just rushed head-on, and killed it without stopping. Inside that's chickens flying and dogs jumping, haha! “

"The Zou family dared to harm the lives of our brothers who sent the letter, so I couldn't keep them alive, so I dragged them all to those people like dead dogs, and bled them one by one. At this moment, there is no one who dares to resist anymore! ”

Before he finished speaking, he smeared and said: "Zou Jiabao is served here, and the brothers in the back said that they won before they saw anyone." Hahaha! At that time, it was not yet noon, so I led people to continue walking, and the brothers from the right camp of the Longxiang army explored the road, which was very convenient. When I got to the second dock fort, I didn't say much, and directly put the head of the Zou family in front of the door, and the people were also single, so they went down directly. Anyway, this day I was in a hurry, and I kicked twelve families in a row, which was very boring······"

It's boring to say in his mouth, but the smug look on his face is so angry that other people's teeth itch, and it is typical to be cheap and obedient.

Winning the first battle will naturally boost morale, but Zhang Jun did not show too much joy. There was no intention to pour cold water on everyone, nor did it praise with great fanfare. At this time, he gradually recalled the words and expressions of Han Pu and the others······ Old General Han felt that he was presumptuous, and he was not optimistic.

"Governor Dadu, do you want our front army to go straight to Caohan City?" Han Hu leaned over and asked.

Zhang Jun couldn't deny it, and ordered: "Strengthen the vigilance day and night, disperse scouts, and I will send someone to give an order tomorrow." ”

When Han Hu heard this, he put away his attitude of jumping out, and hugged his fists and said, "Oh! ”

Zhang Jun's gaze swept over the faces of Wang Meng, Zhou Tong, Hu Shuo, Li Yi and others one by one, and finally paused on Chen Zhen's face. Among his subordinates, Chen Zhen is the oldest and most experienced in military planning. That night, Zhang Jun recruited Chen Zhen to meet alone in the Chinese military tent.

Since Chen Zhen was put into Zhang Jun's account, it was also the first time to go on an expedition together, and Zhang Jun said a little implicitly at the beginning: "When I was in Jincheng, General Han said that I was rash against the enemy. At that time, I was so preoccupied with combat strategy that I was not thinking about modesty. It's not done properly······"

He glanced at Chen Zhen by the light of the fire outside the tent, and said in a deep voice: "The Governor of Pontus is the best at participating in the army and planning, and the relationship with General Han is also the closest, according to you, is there a problem with the strategy of rushing and fighting?" ”