Time turned, back to the first year of Tongzhi on the thirtieth day of the lunar month, and Zhengding Mansion bordered the Zhili Zhaozhou Gaoyi City. Pen & Fun & Pavilion www.biquge.info

In the biting cold wind, the white snowflakes drifted down unconsciously, once again whitening the wilderness fields outside the city, and the people who had been busy for a year walked in the wind and snow with the New Year's goods they had just bought, although the body was cold, and the New Year's goods in their hands were also pitiful, but their faces were filled with a festive smile for the New Year.

Compared with the common people in the east of Zhili, the people in Gaoyi are really very happy, and the harsh taxes are getting heavier and heavier, but they have not been affected by the diversion of the Yellow River, and they have never suffered from the disaster of the war.

When passing by the military school field outside the east gate, some ordinary villagers who were not too busy also stopped, curiously looking at the Qing army soldiers training in the school field, and did not understand why these Qing army soldiers were still crawling in the school field in the heavy snow, shouting and advancing in a strange formation, constantly changing into a more strange formation.

Although I don't understand, but the people of Gaoyi are in their hearts love this Qing army that only came to Gaoyi some time ago to station, when they came, many soldiers were wearing single clothes and walking barefoot in the snow, but they did not rob the people of a cotton coat and a pair of shoes, and never reached out to the people of Gaoyi to ask for a penny after being stationed, and gave money honestly when buying things, and never stepped on the farmland when marching, occasionally a war horse ate the wheat seedlings in the field near the camp, and the officials also took the initiative to come to the door to apologize and compensate for losses. It is simply not like a person from the previous few official armies that passed through Gaoyi.

When the people of Gaoyi looked at the Qing military academy, they did not know that Fu Zhenbang, the main general of the Qing army, was also watching them from the platform, and when he looked at the meager annual goods in their hands, Fu Zhenbang's eyes were almost ready to breathe fire, and they only wished that thousands of pounds of grain and dozens of fat pigs could fall from the sky, and a pile of cotton clothes and quilts could emerge on the ground, so that the soldiers under his command could eat dumplings and sleep well on Chinese New Year's Eve.

In the snowstorm, Zhang Guoliang, who had already formed a life-and-death relationship with Fu Zhenbang, stepped onto the stage and asked Fu Zhenbang: "Weiping, why haven't your supplies been sent yet?" Is there something wrong there? ”

"God knows!" Fu Zhenbang said in a rare tone a little angry, and said: "I said that I would definitely send it before twenty-seven, but today I am thirty, and there is no shadow yet!" ”

"Nine out of nine, it's that ghost of Ixinga again, right?" Zhang Guoliang analyzed: "He remembered the hatred of the Wuyang incident, and deliberately corrected you once or twice, and now he deliberately wants you to go hungry for the New Year?" ”

Fu Zhenbang didn't answer, but said in his heart who else could there be? Zhang Guoliang said again: "It seems that it is not possible to complain without going to the official station, so I will write a letter and send a fast horse to the official station." ”

Fu Zhenbang shook his head painfully and said: "Palaceier, no need, you are always a guest general, and this kind of thing is too deep, and it is not good for you." ”

"You just like to be patient." Zhang Guoliang said hatefully: "If it was me, I would have already picked up a knife and cut down that dog mongrel of Yi Xing'a!" At the beginning of the Wuyang incident, he was greedy for merit and false reports, falsely claiming to have annihilated all the Wuyang bandits, causing you to be ambushed and almost killed, you impeached him fairly, what face does he have to find you for personal revenge? ”

Fu Zhenbang didn't answer, and sighed after a while: "Who called him a Mongolian bannerman, his thighs are hugged well, and there are monks and princes to carry him?" ”

"That Mongolian old clump is useless to fight, but he is good at pitting people." Zhang Guoliang scolded again, and then said: "It's so decided, I will tell the official system for you about the delay in supply." The New Year's affair is also wrapped up in me, Gaoyi County gave me the New Year's reward, I will send half of it to you, let your brothers eat dumplings, don't be too wronged by them, you will have to rely on them to give you your life on the battlefield in the future! ”

Although Fu Zhenbang repeatedly refused, Zhang Guoliang, who was provided by Zhaozhou, still divided half of the New Year's supplies from his army and forcibly sent them to Fu Zhenbang's camp, so that the Qing soldiers under Fu Zhenbang's command ate a meal of dumplings on the evening of the 30th, and they were not so miserable that they were hungry for the New Year.

On the morning of the first day of the Lunar New Year, the supplies promised by the acting governor of Zhili, Yi Xing'a, to Fu Zhenbang's army were finally sent to Fu Zhenbang's army, and what made Fu Zhenbang tremble with anger was that the amount of grain and grass supplies that had been sent for several days was still insufficient, and the cotton clothes and quilts that had been asked for many times were still nowhere to be found, and the so-called New Year's reward was nothing more than ten skinny old sows, Gong Yaolun and Tian Zaitian and other generals scolded, and Zhang Guoliang was so angry that he once again wrote an official document to shout grievances for Fu Zhenbang.

It is a pity that Zhang Guoliang failed to deliver two letters of complaint in succession to the official text, because on the morning of the first day of the first month of the second year of Tongzhi, the official text had already received the news that Zeng Guoquan suddenly turned around and went north to the capital.

The capital is important, of course, the official has to personally lead the army back to the capital, but the Zhengding battlefield must also leave the heavy general to lead the army to continue to hold on, otherwise, once the Shanxi Wu army takes the opportunity to break through the Qing army's Jingcheng defense line, the Qing army in Zhili will really come to the front door to the wolf and enter the tiger at the back door. As a result, it was also at this time that Guan Wencai found out that he couldn't find such a reliable person to take over the Jingcheng defense line under his command, so that he could concentrate on returning to the capital without distraction.

Fortunately, at the critical moment, Yi Xing'a, who was personally promoted by the monk and the prince to be the acting governor of Zhili during Shi Dakai's Northern Expedition, jumped out and volunteered: "Don't worry, the last general Yi Xing'a can guard Zhengding for you and prevent Shanxi Wu thieves!" ”

Although Yi Xing'a is qualified to temporarily take on this burden regardless of his official position or qualifications, the official document did not immediately agree, but only went to look at other civil and military officials under the account, but unfortunately, although there were also several civil and military officials who stood up and volunteered, they either lacked qualifications and prestige, or made the official Wen even more uneasy in terms of ability and ability. So when he had no choice, Guan Wen could only turn his gaze back to Yi Xing'a, and asked hesitantly: "General Yi, are you sure to hold the Jingcheng defense line without any omissions?" ”

"Please rest assured that even if the Shanxi Wu thieves come to attack, the last general will keep ......."

I wanted to pat my chest and say that the Wu army in Shanxi would not come back, and all of them would be killed, but considering that the temper of the official and the monk was different, it was relatively more pragmatic, Yi Xing'a quickly changed his words and said: "...... Custody keeps them unable to take a step beyond the well, and ensures that the well's defense line is foolproof! ”

Seeing that Yi Xing'a's answer was both confident and cautious, Guan Wen was a little relieved, and after thinking about it for a while, he said: "Remember two points, the first is that you are only allowed to defend the city and never take risks!" The second is that the investment of troops should be hierarchical, and all the main forces must not be placed on the Jingcheng battlefield, where the terrain is too narrow, and too many troops will only give Shanxi Wu thieves the opportunity to take the opportunity to fight a decisive battle. ”

Yi Xing'a hurriedly agreed, patted his chest and promised that he would keep in mind the advice of the official document and never give Shanxi Wu Jun any chance. Guan Wen nodded, and said: "After the old man leads the main force away, the Shanxi Wu thieves will inevitably do everything possible to find out the reason, and once the Shanxi Wu thieves know the truth, they will inevitably take the opportunity to attack the well with all their might, increasing your pressure." So about the reason why the old man took away the main force, you must block the news, so that the Shanxi Wu thieves can't figure out the details and dare not enter the army easily, so that your pressure can be much less. ”

Yi Xing'a promised to be a little absent-minded, but fortunately his expression was not reflected, and the official Wen also transferred troops and sent generals, and decided to let Yi Xing'a lead the headquarters to raise the standard, and the commander of the Zhengding Mansion General Soldier Shuanglu, the Daimyofu General Soldier Fu Zhenbang and Zhang Guoliang stayed in the Jingcheng defense line together, and at the same time went to Wengaoyi at the first time, and ordered Fu Zhenbang and Zhang Guoliang to immediately lead the army north to join Yi Xing'a. As a result, at this time, of course, Yi Xing'a immediately said: "The official system, Zhang Guoliang's soldiers and horses all the way, the last general has no power to directly command?" ”

After a moment's hesitation, the official replied: "It's okay, the old man will give Zhang Guoliang a separate order, so that he can temporarily accept your moderation, and it will also be under your command." ”

As soon as Yi Xing'a heard the fun, he hurriedly thanked Guan Wen again and again, and his heart kept smiling, "The surname is Zhang, wait and see, the gentleman will take revenge, ten years is not too late, this time see if you dare to help Fu Zhenbang Xiao'er sue Lao Tzu?" ”

After hurriedly arranging the candidates for the generals and troops who stayed behind in the Jingcheng defense line, the official document left Zhengdingfu City with the headquarters governor in the afternoon of the same day, and rushed to Dingzhou to meet with the main forces of all roads, replenish grain and grass and rush to the capital to rescue. As a result, after the official text left, Yixing Ayititai, who had been trampled under the feet of the official text, naturally became the boss of the Western Front, and he no longer had to be angry with anyone, and he could be more assured and bold to give others a bird's anger.

But then again, our Ittitai volunteered to stay on the Western Front not entirely to make a fortune on the Zhengding battlefield, but sincerely wanted to take the opportunity to make some credit and erase the word acting in front of his official position, so after the official document left, Yi Xing'a immediately convened his generals to discuss the next plan.

The result of the discussion made Yi Xing'a very disappointed, because the Shanxi Wu army Jiang Zhongji Department in the Niangzi Pass had not made any moves, and all the generals of the Qing army believed that they should respond to all changes with the same and continue to maintain a state of confrontation with the Wu army without fighting. Yi Xing'a, who was anxious to build a great feat, heard the fire and said angrily: "Respond to all changes with the same? Is there such a good thing in the world? The official system of Taiwan led the army to leave today, and the Shanxi Wu thieves may know the news tomorrow, if the Shanxi Wu thieves take the opportunity to enter the Jingcheng, do we still have to sit still? ”

"Yi Titai, I'm afraid Wu Thief doesn't have such well-informed information, right?" A subordinate general said timidly: "Not to mention the distance, it is impossible for Wu Thief's fine work to send the news to Niangzi Pass, even if Wu Thief Fine Zuo sends the news to Niangzi Pass overnight, and wants to pass through our tightly sealed mountain roads, I'm afraid it is not so easy, right?" ”

"What if Wu thief uses carrier pigeons to deliver news?" Ishinga asked rhetorically, "Can we block it?" ”

The unlucky general obediently shut up, but fortunately, there are like-minded people with Yi Xing'a among the generals under his command, at least the general Teng Jiasheng stood up and said: "What Titai said is extremely true, Wu thieves tried to take the road to Jingcheng to enter the hinterland of Zhili for a long time, and it was inevitable that there would be dense eyeliner in the Zhengding area, and it was not impossible to secretly establish a carrier pigeon station, so we must not take it lightly because of the distance and the difficult mountain road, and prevent Shanxi Wu thieves from immediately sending troops to the east to attack Jingcheng, and even bypassing Jingcheng to get the deer, if this is the case, then we will inevitably fall into passivity." ”

Yi Xing'a nodded his head, deeply satisfied with Teng Jiasheng's analysis, and asked, "Jiasheng, then in your opinion, how should we act?" ”

did not participate in the meeting of senior generals held before Guanwen's departure, Teng Jiasheng naturally did not know Guanwen's repeated instructions before leaving, so he said directly: "The last general thinks that we should first send an army to Jingcheng to increase the aid and defense, and prevent Wu thieves from taking the opportunity to advance eastward. ”

"Jingcheng City is too small to garrison too many troops." The unlucky general hurriedly reminded: "At present, the army stationed in Shuanglu and Shuangjun is already very difficult, and if you increase troops over there, there will be no place for the army to be stationed." ”

"General Zhou, can you listen to what I say?" Teng Jiasheng smiled and said, "Of course I know that Jingcheng City is small and difficult to garrison heavy troops, but I didn't say that I want to let reinforcements enter the city to station?" ”

After smiling, Teng Jiasheng first invited Yi Xing'a and others to the map sand table, and then pointed to the map sand table and said: "Yi Titai, please see, about twenty miles east of Jingcheng, this Changgang Village, the terrain is dangerous, not only suitable for the garrison to set up camp, but also to strangle the Wu thief to bypass the Jingcheng and then march to the throat of Lu and Heping Mountain, the most important thing is that if we station an army here, we can not only form a corner with Jingcheng City, but also prevent Wu thieves from venturing eastward at any time and directly enter the hinterland of Zhili. ”

(Note: Before the liberation, the county seat of Jingcheng was located in Tianchang Town, Jingcheng, next to the current Jingnan Station, not Weishui Town next to the current Changgang Village.) ）

After carefully studying the map sand table, he found that Aijiang's suggestion was very reasonable, and Yi Xing'a immediately put aside the repeated instructions of the official document before leaving, and immediately ordered: "Give Fu Zhenbang and Zhang Guoliang an order, so that they don't have to come to Zhengding Mansion to meet with this admiral, and go directly to Jingcheng Changgang to set up camp, and form a rivalry with the Jingcheng defenders." ”

After that, Yi Xing'a added, "Time limit, before sunset tomorrow, you must rush to Jingcheng Changgang!" ”

…………

The distance is not far and the transportation is convenient, and under the whip of the horse, the order of Yi Xing'a, the acting commander of the Western Front, was sent to Fu Zhenbang and Zhang Guoliang, who had been ordered to drive north, that night, and as soon as they saw the order, Fu Zhenbang and Zhang Guoliang immediately changed their faces, and roared together: "Do you want us to rush to Jingcheng Changgang before sunset tomorrow?" In less than a day, we need to march more than 150 miles? ”

"I'm fucking it! Ixing Adam Laozi is a cavalryman? In such a short time, let the infantry run so far and want to exhaust us to death? Zhang Guoliang scolded.

"Twenty miles of it are still mountain roads." Fu Zhenbang added with a gloomy face.

No matter how angry he roared, it was useless, the official document had already handed over the command of the Western Front to Yi Xing'a, and asked Zhang Guoliang, who belonged to the Qing Army in Shandong, to temporarily obey Yi Xing'a's orders, Fu Zhenbang and Zhang Guoliang could only obey their orders unless they wanted to give Yi Xing'a a chance to further announce their personal vendettas. Therefore, Fu Zhenbang and Zhang Guoliang had no other choice but to urge the army to rush overnight, race against time to go north to get deer, and then go west to the Jingcheng Mountains.

Fortunately, although Yi Xing'a's order was harsh, it was not a task destined to be impossible for the well-trained Fu Zhenbang and Zhang Guoliang armies, but even if this was done, the army would have to be exhausted.

…………

Acting Zhili Admiral Yi Xing'a and his favorite general Teng Jiasheng actually guessed very right, Shanxi Wu Army's fine work did establish a secret pigeon post station in Zhengding City, and Yi Xing'a and Teng Jiasheng also seriously underestimated the efficiency of Wu Jun's fine work, just confirmed the news that the main force led by Guan Wen suddenly moved eastward, Wu Jun Xizuo had already released a carrier pigeon to Niangziguan to send a letter, so it was only in the evening, the movement report of the main force of the Qing army in Zhili had been put in front of Jiang Zhongji, the general of the Wu army in Shanxi.

Limited by road traffic and intelligence transmission channels, Jiang Zhongji was of course puzzled by Guanwen's move, and asked several of his civil and military accomplices in confusion: "Did that old miscellaneous person take the wrong medicine in Guanwen?" How could he suddenly take his main force in the direction of Dingzhou? What is he trying to do? ”

"There are only two possibilities." It was Li Hongzhang who answered, and said: "The first is the official document's plan to lure the enemy, trying to trick us into marching eastward on a large scale and using the complex terrain around Jingcheng to ambush us. The second is the change in the rear of the official text, forcing him to take the risk of staying on the Zhengding battlefield and returning to the division to save the hinterland of Zhili. ”

After thinking about it for a while, Jiang Zhongji asked again: "Then which one is likely to be the biggest?" ”

"The information is unknown, and it is impossible to judge." After many years of military and political training, Li Hongzhang's frivolous and arrogant personality has obviously improved a lot, and he no longer dares to make big conclusions at every turn.

"Brother, the enemy situation is unknown, and we'd better keep it the same." Brother Jiang Zhongyi said: "Anyway, the king of Zhennan did not stipulate a time limit for us to send troops, we can first find out the reason for the sudden withdrawal of the official document from Zhengding Mansion before making a decision." ”

Jiang Zhongji did not answer, because although Wu Chaoyue did not impose a time limit for the Shanxi Wu army to send troops, Liu Kunyi had already rushed to Pingding Prefecture yesterday with the main force of his department for the New Year. -- As mentioned earlier, the open and secret struggle within the Wu army in Shanxi has always been very fierce.

Seeing Jiang Zhongji's contradictory thoughts, although he did not dare to take risks casually, Li Hongzhang came up with a moderate idea and said: "Third general, although the enemy situation is unknown, we don't need to blindly press the troops in order to be safe, anyway, the year has passed, and the army's heart has already been decided, and it may not be a good way to break the current deadlock in the confrontation if we make a move appropriately." ”

"How do you move?" Jiang Zhongji hurriedly asked.