After crossing the river in Qianjiang County [now Qianjiang Town], it is a basin located in the mountains. Only hills were enveloped in the flat ground and erected abruptly. If you are in the north, such a fertile land can feed at least 100,000 people.

The strange geography made the officers and soldiers look around curiously. There was only Su Ziyuan, and his two eyes were looking straight ahead. There are still thirty miles away from Pennzhou, and when you arrive in Pennzhou, there is only one Kunlun Pass away from Yongzhou.

After arriving at Guizhou City, the two commanded Jingnan armies, after only resting for one night, began to march south under the leadership of Han Gang and Li Xin. And Su Ziyuan invited himself to be a guide to go south with the army, and the soldiers took filial piety as the top, so they naturally got the permission of Zhang Dian and Han Gang.

The two commanders, plus one brought out by Li Xin from his command, made a total of eight hundred and forty people. In addition, Guizhou subsidized Han Gang, Li Xin and his entourage, and there was only a team of mules and horses that helped them drag their armor and baggage.

A team of nearly 1,000 people marched on the flat official road, and only the sound of brushing footsteps sounded.

There was a sound of hooves approaching behind him, and when he looked back, Li Xin, who was pressing the formation behind, caught up.

"Envoy, it's time to take a break." Li Xin glanced at it and said to Han Gang beside Su Ziyuan. Even if he is Han Gang's cousin, in front of people, he only calls him an official.

Su Ziyuan had heard of this new generation of famous generals for a long time, known as the art of throwing spears in the army, and when he performed martial arts in front of the palace, the Son of Heaven was amazed. His people beheaded countless people on the battlefields of Kansai and Jingnan. It is said that in the First World War, he killed seven mountain barbarian chiefs in a row.

Outstanding military achievements, valued by the Son of Heaven, and a son-in-law of the prime minister's family, a cousin who is very likely to enter the political hall in the future. Such a general, Su Ziyuan thought that he would be a madman who was proud of his achievements. Who would have thought that he was a taciturn character, and he never showed off his relationship with Han Gang. The title of Han Gang in front of people is an example of this. However, Su Ziyuan also heard Han Gang mention it. The nephew of the famous Kansai general Chong Ge, when he went into battle, he also shouted that he was handsome and captain.

When it comes to marching and fighting, Li Xin is an expert, and Han Gang nodded: "Just rest for a quarter of an hour." ”

Li Xin gave an order, except for the dozen or so scouts guarding near and far, all the soldiers sat down directly on the official road. The weapons are all at hand, ready to get up and fight.

Han Gang also dismounted, and his own soldiers helped him take a small chair and sit down. Only Su Mian's eldest son sat down and stood up again.

"Are you worried about Yongzhou?"

Hearing Han Gang ask. Su Ziyuan opened his mouth and wanted to explain, but he didn't know how to explain. Of course, he was worried about Yongzhou's family, but if he put this mind on the guide, it would be difficult to win people's trust.

However, Han Gang did not embarrass Su Ziyuan: "...... If the thieves have already broken through Yongzhou, there is no need to block the news anymore, and it can only be shocking to release it. ”

There is nothing wrong with that, but it is only comforting words. Yongzhou has not been sent back by scouts for several days, and the news heard on the way south is contradictory. The only thing that is clear is that the siege equipment built by the thief army was burned by Su Mian, and some of the defeated and captured officers and soldiers took refuge in Jiaozhi, and then it was blank. How could Su Ziyuan be down-to-earth in his heart?

"Envoy, after arriving in Pennsylvania, the lower official is willing to lead a team of men and horses to Kunlun Pass to investigate the military situation."

"Nope." Han Gang refused very simply and affirmatively, "There are scouts to inquire about the military situation, and there is no need for the military judge to go out in person." Seeing that Su Ziyuan was anxious, he comforted again: "Boxu, you can rest assured, Zhang Zihou and I were ordered to go south, not to send the thief military salute out of the country." ”

Su Ziyuan nodded, and finally sat down, just hanging his head and not saying a word.

Zhilu Dao Su Mian's son was anxious, and Han Gang estimated that he stood up when it was almost a quarter of an hour.

This was a signal, and Li Xin and all the generals also stood up together, urging the soldiers below to pack up and prepare to continue their journey.

"It's almost the same when you rest, so don't sit in the wind anymore." Seeing that the soldiers' movements were a little slow, Han Gang's voice was amplified, "The previous official has already sent someone to Penn to prepare first, and when you arrive in Penn City, there will be hot water and hot rice, so you can rest for the night!" ”

"No!"

The voices of the soldiers in unison suddenly became vigorous. It's no wonder that they can lift their spirits, they can eat hot meals and hot dishes when eating, and they can soak their feet in hot water after marching, that is, Su Ziyuan was moved when he heard it.

Han Gang can attach so much importance to such ordinary and inconspicuous trivial things, Su Ziyuan said secretly, no wonder he can fall into such a big name. It's just a little more cumbersome to prepare, but it can eliminate the dissatisfaction of the soldiers to the greatest extent. Eight hundred soldiers followed Han Gang south, and still maintained high morale during the continuous march for many days. Lots of credit.

After the formation of the group, the army marched again. But he didn't go far, and the rangers who had been sent to explore the way in front of him galloped back. And there were two riders who came back with him, one of whom was sent by Han Gang early.

Han Gang sent his confidant Han Lian who followed him south early in the morning, with a team of men and horses as messengers, to inform the prefectures and counties along the way to prepare to meet the army, and he was also responsible for sounding the gong and opening the way. Every time I go to one state or county, I immediately send people to the next state and county to arrange food and lodging. Now it was one of the messengers he had sent to Pennsylvania in Qianjiang County, but he was followed by a strange soldier.

"The city of Pennsylvania is being besieged by the Jiaozhi thief army." The messenger pointed behind him, "He's the one sent by Pennsylvania to ask for help." Han Dian's attendant was leading people to stare at the thief, and ordered the little one to come back to report to the envoy. ”

Although the elite sergeant was surprised by Han Gang's youth, he could still see that Han Gang's status was the highest among everyone, he knelt down and took out a letter sealed with fire paint from his arms, and presented it to Han Gang with his hands raised, "The villain Huang An, on the order of Zhao Zhizhou of Binzhou, came out to Guizhou for help, but I didn't expect that the envoy had already led the troops. Please also send troops as soon as possible to kill all the dog thieves. ”

The letter asking for help indicated that it was addressed to the Guangxi Economic Strategy Division, and it was inconvenient for Han Gang to open it. However, he sent the letter to Su Ziyuan and asked him to inspect the fire paint, signature and seal on the cover. I saw the Guizhou military judge nodding, proving that it was genuine.

After confirming the identity of the person who came, Han Gang didn't need to look at the urgent report for help that was bound to be full of exaggerated words, "How many thieves are there in the siege?" ”

"There are more than a thousand soldiers and horses."

"The leading envoy Jiaozhi army, or the barbarian army of Guangyuan Prefecture?"

“…… The outfit is messy and seems to be brute. ”

"Did they attack the city?"

"When they first came, they killed the city and asked Pennsylvania to surrender. However, Zhao Zhizhou said that the official army was coming, and cut down two spies who plotted to sacrifice the city. When they saw that the gates of the city would not be opened, they did not dare to attack it. He burned and killed the Zhuangzi outside the city. Huang An kowtowed sharply, raised his head, his forehead and eyes were red, "They came too fast, and many people didn't have time to escape into the city." If you don't save them, they'll all be killed! ”

"Messenger. After the Nong Zhigao Rebellion, the cities of Guangxi prefectures were heightened and repaired. The defense of Pennsylvania is not bad, and more than 1,000 people will definitely not be able to attack it. If the inside and outside cooperate, they can be gathered and annihilated under the city of Pennsylvania. ”

Su Ziyuan was beating the side drum, Han Gang smiled and shouted, "Li Xin!" ”

"The last general!" Li Xin took a step forward, "Please give the envoy orders!" ”

"You go and ask the following, which one is willing to get the first merit to go south?!"

"The last general is willing!"

"The villain is willing to go!"

"The ministry is willing to go!"

When Han Gang inquired about the military situation, several generals pricked up their ears, and as soon as they heard that Han Gang was going to send someone to be the vanguard, they immediately jumped out and rushed to be the first to go out of battle. The military heart is available, Han Gang smiled at Su Ziyuan and said, "Yongzhou is still far away, let's take those thousand barbarian thieves sacrifice knives first!" ”

………………

Smoke billowed from outside Pennsylvania, and the oncoming bandits had dispersed, killing and plundering in various villages. The defenders of the city closed their gates, and did not dare to attack at all, and sat back and watched the thieves wreak havoc outside the city. I watched as the thieves tied the captured men and women with ropes, ready to take them back to drive slavery.

Liu Yong, the leader of the bandits, sat in the largest room in a village. There were several good-looking women around him, and there was one in his arms. They served Liu Yong with trepidation, and they didn't dare to slack off at all. When he opened his mouth, someone brought the food, and when he raised his hand, someone brought the wine glass.

The leaders below are all enjoying it like this. * The women who have obtained the wealth make them so excited that they pour the wine one by one.

It's just that the banquet didn't last long, and a scout horse rushed back with an urgent military situation.

"What, the Song people's reinforcements are coming?! Thirty miles away? Liu Yong shook the woman in his arms and pushed it aside, stood up at once, and woke up with a sense of alcohol, "How many are here?" ”

"There are eight or nine hundred, certainly less than a thousand."

"It's only eight or nine hundred, so it's a pioneer......"

Even if it is only the Guangyuan barbarian army from Xidong, Liu Yong and his brother Liu Ji, the chief of the Guangyuan Prefecture barbarian department, have always been known as knowing soldiers, and there are military books hidden at home, and there are also Han family scholars in the village. This time, the troops were also sent to them as staff officers.

"What do you think?" Liu Yong asked the nearest old pedant with a goatee, who was his mastermind and had the idea to let them return with a full load.

He Xuezhu let go of the woman in his arms and twisted his beard: "Judging from the position of the Song army, they set off from Qianjiang early this morning, and they were only thirty miles away from Pennsylvania before they explored the horses, and now it may only be twenty miles. It's a little too fast. From Qianjiang to Pennsylvania, the march is not a journey that should be completed in a day, and it must be a heartfelt ...... to save Yongzhou."

Liu Yong heard the meaning of He Xue's words: "What do you mean?" ”

"We sent a scout horse here, presumably the Song people will not fail to send a scout horse, and there is a report that there are spies riding horses around. In my opinion, it is better to gather troops first and see what the Song people will do next? If they stop to recuperate, we will take these men and women back to Kunlun Pass. If they dare to come to the rescue......" He Xuezhi shook his goatee and snorted twice, "Just enough to get some weapons at hand, and it can also make Li Changjie dare not underestimate the cave master." ”

Liu Yong obeyed He Xue's words, and immediately gathered the people scattered around him and sent out scouts. Half an hour later, one of the seven scouts who had been sent out came back with an arrow stuck in his back, and he was bleeding profusely. After reporting that the Song army had reached ten miles away, he fainted on the ground.

"Good!" He Xue shouted, "It's just an hour, and I drove twenty miles." Although this section of the north of Pennsylvania is not a mountain road, where can you still have the strength to fight if you run so fast?! I didn't expect that the Song general, who led the army to help, would be so stupid. He jumped up and said to Liu Yong, "Second Cave Master, first send the main force back to Kunlun Pass with the captured Shengkou, we only lead two hundred elites to hide in this village, and there will be some fireworks outside to cover it." The Song people must go to save people, as long as they chase after them, they can be caught off guard from behind! ”

Liu Yong understood, grinned and said, "When the time comes, I'll come back later......

He Xuezhu smiled proudly: "Just enough to kill this group of Song troops!" ”