Although there is no snowy month in August, the scenery of the cold wind is omnipresent in the vast field of vision between heaven and earth.

And on the yellowish and white grassland outside the Saiwai grassland, a team of lead-gray tones out of the fortress was marching in a silent and solemn atmosphere, along the undulating mountainside terrain and the winding river, towards the west in a long array of horses and horses.

For a moment, in addition to the rustle of trampling by, only the whining of the wind whistling in the wilderness was their best companion and companion.

At least on the steppe near the border wall, the march of the steppe was like marching on the desert, without any supplies or assistance from manpower, except for the ruins of settlements and tents.

The roads that were once full of business and travel, the estuary market towns and roadside markets that were once bustling with people, were all buried in the deep barren grass. There were no people or tracks, only the animals that were frightened in the grass from time to time, or the birds such as finches and geese fluttered in panic.

At this time of the day, the grasslands were already filled with a large tide of migrants, carts, and herds of cattle and sheep; After all, if you can't get to the nearest winter camp at the mouth of a river or between the low hills, where all kinds of ramparts and civil enclosures form shelter from the wind and cold, or before the first snow falls, you can go to the warmer side walls and the inner side of the mountains; That means that under the long and harsh winter, the cruel elimination from nature and the inevitable attrition of people and animals.

Of course, in the era when the prestige and territory of the Tang Dynasty were the most powerful, these key nodes that traversed the grassland like latent bloodlines and meridians had been controlled by the large and small fortresses and military villages that had sprung up along the direction of rivers and roads, and the various nomadic tents that had been gathered during the period were also put on the cage and gimmick that they could no longer move and circulate freely, but could only rely on the snort to make a living;

And these inheritances were further inherited by the princes who were divided into the grasslands outside the Saiwai, and even let them continue to control and enslave and educate these nomadic tribes who were willing or involuntary to semi-settle under the sufficient force and economic generation difference and advantage, and from generation to generation those who came from the north and even the far north, more barbaric and poorer, and it was easy to be cornered at the slightest change, and went south to plunder the northern Fanhu for a livelihood and a way out. Generations of confrontation and struggle.

Therefore, in the era when the prestige of the Tang Dynasty still existed, the monarchs and ministers of the court could not worry about border troubles for ten or dozens of years, and the price of all this was to use a very small part of the wealth of this huge empire, a little support and subsidies for the princes outside the Saiwai every year, and even routine support in the name of autumn defense training, which could isolate this disturbance and noise from many side walls once and for all.

During this period, the Fanhu who gathered on the Yanbian grassland changed wave after wave, naturalized batch after batch, but it did not affect the long-term neglect of the side walls and fortresses of the barren grass, the endless flow of merchants trampled out of the dense roads, Qianmo vertical and horizontal.

It was not until the authority of the Tang Dynasty crashed to the ground in the midst of the shock and civil strife that these princes outside the Cypriot Dynasty also had disagreements and fissions in their respective support camps and positions, and once again fell into a period of excessive chaotic conquest and mutual invasion and merger; Subsequently, the determination of the Northern Tang Dynasty made the chaotic situation outside the fortress clear again;

It's just that the ambitions and suspicions that arose from this could no longer be bridged, and some of the foreign princes adapted to the times, and at the cost of favor and fame and fortune, they re-became the screen of the new dynasty of the Northern Tang Dynasty; The other part of the people decided that the encroachers of the Tang Dynasty were incompatible, and became the border trouble that was held high every year; Some of them are because of their geographical location, so they have become wall grasses that follow the trend.

However, whether it is the grass on the wall or the border troubles of the times, or the existence of the loyal screen, now all of this has been dispersed in the tide of the times; They either disappeared in the migration tide that entered the customs several times, or in the process of Su Yuanjing leading troops to sweep the grassland, they became the last sound of the era.

Perhaps it will take a few years for the new tribes to reunite and regain after they find the emptiness and blankness here.

And now, these strange sergeants rode their horses through the knee-deep and waist-deep weeds, and from time to time they could step on the bones of men and animals, and make a crisp cracking sound, the result of the last year, or the year before, or even earlier; After several migrations, sweeps and devastation, these Yanbian grasslands, which were once known for their fertility and abundance, have become very barren and lonely.

Therefore, within the confines of this seemingly no-man's land, they can only rely on their own military supplies and rations to maintain their needs along the way.

Zhang Xian, who was riding on horseback, even if he was wrapped in a cotton fur, a fleece overcoat, and a woolen coat, could already feel the chill that slowly penetrated into the armor, after all, it was already August outside the plug.

During this period of stay behind the mountain, he was not inactive, and while clearing out the remnants of the local enemy and stabilizing the order, he also continued to send reconnaissance personnel to the outside of the Fortress, and gradually explored and mapped out the general situation of the border area and the geographical map of the mountains and rivers.

Therefore, after initially suffering a setback on the line of Bai Jinyu and Songzikou between Ulzhou and Xinzhou, he did not continue to rashly attack, but decisively brought out a capable man and horses from the day the first batch of reinforcements arrived. With the old subordinates of the old border army who surrendered to Shun as a guide, find a roundabout march route to the north.

"This is Hutu White Mountain."

The weather-covered guide, riding a lean old horse, pointed to a low, pale and sparsely vegetated hill road in the distance.

"There is the Great Beacon Tower of the previous dynasty and the residence of the Xuanfu Domain, but there is nothing left now."

"Seventeen miles away, you can reach Yanbian's hometown, Yanzi City (near present-day Zhangbei County, Hebei Province)"

"Further south from Swallow City, there is the side wall between Yehuling (near present-day Zhangjiakou) and Broken Cloud Ridge."

"There are remnants of the old Tunjun army we know there,"

"Maybe there's someone to talk to...

Suddenly, the noise from the wind in front of him made Zhang Xian's expression become solemn.

"The forward exploration sentry is at the foot of Tubai Mountain, and I have encountered dozens of enemy horses."

"Identifier unknown."

"The cruising team and the capture team are outflanking and recovering them."

A few miles away, Pu Suwan lay on the back of the galloping Anton's horse, staring at a few horsemen who were running away not far away, until the other party suddenly ran out of horsepower, and even the man and the horse fell to the ground, and never got up again.

Only then did he slow down, and slowly hovered around the fallen cavalry with his firebolt in his hand, looked at it carefully, and then said with some surprise

"Woman ?。。"

"I actually sent all the women out."

As a consistent tradition of the grassland domain, women are important property and reproductive tools, even if the men of a tribe are dead, as long as there are most women, it means that the existence of this bloodline and seed source can still reproduce a new population.

But on the other hand, if even women have to be sent into battle, it also means that the corresponding tribes and forces have already known that they have reached the end of the mountain.

。。。。。。。

And a few days later, in Ulju,

Qin Ming, a Hebei general nicknamed "Thunderbolt Fire", was also slowly looking at the Huai Army banners gathered outside the Yukou; I only feel that there is a lot of uneasiness and worry in my heart, this is the Huai Army, the predecessor was the right army of the imperial camp that could not be matched by a lone army that fought all over more than a dozen states in Hebei Province with a single army.

Although before this, at the cost of losing a few small sentry posts, the advantage of the terrain thwarted several tentative attacks of these Huai troops, no matter how the people around them praised and praised, and how the rear rejoiced and praised and rewarded,

But he can clearly feel that this is because the other party did not do his best and did not want to dwell too much; And all this is only a few signs and echoes before the storm;

Although there is no sign of an attack by the other side so far, the number of flags is still increasing day by day, and some things like artillery wagons and flying fire and thunder are constantly arriving in the enemy array outside the Yukou Pass wall, and have become fortresses and positions built one by one.

It seems that a desperate battle and bloody rain are coming, and the Hebei soldiers gathered in the Yukou and the local subdued native soldiers and archers can't help but be extremely solemn and trembling.

Therefore, taking advantage of this interval of preparation and waiting, all kinds of defensive equipment and materials for repairing the city defense were dismantled from the rear city like flowing water, and then moved to the front like ant colonies by the local strong men and women.

They even tore the last bit of false ties and fig leaf maintained with the upper echelons of the occupied areas, directly sent troops to break into the doors, and collected the last bit of surplus food and material goods they had secretly hidden for the purpose of the army.

Anyway, if you can't resist the attack of the Huai army, it's useless to say anything; But on the other hand, if this battle can be won, it means that the prestige of the army can be greatly enhanced, and it can slowly concoct these resentful local forces in the rear.

After all, his command is also different from the past, at least half of the Hebei army, which is known as 40,000 people, are battle-hardened soldiers, and just using all kinds of new and old firearms obtained and collected from many sources, he has equipped tens of thousands of people, of which there are ten battalions of about 8,000 people.

This is also the greatest support for him to resist the breakthrough of the Pinglu army in Hebei, and then force him to retreat all the way to pursue and sweep the states behind the mountains; Therefore, relying on these experienced and skilled soldiers, he had the basic confidence and confidence to have another long-lost collision and contest with the prestigious Huai army in this mountainous and rugged natural and dangerous place.

No matter how great the reputation of "invincible" is, can it still avoid the fact that the mortal womb of the flesh will bleed and be killed and injured?

"When will the platoon guns dismantled from the barricades arrive?"

Thinking of this, he asked behind him again

"Send someone to urge you again."

"Don't be stingy with the people and material resources along the way, you must arrive before the Huai thieves attack."

"No,,"

A subordinate general hurriedly took the order.

Then, at noon that day, he saw a response from the rear, and a messenger covered in blood was lifted up.

"The capital is unified, and the state city is ,。。"

"There are mobs swarming up to grab the army."

"Ambassador Liangtai Zhou was killed by the rebels."

"Most of the remaining men and horses were killed and wounded, and the rest retreated to the government to hold on to help."

"Damn."

Qin Ming couldn't help but become irritable in his heart.

Of course, he will not easily admit that this may be the result of his improper actions, but only resents these despicable people, how can they not obediently stay at home and starve, but to single out and destroy the good situation he presides. this

"Immediately let the Odd Soldiers and the Shenhuo Battalion go to the bomb pressure."

"Those who dare to resist will be killed, and don't let the thieves spread out of the state city."

"No."

Several generals hurriedly left.

Fortunately, the Huai army in front of him still did not attack, but was preparing unhurriedly or something, which also made Qin Ming relax a little.

However, that night, not long after closing his eyes, he was suddenly woken up again by his subordinates with worried faces.

"Big things are wrong."

"What's wrong."

Qin Ming endured the anger and resentment of being woken up, and said in a rough voice.

"Could it be that the Huai army is coming?"

"Positively... Correct.. Precisely.. ”

Some of his subordinates stammered eagerly

"So what,。。 Panic like this. ”

Qin Ming became more and more annoyed, and kicked the other party fiercely.

"Let's go with me to the city to defend against the enemy."

"It's Huai Jun...

The subordinates who were kicked down and got back up finally spoke much more smoothly and fluently.

"From the direction of the state city on the back road, it was killed.."

"The Odd Soldier Team and the Divine Fire Battalion who went to the bullet pressure were caught off guard for a while."

"There was a big rout on the spot, and only a few dozen people fled back to report the news."

"What..."

At this moment, Qin Ming only felt cold and like falling into the abyss. Judging by his many years of military experience and quality, after defeating the partial division of his own army, the other party is afraid that he will not stop in front of a mere state city.

Then, as if to confirm his thoughts and conjectures, suddenly a bright light flashed in the sky, and several bright fireworks also rose in the valley behind the wall, which was shrouded in darkness; Then the Huai army position outside the wall was like a beast that had been awakened, and suddenly it came to life in a huge shouting and uproar.

The night battle was actually a night battle, and the Huai army actually chose the night battle offensive of internal and external attacks.

(End of chapter)