The night was already dark, and after a rough count, Shi Min estimated that there were no more than a thousand people when Mudu fled, and the rest were all destroyed. Pen | fun | pavilion www. ｂｉｑｕｇｅ。 info And Shi Min's department also suffered, most of the losses were the defenders of Yanmen Pass, these people were not as good as Shi Min's subordinates on weekdays, so there was also a difference in combat effectiveness.

More than 2,000 defenders of Yanmen Pass, following Shi Min out of the pass, fought two battles with the Xiongnu and Qiang people, and once lacked food and grass, and now survived, but only more than 300 people.

"Major General, is there a saying that is called putting oneself to death and then being born?" Zhang Mufeng asked.

"yes, when did you learn that again?" Shi Min looked at Zhang Mufeng and smiled, the smile on his face was very relieved after the dust settled.

"I don't remember, I've heard it anyway!" Zhang Mufeng smiled and said, "We finally defeated the Qiang people, if we lose, we will starve to death." You say, is this called putting oneself to death and then being born? ”

"You're a good kid! That's a very apt one! Shi Min said, patted Zhang Mufeng, then stood up, looked at the rest of his subordinates around him, and said silently: "Although this battle has ended, the grudge with the Xiongnu and Qiang people has just begun. ”

Zhang Mufeng got up, stood next to Shi Min, also looked around, and said: "Hu Kou made a mess and disturbed the people of my Central Plains, my father and ancestors all died at the hands of the Hu people. Almost all of our brothers have a blood feud with the Hu people, but it's a pity that those brothers who died in battle can no longer live and die with us! ”

"War always kills." Shi Min said, forcefully inserted the halberd on the ground, then looked around the camp to check the situation, and asked Zhang Mufeng: "What about General Xue Zan and Wang Chong?" ”

"I'm probably going to clean up the battlefield."

"Later, count the casualties, order another 1,000 soldiers, call Wang Chong, and set off with me to chase the leader of the Qiang tribe in the fifth watch." Shi Min commanded.

"Still chasing?" Zhang Mufeng asked.

Shi Min stopped and asked, "Why don't you chase?" Capture the thief and capture the king, although the leader of the Qiang tribe is mediocre, but only if he is caught, there is a deterrent effect on the Xiongnu and the Di people and Xianbei who are about to move. ”

Zhang Mufeng nodded while listening, and said, "What the young general said is true!" I don't know if I can take the initiative to fight? Let the lowly lead people to chase! ”

"You're going?" Shi Min was a little surprised.

Zhang Mufeng was stunned for a moment, and then said confidently: "Yes, I'll go!" ”

Shi Min shook his head and said, "Let's go, you were just a foot soldier before, and now you are in command of a cavalry of more than a thousand people, and the other brothers will inevitably be unconvinced." ”

"But ......"

"Okay, this expedition, I have fought with Hu several times, your performance is very good, when I return to Yecheng, I will definitely report to Your Majesty truthfully and enter the knighthood for you." Shi Min comforted.

"Major General, I don't want to be promoted to a knight, I just want to kill more enemies......" Zhang Mufeng explained.

"I know!" Shi Min smiled and said, "You lack experience in cavalry combat, if it weren't for General Xue Zan's injury, you could have let him go." ”

Zhang Mufeng sighed and said, "The young general is right, then you must take me!" ”

"Don't worry!"

"Major General! We're back! Xue Zan's voice came from not far away.

Shi Min turned around and looked, only to see that Xue Zan's left shoulder injury had been wrapped in a strip of cloth, Wang Chong followed Xue Zan's side, and the two of them ran over.

"What's going on General Xue!" Shi Min was eager to know about Xue Zan's cleanup of the battlefield.

"At the end of the day, the general took people to roughly count them, and there were more than 30,000 cattle, sheep and horses, and some of them may have been lost, because it was dark, and the horses and brothers were tired, so I didn't take anyone to look for them."

"Fortunately, a batch has been recovered." Shi Min breathed a sigh of relief in his heart, and said to Xue Zan again: "You came just in time, I have something to discuss with you." ”

Shi Min said, pulled Xue Zan to sit down, and Xue Zan looked at Shi Min and Zhang Mufeng in confusion, not knowing what new plans Shi Min had.

Shi Min just sat down, saw Xue Zan's appearance, and said, "What's wrong, General Xue?" Don't be nervous, it's just a small thing. ”

Xue Zan hurriedly explained: "No...... I'm not nervous...... I'm just thinking, this cattle, sheep and horses are almost recovered, and the Qiang people have died so many people, what kind of plan do you have. ”

"I'm kidding you, General Xue has been through a hundred battles, how can he be nervous?" Shi Min said jokingly.

Everyone couldn't help laughing, Xue Zan slapped Wang Chong and Zhang Mufeng on the head, and scolded in a low voice: "What are you two coaxing? Stinky boy! ”

Shi Min was also amused and comforted: "Okay, okay, let's get down to business." ”

Shi Min said and looked at a few other people, and ordered: "We have been out of Yanmen Pass for several days, and we have been eating and sleeping on the road along the way, and now that the Qiang people have been dispersed by us, I suggest that General Xue Zan take people to rest here for two days, and I will take a thousand people, and set off tomorrow on the fifth watch to pursue Mudu and his subordinates to the east." ”

"Less than 200 miles to the east are mountains and forests, and once you enter the mountains, it is more difficult to find someone than to climb to the sky." Wang Chong said on the side.

"Even if he runs into the Yellow River, I have to fish him out!" Shi Min said firmly.

"Young General, our goal has basically been achieved, Mu Du was able to escape this time, it was pure luck, the last general feels that he can already be a class teacher by now." Xue Zan somewhat disagreed with Shi Min's idea.

"This time the Hu people entered the customs, our Zhao country suffered heavy losses, and we must teach the Hu people a lesson! The Qiang people are not as strong as the Xiongnu, and they are not as strong as the Xiongnu, so they arrested the leader of the Qiang people first and escorted them back to Yecheng, so as to warn those who are eyeing Zhao State that they can have a little deterrent effect. ”

Xue Zan looked at Wang Chong and Zhang Mufeng, and felt that Shi Min's words seemed to have some truth, but he didn't expect these two boys to say anything.

"Our Zhao State sits on the Central Plains, surrounded by enemies on all sides, and the continuous wars have already made the people miserable, so we must deter the Saiwaihu people. Since we don't have the ability to make them surrender for the time being, then fortunately, we will be ruthless and let Zhuhu be honest, so that they will not harass the border pass repeatedly. ”

"In that case, isn't a thousand people enough?" Xue Zan asked.

Shi Min said with a smile: "There are only a few hundred people under Mudu, I will personally take people there, one thousand is enough." ”

"Then when will you return to Yanmen Pass?"

"Two days later, you take someone back by yourself, wait for me at Yanmen Pass, and within fifteen days, no matter whether I can catch Mudu or not, I will return to Yanmen Pass to meet you."

"Let Wang Chong go with you, he is familiar with the road conditions." Xue Zan pulled Wang Chong to his side and said to Shi Min.

Shi Min smiled and said, "Originally, I also planned to do so. ”

Xue Zan was stunned, patted Wang Chong, and said, "Good boy, you are our Big Dipper now!" You know the way anywhere! ”

Wang Chong hurriedly shook his hand and said, "No, no, I am familiar with this area, and I don't know other places." ”

"People say that old horses know the way, and I think your pony is not bad!" Xue Zan quipped.

"What do you mean by an old horse?" Wang Chong looked at Xue Zan and Shi Min and asked.

When Xue Zan heard this, he laughed out loud, Wang Chong, who was watching it, was inexplicable, and Shi Min comforted: "General Xue is praising you, I don't mean anything else." ”

"Oh......" Wang Chong scratched his head, looking dazed.

"General Xue, camp to camp, there must be no mobile sentry tonight, there must be someone ten miles away." Shi Min instructed Xue Zan.

"Major General, please rest assured, I'll arrange this right away!"

Shi Min nodded and reminded Xue Zan: "During your rest here or on the way back to Yanmen Pass, you must not send fewer scouts along the way, if it is not for the carelessness of the Qiang people this time, we may not have a chance to succeed, so we must be cautious anyway." ”

"It's nature! The last will know what to do! Xue Zan nodded seriously and said.

"Okay, let's talk about it here, you go and arrange it quickly." Shi Min said and stood up.

Xue Zan hurriedly got up and saluted: "Yes!" ”

"By the way, there are two more things, I almost forgot!" Shi Min suddenly stopped and turned around, and said to Xue Zan again: "Early tomorrow morning, quickly send someone to Yanmen Pass to report to the second and third uncles, so as not to worry them!" ”

"Understood!"

"As for the Qiang people who were killed by us, bury them all, cut off the left ear of each corpse and take them away."

"What do you do by cutting your ears?" Wang Chong asked suspiciously.

"Naturally, it's to report to the court how many people we killed." Zhang Mufeng replied.

"Then why don't you cut off your head?"

"Cut it down and you take it back! So many, how to bring? Zhang Mufeng asked rhetorically.

"Alright, okay, you two don't quarrel." Xue Zan reprimanded.

"As for the Huns who were killed by us, send a team of people back to see, if the corpses are all there, cut off their left ears and take them away!" Shi Min instructed Xue Zan again.

"The last general understands!" Xue Zan nodded.