"That's right, the order personally signed by Xu Xuanfu asked me to hold on to Fangzhou, and I have ordered Xu Zhao to send troops to support the North Road." Yao Pingzhong was a little strange when he saw Xu Wei react like this.

Xu Wei's face was full of suspicion on his face, the third uncle had led troops to fight, he should know that after the defeat, it is the best policy to gather troops and focus on defense, Fangzhou borders on Yanzhou, our army has suffered a heavy setback, but let us stick to Fangzhou, what is the reason? also said that he would let the eldest brother divide troops to help, which is not a matter of even thinking about it. The 20,000 horses and horses of the North Road Division have lost all their money, and the eldest brother will never send troops again.

Thinking of the seriousness of the situation and the responsibility of "controlling the capital", he must not bury the brothers here in vain after the fiasco of Yanzhou. Immediately said: "You immediately notify the generals above the command to come to my account to discuss matters, Fangzhou can't stay." ”

Yao Pingzhong's face was shocked, listening to Xu Wei's voice, was he going to retreat? didn't ask much at the moment, so he went out of the account to inform his colleagues. Xu Wei was injured in the body, and he was a little uncomfortable when he was emotional, and he closed his eyes and thought about countermeasures.

After the Jin Army's victory, he will definitely take advantage of the situation, and Ma Wu will never let go of this opportunity. The main force of the Jin army has been assembled in Dunzhou, and the strength of Fangzhou must be very limited, and there is no point in fighting to the death here, so it is necessary to retreat as soon as possible and save the already small strength.

No matter what the purpose of the third uncle is to give such an order, he has to resist. A few months ago, firstly, out of support for Xu Xuanzhi, and secondly, out of luck, he underestimated the enemy, and did not resolutely oppose it to the end. In the end, this big defeat, this time, we can't repeat the mistakes of the past!

Just thinking about it, Xu Sheng, Yang Yan, Zhang Xian, Xu Cheng, Yang Zaixing, etc. will enter the account one after another. Xu Wei didn't have a half-sentence politeness, and said straight to the point: "Fourth brother, did Xu Xuanfu order us to stick to Fangzhou?" ”

"Yes, the Xuanfu Disposal Division clearly ordered us to hold on to this place and not retreat." Xu Si replied truthfully.

Xu Wei's face became more and more gloomy: "Then how many soldiers are there in Fangzhou now?" ”

"I came to Fangzhou, with 7,000 troops, and the troops withdrawn from the southwest two roads, including minor injuries, there are about 10,000 soldiers who can fight. However, a considerable part of the 10,000 or so troops were not equipped, all armor and weapons were abandoned, and there were almost no large equipment. Xu Sheng has been anxious about defense for the past two days, and when he said this, he looked worried.

Xu Wei frowned, and asked again: "What about the salary?" ”

"Including the wounded who cannot fight, there are now more than 30,000 mouths to eat in Fangzhou, and our army's food is only enough to eat for six days. However, I have already asked the Xuanfu Disposal Department to transfer grain and grass. Xu Sheng replied. There is another layer that it is inconvenient for him to say that the soldiers of Xu Wei and Yao Pingzhong were all singles when they came back, and the materials were all thrown away, and they did not bring back a grain of grain.

This inside story was revealed, which immediately aroused the dissatisfaction of all the generals present. Yang Yan was the first to attack: "There is no equipment and equipment, how can you fight?" There is only enough food for six days, what happens after six days? This situation makes us stick to Fangzhou, what do you think? ”

Although Ma Wu retired temporarily, after going back to rest for ten days and a half, he will definitely make a comeback. If we hold on here, we won't even have a buffer. Zhang Xian said.

Xu Wei shook his head: "Wait less than ten days and a half months, at most wait another day or two, after Ma Wu roughly packs up the troops and supplies, he will come to Fangzhou." The soldier is fast, he will not waste time in vain, give us a chance to breathe. ”

After Yang Yan's new defeat, he was a little restless and said impatiently: "Let us hold on, we have no equipment and no food, we are willing to do it, and the brothers below will not do it!" ”

As a junior in the army, Xu Cheng rarely spoke, but when he heard this, he interjected: "The terrain of Fangzhou is conducive to defense, if the Xuanfu Disposal Division can send grain, grass and ordnance in time, our army may still be able to resist for a while." ”

"And what about after this while?" Yang Yan gave him a blank look.

"Reinforcements from the North Road Division should have arrived." Xu Cheng replied.

Yang Yan rushed to the top of his head with a nameless anger, and he was about to say something that might embarrass the other party, but thinking that he was a disciple of the Xu family, he endured it again, and sneered: "I hope so." ”

Xu Wei knew that it was impossible for the eldest brother Xu Yuan to send troops again, but it was inconvenient to say it on such an occasion, so he weighed it again and again, and made up his mind: "I mean, evacuate Fangzhou." ”

There was silence in the tent for a while, and all the generals supported this proposition, but the order from above was to let us hold on, and to retreat now was to violate moderation. Although in the Western Army, violations of festivals are very common, but we have already lost the battle, and we are afraid that we will have to bear the responsibility for violating festivals.

Xu Wei seemed to know the concerns of the generals, and said in a deep voice: "I am in charge of the capital, and I will bear the consequences, and you will carry out the order." ”

Yao Pingzhong originally hoped to hold on here and win him a battle or two to gain some face, but after learning the inside story, he dispelled this idea and asked at this moment: "When will you leave?" ”

"Today, right away." Xu Wei said without thinking.

Xu Sheng was a sincere person, and after all, he was a little worried, and asked, "You have to think carefully, this is a violation of moderation." ”

Xu Wei nodded heavily: "I know it in my heart." Since he had already made a final decision, the other generals naturally had nothing to say, and now that the plan had been decided, they went separately to prepare.

Just as the Fangzhou garrison was packing up and preparing to leave, news came from Xu Hong in Yaozhou, they detected that the Jin army was gathering in Tongzhou, and its vanguard had crossed Huazhou to spy on the military situation, and it was very likely that they were about to make a move. And Xu Hong unmistakably told his cousin and cousin, you are facing greater danger, and once the Jin army moves, it will definitely march in two directions. All the way to Fangzhou, all the way to Yaozhou.

In mid-December, Xu Wei, together with Xu Sheng and Yao Pingzhong, withdrew the disabled troops to Yaozhou and joined Xu Hong. At this time, Xu Hong told them another piece of news that Jingzhao Mansion was already evacuating. This news surprised everyone, and the Xuanfu Disposal Division asked Jingzhao Mansion to evacuate, that is, to abandon Chang'an. But no one informed them, and instead they were told to stay on the front line.

After Xu Wei, Xu Hong, Xu Sheng, Yao Pingzhong and others discussed, the Jin army was in full swing with the power of victory, and the current situation of the western army was probably difficult to resist, and the troops should withdraw to the west.

At this moment, the order from the Xuanfu Disposal Division to let them retreat came down. This kind of practice of changing orders overnight makes the generals scratch their heads. It was later learned that the reason why the Xuanfu Division let them retreat was because Xu Yuan, the North Road, made it clear that he refused to send reinforcements.

Things turned out to be as expected, as soon as the Xu brothers and Yao Pingzhong left, Ma Wu's army came to Fangzhou. On the Guanzhong Plain, the Jin army was led by Sa Liyu, drove straight in, crossed Huazhou, and arrived in Yaozhou. At this time, the Song troops in both places had retreated. Ma Wu, who came back to his senses, immediately realized what had happened, and sent the Jurchen elite cavalry as the vanguard to go straight to Chang'an City.

When they arrived in Chang'an, they were empty again, and all the administrative and military institutions of the Southern Dynasty in the city were evacuated, and none of the troops were left, except for the people who did not want to leave their homeland, there was nothing, and the government treasury was also empty of money and grain. This made the generals of the Jin army anxious and annoyed, Ma Wu estimated that the time was so hurried, the Song army must not be able to run far, and the other party was afraid that he could only retreat west along Weishui, and now it was too late to catch up.

Even with Lou Su's son Wanyan Huonu as the vanguard, he led 4,000 elite horsemen to pursue along Weishui. And he himself did not stay in Chang'an for one more day, and after dividing some partial divisions to collect nearby prefectures and counties, he raised the main army and marched westward back to Weishui, preparing to collect Qin Feng and pursue the remnants of the enemy.

The living girl was defeated by Xu Wei in Huazhou and was almost wiped out, and she has always been ashamed. Now that Xu Wei was newly defeated, he vowed to be ashamed, so after receiving the order, he led 4,000 elite horse troops to pursue at full speed. Along the way, it was found that many sporadic Chang'an people were retreating to the west, and when they asked, they learned that their destination was the important town of Shaanxi north of Jingzhao, Fengxiang Mansion.

The living girl estimated that Xu Wei would not be far away, so hurry up and chase after her!

On the nineteenth day of the lunar month, the Western Army entered the boundary of Yixian County, Fengxiang Prefecture, and it was not until this time that Xu Wei and other generals knew that the Xuanfu Disposal Division had withdrawn to Chengzhou, which was later Chengxian County, Gansu. At that time, the people who fled from Fang Yao Jingzhao followed the army, and they traveled only dozens of miles a day. The situation deteriorated, but the people did not know how far it had deteriorated, only that they would have to leave their homes from now on, and they did not know when they would return. But Xu Yao and other generals knew very well that after Ma Wu won Fang Yao Jingzhao, he would never stay for a moment, he would immediately raise a large army to attack Qin Feng, and Fengxiang Mansion would bear the brunt.

Fengxiang Mansion is an important town in Shaanxi, historically, as early as the Shang Dynasty, it was Qizhou, which gave birth to the "Zhou culture" and was the source of Chinese civilization. Militarily, Fengxiang is prominent because of its prominent role, the eastern part of the territory is the Guanzhong Plain, the central part is the Weibei Basin, and the western part is mountainous and ravine. It is a strategic place that can be attacked and defended. If the Jin army takes Fengxiang, then this place can be used as a forward base, to the west to collect the entire territory of Shaanxi, and to the south to attack Sichuan, which is invincible. If the Song army loses Fengxiang, from now on, it can only be trapped between the mountains and mountains in western Shaanxi, or rely on the difficulties of Shu and passive resistance, and there is no hope of a comeback.

It can even be said that Fengxiang Mansion is to Shaanxi what Yanyun Sixteen Prefectures are to China.

In view of this, Yao Pingzhong, Xu Hong, Xu Sheng, Xu Wei and other generals all believed that Fengxiang must be defended. And Xu Shao also ordered them to hold on to Fengxiang and block the momentum of the Jin army's westward advance.

On that plain, the crowd was surging, and countless people retreated west after the official army. The people are all supporting the old and the young, dragging their families with their families, and a considerable number of people even drive mule carts and donkey carts with their belongings. It is not difficult to see from the faces of the people that they are at a loss, because they don't know where to go, and how can they live in peace when they arrive at Fengxiang Mansion?

The situation of the Western Army, which had just suffered a crushing defeat, was even more not optimistic, and the mood was generally depressed from the generals to the non-commissioned officers. Especially Yao Pingzhong's Xihe Army. In this counteroffensive, Yao Pingzhong was very earnest, and brought out the main force of 40,000 Xilu Divisions, but now only more than 10,000 people have returned. The defeat under the city of Dunzhou and the predicament on Shima Mountain made these fierce and warlike Xihe warriors feel uneasy.

The army was silent, carrying his wounded comrade on his back and walking westward. As everyone knows, danger is already looming at them.

Xu Hong, Xu Sheng, Xu Wei, and Yao Pingzhong, the four generals of the unified army, marched side by side and were discussing the next arrangement. The other three looked at Xu Wei from time to time, this guy was too stubborn, and the arrow wounds on his body were not closed, just let him sit in the car and hurry, he had to refuse. In fact, everyone knows that he is afraid of shaking the morale of the army. He was showing his subordinates that he was all right.

Although Xu Wei said that he was Qin Fenglu's pacification envoy before he was promoted to the envoy of southern Shaanxi, he had been staying at the forefront of Chang'an to resist Jin, and he was not very familiar with Qin Feng's situation. However, Xu Sheng has been stationed in Qinzhou for a long time, so he knows a little.

This place is the border of Yixian County, all the way to the west, there are still three counties of Qishan, Yu and Baoji. To the north of Weishui, there are four counties of Tianxing, Purun, Linyou and Haoqi, of which Tianxing County is where the Fengxiang Mansion is located, and the south is 'Zhongnan Mountain'. ”

At this time, the Zhongnan Mountain mentioned by the Song people actually refers to the "Qinling Mountains" called by later generations, a huge mountain range that runs through central China and runs east-west, known as the natural danger.

Xu Wei went all the way west, and it was still a plain terrain so far, which couldn't help but worry him. The new defeat of the Western Army, Ma Wu will raise a large army to attack, the east of Fengxiang is still the Guanzhong Plain, easy to attack and difficult to defend. If at this time, the Jin army chases after it, and the people and armies are mixed in the middle, they will suffer a catastrophe!

As soon as he thought of this, he looked back and saw hundreds of thousands of people behind him. If this is a mess...... "Our way of moving like this is very dangerous, if the Jin army chases, there will not even be a place to fortify." Xu Hong, who had red hair under his chin, said suddenly.

Yao Pingzhong took over the conversation: "Who said no, the speed is too slow." ”

"According to this progress, we should be able to reach the border of Qishan County tomorrow morning, where the terrain is more complicated, and we can fortify and block the Jin army." Xu Sheng said.

"Tomorrow morning?" Xu Wei read it in a low voice.

"Xu Zhaojiu, are you worried that Jin Jun will chase after you?" Xu Hong saw that his cousin's face was gloomy, so he asked.

Xu Wei nodded: "Although Ma Wu is heavy with his troops, there is no lack of fierce and fierce times, when he goes to Chang'an and sees that our army has retreated, he must know that he is advancing westward along Weishui, and it is very likely that he will send troops to chase him." ”

"In the current situation, if you are caught up, disaster will not be far away." Yao Pingzhong sighed.

Xu Wei thought for a while, turned around and shouted, "Someone!" Call Yang Zaixing and Li Chengwei to come over. "In this expedition, although the Hu'er Army suffered heavy losses, the three horse armies of Xuanfeng, Youyi, and Tabai were saved.

After a short time, the second general galloped over, and Xu Wei ordered: "The two of you lead three thousand selected front horse troops to the rear to guard, if you encounter the Jin army chasing you, be sure to block back." ”

The second general responded violently, and when he was about to leave, he said again: "In the past two years, the horse army has been training for a long time, and you have to come up with means." "Since the original return to Junzhou in vain, for more than a year and nearly two years, the Hu'er Army has been paying close attention to training, especially the Ma Army. The Purple Gold Tiger entrusted several of the horse army soldiers who were transferred to him with important tasks, hoping to build a horse army that could compete with the cavalry of the Jin Army. In the Shaanxi Three-Way Recruitment Division, his troops are not the largest, but the cavalry is the largest. When Xu Shao first came to Shaanxi, he once asked Xu Wei how many troops he had, and he replied at that time that there were 7,000 Ma troops and 5,000 soldiers. Today, under Xu Wei's command, the number of Ma troops that can fight has exceeded this number. This is very rare for the Song army, which is dominated by infantry troops.

"Don't worry, if the Jin army comes, he will not let a horse catch up." Li Chengwei said loudly. This sentence made Yang Zaixing, who has always been fierce, look sideways.

When Li Chengwei was attacked at the lion's mouth, he led the fire cavalry to attack the Jin army several times, and finally stopped due to the disparity in strength. However, in this battle, Li Chengwei himself killed dozens of people, and none of them made a single battle, which impressed Yang Zaixing, Du Feihu and other fierce generals in the army.

However, it was said that the second general Yang Li led 3,000 horse troops, crossed the army and the people, and went to the rear to be on guard. The cavalry was originally fighting at a gallop, and at this time, the tail brigade let go of the reins and moved slowly, which made Yang Zaixing, a fierce general, unhappy.

Glancing at Li Chengwei, a party member beside him, he asked a little provocatively: "Commander Li, it is said that in the battle of the lion's mouth, you killed dozens of people with your hands, and none of them were injured, is it true or false?" ”

Li Chengwei knew Yang Zaixing's prestige in the army, and was known as the number one general under Xu Dashuai, who was invincible. Later, he brought in 500 elite horsemen to help, and he also saw his methods, which were really extraordinary. But at this time, the other party made a provocative statement, and he did not show weakness, and said with a smile: "It's a trivial matter, it's not worth mentioning, even if you are humble and brave, you can't recover the decline of the army, don't say it." ”

Yang Zaixing snorted and raised his head and said: "In the army, only Du Feihu in front of the marshal can compete with Yang, since Commander Li also has some means, how about finding a chance to compete?" ”

"Yang has an order, dare to disobey the lowly job? But there is a chance, and the humble position will be taught two tricks. Li Chengwei said-for-tat.

When Yang Zaixing heard this, he stared at him for a long time, and suddenly laughed, and Li Chengwei also laughed. However, before the laughter stopped, he suddenly turned his head to look at it for a moment, and said loudly: "Commander, we don't need to compare in person, the Jin army has caught up later, you and I will lead three thousand horse troops to meet it, see who kills more, how?" ”

Yang Zaixing looked back, and saw that the dust was rising behind him, and the sound of horses' hooves was faintly heard, so he responded indifferently: "That's okay, I think, with your Li Chengwei's reputation in the army, it won't be false." ”

These words touched Li Chengwei's scales, and he gritted his teeth and said: "Today, let Yang Tongzhi know my means!" With that, he raised his spear and turned his horse's head to the side.

Yang Zaixing smirked and followed. The 3,000 horses immediately turned around and formed an offensive formation on the spot. The knights clenched their weapons and saw that the smoke and dust were thicker, and the sound of horses' hooves became louder.

Not long after, in the billowing smoke and dust, a piece of fine rider flashed!

Wanyan Huonu took the lead and saw this horse army early. By visual inspection, he estimated that the opponent was equal to his own strength, but it didn't matter, even if the opponent's strength was stronger than mine. In terms of immediate kung fu, the Western Army is almost meaningless!

He raised his weapon and let the troops gradually stop, so that they could recharge their strength. Taking advantage of this gap, many of the cavalry of the Jin Army had already seen the large group of men and horses in front of them who were hurrying westward. As long as you defeat the horse army in front of you, a great achievement will be at your fingertips!