Thousands of people are surrounding more than a thousand people on horses, and there is a big *** in the middle. The horse thieves were staring at the foot soldiers of the Huaibei Army of the Jiaozhou battalion in the middle on their horses, and the raid on the back mountain had already been defeated. The horse thieves who had no training dismounted and fought hand-to-hand, let alone the opponents of the Jiaozhou battalion.

What's more, Gao Ke also sent his own personal soldiers, and the battle was over soon. A gang of horse thieves ran out from behind the hill in disgrace.

The brigade of ground bandits looked at the situation in front of them, and immediately dispelled the idea of continuing to move forward. No one thought that this group of officers and soldiers would be so strong, let alone the powerful firearms. Look at those battles of the square. Even if the opponent didn't have the firearms, the horse team wouldn't be able to rush into the opponent's spear formation at all.

can't eat it and is unwilling, someone promised a high reward, but it can't be eaten at all. It can only be so far away.

All around these thieves were on horses, and the ground was a height above the ground. Watching from the sidelines, it still looks quite imposing. Stay out of the effective range of the Jiaozhou Campfire.

Mr. Qian Gaoke walked a few more steps towards the hillside, but the horse thieves who were under black pressure around him were a little worried. Despite a few blows, almost two hundred horse thieves were killed or seriously wounded. But the next situation is not too reassuring. Can't catch up, can't hit. However, the horse thieves did not retreat, and this time they went on an expedition, because some salt merchants promised to be responsible for the supply of grain. Plus save people's hearts. I only brought two meals of dry food from the previous Zhuangzi. Unexpectedly, this time the inner line operation encountered a large number of ground horse thieves ambushing.

God knows how much food and supplies these horse thieves have brought, and if they besiege the land for a long time, it will be really a big trouble!

However, the black horse thief suddenly disappeared, and the Huaibei soldiers who heard the shouting of killing were all startled. I thought the horse thieves were going to organize the next round of attack.

The soldiers had not yet recovered from the battle. Somewhat tired. The non-commissioned officers of each column shouted loudly and cursed the restraints. Cheer up the soldiers. The non-commissioned officers of the musketeers asked the soldiers to count their ammunition, and if the other side was so shocked. Then it is necessary to make preparations for a protracted war.

But instead of attacking, the thieves broke up and ran in the direction of the official roads and fields. The banner of the old camp of the Huaibei Army appeared in people's field of vision.

See this. Gao Ke was really relaxed, and the soldiers below were cheering loudly, and now there was no need to worry about anything.

The Huaibei army garrisoned Zhangjiang with only 600 cavalry. Rushed straight behind the horse thieves. Rushed by these elite cavalry of the Huaibei Army, the horse thieves immediately dispersed, and there was no way to take the foot soldiers, and the other side had cavalry again. The horse bandits, who were already demoralized, immediately did not have the will to continue.

For these horse thieves, the officers and soldiers they met today can be said to be a hell of a sight. The foot pawn is not a regular number of roads at all. This cavalry doesn't look right, not to mention that everyone is wearing armor. Moreover, the coordination between the cavalry and the cavalry, and the rhythm of the charge, were excellent.

Horse thieves may not be able to read the foot soldiers. But they are the warriors of the horse. The cavalry can still see clearly, and the other party is cavalry like this. It's not a problem for one to hit himself, and all three. See this. Then what is the fighting spirit to support, and it will be scattered as birds and beasts immediately. Silver is good, but life is even more important.

Although the soldiers on this side of the low mountain were cheering loudly. But the formation is still not chaotic. This is also a strict requirement of the code of conduct.

Huaibei garrison Zhang Jiang rode to him. Gao Ke hurriedly stepped forward to salute the army, and the battalion he led killed three in battle. It's a little ridiculous to say, a soldier was hacked to death by Gao Ke in order to stabilize the morale of the army. The other two were in a panic, and the charge was too much and the fire was blown up.

However, the Jiaozhou battalion fought peacefully, and the casualties were very few. Face these rabble of horse thieves. There were three dead and wounded, and Mr. Qian Gaoke felt ashamed, especially when he saw that the garrison Zhang Jiangdi's face was also bad, and he was even more worried.

Before he could bow down and plead guilty. I heard the guard Zhang Jiang say in a cold voice:

"Don't delay. Hurry up and get your whole team up. Let's go back to Takahashi Town!! ”

After the great victory, the morale of the soldiers was very high. The fatigue in the battle was also covered up a lot, and there was its own cavalry rescue, after joining forces. That kind of trembling is gone, but the mentality is much easier. Swiftly the whole team returned to the way they came.

On the way, Gao Ke learned that a few hours after they came out. The shopkeeper of the nearby Lingshan Commercial Bank asked to see him overnight. Zhang Jiang didn't dare to slack off, and hurriedly met him. The shopkeeper said he had just gotten the news. A salt merchant colluded with a large number of horse thieves. Set up an ambush over there to ambush the Gaoko battalion.

The Jiaozhou battalion sent the Huaibei Army into the south of the Zhili area. It's to help fight pirates. At present, as soon as the Huaibei Army is stationed, pirates do not appear. Then the existence of the Huaibei military land is not important. And the arrival of the pirates really caught the salt merchants off guard. Next, they have to take precautions on their own, relying on the rich and powerful financial resources of the country, they will definitely be able to come out to support good private soldiers, and the Huaibei army will defend the salt farm. It's like choking the salt merchants' throats.

The annual protection fee of 1.2 million taels is even more like a botulinic thorn. The salt merchants are even public stalls. It's all painful, too.

If the Jiaozhou battalion Huaibei army suffered a defeat on the road. A whole army was wiped out. That means that the Huaibei Army was not stationed here. The ability to protect the land safely, when the time comes, change people to station or use other methods. After all, it is necessary to drive out these troops in Shandong.

Nearly three. Lay siege to a thousand foot soldiers. Anyway. It's all easy to swallow. Such a battle, if it is not a total annihilation, I am afraid that I will be embarrassed to say it.

But I didn't take it. On the contrary, he gnawed this hard bone and broke his teeth, but Zhang Jiangdi was a little afraid in his heart, but thanks to Gao Ke, he withstood it, if it was a rupture. Less than 4,000 land 6 battle troops went to more than 20% at once, and then there will be big trouble.

But Gaoke held on. And there are victories. The horse thieves are all scattered, and there are captives to catch them, so their side will take the initiative. Before coming. Li Meng's order was to expand the influence of the Jiaozhou battalion in Huaibei as much as possible. There is this reason and excuse. It's completely difficult to take advantage of the opportunity.

On the way back. After passing by the Zhuangzi who had stayed and camped in Zhuangzi, several stewards of Zhuangzi obviously did not expect the Huaibei Army to come back, and it was too late to run.

was directly captured by Zhang Jiang's cavalry, and the interrogation did not take much effort, saying that the battalion soldiers who were originally led by Gaoke were camped here. It's going to be a sneak attack in the middle of the night, but Gaoke strictly follows the drill to do things. The guards and soldiers were arranged, so that no one took advantage of the loopholes.

Interrogating horse thieves in this Zhuangzi is also very rewarding. These horse thieves are a few small groups in Huaibei, and there are also a large number of horse thieves in Henan, and it is ridiculous to say that there are hundreds of horse thieves in Shandong, because the Jiaozhou battalion rules strictly in Shandong. I can only come to Huaibei to find food.

All the confessions were directed at a certain salt merchant. This surprised Zhang Jiang and Gaoke. I thought it was the salt merchants' actions together, but I didn't expect there to be only one.

However, this also makes people deeply vigilant, any salt merchant can actually mobilize such a large force, if these salt merchants are combined. What a terrifying power. Fortunately, these people are supported by glory and wealth, and they just want to enjoy it. Don't dare to do anything sinister.

It took two days to travel to the out, and two or three hours less to return. The reason is that all the animal power of the village where the camp was set up was requisitioned. There's no need to be polite right now.

The land of the two Huai. Hurry up, a lot of news can be transmitted to Yangzhou Mansion in less than a day, Yangzhou Mansion along the river often has salt merchants' estates and other industries, these days. Businesses often gather together. But it's not the kind of drinking and feasting and listening to the drama in the past. Extravagant and extravagant, as if something big had happened. Consult inside every day.

But this day. The salt merchants did not go to the one they used to go to during the day. Instead, they went to another party, which confused the idlers who liked to speculate on the actions of the salt merchants!

"Chen Weng, you are too reckless, that Shandong Li Meng. I'm afraid that there is no reason to make a big fuss in Huaibei, but you give him a reason. Doesn't that fuel their arrogance? ”

The salt merchants were respectful and respectful, willing to sit rather than stand. But today in this hall. There were only two people sitting there. The rest of the people stood around the person who sat on the throne, and rebuked them with their mouths, and the riches and nobles on weekdays were completely gone, and they all shouted in a hurry.

"One hundred and twenty thousand taels of silver. Everyone will dig out a few temples if they don't build a few temples. If that Shandong Xiangma takes this opportunity to ask for more, then it will have to cut the meat, and if you want to cut, you Chen Wu will bleed by himself! ”

The salt merchant who sat in the main seat kept his head down and kept silent. Hearing this, he opened his mouth to retort and said:

"Everyone. Brother, I do it. Isn't it just for all of us, and the Yantian brothers in Haizhou have lost the most, this breath is not good, there are so many Shandong soldiers and horses pinching there, one more day, brother, I just spend one more day, it's already bleeding! ”

"Let's be angry, Chen Wu, don't you have to share your losses. You angered the horseman. What do you say to affect everyone!? ”

The Chen Weng slammed up from his chair, pointed at the salt merchants who surrounded him, and shouted angrily:

"You bastards, when I went to find a horse thief. How is it that no one is singing high here, and now things are lost. One by one, the beautiful words were earth-shattering......"

"Chen Wu. That's what you say. That's really going to lead everyone to a dead end, you are all a big family. I can't delay you! ”

The man sitting in the back spoke slowly, and when he spoke, the whole room fell silent. Everyone looked back at him. When that Chen Wu faced everyone's accusations. Still full of courage and arguing loudly, but as soon as this person spoke, he was immediately silent. After being stunned for a while, he stood up and pleaded anxiously:

"Outside of Fang Yuan, outside of Fang Yuan, my little five is also doing this for the good of everyone. You can't just ignore me! ”

The outsider slowly stood up, and among the few salt merchants who were still arguing around, a few people immediately rushed over to help. When he was courteous, Fang Yuanwai stood up. Said coldly:

"Our two peers. They all abide by the law of the court and do their duty, if you do this today, will these horse thieves burn our Zhuangzi and salt works tomorrow. Extremely daring. The old decay can't control you, everyone, disperse! ”

After saying this. The tense atmosphere in the room suddenly disappeared. Everyone walked outside without looking back, and Chen Wu stood up and wanted to say something, but sat back in a gloomy manner.

All the salt merchants had their own servants and horses outside, and there were people who came to greet them when they came out of the hall, and only the two salt merchants from other places still did not leave their hands, but they were not ashamed to do this kind of subordinate business. On the contrary, I felt that my face was glorious and proud.

The servants outside the other side followed. The man was in his sixties, in this era. This age is already the so-called advanced age. All beards are white. Wait until you help him into the carriage. The clerk lifted the corner of the curtain on the ground of the carriage, and a family member came over to listen to a few words and hurriedly ran away.

The salt merchants' carts and horses had just dispersed. A large number of officials of Yangzhou Mansion rushed into Chen Wu's mansion like wolves. Suddenly, the cry erupted.

Watching the lively idlers around, the people were dumbfounded. How long has it been since the Yangzhou government caught salt merchants. How to go on a killing spree today.

This salt merchant surnamed Chen was raided, and he was almost directly convicted of the crime in the lobby. Yangzhou Mansion book, immediately a fast horse with this document out of the city. Extremely rushed to Huaibei Haizhou. At this time. The Huaibei Army has not yet returned to its station.

Summing up the lessons of this battlefield, allowing the wounded to be treated and the horses to rest. Replenishing equipment and ammunition is the first thing to do. The 6th infantry of the Huaibei Army and the Xinyang Water Battalion were both on heightened alert. Gaoqiao Town, Huize. In the area of Haizhou, all the places where the Huaibei Army of the Jiaozhou Battalion was stationed were under martial law.

At the same time, a fast horse was dispatched to deliver a letter to the old camp in Jiaozhou as soon as possible. After Zhang Jiang discussed with several thousand presidents, as well as the shopkeeper of Lingshan Commercial Bank. Immediately, let the master write the submission. Prepare to find trouble with Huai'an Mansion and Yangzhou Prefecture. In fact, it took only two days to complete all the preparations for war.

But the official document has not yet come out. The envoy of Yangzhou Prefecture came over and disposed of the official document and 30,000 taels of labor and land for the salt merchant surnamed Chen.

The Huaibei army captured prisoners along the way and tortured stewards. It was said that the salt merchant surnamed Chen was behind the instructions, but looking at the disposal documents of Yangzhou Mansion and the silver of the labor army, there was nothing to say, and I couldn't help but secretly marvel at the quick reaction of these salt merchants.

Let the Huaibei Army, which has always wanted to provoke and find trouble, some tigers can't speak. It's a depressing feeling. But there is one thing that is also strange, how can the other party find so many horse thieves, thousands of people. If you talk about mobilization, you will mobilize.

However, at the moment, even if more horse thieves are mobilized in Henan, they can be found. At present, the catastrophe in Henan is intensifying. The people are struggling to make a living, and the only way to survive is to rise up and rebel against the government. It can be said that there are thieves everywhere. The beacon fire everywhere, the officers and soldiers in Xuzhou and Fengyang were anxious. It is the fear of a large number of thieves crossing the border.

The Jiaozhou camp is in Jiaozhou, the center of Shandong, and it has been much more deserted recently than before. The reason is that Zhou Yang was transferred to Jinan Prefecture Tongzhi. Of course, this transfer is not something that the governor meant. Instead, Li Mengdi arranged Jinan Mansion as the center of Shandong. It is also very convenient for the management of the surrounding area, and the Tuntian Grange has to be expanded, and it is a little remote in Jiaozhou. It's always inconvenient.

January to March of this year. There were two snowfalls. A rain. Experienced old farmers can judge that this year is another major drought, and the same judgment is reported from various Tuntian Granges, so that the Jiaozhou camp system is optimistic about Chongzhen's thirteenth year. There is no optimism.

In the year of the great drought, it is equivalent to the intensification of land annexation in Shandong. There will be more and more land concentrated in the hands of the Jiaozhou camp, and there will be more displaced people. The more people and fields, the more resources it represents. But it also comes with a lot of consumption.

Fortunately, it is the growth of Shandong's private salt trading land and the payment of salt merchants in the two Huai provinces, so that Li Meng can be a little easier. But Li Meng still needs to find new sources of income.

For Li Meng's inner house. Recently, the ladies have been quite happy. Because Li Meng has a lot more time at home, he is always accompanying them.

Mu Yunyao's belly is getting bigger day by day, and Li Meng is always in a happy mood when she looks at her pregnant wife. There will be a next generation. In the modern era of singles for so long, coming to this era, finally having a family and offspring, this is always a happy thing.

The lazy Dunglas Deng Yang married on the second day of the second month of February, and the widow was considered to be a positive result. After getting married, Deng Yangren took the initiative to find Li Meng for the first time. I want to go out and serve on the front line.

Not after getting married. I don't want to be with my wife anymore, but I have the motivation and pressure to support my family. There is also a lot of money for teaching this position. But Dungrass had some difficulty in maintaining a decent and prosperous life with his wife, and he could not maintain a life of poverty and happiness like Father Federer.

In the Jiaozhou battalion. The money you can get from serving in the first line is always more than the money you can get as a peace officer in the rear. After all, it's desperate. Naturally, there is more money.

Dunglas relative to the rest of the Jiaozhou battalion. There are still other advantages. Li Meng has also come into contact with a lot of Jianghu people, so-called martial arts masters. These people's kung fu is very effective when it is one-on-one. can be in the midst of a large army engagement. But it doesn't make any practical sense.

And Deng Yang people are stuffed. It's a technology of warfare that has been quantified and proven in actual combat, no matter what. It's more like the beastly land, and Westerners have been killing each other from primitive people to the present. And not like the Orientals enjoy peace. In this savage and bloody fight. Their warfare technology is indeed beginning to be long ahead of the West. Although Dunglas is a ground-breaking mercenary, his skills are indeed leading, and Li Meng is currently reading those ancient military books and battle strategies. Among them, Qi Jiguangdi's "New Book of Ji Xiao" he read many times. The language of this book is also in plain and intelligible vernacular. There are several passages in it that are in line with his thinking on military training.

"Open a big array, against the big enemy, than in the field to capture the thief is different. In the dignified array, thousands of people lined up to advance, and they were brave enough to be the first. I can't be afraid. Cong guns poked. Cluster guns poke away. Random knives are slashed. Kill him indiscriminately. Just hug it all together. It's hard to change hands. can tolerate moving left and right; One person turned back, the public was suspicious, and one person shifted an inch. The public should also win the heart. It can be tolerated or retreated. ”

The soldiers of the Jiaozhou battalion paid special attention to the array. Apparently this is the corresponding sentence. On the battlefield, the strength of the individual is insignificant, and only by wielding the strength of the collective to the greatest extent can the combat effectiveness be reflected to the greatest extent.

"Whoever compares martial arts, must learn the real enemy's skills according to the instructions, and can really fight, and is not allowed to still learn the method of spears and other methods, and fight in vain. In order to look good in front of people. ”

This is actually the difference between Dunglas and those charlatans. In ancient and modern times, at home and abroad, the routines and ideas of leading troops are actually the same.

At present, Dunglas's axes and guns have been taught to the soldiers, and it is not Li Meng's wish to leave such an idler here. Since Deng Yangren took the initiative to ask for expatriation. Then it will be as he wishes. But the place where it was sent out was very interesting - Xinyang Water Camp.

has not undergone strict training, but it is still in the middle of the Jiaozhou battalion sequence, and there is only this unit. Send Dungrass as a captain. is also in charge of training, and it can be regarded as making the best use of talents.

Sent Dunglas away. Father Federer asked for a meeting. This person has always been poor and self-controlled. I don't know what to ask.