Li Biao and Li Hu suggested that Kong Sheng move to Ningling, but Kong Sheng did not agree, he still had to retreat to the abandoned fortress of Baisha Whirlpool, which made his subordinate generals a little puzzled. As they followed Kong Sheng for a long time, the more they felt that the majestic young commander in front of them, the imperial court and the county order, became more unfathomable and unpredictable.

Kong Sheng did not explain his intentions.

It was just a hunch on his part.

He had a hunch that Yongqiu's Linghu Chao would not sit idly by and watch him eat Yang Chaozong, and might really lead his army to fight. In fact, his hunch was not wrong, Ling Hu Chao was already thinking of taking advantage of the fisherman, but Ling Hu Chao did not expect that Kong Sheng's side would end the battle so quickly, and when he led his army to the northwest of Ningling, he got the news that Kong Sheng had killed Yang Chaozong.

Ling Huchao is a sinister and cunning person, suspicious and fickle. For the time being, he couldn't figure out how many men and horses there were in this Suiyang army, and whether there was an ambush on this line, so he didn't dare to take the initiative to attack easily, so he only ordered his subordinates to hide in Taoling and watch.

Ling Huchao was worried that Zhang Xun would send several ambush troops to lure him into battle by exterminating the remnants of Yang Chaozong. If this is the case, Yongqiu is in danger.

In fact, Ling Huchao really didn't know Zhang Xun. Although Zhang Xun was proficient in the art of war and good at commanding battles, he actually fought several beautiful battles and dealt a head-on blow to the invading rebels. It's just that Zhang Xun is not an adventurous person in his bones, and it is impossible for him to risk being surrounded by rebels and send the main force to leave Suiyang to attack Yongqiu, because once the forces are dispersed, Suiyang is in danger of falling.

Losing the base camp of Suiyang, what can Zhang Xun's department do even if he takes Yongqiu. Compared to Suiyang, Yongqiu is nothing more than a small city. It does not have the defense force to fight the rebels for a long time.

A scout hurried into the airy chamber. Kneeling down on one knee reported: "Report to Kong County Order." There are more than 1,000 rebels lurking and camping in Taoling, under the banner of Linghu Chao, which should be the headquarters of Yongqiu. ”

This is one of the many probes that Kong Sheng has sent out. Compared with other Tang army commanders, and even compared with Zhang Xun, Kong Sheng paid more attention to intelligence gathering and information sources. With an army of less than a thousand men, he has already sent out dozens of sentinels. In the future, he even considered forming an intelligence battalion to specialize in intelligence gathering and wayfinding information. Led by Mu Changfeng.

Kong Sheng's face changed, and he waved his hand: "Sure enough, as I expected, Yongqiu's Linghu tide is eyeing us from behind, if we easily enter Ningling or advance to the northwest in depth, he will definitely stab us in the back!" ”

Li Biao's expression was solemn, and he said softly: "Kong County Order, if it is only a thousand people from Linghu Chao, it is not a matter of worry, what I am worried about is Gao Chengyi of Jiyin County." If Gao Chengyi leads the army to attack, we can only retreat to Suiyang. ”

Gao Chengyi is different from Yongqiu's Linghu tide. In this war, Gao Chengyi has been carefully preserving his military strength. There was no large-scale frontal war with the official army, and the more than 10,000 soldiers and horses under his command were recuperated for a long time. If he led the army to attack, coupled with Yongqiu's Linghu Chao's flank, not to mention that Kong Sheng was less than a few hundred, even if there were thousands of people, he would not be Gao Chengyi's opponent.

Kong Sheng smiled indifferently: "Li Biao, Gao Chengyi of Jiyin County is actually the least thing to consider. This person is cautious, has been preserving his strength and managing his own territory, and he will not easily leave Jiyin County to attack Henan. Besides, there are also Jiangbei's King Yu's military horses by the side, and I conclude that Gao Chengyi will not send troops 100%. ”

Li Hu raised his head and said, "Kong County Order, since this is the case, then what are we afraid of?" Directly attack the whole army, rush to Taoling, and destroy the fox tide! Although they have slightly more military strength than us, we will not be afraid of him! ”

Kong Sheng shook his head: "No, it is not appropriate for us to fight head-on with Linghu Chao. It's not that I'm afraid of him, but it's not necessary. Pass my military order, go around Ningling, and attack Yongqiu! ”

As soon as Kong Sheng's voice fell, everyone was shocked, no one thought that Kong Sheng would make such a decision. Obviously, attacking the 1,000 men and horses lurking in Taoling was more likely to be successful than attacking Yongqiu City, but he chose to attack Yongqiu instead.

But an army is an army, and the commander's military orders are above all else. Although everyone had doubts and even dissatisfaction, they could not openly disobey the military order, and each stood up and made a promise.

Everyone came out silently, only Nan Yong secretly threw a meaningful glance at Kong Sheng. Among the generals in the field, or only Nan Yong faintly guessed Kong Sheng's true strategic intentions, is it necessary to attack Yongqiu if he attacks Yongqiu? If Ling Huchao found that Kong Sheng was leading an army to attack Yongqiu, his inevitable reaction would be to immediately lead people to retreat.

And at this time, Kong Sheng will either fight head-on or calmly set up an ambush, and the chance of winning by swallowing the thousand people of Linghu Chao will be greater.

Kong Sheng's clear and deep gaze briefly intersected with Nan Yong's.

Kong Sheng smiled indifferently and waved his hand: "Our army's march should be handed over to General Nan for all logistical and heavy affairs." ”

Nan Yong bowed and said, "The last general obeys the order!" ”

An hour later. Under the twilight sunset, Kong Shengjun galloped westward against the cold wind and bypassed Ningling. Fox Chao was shocked to get the report, and he didn't have time to judge the authenticity of the news, so he immediately ordered to withdraw to Yongqiu, and be sure to return to the city before the Suiyang army arrived in Yongqiu.

Both sides were on the road overnight. It was a straight-line distance for the fox tide to return to Yongqiu, and Kong Sheng's army and horses had traveled dozens of miles, but Kong Sheng's army was faster with cavalry, and the progress was actually about the same. Seeing that Yongqiu City entered the field of vision, and the military flag of Dayan and inlaid with the word Linghu on the city wall was flying high, Ling Huchao breathed a sigh of relief, thinking that the Suiyang army was still far behind, so he sent an order to prepare to calmly enter the city to defend.

At this moment, Yongqiu City is a county seat, located on the main road from Henan Road to Jingshi Guanluo, with hills on the left and vast plains on the right, and the surging Yellow River flows around the ancient city of Yongqiu. Yongqiu is located at the center of the Yan army's sphere of influence in Henan, which can advance or retreat, attack or defend, so it has always been valued by the rebels.

Previously, Zhang Xun held on here for a long time, and fought dozens of times with Ling Huchao. Later, Zhang Xun saw that the situation was not good, and took the initiative to abandon Yongqiu and go to Suiyang to join forces with Xu Yuan.

The Yan army actually did not have a granary in Yongqiu. An important granary of the Yan army in the north was set up in a fortress more than 100 miles west of Yongqiu, which was heavily guarded, which was the main source of food and grass for all thieves in Henan Province. As for the grain and grass in Yongqiu, it was gradually hoarded from the people in Ningling, Xiayi, Jiyin County and even Bozhou when the fox tide was strong in the past, which was the capital for the fox tide to settle down, and it was also the capital that he relied on to ask for officials and lords from the Dayan court.

It's just that what surprised and angered Ling Huchao was that not long ago, An Lushan suddenly issued an order to send military horses from all over Henan Province back to defend Guanluo, including more than 8,000 people under Ling Huchao's command. Ling Fox Chao did not dare to resist and disobey, so he gritted his teeth and led the only remaining 2,000 people to guard Yongqiu on thin ice, and sent people to ask Gao Chengyi of Jiyin County for support.

Although Gao Chengyi agreed to enter into an offensive and defensive alliance with Ling Huchao on the surface, in fact, he didn't see the rabbit or scatter the eagle at all, as long as it didn't touch his sphere of influence and fundamental interests, he wouldn't send troops to meddle in things.

As for the leaders of the small rebel armies in other cities, they either have their own ghosts, or they push and prevaricate, and the war is at the head, everyone is fighting to save their own calculations, who cares about whose life or death? There's nothing wrong with this, if you can't even save your life, what fame and fortune are you talking about?

Most of these people were Tang Army generals and magistrates who had defected. It is absolutely impossible for these people to sacrifice their lives and personal interests for the so-called great cause of the Great Yan Imperial Court.

Therefore, on the surface, the vast majority of Henan Province was occupied by rebels, and Suiyang gradually became an isolated city, and the situation was precarious; However, from a deeper level, the rebel forces are scattered and scattered, and it is difficult to form a general pattern of unified strategic action. This was the key factor for Kong Sheng to dare to lead hundreds of cavalry to leave Suiyang and attack Yongqiu.

Kong Sheng's men and horses lurked in the dense forest under the hills, standing solemnly, staring at the official road opposite, Ling Fox Chao's men and horses were gathering in formation, preparing to return to Yongqiu City.

Kong Sheng was silent, his eyes solemn. And the three Lei Tingjin brothers, Li Biao, Li Hu and others standing behind him were obviously breathing a little heavily, and their expressions were a little annoyed. They originally wanted to make an ambush before Ling Fox Chao's people retreated to Yongqiu, to give Ling Fox Chao a little color, and also to show the prestige of their own military horses. As a result, the speed of the marching army of the fox tide was very fast, and they entered the territory of Yongqiu in two directions, one front and one behind, one left and one right, and there was no time to prepare for an ambush.

Yongqiu also has a thousand defenders, which are under the command of Ling Huchao. Attacking Linghu Chao's military horses in front of Yongqiu City was obviously extremely unwise. The people inside and outside the city will be besieged together, and these hundreds of people on their own side will definitely be wiped out, there is no doubt about it.

"Retire." Li Biao arched his hand.

Lei Tingjin also suggested: "Just rely on our hundreds of people to attack Yongqiu, there is no difference from sending them to death, it is better to return to Ningling first, and then make plans." ”

Nan Yong looked at Kong Sheng with blazing eyes.

At this time, a crazy thought suddenly appeared in his heart, he thought that Kong Sheng might make a surprising decision to take the risk of leading the army to attack the thousand people who had made the fox tide travel back to the city, and hit the other party by surprise.

Sure enough, the corners of Kong Sheng's mouth floated with a decisive arc, and he waved his hand resolutely and said in a deep voice: "Nan Yong, you lead a hundred people as backup, stay here to wave the flag and shout, and cheer for our army. ”

"The rest of the generals and the whole army are there, come with me to fight!" Kong Sheng snorted, ordered someone to lead the chasing wind, turned over on the horse, and took over the Fang Tian painting halberd from the hands of the two pro-soldiers.

Everyone's faces changed. (To be continued.) )