When the city of Pingzhou was captured, Li Congjing issued a notice to all counties in Pingzhou, ordering them to surrender. Now that half a month has passed, all localities have successively expressed their willingness to surrender and return to the jurisdiction of Datang. In this regard, Li Congjing went to the imperial court according to the routine and asked the imperial court to consider the personnel transfer in these places, of course, the county officials in these places will not change much, and what really attracts the attention of the imperial court is the arrangement of high-ranking officials and garrisons such as Pingzhou Assassin Shi and Beijia. At present, there is a place in Pingzhou that did not cooperate with Li Congjing's order, and privately killed the officials who went to deliver the letter.

At present, stabilizing Pingzhou is the overall situation, and all parts of the country will naturally save effort, if it is a battle of trapped beasts, Li Congjing will not be soft-hearted, the state cities have been taken, and the local counties and counties with small land and few troops, of course he will not tolerate the traitors, and he will destroy them by thunder.

This time, without much trouble summoning the generals to discuss the matter, Li Congjing directly called Li Yanchao and handed him the task of pacifying the stubborn thieves.

Since the day before yesterday, after the Hundred Battles Army broke through the North Gate a few hours ahead of Lu Long's Army, Li Yanchao has never taken advantage of the battle in front of others, and expressed his convincing attitude to the combat strength of the Hundred Battles Army. After receiving Li Congjing's military order, Li Yanchao's chest clapped, "Rest assured, the commander of the Xuansu District is a small place, he dares not to know the current affairs, and intends to resist stubbornly, the last general only needs 2,000 soldiers and horses, and the thief will be bound to see the military commander in the future!" ”

"Although the enemy is weak, it should not be taken lightly, and if it is not for the desire for profit, it must be held up, and the general needs to be cautious." Li Congjing told Li Yanchao to prepare and send troops to Xuansu in the future.

Li Congjing personally handled military matters, and he only took charge of the overall situation in civil affairs and asked Du Qianshu to lead people to implement them. The previous letter of proclamation to the people when the Hundred Battles Army entered the city and fought in the streets played a great role in quickly defeating Lu Wenjin and reducing the losses of the Hundred Battles and Lu Long armies. All kinds of miscellaneous things are crowded together, so many that it is a headache, and the original officials in Pingzhou City naturally cannot be used, and there are not many accompanying clerks in the Hundred Battles Army, so Du Qianshu has been busy with them in the past few days.

For this reason, Li Congjing sent a letter to Li Cunshen and Weidao in Youzhou, asking them to send capable officials to help the government. Thanks to Li Congjing's conversation with the people of Pingzhou in front of the official office day and night, and the policy of reassuring the people, the people of Pingzhou City are quite enthusiastic about cooperating with Li Congjing's work, and many people outside the official office will come to apply for the job every day, so that Li Congjing can use the best.

After talking to Li Yanchao, Li Congjing walked out of the hall and came to the door. There is a cypress tree in the courtyard, it is now the mid-autumn season, the leaves are yellow and the branches are bald, swinging with the wind, the autumn is strong, but the main trunk is still vigorous, arrogantly pointing to the sky, there is no artistic conception.

Du Qianshu walked into the courtyard, although he was tired, his eyes were very clear, and he saw Li Congjing looking at the tree and looking at the sky, and said with a smile: "The military commander is so idle!" ”

Li Congjing retracted his gaze and said with the same smile: "Fusheng is just stealing for a moment, and you will be bumped into it just after a moment of distraction." However, with you, the Sima to handle all kinds of political affairs, I should be more relaxed. All things are going well? ”

Du Qianshu said: "The people of Pingzhou are very cooperative, and there are soldiers to help, so it is naturally smooth." However, it is indeed difficult to come to see the military commander at this time. ”

"What?"

Du Qianshu said: "Since the military marshal's recruitment order was issued, there have been countless conscripts, and these days, the young and strong men in Pingzhou City have come to say less!" Not only that, but many men from nearby counties heard the sound of coming, and the school field was so crowded that it couldn't accommodate it! According to the estimation of the lower officials, in the next few days, I am afraid that there will be followers coming, and I am afraid that the military camp will not be able to be resettled at that time. ”

This should be the power of the Hundred Battles Army to defeat Lu Wenjin in one battle, the Hundred Battles Army entered the city without taking anything, Li Congjing's strategy to appease the people had the effect, he smiled: "This is easy to do, just choose the best." ”

The city of Pingzhou was broken, Lu Wenjin's soldiers were all killed in battle, and the original garrison of Pingzhou was empty, so it was natural to recruit new soldiers to guard the acropolis. However, Pingzhou's financial and material resources are already limited, and now that they have gone through a big war, there are not many soldiers who can support them, at most 2,000.

Du Qianshu shook his head and said: "If this can be the case, why should the lower officials come to bother the military commander." ”

Li Congjing said: "If not, what else can it do?" ”

Du Qianshu sighed: "Thousands of young and strong men, stranded in the barracks, refused to leave, not to mention those who were not selected at the beginning, but those who were selected later, and were eliminated due to the increase in requirements for merit, all gathered in the barracks and school, unwilling to retreat. There are those who are invited to join the army of a hundred battles, there are those who are invited to join the army of Lulong, and there are those who would rather be auxiliaries than stay in the army, but they do not want to go back. There is even a grandmother who sent her son and cried to be taken in by the army! ”

"Why is this?!"

"Everyone says that it is a blessing in this life to be able to fight from the military commander, protect the border and fight thieves, and avenge the revenge of the clan! The sons and daughters were emotionally agitated, their blood was bursting out, they couldn't do it themselves, and the officials persuaded each other for a long time, but the suffering had no effect, so they came to ask for instructions. A large number of people gathered and dispersed, and the military camp was in chaos, if it was not established, I am afraid that it would breed trouble! ”

Li Congjing sighed: "In the land of Yan Zhao, there are really many hot-blooded and strong men!" After that, he said, "Let's go, follow me to the barracks to have a look." ”

There is a horse army, since a few days ago left Pingzhou, through the Bianguan out of the Great Wall to the territory of Yingzhou, and then along the Xuanshui north, arrived at the south side of the White Wolf Mountain today. This horse army has thousands of people, compared to the Khitan cavalry with tens of thousands of people, there are not many people. Even so, the momentum of the run is awe-inspiring, and if the tiger comes out of the cage, ordinary people can't look at it directly. The reason for this is not only because of its well-equipped and sharp horses, but also because the soldiers are all tough, resolute, and profound, just like a sword that has not yet been unsheathed, it has shown its edge. If you let the generals in the army see it, you can see at a glance that these soldiers must have been tempered by blood, fire, and tribulation, and they can be called a hundred refined swords, not only with strong combat power, but also with outstanding mentality and quality, which is comparable to the extraordinary elite.

The horses rested by a dense forest on the side of the mountain, and the sergeants dismounted one after another, taking care of the horses to drink and eat, and in addition to the swift movements, there was even more silence, only the light sound of the armor hitting and the sound of footsteps. After the horses were fed, the sergeants sat cross-legged on the side of the horses and filled their stomachs with dry food and water. Dozens of rangers spread out to the front and back of the road, listening for movements everywhere.

At the front of the horse team, several young generals gathered together, facing a military map with dense lines and words, observing the surrounding terrain, pointing and talking to each other.

"At this point, there is no doubt that we have reached White Wolf Mountain. The terrain here is narrow in the south and wide in the north, and there is a terrain difference between the east and the west, it should be 'the horse turning back', according to the local people, in the past, business travelers, pedestrians regardless of going north and south, so far most of them look back and see, because once they pass here, only the mountains can be seen in the north and south, and the horizon is divided into two in this. Guo Wei pointed his finger at the picture and said to the two young generals in front of him.

Lin Xiong just nodded, acknowledging Guo Wei's judgment, Lin Ying said: "The terrain here is excellent, and it is very easy to ambush, so you should find the surrounding water and soil to ask the nearby people for preparation." ”

Guo Wei agreed: "The news of the army marshal's advance to Pingzhou has been transmitted to Yingzhou a few days ago, and its guard Yelu Chishu heard about it, and he rode southward from Yingzhou, intending to help Lu Wenjin defend Pingzhou City. However, he must not have expected that Pingzhou City has returned to the hands of my Tang Dynasty, and now it is heading south, and we are just in the middle of the road! ”

Lin Ying pondered for a moment, "If Yelu Chishu hears the news of the fall of Pingzhou on the way, will his troops give up aiding Pingzhou and return to Yingzhou?" If so, we will have to wait for nothing. ”

Guo Wei put away the map and gave it to the military envoy behind him, "The military commander has expected that Yelu Chishu will not be like this." ”

"Why?" Lin Ying was puzzled.

Guo Wei said with a smile: "The army attacked Pingzhou, how suddenly, but the commander received a report from the Military Intelligence Department about the line of Yelu Chishu's army going south, but it was only ten days ago. What does it mean that it moved so quickly, almost in a hurry? ”

Lin Ying was shrewd, and when he heard this, he had already realized something, and said: "It must be Yelu Chishu who has already raised troops before waiting for Abaoji's order!" ”

"Exactly! Generally speaking, the guards will not leave the country to attack the enemy without the order, even though the news of our army's recovery of Pingzhou has reached the West Building, Abaoji is going to transfer troops, and his military order will not come to Yelu Chishu so early. What is the meaning of Yelu Chishu's 'unauthorized army' and such eagerness? ”

"It's nothing more than meritorious service!"

"Yes!" Guo Wei said, "I have heard Du Sima and the military marshal say that Yelu Chishu, the Khitan guard general in Yingzhou, is the son of Yelu Yilu, the Khitan Southern Courtyard, but he has passed the year of his establishment. His father is noble, and he is still young, young and promising, so it is no wonder that he is eager to make meritorious contributions. ”

Lin Ying smiled: "This is an opportunity for us to take advantage of!" ”

As they spoke, a ranger returned ahead of them, followed by a knight in cloth.

The cloth-clothed knight is a sharp soldier of the military intelligence department, and when he arrived at Guo Wei and other generals, he dismounted and bowed, and said: "The Khitan horse army has reached fifty miles away, and according to its footsteps, it will be here in half a day!" ”

"How many?"

"Five thousand riders up and down!"

"Five thousand horsemen?" Guo Wei, Lin Ying, Lin Xiong and others looked at each other, and their faces were a little bitter. This time with the army into Pingzhou gentlemen and soldiers, a total of 2,000 or so, because of the previous grassland long battle, light and serious injuries, nearly half of the sick, the way back bumpy, wounds, the condition deteriorated, in urgent need of treatment, Li Congjing regardless of his injury and condition, all stayed in Pingzhou City for treatment, so Guo Wei led a thousand horsemen to the north, all of them were unharmed. However, if a gentleman is elite, he will be elite, and to fight five against one is tantamount to a fool's dream.

Lin Ying sighed: "Although it is fatty, it is tender and juicy, but it is not easy to swallow, so what can I do!" ”

When Li Congjing returned to the official office from the barracks, his mind was still a little uncalm.

It was still early, there were many pedestrians on the street, Li Congjing was not wearing armor, but was wearing a green robe, and Du Qianshu was in the street in parallel. Du Qianshu sighed solemnly: "There are many good men in the border land, and I know it." The fierceness of the Pingzhou boy is still unexpected! ”

Li Congjing was speechless, and what he had seen in the military camp came to his mind again.

When he went to the barracks today, all he did was persuade those who had not been selected to return home, but when he was in the crowd and surrounded by thousands of young and strong men, he was deeply moved by the other party.

In front of him, these hot-blooded sons said the most but two sentences.

"Skills are not as good as people, you can practice them, physical strength is not as good as people, you can be an auxiliary, but I am waiting for a sincere heart, it is difficult to find elsewhere! Follow the general to protect the border and fight the thief, this is our lifelong wish, how can the general bear it! ”

"Weiping Prefecture, crossing the Great Wall, recovering Yingzhou, and entering the grassland, this general's words are intended to encourage us together! Pingzhou has been harassed by the Khitan for decades, the villagers have suffered countless deaths and injuries, and they have been occupied by Lu thieves for five years, so that the people have ten rooms and nine empty, the children have no burial fathers, and the mothers have no food for their children. The Khitans, the national revenge, the national revenge should be avenged by everyone. Now the general is in Pingzhou, willing to lead us to protect the land and fight the thieves, it is the luck of our life, the hope of the three generations of ancestors and grandchildren, how can the general bear to look at it, make us chill? ”

Du Qianshu sighed and said: "Military marshal, his situation is like this, what can he do? ”

Li Congjing raised his head from his contemplation and asked Du Qianshu: "Qianshu, you can say bluntly, can you resist and defeat hundreds of thousands of Khitan troops with only the two armies of Baizhan and Lulong, and 30,000 soldiers?" ”

Du Qianshu smiled bitterly and said bluntly: "The border armies in all places are counted in one place, the Youyun Tang army is only 50,000, and nearly half of them are guarded all over the country, if the Khitan does not invade the south, we can find it, if it breaks through a hundred tricks, how can we distinguish it?" I don't know a thousand books! ”

"50,000 troops, it's really too little." Li Congjing said in a deep voice.

"However, the imperial court does not give much food and salary to the soldiers, and with the meager material resources that Youyun has, and the Khitan has repeatedly damaged the cultivated land, robbing me of my wealth and goods, I really can't do anything to raise more soldiers!" Du Qianshu's brows were completely twisted in one place, like a pimple.

Li Congjing paused, and suddenly said: "I have a way to solve this difficulty!" ”