Pingnan County. It is located in the east of Xunzhou Mansion and borders Wuzhou Mansion. After Yang Banhou and Smith led their troops into Xunzhou Mansion, they encountered almost no soldiers along the way, and easily took Pingnan County. It's just that the closer you get to Guiping County, the seat of Xunzhou Prefecture, the stronger the resistance will definitely be, and it is definitely not as easy as it was at the beginning.

The county magistrate, Yang Banhou and Smith were discussing the strategy of attacking Guiping County.

Yang Banhou sat on the golden knife and said in a deep voice: "Captain Smith, we have killed all the way, and the enemies we encountered are not strong, and we have defeated the other party without even using many weapons, which is very easy. However, the main forces of Xunzhou Prefecture are concentrated in Guiping County, and if it is attacked, the troops under its command will definitely gradually lose, and the strength will become weaker and weaker. After solving Nanning Mansion and other places, I am afraid that he will become the commander of the light pole. It's definitely not going to work, what do you think? ”

"My idea is to do it in two steps," Smith said. The first step is to publicize the strength of our army, build momentum for the army, and create an atmosphere in which no one can stop it. The second step is to muster up momentum, constantly increase the number of soldiers in the army, and raise the number to 30,000 or 50,000. Such an army approaching Guiping County is more powerful. ”

"Expansion?"

Yang Banhou said: "Smith, are you sure?" ”

Smith nodded and said, "That's the case, we have to ......" He said the whole arrangement, Yang Banhou also nodded, but there was still worry in his eyes, and said: "The plan is good, but the feasibility is still debatable!" ”

Smith said: "Captain Yang, we'll wait and see!" ”

……

Guiping County is the seat of Xunzhou Prefecture.

The prefect of Xunzhou Mansion is named Song Jun, and he has served as the prefect of Xunzhou Prefecture for less than a year. Last year, Chen Kai and Li Wenmao, the leaders of the Heaven and Earth Society, led the soldiers of the Heaven and Earth Society to capture Xunzhou Mansion, Xi Yinglong transferred troops to quell the rebellion, and the Song army began to serve as the governor of Xunzhou Prefecture.

Chen Kai and Li Wenmao were both leaders of the Heaven and Earth Society, and the two had staged an uprising in Guangdong, but they were suppressed. In desperation, the two led the soldiers into Guangxi, conquered Xunzhou in 1856, and established a regime, with the country name Dacheng and the year name Hongde. Among them, Chen Kai is the king of Zhennan, and Li Wenmao is the king of Pingjing.

The Song army's ability to govern the army is not strong, but it has a few brushes to govern the people. In less than half a year after taking office, Xunzhou Mansion has been governed in an orderly manner and has been restored.

Guiping County, at the gate of the east of the city, hundreds of people come and go.

"Oh no, no, the army under Li Zhen is here! Go home and pack your bags and get ready to run for your life. ”

One of the people shouted and rushed into the city.

This roar also successfully aroused the interest of the surrounding people.

"It's over, it's over, Li Zhen is here. I heard that Li Zhen led a large army to attack Zhennan Pass, and he deployed 18 cannons to bombard Zhennan Pass indiscriminately, directly bombing Zhennan Pass to the bottom. The city wall of Nanguan in that town is thicker than that of Guiping County, and if Li Zhen puts out eighteen cannons again, it will definitely be finished. ”

"The army under Li Zhen's command is not only powerful in weapons, but also in the soldiers. I heard from my eldest nephew who lives in Zhennanguan that Li Zhen led the army to fight against Xi Changzhen and the foreigners, and the foreigners were defeated, and Xi Changzhen was also defeated."

"Oh, it looks like Guiping County is going to end."

……

The people in the east of the city discussed the attack on Guiping County by the army under Li Zhen.

It's just that they all ignored a problem, mentioning the army under Li Zhen, and Li Zhen did not come. When the east of the city spread, the west, north, and south of the city spread one after another, and the overwhelming content was all about how strong the army under Li Zhen was, and all described how powerful the weapons used by the soldiers under Li Zhen's command were.

As the saying goes, three people become tigers, and the situation of Li Zhen's army has been known all over the city after word of mouth by the people. The atmosphere in the city has also become more and more solemn, reflecting an atmosphere of imminent destruction.

The prefect's yamen, in the study.

Song Jun looked at the news sent by the officials, and his face was gloomy.

He didn't understand military affairs, but he could tell that this was the other side's strategy to disrupt the people.

"Someone!"

Song Jun shouted, and a servant walked in.

Immediately, Song Jun ordered: "Immediately prohibit the people from discussing the affairs of Li Zhen's army, and post a notice, saying that the official has a countermeasure, please rest assured." At the same time, the soldiers in the city were dispatched to arrest the rumor-mongers. There must be rumors spread by the Qing army in our city, and we must seize them as soon as possible and put an end to the source in order to contact the danger of Guiping County. ”

The official nodded, but still hesitated.

He thought for a moment and said, "My lord, the Qing army is really here, what should we do?" ”

Song Jun was stunned when he heard this, but he didn't expect the officials in the palace to be like this.

At this time, Song Jun was even more worried.

The officials in the government were all worried about Li Zhen's attack on Pingnan County, and he could imagine how much the people were afraid. Song Jun said in a deep voice: "This official immediately dispatched soldiers to the north for help, go down!" With a wave of his hand, Song Jun let the officials retreat. He once again took out a piece of rice paper, wrote down the situation facing Guiping County on the paper, and sent someone to Lingui County to the north.

……

Pingnan County, County Yazhong.

Smith held a letter in his hand, and after he opened it and read it, he handed it to Yang Banhou and said loudly: "Commander Yang, Song Jun has begun to ask Xi Yinglong for help, and he can implement the next plan." The letter in Smith's hand was sent to Xi Yinglong by the Song army, but Smith had already expected it, and sent people to ambush on the official road early, and when the soldiers sent by the Song army to deliver the letter passed by, they directly took the soldiers and searched for the letter.

Yang Banhou stood up and said, "Okay, let's set off and implement the next plan." ”

After the two were settled, they sent their soldiers to move on.

……

Guiping County, the government!

Song Jun has been waiting for Xi Yinglong's response, but he has not been able to wait.

"Report!"

A servant rushed in and said loudly, "I've seen my lord! ”

"What's your business?"

"Returning to my lordship, there is news from the front. Li Zhen's generals Smith and Yang Banhou led their troops towards Guiping County, recruiting soldiers along the way. A few days ago, more than 5,000 soldiers had been recruited, and there were more than 10,000 troops under his command. ”

When Song Jun heard this, he chuckled in his heart.

More than 10,000 people, this is not a small number!

Song Jun said in a deep voice: "Explore again!" ”

The official retreated, leaving Song Jun alone to sit in the hall.

The next day, another message came back.

The official who came to report the news stood below the Song army, with a look of panic, but he still said loudly: "Yang Banhou and Smith expanded the army again, and recruited another 5,000 people, which is enough for 15,000 troops. My lord, if we continue to develop at this rate, in a few days, it will definitely be 30,000 or 50,000 people, can we stop it?"

Song Jun said in a deep voice: "This official has already sent someone to ask the Governor for help, and there will be a reply soon." ”

He waved his hand and repulsed the soldiers, and once again wrote a letter.

ps: first update;