Qiao Mingtang sneered: "Since you arrived at the Northwest Military Camp, when you left the camp, did you ever see traces of fighting under the city?" ”

Director Pang shook his head and said: "The lower officials have not seen any traces of fighting, and the lower officials on the road have always wondered, the Northwest Army has been in the city for several days, why is there no trace of the siege?" ”

"It was only after the arrival of this governor that Chu Huan's intentions were clear." Qiao Mingtang sighed: "Although Chu Huan is young, their plan this time is very cunning. Their goal is not only Tongzhou, they want to swallow Liangzhou together, the soldiers and horses under the city are just a trick, if the governor guesses correctly, the main force of the Northwest Army has been secretly transferred to Liangzhou. ”

Master Pang suddenly realized, and exclaimed: "No wonder the reinforcements of the Wei Command have not appeared yet, then Qiao Du, the reinforcements of the Wei Commander, should it be!" ”

Qiao Mingtang also had a trace of worry in his eyes, but then shook his head and said: "Wei Tianqing is a veteran of the battlefield, and he has studied hard in military books over the years, and he has made great progress, coupled with the fact that there are many soldiers and horses in Liangzhou, even if the Northwest Army fights, it may not be able to take advantage." As long as Wei Tianqing drags the main force of the Northwest Army, they will not be able to return to reinforcements, and there will never be too many soldiers and horses under Tongzhou City to use as suspicious soldiers, otherwise Chu Huan will not set up today's situation and want to avoid fighting with our army. ”

Chief Pang nodded slightly, but he was still worried: "Qiao Du, our soldiers and horses are mainly foot soldiers, and thousands of people are temporarily recruited strong men, these people used to be Zhuang Ding Nursing Courtyard, and it may be okay to fight, this is a battle!" ”

Qiao Mingtang stroked his black beard lightly and said softly: "We have two thousand elite Praetorian Guards, including three hundred elite cavalry, this is our main force of soldiers and horses, as far as those three thousand people, although they are not elite soldiers, they are not a rabble, there must be brave men under the heavy reward, as long as they are given a heavy reward, they can naturally be used by the governor." ”

"What Qiao Du said is very true."

Qiao Mingtang's military order was conveyed, and the Xishan Army immediately ate, at this time it was already dark, Qiao Mingtang was worried that the Northwest Army rangers would wander around to inquire about the military situation, and the cavalry under his command was also sent to cruise around the camp.

The soldiers ate in order to replenish their bodies and prepare for the upcoming battle, Qiao Mingtang barely ate two bites, but he really had no appetite, of course he knew what the next battle meant.

All the generals under his command have already gathered, and there is a simple map on Qiao Mingtang's desk, which Qiao Mingtang drew by himself with the help of the topographic map of Xishan Road.

On the map, the location of the enemy and the surrounding geographical environment are sketched in a simple way.

"Ladies and gentlemen, as far as this governor knows, the Northwest Army under the city of Tongzhou is weak, and their main force is not under the city." Qiao Mingtang's expression was stern: "This governor expected that Chu Huan's conspiracy was to encircle the point and besiege Tongzhou, the purpose was to attack Wei Tianqing's reinforcements, Wei Tianqing had nearly 20,000 soldiers and horses in his hands, Chu Huan wanted to swallow the support soldiers, it was not easy, if this governor was not bad, Wei Tianqing did not arrive in time, it was blocked by the main force of the Northwest Army, and the enemy and our armies had already started a war." ”

"Qiao Du, it is said that the Northwest Army has dispatched thousands of cavalry this time, if they really ambush Wei Tianqing's reinforcements, it must be very difficult for Wei to control the other side." Xiao Moyun, the director of the Ministry of War, frowned.

Qiao Mingtang bowed his head and said: "This governor also knows that once the battle is engaged, it will not be easy for Wei Tianqing to win, but this governor believes that he can drag the main force of the Northwest Army, and the key to the victory or defeat of this battle is not on the side of Liangzhou, but under the city of Tongzhou." With his hands behind his back, he said: "Chu Huan stayed under Tongzhou City in order to hide people's eyes and ears, this is our best opportunity, as long as we strike with all our strength, defeat Chu Huan or even capture this person alive, then the siege of Liangzhou will be solved." ”

When the generals heard this, they all said, "Your Excellency the Governor is really a clever plan. ”

Qiao Mingtang said in a deep voice: "The generals listen to the order, at three o'clock, the whole army will attack, send an order to the whole army, take a northwest soldier's head, reward one hundred taels of silver, if you kill Chu Huan, reward one thousand taels of gold, and the official will be promoted to two levels, if you can capture Chu Huan alive, the reward will be three thousand taels, and the official will be promoted to three levels, but you can hear it clearly?" ”

Everyone shouted in unison: "Obey!" ”

The hill was still very quiet, covered with a veil of darkness, but the army of the West Mountain was already in full armor and ready to march in formation.

The night could not stop the excitement in the hearts of the soldiers, and the governor said that the main force of the Northwest Army had been transferred to other places, and the city of Tongzhou was only a lone army with weak strength, and the governor had already passed down the order of reward, as long as he made military achievements, he could not only get real money, but also be promoted regardless of his birth and status.

Life in the world, what you want is to be promoted to make a fortune and glorify your ancestors, this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, although the Xishan Praetorian Guard is full of blood, the thousands of strong men who have been recruited over, but they are also high-spirited, only feel that the whole body is full of strength, just wait for an order, the whole army will be like a tiger and wolf, pounced on the northwest army under the city.

The whole army was ready to go and assembled in formation.

Qiao Mingtang was on the horse, and the ear protectors of the helmet almost covered half of his face, but he couldn't stop the cold light in his eyes, and his momentum was unstoppable.

The whole army was solemn, and there was not a single sound.

Qiao Mingtang waved the war knife in his hand decisively, and said in a deep voice: "Attack!" ”

At this moment, he heard the sound of horses' hooves, and the soldiers and horses who were about to set off suddenly looked over, but saw a horse galloping towards him, and before he got close to this side, he had already waved his hand and shouted: "Your Excellency the Governor, Your Excellency the Governor, you can't send troops!" ”

Qiao Mingtang didn't see the person's appearance clearly for a while, but the whole army was about to attack in an instant, and at such a moment, the most taboo words that affected the army's heart suddenly became ugly.

The man had already rolled off the horse, and almost crawled to Qiao Mingtang's side, looking unusually wolf, and the Xishan soldiers who were ready to go looked at each other, and they didn't know what was going on for a while.

Xiao Moyun, the director of the Ministry of War, had already stepped forward and said sharply, "Who asked him to come over?" What is the crime of disturbing the morale of the army when the attack is imminent? ”

The man had already knelt on the ground and said loudly: "The last general and the last general will be sent by the Wei Command to report the news!" ”

Qiao Mingtang, Xiao Moyun and the others all changed color, Xiao Moyun looked at it a few times, and turned around and said, "Lord Governor, this is Ganlu, the guard general under the command of the Wei Commander!" ”

Qiao Mingtang raised his hand and said, "Let him come over." ”

The guard general Gan Lu's clothes and armor were messy, his face was full of sweat, he looked very wolf, panting, stepped forward, and arched his hand: "Qiao Du, the big thing is not good, the Liangzhou reinforcements have been defeated, and the Northwest Army has attacked Liangzhou!" ”

Qiao Mingtang's whole body was shocked, and he asked sharply, "How is Liangzhou?" ”

"The last general is not yet known." Gan Lu didn't care about wiping the sweat on his face, and said: "When the Wei Tongzhi learned that Tongzhou was trapped, he immediately mobilized 15,000 soldiers and horses to aid Tongzhou, but when he arrived at Liuzi River, he was immediately ambushed!" ”

Qiao Mingtang was stunned, and couldn't help but glance at Master Pang who was not far away, only to hear Gan Lu continue: "The Northwest Army took advantage of our crossing of the river to burst the embankment and release floods, and the flood filled the riverbed, cutting our army into two sections, and we can't take care of them at the end of the end!" ”

Qiao Mingtang didn't wait for Gan Lu to finish speaking, and said sharply: "Shut up!" ”

Gan Lu was stunned, Qiao Mingtang had already turned over and dismounted, and he didn't look at Gan Lu, and walked not far away, Gan Lu suddenly reacted, and the whole army was ready to go, at this time, in front of the soldiers, he reported the defeat of the Liangzhou reinforcements, and the blow to morale could be said to be fatal, and he hurriedly followed, and the soldiers who were about to attack looked at each other with different expressions.

Xiao Moyun and the others also followed, and when they got to the side, Qiao Mingtang said in a deep voice: "What happened, tell me in detail!" ”

"Your Excellency the Governor, the Northwest Army has a heavy army in ambush at the Liuzi River." Gan Lu said: "They have already planned, we were caught off guard, and the men and horses were scattered!" ”

"Where's Wei Tianqing?"

"The Wei Commander has rushed to Liangzhou, and on the way, the last general Pegasus came to report the details to the Governor." Gan Lu bowed his body, "Pei Ji is scheming, and Wei Tong is sure that he must be going to absorb Liangzhou City!" ”

"Wait." Qiao Mingtang frowned and said, "Pei Ji? Are you saying that it was Pei Ji who set up an ambush in the Liuzi River? ”

"Exactly, and on the way to break through, we also met Pei Ji." Gan Lu said: "Pei Ji pretended to invite the Wei Commander to drink, got drunk with the Guard Commander, and took away the Wei Commander's armor!" ”

Qiao Mingtang's face became extremely ugly, and he said in a deep voice: "What did you say?" Drinking? Pei Ji asked Wei Tianqing to drink? His eyes were sharp, "Why did he invite Wei Tianqing to drink?" ”

Gan Lu didn't dare to hide it, and immediately explained in detail what happened to Pei Ji, and then said: "Pei Ji claimed to be toasting to Wei Tongzhi on behalf of Chu Huan, and also said that although each is its master, Chu Huan has always regarded Wei Tongzhi as a brother!" ”

Xiao Moyun and the others looked at each other, the corners of Qiao Mingtang's eyes twitched, and he didn't speak for a while.

Seeing this, Xiao Moyun finally said cautiously: "Lord Governor, it seems that Liangzhou is only afraid of danger, they must have ill intentions when they designed to take away Wei Tianqing's armor!" ”

"I'm afraid that I want to dress up in disguise, pretend to be Wei Tianqing, and open the gate of Liangzhou." Chief Pang frowned and said, "Qiao Du, the rout of Liangzhou's reinforcements seems to be true, not that Chu Huan is bluffing!" ”

Qiao Mingtang was silent for a moment, and finally said: "Pass the order, the plan remains the same, the whole army will attack and take Chu Huan!" ”

Master Pang said hurriedly: "Qiao Du, since Chu Huan is not bluffing, let's!" ”

"Pei Ji led the main force of the Northwest Army to attack Liangzhou, and it was difficult to return for a while." Qiao Mingtang's face turned a little blue, but he still tried his best to stay calm, "At this time, if we withdraw our troops, the southern part of the West Mountain Road will all fall into Chu Huan's hands!" He snorted coldly and said, "He wants to easily swallow the southern part of my Xishan, but I'm afraid it's not that easy!" ”

Without saying a word, he turned around and left, everyone followed behind, Qiao Mingtang got on his horse, turned the horse's head, pulled out his sword, and said loudly: "The whole army will attack, kill the enemy and make meritorious contributions!" ”R1058