In the back hall of the government in Huining City, Tuoba Bogu sat behind the case, and on the left side sat his distinguished guests Pan Fu Duowang and Zhuo Luo Zunli, and on the right was his eldest son Tuoba Fanjin, who sat there to accompany him.

"Patriarch Pan Fu wanted to speak just now, but now it doesn't hurt to speak out!" Tuoba Bogu waved his hand and said.

"Huizhou is the barrier of Lanzhou, and since our two clans have led troops to help, we should do our best to help. But the Central Plains is rich in resources, and the Great Zhou Dynasty has many generals, and it is not something we should offend. So in this battle, we have to fight and talk, do you understand what I mean? Pan Fu Duowang smiled indifferently.

"The topography of Huizhou is very important, I don't need to say more, only a batch of goods was lost in the Great Zhou and the army came, how can it be a matter of goods, they are eyeing this territory. Otherwise, during the first two dynasties of the Jin Dynasty and the Han Dynasty, there were not often looting business travelers, and there were no troops sent from the Central Plains. Tuoba Bogu's face changed, and he retorted disappreciatively.

"That's because the Central Plains has changed dynasties like a marquee, but now that the Great Zhou Army is coming, although we have the advantage in troops, we can only send troops once, and the Zhou army can continue to increase its troops, and at that time, our Lanzhou will be under great threat, and you also know this disadvantage."

"Then, in your opinion, we should send an envoy to negotiate peace? Will there be a good result? Tuoba Bogu was very dissatisfied, his face was cold, and he asked with half-squinted eyes.

"Why not use war to promote peace? The Yeqi clan was expelled, the northern part of Huizhou had been lost, and the Liang clan in the south was against the water, did the Tuoba patriarch think that this battle was desperate and had a great chance of winning? Pan Fu was not afraid, he led his troops to help, in fact, for the safety of Lanzhou. His lips are dead and his teeth are cold, of course he understands this.

Tuoba Bogu thought about it, felt that he had some truth in what he said, his face softened, and he asked indifferently: "I heard that the Pan Fu clan chief is resourceful, but you should tell me, how to fight?" And how to talk about it? ”

"It's easy! First annihilate the Zhou army from the north to the south, or defeat it in one fell swoop, and at that time, the Zhou army outside the city will definitely go north to rescue, and our army can defeat them if they go out of the city to pursue. It will be the same if they divide up their forces to rescue. Pan Fu blinked his little eyes and said with a sneer.

"In fact, Li Guangrui had asked our department for help before, but the two reinforcements did not arrive, and the South Route Army went out of Watingchuan, so he did not dare to move lightly. Now the time is a little late, but it can also take the opportunity to mobilize the Zhou army and strive for the initiative on the battlefield. If it is a win, then how can we talk about it? ”

"Regardless of victory or defeat, Ningcheng will be ceded to Da Zhou, but ...... The Yellow River is west of the Zuli River, and it is still the territory of the Tuoba patriarch, and this point must not be let out. Pan Fu said hurriedly.

Old Fox ...... Tuoba Bogu secretly scolded in his heart: In this way, the northeastern border of Lanzhou to the bank of the Yellow River, the southeastern border to the Zuli River, about 120 miles from east to west, and 300 miles from north to south, this long and narrow piece has become the buffer zone in the eastern part of Lanzhou Zhuqiang, and his own tribe has become their shield.

Then no matter how this battle is fought, it will be beneficial to them, and they have to do it, because at the moment, it seems that this is the best outcome.

"It's too early to say, but it's a practical idea, so be it! Wait for tomorrow...... No! When it was dark tonight, 5,000 cavalry of the Dang clan and 2,000 cavalry of the clan went north to intercept the Zhou army's partial division, which not only covered up the tracks, but also let the Zhou army explore the horses and find out, what do you think? ”

"Haha...... Very good! Patriarch Tuoba is indeed a wise and wise man! In the words of the Han people, this is called half-covering and half-covering, wanting to refuse and welcome! It doesn't matter what the city is, but it's best for your people to move to the other side as soon as possible, as well as ferrying our soldiers. Things are going according to their own ideas, and the goal of ensuring the safety of Lanzhou may be achieved, Pan Fu laughed proudly.

At the same time, on the low hill of fifteen miles southeast of the city, a large wooden fence with a height of two zhang has been erected around the camp of the Zhou army, a trench two zhang wide has been dug deep on the periphery, a large number of thorn antlers have been arranged at the foot of the fence, the four corners have been built with a corner tower to look at the enemy's situation, a sentry tower has been built in the middle section, there are towering arrow towers on both sides of the gate, and a triple horse rejection horse is set up at the door to prevent sneak attacks.

In the distance, a dozen or so scouts galloped wildly, approaching the camp and gradually slowing down, and a man in front of him was a black-faced fat officer, who reined in his horse violently in front of the gate, so that the war horse man stood up and stopped his inertia, and then stopped.

"Yo...... That's not Zhao Jun's envoy! Didn't you listen to the errand in front of His Royal Highness King Jin, how did you run out to inspect? A Jingyuan army commanded the mission soldiers to move away from the rejection horse, and stepped forward with a flattering smile to talk.

Although the town army is good, but the combat money and food subsidies are not as rich as the forbidden army, and they have no status, it is difficult to get promoted again if they are at the level of commander, and they are not the cronies of the marshal, and it is a dream to want to be promoted to the next level.

"What's so strange, the Huining Pass in the southwest hasn't been taken yet, a certain person took someone there to go around, and now there is a military situation, I'll talk to you later." This person is Zhao Kuangyin, who followed Guo Rong, the king of Jin, all the way to Huining, and he was counting on a good meritorious service, and he was already so anxious that his hands were itching. I heard that Huining Pass on the west bank of the Zuli River was very important, so I asked for orders to go to reconnoitre.

After entering the barracks, Zhao Kuangyin threw the reins of the horse to the entourage soldiers and strode to the big tent of the Chinese army. He was an entourage of the King of Jin, wearing the standard mountain pattern armor and ear-turning hood of the forbidden army officer, and the patrol soldiers routinely checked him and let him pass.

When I went to the outside of the big tent of the Chinese army, I saw two marshals and several generals sitting inside, and it was Guo Rong inside, and this was a staff meeting before the operation. Zhao Kuangyin suddenly hesitated, turned around and was about to leave, and report later, but Guo Rong spoke.

"Are you back? Then come in! ”

Guo Rong's gentle and indifferent voice came, Zhao Kuangyin stood still, turned around and entered the bill, kneeling and arching his hand: "Report to Your Highness!" Since five days ago, the last general left the team halfway to Huining Pass, and made a few circles around there, where there were about 1,000 Qiang soldiers, but the terrain was dangerous, and at least 5,000 soldiers were needed to take it. When returning, the last general went north along the bank of the Yellow River, arrived at the confluence of the Zuli River and the Yellow River, and found that there were a large number of boats and rafts crossing the river on the west bank, full of Qiang soldiers, it seemed that the crossing had not yet been completed, and there were Qiang soldiers stationed on the opposite bank. ”

"Tuoba Bogu has invited reinforcements, and it must be Lanzhou Qiang from the west, haven't you been arrested and interrogated?" Guo Rong nodded and asked, to catch alive is to catch a prisoner, there were generals in the army in the Tang Dynasty, and the notorious An Lushan was born as a living general.

"On the fork of the river on the west bank of the Zuli River, there are no Qiang soldiers and horses, and they seem to be only staring at the side of the big camp." Zhao Kuangyin replied truthfully.

"That's it! Go down and rest first! Guo Rong waved his head and sent Zhao Kuangyin away, turned his head to look at the right side and said from Ruan: "Tuoba Bogu has received reinforcements, I'm afraid there will be a move." And the Feng Jiye Department in the north, according to the day, they broke the party coalition army in Niupiyuan on the tenth day of October, and it should have arrived a long time ago, could it be that something happened on the road? ”

Fold Congruan was stunned, stroked his beard and said with a smile: "There are a lot of war horses in the Shuofang army, and there is no shortage of horses, as long as you are cautious, nothing will happen." And Tuoba Bogu contracted his forces before, and even Xiao Guan gave up, but now that the reinforcements have arrived with confidence, they may go to war, and from today onwards, they must be vigilant, set up more secret posts day and night, and send reconnaissance cavalry. ”

"But if he divides his troops to garrison the west bank of the Yellow River, his troops will inevitably be insufficient to go south, so he will be easily intercepted by the Qiang cavalry." Guo Rong said with some concern, thought for a while, and ordered: "In this way, send additional scouts to explore the horses thirty miles northwest of the city." In addition, step up the construction of siege equipment in order to attack the city as soon as possible and drag Tuoba Bogu. (To be continued.) )