The Southern Fujian Guards assembled in the Huton Gorge formed three large battalions, the front battalion was located on the west side of the Huton Gorge, blocking the road from Zhangzhou to Yongjiabao, with a strength of 7,000, which was the garrison of the original Zhangzhou City, and the main general would be Zongzhengqu; The rear camp is located on the west side of the Hutong Gorge, with a strength of 10,000, which is a guard drawn from Quanzhou and commanded by Zongzheng Ji Wang; Zongzheng Xun Da led the Chinese military camp to be stationed in the Tiger Swallow Gorge.

Hutun Gorge is a subsidence of Zhongshan Fujian in the south of Zhangzhou, and it is also the narrowest place in the mountains of Zhongshan. The north and south of the Fujian Mountains are more than 600 miles long, the mountain is 50 to 100 miles wide, and the total length of the Tiger Swallow Gorge is only more than 30 miles, the gorge walls on both sides are towering into the clouds, the cliffs are flying birds and sorrowful, the green trees are wrong, the moss is slippery, and they are not afraid of the enemy army taking advantage of the terrain on both sides to attack, the Chinese military camp of the Southern Fujian Guards chooses a high ground in the open place of the Tiger Swallow Gorge to build a barracks, and the radius stretches endlessly.

Yan Xun walked out of the big tent with Zongzheng Xun Da and the others, but saw a sentry on duty with a frightened face, and shouted here from afar: "The Qingyan Army is coming." ”

Zong Zheng Xunda frowned and shouted: "The uproar in the camp will shake the morale of the army, and the left and right will not take him down?" ”

Since the 10,000-strong army of the Qingyan Army entered the eastern foothills of Zhongshan Fujian and threatened the western camp, although the military strength of the Qingyan Army in this area was weak, rumors have spread among the Southern Fujian army.

Starting from Jian'an Fort and advancing south along the eastern foothills of central Fujian, the Qingyan Army stopped moving sixty miles away from the rear camp of the Southern Fujian Guards, and chose a place to build a barracks

The Qingyan Army in Zhangzhou City was also more than forty miles away from the front camp, and it was impossible for the Qingyan Army on these two roads to sneak in front of the camp silently to launch an offensive.

Zong Zheng Xunda heard the attack of the Qingyan Army in the tent, and he was naturally shocked in his heart, thinking that Xu Ruyu had a way to sneak in front of the camp without the reconnaissance cavalry of Nanmin, but he hurriedly stepped out of the camp tent but did not find that there was a warning beacon smoke burning in the front and rear camps.

Zong Zheng Xunda was so angry that he asked the sentry lieutenant to be escorted to him, and when he asked, he learned that a large number of Qingyan troops were coming from Zhangzhou City to the front camp, and the specific number was to be investigated.

Zong Zheng Ji Wang retired and said: "Xu Ruyu is unpredictable, I still go back to the camp at this time to wait for the change." ”

Zong Zheng Xunda pondered for a while, and said: "You need to be careful when you return to the back camp, and the generals will go to the front camp with me to observe the enemy's situation." ”

Yan Xun rode his horse to the front camp of Nanmin with everyone, and stood on a high place and saw the black and oppressive Qingyan Army pressing towards the front camp from a distance. Looking far away, he silently calculated the number of Taiyi in his heart, and gasped, and the Qingyan Army in Zhangzhou City came out of the city.

Zongzheng Xunda also looked at the abnormality of the Qingyan Army that was attacking this time, and said: "If Zhangzhou is not an empty city, Xu Ruyu should have other arrangements. ”

It is very simple to know whether Zhangzhou is empty, just send an army to quickly intersperse behind the Blue Flame Army. It's just that if Xu Ruyu really placed another heavy army in Zhangzhou City, the long-brewing Battle of Nanmin would break out without warning.

The Southern Fujian Guards could quickly assemble their forces with the help of the Hutun Gorge Passage, while Xu Ruyu's deployment of 10,000 heavy troops east of Zhongshan Fujian would be difficult to transfer to the frontal battlefield in the short term.

Yan Xun tilted his head sideways and glanced at Zongzheng Xunda, seeing that his face was uncertain, and he knew that he couldn't make such a decision in his heart. sighed secretly, thinking: Xu Ruyu has Zheng Menghuai's help, and he knows that Zongzheng Xunda's surname is thorough, and he knows that he will not fight a decisive battle before the Puji reinforcements enter Zhangtai. Thinking about it this way, Zhangzhou City is very likely to be an empty city now.

Yan Xun hesitated again and again, and said hesitantly: "Envoy, taking advantage of the fact that the enemy army has not yet come to the formation, I can quickly send an army to intersperse with guerrillas behind the enemy, and then let the soldiers of the front battalion line up to meet the enemy." ”

Zong Zheng Xun Da was noncommittal, but Zong Zheng Qu said with disdain: "The front battalion only has 7,000 troops, if you fight against Feng Yuanyuan?" ”

Yan Xun scolded secretly, but his gaze stopped on Zongzheng Xunda's face.

Zong Zheng Xunda said: "Xu Ru wants to fight me in a hurry, how can I fulfill his wish? The front camp is closed and strictly guarded, not afraid of what tricks Xu Ruyu can do. ”

Yan Xun wanted to say more, but saw Zong Zheng Xunda turn around impatiently and look to the side, sighed secretly, and retreated to the side.

Zong Zhengqu had a smug look on his face, and secretly wondered in his heart: What kind of high opinion can a person who is rolling in a woman's arms have, I don't know what ability he was able to rank among the four masters of Southern Fujian back then?

The crowd was silent and turned their gaze elsewhere.

Feng Yuanyuan looked at the situation in the front camp of Nanmin from a distance, and said secretly: My lord's expectation is not bad, Zongzheng Xunda has no determination to fight a decisive battle when the Puji bandits are very likely to land in Zhangtai in the near future.

He said aloud to the left and right: "No one in Nanminguo has the courage to come to explore the reality of our army, so we will let them suffer from the war." ”

Dozens of banners hunt in the wind, the mist in the early morning disappears, the field of vision expands, the terrain of the Changxia Plain on the west side of the west side of Fujian is narrowed abruptly here, only three or four miles wide in the longitudinal mile, the former battalion of the Southern Fujian Guards will build the camp on a platform here, not only intercept the road to Yongjiabao, but also protect the mouth of the gorge on the west side of the Hutong Gorge.

Under the leadership of Feng Yuanyuan, Ziyang Yalan, and Minna, the Three-Way Qingyan Army crossed the last low tomb and appeared on the flat land two miles away on the north side of the Nanbing Front Camp. If there is one person in the neat army, it is too low and in the Dailing, and there is not a trace of the marching army formation, first the longbowmen, and then the sword and axe hands. Then there were halberds and spearmen, and each army was guarded by three columns of longbowmen on each flank, and at the end of the march, there were three columns of longbowmen guarding the formation.

Yalan and Minna each led 5,000 Baiyi troops to gradually march, and when the three-way army stopped, they formed two huge infantry wing formations behind the flank, and Feng Yuanyuan personally led 5,000 Xiao guards to the front line.

The curved Yuli array had just been assembled, and a column of 100 sentinels rushed out of each of the three giant infantry formations, rushing towards the camp in front of Southern Fujian.

The wooden gate of the front camp of Nanmin opened, and a team of 500 people burst out from it to meet the three columns of 100 people of the Qingyan Army.

At this moment, Feng Yuanyuan ordered in a deep voice, the five thousand soldiers and horses of the Xiao Guard Army slowly approached the north gate of the western camp of Southern Fujian, and the three columns of longbowmen in front drew arrows and set the strings, and only waited for the enemy camp to shoot arrows, and the cold light from the halberd knives in the back almost wanted to blind, and the uniform footsteps were like drums beating this land, hitting the hearts of the people in Southern Fujian, and they couldn't help but think: This Xiao Guard Army has been established for less than a year, but the military appearance is so prosperous? But seeing that the soldiers of the Xiao Guard Army were only wearing half-body leather armor, even the sword soldiers did not have the usual shields, and thought: Xu Ruyu has the heaviest armament, and Yongyang's financial resources are as good as a county in Southern Fujian, but the armament of the Xiao Guard is so poor? After all, it was not easy for Southern Fujian to infiltrate Qingjiang and Yongyang, and it was even less important to gain the most confidential military information.

Zong Zheng Xunda watched the main formation of the Xiao Guards gradually approaching the camp, and said hatefully: "Feng Yuanyuan is really from a mountain bandit, he wants to use 5,000 soldiers and horses to break through the defense line on the north side of the front camp, but the Wuyi army on both sides continues to advance into depth. If Feng Yuanyuan launched an offensive desperately, the rudimentary barracks of the front camp really couldn't stop it. After that, he anxiously turned his head and looked back, and said to himself: "Why hasn't Dongshan's scout sent news yet?" ”

Yan Xun knew that he was worried about the whereabouts of the 10,000 Blue Flame Army that Xu Ruyu had arranged at the eastern foot of Minzhong Mountain. The soldiers in the city of Zhangzhou were dispatched, and it was impossible for the eastern foot of Fujian to be without movement, but the lack of movement at this time made Zongzheng Xunda restless.

Since the Battle of Hutian, Xu Ruyu has gone out of Jian'an Fort, but Zhangzhou City and the eastern foothills of Fujian have not hung his banner, which has deepened the suspicion of everyone in Southern Fujian.

Seeing that the Xiao Guard formation led by Feng Yuanyuan showed no signs of stopping, if he did not take back the five hundred people, it was very likely that he would be entangled by the main force of the Blue Flame Army, and it was possible to open the north gate of the front camp, Zongzheng Xunda hurriedly took back the five hundred people outside the camp.

The 500-man squad retreated to the camp and used arrows to block the 300-man squad of the Blue Flame Army at a distance of 200 paces.

Zong Zheng Xunda looked at the Xiao Guard formation to stop four hundred paces away, but did not retreat from the defensive formation but continued to maintain the offensive formation, and the three hundred-man team did not retreat to the main formation, but continued to cruise outside the front camp, so that the soldiers in the camp did not dare to relax a little. Zong Zheng Xunda thought to himself: Xu Ruyu is really determined to attack the front camp of Southern Fujian? Looking around, the faces of the generals all had a look of surprise, and they said in a deep voice: "If the front camp collapses, the west side of the Tiger Swallow Gorge will be blocked, and Xu Ruyu's purpose in this battle is still in Yongjiabao." Quickly take my order and transfer 5,000 soldiers from the Chinese army to guard the front camp. ”

Zong Zhengqu said: "Why don't you let 5,000 soldiers and horses hide at the mouth of the gorge, if the Qingyan Army really dares to attack, and then wait for the opportunity to kill?" ”

Under a steep mountain peak ten miles away, Xu Ruyu silently watched everything that happened under the mountain. Liang Bao, Zheng Menghuai, Tu Wenhuai, Zhou Shilong and others were scattered around him.

Tu Wenyong's cultivation is the weakest, his horizon is not so far, he only vaguely sees the battle situation under the mountain, Zhou Shilong is slightly better, but he still can't see it very really.

Xu Ruyu pointed to the front camp of the Nanmin Guards under the mountain and said: "Set up camp and set up camp, only one camp gate is set up on one side, surrounded by ditches, antlers, and horses, there are many drawbacks, the camp should be both offensive and defensive, and there are many camp gates, then the enemy needs to guard against many places, although filling the ditch in front of the camp gate is not conducive to rejecting the enemy, but it is conducive to their own rapid attack, the camp gate is open, the enemy army does not dare to relax for a while, the enemy formation is not knotted, all must choose the male soldiers to disturb it, the two armies face each other, before the decisive battle, the army must be tired first. After a pause, he said, "In ancient times, the camp had many edges at four corners, but after the stone-throwing crossbow was used in the war, the corner camp also had many drawbacks, and the considerable models of the corner camp were within the attack range of the stone-throwing crossbow. The camp is mostly thought to be small and easy to defend, but after the stone-throwing crossbow is used in the war, the camp should not be too small, and the marching array should not be too dense. ”

Zheng Menghuai said: "The method of establishing a camp that Ru Yu said can also be used to build a city. ”

Xu Ru smiled and said: "Building a city is much more cumbersome, Gu Mingchen often has high opinions, Zheng Menghuai can ask him for advice after he goes to Qingjiang." ”

Zheng Menghuai was slightly stunned, Xu Ruyu meant to ask him to go to Qingjiang with him after the end of this battle.

Xu Ruyu ignored Zheng Menghuai's distraction, turned his head to look at the several pillars on the eastern side of Minzhong Mountain, and said, "Mingxi has also launched over there, let's go over." ”

As soon as it came down, Feng Yuanyuan only sent more than ten groups of small light troops to invade the front camp of Southern Fujian, and the sky was getting dark, and the three giant infantry formations of the Qingyan Army were all built on the spot to build simple camps.

Although Zongzheng Xunda didn't understand what he meant, he knew that he would not attack today, but he had to order the 5,000 soldiers hiding at the mouth of the gorge to enter the front camp to repair.

Yan Xun felt a little sleepy, so he would retreat to the Chinese military camp, and suddenly saw several pillars in the East Gorge soaring into the sky, and there was a hidden red flame jumping, and he was shocked: Xu Ru is stupid and wants to camp in the west.

Xu Ruyu gathered more than 25,000 troops here, but he had to divide his troops to attack two places, which made Yan Xun very puzzled, and vaguely guessed that Xu Ruyu had other plans.

The people of Southern Fujian were facing each other, and they galloped over, reporting that the 10,000 troops of the Qingyan Army at the eastern foot of Fujian were divided into two routes, and the five thousand people led by Ming Xi went to Longyan City, and one was led by Ban Zhaolin, pointing directly to the rear camp, and at this time it had engaged the rear camp outpost.

Zong Zheng Xun Da asked in surprise: "Xu Ruyu really only has 25,000 troops, why does he dare to divide it again and again?" I despise me too much, and there is no one in Nanmin. When he said the last sentence, he couldn't help but be indignant.

There were many strategists with the army, but no one could answer Zongzheng Xunda's words, and after a long time, one of them stood up and whispered: "Ming Xi led this way, if it converges with the Qingyan Army on Gantang's side, it does have the strength to attack Longyan." ”

Zong Zheng Xunda said: "Longyan has 5,000 elites stationed, and Xu Ru has no possibility of attacking Longyan. ”

"The county can send messengers into Longyan, so that the Longyan guards will stick to the city and not leave, so as not to fall for Xu Ruyu's plan to divert the tiger from the mountain." After Yan Xun said this, he glanced at Zong Zhengqu and saw that he was really angry.

Zongzheng Xunda didn't expect Yan Xun to insinuate others, and nodded approvingly: "Longyan can't repeat the loss of Zhangzhou, Zixun is very worried, but the communication route between here and Longyan is blocked, Zixun, are you willing to go to Longyan to control the army?" ”

Yan Xun said: The Longyan garrison is the pro-army of the Zongzheng family, even in the name of this moderation, the deployment of troops and generals also depends on the faces of others. Qian smiled: "Yan Xun is just talking on paper, and if he really goes to Longyan, he is afraid that he will spoil the county's plans." ”

Zong Zheng Xun Dalang laughed loudly: "Others look at you, but I know that you don't have a hug, Longyan has you, I am absolutely relieved." ”

Yan Xun secretly hated, bowed his head and said pleadingly: "The county treats Yan Xun like this, I should be a fool of my heart." Yan Xun thought that as long as Longyan held on, he would not lose, but he was afraid that the Qingyan Army would turn south in the Ming Dynasty, and the cities of Quanzhou would be in danger if there were no heavy troops to defend them. Before Yan Xun went to Yongjiabao, he reminded his clan brother Qingyi to be on guard. ”

Zong Zhengqu said disdainfully: "Although the main guards of Quanzhou Zhucheng have been exhausted, but all the families have the responsibility to defend the land, how can it be so easy to be invaded by Xu Ruyu?" ”

"But it's impossible to surprise the soldiers, and the county must be guarded against."

Zongzheng Xunda pondered for a long time and said: "I also have such worries, since Zixun is willing to go, it will be hard for Zixun." ”

When Yan Lu led his guards into the mountains of Fujian, Zong Zhengqu said hatefully: "Yan Xun just wants to avoid the war here, how can my father be confused by him?" Since his father ascended the throne, Yan Xun has abandoned government affairs, and indulged in sensuality, even the counties in the Central Plains know that he has a good reputation, which really shames my Zongzheng and the Yan family, why doesn't my aunt ignore it? ”

Zongzheng Xun Da said in a deep voice: "This matter should not be mentioned again, Yan Xun cannot be used by my Zongzheng family, which is my regret." ”

Although the generals disdained this, they didn't dare to show it on their faces, and they didn't take Yan Xun's words of escape to heart in their hearts: Xu Ruyu only had 10,000 troops at the eastern foot of central Fujian, and if he really dared to send a force to advance into the depths of Southern Fujian, the guards here could go out of the Tiger Swallow Gorge to block the way back, and they would be exhausted and deprived of food, so that Xu Ruyu would be captured without giving the head.

Zong Zheng Xunda slowly glanced left and right and asked, "Have you ever thought of what Xu Ruyu's true intention was in dividing his troops?" ”

The generals were silent.

Zong Zheng Xunda said: "If my expectations are correct, the army of the Ming Dynasty will have to turn back after a while. Seeing that the generals were puzzled, he explained: "Feng Yuanyuan's army came to attack, mainly to attract the main force of our army here, but the attack camp was not effective, but it was to give our main force a chance to escape. ”

Zong Zhengqu suddenly realized, and said: "If you don't have deep concerns, you should think that Xu Ruyu is in Longyan, so he sent reinforcements over, this is nearly two hundred miles away from Longyan City, if the reinforcements are less, I can't help but worry about being attacked by Xu Ruyu halfway, and I will send more, but here it will inevitably leave a flaw." Xu Ruyu must have seen that his father was as solid as a rock here, and there was nothing he could do, so he thought that this move would give him an opportunity to expose his flaws. ”

Zongzheng Xunda did not hide his approval, and said: "Since this is the case, you might as well take the plan and eat the Qingyan Army on the road of Ban Zhaolin, and then talk about it, and don't worry that the Qingyan Army will not return from the past." ”

Zong Zhengqu worried: "Yan Xun used the excuse that Xu Ruyu would go deep alone, and Yan Qingyi would definitely divide his troops to the southern foot of Zhongshan in Fujian to defend from his plan, and Yan Qingyi would have more reason not to attack Yongjia Fort." My father was worried that if I sent troops to attack Yongjiabao, it was very likely that Xu Ruyu's tired army would be defeated, and only the 10,000 elite soldiers led by Yan Qingyi would be in no danger if they were conquered from the south. ”

Zongzheng Xunda breathed a sigh of relief and said slowly: "As long as the front camp guards here, I am not afraid that Yongjiabao will fly out of Southern Fujian." ”

That night, Zongzheng Xunda silently entered the back camp at the mouth of the gorge on the east side of the Tiger Swallow Gorge, the night could not hide the light of his eyes, and in the chirping of insects, only his deep and resolute voice was heard: "The more fierce the rear camp attacked, the more weak Xu Ruyu's army deployment here is, does my Zongzheng Xunda give people the impression of being cautious and fearful?" ”

Before the words fell, with his gesture, the north gate of the rear camp slowly opened, and the five thousand Southern Fujian guards who were in charge of the armor rushed out of the back camp and rushed to the simple camp of the Qingyan Army.

Zongzheng Xunda also knew in his heart that if Xu Ruyu was allowed to lay out calmly, even if Puji Island sent troops to help, it would very likely be useless, and only by taking the initiative to send troops to disrupt Xu Ruyu's layout and rhythm would he have a chance to thwart.

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