Zhang Xuan was overjoyed, instructed Chen Xu a few words, then got off the viewing platform, and walked quickly to the fortification battalion, there were about 500 fortification soldiers, most of them were craftsmen, not only participated in the battle, but also responsible for maintaining military equipment, building camps and so on.

At this time, in the fortification camp, hundreds of soldiers whispered around a trebuchet, although it was only a simple trebuchet, it was not easy to succeed, especially professional craftsmen, just the projection balance was difficult to master.

"The general is here!"

I don't know who shouted, the soldiers dodged one after another, and Zhang Xuan walked quickly to the bottom of the trebuchet surrounded by several generals, which was just a medium-sized trebuchet, about one zhang high, very stable below, and the throwing rod was three zhang long.

"Who built this trebuchet?" Jang Hyun asked.

A craftsman soldier in his thirties stepped forward and saluted: "General Qiyu, I figured it out when I was in a humble position. ”

"What's your name? Where are the people? What military position? ”

"The lowly position is called Gan Qinghong, a native of Zhangqiu County, Qi County, a craftsman for generations, and the lowly position is now a fortification battalion."

Zhang Xuan nodded, patted the thick stand of the trebuchet and asked, "How lethal is it?" ”

"General Qiyu, the humble position has been tested, if it is condescending, you can throw fifty catties of stones three hundred steps away, control it with a winch, and only ten soldiers can operate it."

It can be controlled with only ten soldiers, which is really unexpected by Zhang Xuan, he has seen the trebuchet of the Goguryeo army in Goguryeo, because there is no winch, it is all pulled by manpower, and it takes at least fifty people to operate, and the effect of the blow is similar to the trebuchet in front of him.

Although the trebuchet was crudely made, and even the bark was not peeled off, Zhang Xuan was still very satisfied, and he asked, "How much more can be made?" ”

Gan Qinghong hurriedly bowed down and said: "As long as one can be built, the lowly position will master the method, and then it will be very fast, and by tomorrow morning, the lowly position is estimated to be able to build fifty." ”

"If we can build fifty tomorrow morning. Then promote you to Brigade Commander! ”

"Thank you, General, for the humble promise to make it."

Zhang Xuan had dealt with Zhang Jincheng and knew that this person was treacherous and cunning, and it was difficult to deal with. As the main force of the Sui army retreated south, Zhang Jin said that it would inevitably turn around and pounce on Wucheng County.

So what means does Zhang Jin say he will use, Zhang Xuan has repeatedly considered this problem, he has almost blocked all the loopholes, but his only loophole is Beihai County. There were only 500 garrisons in Beihai County, and once Zhang Jincheng sent an army to attack Beihai County, the consequences would be unimaginable.

If there is a worry, it is necessary to make up for the loopholes, Zhang Xuan sent dozens of scouts to patrol several official roads along the Yellow River,

But that's often the way things happen in the world, and the more you worry about them, the more they will happen.

In the afternoon, Zhang Xuan received the shocking news that an army of about 5,000 thieves had crossed the Yellow River from Qingbei Province. Went south.

Qingbei Road is the official road leading from Qinghe County to Beihai County, and this news makes the scalps of all the generals seem to explode.

Wei Chigong rushed to his big tent and said anxiously: "General, let me lead the troops to the rescue!" ”

Wei Chigong's wife and children have just arrived in Beihai County, once the thief army breaks through Yidu County, it will be slaughtered, and he who has always been calm finally can't hold his breath.

"General, send troops to the rescue!" Outside the tent, more than a dozen lieutenants pleaded loudly.

Zhang Xuan is the main general after all, he is a little calmer than everyone,

There are many hills along the way in Qingbei Road. Easy to ambush, Zhang Jin said that he would not ambush his own reinforcements on the way, other thief armies may not be possible, but Zhang Jin's cunning made Zhang Xuan have to think deeper.

He took a few steps with his hands in his hands. Turning around, he ordered: "Let Chen Xu come to see me quickly!" ”

The situation is critical, and perhaps only the cavalry will have time to rescue Beihai County.

After a short time, Chen Xu hurriedly came and knelt down on one knee to salute, "See the general!" ”

"There's an urgent mission for you, come here!"

Jang Hyun spread out a map on the table. He pointed to the north of the map and said, "The north is Pingyuan County, you lead five hundred cavalry to detour through Pingyuan County, and take Pingbei Road into Beihai County-"

Without waiting for Zhang Xuan to finish speaking, Wei Chi Gong next to him couldn't help but say, "General, isn't it faster to walk in a straight line?" ”

Everyone next to him looked at Zhang Xuan, and they were puzzled, why didn't the general go in a straight line?

Zhang Xuan smiled faintly, "If I am not mistaken, Zhang Jin said that he will inevitably set up an ambush halfway to attack the reinforcements I sent. ”

Everyone was immediately convinced, Wei Chigong scratched his head, and couldn't help but whisper again: "The general is too high to look at Zhang Jinwei!" ”

Zhang Xuan knew that Wei Chigong had always cherished his words like gold, was low-key, and would never be strong in everything, but today he was a little out of shape, or because he was worried about the safety of his wife and children.

Zhang Xuan understood his feelings, and continued to explain to him: "If I want to attack Beihai County, I will never let the enemy know, but they swaggered south from Qingbei Province, not afraid that we will find out, there is only one explanation, Zhang Jin said that he wants us to know, it is nothing more than to ask us to give up Wucheng County to save Beihai County, but with Zhang Jin's viciousness and cunning, it is impossible for him not to set up an ambush halfway, although I can ambush him, but our forces cannot be too scattered, and we are in a hurry to save Beihai County, so we can only take a detour to Beihai County." ”

Zhang Xuan's words convinced Wei Chigong, he nodded silently, no longer insisted, Zhang Xuan saw that he had been convinced, so he said to Chen Xu again: "You lead the army to set off now, don't care about Linzi County, go straight to Yidu County, the target of the thieves must also be Yidu County." ”

Chen Xu bowed and saluted, "Obey!" ”

He took the military order, turned around and left the big tent quickly, and Zhang Xuan wrote another letter to the messenger, asking him to immediately take a detour to Licheng and ask Pei Renji to send troops to rescue Beihai County.

After arranging the rescue of Beihai County, Zhang Xuan said to everyone: "Since the enemy army has set up an ambush, it means that the main force of the enemy army is about to arrive in Wucheng County, and everyone immediately prepares for defense." ”

As soon as Zhang Xuan's words fell, a soldier rushed to the door of the tent and reported: "General Qiyu, the main force of the thief army has been found thirty miles away in the south!" ”

Sure enough, everyone was shocked, and they ran out of the tent one after another, Zhang Xuan waved his hand, "You don't have to worry, they won't attack for a while!" ”

Zhang Xuan knew very well what Zhang Jincheng was thinking, he would definitely create conditions for him to rush to save Beihai County, at least before the ambush was successful, he would not easily attack Wucheng County, which bought him valuable time.

At the head of the city, Zhang Xuan looked at the big camp of the thief army in the distance, and the thief soldiers set up a big camp ten miles away, covering an area larger than Wucheng County, and the momentum was quite magnificent, which was at least the size of a large camp of 100,000 people.

Zhang Xuan couldn't help but sneer, this Zhang Jin said that there were more than 50,000 people at most, but he used a battalion of 100,000 people, is this Zhang Jin saying that he is using the stove increase meter? Still trying to suppress the morale of their own army.

Zhang Xuan has also fought a lot of battles in the past two years, although he is not experienced in a hundred battles, but he has also made great achievements, but the bandits he has encountered are not strong, and they can basically be defeated by a large advantage.

And Zhang Jincheng who met this time made Zhang Xuan very vigilant, although he didn't know the strength of his army, but his strategy to defeat Feng Xiaoci alone made Zhang Xuan dare not despise him.

Zhang Jin said that he was indeed not in a hurry to attack Wucheng County, first, it was getting late, and secondly, he also hoped that Zhang Xuan could give up Wucheng County to save Beihai County, so that he could recapture the nest without blood, and he did not dare Zhang Jin said that he was gradually disappointed, and the city was constantly preparing for defense, but he did not see the Sui army evacuate the city.

Zhang Jincheng gritted his teeth with hatred, he stood in front of the big tent and looked at Wucheng County shrouded in twilight, he slowly clenched his fists, and said coldly: "Since I don't know each other, look at how I kill all the people in Beihai County."

Beihai County and Donglai County are currently in Zhang Xuan's sphere of influence, but Donglai County faces the sea on three sides, and the other side is close to Beihai County and Gaomi County, compared to the land, the threat of Donglai County mainly comes from the sea, but it is winter now, pirates generally do not go to sea, and Donglai County is relatively safe even if there is no garrison.

But Beihai County is different, his threat mainly comes from the north, the northeast of Beihai County is the mouth of the Yellow River, the threat is not big, but due north is the Yellow River, the opposite bank of the Yellow River is Pingyuan County and Qinghe County, there are two official roads leading directly to Beihai County, at present, Pingyuan County is Gao Shida's territory, although Gao Shida is not a good type, but his ambition is not big, basically will not go south to threaten Beihai County.

The real threat to Beihai County came from Zhang Jin of Qinghe County, and at this time, a 5,000-strong thief army had crossed the Yellow River and was rapidly marching in the direction of Yidu County, a hundred miles west of this thief army is Linzi County, the only county seat in Beihai County with a large population other than Yidu County.

However, the thief army An Shouxi received a strict order from Zhang Jincheng to seize Yidu County as fast as possible, plunder grain, and slaughter the city as a warning, so he did not consider Linzi County, but marched to Yidu County with all his might.

"General, there is a family ahead!"

In the night, there were more than a dozen houses beside a big river in front of them, and there were sporadic lights in them, An Shouxi coldly ordered: "Kill them all, not one will be left!" ”

Hundreds of thieves swooped down on the small village ahead......

In a short time, the fire in the small village was in flames, and the sound of cries and screams resounded throughout the night. (To be continued.) )