Among the many counties in Hebei, Zhangnan County itself is not a strategic place, just because it is Dou Jiande's hometown, because it is particularly valued by Dou Jiande, who misses the roots of his homeland, making it Dou Jiande's companion capital.

Zhangnan County can only be regarded as a middle county, with a population of about 2,000 households, and a palace and dozens of huge warehouses were built, as well as a military barracks, which accounted for half of the area of the city, making the population in the county sharply reduced to more than 800 households.

Zhangnan County has a garrison of 30,000 troops, but the county seat can only accommodate 5,000 garrisons, and the remaining 25,000 troops are stationed around the county seat.

The war of the Sui army attacking Hebei was still more than 300 miles away, and it did not affect Zhangnan County, and the garrison and residents here still lived as usual, and the days were barely peaceful, but the war situation that broke out in Leshou County made the soldiers unable to open their brows.

"San Lang, you're a fart! You are not the prince and nephew, you are afraid of this and that all day long! ”

In a beacon by the canal, several soldiers were gathering and chatting, in the past they were talking about women, but these days, everyone's topic is naturally focused on the battle in the north.

A young soldier was worried, his expression was as if the sky was about to fall, and the fire chief among the soldiers slapped him on the head, and scolded with a smile: "Hebei has changed the sky, you still go back to farming, do you still think that your nobles are going to be taken to Taiyuan?" ”

"I'm not worried about this, I'm worried that if Qiao Wu Mazi in Leshou dies in battle, who will he go to if he owes me two hundred hanging money?"

"In the chaos of war, saving one's life is the first priority, money is just something outside the body, and you will earn it slowly in the future." Another veteran said slowly.

"You can't say that, if you have money to make, of course you can't let it go."

The fire chief said as he looked at the river, this was his subconscious, they never relied on the army's money and food to eat, suddenly, he stood up and smiled: "Guys, the sale is here." ”

On the surface of the canal, a merchant ship of 300 stone was approaching from the south, with sails on board, no slender man, and a soap-colored triangular merchant flag on the top of the ship.

At the bow of the ship stood a young man in his twenties, wearing a soft hat and a cyan robe, which was the dress of ordinary merchants, this person was Xu Shiji, the commander of the Southern Route Army, who had his hands behind his back and looked indifferently at a beacon on the shore in the distance.

In order to protect Zhangnan County, Dou Jiande built 25 beacons between Zhangnan County and Leshou County.

And the one Xu Shiji saw was the first beacon, built next to the canal, but Dou Jiande didn't expect that the canal had become the way to make money for this beacon.

At this moment, out of a waterway under the beacon came a fast boat, and on board stood seven or eight soldiers, each with a look full of excitement and longing, perhaps because they had not seen such a merchant ship for a long time.

"Stop!" Wielding a long knife for the chief of fire, he shouted loudly from afar.

The big ship lowered its sails, walked more than a hundred steps, and slowly stopped, seven or eight soldiers moved quickly, jumped onto the big boat, Xu Shiji arched his hand and smiled: "What is the matter with the few military masters?" ”

"What's the matter?"

Huo Chang glanced him up and down, and saw that he was burly, with big shoulders and a round waist, but he didn't dare to go up and punch him over, Huo Chang mung bean stared at him, and a cold air erupted from his nose, "We received a secret report, there is contraband on your ship, we want to search!" ”

"Do you want to search?"

Xu Shiji smiled slightly, waved his hand and said, "Please!" ”

The fire chief was a little surprised in his heart, and waved his hand, "Go in and search!" ”

Several soldiers got into the boat and didn't move for a long time, "How many of you, did you find contraband?" The fire chief asked anxiously.

"Fire Chief............ There's gold in the boat! "The voice of the young soldier was heard from inside the ship, but it was not very joyful.

The fire of the long mung bean's small eyes widened, there was gold, gold and grain are the most valuable things these days, his mind was hot, and he couldn't distinguish the tone of his subordinates, and he got into the boat to "leave ...... for Lao Tzu"

His mouth opened wide, and he couldn't say anything behind, but in the cabin, all the brothers were squatting, their hands on their heads, and on their heads were bright knives, and more than a dozen big men were looking at him coldly.

Without waiting for him to react, a knife was placed on his neck, and a sneer from the young man came from behind him, "You want to blackmail me?" When I ate this bowl of rice, you kid was still breastfeeding! ”

The fire chief 'plopped" and fell to his knees, "Seniors spare their lives!" ”

An hour later, hundreds of large ships slowly appeared next to Fengsui, Zhangnan County is located ten miles west of the canal, and like Leshou County, a canal to the county has also been dug, but the huge Sui warships could not sail into the narrow canal.

The Sui army fleet, which stretched for more than ten miles, docked at the canal, and groups of Sui soldiers got off the boats, and on the more than 100 big boats behind, the cavalry led the war horses and quickly got off the big boat.

30,000 infantry and 10,000 cavalry quickly formed a formation on the vast field, this is the Sui army of the southern route from Liyang City, after nearly ten days of sailing, finally arrived in Zhangnan County.

The ranks on the field were neat, the armor was shining, the swords and spears were like a forest, and the soldiers were in high spirits, and their eyes were full of longing for a great battle.

Xu Shiji rode a horse and galloped in front of the team, and he shouted loudly: "This is a moment of glory, the soldiers of the Great Sui have always been invincible, raise your horizontal knives and spears, and use your courage and fighting spirit to defend the honor of the soldiers of the Great Sui!" ”

Xu Shiji suddenly pulled out his war knife and slashed at Zhangnan County, "Kill!" ”

"Kill-" 40,000 soldiers shouted at the same time, the voice resounded through the heavens and the earth, and the 40,000 army set off, rushing towards Zhangnan County.

Several soldiers in the beacon stood on the beacon, looking at the huge Sui army, everyone's legs trembled with fright, they all knew that Zhangnan County was finished, how could the rabble in the county wearing leather armor and cloth clothes, holding wooden sticks and spears be the opponents of the Sui army?

At this time, an officer rode a horse to the scene, turned over and dismounted, and rushed into the beacon and ordered the Sui soldiers guarding the guard: "The general has an order, immediately light the beacon!" ”

The soldiers of the Sui army kicked the head of the fire, "Go and light the beacon fire!" ”

The fire chief stammered and asked, "Is it a beacon that wants to be safe and sound?" ”

"Nope! It is the beacon fire of the attack of the main army. ”

The fire captain was a little confused, since this is the case, what else to do with them, the fleet is coming, they will naturally light the beacon fire to call the police, but then he understands, it is estimated that when he sees the fleet, everyone spreads their feet and runs away, who cares about the beacon alarm.

"Goro, Lao Ping, follow me up and light the beacon fire, light the four-pot beacon fire!"

In a moment, the four-pillar beacon smoke rose into the sky, which was the most critical alarm, at least more than 100,000 troops came to attack Zhangnan County, and soon, dozens of miles away, the four-pillar beacon smoke also appeared, and one by one the beacon flint extended to the north.

It is not far from the canal to the county seat of Zhangnan, the distance is only ten miles, and the 40,000 Sui troops are rushing on the official road, and the county town of Zhangnan has been in chaos.

The 30,000 defenders all saw the smoke of the four pillars burning in the distance, it was the 100,000 army that was coming, the piercing sirens sounded desperately at the head of the city, the soldiers were frightened, and some soldiers who were a little far away from the Chinese army camp quietly fled.

Zhangnan County belongs to the rear for Dou Jiande, in order to deal with the 100,000 Sui troops killed from the north, Dou Jiande did not deploy elite troops in Zhangnan County, on the contrary, he deployed a weak army.

Except for the 5,000 troops defending the city, who were slightly equipped, the remaining 25,000 troops were all recruits recruited this year, wearing leather armor and holding inferior weapons used by the bandits in the past.

In fact, the equipment is not too important, the important thing is the morale of the army, it is the busy season of spring ploughing, many soldiers are worried about the situation at home, have no intention of participating in the war, and do not want to be killed on the battlefield.

The gates of the city were closed, and 25,000 soldiers were organized to defend themselves outside the city, and the soldiers were terrified and frightened, and some soldiers threw down their spears and swords, and ran out of the ranks and fled desperately in the wilderness.

When one person demonstrated, two followed, and when two people fled, ten people followed suit, and there were more and more deserters, and the officers could not stop them from killing several people even if they did.

The chief general of Zhangnan County is called Dong Kangmai, who is also Dou Jiande's confidant and favorite general, he stood on the head of the city and watched a black line that was getting closer and closer in the distance, it was the overwhelming Sui army, which was already five miles away, and he was extremely worried in his heart.

"General!"

One of the generals under the city galloped in on horseback and shouted: "The soldiers are fleeing more and more, and they can't control it anymore." ”

"Whoever dares to run away will be slaughtered, and if you are not allowed to escape, you must resist me!" Dong Kangmai ordered viciously.

Although he gave a strict order, he still saw that the generals could not stop the deserters at all, and groups of deserters kept running out of the ranks and fleeing into the fields in the distance.

Dong Kangmai had already realized that Zhangnan County would definitely not be able to hold it, the city walls were low, the city gates were thin, and they were easy to be breached, so he turned around and shouted: "Order the brothers to line up and concentrate." ”

Dong Kangmai urged the horse to run towards the palace, Dou Jiande's princess Cao and dozens of relatives lived in the palace, originally thought it was safe here, but it was the most unsafe here.

Dong Kangmai knew in his heart that if the city and warehouse were lost, Dou Jiande would not blame him, the army was defeated, and Dou Jiande also knew it, but the princess must not be captured by the Sui army, he must escort the princess and the clansmen away.

Soon, the north city gate opened, and Dong Kangmai led 3,000 soldiers to escort Princess Cao's carriage and quickly left the county seat.

The 40,000 Sui army marched all the way and had arrived outside the city of Zhangnan County, looking at the two enemy phalanxes a mile away, about 20,000 troops, the enemy was not in good clothes, the weapons were uneven, they were all panicked, Xu Shiji sneered, waved his sword, and shouted: "Kill!" ”

"Kill!"

10,000 cavalry roared in unison, suddenly launched, brandished their swords, and swept towards the enemy like a storm, followed by 30,000 infantry, overwhelming the sky and making great noise.