Although the monocular that Xiao Jixian captured from the Zhou army had limited effect, it was enough to observe the main battalion of the "Southern Route Army", a crossing team that was only two or three miles away. As the morning light gradually dissipated, a strangely styled, mile-long barracks appeared in Xiao Siwen's eyes. This camp is strange because it is not surrounded by wooden walls or wooden fences to block enemy attacks, as is common in this era, but a kind of large camp that is almost open. Except for a trench around the barracks, only a faint circle of what appeared to be a fence made of very thin bamboo branches—a fence no more than three or four feet high over which horses could leap. Within this fence, which was not a camp wall at all, there were six car formations of similar size. According to Xiao Siwen's estimates, the number of this team of unknown origin is about more than 10,000 people.

Looking at the other party's very unconventional way of camping, whether it was Xiao Siwen or other Liao army generals, they all secretly breathed a sigh of relief in their hearts. In their opinion, the commander of this team, which pretended to be his own food delivery team and had absolutely bad intentions, was a man who did not know soldiers. In other words, this team will never be a well-trained Zhou army. The other party's arrangement of the camp in this way is just a trick, trying to frighten itself through this strange formation, so as to achieve its purpose of containing the attention of the Liao army, distracting the Liao army, and affecting the morale of the Liao army. Xiao Siwen believed that the opponent's formation was completely vulnerable, and he only needed to send two or three thousand cavalry troops to easily disperse the opponent and restore the smooth flow of the grain route. The mood relaxed, and Xiao Siwen also felt hunger in his stomach. At this time, he remembered that after being woken up by his own soldiers, he led the generals to the watchtower, and he had not eaten breakfast. Therefore, he put down the binoculars and instructed Xiao Buzhi next to him: "When our army scouts return, you will bring him to see Ben Shuai." With that, he turned around and went down the watchtower, and went back to his tent to have breakfast.

At the same time that Xiao Siwen turned around and returned to the tent, Xu Shao'an, who received Chai Rong's summons, also walked into the imperial tent and participated in the military discussion in front of the palace. Since the place where the "Southern Route Army" camped was north of the Liao army camp, the Zhou army, which was located south of the Liao army camp, got the news slightly later than the Liao army. And when Tanma reported what he saw to Chai Rong, Chai Rong's first reaction was that the strength of the "Qingyuan" brothers was really good, and they could prepare the grain and grass needed for the army for ten days in such a short time and send it to the agreed place. Xu Shaoan dared to make a military order in front of him the day before yesterday, not because of a whim, nor for the sake of favor, but because he knew the strength of his brothers very well, so he dared to propose to provide food and grass for the army in front of the emperor.

However, although the grain and grass had reached several miles away, and according to the current situation of the "Qingyuan" brothers' grain transport team, it was obviously in a hostile state with the Liao army, Chai Rong did not think that it could really effectively cut off the grain route of the Liao army. After all, there are only more than 10,000 people in this team, and in addition to the 5,000 private soldiers of the "Qingyuan" brothers, I am afraid that there are more of them who have been conscripted. In the face of the ferocious and abnormal iron cavalry of the Liao army, it is already very commendable that these servants can not cause trouble to the private soldiers of the "Qingyuan" brothers. With the combat effectiveness of the cavalry of the Liao army, it is effortless to storm such a large battalion with a very simple defense, and it can be done quickly.

On the one hand, he was worried about whether his grain and grass could be delivered in time, and on the other hand, he also hoped that this Liliang army of more than 10,000 people could contain part of the Liao army's strength for himself, so after Chai Rong got the news, he immediately convened a military meeting in front of the imperial army to discuss this matter with the generals. And Xu Shaoan, as an indispensable part of it, will naturally be among the summonses.

As early as when the various units of the "Southern Route Army" were deployed at night, Xu Shaoan had already received a telegram from Qian Yuanshan and Tang Chao. Therefore, after receiving Chai Rong's will to summon him, he immediately knew the reason why the other party summoned him, and on the way to the imperial tent, he thought of a set of rhetoric that would allow him to leave the Zhou army camp without arousing anyone's suspicion -- the "Southern Route Army" was about to be launched, and if he remained in the Zhou army camp, he would not be able to escape the charge of bullying the king. Instead of sitting there and betting on whether Chai Rong would lose his mind, it is better to leave early and put himself in the initiative.

In fact, as far as Xu Shao'an's original intention is concerned, he is unwilling to leave the Zhou army camp now. On the one hand, with his understanding of Chai Rong, he felt that although this person was a little anxious, he still had a very good grasp of the situation, and he would never retaliate against himself regardless of the fact that he deceived him. On the other hand, he also considered whether Chai Rong, who felt that he had been deceived and fooled, would spill his anger on Lin Xiaoyu, who was following him, after he left. After all, he could have left, but Lin Xiaoyu could not and would not go with him—even if he could manage to take Lin Xiaoyu out of the Zhou army camp through careful arrangements. But, whether Xu Shao'an wanted it or not, he had to carry out the instructions given to him the night before, "by way of evacuation, before the fighting begins." Because as a member of the committee, he cannot and will not disobey the correct instructions and orders given by him. …,

Therefore, when Chai Rong asked Xu Shao'an about the situation of the grain transportation team at the imperial military meeting, he replied without hesitation with a pre-thought statement: "Qiqi bixia, the minister has received the news sent by the twenty-seventh brother last night. According to the 27th brother, after receiving the letter sent by his ministers in the afternoon of the day before yesterday, he immediately began to make preparations, dredged up relations in the shortest possible time, and got the opportunity to escort grain and grass to the camp of the Liao army. Yesterday night, after they camped three miles away from the Liao army's main camp, the 27th brother had already ordered someone to take advantage of the night to transport the food needed by our army into the valley near the camp, and arranged for 2,500 firearms soldiers to guard it. ”

Chai Rong nodded after hearing this, and said: "Aiqing and Aiqing's brothers are really capable people, a thing that is almost impossible to do in the eyes of others, but in the hands of you and others, it is so beautiful and so easy. ”

"Bixia praised it." Xu Shaoan said humbly.

Chai Rong knew that his favorite general was not keen on fame and fortune, so he didn't dwell on this matter anymore, but asked what to do with his side next, whether to wait for Wang Feng's side to send someone to send the grain, grass and baggage over tonight, or to send people and efforts from the Zhou army camp to move things back by himself.

Hearing this, Xu Shaoan hurriedly replied: "The meaning of the twenty-seventh brother of Yichen is that the soldiers and servants under his command will take advantage of the night tonight to send the grain, grass and baggage that have been transported into the valley to our army's camp. Considering that it was wartime, it seemed inconvenient to let the soldiers and servants under the 27th brother enter the camp of our army. After all, it is easy to cause chaos and cause trouble by letting thousands of people who have no understanding of the internal situation of the camp go in and out at night. Therefore, the minister thought that except for the more than 2,000 firearms soldiers who were about to be incorporated into the 'Shenji Army', it was still not appropriate for our brothers' private soldiers and servants to enter our army's camp. As for the grain, grass, and baggage, it is better for our soldiers to transfer them back. ”

Chai Rong listened to it and thought about it for a while, and also felt that what Xu Shaoan said was reasonable, so he said: "What Aiqing said is reasonable, and this matter will be played according to Aiqing." Tonight, my Da Zhou soldiers will be responsible for carrying the grain, grass, and baggage, and the soldiers used can be drawn from Han Lingkun and Han Aiqing's guards and pro-army divisions, and Wang Aiqing's people naturally don't have to participate in it. As for how to hand over and transfer, Aiqing has full authority to handle it, and there is no need to ask me for instructions. ”

"Obey." Xu Shaoan replied respectfully.

After speaking, Xu Shaoan paused slightly, and then continued: "In order to be able to carry out the handover and transfer more haode and avoid any mistakes, the minister asked Bixia to be approved, and the minister personally went into the mountain to contact the minister's twenty-seventh brother, and personally commanded the infantry of the guard pro-military division to carry out the transfer." ”

Because Xu Shao'an's request was reasonable, and Chai Rong was eager to get this batch of military funds, he didn't think much about it after listening to Xu Shaoan's request, so he nodded and agreed.

Xu Shaoan saw that the other party agreed to his request, and he couldn't help but be secretly happy in his heart. However, the expression on Xu Shaoan's face was still as calm and calm as before. After receiving the order from Chai Rong again, he left the imperial tent and returned to the camp of his vanguard army on the pretext of meeting with Wang Feng as soon as possible and arranging for the handover and transfer.