Shandong propaganda envoys came out in four directions. At the same time, Gaotang Prefecture on the other side of the Yellow River also rode fast horses out at night.

Tall, big also; Don, defend, also. Gaotang also means "great defense". Gaotang was founded and has a long history. For the same name capital. As early as the Spring and Autumn Period, there was Gao Tangyi. The Western Han Dynasty was set up as a county. At the end of the Han Dynasty, there was a man named Hua Xin, who was an official to Cao Wei Xiangguo, who was a native of the Gao Tang Dynasty. Since entering the Mongolian Yuan Dynasty, the county has been changed to a state, and Gaotang Prefecture has been established.

Gaotang Prefecture is not far from Liaocheng. Although this area is flat and fertile, there is no obstruction of the famous mountains of the river, but it is the necessary way to transfer, and it is often the north-south passage. and the west is connected to Wei, the chest and abdomen of the world; Go north to Dejing, when the throat of Kifu. The strategic position is also more important. The word "great defense" is well deserved.

Earlier, Mao Gui and Tian Feng fought in Shandong, and Gaotang Prefecture was obtained by Tian Feng. A few years ago, Chahan went to Yidu, and by the way, he defeated Tian Feng and robbed Gaotang Prefecture again. There are heavy troops stationed here, echoing with Jinan. Deng Shesheng attacked east and west and captured Jinan; Gaotang Prefecture was unprepared and could not be helped.

After receiving the military report of the fall of Jinan, Yan Fengxian and Han Zhar, the garrisons of the Yuan army stationed in Gaotang Prefecture, on the one hand, led the troops eastward by Han Zha'er himself, led 5,000 elite soldiers to the bank of the Yellow River, collected boats, and planned to cross the river day and night, in order to atone for his crimes; On the other hand, Yan Fengxian sat in the Gaotang Dynasty, and the soldiers were strong, not only as Han Zal's backup, but also sent several messengers one after another, and rushed to Jinji in the starry night to report the news of the fall of Jinan to Chahan.

The few horsemen who went out of the city were the latest messengers sent by Yan Fengxian to report to Chahan.

The envoys rode all horses from the Western Regions, with sufficient strength and speed. One man and three horses, galloping with a whip. The horse's hooves galloped, breaking through the early spring moonlight, and the sound was heard far away in the quiet night. Although it was the end of February, the weather was still a little cold in the middle of the night, and the faces of the messengers were red and dry from the oncoming wind, their hands and feet were cold, and the breath they exhaled had not yet taken shape, even if it was blown away by the wind. It was almost dawn, and they had already left the territory of Gaotang Prefecture and entered Shunde Road. The mount under the crotch was sweating. Ignoring the fact that the horses were well rested, they only slowed down a little, and then ate some dry food on their horses, then they changed their horses and continued to gallop.

Pass through Shunde Road, all the way to the west, into Jinning Road. Along the way, you will pass several large rivers and climb several heavy mountains. Usher in the sunrise and send away the sunset. Passing through towns and towns, and through patches of wilderness. Almost non-stop. It was only when they passed by the cantonment, because the mounts they brought with them were really a little unsupportable, that they stopped at the local post station and changed horses. After that, he never rested again, crossed Qinshui, bypassed Wuling, and arrived at Linfen a few days later.

Linfen is the place where Jinning Road is located. For some military reasons, Chahan is here now.

Linfen is located in the lower reaches of the Fen River in Shanxi, known as Pingyang in ancient times, also known as Jinzhou. Its place is connected with Changzhi in the east, the Yellow River in the west, Bianluo in the south, Taiyuan in the north, there are towering Taiyue, Luliang as a natural city, rolling Fen, Hun is its natural abyss, since ancient times it is the military important place of the Ribbon River, Fen, and the wings cover Guanluo.

Since Chahan captured Bianliang and occupied most of Henan, Linfen's position in Jinji is even more straight, from Linfen to the north, it is Datong; From Linfen to the south, it is Bianluo; From Linfen to the west, it is Guannei; And then from Linfen to the east, a few hundred miles away is Shandong.

It can be said that Linfen is equivalent to the heart and soul of the Chahan army. Chahan has put a lot of effort into running this place, and the people who suppress it are all elite soldiers. And the city wall was rebuilt, heightened and widened, and the iron barrel was also built.

When the messengers from Gaotang Prefecture arrived, just after half the night, they showed their tokens under the city and showed the road guide and military documents written by Yan Fengxian himself. Because of the reports from the previous messengers, the generals who were on duty to guard the city also knew about the fall of Jinan, and they did not dare to slack off at the moment, so they hurriedly put down the hanging basket and pulled them into the city.

When you enter the city, you will be led by a special person and sent to the government office in the city first.

After a short time, a person who looked like a big official came in from outside, took a look, and asked, "Who is the Gaotang Prefecture messenger?" "There are a lot of people on night duty in the government office, and when they saw this person coming in, they all hurriedly bowed down and knelt down. Several messengers stood up and replied, "The villain is waiting." ”

The man was not very old, in his early twenties, with sword eyebrows and starry eyes, and he was very heroic, and he asked, "Who is in charge?" ”

One of the messengers came out and said, "The villain is one of the hundred households in the political army, and he is the main person in charge of this letter." ”

"Come with me. The marshal wants to see you. When the man had said this, he turned and strode out. The hundred households hurried to follow.

Out of the palace, the streets are bright with torches. Only then did the hundred households find out that at some point, there were 100 cavalry outside. Looking at their dress, they are all old pawns, and they should be the guards in the Chahan Mansion. Standing on the side of the horse, standing in the night, all of them were straight and expressionless. Although there were many people, none of them were moving and talking, and even their mounts were motionless. All of them were silent. Men and horses wear black armor and hold torches in one hand. Sweeping the eyes, the black pressure is overwhelming. The killing spirit is coming.

Seeing the two of them coming out, the guards didn't speak, and turned their eyes to look. Swept away by their eyes, Rao is the hundred households who have been on the battlefield for a long time, and they can't help but feel the hairs standing on end, only to feel a coldness, which soaks into the heart. He knew it in his heart and thought: "I have heard for a long time that there are two personal soldiers in the Marshal's mansion. a normal guard; The other team is all composed of children from their hometown, and they are all fierce soldiers. Although the number of people is small, less than 1,000 people, it is known as the 'Three Jin Champion Battalion', also known as the 'Black Horse'. It is expected that these people must be. ”

Peeking at the young official, he wondered in his heart, and thought: "The 'black centaurs' are the cronies of the marshal's cronies, the elite of the elite, this great official is very young, but he can work this group of men and horses, and I don't know who it is?" Suddenly remembered a person, and said secretly, "It must be this person!" ”

Thinking of this, the hundred households became more and more respectful.

The young official was very neat, and he didn't need the help of the guards, so he turned over his horse, turned his head, glanced at everyone, and said lightly: "Let's go, go back to the house." ”

At the sound of an order, one hundred and ten people moved neatly, and with just a dazzle, they all got on their mounts. Twenty or thirty horsemen opened the way in advance, twenty or thirty people retreated and pressed into formation, and there were two sides, each with one or twenty horsemen to guard. Hundreds of horses, hugging each other in front and back, running like a gust of wind, galloping, have come to Chahan's mansion in Linfen. Although it was late at night, the mansion in Chahan was still brightly lit.

Outside the door of the house, at the place where you entered, there were long chairs on both sides, and dozens of strong men sat on each side. These strong men, from a distance, are all tigers and bears; If you look closely, you can see that almost all of them are disabled. Either an eye is missing, or an arm is broken. The most serious of them was unrecognizable, with a severed hand and arm. This has to be put outside, and it is difficult to take care of life by yourself.

But these people sat there, but they did not have the slightest crippled depression, on the contrary, they did not take it lightly, they all looked arrogant, high-spirited, and very proud.

When the hundred households saw that they were all dressed as subordinates, they thought to themselves, "This must be the servants of the Great Marshal's Mansion." I have long heard that five or six out of ten of the subordinates in the marshal's mansion are from the army. All disabled soldiers with outstanding military exploits, if they wish, can come to the marshal's mansion. Privately, the military considers this to be 'honored'. Almost all of them are injured, and they must be the pawns of 'Rongyang'. ”

When these big men saw a group of cavalry coming, they didn't go to interrogate, they got up one after another and opened the door of the mansion.

There were four or five people who took the lead, let the cavalry in front of them pass, and a few lines of people passed by, and said with a smile to the young official: "Brother is back." "It's loud, it's high. The young man refused to be cold to these subordinates, smiled, answered yes, and asked, "Is the handsome still in the study?" ”

The few replied: "I just sent Xiaosi out again and asked if my brother is back." The young man nodded, said no more, and urged the horse to enter the house.

Not far from the house, there is a huge courtyard on the left.

There was nothing in the yard, only a circle of houses, and a large open space in the middle. The clearing was covered with fine sand, and there were many weapon racks on the side, and there were stakes on the opposite side. The young man paused slightly outside the courtyard door, and instructed the guards, saying, "It's late at night, and there should be nothing to do at night." During the day, I accompanied me to hunt for half a day, and I think you are all tired. Let's go and rest. ”

The hundred households looked into the courtyard and thought to themselves, "Look at this courtyard is very large, and there are many houses. According to the scale of accommodation in the army, there is no problem with accommodating two or three hundred people. It should be where the black horses live in turn. Sure enough, the guards received the order, and they all got off their mounts, and according to the team, they led the horses back and forth into the hospital. The whole process was methodical, strictly orderly, and there was still little silence except for the sound of horses' hooves.

Leaving only two petty officers dressed as captains of the nine, the young man also dismounted, gave the reins to one of them, took the other with the hundred households, turned to the right, and walked inward.

After connecting three or four large and small courtyards, they came to a separate courtyard. This yard is not big, with red walls and white tiles, surrounded by bamboo forests, and the night breeze blows, and the bamboo leaves rustle. It looks very quiet. Two lanterns are hung at the entrance of the courtyard. The hundred households knew a few words, raised their heads, and saw two words on the courtyard door: "Chengxing".

Baihu didn't understand what he meant, and thought about it: "The handsome man was originally a Confucian scholar, both civil and military, and he could be called a Confucian general." The word 'into a line' should have some allusions, maybe from some classic of the saint? I was guessing, and I heard the young man say, "The big handsome is in the study in the courtyard, you can come in with me." ”

Baihu hurriedly collected his thoughts, bothered his spirits, and respectfully followed the young man into the hospital.

It is different from the several courtyards that you pass by. Outside the gate of the courtyard in front of them, there were many subordinates and servants standing with their hands down. In this courtyard, there is no one, and it is very quiet. The wings on the left and in the middle were also dark; Only on the right, through the window paper, you can see a light like a bean.

The hundred households didn't dare to look closely, and at a glance, they only vaguely saw two figures on the window paper. One seems to have a long beard, the other seems to be drinking tea. The young man slammed the door lightly, and after a while, a voice came from the room, not loud and deep, and asked, "Who is it?" But is Bao Bao back? ”

It turned out that this young man was Chahan's righteous son, Wang Baobao. He said, "Yes." Father, the envoy from Gaotang Prefecture, the child has been brought. ”

"Come in."

Leaving another nine-master to wait in the courtyard, Wang Baobao pushed the door with the hundred households.

There were not two people in the room, but three people. It was only because the third person was far away from the window and was admiring the calligraphy and paintings on the opposite wall, so the shadow could not be reflected on the window paper. There is indeed a person drinking tea, with a calm bearing, and there are three white hairs on his cheeks. The hundred households recognized that this person was clearly Chahan.

Wang Baobao bowed and stepped aside. Baihu bowed to the ground and said: "The villain Gao Tang Prefecture is under the command of Yan Shen, and he has seen the handsome. ”

Chahan got straight to the point and asked directly: "What about the military newspaper?" ”

For fear of losing it on the road, the military newspaper was hidden by the hundred households. Take it out with your hands over your head and bring them up on your knees. Chahan caught it and opened it to watch. As he looked, the room was silent, and none of them spoke. The hundred households looked at it quietly, and they also recognized the man with the long beard. It's Sun Zhu. The person who was originally reading calligraphy and painting turned his hand back and sat down on the edge of Chahan. Baihu also recognized him, it was Li Weixin.

Sun Zhu and Li Weixin are both the masterminds of Chahan.

Sun Zhu didn't need to say much, but the last time he took advantage of the capital, he was in the army, and he came up with a lot of schemes. And this Li Weixin also participated in the last battle of Yidu. However, his task at that time was to besiege Tai'an with Yan Sixiao and the others. Although he failed to attack Tai'an City from beginning to end, the task of "siege" was completed very successfully, and Chen Ru's head was not released from the city with a single soldier. From beginning to end, the safety of the rear of Chahan was very firmly ensured. At the same time, it also ensures that the grain channel is correct.

Speaking of which, this Li Weixin is actually more reused than Sun Zhu. Otherwise, Chahan would not have given him the task of trapping Tai'an, securing the way out, and guarding the grain route. If compared with Haidong, this is the same as Deng She, who will definitely hand over the responsibility of guarding the flank to Zhao Guo whenever he encounters a big battle. Such tasks are absolutely not allowed to be undertaken by people who are extremely trustworthy.

Because Li Weixin and Sun Zhu often followed Chahan to inspect the various armies, therefore, although the military positions of these hundred households were not very high, they were already familiar with both of them. Chahan read the military newspaper, put it aside, asked the hundred households, and said: "Your Shangfeng military newspaper in Gaotang Prefecture, Yan Fengxian said that Han Zha'er had arrived at the river bank and began to collect boats to prepare for crossing the river. Within ten days at most, as long as the old man gives an order, he will be able to cross the river by force. Now, four or five days have passed since Yan Fengxian's Shangfeng military report. How's the preparation? ”

The hundred households replied: "The Yidu Red Thief took me Jinan this time, and he came prepared and made sufficient preparations. On the day of the battle, all the ships on the east bank of the Yellow River were burned; And that same night, he sent men to cross the river and go to the west bank of our country, and scuttled many of the boats which our army had prepared.

"So, in a hurry, our army has not enough boats to cross the river. As Yan participated in the Shangfeng Military Newspaper said, before the villain came, General Han had personally led the army to the shore, collecting fishing boats while recruiting fishermen on the spot and building new boats. Calculate the time, and you should be almost ready by now. Within three to five days, Yan will definitely send a messenger to arrive, and there will certainly be no delay in missing the deadline. ”

Chahan nodded slightly, and asked these hundred households a few other words, all about the situation of the garrison in Gaotang Prefecture. After asking, he didn't have anything else to say, waved his hand, and said, "You came from afar to deliver the letter, and the road was hard." Let's go and rest. The hundred households received the order, calmed down, and exited the door.

Wang Baobao also went out with him and explained a few words to the nine masters in the courtyard. The nine captains led the way from the front, led the hundred households out of the mansion and returned to the mansion, and arranged a place for him and his companions to rest without mentioning it. Seeing them go away, Wang Baobao turned back into the room and said, "Father, I heard what you just asked the messenger about what he meant?" ......, have you decided to go east and cross the river to retake Jinan? ”

Chahan didn't answer him, handed over the military report casually, and said, "Baobao, you should take a look at this military report first." ”

Wang Baobao took the military newspaper, read it quickly, and said: "Yan Fengxian said in the military newspaper that after the Yidu Red Thieves captured Jinan, their fierce generals Li Monk, Bi Qianniu, Guo Conglong, Fu Youde, etc. did not leave, only Yang Wanhu and Wang Guoyi had just left and returned to Yidu. Nearly 20,000 troops remained in the city of Jinan. Father, Xiao Deng's attitude is clearly to prevent our army from counterattacking. ”

"During the last Yidu War, Jinan was attacked by you. You should know the situation in Jinan very well. Now in your opinion, there are nearly 20,000 enemies in Jinan City, and all of them are elite. And my Gaotang Prefecture and Jinan are separated by a Yellow River. If my army goes east and wants to recapture Jinan, how many men and horses will be needed at least? And what are the odds of winning? ”

Wang Baobao pondered for a moment and said: "In the past few months, Jinan has been at war for two times. There must have been many damage to the walls. As long as our army can cross the Yellow River quickly and smoothly, without too many men and horses, there are about 30,000 people, and within a short time, we will be able to successfully capture the city. ”

"As long as 30,000 horses can take Jinan?" Chahan smiled, took out the map with his own hands, put it on the table, called Wang Baobao to come closer, and brought him a candlestick, helped light it, and said, "Suppose that my father gives you 30,000 horses." Tell me how you plan to set it up and how you plan to attack the city. ”

Wang Baobao took the jade Ruyi, pointed to the map, talked eloquently, and said: "If you take Jinan, there are three places that must be guarded against. ”

"Which three places?"

"To the north of Jinan, there is Dizhou. Although Tianfeng was defeated by his father, there were still thousands of remnants. Don't be careful. To the south of Jinan, there is Tai'an. In the last battle of Yidu, Mr. Li and Yan Gong led elite soldiers and trapped the city, and they were unable to capture it for more than a month. It can be seen that the strength of its city. Moreover, now, Xiao Deng has transferred the elite again, and replaced Chen Yutou in Tai'an City. This place is not immutable. ”

"And the third place, where should I defend it?"

"Yidu, of course. Jinan is the gateway to Yidu, Xiao Deng tried his best to recapture it easily, if our army goes to take it again, Xiao Deng will not sit idly by. Yidu is not very far from Yidu, and there is no danger in the middle, a horse is flat, the cavalry can arrive in a day or two, and the infantry can also arrive in four or five days at most. Yes, Yidu is also unguarded. ”

"You only have 30,000 horses, how can you guard against three red thieves? And, the last time you took Jinan, the thief who defended the city was Yang Wanhu, and his department was Haidong Wuya. You've seen it, and you know that it's different from ordinary soldiers, and it's really elite. This time, those guarding Jinan, Tai'an and other places were all Wuya troops. 30,000 horses, and they have to defend against red thieves in three places, and they have to storm famous cities. How do you use it? ”

"Attack the heart first, attack the city down. Where the battle is to be in harmony with the odds. If our army takes Jinan today, it will be advantageous to fight quickly, but it will not be conducive to lasting. As a child, he did not plan to storm Jinan. ”

"Oh? So how are you going to act? ”

"Thirty thousand horses. The child arranged 5,000 and placed it in Texas,......。 Wang Baobao held the jade Ruyi in his hand, and clicked a little on the map to the location of Dezhou, which is not far away from Dizhou, and he continued, "Use this to threaten Tian Feng." Dizhou is Tian Feng's lair, he and Xiao Deng are not at odds, although he may be forced to go out of the army due to Xiao Deng's pressure, but as long as Dizhou is threatened, he will return to the division. In this way, Dizhou can be solved. Chahan bowed his head and asked, "What about Tai'an?" ”

"The child personally raised 20,000 people, strengthened his momentum, took the Dongping Road, and attacked Tai'an."

"Twenty thousand? Attack Tai'an? ”

Chahan, Sun Zhu, and Li Weixin glanced at each other, the three of them were all heroes, Wang Baobao only said this, and they understood his plan, but no one understood it. Chahan said with interest: "You also said just now, Tai'an Jiancheng, and there are elite red thieves. You're 20,000 people, I'm afraid it's hard to get it, right? ”

"It doesn't matter if you can't take it off in a short period of time. As long as our army makes a fierce attack posture, the Yidu Red Thieves will definitely send troops to help Tai'an. came to the aid of Tai'an, the child thought that it must be the Jinan thief army. ”

"Why?"

"In the last battle of Yidu, the red thieves suffered many casualties. Nowadays, there must not be many available people for Xiao Deng. And he concentrated most of his army in Jinan. There is something in Tai'an, and the person who comes to help must be Jinan. ”

"Won't Xiao Deng send troops directly from Yidu?"

"The child watched Xiao Deng use soldiers, and he was quite resourceful. He wouldn't be unaware that in the event of a war, he had to keep a part of the reserves on hand. His Yidu military horses are his reserves, and they will definitely not be sent lightly unless they have to. However, if he is really unwise and really sends troops from Yidu, it doesn't matter. Then I will besiege the city with 20,000 horses and send reinforcements, and annihilate them all. He had to transfer troops from Jinan again. ”

Chahan nodded and said, "You go on." ”

"As long as Jinan gallops to help Tai'an, the child will ride lightly, interspersed with multiple roads, and take Jinan. This is a plan to strike the east and the west and divert the tiger from the mountain. ”

Abolish Dizhou first, and then feint to attack Tai'an. When Jinan rushed to help, he killed a horse gun, and took advantage of the emptiness in the city of Jinan, and rode lightly. Wang Baobao had previously analyzed that after the two wars in Jinan, the city wall must have been damaged. Pressed down with the momentum of thunder, and it was unexpected, it should not be difficult to take it.

Sun Zhu and Li Weixin clapped their hands and laughed, and said, "What a plan!" Chahan said, "It's just your wishful thinking." Baobao, have you ever thought about it? If Xiao Deng sees through your plan, but he refuses to transfer Jinan military horses out of the city and gallop to help Tai'an. How will you be? ”

"If Xiao Deng really refuses to send Jinan military horses to help, then the child's feint attack will become a real attack. Tai'an is the right wing of Jinan. As long as Tai'an is taken, it will not be easy for our army to take Jinan. ”

"I will ask you again for the Father. If it is as you say, Xiao Deng transferred Jinan Red Thieves to help Tai'an. You took the opportunity to ride lightly to capture Jinan, but you were unable to win quickly. And at this time, Xiao Deng mobilized Yidu's reserve army, galloped to the aid of the starry night, and was about to come again. At the same time, the troops you left in Tai'an failed to entangle the thief army that rushed from Jinan to help, and they were killed out of the encirclement and turned back to Jinan. At that time, there was a strong city in front of you, a red thief reinforcement in the east, and a red thief in Jinan in the south. How are you good? ”

Wang Baobao replied fluently and said: "My father gave the child 30,000 horses, and another 5,000 people, and the children were arranged in Gaotang Prefecture in advance. When the children rode lightly to Jinan, the 5,000 people crossed the river to help. There is no need for them to attack the city, as long as they hold Huabuzhu Mountain and disconnect the thief army that Yidu has come to help. ”

"What about the red thief who killed back in Jinan again?"

"There are children in front of the red thieves, and behind the red thieves are my Tai'an siege army. If the red thief really dares to kill back to Jinan, the child will be attacked back and forth, and it will not be difficult to defeat. ”

"Haha!" Chahan was satisfied, stroked his beard and laughed, and said to Sun Zhu and Li Weixin, "Although it is only on paper, Baobao has three famous generals." Sun Zhu and Li Weixin both laughed. Sun Zhu made a look of great admiration, and said repeatedly: "It's true that 'there is a tiger father, but there is a tiger son'." ”

When he laughed a lot, Chahan said: "Baobao, although your plan is not bad, it is just to take Jinan in the east, but it is difficult to do it in terms of the current situation facing our army." ”