July 29 of the fifth year of Chongzhen.

The army drove out of the front camp in droves. A group of military attachés of the former army waiting outside the front camp were chatting without saying a word.

Wu Shigong looked at the former camp that had become an earthen city, and sighed, "I didn't expect us to live here for such a long time. ”

Zhou Xun said on the side: "My lord, if you want to live here again, then we will come back and stay for a few days after we win the battle." ”

"What the hell are you thinking about you idiot?" Wu Shigong scolded with a smile, "Who wants to come back and live!" ”

Wu Shigong's words caused a burst of laughter from the surrounding officers. If you come back to live in this earthen city, there is only one possibility, that is, you have been defeated in the battle with the rebels, and you need to come back to gather the remnants of the army to take a breath for a while. And no one wants to see that.

And seeing that his Runing battalion had already left the camp, Wu Shigong waved his horsewhip and said, "Let's go!" ”

Although they are all pioneers, the coalition forces of Wu Shigong and Liu Zeqing have to take the first step, and they have to seize the time to cut off the flow of the Shahe River.

The starting order of the coalition army was Wu Shigong's Runing battalion as the lead, Liu Zeqing led his elite as the rearguard, and the other troops escorted Minfu as the Chinese army. This is also the alliance of Wu Shigong and Liu Zeqing has long discussed the order of the haode march.

And yesterday, the Liaodong Army had already driven to the front army camp and stationed down, and the military attaches of the two sides simply contacted each other. After that, it was discussed, and half a day after the combined army of Wu Shigong and Liu Zeqing set off, the Liaodong Army set off again.

The midsummer sun was very fierce, and the soldiers on the march were sweating. But despite the scorching sun, the farmers in the wheat fields beside the road were still working before the autumn harvest.

This year, there was another great drought, and the wheat in the wheat fields was rescued by those farmers, so the wheat seedlings were also sparse. China's farmers are really resilient! Wu Shigong sighed in his heart. Then. He ordered loudly: "Watch your step, don't get down the road and hurt the crops." So the heralds passed the order in turn, and spread it throughout the whole ranks.

But at this moment, there was a rapid sound of horses' hooves behind the team. The cavalry behind them probably saw that the Runing battalion was blocking their path, so they rode off the road and galloped forward in the wheat field.

Seeing that some cavalry had entered the wheat fields that had been saved with great difficulty, the peasants were very distressed. But when they saw the horsemen wielding their whips, they could only scatter and flee.

"Whose troops are this?" Yu Ji on the side asked.

"Liaodong Army's." Zhou Xun replied, "It seems that they sent out the front team. ”

Although Wu Shigong also felt that those farmers were very pitiful. But it can't be helped, it's war. Put yourself in their shoes. If he changed positions, in order to ensure the safety of his army, Wu Shigong might also order his own army to do so. So Wu Shigong didn't mean to care about this matter.

But the unexpected happened. An old peasant, disregarding his own life, suddenly rushed to the horse of a cavalryman and blocked the way, still shouting and cursing.

The cavalryman was so hurried by the sudden blockade of the old peasant that he grabbed the reins of his horse. The horse was erect, and the cavalryman was almost thrown under his horse.

"It's the old man." Yang Rusong beside him shouted.

Wu Shigong suddenly remembered who the old farmer was. On several occasions, Wu Shigong went out of the camp to lead the team to inspect. will take a break at one of the intersections in front of you. And the old man lived there, and after he got acquainted with Runingying, he often carried a kettle to give Wu Shigong and them a sip of water to drink. So I have formed some good fate with Runing Camp. At this time, Wu Shigong's mind came to the wrinkled face of the old man, but he always had a sincere smile.

And the cavalryman in the distance, who almost fell off his horse, was quite angry, facing the old man's scolding. He drew his saber and raised it high.

"Ahh Wu Shigong exclaimed in unison. But the distance was too far to stop it.

Fortunately, at this time, several cavalry from Liaodong saw the movement, and they also surrounded it. When he saw the cavalryman, he was about to use his sword. One of the leader-looking cavalrymen shouted a few shouts before the sword-wielding cavalryman angrily took his saber back.

But when the cavalryman wanted to bypass the old man, the old man still stood in front of the cavalry team. Now the cavalryman was furious, and he picked up his horsewhip and whipped it down on the old man's head, and in a few strokes, the old man's head fell to the ground.

Those cavalrymen no longer cared about the old man who fell to the ground, and bypassed the old man to go away.

"Let's see if there's any gas. If there is still breath, save him. Wu Shigong commanded.

Several of the guards immediately jumped off their horses and ran in the direction of the old man.

Fortunately, the cavalryman was still measured, and when the guards helped the old man over, the old man had recovered his breath and regained consciousness.

As soon as he saw Wu Shigong, the old man's tears flowed, and he murmured: "My lord, my lord, I, I ......."

"Hurry up and treat the old man." Wu Shigong commanded. Then Wu Shigong said to the old man: "This is a mess, don't farm here anymore." Pack up with your family and go to Runing Mansion, where the official is located. ”

"My lord, my land is about to be collected!" The old man was still reluctant to give up his crops.

"It's better to save your life. The official is in charge of you. I don't want this land, this crop. When you arrive in Runing Mansion, there is land for you to plant. ”

Then, Wu Shigong instructed the guards beside him: "You go to the old man's house once and send his family over." Let's arrange for someone to send it to Runing Mansion. If they don't obey, take them all. ”

Zhizhi bandaged the old man briefly, and then rode to Wu Shigong's side: "The lord is kind-hearted, in fact, the old man is also very grateful for the kindness of the adult." ”

"It's rare to hear your praise from the monk! Alas! What a scourge this war is! How many more can I save? I wish it was all over soon! ”

In the camp of the rebels on the west bank of the Shahe River, it was Li Jiucheng's son Li Yingyuan who led more than 4,300 rebels to monitor every move of the Ming army on the other bank. And now, Li Yingyuan is listening to the rebel officer in charge of the spy.

"Mr. Li Qian, only three of the spies we sent out yesterday came back. They reported that the officers and soldiers on the other side of the river were like crazy, and they did not allow anyone to cross the river, and they could not go deeper, so they could only find an opportunity to come back. And this morning, the brethren who were observing by the river also found a large number of officers and cavalry sweeping along the shore. It is estimated that the officers and troops on the other side of the strait are about to fight. ”

"I know." Li Yingyuan nodded and said, "There is already news that the officers and soldiers on the opposite side have changed their commanders." And tens of thousands of reinforcements came. Looks like we're going to have a fight this time. However, I only have more than 4,000 people here, and there are only more than 500 of our old Liao army, and all of our manpower has been drawn to Laizhou City. The calves raised, the city of Nalaizhou is still stuck in our necks like an iron pea. General Kong, have you heard from you? ”

"As soon as the rooster crows, someone will send a message. But the reply has not yet come. ”

At this time, there was a sudden commotion from the entire camp. Li Yingyuan and the officer were just about to go out of the tent to see what was going on, when they saw a personal soldier running in excitedly.

"Mr. Qian, it was General Kong who personally led the reinforcements!"

This time, Kong Youde led more than 3,600 people to reinforce him. After Li Yingyuan welcomed Kong Youde into his big tent, he asked, "Why did Uncle Kong come by himself?" ”

Kong Youde smiled and waved his hand and said, "With your father staring at Laizhou City, there is no big problem." They only had the courage to retreat into the city and defend it. ”

"The people I brought this time are all old Liao soldiers. Another group arrived, with more than 11,000 people. Although the water of this Shahe River is very shallow, there are many places where you can wade through the water, but there are old Liao soldiers who can't cross the formation, and there is no army of tens of thousands that can't pass. If we can hurt the officers and soldiers this time, we will have at least two or three months to spare. We have besieged Laizhou City for more than half a year, and their stock of food is not much. Take advantage of this spare time to knock it down in one go. In this way, our soldiers and horses in Dongjiang Town will be able to be bold and criss-cross! ”

"But Uncle Kong, the officers and soldiers who came this time are a little aggressive."

"Oh? Have you inquired about it? How many people are there? ”

"The spies lost a lot, but it is estimated that it will not be less than 30,000 horses, and it may exceed 50,000. We're at a disadvantage in terms of numbers. ”

"It's okay, it's enough to have the people of us. Subtract the so-called, and subtract the captured people, how many people in the official army can fight? That is, our stalls are too big, and we have to use soldiers everywhere. Our cavalry and charioteers are still in Huangxian, and there is no way to transfer them. But it doesn't matter, how many officers and soldiers can fight with our Liao soldiers? It's those trilateral soldiers, but they are all trapped in Shaanxi and Shanxi and can't come over. The other officers and soldiers, it's not that I underestimate them, our Liao soldiers can fight ten at a time. ”

After finishing speaking, Kong Youde and Li Yingyuan both laughed together.

"Uncle Kong, do you want to send another table to play tricks on the official army?"

"I guess it's useless. Don't be too dark, we've all played with them five or six times. ”

After finishing speaking, the two of them were daxiao again.

"Still, we have to be cautious. When the time comes, let those we are looking for in Teng Lai be at the front. If something is wrong, you have to watch it tightly, and you must withdraw all the people of our old Liao army in time. I have also confessed to your father. In case we are unfavorable here, we must also withdraw from Laizhou City in time, at least to transport our artillery and looted things back to Dengzhou City. ”

"As long as we have the old Liao army and those artillery and property, what place in the world can we not go?"

Li Yingyuan nodded again and again when he heard it, and the two people in the big tent didn't notice that Zuihou's words were a little unlucky. (To be continued......)