……

Xia Zhuangzhuang nodded and said: "Although there are more than 100,000 garrisons in Wumang City, the Qingyun Empire's imperial court has been in arrears for a long time, and the military households are gone, and there are only 50,000 or 60,000 people who can fight. This can be seen from the fact that Division Commander Zhou easily captured the three counties, but the enemy encountered by the mountain fierce this time was extremely brave, somehow? ”

Liu Zhibang thought for a while and said, "Of course, we can't know the details of the front line when we sit in Xia Yuancheng, so I'd better take a trip......

Liu Zhibang stayed in Xia Yuancheng for a few days, and after a deep discussion with Mu Tong, he signed a joint venture to establish the Oriental Company, and discussed in various aspects, and after obtaining a lot of information from Mu Tong, Liu Zhibang transferred three regiments of Hongfeng, plus all of Zhou Shan, as well as 3,000 reservists and guard regiments, and more than 20,000 Han troops drove to Wumangcheng Red Rice Shop.

Red rice shop is only 200 miles away from Xia Yuan City, located in the plain, but the Xia Yuan River joins the Wumang River here, surrounded by water on three sides, easy to defend and difficult to attack, and is on the road that Wumang County and Chenxiang County must pass through, the location is very important, it has always been a place for soldiers to fight. After capturing Hongmipu, Shanmeng built several military camps in this place, controlled the ferry and official roads, and set up his headquarters in Hongmipu Town.

Liu Zhibang ordered Zhou's subordinates to camp on a wasteland on the right side of the red rice shop, and the three regiments of the second division were assigned to two ferries, and the reserve soldiers and the guards regiment were stationed on the edge of the red rice shop, ready to listen to the order.

After inspecting the various military camps, Liu Zhibang returned to the headquarters of the red rice shop with satisfaction, and all the generals discussed after listening to Shan Meng's report.

"Commander, because of martial law in Wumang City, we have sent people to spy many times in vain, and it is unknown how Dao Yan Zhixin will be arranged, this battle is very passive......" Shan Meng briefly reported the current situation.

Liu Zhibang asked, "Shan Meng, have you ever taken the initiative to attack Wumang City?" ”

Shan Meng continued: "Report to the commander, four days ago I sent a regiment to cross the river to test the enemy's reality, just out of forty miles was stubbornly resisted, outnumbered and had to retreat, but I found a very special place......

Liu Zhibangqi said: "What's so special? ”

Shan Meng continued: "The uniforms worn by the enemy soldiers who came into contact with us are not like Xia Yuancheng's military uniforms, and the equipment is also poor, but the combat is extremely brave, and it looks ...... It looks more like the one-eyed dragon's ......."

Liu Zhibang thought for a while and said, "Huh? Although the Qingyun Empire can't pay salaries, they still have military uniforms, and they don't wear the Qingyun Empire's military uniforms, so ...... Then our enemy may not be Dao Yan's weaving faith......"

Hearing this, Shan Meng also felt that it made sense, and said, "Ah...... Who would it be if it wasn't Dao Yan Zhixin, this is the range of Umang City, could it be that this Umang City has been occupied by some rebel? ”

"Quite possibly!" Liu Zhibang nodded slightly.

A herald came in and reported: "Commander, there is intelligence!" ”

"Bring it!"

Liu Zhibang opened a small bamboo tube sealed with red paint, took out a small paper roll, looked at it, and burned the note.

"The answer is out, the enemy on the other side of our river is the rebel army known as 'Shun Heaven'......"

As soon as Liu Zhibang finished speaking, everyone looked at each other, and they had never heard of this name.

Shan Meng couldn't help asking, "Commander, where does this 'Shun Heaven' come from?" ”

Liu Zhibang closed his eyes and recalled for a while, in the content of the conversation with Mu Tong, he seemed to have heard that there was such a rebel army, which did not attract his attention at that time, so he did not take it to heart.

Liu Zhibang recalled, and said: "This 'Shun Heaven' rose in Nanyang County three years ago, and once captured Nanyang City, and then the Qingyun Empire court sent General Du Yan to encircle and suppress, all the way to the states and counties, attacking cities and seizing land, and looting the treasury, although there were many defeats and few victories, but the more they fought, the more tenacious they became, and they fled to Wumang ......County after being defeated by General Du Yan in Chenxiang County three months ago."

Shan Meng asked again: "Then how many soldiers and horses are there in this 'Shuntian', who is the leader, and whether we fight or not?" ”

Liu Zhibang shook his head and said, "I only know so much at present, if I want to know more information, I have to wait a little longer......

After thinking about it, Liu Zhibang said again: "This 'Shun Heaven' is under the slogan of robbing the rich and helping the poor, and it was supported by many poor people when it happened, but I heard that there are often disputes within them, and the leaders have been changed several times, so I don't know who is the leader at this time......

Ah Meng said impatiently when he heard this: "Commander, whoever is in front of us is the leader of 'Shun Heaven', all those who stand in front of us are enemies, destroy them all, are you still ready to make friends with them, if you don't surrender, you will be killed, there is no other choice!" ”

Liu Zhibang nodded to Ah Meng and said appreciatively: "That's right, whether it is Dao Yan Weaving Letter, or 'Shun Heaven', as long as they stand in front of us, they are all enemies, and if they are enemies, there is only one way to disappear." Order, tomorrow the army will go to battle, Zhou Shan will lead his troops to cross the river and sweep the 'Shun Heaven', leaving two regiments of the Second Division to garrison Hongmipu, and the other divisions will follow me to Wumang City......"

"Obey ......"

On the second day, two rounds of the sun just rose out of the ground, the army of Zhou Shan, then pulled out the camp and crossed the river, Liu Zhibang led the team to cross the Wumang River from the pontoon bridge set up overnight, here is not far from the seaside, the water on the river surface is gentle, it is easier to build a pontoon bridge, after passing the pontoon bridge, the endless plain of Jiangbei is shown in front of Liu Zhibang.

Liu Zhibang unfolded his portable map, pointed in one direction, and the army marched several miles long towards Wumang City.

As soon as he walked out of thirty miles, the herald came with the news that Zhou Shan's 10,000 cavalry encountered 30,000 people from "Shuntian", and in less than half an hour, Zhou Shan's defeated the enemy army and killed 3,000 enemies.

After walking out for another twenty miles, the herald came with the news that Zhou Shangang had just finished cleaning the battlefield and was attacked by 20,000 "Shun Tian" cavalry, and the two sides were deadlocked and still fighting.

Liu Zhibang opened the map and looked at it for a while, and ordered: "There is a village market ten miles to the east, called Baihua Village, Xia Yong of the Guards Regiment led his troops to take this place, build fortifications, and then the army will arrive in ......"

Xia Yong led a thousand elite cavalry to gallop away, and Liu Zhibang's Chinese army turned around and followed eastward.

Baihua Village, Baihuaxiang, this small village by the Wumang River is actually no different from other villages, only because there are many fruit trees growing here, some of which are said to be thousands of years old. Different fruit trees will naturally have different flowering periods, because these fruit trees bloom, the fragrance floats for ten miles, and it is also a little famous in the land boundary of hundreds of miles near and far.

……