Thinking about this, Xi Yan's back suddenly became cold, the marching route has always been the highest secret, and the roundabout route of the Xiao Cavalry Guard and the Leopard Cavalry Guard was studied by several generals overnight, and even Xi Yan didn't know how the army of the two guards went to the pass to set up defenses. With such a careful arrangement, how did the Northern Qin army learn that Da Zhao was going to deploy defenses at Zhenyuan Pass, so they received all the main forces near Shuiluo in just over ten days.

But thinking that there were many sergeants of Xiao and Leopard, and it was not impossible to reveal their whereabouts during the march, Xi Yan didn't think about it further, so he thought about how to deal with it.

But at this moment, time is pressing, and the Northern Qin army led by Fu Mang may advance to the Zhenyuan Pass at any time, and there is no time to make detailed arrangements, so Xi Yan immediately summoned a team of scouts and ordered them to rush to the Zhenyuan Pass immediately to report to the generals of the Xiao Cavalry Guard and the Leopard Cavalry Guard. As soon as the scouts left, Xi Yan ordered the whole army to stop resting.

Zhan Feihong saw that Xi Yan was almost shocked into a cold sweat, so he hurriedly asked: "General, but you have to set off to attack the enemy camp immediately." ”

"It's going to attack," Xi Yan paused and said with a cold face, "but it's going to run to the Zhenyuan Pass." ”

"Pass!?" Zhan Feihong seemed to be a little incredulous, and his tone suddenly became high, "But we only have two thousand people......"

"I know," Xi Yan's eyes flashed with a hint of fierceness, and he said with a firm expression, "but if we can't reach the Zhenyuan Pass before the Northern Qin Army, then most of the sergeants of the Xiao Cavalry Guard and the Leopard Cavalry Guard may be like the previous Ming Ce Army." So we must help the sergeants of the two guards to tear out a gap, preferably ...... can also let Fu Mang learn a lesson. Let's go! ”

"The last general understands!" Zhan Feihong turned around to execute the general order without any delay, looking at the heroic back of this young man, Xi Yan was also full of high-spirited fighting spirit.

After only a moment's work, everyone was on their horses again, and no one complained that they were not rested, and no one complained that they were not well fed or fed. They all know that Xi Yan is a general with clear rewards and punishments, as long as he wins the battle with him, he will naturally have a generous reward after returning to Chongdu, if he can get this reward from the imperial court, they can buy a few acres of land in their hometown, and maybe they can marry a wife and have children.

As long as they think of the glory that the war has brought them, every soldier's face is full of fortitude, and his eyes are full of fiery essence.

The army led by Xi Yan was specially reorganized by Huan Guohou before the expedition, and the two thousand men with strong blood and strength were all brave and ruthless militants.

Although there is a risk of rash and rash advances, but after all, the flaws are not concealed, the young general's sharp spirit is difficult for other veterans to have, Xi Yan is a calm and serious person, under his moderation, this small army of 2,000 people almost did not make any mistakes on the battlefield.

Behind him was the army marching silently, in front of him was the high sky with the white belly of the fish, all the scenery in the northwest seemed to be magnificent, when Xi Yan led the army to gallop to the vicinity of the Zhenyuan Pass, the sky was dark again.

The black iron horsemen were like a drop of ink falling into a dark cloud in the dark night, and by the time the enemy heard the rumbling sound of horses' hooves, it was already too late.

At this moment, the 200,000 troops led by Fu Mang have not yet arrived at the pass, and only a few Northern Qin infantry are encircling here, and the Xiao and Leopard guards who are deployed in the pass seem to be unaware of this crisis, and are still enjoying the peace before the war.

Xi Yan knew that he had taken advantage of the speed, Fu Mang's advantage was that he was outnumbered, and his disadvantage was that he was slow to march. However, if the army is in a hurry, it will take no more than two days to reach this place. Xi Yan knew that there was not much time left for himself, Xiao and Leopard.

"General, do you want to wait any longer?" Zhan Feihong looked at the Northern Qin infantry who had not yet been noticed not far away, and asked Xi Yan for instructions, "There are too many people below, I'm afraid we won't be able to shake it, so wait." ”

"What are you waiting for?" Xi Yan looked cold, "Wait for Fu Mang to take his 200,000 army and surround this place?" Rush down, be sure to tear open a hole in the encirclement, and send the news to the pass. ”

"Yes!" As soon as Xi Yan's words fell, Zhan Feihong immediately gave the order to charge loudly.

There has always been a popular proverb among the people, called "the praying mantis catches the cicada, and the yellow finch is behind".

The Northern Qin foot soldiers in the encirclement thought they were mantis catching cicadas, but they never expected that a yellow finch suddenly came behind them.

Like a sharp blade, Da Zhao's cavalry rushed down from the hillside, cutting a huge hole in the Northern Qin army, which was not fortified behind them.

The Great Zhao army in the pass also sensed the disturbance in the outside world, and hurriedly sent scouts out to investigate, only to find that their own cavalry team of less than 2,000 people was fighting in the heavy encirclement of the enemy army. After reporting the battle situation to the generals, the sergeants of the Xiao Cavalry Guard took the lead in coming out to meet the enemy, while the Leopard Cavalry Guard behind them was delayed for a moment.

When the three armies cleared the Northern Qin infantry outside the pass, all the troops were exhausted, although there were few tens of thousands of Northern Qin infantry left, and a few prisoners of war had been shot, but the Great Zhao army on this side was not much better. The 2,000 cavalry led by Xi Yan came from a long distance, and the Great Zhao army in the pass was in a hurry to meet the battle, and the losses were not small.

After a short rest, Xi Yan still met Xiao Yi, the general of the Xiao Cavalry Guard.

"General Xi, why did you appear at Zhenyuan Pass?" Xiao Yi is a middle-aged man over forty years old, who has been in the army for many years, and went to Shuiluo with Huan Guohou to quell the chaos. And he himself is as resolute as his name. Although the fight has just ended, Xiao Yi still maintains the demeanor of a general who is not angry and arrogant.

"Late yesterday night, I caught a spy from Northern Qin two hundred miles away. After some torture, he found that Fu Mang was going to transfer troops to encircle and annihilate the Da Zhao army in the pass, so he didn't dare to delay and rushed to attack overnight. Xi Yan paused, but there was still no expression on his face, "Please General Xiao lead the army to retreat and avoid engaging the main force of Northern Qin head-on." ”

"That's the case," Xiao Yi couldn't help but appreciate the young man in front of him in his heart after listening to the process, but he still said quietly, "It's just that Fu Mang's army has not yet arrived, and we are ordered by the Hou Ye to deploy defense at the pass, without Hou Ye's order, the Xiao Cavalry Guard and the Leopard Cavalry Guard still need to defend the pass." ”

"Could it be that General Xiao wants to follow in the footsteps of the Ming Army?" Xi Yan knew that his official position was one grade lower than Xiao Yi's, but this was related to the life and death of tens of thousands of troops, and he had to fight for it. But after seeing Xiao Yi's face, Xi Yan understood that his suggestion would not have any effect, so he changed his words, "I have brought the battle situation, please General Xiao decide for himself." ”

After finishing speaking, Xi Yan took his two thousand horsemen to retreat first. Zhan Feihong couldn't figure out why Xi Yan left so easily, so he couldn't help asking: "General, why don't you want to make General Xiao withdraw his troops?" If Fu Mang comes, what should the soldiers of these two guards do? ”

"I want to ...... Xiao Yi has his own arrangements. Xi Yan recalled the scene when he assigned the task before the war, and always felt that his brother transferred the two guards here, in addition to blocking the enemy's rear road, there was also another deep meaning. Thinking of this, he said to Zhan Feihong again: "Besides, I can't go beyond the rank to command Xiao Yi, why should he listen to me?" ”

"Then let's rush here desperately, can we be so busy like this?" Zhan Feihong was a young man in the end, and he was somewhat indignant.

"How can you say that you are busy in vain?" Xi Yan smiled, he still had a good impression of this heroic young general. So he explained to him kindly: "At least we have annihilated tens of thousands of foot soldiers of Northern Qin, and when Fu Mang comes here, I am afraid that what he sees is the ambush of Great Zhao." ”

"I see," Zhan Feihong smiled heartily, "Then where are we going to kill the enemy now?" ”

"It's been nine days since we came out to fight a full battle, and the enemy army has become accustomed to our way of fighting, and has begun to integrate small groups of troops, and if you still want to rely on our less than two thousand horsemen and horses to fight a tough battle, I am afraid that we will suffer a great loss."

Xi Yan's mood had recovered at this time, and looking at this desolate high sky, he commanded softly, "Go back to Lingzhou." ”