Chapter 156: The Raging Fire

Hanyang Castle is located in the southeast of the border city, which is much warmer than the border city. When we arrived in Hanyang, there was no snow left. The temperature here is only minus four or five degrees at night, and at noon, it can reach seven or eight degrees. For those who are used to staying in the border city, it is definitely a warm and comfortable temperature.

"Master, Hanyang is now surrounded and can't get through. Xiao Er and Tianyi rode their horses to follow Zheng Qingluan, talking about the news that the scout had just returned.

"Wu Heying still hasn't moved," Zheng Qingluan asked with a frown.

"No" Tianyi shook his head, as if he no longer had any expectations for this major general of the Zhenbei Army.

"This person has to be guarded against," Zheng Qingluan sneered, "stabbing a knife in the back or stealing military merits afterwards is not something I would like to see." ”

"Slaughtered him" Tianyi was as simple and rude as ever.

"I want to kill him, too, but this man can't die yet. If he is dead, the Zhenbei Army will be in chaos, and Hanyang City will be really dangerous. Zheng Qingluan glanced at Tianyi, "However, feed him something, let him get sick, it shouldn't be difficult for you." ”

"It's simple" a little bit of the day, "then what to feed it?"

"You look for the medicine pestle to see if he has any good things for you," Zheng Qingluan pointed to the medicine pestle behind him.

The medicine pestle came over, "Add some ingredients to the tea, ensure that he can sleep for ten days and a half, and his pulse is as if he is frightened, which does not arouse suspicion at all." As he spoke, he handed over a porcelain vase.

Tianyi took it, and his eyes were full of admiration when he looked at the medicine pestle. This person is really bad, the young marshal of the Zhenbei Army was stunned because of the siege of Beihu, and he was scared out of illness, if this matter spreads, the face of the Zhenbei Army must be very good-looking

"This is good" Xiao Er nodded, "Don't say anything behind our backs, he just wants to steal the credit, and he has no chance."

The corners of Zheng Qingluan's mouth brought a hint of a wicked smile, "If he didn't plan to make it bad, he just grabbed credit afterwards, and I wouldn't do anything to him." I'm afraid that he will hit a rake when the time comes, don't forget, we entered Ping'an Prefecture, there was no edict, and it was not the Zhenbei Army who came to ask for help. Therefore, I didn't dare to transfer Xiao Jiajun out. And the Boy Scouts are young, so they can't be considered Xiao Jiajun, they only say that they are playmates I recruited for military training, and they also say the past. When I go out, it's always right to bring a guard. The emperor didn't say that I was not allowed to go out of the border city. I'm willing to take advantage of the New Year's festival to come to Hanyang City to wander, which royal law can I commit?"

Tianyi put the bottle in his arms and asked, "Does the master have anything to explain?"

"Deal with Wu Heying first, and then go to Governor Zhang. Tell him that Wu Heying is scared of the world, and ask him to stabilize the situation. Release the news of Xiao Jiajun's rescue. Stabilize people's hearts. Zheng Qingluan looked at Tianyi, "You take the special combat team to go, and before dawn, go to the dry mountain outside Hanyang City to meet us." ”

"Yes" day a little bit. Ride away.

"Fire Phoenix" Zheng Qingluan shouted backwards.

"In" Huofeng quickly came over, and as soon as she put on the battle armor, she didn't have the usual laughter on her.

"You take the female guard, and after dressing up, you explore the way ahead. Once all the sentries have been cleared, we'll replace them with our own people. Zheng Qingluan looked at Huo Feng, "Let everyone be careful." Try not to make too much of a fuss. The drug given by the medicine pestle is a good thing, so be careful not to put yourself in it when using it. ”

"Don't worry, master" After Huo Feng finished speaking, he led the team out of the way.

Zheng Qingluan watched them leave, then turned over and dismounted, "Rest in place and act at night." ”

Xiao Er and a few people stayed by her side, almost not leaving. Zheng Qingluan smiled, "Relax." It's not that dangerous. ”

"What is the master going to do," Xiao Er asked with a frown.

"I haven't thought about it either" Zheng Qingluan shook his head, without personally surveying the terrain, everything he said was false.

Several young generals from the Boy Scouts also came over, and Liu Xinshou asked, "The master is planning to go to the dry mountain."

Zheng Qingluan nodded, "It's easier to hide there." The surroundings of Seoul, except for the dry mountains, are all open fields, and as soon as we get close, we are undoubtedly moving targets. It's no different from looking for death. ”

As the temperature drops, the night arrives as scheduled. The dark sentinels had already been replaced by their own people, and when the team passed, they also withdrew, following all the way to the dry mountain.

It wasn't until midnight that I entered a col in the dry mountains.

Huofeng came to report, "The task has been successfully completed, and everyone has returned to the team." Eighteen people were slightly injured but were not in serious condition. ”

"Got it" Zheng Qingluan nodded, "It's a good job, let the medicine pestle go and show them the wounds, you just set up camp tonight and have a good rest." ”

"Yes" Huo Feng saw that Zheng Qingluan was thinking about things, so he didn't bother anymore. Arrange for subordinates to go.

"Master, the sentry posts are all arranged," Xiao Er replied, "Let those little cubs rest." Male escorts in shifts, enough is enough. ”

"Hmm" Zheng Qingluan sat in a simple camp tent, roasting a fire. Baiyi is sticking a piece of bread with a dagger and baking it on the fire.

"Let's eat it like this, it's not too cold," Zheng Qingluan reached out and took the cake, "Don't bother, I'm not so squeamish." ”

"Then I'll go boil some hot water," Baiyi got up.

Zheng Qingluan grabbed her, "Let's rest." Conserve your strength, I don't know what it will be like tomorrow."

He said to Xiao Er again, "Call Xiao San and them in, how cold it is to stay outside, how can you pay so much attention to it now that you are fighting" These people are Xiao Yunfeng's guards, and the focus is to protect her safety. At this time, he will definitely not leave her more than ten steps. Because there is a difference between men and women, they must stay outside the tent, and this night will certainly not be easy.

Xiao Er hesitated a little, "No, they're all used to it." ”

"Execute the order" Zheng Qingluan focused on nibbling the cake in his hand, "Everyone is around the fire, and they will be fooled all night." ”

Xiao Er nodded. Then a group of eight people packed the narrow tent even more to the brim.

Zheng Qingluan and One Hundred and One Hundred and Two leaned on each other, and the wolf howl outside seemed to be in their ears. And he has become accustomed to this kind of life, and sleeps exceptionally peacefully.

Early the next morning, I saw that Tianyi had returned, and the mission was successfully completed. Zheng Qingluan took one hundred and one hundred and two and Xiao Er and others to survey the terrain with confidence.

Zheng Qingluan stood on the top of the mountain and looked around. Although it is said that it is a gourd with openings at both ends, if people are brought in and the openings at both ends are sealed, great things can be accomplished. She already has a rough prototype in her mind, but the specific operation has to be carefully considered.

Xiao Wu saw that his master was staring at the direction of the valley, so he asked, "Does the master think of anything?"

"Hmm" Zheng Qingluan nodded, "Let's go, go back." ”

The pace back to the camp was a little hurried.

When Liu Xinshou and the others saw the appearance of their master, they also came over. They are coming out of the learning stage and seem a little hungry.

Zheng Qingluan was on the ground, and drew a topographic map in three or two, "Look, what does this valley look like?"

"It's a pity that the gourd is open at both ends. The north side, in particular, is almost completely open. Even if we bring people over, we have limited manpower, and we can't hold this side at all. Xiao Er looked at it for a long time before he said his thoughts.

"If I have a way to narrow this big opening, the openings at these two ends should be able to be kept," Zheng Qingluan said, but it was Liu Xinshou who looked at it. Obviously, this was intended to be a breach with scouts.

"Yes," Liu Xinshou replied categorically.

Zheng Qingluan nodded and smiled.

"It's too dangerous," Xiao Wu shook his head disapprovingly, "I think it's better to let the guards go to the camp." ”

"Then who is going to lure the Beihu people over," Zheng Qingluan asked.

How to lure the enemy and who will lure the enemy is the crux of the matter.

Zheng Qingluan frowned, thinking about it in his heart. "The lure may work, but at most it will only disperse Beihu's forces. Even if a part of their forces is wiped out, then the enemy will definitely fight back wildly, and when the time comes, what should I do?"

"If you can mobilize all the troops, there is no other way than the soldier talisman. Xiao Er asked again, "Even if you attract people and want to deal with 20,000 people, even if you have the advantage of territory, it is an impossible task." What can the master do?"

Zheng Qingluan was stunned, and seemed to struggle for a moment before he gently spit out two words, "Fire Attack"

The faces of several people changed, and this was indeed the fastest and most effective method. It is said that water and fire are ruthless, as long as people are blocked in the valley, a fire can burn them to ashes, not to mention 20,000 people, even 100,000 people, and it is difficult to escape.

"War is about doing everything. Think about the people of the three counties, they are not sorry to die, they will not be destroyed, what to pay tribute to those innocent souls" Zheng Qingluan didn't know if he was telling them or convincing himself. "There are still tens of thousands of people in Hanyang City, and we have no choice"

"Okay" Liu Xinshou stood up, "Listen to the master's orders"

Xiao Er nodded, "Then there is only one question left now, how to lure people over"

"Isn't it said that this time the third prince and the fifth prince of Beihu each led 10,000 horses, and these two people competed with each other, and it was not a day or two. As long as there is a gap between them, we will have a chance. Zheng Qingluan said with a smile, "But the most dangerous thing is the envoy of the King of Beihu, Cha Duoer." He has the responsibility of overseeing and coordinating the two princes, and this person should not be underestimated. ”

"He has two thousand guards by his side, and if he stays, sooner or later it will be a hidden danger. Xiao Wu frowned.

"Therefore, the first step is to require Tianyi and them to infiltrate the Beihu military camp, one is to kill Chador, and the other is to send a secret letter to the two princes respectively, and transfer them to the two entrances of the valley. ”

"In the second step, Huofeng and Chu Jiu need to lead the male and female guards to sneak attack the two thousand guards of Chador. This is a hard-fought battle, with 500 against 2,000, it must be very dangerous. ”

"The third step, and the last fire, is lit by the Boy Scouts. ”

Zheng Qingluan said the general idea, "Do you have any objections?"

"I don't understand" Guo Feiyan has been listening silently in the corner, and this time he immediately raised doubts, "What kind of secret letter is the secret letter that the master said, which can make them take the initiative to come to our ambush circle"

Zheng Qingluan smiled, "Then it depends on why they came this time, since they are hungry for the three years of food and salary of the Zhenbei Army, the purpose is self-evident." They didn't care how many people they killed or how much territory they occupied, they just wanted to get that batch of food and pay in their hands and bring it back smoothly. Whoever brings back the food and salary is the hero. And neither of the third prince nor the fifth prince wants the other party to take the credit, so they will naturally fight with all their might. ”

"But they haven't been stupid enough to send a letter, let them go out," Guo Feiyan didn't care about what others looked at her, and asked vigorously.

"Hehe, they're not stupid, but they'll definitely send a few people to check it out. Don't forget, they surrounded Hanyang Fortress, and they must have dispersed. The three princes guarded the north, and the five princes guarded the south. The envoy was to the east. The west side of Hanyang Castle is close to the dry mountain, so let's stay here. The dry mountains run from north to south, and there is an opening into the valley to the north and south respectively. If any one of them sends out a survey, the other will inevitably receive the news. It will also follow the action. At night, they were separated from the entire Hanyang City, and they had to avoid the envoy, and Wu Heying of the Zhenbei Army was so frightened that he didn't dare to fight. Then the siege of Hanyang City seems less urgent. Anyway, it's all for the food, and since there is some news about the food, there is no difference between going to the dry mountain and besieging the city for them. Zheng Qingluan smiled, "Even if there is no dry mountain, it will only take one night, and then go to capture Hanyang." The important thing is not to let the other party take the lead. ”

"Understood," Guo Feiyan nodded, "So, sending the secret letter and assassinating the envoy at the same time, lest the envoy come out and stir up the situation." ”

Zheng Qingluan nodded, "That's right, that's it." ”

"Then how can you shrink the big opening in the north, will it be too big with our Xiao Jiajun's **?" Guo Feiyan asked the question that everyone wanted to ask before they had time to ask.

"You look" Zheng Qingluan put the dagger on the ground, and then placed a few stones next to the dagger, "Look, can you still see the dagger?"

"Huh" Not only Guo Feiyan was stunned, but even everyone couldn't help but be stunned. Turning the direction, from different angles, the dagger is really invisible.

Zheng Qingluan casually brushed aside a stone, and the dagger re-entered everyone's sight.

"It's amazing" Guo Feiyan took the stone and looked over and over again, "What kind of means is this?"

"Five Elements Gossip" Zheng Qingluan smiled, "If you are interested, I will teach you in the future." ”

"Okay" Guo Feiyan, this girl is so simple and direct.

"Are you also planning to set up a formation in the middle of the valley to make people think that there is a granary here? Liu Xinshou frowned and asked, "Otherwise, how could they all enter the valley." ”

"That's right," Zheng Qingluan glanced at Liu Xinshou appreciatively, "Just to make them think that there is a cave in this mountain where grain is hidden, then none of them will let go, and then Chen Bing will confront each other, and we will have a chance." ”

The crowd nodded.

Now that the plan has been decided, all that remains is to execute it. Zheng Qingluan first forged two letters from the Beihu spies. only to lead people to arrange the formation.

The Boy Scouts dug a barrier at the mouth of the two valleys, so that the fire could not spread unchecked. He also sprinkled some flammable substances such as cooking oil in the valley. The vegetation in the valley is mostly shrubs and thorns, and after autumn, it loses its life. Hence the name of the dry mountain. So, it's excellent for ignition. Moreover, the valley runs north-south, the mountain wind passes through the hall, and the fire helps the wind, and it can be burned soon.

On this day, night fell quietly.

Everyone set off with their own tasks.

It wasn't until he watched the guard battalion led by Huofeng and Chu Jiu go away that Zheng Qingluan ordered Liu Xinshou to "hide"

It wasn't until the hour that the sound of horses' hooves and chaotic footsteps was heard. Zheng Qingluan lay on the ground, listening to the other party's movements, and for a long time, he breathed a sigh of relief, "It's become to listen to this movement, it should be done." ”

"I don't know what's going on in the south," Liu Xinshou asked in a low voice.

"This one is coming, and that one is definitely not going to lag behind. Don't worry, with Xiao Er and Feiyan and them, they can't make a mistake. Zheng Qingluan patted Liu Xinshou, "Don't be nervous"

Hiding at the mouth of the valley, I watched a group of people enter the valley, and then, a red signal flare rose in the south sky, knowing that this was the south side of the valley. Kang Lai immediately lit the flare in his hand, and the red flare rose into the air. The fire immediately following the mouth of the valley burned. Clusters of arrows with fire shot towards the valley.

The cries of the crowd, the stampede, resounded through the valley. The boy scouts stood at the mouth of the valley and reaped the lives of those who escaped from it.

The winter mountain winds fueled the fires, and for an hour, the fires were raging, and fewer and fewer people escaped from the valleys. Screams filled my ears.

Even if she was prepared, Zheng Qingluan still couldn't adapt, and her hands trembled slightly. 20,000 people, just disappeared

Although I don't believe in gods and Buddhas, I can cross by myself, and I will inevitably have a little more awe of the unknown. This slaughter is a bit big

When the sun rose from the horizon and the sun shone on the earth, Zheng Qingluan came back to his senses. "This is the cruelty and ruthlessness of war, which is why there is mercy, if you don't take charge of the army, if any of you can't get through the heart, quit early. ”

For the Boy Scouts, the night was torment and torture. After this level, it can be regarded as a real butterfly.

"Is this called cruelty" Kang Lai's eyes were red, "what year did the border city not die in the hands of the Tartars, the innocent people in the three counties of Ping'an Prefecture were slaughtered on Chinese New Year's Eve, how many children died, those were all unarmed civilians, and they" He pointed to the valley, "they are executioners, soldiers of the enemy country who died on the battlefield, it is their fate"

Zheng Qingluan closed his eyes, "It's good to figure it out" and then retracted his expression, "Gather and count the number of casualties." ”

Xiao Er also came back with another team of boy scouts, except for twelve minor injuries and five burns, all of them were brought back safely.

The special combat team in the Tianyi area, together with Huofeng Chujiu, led the escort battalion to more than half of them, 38 people were seriously injured, and 17 people were killed in battle

Zheng Qingluan looked at the corpse covered in blood that was brought back, and couldn't help herself, even if she burned 20,000 people to death, she couldn't let her go, these people escorted her all the way to the border city, guarding the safety of the Shuai Mansion day and night. And now that they are dead here, they are just guards, and they could have enjoyed peace, but now only a broken and scarred corpse remains. For her, only her family, the people around her are the most important, and what do others have to do with her

Looking at these cold corpses, Zheng Qingluan felt how ridiculous his previous intolerance was

They deserve to die

Zheng Qingluan only felt that there was no way to vent the hatred in his heart.

Seeing that the master was like a demon, his heart jumped, "The master mourns"

Zheng Qingluan nodded, "Take them home" and turned around after speaking.

Baiyi felt that the master was different

The previous master, who was full of sparseness, but now, is like a sword with a fierce spirit, which makes people feel cold in their hearts.

At this time, Hanyang City was dead silent.

The fire in the dry mountains overnight reflected half of the sky. In the firelight, there was a scream like a ghost crying wolf, which frightened the people of the city into silence.

Even the Zhenbei Army, too, looked confused, first withdrew the garrison besieging the city inexplicably, and then rushed to the direction of the dry mountain. Immediately after, the fire broke out. Now that I think about it, it's like rushing to death.

In the prefect's yamen, Zhang Chengfang sat in the study. The official was guarding the door, and he was still scared. From top to bottom, the Zhenbei army is full of bad seeds, and they don't know how many days this city can be defended. Although Xiao Jiajun came, he never showed up. There was a fire overnight, and he couldn't tell who was burned to death.

Suddenly, there was the sound of hurried footsteps outside, knowing that it was the person who inquired about the news. He quickly stood up and opened the door, "How is it?"

"Good news, my lord," the man hurriedly said, "The entire army of Beihu has annihilated 20,000 horses, including the two princes of Beihu, all of whom were killed in the flames. The envoys and guards of the Northern Huqin in the east of the city were all killed, and none of them were spared."

"All dead" Zhang Chengfang was a little dumbfounded, and asked in disbelief, "Is this matter serious"

"When Xiao Jiajun really made a move, it really had a different reaction. ”

Zhang Chengfang was overjoyed, and the government suddenly seemed to come to life. Celebrate each other's lives after the catastrophe.

"Quickly inform the people of the city that the Xiao Jiajun will punish the Northern Hu Army outside the city, the Northern Hu Army will be annihilated, and we will win" Zhang Chengfang laughed a few times and arranged, "Follow me to the labor army outside the city"

Before he could leave the city, Zheng Qingluan led people into the city.

When the people of the city got the news, they spontaneously came to greet them, and the streets were lined with people kneeling to greet them. When people saw that half of the team was women and children, they were shocked and felt incredible, such a team wiped out more than 20,000 people in Beihu overnight. And the dignified Zhenbei Army, known as 30,000 people, only dared to cower in Hanyang City. Comparing the two, the former is so respectable, and the latter is so hateful.

Zheng Qingluan deliberately brought people to the city, just to let everyone be a witness, Xiao Jiajun did not come, just women and children, as long as there is the testimony of the people, she is not afraid of anyone splashing dirty water, she really wants to see who dares to make public anger at this time

This raging fire also made Zheng Qingluan leave a strong mark in the annals of history