Externally, the three most famous armies in Western Xia should be the Poxi Army, Bubazi, and Iron Harrier.

However, except for the number of foot soldiers exceeding 10,000, the number of both the Poxi Army and the Iron Harrier is not large. In particular, the Poppy Army, a deadly weapon that used Bactrian camels as mounts and mounted small stone throwers, was almost invincible on the battlefield. But with only 200 troops, can the Poxi Army influence a war of tens of thousands, hundreds of thousands, or even hundreds of thousands?

No.

The Iron Harrier has more troops, only three thousand.

The real main combat corps in Western Xia has to say that the Zhuoluo Army.

For the officers and men of the Western Army, although it is gratifying to hit the elite of Western Xia, it is more important to hit the main force of Western Xia. This is the dream of the soldiers of the Western Army.

The army passed by Gyeongju, and the general folded Keshi to meet and sent 3,000 guards, and the strong chapter was beautiful.

There are also Li Zhongjie, Zhu Zhi and other generals, who sent the personal guards led by the children of the family, although there are not many people, which makes Zhang Ji very happy. Because the team has grown a lot. Zhang Kai can enjoy the love of the soldiers of the Western Army so much, I have to say that his talent in employing people and scheduling is convincing: "What a hero?!" ”

Say not envy, this is impossible, Liu Yannian looked at Zhang Qi's prestige among the generals of the Western Army from afar. I thought that if I had such a strong appeal.

Forget it, he just thinks about it.

Although they are all small units such as pro-guards, their combat effectiveness is not bad.

The army passed by Sanchuankou, and the guard general Chen Qi saw the banner of Zhang Qi from a distance at the head of the city, and hurriedly ran down from the top of the city, and greeted him with his personal guards.

"Marshal, you're here!"

Zhang Qi has become accustomed to this tone, and the generals of the Western Army have indeed been aggrieved in recent days. Since he left the northwest, and then Fan Chun was also transferred out of Huanqing Road, many conservative officials have left one after another, and the newly arranged officials of the reform faction have not yet passed the run-in period. There were also reasons for not adapting to the war, and they were too conservative and procrastinating in handling military affairs, which almost allowed the Western Xia army to attack into the northwest hinterland.

At that time, the civil officials will definitely be fine, and the unlucky ones are still the generals.

Zhang Qi laughed heartily, and secretly thought proudly in his heart: It is said that people go to tea and cool, and now that he has returned to the northwest after half a year's absence, the generals below still regard him as the head of the horse. It seems that these boys didn't make a mistake in the first place.

"Chen Qi, you Sanchuankou has not been attacked?"

However, Zhang Qi came to fight the Western Xia people, and military affairs came first. Although Chen Qi's ability is very average, his official position is not high. But Zhang Kai still recognized the other party at a glance, and this love that put all the soldiers in his heart increased Zhang Kai's prestige among the generals of the Western Army a lot.

Hearing Zhang Qi's inquiry, Chen Qi's face changed slightly. Yan'an Mansion on Dunyan Road has been made into a pot of porridge, but his Sanchuankou is in Yan'an Mansion, but it has been calm during the real war. It's not that it can be said that the wind is calm, a few days ago, I thought that more than 1,000 friendly troops came, but I didn't expect it to be bandits, who took more than half of his military salary from the Sanchuankou treasury, and 4,000 soldiers were waiting for him to pay his military salary? But the money was gone. Let Chen Qi become the head of the party, waiting for the critical time after the war, to become the help of his promotion. It wouldn't be too bad if it was over.

After all, it was Chen Qi who took the initiative to ask to buy the military merit head brought by Li Kui from Pingrong Village, but the price and quantity of Chen Qi's opening made Li Kui very dissatisfied. The stingy look, which can make a few bucks, simply makes Chen Qi a lot of blood. At that time, although Chen Qi was in pain, he was full of confidence in the military merits he had in exchange. The head of the party is still very fragrant in the Western Army.

It is not difficult to promote a mid-level official with a few hundred heads.

But this deal made Chen Qi lose money, and he was about to lose all his pants. Who would have thought that in the next half month, Li Kui would suppress the heads of the former hard currency party soldiers in the Western Army into the price of cabbage.

The Tanguts lost nearly 40,000 people in Jinmingzhai, of which almost 30,000 were folded in the hands of Li Kui.

In this way, it is already good that a few hundred heads can only keep their official positions, let alone such a beautiful thing as promotion. Although he hated it in his heart, Chen Qi still had to pretend to be happy for Jin Mingzhai's victory. But the question is, is he happy?

was asked coldly by Zhang Qi, Chen Qi's heart was like a knife, and he said with a crying voice: "Dashuai, the party members have withdrawn." ”

"Withdrawn?"

Zhang Qi stroked his beard and said to himself: "It seems that it is a problem caused by the lack of food and grass, so Jin Mingzhai has been saved?" ”

Chen Qi frowned and secretly glanced at Zhang Qi, as well as Liu Yannian behind Zhang Qi, and nodded vigorously: "Keep it, it's all ...... Save. ”

That's right, it's just that Ai Ai's voice sounds frustrating, and Zhang Qixin said: It seems that the loss of Dun Yanlu is too great, and it has made the officers and soldiers of Dun Yanlu unbearable. Zhang Qi also looked behind Chen Qi, but didn't see Chen Qi's brother Chen Jue. He also thought that Chen Qi's younger brother was gone.

Why is it gone?

Of course, it was misfortuned by the Tangut people.

He patted Chen Qi on the shoulder and said sympathetically: "Mourning is smooth!" ”

When Chen Qi heard this, tears immediately fell, and there were many misfortunes in life. For example, the money is gone, but the person is still alive. This is the situation of their brothers now, and if they want to fill the vacancy in military salaries, they have to sell their property, otherwise the soldiers below will definitely rebel. If the forbidden army led by their brother mutinied, not only would there be no money, but even no life.

Now it is only the belongings accumulated over the years that have made up for the shortfall, which is already relatively lucky.

After Chen Qi wiped his face, he said to Zhang Qi: "The humble post has not yet congratulated the marshal on presiding over the Western Army, and the humble post is happy, woo, happy!" The humble post has already prepared water and wine in the city to wash away the dust for the handsome. The handsome inside, please. ”

Zhang Qi is an empathetic old man, Chen Qi is sad at the moment, he goes to chatter, and he wants to make Chen Qi smile, it is really not a kind person.

The old man immediately refused: "Although the Western Xia army retreated, I am afraid that there are still many Western Xia troops in Yan'an Mansion. Jinmingzhai is already the hinterland of Yan'an Mansion, and if the Xixia people are not driven out of Yan'an Mansion as soon as possible, I am afraid that there will be many dreams at night. Chen Qi, I won't go to your Sanchuankou today, and when I return from victory in the coming day, I will come to ask for a glass of water and wine. ”

Zhang Qi immediately got on the horse, without any politeness, and directly led the team towards Fu Shi.

On the way, Liu Yannian was puzzled and asked: "Dashuai, it's not that the crisis in Jinmingzhai has been solved, why did you rush to Fushi." Wouldn't it be better for our army to rest for a day or two at the mouth of the mountains and rivers to recuperate? ”

Without the rescue crisis, Liu Yannian was also happy. The march also lost its sense of urgency, but persuaded Zhang Ji to rest more.

But Zhang Qi thought more: "I'm wondering why the Western Xia people retreated so without warning." Could it be that the news of Huanqing Road reached Jinming Village. It is not necessarily justified that it is just a matter of food supply. The Western Xia army went all the way south, and must have captured some of the treasury of our Great Song Dynasty. There will not be too much shortage of military rations. Now that the Western Xia offensive has not entered a decline, will it lure our army to recover the stockade that was broken by the Western Xia army by withdrawing troops? ”

"You know, if you lose the stockade, the generals below will be held accountable. Once the Privy Council is condemned, many people will be unlucky. ”

Speaking of this, Zhang Ji paused, and then said: "But the consequences of rash pursuit are also very serious. Once our army is anxious, is used by the party members, and is dragged by ambushes, not only the Jinmingzhai crisis, but also the entire Yan'an Mansion may be occupied by the Western Xia people. If the situation is really so unfavorable, the entire Yongxing military road will be divided into two by Western Xia, and our army will not be able to take care of each other, and it will turn passive in an instant. ”

Liu Yannian woke up and said, "The situation won't collapse like this, right?" ”

Zhang Ji sighed: "Who knows? Huanqing Lu had always had an advantage over the right flank attack of Western Xia before the old man left. Before, the party members did not dare to send a large army across Mubo Town. But you see, the party members not only crossed the town of Mubo, but also almost reached Gyeongju. ”

Liu Yannian sighed: "It's not your fault, Dashuai. ”

"yes, it's not my fault. It's certainly not the fault of the elder brother, but the situation we have created in the past ten years has been ruined, do you know the danger? Zhang Qi said melancholy: "The old man is not in his position and can't seek his own government, but can't you stick to your own ideas and fight for the Western Army?" ”

"It's hard!"

Liu Yannian also wants to fight for it, but the problem is that some things are not fought for, and good results can be obtained.

This is the sorrow of the generals of the Western Army.

After planting, there are no more famous generals in the Western army who can dominate. Liu Yannian is also relying on his high status, if he raises his arms and shouts, except for his own subordinates, it is estimated that there will be few people to follow. As for Gao Zunyu, this is the uncle of the Empress Dowager Xuanren Gao, the uncle and grandfather of Emperor Shenzong, and the top imperial relatives of the Zheng 28 Classics. But to say that the prestige in the Western Army is still much worse than that of the plant.

"Forget it, let's stop this matter. Now the most important thing is to go to Fushi City, Ziyou is also the head of the civil officials in the northwest today, and he should take his due responsibility. ”

Not to mention that Zhang Qi marched day and night here, and arrived at Fushi City two days later.

According to Zhang Qi's estimate, Yan'an Mansion should be in a mess, even if the Western Xia army has retreated, there will be no orderly peace. But what surprised him was that he camped the army outside the city, and immediately brought Liu Yannian and other generals into the city. However, it was found that the city did not look like a city in a war zone at all, but was thriving, with merchants and caravans shuttling between the city gates, and all kinds of goods piled up.

But soon, it will be bought by the soldiers with deep pockets.

This made Zhang Qi think that he was in the wrong place, rubbed his eyes, looked up at the words under the gate of Fushi City, and said in his heart: "That's right! It's the city of Fushi. ”

It stands to reason that in a city that has just experienced a strategy, the funeral procession alone is upsetting. But today's skin city has become a prosperous market.

And the spending power is amazing, Zhang Qi has lived a lot of years, and he has never seen such a bizarre situation. With doubts, Zhang Qi entered the city.

After entering the city, it is even more amazing, and the market is full of people who can see that it is a transaction of river horses. And the price is low, even Liu Yannian couldn't help but feel itchy, and whispered to Zhang Qi: "Dashuai, I want to buy some war horses." ”

Ordinary people can't see it, and a general like Liu Yannian can see at a glance that these horses are not simple.

Basically, they are all Western Xia war horses, and there are also some pack horses, but the number is not large. It stands to reason that the captured Western Xia war horses are definitely not allowed to be traded. There was a serious shortage of war horses in the Great Song Dynasty, especially good horses from Western Xia and Qingtang, which were even more scarce. Any sale of military horses will be banned by the government.

But there are policies at the top, and there are countermeasures at the bottom.

Wounded horses are not among them, because most of the wounded horses cannot be raised. Even if it does, it may be useless. A war horse with a broken leg and a war horse with an arrow are wounded horses.

But the former lost any role in the army. But the latter, as long as it is carefully cared for, once raised, has no difference in value from an intact war horse.

The soldiers sold this kind of 'wounded horse' that came down from the battlefield, the kind of war horse that was not difficult to raise well and could bring great benefits and benefits to the merchants.

"You belong to that business, how can you sell military horses without permission, what crime should you be guilty of?"

Zhang Qi angrily pointed to a young man led by the business and questioned, and the other party obviously expressed a certain amount of surprise at Zhang Qi's appearance. After all, their business is going well. An injured horse only costs about one hundred and fifty in today's Fushi City, but once it is raised and transported to the Central Plains, it can be multiplied tenfold.

There is no pressure to do this business, and there are customs clearance documents from the Xuanfu envoy of Yan Yanlu, as long as the veterinarians do not drop the chain, the final net profit of six or seven times will definitely not run.

And the person who monopolized this business was Qiu Xuanhuai, the shopkeeper of Shaanxi Sixth Road of Huitong Qianzhuang, and his father was Qiu Mingren, the big shopkeeper of Huitong Qianzhuang. Of course, his father couldn't help him do a war horse business in the northwest. And Qiu Xuanhuai's backer in Fushi City is none other than Li Kui.

In the face of the sudden spoiler, Qiu Xuanhuai showed a steady and unfazed bearing, and did not panic: "This lord may have misunderstood, this number is a business name approved by the Xuanfu Yamen, and the war horse purchased is also an injured war horse. Many of these horses are meat horses that were transported to the Central Plains and sent to the soup pot for slaughter, and there are no war horses as my husband said. ”

As far as Zhang Kai's identity is concerned, who in the northwest dares to fool him with prevarication?

Huitong Qian Zhuang Zhang Ji knew that he had also seen the grandeur of this money village in the Daimyo's Mansion. But in the northwest, there seems to be no semicolon of the bank! At least before Zhang Qi left the northwest, the branch of Huitong Qianzhuang had not yet opened.

But the shopkeeper of this Huitong Money Village seemed to be able to eat him, so he bullied him and couldn't see the difference between a war horse and a pack horse. Talking nonsense to Zhang Qi, an old man who knows a lot about the army, opened his mouth.

Zhang Qi snorted coldly and stared at the other party with bright little eyes, Qiu Xuanhuai said in his heart, even if you are blind, it is useless. After a long time, he gritted his back molars and asked, "What kind of injury is this horse?" ”

"If you hit your knee, you may have hurt your hoof tendons!" Qiu Xuanhuai rolled his eyes and said.

Zhang Qi was so angry that he couldn't do it, the hoof tendons of your war horse turned out? met an uninformed literati, and really deceived him. But who is he? A sharp-eyed and powerful man can coax a profiteer's words to pass, and there is no door. A cold snort erupted from his nasal cavity, and Zhang Qi asked, "But is it a mortal disease?" ”

"If the wound doesn't heal, you won't live for three months." Will Qiu Xuanhuai be afraid of an old man who suddenly appeared? If he hadn't seen Zhang Qi's extraordinary bearing, it would have been impossible to deal with the other party at all. Nonsense, in three months, the whole horse's leg will be rotten, and it will still survive?

Zhang Qi asked again: "What about this horse?"

"An arrow in the buttocks, maybe a poisoned arrow, maybe I'll die tomorrow."

"A faction of speechless, simply a bunch of nonsense."

Zhang Qi said angrily to Liu Yannian behind him: "The old man will go to meet this Lu Huiqing for a while today to see why he dares to be bold?" ”

went straight to the government office of Yan'an Mansion, Zhang Qi stopped the official who was going to make a confession, and walked straight into the yamen. Under the corridor between the second hall and the garden, Zhang Ji seemed to hear someone talking, and after taking two steps, he stopped and listened quietly.

Sometimes I can't help but shake my head.

Sometimes frowning.

After a long time, the person who spoke had already reached the end, pointed to Yutu and said: "Gong Lu, Uncle Ancestor, although it is not the best preparation for the destruction of Western Xia, it is the most suitable time to destroy Western Xia. ”

Hearing this, Zhang Qi couldn't hold back any longer, stepped into the pavilion in the garden, pointed to the black boy who opened his mouth and asked, "Boy, let me ask you, where is the sore spot in Western Xia?" ”

The black boy didn't even think about it, and sneered directly: "Yokoyama! ”

Zhang Qi's eyes lit up, and then he said: "Tiandu!" ”

Then the two said in unison: "One line." ”

Connected together, it is - a line of Hengshan Tiandu.

Zhang Qi immediately laughed heartily: "Black boy, it's a bit of a good thing, it's not bad." ”

Li Kui had already recognized the identity of the other party, and there were only three or five people in the northwest who could wear purple official robes, and Zhang Qi was undoubtedly the most capable one. He took two steps closely, bowed down and said, "Junior student Li Kui, I have seen Bachelor Zhang!" ”