"Impossible! When pigs fly! ”

Rushed to the south of the city to return to the foot of Yanfeng, in the barracks in the wall, Pu Zitong was furious: "The sentinels are out, there is no trace of the crossing of the army within seventy miles south of Hengyang City, where are the 10,000 people besieging Changning County?" ”

After tossing for so long, where did Pu Zitong not get up and stare at the movements of the Fifth Military Camp?

The return from Guiyang Prefecture has not yet come, but Pu Zitong is very sure that there is no big army between Changning and Leiyang.

But Zhao Nian was disgraced, and after glancing at Zhan Huabi, he gritted his teeth and said: "The last general's words are true, and the last general's subordinates can testify." The last general didn't know where they came from, and none of the Tang cavalry sentinels outside the city sent back the news, and the army suddenly approached from Xiangshui in the north to the north and west of Changning. Further south, there are more than 1,000 Jinyi guards. The west gate was suddenly blown open by the city's fine work, and if the last general walked slowly, he was afraid that the whole army would be wiped out. ”

Pu Zitong's face was extremely ugly, could he blow up the West City Gate so easily?

He glanced at Zhan Huabi, but Zhao Nian was Zhan Huabi's old department after all.

"There are 1,050 defenders in Changning County, and you just fled like this, and only brought back more than 300 people?" Zhan Huabi also felt incredible, "As soon as you started the battle, you ran away from the east gate in less than half an hour?" ”

But Zhao Nian looked embarrassed and ashamed, but he said: "The west gate has been broken, and the enemy army has poured into the city like a tide. Jinyi Wei is a good rider, and the end will be really ......"

Pu Zitong really wanted to behead him like this.

Not only was he defeated, but he also dragged the remnants of the army back to exaggerate the elusiveness and strength of the enemy army, and confuse the morale of his army.

But he had to take care of Zhan Huabi's feelings.

Zhan Huabi could read the killing intent in Pu Zitong's eyes, this was his request, and he was asking Zhan Huabi's opinion.

Changning County was lost, Hengyang City lost its barrier in the southwest, and Pu Zitong had a reason to behead Dan Zhaonian.

But the situation has changed abruptly, and there can be no conflict between Pu Zitong and Zhan Huabi.

Before, Pu Zitong had already expressed some suspicions, and Zhan Huabi should give him an explanation now.

"The enemy army from Xiangshui is only afraid that it is Baoqingwei after resting, or Yongdingwei and Chenzhouwei who rushed to Hengzhou." Zhan Huabi first gave Dan Zhaonian a step, and then said to Pu Zitong, "Gu Shilong has been waiting for them for nearly a month, and the counties in the south are all in danger at this moment." We have two guards and two institutes, after all, it is still difficult to stabilize the entire territory of Hengzhou and Chenzhou. The governor of the capital, Chenzhou, Yongxing, and Leiyang have to be guarded! ”

It sounds like he's just analyzing the situation, but Pu Zitong understands that Zhan Huabi wants to protect but Zhaonian.

Now that the army from the south has arrived, Hengyang City must make a decision. Shrink the defense and survive this winter, as long as Hengyang City and Leishui do not lose, there will still be a turnaround.

But at this time, you must not kill the defeated generals in front of the battle, nor do you divide your troops to rescue. Otherwise, the army will be uncertain and defeated.

There are more than 300 remnants of the army, and being able to come back is also to enhance the defensive strength of Hengyang City. Moreover, he Zhan Huabi had already lost more than 1,000 officers and soldiers in the first war.

Pu Zitong stared at Zhan Huabi for a while, and then said: "Zhan Dudu, if the enemy army is allowed to easily gather in the south of Hengyang City and occupy the upper reaches of Xiangshui and Leishui, it will be really difficult to hold Hengyang!" At the very least, Shuikou Cottage Fort can't afford to lose. Don't worry, Gu Shilong didn't dare to attack rashly, and the west gate of Hengyang City was not so easy to break! ”

After that, he turned around and walked into the city: "Order the defenders of Guang'an and Guiyang Prefecture to return to Chenzhou, and order Ningxi to increase troops in Leiyang through Linwu Chenzhou!" ”

Looking at Pu Zitong's back, Zhan Huabi turned around and looked at Dan Zhaonian with a calm face after a while.

Anyway, he didn't surrender, but he fled all the way back with more than 300 people.

Shuikou Mountain is the confluence of Chunling Water and Xiangshui, and it is only more than 30 miles away from Hengyang City.

The soldiers are very fast, and the imperial army that took Changning County is afraid that tomorrow it will set off to attack the Shuikou Cottage Fort, and take a peek back to Yanfeng and the Leishui camp on the shore of Yanhu Lake in the southeast of the city.

The meaning of Puzi's call was to ask him Zhan Huabi to come to the front line in person to resist the army that took Changning County, at least to contain them, and not to cut off the most critical Leishui line in the south of Hengzhou Mansion.

The defenders in Hengyang City must also have a completely unified command, and he Pu Zitong can't always care about Zhan Huabi's existence.

It's all grasshoppers on a rope, and Zhan Huabi quickly made a decision.

"Take a break and lead the troops to follow me overnight." Zhan Huabi gave Dan Zhaonian an order, and then went to chase Pu Zitong.

Outside the Huiyan Gate, Zhan Huabi bowed down on one knee: "The last general asks for his life, and leads five hundred soldiers and Dan Zhaonian's troops to reinforce Shuikou Mountain, and he will not make it lose!" ”

Pu Zitong stood with his back to him for a while, then turned around and helped him up with both hands, and said solemnly: "Brother Zhan, Hengyang Zhinan, please!" ”

After Zhan Huabi stood up, he said another sentence frankly: "But under Zhao Nian, Brother Zhan still has to investigate, beware of fraud!" ”

"The last will understand."

Pu Zitong didn't say it before, so he couldn't be suspicious in front of so many people, but Zhao Nian surrendered first, and then fled with his troops, which is really detailed, right?

Just one reason: how could Changning County lose it so quickly?

……

However, the "remnants of the defeated generals" brought back by Zhaonian can only temporarily stay outside the walled gate on Huiyan Peak.

The torches were swaying, although they were defeated comrades, but after all, they were also comrades, and some hot porridge was prepared for them in Hengyang City.

Zhan Huabi waited for his five hundred personal soldiers to gather, he glanced at Dan Zhaonian, and then asked him to form a team.

is Chang Dewei's officers and soldiers, although he can't recognize all of them, but he has a roster in hand.

But Zhao Nian saw that Zhan Huabi also led a few people out, and identified the people he brought back with him, and he already understood what was going on.

He was a little embarrassed, but he didn't dare to say anything.

Zhan Huabi recognized some of the deputy thousand households, hundred households, and flag officials under Dan Zhaonian's command, and most of the people these people brought back were people who were usually very trusted around them.

Except for more than 20 people who got together in addition.

"He's Jin Yihua?"

But when Zhao Nian heard the question, he hurriedly replied: "After the last general arrives in Changning, the recruited townspeople are headed by Jin Yihua. By the grace of the Governor and the Governor, he is the Jin Yihua who has given the position of a hundred households. ”

Zhan Huabi looked at Jin Yihua, who was a little restrained and apprehensive, and then looked at the twenty or so people behind him who were also cowering: "You tell me about the battle of Changning." ”

“…… The little one doesn't know how to speak, it's just ......"

Jin Yihua didn't seem to have gotten rid of the mentality of being a commoner in the past, or he was too frightened in front of Zhan Huabi at the moment, and his mouth was "small".

But the battle process he said was no different from what Dan Zhaonian reported, except for some more details after escaping from the east gate.

There were only more than 300 people in the east of the city and more than 200 people brought by Dan Zhaonian who had time to escape.

Subsequently, a team of 300 horsemen of the Jinyi Captain chased and killed. For this reason, there is also a deputy thousand households who died in battle.

“…… I have chased the little ones all the way for more than ten miles, and if they continue to chase and kill, the little ones may not survive Hengyang City. ”

People run away with their legs, where can they escape the cavalry and chase them all the way?

Zhan Huabi squinted his eyes and looked at Dan Zhaonian: "Since there are more than 10,000 troops as you said, even if you want to appease Changning City, where do you care about 300 fewer people?" Why didn't they chase you all the way? ”

"At that time, the last general and others had already arrived near the Shuikou Cottage Fort." But that's all Zhao Nian can say.

Zhan Huabi didn't ask anymore, he knew most of the people, this was one of them.

Second, when Hengyang City is extremely vigilant, since these people will not be arranged to enter the city, it will not harm Hengyang City.

Third, the more than 300 remnants of soldiers who lost their armor and abandoned their armor could not make any waves in front of his 500 personal soldiers.

"Let's go!"

Seeing that the people he wanted had already come over, Zhan Huabi acted resolutely.

All the way south, it is natural to see if what this remnant army said is true. When he arrives at Shuikou Mountain, the reward of going to the vicinity of Changning County to investigate the battlefield situation will also come.

In the night, more than 1,000 people left Huiyan Peak and walked south along the bank of Xiangshui.

The torches were clustered into a long line, and the front and rear and the two wings of the pond horses were spread out for about three miles, as a marching guard.

What Zhan Huabi needs now is a quick march and rush to Shuikou Cottage Fort as soon as possible.

More than 30 miles, if the march is normal, it will take a day to ensure that everyone must follow the team with all tails.

Zhan Huabi went to the front line to supervise the battle, in addition to the 500 personal soldiers and more than 300 remnants of Dan Zhaonian, there were also people who transported heavy baggage in the team.

Since the enemy army has appeared in Changning, they must always be on guard against a sneak attack.

Fortunately, the scale of this army is not large, and it is close enough to Hengyang City at the moment, and there are also many walled forts along the Xiangshui River, so Zhan Huabi can appropriately speed up some speeds.

By the time we arrived at Shuikou Cottage Fort, it was already slightly bright.

In advance, there were pro-soldiers who took Zhan Huabi's military orders and cards to Shuikou Cottage Fort, and at this moment they saw Zhan Huabi personally leading troops to help, and the guards in Shuikou Cottage Fort were very happy.

Seeing him open the door of the village, Zhan Huabi sank his face: "The enemy army is close to the left, why are you so slack?" ”

Although he is his old subordinate, even if he has to greet himself, how can he not bring some soldiers out to guard him?

"Don't worry, after the last general received the military order from Hengyang City, the Tang cavalry scattered for fifteen miles, and there was no trace of the enemy all night."

Zhan Huabi could only remind him to be on guard, and then entered Shuikou Cottage Castle.

He was also very tired from the night of rapid marching.

It's just that at this moment, it is still necessary to supervise the men and horses and grain and grass to enter the camp first.

Then there is a bit of a tricky problem: in terms of official position, but Zhao Nian is a garrison and guerrilla general in Changning, which is already higher than the guard general of this Shuikou cottage fort who was promoted to Zhengqianhu.

Now that I'm in charge here, it's naturally no problem to command. But how to arrange the soldiers below, especially Dan Zhaonian?

Within a day, they first fled to Hengyang and then marched here overnight, looking at the exhausted Dan Zhaonian's subordinates, Zhan Huabi decided to let them rest for three hours first, and then rearrange the guarding matters and personnel arrangements of Shuikou Cottage Fort.

He himself rested for just over an hour, and then got up to inspect all parts of the fort.

Not far away is the confluence of Xiangshui and Chunling water. The fort is located on a small hillside on the north bank of the river, and the enemy army, whether coming from the south or from the west, needs to cross the Xiangshui to the north bank.

If you can't win, then the transfer of grain and grass will always be very troublesome.

To encircle the south of Hengyang City, it is always impossible to avoid Xiangshui, and it is impossible to avoid several walled forts along the Xiangshui River in the south of Hengyang City.

Originally, there were only 300 officers and soldiers stationed in this Shuikou cottage fort, plus 500 people, but now the size of the staff has rapidly increased to nearly three times, and after dawn it began to work in the local area.

The rudimentary barracks and the need to build another wall on the perimeter were to be done before the enemy attacked.

Fortunately, backed by Xiangshui, many materials have not stopped being delivered in the past few months. Puzitong was not stingy for the "passage of life" in the south, and the direction of Hengyang City and the Chenzhou Mansion in the south were constantly transporting wood, grain, and military materials here.

Zhan Huabi's attention was always on the west and south, and he was also waiting for the return of the investigation.

After a while, he couldn't help but call the original guard of Shuikou Cottage Fort.

"That's what you said about fifteen miles last night without seeing any trace of the enemy?" Zhan Huabi's face sank like water, "The rangers sent out to investigate on the road last night have not come here until now!" ”

“…… The last general is wronged, if the governor doesn't believe it, the last will let those who went out to investigate last night come to report! ”

Zhan Huabi was too lazy to listen.

Whether they really went to investigate far away, or heard that Changning County had been beaten down, and it was not certain that they would find a closer place to nest and then come back.

In the dark of night, who knows if they are seriously investigating?

On the contrary, it is a person among his own soldiers, Zhan Huabi can be trusted.

Now, a total of twenty-five people in the five groups have not returned, a fact that makes Zhan Huabi feel very frightened.

But Zhao Nian is afraid that he is really not afraid of nonsense, to catch every ranger who investigates intelligence in the vast area, how many people will have to be scattered in the direction of Changning?

It is very passive to not be able to detect the direction of their next attack.

At five o'clock, Zhan Huabi finally waited for someone, but it was not the sentinel he sent out.

On both sides of the Xiangshui River, more than a mile away from Shuikou Cottage Fort, more than 100 riders appeared.

On the wall, Zhan Huabi heard the heavy and suppressed breathing of his subordinates.

In the distance, there were more than 200 horsemen who did not move.

Some sat firmly on their horses, looking at this side; Some were leading their horses and drinking water by the river.

But their leisurely posture creates a very heavy sense of oppression.

Because they are all in flying fish suits.

It's far away, and you can't see the details, only vague dots.

But the uniform attire, which is very different from the uniform color of ordinary officers and soldiers in the Ming Dynasty, can still make Zhan Huabi, the original senior generals of the Ming Dynasty, recognize at a glance.

“…… Dudu, maybe Luo An is among them. ”

Hearing someone speak carefully, Zhan Huabi heard his jealousy.

Those who were brought out by the commander of the Jinyi Guard were naturally the elite of the elite in the Jinyi Guard.

It sounded like he was instigating Zhan Huabi to send someone to chase and kill, but he was actually afraid.

The commander of the Jinyi Guard has arrived, where is the army in the direction of Changning now?

“…… Speed up the construction of the wall, distribute dry food, and let everyone eat first! ”

On the one hand, he was spurring the people to work, and on the other hand, he was letting his subordinates fill their stomachs, and Zhan Huabi didn't know when the vicious war would start.

But Zhao Nian and the people under him were also shouted, and began to cook with bloodshot eyes that were not sleeping well.

Not far away, Luo An was indeed there.

Unlike Zhan Huabi, Luo An is expected to have a telescope.

Although the effect was very poor, he vaguely saw the situation on the wall of the Shuikou cottage.

"Look at it, is that Zhan Huabi?"

Luo An handed the telescope to one of his subordinates.

He hadn't seen Zhan Huabi, but someone did.

The one holding the telescope was He Quanan, who was called the second brother by Yan Chunsheng.

And now, Jinyi Weihu Guang walked Huang Yanzhong, and Si Cong all appeared here.

"It's him."

He Quanan nodded affirmatively.

"I didn't see it, but Zhao Nian." After Luo An finished speaking lightly, he instructed him, "You continue to star, and when you see Dan Zhaonian, you will speak." ”

"The commander is assured, but if Zhao Nian goes to Hengyang, he will definitely not be able to enter the city. Since Zhan Huabi has come here, he wants to protect Dan Zhaonian and personally guard the south. ”

He Quanan's tone was very confident, and Si Cong looked at the boss of the newly established secret service in the brocade guard with some awe.

It's really a scary character.

Among the many leaders of Jinyiwei, in terms of terrifyingness, I am afraid that Wang Zuo is the first, and then this He Quan'an.

In terms of talent, Luo An is far inferior to these two, and I am afraid that he is not even as good as Liu Zhenyuan and others.

After leaving Changsha with He Quanan, Si Cong felt every operation of He Quanan up close.

It is calculated that Pu Zitong will not let them enter the city to bewitch others, it is calculated that Pu Zitong will only kill them on the banks of Xiangshui in the north of the city or Xiangshui in the east of the city, and if Yan Chunsheng succeeds, he will definitely take action.

is so bold that even if it is not on the Aoba Bridge and not by Yan Chunsheng, he is confident that he will escape.

That's in the midst of the rebels!

Every day Si Cong follows him, he is playing with his life.

But He Quanan has been playing successfully, after going ashore in Leijiabu, with the cover of the fleeing people formed by Gu Shilong's attack on Hengshan City, they also fled into Hengshan City, and then went to Tang Peiyu's camp.

Then, when Tang Peiyu heard that the "Jinyi Guard Commander" had come to surrender in person, he couldn't help but see He Quanan.

At this meeting, Tang Peiyu was fully armed, leaving ten personal soldiers, and He Quanan was unarmed, but He Quanan made Tang Peiyu desperate with one mouth, three addresses and two special names.

Those three addresses are the small retreats that Tang Peiyu arranged as early as the beginning of the year when the king of Chu died to avoid trouble.

Two names, one is Yan Chunsheng and the other is Dan Zhaonian.

Now, He Quanan took Tang Peiyu's handwritten letter to Changning, and Luo An personally gave it to Dan Zhaonian, who was actually Tang Peiyu's illegitimate son, and finally dared to surrender with confidence after reading the emperor's handwritten will.

Now it's time to reap the big fruits.

The three hundred captains of Jinyiwei are here, Luo An and He Quanan are on the front line, can you let this Shuikou Village give Pu Zitong a big surprise from the south?

"Command, but Zhao Nian also came out, he is really here!"

Luo An perked up and took a telescope to look over.

"Don't wait! Let the brothers on the other side cross the river! ”

In Zhan Huabi's sight, he only saw the more than 100 brocade guards on the south bank of Xiangshui going to Xiangshui first in the direction of Changning City, but the more than 100 brocade guards on the north bank of Xiangshui still stopped in place.

"We have a day's time!" Zhan Huabi said categorically, "Send a message to Hengyang City, the enemy army on the other side of Changning should come over today, and they will start pulling out my Shuikou Village tonight." I am the bait, and the Metropolitan Governor can divide at least 3,000 troops to defeat the enemy army in Changning! The defenders of the coastal fort can be deployed to encircle. Tell the Governor that even if there are more than 10,000 troops, I can hold on for at least seven days! ”

The more than 100 brocade guards in the distance were like wolves staring at their prey, and they were waiting for more people to come.

But Zhao Nian stood behind Zhan Huabi and didn't say a word.

(End of chapter)