Han Zhen asked, "Can there be reinforcements in the rear?" ”

The spy replied truthfully: "There are no reinforcements!" ”

Hearing this, Han Zhen's eyes lit up, and he asked again: "Is the Western Army too heavy, and what is the speed of the march?" ”

"The baggage convoy was about 100 vehicles, 30,000 people, and there were no tools such as plows, so the march was slow, about 30 miles a day." The scout estimated.

"What is the range of Western Army scouts?"

"Five miles!"

"Probe, report!"

After giving an order, Han Zhen ordered someone to call Nie Dong, Wei Da and others to summon them.

After telling the story of the Western Army, everyone's eyes lit up one by one, and they were eager to try.

Liu Qi couldn't wait to say: "County magistrate, the Western Army is alone in the depths, it's a godsend!" The last general can send a cavalry battalion to raid for a hundred miles! ”

"Battalion Commander Liu must not be rash in his life."

Nie Dong hurriedly persuaded: "The western army has infantry armor, a divine arm crossbow, and is extremely skilled in dealing with cavalry. ”

Han Zhen clapped his hands and said: "The lion fights the rabbit with all his might, and this is the first battle of my Qingzhou army, not only to win, but also to fight beautifully." ”

During this period of time, the people and officials of Qingzhou should be extremely tormented.

Han Zhen needs a beautiful first win to calm the people's hearts.

Secondly, they had not fought with the Western Army before, and there was no way to know how many catties and taels the other party had.

Therefore, because of the above two considerations, Han Zhen chose a more secure way.

Taking out the map and unfolding it, Nie Dong pointed to a big mountain and said: "The last general thinks that Zhangqiu Mountain is watertight, and the Western Army has a lot of grain and grass, so he can only take the official road. We can travel lightly, rush to Hushan first, wait for work, and stop the Western Army! ”

Hushan is located about thirty miles outside Zhangqiu City, and their current location is only sixty miles away from Hushan, which can be reached before the Western Army.

Wei Da stared at the map and pondered for a long time, then nodded: "The last general seconded it." ”

Liu Qi also agreed: "This plan is feasible, our army has a plow in hand, give up heavy grain and grass, and can travel 80 miles a day." Hushan happened to have a large plain valley for cavalry charges. ”

Han Zhen pondered for a moment and said loudly: "Okay, the whole army will attack immediately!" ”

"Order!"

Nie Dong and the others looked excited, and they all responded with fists in unison.

For a time, the entire army began intensive pre-war preparations.

In addition to ordnance, firearms, and medical kits, each soldier only carried two days' dry rations, and the auxiliary army and the baggage grain and grass troops camped in place.

The climbing ploughs, oxen and horses, which were responsible for transporting heavy grain and grass, were used to transport soldiers.

Soldiers, you are fast!

An hour later, 11,000 foot soldiers, plus 4,500 heavily armored cavalry, headed straight for the western army.

The cavalry is still one man and four horses, and while marching rapidly, the physical strength of the cavalry and war horses is preserved to the greatest extent.

The foot soldiers rode on the plough and galloped through the snow.

Now, the snow that was originally two feet thick on the ground was only three or five inches thin, but it was extremely hard from the cold, and it creaked when stepping on it.

This kind of snow is just right for climbing the plow.

The climbing plow is a good thing, and once it was launched, it immediately received unanimous praise from Nie Dong and others.

At this moment, the usefulness of the climbing plough is once again revealed.

Three pack horses or two oxen could easily pull twenty soldiers, and the speed of travel was faster and less laborious than in ordinary days.

Of course, the army did not have so many oxen, horses and climbing plows, but it was difficult for Han Zhen.

The foot soldiers are divided into two groups and can be transferred in turns.

It not only ensures the speed of marching, but also saves the physical strength of soldiers.

……

The plough slid across the snow, making a grinding sound.

The cold wind howled, but the soldier's heart was on fire.

After so long of hard work, it's finally time to make a contribution.

Don't think that the Qingzhou Army has only been training for three or five months, and its combat strength will not be good.

In fact, the intensity of the training of ancient soldiers was directly related to their diet.

Take the Western Army as an example, seven minutes full every day, meat, oil and water are almost invisible, and protein supplementation depends on soybeans and tofu.

How strong is the exercise?

On the other hand, the Qingzhou Army, three dry meals a day, one meat meal three days, and when they don't eat meat, they will also ensure a certain amount of oil and water in the meal, as well as a lot of tofu.

The daily exercise is five hours a day and the intensity is extremely high.

It's a very simple truth, if you can't eat enough, where will you get the strength to practice?

It's good to be able to maintain normal body functions, and I also practice.

As for physical training, not to mention.

The results of the Qingzhou Army's training in the past three or five months can be compared to the training of the Western Army for three or five years!

Han Zhen sat on the climbing plow and discussed the specific details of the blockade with Nie Dong and the others.

The scouts in the scout battalion, every other hour, would relay back the movements of the Western army.

Every move of the Western Army was completely exposed to Han Zhen's eyes.

At the beginning, Han Zhen spent a lot of energy to set up a scout battalion, and even the various training methods when he was a soldier in his previous life were sorted out.

Nie Dong and the others didn't understand it at first, in their opinion, scouts were just a scout, just make do with it, and there was no need to invest so much energy.

However, after the last crusade against Zhang Wanxian, they finally understood the importance of the scout camp.

In an era of backward information transmission methods, an elite scout battalion can make the enemy army blind, and at the same time make itself feel like a full map.

In the evening, Han Zhen led his army to Hushan first.

As soon as the soldiers were ordered to set up camp, a scout came to report.

"Report, the Western Army is twenty miles away from our army and is camped in Chengjiazhuang."

"Probe, report!"

Han Zhen said, took Nie Dong, Wei Da and others with him, and began to make intensive preparations before the war.

……

……

Night.

A roaring bonfire burned, dispelling a hint of chill.

After a day of traveling in the ice and snow, the Western soldiers were physically and mentally exhausted, and at this moment they cowered in front of the campfire, took off their boots, and brought their frozen feet to the campfire.

In a house with blue bricks and red tiles, Liu Guangshi sat in the lobby, wearing a bearskin fur, enjoying meat porridge.

The three stoves emitted a wave of heat, and the cold wind howled outside, but the inside of the house was as warm as spring.

Liu Jianai is a party official, and the security army Liu.

Although the ancestor was a member of the party, Liu Guangshi was already the fourth generation and was completely sinicized.

At this moment, even if the army is marching and fighting, they still use gold bowls and silver chopsticks, showing luxury.

Born in Jiangmen, Liu Guangshi became an official with shade, and was promoted to lead the defense envoy, and Langyan Road was the commander of the soldiers and horses.

In the third year of Xuanhe, he followed his father Liu Yanqing to suppress the Fangla uprising, and was promoted to the Yaozhou Observation Envoy and the Yanyan Road Soldiers and Horses by virtue of his military exploits.

On the occasion of the expedition to Liao last year, he was promoted to the envoy of the Fengguo Army.

This position is not low, and he has really entered the ranks of senior military attachés.

As a result, during the raid on the city of Nanjing in the Liao State, Liu Guangshi breached the contract in fear of war, resulting in the defeat of Guo Yaoshi's army, and the failure of the northern expedition.

Song Huizong was furious and demoted him.

Therefore, this time to quell the rebellion, Liu Guangshi attached great importance to it, and tried every means to make military merits in an attempt to turn over.

The attack on Zhangqiu was snatched from the hands of a group of generals.

There are only two or three thousand thieves stationed in Zhangqiu City, which is almost a credit for nothing, who doesn't want to take it?

has a series of military exploits such as suppressing Zhang Di and pacifying the Black Mountain thieves, I think it should be possible to reinstate the official, and I can't say that it can go further.

Thinking of this, Liu Guangshi couldn't help but feel better.

After dinner and some explanations, he returned to the back house and slept beautifully.

Following.

The Western Army, which had rested overnight in Chengjiazhuang, set off again.

The weather is nice today, and the sun is high.

It's just that the sun shines on the body, but I don't feel the warmth at all, and the cold wind is like a long leg, and it goes straight into the cracks of the armor.

Zhao Hu tightened the sleeves on his body, only to feel that the whole person was about to be frozen, and he wanted to build a bonfire to warm his hands and feet, but he was worried about exposing himself.

Just when he hesitated, a proposal came from not far away: "Hulu, let's light a fire to warm up." ”

The spies of the Western Army have always been in groups of three, so that even if one person encounters an accident, the other two can send back the news in time.

The person who spoke was called Tuoba Goudan, and he was a party member.

Tuoba is the surname of the party, and there are not 100,000 people with the surname Tuoba, but 80,000.

For example, Liu Guangshi's ancestor was also surnamed Tuoba, and after sinicization, he changed his surname to Liu.

Hearing this, Zhao Hu moved for a while, but he shirked and said: "The smoke from the fire is easy to expose. ”

"Where this bird doesn't, there's not even a ghost, exposing a fart."

The other person rubbed his hands together and inhaled the cold air.

Tuoba Goudan urged: "That's it, hurry up and pick up some firewood to make a fire." ”

Zhao Hu muttered: "If you blame everything, I don't care." ”

"If you blame all the heads, I will bear it alone, will it be okay?" The other said impatiently.

"That's what you said!"

Zhao Hu was overjoyed, and went to collect firewood.

They were located halfway up a hill, with a wide view and a clear weather today, which allowed them to look down on the surrounding area for three to five miles.

The sun doesn't shine in the jungle, so the snow is very thick, and when you step on it, you don't reach your thighs.

Zhao Hushen stepped on the snow with one shallow foot and one foot shallow, looking for dead branches in all directions.

There is no shortage of dead branches in winter, and they can be burned when they are broken.

After a short time, Zhao Hu collected a large bundle.

"That's enough to burn for two hours."

Estimating that it was almost over, Zhao Hu turned around and prepared to go back.

Just as he turned around, a strong wind suddenly came from behind his head.

Under the thick snow, a black shadow suddenly burst out and rushed towards him.

……

After waiting for a while, he didn't see Zhao Hu come back, and Tuoba Goudan said with a white mist: "Why hasn't this guy come back yet, is it possible that he fell into the pit?" ”

The snow in the forest is thick and the terrain is complex, and you don't know if it's land or potholes under the snow.

"I'll take a look."

The other scout said and walked into the forest following the footprints left by Zhao Hu.

After half a cup of tea, Tuoba Goudan's brows couldn't help frowning slightly, and a bad premonition rose in his heart.

"The fifth, the fifth?"

Zheng!

In response to him, there were three tears of cloth tearing.

Not good!

Tuoba Dog's face changed, and before he could react, three arrows shot out.

Two of them were blocked by the cuirass, and the third arrow struck the throat with pinpoint accuracy, sending a spray of blood out of the body.

Bang!

The corpse of Tuoba Dogan lay on its back with a dull sound.

The next moment, three Qingzhou Army scouts wearing pure white cloaks slowly walked out of the forest.

The leader said in a deep voice: "The third child went back to report to the county magistrate, and the fifth child and I stayed here." ”

"Yes!"

A person behind him responded with a fist, and soon disappeared into the dense forest.

After descending the mountain, the scout took the horse from the hiding place and rode it all the way back to Hushan.

"County magistrate, the spies on the periphery of the Western Army have all been cleaned up."

"Well done!"

Han Zhen smiled slightly, turned his head and ordered: "Liu Qi, lead the cavalry battalion to ambush on both sides of the outer valley. ”

"The last general commands!"

Liu Qi replied excitedly.

With Nie Dong's former hundred battles of the Western Army, coupled with the observation of the past few days, the law of the Western Army scouts has been thoroughly figured out by them.

At present, this western army will set up three scouts on the way.

It is set up every two miles, and the farthest one is five miles away from the army, hidden in the commanding heights of all directions, and the movement within ten miles can be observed.

Scouts work in groups of three, and every three hours, they need to pass messages up the floor.

In other words, the large-scale army movement of the Qingzhou Army in the next two or three hours was completely unknown to the other party.

Looking at Liu Qi's departing back, Wei Da couldn't help but sigh: "I never thought that a small scout would be so useful. ”

Hearing this, Han Zhen smiled and said nothing.

The importance of information to war was answered as early as when Chu and Han were fighting, and the soldier immortal Han Xin had already given the answer.

Everyone in the world knows that Han Zhen is invincible, but few know that his invincible magic weapon is the perfect use of scouts.

Before each battle, Han Shin would send a large number of scouts and spies to monitor the enemy army from top to bottom.

How to transfer troops, how to supply grain and grass, and what is the morale of soldiers...... And so on, they all know it all in the palm of their hand.

In front of Han Xin, the enemy army was as if he had stripped naked, and there was no secret to speak of.

In this way, we can do it, win the battle, and conquer it!

Time passed little by little.

It was afternoon, and Luo Jing rode his horse and galloped in.

"County magistrate, the western army has arrived eight miles away, and it will arrive at Hushan before evening."

Hearing this, Han Zhen narrowed his eyes slightly, and ordered: "All arms for war!" ”

"Order!"

Nie Dong and Wei Da hugged their fists in response, turned around and began the final pre-battle preparations.

……

……

The sun sets in the west.

Liu Guangshi was riding on a horse, his face solemn.

Just now, the scouts came to report, and the scouts set up in the outermost part did not report at the appointed time.

If it's just one or two, the key is the five waves of spies in the direction of Zhangqiu, all of which are the same.

Wang De, a partial general on the side, reminded: "All the capitals, there must be something strange when things go wrong, and you must not guard against it." ”

This person is a son of a good family, and he volunteered to serve the army and serve the country.

At first, he served under Yao Gu's subordinates, and because of his fierce combat and courage like Yaksha, he got the nickname of King Yasha.

When Zhang Di was pacified before, he blocked the arrows for Liu Guangshi.

Liu Guangshi saw that he was brave and fierce, and he was grateful for saving his life, so he recruited him to his subordinates and became a partial general.

"Now that the main force of the Black Mountain thieves is besieged in Licheng and Xinshi, there are only three thousand anti-thieves in Zhangqiu City, how dare they take the initiative to attack?"

Deputy Commander Chen Jian paused slightly, and hesitated: "Could it be that he was attacked by bandits in the mountains?" ”

"There are many bandits in Shandong, but there is a possibility."

Liu Guangshi muttered: "Send scouts to Hushan to investigate, the army continues to advance, wait in the valley, and then find a place to camp for the night." ”

In fact, he doesn't think there's anything wrong.

Even if there is really an ambush by Black Mountain thieves, it is equivalent to giving him military merits for nothing, which can be regarded as an unexpected joy.

After a short time, the army continued on its way.

At the same time, a group of scouts rushed out of the army and headed straight for Hushan in front.

If viewed from above, the Hushan Mountains resemble a trumpet.

On the side of the Western Army, there was a flare, wide and wide.

Further in, it slowly tightens.

The 11,000 Qingzhou Army foot soldiers are located in the belly of the valley at this moment, forming a formation.

The heavily armored cavalry led by Liu Qi was ambushed in the mountains on both sides of the horn mouth.

Da-da-da-da!

A hurried sound of horses' hooves galloped in.

Luo Jing stood halfway up the mountain, watching more than a dozen Western Army scouts go straight to the valley.

Seeing this, a scout frowned and said, "Battalion commander, don't we have to intercept it?" ”

Luo Jing asked rhetorically, "Why do you want to stop it?" ”

The scout replied, "What if the army is arrayed in the valley, and if it is discovered by the Western scouts and the Western army flees?" ”

Hearing this, Luo Jing couldn't help but shake his head and smiled: "Not to mention whether the Western Army will escape, even if you want to escape, 10,000 soldiers, plus 30,000 prisoners of war, can you escape?" ”

Today's Luojing, after the baptism of war, is no longer the once ignorant peasant boy.

An army of 40,000 people, only a few miles apart, how can they escape?

I don't want any ordnance, food, grass and baggage, so I'll run away?

If this is the case, then there is no need for foot soldiers, as long as Battalion Commander Liu leads the cavalry battalion to pursue, 40,000 people can be slaughtered.

A foot soldier without armor is no different from a lamb in the eyes of the cavalry.

But if you bring an ordnance and baggage, you won't be able to run fast, and you will definitely be overtaken.

The armies of the two sides were twenty miles apart, and there was room for maneuver between them.

Within twenty miles, there is no way to avoid it!

"That's the way it is."

The scout nodded as if he didn't understand.

……

In the blink of an eye, more than a dozen Western army scouts had entered the valley.

The moment they entered the valley, the pupils of these scouts shrank suddenly, and they all froze the reins of their horses, and their faces were frightened.

I saw that in the hinterland of the valley, more than 10,000 Xuanjia troops set up a battle formation, waiting for the battle.

The black lacquered mountain armor reflects a chilling light in the setting sun.

Behind the neat shield wall, spears pointed diagonally to the sky.

A fierce aura hit their faces, causing the scouts to breathe.

A big pole, standing in the middle of the military formation, a huge Korean character is written on the Xuanxi flag!

"Quick, go back and report to the capital!"

After a brief moment of distraction, a dozen scouts immediately turned their horses around and galloped.

At this time, Liu Guangshi led the army less than five miles away from the valley.

"Urgent !!"

The scout led by him yelled loudly as he mounted his horse and galloped towards the Chinese army.

Urgent?

Liu Guangshi's heart sank, and he asked in a deep voice: "What's the urgent report?" ”

The scout hurriedly reported: "Yudutong, there are 10,000 anti-thieves ambushing soldiers in the valley, arrayed to prepare for battle, suspected of being the elite of the Black Mountain thieves." ”

Liu Guangshi was stunned for a moment, and then frowned: "Why did the elite of the Black Mountain Thieves appear here?" ”

The scout replied truthfully, "This ...... I don't know if these anti-thieves are well-armed and brave, not like ordinary anti-thieves, they are really elite! ”

10,000 people, well-armed, and brave?

Is this a fucking thief?

Liu Guangshi couldn't help but turn his head and glanced at Wang De and the others, his face blank.

What are the domestic thieves like, can they still not know?

That was a group of peasants carrying knives and hoes.

is as strong as Fang La, and there are only thousands of iron armors under his command, and the rest are leather armor and bamboo armor.

However, the scout was described as sophisticated.

Chen Jian couldn't help but ask, "How sophisticated?" ”

"More than 10,000 people, all wearing Xuanjia, are only stronger than my Western Army!"

Remembering what he had just seen, a flash of fear flashed in the scout's eyes.

Yes?

At this moment, Liu Guangshi and others were even more confused.

What the hell, this Great Song Dynasty has an army that is better than their Western Army?

(End of chapter)