The northern border of Huaizhou, Heyin County, Anfu.

Due to the ongoing fighting on the border, the Governor's Office had moved here a few days earlier.

As the Northern Yan continued to increase its troops, including some Jing Dynasty veterans and new recruits who had just entered the battlefield to be tempered, the pressure on the Huaizhou border was increasing.

As early as many days ago, the 6,000 troops of the Feiyun Army stationed in Wuhe County, Baoying Prefecture, had been transferred to the northeast of Panlong Pass, where there were seven forts including Lianning Village, which was the flank of the Lai'an Defense Line.

The fighting on the central front was particularly fierce, and the Zhenbei army faced the strongest enemies, especially those Jing Dynasty recruits who were responsible for the second wave of the attack. Although they are not as experienced as the old soldiers, they only think about establishing meritorious deeds on the battlefield one by one, and give full play to the ferocity of Jinglian people.

If it weren't for the Zhenbei army trained by Xiao Wang, it would have been very dangerous to come to the security line.

Therefore, the northward support of the Taixing army was logical.

However, a military order was issued by the Governor's Office, and the Taixing army stopped near Lai'anfu City in the rear, and did not go north to enter the battle line.

In the county seat, the Provisional Governor's Office was extremely busy, and there was an endless stream of officials and scribes.

When Su Yunqing walked into the duty room, Xiao Wangzhi was listening to Xiangzan's report on the military situation, holding a rice bowl in his hand.

This situation is very common these days, and sometimes it is too busy to take care of the time to eat.

Xiao Wangzhi interrupted Xiangzan's report, put down his job and said to Su Yunqing, "Sit." ”

Su Yunqing sat down and said, "Governor, the arrangement of the Warp Weaving Division on Dongyang Road in the pseudo-Yan has paid off. Judging from the green wolf's reply, Zhang Junsi should believe that our army will send troops south to rescue Guangling. ”

Xiao Wangzhi's face showed approval, and he said, "It's hard work." ”

Su Yunqing was also very busy during this time, on the one hand, he had to maintain the stability of the northern provinces and prevent those hidden Northern Yan from stirring up the situation, and on the other hand, he had to contact the secret agents lurking in the territory of Northern Yan and arrange for them to carry out various tasks, including exploring the troop allocation and logistics arrangements of Northern Yan, and at the same time, he had to cooperate with the military's plan.

Now that he has finally completed the task entrusted by Xiao Wangzhi, he can barely breathe a sigh of relief.

But...... After all, Su Yunqing was still relieved to go to Guangling City, and frowned slightly: "Grand Duke, I'm afraid Guangling's situation will be very difficult. ”

"At the beginning of the war, I did have such fears."

Xiao Wangzhi's expression was gentle, and he continued: "Your subordinates are very capable, and they have dug up all the fine works sent by Pseudo Yan, and they can also let Duan Zuozhang command the city defense wholeheartedly. He is a very capable person, and he has a set of training and commanding troops, but sometimes he is easy to think crankily, as long as his mind is firm, it is impossible for the 20,000 enemy troops to break through Guangling. ”

Su Yunqing was not very easy to pick up this topic.

He had read the detailed report sent by Li Jin, knew that Lu Shen had dug up the Gu family and Ou Zhiqiu, and had discovered You Pu's identity in advance, so he could almost say that he had solved the conspiracy of the Beiyan Prosecutor's Office by himself.

Li Jin did not hide the problem of Duan Zuozhang's knowledge and non-reporting, and the matter was suppressed by Lu Shen, but he still said a few good words for Lu Shen, because Duan Zuozhang's significance to the city defense is very important.

At this moment, Xiao Wangzhi took the initiative to mention this matter, and its practical intentions are not difficult to guess.

After a little silence, Su Yunqing said: "Most of the governors are serious, Deputy Commander Duan is not at fault, this is the strategy he discussed with Lu Shen. ”

Xiao Wangzhi smiled slightly, and said bluntly: "Actually, I was going to have someone knock Duan Zuozhang, but the current situation is not bad." In any case, this matter is thanks to the Warp Weaving Division. ”

Su Yunqing humbly responded, and said: "The Guangling Yamen has made a great contribution this time, and Lu Shenwei is really impressive. ”

There was a hint of temptation in his words.

Now it is obviously impossible to let Lu Shen go to Beiyan to lurk, Ou Zhiqiu and You Pu are both planted in Lu Shen's hands, and the plan to attack Guangling has also come to naught, this young man will inevitably become the focus of the Prosecutor's Office, maybe his portrait has been sent to Wang Shidao at this moment.

At this time, if Lu Shen is sent north, it will not let him make meritorious service, but to send him to death.

Moreover, Lu Shen's contribution this time was really not small, and the capital would definitely know that Su Yunqing was sure that this young man would attract the attention of Qin Zheng.

Xiao Wangzhi asked meaningfully: "Su Jian Xiao still wants Lu Shen to go to the Northland?" ”

Su Yunqing shook his head and said, "This matter is a sudden situation. ”

"It's not abrupt."

Xiao Wangzhi took a sip of the teacup and continued: "In the matter of the Lu family being involved in a detailed crime, that kid behaved really well, thoughtful and courageous, plus the unknown nationality in the past is very suitable for going to the Northland to lurk, it is normal to be favored by you." However, the Lu family has quite a lot of wealth, and Lu Tong only has one son, so he will probably not agree. ”

Su Yunqing smiled bitterly: "If I had known that Lu Tong knew the Grand Governor, the lower officials would not be so reckless." ”

Xiao Wangzhi did not deny this matter, nor did he decide Lu Shen's future in a big way as Su Yunqing guessed.

He did not continue the topic, saying, "Although Guangling is important, we can't let it become a topic that involves us in the north, so the battle of the north is still the top priority. During this time, I hope that the Warp Weaving Division will do its best to cooperate, and be sure to create more fog for Zhang Junsi and Wang Shidao outside the battlefield, so as to cover up our real plans. ”

Su Yunqing immediately got up and said, "The subordinate will receive the order." ”

After he saluted and retired, the marching Sima Huang Xianfeng came in and said, "Governor, everyone has arrived." ”

Xiao Wangzhi bowed slightly, got up and came to the festival hall.

There are already more than ten generals waiting here, including the Zhenbei Army, the Lai'an Army, and the Feiyun Army who came in a hurry.

"Let's make a long story short today."

Xiao Wangzhi set the tone and looked around at everyone: "Now that the puppet Yan army has captured Wangmei Ancient Road, 20,000 people raided Guangling City in advance, at least more than half of them are veterans of the Jing Dynasty, and the other party will definitely increase the troops in Guangling in the future, and will use the safety of this important town to mobilize the strength of our army." ”

The generals looked solemn, but they did not show the slightest panic.

Now that it has entered the second half of May, about 20 days after the Northern Yan sent troops to attack, according to the news from the Weaving Division, the imperial court has finally stopped arguing about reinforcements, and will send 40,000 troops from the 12th Army of the Southern Ya to the north to support Huaizhou.

According to the usual speed of action of the Beijing army, it will be at least half a month after they arrive in Guangling, provided that the main force of the Guangling army can still hold the most important Qiling Ancient Road and the Baishi Ferry on the north bank of the Hengjiang River.

The current situation in Huaizhou is not optimistic, after the fall of Wangmei Ancient Road, Beiyan has a channel to attack Guangling, whether it is the four thousand defenders in Guangling City, or the main force of the Guangling Army led by Qi Tai in the southwest corner, this period will bear great pressure.

If Guangling is to be rescued, the troops on the northern front battlefield will be stretched, and a small number of reinforcements will not be able to solve the crisis in Guangling at all.

But if reinforcements are not sent, once Guangling falls, the granary of Huaizhou will fall into the hands of the Yan army, and the back road of the main force of the Huaizhou army will also be exposed to the enemy's field of vision, forming a situation of being attacked by the north and south of the opponent.

Song Shifei, the commander of the Feiyun Army, said in a deep voice: "Metropolitan Governor, the last general asks for orders to go south!" The Taixing army can take over our defense line, and the last general will ensure that the Wangmei Ancient Road will be recaptured in one fell swoop, cutting off the passage for the puppet Yan to continue to send troops, and at the same time making the enemy army besieging Guangling become a lone army! ”

Xiao Wangzhi shook his head and said, "No need." ”

Song Shifei frowned, but he still couldn't hold back and didn't argue.

Xiao Wangzhi looked at the map on the wall, and said slowly: "The pseudo-Yan Moyang Road may not be able to continue to send troops, it is impossible for the other party to hide such a big movement from the Jingzhou Governor's Mansion, and the Li Dudu Governor will not sit back and watch the pseudo-Yan Chen Xiaokuan transfer troops through the Wangmei Ancient Road to attack Guangling." As long as he dispatches a few elite feints to attack the eastern border of Moyang Road, Chen Xiaokuan will definitely focus on self-preservation. To put it simply, there is still room for Guangling to hold on, and this is the opportunity we need to grasp. ”

The generals were stunned, and Song Shifei couldn't help but echo.

Xiao Wangzhi muttered: "The Feiyun Army will gradually retreat from now on, and if necessary, it can abandon the three northernmost walled forts. ”

Song Shifei said awe-inspiringly: "The last general will take the order." ”

Xiao Wangzhi got up and walked to the side of the sand table, and said: "The Lai'an army and the Zhenbei army will retreat fifty miles in the next two days, and return to the line from Nandun Town to Shangshui Village. After three days, the Lai An army continued to retreat, but pay attention to the speed, do not withdraw too quickly, just let the enemy know that your troops are leaving the second line of defense. ”

Two commanders should be sent down at the same time.

Xiao Wangzhi said slowly: "Since the enemy wants us to shrink the defensive line and mobilize our troops back to help Guangling, then at least on the surface, we have to follow the enemy's plan." ”

Chen Lanyu, the commander of the Zhenbei Army, gradually brightened his eyes, and said unhurriedly: "The intention of the Metropolitan Governor, our army is to give up the first line of defense, is it to tie a pocket inward, and wait for the main force of the pseudo-Yan Dongyang Road to come in?" ”

Xiao Wangzhi nodded approvingly, and said: "It is not difficult to guess the thoughts of Zhang Junsi and Wang Shidao, they know that the defense line is strong, and hard gnawing will only break their teeth, so they use Guangling as the topic, intending to make our army unable to take care of both the beginning and the end, and then exhaust themselves to expose their flaws." Since this is the case, we will follow his wishes and clearly return to Guangling, but in fact the decisive battle will be here. ”

He pointed to a place on the sand table, which was called Qingxia, located more than 100 miles north of Heyin County.

The people's breathing became rapid.

Xiao Wangzhi's tiger eyes shone brightly, and he said proudly: "Let's see if they take Guangling first, or if our army will fight in Qingxia!" ”