In the twelfth year of the founding of the Southern Qi Dynasty, July 27.

Before dawn.

The city is full of silence, and occasionally wild dogs bark in the streets and alleys.

In the side hall of the Huaizhou Governor's Mansion, the lights are bright and the atmosphere is solemn.

Outside the hall, Xiao Wangzhi's pro-soldiers have been placed under martial law to prevent any possible prying eyes.

There are several generals sitting in the hall, namely Chen Lanyu, the commander of the Zhenbei Army, He Gui, the commander of the Lai'an Army, and Kang Yanxiao, the commander of the Taixing Army. Unexpectedly, Pei Di, the chief general who was supposed to sit in Panlong Pass, and Duan Zuozhang, who stayed in Guangling to reorganize the army, also appeared in this side hall.

Lu Shen sat quietly at the bottom, and when he came in before, he met with the generals, and there was no particularly eager communication between him and Duan Zuozhang, but some things didn't need to be superficial.

The experience of living and dying together is enough for them to be natural partners.

In the silence, everyone remained patient enough to wait quietly.

Footsteps suddenly sounded outside, and then I saw Sima Huang Xianfeng, the marching army of the Governor's Mansion, walking in quickly with a box, and it was difficult to hide his excitement.

After saluting, he said to the people, "Generals, the lower officials have come to give orders on the orders of the Grand Governor. When the lower officials returned from the front line, the governor of Dadu had already decided to take down Xu Wen, the commander of the Dingwei army who collaborated with the enemy and treason, and according to the plan, he started yesterday evening, and the warp weaving department and the Su inspection school had already been prepared. ”

"Okay, it's not a pity that this son of a bitch is dead!" He Gui, who was as fierce as fire, said viciously.

Huang Xianfeng smiled slightly, and then said calmly: "Next, I will briefly introduce the situation in the north to the generals. ”

"At present, it has been proved that there are at least 8,000 enemy troops stationed in Yongquan Pass, and more than half of them are veterans of the Jing Dynasty.

He stood next to the map, raised his hand and pointed to the Xiongguan located between the mountains in the north of the Lai'an defense line, then moved to the left for a distance, stayed at the location of Qingtian City, and continued: "There are more than 10,000 defenders in Qingtian City, from the beginning of our army's counteroffensive to the Northern Expedition to the arrival of our army's vanguard army outside Qingtian City, Zhang Junsi did not send reinforcements to Qingtian City. Even a few thousand more men would make it extremely difficult for our army to attack. ”

"It can be seen that Captain Lu's judgment of the battle situation is very accurate, so I ask him to explain it in detail for the generals."

Huang Xianfeng stopped talking and looked at the young lieutenant sitting at the end with a gentle smile.

Lu Shen knew that this must be Xiao Wangzhi's arrangement, because out of absolute confidentiality, the complete battle plan was only known to the two of them, and now that it was time for a showdown, he couldn't still let these generals who were in charge of execution be confused.

He walked up to Huang Xianfeng, saluted everyone and said, "Generals, the last general was ordered by the Grand Governor to formulate this battle strategy, and he made a variety of plans from the beginning. First of all, the first goal of our army must be to choose a place in Qingtian City and Yongquan Pass, but after discovering that Xu Wen was collaborating with the enemy, the Metropolitan Governor revised his strategy and waited for the enemy's reaction before making a decision. ”

"Normally, Zhang Junsi's choice should be to use the outer defense system of Qingtian City to constantly delay and block and consume the strength of our army. But instead of doing so, they took the initiative to retreat and shrink the defensive line, and at the same time did not send reinforcements to Qingtian City. From this, it can be seen that they are preparing to take advantage of the idea that our army wants to encircle the point and send reinforcements, and gather heavy troops to fight a decisive battle with our army in the Qingtian Valley. This was the first stage of the war. ”

After determining the enemy's strategy, the Dadu Governor personally led the Pingshan Army to the front line and gathered the Nanya Third Army, the Feiyun Army and the Pingshan Army to besiege Qingtian City, so as to strengthen the enemy's ideas. At the same time, let the generals continue to rest and recuperate, and prepare the dry food carried by the fast march, so that the soldiers under their command can cope with the next battle in the best condition. ”

"There are many possible changes in this, for example, if Zhang Junsi does not want to fight a decisive battle with our army, but insists on Qingtian City and Yongquan Pass, then our army must adjust its strategy in time. Now it seems that Zhang Junsi and Chen Jingtang, the deputy envoy of the puppet Yan privy, only want to paralyze our army first, and then defeat our army in the Qingtian Valley. ”

Lu Shen's tone was not hurried, and the narrative logic was also very clear, and everyone in the hall bowed their heads one after another.

Duan Zuozhang opened his mouth and said: "Actually, Ben General didn't understand Zhang Junsi and Chen Jingtang's thoughts too much, they suffered a big loss in the Qingxia area, how could they still have the courage to continue to seek a decisive battle in the field?" ”

Lu Shen replied: "Because they believe that the defeat in the Battle of Qingxia was a mistake at the strategic level, not the strength of Yanjing's army. On the other hand, they wanted to use the decisive battle in the field to cause more trouble for the Grand Duke. Even if they only won a narrow victory in this battle, they could still pin the charge of arrogance and underestimating the enemy's recklessness on the head of the Metropolitan Governor. If they can let the Metropolitan Governor leave Huaizhou, this is the outcome they want to see the most. ”

Although he didn't say it very thoroughly, everyone else could hear the unfinished picture.

Huang Xianfeng sighed secretly in his heart, this Captain Lu is really bold, and he even pointed out that those old men in Yongjia City have bad intentions towards the Metropolitan Governor, but fortunately, these people in front of him are the absolute henchmen of the Metropolitan Governor.

Lu Shen stopped at the point, and there was no need to go too deep, and then said to the marching Sima beside him: "Dare to ask Lord Huang, how many puppet Yan troops have been assembled?" ”

Huang Xianfeng said: "The news that has been confirmed so far is that Chen Jingtang, the deputy envoy of the puppet Yan Privy Council, has transferred nearly 40,000 people from Moyang Road and tens of thousands of people from Jiangbei Road, plus tens of thousands of soldiers and horses in Zhang Junsi's hands and the defenders in Qingtian City, the total strength of the enemy army is more than 150,000. The Governor estimated that the enemy army would assemble in seven or eight days, in early August. ”

He raised his hand and pointed to the map, drew a distance from Qingtian City, and said to everyone: "The location of the enemy's assembly is Tongshan Castle at the northern end of Yongfeng Road, which is about 60 miles away from Qingtian City, and the enemy army can go south directly from Yongfeng Road to Qingtian Valley. ”

All the generals looked at it solemnly.

Huang Xianfeng turned around and opened the box, took out the order stamped with the seal of the Metropolitan Governor, everyone present, including Lu Shen, had a copy, and after the delivery, he said with a straight face: "Generals, please act in accordance with the military order, without delay." ”

Everyone responded in unison: "Follow the orders of the Grand Governor!" ”

He Gui looked at the content of the order, and the whole person became excited, and exclaimed: "The plan of the Grand Governor has really played the enemy around. ”

Huang Xianfeng remembered Xiao Wangzhi's advice before leaving, so he interjected: "The Metropolitan Governor said that this is the hard work of Captain Lu, and I hope that the generals will not live up to it." ”

Chen Lanyu, who had been silent, looked at Lu Shen steadily, a smile appeared on his usual unfazed face, and he said, "Captain Lu is young and promising, which is amazing. If it weren't for the Metropolitan Governor's early move, Ben would definitely transfer you to the Zhenbei Army. ”

Lu Shen arched his hand and said: "The general praises falsely, and the last general is ashamed." ”

All the generals looked at him with approval on their faces, and Duan Zuozhang even sighed with emotion: "Why did Captain Lu think of this hand? ”

Lu Shen thought for a while and replied honestly: "Because the Metropolitan Governor has mentioned it, the world is not only Huaizhou. ”

The generals nodded thoughtfully.

Huang Xianfeng said in a timely manner: "Generals, please, it's not good to delay the big event." ”

Everyone left the side hall with the military order, and Lu Shen gathered Li Chengen and others who were waiting outside the Governor's Mansion and quickly rushed back to the other garden.

"Gather everyone in the school yard with armor and blades. According to the previous arrangement, one person with two horses and dry food should be brought. ”

Lu Shen's words were short and crisp, and his voice was slightly excited in the dark night before dawn.

"Obey!" Lee Seung-eun also responded with excitement.

Lu Shen hurriedly returned to the inner house, first put the dagger in the fixed position in the boots, then changed into a light armor, brought the long and short double knives selected these days, and stopped suddenly when he was about to go to the front house.

Lin Xi stood in front of him, also in a heroic uniform.

"Senior sister, this is ......" Lu Shen didn't plan to take Lin Xi on the expedition, because he had received too much help from her during this time, so that Lu Shen didn't know how to pay it off in the future.

He is not the kind of person who has no heart and lungs, on the contrary, he attaches great importance to the word benevolence.

Lin Xi's expression was gentle, his eyes gradually became slight, and he said softly: "You have learned the Xuan Jing and the Outer Gate Exercises, and you only need to improve step by step." North...... There's still a lot to do, I can't be away for too long, and I was planning to say goodbye to you in the near future, but it happened that you were going to participate in this war. ”

She paused and smiled, "Since that's the case, then let me protect you again." ”

Lu was silent for a moment, took a few steps forward to her side, looked into her eyes and said, "Senior sister, thank you." ”

Lin Xi shook his head and said, "Let's go." ”

"Okay."

Lu Shen hid that touch of restraint deep in his heart and strode out.

……

The sun rises and the moon sets, and it never shifts by human will.

With the passage of time, Tongshan City on Dongyang Road in Beiyan is filled with a murderous aura that soars into the sky.

Several armies arrived one after another, and the total strength of the city exceeded 60,000, and they were ready for the battle.

"Your Excellency, the 30,000 soldiers and horses on Moyang Road should arrive in two days."

Zhu Zhen, the head of the soldiers and horses of Moyang Road, looked at the privy deputy envoy Chen Jingtang and said.

Wang Shidao, who was sitting next to him, also said: "General Hu sent a messenger to spread the word that the Jiangbei Army should be able to come here in four days." ”

Chen Jingtang exhaled a turbid breath, and the stone hanging in his heart was finally able to be put down, and said slowly: "This official believes that since Xiao Wangzhi wants to send reinforcements on the outskirts of Qingtian City, he will inevitably use all his troops to achieve the goal in the shortest possible time. In addition to those troops outside the city and the elites hiding in the rear, the Feiyun Army stationed outside Yongquan Pass may also cut into the battlefield from the side. ”

Zhang Junsi muttered: "My lord's meaning, our army can transfer another elite from Yongquan Pass to the south and follow behind the enemy's Feiyun Army to carry out counter-encirclement?" ”

Chen Jingtang was about to speak, when there was a sudden sound of eager footsteps outside the festival hall, and then someone came outside the door and said: "Lord Qiqi, there is an urgent report from Yongquan Pass!" ”

The faces of everyone in the hall changed, and Chen Jingtang frowned and said, "Come in." ”

A lieutenant walked in quickly, and after reporting his identity, he quickly said: "Lord Privy Council, the guards of Yongquan Pass are secretly on guard in accordance with the general's orders, but recently they have discovered that the Qi army outside the pass is not quite right. Since about six days ago, the Qi army has been retreating, but the distance of the retreat every day is not much, so the defenders are not aware of it. But after yesterday's comparison, our army found that the enemy had retreated at least ten miles! ”

"Retreat?"

Chen Jingtang was confused.

Zhang Junsi and Zhu Zhen were both slightly puzzled, could it be that the Feiyun Army, which was known for its fierceness, suddenly had the intention of being afraid of war?

Unlike the continuous offensive and defensive battles on the side of Qingtian City, Yongquan Pass has always been in a calm state, and the Feiyun Army only camped outside the pass to contain it, and never tried to break the fortifications.

Chen Jingtang calmed down and muttered: "Tell the Yongquan Pass guard that the enemy may be deliberately showing weakness, let him continue to pay attention to vigilance to prevent being caught off guard by the enemy." ”

The lieutenant took the order and left.

The atmosphere in the hall was solemn, and it seemed that it would be the time of the decisive battle, which would affect the change of the battle situation at any time.

Chen Jingtang looked at everyone and said slowly: "The big war is coming, don't mess with yourself, everything will be carried out according to the established plan." ”

"Obey."

Zhang Junsi and others responded in a deep voice.

Wang Shidao did not hesitate, but at this moment, a strong uneasiness suddenly surged in his heart.

(End of chapter)