Beiyan Dongyang Road, the capital of Ruyin City.

In the General's Mansion, Li Shouzhen stood next to the sand table, his brows tightly twisted into a Sichuan character.

The staff and Xiangzan stood not far away, all holding their breath, not daring to make a movement to disturb the general's thoughts.

Li Shouzhen's boredom is not a pretended emotion.

Although the border army of Southern Qi has not moved so far, with his understanding of Xiao Wangzhi and Li Tianrun, these two people will definitely not miss the opportunity of Jing Chao to look south, and they will inevitably bite the flesh and blood of Yan Kingdom on the border.

The imperial court has sent a letter strictly ordering the defenders of Dongyang Road to hold the city and not send troops to seek a decisive battle in the field.

Of course, Li Shouzhen would not disobey this order, he never thought of openly confronting Xiao Wangzhi, the problem was that the court's writing could not solve the current predicament of the defenders of Dongyang Road, so that he secretly greeted the old lady of the privy envoy Pang Shigu.

His biggest difficulty now is the lack of troops.

Yongquan Pass in the southeast, Qingtian City in the south, and Pingli City in the southwest, these three strategic points must be heavily guarded, and they must be elite veterans to prevent the Huaizhou army of Southern Qi from moving north.

The Fengqiu line in the north should also be garrisoned to prevent the Seven Star Army in Baotai Mountain from moving south.

Coupled with Ruyin City and several dangerous cities in the territory, Li Shouzhen's troops are stretched.

He stared at the border situation map on the sand table and asked in a deep voice: "What are the garrison strength of Yongquan, Qingtian, and Pingli?" ”

The surrounding staff looked at each other, and secretly said that you, the general, don't you even know the number of garrisons in important border places?

Fortunately, there were such clever people who noticed that Li Shouzhen's mood was extremely depressed, and said honestly: "General Yu, there are 4,000 garrisons in Yongquanguan, of which there are 1,000 Jingchao foot soldiers and 3,000 soldiers of our dynasty. There are 8,000 defenders of Qingtian City and 10,000 defenders of Pingli City, all of whom are soldiers of our dynasty. ”

In its heyday, Dongyang Road had more than 100,000 troops, but last year's Qingxia Battle lost more than 40,000, and this year's bandits in Baotai Mountain lost more than 10,000.

Although the imperial court promptly replenished Li Shouzhen with 90,000 soldiers and horses, nearly half of them had never been on the battlefield, and it was good for these recruits to fight a good battle, but if the war was unfavorable and the situation was difficult, the devil knows what kind of absurd actions they would make.

Li Shouzhen calculated that he could not draw more troops from elsewhere to support the border, unless he gave up the defense of some large cities in the territory and left only a small number of troops to maintain stability in the city.

He sighed and asked, "Has the latest information been sent from the Prosecutor's Office?" ”

A subordinate officer of the General's Mansion replied: "General, the latest information from the Prosecutor's Office is still the one sent three days ago, and both Huaizhou and Jingzhou in Southern Qi are actively preparing for war, but there is no sign of large-scale mobilization of troops on the other side. ”

If the Huaizhou army wants to attack Qingtian City and Yongquan Pass, it must make adequate preparations, including but not limited to grain and grass, siege equipment and the establishment of a solid baggage line.

Li Shouzhen's expression softened slightly, and he circled around the sand table twice, and suddenly his eyes lit up slightly, and he said slowly: "In your opinion, did the group of green forest troops in Baotai Mountain have the courage to go south out of the mountain?" ”

All the staff members were stunned, and one of them persuaded: "General, regardless of whether the other party dares to go out of the mountain or not, the imperial court strictly orders that the defenders on the front line of Fengqiu must not be withdrawn." The strength of that Green Forest Army is not bad, even if the previous battle was based on the terrain advantage in the mountains, they are still not to be underestimated. If you withdraw the defenders from the north and the Green Forest Army goes south, the consequences will be unimaginable. ”

"Not necessarily."

Li Shouzhen shook his head, only to feel that the thoughts in his heart were becoming clearer and clearer, and his eyes were a little calm: "The key depends on how the war on the southern front progresses. If our army can't stop the offensive of the Qi army, then there will be a reason to transfer the northern garrison to the south, which will give the Green Forest Army a false impression that they have the opportunity to attack the heart of Dongyang Road. ”

Someone finally reacted and muttered, "The general wants to solve the Green Forest Army in Baotai Mountain?" ”

This idea is not whimsical, but a bit naïve after all.

In their opinion, the biggest enemy of Dongyang Road is the Huaizhou Army of Southern Qi, even if they mobilize troops to deal with the Green Forest Army, once the southern battlefield falls into a disadvantage, the situation will be extremely critical.

Putting one's mind on the Green Forest Army in the north, regardless of the hardships on the southern border, is a move to sacrifice one's roots.

Li Shouzhen naturally knew what these people thought, and he didn't reprimand them, but said indifferently: "I just want to find a reason for the main force of the Jing Army to support Dongyang Road." ”

After the war ended last year, the Jing Dynasty troops went north one after another to return to China, leaving only tens of thousands of troops in Heluo City to control the overall situation.

Li Shouzhen personally went to ask Qingyu Huaijin to let the 1,000 Jing troops in Yongquan Pass stay, which is also the only Jing Dynasty soldier in Dongyang Road today.

A staff member said in awe: "The general's intention is to invite the main force of the Jing Army to go out of the mountains to solve the Green Forest Army, and take advantage of the situation to gallop south to help the border pass?" ”

"That's right. If they defend passively, Jing Jun will definitely not be interested in meddling, but if there is a big chance of victory in front of them, I believe they will not sit idly by. Don't forget, more than half of the 3,000 members of the Xia Mountain Army died in the mountains. ”

Li Shouzhen slowly let out a long breath of relief, then looked at a clerk and said, "You will form a recital of my idea, and then immediately send it to the capital and hand it over to Pang Shumi and the county lord of Yongping." ”

"Obey!" The clerk should be spoken.

Li Shouzhen bowed slightly, and immediately said to several staff members: "You immediately drafted military orders, and gave them to the guards in Yongquan, Qingtian and Pingli respectively, warning them to be careful, and they must not give the Southern Qi border army a chance. ”

"Yes!"

Several staff members immediately went to write military orders, and then asked the general's mansion to send them to various places as soon as possible.

When the military order arrived at Yongquan Pass, the first snow of winter had fallen for a few days, and the mountains and fields were full of pure white.

Yongquan Pass is built on the mountain road, the terrain is quite steep, especially the slope leading to Huaizhou in the south is very steep, and the ramp leading to Dongyang Road in the north is relatively gentle, which can be described as a unique and excellent defensive place.

From a certain point of view, Yongquan Pass is to Beiyan, just like Panlong Pass is to Southern Qi, but the topographical characteristics of these two Xiongguan just switch between north and south, so they become each other's gateways.

This pass was built more than 200 years ago, the east and west sides are lofty mountains, although it is not as dangerous as the Flying Bird Pass mastered by the seven departments of Shazhou in the west of the mainland, but it is absolutely impossible for most people to pass through.

The inside of the pass is about two miles long, divided into two roads before and after, among which the front pass is located on the steep slope, and the defensive facilities are all available, if the Qi army wants to attack on the back, there is no other way than to pile up a road with human lives.

Houguan is relatively rudimentary, just in case the construction is hindered.

The military order from the General's Mansion was first sent to Houguan and handed over to the hands of Shi Ge, the general of the Jing Army here, who was originally a domestic slave of the Pula clan of the Jing Dynasty, and later led thousands of troops because of his bravery in battle, and because he was not a member of the royal family and the Qingyu family, he was sent to a remote and bitter cold place such as Yongquan Pass.

"Got it, that's fucking verbose."

Brother Shi didn't take the military order at all, only let the messenger read it once, and then muttered with an unkind face, and returned to his warm cabin with a wine bag.

The messenger had no choice but to come to Qianguan with a military order and find Hu Linzhong, the commander of the Yan army and horses stationed here.

"Got deflated over there, right?" Hu Linzhong took the military order and said with a smile.

The messenger sighed.

Hu Linzhong raised his hand and patted him on the shoulder, and said with a smile: "Okay, our army has been keeping an eye on him very closely, and there has been no movement in the south recently. If they really want to send troops to knock on the customs, they will have to transport the grain and grass for half a month, and it is impossible to hide it from our ears and eyes. ”

The messenger complimented, "That's the best, and I'm bothered by the Laborer." ”

Hu Linzhong took advantage of the situation to take his shoulders and said, "In the cold winter of Layue, it has snowed so much, so hard for you to make such a trip." Let's go, I'll invite you to warm up with two glasses of hot wine. ”

The two walked back to the duty room shoulder to shoulder, and this scene fell into the eyes of many soldiers.

On top of the wall, the soldiers gathered around the brazier, rubbing their hands together and moving their bodies slightly, occasionally glancing at the lonely and empty world to the south.

Someone put the frozen and hardened nest head by the fire and roasted it, and sneered: "It's better to be an official, you don't have to patrol and guard the customs like us who are bitter haha, you can hide in the house and drink wine and eat meat." ”

Another person couldn't help but remind: "You should be quiet, if the people above hear it, you will feel better." ”

"I'm afraid of him!"

The man spoke indignantly, but his voice was much quieter.

Another person said in a cold voice: "It's okay for Hu Dujian to enjoy it, after all, his military position was obtained by killing the enemy on the battlefield, and if we have that opportunity in the future, we can be like him." Lao Tzu just doesn't accept those Jingren in Houguan, why can they stay in Houguan all the time, eat, sleep and eat all day long, we have to patrol every day? That's it, they still show off their might in front of us all day long, a bunch of bitch brutes! ”

The rest of the people had relatives, but no one persuaded him to silence him.

It is possible that Shangguan may be told secrets, but none of the three thousand Yan troops in Qianguan do not hate Jingjun in Houguan.

At this moment, there was a sudden movement outside the gate, and someone had keen eyesight, and hurriedly said: "Your own people, don't panic." ”

After a while, more than a dozen Yan Army scouts covered in snowflakes walked up to the wall and trembled to the brazier, obviously frozen lightly.

One of the guards asked, "Did you find anything today?" ”

One of the scouts shook his head and said resentfully, "There's a fart spot that the south side is as quiet as a graveyard. ”

Everyone laughed, then looked up at the dim sky, and the snowflakes that were still falling in the sky, and couldn't help but curse a few words from God.

As night fell, Yongquan Pass gradually fell into silence.

In the deep night, three or four miles to the southeast, thousands of figures quietly appeared.

The team stopped suddenly, Lu Shen looked at the tightly wrapped soldiers around him, and ordered: "The front army will continue to move forward with me, and the others will stay where they are and wait for the signal, pay attention to keep moving, and don't freeze in the snow." ”

Captain Bao An hesitated slightly, and asked: "Captain, let the last general lead people to raid!" ”

Lu Shen shook his head and said undoubtedly: "You may not be as skilled as me in doing this kind of thing. ”

Bao An had no choice but to accept the order.

The team was divided into two, and Lu Shen led 800 people to the northeast, that is, the flank of Yongquan Pass.

He looked at the thirty-year-old man beside him and smiled, "Master Su, in fact, you don't have to make a trip. ”

Su Yunqing's eyes were blazing, and he said, "I personally brought people to discover this mountain trail, and I don't feel at ease when others come." Moreover, this battle is the key to the Northern Expedition, and you should know that I want the army to win more than anyone else. ”

Lu Shen remembered his experience in Guangling, and couldn't help but smile, and said awe-inspiringly: "Our army will win." ”

"I believe in you."

Su Yunqing responded without hesitation.

Under the cover of night and falling snow, 800 people approached the flank of Yongquan Pass little by little, and then climbed among the mountains.

Lu Shen now has the blessing of the Xuan Jing, and is taught by Lin Jie and Wei Chigui, two of the world's top masters, martial arts have long been different from what they used to be, and the eight hundred people he selected also have a very good foundation in martial arts, most of them are masters who attacked the enemy camp with him at night in Guangling City.

Of course, for this surprise army of snowy night raids, martial arts are not the most important at this moment.

Only the courage to move forward and die is born.

(End of chapter)