In the early morning of the next day, the south gate of Phoenix City was opened, and the four-way army Jin Ge Iron Horse, with flags covering the sun, cavalry in front, infantry trailing behind, arranged in turn, mighty and neat. In the infantry ranks, a double-wheeled carriage stands out.

Xia Yao wore a marshal's robe and saw him off outside Phoenix City. He gathered Qin Sen, Chen Wenqi, Lu Wan, and Qin Zong together, gave some instructions, and then issued an order: "Go." ”

Shen Lingshan held the reins of Chen Wenqi's mount in her hand and said in a low voice, "Big brother take care, little brother...... Little brother is waiting for you to return safely. ”

Chen Wenqi nodded heavily and said softly: "Miss Shen, please go back, the foolish brother will not let you down." After speaking, he took the reins, turned over and got on his horse, rode his horse to He Anguo, who was standing in the distance, and said, "General He, let's go?"

"Let's go!"

"Wait—"

Chen Wenqi followed the prestige, and two figures flew in.

"Senior Brother Chen, why don't you take our senior brother with you when you go to kill the Tartars?" Li Yuan and Ren Si ran over panting, grabbing Chen Wenqi's mount.

"Don't get me wrong, two senior brothers. Chen Wenqi hurriedly explained: "It is the duty of a soldier to go into battle to kill the enemy, and the two senior brothers are not soldiers of the imperial court, how can they let you march and fight?"

Ren Si said: "Where is it! To drive out the barbarians and recover the lost land, everyone has a responsibility, what is the division between the army and the people?"

Chen Wenqi looked back at the double-wheeled carriage and said, "Two senior brothers, as soon as the army leaves, there is only one marshal in Phoenix City, which can be described as a lonely force. It would be great if the senior brother could assist the marshal in defending the city. After that, he pulled Li Yuan and Ren Si over, attached them to their ears, and whispered a few words.

"In that case, we will listen to Senior Brother Chen. After Li Yuan finished speaking, he pulled Ren Si back to the city.

Press the Ming soldiers and horses for the time being. In the evening of this day, in the dark of night, on the post tower of the Jingzhou Post House, two people sat in the dimly lit upper hall, drinking and complaining.

"Second brother, I don't know our teacher...... Belch...... What did the national teacher think, he left our brothers in such a desolate place and ignored them. Although this Abahai can't control our brother, it's not annoying to be called by him. The second brother has a bright mind, how can he think of a way to go. Squeak-" The person sitting on the right picked up the wine cup in front of him, raised his neck and drank a fine light, then put the wine cup down heavily, and stared at the "second brother" opposite.

"Fourth, where do you want to go? Go back to the Central Plains or go back to the desert? The national teacher let us stay here, and he has his own old man's reason. Compared with the eldest brother, the seventh brother, and the eighth brother, aren't we much more distracted? If the eldest brother hears it, it would be strange not to pull off your head to make a urinal. The old man, whom he called "second brother", lectured.

These two people are the second Wu Yun and the fourth Ji Dian in the "Eight Murders of Lingnan".

As soon as he heard the mention of the eldest brother, Ji Dian's tone immediately softened a little. He lifted the wine jug to refill Wu Yun's wine, and said, "I'm just complaining in front of the second brother, don't tell the eldest brother." ”

Wu Yun smiled, picked up the wine jug and poured a full glass of wine for Ji Dian, and the two toasted.

Ji Dian was not interested, put the wine glass down, stood up and said, "This wine is tasteless, don't drink it, go to sleep." ”

Wu Yun pulled Ji Dian back to his seat, poured a pot full of wine for him, and said, "It's not time yet, I'll accompany Brother Fool again." ”

"I don't understand, why does the second brother have to wait until after midnight every night to rest?" Ji Dian and Wu Yun clinked glasses and drank them all.

"Alas, for my brother, I don't have you to be free, I'm waiting for someone. Wu Yun said helplessly.

"Wait for whom?"

"Wait ......" Wu Yun pointed his hand to the sky and said excitedly: "Oh, that's it." ”

Before the words fell, a carrier pigeon flew in from outside the post building, landed on the windowsill, and called a few times.

Wu Yun walked to the windowsill, held the carrier pigeon with both hands, quickly untied a small bamboo pipe from its feet, poked out the thin silk inside, unfolded it, and immediately showed joy on his face, beckoning to Ji Dian: "Fourth, don't drink, follow me." ”

Ji Dian was holding a glass of wine, when he heard Wu Yun shouting, he hurriedly tilted his neck and poured the wine into his mouth, but he didn't have time to taste it, swallowed it with a "bang", and asked blankly: "It's so late, where are you going?"

"Don't talk nonsense, come with me. Before the words fell, the person had already drifted out of the hall, and then there was the sound of "oh oh" going downstairs.

Ji Dian couldn't, so he hurriedly chased downstairs.

After a while, the wax torch shone brightly in the study of Abahai in Wanhu Mansion. Abahai, Wu Yun, Ji Dian, Almu, Ulihan, several thousand household chiefs, and Ximen Feng, the commander of the "New Annexed Army", sat around the desk, holding a thin silk and watching carefully. Listen only to Abahai whispering:

"Xia divided our troops and the original border army into four people, and set out tomorrow morning to attack Jingzhou City. Xia led 500 soldiers and horses to stay in Phoenix City...... "Under the thin silk, there is an oval waist card pattern with a small seal of "brocade arch".

Abahai slapped his palm on the table and said happily: "Good opportunity, God-given opportunity." Not only can the three guards be guaranteed, but Phoenix is also at your fingertips. Great Khan, I can't imagine that I, Abahai, signed a contract in exchange for a city, you shouldn't blame me this time, right?"

"Congratulations to the head of the ten thousand households, after the end of this battle, the Great Khan will definitely restore the post of the head of the ten thousand households, which is gratifying. Almu said at the right time.

"My lord, is this messenger reliable?" asked Ullihan suspiciously.

Without waiting for Abahai to speak, Wu Yun pointed to the waist card pattern on the thin silk and said to Ulihan: "This is the internal response of the national teacher to persuade the Great Khan to buy it with a lot of money, and it is absolutely reliable. If you don't believe me, ask Lord Almu. ”

"No need to ask, although I was not involved in this matter, I was Jinong back then, and I also knew about it. A few months ago, they sent people to Juyong Pass to snipe at Chen, and they also sent us a message in this way. Aba Hai said with certainty.

"Even if the internal should be reliable, but is the news true? Xia Yao was born in the army, experienced in a hundred battles, and has always been cautious, doesn't he know the importance of the rear? Taking a step back, even if Xia Yao is old and mediocre, there are so many generals under him, isn't there anyone to remind him?" After all, Wu Lihan is a soldier and is used to analyzing problems tactically.

In fact, not only did someone remind Xia Yao, but also admonished him with his life. Wu Yun pointed to the thin silk, "You see, although Xia Yao is the generalissimo of Zhenxi and the 'receiving envoy', it is Chen Wenqi who is really in charge. This Gantian offended Lord Chincha and was dismissed from the military and sent to death row. ”

"Xia Yao is like a god with soldiers, how can he be so risky? Ulihan still didn't believe it.

Abahai pondered for a long time, and then said, "This is exactly where Xia Yao is clever in using troops. If you think about it, there are almost 20,000 elite soldiers in my Jingzhou city, and the city is high and thick, which is easy to defend and difficult to attack. If he doesn't concentrate all the elites to attack, he has no chance of winning. Therefore, he kept the news tightly under his command and set up an empty city plan in Phoenix, gambling that we would not be able to obtain their information. It's just that he didn't calculate that Phoenix, where flies can't fly, would fly out of a carrier pigeon. It seems that Xia Yao, this old bone, is afraid that he won't be able to return to the Central Plains, haha!"

"As the Lord said, isn't Jingzhou City in danger?" said Armu worriedly.

"Not necessarily, he has a thousand plans, I have old ideas. Abahai coughed lightly, sat upright, and said, "Aksu listens to orders." ”

When everyone saw that Abahai was about to give orders, they quickly straightened up and stood in front of him respectfully.

"The end will be. Aksu agreed.

"You rushed to Pingluo overnight, and ordered Boyan Mengke to lead 5,000 men and horses, and after seeing a puff of white beacon smoke rising from Jingzhou City, he rushed lightly to Phoenix City. ”

"Yes. But my lord, what should we do with Pingluo City?" Aksu asked cautiously.

"Isn't there still three thousand 'new annexed troops', ordering Leng Wubing to stay in Pingluo City. The enemy forces have all marched to Jingzhou City, and Pingluo City is not in danger. ”

"My lord, do you mean that General Boyan Mengke sent troops to Phoenix City without food and grass and baggage, and what about their supplies?"

"Phoenix City is the base camp of the Ming army in Ningxia, where there is plenty of grain and grass, and you are afraid that you will starve to death the thousands of men and horses of Boyan Mengke?" said Abahai conceitedly, as if Phoenix City was already in his hands.

"The Admiral understood. What else do you have to say?"

"Oh, Jingzhou City will be besieged by the enemy army in a few days, and I am afraid that you will not be able to enter the city when you come back, so simply help Boyan Mengke to attack Phoenix City. After capturing Phoenix City, if you see black wolf smoke rising in the direction of Jingzhou, you will order Boyan Meng Ke to divide 2,000 troops to defend the city with you, and the rest of the men and horses will be led by him to reinforce Jingzhou City. ”

"Yes, the last will set out. After Aksu finished speaking, he turned and walked away quickly.

"Wait. Ullihan shouted behind him.

Aksu turned around and asked, "What advice does General Wu have?"

Ulihan did not answer Aksu, but said to Abahai: "Lord A, the last general thinks that he should send a fast horse to Etok to contact Lord Jinong on the right flank, and ask him to lead 10,000 elite soldiers to raid Phoenix City. The defenders of Pingluo were freed up to cover the city of Jingzhou as soon as possible, so that once the enemy launched an attack on our troops, they could quickly attack from behind, and there were 10,000 elite soldiers of Jinong on the right flank near Jingzhou, who could reinforce Jingzhou at any time. In this way, the Dingjiao Ming army has no return. ”

Ullihan's plan, Abahai had already thought about it, but he was unwilling to do it. Balsborot, a yellow-mouthed boy, if it weren't for his Great Khan father, how could he replace himself as Jinong? Although the battle situation in Ningxia was turbulent, Xia Yao could not have imagined that there was my internal response in his army, and his every move was under my control. Now that the Phoenix City soldiers are major, it is a good time for a sneak attack. Once Phoenix City was captured, Ningxia Wei, Ningxia Qianwei, Zuotunwei and Right Tunwei were connected to form a strong barrier, and the huge Hetao area was occupied by our Mongolia. I have made such a great contribution, and I am not afraid that the Great Khan will not return the position of Jinong to me. If Balsborough were to capture Phoenix, victory would be his credit, and defeat would be my fault. Such thankless things are only done by fools.

It is a pity that Abahayin's selfishness not only ruined a great opportunity to seize the Hetao region, but also ruined his own life and that of tens of thousands of Mongolian soldiers.

Of course, Xia Yao and Chen Wenqi had already thought of this, but they were sure that after Aba Hai lost his position as Jinong, he would not use the power of Balsborough to win this war. Moreover, they had a careful arrangement, and even if Abahai wanted to contact Balsborot, the messenger would definitely not be able to reach Otok. Even whether the four-way army attacked Jingzhou City was real or false is unknown. That's for later.

The little Jiujiu in Abahai's heart naturally couldn't say it clearly, so he immediately prevaricated: "The soldiers are fast." If you contact Lord Jinong on the right wing, the delay is small, and if Xia Yao is surprised to come over and rearrange the troops, wouldn't it be a missed opportunity? Moreover, Phoenix City is empty, and Bo Yanmeng can have five thousand elites against Xia Yao's five hundred lonely troops, which is not at his fingertips. Why do you need Lord Jinong to work far away?" Seeing that Wu Lihan was still going to speak, he waved his hand, "Don't say it, so be it." ”

Ulhan sighed secretly and did not speak again.

"General Abrige. Abahai continued to dispatch troops.

"Your Excellency. ”

"Tomorrow, you rush to Lingzhou, send an order to Hasen Erdun and Bashiawa, let Bash Ava lead a thousand soldiers and horses to stay in Lingzhou City, and Hasen Erdun leads the rest of the men and horses, and when the black wolf smoke rises in Jingzhou City, quickly gallop to the aid and attack the enemy's back. ”

"Understood. ”

"Also, after the enemy besieges Jingzhou City, you can't enter the city, so let's rush to the aid of Hasen Erdun. ”

"Yes. ”

"General Wu and General Ji, the key to this victory or defeat must depend on the two of you. Abahai's tone of speech to Wu Yun and Ji Dian was obviously more polite.

"If General A has any send, please do not hesitate to give orders. Wu Yun also said politely.

"Xia Yao is cunning and cunning, and General Ulihan's worries are not unreasonable. If it is confirmed that the enemy's four-way soldiers and horses have indeed entered the territory of Jingzhou, I will command the beacon tower to light a white beacon smoke and instruct General Boyan Mengke to attack Phoenix City; when the enemy army begins to attack Jingzhou City, I will command the beacon tower to burn the black beacon smoke, and gather the two groups of Boyan Mengke and Hasen Erdun to urgently move closer to Jingzhou City and attack the enemy's back from the north and south directions. Destroy the enemy completely. ”

"It's easy, I'll leave it to our brothers. Wu Yun replied dryly.

Abahai took a long breath, looked at Ulihan, Burigud, Bortala and Simon Feng and said:

"The rest of the generals will stick to Jingzhou City with me, and they will not be allowed to go out of the city to meet the enemy without my order. ”

"Yes, sir. ”

......

Phoenix.

After the army was launched, the usual noisy and lively military camps, streets, and shops suddenly quieted down, and the huge city seemed exceptionally empty and deserted.

For several days, Xia Yao was closed in the General Military Mansion, neither redeploying the city defense, nor opening the city gate as Zhuge Kongming, sending soldiers to sprinkle water and sweep the streets in the guise of ordinary people, everything was so casual and natural, as if he firmly believed that the enemy would not dare to attack.

In the evening of that day, a puff of white smoke rose from the direction of Jingzhou City, and the commander guarding the south gate hurriedly sent someone to report to the marshal. Xia Yao didn't care when he heard this, but just ordered the generals of the four gates to strengthen their vigilance and not to panic.

At noon the next day, Zeng Minli, the commander of the town guarding the north gate, sent his own soldiers to report: There was dust in the distance outside the city, and it seemed that an enemy army was approaching Phoenix City.

Xia Yao seemed to be expected, and said lightly, "I know." Then he called a personal soldier and whispered to him for a while, and the personal soldier quickly left the general soldier's mansion.

After a short time, the enemy soldiers approached the city, and as far as the eye could see, all the cavalry were black and oppressive. When they were about 50 zhang away from the city gate, they turned into ten horsemen and rushed to the city gate side by side, that is, they reached the moat, threw the sandbags on the horse's back into the river, and returned. It didn't take much effort for the moat to be filled in. At the same time as throwing sand and filling the river, a group of soldiers lined up more than 30 stone throwers less than 20 zhang away from the city wall and began to throw stones at the tower of Phoenix City to suppress the condescending attack from the city tower; another group of soldiers carried down the giant wood from the chariot and rushed to the city gate under the cover of the stone throwing machine and violently hit the city gate.

The Ming army on the tower of the city threw down the rolling stones and sassal wood prepared in advance to prevent the enemy from ramming the city gate. However, the stones thrown by the enemy's stone throwers were so large and dense that the Ming troops on the city walls could only retreat to a relatively safe place to throw the woods, posing no threat to the Tatar soldiers who hit the city gates. After holding each other for a moment, the gate of the urn city slammed open.

When the Tatar army saw how easily the city gate was slammed open, they could not help but be overjoyed, and immediately swarmed in, and began to pound the main city gate again.

At this time, someone on the tower of the city condescended and shouted below: "It is said that the Tartars are rude and rude, but today I saw that this is the case, and the confrontation between the two armies is actually an undeclared war." Who is Boyan Mengke? There is a kind of standing up and saying that General Ben does not like to beat the turtle with a shrunken head. ”

In the Tatar army, a general dressed in cowhide armor and holding a long sword rode his horse to the city wall where the man stood, and raised his head arrogantly but somewhat confusedly, and shouted: "Who are you? How do you know that General Ben is here?"

"Hahaha," the man laughed, teasing, "knowing yourself and knowing that you are invincible." I don't even know who the opponent in front of the battle is, and I don't think Er's death is far off. It's better to abandon your weapons and surrender as soon as possible, so as to keep the thing on the item to eat. ”

Boyan Meng snorted coldly, "Hmph, so it's mysterious." You have few soldiers in the city, except for Xia Yao's old horseman, who else is still blowing the conch here. General Ben doesn't bother to talk to you, so tell Old Horseman Xia Yao to come out and die. ”

The man shouted, "Boyan Mengke, don't be speechless, beware of General Ben cutting out your tongue and feeding it to the dogs." What is the status of my marshal, how can a nobody like you see it if he wants to see it?"

Boyan Mengke was furious and shouted: "When death comes, you are still brave with your tongue." When I break down the city gate and lift Er's head, see if the old man Xia Yao can still be a turtle with a shrunken head?"

The man laughed and scolded, "It is said that the Tartars are uneducated, vulgar and ignorant, but today they have heard and witnessed it with their own ears." Boyan Mengke, the head of this general is here, you have the ability to come up and get it. ”

At this time, a person beside Boyan Mengke exclaimed, "You...... Are you Qin Zong?"

"Yes, I am Qin Zong. Aksu, don't come to harm?" "Some time ago, in the Wanhu Mansion of Jingzhou City, it was this Aksu who was ready to make a move, and wanted to arrest the Qin Sect Sacrifice Banner.

Boyan Mengke was taken aback, and asked in a trembling voice, "What, this person is Qin Zong......?" Didn't you lead your troops to besiege Jingzhou City?"

"Hahaha, my marshal has calculated that you are going to be a 'guest'. He didn't want to meet with you and other little minions, so he had no choice but to order General Ben to stay and 'entertain' you. Qin Zong teased.

Boyan Mengke was also a person who had been in battle for a long time, and he couldn't help but be a little flustered when he saw Qin Zong, who was originally going to Jingzhou City, appear in Phoenix City. But after thinking about it, the inner line reconfirmed last night that the Ming army had driven into the vicinity of Jingzhou. Even if Qin Zong stayed, the men and horses he led were still at the north gate of Jingzhou City at this time. If there was an ambush, why did he bother to talk about it?

After thinking about it, Boyan Meng Ke scolded with his halberd: "What a Nanban who doesn't know the height of the sky, see how your five hundred men and horses can withstand the thunderous blow of my five thousand iron horsemen?" Come on, step up the impact on the city gate, and enter Phoenix City, whoever catches Xia Yao will reward a thousand sheep. ”

When the Tatar soldiers who slammed into the city gate heard this, they regained their spirits, shouted trumpets, and carried huge logs to ram the pestle, and the city gate began to tremble violently under the impact of gravity.

Qin Zong smiled slightly, waved his hand, and shouted, "Next." ”

Dozens of samurai armed with steel swords, ropes as thick as thumbs around their waists descended from the sky, hanging in mid-air and swinging their swords straight at the heads of Tatar soldiers. I saw the cold light flickering, and the Tatar soldiers who carried a huge log on their shoulders and hit the city gate instantly fell in a pool of blood. By the time the Tatars woke up from their shock and counterattacked, the Ming army shook the rope wheel on the tower and lifted the samurai who were hanging in the air.

Qin Zong gave a thumbs up and praised: "Li Daxia, Ren Daxia, your method really works." ”

Boyan Mengke was not slow to react at all, and shouted sharply: "Where is the archer?"

"In. Dozens of Tatar soldiers with strong bows in their hands soon formed a line and stood in front of Boyan Monko.

"You wait to stand in front of the city gate, if someone in the city tower is taken down and I am shot with arrows, do you hear?" Boyan Mengke ordered.

"Yes. The sharpshooters agreed in unison, and quickly formed a circle back to back, bending their bows and arrows, and waiting for them.

Qin Zong saw that Li Yuan and Ren Si tied the rope around their waists, and was about to attack again, so he hurriedly stopped: "Li Daxia is slow and slow, don't take such a senseless risk, just push the rolling stone down to slow down the enemy." After speaking, he turned around and continued to start a "psychological war" with Boyan Mengke: "How do you know that I only have five hundred soldiers and horses to defend the city?"

Boyan Mengke said solemnly: "Knowing oneself and knowing that the other is invincible in a hundred battles, isn't this what you said?"

"It's someone from within us who has sent a message to you, isn't it?"

Boyan Mengke raised his head and smiled, noncommittal.

"Alas," Qin Zong sighed and said, "It's a pity that the spy has been discovered by us, and I'm afraid I'm already in prison at this moment." Let me tell you the truth, the so-called five hundred centaurs guarding the city, that is a trap that lures you, I can't imagine that you really believe it, haha. ”

Boyan Meng was shocked when he heard this, and shook his head again: "Hmph, isn't it too late to use these words to strengthen your courage now?"

"What? You don't believe it?" Qin Zong raised his right hand and pointed to the outside of the urn city gate: "You turn around and look behind you." ”

Boyan Meng didn't know what he meant, so he turned his horse's head around and looked outside the urn city gate, and was dumbfounded.

Outside the urn city gate, countless Ming troops surrounded a double-wheel carriage, blocking the city gate tightly. When the curtain of the car door was lifted, a general wearing the four-grade armor of the Ming Dynasty slowly stepped out of the carriage, stood in front of the door with the sword on his waist, and said loudly: "Boyan Mengke, the Ming guerrilla general Gan Tian has been waiting for you for a long time." ”

"What?guerrilla general Gan Tian?" Boyan Mengke was taken aback again, and asked in a trembling voice, "You...... You...... Didn't he be beaten with a hundred sticks and put on death row......? How to ......"

"Why is it here, isn't it?" Gan Tian teased, "It's just a play for 'your people.'" If not, do you still dare to come out in Pingluo City?" After speaking, he shouted in a deep voice: "Boyan Mengke, the situation is like this, don't you want to be caught and fight to the death?"

Boyan Meng didn't expect the Ming army to plan and calculate, knowing that there was more and less luck today, but he was still trapped and the beast was still fighting, and he rode his horse and waved his knife to Gantian with a "whoosh". Seeing that the situation was not good, the 5,000 cavalry led by him stopped ramming the gate of the main city, turned around and followed Boyan Mengke to charge towards the gate of the urn city, hoping to fight a bloody way and break out.

The Northern Route Army led by Gan Tian had nearly 10,000 horses, except for 3,000 to stay in Phoenix, most of the rest had already been waiting outside the city, and when they saw the Tatar cavalry swarming out, they suddenly had arrows like flying locusts, covering the gate of the urn city.

Boyan Mengke followed Abahai's order, led the cavalry to attack lightly, without protective equipment such as shields, at this time in the dense rain of arrows, like the scarecrow in the Zhuge Kong Ming grass boat borrowed arrows in the past, became a live target for the archers of the Ming army.

He danced the long knife in his hand, and dropped countless arrows, but the arrow rain was intensive, he could take care of the upper but not the lower, he could block the left but not the right, and the exposed places on his body except for the armor were densely inserted by the arrows, and he fell to the ground and died immediately.

The Tatar cavalry who rushed out of the city gate behind Boyan Mengke also fell to the ground one after another, and the rest of the cavalry saw that the situation was not good, and turned around and wanted to retreat to the city of Weng, but the men and horses behind did not know the situation outside the city?

Aksu had the intention to organize the army to find an opportunity to escape, but Boyan Mengke's subordinates did not listen to his orders at all, so they had to shout "If you want to live, rush out with me", and beat the horse to kill outside the city. The Tatar soldiers who were closer to him could hear it clearly, and many of them followed him and rushed out.

Qin Zong saw clearly on the city tower, and ordered the soldiers guarding the city tower to throw down all the rolling stones and sasswood, and smashed the Tatar cavalry wolf rush and scurry all over the city. When they were smashed, the defenders on the towers descended from all directions, slashing at their heads. The Tatar soldiers, however, were fierce, and they fought to the death until they fell in pools of blood......

In this battle, the 5,000 cavalry led by Boyan Mengke, except for Aksu who led hundreds of people to flee and more than 1,000 captured, were all killed, and the Ming army also paid the price of nearly 2,000 casualties.