Song Mingyue

Chapter 259
After the three armies gathered, they rectified for another two days, and finally set off in full gear, left Mozhou City, and marched towards Xiongzhou.

In the early morning of the next day, all the armies set up their camps one by one, and headed north in mighty strength.

The first to set off was the elite Western Army led by Liu Yanqing, including Yang Keshi's white battalion soldiers.

Then came the Chinese army, which consisted of Jinyiwei, the imperial guards of the capital, and Tong Guan's personal soldiers - the elite of the Sanqiansheng Jiejun.

The last was the Heshuo Imperial Army led by Yang Weizhong.

……

Cai Mao, the deputy envoy of the Xuanfu envoy who lived in Mozhou City, knew that troops were going to be dispatched today, so after breakfast, he also began to pack his luggage and prepare to set off with the army.

This time I stayed in Mozhou City for a long time, and Cai Mao also learned how to be good. In order to alleviate the pain on the horse's back, I specially found a tailor in the city to make a cotton saddle cushion, so as to prevent the saddle from grinding and hurting the thigh. It's only four or five days' journey from Mozhou to Xiongzhou, and it's over after a makeshift.

Although he can't take a car, Cai Mao, as the deputy envoy, has a lot of followers, and the luggage he brought can fill up two large carts. After packing for a long time, the attendants finally packed all the luggage and packed the car Wait in front of the mansion.

Cai Maoduan was sitting in the inner house, drinking for himself. After all, if he wanted to drink along the way, it would not be convenient in Mozhou City.

At this moment, an attendant hurried in and said respectfully: "My lord, the former army has already set off, and my lord Xuanfu envoy and lord Dudu please go to the north gate to gather and set off with the Chinese army."

Cai Mao heard the servant's report, immediately raised the wine glass in front of him, and drank it down: "Let's go!"

After finishing speaking, he led the attendants and strode out of the inner house.Just when I walked to the festival hall, suddenly there was a strange gurgling sound in my stomach.

Cai Mao's expression changed, and he felt a pain in his abdomen, followed by a feeling that a volcano was about to erupt, making him want to die.

"You wait here and wait..."

Before Cai Mao finished speaking, he clutched his stomach and went straight to Xueyin.

As soon as I took off my pants, I only heard the wind and rain, the thunder, and the mountains and seas, dripping freely...

After receiving the silk handed over by the attendants and wiping it carefully, Cai Mao showed a satisfied look on his face, and he was full of energy, and led the attendants to continue walking to the gate of the mansion.

goo goo~
Just as he walked to the door, there was another strange noise, causing Cai Mao's face to change drastically. However, before he could think about it, he had to turn around under the urging of the feeling like a galloping horse and a river bursting its embankment. , clutching his belly, holding his trouser belt, walked like flying, and rushed towards Xueyin again.

After another storm, Cai Mao stood up again, his face gradually turning pale.

"I'm afraid I've ruined my stomach..." He sighed inwardly.

This time, he learned his lesson, and did not leave Xueyin immediately, but returned to the inner hall, and asked someone to pour a cup of hot tea, and drank it slowly.

Sure enough, just after drinking a cup of hot tea, there was a rumble of thunder in his stomach, and the stormy sea was about to burst out. With a bitter expression on his face, Cai Mao pulled up his trousers again and came out.

In this way, he came here four times in half an hour, Cai Mao's face had become very pale, he was almost unsteady when he walked, his feet were floating as if his energy had been sucked dry, and he managed to return with the support of two attendants. inner hall.

An attendant from outside hurried in and shouted loudly: "The Chinese army has pulled out their strongholds and set up camp. Your Excellency, Xuanfu Envoy, urgently asks you to go!"

Cai Mao opened his mouth and was about to say something, but the feeling of wanting to die came back to him, and before he could reply, he left in a hurry.

An elderly attendant shook his head and smiled wryly: "The Deputy Envoy has a bad stomach, I'm afraid I won't be able to go out today, please report to Xuan Fu Envoy quickly, I will go to the city to find a good doctor."

Just when Cai Mao was complaining, his partner Cai You was also in the same situation as him, going back and forth between Neitang and Xueyin.

The north gate of Mozhou City.

The banners are like clouds, and the swords and halberds are like forests.

Tens of thousands of elite troops from the Northern Expedition were ready to fight in battle. Among the army, an embroidered flag fluttered in the wind. Under the banner of the Chinese army, Zhao Hao and Tong Guan stood side by side, waiting for the arrival of the two deputy envoys.

Tong Guan looked back at the gate of the city from time to time, with a slightly anxious look on his face.Zhao Hao, on the other hand, had a calm expression on his face, showing no sign of impatience at all, and there was an imperceptible smile at the corner of his mouth.

"What are those two fellows doing? It's an important matter of marching, so we can't wait for a long time!" Tong Guan became more and more anxious as he waited, and couldn't help cursing inwardly.

After a while, a horse galloped towards Tong Guan, and didn't stop until more than thirty steps in front of Tong Guan. He got off his horse and came straight in front of Tong Guan. Deputy Ambassador..."

He said the next part in a very low voice, only Tong Guan could hear it.

The left deputy envoy is Cai Mao.

Hearing this, Tong Guan had a look of ridicule on his face, and scolded: "Zhiniang thief, such a thing happened at such a critical juncture, in this case, let the left deputy envoy rest for a few days, and then go Xiongzhou is not too late."

"Here!"

Looking at the back of the messenger who had left on his horse, Tong Guan frowned, and muttered to himself: "Cai Mao has diarrhea, could it be that Cai You also has diarrhea, and he hasn't arrived yet?"

Before the words were finished, another rider galloped over, got off his horse, and went straight in front of Tong Guan: "The cavalry is declared commander, and the right deputy envoy..."

This time, the expression on Tong Guan's face became concentrated, and he was stunned, and it took him a while to recover.

Zhao Hao was standing next to Tong Guan, so he could hear it clearly, he couldn't help but giggled and said, "The two deputy envoys are quite related, both surnamed Cai, both come from the family of my husband, and both are scholar-bureaucrats. Now even if my stomach is tight, I want to be a companion, and they really are a pair of good brothers!"

Tong Guan looked back at Zhao Hao, and suddenly, as if enlightened, he had an epiphany, shook his head immediately, and said with a wry smile: "If that's the case, we won't wait for Deputy Cai You..."

He suddenly drew his sword and said, "Let's go!"

Three cannons sounded, horns blared, gongs and drums blared, and tens of thousands of soldiers and horses of the Chinese army set off one by one, like a huge dragon, rolling away to the north.

Zhao Hao rode his horse and followed Tong Guan closely. After walking for a mile or two, he suddenly looked back and looked coldly at Mozhou City, with a sly smile on his lips.

Straight mother thief, dare to sue me for being black, crotons can't kill your two grandchildren!

First vent for half a day, then lie down for ten days and half a month, it is best not to get sick, so as not to be noisy all the time!

********
Xiongzhou City.

Xiongzhou City is Waqiaoguan. After Zhou Shizong won the three passes, he changed Waqiaoguan to Xiongzhou, which is also the seat of Xiongzhou Prefecture. The most important border town is also the logistics base for the upcoming Northern Expedition.

Xiongzhou is located in the north of Baiyangdian Lake, the great lake in central Hebei Province, and in the south of Juma River. According to the lower reaches of Jiuhe River, the rivers and lakes are connected, and the waterway transportation is convenient.From Xiongzhou to the west, you can reach Baoding, an important town in Hebei.Due to the low-lying terrain in Xiongzhou area, rivers and lakes are full of saline-alkali ground, and there are few residents, it is easy for the enemy to take advantage of it. Setting up danger here is good for defense.

In the south of Xiongzhou City, the Deputy Commander of the Heshuo Imperial Army, Zhixiongzhou Shihe Shen led the Xiongzhou garrison, and marched ten miles south to welcome Tong Guan's arrival.

Thousands of troops stationed in Xiongzhou lined up and waited for each other. Everyone stood up straight and looked south.

Zhao Hao and Tong Guan walked side by side, and when the banner behind them appeared in the sight of the Xiongzhou garrison, there was already a burst of cheers ahead.

Immediately afterwards, a general about 40 years old, dressed in chain mail and a large cloak, rode a tall horse and led the crowd to greet him.

"Harmony, strength 81, intelligence 55, politics 65, command 72, health 90."

This person's military strength is quite good, it is said that his physical strength is extremely strong, he is also good at riding and shooting, he can break through [-] paces, his nickname is "Phoenix Bow".

It's just a pity that he is arrogant and arrogant.During the Northern Expedition in history, He Shen miscalculated the combat power of the Liao people and demoted the Liao people's army and horses to nothing, which caused the Song army to underestimate the enemy. Finally died in depression.

……

The next day.

Xiongzhou Prefecture, where the Northern Expeditionary Army marched.

In the hall, soldiers and horses from all walks of life were in charge, gathered together to discuss the strategy of sending troops to fight.

According to Tong Guan's intention, divide the army into six groups.

Wang Zhi and Yang Keshi led the front army, which consisted of white stiletto cavalry and [-] elite Western troops.

Yang Weizhong commanded the left army, which consisted of [-] Heshuo Forbidden Army.

The right army is commanded in the middle division, which is composed of [-] imperial guards in the capital.

Generals Wang Ping and Yang Zhi of the Western Army commanded the rear army, composed of [-] Heshuo Forbidden Army,

The generals of the Western Army, Xin Xingzong and Zhao Ming, led the selection of [-] front troops.

The left army, the rear army and the forward army are all controlled by Liu Yanqing.

Zhong Shidao commanded the Chinese army as the vice-capital commander. The main force was the [-] Heshuo Forbidden Army and the [-] elite Western Army. They led troops into Baigouyi and crossed the river to attack the Liao people.

Tong Guan and Zhao Hao were stationed in Xiongzhou and dispatched in the middle, while three thousand Jinyiwei and five thousand Shengjie troops guarded Xiongzhou City.

Tong Guan's tactics are still the same as in history, that is, the formation of the front and rear central troops plus the selection of front troops. This method of dividing troops to attack is undoubtedly self-destructing the Great Wall, making the original strength of the Song army completely lost.

The most important thing is that it not only emptied the way of the teacher and the two of them, but also pushed the way of the teacher to the forefront, and also emptied Zhao Hao.

As soon as Tong Guan finished making arrangements, Zhong Shidao retorted: "Today's campaign against Liao, for example, stealing into a neighbor's house can't be saved. Originally, the troops came out of nowhere, but now they are splitting up and attacking them. I'm afraid it will be difficult to accomplish."

Tong Guan said coldly: "Today's military affairs, the officials have already made their plans. At the same time, they also use the prestige of the old gentleman to subdue the Liao people. You must not resign."

Yang Keshi said: "The major event of the Liao expedition must be discussed in a long-term manner. If we fail to plan hastily, we will not regret being punished. I am afraid that there will be accidents. The most important thing is to humiliate the country. I hope to be familiar with the plan before acting."

Before the words were finished, Zhixiongzhou and Shen sneered and said: "I have heard that General Yang can defeat ten thousand people, and he is absolutely courageous. He regards a majestic teacher as if he was destroyed. He once shocked the northwest and swept the Western Qiang. Looking at him today, he is just one Coward ears."

Yang Keshi was ridiculed by him and remained silent.

Tong Guan looked at Zhao Hao, and said, "I don't know what the commander of the county thinks. If there is no objection, how about selecting warriors tomorrow and riding back and forth across the border to send out calls for surrender, so as to disturb the morale of the Liao army, and then plan a war?"

The reason why Tong Guan made arrangements without consulting Zhao Hao was nothing more than two points: First, he believed that Zhao Hao had no real experience in commanding troops. Even if it is gold-plated, what opinions can Zhao Hao put forward in this kind of war of overwhelming the country? , causing him to habitually preside over the overall situation, unconsciously ignoring Zhao Hao.

Zhao Hao sneered, and only replied with two words: "No!"

The atmosphere of the audience suddenly froze, and everyone looked at Zhao Hao in shock.

Especially He Shen, although he also heard about Zhao Hao's glorious deeds, he didn't take it seriously. Now that Zhao Hao had so straightforwardly rejected the opinions of Tong Guan and the generals, he couldn't help but frown, with obvious dissatisfaction in his expression.

Just listen to Zhao Hao said: "There is a saying in the art of war: It is better to cut off one finger than to injure its ten fingers. How can the Liao people be so easy to be with them? If they divide the army into six groups, they will undoubtedly seek their own death and will be killed by the Liao people." The people were defeated individually. Therefore, the capital ruled that the army could be divided into three groups. The two generals and Yang Keshi led the elite western army, the white stile soldiers and the [-] Heshuo forbidden army as the front army. Liu Yanqing, Yang Weizhong, and He Shen led [-] forbidden troops in Heshuo to garrison Langoudian to prevent the Liao people from invading; this general led the forbidden troops in the capital and guards in Jinyi to garrison Fancun and supported him in the middle. Xuanshuai was in Xiongzhou and dispatched in the middle. Three thousand victorious troops stationed in Xiongzhou City."

"What?" He Shen jumped up as soon as he heard it, and roared, "Zhao Du has no experience in commanding troops. Today's battle is about the state system, and the commander-in-chief is announced as the commander-in-chief of the three armies. How can Mr. Zhao overthrow everything and make his own decisions?"

Zhao Hao gave him a cold look, ignored him, but turned to Master Zhong and said, "Old General Zhong, this is the strategy of the general, can you?"

Zhong Shidao thought about it for a while, and respectfully said: "Excellent!"

Zhao Hao turned to Tong Guan again, and asked in a deep voice, "I don't know what Xuan Shuai wants?"

Tong Guan's face darkened, and he was silent for a long time, before finally nodding his head: "Since Mr. Zhao is in charge of the capital, we will follow his plan for the battle."

(End of this chapter)