Number of People

  Chapter 1957 Guizi Juan Conspires Linqing Tyrant Feng He

  He Huchen looked solemnly, staring at the generous walls of Linqing City in front of him. Before dawn, the top of the city was as dark as a ghost, and his fists almost clenched water.

   After biting his lip for a while, He Huchen pulled out the binoculars from his waist to point straight ahead, and slowly adjusted the rotation to make it in the best condition.

  Looking at the tall city walls, the flickering lanterns on the walls, and the soldiers showing their heads from time to time, He Huchen knew that it might not be so easy to sneak attack.

   But there is not much time for myself.

  Own army has crossed Mingdukou in the southeast of Qinghe County.

It was the place where the Yellow River broke its embankment during Emperor Han Yuan. During Emperor Cheng of Han Dynasty, Feng Xun, the governor of Qinghe, once advised to divert the Gutunshi River, but was rejected. But now this area has become a densely populated place, and the Solu water flows through it, but it is also fertile.

Going further east, it is very easy to be discovered by the scouts of the Datong Army. Even if they hide in the Mingdukou area now, how long can they hide for tens of thousands of horses? Realizing our own intentions and quickly going south for reinforcements, it will be even more difficult.

   This battle is very difficult to fight.

   Because Sun Shaozu was very cautious, even if You Shilu took down the old city and threatened Wucheng, Sun Shaozu only mobilized reinforcements from Wucheng and Dezhou, and basically did not mobilize the Linqing garrison.

This will mean that there are still nearly 10,000 troops stationed in Linqing City, and they are all from the Datong Army. In contrast, Dongchang Prefecture City in the south has less than 5,000 troops. More importantly, the city of Dongchang was emptied, and the defense of Linqing Prefecture was not relaxed.

  If nothing unexpected happens, it can be said that it will be difficult to defeat Linqing City by myself and Yang Zhaoji alone.

  Even if it can be defeated, I am afraid that the loss will be extremely heavy, let alone one out of ten, at least half of it will be lost.

   But for myself and Yang Zhaoji, this battle had to be fought.

You Shilu played very bravely in the north. After the old city was taken, he was attacked by Sun Shaozu. The two sides launched a fierce offensive and defensive battle between the old city, Wucheng and Dezhou. After half a month, both sides suffered extremely casualties. Tragic.

Sun Chengzong's order is only one, to firmly attract the Datong Army on the front line of Dezhou and Wucheng with the Jizhen Army, weaken the Datong Army on the front line of Linqing and Dongchangfu as much as possible, and do a good job for our side to win Linqing Prefecture. bedding.

   It should be said that You Shilu's onslaught at all costs did it, but it is said that the relationship between Sun Chengzong and You Shilu has deteriorated sharply. You Shilu has even written to the Ministry of War, accusing Sun Chengzong of being too angry to talk about military affairs on paper, and he is simply unbearable.

Linqing is one of the most important cities in the Shandong section of the canal. Its strategic location may not be as important as Dezhou and Jining, but it is because it connects the Huitong River (Canal) and Weihe River, and it is located in Beizhi and Shandong East The special geographical location at the junction and the commerce and trade are particularly developed. It radiates the entire eastern Shandong and the southern part of Shuntian Prefecture and Guangping Prefecture. It is the most important material distribution center in Shandong. The significance of winning here is self-evident.

  Especially now that Xia Town in the south has been captured by the Northwest Army and the canal transportation is interrupted, and when the Datong Army and the Xuanfu Army have to collect supplies from Shandong along the canal, the importance of Linqing Prefecture is highlighted.

   Master Feng also mentioned that this battle must be fought with momentum, either Dezhou, Dongchang Mansion, or Linqing, there are only three places to choose from.

  Dongchang Mansion is too far south, and Yanggu and Tangyi are covered by garrisons, so they just gave up, leaving only Dezhou and Linqing.

   But to fight Texas, it is almost a strong attack, there is no trick at all, it is easy to form a confrontation between the two sides, and this kind of offensive and defensive duel, when the defender is supported by the canal, it is difficult for the attacker to take advantage.

   Then the only option is actually Linqing Prefecture.

   Linqing Prefecture is naturally also the focus of the Datong Army's defense, but compared with the Texas soldiers pressing down on the border, its defense is definitely not as thick as Texas. This is our own opportunity.

   But this opportunity may have to be exchanged for the sacrifice of countless soldiers.

   But even so, if he can't win by surprise, then even if he and Yang Zhaoji's second team want to spend their lives, they may not be able to win. This is what He Huchen is most worried about.

   "My lord?" Seeing that the sky was getting brighter, the soldiers around him were a little anxious. This was too close to Linqingzhou City. Once the enemy army noticed it, they would not even have a chance to escape.

   "I know, have they come back?" He Huchen asked in a deep voice.

"I'm afraid it will take some time. In the city, the spies of Captain Long and the informants of the Ministry of Punishment belong to different parties. One is in the west of the city and the other is in the south of the city. Our people need to connect to the line, and the distance is not close. It will take half an hour. "The soldiers lowered their voices: "How about we withdraw to Dafu first, where the trees are tall and the grass is dense, it is easier to hide,..."

Dafu is on the north side of the city, and the distance is not far away. He Huchen nodded after thinking for a while. If he can't get the letter from the Forbidden Captain Long and the Ministry of Punishment in the city, he will never feel at ease. The price is too high.

  Luo Dingbiao returned to his mansion with a cloudy complexion. This is a mansion not far from Bixia Palace, not far from Dongshuimen, and his own department is stationed not far from Dongshuimen.

   Several guards followed behind, filed in, and the door was quickly covered.

   "My lord, the people from the Feng family are already waiting." The soldier whispered.

  Luo Dingbiao took a deep breath, waved his hand, and signaled the soldiers to go down first, and he had to think about it.

  Sun Shaozu did not treat him too kindly, but he did not treat him badly. After all, he was not his direct descendant, so it was not easy to do this.

  Linqing City has three troops stationed, one stationed on the east and south, one stationed on the west and north, and one with a slightly smaller force serving as a reserve force.

  Luo Dingbiao is also very clear that even among the 3,000 people in his own department, Sun Shaozu has placed some of his people, or some of his subordinates have been bought by him, but it is difficult for Luo Dingbiao to find out exactly who was bought.

  Anyone is suspicious, anyone is possible, even Sun Shaozu didn’t hide it too much, maybe it’s a hint to remind himself in this way, to prevent himself from having a different heart, or having other intentions.

  But there was a rush from outside, and people in the city came to deliver news from time to time, which made Luo Dingbiao doubt whether he could hold Linqing City.

  The more this dragged on, the more incompetent and furious Nanjing seemed to be. Even the provided weapons and food had been mobilized to replenish on the spot. However, the situation in Linqing was slightly better, but it was not optimistic.

  The imperial court has a deep foundation in Shandong. Although the army controls the city, it can still find itself anytime, anywhere through various channels.

  If it weren't for the fact that I didn't have much contact with Feng Duan's family on the surface, I wouldn't have been left in Linqing City to defend the city.

  Linqing is the hometown of the Feng family, and the Feng family is also a big family in Linqing, but the Feng Tang lineage is small in number, and the Feng family inside and outside Linqing City is more of a distant branch.

   But regardless of whether it is a distant branch or not, now this member of the Feng clan has secretly come to the door through various methods, and the purpose and intention are self-evident.

  Luo Dingbiao naturally couldn't refuse, but he wouldn't trust anyone easily, even if it was the Feng family.

  Sun Shaozu held this army very tightly. It was hard to say who the generals leading the troops were his confidantes and who secretly connected with him. This was what Luo Dingbiao was most worried about.

   The delay couldn't go on any longer. At this time, the Feng family came directly to the door. It was obviously at the last moment. There must be enemies outside Linqing City, but it is not clear how many people came.

  Zhu Yunqi, who is in charge of the defense of the entire Linqing City, is Sun Shaozu's confidant, and he is also very suspicious, and he is very strict with himself. If it weren't for the Feng family's deep connections in the city, they would not be able to pass through the house so easily and enter his house.

   It's time to make up your mind, Luo Dingbiao sighed, this decision will let him reach the sky with one thought, and enter the ground with one thought.

   "Ask him to come in."

  The person who came was not the same person every time, but he had the seal left by the Feng family, which was enough to believe it.

"Lord Luo, this is the last time we meet. If Lord Luo still can't decide, then let's let this matter go." If you can’t decide, I’m afraid you won’t have a chance.”

Luo Dingbiao looked at the other party firmly, but the other party was very indifferent, and said to himself: "I just brought the letter, and the task will be completed if you bring it to me. If your lord is interested, then let me spread the news. If you No intention, I turned around and left."

  Luo Dingbiao was silent for a long time before he let out a breath and said, "What should I do?"

   "My lord has decided?" The other party was not surprised, there were only two outcomes, either to do it or not to do it, it was as simple as that, Luo Dingbiao just chose a more likely one.

"Decided."

   "Well, tomorrow the army will arrive at the city to launch an attack. How about the ugly hour and three quarters in two days? Binyang Gate, you open the city gate..." the other party asked.

  Luo Dingbiao hesitated for a while, then shook his head, "Binyang Gate is the focus of Zhu Yunqi's guards. With his personal soldiers watching over him, I'm afraid it will be difficult to succeed..."

   "Sir, you have to choose a breakthrough, right? Dongshuimen?" The visitor is obviously very familiar with the situation in Linqing City, "Dongshuimen needs a pontoon, and the sluice is easy to be blocked,..."

"Just the East Water Gate!" Luo Dingbiao gritted his teeth and finally made up his mind, "My people can only completely control the East Water Gate. As for the pontoon bridge, it's easy. There are many wooden rafts at the timber market. I'll arrange people to prepare some. At that time, if you put it down, you can just enter along the water gate, and after entering, you can take the Binyang Gate to the north, and the Jingdai Gate to the south, it depends on the situation.”

  (end of this chapter)