After everyone arrived, Duan Ling asked the soldiers to arrange the gold bars, put them on the table, and place them in the courtyard. Almost all the later ones were frightened.
"Everyone." Duan Ling said, "Uncle is sick in bed, and I will send orders for the military affairs in Tongguan. This is a debt. I have checked the debt and know that you still owe everyone's military salaries. Please take it by yourself."
For a while, no one dared to come forward to take it, and Duan Ling made another "please" gesture and said, "Don't be humble, I have received the salary, I have more to say."
Only then did the school officials receive the gold bars, and Duan Ling added: "Not long ago, Dangxiang people came to welcome the relatives and learned that Helianda had been coveting the land of our Dachen for a long time, and he might take this opportunity to invade Tongguan at any time, and now he has already sent a plea for help to Xichuan. Letter, reinforcements will arrive soon, and in these days, I also ask all generals to cooperate more and guard closely."
Everyone agreed. After all, although Bian Lingbai said he was seriously ill, he was not really dead. The two most powerful lieutenants and Fei Hongde listened to the young man. If they had anything else to say, they ordered them to leave. Xie Hao and Fei Hongde went to arrange the defense, leaving Lieutenant General Wang, Wu Du and Duan Ling to arrange in the hall.
"This mountain, here." Duan Ling pointed out the location on the map and said, "Ambush can be deployed in the canyon, but not here, and the soldiers will not tire of deception."
"This place is very dangerous." Deputy General Wang said, "Why not set up an ambush, but instead set traps on the ground two miles away from the exit?"
"It is precisely because the mountain road is easy to ambush." Duan Ling said, "The opponent must be very careful when passing through. After the whole army leaves, the spirit will relax for it. If you block it here, you can get the best effect in one fell swoop."
Wu Du glanced at Duan Ling, his eyes were very complicated, Duan Ling looked up at Wu Du, Wu Du nodded and didn't ask any more.
"Sure enough, family learning is inherited." Vice Admiral Wang said, "I knew this earlier, but I don't have to worry about it."
Duan Ling said: "This is not enough. Our goal is not to annihilate them all in the canyon. First, they will be scattered for the first time, the whole army will be evacuated, and then they will be assembled in a group and then attacked in one go. Do not fight against horse thieves. , they are too familiar with the terrain, we will only be attacked."
"What if the other party doesn't gather again?" Wu Du asked.
"Then set fire to the mountain." Duan Ling glanced outside the courtyard and said, "Forcing them out, the fog is heavy, the mountains and forests are full of smoke, and the other party can no longer hide."
Wu Du nodded, Deputy General Wang made preparations, Duan Ling took Wu Du's hand and returned to the room with him, Fei Hongde sent someone to bring leather armor.
"What do you call this?" Wu Duchao said to Duan Ling, "Leave you alone in the mansion, what if Helan Jie kills him again?"
"There is Wuluohoumu." Duan Ling replied, "He is chasing Helanjie, isn't he?"
"What if?" Wu Du said.
Duan Ling said: "This risk must be taken, and it is worth taking the risk. Ben Xiao, you ride, and put on your armor."
Wu Du was standing in the room, and Duan Ling helped him untie his robe, only wearing a single shirt and trousers, and put on his armor.
"I don't wear armor." Wu Du, who was wearing a single white shirt, blocked Duan Ling's hand, and said impatiently, "What the hell are you thinking?"
"Just put it on! Otherwise, I won't worry about it." Duan Ling said, "Didn't you say that you are nice to me? Two days at most."
As he said that, he quickly tied the rope under his waist to Wu Du, Wu Du looked down at Duan Ling's movements, Duan Ling knelt on one knee again, wrapped a battle skirt and knee pads for him, and took the wrist guards. Put it on for him.
"If there is something wrong with Wang An," Duan Ling said, "you will kill him and take over his military power. Be careful of the black-headed geese who spread the word from the party members. If you can, try not to let them pass any news."
Wu Du stood quietly, staring at Duan Ling, his brows furrowed.
"How did you know this?" Wu Du murmured, "Wang Shan, you..."
Duan Ling was stunned for a moment, Wu Du grabbed Duan Ling's hand, looked at his hand, looked at his face, and observed his expression.
"I read some military books at the Prime Minister's Mansion." Duan Ling replied.
He looked at Wu Du in armor and planned to stop hiding it from him, but he couldn't say it now. After all, if the war was imminent, if Wu Du knew his true identity, he would definitely feel uneasy. , I am afraid that instead of being in a mess, it is easy to lead to danger.
Duan Ling thought to himself, I will tell you when you come back.
"It's all about arranging troops. It's not your first time wearing armor. What to wear first, what to wear last, the order is good, where did you learn it?" Wu Du said again.
Duan Ling replied without hesitation: "Isn't it impersonating Zhao Rong? You must pay attention to these things in advance, otherwise it will be easily seen through."
When Duan Ling said this, he didn't dare to look up at Wu Du, but Wu Du stretched out his hand and pressed his fingers against Duan Ling's chin, forcing him to raise his head and look into his eyes. Duan Ling was very nervous and his lips trembled slightly.
"I have something to say to you when you come back." Duan Ling said with a sigh of relief.
When Wu Du heard this, he froze unnaturally, and after thinking about it, he suddenly became embarrassed.
"Oh... OK, OK." Wu Du let go of Duan Ling, thought about it, and said, "Then I'm leaving."
Duan Ling went up and hugged Wu Du from behind. The two stood there for a while, and Wu Du said to Duan Ling, "Be careful of yourself, be with the Xie as much as possible, and don't be alone. run."
Wu Du strode out, and Duan Ling chased behind him. Seeing that he turned over from the backyard and onto Ben Xiao's back, Ben Xiao didn't leave. He turned to look at Duan Ling, as if he was still waiting for him to come up.
"Drive!" Wu Du urged Ben Xiao, but Ben Xiao snorted, but did not act.
"You stupid horse." Wu Du said impatiently.
"Go! Ben Xiao, let's go!" Duan Ling raised his hand towards Ben Xiao, motioning you to take Wu Du. Ben Xiao only walked away a few steps, still turned his head to look at Duan Ling, Duan Ling said to it: " Protect Wu Du!"
Only then did Ben Xiao turn around and leave the backyard with the sound of hoofs. Duan Ling chased after a few steps and jumped up the wall to see. Seeing Wu Du riding on the horse, he still looked back at him.
"Be careful not to fall!" Wu Du shouted from a distance.
Duan Ling was only amused, so he got down from the wall.
When they returned to the upper floor of Tongguan City, Xie Hao was talking with Fei Hongde, and when Duan Ling came, they both remained silent for a while.
"Uncle's condition has improved." Duan Ling said casually, "Maybe it will gradually get better."
In a few hours, Bian Lingbai was about to rot and die, and Duan Ling was not in the mood to care about him. He had to stabilize the overall situation first.
"This plan is very dangerous." Xie Hao said, "but it may not be impossible, but if Helianda can't come, it will be useless."
"I hope he doesn't come." Duan Ling looked at the overwhelming weather and asked, "Is it ready?"
"It's all right." Fei Hongde said, "I hope they don't come."
Xie Hao glanced at Duan Ling intentionally or unintentionally, and went to check the defense. The rest of Duan Ling and Fei Hongde were on the city wall, the flags were flying, and the sky was surging.
"Xie Hao was born in Yingchuan, and he is a clan brother with Xie You, the commander of the Jiangzhou Heijia Army. He is a loyal person." Fei Hongde said lightly, "Don't be too wary of him."
Duan Ling nodded and went down along the city wall with Fei Hongde. Fei Hongde said again: "Xie Hao can be the general, but not the commander. Wu Du and Xie You can be the commanders. I have told Xie Hao that he will be the commander. I will do my best to assist you."
Duan Ling's heart was shocked, and Fei Hongde finally knew. If he changed Bian Lingbai, he might want to kill people, but Duan Ling thought more about whether Fei Hongde would help him because of his help. slaughtered him, which led to his death.
"I had doubts in my heart before." Fei Hongde said, "Now that I see your arrangement, there is quite a legacy of the late emperor, no accident, the danger of Tongguan must be resolved, and there is no need to worry too much. As long as the odds of winning are between 60%, you can give it a shot.”
"After this time is over, will you still stay in Tongguan?" Duan Ling asked.
Fei Hongde said: "It's time to leave today. I had an appointment with Yelu Zong before, and I have to go to Liao to help him stabilize the situation in Liao."
Duan Ling couldn't help but feel pity in his heart, but he also understood Fei Hongde's foresight, that in today's world, Liao, Yuan, Chen and Xiliang, there are too many unstable factors for each of the forces. According to Helianbo, Yelu Zongzhen was still in the power struggle with the Han family, and even if he wanted to reconcile with Nan Chen, he could not help himself.
And Fei Hongde didn't care about which side he helped. His purpose was to just hope that the world would become more stable and that there would be no more large-scale killings and disputes. A strategist who travels from country to country with the world in mind, this ideal is so grand that it surpasses many people.
"We will meet again." Fei Hongde said to Duan Ling, "There will be a period later."
Fei Hongde saluted Duan Ling, but Duan Ling didn't expect Fei Hongde to leave, so he hurriedly saluted him, the old and the young separated at Tong Pass, while the servants waited under Tong Pass, carrying Fei Hongde leave, just leave.
As soon as Fei Hongde left, Duan Ling immediately began to feel uneasy. Soon, in the evening, the sky was rolling with thunder and thunder, and Duan Ling didn't go back anymore.
I don't know how long it took, the loud message of the detective woke him up.
"Report -" Tan reported, "There are 40,000 Xiliang troops outside the pass, and they are coming to Tongguan!"
Duan Ling suddenly jolted and ran out of the corner room, and he came! Tongguan went up and down, caught in a tense atmosphere, Xie Hao said: "Come on! As expected!"
Duan Ling was no longer in the mood to be complacent, and ordered: "According to the plan immediately, start action!"
Torches were scattered all over the mountains and plains, all of them from the Xiliang army. There was evidence of the advance and retreat of the warhorses. Forty thousand people scattered into the wilderness outside the city. The Tongguan defenders rioted, and they also set off torches at the head of the city.
"Who is coming!" Xie Hao said loudly.
Under the suffocating air, Duan Ling was about to leave the tower, but was stopped by Xie Hao.
Immediately afterwards, an arrow was shot on the ground, leaping to a height of nearly a hundred paces, and nailing it to the wooden post with a bang. The defenders bent their bows and arrows and shot down the city, and the Xiliang army retreated out of range like a tide. .
Xie Hao unfolded a piece of paper on the arrow. On it was an IOU left by Bian Lingbai, one hundred thousand silver, the cost of buying party horses, and was immediately shocked.
The following person said loudly in Dangxiang language: "I heard that your country's general Bian was murdered by a traitor, and the imperial master Helian of our country ordered this general to come to visit. If General Bian dies, both of us have to clear the account. , there are three IOUs in total, I'll give you one for inspection first."
Duan Ling understood, and many of the city guards generally understood the party's words. There was a lot of discussion, and an interpreter shouted loudly.
"Report—" Another detective hurried up the city wall and said to Duanling, "Master Wu Du and General Wang have successfully intercepted the enemy in the Qinling Mountains, and the horse thief has escaped into the Qinling Mountains!"
"Well done!" Duan Ling said, "We are ready to act!"