Soon after, all the main forces of the Xiangzhou Military Mansion had landed ashore, leaving only two ships and some soldiers on the south bank of Xiangyang, patrolling and alerting for response.
The Huotou Army moved very quickly, and the cooking of rice was completed in an instant. All three armies were well fed and prepared for a big fight. The hearty victory just now greatly boosted the morale of this "new army". The navy has made a great contribution, and the cavalry sergeants are eager to try, unwilling to fall behind.
Qin Mubai, Pang Fei and others were in the cabin of a military ship, studying the military sand table in the Xiangcheng area of Dengzhou. Anyone from Baiqi can make a sand table. One of the important tasks of the Baiqi spies who were sent out to inquire about the military situation was to make a sand table when they came back. Mountains, rivers, cities and villages, every detail, are reflected on the sand table.
"It seems that this is the only way to the city. However, there are forests on the right side of the mountain and a shallow stream in front. Although a temporary bridge can be built to cross it, it will not hinder our army's march. However, the boundary here is dangerous. It is often mentioned in military books as an 'ambush place'." Qin Mubai pointed to a boundary on the sand table and said patiently, as if lecturing Pang Fei, "If the enemy knows how to use a plan to set up an ambush, they can cut off the upper stream of this stream. If the river has enough water and we set up ambushes on both sides of the narrow road to prepare for a fire attack, our army will be completely destroyed."
"That's right! The army marches head-on, and it is extremely difficult to turn around. On such a narrow road with a lower middle and higher sides, if we are attacked by bows and arrows or fire, we will not be able to retreat at all and can only run to the river. Pang Fei said, "If the enemy digs out the creek and floods it, it will be a disaster."
"It's smart to draw inferences from one instance." Qin Mubai nodded in approval.
Pang Fei said: "Since this place is the only way our army must pass, and the enemy is very likely to set up an ambush, how should we deal with it? Do we have to cross mountains and ridges to avoid this way? In that case, a sudden attack will be meaningless. It will take at least three or four days before we reach Xiangzhou."
"No, I have my own way." Qin Mubai smiled mysteriously, and just as he was about to speak, he suddenly heard a sergeant outside the cabin shouting: "Alert to the incoming ship! The crossbowmen are ready!"
Everyone was shocked: That's strange. Could it be that the enemy still had troops on the waterway
Just as they were about to send someone out to check and inquire, someone from the outside was already shouting: "Why are you shouting in surprise! You are blind! That is our own divine fish spaceship!"
Qin Mubai pursed his lips: "Pang Fei, let's take a look. Didn't that boat stay on the south bank to receive warnings? Why did it sail across the river without permission?"
"yes!"
Pang Fei got out of the ship and came to the observation deck to take a look. Sure enough, it was indeed the Army's Divine Fish spaceship approaching, and both of them came. It was a bit far away and couldn't be seen clearly, but I could only see the light reflected from the armor of soldiers and horses on the deck of the ship.
"Strange, where did the soldiers and horses come from?" Pang Fei was still wondering to himself.
At this time, a shuttle boat quickly rowed over and shouted to the ship overhead: "His Royal Highness, King Wu, led his troops across the river to help!"
"What, King Wu?!" Qin Mubai also heard it in the cabin and came out in surprise.
At this time, the two large ships were approaching, and Li Ke could already be seen standing on the bow. Behind him stood two generals, Xue Rengui and Yin Yang, wearing strong armor and strong weapons, bowing to Qin Mubai with clasped fists.
There is also a "general" who is "holding" a heavy weapon as long as a person and gilded with phoenix wings. He is wearing a mighty black black iron mountain armor, but two wars are leaning against the side of the ship precariously. On the bed, vomiting violently and feeling dizzy - it was Yu Wen Hongtai.
Qin Mubai took a quick look and saw that the two ships carried at least a thousand people, mostly cavalry. The soldiers of the royal palace have much more advanced equipment than those of the military palace. Good horses, good armor, good weapons, armed to the teeth, making the soldiers of the imperial army wearing shabby cloth and leather armor very jealous.
"Your Highness, why are you here?" Qin Mubai asked on the boat.
Li Ke laughed heartily. After the two boats got closer, he stepped on the sampan and crossed the boats. He turned around and said, "Rengui, Yin Yang, throw that worthless guy on the shore. Don't be embarrassed here. Tell him not to come, he must come."
"Yes." Xue Rengui and Yin Yang smiled at Qin Mubai, and they both carried Yu Wen Hongtai to the shore first.
"Let's talk in the cabin!"
Li Ke motioned Qin Mubai to come with him. When the two entered the cabin, Li Ke smiled and said: "I have thought clearly. If you want to resist the decree, then we must resist together. Even if I don't know how to resist, I must help him privately." You. These one thousand cavalry are all that I have at my disposal. The rest are useless infantrymen, and they are all now under your command."
"Your Highness, isn't this inappropriate?" Qin Mubai frowned and said, "Chu Suiliang is still here. It's not good to let him know."
"Don't worry, he won't know." Li Ke smiled mysteriously and said, "Even if he knows, he will pretend not to know."
Qin Mubai understood, nodded and smiled: "Chu Suiliang is a reasonable and smart man."
"Yes! Didn't we know this as early as when we were in Jiangzhou?" Li Ke said with a smile, "The men and horses under your command are a bit thin after all. Although I know that you may be good at fighting, having more people is not a bad thing after all. . Moreover, you are familiar with people like Xue Rengui, Yin Yang, and Yuwen Hongtai, and you will definitely be able to use them easily. Furthermore, soldiers who do not fight hard are not good soldiers. I will take this opportunity to make these people under me spend less. Fei's sergeants, if they are not good enough to be useless, just let them rush to the front and die, but it will save me some money and food."
Qin Mubai knew that he was deliberately joking, so he nodded and said gratefully: "Your Highness, thank you."
"Thank you for nothing." Li Ke smiled slightly, "We share the blessings and share the hardships. You have blocked the huge relationship of raising troops to resist the decree, so what does it mean if I help you with a few troops? Even if my father will be blamed by then, I will fight with you. It will be easier if two people share the blame. Of course, if there is no blame or credit, then I can get some benefits from you!"
Qin Mubai laughed loudly: "These thousand cavalry are almost all your property. In the past, if I asked you for a horse or a pair of armor, you were too stingy and refused to give it, as if you were watching. It's more important than your own wives and concubines. Now you are willing to send a thousand people away at once..."
Li Ke grinned indifferently: "What are these things used for? Isn't that just for times like this? Stop talking nonsense, use your troops well, and win as soon as possible! In fact, my hands are really itchy when I see you fighting, okay I want to fight side by side with you. But I also know that I am not good at marching and fighting. So, I have to support you behind you. Don't worry, you can just march boldly. Fight hard, the governor's office has arranged an unlimited supply of food, grass and armor for you, and is responsible for delivering it to your army!"
"Okay, thank you very much!" Qin Mubai said gratefully, "I was worried about this! There is not much ready food in the military camp. It can last for ten days at most. I sent people to Wu Meiniang's place Borrowing food, but at this time, it is too difficult to find mules, horses, vehicles and people to transport food. If the time goes too long, there will be problems with the subsequent supply. As long as the governor's office is willing to help, it will really relieve my worries! "
"So, I'm still of some use?" Li Ke raised his eyebrows and said with a joking smile, "Don't be joking. Wu Meiniang's food and grass have just been put into the treasury, how can they be emptied out again?... We want to make a fortune. , but we are all counting on that! The governor's office has collected a lot of official food taxes in the autumn. If we don't need it now, when will we wait?"
Qin Mubai chuckled, feeling a little moved in his heart.
Although Li Ke spoke in an understated and humorous way, his decisions were not made easily. From this incident, Qin Mubai felt Li Ke's loyalty.
Qin Mubai could resist the order because he was the general who commanded the army. If a general refused to accept orders from a foreign king, no matter how serious his crime was, it would not be too serious. Moreover, he resisted the order this time because he had figured out what was on Li Shimin's mind. Li Ke was different. He was a prince and had a sensitive identity. It took great courage and courage to defy his father's orders and advance and retreat with Qin Mubai. He didn't want to sit back and let Qin Mubai bear everything to clarify the facts, so he chose to stand in the same trench with him.
Resisting orders, obeying orders and disobeying orders, these are risky things after all, especially for a prince like him.
At this time, instead of saying that what Li Ke provided was a thousand soldiers and horses, it was better to say that it was a "promise" - to advance and retreat together, to share glory and disgrace!
At this point, Qin Mubai didn't want to say anything more. He just looked at Li Ke solemnly and nodded seriously: "I will use my troops well, don't worry."
"Haha, many people praise you as a general, but I really don't believe it." Li Ke said with a smile, "I seem to have heard that it's not about having many soldiers, but about how to use them properly. Li You has 30,000 troops. I'll send them to you." I gave you one thousand, but you only have three thousand. Everyone has to fight against each other... Hey, can you? Don't be so stubborn, I don't want to come across the river to collect your body."
"What bad luck!" Qin Mubai spat, "You'd better go back quickly and don't confuse the morale of our military with your evil words here. Anyone who confuses the morale of the military will be killed! You don't want to test whether my military orders are strict, do you? "
"Haha, General Qin is so majestic. I'm really a little scared." Li Ke patted his chest and laughed, nodded, and said, "Then I'll leave. Anyway... take care of yourself!"
"Well..." Qin Mubai smiled and nodded.
Li Ke boarded the boat and sailed to the south bank. He stood on the bow of the boat and looked at Qin Mubai. The two of them were smiling and understanding each other, and their eyes were full of loyalty.
"It's really a timely help." Pang Fei came over and said with a smile, "Our army is short of cavalry. Although there are four hundred cavalry, only fifty elite cavalry can really charge and plunder the formation. The rest are combat power. Mediocre cavalry. These cavalry in the palace are really good. At least they have good equipment and good horses. The three warriors who lead the army are also very powerful. Uh... It's just that Yuwen Hongtai is so vomiting. They were all worried about whether he could ride a horse.”
Qin Mubai smiled and said: "That naughty bear is actually seasick, and he vomited as soon as he got on the boat. He is more difficult to take care of than a woman or a child. Let him rest for a while, fill his stomach with good wine and meat, and then he will Jumping around."
"good!"
At this time, Xue Rengui and Yin Yang were on board the boat, walked up to Qin Mubai and bowed with fists in their hands: "General Qin, the last general is waiting to be punished!"
"It's great that you're here. I'm just using people." Qin Mubai said with a smile, "One white, one red, and one black. The three generals of the palace stepped forward and suppressed the power of the enemy and puppet troops!"
Xue Rengui and Yin Yang laughed.
Xue Rengui was dressed in bright white silver armor, a bright silver war robe, a steel helmet with white tassels, and he was riding a white horse that looked like snow; Yin Yang was dressed in the traditional attire of a royal general, with blood red Mingguang armor and Chu red cloak war robe. Riding a big jujube horse; Yuwen Hongtai is a giant. It has been difficult to find Mingguang armor that fits him well. It is time-consuming, labor-intensive and expensive to find someone to make it custom-made. With that spare money, he would be happy to drink more. Anyway, he was not particular about it, so he just wore a set of black iron mountain armor, and his horse was also black and shiny. From head to toe, including the horse, it was completely black, and carrying a gold-plated pan with phoenix wings that was as long as a person and weighed more than a hundred kilograms, it looked like a sinister King Kong.
Qin Mubai and the two of them chatted for a while on the deck when they saw Yuwen Hongtai running over from the shore and shouted: "Hey, General Qin, I'm fine! When will we send troops, I can't wait!" "
"Haha!" Everyone laughed together. Qin Mubai said: "Eat and drink enough first, and someone will notify you later."
"Hey! You have to hurry up!" Yuwen Hongtai responded and simply ran back.
At this time, Pang Fei said: "General, it's less than an hour before we set off, so we should decide on our strategy early, right? Didn't I just say that the enemy and puppet troops might set up an ambush by the stream ahead?"
"Okay, let's go into the cabin and look at the sand table!"
Everyone was discussing countermeasures in the cabin when they suddenly heard that the scouts sent to Dengzhou had made detailed reports and sent back important military information.
Qin Mubai opened the military report and was surprised!
The Minister of the Ministry of War and the Governor of Bingzhou accepted the emperor's order and led 20,000 light cavalry to travel more than 300 miles in a day to gallop to Dengzhou to quell the rebellion. Within one day, at the same time that Qin Mubai captured Xinye Military Port, Li Ji's troops were divided into five groups, including General Xue Wanjun of the Left Tunnel Guard, General Xue Wanche of the Right Wuwei Guard, Qibi Heli, the Military Inspector of the Beimen Garrison School, and Qu Tuquan, the captain of Guoyi, the son of Qu Tutong, and himself led each of them. With the power of setting fire to the prairie fire and cutting off Maoma with a sharp knife, they instantly recovered several counties including Rangxian, Nanyang, Lintuan, Neixiang and Jutan that had rebelled. , Li You’s rebel party has been besieged in the isolated city of Xiangcheng!
"Moving like a strong wind rushing through the forest and Mount Tai pressing down on the top, Li Ji is really powerful!" Qin Mubai marveled sincerely, feeling a little embarrassed.
They galloped from Chang'an, and their plundering troops swept across the city in the blink of an eye; they were only separated from Dengzhou by a river, but they still fell behind!
"Why did Li Ji come so fast? The tip we received three days ago said that there were no soldiers of the Tang Dynasty in Dengzhou." Pang Fei said in surprise, "Why did we suddenly hear today that Li Ji swept across Dengzhou in an instant? Are you just waiting to catch the turtle in the urn?"
Qin Mubai frowned, shook his head, and said, "This is like hitting tofu with a hammer. There is no suspense about when the hammer will hit and when the tofu will turn to pieces."
"That's right. Li Ji was a famous general in the dynasty. He had great military exploits and supported half of the northern Xinjiang. He was deeply relied on by His Majesty the Emperor and was called the 'Great Wall of the Tang Dynasty.'" Pang Fei said, "Moreover, the person who served as his deputy, Except for Qu Tuquan, a rising star who is not very famous, the other three are all fierce generals who are brave enough to defeat the three armies! No wonder, how can Li You's ragtag group of people defeat these people? "
"Even the last general has heard the names of those three generals." Xue Rengui said, "Especially the two generals Xue Wanjun and Xue Wanche who are from the same clan as a certain person have great reputations and outstanding military achievements. I have long heard that both of these brothers are Bravely championing the three armies, he rushes to the front of the battlefield without hesitation, and his awe is unrivaled!"
Qin Mubai raised his hand to indicate that they didn't need to talk anymore, and said, "It doesn't matter who is coming. The current situation is, what should we do next?"
Pang Fei thought for a while and said: "General, since the officers and soldiers sent by the imperial court have dealt a devastating blow to Li You, his fate can be imagined. We still need to continue to fight and fight against Li Ji." Want to take credit? Why don’t we just leave it to them? Anyway, we also sent troops to attack the Xinye puppet army port, which proved that we had no collusion with the rebels!"
Xue Rengui and Yin Yang remained silent, waiting for Qin Mubai to make a decision.
Qin Mubai thought for a while and said to himself: I didn't expect Li Ji to come so quickly! I didn't expect that the emperor would take such a heavy hand and send a confidant and mainstay commander like Li Ji to rush thousands of miles to quell the rebellion. It can be seen that Li Shimin probably had something to explain to Li Ji. But now that the matter has come to this, it is no longer possible to retreat quietly. If they are investigated afterwards, they can escape the charge of "rebellion" or "resistance". Then we have no choice but to fight without stopping, fight to the top of Xiangcheng, and let Li Ji see the facts! -Furthermore, there is Ling'er in Xiangcheng, and the leader of the bandits who caused the rebellion is his brother and uncle. How can we feel at ease if we don't go there in person
"Army, advance towards the city!"
Pang Fei was startled, but didn't say anything. Together with Xue Rengui and Yin Yang, he cupped his fists and bowed: "No! -"
Military orders are military orders and are meant to be obeyed. What's more, Pang Fei and others have always had no doubt about Qin Mubai!
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[How come these days, there are only a few book reviews that are nit-picking, vexatious and urging updates? They even came to teach me how to pronounce words and make sentences, and gave me Chinese lessons (it seemed like the first time I encountered them, and I couldn’t laugh or cry). There are not many valuable book reviews, so I can’t send out the best ones, and it also affects my passion and motivation for writing books. Bored and thinking... ]