Chapter 103: Fighting in the Northwest (16)

The rapid change in the war situation in the northwest made the generals of the Northwest Alliance unable to react. The Northwest Alliance marched along the east bank of the Maling River. When it arrived at the upper reaches of the Maling River on August 18, Yanzhou had become an unguarded city, and the Dangxiang people occupied Yanzhou ran completely. The Northwest Alliance did not stop moving forward, leaving a thousand Fengzhou troops to defend the city, while the rest of the troops still rushed straight to Lingzhou City.

On the evening of August 22, the vanguard battalion of the Northwest Alliance had entered Lingzhou City. On the 23rd, the Central Army of the Northwest Alliance held a grand entry ceremony. The Dangxiang Army outside Lingzhou City was like a huge wave, coming fiercely and quickly, with only the fire marks on the city wall, no arrows taken off, broken city gates and earnest blood, faithfully recorded the bloody battles that had happened here, and silently stared at the majestic troops entering the city.

The main force of the Northwest Alliance was divided into three armies in front, middle and back. The front, middle and back were stationed in three places. The Yongxing Army, the front, the front, middle and back, entered the Shitouguan Army, the Black Eagle Army and the Northwest Independence Army, entered the Lingzhou City, and the Banzhou Army, the rear army, entered the Sufang Army. The Lingzhou City was once an important northern border defense center in the Tang Dynasty, with a maximum force of 80,000. Therefore, all military camps were built very large, and more than 10,000 people were accommodated in the Northwest Alliance.

On the night of the 23rd, the governor of Lingzhou, Feng Jiye, invited Hou Dayong, Li Hui and Wang Yanchao, three governors who came from afar, to gather in the mansion. Everyone knew that this reception wine was inevitable. The Northwest Alliance did not hurt a soldier and soldier. After lifting the siege of Lingzhou, the generals were in a relaxed mood when they attended the banquet. Feng Jiye, Wang Yanchao, and Li Hui were all old acquaintances, but Hou Dayong and Feng Jiye had never met. However, after a few bowls of wine, the atmosphere became better.

After toasting each other, the governor of Lingzhou Feng Jiye raised his glass and said to Hou Dayong: "The name of the recruitment envoy is well known. If there is a recruitment envoy to preside over the military affairs of the Northwest, everyone has confidence in their hearts." Hou Dayong laughed secretly. He did not expect that Feng Jiye, a long-time general on the battlefield, would also flatter him in person. Feng Jiye said sincerely: "Don't think I'm flattering. All I said is the truth. Lingzhou can be preserved today. According to the analysis below, there are mainly two originals.

Because. First, the imperial edict sent an envoy from Shanzhou in time to expedite the 800-mile expedition. If there was no such expedition, the main force of the Lingzhou army had already gone south and the troops in the city were empty. With the internal and external cooperation between the Dangxiang army, it was inevitable to destroy the city. Second, the Black Eagle Army completely annihilated the Southern Army of the Dangxiang army in Yizhou City. If the troops who had not been eliminated from the house and Bai Ge were not solved, the Dangxiang army occupied Lingzhou and would never retreat easily. I believe that these two reasons are the main reasons why the Lingzhou city is not destroyed."

Of course Hou Dayong was humble.

Li Hui was in Jingzhou that day and agreed to divide the troops into two groups. The Dangxiang people in Yanzhou City retreated without fighting and fled to the Qingshui River. This shows that the Dangxiang Tuoba people did not go south with all their might. After Feng Jiye sat down, he also stood up with wine: "I admire the recruitment envoys very much. I still don't understand now. When I was in Jingzhou, why did the recruitment envoys not believe that the Dangxiang Tuoba people would go south with all their might?"

Hou Dayong had an important reason for judging the movements of the Dangxiang Tuoba army, which is that in the history he knew, the rise of the Dangxiang Tuoba people had been decades long. Of course, this reason cannot be understood by outsiders.

Hou Dayong could only analyze the current situation. He explained: "Shi Ying, the Privy Council, told me that the governor of Xiazhou, Li Yiyin, was busy fighting with the Khitans and was unable to move south at all. Moreover, the 50,000 troops of the Dangxiang Tuoba people were scattered in the four prefectures. If the main forces of the Dangxiang Tuoba people were to move south, there must be a process of mobilizing troops. I asked some merchants from the four prefectures, but they did not find any traces of mobilizing troops. From another perspective, if the Dangxiang Tuoba people really had to go south with all their might. The Northwest Alliance concentrated its efforts to rescue Lingzhou, which could cut off the connection between the Dangxiang Tuoba people and Fangdangren. It was extremely advantageous in strategy."

The four Jiedushis were all long-standing on the battlefield and military experts. They discussed the situation of war one by one, and the atmosphere was getting better and better between cups and cups.

Hou Dayong has his own understanding of drinking. When he should drink, he is extremely refreshing. Of course, he should not drink when he should drink. In another world, there is a saying in the army: wine style is regarded as style, brand quality is regarded as character. Although this statement is rough, it is a truth tested by practice. Hou Dayong often observes his generals by drinking, and finds that their drinking methods are surprisingly similar to the battlefield command methods. Anyone who likes to take the initiative to challenge can be a charger; anyone who does not take the initiative to challenge or retreat can be a general who cuts off the rear; anyone who does not drink too much while drinking but likes to provoke civil war can be a guerrilla general; anyone who drinks to retreat three times and four times should not be in charge of the army; anyone who likes to come up with new ideas can be a general who is advised. Of course, except that due to physical reasons, it is not appropriate to drink.

Because Hou Dayong had the status of recruiting envoys, he must have had a few more drinks. When he returned to the camp, Hou Dayong was a little fainted. Huang Laoliu was quite clever. He had already cooked a can of mung bean soup in the camp. The mung bean soup could not only relieve it, but also sober up. Once Hou Dayong returned to the camp, before he could greet him, Huang Laoliu brought a thick bowl of mung bean soup and a small bowl of horse milk. After drinking these two quenching soups, Hou Dayong lay in the camp for a while, and the slight alcoholic reaction on his body was quickly eliminated.

Hou Dayong took out a note from his arms, and there were only eight words on the note: Queen Fu died on the morning of the Sixth Day.

This note was delivered to him yesterday. The people from Feiying Hall drew three five stars on the hot-clad letter. This is a special letter from Feiying Hall. The sender of Feiying Hall went from Daliang to Zhengzhou, from Zhengzhou to Henan Prefecture, from Henan Prefecture and then to Hezhong Prefecture, and finally passed to Jingzhou. Then he went north to chase the Northwest Alliance Army. Each stop was replaced. Feiying Hall had tried his best to deliver this special letter, and finally delivered it to Hou Dayong in the early morning of August 23. Empress Fu died of illness on August 6, and Hou Dayong received the news in Lingzhou on the morning of August 23, and the speed was extremely fast.

The news of the death of Empress Fu's illness is a big event for the Great Zhou Dynasty, and it is even more important for Hou Dayong. Hou Dayong has always been in mind during social engagements. Hou Dayong lay on the bed, looking at the top of the tent, sorting out his own thoughts: "If I had not traveled through time and space to return to ancient times, history would develop according to the original trajectory. Chai Rong would have married the eldest daughter of the Fu family first. After Zhao Kuangyi married Fu Ying. After the queen's death, Chai Rong married Fu Ying's young sister again. Fu Yanchao's three daughters became queens, and Dugu Xinyichao of the Northern Dynasties became one of the most famous father-in-law in Chinese history. However, I came to the Great Zhou Dynasty for no reason, and the situation changed. I gathered Fu Ying, while Zhao Kuangyi wanted to marry the young sister of the Fu family. I wonder if Empress Fu asked Chai Rong to marry the young sister of the Fu family before her death?"

"History has changed a lot because I returned to ancient times, but many things are still running according to the original trajectory. Which ones will change and what will not change. It is really hard to see through! Will Chai Rong die of illness according to the original local history? If Chai Rong does not die, will Zhao Kuangyin still have a chance to wear a yellow robe? If Chai Rong does not die, is there any need for him to deliberately establish his own team? You must know that he built the military camp, Feiying Hall, and the Northwest Alliance. They are all for the purpose of dealing with Zhao Kuangyin. If Zhao Kuangyin cannot be called emperor at all, the Song Dynasty will no longer exist, and then everything he has done will become a preparation for seizing Chai Rong's throne."

In history, Chai Rong was recognized as a monarch with great achievements. After Hou Dayong returned to ancient times, he was influenced by his usual thinking and did not think of seizing the throne of Chai Rong. Now he suddenly thought that if Chai Rong was not dead, everything he did was to seize his throne. In fact, he was preparing to seize his throne. This idea shocked Hou Dayong to sweat all over.

Power is really a good thing. If you have it, the fate of countless people will be in their own hands. Life and death, honor and disgrace are all in the thoughts of the power person. Therefore, there are always countless people with great might. They are obsessed with it and crazy for it and are willing to break their bones. However, there is only one person in the world who can reach the peak of power. Officials of all sizes stand on the hillside of the power from high to low according to their official positions. At the bottom, there are countless ordinary people who are trampled and ravaged by power.

"Chen Sheng, Wu Guang dares to shout - Kings, Princes, Generals and Prime Ministers, wouldn't I have a genius? Besides, after I have reached a certain level of strength, neither Chai Rong nor Zhao Kuangyin will tolerate it. After all, two tigers cannot be tolerated in one mountain. How can others sleep soundly? Is rebellion my destiny? Everything I did before was based on stopping Zhao Kuangyin from his yellow robe. For me, it is a moral supreme point. Now, to seize Chai Rong's picturesque country, isn't it unreasonable to say from the heart?"

All kinds of thoughts came one after another, stirring Hou Dayong's brain into a mess. I don't know how long it took, Hou Dayong sat up from the bed and sighed in his heart: "No matter so much, let's do the things in front of you first, let's talk about the things in the future." Hou Dayong was unsure and put the note in a candle and slowly burned it. The sharply shrinking note finally turned into ashes. Then he pushed open the door and checked the personal guards from other places and said, "Please pay to observe it."

After Qian Xiangnan took over the military camp, as long as he did not march, he would always stay in a tight tent, leaning on a Hu chair that could be lying on, and enjoyed chewing on the messy information repeatedly. He was thin and not very tall. Now he was tired of being on the Hu chair every day, and his back seemed a little hunched. When he appeared in Hou Dayong's tent, Hou Dayong couldn't help but wonder: "How come Qian Xiangnan has become shorter."

Qian Xiangnan bowed to Hou Dayong, and a smile appeared on his face. This smile caused the black mustache to shake slightly. Qian Xiangnan sat quietly on the chair, waiting for Hou Dayong's inquiry.

"I heard from Gu Chun, the governor of Weizhou, that Dangxiang people were very serious about killing outside Weizhou City, and they also killed many people in Jingzhou. Do you have any statistics? How many ordinary people were killed by Dangxiang people in Weizhou, Wuliuguan, Jingzhou, Yanzhou and Lingzhou?"

Qian Xiangnan's eyes rolled around, took a piece of paper, looked at it, and said, "The casualties of the people in Weizhou, Wuliuguan and Jingzhou have been basically cleared. I have sent someone to do the cleaning work in Yanzhou, but Lingzhou has not yet been carried out."

This is in line with reality, Hou Dayong nodded and said, "Continue."

Qian Xiangnan said in a low voice: "There are six villages in Weizhou that were slaughtered, 1,452 households, 6,789 people, and one is not left. There are three villages outside Wuliu Pass that were slaughtered, 621 households, 2,577 people, and only seven people survived. Two villages outside Jingzhou that were burned, 129 people died. The number of people in the city was about 13,020 people died. The number of people in each village can be found in the yamen, and there are not much access. In addition, there are 1,678 people killed by the laborers arrested in various places and killed by the Dangxiang team. The number of troops is not very accurate. The number I have in my hands is 24,175 people."

Although Hou Dayong knew that the Dangxiang people were extremely murderous, he did not expect that so many ordinary people had died. He was silent for a while and said, "If the governor Feng Jiye knew about the atrocities of these Dangxiang people, he would definitely not just drive the Dangxiang people from the city out of the city. There are also many Dangxiang people in Yanzhou, but I am afraid that the Dangxiang people in Yanzhou would be in trouble."

When Hou Dayong fought with the Uighurs and Tubos in the previous few times, the casualties of the people were not heavy because the war was controlled in time. This time, the number of casualties of the people was shocking. At this time, Hou Dayong suddenly remembered that in the 21st century, many people were arguing whether Yue Fei was a national hero. He said in his heart: "What is a national hero? The standard is very simple. If you can protect the lives and property of the people safely, you can be called a national hero. From this perspective, Yue Fei defeated the Jin soldiers many times. I don't know how many people he protected, so of course he must be considered a national hero."

After Qian Xiangnan walked south, Hou Dayong immediately sat down and wrote a memorial for Chai Rong, which briefly described the progress of the war in the Northwest. Then, it focused on describing the evil deeds of the Dangxiang army. Hou Dayong knew very well about Chai Rong. Chai Rong was a civilian emperor, a Maji emperor, and a passionate emperor. After he knew about the massacre of the Dangxiang people, he would most likely agree to the Northwest Alliance going deep into the Qingshui River to find an opportunity to move the enemy.

Hou Dayong led the Northwest Alliance to Lingzhou City in a mighty manner. Unexpectedly, the Dangxiang Army had withdrawn to Xihuizhou, and the original intention of the Northwest Alliance was to repel the Dangxiang Army and relieve the siege of Lingzhou. Now that this purpose has been achieved, there is no reason for the Northwest Alliance to be established. However, Hou Dayong was unwilling to dissolve the coalition army easily, both public and private.

Yu Gong: Dangxiangfang was not weak, and they occupied Xihuizhou. It took only one day to start a war from Xihuizhou to Lingzhou. Lingzhou is too far from the hinterland of the Central Plains. It takes a lot of manpower and material resources to reinforce Lingzhou. From a strategic perspective, Dangxiangfang has absolute initiative. Therefore, Hou Dayong also wanted to take advantage of the Northwest Alliance to carry out an annihilation strike against the main force of Dangxiangfang, and solve border problems once and for all.

Yupin: No matter how history develops, Hou Dayong can only prepare for the response according to his knowledge of the local history. In layman's terms, Hou Dayong's main opponent should still be Zhao Kuangyin. If assassination and other means are not used, the final battle will definitely be military strength. Zhao Kuangyin has the imperial guards, with nearly 100,000 troops, and the main force of the Black Eagle Army has only more than 4,000 troops, which is quite a disparity in strength. Only when Hou Dayong slowly controls the northwest armies in his hands can he have the capital to compete with Zhao Kuangyin for the world.

However, Hou Dayong was not sure that he could convince the Yongxing Army and the Baozhou Army to go deep into the territory of the Dangxiang people to fight. Reinforcements are one thing, and going deep into the enemy territory is another. Hou Dayong collected the murder facts of the Dangxiang people in order to arouse the two armies and the locals to share the same hatred of the enemy.

After writing the memorial to Chai Rong, Hou Dayong was extremely clear-headed. He put on his military uniform and took two personal guards to go to the various battalions to take a look. In the past, in the army, checking the barracks before going to bed was a task that Hou Dayong had to do before going to bed. However, after becoming the Zhengzhou Defense Envoy, Hou Dayong did not live in the military camp and rarely checked the posts. This time, he followed the Northwest Alliance Army northward. Hou Dayong lived in the military camp, so he naturally followed the habit of checking the posts.

The Black Eagle Military Camp has a very tight defense. There are two groups of people on duty every day, one group of open posts and the other group of secret posts. The secret posts are different every day, and are temporarily designated by the commander on duty. In this way, even if there are traitors, it is not easy to find the secret posts.

Hou Dayong walked around the Black Eagle Army and the infantry camp, and was very satisfied, so he came outside the camp of the Northwest Independence Camp.

The Northwest Alliance Independence Army has been following the Black Eagle Army in action. After entering Lingzhou City, it also lived in the same camp as the Black Eagle Army. Although the Independence Army was an independent army in its organization, Hou Dayong treated the Independence Army as part of the Black Eagle Army. The command of the Independence Army was like the Black Eagle Army. The officers who checked Ye were also composed of the Black Eagle Army, the officers of the Black Eagle Army were transferred in turn. The Independence Army actually became a part of the Black Eagle Army.

In the dark, the sentries in the Independence Camp did not recognize Hou Dayong. After the command was corrected, they were allowed to enter the Independence Army. Guo Jiong, the commander of the Independence Army, was not surprised to see Hou Dayong outside the tent. He knew that Hou Dayong had the habit of checking the night, so he followed Hou Dayong to check the Independence Army camp together. In the ten days of going north, Guo Jiong whipped several on-duty personnel and killed a sergeant who was not on duty. Under severe punishment, no one dared to make mistakes while on duty. Therefore, the local military discipline of the Independence Army was greatly improved.

When I walked to a tent, I suddenly heard the "swinging" sound of water. The sound of water was not loud, but the camp was very quiet and the sound of water sounded particularly clear.

The independent military camp tents are arranged in blocks in units of battalions. In order to prevent assassination, the tents of officers and sergeants are exactly the same. Moreover, the tents of officers are mixed with the tents of the troops he commands. The only difference is that the officers above the deputy commanders are one tent per person, and the tents of the guards are surrounded by tents.

Hearing the sound of water, Guo Jiong was like a slap in the face. Guo Jiong had a strong sense of self-esteem and was embarrassed in front of Hou Dayong, which made him very angry. The Independence Army's tent was just laid, and Guo Jiong didn't know who the tent was. He wanted to enter through the tent, but the tent was closed tightly. Guo Jiong pulled out a long knife, cut the tent door a few times, and after stepping into the tent, he whispered: "Looking for death." A low shout sounded in the tent: "Who is it, get out." Then, two "dingdang" sounded, and Guo Jiong and the people in the tent had already started fighting.

When Hou Dayong heard a sharp voice, he immediately understood that this was Bai Shuanghua's camp. Bai Shuanghua was a little woman, and loving beauty was a woman's nature. The sound of water meant that Bai Shuanghua was either washing her hair, wiping her body or taking a bath.
Chapter completed!