stubborn thief

Chapter 220 Frontier Army
It was the second hour when Liu Chengzong sent troops from Pingliang Mansion.

Cao Wenzhao rode his horse to the bank of the river, broke willows and threw them into the river to watch for a long time.

He ordered the Guanning reconnaissance cavalry not to continue to oppress the Tang cavalry of the Western Army, and the troops retreated three miles eastward to build a camp at the mountain hills on the south bank.

"Peace, let the brothers be careful. Reload the guns, prepare the cannons, string the bows and arrows, put on the armor and prepare for the battle. The enemy will attack within half an hour."

Cao Wenzhao issued a series of orders one after another, and Ping An took the order to remind the soldiers.

Cao Bianjiao looked at him dumbfounded, the enemy army attacked within half an hour, his uncle didn't sleep, and his ancestor couldn't give him a dream!
Cao Wenzhao enjoyed his nephew's fuss and silence, and with a smile on his face, he pointed to the river bank three miles away: "Go and have a look."

Cao Bianjiao led the way and came back soon, looking at his uncle with admiration and doubts: "The river is muddy... But General, you can only know that there are soldiers upstream, how do you know where they are?"

"The detective cavalry fought the Tang cavalry of the Western Army in the morning, and then we pressed them westward for thirty miles."

Cao Wenzhao looked at the evening sky and said, "If the enemy sent troops two hours ago, they would be very close to us now."

This is not the effect that a small group of people can cause. This army either has a large number of troops or a large number of horses.

At this time, Cao Wenzhao ruled out the possibility of a large group of infantry marching.

Unless the other party is a fool, he wouldn't rush all the way here. After all, he ran for fifty miles, and he should sleep when he came here, so he wouldn't be beaten.

The horsemen must have come here to make a sudden attack before night.

Then Guan Ningjun waited until late at night in intense preparations.

Although Liu Chengzong did not have the experience of his troops being exposed by turbid river water, he had a complete and highly proactive Tang cavalry force.

As the Guanning army marched westward, Dai Daozi had no ability to stop them, so he could only cover and fight with them as much as possible, delaying them.

But Dai Daozi's group of Ningxia Tang soldiers were extremely courageous. As long as the Guan Ning army retreated, they dared to continue to press forward, and always let the two Tang cavalry approach and hang one mile away from their army formation.

Even when Cao Bianjiao left the camp, Liang Tangqi tried to do it.

However, an arrow knocked off the helmet forty steps away, and Tang Qi quickly picked it up and ran away, not daring to continue forward.

Cao Wenzhao had only [-] scouts and cavalry who were part-time Tang soldiers, and all the horses they rode were rough horses bought from the Shanxi Guards and even two mules.

And Dai Daozi shrank the Tang soldiers for fifty miles, each with two or three horses. The more he retreated, the more abundant Tang soldiers he had, and the mission was not to fight.

When the scouts came, they retreated two or three miles, and when they had almost retreated, they assembled multiple pond soldiers to rush forward, and quickly regained their range of activities.

Guan Ning's army dispatched the cavalry to chase after him, Dai Daozi was even happier, and retreated five or six miles, but the cavalry did not dare to chase.

If you chase again, you are afraid of bumping into a large group of people, and they won't be able to escape.

So that it didn't take long before the horse team had to withdraw to the camp, and the horse team withdrew, at most a cup of tea time, and Tang Qi, wearing Daozi, came back again.

Tang Bing was completely suppressed, and Cao Wenzhao really had nothing to do with these people.

Because his vanguard officer has returned to his hometown in good clothes, and he has taken up the post of general in Yan'an comfortably.

Fortunately, with this kind of penetrating valley terrain, the Tang soldiers can create little advantage for the main force.

After all, their mission is twofold. On the one hand, find out where the main force of the enemy is, and know where they are and what they are doing; at the same time, prevent the enemy from finding the main force of our army, and prevent them from knowing where we are and what we are doing.

For Cao Wenzhao, there was no doubt that this army, which looked like an enemy but not a friend, was in the west; as for what to do, he had observed the river through experience and saw that it was driving east.

But I was very upset. After all, in the valley and on the mountain, there were enemy soldiers standing a mile away. The enemy would know whether his butt was white or not, and it would be uncomfortable to change anyone.

During the march, Liu Chengzong received the news that the Guanning army was stationed in the camp. Knowing that he had been exposed, he changed his plan and instead stationed fortifications at Xiaoluhe, [-] miles east of Pingliang City, and set up a refusal horse.

They were much more at ease than Cao Wenzhao. Knowing that the enemy army was 25 miles away, they had a comfortable meal and should deploy their defenses and rest.

Liu Chengzong even gave Hongqi a full-body massage, which was so comfortable that he squinted his head and kicked his legs.

The Lion Battalion arrived at the front line a little slower than he expected because the troops were overstaffed.

This is an old problem of the Lion Camp. Since He Huchen's Ningxia soldiers joined, each post has a strength of about 750 people. After a round in Guyuan, a large number of Guyuan soldiers joined.

And in Pingliangfu City, those skilled craftsmen who served the vassal kings in Dongcheng were taught by me to recruit a lot of them to the work posts, and their families were all sent to the transport post.

Now, except for the back post stationed in Zhenyuan, the seven posts have become a thousand-man team.

This time, they led Yang Yao, Cao Yao, Gao Xian, Zhong Hu and Liu Chengyun, together with Tongtang cavalry, with a total force of more than [-] troops.

Camping in the river valley, several camps can be used as tactical depth.

In fact, if Cao Wenzhao hadn't come at a coincidence, after the purge of military discipline, it would be time to divide the Lion Camp into two battalions.

But the war came as soon as it was said, and it was impossible for Liu Chengzong to change his establishment before going to war.

Before dawn the next day, the Lion Camp was cooking at the campsite by the river.

Liu Chengzong and several sentry chiefs held rice porridge in the tent, and received the report from Dai Daozi on the front line: "Marshal, the Guanning Army built a camp in Shanmao on the fifth watch, and they are now digging trenches."

"What's the matter with this army." Liu Chengzong took a sip of porridge and asked the left and right: "Don't they have horses, they neither run nor attack, but they come to Pingliang to dig trenches and build camps?"

None of the post chiefs knew the reason, but Dai Daozi said strangely: "Their horses don't seem to be very good. Yesterday the horsemen went out of the camp twice, and I saw some mules in the team."

Liu Chengzong said: "Have you looked east?"

"I sent people to the east yesterday, but there was no one there."

Liu Chengzong had a solid idea in his mind, and he said: "I guess this has something to do with Yang Yanchang and Wang Ziyong. They should be with Cao Wenzhao, but they didn't find out at this meeting."

Although he didn't report to himself, but he ran back and forth, Yang He didn't know where he was for a long time, let alone others, it was not easy for Yang Yanchang to send him a message.

In any case, now it seems that Liu Chengzong feels that those two guys probably sold Cao Wenzhao.

In fact, Liu Chengzong was very interested in the two people's escape strategy, curious how they managed to get rid of Cao Wenzhao in the middle.

After the meal was full, the sky would be bright, and Yang Yao's cavalry took the lead across the Xiaolu River.

Liu Chengzong led Cao Yao and Gao Xian's mixed Chinese army to follow closely behind. Cheng Yun and Zhong Hu formed the rear camp and continued to advance.

In the morning, they marched to Jiangou River, where Chengyun and Zhonghu camped to build a defense line.

At this time, Liu Chengzong, who was crossing the river, could already see Cao Wenzhao's camp on the hills and dry terraced fields.

He was looking at the mountain with a telescope on the bank of the river.

Cao Wenzhao on the mountain was also looking at him with a telescope.

As soon as he saw the big flag with Liu characters on the red background, he knew it was broken.

These bold and capable Tang Qi are really Liu Chengzong's people... In this way, they mistakenly thought it was the mistake of the officers and soldiers, which made him miss the best opportunity to retreat.

While watching, Cao Wenzhao asked without turning his head: "Have you found out that there is indeed a mountain road in the south that leads to Chongxin County?"

"Yes, I found out, it's just that the mountain road is not easy to walk."

As soon as Cao Bianjiao finished speaking, his uncle suddenly cursed secretly, handed over the single-tube brass telescope, pointed at the army formation on the river bank, and said, "Look at that calf cannon, isn't it the same as the thief in Ziwu Ridge?"

Cao Bianjiao took a look, that's not it, the same small copper red cannon.

Seeing such a cannon just once, Cao Wenzhao thought that the bandits might have defeated some government army and seized the proceeds.

But after seeing Gao Yingxiang first, and then Liu Chengzong's more lion cannons, Cao Wenzhao couldn't help doubting that the Shaanxi bandits already had the ability to make their own red cannons?

After all, as far as he knew, he had never seen a gun of this specification anywhere except Liu Chengzong and Gao Yingxiang.

At this moment, Yang Yao's cavalry troops at the outpost were divided into five posts, skimmed across the river valley, and lined up in the north of the Shanmao Terraced Fields. surrender!"

Guan Ningjun, who was using a spear as a repelling horse on the hillside, was dumbfounded. He looked at each other in blank dismay, forgetting to shoot arrows.

Cao Wenzhao laughed angrily, raised his hand and pointed at the army formation twice, but didn't say a word.

Look back and look behind yourself.

Conquered by the imperial court back and forth for four thousand miles, from the hills to the terraced fields, there are full of weather-beaten Liao soldiers with torn armor.

People are holding helmets, some have lost their hair scarves, and their hair is disheveled; some people's armor was damaged in battle, and they used captured locks and armor parts as supplements.

Even though the cotton armor was still intact, there were some dark red blood stains on it, which made the cotton cloth dry and wrinkled.

Look at the enemy again.

The costumes are neat, the horses are strong, and the weapons and armor are brighter than each other.

These bastards are more regular than the fucking regular army.

Cao Bianjiao said: "General, is there any misunderstanding in the middle, let me ask?"

"Don't go, don't you understand?"

Cao Wenzhao called to stop his nephew: "Thief Liu passed through so many places safe and sound. Most of the local officials took bribes and lived with him, and the governors of the three sides even tried to appease him. Now we have no order to stop in Pingliang, so let him catch him."

He turned his head and asked with a bad expression: "If you were him, would you let this opportunity go?"

Cao Bianjiao's thoughts drifted away, nodded and said: "I think Yang Yanchang and Wang Ziyong may also have something to do with him. They are both from Yan'an."

"Don't talk nonsense."

Cao Wenzhao's tone was very calm, and he said: "Generals Yang and Wang are only dissatisfied with our killing of followers and thieves. Although they were at odds along the way, they never complained about hard work."

In fact, Cao Wenzhao also had this doubt in his heart.

Liu Chengzong and Gao Yingxiang used the same cannon. Gao Yingxiang spared Yang Yanchang and Wang Ziyong, and blocked himself to the west of Ziwuling.

Instead of attacking the king himself and robbing the luggage when they went west.

This is not in line with the common sense of using troops, let alone the purpose of looting by the hungry bandits, unless their purpose is to keep themselves in the west.

But there is no evidence for this kind of thing, so I can't say it in my heart.

Thinking of this, Cao Wenzhao cursed in his heart, damn it, he was worried all day long in Liaodong, afraid that there would be spies around him, but he didn't expect that he was still afraid of spies around him when he returned to the pass.

Afterwards, he left everything behind, put on his helmet and said to his nephew, "Get ready for battle!"

Behind him, Cao Bianjiao, Cao Dingjiao and Ping'an young generals put on their helmets one after another and got on their horses.

Immediately, Guan Ning's cavalry soldiers on the terraces put on their helmets one after another, got back on their horses, and went down the mountain one by one under the leadership of the team officers.

Liu Chengzong, who saw the formation from afar, was amazed by their spirit.

He thought he was going to launch an infantry attack on Shanmao and Yamada.

In fact, on the way here, Liu Chengzong has been thinking about how to boost morale.

After all, the Guan Ning army may be the strongest opponent he has encountered so far, and he may not be able to fight as smoothly as before, and solve the battle at once, so it is necessary to leave Zhong Hu behind to arrange a line of defense.

Boosting morale has become a very important thing.

But this will really meet, Liu Chengzong found that his subordinates did not need to boost morale at all.

They were already very angry when they saw Guan Ning's army descending the mountain in a bullish manner.

Regardless of when the Lion Camp fought, the soldiers did not line up and whisper to each other before encountering the enemy, only this time.

Chaos.

I don't know who started it first, but within a few breaths, there was a yelling and cursing from the team.

Then even the officers couldn't control it, because the officers standing at the front of the line also turned to the soldiers, turned around and pointed at the enemy, and said something with anger on their faces.

Not only the mixed troops on Liu Chengzong's side, but also on Yang Yao's side, the chaos was even worse. From time to time, some people rode out alone for five or six steps, reined in their horses and turned their heads and said something cursing to Pao Ze.

Gao Xian gritted his teeth, his eyes were red, he took out the waist knife from his waist, weighed it and put it back into the scabbard, then took out a melon hammer from the horse's back and held it in his hand, pointing forward: "I thought I would see you in this life. Without them, this group of people paid my military salary! My wife and children are separated!"

To be honest, Liu Chengzong felt that his people would be so angry when they saw Cha Han and Hu Duntu.

The imperial court embezzled their military salaries to the east and left them starving for several years, so that their wives and children were separated, their families were destroyed, and they became rebels themselves.

This contradiction cannot be resolved even by the northern captives, unless there is another Houjin army on the battlefield now.

Liu Chengzong grinned and shook his head, and said to himself: "Silver is 62 taels, and Heguan exchanged Tongbao for 750 Wen...Brother Cao, pull out the cannon!"

"I've been waiting for a long time, handsome!"

Cao Yao responded quickly, and the front of the mixed infantry, cavalry and artillery team made a gap to the two wings, revealing Cao Yao's huge treasure.

The sergeants around stepped aside, the red cannons had already been loaded with ammunition, and the artillerymen took aim for a while, and then lit the ammunition at the Guan Ning army who came out in a file down the mountain road.

With a bombardment, the surrounding soldiers covered their ears, and the gunpowder smoke rose from the ground. Under the smoke and dust, the shells flew straight to the mountain road.

This is the order to attack.

As soon as the cannon sounded, Yang Yao's [-]-horse cavalry, which was divided into five posts, rushed directly towards the Guan Ning army who was going down the mountain.

The angry troops under Liu Chengzong also drove their mounts to stretch their long legs and spread out in formation.

Even Liu Chengzong, who was in the middle of the army formation, leaned over, patted the red flag and drew his sword: "You are also soldiers, let me see how strong you are!"

　good afternoon!

　　
　
(End of this chapter)