Late Tang Dynasty: I

Chapter 70
Heyang, Chenggao

The army made food in the third watch and pulled out the camp in the fourth watch. Zhu Zhen sent out scouts to investigate along the line of Heyang and Sishuiguan.

It was cold in early spring, and there was frost on the ground, and there was a creaking sound when walking up.

The whole army was solemn, no one dared to speak, and they filed out of the army camp one by one.

The siege supplies must be brought, such as ladders, catapults, and fire starters such as kerosene and gunpowder, which are escorted by 2000 auxiliary soldiers.

Thick fog gradually formed around, Zhu Zhen frowned slightly, turned her head to Li Tangbin and said: "There are many ravines ahead, you should go to the rear to escort the luggage, don't be careless."

Li Tangbin is also a seasoned veteran. When he was in Huang Chao's army, he was Shang Rang's confidant general, and his status was no worse than Zhu Wen's. Now that he was commanded by Zhu Zhen, he was originally dissatisfied.

It's just that Zhu Zhen was the leader, and Li Tangbin was the deputy, so he had no choice but to follow. He turned his head and gave a "hum", pulled the reins, and rode his horse to the rear.

Looking at Li Tangbin's figure, Zhu Zhen gradually sank into the thick fog, her eyes narrowed involuntarily, and she bit her lower lip. The tingling sensation made her eyes widen again.

Zhu Zhen hated this man deeply.

He already felt Zhu Wen's fear of him.

The generals in the camp were having a banquet that day, unexpectedly Li Tangbin thought that he was going to kill the general and make a mutiny, so he hurriedly fled to Zhu Wen's camp to file a complaint, which made Zhu Zhen feel ashamed.

Once the seeds of doubt are planted, they take root and germinate immediately.

Zhu Zhen could feel it and see it.

There are many strangers around his mansion in Bianliang.

"Hey!"

Zhu Zhen sighed and collected her thoughts.

"Send all the scouts out, especially the Heyang line, and send more patrols."

Those who have suffered a lot will always have a long memory. Li Cunxiao has tried the taste of cavalry in the east of the river.

What the brigade is most afraid of when marching is a surprise attack, so it is natural to be cautious.

This time Zhu Zhen led the Zuo Changzhi Army of 9000 people, all of whom were Zhu Wen's relatives. The commander of the army, Liu Han, was also a brave and skilled fighter. He had fought side by side with Zhu Zhen for many years, and they had a tacit understanding.

There are also 1000 Zuo Jian Rui troops, which are special forces in the Xuanwu Army, specializing in attacking cities and villages.

Everyone in Zuo Jianrui's army is equipped with a hand shield. When climbing the ladder, the hand crossbow can prevent arrows and falling rocks, and can also shoot and kill the defenders.

The whole army has a lot of supplies, including catapults, ladders, siege vehicles, crash vehicles, etc.

The military system of the Xuanwu Army is quite different from that of the imperial army. One capital has 100 people, the capital is set up, the fifth capital is a battalion, and the battalion commander is 500 people. The fifth battalion is an army. The army is one compartment, with a commanding army, with 2500 infantry under its jurisdiction, a numbered army on the compartment, and an army commander, with 5000 infantry under its jurisdiction. The cavalry is similar, but the number is doubled.

The number of generals commanding the army is at most 1. The generals go out to govern several armies, and when they return, they hand over their military power. It is normal for Zhu Wen to start a rebellion, and it is normal for the opponent's soldiers to be on guard.

only……

Zhu Zhen couldn't tell, when she was in Huang Chao's army, she could give her back to the other party, but now, she couldn't let go of her mind.

And so be it!

The front sentry reported that Sishui Pass was closed and two thousand more soldiers and horses were added. Including the original soldiers and horses stationed, there were already five thousand soldiers and horses.

The surrounding area of ​​Sishuiguan has long been filled with Zhu Wen's sentry cavalry, and they will report back immediately if there is any trouble.

The number of troops increased this time is quite large, and the defensive force has almost doubled. It seems that Li Hanzhi has already noticed something, Zhu Zhen frowned slightly, and said: "Investigate again!"

"promise!"

At this time, the sky gradually brightened, and the thick fog gradually receded.

"Over there in Heyang, is there any movement?"

Marching Sima Zhang Changping replied: "I haven't received the sentry report, I'm afraid it's Li Cunxiao's thieves who don't know we're coming!"

Zhu Zhen didn't say a word. On the battlefield, he never thought of his opponent as being too mentally retarded. That would only make him appear mentally retarded.

You can only step on your opponent's feet.

"Heyang is only about twenty miles away from here. If Li Cunxiao starts from Heyang now, he will arrive there in a few sticks of incense. Pass on, the whole army will never leave the armor, and the horse will never leave the saddle. If Heyang is detected, he will send troops The news, within a stick of incense, we must prepare for the battle."

"promise!"

The marching commander Zhang Changping said: "Ten miles away is Zhoucun. The army rests in Zhoucun for a while. In the afternoon, they rush to Xingping Fort to camp. Tomorrow, they will make meals at midnight, and they will arrive at Sishuiguan at noon."

"Send a sergeant to find out if the well in the village is available."

"Someone has been sent to inquire, and there is no one in the village, and the three wells are available."

Zhu Zhen nodded, and said: "Send a team of fine cavalry first, and search every house to prevent fraud."

"promise!"

At this time, the sky was bright, the fog gradually cleared, and Li Tangbin also returned to the army. At this time, as long as he was not blind, he would not have driven the cart into the ditch.

The army walked, raising smoke and dust all the way, like a yellow dragon.

"The soldiers don't stop, don't stop, speed up."

……

Just as Zhu Zhen's army was in a hurry, Shi Shucong had led the two armies of Tianyixiang, the right inner government army, to the Yellow River ferry.

Shi Shucong went to Gaopo to watch the enemy camp.

Said to be a ferry, that is, a large wharf, with wooden piles the size of a pot mouth, from the embankment to the water's edge of the Yellow River.

Supplemented by beams and flat rails, wooden planks are laid on them, and they are installed on both sides of the Yellow River. There are hundreds of ships of all sizes on the wharf.

The Hedong army built a military village along the pier, surrounded by wooden fences, and built two earthen walls with deep pits and high fortifications. There were towers standing dozens of steps apart, and there were several archers on the towers.

When Shi Shucong saw the soldiers walking in the village, they all ran to the defensive position.

Li Si'an on the side said: "There are more than 1000 soldiers in the stronghold. It seems that Li Cunxiao also has a name for nothing. Such negligence in such related places is just the time for me to make meritorious deeds."

Shi Shucong looked at the situation in the stronghold, and said: "I was in a hurry, and I didn't think about it. If I gathered dozens of fireboats upstream and rushed all the way into the water stronghold, I don't need to wait for my troops. The bandits will be in chaos first."

Li Si'an looked forward and saw that there were no tree stumps and iron chains on the river, so it was a pity in his heart to repel the fire boat.

"The materials for the fireboat are quite time-consuming to prepare, and the commander-in-chief's words are precious and fast, and the fear of accidents will arise after a long time. Commander-in-chief, order it!"

Li Si'an didn't pay attention to the small village with thousands of people. The ditch was not deep, the walls were not high, and there were no obstacles and pits, so he could just attack directly.

"Beat the drums and march!"

"promise!"

"Boom, boom, boom!"

Compared with Zhu Zhen's team, Shi Shucong's team is obviously much less stressed.

Zhu Zhen was far away from the Chinese army, and had to guard against Li Cunxiao's sneak attack, while Shi Shucong could release all his troops without worrying about his back. Zhu Wen had already laid a net on the road leading to Heyang, waiting for Li Cunxiao's cavalry.

As for the trail, there is no need to worry about it at all, just send a whole army of horses and horses to watch it. If a large group of cavalry walks on the trail, then Li Cunxiao will really lose his head.

As long as there is one block in the front and back, it is like catching a turtle in a urn, and you can do whatever you want.

(End of this chapter)