The wind borrowed the fire, and Hecheng County turned into a cupagic torch, and the light of the fire in the dark night could be seen dozens of miles away.

More than twenty miles away, Guan Pingzhong reined in his war horse and stared anxiously at the flames that were beating in the dark, which was the direction of Hecheng County. Saving people is like fighting fire, this person has not yet encountered it, he saw the fire first, hesitated for a moment, Guan Pingzhong ordered: "Keep going." ”

At noon on July 7, the Rong Mi people entered the customs, and the Longwei who was lurking in Jingmen Pass released carrier pigeons to report to Huiye Mansion and Anxi Metropolitan Protectorate, and Qin Ziyan, the capital of Longwei Prefecture in Huazhou, received the news of the loss of Jingmen Pass in the unitary time. Jiang Tingshi was not in the mansion, Qin Ziyan hurriedly came to find Fang Beijia with information, and Hua Sicheng and Guan Pingzhong both came to Beijia's mansion with great effort.

Hearing the news of the loss of Jingmen Pass, Guan Pingzhong was surprised and delighted, surprised that Jingmen Pass was easily broken with the help of Neiying, and was happy that the 15,000 garrisons led by himself at the beginning of the war had a place to use.

The Anxi Protectorate wants to move to Zhenhuazhou, and if anyone wants to hear the news, it must be Guan Pingzhong. He didn't deal with Yang Dashuai, so he would be squeezed out of Huazhou to command the army alone, and God took care of it, and he made two merits in succession, and was promoted to the rank of knight, if the Anxi Protectorate moved to Huazhou, the soldiers of his department would definitely be classified as the Anxi battalion, although he was a loyal general on the fourth grade, there were still a few in the Anxi battalion, not to mention that Yang Xiangliang was the Huaihua general of the third grade, and he pressed himself to the death, and if he had the opportunity to make meritorious contributions in the future, how could Yang Xiangliang give the opportunity to himself.

It was just the right time for the Rong Mi people to invade eastward, Guan Pingzhong heard what Qin Ziyan said, and immediately stood up and said, "I'll go back and order troops, go to the rescue earlier, and try not to let the Rong Mi people take away the grain." ”

Returning to the station, Guan Pingzhong beat the drum and gathered the generals, divided the station into two teams of cavalry, and took 2,000 light cavalry to start early the next morning, and his deputy Lin Liyong led 12,000 infantry to set off later. No one knew how the war would go, and guessed according to previous experience, Guan Pingzhong thought that when he reached the border, Hecheng, Yiding, and Jingyuan, which were close to Jingmen Pass, would probably not be able to hold it, and Tuncang would also fall into the hands of the Rong Mi people.

After a journey of three hundred miles, Guan Pingzhong saw the benefits of Jiang Tingshi's great efforts to build roads, and the speed of the march was one-third faster than before, and he came to Wuda County, which was located seventy miles east of Hecheng County at nightfall the next day. People are sleepy and horses are lacking, Guan Pingzhong ordered a temporary rest outside the county seat, and the county order rushed to hear the news and led people to work the army.

Guan Pingzhong asked Wu Anqi, the commander of Wuda County, while eating: "Lord Wu knows the battle on the front line, where are the Rongmi people, but the Tuncang is in the hands of the Rongmi people?" ”

"Xia Guan is not clear, listening to the rumors of refugees, there are 100,000 Rongmi people in this invasion, I am afraid that the city will be difficult to defend, and Tuncang is afraid that it will fall into the hands of the Hu people as soon as possible. The town of Wuda lacks defensive equipment, and I am afraid that it will be difficult to resist the Rong Mi people, and I hope that General Guan can be stationed in Wuda County to help the people of Wuda. Wu Anqi replied with a bitter face.

Before noon, refugees from Hecheng, Yiding and other counties in Wuda County appeared one after another, bringing mixed news, some said that 100,000 Rong Mi people were killed in Jingmen Pass, and they killed people when they saw them, and Hecheng County had been slaughtered; Some say that the counties of Hecheng, Yiding, and Jingyuan have all been taken by the Rongmi people, and the Rongmi people are arresting the Zheng people everywhere to transport the grain in the canopy to the Rongmi country; There are also people who say that the Rongmi people have been defeated, and the defenders of Hecheng have killed the second prince of the Rongmi people, so don't be afraid. For a while, rumors spread everywhere, people's hearts fluctuated, and the rich people drove the carriage one after another and fled in the direction of Aino Mansion with the thin softness.

Wu Anqi was panicked in his heart, otherwise the court had an order not to allow the county to abandon the city and flee, he had long wanted to learn from those rich people and flee to Huiye Mansion, seeing that General Guan brought two thousand light horses, Wu Anqi was a little calm, thinking about how to leave these two thousand men and horses in Wuda County, so that even if the Rongmi people attacked, there would be a little more life.

Guan Pingzhong knew that the invading Rong Mi army was around 40,000, and he was already frightened when he saw Wu Anqi's panicked appearance, and he probably didn't ask anything. The county lieutenant Qi Yunrong walked over with a servant and said, "General Guan, Hecheng County sent someone to deliver the letter." ”

The official bowed and said, "The villain Hecheng County official Shi Ping came to deliver the letter on the order of Lord Shi Jiang. ”

"What, Lord Thorn Shijiang? Is it General Jiang An Yongjiang or Lord Shi Jiang? Guan Pingzhong asked in surprise, he knew that Jiang Anyong was training near Hecheng County with a thousand light cavalry, and Jiang Tingshi was supervising the construction of the Anxi Duhufu garrison at the old site of Matai, how could he appear in Hecheng County.

Shi Ping said: "It's Lord Shi Jiang, but General Jiang An Yongjiang is also in Hecheng County." ”

"You're saying the city hasn't fallen yet." Guan Pingzhong asked in surprise.

A smile appeared on Shi Ping's face, and he said proudly: "General Jiang Anyong and Fan County ordered a trick to lead Rong Mi into the city, and they beheaded the second prince of Rong Mi and General Jin Hu out of an easy battle. ”

Exclamations abounded, Wu Anqi couldn't believe it when he heard the news, but he didn't expect it to be true, and this credit could at least make Jiang Anyong and Fan Shiben three levels higher. Guan Pingzhong's heart flashed with jealousy, and then he smiled: "Brother Tiger and Leopard, the brothers of the Jiang family are all well-known good men. ”

"Last night, Lord Shijiang led his personal guards to Hecheng County, and ordered to dig trenches and trap pits around the county seat, and divert river water into the pit to block the attack of Rong Mi's light cavalry. By the time the Rong Mi people had finished filling the pit, it was already noon today, and Lord Jiang skillfully used the fire ox trick and personally led a thousand light cavalry brothers to charge and kill more than 10,000 Rong Mi troops, killing the Rong Mi army and scattering and fleeing, which was magnificent. Shi Ping, who fought against Rong Mi, participated in it, and had honor, and when he talked about the war, he couldn't help but dance with his eyebrows, and the soldiers on both sides of the army were rubbing their hands one by one, and they couldn't wait to be in it.

"Lord Jiang ordered the villain to come to Wuda County, and let Lord Wu lead the people to dig roads, dig trenches and trap horses, delay the pace of the Rong Mi people, and wait for reinforcements to arrive." Shi Ping Daoming came to mind. When Wu Anqi heard that Jiang Tingshi had come to Hecheng to intercept the enemy, he suddenly became bold in his heart, and said with a chest: "This official will organize people and act according to Lord Jiang's orders overnight. ”

Guan Pingzhong put down the bowl, stood up and said, "Brothers, you can't let Jiang Anyong, this kid, rob him of all his credit, and when he is full, go with me to Hecheng County to kill Rong Mi people." ”

Although Shi Ping's news is exciting, Guan Pingzhong knows that Hecheng County can not resist tens of thousands of Rong Mi troops with only 1,000 light cavalry and 10,000 tunding, and the Rong Mi army will be more and more cautious.

There are still twenty miles away from Hecheng County, Guan Pingzhong saw the fire, his heart sank, Hecheng County was still lost, I don't know where Jiang Thorn Shi is now, I hope that Jiren Tianxiang can escape from the city smoothly. The horse team went ten miles further, and the reconnaissance rider in front of them came to report, and the road ahead was cut off, and it was difficult to move forward in the darkness.

The situation is unknown in the night, once they meet the Rong Mi army, these two thousand people are sleepy and tired, and I am afraid that they will be destroyed. Hecheng County is seven or eight miles ahead, and the raging flames seem to burn a hole in the sky, forward or backward, Guan Pingzhong hesitated.

There was movement on the right side, and the effort was not great, and the soldiers escorted a few people over. With the faint light of the fire, Guan Pingzhong saw that the person who came was wearing an official uniform, and said: "This official is Guan Pingzhong, a strong general, who came to the rescue of Hecheng County, why did Hecheng County catch fire, but it fell." ”

The man saw that the soldiers on horseback were all Zheng armor, and knew that it was really the arrival of reinforcements, so he hurriedly saluted: "Li Jiagui, the lieutenant of Xiaguan Hecheng County, led part of Tunding to Wuda County, but he met General Guan here. Hecheng County was the result of Lord Jiang's plan to lure Rong Mi's army into the city and set it on fire. ”

Guan Pingzhong hurriedly asked, "Where is the history of Jiang Ting?" ”

"Lord Jiang and his brother are hiding in the city and setting fires, and the fire in this city is on fire, and the adults should have left the city. I heard that Lord Jiang and Fan County Ling converged in Hongliu Town, fifteen miles east of the city, and I thought it should be there. ”

"Get to the official quickly."

Two quarters of an hour later, Guan Pingzhong saw the Jiang Thorn Shi in a strong suit in the land temple in the west of the town. Seeing Guan Pingzhong, Jiang Anyi smiled and said: "General Guan came in time, half of the Rong Mi army is still stationed outside the city, and he may go with me to attack and kill." ”

He was cautious and sent 6,000 troops to be stationed outside the city, and the fire in Hecheng County broke out, and the 6,000 Rong Mi troops were alarmed, but the fire in the city was too big, and there was nowhere to find water in the night, so he could only stare and stand outside the city without what to do. Jiang Anyi had the intention to lead people to attack and kill, but there were only 700 light horsemen left, and there were not many bows and arrows, so he was afraid that he would steal chickens and rice.

Two thousand light horsemen carried three quivers, and the carriage carrying ordnance carried a thousand crossbows and fifty thousand crossbow arrows, which were enough for the army. Guan Pingzhong wanted to make meritorious contributions, of course, he didn't want to let go of this opportunity, so he asked his subordinates to carry bows and arrows and crossbows, and immediately got up and went to Hecheng County with Jiang Anyi.

Approaching Hecheng County for five miles, the horses were already difficult to travel, Jiang An ordered Tun Ding, who accompanied him, to take care of the war horses, and quietly approached the county seat on foot with 2,700 light horses. The flames soared into the sky, reflecting the countless helpless figures outside the city, and the horses were restless, shouting "fire fighting" in a loud voice.

Guan Pingzhong assigned his men in a low voice, and more than 2,000 people scattered and hid in the trenches. Under an order, the rain of arrows struck, the Rong Mi people panicked, the enemy was dark and I was clear, they didn't know where Zheng Jun was shooting arrows, they could only scurry around like headless flies, there were arrows everywhere, people shouted horses, and countless Rong Mi soldiers fell to the ground and died.

After shooting all the bows and arrows and crossbow arrows, Guan Pingzhong led the army back to Wuli to rest and wait for dawn. The fire burned all night, and it was only a little smaller when it was almost dawn, although it was five miles away, and there was a strong smell of burnt fire in the air, which made people smell sick.

When the sky dawned, Jiang Anyi and Guan Pingzhong approached Hecheng County with their men and horses, and Rong Mi's army had fled without a trace. Entering the city through the east gate, the city was in ruins, with charred corpses everywhere, and people moaning and struggling with blood blisters.

There was a sound of vomiting behind him, Jiang Anyi endured the nausea, silently recited the Tibetan Sutra in his heart, a great battle killed and injured countless people, and after the war, he wanted to write a letter to ask the monks of Mingpu Temple to do things to overkill the soul, Hecheng County was burned, and he wanted to rebuild a new Hecheng County.