Tiande officer Ya, Du Zhongxiao flipped through the battle report sent and said to Han Qi on the side: "It's really unexpected, the cavalry swept through the Black Mountain and Wolf Mountain pastures, collected a lot of horses and weapons, and captured some cattle and sheep, but there is no list and notes to write out, and there is no need to compensate in the future." I had already prepared a sum of money to compensate the herders after the war, so that they could change from nomadic herding to regular herding under the rule. “

Han Qi said: "Jinglu, the party and the whole people are soldiers, do you think you are talking about it?" All of them are listed in the register and subordinate to the soldiers. It's just that some small tribes can't produce regular soldiers, and they are all auxiliary soldiers, so it is possible that they can't find out the military organs and horses, and give lists and notes. ”

"All people are soldiers, what a soldier is all people!" Du Zhongxiao silently recited a few words, "It's okay this way, it saves a lot of trouble." The last time we attacked Quye River, the whole army didn't capture prisoners because they were fast in and out so as not to be fetted, but this time it was different. There are many manpower that can do many things well. ”

Han Qi said: "Jingluo needs manpower, what are you going to do?" ”

"Roads. The White Road of Toyosu, the passage of the Huyan Valley here, and the roads connecting the states. After repairing the road, it can pass through large vehicles, and supplemented by the water transportation of the Yellow River, so that it can be impregnable. Divide the place by road, guard it according to the big city, and avoid nomadic troubles. ”

Han Qi said: "When the spring comes, the railway can be repaired to Dongshengzhou, and it is better to start from there and build a railway connecting the states." There is a railway to the Central Plains, and since then it has been connected with the Central Plains as a whole, unbreakable. ”

Du Zhongxiao nodded: "I want to fix it." It's just to build a railway, and I want the support of the imperial court, and this matter is not urgent. ”

Han Qi nodded and didn't say anything more. If this battle is won by a big victory, Han Qi will probably return to the imperial court, and it will naturally be arranged at that time.

No matter how much Du Zhongxiao's military exploits are, Hequ Road is inseparable here, and he can't enter the court as an official in a short time. Han Qi is different, he has profound qualifications, and with this military exploit, it is not a problem to enter the dynasty as a ruler. As soon as he entered the court, the situation formed because of the failure of the Qingli New Deal took on a new look.

After the failure of the Qingli New Deal, several major generals Fan Zhongyan, Han Qi, Fu Bi, Du Yan and others have been serving as local officials, and their status is still there, but they have not been able to return to the center. They were suppressed, and a large number of officials were prevented from turning over.

At this moment, Wang Dexing came in from outside and presented a letter to Du Zhongxiao, saying: "Jingluo, the Black Mountain Supervisor has gathered troops and horses!" As soon as they moved, the nearby White Horse Supervision Division and the defenders of Helan Mountain were very likely to also gather, and there would be a lot more party soldiers and horses. ”

Han Qi got up, went to Du Zhongxiao's case, read the documents together, and said, "It's only time to order the collection now, it's too late." In normal years, there is less than half a month, and the soldiers and horses of the party's various supervision and military departments cannot be gathered. It's early spring, and a month isn't enough. Moreover, our cavalry went out in a big way, sweeping away many small tribes, and the weapons and official horses of the regular soldiers in them have been collected, where are they going? ”

Du Zhongxiao said: "This is crooked, I didn't think of this before I sent out the troops." Many of the party's regular soldiers, when they are not gathered, are scattered in various tribes and are supported by the tribes. The party assigned official horses, official camels, and armor and weapons to the regular soldiers, and the government regularly inspected them. In case of war, soldiers and horses are collected, and regular soldiers and auxiliary soldiers are recruited according to the military register. When they did not raise their troops, we swept through the troops, and many of the weapons and horses of the regular soldiers were collected. In this way, I am afraid that most of the soldiers and horses of the Black Mountain Supervision and Military Division have been wiped out, and the war is much easier. ”

The Khan's big soldiers in "Mulan Ci" are this kind of military system, similar to government soldiers. Regular soldiers serve the imperial court free of charge, maintain military weapons, and receive tax exemption and other benefits. The imperial court saved the cost of raising soldiers, which was in line with the party society.

Han Qi said: "It's not just that. According to the law of the party, it is a felony for a soldier to lose his weapons and horses, and who dares to send them to death by himself! ”

The party pursues a harsh law, and the crime of damaging weapons is very serious.

Yao Qiyou stood straight at the head of the city, looking at the opposite side of the Yellow River, the Song army marched towards the mouth of the mountain valley, and said in shock: "The Song army is going north, is it going to attack the Black Mountain Prison Division?" It's worth it! Quickly recruit people, let's cross the river to invite the Song army! ”

The pro-soldier next to him said: "My lord, at this time, the Yellow River has begun to thaw, and the soldiers and horses can't pass it." ”

Yao Qiyou said straightly: "If you can't cross the ice, then use a ferry to cross the river!" I am here to guard the mountain pass, how can I allow the Song army to come and go! ”

The soldier said: "The ice has not been solved, so naturally the ferry will not be possible." At this time, my lord, we really can't cross the river. ”

Yao Qiyou turned around, looked at his own soldiers and said, "This is not good, that is not good, is it just here to watch the Song army go north?" After the fact, if I don't send troops, how can I explain? ”

The soldier said: "It happens to be this season, and I can't cross the river, how can I blame the adult?" - My lord, look at the other side, the Song army does not know tens of thousands of people, and we only have 300 soldiers, what can we do? It is better to wait for the Song army to pass and have the opportunity to invite the grain interception team, which is the right way. ”

Yao Youyou looked at the soldiers for a while and didn't speak, then turned around, looked at the Song army on the other side of the river stretching for miles, and said: "Tell the rangers to scout the surroundings, if there is a Song army to attack, report in time!" ”

The soldiers agreed to the promise, quickly walked down the city wall, and gave the order.

The castle is located at the mouth of the valley road between Wolf Mountain and Black Mountain, on the south bank of the northern flow of the Yellow River, one is to monitor the valley mouth, and the other is to manage the herders between the north and south flows of the Yellow River. After the diversion of the Yellow River, a large piece of land is enclosed between the north and south flows, and the water and grass are abundant and beautiful, and it is an excellent pasture. Yao Youzhi was originally the leader of a small tribe, and he made military merits and came to be the lord of the city here, managing the surrounding tribes, and having 300 soldiers and horses under his command.

In February, the ice of the Yellow River is gradually disappearing, and it is impossible to pass through the large group of people, but it is also impossible to cross the ferry. Because it was too troublesome for the Song army to cross the river, they left the small castle behind them and only sent a few people to monitor, and the whole army went directly north. There are not many soldiers and horses in this kind of castle, and without the defense of the castle, a small group of Song troops can defeat it, which is not too much of a threat.

Yang Wenguang stood on the other side of the Yellow River, looked at the castle on the opposite bank without the slightest movement, lifted the reins of the horse, and turned to the north.

The cavalry of the thirteen langs was in front, and all the nomadic tribes they encountered were all collected from their sturdy horses and weapons, and their heads were shaved. Yang Wenguang's soldiers and horses followed, and went straight along the main road to the city of Vultures. According to the news from the front, the cavalry of the Song army entered the valley, and the Black Mountain Supervision Division began to gather troops and horses.

At this time, it was already too late, and the military order could not be sent to the subordinate tribes at all, how could it be worth ordering people?

There were about 5,000 garrisons in Wushuhai City and nearby strongholds, more than 5,000 infantry troops in Yang Wenguang's headquarters, with most of the artillery, plus thousands of cavalry led by Thirteen Lang, with more than 10,000 troops. With firearms against cold weapons, the force has an absolute advantage.

The Yellow River flows north close to the Yin Mountain, and it is not far to enter the valley. The valley is flat, with a river in the middle, and it is the dry season at this time, and only the small stream at the bottom is gurgling. The climate in the valley is warmer, and the pasture grass is greener, which is significantly greener than outside the mountains.

The nomadic tribes in this area have long been driven away by cavalry, and there are no human figures on the road, except for the occasional yellow sheep jumping in the mountains. In the surrounding woods, unknown birds can be heard singing from time to time.

Yang Wenguang rode forward, turned around the foot of a mountain, and suddenly found more than a dozen people in the stream at the bottom of the valley, snuggling together, looking at the marching Song army.

The sudden discovery of the people surprised Yang Wenguang, could it be that the cavalry was not careful in searching? He hurriedly called his own soldiers and asked him why.

"General, the little one has asked the cavalry who searched for them, and they said that these people are gold diggers in the mountains and slaves of the party leaders in the vicinity. When they left the Tiande army, they did not give an account to these people, they had no weapons, and their attitude was deferential, so they were in the same place. ”

"Is there any gold here?" No one had mentioned it before, and Yang Wenguang also found it strange. "Are they Han or Fan?"

The soldiers said: "Most of them are Han Chinese, and there are some people who are not party members, and most of them have been taken captive. ”

Yang Wenguang thought for a while and said: "Now the stream is cold and biting, and it is not a way to let them be in the river." You send a small group of men and let them camp in a dry part of the valley first, and they are not allowed to go around. Also, whatever they have on them, they are not to be confiscated! ”

The soldiers promised and walked quickly.

The mountains in this area are rich in mineral deposits, such as gold, copper, and iron. For the nomadic tribes, it is difficult to mine the general mineral deposits, and the gold panning in the river does not require technology, but manpower is sufficient. Those who occupy this place have been panning for gold in the river. Now the weather is too cold, only these dozen masters don't care about their dead and alive slaves here, and when the weather warms up, this area will be very lively.

After disposing of the dozen or so gold diggers, the people and herdsmen were no longer seen all the way, and the army hurried and arrived at the city of the Vultures Sea before dark.

It is a large mountain valley with withered grass and large trees scattered in between. There is more precipitation in the mountains than under the mountains, and the pastures are abundant, making it a favorite place for nomads. The water falling from the mountains is scarce, and the water of the Yellow River flows to the place where it forms a dotted lake, accompanied by yellow sand.

The nomadic Fan people like to live in the mountains, while the farming Han people like the land below the mountains, and the water of the Yellow River is brought to irrigate it, and it becomes a fertile field. After thousands of years of agricultural and pastoral competition, the banks of the Yellow River in front of the mountains are full of Qin and Han relics, and the mountains are full of nomadic whereabouts.

Yang Wenguang set up his horse under the city of Wuthorn Sea, and the surrounding armies set up their own camps and artillery positions according to the pre-war plan, which was busy and tense and orderly. The head of the city was quiet, and there was no movement.

Turning around, Yang Wenguang took his own soldiers and walked in front of the Vulture Sea City, looking at the geographical terrain here and comparing it with the map.

The map work of the Yingtian Xiangjun was far beyond this era, but it was still rough and not very accurate, just an approximation. For Yang Wenguang's level, the layout according to the map is sufficient, and when it reaches the battalion level, it must be adjusted according to the actual situation.

The Vulture Sea City guarded the pass and cut off the main road from south to north. The city was located between the east and west mountains, and was not easy to capture.