Standing on the head of the city of Taigu County, it seems that you can see fireworks in the distance, perhaps the Liao people after the looting. Okay, or maybe it's a village under attack, where villagers are burning their hoards of forage and grain.

When he thought of this, Chen Feng suddenly felt a little out of breath and was very depressed. The Chen family is a family of cultivators, and the peasants are forced to burn a year's hard work, and it is easy for him to imagine how desperate he is.

The Liao army has arrived.

Since the fall of Shiling Pass and the Liao army entered Taiyuan Prefecture, tens of thousands of robbers have swept through the villages and towns like locusts. According to the information received from all sides, the number of enemies is between 40,000 and 80,000. In addition, according to the information from the capital, since the fall of Daizhou, at least more than 20,000 soldiers and horses from the Hebei direction have arrived in Hedong through the Flying Fox.

Of course, these estimates of the total strength of the Liao army are extremely vague figures. Even after Han Gang read a few reports, he just threw them aside without commenting.

However, in the subsequent military planning, the upper limit of 80,000 and the estimated 50,000 were used to plan the response strategy respectively. It's just that Chen Feng and the other staff members also heard a little bit of talk from Han Gang. It should be impossible for the Liao army to pile this number of cavalry into the small Taiyuan Basin, which is a complete waste of cavalry's expertise, and it is extremely stupid.

"Unless they see themselves as robbers and forget about military common sense." Han Gang said.

Han Gang's words always sound a little strange, unlike Huang Shang and the others who have long been used to it, Chen Feng always feels awkward to hear it, but it is not to the point that he can't understand it.

Maybe those who are dressed in sheep. The heads and thoughts of the tribal patriarchs of the Wei are no different from those of the robbers, but none of the high-ranking people of the Liao State, from Yelu Yixin to the rest of the important ministers, will be robbed. The looted goods are carried away, and they will make reasonable use of the troops in their hands in order to achieve more benefits, and there will not be too much waste.

And for the preset battlefield around Taigu County, once the number of cavalry exceeds 50,000, there is not much difference. Han Gang even said that it would be better if the Liao people came over with 180,000.

Chen Feng did not have much level in the military, and he himself knew this. Being able to become Han Gang's staff member was a complete misunderstanding. So after arriving at Han Gang's side, he was extremely rare in this hard-won opportunity, and worked hard to listen, watch and learn more. For Han Gang's plan, although it was a little late, he finally understood.

The more the Liao army came, the easier it would be for them to choose to go south for a decisive battle, rather than grab a handful and leave. Because once you win, you can grab more. On the other hand, the cavalry stacked together was much easier to deal with than the same number of infantry—although Chen Feng had deep doubts about this, he still chose to trust the judgment of Han Gang and several other colleagues who were good at military affairs.

"Gongman, what do you see?" Zhang Qi's voice came from behind him.

"Nope." Chen Feng shook his head and turned back to salute Zhang Ji.

Because of his seniority and official position, no one can compete with Zhang Qi for all the staff members below Huang Sheng in the system. However, in the shogunate, Chen Feng and he are both newcomers, and they are psychologically closer than others.

Although Han Gang had asked Zhang Qi to stay in Tonggu County temporarily with the officials and soldiers who came to help, he took the initiative to bring a cavalry under his command and rushed into Taigu County overnight. Although this is an act of not obeying military orders, Zhang Qi's attitude is still appreciated, and Han Gang only gave a warning, took a note and raised his hand to let it go - naturally, only civilian officials, and the staff in the Ministry of Command, can do this, and the military generals under Han Gang will never dare.

"Don't worry." Zhang Qi may have misunderstood and came to Chen Feng's side, "Beiyu will be here soon." ”

At this stage, the Liao soldiers who came to the vicinity of Taigu were only probing for the horses, and the largest number of horses did not exceed 100 horses, and the main force did not go south. However, Chen Feng also knew that as long as Han Gang's plan was successful, standing on the head of the city and watching the Liao people flag like a sea outside the city, it would indeed not be a few days. At that time, whether it is victory or defeat will be known within three to five days.

Seeing that Chen Feng's expression did not relax, Zhang Qi smiled and said, "Worried that Taigu County will not be able to hold it?" ”

"If it weren't for the deputy sitting in the city, Chen Feng wouldn't have thought that six thousand soldiers and horses would be able to hold Taigu City for too long."

Reinforcements from Kaifeng have arrived in the south of Taigu County. According to Han Gang's order, he did not go north, but temporarily stopped and stationed forty miles south of Taikoo City. In terms of performance, they are far away from Taigu County, and if the Liao army besieges Taigu, they will not be able to come to the rescue in a short time. But in fact, there were still 2,000 soldiers and horses who quietly entered the city at night.

Originally, there was only one commander of the forbidden army and one army in Taigu County, with a total of more than 600 troops, and Han Gang brought half of the Weisheng army with 2,200 people. plus the 2,000 soldiers and horses of the Beijing battalion who had recently entered the city. That's nearly five thousand. In addition, there are more than 1,000 soldiers recruited in Taigu County, although they can't form combat power for a while, but when they really fight, they are all good supplementary soldiers.

"Actually, it's enough, don't stay too long." Zhang Qi said, "As long as you receive it, the door is closed." ”

Chen Feng smiled. In the shogunate, Zhang Ji unreservedly supported Han Gang's plan, and even did not lose to a disciple like Huang Shang who had been with Han Gang for a long time. Ask him now, and there will be no other answer to anything.

"Actually, Chen Feng is worried about the people around Taigu." Chen Feng pointed to the northern skyline, "Although there are also rangers who are rescued outside, it is still a drop in the bucket." The suffering will only be heavier. ”

"That's why we have to have this battle, and so that we can do it once and for all in the future. What's more, with the "Imperial Preparation" of the deputy cardinal, the people also know what to do. Don't worry about the small group of Beiyu, there are too many people, so they can't worry about coming. ”

Due to its location in the north and its proximity to the Taihang Mountains, the villages around Taigu County basically have walled walls to prevent thieves. Of course, such a wall would definitely not be able to withstand the attack of the Liao army. Most villages, even if they are only a hundred Khitan cavalry, can be easily attacked. However, after Han Gang's "Imperial Preparation" was publicly released, at least the situation was much better than before. The same amount of grain and grass forced the Liao people to send more troops.

The forced increase in the number of troops going out to fight in Caogu is equivalent to the decline in the overall strength of the large army that the Liao army can use to go into battle. The spring war horse is not in good condition, and if you ride a gallop for a long time, the number of people who will die will not be small, even if you don't lose your strength and die, you can't have a better performance after going into battle.

Chen Feng nodded, but changed the subject: "Why hasn't the pivotal deputy come yet?" ”

Zhang Qi was also puzzled, Han Gang was going to inspect the city defense today, so the two of them came over in advance to prepare. But judging from the timing, Han Gang should have arrived now.

"Probably something delayed." Zhang Qi said, looking at the east, "It seems that the city gate has opened on the side of Dongcheng. There may be news coming. ”

"Beiyu?" Chen Feng's eyelids jumped.

Zhang Qi nodded: "Mostly." ”

……………………

Han Gang was indeed delayed by a new arrival.

However, it was not the Liao army, but the bandits in the Taihang Mountains. In the east of Taigu County, several villages near Taihang Mountain were suddenly attacked by bandits coming down the mountain in the past two days. Although there were not many casualties and not many losses, the momentum was not good.

Standing in the Daxiong Hall of Puci Temple, standing in front of the topographical sand table in the east of the river, Han Gang was silent.

Looking at the red corner flag on the east side of Taiyuan City, a small city model was replaced with a black flag. The latest report received today. Yuci County fell. The passage of the well was sealed. In the north of Taiyuan, towns and passes have been marked with black marks. It's just that now, the east of Taigu County also has to use another color other than red and black.

"There are many thieves in Taihang Mountain, and it has been a little better to train armor in recent years, but it is only slightly better, and there are still many thieves on both sides of Taihang East and West." Huang Shang once followed Han Gang to serve in Hedong, and he still knows a little about the situation in Taihang Mountain.

The Taihang Mountains are extremely barren, and many of the mountains are not even visible to the trees. The mountain people who live in the depths of the Taihang Mountains are farmers when they pick up a hoe, and they are thieves when they change to a bow and knife. It's hard to grasp.

"The "Preparation" of the deputy is indeed a good strategy for the imperial court, but if you learn it from those robbers, it will be a headache for the officials and soldiers to encircle and suppress it in the future." The magistrate of Taigu County is also talking.

"You always see small problems, you must know that the biggest problem now is the invasion of the Liao people to the south, not the bandits in the Taihang Mountains." Han Gang shook his head, a little surprised in his heart at the Taigu Zhixian who dared to speak out, but he didn't agree much with his words, "Learn to grasp the big and let go of the small, and solve the biggest problem first." ”

This is actually a question of the main contradiction and the secondary contradiction. Han Gang just regretted that "The Theory of Contradiction" was not something he could write well now.

"What's more, robbers are young after all, and good citizens who have no problems will always be the majority." Han Gang said to Taigu Zhixian again: "Think about it, Hedong has a large number of household registrations, and the population is even nearly 10 million, how many thieves are there in Taihang Mountain, is there one percent?" ”

One percent is nearly 100,000. Huang Sheng and Taigu Zhixian both shook their heads. There are really so many thieves in Taihang Mountain, so what's the deal? The emperor didn't even want to sleep peacefully in the Funing Palace.

"It's just that the deputy cardinal taught some secret strategies to the people of Hedong. In the future, if anyone has evil intentions, it will also be a curse. ”

"If there are virtuous kings and good ministers, famous generals and strong soldiers, even if someone wants to be a coward, it will only be the result of trying the king's law with neck blood."

Han Gang smiled accordingly. The scholars, or the ruling class, were deeply wary of a people who were far outnumbered and fearful of losing control. Therefore, I hope that the people are cattle and sheep, and there is no need and should not have any. And whoever loosens their chains is a disaster.

But Hangang is different. All along, he didn't plan to be too far ahead of this era, and he tried to fit into this era, but the basic concept was deep-rooted and couldn't be changed.

Regarding Huang Sheng and Taigu Zhixian's worries, he would only laugh it off.