"Journey to the West"

Author: Scarlet Polyp

Chapter 16: General Kamui Heaven

Under the leadership of Guan Ping, everyone broke away from the battlefield and went all the way east, gathering a lot of soldiers on the way. According to the only commander of the Chinese army in the trapped camp at that time, after the collapse of the left flank, General Gao Shun adjusted the formation in time before the Guishan spear formation approached the Chinese army: the "trapped" heavy infantry densely arranged in the square circle formation fought hard and struggled to block the enemy's footsteps - the Chinese army in the trapped camp was deployed on a small dirt slope, and the Guishan people were wearing heavy armor on foot, and it was very difficult to attack from the bottom to the top. The tight position is also gradually loosening. General Gao saw the opportunity, used the long-awaited "charge" iron cavalry to break through the weakly defended flank of the Kushan spear formation, and then ordered the whole army to squeeze forward, and finally crossed this enemy army. After the battle, the trapped camp fought and walked to the east, presumably retreating in the direction of Qiuzi.

When everyone heard the news, their spirits were lifted. Guan Ping exclaimed; "It is worthy of General Gao, and it is worthy of being trapped in the camp! In such an unfavorable situation, the tide of the war can also be turned around. It's ridiculous that we are so conceited and brave that we try to compare ourselves with the trapped camp. ”

Zhao Neng asked on the side: "General Su Wenguan's headquarters has experienced a hundred battles and is also extremely elite, is it also trapped in the battle?" ”

"The three hundred knife players in Guan's headquarters are now led by Shedi Anguo (Guan Xing) to protect Sima Dashuai." Guan Ping smiled, "Guan Mou's courage this time is to join the trap camp alone. ”

While everyone was talking, Luo An, who was the scout in front, noticed the situation and made a gesture to this side. Guan Ping didn't dare to slack off, and ordered everyone to dismount and come to a bush where Luo An was located to watch: I saw a group of thousands of men and horses marching westward not far away—most of the troops in the team were cavalry, and they did not display their flags, but they were Han troops in armor and clothing. As soon as everyone's hearts were relieved, they no longer hid their figures, and walked out of the bushes one after another.

"Phew! Who watched the march of the army? Just follow Grandpa Black's knife! Suddenly, a loud shout came, like a burst of rolling thunder on the ground. I saw a general riding out of that army, dancing his sword to kill, and making a pan head against Guan Ping, who was standing at the front of the team.

Guan Ping raised his knife to greet him, and the two knives met with a loud bang, and he would force people and horses to retreat half a step in the future. "Good man! Eat me again! Another knife slashed obliquely, as if sweeping down the plate, but in the middle of the turn, the knife momentum directly took Guan Ping's head, Guan Ping saw the menacing, not in a hurry, turned around and rolled the Qinglong knife, and pressed down this exquisite knife. After the two of you walked back and forth for a few times, Guan Ping found that although the sword technique was taken in a fierce way, the shot was strict, the knife was running as expected, and the martial arts were really extraordinary. nodded secretly, and there was also a desire to win in his heart. Suddenly afterburner in his hand, he shouted "Open!" He slashed out with a lightning bolt. That will struggle to block, only to feel that the tiger's mouth is numb, like being devoured by thunder, and the long knife almost wants to get rid of it. However, he was extremely determined, refused to admit defeat, gritted his teeth and took this thunderous blow, and stood with Guan Ping.

Zhao Guang saw it really on the side, and hurriedly stopped it in a loud voice: "Brother Pang, stop it, this is General Guan Pingguan!" ”

"Ziyuan, brother, it's really you!" Pang Hui turned his head and saw that it was really Zhao Guang, he was surprised and delighted, and hurriedly withdrew his hand, hung the long knife back to the victory hook, dismounted and hugged his fist, "I really washed the Dragon King Temple this time, and the family didn't recognize the family." General Guan, Xia Guan Lu Mang, please also invite Haihan. ”

Guan Ping also put down the Qinglong Knife and said with a smile: "Where to speak, those who don't know are not guilty." Captain Pang's prestige, Guan Mou has also admired it for a long time. ”

"Haha, General Guan doesn't want to put gold on Lao Pang's face, if you used a lot of strength just now, I'm afraid I wouldn't even be able to hold the knife a long time ago."

Li Xin caught up from behind, greeted everyone, and said with a smile: "General Guan should have cut Pang Heizi's big knife away just now, so that he could know that there are people outside the world, and there is a sky outside the sky, and take away this bull-like temper." ”

Everyone laughed, and after a few words of greeting, Zhao Guang asked: "Brother Pang, Brother Li, isn't your Pingyu Camp waiting in Gaochang City, how did you get here?" ”

"Hey, don't mention it, after leveling the Che Division, as soon as the team returned to Gaochang, the generals from above who asked for reinforcements from Qiuzi came one after another. How dare we, little ones, delay? Pang Hui turned his head and ordered his soldiers to stop, grinning and complaining, "Hurry up, I arrived at him in Qiancheng five days ago, and my ass was not hot, so my father drove him out to take over the camp." The Changshui camp went to the northwest, and we went to the southwest to find the Pingyu camp. I've been looking for you for three days, and I'm looking for you! How's this battle going? Is the team breaking up? Why are there only so many of you left? ”

"I'm ashamed. In the battle of the Green Ridge River, we were unfavorable in engagement, and we were separated from General Gao's main force in the camp. I had to gather the lone soldiers on the one hand, and retreat to Qiuzi on the other. As far as Guan knows, the main force of General Gao's camp is still there, and it should have gone to the northwest. ”

Li Xin listened to it and said loudly: "General Gao is a good man, and the brothers in the camp are all heroes. Berton, now that there is definite news, the defense of the city is important, and the Pingyu battalion should return to the city immediately. ”

Pang Hui struck with his right fist and left palm: "Hey, I wanted to see with my own eyes what those **** Guishuang cubs have three heads and six arms, and they dare to run to pick up my big man's tiger whiskers!" Since the overall situation is important, let's withdraw! ”

Guizita Qiancheng, West City Gate Tower.

Since the main force of the Western Expeditionary Army arrived in Qiuzi City, Pang De has started the deployment work non-stop. He enriched the more than 10,000 soldiers of the Western Regions who had been trained before into the city defense team, mobilized the whole city, strengthened the city walls, hoarded grain, grass and weapons, dug deep moats, made city defense equipment, and moved all the residents outside the city and various sub-cities into the royal city, and cleared the walls outside the city. He also listened to the advice of Master Pushan, convened several city-wide Buddhist Dharma meetings, and the monks ascended the altar to preach the Dharma, and preached the "evil deeds" of the Kushan people in the past, and strengthened the determination of the Qiuzi people to fight the enemy together.

Now it can be said that everything is in place, and only a war is missing. Pang De stroked his long hair, looked to the west, and was very worried about the safety of Gao Shun's camp, this stubborn old Gao, don't burn the enemy jade in order to keep his promise!

Walking around the city tower, Pang De was very satisfied with the process of city defense reinforcement, and turned to Ling Tong, who was standing aside, and praised: "Gongji, you have done a very good job in all things related to city defense." ”

"Xie Dashuai, this is a matter of subordination. All kinds of defense can be completed today. ”

"Okay." Pound nodded, "How is Lord Sima's recovery from his injuries?" Could it be that you have eaten? I've been busy with my feet these days, but I haven't seen him. ”

"Tell the marshal, Lord Sima is no longer in serious trouble, he just needs to take care of himself. The doctor instructed that the residual poison had not yet been completely eliminated, and at present, he could only eat some rice porridge, and he could not walk around on the ground or work hard, so these days, Yanyun (Wang Lingbiaozi) and others have tried not to let adults intervene in military affairs. ”

"Well, the matter of military affairs is urgent, and now we must let Lord Sima recuperate with peace of mind." Pang De turned his gaze to General An Yi on the side, "Zijing, General Ma's reinforcements, is there any news?" ”

"General Zhenxi personally led the forward 8,000 iron cavalry, and he left Yanqi five days ago, so it should be just around the corner."

In the territory of Qiuzi, he was fifty miles east of Qiancheng

A dusty cavalry was marching east along the main road.

At the fork in the road, there stood a silent cavalry in strict armor, about a hundred men, watching the procession. A burly cavalryman with thick eyebrows and big eyes, and a bearded sideburns, like the statue of the king or wrestler carved in stone in the temple of Qiuzi, was solemn and majestic, riding motionless on a horse, holding the reins in one hand and holding a large black flag tightly in the other. This large flag carries a banner tassel made of snow-white horsehair and a silver spear with a white light, and the center of the flag is embroidered with a large "horse" character in white brocade.

In front of the banner, there stood a particularly tall horse with a short mane and tail, the horse was bright white, with a slight gray spot, and the hair was curly, very much like dragon scales, so it was called the White Dragon Horse. Riding on it now was a general in his thirties, tall, broad-shouldered, full of heaven, with a high nose, deep eye sockets, thick eyebrows, and a pair of large, piercing, deep-eyed eyes—people with such eyes often gave people a sense of fortitude, composure, and wisdom.

He wore a white peaked iron helmet often worn by high-ranking military generals in Xiliang. Because of the strong wind and sand in the Western Regions, he wore a sheepskin coat over his bright silver iron armor. In order to make it easy to take off in the event of a battle that could be encountered at any time, all the buttons on the big slab were loosened, but it was fastened with a rhinoceros belt. He carried a bow diagonally on his back, a long sword and a black-lacquered cowhide quiver with a dozen carved arrows stuck in it. This general is the general of Dahan Zhenxi in Xiliang, Weizhen, the general of Zhonglang who leads Poqiang, the commander of the festival, the military of Liangzhou, and the Hou Machao of Maoxiang.

"Father, I heard that the Guishan people have an army of 100,000 to meet us in his Qiancheng, is it true?" Ma Chao's eldest son, Ma Qiu, a young general who had just turned seventeen, asked innocently on the side.

"Yes, they have an army of 100,000 to meet us. What, Qiu'er, are you a little scared? Ma Chao asked deliberately, his tone, tone and eyes all revealed his love for his son, full of fatherly feelings.

"Cowardly?" Ma Qiu tilted his head sideways and said, "When did the men of the Ma family ever be timid?" I also plan to capture the Guishan Lord alive and establish the first merit! ”

"Okay, Qiu'er! You're right, these barbarians, even if they have millions, are nothing! Ma Chao patted his son on the shoulder and said, thinking in his heart: "This child is really good, he has been honed, and he will never be discouraged!" ”

Meng Da, who had a beard, followed with a loose word: "In my opinion, we will definitely be able to kill the Guishan cub tomorrow, but it will not be easy to catch their master." ”

"Why?" Ma Qiu asked, a little unconvinced.

"Because our war horses have been running for so many days since they came out, and they didn't have time to feed them properly, and they all lost fat. The Kushan horses were well fed and ran fast. ”

When everyone heard this, they all laughed. But the laughter was then silenced by the sound of horses' hooves coming from the front of the procession. Ma Chao was waiting for a general, and listening to the sound of horses' hooves, he said to himself, "Ah, here it is." After a while, the sound of horses' hooves came closer and closer, and then the silhouette of a small group of men and horses appeared in the eyes of everyone.

Ma Chao's white dragon horse suddenly raised his head, snorted his nose, and screamed with joy. Ma Qiu asked the cavalry who came closer, "Is it the third uncle?" ”

"It's me." A young man's voice replied

Ma Chao saw the person who came, and said in a deep voice: "Shujian (Ma Chao's third brother Ma Tie's cousin), have you contacted the brothers of the Western Expeditionary Army?" ”

"We're in touch, we're not far from his city."

"Good! Ordered the troops to speed up their march and strive to arrive today. Ma Chao nodded, waved his hand and ordered, "Get up." ”

In the territory of Qiuzi, he is seventy miles southwest of Qiancheng.

In the first battle of the Green Ridge River, although the trapped camp lost more than 1,000 men and horses, and lost several important generals, it was able to cause more than three times the casualties of its own side to the superior Kushan army, which was indeed a great victory.

The seemingly weak containment force in front of him was so difficult to gnaw at that the Guishan commander Ki Bonada was quite a headache: the heavy spearmen were his elite troops, and they were only equipped with 20,000 in total, and they lost an entire 3,000 troops at once in this inconsequential battle (although the other 3,000 troops involved in the attack were defeated, the loss of personnel was not large)! It has already had a great impact on the overall ability of the army to attack fortifications, and it is bound to be no longer sent; And those cavalry recruited from Kangju, Yile, Dawan and other countries (all of which were Kushan vassal states at that time) were poorly equipped, although it was not too distressing to die more, but they could not bring effective damage to the enemy, and they might delay the whole battle. In this dilemma, Kivanada decided not to pay attention to this enemy army, and soon made a decision: "The main force will not attack the enemy army anymore and enter Qiuzi at full speed." ”

Gao Shun saw that the other party only sent more than 1,000 light horsemen to follow his own troops, and the main force marched directly to the northeast, so he knew that the plan to continue to delay could not be achieved. But at this moment, he has also exhausted his skills: the fatigue of the troops has reached the limit, there are no crossbow arrows left, and the wounded are also in urgent need of treatment, and if the enemy attacks again, I am afraid that the camp will be completely annihilated. Thinking of this, Gao Shun instructed Cao Xingdao:

"Lao Cao, tell the people below to count the team, and then get out of the battlefield to the north. There's not much we can do anymore. ”

Cao Xing was injured in three places in the battle just now, and the knife wound in the ribs was deep and bone-seeing. At this time, the wound was being bandaged by the doctor, grinning in pain, his eyes were red, but his fighting spirit was still high: "General, brothers can still fight!" Let's charge and kill it again! ”

"No need." Gao Shun shook his head, "We can't wipe out the trapped camp here, let's go north and find a place to recuperate in Gumo." Leave it useful, and when the main force of our army fights with it, there is a time when our troops are behind Guishan, like a thorn in the back, and it will finally come in handy. Lao Hou, you send a competent person to Qiuzi to inform Pang Shuai of the movements of our department. ”

Hou Cheng was puzzled: "General, if you go to Gumo to rest, our department will not participate in the battle of Qiuci's attack and defense?" ”

"For more than a month, Pang Shuai must have run his Qiancheng as solid as a whole, and there is nothing to worry about." Gao Shun smiled confidently, "What's more, the Great Han's Shenwei Tian General should be almost here." ”