On the third day of the first month of the second year of Ming Dao, Jiaozhi sent troops from the Fuliang River to raise troops to the north under the pretext of quelling the riots in several Tuzhou in the north. Langzhou was originally a land of two subordinates, and at this time, Jiaozhi did not have the courage to start a war with the Great Song Dynasty, although the soldiers pointed directly at Langzhou, but nominally did not dare to say so.

Xu Ping had long expected the dispatch of troops to Jiaozhi, and the spy network laid out earlier had already made the number of Jiaozhi troops and the marching route clear.

At this time, Li Fengxiao, the first fierce general of Jiaozhi, was stationed in Fuliangjiang, with 50,000 elite soldiers, and was the main force in the main force of Jiaozhi, and the key force to protect the royal city. Li Fengxiao was brave, brave and good at fighting, and was recruited by Li Gongyun, the former king of Jiaozhi, and made countless military exploits. When Li Foma ascended the throne, the three brothers competed for the throne and launched the "Three Kings Rebellion", Li Fengxiao beheaded King Wude, who was compared to Wei Chi Jingde, who killed Li Yuanji, the king of Qi during the Xuanwumen Change, and made the first contribution to quelling the rebellion, so he was especially trusted by Li Foma.

The one who led the troops to the expedition was Li Fengxiao's deputy general Chen Changji, who was also a famous general who had fought in Jiaozhi for many years, with 10,000 main forces in Jiaozhi, and about 8,000 local soldiers were recruited and transferred along the way, known as 80,000 to the outside world, and went straight to Langzhou.

On the eighteenth day of the first lunar month, the forward of the Jiaozhi army arrived outside the mouth of the South Valley in Langzhou.

The forward commander Ruan Dali rode on a horse, looked at the wide open valley in front of him, frowned and said to the soldiers around him: "The valley in front is the south gate of Langzhou, and there was a military village there in Jiazhizhou before, why is it that now the Song army has demolished the military village and does not build a closed city." Are we confident that we Jiaozhi people will not dare to offend the Great Song Dynasty, and we have no fear, or is there another conspiracy? ”

The soldiers looked left and right, pointed to the mountains on both sides of the valley mouth, and said: "There are Song troops stationed on the mountain, it doesn't look like they are unprepared, but I am afraid that there is another conspiracy." The general still proceeded with caution. ”

Ruan Dali saw the flag on the mountain. The brows furrowed even tighter: "There are soldiers and horses who do not guard the pass." But it was deployed on the hills on both sides, what was the idea of the Song army? swept through Langzhou within a few days, the leader of the Song army did not look like a person who did not understand the art of war, but how could he put his soldiers and horses to death? ”

"The Han people have a cloud in the art of war, and they will die and come back to life, isn't this the idea?"

"Nonsense! Those Song troops are on the mountain, even if they have strong bows and crossbows, they can't threaten the army that enters the valley, and they are completely useless decorations! In my opinion. I'm afraid that there is another arrangement in the valley! ”

"What is going on in the valley, we can't see it outside—"

Hearing this, Ruan Dali became more and more irritable. Since occupying Langzhou, Xu Ping has completely sealed off the place, and only authorized personnel in the army can enter and leave, and civilians are forbidden. Although Jiaozhi also inquired in many ways, he always did not know the essentials of the current situation in Langzhou. Occasionally, I heard a sentence or two, and because it was too legendary, what forty or fifty thousand people gathered in it to build a large number of buildings, from Pingxiangtong. Tens of thousands of people were deployed along the line from Menzhou to Langzhou, both soldiers and civilians. No one dared to believe it. Even if there was previous news that Xu Ping had opened a sugar business in Zuojiang Province, no matter how large the scale of the sugar business was, it could not support a military operation of nearly 100,000 people. Not to mention the small border states of Yongzhou, there is not so much manpower to be deployed. The strength of 50,000 people must be supported by a population of 500,000 at least, and no matter how bold a person is, he can't believe that Yongzhou can increase to such a population in a few years.

Xu Ping has worked hard for several years, and he has developed Yongzhou, especially the area of Zuojiang Road, little by little, and he doesn't think there is anything unusual about it. But for outsiders, especially for Jiaozhi, who has just begun to build a bureaucratic system and put it on the right track, this is a myth that has been blown to the sky, and they will not believe it even if they cut off their heads.

As for the current situation in Langzhou, the Jiaozhi people can only judge according to their previous impressions, and they feel that sending 10,000 elite soldiers is a great military force, which is enough to easily set foot on Langzhou. Even as soon as the troops were dispatched, Li Foma began to discuss post-war matters with his close ministers, how to explain to the Great Song Dynasty, which minister to send to Bianliang and what words to use to calm the situation, and he did not dare to be sloppy at all.

Jiaozhi people only don't know Xu Ping here, and they feel a little disappointed that only 10,000 people come, and they are also **** to discuss how to make these 10,000 people come and go, so they can collect some interest from Jiaozhi.

Ruan Dali couldn't see anything famous outside the valley, so he didn't dare to enter the valley rashly, so he thought about it, so he had to call the deputy general and ask him to bring 100 regular soldiers and 200 native soldiers to attack the hill on the left.

The adjutant general turned his head to look at the hill next to the valley mouth, the slope was smoothed and smooth, and Song Jun had spent so much effort that he knew with his toes that it was a trap.

Reluctantly promised Ruan Dali, but the deputy general still hesitated.

Ruan Dali said: "You don't have to lead people to attack, just go up to the hillside, see what the Song army has arranged on the mountain, what to do, we know in our hearts, and then we will go down the mountain." ”

When the adjutant general heard this, he breathed a sigh and gave the order to order the troops and horses.

On the left side of the hill is Lu Fang stationed, he has already seen the Jiaozhi soldiers and horses on the top of the mountain, roughly calculated, the Jiaozhi soldiers are about 500 people under a command, and nearly 2,000 native soldiers. I thought that these regular soldiers were opening the way in front as a vanguard, and by the way, they gathered some more native soldiers.

If it is according to Lu Fang's temperament, there are only more than 2,000 people here, it is better to simply order three or four thousand people, kill them directly, and after the cavalry sweeps, swallow this little bit of Jiaozhi people and horses, where to rub against them.

However, Xu Ping made up his mind to use the terrain to defend and strictly ordered the Song army not to attack. Even if it was a walk under the mountain, the Song army on the mountain should not see it.

The adjutant general ordered all the soldiers, abandoned the horses, and led the men to the bottom of the mountain.

Looking up at the mountain, the slope of the hill is extremely flat, there are no big trees and shrubs, not even the raised stones can be seen, and I don't know how much manpower the Song army spent on it. On the top of the mountain, there are the flags of the Song army fluttering, and you can still see the figure vaguely, I don't know how many soldiers and horses are ambushed there.

Exhaled, the adjutant general shouted: "Listen to my military orders, follow me up the mountain!" As soon as people wait, be sure to keep the formation neat, and if you dare to disturb the military formation, you will be killed! ”

After saying that, he drew his saber and stepped on the hillside first.

The slope of the mountain was not too steep, and although it was necessary to keep a balance at all times, the 300 men were able to maintain the formation by slowly marching upward.

The adjutant general's heart was raised to his throat, and every time he took three or five steps carefully, he had to look up at the top of the mountain, as if there was a big rock hanging from his head, and he would slam it down at any moment.

However, the wind was calm and nothing happened.

Seeing that halfway up the mountain, the deputy general stopped, took a breath, and sorted out the formation.

Looking up at the mountain, I can already roughly see the figure of the Song army, standing sparsely in a row on the top of the mountain, as if looking at the scenery, where is the appearance of a war. In front of the Song army on the top of the mountain, there were two or three protrusions in a staggered manner, and the deputy general couldn't see clearly, and he didn't know whether it was the rolling wood or the earthen wall in front of the Song army.

After calming down, the adjutant general said in a deep voice: "Listen to my military order, and when you get close to the top of the mountain, rush up together!" These Song soldiers don't take us seriously, let them know that they are powerful when the time comes! ”

A group of Jiaozhi soldiers agreed in an uproar, and their morale rose suddenly.

Lu Fang saw it on the mountain, and scolded in his mouth: "These gang of killers, shouting and screaming, are they in a hurry to reincarnate?" Walking slowly, grandpa can't wait in the mountains! ”

The lieutenant and his men continued the mountain trail, becoming more and more cautious, but nothing happened.

Coming to a place almost fifty paces away from the top of the mountain, the adjutant general stopped, stared at the Song Jun who was staring at him on the top of the mountain, only felt that his heart was about to jump out of his throat, and suddenly drew his waist knife, and shouted: "All soldiers, listen to my orders-"

Lu Fang jumped up from the ground and shouted: "Straight lady thief, it's time to get there, let go of the wood!" (To be continued.) )