After shooting three black feather arrows, Xu Xingxia returned to the barracks and lay down to sleep. The power required for the Long Xiang bow was great, and shooting three black feather arrows in a row almost exhausted all of his strength, and he had to get enough rest to make up for it. For one night, there was no sound except for the occasional cry from the refugees. The Tartars did not attack during the night, and the night was uneventful.

When he got up the next morning, Xu Xingxia came to the dining hall and saw Yuan Chonghuan eating breakfast with red eyes. I guess he didn't sleep well at all last night. Also, with so many refugees to settle in, he must be busy. Dealing with refugees is definitely a tedious and aggrieved matter. You can't beat, you can't scold, and you can't lose your temper. However, this guy can do his job so that he doesn't leave halfway. Well, it falls within the scope of what can be saved.

When Yuan Chonghuan saw Xu Xingxia, he said a little sadly: "Xu Baihu, those men in Zhenshuo Fort have all been captured by the Tartars, and we have to find a way to rescue them." ”

Xu Xingxia said quietly: "How do you want to save it?" With such a small amount of troops in my hands, if you want to save them back, are your requirements for me a little too high? ”

Yuan Chonghuan shook his head and said, "Of course I don't want Xu Baihu to save you." You've done a good job of getting those old and young women and children in. I mean, why don't you send troops to Pingyu City and Ningxia City? The main forces of Ningxia Town are all in Ningxia City, and the Tartars are coming, they should take the initiative to attack, how can they shrink back and avoid the battle? ”

Xu Xingxia tilted his head, looked at Yuan Chonghuan for a while, and did not speak.

He needed a moment to judge if this guy really didn't understand, or if he didn't understand it. Is it really angry, or is it a fake angry? I guess he really doesn't understand, and he's really angry. After all, he has not fully entered the officialdom, and he does not have a special understanding of the officialdom. When he really enters the officialdom, it is estimated that he will not talk nonsense here.

Yuan Chonghuan saw Xu Xingxia's reaction quite strangely, and couldn't help frowning and said, "Did I say something wrong?" The country raises soldiers for a thousand years, and it is used for a while. There are tens of thousands of officers and troops in Ningxia Town, why don't they make a big move to drive out the Tartars? Tens of thousands of officers and soldiers, can't they help thousands of Tartars? Is it really erosive to this point? ”

Xu Xingxia finished chewing the bun in his hand and said slowly: "That...... I sent you to Ningxia Town, asking for an audience with the governor and the chief military officer, and asking them to send troops? ”

Yuan Chonghuan said without thinking: "Okay! I was about to find a chance to meet with the two adults and ask them why the situation in Ningxia Town was so erosive. The Tartars can come and go when they want, this is the territory of the Ming Dynasty, or the territory of the Tartars? They take the country's money, eat the country's money and food, and have the responsibility to defend the land, how can they be so childish? ”

His tone was very high-pitched, and all the white-clothed sergeants around him heard it. However, no one spoke, and everyone was silently bowing their heads to eat. Yuan Chonghuan's words, for them, there is no longer the slightest feeling. In this way, decades ago, or even hundreds of years ago, someone shouted about it. It's been so long that my ears are calloused.

While speaking, Wang Xia walked briskly and whispered in Xu Xingxia's ear: "My lord, the situation is a little strange, the tartars outside seem to have retreated. ”

Xu Xingxia frowned and said cautiously: "Retreated?" Exactly? ”

Wang Xia said uncertainly: "I can't be sure for the time being." However, we don't see any Tartars in the vicinity of Fort Willytown. I found a few fighters with the best eyes, including Ming Hao and others, and I went to see them, but I didn't see any trace of the Tartars. ”

Xu Xingxia thought for a while, and said solemnly: "Remind the troops to be careful and vigilant, and not to be careless." It is possible that the Tartars deliberately lured us out of the city to pursue, let's not be fooled. ”

Wang Xia agreed, turned around and went. Yuan Chonghuan also heard what he had just reported about the situation. He immediately put down the dishes and chopsticks, followed behind Wang Xia, and went directly to the city wall. Xu Xingxia put down the dishes and chopsticks, returned to the barracks, dressed himself neatly, and carried the Longxiang bow and black feather arrows on his back before coming to the city. Thinking of Mo Yuegen's power, Xu Xingxia didn't dare to let go of the Long Xiang bow.

By this time, there were already quite a few people in the city. They all learned the news of the Tartar's retreat, and they came up to check on the situation. The Tartar actually retreated silently? Everyone didn't believe it. Many people are quietly talking about it, thinking that it is a conspiracy of the Tartars. The purpose of the Tartars must have been to lure the defenders of Fort Weizhen into attack, so that they could fight the defenders in the field. Seeing Xu Xingxia coming, they vacated the best observation position.

Xu Xingxia stood behind the battlements, carefully observing the field outside. Sure enough, as far as the naked eye could see, there was no tartar in sight. He looked at the sky again, hoping to judge the Tartar from the dust raised by the horses' hooves. As a result, nothing was found. It seems that the Tartars did retreat. If the Tartars are preparing to kill a horse pistol, the distance of retreat is indeed a little farther, which does not meet the needs of the battle.

"Chen Denglong, you pay attention and be ready to close the city gate at any time. Yun Qifeng, be ready to throw explosive packs at any time! Gao Meng, Lin Dacheng, the musket team is ready for battle! Chi Hu, Wang Xia, let's go out and have a look. If you find something wrong, withdraw it immediately! Xu Xingxia said decisively.

Whether the Tartar really retreated or not, you will only know if you go out to check it out in person. It is not a good idea to stay in the city and wait. Chi Hu and Wang Xia's riding skills are the most refined. The three of them went out of the city, and even if they met the Tartars, they could quickly get rid of them and return to the city. If the Tatar cavalry took the opportunity to catch up, Fort Weizhen would just be able to give them a head-on blow. As long as dozens or hundreds of Tartars are killed, it is estimated that Mo Yugen will vomit blood again.

"Yes!" Chi Hu and Wang Xia immediately said excitedly.

A moment later, the gate of Fort Weizhen was slowly opened. Xu Xingxia, Chi Hu, and Wang Xia slowly rode their horses out of Weizhen Fort. They formed a triangular formation and carefully searched the field west of Fort Willtown. For fear of being surrounded by Tartars, their speed was not too fast.

Along the way, Xu Xingxia closed his eyes from time to time and felt the situation around him. That's how he sensed it last night. At the moment when the Black Feather Arrow shot, he also felt the existence of the target in this way. However, after walking for a long time, Xu Xingxia didn't feel anything special.

"Da Da Da!"

More horses' hooves were heard from behind.

But it was Yuan Chonghuan, Ming Hao and others in the city who felt the situation outside and were relatively calm, and they also followed out of the city. Whether the Tartars really retreated or not, they were also very concerned. After all, who doesn't want to have the shadow of a tartar on their head all the time, right? As long as one day is not sure that the Tartars are really gone, Fort Weizhen will not be able to really settle down.

"Chi Hu, you go over there!"

"Wang Xia, you go over there!"

"Minghao, you go over there!"

"Yuan Chonghuan, you go over there!"

"Everyone, be careful! If the situation is not right, retreat immediately! ”

Xu Xingxia waved his hand, scattered all the personnel, and continued to look around.

As a result, it spread for a long distance, but no trace of the Tartar was found. In the end, there was no trace of the Tartars in the fields within ten miles of Fort Weizhen. In the place where the Tartars were stationed, only a large amount of messy debris and garbage were found, and the corpses of some strong men who had been killed. Judging by the blood stains on the corpse, it should have not been too long to die. Beneath the grass, there was still some blood that had not fully coagulated.

Ming Hao jumped off the horse, took some from the grass and sniffed it carefully, and said affirmatively: "My lord, the Tartar should have been withdrawn in the middle of the night!" The quality of the horse poop is very poor, rotten and thin, and it is estimated that there is not enough forage to feed it, and it is simply caused by eating grass. ”

Chi Hu and Wang Xia also took some and sniffed it carefully, agreeing with Ming Hao's opinion. They turned out to be rangers, and they were still more experienced in judging. Since all three of them said so, it is almost certain that the army of the Tartars had indeed withdrawn completely. Even if you don't withdraw to the desert, you go to attack other places. It is estimated that the Tartars found that there was no oil and water in Weizhen Fort, so they had to withdraw their troops.

In fact, continuing to confront Fort Weizhen is indeed not beneficial to the Tartars. The defenders of Fort Willtown have powerful muskets and even more terrifying explosives packs. It is not an easy task for the Tartars to take Fort Weizhen. It is indeed a very difficult thing to make up your mind to fight to the death, no matter what the cost. I believe that Mo Yuegen's brain has not completely collapsed.

If Minghao's judgment is correct, it means that the forage for the Tartars is no longer available. The war horses of the Tartars can only eat grass, which is obviously not a good thing. War horses are the foundation of the nomadic people, and if even the forage for the war horses cannot be guaranteed, let alone other aspects. No matter how great Mo Yuegen's ability is, he can only withdraw the army.

"Let's go back!"

Xu Xingxia waved his hand and shouted.

The five rode back to Fort Weizhen and ordered the gate to be closed again to prevent accidents. He rode alone on horseback and walked slowly up and down the Crossroads. He was thinking, could the person last night be Mo Yuegen? Could it be that the black feather arrow he shot actually hit him? If it was Mo Yuegen's person who shot him, or Mo Yuegen's war horse, he would immediately run away, which should be normal.

Of course, it is also possible that it is Mo Yuegen's return gun, so Weizhenbao still can't be careless. Mo Yuegen may not be in the vicinity of Weizhen Fort anymore, but it is likely that he is still in other parts of Ningxia Town. As long as he is still in Ningxia Town, it will be a huge threat to Weizhen Fort. In the next few days, on the one hand, it is necessary to continue to strengthen the vigilance to prevent Mo Yuegen's continued attack. On the one hand, he worked hard to find out the news and determine the exact location of Mo Yuegen.

"Minghao, your job is here." Xu Xingxia beckoned and called Ming Hao over. He is the scout captain of the white-clothed army, and the errand of reconnoitring where Mo Yuegen is naturally has to be. This is also an opportunity to test Minghao. The White Army does not want waste. As the scout captain of the White Army, he can't be a waste.

"No problem, please wait for my news!" Ming Hao said without hesitation. Immediately, he instigated his war horse, left Weizhen Fort, and went outside alone to spy on information.

Xu Xingxia stopped moving unconsciously and came to the side of the trebuchet. These five trebuchets were really powerful, and as soon as they struck, they frightened the Tatar cavalry. The lethality of the ordinary Franc machine gun is not as good as it. The Franc cannon can only fire solid bullets, and the number of enemies that a solid bullet can kill is actually very limited. However, explosives packs are different. The lethality of a fifteen-pound bag of explosives to the enemy is absolutely amazing.

Thinking of the partial van proposed by Liu Guangliang, Xu Xingxia immediately thought of a new type of battle fortress. Outside, there are partial vans in circles and circles, using the moon gun to shoot. Inside, there is a trebuchet, throwing bags of explosives. The trebuchet and the moon gun, one long-range and the other short-range, just form the completed line of defense. No matter which direction the enemy comes from, you can crush them. It seems that it is necessary to form specialized "artillery" detachments.

The biggest weakness of trebuchets is that they are difficult to move. Even a lightweight trebuchet can be quite difficult to move quickly. This problem is really difficult to solve. However, in the future, the trebuchet was installed in a fixed base and used as a fixed artillery, which was still quite powerful. As for the real artillery research, it is not yet possible to mention it.

"Liu Guangliang." Xu Xingxia shouted.

"Your Excellency." Liu Guangliang came from the side.

"Twenty more." Xu Xingxia said decisively.

"Your Excellency...... That side car ......," Liu Guangliang said with a little embarrassment.

Now he has an order for 50 partial vans, and it is not easy to complete them all. There is no technical difficulty in the partial van, but the workload is still very large. Now, with the addition of twenty trebuchets, he has even more work on his hands. The craftsman workshop doesn't have so much manpower to deploy!

Xu Xingxia looked at the refugees behind him and said casually: "Select some people from it to work, and give food and wages." The work of a carpenter is estimated to be capable of women as well. With so many refugees, it is necessary to make use of it as much as possible. ”

Liu Guangliang agreed to go. Xu Xingxia was really thoughtful. Fort Willis cannot provide complete and unconditional relief to these refugees. No matter how much food there is in Weizhenbao, it can't be wasted in vain. As long as you can work, you still have to work. They had to rely on their own hands to get their money.

(To be continued)