Chapter 072 Looking North

The group did not rush back to Qingcang city, Xu Fengyen Song Dongming and Chen Xiliang three people sat on the bank of a stream, doubtful people do not need to use, Xu Fengyen did not cover up to the deputy strategy envoy who had not yet assumed the post, and told many of the layout of Beiliang, for example, Wang Lingshou led his troops to run to Fengxiang military town to eliminate erratic surrendered general Ma Luko, in order to clean up the route for the 10,000-odd light cavalry of Cao Wei, and even it can be said that the pre-war temporary expansion of Longxiang army is also to lay ambush for this 10,000 cavalry, while the main force of monk soldiers is even a hidden deal with Six Jewel Bodhisattva of Ruta Mountain. Expansion is also to ambush this 10,000 horsemen, and the main monks of the Fengxiang soldiers and horses are more of a hidden deal between Beiliang and the Six Jeweled Bodhisattva of Rotten Mountain. Song Dongming heard did not start from the details, but picked up some stones on the ground, muttering to himself: “Now three battlefields, Chu Lushan is responsible for this main front north of Liangzhou, passes military towns E Fort Post Road, are extremely perfect, with the word solid as a golden broth is not too much to describe. North of Youzhou, there is a natural advantage of the northern Liang Hulu mouth terrain, easy to defend and difficult to attack, the northern Mang is unlikely to be in the early stages of the main attack on Youzhou. But the flow of the state is a vast area, the ups and downs are very small, the terrain, such as horses run flat, conducive to cavalry gallop, we do not have male towns to rely on, the overall strength of the North Mang is superior, the deployment of troops without intrigue and wonders, they if they chose this path to the south, directly bypassing the Youliang two places, the only thing that needs to be guarded against is that they are the grain and grass supply line, was stationed in the northwest of Liangzhou, the Xu family of iron horsemen cut off a knife, which is to test both sides of the sneak attack! and counter-attack skills.”

Xu Fengyen glanced at Chen Xiliang, who slowly said, “If North Mang wants to successfully move south into Shu, regardless of whether North Liang sets up a flow state in the land of stragglers or not, they will try to open the gap from here, or else hit the northern part of Youliang’s line of defense, they can’t afford to consume it even if they have millions of troops, after all, our North Liang army, regardless of the cavalry soldiers, are all extremely battle-hardened, not to mention that the cavalry soldiers can defend the city when off their horse, and can actively attack on horseback, this is the reason why North Liang’s army is not able to attack. This is the real headache of the Northern Mang. The Great General built large granaries and arsenals in several of the most important cities and fortresses along the borderline a long time ago in preparation for a long battle.”

Chen Xiliang paused for a moment and laughed, “But the fact is that our Beiliang army has never felt that defending the city is the best policy, this is something that has been clearly agreed upon from the Great General and Li Yishan, and then Yan Wenluan Chu Lushan Yuan Zuozong, as well as all of the youthful and strong generals in the same lineage, which is why Beiliang’s frequent martial arts maneuvers for so many years have always strived for a combination of both offense and defense. Beimang side choose to start the war now, because Xu Snap finally died of old age, and Beiliang in order to absorb the stragglers, had to put a part of the force into the flow state plains, one is to let them feel that they finally have the opportunity to take advantage of, the second is that they can not afford to procrastinate, in case of giving the Liyang court of the Central Plains Zone of the country’s power are evolved into the border war, the two countries, will only become more and more of this and this and this and this and this and the Beimang even more have no fight. It can be said that the choice of Liuzhou as a place to start the war, that is, North Mang thought to be able to benefit from the entry point, but also North Liang a quite active choice, this is not North Liang conceited, but confident, especially on our cavalry in the doorstep of the war confidence.”

Song Dongming smiled heartily and nodded his head, “Bei Liang’s military administration is actually like a piece of finely plowed and cultivated field, just sitting and waiting for the harvest, and I, the Deputy Secretary General Lord who has yet to receive his official uniform, won’t be able to add to the picture. Compared to Beiliang, Beimang can be said to be a big family, but many doors of the room inevitably more storms, I heard that Murong female emperor in order to have no worries, to Yelu family name of the old master of the prairie to kill, a lot of reluctance to go south to attack Beiliang prairie Lord have become lambs to the slaughter, we may as well add fuel to the fire a hand, casually from the Yelu sons and daughters of the launch of a, send a message, Beiliang is willing to honor its monarch of the Beimang, and do not recognize usurped the throne and seize the power of the Empress Murong. This kind of thing, there’s definitely no way to make Beimang hurt, but it’s ultimately a good thing to be able to disgust them.”

Song Dongming said here and asked with a smile, “Bei Liang most likely has left a backhand regarding this matter, right?”

Xu Fengnian nodded with a smile.

Song Dongming continued, “Specific battle planning, Song Dongming does not intervene, Northern Liang is an expert in war, there are generals who are familiar with military affairs, insiders do things, I’m a layman watching the fun. But the North Mang millions of troops, seemingly aggressive, in fact, can really fight is Dong Zhuo’s nearly 100,000 Dongjia army, Hong Jingyan’s Zojiran iron horsemen, coupled with Yang Yuanzan, Liu Gui, a few veteran generals led by the first line of the army, but more or some of the army can not be described as elite, when we do not affect the overall situation under the premise of a breath of North Mang can be knocked out of the North Mang a certain mediocre but sufficient number of troops, the North Mang was not a piece of iron, otherwise the North Mang is not a piece of iron. is not an iron plate, otherwise the Beiting grassland lord will not withdraw at this time, they always have objections to fight the western line of Beiliang or the eastern line of Gu Jiantang, we slow knife to cut the meat, there may be an unexpected blessing. Of course, this is just a casual suggestion from Song Dongming.”

Xu Fengnian, who hadn’t said anything, finally interjected, “This was originally a small part of Chu Lushan’s chain layout.”

Song Dongming laughed pleasantly, “Only a small link ah …… haha, finally I know why everyone is afraid of that infamous Luqiu’er, no wonder the king of the southern courtyard, Dong Zhuo, also suffered a big loss in the hands of our Du Guoliang Lord.”

Song Dongming narrowed his eyes and threw a stone into the stream, splashing a ripple, “On the court side, I can do something about it, for the two matters of grain and salt and iron, there is a plan that can make the court completely loosen their lips.”

Xu Fengnian laughed, “Oh? The court has been thinking of letting the ox pull the cart but not letting the ox eat grass, stingy as hell, until now, the half of the grain that was easily loosened up has not yet been transported to the dock of Beiliang Lingshou. If the Western Chu Restoration hadn’t given them a head start, it’s estimated that this batch of grain won’t leave Xiangfan City for a hundred years.”

Song Dongming said flatly, “It’s very simple, we Beiliang submitted a petition to the capital and took the initiative to ask for 10,000 troops to pacify the country. The border feudal lords have the duty of guarding the border as well as the righteousness of pacifying the country, which is justified by the name. The court has suffered two major defeats in a row, and Yang Shenxing’s Jinan foot soldiers have been captured in a jar, just short of a potpourri. Yan Zhenchun even sacrificed his life for his country, and all of his soldiers were killed in battle. Isn’t this clearly telling the court that Western Chu is very difficult to deal with? We are always good at gnawing hard bones, other feudal lords can not build success, we come to the North Rang. 10,000 is not enough, 30,000 is enough?”

Chen Xiliang smiled, “It seems that Tai’an City Ministry of War will be in a mess.”

Previously, Xu Fengyen asked Song Dongming if a second grade official hat is enough, now Song Dongming this full of flirting meaning “is enough”, really can be considered to return the favor.

Xu Fengyen laughed: “The court will hate you, I have to let the experts guard you as the Deputy Secretary General, otherwise Zhao Hook’s dead soldiers will surely come to take your head.”

Song Dongming did not have the slightest hint of a smile, his eyes were resolute, and he said softly, “If the Zhao family doesn’t even have this much vigor, how can they sit in the world? Do you really think that Northern Liang should exchange 300,000 soldiers’ deaths for their peace of mind? It’s true that there is no place other than the king’s land, but since Beiliang is also part of Liyang’s territory, aren’t the millions of people in Beiliang the Zhao family’s people? There is no such ridiculous reasoning under the sky!”

Chen Xiliang sighed, convinced by this. For some reason, Chen Xiliang was closer to Song Dongming than his peer Xu Beihao, who had rebelled against Beimang.

Just then, a man fell into the stream, and on the bank Yu Di Long shook his wrist with a disdainful face.

Seeing his master turn his head to look at him, Yu Di Long loudly defended, “Master, don’t blame me ah, it’s this kid himself who wanted me to beat him, he just said that standing still can still put me down with one finger, and also said that there are actually only a few of our Bei Liang masters, and said something about how he’s a third rank strength, and he hasn’t encountered a single master since he arrived in Bei Liang.”

Yu Di Long glanced at the soupy chicken in the stream and despised, “What third grade, causing me to use half of my energy to deliver that punch. Had I known it was so unbeatable, I would have shown mercy.”

Wei Lime sneaked a thumbs up at the boy, and Yu Di Long returned a naive smile.

Song Dongming ignored the aggrieved and shocked face of his own scholar and asked with a smile, “Your Majesty, I heard that you have taken on three disciples, which one is it?”

Xu Fengnian said somewhat helplessly, “The youngest one, the eldest disciple, is the least worrying, so I brought it with me, or else there will definitely be one more big devil acting without scruples in the future in the Jianghu Lake.”

A rider of the Dragon Elephant Army galloped in, after rolling over and dismounting, he said, “Your Majesty, General Xu and the ninety pro-riders have already arrived at the Killing Jiao mound ten miles away.”

Xu Fengnian got up and smiled, “Chen Xiliang, you first accompany Mr. Song to return to Qingcang City, I’ll go see my brother.”

Chen Xiliang asked, “These White Horse Boxers?”

Xu Fengnian smiled and said, “Do you think it’s the two of you who need protection, or me?”

Chen Xiliang smiled faintly and said no more.

One of the White Horse Boxers hesitated for a moment and gathered enough courage to speak, “Your Majesty.”

Xu Fengnian was a bit puzzled and calmly said, “If you have something to say, say it.”

That White Horse Boxer took a deep breath, there was still a childishness on his young face that hadn’t yet been completely blown away by the winds and sands of the border, he slightly lowered his eyes, and softly said, “Qi Huayan, is the one that Chen Chengmu previously said that he died in Children’s Lane in Qingcang City, at that time, I was seriously injured, I was sitting against a wall waiting to die, it was he who blocked a dozen or so machetes from the horse thieves for me, and he didn’t manage to leave any words before he died! He didn’t leave any words before he died. But I think I should tell the king on his behalf that he, Chi Huayan, has no regrets about joining the White Horse Boxers.”

His eyes cleared, he smiled, and asked, “Your Majesty, when is the war? I want to enter the vanguard battalion.”

Xu Fengnian asked in return, “Qi Huayan died in battle, if you, Ding Xuan, died as well, how many people would remember him?”

That White Horse Boxer whose name was called out bit his lips and smiled brightly, “In the future, he will be buried in the back of Qingliang Mountain with many generals, so I’m not afraid to give it a miss.”

Ding Xuan scratched his head and said, “I’m not afraid of your majesty’s jokes, because of Qi Huayan, I was able to pick up a life in the pile of dead people in Qingcang City, and I’m still very afraid of death nowadays, it’s just that Ding Xuan’s whole family followed the great generals to Beiliang back then, and have already made this place their home. My grandfather said that even if he died, he would die in Northern Liang, and this is the root of the Ding family. My eldest brother has become an official, and my younger brothers are all studying. I just need to go to the border to kill the northern barbarians, killing one to get back my capital, killing two is earning.”

Xu Fengyen laughed: “Vanguard battalion is not your turn to grab a position, honestly do your white horse righteousness, really when the time comes that you need to go into battle, other than that, our graves, we can still be a neighbor.”

Ding Xuan opened his mouth wide, not knowing what to say.

In the next moment, the young Vassal King’s figure flickered away, and the crowd only felt a fresh breeze on their faces.

Even the scholar boy who had just walked up the bank from the stream was wide-eyed, worthy of being the number one person in the world who made even the old king of Wudi City have a comeback!

Song Dongming remembered something for no reason.

When they met earlier, the Northern Liang King had taken the name Xu Qi.

The character Qi. Not a good word to use in a name.

In history books, people with strange destinies are always described as those who never reached the top. For example, Ye Baikui, a soldier in the Spring and Autumn period, was martyred instead of helping Chu to conquer the world. Another example is Luo Gongming, who was recognized as the number one in border achievements by the Dafeng Dynasty four hundred years ago, but was not able to become a great general until his death, and they were all labeled as having a biased and unorthodox destiny.

Chen Xiliang spoke softly, “300,000 monuments, I’m afraid that we have to keep stretching out dozens of miles from the back of the royal palace, the project is huge, and the great war is imminent, Mr. Song, will we have the suspicion that the civil officials will move their mouths and the military generals will run out of legs?”

Song Dongming calmly said: “Don’t worry, this move does not need to use the royal treasury in the slightest, not to mention the impact of the border pay. There are countless families whose sons and daughters are fighting at the border who will contribute money and effort. Whoever dares to evade, I, the newly appointed Deputy Secretary General, will put the first fire on their heads! I just want them to know that fighting this battle is not a matter for the Xu family, it is a matter for the entire Northern Liang!”

Chen Xiliang moved his lips.

Song Dongming looked at this sharp young scholar and smiled softly, “Xiliang, is it because you think I’m being unkind in doing this?”

Chen Xiliang shook his head.

Song Dongming lamented, “If you don’t do this, Northern Liang will not be able to hold on, and in the end, it will be the common people who suffer. How can the suffering of a monument of manpower be compared to the destruction of a family later on. Huang Longshi is full of nonsense words that scourge the Spring and Autumn, but there is one sentence that is thought-provoking!”

Chen Xiliang asked, “But is that the one that establishes the heart for heaven and earth, establishes the lives of the people, succeeds the great learning of the past saints, and establishes peace for all generations?”

Song Dongming smiled and shook his head.

Chen Xiliang continued to ask: “The pious man can’t take away his will?”

Song Dongming still shook his head and said softly, “Since ancient times, kings have been the most foolish, and the people have been the most blameless.”

Chen Xiliang was radiant, nodding his head and saying, “I’ve been taught!”

Kill Jiao Mound, was a slightly elevated hill.

History has it that Luo Gongming, the frontier general of the Dafeng Dynasty, once shot a scaly dragon here.

At the bottom of the hill there were more than ninety cavalrymen dismounting to rest, everyone’s armor, it was hard to hide the traces of bright red, originally they were all the pitch black armor of the Dragon Elephant Army, drenched in the blood of too many horse thieves who couldn’t wipe it off in time.

Now by the people of Beiliang respectfully known as the little king Xu Longxiang stood alone on the top of the slope, looking out to the north.

Since he with the Dragon Elephant cavalry all the way to the gentleman’s pavilion within the three major military towns crushed all the way, North Liang are said to be the second son of the great general opened up, and since childhood there is a divine spirit possessed, before being born and diamond, with the power of the Dragon Elephant. Even when Xu Fengnian, who was still His Highness the son, was the general of Lingzhou, the dust and clamor rose, and they all said that Xu Longxiang would only be able to stabilize Beiliang if he became the king of Beiliang.

This trip Xu Longxiang with troops into the flow state, first of all, the 10,000 hidden northern mang elite horse thieves to kill the armor, after the command of the ninety or so lieutenants are called to the side, and did not say anything, is to take them one person two horses, a knife and a crossbow, around to kill.

The size of the battle more than twenty times, kill the enemy more than one thousand four hundred, his side one person did not die.

These real power lieutenants admire to the ground, this is much younger than all the commander-in-chief worshiped as a god.

It is a pity that on this hunting trip, I did not see the young king’s black tiger, nor did I see the young king clad in that set of bright red talismanic armor.

And Xu Longxiang and who are silent, so far no one can have the opportunity to say what extra words.

Xu Longxiang stood on the Killing Jiao mound with his back to all his subordinates.

No one at the bottom of the slope knew what this commander-in-chief who was still a teenager in age was thinking.

Suddenly all of them raised their heads almost simultaneously and saw a figure sweeping up the slope without any warning, all of them subconsciously wanted to draw their swords and waited until they saw the face of the visitor clearly, as if they were relieved.

It was the King of Northern Liang!

That is, the brother of their Lord Commander.

Xu Fengyen came to Xu Longxiang’s side, one hand gently pressed the teenager’s head, the two brothers, together, looked to the north.