Chapter 157: Driving the tiger and swallowing the wolf

Chapter 157: Driving the tiger and swallowing the wolf

Chapter 157: Driving the tiger and swallowing the wolf
Ningyuan Prefecture, Yuexi Hall, Ma'anshan, Sichuan.

There are thirty-six places called Ma'anshan in China. This Ma'anshan is located on the south bank of the Dadu River, in Ganluo County of the modern Liangshan Yi Autonomous Prefecture.

Luo Bingzhang, the governor of Hunan, who was awarded the first-class hat and the flower feather, and was the prince's guardian, led 10,000 elite Hunan troops to be stationed here.

Luo Bingzhang was a veteran general of the Hunan Army and was well versed in military strategy. Ma'anshan blocked the route for Shi Dakai's Taiping Army to obtain rear-line supplies through the Yuexi Mountain trail, making it a place of strategic importance.

In another day, the Hunan Army will catch up with the Taiping Army in Zida.

"It has been sent by the imperial court!"

Hai Qing, dressed in the standard eunuch attire, proudly entered Luo Bingzhang's tent. Behind him was his master, the old eunuch Tong Lin, and behind him were eight skilled and brave eunuchs, all wearing yellow jackets.

Luo Bingzhang received the imperial edict. This imperial edict was real, but it was addressed to Shao Quanzhong. However, it mentioned the exchange of battle zones between the two families, so it was appropriate for Luo Bingzhang to read.

"Order Luo Bingzhang's troops to go to Nanjing immediately and join the siege."

Luo Bingzhang was already seventy years old and was very cunning. He immediately understood the meaning of the transfer order from the court.

This was Zeng Bohan's attempt to suppress the Huai Army. As the Governor-General of Liangjiang with the title of Minister of War, Zeng Bohan still had connections in key positions in the imperial court.

However, from a righteous perspective, destroying Hong Xiuquan is indeed much more important than destroying Shi Dakai.

Luo Bingzhang was very confident in the combat effectiveness of his army and his own abilities, and did not trust the combat effectiveness of the Huai Army.

However, even if the Huai Army was defeated by Shi Dakai, it would not matter. As long as Nanjing was taken and the main force of the Hunan Army was freed up, it would only be a matter of time before Shi Dakai, who was wandering around without a base, would be destroyed. There was no need to worry.

After thinking it through, Luo Bingzhang gladly accepted the order and ordered the troops to set out immediately.

As for whether the Huai Army can arrive in Ma'anshan in time to take over the defense here, whether Shi Dakai will get supplies and become stronger - humph! I don't care, it's better if the Huai Army is defeated, wouldn't Zeng Bohan be happy? Our Hunan Army must remain consistent.

No matter how much the bandit Shi Dakai jumps around, he will not be able to escape the clutches of the Hunan Army in the end.

…………

Zidadi, Dashubao, and Shidakai Camp.

Zidadi was the first of the seven fields on the Dadu River, and was later renamed Anshun Field. Shao Quanzhong didn't know, but fortunately the local guide hired from Leshan knew, and didn't oppose the general's interest, anyway, just bring the fleet here.

Shi Dakai stood with his hands behind his back, looking at the surging Dadu River with a worried look on his face.

He did have 40,000 men under his command, but ever since Luo Bingzhang occupied Ma'anshan and cut off his retreat and food supply, the army had become seriously short of food.

He could only ensure that his 7,000 elite soldiers were half full, and he could not care about the large army that had been supporting him along the way. Then, the 40,000 people broke up and ran away, ran away -

Now in Zida, only the 7,000 hungry elite soldiers are left in the old camp.

Of course, Luo Bingzhang didn't know the extent of his food shortage, let alone that the Dadu River had suddenly flooded and he couldn't cross it. Otherwise, if the enemy attacked, he would be trapped and die in this deadly place.

Now Shi Dakai regretted that he led his troops alone. Without the rich base in the south of the Yangtze River, no matter how good he was at fighting, he would be helpless if he ran out of food.

Looking at the water level of the Dadu River, we won't be able to cross it within three days. God, please don't bless me. The army has run out of food. Are my 7,000 old brothers going to starve to death in this hopeless place?

No, I would rather surrender to Luo Bingzhang and let the Qing demons torture me to death than to leave a way out for my old brothers...

Shi Dakai returned to his tent, hesitated for a long time, sighed, and wrote a letter slowly and reluctantly.

"Come here, send someone to deliver this letter to Wang Songlin, the commander of the Qing Yao Nanzi Camp, who is closest to us, and have them pass it to Luo Bingzhang and say -"

"Hahahaha! Brother Shi, such a great hero, is he actually going to betray the Heavenly Kingdom and join the Qing demons?"

"who!"

Shi Dakai's guards in the tent drew their swords together. The defense here is quite strict, how did this person get in?

The curtain was lifted, and Tian Xing, dressed in a short-sleeved martial arts outfit with the Zhenwu sword hanging from his waist, walked in proudly.

"Brother Shi, you are not good enough. Your men are so hungry that they are shaking. So many of us sneaked into the barracks, but you didn't notice us. Is this still the strict King Yi that I know?"

Looking at the Wudang disciples behind Tianxingzhe, all of them were masters of Qinggong, no wonder his hungry subordinates didn't notice him. Shi Dakai stood up and asked, "Brother Tian, ​​how did you get here?"

"I'm here to bring you food."

Shi Dakai smiled bitterly and shook his head, "Distant water cannot quench immediate thirst. How much food can you, a dozen people, bring? It's useless if I'm full myself."

"Is fifteen hundred tons enough? The steamer has arrived at the Zidadi Pier."

"Really?"

"How many years have we been friends? Have I, Skywalker, ever lied to you?"

Shi Dakai walked over, grabbed Tian Xing's arms and shook them, "You saved my seven thousand brothers. How did you know I would be here? How did you get the food?"

"Let the brothers eat first, and then we can talk while walking."

A huge steamship had docked at the pier, and the men from the You Chamber of Commerce were carrying military rations down the ship.

When the Taiping troops who received the food opened the bags, they found not the unpalatable "travel rations" of corn, fried noodles and pickles, but snow-white Taizhou rice, smoked meat and fresh vegetables bought from Leshan.

Smoke immediately rose from the camp, and light appeared in the dazed eyes of the Taiping Army.

Seeing the Union Jack flying on the steamer, Shi Dakai was surprised, "Yunsheng 11? Where did this foreign ship come from? Brother Tian, ​​have you contacted the foreign brothers who support the Heavenly Kingdom?"

Looking further back, there were ten steamboats and a warship parked in the river.

Seeing the flag above, Shi Dakai's face changed color, "Brother Tian——"

Suddenly he stopped and sighed, "Brother Tian, ​​it's good that you have surrendered to the Qing Yao. I can give you this good head of Shi a promotion and wealth, which is better than giving it to Luo Bingzhang."

"Brother Shi, after your soldiers have had enough food and water, are you confident that they can defeat Luo Bingzhang's 10,000 elite troops?"

Shi Dakai was stunned, his expression changed, "There is no such thing as a guaranteed victory in a war, but as long as my troops have food, I am not afraid of them."

Tian Xing smiled, "What if we add the detailed marching route map of Luo Bingzhang's troops' retreat?"

"Why did Luo Bingzhang's troops withdraw?"

"We'll discuss this later. This is for you."

Shi Dakai took it and looked at it. It was a detailed topographic map near Yuexi Mountain and the retreat route of Luo Bingzhang's troops.

"We have been investigating this area for nearly ten days. Luo Bingzhang's army has also sent people to leave secret signs along the way to confirm their real-time location. Can you fight against the Wing King?"

Shi Dakai laughed loudly, "With this, I guarantee that Luo Bingzhang's army will not be able to escape from Yuexi Mountain!"

Shi Dakai is not Zhang Lexing. He is evaluated in history as a "modern Chinese military strategist."

Although their strategic vision may be lacking, their ability to fight a war is still among the best in the world.

The seven thousand elite soldiers who had followed King Yi for ten years were well fed and immediately regained their spirits. Shi Dakai waved his sword, "Brothers, the time for revenge has come, follow me to intercept Luo Bingzhang!"

(End of this chapter)