Chapter 424: Forced to go to Tangchi Mountain, Fu Youde
Chapter 424: Forced to go to Tangchi Mountain, Fu Youde
Outside the fir forest on the west side of Tangchi Mountain,
The Beijing troops began to set up camp unscrupulously without hiding anything!
They even deliberately fired a few flares into the sky to communicate and to intimidate the rebels!
At the same time, the front army scouts changed into equipment for mountain warfare.
He plunged into the fir forest between the Beijing army camp and the rebel camp!
They began to set up various traps to hunt down and intercept the rebels who entered the fir forest to investigate.
Before the more than 10,000 troops of the Beijing Army had even finished setting up camp,
The scouts of the front army have already made some gains.
Teams of rebel scouts rushed into the fir forest like moths to a flame!
They were eager to know what had happened on the west side of the fir forest and who had come.
But the fir forest is like a gaping bloody mouth.
Anyone who enters it will be swallowed up silently!
Nearing evening, the Beijing troops had already set up camp.
The densely packed camps surrounded the western side of the fir forest.
At the same time, the laborers began to move towards the fir forest and cut down trees.
The flames of bonfires and torches almost dyed the sky red.
This makes the fir forest, which should have been dead silent, have a bit more light and warmth.
In the central military tent, a group of generals gathered here, quietly looking at the huge sand table formed in the center of the tent.
At this moment, the Beijing army camps, the fir forest, and the rebel camps had all been marked.
However, the three places were supposed to occupy a vast area, but now they are simply nestled on the west side of the sand table.
The middle is occupied by endless mountains, the first of which is Tangchi Mountain, which is very close to the rebels!
At this moment, a clerk planted a large flag with the word "Fu" on it on the east side of the rebels!
The Ming army on the west and east sides are clearing the fir forest in the north, and the chess pieces are spreading continuously.
So far,
The sandbox is ready, and the dead end is here.
A group of generals looked at the sand table, it was extremely complicated!
For today's rebels,
There are tigers and wolves in front and pursuers behind. Three of the four directions have been blocked, and the only way left for them is the last one.
Go up the mountain!
This strange sight made some generals who knew the history of Yuezhou look strange.
At that time, the imperial army was stationed in Tangchi Mountain, and Longhai, as a resistance force, saw that it was powerless to resist, so it opened the city and surrendered.
Now, the time has come.
As a son, Azi also suffered the same fate as his father's defeat.
The atmosphere was extremely weird, as all the people in the group were veterans in the army.
They knew that once Ah Zi went up the mountain, he would be dead and there would be no chance of recovery!
Thinking of this, the atmosphere in the military tent eased a lot.
But some generals were still a little upset.
Because Dragon Tiger Guard Deng Zhizhong was injured, he could not travel long distances.
Therefore, Lin Shi'an, the commander of Heyang Guard, who had a conflict with Lu Yunyi, had no choice but to follow the army.
At this moment, he was sitting on a chair with tea on the small square table beside him. His face was a little gloomy, and he said in a deep voice:
"It's just 30,000 rebels, why make such a fuss?
Based on the information gathered by the scouts in the morning, their outer camp was vulnerable!
Wouldn't it be better if we just charged into the battle array and broke through the stronghold?"
After these words were spoken, some deputy generals present also nodded.
They also felt that the army's current deployment seemed unnecessary.
Seeing that Lin Shian was still aggressive, Zhao Anfeng's eyes flashed with helplessness, and he said in a deep voice:
"What General Lin said doesn't make sense, but it's better to play it safe."
Lin Shian snorted and said nothing more. His right hand slowly stroked his chest. Although the bones had long been healed,
But now when I touch it, it seems to still hurt a little.
Seeing this scene, Lu Yunyi's face was calm, without a trace of fluctuation in his eyes, and he spoke lightly:
"I will not go wrong in following military orders."
No explanation, only military orders.
Everyone present suddenly felt a sense of suffocation and held their breath.
Lu Yunyi ignored them and looked at the sand table in front of him silently.
Li Jinglong, who was sitting next to him, also looked mysterious.
He had asked why they did this when they set up camp in the afternoon, and he knew the answer.
Therefore, he was now looking forward to these generals asking him this question.
However, he was disappointed.
The generals present didn't know why, and they would not use this to embarrass their superiors.
In their minds, Duke Cao would definitely not know about such things. After all, even they didn't know.
After waiting for a while, more and more doubts arose in the military tent.
But no one asked any questions, which made Li Jinglong's eyes flash with disappointment. He felt that his preparations were in vain.
Mu Chun, who had been silent all the time, looked around and saw that most people had doubts in their eyes. Only a few people seemed to be thinking about something, with a flash of disappointment in their hearts.
For the imperial court, now that the foreign war is over and there is no external threat, the strategy for the civil war must be changed immediately and with extreme caution.
And now, some generals still maintain their previous style of doing things.
Mu Chun took a deep breath and spoke in a deep voice:
"Yunnan won a great victory, Luchuan was defeated,
The whole of Yunnan is in a period of reconstruction, and the rebels should be treated gently and not killed as wantonly as in the past.
Furthermore, the news of our army's excessive killing has spread everywhere in Yunnan.
There are some explanations for treating foreign enemies, but if they still kill rebels,
With public discontent boiling over, it is only asking for trouble.”
After the words fell, a group of generals frowned in thought, pondering the key, and from time to time glanced at the silent young man.
When it comes to killing, none of them can compare to this group.
Mu Chun's face was solemn, and he looked at Lu Yunyi a few times in a somewhat obscure way.
I have some respect for my brother-in-law's alert judgment.
He had read the battle plan of the Beijing Army, and before the incident in Yiling County happened,
The Beijing army intends to unite with the Yingguogong army to wipe out the rebels in one fell swoop.
But when the incident happened, the Beijing army quickly adjusted its strategy against the enemy, changing from annihilation to appeasement and surrender, and only punished the main culprit.
Such a keen sense of smell made Mu Chun feel that his brother-in-law did not seem like a young man, but rather like an official who had been immersed in government affairs for a long time.
Jianghuai Guard Commander Zhao Anfeng smiled and acted as a peacemaker:
"Master Mu is right. Now, nine out of ten houses in Yuezhou are empty.
If we kill all the rebels,
The future decline and ruin of Yuezhou may be blamed on us.
If possible, it is better to let them surrender on their own."
After these words were spoken, some deputy generals who did not understand the situation began to understand a little.
As everyone was talking at once, the military tent, which was originally filled with solemnity and doubt, suddenly became much brighter.
The issue became clearer as the debate went on, and some generals present also expressed their understanding.
But they couldn't help feeling a little disappointed. It was a pity that they couldn't kill the enemy and gain merit.
Li Jinglong looked at the many generals present and sensed their various thoughts.
I felt tired for no reason, and kept repeating in my mind,
"War is the continuation of politics. We need to think more about it."
The more he thought about it, the more he felt that this statement was brilliant, and he couldn't help but admire it secretly.
It’s a pity that there are too few people in the military who understand this truth.
At this time, hurried footsteps were heard outside the military tent, and Feng Yunfang rushed in hurriedly with two documents in his hands.
The originally noisy atmosphere in the military tent suddenly became so noisy that you could hear a pin drop.
Feng Yunfang was not at all nervous. He stood at the bottom and spoke in a deep voice:
"My Lords, the scouts from the front army have reported that the rebels have taken advantage of the moonlight to break camp and head towards Tangchi Mountain!"
wow——
The dead silent military tent became noisy for a moment, but soon returned to silence. Some generals shook their heads slightly and sighed.
The rebels are on the verge of death, and it should be a time to encircle and suppress them and make achievements.
But now, we can’t kill people in large numbers, which is a pity.
Feng Yunfang continued:
"My Lords, in the northeast of the fir forest,
Our scouts discovered the vanguard scouts of the Southern Expedition Army and after contacting them, we learned that
The army that is heading south is twenty miles east of Tangchi Mountain and will arrive early tomorrow morning!"
As he spoke, Feng Yunfang took two steps forward and handed the two documents in his hand to Lu Yunyi.
After Lu Yunyi took it, he put it aside without looking at it, took out the document he had prepared long ago, and handed it over:
"This document is about the battlefield deployment of the Beijing Army. I ordered the scouts to hand it over to the Duke of Ying."
"Yes!"
"Go down."
Feng Yunfang straightened his back and left quickly!
It was not until this time that Lu Yunyi divided the two documents in his hand into two, one for Duke Cao and one for Mu Chun.
After doing all this, he stood up and stood in front of the sand table, looking somewhat cautious, carefully calculating the gains and losses on the battlefield and possible emergencies. Now the enemy has been forced into a desperate situation, but we still have to be careful!
Soon, the two finished reading the documents, Mu Chun smiled and stood up as well:
"The southern expeditionary army is about to arrive. According to the report from the Beijing Army scouts today, the rebels have little food and grass. Once they go up the mountain, they may not be able to hold out for three days. This storm is about to end."
After these words were spoken, the generals looked relieved.
Although I feel a little regretful for not being able to kill the enemy and gain merit,
But it would be great to be able to get on the road and return home earlier.
After Mu Chun finished speaking, he waved his hand and said, "The situation is clear. Everyone, please disperse. All units must be well prepared tonight to prevent the rebels from making a feint to the east and attacking in the west!"
As soon as these words came out, many generals present stood up one after another, their faces serious, and they clasped their hands and said, “Yes!”
The group left in a bustling crowd, and the originally crowded central military tent became empty in an instant.
Only then did Mu Chun sigh with some emotion and looked back at Lu Yunyi:
"Yun Yi, you've worked hard. It's really not easy to suppress these brave warriors."
Lu Yunyi laughed:
"The court has always dealt with the rebels in the following way: 'the ringleader must be punished, but those who were coerced will not be questioned.' We are also following the rules."
Mu Chun pursed his lips, his expression somewhat serious: "As for the treatment of these rebels, the death penalty can be avoided, but the living punishment cannot be escaped.
The three Yunnan departments will recruit them to work in the garrisons, reclaim wasteland, and build cities. As for the now empty Yuezhou, they will mobilize people from other places to come here. "
After hearing this, Lu Yunyi felt relieved and nodded heavily.
Li Jinglong, who was standing by, remembered something and came up to ask:
"The Duke of Ying will be here soon. Should we go and greet him?"
Mu Chun smiled and said, "Duke Ying is the general who is in charge of the southern expedition. I should go and pay him a visit."
Lu Yunyi's face was solemn, and he also nodded.
"Of course, I will set off immediately."
Li Jinglong on the side thought about it and said nothing. Although they were both dukes, he was the junior and should go and meet the elders.
Lu Yunyi's eyes flickered and his face showed anticipation.
I have nothing but admiration for this Duke who pacified Gansu, Bashu, Yunnan and Guizhou.
After arriving in the southwest, he realized how difficult it was to fight in the mountains.
The road is rugged and full of mosquitoes. The natives are intertwined and scheming against each other, and there are also many foreigners involved.
If it weren't for the example of the imperial army's expedition to the south,
If he could see many military reports and documents, the battle in Luchuan, Yunnan would be even more difficult.
The sun had completely set, the night began to spread, and the military camp was shrouded in a thick darkness. Only sparse campfires swayed in the night wind, casting mottled shadows.
Suddenly, the rapid and orderly sound of horse hooves and the collision of armor broke the silence!
Mu Chun, the assistant of the Rear Army Governor's Office, was wearing black armor and a black robe, an iron helmet, with a firm look in his eyes. He rode a tall horse and was at the front of the queue.
Behind him followed a thousand personal soldiers, also dressed in black armor and equipped with swords and weapons!
At the same time, Lu Yunyi and Li Jinglong also led a total of 1,000 soldiers from the vanguard scout unit and poured out of the camp gate from the other wing.
The two groups of people rushed out of the camp gate like a black torrent and galloped northward.
The sound of horse hooves echoed in the silent night sky, stirring up clouds of dust.
They planned to take a detour from the north side of the fir forest, use the cover of night and rely on cavalry maneuvers to avoid the rebels, advance towards Qujing Prefecture, and then head straight to the east where the Southern Expedition Army was located.
Two hours later, at the beginning of the midnight hour, in the Shixi Valley, five miles east of Tangchi Mountain!
Lu Yunyi and his companions encountered the scouts of the vanguard army who were preparing to set up camp in advance, and they quickly reported their purpose and identities.
The scout did not dare to delay, and then took a group of people quickly to where the army was!
A group of people rushed into the official road and galloped along it. The sound of horse hooves scared away countless birds and beasts in the dark.
The night was as dark as ink, the stars were hidden behind the clouds, and a few faint rays of moonlight penetrated the darkness, sprinkling on the ground, adding a touch of silver to the official road in front of us.
As we sped along, an unusual scene began to appear ahead.
Suddenly, a strange light broke through the darkness, like a meteor in the sky, bright and sudden.
A long dragon formed by countless torches rose slowly from the distant horizon, gradually approached, and illuminated the entire official road.
The long dragon of lights is like a fire dragon cruising in the night. Each light is a life, and each life carries the determination and courage to fight.
As the long dragon of lights approached, the group could clearly see that it was a Ming army marching rapidly.
The scout leading the way at the front kept waving the flag in his hand.
The colors of the flag are red and yellow, which are the most conspicuous in the dark!
Soon, the soldiers who were ready to step forward to stop them retreated quickly after identifying the enemy as friend or foe!
Lu Yunyi's eyes were sharp. He quickly rushed into the Southern Expedition Army following the army formation. His eyes moved back and forth.
All around him were soldiers in iron armor, holding spears, and marching with firm and powerful steps.
Even when traveling in the dark, you can still see the neat military formation and their determined faces!
And the one who is ready to meet the enemy at any time,
As they advanced, the sound of horse hooves, the clatter of armor, and the muffled shouts of the soldiers became more and more obvious.
There was more and more surprise in Lu Yunyi's eyes. They had been marching for nearly a quarter of an hour and had already entered the military area.
But the expressions of the soldiers around him and the feeling they gave him did not change much, which shocked him secretly.
In an army, the soldiers at the front are usually the most elite soldiers.
If there is an enemy ambush or you suddenly encounter the enemy, you can launch a resistance at the first moment!
The elite strength of this southern expeditionary army is
Among all the soldiers he had seen, only the Northern Expedition Army could be compared to them.
From beginning to end, all elite!
As they advanced, after two quarters of an hour, the scout leader's speed gradually slowed down.
"My lords, the Duke is just ahead. I'll go and report first!" The soldier turned around and said, then quickly walked away.
Leave the group where they are.
Lu Yunyi was still observing the soldiers around him. Whether it was their spirit or their attire and equipment,
The core central army is more elite than the front army. Just by being in the military formation, one can feel the murderous atmosphere of long-term battles.
The most obvious thing is the toughness it reveals!
Most of the soldiers passing by were not tall, with short and thick bodies, their necks and heads seemed to be connected as one, their limbs were thick and strong, and their skin was dark and dull.
A quick look at it seems insignificant.
However, soldiers of this size were selected after great trials and tribulations, and they were the most suitable for fighting in the mountains and forests and for long-distance marches.
With just a quick glance, one can sense his honesty, reliability, and a strong sense of danger.
Many war horses belonging to the front army scout unit pawed their hooves uneasily!
Soldiers from both sides were looking at each other, their eyes filled with vigilance!
On the battlefield, the elite troops of both sides can be seen at a glance, especially within one's own army!
Soon, after passing through a line of elite central army soldiers, Lu Yunyi and others saw Fu Youde, the Duke of Ying, who was in the center of the army, surrounded by a group of personal guards and wearing armor!
Fu Youde, Duke of Ying, is already sixty-four years old. His age makes him look a little thin under the torch.
But his eyes were as sharp as an eagle, and the scar on his face left by an arrow in the Battle of Wuchang was very eye-catching, making him look somewhat hideous.
Although he is not tall and time has taken away some of his muscles, his sturdy body still reveals amazing strength and tenacity.
The square face still has clear lines and prominent edges, giving people a calm and determined feeling.
Fu Youde is riding a war horse, needless to say, he exudes a sense of majesty!
Lu Yunyi and others quickly dismounted and took two steps forward.
Lu Yunyi and Mu Chun bowed and saluted:
"Meet the General Zhengnan!"
Duke Cao Li Jinglong had a smile on his face and bowed casually:
"Meet Grandpa Fu."
Fu Youde was wearing armor on horseback, his eyes moved back and forth, his strong and yellow lines softened a little bit, and stopped at Li Jinglong. He nodded gently, and a smile appeared at the corner of his mouth:
"Yes, I finally left the capital."
Li Jinglong was a little embarrassed, and the smile on his face disappeared instantly. He bowed and answered:
"Reporting to Grandpa Fu, Jiujiang has been bored in Beijing for a long time. Now that there is an opportunity to serve the country, I will definitely not miss it."
Fu Youde smiled, whipped his horse whip, and cursed:
"You little bastard, you're so smooth-talking!"
Li Jinglong was smiling playfully, showing no fear at all.
Fu Youde then looked at Mu Chun, sized him up and down, and nodded with a smile:
"Jingchun, I haven't seen you for a few years. You've grown so big. You must be 26 this year."
Mu Chun smiled and cupped his hands:
"Meet Grandpa Fu, that's right!"
Fu Youde smiled and nodded:
"You did a good job in Annan. Those people harbored evil intentions. It is very good to stop the killing by killing them."
Finally, Fu Youde slowly turned his eyes and cast his gaze on Lu Yunyi, looking him up and down meaningfully.
Finally, he spoke slowly:
"Are you Lu Yunyi?"
Lu Yunyi's face was serious: "I am Lu Yunyi, your humble servant, and I am honored to meet the Duke of Ying!"
Fu Youde nodded gently and said, "You are indeed young. Lan Yu once wrote to me and said that you have the potential to be a famous general.
The Luchuan battle is over. I have read many military reports. They are indeed extraordinary. There are not many young people like you in the army. "
Hearing Fu Youde's words, Lu Yunyi tensed up:
"Thank you, Duke Ying. Everything I do is in accordance with military orders."
Fu Youde smiled and waved his hand:
"Get on the horse and talk as you go."
"Yes!"
The group immediately mounted their horses, not daring to delay.
(End of this chapter)