There was a sound of horse hoofbeats, and more than a hundred horses crossed the field and rushed to the front.
When the soldiers who were marching saw it, they shouted loudly.
Shao Xun waved and laughed.
He looked silently at the marching column.
Although there was heavy wind and snow, morale was still maintained at a fairly high level.
This is not only because of the pre-war mobilization, but also because of the perfect logistics support.
At least every soldier has a set of cotton clothes.
Cotton is not cotton.
The so-called cotton clothing is actually a cloth-covered jacket, with the silk floss left over from silk reeling and weaving stuffed inside. Because it is short, it is not suitable for weaving, so it is used as a material to keep out the cold.
Later on, the cotton clothes were filled with more than just cotton.
The more expensive ones use bird feathers, and the lower cost ones use reed catkins.
In the early Han Dynasty, in order to facilitate winter fighting, iron sheets were even stuffed inside to make cotton armor, which is the so-called "hard armor and cotton coat".
However, this kind of cotton armor was very impractical and had poor protective power, so it was quickly eliminated.
Soldiers would rather wear cotton clothes and armor at the same time, but more often than not, they don't wear cotton clothes and just wear armor and carry it when it's cold. This is more convenient. This is the so-called "It's hard to wear the iron armor of the Protector in the cold".
Being a soldier and fighting in a war is a hard job, no matter what age it is.
"Your Majesty!" A group of old, young and old, perhaps dozens of people, stood at the intersection, shouting loudly.
Shao Xun stopped his horse and took a closer look.
Tang Jian rode up and reported in a low voice. It turned out that it was local powerful Wubao commanders who came to work with wine, meat and food.
Shao Xun nodded, then looked at everyone and said loudly: "I already know the love of my parents. Please accept the food and meat. Do you want the wine?"
He pointed his horsewhip to the north and said: "After defeating the enemy, we can have a drink with the elders from Hebei."
After that, he rode away, his voice still faintly heard in the wind: "If you still have blood, you can join my army and go north to kill the enemy."
Cars rattled and horses rustled.
Tens of thousands of soldiers in the Chinese army marched non-stop in the face of the wind and snow.
After a while, more than ten strong men rushed out of the crowd, bringing their own bows, horses, and equipment, and followed the army northward.
At every intersection, village, and Wubao, such scenes were repeated repeatedly. The enthusiasm of Jijun's elders to resist the enemy was completely ignited.
enemy.
People need to be organized.
There is a huge difference in the energy between organized people and those who are scattered.
The arrival of the government troops organized these people at the right time.
Food has been solved, supplies have been solved, and even the source of troops has been partly solved.
When this force becomes stronger and stronger, no one can easily stop it.
****
The retreat led by Liu Ling and Wang Sang was a good plan, but the actual execution was not so good.
The biggest problem is the weather.
After midnight, the sky became gloomy again.
The north wind swept across the land, blowing heavy snow in the sky. The retreating men and horses hesitated with difficulty, and it was even difficult to discern the direction.
With this terrible weather and visibility, even the scouts were useless. Everyone hurried on with their heads down and secretly regretted not staying in Gongxian County.
Several troops came together one after another, but there were still quite a few people, but contact was lost for a while.
Wang Sang and Liu Ling had to slow down and wait while walking.
But their slowing down also gave the pursuers an opportunity.
When it was getting dark, several cavalry suddenly came from behind. Before they could say anything, the sound of weapons clashing could be heard faintly.
Liu Ling cursed secretly, the wind and snow were so strong that you could hear the sound of fighting, how fast the pursuers came!
He climbed to the top of an abandoned house and tried to take a look at the enemy's situation, but the wind and snow were too strong and the sky was a little dark, so he couldn't see anything clearly.
The sound of killing became increasingly clear.
Soon, a long silver steel dragon appeared in sight.
Liu Ling clenched her fists subconsciously.
The armor of the long silver dragon was covered with snow. They were blowing white steam, holding long guns, and lined up in an orderly queue, braving the wind and snow and marching forward quickly.
Our own soldiers were no match for them and were beaten to the point of retreat.
"Stab!" Ru Lin's spear was thrust out quickly, as if a red dye shop had opened on the snow, so bright that it stung Liu Ling's eyes.
"Kill!" After a spearman assassinated the enemy in front of him, he did not even need an officer's command. He waved up and down and used the spear pole very accurately to knock off the spear of an enemy infantry who was rushing over.
The man next to him had quick eyes and quick hands, so he shot him out and killed him.
The tacit understanding of cooperation is amazing.
Liu Ling could even imagine that in the past countless days and nights, these silver warriors would practice with each other whenever they had free time, and mastered many practical killing moves on the battlefield.
He didn't want to wait any longer, so he hurriedly got off the roof, gathered a group of soldiers, and rushed towards them.
The Silver Spear Army warriors have already rushed into the village.
Dozens of people saw them and immediately came to kill them.
The first person with a recognition flag on his back seemed to be a junior officer.
Liu Ling didn't talk nonsense at all and thrust straight forward.
The opponent actually did not evade, but fiercely moved his spear, deflecting Liu Ling's spear, and then pressed the spear hard, trying to suppress Liu Ling's spear blade. The two people on his left and right quickly stepped forward a few times.
With one step, one person thrust his spear straight into Liu Ling's armpit, while another person ran towards his legs and feet.
The soldiers struggled to intercept the two men's offensive.
Liu Ling angrily used brute force and pushed the young officer's spear to the ground with his backhand. Then he stepped forward and suddenly used his skillful force to knock the young officer back with the spear shaft. Then without waiting for him to react, he raised the spear over his head like lightning.
, stabbed diagonally, and sent the spearhead into the throat of the young officer, killing him.
Before he could get excited, screams rang out from beside him, and one of the soldiers fell backward, making no more noise.
"Hoo!" A long spear stabbed Liu Ling straight in the face with the sound of howling wind.
Under the lightning and flint, Liu Ling had no time to think. He subconsciously bent his legs, moved the spear shaft, and the spear passed over his right shoulder.
Liu Ling took half a step back, raised his gun and stabbed directly, but was blocked by another person.
Damn, these soldiers are so good! He cursed in his heart. He probably practiced the spear fighting technique for no less than five years. Not only was his personal skill outstanding, but he also had a tacit understanding of cooperation.
"Huh!" The spear stabbed straight at him again.
Liu Ling took one step back, then two steps. The Silver Spear Army warrior on the opposite side was a little impatient and pursued him half a step faster. Liu Ling seized the opportunity and advanced instead of retreating. He stabbed the opponent in the armpit with one shot and killed another person.
"Kill them!" Another sound of rapid footsteps came from the wind and snow.
Seeing his soldiers falling continuously, Liu Ling became more and more anxious. He tried his best to stab the third person to death, but finally broke through the defense.
The Silver Spear Army warrior he just killed looked like a simple coolie in his thirties. But he held the spear in a standard manner, his steps were firm and powerful, and his eyes were always on his face.
The armpits, knees and other places that cannot be protected by armor are whirling around, and the assassination movements are cunning and vicious, as fast as the wind.
Under the protection of his own soldiers, Liu Ling managed to kill one officer and two soldiers, but he was so exhausted that he was out of breath.
Damn it, where did Shao Xun find these people? They are all so difficult to deal with.
"Lost, defeated!" A depressing cry came from the wind.
Liu Ling did not dare to delay any longer. Surrounded by some soldiers, he turned around and left.
Another part of the soldiers stayed behind and fought with the Silver Spear soldiers. People on both sides kept screaming and falling down.
"Boom!" The sound of horse hoofbeats sounded, and Liu Ling rushed out of the village like the wind and disappeared into the night.
More and more silver gun troops came in.
The thieves and soldiers dispersed in a hurry, not caring about the snowstorm in the sky or whether the severe cold in the night would freeze them to death. At this moment, they just wanted to escape and stay away from this group of skilled and murderous officers and soldiers.
The night finally fell completely.
After searching and killing the last bandit, the silver spear soldiers dragged the injured horses over and slaughtered them on the spot. Then they demolished some houses, started to light fires, and cooked broth.
After eating just broth and dry food, they continued their pursuit.
This bad weather has made it impossible to use their proud rifles. But it doesn't matter, melee combat can still destroy the enemy.
They are the first unit of the Silver Spear Army. Most of them have been in the army for more than five years. They fight head-on. I don't believe anyone can stop their jungle of spears.
****
After escaping for most of the night, Liu Ling was relieved when he met a group of his own troops, totaling about two thousand people, who were retreating in a village fortress occupied by them in the northern border of Gongxian County.
Finally, he sat down to drink some hot soup and eat a few mouthfuls of dry food, when the sound of rapid horse hooves was heard outside the village.
The sonorous sound of beetle leaves sounded in front and behind the village fortress, as if someone was outflanking them?
Liu Ling looked at the soldiers on the left and right, but there were only dozens of them.
Looking at the crowd of soldiers in the village, most of them were newcomers who had been brought in. At this moment, their faces were full of fear and there was a lot of noise.
"Let's go!" Without any hesitation, he changed his horse and rode directly on it. Then he called on all the people who could follow to follow him and break out eastward.
In the dark night, the torch had no effect at all, and was blown out by the wind and snow in just a moment.
Liu Ling couldn't care about anything else. He only looked in one direction and ran wildly.
He no longer thought about whether the tribesmen could escape or where Wang Sang was at this moment. He just wanted to escape with his life.
He still has hundreds of people in Linli and nearly a thousand soldiers in Yecheng. These are all his old bases. As long as they are gathered together, there is still a chance for a comeback.
In the dark night, the sound of the horses' hooves following him became less and less frequent.
On the way, he found a leeward place to rest, and after eating some water, Liu Ling put on his horse and started running wildly again.
First heading east, then north, he ran into Linlu County in a hurry.
When the morning sun rose from the east on October 11th, only twenty or thirty riders could keep up with him.
At this time, a group of people ran over from the south.
Liu Ling just wanted to get up and flee, but he found that it was his own troops who were retreating hastily north. When he sent someone to ask, they turned out to be Wang Sang's tribe.
They were originally looting nearby, but no one informed them to retreat, and no officers and soldiers came to attack them. When they heard that Wang Sanqi and Liu Ping led their troops back from the north, they lost the courage to stay here and took the loot with them.
As soon as the people and goods came, they ran away and bumped into Liu Ling.
Liu Ling breathed a sigh of relief, took command grandly, and led his troops to retreat north.
He knew very well that after a day and night of fighting, the climax of the pursuit by the officers and soldiers had passed.
In the dark night, he and Wang Sang's men were scattered everywhere. No matter how capable the officers and soldiers were, they couldn't figure out where they were going.
He is safe now. But he is still crying. It is not easy to retreat.
The Shao thieves pursued too closely, so they took advantage of the cover of the wind and snow to disperse their troops and attack and kill them everywhere.
I don’t know how many of the people who went south to Gongxian County will be able to return.
After returning to Yecheng, I'm afraid I will really have to look at Shi Le's face.
That is not a kind person. If he is not careful, the troops will be swallowed up by him...
Chapter completed!