An army of thousands of people was walking on the mountain road in Jibei. It was Zhao who led the army with 4,000 cavalry.

Although they are all cavalry, their speed is only sixty miles a day. If they go faster, the war horses will be overwhelmed. Compared with people, war horses are very delicate and far less hardworking than humans. They have to be treated with care.

.

Moreover, the Ming army was no better than Jiannu and did not have as many war horses. Zhao led the cavalrymen with only one man and one horse. In order to maintain the strength of the war horses, they naturally did not dare to rush on their way.

"In front of us is Santun Camp. We can rest there for a day." Zhao led his subordinates to say.

Until now, there was no news of Jiannu invasion, so Zhao Shujiao breathed a sigh of relief and decided to take a rest and restore the physical strength of his soldiers and horses.

Santunying is located between the mountains, with a radius of about ten miles on a flat land. In the early Ming Dynasty, there were 300 military households here, so it was named Santunying. Until the 21st year of Chenghua, the general army of Ji Town was here

When the city was built, it became the main headquarters of Ji Town.

During the Longqing period, when Qi Jiguang was running Ji Town, he also stationed himself in Santun Camp. However, Santun Camp was too close to the border wall and the flat land was too narrow. Later governors of Ji Town were more willing to place the garrison in a more prosperous place.

Jizhou City.

Today's Santun Camp is just a military city filled with military households and their families. In terms of prosperity, it is even inferior to Zunhua County, which is dozens of miles to the west.

The Santun camp is now guarded by the commander-in-chief Zhu Guoyan. It has more than 5,000 troops and is not weak in strength. According to Sun Chuanting's order, the destination of Zhao's trip is Zunhua, to strengthen Zunhua's defense force and to strengthen Zunhua and Santun camp.

The camp was like a horn, firmly blocking the path of Jiannu's southward march.

Since the whereabouts of Jian Nu had not yet been obtained, there was no rush. Zhao led the army and decided to take a rest at Santun Camp. However, what surprised him was that Zhu Guoyan, the commander-in-chief of Santun Camp, refused to allow his troops to enter the city.

"General Zhu, what do you mean? Our army has been marching for several days and is exhausted. Why don't you open the city?" Zhao led his troops to the city and shouted at Zhu Guoyan at the top of the city.

Zhu Guoyan said: "General Bing Zhao, you are ordered to go to Zunhua to assist in the defense. The city of Santunying is too small to station so many troops. If General Bing Zhao enters the city alone, I will naturally welcome you, but your subordinates

It’s better to rest outside the city.”

Zhao led angrily and said: "How can I be separated from my subordinates? Zhu Guoyan, the imperial court has issued a decree that local officials must not neglect the passing of troops. Aren't you afraid of being punished by the imperial court for doing this?"

Zhu Guoyan curled his lips: "Three Tunying is a military city, different from local states and counties."

After saying that, he ignored Zhao Lijiao and went straight down to the city.

Zhao Shujiao cursed several times and could only pull his horse back to the army.

"Let's rest outside the city overnight and go to Zunhua early tomorrow morning!" Zhao Shujiao ordered.

"But Commander-in-Chief, we have run out of food," the quartermaster said in embarrassment.

Zhao Shujiao frowned, thought for a while, and then ordered: "Go and call the city and ask the Santun camp to provide food. If Zhu Guoyan refuses, don't blame me for being rude to him!"

According to the court system, when the army mobilizes and marches within the territory, the necessary food and grass are provided by the places it passes through. Zhu Guoyan can refuse the army to enter the city, but if he refuses to provide food and grass, it will violate the court system. Zhao Lijiao can naturally ask the court and Ji Ji

Sun Chuanting, the governor of Liao Dynasty, filed a complaint.

The quartermaster came to the gate of Santunying City on Pegasus and shouted to the top of the city again. About half an hour later, the gate of Santunying City opened, and dozens of soldiers pushed the grain carts out of the city gate.

"A total of eighty shi of millet is enough to feed your army for one day, and there are also twenty carts of fodder. These ten jars of Fenjiu were given to General Zhao by my general soldier," said Baihu, who was escorting the grain.

Zhao Shujiao sneered: "Zhu Guoyan is acquainted. Go back and tell Zhu Guoyan, I appreciate it! As for the drinks, you can take them back. It is not suitable to drink while the army is marching."

...

"I don't know how to praise!" Zhu Guoyan said disdainfully after hearing the reports from his subordinates. They were all general soldiers with the same status. Although Zhao Shujiao was able to fight, he had been transferred away from the battlefield in western Liaoning for more than a year. It can be seen that

Governor Ji Liao did not trust him, so Zhu Guoyan was naturally not afraid of him.

If the imperial court had not issued a strict order that local cities must provide supplies to the guest troops, Zhu Guoyan would not even provide food and grass. This is equivalent to taking money out of his own pocket. Who would be willing?

You still want to go to the city for repairs, what good things are you thinking of?

...

We rested for a night outside Santunying City. The weather in October was already very cold. The soldiers were shivering due to the cold at night. They woke up early in the morning, made a fire to cook, and then set off early to arrive at Zunhua City early so that they could have a good rest.

Ichiban.

One day later, Zhao led his disciples to the outside of Zunhua City and saw hundreds of people rushing towards Zunhua City. Soon, Zhao led his disciples to get news that Jiannu had finally arrived and had broken through.

Hongshan Pass.

Fortunately, he didn't rest in the Santun camp, otherwise he would never have had time to reach Zunhua City. Zhao Lijiao was secretly grateful.

With the military order from Sun Chuanting, the governor of Jiliao, the Zunhua City Guards naturally had no reason to prevent Zhao Lijiao from entering the city. On the contrary, the civil and military officials of Zunhua City were very happy for Zhao Lijiao's arrival. The Jiannu army was about to attack, and Zhao Lejiao

Bringing troops here at this time is tantamount to providing help in times of need!

Zunhua County Magistrate Li Xizong and Zunhua Deputy General Gao Yongxiang came to the city gate in person to welcome the arrival of the army.

"What's the situation now?" Zhao Shujiao ignored the pleasantries and asked directly.

"I received a report from the border wall defenders this morning that Jiannu appeared outside the border wall. They divided their forces into three groups to attack Hongshan Pass, Da'an Pass and Longjing Pass. Now that Hongshan Pass has been lost, Da'an Pass and Longjing Pass will probably not be spared either." Gao Yongxiang

reported.

Zhao Lejiao frowned and said, "Didn't Governor Ji Liao already send an order to strengthen the defense of the border wall? Why is this so?"

Gao Yongxiang sighed: "There are five or six mountain passes north of Zunhua alone, and there is a serious shortage of troops. If we divide the troops for garrison, we will not even have the garrison strength of Zunhua City."

"Yes, General Zhao, Zunhua City currently has less than three thousand troops, so we really can't divide our troops." Li Xizong, the magistrate of Zunhua County, interjected.

There are more than 50,000 soldiers in the entire Jizhen military register, but the actual number is not even 30,000, and it is really stretched to defend a border wall of more than a thousand miles. Zhao Shujiao is also aware of this situation.

"What's going on with so many people outside the city?" Zhao Shujiao asked, changing the subject.

Li Xizong sighed: "A few days ago, I received the imperial court's order to clear the country. The county also sent officers to inform the people in the countryside outside the city. However, most of the people were unwilling to leave their homes and said that Jiannu would not attack Jibei at all. Now I know that Jiannu will not attack Jibei."

When news came out of the slaves, everyone became anxious and wanted to go to the city."

Zhao Lingjiao is speechless. Why don't you just ignore the people who don't want to enter the city? Don't you know how to force the order? What do the troops in Zunhua City do for food? What do you take the imperial court's order to fortify the walls and clear the country? Now there is a swarm of swarms of swarms.

Come on, what if the Jiannu attack now? Will Zunhua be overthrown by the Jiannu?

Zhao Lingjiao wanted to get angry, but although Li Xizong in front of him was only a seventh-grade county magistrate, he was a civil servant. The Ming Dynasty was a noble man and a lowly military man, and his status was not lower than that of his commander-in-chief.

Holding back his anger, Zhao led the teacher and said: "Jiannu has many cavalry, and maybe they will attack the outside of Zunhua City soon. So many people entering the city in a chaotic manner is really a waste of time. The city gate should be closed immediately now!"

"No!" Li Xizong shook his head and said, "There are people from the Ming Dynasty outside. How can we throw them outside the city and let them be slaughtered by Jiannu? Isn't Jiannu not here yet? Let's wait until Jiannu arrives."

"I'm afraid it will be too late when Jiannu arrives!" Zhao Lijiao said angrily, "The imperial court ordered us to fortify the walls and clear the country a few days ago. If you had implemented the imperial order earlier, why would you be here now?"

Li Xizong said unhappily: "Is General Zhao blaming this county? No one takes the court's orders seriously. After receiving the order, the county immediately sent officers to each village to deliver the order, but what can these stupid people do if they refuse?"

Zhao Lijiao shook his head and stopped arguing. He ordered his four thousand cavalry to station at the four gates and rest under the city. Once the slaves attacked, they would immediately control the city gates. In fact, as far as the cavalry is concerned, it is best to station outside the city.

However, Zhao Lijiao kept Sun Chuanting's words in mind and refused to fight with Jian Nulang, focusing on defending the city, so he led all the troops into the city.

Li Xizong also realized the urgency of time, and personally led the officers at the city gate to organize the people to enter the city, sent people to maintain order, and settled the people who entered the city. At the same time, he also organized the officers and soldiers to deliver food and grass to Zhao and the Ministry of Education. He was so busy that he was running around in circles.

Half an hour later, while Zhao was eating with his men, a gong suddenly sounded, and shouts of exclamation came from the top of the city, "Jiannu is coming to kill!"

Zhao led the teachings at the north gate. Wen Ting threw down his job, grabbed his weapon and rushed out of the camp. He saw a chaos at the city gate, with hundreds of people trying to enter the city.

Zhao led the teachings on horseback and looked out from the city gate over the heads of the people. He saw a large cloud of smoke and dust approaching Zunhua City rapidly from several miles away.

The distance of several miles was only a moment for the fast-running cavalry. Zhao Shujiao knew that the matter was extremely urgent.

"Prepare the firecrackers, fire into the city gate hole, and prepare to seal the city gate!" Zhao Shujiao said immediately.

Following his order, dozens of cavalrymen dismounted and raised their three-eyed firecrackers and aimed them at the city gate.

"Boom boom boom"

The three-eyed fire cannons fired together, and the projectiles shot into the city gate like a splash of wind. The people inside were shot down immediately. The people who had not entered the city looked at the corpses in front of them, and looked at the officers and soldiers holding fire cannons at the side of the city gate.

His face turned pale with fright, how could he dare to enter the city again?

"Close the city gate quickly. Anyone who dares to enter the city again will be shot!" Zhao Shujiao shouted sternly.

Dozens of soldiers rushed into the city gate, moved away the corpses blocking the city gate, pushed the city gate up together, and tightened several door bolts. Only then did everyone let out a sigh of relief.

The people outside the city who had not entered the city cursed and cried in despair, and ran along the city wall to other city gates.

He ordered his cavalry to continue eating and resting, while Zhao led his guards up the city wall. There were still thousands of troops in Zunhua, and there was no need for cavalry to defend the city for the time being.

"Thankfully General Zhao handled the situation decisively, otherwise we would have had to let the Jiannu cavalry follow the people into the city." Gao Yongxiang said with emotion.

Outside the city, the Jiannu cavalry had already rushed close to the city wall and reined in their horses within a stone's throw of the city wall. Judging from the number of the Jiannu cavalry, there were as many as a thousand.

"There are only a thousand slaves to build slaves. If General Zhao leads his subordinates out of the city, they may not be able to drive them away. Why shoot the people?" County Magistrate Li Xizong said with a worried look on his face.

Just now, dozens of people were shot to death by fire cannons. The remaining people were crying and running towards other city gates, while dozens of Jiannu cavalry were chasing after them on horseback, killing the fleeing people from behind easily.

.Seeing the people outside the city being slaughtered by the slaves, Li Xizong was very angry.

"The people are pouring into the city and the city gates are so crowded. Are my cavalry flying out of the city to kill the enemy?" Zhao Lejiao said bluntly.

If Sun Chuanting hadn't ordered to defend the city first, Zhao Lijiao would not have led his men into the city. Now that he had ordered a gunfire in order to defend the city, the county magistrate actually blamed him. He didn't want to think about it.

He resolutely carried out the imperial court's order to fortify the walls and clear the country, so why did he end up here now?

"County Lord." When Li Xizong wanted to say more, Gao Yongxiang quickly stopped him softly.

Li Xizong was stunned for a moment, then remembered that he still had to rely on Zhao to teach him to defend the city, so he closed his mouth.

These more than a thousand cavalrymen were just the vanguard of the Jiannu. After a moment, another large group of Jiannu came from the north. Looking at the boundless Jiannu army in the mountains and the various flags flying in the sky, Li Xizong's face finally changed.

Change.
To be continued...