Zhang Zaiji, the governor of Pingzhou, was handling various government affairs in his study. Hearing Zhou Zhiyu's arrival, he immediately welcomed him into the study.
Zhou Zhiyu was not polite and said directly: "Li Chengzhong came back early today."
Zhang Zaiji was stunned: "Has the military situation in Bailang Mountain changed?"
Zhou Zhiyu said: "That's not true. But not long ago, they fought a battle with the Khitan people at Bailang Mountain."
Zhang Zaiji asked: "How?"
Zhou Zhiyu said: "Two hundred and seventy-six people were beheaded. Forty-two of my own people were killed in the battle."
Zhang Zaiji's nervous brows immediately calmed down, and he said happily: "Not bad! The result of this battle can be reported to Jiedufu. It will be a rare victory in the border areas in the near future!" After saying that, Zhang Zaiji couldn't sit still, and stood up from the desk.
He took out a book from a stack of files, flipped through it and said, "Have you read the Di newspaper?"
Zhou Zhiyu nodded and said: "I have seen it. Since ten months, Lulongsai, Beikou, Zhenyuan, Jimen, Konglingguan, and the Guangbian Army have been fighting everywhere. Among them, Lulongsai beheaded 135 people.
More than ninety people were killed, thirteen were beheaded at Beikou, seventeen were killed in battle, thirty-seven were beheaded in Zhenyuan, forty-one were beheaded in battle, forty-five were beheaded in Jimen, seventy were beheaded in battle, and Konglingguan was beheaded.
Fifty-six bodies, eighty people died in the battle..." He reported the figures on various battlefields like a treasure trove.
Zhang Zaiji nodded and read while reading: "The above are all harassment and tests by the Khitan people. Only in the battle of the Guangbian Army, the main force of the Khitan people was dispatched, killing more than 300 enemies and 400 of our own. However,
Because the battlefield was covered, there were no beheadings." After reading, he raised his head and said: "Therefore, the battle at Bailang Mountain should be the first success of our Lulong Army in the near future! Reporting to Jiedu Mansion and sending messages to the border can boost the morale of our army!"
Regarding the results and significance of Li Chengzhong's troops in the Battle of Bailang Mountain, Zhou Zhiyu knew it well when he checked the big bag of ears brought back by Li Chengzhong, but his mind was not on it at the moment. Zhang Zaiji saw
Izuku Chiyu felt a little uneasy and asked, "Brother Haowen seems to have something to say?"
Zhou Zhiyu took out the list of supplies listed by Li Chengzhong from his arms and handed it to Zhang Zaiji. Zhang Zaiji took it and looked at it carefully, pondered for a moment and said: "The things are not a problem, someone can take them out from the warehouse. But it seems that the situation in Bailang Mountain is not very good.
…”
Zhou Zhiyu sighed: "Li Chengzhong came back and told me that it was really not good. Without these supplies, we would definitely not be able to survive this winter. In addition, the Khitans suffered big losses at his hands twice."
, and now they have also changed their tactics and used cavalry to cover the passage from Yuguan to Bailang Mountain..."
Zhang Zaiji thought for a while and asked, "What are your plans to let Li Chengzhong return to Yuguan?"
Zhou Zhiyu said: "I haven't thought about it yet. Bailang Mountain is the only garrison outside the Pass now. It is a nail we have driven into the side of the Khitan people. With this nail, our offensive and defensive room for maneuver will be much larger, and
If the Khitans want to attack Pingzhou, they must first pull out this nail, which will be the key point of contention between us and the enemy. Of course, even if Bailang Mountain falls into the hands of the Khitans again, we will most likely regain Yuguan, but I am worried about Li Chengzhong's troops.
They are the only elite members of our Pingzhou Army who are currently capable of fighting. It would be really heartbreaking if they were lost in Bailang Mountain."
Zhang Zaiji said: "I am not a military general, so I don't know much about the methods of offense and defense. But I know that since Li Chengzhong stationed in Bailang Mountain, the situation in Pingzhou has become much more stable. The people can settle down and prepare for the winter. Those who are planning to flee to Youzhou
The big players have also made up their minds and stopped talking about leaving. If the battlefield is moved back to Yuguan, it will probably be a different situation... Of course, it is up to Brother Haowen to decide whether to withdraw or stay, I don't understand...
…As for Li Chengzhong’s command, I wonder what he thinks?”
Zhou Zhiyu said: "Of course he wants to stay in Bailang Mountain. Brother Yuanli, does he still remember Li Chengzhong's five-year plan to restore Yingzhou?"
Zhang Zai smiled and said: "Young people, naturally you have to be more ambitious. I still remember that when you joined the army, you swore to the sky that you would be a commander. Haha, now Brother Haowen is already a military commander...
…”
Zhou Zhiyu smiled and said: "You have also become the lord of a state."
The two looked at each other and laughed. Zhou Zhiyu felt relieved a lot. He made up his mind immediately and asked: "Brother Yuanli, how long will it take to prepare the things on the list? We don't need the food anymore. We can just take it out from Yuguan."
Yes, it can also save time.”
Zhang Zaiji said: "It can be done within one day."
Zhou Zhiyu nodded: "I'll ask brother Yuan Li to make arrangements. I have to go back to train the new recruits and rehearse formations, otherwise I won't be able to send them to Bailang Mountain. By the way, I plan to be commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Li Cheng of the front camp of the school..."
Zhang Zaiji said: "This is natural. With such a great achievement, Jiedu Mansion has nothing to say."
Li Chengzhong finally waited for the best result. Zhou Zhiyu decided to send a brigade of Pingzhou troops to escort supplies into the mountains according to Li Chengzhong's needs. On the one hand, he supported Li Chengzhong through the winter, and on the other hand, he also regarded this escort as an important experience in training new recruits. Pingzhou
The army has been recruiting one after another for two months. Although it has been training, it has not experienced war or faced the enemy's army, so it cannot be considered an army that can truly fight. Therefore, in this sense, it is also a training for new recruits.
good opportunity.
What else could there be to say when meeting such a superior? Li Chengzhong suppressed the words of gratitude in his heart and followed Zhou Zhiyu's instructions to follow Zhang Long to the camp to select soldiers and train the vehicle formation he envisioned.
Li Chengzhong listed a lot of supplies, and it was expected that fifty carts would be filled. Zhang Long picked out fifty carts from the military camp's baggage warehouse, hitched the horses, and selected three hundred spearmen, gathering all the supplies.
Two hundred archers from the battalion formed the military formation to escort the supplies this time.
When marching, the carts are divided into two rows, with the soldiers walking in the middle. When encountering the Khitan cavalry, the two carts merge end to end to form a rectangular formation. At that time, the spearmen stand at the end of the formation.
On the outside, the archers were placed inside, shooting arrows while marching. Facing such a formation of vehicles, the Khitan light cavalry could not rush in.
With so much battlefield experience, and having led his troops to two head-to-head battles with the Khitans and winning both times, Li Chengzhong can now be regarded as the most prestigious among Pingzhou officers. Although Zhang Long is much older than Li Chengzhong, he admires him very much.
Li Chengzhong kept all Li Chengzhong's teachings in mind. Li Chengzhong personally trained for a day and roughly formed the team, then came to the Chinese Army Dental Hall. He wanted to say goodbye to Zhou Zhiyu and rush back to Bailang Mountain as soon as possible. Zhang Long took over.
He will continue training for another seven days until the soldiers are truly proficient before he can raise troops to escort them.
That night, Zhou Zhiyu held a banquet in Yingzhou to celebrate Li Chengzhong's victory. All officers above the rank of captain attended the banquet. Although Li Chengzhong had a good drinker, and although the alcohol in this era was not high, he was really drunk.
, and slept until three o'clock in the morning before getting up. Since the preparation of supplies and the drill of the car formation still needed time, after setting a date for escorting them to Bailang Mountain ten days later, Li Chengzhong did not delay and rode back to Yuguan.
When they arrived at Yuguan, it was still afternoon. Zhao Zaili planned to let Li Chengzhong rest until the evening. Li Chengzhong looked at the sun and saw that there were still about two hours before dark. Although it was less than two days since he left Bailang Mountain,
However, he was already ready to return home. He estimated that it would be dark when he actually came within range of the Khitan Rangers, so he declined Zhao Zaili's offer to stay and left.
After solving the problem of winter supplies for the Bailang Mountain Military Village, Li Cheng felt that the stone in his heart had fallen to the ground and he was in a good mood. The winter nights in the north came quickly, so he deliberately slowed down his horse and traveled more than thirty miles from Yuguan.
By that time, the sun had already turned to the west. Li Chengzhong hummed "Return from Target Shooting" and dismounted, intending to rest for a while and wait for the sun to set and the sky to get dark before setting off. In the next twenty miles, he will enter the Khitan Rangers
You should be careful within the haunted area.
Li Chengzhong had just finished filling the water and eating some dry food he had brought with him when he heard the sound of horse hooves coming from the west. He was startled and quickly looked to the west. He saw a war horse galloping from the west, and a man was sitting on it. He turned around and tried his best
He urged his horse to run wildly, and in a blink of an eye he was in front of Li Chengzhong.
The rider rushed forward and when he saw Li Chengzhong, he immediately slashed at him with his sword. Li Chengzhong quickly rolled over and drew his sword to protect his chest. The rider was stunned: "Lu Longjun?"
When Li Chengzhong heard that it was in Chinese, he nodded hurriedly, and the rider said: "Hurry up, there are Khitan soldiers chasing behind you!" After saying that, he ignored Li Chengzhong and continued to urge his horse to go eastward.
Li Chengzhong was puzzled. He looked to the west where the riders came from and saw several cavalrymen on the horizon, chasing him. After careful inspection, they seemed to be dressed as Khitan people. He was startled.
He quickly mounted his horse, thought for a moment, and ran eastward after the man just now. On the plain grassland, you can see far away at a glance. The best way to escape is to run eastward first and get out of sight of the pursuer.
, can you change the direction and go back north to Bailang Mountain.
Li Chengzhong's horse power had just been turned up, and it was stronger than the Khitan horses behind him. After running for a while, the Khitan figures were gradually thrown out of the horizon. He began to change direction, heading northwest, and ran for a while,
I saw the rider I met just now galloping ahead, but his horse speed had slowed down.
The rider heard the sound of hoofbeats behind him and looked back. Seeing that it was Li Chengzhong, he slowed down a little. When Li Chengzhong caught up with him, he asked, "Where are the Khitan people? Did they get away?" Listening to the voice, unexpectedly,
It seems to be a woman.
Li Chengzhong was stunned for a moment and said: "Throw it away." He looked carefully in the afterglow and found that she was indeed a woman, with a graceful figure and a beautiful face. The woman immediately had a horizontal sword on her back and a bow and arrow on her back, riding a horse.
She ran freely and looked heroic. However, she wore a felt hat and leather armor, which made her look different from a Han woman.
When Li Chengzhong looked at her, she also looked at Li Chengzhong, looked at him for a moment, and asked: "Are you from the Lulong Army?"
Li Chengzhong replied: "Pingzhou Army."
The woman said "Oh": "Is this the boundary of Pingzhou?"
Li Chengzhong said: "It's thirty miles north of Yuguan."
The woman asked: "I heard that this is the territory of the Pinbu. Are you a scout of the Pingzhou Army? How dare you go deep into this place?"
Li Chengzhong said: "We have troops stationed in Bailang Mountain, and I am going back to Bailang Mountain."
The woman nodded: "Well, I heard that you are the only Lulong army that dares to station troops outside the pass."
Li Chengzhong couldn't help but feel a little proud, but he couldn't boast in front of others, so he just smiled and said nothing.
The two chatted for a while, and a small forest appeared in front of them. The woman said: "I am a little tired and can't go any further. Let's go to the forest to rest for a while."
Li Chengzhong nodded in agreement, and the two of them galloped into the woods, found a place sheltered from the wind by lush trees, and got off their horses.