The emergency eagle message sent by Li Quan flew to Zhongnan County in the afternoon of the next day.
The news in Eagle's letter really surprised Chen Qing, and he immediately summoned important generals to discuss countermeasures.
The news about Ying Xin also shocked the generals. The Emperor of Jin personally issued an edict to encircle and suppress them. This alone was enough to make them proud, but now they can't take this into account. There are actually tens of thousands of Jin soldiers coming forward.
Come and suppress them.
The severe situation made everyone look very serious. Yang Yuanqing coughed lightly and said: "The premise for the Jin soldiers to launch an encirclement and suppression campaign against us is that our hiding place is exposed. Commander, we must leave Zhongnan County as soon as possible."
Several generals said one after another: "Commander, Vice General Yang is right, we must evacuate as soon as possible."
Chen Qing nodded, "I also know that we need to evacuate. The key is how to go, to Luo Tang Road, or to the east towards Ziwu Valley?"
Yang Yuanqing advised again: "Commander, it's two hundred miles to Ziwu Valley and the risk is too great. I suggest taking the Luo Tang Road."
At this time, Niu Gao, who was participating in the discussion for the first time, said: "I am familiar with the mountain road to Luo Tang Road, and I can lead the way."
Everyone looked at Niugao, and Yang Zaixing asked: "It's winter, can we leave?"
"You can walk. There are hot springs on that road, and there is generally not much snow. Cavalry can also walk, but they must travel lightly, not even with large vehicles."
Everyone once again looked at the leader, Chen Qing, who made the final decision.
Chen Qing sighed softly and said: "Our opponent is Wan Yanchang. This person is far-sighted and very cunning. I have learned his methods. If I am guessing correctly, Luo Tuandao has been blocked, as has Ziwu Valley. He will definitely
We will not be allowed to withdraw to Hanzhong."
"Then just go out and fight with them!" Liu Cui said, punching the table hard.
Chen Qing smiled and said: "Sometimes the more dangerous the place, the safer it is. I just said that the risk is relatively high, but it does not mean that we cannot take risks."
Chen Qing then said to Yang Yuanqing: "Take more grain, grass and property and see if you can find a place to hide them. We will come back to pick them up later. All other excess supplies will be distributed to the people."
Niu Gao said: "I know a very hidden place where I can hide my property without being discovered."
Chen Qing nodded, "Yuan Qing, it's best to handle it today. We'll leave overnight!"
.........
The soldiers only carried food and fodder, and their own belongings were hidden together with those of the army. At the third watch, the army quietly left Zhongnan County and marched towards Luo Tuang Road.
To get to Luo Tang Road from Zhongnan County, under normal circumstances, you have to go out from Zhongnan County first, walk tens of miles north, reach the plain area, and then detour westward to Luo Tang Road, which is nearly 150 miles away, and from Zhongnan County
A mountain road passes behind Nan County, and the distance is only 40 miles.
The biggest advantage of this road is that it can be traveled by horses. Businessmen often use donkeys to carry salt and grain from Hanzhong to Zhongnan County on this mountain road.
The mountains are high, the forests are dense, and the rocks are rugged. Although it is the middle of winter and the north is covered with snow, there is indeed no snow in this valley, and there is still gurgling water. Chen Qing tested the water temperature, and the water was actually warm, indicating that this was
Hot spring water flows out, and where there are hot springs, there is geothermal heat. No wonder it doesn't feel very cold here. The surface temperature is above zero, so snow cannot accumulate.
Although the war horse is feasible and there is no snow, the road is still very difficult to walk. The main reason is that the mountain road is high and low, and there are too many rocks. If you are not careful, your legs will be scratched by sharp stone edges. The narrowest stone gap
, a horse can just squeeze through, but if there are items on the horse, it will get stuck and cannot pass.
The Song army had to unload their things and let the horses pass first, and then the men slowly dragged the food and grass over.
It took five hours to walk on the more than forty miles of mountain road. It was not until noon the next day that we walked out. In front of us was the northern mountainous area of Luo Tuang Road.
The reason why Chen Qing took this risk was that he judged that the enemy army could not block the exit of the mountain road. If they were to the south of the enemy army, they would go directly to Hanzhong. If they were to the north of the enemy army, they could adapt accordingly.
The army rested in a valley, and Chen Qing sent scouts to the north and south to investigate the situation.
.......
Half an hour later, the news brought by the scouts was not optimistic. Ten miles away to the south was a large camp of the Confederate Army, which blocked the only way south, with about 10,000 people.
In the north, traces of the Jurchen army were found, but no Jurchen army camp was found.
Chen Qing thought for a long time and smiled at Yang Yuanqing: "Wan Yanchang always praises me for my courage and wisdom. I will let him learn what it means to be courageous!"
He had made preparations in advance and asked the soldiers to paint their helmets blue. After letting them dry for a while, he ordered the whole army to get on their horses and the team slowly headed north.
After walking less than ten miles, a Jurchen cavalry group of about a hundred people suddenly appeared on the hillside two miles away. Their uniforms were familiar to Chen Qing. They were Jurchen ranger cavalry.
‘Woo——’
The ranger cavalry blew the horn, and Chen Qing also ordered the soldiers to blow the horn in response, "Woo——"
After a moment, the Ranger Cavalry ran towards them. Yang Yuanqing laughed in a low voice: "They did not doubt us, otherwise they would not dare to approach us."
Chen Qing waved to Wang Duo, "You deal with them!"
Wang Duo could speak Jurchen. He urged his horse to meet him and asked loudly: "Is this General Alupu's team?"
The Centurion of the Rangers looked them over and asked: "Password?"
"Dragnet!"
The dragnet is the password agreed upon between Wanyanchang and Wanyanwushu to prevent unnecessary misunderstandings.
The centurion asked again: "Whose subordinates are you?"
"We are subordinates of General Li Nong, who controls the Second Army."
There was no flaw in Wang Duo's answer, nor was there any flaw in their costumes. The blue helmets were exactly the characteristics of Li Nong's army.
Of course, if the centurion goes deeper, he will find a flaw. The Xie Cong army is all made of leather armor and bronze helmets, but at least half of Chen Qing's army is composed of Shanwen armor and Doudou.
However, Chen Qing deliberately let the recruits wearing Qi Army armor walk on the outside, and the Qi Army armor and the Congong Army armor were exactly the same.
The most important thing is that the password is correct. The Jurchen centurions did not pay attention to other details. After all, they did not know much about the Xie Congjun.
"able to pass!"
The centurion turned his horse's head and led the Jurchen rangers to run eastward.
Chen Qing immediately ordered the army to speed up and move north. The ground was covered with thick snow, and the cavalry could not move faster no matter how fast it was.
There are gentle mountains and forests to the north and west. The five thousand cavalry led by Wanyan Alupu were resting in a mountain forest. Wanyanchang ordered him to cooperate with Wanyan Huonv to attack Zhongnan County from the west, but Wanyan Alupu
Pu refused to work hard. He used the difficult road as an excuse to delay the journey to Zhongnan County.
At this time, a ranger cavalry came to report that a Han cavalry of 3,000 men appeared in the south. After questioning, they were found to be the subordinates of Li Nong of the Second Army.
"Did you report the password?"
"Reporting to the deputy marshal, there is no problem with the password. The other party's helmet is blue, which seems to be correct."
Wanyan Alupu snorted, "These Han people are so weird. They painted their helmets blue to show their difference. What's the difference? Aren't they all dogs of our Jurchens?"
A Jurchen general laughed and said: "Dogs also come in various colors, yellow dogs, black dogs, spotted dogs..."
Everyone burst into laughter. At this time, Lieutenant General Xiao Cong pondered and said: "It's a bit strange. What is this army doing going north? Zhongnan County is to the east."
Although Xiao Cong was promoted to captain of ten thousand men by Wanyan Wushu and replaced Wanyan Alupu as the commander of the West Route Army, he was not Wanhu, not even Qianhu Mengan, and his status within the Jurchens was far inferior to Wanyan
Alupu, so during the encirclement and suppression of Chen Qing, he could only become Wanyan Alupu's deputy general.
Wanyan Alupu glared at him dissatisfied, "What's so strange? Since it's called a dragnet, isn't it the sky in the north? They are only responsible for the outer perimeter. Attacking Zhongnan County is a matter for the Jurchens, not their turn."
Wanyan Alupu didn't have a good look towards Xiao Cong. A Khitan slave actually replaced him as the commander-in-chief. Xigu lost his troops and allowed Chen Qing to escape. Xiao Cong had no responsibility?
Xiao Cong sat down silently. Although he felt that this army was very suspicious, he did not want to have a dispute with Wanyan Alupu.