Chen Qing, accompanied by Yang Yuanqing and Zheng Ping, led a dozen soldiers to a small residential courtyard. People reported that a Xixia spy was hidden here.
Hu Yanlei had already taken the lead with his men. Chen Qing came to the yard and saw a young man kneeling on the ground, his hands and feet tied behind his back, his eyes filled with fear.
"What happened to him?" Chen Qing stepped forward and asked.
Hu Yanlei cupped his fists and saluted and said: "Qi Zhizong, this person's adoptive father reported him. This person is Han, but he has lived in Xixia for many years. He just returned to Baochuan County this year. He brought an eagle. He wrote last night
He was discovered by his adoptive father while collecting information."
"What was found?"
"We found the fine pen and paper used to write the eagle's letter, and also found a bronze medal from Heijintang, which confirmed that he was a Xixia spy."
Heijintang is a special organization of the Xixia people responsible for collecting intelligence about the Song Dynasty. Many of them are rebellious Song people who use business, studying or working in the government as a cover to collect intelligence for the Xixia people.
Chen Qing glanced at the man and said to Yang Yuanqing: "Reward the reporter thirty guan of money, and publicly ask the people to report the Xixia spies. Once confirmed, a heavy reward will be given!"
"The humble position will be arranged immediately!"
Chen Qing said to Hu Yanlei again: "Interrogate him carefully and ask him if he has any accomplices and what information he leaked?"
"Follow the order!"
Hu Yanlei and his men took the Xixia spies away.
Zheng Ping said to Chen Qing: "This incident has given me an inspiration. Could it be that the Jin soldiers also placed their people among the exchanged prisoners of war?"
Chen Qing nodded, it was indeed possible. They had used this method to seize the city before, so the enemy could also use this method.
"What do you think?"
"I feel that I need to form a special team to deal with the infiltration of enemy spies. First of all, I will look for Jin soldiers' hidden spies in the army."
Chen Qing thought for a moment and said, "Let Wang Hao do it!"
Wang Hao was Zheng Ping's confidant. When Zheng Ping was lurking in Jinying, it was Wang Hao who was responsible for external contacts. His boldness and carefulness left a deep impression on Chen Qing. He has now been promoted to deputy commander and is also Zheng Ping's right-hand man.
"Wang Hao is good, very suitable!" Zheng Ping also fully approved of Chen Qing's choice.
"You ask him to come see me later, and I will make detailed arrangements for him."
...........
Not long after, Wang Hao came to Chen Qing's tent, bowed and said, "See the control!"
Chen Qing smiled slightly and said, "Commander Zheng, let me tell you!"
"About a little bit."
"I don't tell you the importance of checking enemy spies. You also understand that the Xixia spy arrested today is a senior spy of Xixia Heijintang. He has been active in border states for a long time and has rich experience.
This time he actually drew a sketch of Ganquan Castle and sent it to Xixia. The consequences were very serious, and we had to rearrange the warehouses and even make camp fences. If this person was not found, once the Xixia people used large trebuchets to fire
If we attack, our warehouse will be in danger."
"The commander is right. I also feel that intelligence is really important. I told my subordinates many times that if we had not received the information in advance and acted an hour in advance, Ganquan Fort would have been occupied by the Xixia people. That time
What we are fighting is an intelligence war!"
Chen Qing agreed with his point of view and smiled slightly: "Now Commander Zheng and I both suspect that the Jin soldiers have placed spies among the surrendered soldiers. We are afraid that when the puppet Qi army attacks the city, they will cooperate inside and outside, so I decided to establish
The inner shield camp is specially designed to deal with enemy spies. You will be the commander and you will select 300 elite soldiers. I will also assign two civil servants to you. It is best to set it up today and tomorrow."
Wang Hao knelt down on one knee and saluted, "Thank you for your trust, the Commander. Your humble position will definitely live up to the Commander's expectations."
Chen Qing nodded and said: "After the establishment, you have to do two things. First, follow this Xixia spy to investigate in depth and find other Xixia spies; second, investigate the Jin soldiers among the 14,000 Song army prisoners of war.
There may not be any spies planted, but we have to prepare for the worst."
Chen Qing gave him a command arrow and a letter of appointment, "Go to Deputy Commander Yang, he will arrange the people and materials you need!"
...........
At night, on a hill fifty miles away to the north of Ganquan Fort, three scout cavalry were watching the mighty marching team several miles away. This was the main force of the Xixia Army, with sixty or seventy thousand people, and there were still more heads that could not be seen.
The baggage team.
The three scout cavalry looked at each other. They took out gunpowder arrows, lit them and shot them into the sky. Nine gunpowder arrows rose up in succession, emitting a bright red light in the air, and exploded in the sky with a 'pop!' sound.
A moment later, twenty miles away, nine more gunpowder arrows soared into the sky, lighting up the sky and exploding in mid-air.
Finally, ten miles away from Ganquan Fort, the third round of nine gunpowder arrows rose into the sky, shining brightly, and exploded with a 'pop!' sound.
This is the scout beacon of the Song Army. Once the signal is sent, it means that the enemy has appeared fifty miles away. Chen Qing and the generals rushed to the city head and stared at the north. The general on duty reported: "Qi Zongzhi, there are a total of
Nine gunpowder arrows!”
The nine gunpowder arrows reached the top, which meant that the opponent's strength was more than 50,000. Chen Qing finally understood Wan Yanchang's true intention of exchanging prisoners with himself. The Jin soldiers were also afraid of Xixia's southward expansion and were using their own hands to weaken Xixia.
The power of the army.
"Send an order to the whole city to enter a state of war!"
...........
The quarrying team had returned in the morning, and the logging team also stopped logging after seeing the gunpowder arrow signal and immediately returned to the castle.
Chen Qing also began to make war deployments. All 500 bed crossbows were sent to the city and deployed in the east and south. There were many ravines in the west, making it impossible to open up the battlefield.
At this time, Chen Qing summoned Liu Cui and gave him an important task.
"You lead five hundred cavalry to operate on the periphery, sneak attack the enemy's camp, and harass the enemy's logistics convoy. The task is very difficult, so be careful!"
"Please rest assured, Commander, I have experience in this humble position!"
Chen Qing handed him another map, "On the map there are two secret supply warehouses we have set up on the periphery, one in Yelanggou and one in Xianren Bridge. They are clearly marked, and the warehouses will be handed over to you.
"
Liu Cui put away the map and nodded silently, "What else does the commander have to say?"
"I'll give you sixteen more words. These are the principles of your outer rangers!"
Liu Cui took the note and glanced at it, only to see that it read, 'When the enemy advances, we retreat; when the enemy is stationed, we harass; when the enemy is tired, we attack; when the enemy retreats, we pursue.'
"Remember your humble position!"
That night, Liu Cui led 500 cavalrymen to leave Ganquan Fort and rush eastward.
.............
In the morning, 70,000 Xixia troops arrived at Ganquan Fort. There could not be so many troops stationed on the hills, so Li Liangfu stationed the camp by the Baishui River in the northeast, about five miles away from Ganquan Fort. This distance, even using the longest distance
Even the fire kite cannot burn it.
The Xixia army brought the camp fence, and they quickly used the camp fence to encircle a large camp with a radius of more than ten miles. They began to set up checkpoints and set up tents. When it got dark, a densely packed camp with countless buildings appeared five miles away.
If the enemy's large camp consisting of tents is attacked by fire, the consequences will be disastrous.
However, the Xixia people's external deployment was very strict. Li Liangfu was indeed a famous general who had experienced hundreds of battles. He deployed 3,000 sentry cavalry alone and arranged three layers of defense. Even the password changed three times overnight, even when he was close to the camp fence.
There were hundreds of people standing guard on both sides of the Baishui River, and the Song army's scouts could not find any chance of a sneak attack.
In comparison, Zhang Zhongxiong's defense of the puppet Qi army was far worse. On the surface, it looked like a large formation, but in fact it was full of loopholes, and it was far less watertight than the Xixia people's camp.
Chen Qing stared at the Xixia camp from the high observation tower for a long time. He couldn't help but sigh slightly. Based on his eyesight, he knew that it was difficult for the Xixia camp to make a sneak attack, and Liu Cui could only harass the enemy's logistics team.
Chen Qing casually wrote a note and handed it to the soldier behind him, "Send an eagle letter immediately to inform Liu Cui!"
A quarter of an hour later, a letter eagle flapped its wings and flew towards Yelanggou in the northwest direction.