Chapter four hundred and seventieth food exhaustion
The Xixia army once again faced the dilemma of food shortage, but it was slightly better than last time. They still had some mutton, and slaughtered hundreds of cattle pulling carts. In addition, the soldiers still had two days of dry food, and they could barely support a few days.
sky.
Xia Lian, the commander-in-chief of the Xixia Army, had already received the news that Didao County had been seized by the Song army. This was also expected by him. Xia Lian did not hesitate and led his army to march quickly for a day and night, out of Lintao Prefecture and into the territory of Lanzhou.
The army also plundered hundreds of cattle and thousands of sheep from Dangxiang herdsmen, which slightly eased the food shortage crisis.
The army marched for three consecutive days, and Lanzhou was getting closer and closer. On this day, they were still fifty miles away from Lanzhou City, but only thirty miles away from the Yellow River. The army rested in a pine forest, and five military leaders gathered together to discuss intensively.
We encountered a big trouble and now we are unable to cross the Yellow River. This was something no one had thought of beforehand.
Tuoba Chengqing said anxiously: "You can go and try. How will you know if you don't try? Maybe you can cross the Yellow River?"
Xia Lian sighed and said: "The spies have already tried it. Eight rafts were launched. Three rafts were scratched and five were knocked over by ice floes. Now the Yellow River has just entered the freezing flood season and it is impossible to cross the Yellow River."
Everyone looked at each other and were dumbfounded. Ma Yaowu asked: "What is the response plan of the unified army?"
Xia Lian said slowly: "Chen Qing has been following us with his army and has been reluctant to take action. I guess he is just waiting for us to run out of food, either waiting for us to surrender without a fight, or waiting for us to be defeated without a fight. I have thought about it over and over again,
We have only two ways now, either go west to the plateau area, where the Yellow River may still be frozen and we can cross the river from there, or we can go to Lanzhou City and wait until the Yellow River completely thaws and cross the river."
Tuoba Chengqing asked; "How big is the risk if we go west?"
"The risk is very high. Not only will Chen Qing's army be pursuing us, but we will also be blocked by Ren Dejing's army. We will also face the threat of food shortages and a harsh environment. Even if we return to Xixia, I estimate that we will only be able to survive."
Now that Xia Lian said this, everyone understood what he meant and went to Lanzhou City to wait. Everyone unanimously agreed to go to Lanzhou City.
Xia Lian said to everyone: "I calculated that we still have two days of food, so we can't stay any longer and must get to Lanzhou in one go."
The army set off after lunch. The 25,000 Xixia army had a glimmer of hope, their morale was boosted, and they all rushed towards Lanzhou City.
At this time, Chen Qing led an army of 20,000 people and followed behind. They kept a distance from the Xixia army for a day. Chen Qing had already received the news from Yang Zaixing, and the hunting grounds had been arranged, waiting for the prey to enter.
Twenty thousand Song troops also spent the night in a forest. In a small marching tent, Chen Qing was still concentrating on the sand table, considering various possibilities for the Xixia army.
At this time, Niu Gao's voice came from outside, "Have you not rested yet?"
"The commander-in-chief is still thinking about military affairs."
"Please tell me that I have something urgent to report!"
Chen Qing put down his pen and said with a smile: "Come in!"
Niu Gao walked in, clasped his fists and said apologetically: "I'm sorry for bothering you if you come so late!"
"What's the emergency?"
"I just received a briefing from someone sent by Li Muching. Ren Dejing sent troops to occupy Hezhou. Ren Zhongqun led a thousand troops to return to the silver mines in Dangchuan County and dissolved the Miners' Autonomous Association and the Autonomous Militia."
"Is the messenger still there?"
"You're still there. They won't leave until dawn. Do you want to see them?"
Chen Qing shook his head. He wrote a warrant and gave it to Niu Gao, "Li Muching is required to stick to Didao County, and the rest can be ignored for the time being!"
"I understand the humble position!"
Just as Niu Gao was about to leave, Chen Qing smiled and said: "General Niu came just in time, help me check the details. I have a difficulty here."
Niu Gao asked with a smile: "Is Du Tong a little embarrassed for the people of Aqian County?"
"How do you know?" Chen Qing was a little stunned. Niu Gao was obviously right.
Niu Gao smiled bitterly and said: "Bizhang is also worried about this problem, but after knowing the situation in Aqian County in detail, he feels that the worst scenario will not happen."
"Why?"
"Agan County is too small to accommodate 20,000 people. Unless the Xixia army loves the people like their own children and voluntarily sleeps on the street or in front of the city, the people in the city will definitely be driven away. Besides, Xia Lian is a sinister person, so he will definitely be on guard against anyone in the city.
The best way for Song army scouts is to clear the city."
Chen Qing nodded. Niu Gao had exactly the same thought as him, but this was only the best outcome, but he had to prepare for the worst.
At dawn, 25,000 Xixia troops arrived at the gate of Lanzhou City after all kinds of hardships. However, what greeted the Xixia army was a sudden burst of arrows. Most of the dozens of people sent to call the door were shot dead on the spot.
The few remaining soldiers fled back in panic with arrow wounds.
This result was difficult for Xia Lian and all the generals to accept. They had been vaguely worried that Lanzhou City would have been occupied by the Song Army?
But this was their only hope. No one wanted their last glimmer of hope to be extinguished, but the fact was cruel. The Song Army still ruined their last hope, leaving the entire army in despair.
General Xia Lian seems to have fallen into an ice cave. He only has one day of food left. He is surrounded by barren mountains and ridges. What should he do?
The consequences were so serious, but he had nothing to do. Should he be ordered to kill the horses for food again?
This is the last thing Xia Lian wants to do. Killing horses is a dirty thing that Cao Baozong is capable of. It has made the generals despise him for a long time, and he has become as incompetent as Cao Baozong. How can he accept it?
"Otherwise, let's have a decisive battle with Chen Qing!"
Li Huang, the commander of the army, gritted his teeth and said: "We have 25,000 people, and he only has 20,000 people. In the last fight, we may not be defeated!"
Several generals cast strange glances at Li Huang. Cao Baozong thought the same way at the beginning.
Xia Lian sighed and said: "Chen Qing wants to fight us. He has started the war a long time ago. He has no intention of fighting us at all. He is just waiting for us to run out of food and collapse. I understand now. Chen Qing is a wolf. Patiently
Follow us all the way, just waiting to eat our corpses!"
"Wouldn't it be in line with His wishes when we run out of food?"
Everyone was silent. Tuoba Chengqing said coldly: "Can a living person still die from being suffocated by urine? There are several counties in Lanzhou! As far as I know, there are Dingyuan County, Gonggu County, Aqian County,
There are still so many villages. If you can’t do it, just rob or kill them. I don’t believe you can’t rob ten days’ worth of food?”
Everyone agreed, "General Tuoba is right. Either you die or I live now. I can't control that much."
Xia Lian also nodded. This was the last resort. Unfortunately, they didn't have a map of Lanzhou. He immediately ordered: "Go and ask who is familiar with the conditions of the counties in Lanzhou."
As soon as Xia Lian finished speaking, a general stumbled over, "General Xia, generals, we are saved, we are saved!"
Everyone stood up, and Xia Lian asked in a deep voice: "Speak clearly, what can be saved?"
The general turned around and waved: "Come up and say it!"
A general of the Xixia Army came forward and knelt down on one knee and said: "To the generals of the Xia Army, my humble post is Tuoba Zong, a marching army garrison in Agan County. He leads three hundred brothers to garrison in Agan County. I know that Lanzhou has been captured by the Song Army, so I came here to invite you."
The army will stop temporarily at Agan County."
"Agan County?"
The generals were all generals drawn from various military divisions and were not familiar with Lanzhou. Although Tuoba Chengqing knew that there was Agan County in Lanzhou, he didn't know where Agan County was.
Xia Lian asked anxiously: "Is there food in Agan County?"
"Yes! There are three thousand stones to store food!"
This news made everyone cheer and they were overjoyed. Just when they were most desperate, God gave them another way to live.
Xia Lian couldn't hold back his excitement and asked, "Where is Agan County?"
"The county seat is relatively remote, fifty miles away in the southwest."
"Didn't Song Jun notice you?" Xia Lian asked a little doubtfully.
"The Song Army just occupied Lanzhou three days ago and has not found us yet. However, I heard that several other counties have been invaded by the Song Army. I am very worried, so I hope that the army will be stationed in Agan County."
Although Xia Lian still doesn't believe it, he can't care too much now. He is in urgent need of medical treatment. They will be out of food early tomorrow morning, and he must get food now.
怆愯瘽璇达纴鐩铓嶆湕畇簲扉涔︽涶濂界敤镄刟pp锛屽挭鍜阒呰hurt
"Send the order for the army to rise and go to Agan County immediately!"
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[The Chinese New Year is coming. Lao Gao is going to the temple today to burn paper for his ancestors. We cannot guarantee the update at noon. We will update it normally at the next update in the afternoon. Please forgive me, book friends! 】
