At dusk, Tang Qian finally saw the legendary manor. The first thing he saw was a row of tall fir trees, standing like pagodas on the plain. The blue-black fir branches and leaves were thick and close together. Looking from a distance,
Goes like a high black wall.
This kind of fir tree has a strong water storage capacity. It is tall and straight, often more than ten feet high. It not only keeps the soil moist, but also has a dense texture. It has a wide range of uses. Basically, all kinds of wooden utensils in Xixia are made of it.
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There are endless wheat fields in the manor, and in the far distance there are many dilapidated low houses, densely packed together, which are probably the residences of grain slaves.
These grain slaves are all made up of families. The Xixia people not only kidnapped young men, but also kidnapped young women, so that they could form families and grow grain for their masters. The children they gave birth to were also slaves. Xixia has been a slave for hundreds of years since the founding of the country.
They captured Song people as slaves, so that many slaves were passed down for several generations.
Tang Qian learned the lesson of underestimating the enemy and did not attack hastily. Instead, he sent two men with excellent water skills to sneak into the manor from the river to investigate the situation.
Five thousand cavalry were waiting two miles away from the manor. At this time, night had fallen, the sky was filled with stars, and the velvet curtain was studded with gems. The summer season had passed, and there was a chill in the Xixia night. The soldiers were a little unaccustomed to it.
, one after another wrapped the military blanket around their bodies.
At this time, there were sudden bursts of fierce dog barking in the manor, and then the barking suddenly stopped. Not long after, a dozen responding soldiers and two spies rushed over, clasping their fists to Tang Qian for the capital head:
"A group of ferocious mastiffs were chasing our brothers. They were able to jump over the ditch. I had no choice but to order them to be shot."
"I understand, how is the situation in the manor?" Tang Qian asked the two spies.
A soldier said: "Reporting to the general, the manor army does have an army. There are hundreds of tents set up in the northeast corner, with about a thousand people. Mr. Qiao said that the manor guards are not the same group as them. They live separately.
It’s very close to a residential area, and there are probably about a hundred people there.”
Tang Qian nodded, "Have you been discovered?"
"It's possible that we were discovered, otherwise there wouldn't be so many vicious dogs chasing us, but they may not be able to guess our identity."
Tang Qian sighed in his heart, seeing the mastiff shot by a crossbow arrow, the other party could guess it.
He immediately said: "The whole army is assembled and ready to go!"
The cavalry of the Song Army mounted their horses one after another, followed the general and rushed towards the manor...
As soon as I approached the main entrance of the manor, I heard the rapid alarm bell ringing from the manor, 'Dang! Dang! Dang!' It must be that the patrolling manor discovered the body of the mastiff.
Tang Qian ordered: "Kill in!"
The Song Army cavalry pulled down the gate of the manor. Tang Qian galloped into the manor and rushed towards the northeast of the manor. Hundreds of Song Army cavalry followed him with torches in hand to guide him. The cavalry behind him rushed into the manor like a torrent.
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One hundred big tents were in the northeast corner. The villagers in the big tent heard the sound of bells and the galloping of war horses. As soon as dozens of people ran out of the big tent, the cavalry opened their bows and fired arrows, and a dense rain of arrows hit them.
After shooting, dozens of villagers screamed and fell to the ground after being hit by arrows.
The Song Army's cavalry immediately divided into three teams and surrounded the military camp from three directions. Xixia Zhuangding rushed out to fight for their lives, but their strength was very different, and they were mercilessly killed by the Song Army's cavalry.
More than a dozen Song slaves saw the situation clearly from a distance, ran towards the densely packed residences, and shouted: "The Song cavalry is coming, it's the Song cavalry!"
The village was boiling. The villagers had heard the news about the Song army's attack on Xixia. They had suppressed their anger and were waiting for this moment. Hundreds of young and strong men held up hoes and wooden sticks and angrily attacked the tents of the guards guarding them.
Rush away.
They were bullied, and their wives and daughters were arbitrarily insulted by the guards. The hatred had long been buried deep in their hearts. At this moment, the hatred that had been accumulated for many years was instantly detonated.
The villagers rushed into the camp like a tide. Many guards who rushed out of the tent were knocked down with hoes and sticks. The guards behind were frightened. This was not the revenge of the villagers, but the attack of five thousand Song Army cavalry.
In fear, they did not bother to fight the villagers and ran for their lives. However, not long after they ran out, they were surrounded by the Song Army's cavalry and were all killed.
In less than half an hour, more than a thousand villagers were killed by the Song army. The soldiers of the Song army lit countless torches, illuminating the manor like daylight. More than a dozen old men stepped forward tremblingly, knelt down and saluted, "Please forgive me, General."
Pass us!"
Gu Kuang
"Are you all citizens of the Song Dynasty?" Tang Qian asked.
The other party spoke the same language, and a dozen old men suddenly burst into tears, "We are all, all common people of the Song Dynasty. Some have been arrested for decades, and some were arrested just two years ago."
"You don't have to be afraid, we are the Western Army, here to save everyone and go home!"
When they heard that the Song army was coming to rescue them and return home, the three thousand people suddenly cried loudly. Many people cried so hard that they were so sad that they fainted.
Tang Qian asked again: "Excuse me, my father-in-law, do you have anyone in charge here?"
"Yes! Yes!"
Several old men turned around and shouted: "Song Dalang, this general has something to do with you."
A middle-aged man came over and saluted and said, "I am Song Cheng, the Han man in charge of the farm. May I give you the general's orders?"
Tang Qian asked: "Are there any ships and food in the manor?"
"There are more than a dozen large ships and granaries, all in the northwest. I will take the general there."
Tang Qian nodded, "Let everyone pack their things first, and then follow us southward."
The man went back and gave some instructions, and thousands of serfs rushed home to pack their things. Then the man led Song Jun to the warehouse in the northwest.
A dozen warehouses were built in the northwest corner, surrounded by tall fences and a row of bungalows. The two stewards of the manor lived here. At this time, something happened to the manor, and the two stewards and more than a dozen villagers on night watch were frightened.
After they were all gone, Tang Qian estimated that they had not gone far, so he ordered the commander Zhang Yan to lead a thousand cavalry to search the outside.
The soldiers opened the doors of more than a dozen warehouses, which were not only filled with food, but also unexpectedly discovered an armory containing more than 3,000 spears, 2,000 swords, 800 pairs of armor, and thousands more.
A bow and tens of thousands of arrows.
But there was no money, and it should all be stored in the capital mansion. Tang Qian looked at the grain again, and estimated that there were about 20,000 shi and more than 100,000 dans of fodder.
At this time, the Han steward Song Cheng came over with 500 young and strong men, cupped his fists and said: "General, we are willing to help carry the grain!"
Tang Qian was overjoyed and asked: "Where are the ships?"
Just to the north of the manor, there is a small river over there, and fifteen large boats are parked in the river, less than a hundred steps away. In addition, there are thousands of mules and camels in the livestock shed, which can be used to carry grain."
"Then thank you for your hard work, go get all the animals!"
Tang Qian immediately ordered the soldiers to help carry the food and armor. Soon, the young and strong slaves brought 800 mules and 300 camels to help carry the food.
It was getting daylight, and the last boat left the manor. There was no life in the manor, and the villager's body was dug and buried deeply. The two stewards and more than a dozen villagers who escaped were not able to escape.
They were captured and executed by the Song army, and they were buried deep together, leaving only large green and yellow wheat waves undulating in the morning wind.
The first batch of 1,000 Song Army cavalry evacuated to Mingsha County under the leadership of Commander Zhang Yan, bringing with them 62 large ships, 20 of which were fully loaded with food and soldiers, and the remaining 40 or so ships were all full.
The old, weak, women and children clung to their meager possessions.
On the west bank of the Yellow River, young and strong men rode mules to follow the Song army's cavalry, while dozens of camels served as temporary trackers, dragging the fleet along slowly.
After the fleet passed the mouth of the gorge, Tang Qian led four thousand cavalry to turn around and rush northward, continuing to search for the ships.