The city wall was stained with dried blood, and Shi Jun stood there, looking at the densely packed ships on the Yangtze River.
The banners of the Mongolian army were fluttering and the horns were sounding, as if they were shouting at him. They passed by land and water and began to move down the Yangtze River.
"Wuliang Hetai is going to attack Hezhou."
"Does Hezhou have enough troops?"
"It's not enough." Zhang Shiru was beaten down and his voice was hoarse. "It's not enough to deal with Tiege Huoluchi, Daida'er, Wang Dechen and other troops. In addition, Wuliang joined forces...this battle,
It’s my fault.”
Shi Jun squinted his eyes, the wrinkles at the corners of his eyes were deep.
"There are still more than 3,000 defenders in Xuzhou City, and there are still some merchant ships in the upper reaches of the Min River."
Zhang Shi asked: "What are you going to do?"
Shi Jundao: "There is no navy in Luzhou, so we can't stop Wu Liang from joining the platform. Except for us, no one along the way can stop Wu Liang from joining the platform."
Zhang Shi was silent for a long time before speaking: "I... I lost at least 20,000 prisoners, plus there are more than 10,000 Mongolian troops, ten times the number. There is a huge difference in strength."
"If you go down the river, you may not have no chance."
"I said that this war crime was mine. Zi Pang did not need to take such risks. He only had to defend Xuzhou and it was already a meritorious service."
"It's not about merit or demerit."
Shi Jun murmured and turned to look at the mountains and rivers north and south of the Yangtze River.
After a while, he continued: "Look, it's so peaceful. Everyone is dead... It's so peaceful. It's like letting the Mongolian army pass through. Then things will be calm in Xuzhou and Luzhou, and the New Year will be celebrated soon."
.I guarded this Xuzhou, as if I had protected the people under my rule..."
Zhang Shi closed his eyes.
Soon I heard the word "but" that Shi Jun said next.
"But once the Mongolian army captured Hezhou, Sichuan and Shu would be destroyed, and the Song Dynasty would be destroyed."
Today the Mongolian army set out to leave Xuzhou, and the whole city was celebrating. However, Zhang Shi knew clearly that the most dangerous thing was not the Mongolian army attacking the city, but the sudden death of his family and country where they were out of sight.
Or died because of him...
Thinking of this, his strong body trembled, as if he had been shocked by electricity.
humiliation.
Zhang Shi felt the humiliation piercing his heart like a sharp sword, and he would never forget the sting of this moment for the rest of his life.
"I have thought clearly. I will lead my troops to attack and defeat Wu Liang Hetai." Shi Jun said.
…
On this day, Wu Lianghetai's army of more than 30,000 troops had not completely left Xuzhou.
Some people swam across the Jinsha River and headed towards Qingfu County.
This is a very inconspicuous little person. He is a small official working in a shop in Xuzhou. He is going to bring a sealed letter...
"The general Zhizhou led his army to pursue the Mongolian army and recruited men and ships from various counties..."
~~
Qingfu County Government.
Wu Ang walked through the corridor and arrived in front of Fang Yankai's house, when he met Jiang Yan coming out.
"Mr. Jiang, did the chief clerk come to see me last night?"
Jiang Yan looked unhappy and said: "Li County Lieutenant asked you to go to the city tower, why do you go to the county government office to do it?"
Wu Ang was stunned, not knowing how to answer this kind of question.
"Is it Wu Ang?" Fang Yankai's voice came from the public room, "Come in and talk."
"Master's book."
Fang Yankai buried his head in the document as usual and said without raising his head: "Li County Lieutenant has been in office for two and a half months and is already familiar with county affairs. From now on, you will obey his orders."
Wu Ang held up his hand and was about to agree. He hesitated for a moment and changed his words: "Yes... but the villain doesn't understand."
"The archers of the Yamen should be ordered by the county captain. Why don't you understand?"
In fact, there is nothing Wu Ang doesn't understand, and he is not stupid.
Bao San had already talked to him a lot last night.
"The housekeeper is a good person, but he is not as courageous as Li Xianwei. If you want to make a career, follow Li Xianwei, and if you want to live in peace... can you really live in peace in this world?"
"If it hadn't been for Commander Yu, Sichuan and Shu would have been slaughtered by the Mongols long ago. My brother, I fled to southern Shu and had only lived a peaceful life for a few days. The Mongolian army came from the south again. What's the point in this world if I don't give it a try?
"
It's not that Wu Ang has no ideas, he just feels that he has always been favored by the landlord, and if he switches his position to Lieutenant Li, it will inevitably appear to be a bit disloyal.
But I didn't expect that County Lieutenant Li and the landlord had already discussed and understood the situation, so there was no need for a small person like him to embarrass themselves.
County Lieutenant Li did this honorably, which was many times better than coming to bribe him to deal with the landlord's book. No wonder Bao San praised him.
While he was thinking about it, Fang Yankai waved his hand and said, "I see you know it well, go ahead."
…
After leaving the county government office, Wu Ang felt inexplicably relieved.
Soon he felt a little uneasy again, hesitating about what attitude he should take when he saw Li Xia.
But when they arrived at the city, before he could get into trouble, Li Xia said straight away: "Team Leader Wu did a great job defending the city. You go and cooperate with Mr. Yi Ning to distribute rewards and pensions to the archers."
Wu Ang was overjoyed and responded: "Thank you, County Lieutenant."
"Go ahead and come back when you're done."
For Li Xia, he didn't need Wu Aona's head to express his loyalty.
He does not eat empty pay, drink the blood of his soldiers, and does not withhold soldiers' pay. Those who should be loyal among his subordinates will be loyal...
Wu Ang went as he was told, and half a day had passed since he finished the matter. He was so happy that he hurried back to the tower.
"County Lieutenant, it's finished. Brothers, thank the County Lieutenant for the reward."
Li Xia nodded, glanced at Wu Ang, and asked: "I plan to build another 100-man team of river patrollers. Are you willing to transfer it? I will mention it as soon as the salary is due, but it will be dangerous to go to the battlefield."
"A villain is not afraid of danger."
"But whether you can be the leader of the class depends on whether you can convince them." Li Xia said.
Two months ago, if Wu Ang was willing to serve, there would be no need for testing, but things are different now.
It's not that he, Li Xiaxin, is inferior to Wu Ang's ability, but that there are so many people who want to be the leader of the river patrol team now, and they have to convince everyone...
Wu Ang turned around and saw many men standing on the top of the city.
"County Lieutenant, what is this?"
"These twenty captured Xuzhou Navy men will stay."
Wu Ang was stunned, knowing that he had missed the initial opportunity, and some things were not as simple as before...
~~
At this time, on the top of the city, the leader of the twenty people pointed by Li Xia was named "Yu Tian".
Yu Tian was not originally a naval officer, but a tenth general who commanded the third and eighth capitals of the Jiading Army.
The Jiading army was dispatched by Zhang Shi. After the defeat at Mahujiang, Yu Tian didn't know what happened to his capital or command. In short, he was captured by the Mongolian army for no reason.
After that, he and two hundred prisoners sailed straight up the Fu River. When they arrived at the mouth of Balu, the Mongolian army fought another battle with Qingfu's river patrolmen, and more than 170 of them were left behind in Qingfu.
At that time, Yu Tian was the first to rebel.
How to deal with these people will have to be reported to Xuzhou after the war is over, and they will temporarily do some things like repairing the city walls, building bridges and paving roads... Of course, they will be treated differently from the Mongolian prisoners.
In the past few days, Yu Tian discovered that the salary of these Qingfu patrolmen may not be much different from that of the Jiading army, but they are paid in real money, which is a huge difference.
I also thought that after being defeated and captured in Hujiang this time, I was afraid that I would be punished in the future, in case I hurt my family again...
With this idea in mind, he thought of defecting to the Xunjiang Camp in Qingfu County.
Because Jiang Fan had killed enemies with Yu Tian, he wanted to help him, so he mentioned the matter to Li Xia.
It was a bit troublesome for Li Xia to transfer such people with military status to his staff, but he really needed some veterans, so he came over today to select twenty people.
Yu Tian originally hoped to be a class leader, but he didn't expect Wu Ang to come.
The two looked at each other, and their eyes gradually became sharp.
At this time, the river patrollers, archers, and prisoners were all present above and below the city, all looking at the city head.
Suddenly someone shouted: "Let's have a fight!"
"Have a fight."
Both Yu Tian and Wu Ang glanced at Li Xia.
Li Xia nodded and said, "That's fine."
This thing seems quite unreliable.
But Li Xia felt that the Song Dynasty was too complicated from the official system to the military system, and there were too many things such as seniority... At the beginning of his establishment, some things could be simpler.
Soldiers are used to fight wars, and a fight is the simplest way.
Also let Wu Ang and Yu Tian show their skills in public, so that the soldiers can get to know them faster and realize that their skills speak for themselves here.
It can be regarded as a small correction to the military atmosphere of the Song Dynasty...
Of course, this can only be done in the beginning, and the degree must be grasped.
"Come on!" Yu Tian shouted.
"come!"
Wu Ang was not afraid and strode forward.
"Bang!"
The boxer hit his chest with a loud bang...
~~
It was almost dusk, and Cao Liu ran to the foot of Qingfu County.
He is an errand boy who sets up shop, and what he is best at is running.
He swam from Xuzhou across the Jinsha River and all the way over mountains and ridges to Qingfu without taking a breath, and his shoes were worn out.
Running more than eighty miles a day on the mountain road, even in the entire Xuzhou city, no one could reach it faster than him.
"Huh...huh..."
Cao Liu gasped for breath and saw from a distance a row of soldiers standing neatly outside Qingfu County, each with his head raised and looking at the city.
This made him feel weird.
Running closer, he saw people fighting on the top of the city, which made him feel even more strange.
"Quick! Let me enter the city! I have something important to report..."
~~
"Bang!"
There was a heavy sound, and Yu Tian received a punch, feeling that he could not beat Wu Ang.
But he didn't want to admit defeat yet and stood up again.
"come!"
Wu Ang shook his hand and felt some pain in his fist.
Panting, he glanced into the city and saw his brothers watching, thinking that he must not lose.
"Stop it." Li Xia suddenly said.
He saw the man running from the city, and gradually recognized him as Cao Liu, the shopkeeper who sent him to take up his post from Xuzhou.
Li Xia seemed to have a premonition of something, and with some thoughts in his eyes, he walked a few steps and patted Wu Ang and Yu Tian.
"You two, give me a hug and wait for my arrangements."
Wu Ang was stunned.
"Yes!" Yu Tian had wiped his face, grinned, stepped forward and hugged Wu Ang.
"Hey, you can fight pretty well."
Wu Ang felt that the other party was smelly, so he patted him on the back perfunctorily, turned to look at Li Xia, and said with some expectation: "County Lieutenant, I can beat him."
"Yeah, I know, I'll talk about it later."
Li Xia quickly went down to the city gate, picked up Cao Liu, and started talking.
Liu Jinsuo, Jiang Fan and others should immediately step forward.
Wu Ang thought for a while and followed, but he didn't dare to get too close. Instead, he stood by the city gate, as if guarding the city gate.
Not long after, Li Xia called him over again and said: "The military expansion must be stopped for a while. I have to take people to Xuzhou. I leave the defense of the county to you. Can you do it well?"
Wu Ang said: "We will not let the county captain down!"
"good."
Li Xia strode towards the county government office again.
Wu Ang looked up and saw Yu Tian and others following Li Xia.
He couldn't help but worry about gains and losses... He thought that if he failed to be transferred to Lieutenant Li at the beginning, it would be more and more difficult for him to get ahead in the future.
The next moment, Bao San patted him on the shoulder and said: "The county captain asked you to defend the city because he trusts you. Otherwise, he would have let me or Liu Da Fool stay. Don't let him down."
"Yes...but...brother, is Yu Tian also going to Xuzhou?"
Bao San smiled, leaned into his ear, and whispered: "Don't think there are many opportunities. There are many opportunities. Do you really think you can only expand to a hundred people?"