Emperor Longqing frowned as he looked at the papers placed on the imperial desk.
The document was handed back by the defenders of Jizhou, and it reported on Xue Hong holding the gold medal and leading three thousand elite troops from Jizhou to the north.
Emperor Longqing secretly guessed Xue Hong's plan. After a while, he seemed to have guessed something and hurriedly walked to the map.
"Beyond Jizhou are the Yongxiebu and Chahar tribes... I'm afraid this guy is going to make some big noise!
Big movement is good! The bigger, the better!! Come on! Let me see how big a surprise you can bring me!!”
As for whether Xue Hong would betray the country and surrender to the enemy, Emperor Longqing was not worried at all. After all, what did Xue Hong want? As an emperor, he still had some magnanimity. After all, he did not trust those he employed and did not trust those he suspected.
Emperor Longqing ordered twenty bolts of fine satin, a jug of royal wine and one hundred taels of silver to be sent to Xue Mansion as a reward.
This is not only a reward for Xue Hong, but also to protect Xue Baochai and Xue Pan, telling others that I am keeping an eye on Xue Mansion!!
After all, Emperor Longqing didn't want to have Xue Hong return in triumph, and something happen to his younger brother and sister as soon as he came back!
Emperor Longqing is here, but others in the capital may not necessarily think so.
The second prince didn't know why, but he seemed determined to fight Zhu Hui to death. He identified Xue Hong as Zhu Hui's man and worked hard to smear Zhu Hui.
Rumors were flying around the capital. Some said that Xue Hong belonged to Zhao Kuo and his ilk, and that he had been killed not long after he came out of seclusion, so there was no news at all.
Some people also said that Xue Hong was timid and hid with three thousand troops.
Many people directly said that Xue Hong had betrayed the country and surrendered to the enemy!!
The spread of rumors is always the fastest and most widespread of all kinds of news!
Because of this incident, Zhu Hui and Chen Chen have been beating up a lot of people in the past few days. Because they have a good foundation in kung fu, they hit them extra hard! Several times, Zhu Hui slapped them, and the scholars and gentlemen opposite them lay down unconscious.
These two people are the father of Emperor Long Qing and the legitimate son of Chen Shi! In terms of background, they are almost the best. Zhu Hui stepped on each other directly and asked: "Is there anyone else who is dissatisfied? If anyone is dissatisfied, we can have a private chat!"
But three people become tigers, and it’s hard for everyone to stop talking!
In Xue Mansion, Xue Pan was sitting in the hall with a bruised nose and swollen face, his face full of anger.
"These stinky, poor scholars know how to talk! If they have the ability to lead troops out to kill the enemy like my elder brother!! They know how to chew their tongues! Ouch!!"
Xue Pan was in a restaurant and heard several young men from the honorable family slandering Xue Hong and deliberately provoking him.
fist.
Aunt Xue felt distressed and quickly called a doctor for Xue Pan.
No matter how outsiders try to slander them, Xue Baochai and Xue Pan always believe that Xue Hong will definitely make meritorious deeds and return home in triumph!!
In Lin Mansion in the capital, Daiyu, who had returned home, seemed particularly relaxed and talked more.
Daiyu listened to Zijuan talking about the rumors about Xue Hong outside, and said categorically: "Although I have never met Brother Hong a few times, I know that he is a gentleman who cares about the people and will never do anything treasonous!"
Zijuan: "In any case, Master Xue Hong is a scholar, he is so young, and it is his first time to lead an army on an expedition. He does not have much experience, so he may be in danger."
In the Jia family, the opinions are relatively unified. Neither Jia Zheng nor Jia Lian and Wang Xifeng are very optimistic about Xue Hong. After all, Hou Jin is not a soft persimmon!
When Wang Ziteng was working at Jiubian, he fought against Hou Jin several times, and he took advantage every time!
Mrs. Wang secretly hopes that Xue Hong will die in Beidi! Not because of anything else, but because Xue Hong overshadows her treasures in every way!
Leaving aside the capital for the time being, Xue Hong had already led his troops dozens of miles behind Hou Jin's camp and hid himself. At the same time, he sent out scouts to bypass Hou Jin's army and try to contact Sun Chuanting.
After days of bloody fighting, Sun Chuanting's soldiers from the Beijing camp and the frontier troops totaled less than 20,000, and there were more than 3,000 wounded!
There are only more than 16,000 people with real combat effectiveness.
Although Hou Jin also suffered a lot of losses, the number of people was there after all!
Sun Chuanting stood on the city wall, looking at Hou Jin's camp outside the city wall, secretly estimating the time for the opponent's general attack.
Sun Chuanting was even prepared to die for his country, and he could not let the Qing army enter the pass even if he died! Otherwise, the people of the Ming Dynasty would be massacred!!
At this moment, Wu Sangui suddenly led a scout onto the city wall.
Wu Sangui: "Your Excellency, this man claims to be a scout of the Shenji Battalion. He said that he came to deliver a message under the order of Xue Hong, a member of the Ministry of Industry who leads the garrison of the Shenji Battalion!"
Sun Chuanting perked up after hearing this. He quickly walked up to the scout, grabbed his hands and said, "Are you really a subordinate of Mr. Xue? Where are he and the elite of the Three Thousand Shenji Battalion now?"
The scout took out the token that Xue Hong gave him, handed it to Sun Chuanting, and then handed the letter to Sun Chuanting.
Sun Chuanting first read the token and confirmed its authenticity before opening the letter and reading it.
In the letter, Xue Hong explained what happened in the Chahar Department to Sun Chuanting, and proposed in the letter:
When Hou Jin launches a general offensive, Xue Hong will lead 3,000 soldiers to use mortars to clear the ground of Hou Jin's Chinese Army! More than 3,000 artillery shells will all be concentrated to attack Hou Jin's Chinese Army!
Then Sun Chuanting would counterattack Hou Jin from the front. Xue Hong would lead three thousand soldiers and horses to charge from behind, attacking from both sides, and defeat Hou Jin in one fell swoop!
After reading the letter, Sun Chuanting was in high spirits, stroking his beard and laughing: "Okay! Great! If this is true, the crisis in Liaodong can be solved! The next generation is to be feared, the next generation is to be feared!!"
Originally, Sun Chuanting learned that Xue Hong had not been heard from since leaving Jizhou, and he thought that Xue Hong had been killed. After all, Xue Hong was too young, and he was a civil servant, and it was his first time to lead an army.
Who would have thought that the reason why Xue Hong has not been heard from again is because she is causing trouble!!
However, Sun Chuanting did not immediately believe what Xue Hong said, but instead sent troops to investigate the movements of the Chahar tribe. If it was true, as Xue Hong said, that the Chahar headquarters was trampled by his horse, then it would be impossible for the opponent's Chahar military camp to
No movement!
At the same time, Sun Chuanting sent his trusted cavalry to follow the scouts to contact Xue Hong. Only when he was really sure that Xue Hong was behind Hou Jin could Sun Chuanting feel relieved.
The cavalry followed the scouts, fearing to be discovered by Hou Jin, and detoured for a full fifty miles before rushing towards Xue Hong's tribe.
When they arrived at the place, they handed Sun Chuanting's letter to Xue Hong, and then the cavalry went back to resume their duties.
After Xue Hong read the letter, she felt scared for a while.
Originally, Xue Hong thought that with a frontier army of 40,000 troops, coupled with the favorable location of the city wall and the coordination of firearms, Hou Jin Nai would not be able to defeat Liaodong Town in a short period of time!
However, Sun Chuanting wrote in the letter: "Niu Jizong took advantage of his empty salary. Now there are less than 20,000 people in Liaodong Town, and the warehouses containing gunpowder are also empty, and there is no trace of ammunition."
In other words, from the day Sun Chuanting arrived in Liaodong Town, Sun Chuanting resisted the attack of a 130,000-strong army with less than 40,000 troops!!
Fortunately, Sun Chuanting was close to the commander of Liaodong, but if he had been replaced, the trouble would have been big! Before Xue Hong blossomed in the rear, Liaodong Town might have been breached!!
When marching and fighting, any number exceeding 10,000 is a huge advantage, not to mention that Hou Jin's number exceeds that of the Liaodong defenders by a full 90,000!!!
Moreover, each of Hou Jin's troops is brave and good at fighting. They are good at fighting in the white mountains and black waters. Their combat effectiveness cannot be underestimated!
After Xue Hong read the letter, he broke into a cold sweat and cursed Niu Jizong!
Xue Hong: "I wish you infertility and a full family of children and grandchildren!!"
Then, Xue Hong ordered all the soldiers not to cook in pots. When hungry, they could only eat dry food and captured dried meat. They were also not allowed to light fires at night!
Since you are the sixth person, you must have the professionalism and patience of the sixth person!!
According to Xue Hong's estimation, as long as the Chahar tribe knows that Chahar was attacked, their military morale will definitely be disorganized and they will clamor to return to the tribe! This is the disadvantage and weakness of the mixed coalition!
In order not to waste all his previous efforts, the Lord of the Later Jin Dynasty will definitely choose to attack the city overnight! In other words, tonight, there is a high probability that there will be a decisive battle!
In this case, let’s decide the outcome in one battle!!!
Xue Hong wiped the dust on his face with his sleeve, took a hard bite of the dried meat, and stared in the direction of Hou Jin's camp...