The landform of Xiling is famous for its mountainous terrain.
The Changling Mountains in the north are undulating, and the Qilian Mountains in the south are also a natural barrier. However, in the Xiling Corridor, in addition to these two mountains, there are countless small hills dotted in it. It was once called the Land of Hundred Mountains.
General Black Feather was standing on the Fushan Dam, looking at the mountains in the northwest corner.
During these days, the general and his more than ten night crows, capable and capable, have been surveying the terrain of Fan County.
Of the thirty night crows under the general's command, only twenty-four came with him.
Han Yunong and Meng Zimo were deployed in Xiling early, and when they entered the customs, a few more people were left in Woye Town.
The situation in Xiling was not stable. The general left a few people from the accompanying Night Crow to assist Han Yunong in Zhen County, and a few more in Fenggan City. Zhonglang General Su Changyu had just finished reorganizing the three cavalry of Xiling, and he
A few people had to be left to assist Su Changyu, so the number of Night Crows following the general was now only twelve, and Meng Zimo was among them.
"General, that's Yuansong Mountain." Meng Zimo opened the map he had been carrying and checked the location: "The terrain on the mountain is also very steep. It is easy to defend but difficult to attack. It is also an excellent stronghold."
General Black Feather took the map from Meng Zimo.
This map is a military map of Xiling, with detailed outlines of the mountains and roads in Xiling.
"If we want to build this hilltop into a defensive stronghold, we will need at least 1,500 people." The general looked at the map carefully for a moment, then handed it to Meng Zimo, exhaled like mist, and walked forward.
After a few steps, the snow on the ground crunched.
Meng Zimo also followed up and said: "General, if Yuansong Mountain is also used as a defensive stronghold, then the troops required along the way will be at least 20,000. Seven strongholds have been set up to the west of Heiyang City.
Coming east from Yangcheng, this is already the fourth place."
The general said: "Once we start a war with the Wutuo people, we will definitely be at a disadvantage. The only chance is to use our strengths to deal with their weaknesses." He raised his hand and pointed into the distance and said: "Xiling is mountainous, which is what God intended.
Grant. If Xiling is as flat as a flat river, that is the favorite terrain of the Wutuo people, and we are simply unable to compete with it. When entering the Kunlun Pass, there are many mountains along the way, which is where we can make use of it. The Wutuo cavalry are good at fighting on the plains.
But they are not good at mountain warfare. Without war horses, their strength will be greatly weakened."
"When we deploy strongholds on important mountain tops along the way, will the Wutuo people ignore them?" Meng Zimo worried: "If they drive straight in and don't care about the strongholds along the way, wouldn't these strongholds be in vain?"
"The Wutuo people are not that stupid." The general said calmly: "If these strongholds are not removed, they will be like a thorn in the back. The defenders of the strongholds can not only completely cut off their logistics, but also can attack them at any time if there is an opportunity.
They launched a surprise attack." He raised his hand and stroked his beard and said, "When the Wutuo people suddenly marched eastward, it was also because we were too confident at the time. We just felt that with the power of the Tang Dynasty, the Wutuo people would never have the guts to invade Xiling, so there was no plan at that time.
Be prepared for defense. After the Wutuo people came in, in a hurry, we gathered all our troops to defend Heiyang City. The Wutuo people quickly surrounded Heiyang City and made dumplings for us. There were no reinforcements outside. Wutuo people
People can kill and plunder almost as they please."
Meng Zimo was one of the Night Crows under the general's command back then. Although more than ten years have passed since that battle, Meng Zimo still remembers it vividly.
"If we have enough time to prepare at that time, these strongholds will definitely be used." The general said: "Every hilltop we choose is not only very important in location, but also easy to defend and difficult to attack. If we deploy a thousand troops, we can
Using four to five thousand men. As long as they build strong fortifications and deploy garrison troops at these strongholds, even if the Wutuo people can capture these mountains, they will pay a heavy price every time they capture one."
Mencius said: "The Wutuo people are not good at mountain warfare. As long as they attack these strongholds, they will definitely pay a price. The warriors will be vigorous and weak, and then they will be exhausted. When they have uprooted all the mountains, their morale will also be reduced.
Will hit rock bottom."
The general nodded slightly and said: "The selected strongholds can also use fireworks as signals to know the enemy's situation at any time. And even if the stronghold is captured, there is no way out. As long as you try your best to break out, you can still go to the nearest stronghold.
, in this way, we can increase the strength of the next stronghold."
"General, this is a series of strategies." Meng Zimo admired, but then worried: "General, in deploying strongholds, in addition to building fortifications, you also need a large number of archers. Relying on the danger of mountains and fighting from a high altitude, the most effective way is to
Could be an archer."
"So the new recruits we recruit are naturally mainly archers." The general said: "Xiling is mountainous, so there are mostly hunters. After the beginning of the new year, the recruitment of new soldiers will start with hunters. There are household registrations in various places. Orions are recruited according to household registration.
The entire Xiling can recruit at least nearly ten thousand people. As for the missing archers, we can only step up training. Zimo, do you know why I am telling you this?"
Meng Zimo took a breath and said: "The general wants me to be responsible for recruiting brave soldiers."
The general laughed heartily and said, "Although you haven't been with me for many years, you still understand my thoughts."
"I'm here to recruit troops and train them in Changyu." Meng Zimo said: "Who will be responsible for the fortifications of these strongholds?"
"I am personally responsible." The general said, "Just do your own thing well."
Meng Zimo hesitated to speak. The general glanced at him and asked, "What do you want to say?"
"General, there is no problem with your deployment. In the final analysis, it is still a matter of money and food." Mencius said: "Building any stronghold, building fortifications and deploying archers requires a lot of money, and once it is completed, there will be a lot of money in the stronghold."
Storing grain and a large number of bows and arrows also requires silver. I made a rough estimate. If we only count the currently selected strongholds, if everything is properly deployed, it will cost at least hundreds of thousands of taels of silver in the early stage, and every month thereafter.
It will cost hundreds of thousands of taels of silver, not counting the soldiers and horses guarding the city."
The general nodded slightly and said nothing.
"You said a few days ago that once the Wutuo people show signs of invading Xiling, the people of Fan County will first be moved eastward." Meng Zimo said: "I checked before and found that there are 230,000 households in Fan County.
, if we move eastward, we will need to prepare food rations for hundreds of thousands of people. Therefore, in addition to the food and grass needed by the soldiers and horses, we must also reserve a large amount of food to cope with the refugee situation." There was a look of worry on his eyebrows: "What if we arrive?
If there is no food to supply the refugees, not only will a large number of people starve to death, but many refugees will be forced to rebel, and the consequences will be disastrous."
The general said: "I understand that if we have enough money and food, we can still fight hard with the Wutuo people, otherwise we will be completely vulnerable."
"According to the previous plan, if all the wealth of the Yuwen family can be diverted into military resources, and some can be recruited from the wealthy families of the Xiling family, we can still barely maintain it." Meng Zimo said: "If the imperial court can allocate food and grass, there will be enough food.
We still have to fight the war." His face became solemn: "But the Yuwen family's assets, although nominally involved in Hucao, have been transferred away by the minister."
"This is only part of it." The general said: "Yao Duhu sent someone to report quickly. Pei Shiqing has already targeted the Zhen family. The two forged secret letters are already in Pei Shiqing's hands. He wants to use Yao Duhu's hands to judge Zhen's family.
The Zhen family has surrendered to the enemy and treason, and the Zhen family has been raided by the Duhufu, and all the property obtained will be transported to Kyoto."
Meng Zimo frowned and said: "General, the Wutuo people are eyeing the attack. We are preparing for war here. It is difficult everywhere. The imperial court did not allocate money and food. Instead, it sent Pei Shiqing to amass wealth in Xiling. From this point of view, since the imperial court asked Pei Shiqing to go to the pass
To transport money, I’m afraid we won’t allocate a grain of grain to Xiling.” He shook his head and said with a bitter smile: “If this is the case, we really don’t know how to deploy it next.”
"What Pei Shiqing did may not be what the saint meant." The general said with a solemn expression: "The saint is wise and knows that Xiling is full of difficulties, so how could he do this to drain the fire? I have already told the saint about the situation here and asked him to
The saint not only left the assets of the Yuwen family and the Zhen family, but also transferred food. At this point, we don’t ask the court for money, as long as we can transfer some food to us, we are already lucky."
"Can the great commander help us to advise the sage?" Meng Zimo hesitated for a moment, and finally said softly: "The sage has great trust in the great commander. If the great commander can help us speak, maybe the sage will really issue an order to mediate here.
Some food."
The general shook his head and said: "It's better not to involve him in this matter. My friendship with him is just that we have the same hobbies. It is considered a personal relationship. Over the years, there has been no involvement in official matters. He is the leader of the Dragon Scales in the capital and is a forbidden person.
Commander, I am leading troops outside and performing my duties. If I get too close and get involved in official affairs, there is no guarantee that someone will not take the opportunity to make trouble." Fu Xu said calmly: "From the beginning, I knew that I would return to Xiling.
After that, many things faced were too complicated, and it was not just as simple as leading troops to defend the empire's territory. Behind Pei Shiqing was Princess Sheyue. In order to protect Xiling, I was bound to have a quarrel with them this time. In response to the incident, due to
I'll take the responsibility and don't involve Tantai."
"If there is no help from the general, I am afraid that the princess will not give up these assets easily." Meng Zimo said: "A trick from the general may not be worth a few words from the princess to the saint."
The general smiled and said: "Although Pei Shiqing has accumulated wealth, if he wants to transport these assets back to the pass, it depends on whether he has the ability." He put his hands on his hips and looked into the distance: "Now that I am back, I will never allow Xiling to make the same mistake again.
As long as we can save Xiling, we will not hesitate to break our bodies to pieces. Zimo, look, this land is so beautiful. If you spill blood here in order to protect this beautiful land, wouldn't it be the greatest pleasure in life?