"Our goal is not to defeat the rogue bandits. That would be an overestimation of the hundreds of people in the garrison. I just want to make Anqing's defense capabilities better than those of the surrounding areas."
"Second brother means to let the bandits retreat when they see the difficulties."
"When a wolf is chasing me, I don't have to outrun the wolf, I just need to outrun a person." Pang Yu pointed to the surrounding terrain, "Anqing Beishan Nanhe, Huguang to the west, Luzhou Prefecture to the east, the rogue bandits are always
There is a way to go. Tongcheng's interrogation of the prisoners revealed that the elite horsemen and soldiers of the rogues were all supported by their own. Apart from running around, they lived like a master. The only people the rogues could fight were this group of people. It is human nature to seek advantages and avoid disadvantages.
We can all obtain supplies, so why bother risking our lives against strong troops? As long as the garrison battalion can give its forwards a hard blow, it will be possible for the rogue rear troops to turn to other areas, thus allowing Anqing to be protected at the minimum cost and giving it time to grow stronger."
"The second brother still wants to attack the light cavalry vanguard of the rogue bandits. But the rogue bandits are all horse soldiers, and we infantrymen will be finished in one charge."
"Tongcheng is surrounded by hills, and the official road is surrounded by paddy fields, ponds and lakes. At least there are not many places where the cavalry can run. I'm not sure whether our spearmen can stop the horses." Pang Yu thought a little.
He scratched his head, but then he remembered that he was a general and quickly suppressed this thought.
The rogue cavalry I saw that day were all over the mountains and plains, but after all, they couldn't hit the city wall. There was a certain sense of security on the city wall. If they encountered cavalry in the wild, Pang Yu didn't have any confidence at all.
He Xianya came up with an idea and said, "Let's get some knives, carts, etc. to block the official road. It should be able to block the horses. This way we can keep Anqing safe. This is also the great kindness of my second brother."
"This strategy can only defend Anqing for a while. If the surrounding counties are repeatedly destroyed, the bandits will no longer be able to obtain enough supplies. If they still have hundreds of soldiers and horses, they will definitely not be able to stop them." Pang Yu sighed, "We are short of resources.
The soldiers are actually short of money. Going to Tongcheng is not only for drills, but also to see if there is any source of money."
…
Two days later, in the wilderness of the southern suburbs, six hundred soldiers lined up, and five hundred generals formed a three-row red battle formation, standing solemnly in the afternoon sun.
The south wall of Tongcheng was crowded with people, and a few heads were crowded on each crenellation. Many people gathered outside the city. Although the ruins of the walls outside the city were still there, there was a lot more life.
Unlike the people in Anqing who just watched the excitement, the residents of Tongcheng gave this small army warm cheers. Except for the Anqing garrison, no army would receive such treatment in Tongcheng, because most of the officers and soldiers inside
They were all descendants of Tongcheng, and they had fought side by side with the officials and people of Tongcheng. Therefore, they automatically ignored the slight chaos when the garrison camp formed its formation.
Yang Erming and other county government officials were also watching the formation from the Nanxunmen Gate Tower. When the officials saw Pang Yu, they were even more cordial than before. Yang Erming was infected by the warm atmosphere around him, with a bright smile on his face.
"General Pang has been in Anqing for two or three months, and the military formation has become even more powerful, which is really a blessing to the people of Anqing."
Pang Yu quickly said humbly, "It was the foundation that Zhuang Ban laid in Tongcheng. Without your support, there would be no garrison camp in front of us."
The young smile on Yang Erming's face became even brighter, and he waved his hands repeatedly, "When General Pang first left, people in Tongcheng were panicked. They all said that without Pantou Pang, Tongcheng would not be able to hold on. Anyone with some wealth would go to Anqing.
Go. This time General Pang led his troops for a drill. After the city heard about it, the city was full of joy yesterday, which relieved my troubles, but..."
Yang Erming hesitated to speak. Seeing this, Zhou County Cheng next to him quickly asked the others to step back.
Pang Yu looked at Yang Erming and said, "You have something to say, but it doesn't hurt to say it."
"It's just that General Pang is about to return to Anqing after a short stay, but the people in the city are still uneasy." Yang Erming sighed, "The rogue bandits have been here for a few days, but I don't know how many years it will take to recover. I wonder if they will come again next time, and whether Tongcheng can hold on."
.”
"You should not be called your general, but from my point of view, your Excellency has won the hearts of the people. The people of Tongcheng have gone through battles, and they will definitely be able to unite as one, and no one can defeat Tongcheng. What's more, I am in Anqing now. This battalion is Tongcheng.
With the stamina, I will post a list at every gate of Tongcheng to inform the people in the city that if there are rogue bandits besieging the city, the Anqing garrison will definitely rescue Tongcheng. This marching exercise is actually a rehearsal for the rescue of Tongcheng."
Yang Erming and Zhou Xiancheng were both refreshed after hearing this. Pang Yu had outstanding achievements in quelling the rebellion and defending the city, and there were some inexplicable and magical rumors. The people in the city established a strong sense of trust and dependence on him.
At that time, Pang Yu was promoted to Anqing garrison. Not only the people of Tongcheng, but also Yang Erming and Zhou Xiancheng were quite panicked. They were worried that once the rogue bandits returned, Tongcheng would be captured and massacred. This panic continued until the arrival of the garrison camp.
Release. Now Pang Yu said that he would definitely rescue Tongcheng, which undoubtedly gave them a shot in the arm. After all, Anqing is only more than a hundred miles away from Tongcheng.
Zhou Xiancheng interrupted and said, "What General Pang said is true."
Pang Yu nodded, "How dare you deceive Mr. Zhou? There is no joke in the army. Judging from the information I have collected, the interval between the rogue horse soldiers and infantry is about three days' journey, so what I am practicing this time is a surprise attack by the rogues with light cavalry."
Tongcheng, assuming we get the warning in Lujiang or Shucheng, it will take two days to reach Anqing by horse. At this time, the bandits have just arrived in Tongcheng. We will march from Anqing immediately. Just like this drill, we can march in two days to reach the trailer river.
On the third day, we attacked the light-cavalry bandits. They had not broken through the city after two days of siege, and their men and horses were exhausted. The foot soldiers in the rear group had not yet arrived. It was when they were at their weakest that it was the best time to defeat them."
Zhou Xian Cheng was stunned for a while and then said, "It turns out that the general's marching drill has many truths."
Yang Erming thought carefully about Pang Yu's words and then said, "It turns out that General Pang planned the war in this way. No wonder he was able to achieve great success at both ends. I feel a lot more at ease. There is nothing else that needs to be done in Tongcheng, General, I just want to say it."
"The first is to securely defend the city. The more securely you defend, the more exhausted the bandits will be. The second is to obtain accurate information as early as possible. The earlier and more accurate the information is, the more complete the preparations will be."
After Pang Yu finished speaking, he observed Yang Erming, and then continued, "Other grain and grass equipment were well prepared last time. You should have confidence in yourself and the people of Tongcheng. If we can do these two things just now, we
Not only can we defend Tongcheng County, we must also repel the bandits and protect Tongcheng County territory, so the person who is directly responsible for defending the city and providing intelligence is particularly important."
Yang Erming nodded, "I have fully staffed the strong and fast classes, but the class leader has not yet been appointed. It just so happens that General Pang is most familiar with the seniors in the strong and fast classes. I wonder if he can recommend one or two."
Pang Yu followed the pole and said, "Ruan Jin is a man who dares to do his job, is careful and bold, and has gone to various places in Luzhou Prefecture to investigate the situation of bandits. He is qualified for this important task. I boldly recommend Ruan Jin."
Yang Erming did not hesitate at all, "I think so too. I have long thought that Ruan Jin can take on a big responsibility, and he will be in charge of the strong and fast classes all by himself."
The two of them completed the deal in just a few words, which was beneficial to both parties. Pang Yu allowed his confidant to be appointed as the leader of the second shift, which could maintain his influence on Tongcheng. For Yang Erming, getting Pang Yu's guarantee of rescue,
The appointment of Ruan Jin is not a loss. This can maintain close ties with Anqing's military forces, which is also beneficial to the combat rescue itself.
Zhou Xiancheng smiled and said nothing. He actually breathed a sigh of relief in his heart. In fact, he originally planned to arrange one of his own among the two team leaders, and the candidate was decided. But as time passed, the situation became clearer and clearer.
The tragic scenes after the city was breached spread widely, and countless officials were questioned and arrested.
For officials like them, defending the city not only protects the official but also their lives. Pang Yu's support is very important to Tongcheng. Let alone letting Ruan Jin take the post concurrently. At this time, even if Pang Yu asks a dog to be the leader, Zhou Xiancheng will not
Will agree immediately.
At this time, there was a sound of cannon outside the city, and the military formation began to move forward. Then a trumpet sounded, and the sergeants shouted in unison. The spears were leveled in front of the formation, and they practiced assassination amidst the drumbeats. Tens of thousands of people watching gathered together again.
Say hello.
Everyone on the city tower was also watching. This position was the best observation point. Pang Yu took a quick look and found that the array was more chaotic than usual, and the assassination movements were not as clean as usual. Probably because there were so many people watching, the soldiers were a little nervous.
, just being watched by someone can influence the soldiers, let alone when facing tens of millions of enemy troops.
But this is also the purpose of the drill, which is to try to familiarize the soldiers with the situations they may encounter in war, so as to reduce some mistakes.
Pang Yu turned her head to look at Yang Erming, looked at her carefully, then leaned over and whispered, "My lord, you have grown a lot taller."
After hearing this, Yang Erming came over and whispered, "I followed what you said, eat more and get more sun. It really works."
"Sir, would you like to run a little more?"
Yang Erming looked around and said, "There is no suitable place, that is, walking around the back office a few times. If I go for a run on the city wall, the servants will see the joke."
Pang Yu chuckled twice and said, "Sir, this status is really inconvenient. You can switch to a skipping rope, which will be equally useful."
"Is skipping a rope useful?" Yang Erming nodded, "Then ask someone to buy one tomorrow."
"Then you can only dance in your room, let alone your servants."
The two looked at each other and laughed at the same time.
While Pang Yu was smiling, he saw Tang Weimin looking at him from the corner of his eye. When Yang Erming turned back to watch the formation, he also winked at Tang Weimin.
…
By the time Pang Yu and Tang Weimin met, it was already the evening of the second day. Tang Weimin took the invitation and gifts and went to the door of the small courtyard where he gave it to Pang Yu to ask for an audience. The sentry at the door immediately informed him to go in.
Today, Pang Yu lives at home, and the garrison camp lives in the old house of the Ye family. According to the agreement with Yang Erming, Pang Yu posted a notice at the six gates, announcing that Tongcheng would be rescued when the rogues besieged the city, so Pang Yu temporarily changed the plan and let
The garrison camp was stationed in Tongcheng for two days to train the city's marching arrangements and city wall defense, so that the army could become familiar with the situation in Tongcheng.
The people in the city had great support for this enlarged version of the strong team. Pang Yu's popularity in Tongcheng reached its peak again. Not only did the county government treat him like a guest, but some gentry in the city also hosted a banquet in his honor. It wasn't until dinner the next day that Pang Yu
Make time to meet Tang Weimin alone.
The watch drum had just been beaten at this time, and there were few people on the street. Tang Weimin came here at this time to avoid the crowds. Others were afraid of the curfew, but he, the chief financial officer, was naturally not afraid. No watchman patrolling the streets dared to ask him a question.
"Big man."
Tang Weimin was about to kneel down when he entered the door. Pang Yu quickly supported him and said, "Brother Tang, you can't help me. You and I will pay attention to these things."
"It's rare for Pang Da people to not forget their close friendships. Last year at this time, brother Pang had an enlightenment. It seems like yesterday. I think it was God who wanted to protect the people of Tongcheng. It must be God's will for you and me to get to know each other."
"It's my blessing to be able to meet Brother Tang. You can still call me Brother Pang, but we can't be separated from each other."
After Pang Yu and the two were polite, they asked the clumsy maid to collect the gifts. Pang Yu invited Tang Weimin into the outer hall. This outer hall was by the pool and was used to receive guests. The previous owner was relatively petty bourgeoisie. Although the hall was
It is small but quite elegant. There is just a square table inside, and wine and food are already prepared.
Pang Yu picked up the wine glass and offered it to Tang Weimin first. When he was about to drink, he noticed that there was a chip on the rim of the glass. He cursed the maid in his heart. Fortunately, he got the broken glass. Otherwise, Tang Weimin would have thought that he was deliberately trying to show off, so he didn't do anything at the moment.
He made a sound, turned the rim of the cup half a circle and took a sip.
After three rounds, Tang Weimin put down his cup and looked at Pang Yudao, "Ruan Jin came back a few days ago and said that Brother Pang cleaned up the Shengtang Ferry Qingpi Lahu and took control of the ferry in one fell swoop. He did it cleanly and neatly. Tang was so impressed that he drank happily that day.
After a few drinks, I didn’t expect to be able to have a drink and chat with adults again so soon.”
Pang Yu laughed twice and said, "Brother Tang, let's not tell lies. The so-called purge of Jiang disciples is just public rhetoric. Brothers are looking for ways to make money wherever they go, and the dock is used to make money."
"Brother Pang is still quick to talk. We ask for money when we should ask for money. It is a normal human relationship, why should we avoid taboos." Tang Weimin said with a smile, "Ruan Jin also brought a letter from Brother Pang that day, saying that he had something to discuss with me.
I came here specially today to listen to Brother Pang’s instructions.”
"Hey, how dare you say orders." Pang Yu refilled Tang Weimin's wine, "I won't go around in circles with Brother Tang to discuss money matters with Brother Tang."
Tang Weimin leaned back slightly, then returned to his original position, "Master Pang, please tell me, as long as Tang can do it, he will not dare to shirk it."
Pang Yu put down the wine pot and looked at Tang Weimin, "Each county government collects taxes for one year in advance to prevent disasters and other unexpected events in the second year. This money is collected in the account, and in previous years it was released to the pian bank and the bank.
To earn interest. My brother discussed with Brother Tang that due to this pre-levied tax, the garrison camp is in dire need. To have the strength to rescue Tongcheng, more soldiers need to be recruited. The money allocated by the governor’s Yamen cannot be used urgently. So I’m thinking, I
Give Brother Tang the interest at the current price, and ask Brother Tang to lend it to the garrison camp for turnover. Of course, I also have another heartfelt offer to Brother Tang."
After hearing this, Tang Weimin looked at the table, frowned and thought for a moment and said, "Brother Pang made it clear that you and I don't tell lies between brothers. In previous years, we lent money to several pawnshops and banks of wealthy families, sometimes even ten at most. Since
If Brother Pang wants to use it, even if the interest is less, there is nothing wrong with lending it to the garrison camp. However, after all, it is money from the county government. If it is only loaned to the garrison camp family, the amount is not a small number. I have to ask clearly...
What kind of material did Brother Pang use as collateral?"