At noon on the 17th, in Shibalipu, northwest of Linqing Prefecture, there was a Sanguan Temple in the market. It had not been damaged when the Qing army passed by before. Various shouts continued to be heard in the temple, and a team was parked outside the temple door.
Mule cart, the driver is together
Squatting on the ground nearby, cavalrymen came in and out of the temple gate from time to time. The outpost of the Anqing Rangers was set up here. The rangers operating on the front line had one bureau and two flag teams, as well as thirty soldiers from the Wuxue Far Sentry Test Team crossing the river.
There are many people, these people are scattered all over the front line, Shibalipu is
The transfer base for intelligence and baggage, food for people and beans for horses are all transferred from here. These food are more valuable than gold and silver at this time and place. Due to the Qing army's transit, all local order was completely destroyed, and the people
Displaced, there were many people fleeing from Nangong, Julu, and Wei counties. They all hoped to escape to the big city of Linqing, where they could avoid the Qing army and have a bigger enemy.
opportunity to obtain food.
Previously, Linqing's officers and soldiers were frequently active. In addition to scouting the movements of the Qing army in the west, they also often plundered the common people they encountered. The common people were cautious during the day and fled towards the countryside as soon as they heard the sound of horse hooves.
The people were afraid of the officers and soldiers, and the officers and soldiers also needed to be on guard against each other. If they encountered the baggage of other military towns, although they generally did not kill people, they would sometimes rob them. After the Anqing camp arrived near Linqing, it often had to deal with other officers and soldiers
, basically under the name of Shandong Commander-in-Chief Ni Chong's vanguard, and chose to transport rice and beans at night to avoid the cavalry of other troops. Even so, they were still attacked many times.
The officers and soldiers robbed the grain and mules together. Because the Linqing camp was complex and no one knew who was robbed, the grain that reached the frontline rangers was very valuable. From the 14th onwards, the Liaozhen cavalry on the frontline
Almost all of them fled back to Linqing. Tens of thousands of officers and soldiers huddled inside and outside Linqing City. There were fewer officers and soldiers traveling on the road because everyone was afraid of meeting Jiannu on the road. The officers and soldiers who were ten miles away from Linqing City
The road has almost become a no-man's land, and the surviving people will deliberately avoid it when they find that there are officers and soldiers here. This is actually a good thing for the Rangers' logistics. They can also transport supplies during the day and ensure the smooth progress of frontline reconnaissance.
After receiving the new military order from Zanhuafang last night, the rangers on the front line will be reduced. Only a small number of sentry horses will be retained at the forefront. Today's rice and beans transportation will be temporarily stopped. A flag general ran in from outside, and he was accompanied by a Tang horse.
When he rushed to Mr. Bai, Na Tangma looked very anxious. He did not give him the token first, but directly handed over a letter, "Sir, two Tatars were captured at Youfangdu before dark yesterday.
Work carefully."
Mr. Bai took one and tore it open, looking at the seal of the praise studio, "I caught him before dark yesterday. Why wasn't there any information compiled last night?" "I met them in Daijiawan and found that these two people repeatedly poked the ice.
On the other hand, the interrogation by the Chinese army was indeed a meticulous work of slave building. Both of them were captured in Qinghe before. The Tatar flag that captured them was said to be blue with red edges. Their families are still with the Tatars. Because they are familiar with the roads, the Tatars sent them
We took a small path to the river to see the ice. We went to Youfangdu first, and then to Daijiawan. We were told that there were more than 20 people who came out with us, all of whom had not shaved their heads. However, we were not going to the same place. Some of the others were already there.
We passed the river and headed east. The two men came out early in the morning on the 14th, and the Tatars asked them to return to Hongguan camp on the evening of the 16th to wait."
President Bai immediately said angrily, "Why are we sending such urgent military information now? Since we caught it in Daijiawan, we should immediately examine it in Daijiawan and inform this officer overnight."
Na Tangma was stunned for a moment and said, "That was what the cavalry who sent Mi Douyi encountered when they returned. They captured the people and went directly to Weijiawan. They said they sent them to the Chinese army at midnight. Maybe there was a delay. I
I don’t know.”
Mr. Bai glared at Tang Ma and handed the order letter to the clerk next to him, "Tan Bing really wants to go east to see what Zan Painting Room means?" The clerk read it hurriedly and said, "Zan Painting Room has judged and built.
The slave must cross the river eastward within two days, and orders the frontline flag units to take back the east side of the river today. The Chinese army has begun to retreat. Today, only the first cavalry division remains in Weijiawan, and the rest
The men, horses and civilians all retreated."
"At this time, we are sending an order to send four groups of pond horses out. These are the people who are familiar with the road. Let's call these..." Mr. Bai was making calculations when several cavalrymen ran in from outside. One of them was sweating profusely. Mr. Bai raised his head.
You can tell by looking at them that they are cavalry who have traveled a long way. Contrary to what ordinary people think, sitting on horseback is not as comfortable as riding in a car. Riding long distances is not as comfortable as riding in a car.
Traveling consumes a lot of energy on both the mount and the rider. Skilled riders can save some energy, but it is still not an easy task. No one would rush like this if there is no urgent matter. "Mr. Bai, I am the flag team of the second division.
The messenger sent to report the news was engraved at the junction of Xiangcheng and Wei County at the beginning of the day. He visually confirmed that Jiannu's 300 cavalry were marching eastward. The estimated strength was 1,000 cavalry. They were following me all the way from Wei County to the east.
Behind us, it’s at most ten miles away from here.”
"So fast!" President Bai thought about it for a moment, turned around and shouted towards the main hall, "If the time is missed, evacuate! Everything that can't be taken away will be burned." Immediately, a soldier turned an hourglass upside down, and several subordinate officers shouted loudly and handed out the order.
After the announcement, the hall suddenly became chaotic. They have a transit function here. In addition to personal luggage, everything from documents to rice and beans needs to be handled.
Reason, it's not like the frontline rangers just leave at will.
The order was passed outside, and there was chaos in the Sanguan Temple. Mr. Bai grabbed a person passing by and said, "Go to Yao'an Town to pass the order and tell them to be careful to the north and immediately take the south road to retreat from Chujiaquan..." Before he finished speaking,
Another ranger came running outside, and he loudly shouted to General Manager Bai, "Coming from the Yao'an Second Banner Team, Wei County found more than two hundred slaves marching towards Guantao at Mao Shi this morning. There was a ranger from the First Division.
The team broke the news. The Second Banner Team directly under the Cavalry Bureau encountered a unit of Jiannu at Chenshi. The Jiannu Unit was very fast. One unit of the Second Flag Team directly under the Ranger Bureau failed to recover. It was visually confirmed that five hundred Tatars on horseback were heading towards
Marching eastward, it is estimated that the total number of Tatar cavalry is 2,000, and they are about to arrive
"Jianzhongji, estimated heading direction is Chujia Circle."
"I gave the order to withdraw last night, why haven't so many people taken it back?"
Mr. Bai sweated on his forehead after cursing. He didn't even look at the map. He looked at the places he just mentioned every day and marked them all in his mind. Chujiaquan is the ferry south of Linqing, and this Qing army went from Yao'an Town to
In the east, it is not the same group that was reported by the Second Cavalry Division just now. In addition to the one found in the direction of Guantao in the morning, there are already three groups of Qing troops here.
According to his estimate, there must be some troops in the direction of Qinghe. They did not expect that the Qing army would move so quickly. Even though Zanhuafang reminded them yesterday, there were still rangers isolated at the rear of the Qing army. These people were in various positions.
Lu Qingjun was encircling the road and the road was already in the middle. Even if they
If you can survive, it will be difficult to rejoin the main force before the end of the battle, and it will basically be useless.
Based on the three pieces of information received so far, it is determined that the Qing army has been dispatched in large numbers. It is likely that they are using all the main roads to mobilize troops. The direction of movement is eastward. Zanhuafang's judgment is correct.
It is about sixty miles from Wei County to Shibalipu. The Qing army's advance target today will definitely exceed this point. The two agents caught yesterday asked to return to Hongguan camp, which shows that the Qing army will at least advance to Hongguan camp.
The Qing army is coming so fast that it is no longer possible to notify other flag troops. We can only hope that they will discover the threat in time. As for how many of them can reach the preparation assembly point, we can only wait until night to know.
President Bai shouted towards the main hall, "Light the fire immediately and everyone evacuate. According to yesterday's plan, the first assembly point is Youfangdu, the second assembly point is Daijiawan, and the third assembly point is Weijiawan! Evacuate!"
The rest of the people in the palace didn't care to clean up anymore and ran out of the palace to get their horses. The last person just came out.
There were sounds of beatings and shouting of mules and horses outside the temple gate. Rangers had already lit torches in the courtyard. Others poured tung oil on the pile of rice and beans and immediately started to light the fire. The courtyard was suddenly ablaze.
President Bai got on his horse, and the clerk appeared in front of the horse's head again, "The Far Sentinel test team is in Balizhuang, we must inform them!"
Mr. Bai grabbed the ranger who was passing by and said, "Go to Balizhuang and tell those losers from the far sentries to retreat eastward immediately!"
…
"How did you know that Far Sentinel was at odds with the Rangers?"
Next to a cellar in Balizhuang, Tang Ershuan stared blankly at Tan Lezi in front of him. Balizhuang is to the west of Linqing, with Shibalipu to the northwest and Jianzhongji to the south, which is the station of the Far Sentinel Team in Hexi.
Tan Laizi sat on a bean bag and took a bite of the chicken drumstick in his hand. Among the Anqing camp troops around Linqing, many people could eat meat, but only those who could eat chicken drumsticks cooked by professional chefs
Tan Leizi and Wharf Head Two
People, even Pang Yu eats from the big pot of the army. "How do you know, Mr. Tan, I told you, otherwise why would they be stationed separately." Tan Laizi said mysteriously, "Why are the Yuanshao and the Rangers at odds? It's because Yuanshao did it.
The situation is similar to that of the Rangers. If you learn everything, this master will starve to death.
So I drove you further away, which made me have to order rice and beans in two places."
Tang Ershuan tilted his head, "I heard them say that you were shameless. Seeing that the far sentry team didn't bring scales, you deliberately wanted to check the corruption in two places."
"Rumors! It's all rumors made by the Rangers!" Tan Laizi stood up angrily, "Why am I greedy? Who said it? You call me and tell me in front of Mr. Tan!"
Tang Ershuan smiled stupidly and buried his head without answering. "You are Master Tan. I want to get some food. This place is full of Tatars. Who will take care of your food and drink except Master Tan. I tell you to ask in Xuzhou
Go, who doesn’t know that Mr. Tan from Anqing is a Bodhisattva who wants to establish a Buddha at home? If he goes there, he will earn money for them. If he doesn’t want to go to Huai’an to exchange for stamps, Mr. Tan is here.
The people in the city changed him, which saved him from running back and forth. If he didn't run, he wouldn't encounter the bandits outside, thus saving his life.
The life of the family has been saved, so that the whole family can live. Do you think this is a great merit, or what it is if it is not to become a Buddha? How dare you say that Mr. Tan is greedy, and I am greedy, what are you doing to me?" Tan Lezi touched me.
Touching the thickened stamps in my arms, I felt satisfied for a while, but I still felt angry. I was about to walk out of the market town. When I looked up, I saw a pile of naked corpses in front of me. They were piled on top of each other.
, just when he left
In the past, a few black rats appeared from the edge of the pile of corpses and quickly scurried into the gaps between the corpses.
These corpses were killed by Qing troops when they first crossed the border. Some of the corpses outside the pile had been chewed to pieces.
Tan Laizi closed his eyes and did not dare to look. He quickly retreated two steps and said, "Tang Ershuan, why didn't your captain send someone to bury these?"
"The ground is too hard to dig such a big hole." Tang Ershuan stepped on it with his foot, "It's much colder than Anqing, it's really hard to freeze. You tell me." Tan Laizi carefully looked back at the pile of corpses, "Master Tan and you
He said, you should be careful when you stay in this place. There are too many dead people in this place. The yin energy is too strong and it is easy to produce miasma. It is very serious to get plague if you inhale it. I heard someone pass by on the dock.
People say that the whole city is dead, especially if you don’t go out at night, there are so many evil ghosts.”
"They were all killed by the Tatars. The devil must be looking for them." "Huh, it's Master Tan too. I'm busy transporting food. These are the dogs that are killing the Tatars. When Master Tan comes free, I'll behead him casually."
Dozens of them!" Tan Laizi looked into the cellar and asked, "Should the grain be moved into this cellar?
Go and ask your captain to come and order it, Mr. Tan has to go back to Weijiawan."
Tang Ershuan was about to answer when he heard three consecutive blasts of the horn from the east, and then again after a while.
"The captain is calling for assembly."
Tan Leizi waved his hand, "It's not my captain. Mr. Tan, I want to take a break and ask your captain to hurry up and sign the signature to ensure that Mr. Tan has to return." Tang Erchuan hurriedly ran east. Tan Leizi was wearing too much clothes and wanted to go back.
Lying down on the grain bag, I saw the pile of corpses from the corner of my eye again. I turned around and looked around. I saw that there was a mud house at the other end of the street that had not been burned. I thought for a moment and walked there.
.The horn in the east sounded again, one after another.