Mercenaries are all professional soldiers composed of veterans, so there is no need to worry about the convenience of training. Their military literacy is much better than ordinary thugs in the market. More importantly, their lives and fortunes are at stake, and merchants cannot be careless.
He Fengyuan was very satisfied with the veterans he hired. Although this was the first time he hired veterans to escort a caravan, the results were unexpectedly good.
They were all born and raised in Hexi, and there was no discord or slack along the way. They were even kind enough to help the caravan carry some heavy objects, and they didn't ask for much money. They were just worried about being delayed on the road and not being able to reach the front line within the time specified by the army.
While chatting along the way, He Fengyuan discovered that the commander of this mercenary army was actually his neighbor. He could live in a house on Guangqing Street and his family was generally well-off. After asking, he found out that the young man named Fang Rui was actually a neighbor.
A college student.
I have just turned twenty this year. I am smart and studious. When I first went to the military academy, I failed, so I served for four years and took the exam again. Who knew that when I was reviewing my lessons and preparing to fight again, I happened to catch up with Ye Hou's expedition to the west.
He Fengyuan asked curiously: "Why don't you apply?"
Fang Rui smiled bitterly: "The eldest son in the family has parents and younger brothers and sisters. The Recruiting Sima said that even a family like mine is not allowed to join the army. Otherwise, my mother and father will have no one to take care of me, and my younger brothers and sisters will have no one to take care of me."
Support..."
Hearing this, He Fengyuan couldn't help but sigh: "If we say that our Hexi policy is to benefit the people, benefit the people, and love the people, we can consider all these things thoroughly, which shows the benevolence of the Hexi government!"
The two of them were sitting by the campfire talking, but Fang Rui's eyes were constantly scanning the surroundings. While talking, he reminded the surrounding veterans from time to time to be alert, and even sent out fast horses with good riding skills to patrol.
"Hey! He is a good man who came out of the army. He is much more cautious than that boy of mine. He only knows how to read books all day long. He doesn't have much knowledge, but his eyesight is bad. He insists on going to Gokuyuan, and he said
What is the "beauty of mathematics"? Isn't mathematics used to settle accounts? What else can it be used for other than settling accounts!"
Unexpectedly, before he finished speaking, Fang Rui on the opposite side laughed, and then crossed his hands and said, "I didn't expect that your master actually loves mathematics. Fang admires him!"
This was the first time someone praised his fool-like evil deeds. He Fengyuan couldn't help but wonder: "What are the benefits of this math technique?"
"That's a lot. Anyway, the reason why I failed in the military academy was because I was not qualified in mathematics. Later, the examiner also said that the reason why mathematics is included in the military academy is a top priority, ranging from astronomy to geography.
As for water power, military use, equipment manufacturing, mathematics are all of great use. Let’s talk about the supplies you are responsible for transporting to the expeditionary force this time! How far is the distance, how many miles are walked every day, our expenses and consumption, these supplies arrive
How long can it be used after Barsi Khan, etc. These all need to be planned using arithmetic. Do you think this arithmetic is important?"
He Fengyuan's eyes widened, and then he took out an envelope from his arms and looked through it. Then he raised his head and said with a hint of pride: "My child said that this journey cost a total of fifteen guan of money and food. Going to Barsihan costs ten guan."
Around five passes on the return journey is enough, and you can still make a lot of money... Hehe..."
Fang Rui smiled bitterly and sighed: "What a gift! If the difference is not big, you can let your son take the exam. The family is big and the business is not as good as the child's future!"
"No!"
He Fengyuan's whole energy was lifted up, and then he sighed: "I didn't have a chance before, but now we in Hexi are better than the Song Dynasty. If we can take the official examination, hehe, there are many people who can go to the county to become a literary scholar."
Just be a good official, there will be plenty of opportunities to get ahead in the future!"
But this time Fang Rui didn't respond to him. Instead, he stared at the ground and blew the brass whistle under his neck.
Sharp whistles sounded one after another. He Fengyuan and his people began to gather in the middle of the motorcade without his instructions, and the mercenaries who followed had already walked out of the tents and started to line up to assemble.
Anyone who has served as a soldier in Hexi has not been devastated by the emergency rally. The first thing he did when he heard the whistle in the middle of the night was to put on his shoes and go out, lining up as quickly as possible to prepare for battle.
"A large group of cavalry is coming from the southwest, forming a formation to defend against the enemy!"
"Here!"
The wooden horse-drawing pits and horse-trapping pits were already prepared when the camp was set up. The ten-foot-long horse-drawing gun in the box truck was taken out. The biggest function of this kind of spear is to deal with cavalry. It only needs to be densely fixed on one side.
, which can protect the flanks to the greatest extent.
The mercenary team of more than fifty people was not that large, but it was enough to deal with the bandits and robberies along the way. However, this time Fang Rui showed unprecedented dignity and even asked He Fengyuan to send all available men and labors to him.
Leave it to him to coordinate everything.
In this way, they only managed to gather more than 120 combat forces. Even He Fengyuan gritted his teeth and stamped his feet and asked to participate in this battle in person. He knew very well that if he lost this battle, he would be the one who suffered the most losses, and Hei Khan
People will not leave anyone a way to survive.
In this way, the entire caravan is united, and Fang Rui is also distributing weapons to everyone. At this time, there is no distinction. Fortunately, armor and weapons are rationed three times. Even the businessman He Fengyuan
We all know the importance of armor and understand that this money must not be saved.
The mercenaries composed of veterans stood on the outermost layer holding shields and spears, but they were very scattered. Among them stood Minzhuang, and behind them were some veterans holding muskets. Their accuracy was excellent, so they were released.
in this position.
Behind them are some Xiaos who have just received crossbows, man, including He Fengyuan, the owner of the entire caravan.
Fang Rui originally planned to deploy some men as jumping soldiers, but looking at the already sparse formation, he could only give up this plan. As the vibration under his feet became stronger and stronger, the copper whistle sounded short and powerful in his mouth.
the sound of.
"Enemy attack!"
"Hold still! Don't fire arrows without orders!"
Black shadows with torches appeared at the end of the horizon. From the chaotic howls of the other party, it could be judged that they were Heihan's cavalry. At this distance, the crossbows were already lethal, but Fang Rui was still trying to stabilize the morale of the army.
There were a lot of cavalry on the other side, holding torches like a sea of moving fire, but even so, the caravan's formation did not waver. Before setting off, they informed the mercenaries that as long as you dare to escape on the battlefield, what will happen to you?
It's just a dead word.
Perhaps out of ridicule, perhaps out of teasing, the opponent's cavalry did not charge immediately, but were outflanking him. If he had not known that his back was filled with spears painted black, Fang Rui would never have felt this way.
So solid.
All his commands were carried out in accordance with the military academy's regulations. After careful consideration, there were no omissions. The only variable was that the enemy had too many people, as many as a thousand...
If you are commanding a squad of a hundred people, your first reaction at this time is to use box trucks to fight while retreating. The combination of muskets and box trucks can cause considerable losses to the enemy. If some cavalry are harassed nearby, this field battle will be very difficult.
How much can you gain an advantage?
But not now. Not only are there civilians, but there are also a large amount of supplies that need to be transported to Barsi Khan City!