The army has been setting off for five days, and battle reports are constantly being sent back from the front. Yang Xuan will check the battle reports at the Admiral's Mansion every day, so naturally he cannot avoid meeting Zhao Mo.
The two of them were polite on the surface, but both sides were wary of each other at this time.
Yang Xuan always brought guards with him when he came in and out, but Zhao Mo was worried that Yang Xuan would cause trouble.
Although Chen Changqing handed over Ganzhou City to Zhao Mo, if something happened to Chen Changqing, Yang Xuan also had the right to take over the entire army.
In other words, Yang Xuan would not snitch on Chen Changqing, but he would definitely not be polite to Zhao Mo.
For example, today, Yang Xuan and Zhao Mo almost had a quarrel over the dispatch of the grain transport team.
Yang Xuan wanted to let Zhao Ming lead the team to transport food, but Zhao Mo refused, saying that Zhao Ming's troops were the main force defending the city and could not leave without permission.
Indeed, Zhao Ming's duty is to defend Ganzhou City. Originally, with Chen Changqing and tens of thousands of troops, his defense was dispensable. Now that Chen Changqing has taken away the troops, he has become the main guard.
Is there a defensive force?
In fact, the reason why Yang Xuan wanted Zhao Ming to lead the team was that the troops under his command were the strongest troops in sight. If he led the team, he could effectively avoid being robbed of food and grass by the Oara people.
Although according to the battle report, the Oara people were shrinking due to the advance of Chen Changqing's army, there was no guarantee that there would be no enemy troops in the rear.
The transportation of grain and grass is a top priority. If the grain and grass are robbed, not only the frontline troops will be affected, but Yang Xuan will also not be able to escape the blame.
After Yang Xuan left, Zhao Ming rolled his eyes: "Brother, do you want to take this opportunity to kill him?"
Zhao Mo frowned: "You mean, reveal his whereabouts to the people in the Fucha Department?"
"Yes, as long as someone from the Fucha Department takes action, even if he escapes by chance, he will be held accountable for dereliction of duty. Isn't this the biggest threat gone?"
Zhao Mo pondered and said: "But if we really lose our food and grass and the frontline troops are defeated, the city of Ganzhou will be difficult to protect."
"Brother, we can prepare enough food and grass first. Once Yang Xuan is robbed, we will immediately make up for it."
Zhao Mo closed his eyes and thought for a long time before he said: "The army has a lot of food and grass. If the food and grass are robbed, how can we get so much food and grass in a short time, unless we use our own granary."
"Brother, it's not a loss to solve this serious problem with a warehouse of food and grass."
Zhao Mo nodded: "It concerns our entire Zhao family. Remember not to expose any flaws and be extremely careful."
"Don't worry, brother, this matter can't be leaked. It's not our family's fault. Even if it is leaked, it won't be traced to us."
"Okay, I'll leave it to you then."
…
The Zhao brothers refused to transport grain, so Yang Xuan had no choice but to find someone else.
After much deliberation, I found Lao Qi, the one I had been drinking with at the beginning.
Lao Qi is also a veteran of the Ganzhou Guard, the kind who switches defense to other places, wanders around and then comes back.
This also shows that his ability is average. Otherwise, among so many generals, no one would be willing to promote him or keep him?
Sure enough, as soon as Lao Qi opened his mouth, he showed that he was a veteran: "Master Supervisor, you should ask Lao Fang for this matter. He has qualifications and strength. If it weren't for offending the Zhao family, it would be better if he didn't talk about it now.
How can anyone who has worked for thousands of households for five years and not be promoted even if he is a commander of personal guards?"
This old Fang, named Fang Ce, is the man who told me that Zhao Ming opened a kiln in the Xu family's old house when we were drinking last time.
Yang Xuan patted Lao Qi on the shoulder: "Okay, I'll leave this matter to you. In the future, if Lao Fang has made a contribution, you will be considered a meritorious recommendation."
Lao Qi patted his chest: "Don't worry, Lord Supervisor, leave this matter to me."
Not long after, Lao Fang came. As expected, Lao Fang asked: "I wonder what the supervisor wants from me?"
Obviously, that old veteran Lao Qi didn't mention the matter of escorting grain and grass at all. Yang Xuan also knew the virtues of such an old veteran, so he didn't beat around the bush and said it directly.
However, Lao Fang fell silent: "Master Supervisor, are you saying that Zhao Ming refuses to send troops to transport food?"
Yang Xuan nodded, and Fang Ce said: "I'm afraid there is fraud in this matter."
"How can it be deceitful?"
Fang Ce cupped his hands and said, "I've heard that Lord Supervisor and the Zhao family are at odds with each other. I'm afraid someone may be plotting against me on this trip to transport food."
"You mean Zhao Ming will hinder me from escorting food and grass?"
Fang Ce cupped his hands, but said nothing.
Yang Xuan suddenly laughed: "General Fang, I heard that you have not been promoted for many years because you offended the Zhao family. Is this possible?"
Fang Ce showed an indifferent expression and said: "I was ignorant when I was young, which offended the Zhao family, but now I am a member of a thousand households, and I have reached the fifth rank, so I will definitely not backbite others."
"Then why do you have to say that someone framed you?"
"I am worried about the admiral and the soldiers and civilians. If the food and grass are robbed, they will be the ones who suffer."
Yang Xuan nodded. This Fang Ce may not be a good person, but there should still be a bottom line.
"Hahahaha, General Fang, since you are so patriotic and caring for the people, I'm relieved."
Fang Ce raised his eyebrows, his facial expression just relaxed, and then returned to its original state. It was obvious that he did not completely trust Yang Xuan because of Yang Xuan's simple words.
Yang Xuan naturally knew this, and at the same time, it was impossible for him to completely trust the other party at once: "I know that you have been in the army for many years and are experienced in leading troops and marching, so I plan to let you escort the food and grass. I don't know General Fang."
What do you think?"
Fang Ce frowned, thought for a moment and then clasped his hands and said, "I don't dare to say goodbye to my destiny."
Yang Xuan patted his shoulder: "You go and prepare first, and you can set off tomorrow."
The next day, after everything was prepared, the food protection team set off.
Yang Xuan took his Tu Baihu and Fang Ce's men to escort the grain and grass to Hongshan Fort.
The three armies are advancing together and have now converged at Hongshan Fort. This Hongshan Fort is a strategic location and can also be regarded as a pass. By guarding this pass, the Walas army cannot run around at will, otherwise it will be easily cut off.
Way back.
This is where the grain and grass are sent. Hongshan Fort is not far from Ganzhou City, just over five hundred miles away. Although the grain truck is slower, it can arrive in a day and a night.
Yang Xuan naturally had to be careful when transporting grain for the first time. After all, including Tu Baihu, there were only more than 1,100 soldiers, plus some heavy troops, totaling more than 2,000.
We traveled slowly all the way until noon. Because of the hot weather, we even rested in a forest for two full hours before setting off.
All this was seen by a person watching from a distance.
According to this marching speed, even if there is no obstruction, it will take at least noon tomorrow to reach Hongshan Fort.
The people who were following were watching and sending people to report the news. As long as they told the people in the Fucha Department, they would get a thousand taels of silver.
It's just that the people following him didn't look so carefully, and didn't even notice that there were more than 200 people and a dozen carriages missing from the team.
As soon as it got dark, the food transport team stopped advancing and started setting up camp.
After spending a long time, the scouts from the Fucha Department had already come over and were staring at them from a distance. However, after the scouts reported back, the people from the Fucha Department were not in a hurry to take action.
Everyone has set up camp anyway, so if we wait until late at night to attack, we have a greater chance of success.