The old friend is far away, and the piano is covered with dust under the window.
Sitting in front of a bottle of wine, I hate how much I can pour it out.
——Excerpt from "Quicheng" by Liu Yuxi (Tang Dynasty)
…
"We need to train troops in actual combat without exposing our troops. How should we do this?" Bai Fu thought hard.
Bai Fu summoned Huyan Tieyi, Yuchi Hussar and other generals.
With this great victory in Yongning, Bai Fu promoted a large number of low-ranking generals from the former Anbeiting, such as Li Feizhubao, Hu Luchong, Hou Moqiu, Yuanshen Qiu, Da Xiye, Helan Zhuqing, Shang Xijie, etc.
The generals were all veterans of Anbeiting. They followed Gao Xianzhi and granted Changqing the title of expedition to the Western Regions, and made outstanding achievements in battle.
But similar to Yuchi's Hussars, these generals are capable, bad-tempered, stubborn, and unruly.
After Li Siye, Duan Xiushi, Li Feiyuanli and other generals were transferred, the subsequent senior generals did not like these people and gradually demoted and marginalized them.
After several months of military training, Bai Fu was so impressed by the rich practical experience and excellent combat command capabilities of these generals that he activated these generals again.
Bai Fu appointed these veterans as the commanders of Shaanzhou Xiangyong, and used their rich experience to quickly train Xiangyong into qualified warriors.
As the saying goes, a scholar will die for a confidant.
These veterans were promoted again and regained their vitality. They seemed to be completely different people, full of energy and motivation every day.
Bai Fu convened a meeting, and the generals had different opinions.
Some people suggested that we go to the mountains in northern Shaanxi Province to train soldiers, organize the strong men in the villages, and train them while farming.
Some people may suggest that they conduct a long-distance attack, go deep into the rebel areas, and switch from defense to offense; some even suggest that they break into pieces, pretend to be horse bandits, and directly attack the rebels...
"Put your brains together and act arbitrarily!" This was Li Guangbi's advice to Bai Fu.
…
The weather was very good that day, the north wind gradually stopped, and the winter sun was warm and warm. The soldiers took their bedding to dry in the sun.
When the bedding is covered in the sun at night, it will have the smell of sunshine - that is the smell of the drying fields and fields before the war, when the years are quiet and the clouds are rolling and relaxing.
The sentry came to report that there were dozens of Jianghu knights at the gate of the camp. They handed over greeting cards and said they were General Bai's old friends.
Bai Fu took the invitation and looked at it, and said with a smile: "Say Cao Cao, Cao Cao is here."
Bai Fu put down the military report in his hand and went to the camp gate to greet him personally.
Dozens of knights, armed with powerful bows and crossbows, wearing bright clothes and angry horses, looked majestic.
In the deep winter, the leader still held a folding fan in his hand and shook it gently, as coolly as a prince. It was Li E, the second head of Husi Village in Qinghe, Hebei Province.
Bai Fuyi cupped his hands and said with a smile: "Second brother, I've been waiting for you for a long time, why did you come?"
Li E smiled and said: "I dare not come until I have all the gifts."
The two hugged each other and laughed.
After entering the tent, Li E was filled with admiration and said: "Brother Fu, your military camp is well-guarded and orderly, which shows that our brothers are running the army well."
Bai Fu said: "Now everything is waiting for improvement, and I sincerely invite my second brother to come and help."
Li E said: "That's what I had in mind. After seeing your letter, I rushed here without stopping."
Bai Fu said: "The new army needs actual combat drills. Shaanzhou is still some distance from the rebel front line. The soldiers of the three armies are stuck in the camp, with nowhere to display their skills.
What’s even more troublesome is that the imperial court’s order to the Tang Army in Hebei Province was to defend the city where it is. If I insist on going my own way and take the initiative to attack, not only will I not get the support of the surrounding garrison, but I will also be constrained by others.”
Bai Fu informed Li E of the subtle relationship between Shaanzhou's officialdom and military circles after the Yongning victory.
Li E is extremely intelligent and can understand things as soon as he hears them.
Li E said: "In that case, what are your plans?"
Bai Fu said: "I want to break up the Anxi cavalry and Shaanzhou recruits into parts, disguise themselves as Hebei rebels, and ambush the rebels' supplies of food and supplies at the junction of Hebei Road and Henan Road.
On the one hand, the troops are trained through actual combat, and on the other hand, their food routes are cut off, making it difficult for the rebels to take care of themselves.
I want to use the looted food and salary to provide relief to the people in Hebei and Henan provinces through the Hebei Rebel Army."
Li E opened the folding fan and said with a smile: "Brother Fu, we two coincidentally agree. This time, in addition to the leader of the Hebei rebel army you are familiar with, there are also the rebel leaders of Henan Province who are coming with me.
Recently, we have been attacking the rebels at night in the Xiangzhou and Huazhou areas, eliminating small groups of rebel patrols and scouts.
With the assistance of the regular Tang army, we have no fear of the rebel cavalry, and we can compress the rebels in the city and cut off their food transportation routes."
Bai Fu slapped his thigh and said, "Okay, I will send out fifteen teams of elite cavalry, with two hundred people in each team, under your unified command.
The marching route, food and lodging along the way are safe, and we also need the assistance of the rebels."
Speaking of this, Li E frowned and said, "Do we need orders from the Ministry of War to send troops out of camp and conduct long-distance attacks?"
Bai Fu said: "I have reported this matter to General Guangbi, and he gave me the tiger talisman for mobilizing troops."
Li E smiled slightly, closed the folding fan, and wrote lightly: "I heard that most of your generals are elite veterans from Anbeiting. Can they listen to the command of a commoner like me?
How about you also give me a golden arrow of approval, and anyone who disobeys the order will be executed?"
Bai Fu smiled slyly and said: "Generals Guan and Zhang were not convinced by Prime Minister Zhuge at the beginning. I don't seem to have heard that Uncle Liu gave Mr. Wolong the Golden Order Arrow?"
Li E laughed loudly and never mentioned this topic again.
…
In the days that followed, the generals of the Tang army and the rebel leaders discussed closely and formulated a detailed and thorough battle plan.
Bai Fu named this special operation: "Spike!"
After three days of running-in, Li E led Yuchi Hussar, Li Fei garrison, Hu Luchong, Hou Moqiu, Yuanshen Qiu, Da Xiye, Helan Zhuqing, Shang Xijie, Tang Huan, Yue Huzhu, Pei Pokong and others.
Three thousand elite infantrymen headed to Xiangzhou and Huazhou areas.
Ten days later, good news came. Fifteen task forces were divided into multiple routes and ambushed the rebel grain supply convoy from Hebei Road to Henan Road. They also attacked the military transport stations set up by the rebels on the official roads in Xiangzhou and Huazhou.
Watchtower, garrison...
With the support of the Anbeiting cavalry, the Hebei rebels dared to challenge the Yan army's cavalry, causing small groups of rebels to dare not leave the camp and large groups of rebels to not fight at night.
This series of brilliant guerrilla achievements also brought generous material returns to the Anbeiting Expedition Camp. The loot was continuously delivered to the Anbeiting Expedition Camp.
Bai Fu gave all the grain to the people hiding in the mountains of Shaanzhou. He selected some war horses and military equipment and transported them to the Shuofang Army camp of General Guangbi. The remaining grain, wages and materials were given to the military equipment officers and distributed as needed.
To the officers and soldiers of each battalion of the three armies.
After several battles, Anbei's camp in Beiting made a lot of money, and horses, weapons, grain, and army supplies were piled up like mountains.
The soldiers of the three armies who were unable to participate in the battle screamed and stood outside Baifu's account every day, asking for help to fight.
A month later, Bai Fu transferred back the fifteen task forces, re-rotated a group of warriors and troops, and continued to break them into parts to train with battles, support battles with battles, and attack the rebel supply lines.
…
Shuofang's army camp is brightly lit day and night.
Li Guangbi spread two volumes of documents on the commander's desk. On the left was the secret report of An's Beiting camp, and on the right was the military intelligence report of Shuofang's frontline scouts.
Comparing the two battle reports, Li Guangbi felt greatly comforted by the impressive performance of the advance team of the Beiting Camp in Anhui Province.
He stroked his beard, raised his thumbs, and secretly praised Bai Fu.
On this day, Li Guangbi led a team of 500 soldiers on a whim, without any guard of honor or greeting, and went straight to Shaanzhou.
Li Guangbi's personal troops crossed Wei Boyu and Li Zhongchen's defense area. They only saw Tang army scouts scouting in the distance, but did not encounter a large Tang army approaching to intercept them.
Li Guangbi sighed secretly. Wei Boyu and Li Zhongchen were also considered famous generals, but they claimed that their defense area was far away from the rebel front line and their vigilance was lax.
At dusk, the cold wind was biting, the clouds were dense, the snow particles were swirling in the cold wind, and the ice flakes hit the face, causing stinging pain.
"It's snowing."
The generals couldn't help but shrink their necks, raise their collars, and lower their hat brims to prevent the cold wind from pouring into their necks.
In such weather, even wild wolves are reluctant to forage, and snakes and rats are hiding in burrows.
However, as soon as they entered the defense area where Anbeiting was camping, Li Guangbi and his party immediately felt the hair on their backs stand on end. Although they did not see a single scout, the endless wilderness was filled with a chilling atmosphere.
The grass and trees are all covered with soldiers, and they are looming, making the generals uneasy.
The military commander hurried forward and said softly: "Commander, why don't you send out the homing pigeon to say hello to An's camp in Beiting?"
Li Guangbi narrowed his eyes and looked around, saying, "No need. The ambush troops have no horses. Send my military order and the whole army gallops away to throw away the ambush troops in the grass."
At the command, five hundred cavalry galloped forward.
Dozens of figures suddenly flashed out from the bushes. Their attire blended in with the color of the grass and the land. If they weren't moving very fast, they wouldn't be distinguishable at all.
Li Guangbi smiled proudly, whipped his horse and rode away.
Suddenly hearing the soldiers exclaiming in surprise, Li Guangbi glanced sideways and saw hundreds of human-like and animal-like figures on the left and right sides, a hundred steps away in the bushes, like monkeys and apes, with their backs hunched and four feet on the ground.
Followed.
The speed is so fast that it is like a fierce horse!
Li Guangbi was astonished: "If the ambush in the grass is not the soldiers fortifying Anbeiting, what kind of monster would they be?"