The two camps are thirty miles apart. Considering that each side has tens of thousands of troops, this distance is extremely close. If there is any slight disturbance, the war is about to break out.
Li Song had only traveled about ten miles when Tangqi came to report that Yuan Zhi had heard the news and had led his army out of the camp. There were tens of thousands of armored cavalry and infantry.
If we go any further, I'm afraid we'll have to fight on the spot...
Li Song smiled loudly and said goodbye to Cui Guang and Wei Zijian: "I've sent you a thousand miles away, but I'll have to say goodbye eventually. I hope you guys take care of yourself!"
Cui Guang didn't answer and just sneered. Wei Zijian sighed sadly and bowed to Li Song.
Without waiting for Li Song to return the favor, the two men lightly knocked on the horse's belly and led more than a hundred retinues to the west.
When more than a hundred riders were getting further and further away, and the figures behind them could hardly be seen clearly, Li Song shouted loudly: "Stand camp on the spot...Li Xian, go and urge your eldest brother and Yongshou to make them more efficient..."
Li Xian responded quickly and rode away. Li Song climbed onto the Cloud Tower again, and then carefully took out a copper pipe about the thickness of a child's arm and about a foot long from his arms.
The tube is a spindle that has been shrunk countless times, with one end thick and the other thin. Li Song unscrewed the buckle and with a little force, the copper tube became much longer.
Then he raised his eyes, as if he had pulled the world before his eyes. The convoy that had already traveled five or six miles away could see clearly, and Li Song could even tell which one was Cui Guang and which one was Wei Zijian.
Li Chengzhi had actually wanted to make a telescope for a long time, but it took nearly three years from the idea to realizing his wish.
Making transparent glass is not easy, and it is even more difficult to make the astigmatism and refractive index of the glass meet the requirements of a telescope.
Li Chengzhi is basically a layman, and coupled with his already busy schedule, it is impossible to waste all his time on studying glass.
At most, he could purify some iron, copper and other coloring agents, and then give the craftsmen a few words based on their feelings, and let them try again and again.
Fortunately, Huangtian paid off and finally tried it.
Five days ago, five of them were officially assembled. Li Chengzhi kept one, and later gave one to Li Song and one to Huangfu. He also ordered Tang Qi to hurry up and send the remaining two to Daqi, just in time.
Li Liang and Zhang Xinyi can also come in handy.
However, the transparency is still not very good. Just like the one in Li Song's hand, at first glance, the object in the mirror seems to be covered with a layer of light green, like a fake product suddenly reaching the height of summer.
This is due to poor technology and high iron content in the glass. But it is better than nothing, much better than just looking with your eyes...
Even Li Shiliang didn't have this kind of thing, so how precious is it? Li Song naturally felt like he had found a treasure and couldn't put it down.
In addition, he was afraid of being coveted by Cui Guang and leaking the secret to Yuan Zhi, so Li Song had not played with it properly in recent months. At this time, there was finally no obstacle, and he was even more happy to see it, and he couldn't stop watching.
But after a few glances, he raised his eyebrows fiercely.
About ten miles to the west, a black tide seemed to appear out of thin air in the snow, like ants, numerous and dense.
Although he couldn't see it very clearly, Li Song could guess with his toes that this must be the Yuan Dynasty's army of birds.
The two armies have been in peace for more than a month. Today, Xihai suddenly broke camp and advanced ten miles westward. No matter how slow Yuan Zhe reacts, he will definitely take precautions.
Li Chengzhi's original intention was not to start a war without starting a war. It would be best to rely on Cui Guang to explain the interests and take Yuan Zhi and the 30,000-strong army for his own use.
But Li Song estimated that this possibility was too small: As a member of the Yuan clan, how could Yuan Zhi easily surrender to a Han official?
So sooner or later there will be a fight, and this is exactly what Li Song wants.
Regardless of the rest, it has been half a year since the artillery was built, and Li Song has never used it, so he just took this opportunity to start it...
Li Song pushed forward ten miles, so Yuan Zhi also advanced ten miles eastward.
But he was not as prepared as Li Song. As soon as he made a move, the entire battalion came out. The camp, artillery, armor, and food and grass all came with the army.
Therefore, Yuan Zhi only brought 10,000 soldiers out of the camp, including only 6,000 armored cavalry.
And these 6,000 armored cavalry are already the entire wealth of Dunhuang Town and Xiliang Prefecture. The remaining 24,000 and half-armored infantry are only 10,000, and the rest are peasant soldiers wearing leather armor or wooden armor.
The only weapon is a gun.
Such soldiers are not even considered auxiliary soldiers in Xihai. At most, they are just young men and civilians. Whenever troops are sent out for expeditions, they have never been counted in the military strength.
In this way, the strength of the two sides was actually almost the same, so Li Song felt confident and pressed forward step by step.
…
At this time, the two armies were ten miles apart. Looking around, one could vaguely see the dark military formation of the other side. If the horse were to gallop, it would not even take half a moment, so the situation was like an arrow on the string, and there was no time to attack.
The Yuan bird of prey was stationed on a mountain ridge, with a solemn expression on his face, showing no signs of joy or anger. But he was filled with surprise and uncertainty in his heart.
Half a year ago, it was early summer, and there were only a few millet seedlings in the fields outside the town. He suddenly received a report that tens of thousands of troops from Rouran had suddenly invaded Hexi and conquered two counties and eight counties in just two decades.
Even Wuwei, the capital city of Dongliangzhou, and Shandan Racecourse, which herds more than 100,000 horses, fell to the enemy.
The Yuan Dynasty was naturally alarmed and suspicious, so he sent detailed scouts and scouts to patrol Zhangye and Wuwei. At the same time, he mobilized all his troops and stationed in Jiuquan.
But just like a stone sinking into the sea, Xiao Zuo sent wave after wave, but no one came to repay?
After that, Yuan Zhi got angry and simply sent out a battalion, but there was still no news. No one was seen alive or dead, and Yuan Zhi suddenly realized that there must be a Rouran army stationed to the west of Jiuquan County, and a dragnet was laid...
…
When he was cautious, he stationed his troops at Yumen and sent his cavalry to take a circuitous route north and reach the foot of Junji Mountain.
Then, something strange like half a year ago happened again: nearly a thousand miles north of Junji Mountain, the scouts found no trace of the army passing through. On the contrary, on the bank of Juyan Lake in the south of Junji Mountain, not only were there many herdsmen tending sheep
, there are even soldiers traveling in war.
The Yuan Dynasty was frightened and doubtful, so it rushed eight hundred miles, one south and one north, with the south road along the Qilian Mountains and the north road along the Junji Mountains, in a hurry to report to the imperial court.
After more than a month, the imperial edict did not arrive, but he first received Luo Jian's handwriting.
Only then did Yuan Zhi realize that the enemy army that suddenly invaded Hexi was not Rouran, but Li Chengzhi, who had committed suicide in Xixun. And the remaining troops in Hexi who helped Li Chengzhi pacify Beizhen, defeat the Southern Dynasty, and Tuyuhun's 100,000-strong army,
All are Li's songs...
Is it just nonsense?
If he received another secret order from the imperial court later, Yuan Zhi would almost think that Luo Jian had lost his mind and gone crazy...
The imperial court ordered him to keep a close watch and wait for the opportunity. If he was sure of victory, he could either chase or annihilate him depending on the actual situation...
But how sure is Yuan Zhi?
He will never forget the scene four years ago: Li Chengzhi stood alone on the town of Woye, as close as a bloodbath, defeating thousands of troops!
In his subconscious mind, how could he be able to match a person who was as close as a god?
Just as the Yuan Dynasty was hesitating, wondering whether to withdraw his troops to the west and return to Dunhuang, or whether to ask for directions and garrison troops in Jiuquan County first, Luo Jian's second letter came.
The whole article is unclear and difficult to understand, but the strange thing is that Yuan Zhi actually understands it?
This dog thief is actually good at making opinions, secretly making peace with Gao Zhao, and intends to carry out the plan of "driving away wolves and swallowing tigers"?
Because I was afraid that if I failed, I would be punished by the court, so I kept it secret and wrote nonsense letters.
However, at that time Luo Jian and Changsun Dao had already begun to make plans. Soon they would send troops to disguise themselves as refugees and enter the West Sea first. They were as close as an arrow on the string and had to be sent. This letter was to invite Yuan Zhi to send troops to echo him east and west.
.
The idea is good, the purpose is clear, and it is quite far-sighted.
Just because he asked himself, even Yuan Zhi felt that compared with Gao Zhao, the former only suffered from scabies, while Li Chengzhi was the most serious problem.
But having a vision is one thing, being able to win is another.
So what if Luo Jian has an army of 100,000?
Did he forget that four years ago, the Li clan wiped out the huge Du Lun clan with only 5,000 soldiers?
However, Luo Jian is already riding a tiger, so how can he, Yuan Zhi, be in a dilemma?
The imperial court's secret order for him to wait for the opportunity to either expel or annihilate is still in Yuan Zhi's arms. If Luo Jian failed in the end, but he turned a blind eye to the whole process, he would definitely not be able to escape the word "death" in the end!
So, I had no choice but to bite the bullet.
But Luo Jian, the thief, made it clear in his letter that he had agreed to lead his army to Juyan, Hubei Province at the beginning of the winter month (the eleventh month of the lunar calendar). Now, nearly ten days have passed, but no trace of the army has been seen.
one?
On the contrary, the army from the West China Sea arrived as promised and stared at the east side of the lake. If it hadn't been snowing heavily for days, the fight would have started a month ago.
Yuan Zhi had some doubts before, whether Luo Jian was teasing him, but when he sent an envoy to the west to question Luo Jian, the strange things that happened half a year ago happened again and again.
No matter how many messengers or scouts he sends, as long as he gets close to Juyan Lake, everything will be like a stone sinking into the sea.
Even taking a detour from the north of Junji Mountain is not possible.
At this point, Yuan Zhi knew that Luo Jian was blocked halfway.
And vaguely, Yuan Zhi actually had a premonition: Luo Jian would definitely be defeated.
If by that time, I have become a lone army hanging on the border, what should I do?
While he was thinking secretly, his trusted aide urged his horse to run up the mountain ridge and whispered: "Bingzhen Army, two moments ago there were more than a hundred armored cavalry and dozens of chariots coming from the east. They were blocked by the former army five miles away, but something strange happened.
What is surprising is that the leader claims to be the Marquis of Ping'en County, the Crown Prince's Taibao, the Imperial Prince's Liquor, Cui Guang, the Minister of the Ministry of Civil Affairs, and even holds the title of Emperor... However, he is humble in his position and does not dare to confirm, so I have come to invite the Governor..."
Yuan Zhi's eyes almost fell out?
Now within a radius of a hundred miles, apart from the Dunhuang Army, there is only the West Sea Army. If it comes from the east, it must come from the enemy's camp?
But how could it be Cui Guang?
As the pillar of the country, he cared about his ministers and refused to assist the young emperor in the capital. Why was he in Hexi and even in Li Chengzhi's camp?
When he heard the emperor's decree, Yuan Zhi immediately believed 99% of it: the destiny festival was so important that the imperial court would never grant it lightly, and no one would dare to fake it.
So it must be Cui Guang...
If such a person does not move, it will definitely be a big deal. Cui Guang was either sent by the imperial court to persuade Li Chengzhi to surrender, or the imperial court knew that he and Luo Jian were already in the West Sea and sent him to supervise the army, but they didn't know it.
Why was he captured by Li Chengzhi...
He was horrified for a moment, and all sorts of random thoughts came to his mind, but his movements were not slow at all, and the horse was neighing in pain after being whipped several times.
"You have lived in Beijing with me for a long time and have met the county magistrate more than once. Why are you so vague?"
The confidant looked aggrieved and did not dare to argue. He could only apologize repeatedly, but secretly cursed in his heart: He had met Cui Guang several years ago and only had a quick glance. How could he remember it so clearly?
Yuan Zhi was watching the enemy in front of the formation. He was not far away, so he arrived in a short time.
When he met Cui Guang for the first time, he was stunned subconsciously: the old man's face was red and full of energy. How could he look like he was captured?
Turning your eyes to the side, there was another person standing next to you. He was wearing a black official uniform and had only two beams on his crown. After taking a closer look, he recognized that it was Wei Zijian, who was now Taichang Shaoqing.
Seeing Wei Zijian, Yuan Zhi suddenly realized that these two men must have come to persuade Li Chengzhi to surrender.
He dismounted hurriedly, leaned over and bowed: "The county magistrate..."
Cui Guang's face looked a little ugly. He waved his sleeves and interrupted: "General, there is no need to be polite. It's not too late to check in and reminisce about the past..."
Yuan Zhi followed the good advice and extended his hand to invite him. He was thinking in his heart: According to common sense, if Cui Guangruo came to appease Li Chengzhi, he would have sent a messenger to inform him before arriving at the West Sea. The reason why he did not receive even a hint of the message should be because he had done so before.
The scouts who disappeared into the sea were like Xinzuo. As soon as they entered the territory of Liangzhou, they were captured by Li Chengzhi's men...
No wonder he looks so ugly?
Before entering the camp, he had been watching for a long time. After entering the camp, he took a quick look at the flowers. After a quick sweep, Cui Guang felt heavy in his heart and looked gloomy.
It must be that he suddenly received the news, and Yuan Zhi sent out his troops in a hurry, and the soldiers did not eat when they left the camp. At this time, they were able to stay in the camp, so they ordered the soldiers to eat.
The soldiers were either in groups of three or five, holding millet cakes in their hands and devouring them. If they felt choked, they would grab a handful of snow from the ground and stuff it into their mouths.
This is understandable. Although Cui Guang has never led an army, he knows a lot about military affairs. He knows that most of the troops in the border towns are like this. At least the chestnut cakes in the soldiers' hands are not small now, and they should be able to eat six or seven servings.
, indicating that Yuan Zhi did not skimp!
But I am afraid of comparison.
He had been in Li Song's camp for a month, and he had already taken a closer look: not to mention the soldiers, they were the strong men in the Xihai camp who hauled grain and grass, fed horses and built strongholds, and the civilians also had three meals a day, and they were provided in sufficient quantities.
What's more, the soldiers were almost immediately exposed to the flesh, and "no drinking of raw water" was written into the military order. Anyone who disobeyed would be punished by the entire company, the company leader, and the team leader.
Therefore, all of Li Song's subordinates were radiant, fat and strong, and it was obvious at a glance that they were carefully selected, and they continued to train even when the snow fell.
On the other hand, the soldiers of the town army were unevenly distributed. Except for the armored cavalry, most of them looked like dry seedlings that had been dry for several months. The reason why the soldiers were so urgent that they suddenly eat just before the battle was because of the Yuan Dynasty bird of prey.
His subordinates only eat two meals a day, the early meal before noon and the late meal after Shen time...
Let’s look at the appearance of the army: Although they are armored cavalry, the army is barely enough to cover the soldiers, but the war horses are completely unarmed. The remaining infantry are only half-armored, but they do not number more than 50,000.
And Li Song only had five thousand soldiers and cavalry under his command, but they were all men and horses, with only a pair of eyes exposed from all over his body.
Not to mention that there are thousands of artillery pieces in Li Song's camp that can shoot iron pellets weighing ten kilograms a thousand steps away?