Pingnan County is located to the east of Xuzhou Prefecture and borders Wuzhou Prefecture. After Yang Banhou and Smith led their troops into Xuzhou Prefecture, they encountered few soldiers along the way and easily captured Pingnan County. However, the closer they got, the more Guiping County, the seat of Xunzhou Prefecture, will definitely encounter stronger resistance, and it will definitely not be as easy as it was at the beginning.
The county government, Yang Banhou and Smith are discussing the strategy of attacking Guiping County.
Yang Banhou sat with his golden sword on his horse and said in a deep voice: "Captain Smith, we fought along the way and the enemies we encountered were not strong. We defeated them without even using weapons. It was very easy, but the Xunzhou Mansion The main force of the army is concentrated in Guiping County. If it is attacked by force, the force under his command will definitely gradually lose its strength and become weaker and weaker. After solving Nanning Prefecture and other places, I am afraid that he will become a bare commander. This will definitely not work. ,Do you have any idea."
Smith said: "My idea is to take it in two steps. The first step is to publicize the power of our army, build momentum for the army, and create an unstoppable atmosphere. The second step is to drum up momentum and continuously increase the number of soldiers in the army. The number of people, increase the number of people, at least 30,000 to 50,000 will be enough. Only when such an army approaches Guiping County will it be more powerful."
"Army expansion."
Yang Banhou said: "Smith, are you sure?"
Smith nodded and said: "That's right, we want to..." He told the whole arrangement, and Yang Banhou also nodded, but there was still worry in his eyes and said: "The strategy is good, but the feasibility is still worthy of discussion. "
Smith said: "Captain Yang, we will wait and see."
…
Guiping County is the administrative seat of Xunzhou Prefecture.
The name of the prefect of Xunzhou Prefecture is Song Jun, and he has been the prefect of Xunzhou Prefecture for less than a year. Last year, the leaders of the Tiandihui, Chen Kai and Li Wenmao, led the soldiers of the Tiandihui to capture Xunzhou Prefecture. Xi Yinglong mobilized troops to quell the chaos, and the Song Army began Served as the magistrate of Xunzhou Prefecture.
Chen Kai and Li Wenmao were both leaders of the Tiandihui. They once launched an uprising in Guangdong, but were suppressed. In desperation, they led their soldiers to move into Guangxi, captured Xunzhou Prefecture in 1856, and established political power. The name was Dacheng and the reign was Hongde. Among them, Chen Kai was the king of Zhennan and Li Wenmao was the king of Pingjing.
The Song army was not very capable of managing the army, but it had some skills in managing the people. In less than half a year after taking office, it had already managed the Xunzhou Prefecture in an orderly manner and had already recovered.
In Guiping County, at the east gate of the city, countless people are coming and going.
"It's not good, it's not good, the army under Li Zhen's command is coming to kill you. Go home and pack your luggage and prepare to escape."
A common people roared and rushed into the city.
This roar also successfully aroused the interest of the people around him.
"It's over, it's over. Li Zhen is here. I heard that Li Zhen led an army to attack Zhennanguan. He deployed eighteen cannons and bombarded Zhennanguan indiscriminately. He directly bombed Zhennanguan. Bottom line, the city wall at Zhennanguan is thicker than that in Guiping County. If Li Zhen deploys eighteen cannons again, he will definitely be doomed."
"The army under Li Zhen not only has powerful weapons, but also elite soldiers. I heard from my eldest nephew who lives over at Zhennanguan that Li Zhen led his army and fought against Xi Changzhen and the foreigners. They were defeated and Xi Changzhen was also defeated. "
"Oh, it seems that Guiping County is going to be finished."
…
The people in the east of the city were discussing about Li Zhen's army attacking Guiping County.
However, they all ignored one question. They were referring to the army under Li Zhen's command, but Li Zhen was not here. When word spread to the east of the city, it spread to the west, north, and south of the city one after another. The overwhelming content was about How powerful the army under Li Zhen's command was, and how powerful the weapons used by Li Zhen's soldiers were described.
As the saying goes, three men make a tiger, and the situation of Li Zhen's army has become known throughout the city after word of mouth among the people. The atmosphere in the city has become more solemn, reflecting the atmosphere that the city is about to be destroyed.
Magistrate's Yamen, in the study.
Song Jun looked at the news sent by the government officials with a gloomy expression.
He doesn't understand military affairs, but he can tell that this is the other side's strategy to disturb people's hearts.
"Here comes someone."
Song Jun shouted, and a government official walked in.
Immediately, Song Jun ordered: "Immediately prohibit the people from discussing the affairs of Li Zhen's army, and put up a notice saying that I have a countermeasure. Please rest assured, and at the same time, dispatch soldiers in the city to arrest those who spread rumors and cause trouble." , there must be Qing troops spreading rumors in our city, we must catch them as soon as possible and eliminate the source before they can come into contact with the dangers in Guiping County."
The officer nodded, but still hesitated.
He thought for a moment and said, "Sir, the Qing army is really here, what should we do?"
Song Jun was stunned when he heard this. He didn't expect that all the government officials in the mansion were like this.
At this time, Song Jun was even more worried.
The government officials in the government were all worried about Li Zhen's attack on Pingnan County. He could imagine how scared the people were. Song Jun said in a deep voice: "I will immediately send soldiers to the north to ask for help. Go down." Song Jun said with a big hand. He waved and asked the government officials to retreat. He once again took out a piece of rice paper, wrote down the situation facing Guiping County on the paper, and sent someone to Lingui County in the north.
…
Pingnan County, County Yazhong.
Smith held a letter in his hand. After he opened it and read it, he handed the letter to Yang Banhou and said loudly: "Commander Yang, the Song Army has begun to ask Xi Yinglong for help. It is time to implement the next plan." Smith held the letter in his hand. The letter was apparently sent to Xi Yinglong by someone sent by the Song Army. However, Smith had already expected it and sent someone to ambush on the official road early. When the soldiers sent by the Song Army to deliver the message passed by, he directly captured the soldiers and searched them out. letter.
Yang Banhou stood up and said: "Okay, let's set off and implement the next plan."
After the two of them were determined, they dispatched their soldiers to move forward.
…
Guiping County, government office.
Song Jun has been waiting for Xi Yinglong's response, but he has not been able to wait.
"Report."
A yamen servant hurriedly ran in and said loudly: "I've seen you, sir."
"What's your business?"
"Reporting to your lord, news came from the front line. Generals Smith and Yang Banhou under Li Zhen led their troops towards Guiping County. They were recruiting soldiers along the way. Recently, more than 5,000 soldiers have been recruited, and the number of troops under their command has reached More than 10,000 people."
When Song Jun heard this, his heart skipped a beat.
More than 10,000 people, this is not a small number.
Song Jun said in a deep voice: "Let's explore again."
The government officials withdrew, leaving Song Jun sitting alone in the hall.
The next day, another news came back.
The government officer who came to report the news stood under the Song army, with a look of panic on his face, but still said loudly: "Yang Banhou and Smith once again expanded their army and recruited another 5,000 people, making it a full force of 15,000 people. "My lord, if it continues to develop at this rate, in a few days, there will definitely be 30,000 to 50,000 people. Can we stop it?"
Song Jun said in a deep voice: "I have sent someone to ask for help from the Governor, and you will get a reply soon."
He dismissed the soldiers with a wave of his hand and wrote another letter.