"Finally passed through the Dadou Valley."
Yan Xingqi sighed as he turned around on his horse to look at the snowy Dadou Valley behind him.
Thinking of being forced to evacuate from Dadou Bagou again and again in the past two days, with many casualties in the process, Yan Xing seemed to be in a dream.
Liu Cheng was riding in front and heard Yan Xing sighing and ordering: "Send the order and the whole army will rest on the spot for a quarter of an hour.
No sleep is allowed during this period."
"Yes, sir."
The messenger behind him agreed and immediately passed on the order.
The army responded, and everyone leaned on their sleeves in the woods at the foot of the mountain.
Liu Cheng ordered the guides to be called in for questioning, and the three guides were quickly brought over.
"I have seen you, sir," the guides said as they knelt down and saluted.
Liu Cheng raised his hand and said: "This time the army was able to pass through Dadou Valley so quickly and smoothly.
You three have made great contributions.
Get up and talk."
"Thank you, sir."
The three of them said their thanks and climbed up from the snow.
Liu Cheng waved, and a personal guard brought three money bags.
He said to the guides: "This is the reward for the three of you."
The guides were overjoyed.
They took the money bag and immediately saluted Liu Cheng: "Thank you, sir."
Liu Cheng asked: "Have any of you been to Longqi City?"
One of them said: "To tell you the truth, the three younger ones have all been to Longqi City."
"Very good, the army is going to Longqi City.
The three of you will still lead the way for me.
When we reach Longqi City, I will give you a big reward, much more than this.
If you dare to lead the way carelessly and delay the army's journey, If you delay this important event for me, not only will your lives be in danger, but even your family members will not be spared, understand?"
Liu Cheng shouted sternly.
First they were given a carrot, and then they were given a stick.
The three hunters didn't dare to have bad intentions, so they immediately and tremblingly agreed: "Yes, the common people will do their best to serve you, and they will never dare to have second thoughts."
Liu Cheng nodded and said: "Very good, you have something to eat first, and after a cup of tea, we will set off to lead the way for you in front of the army."
"Yes, my lord" After letting the guide go down, Liu Cheng told his soldiers: "Go and find Ma Teng and his son."
"promise" Ma Teng quickly rushed over with Ma Chao, "Greetings to Lord Sikong."
Liu Cheng raised his right hand and said, "Brother Shoucheng and Meng Qi please get up."
"Thank you, sir.
I don't know why you asked me and my son to come here."
Defeating Han Sui and overcoming the great battle to pull out grains greatly increased Liu Cheng's prestige among Ma Teng's Xiliang army.
Ma Teng also looked at Liu Cheng differently and showed signs of respect in his words and deeds.
Liu Chengdao: "I don't dare to obey the order.
The main reason why I asked Brother Shoucheng and his son to come here is because you are from Liangzhou and are much more familiar with the situation in Xiqiang than me.
I want to ask about King Qiang's inseparable tooth tent."
Are you in Longqi City?"
Ma Teng said: "Yes, Longqi City was built during the period of Emperor He.
At that time, the western captains of Jincheng were stationed.
Later, the imperial court gradually lost control of the area around the West Sea.
After the Qiang people occupied Longqi City, they used it as a tent
.
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"
Liu Cheng asked: "Is Shoucheng familiar with the road to Longqi City?"
Ma Teng shook his head and said: "Beizhi has walked west from Jincheng to Longqi City a few times.
The road is quite familiar, but Beizhi has never walked this road."
Liu Cheng looked at Ma Teng and his son, and after thinking for a moment, he said, "I think that although Meng Qi is young, he is brave and courageous.
I want him to lead three thousand troops as a vanguard.
What does Brother Shoucheng think?"
Ma Teng glanced at Ma Chao, clasped his fists and said to Liu Cheng: "I am worried that Meng Qi is too young to take on such a big responsibility.
If something goes wrong, not only will my father and son not be able to bear the consequences, but your plan may also come to nothing."
Liu Cheng smiled and said: "Brother Shoucheng loves his son very much.
I understand it very much, but has Shoucheng ever thought about blindly protecting Meng Qi under your wings?
When will he really grow up and be able to stand on his own?
What's more?
He may not like what you do.
Sooner or later, the young eagle will spread its wings and fly high.
I think Meng Qi has this talent and potential, so he should be allowed to hone it."
Having said this, Liu Cheng looked at Ma Chao and asked, "Meng Qi, are you willing?"
Ma Chao was at the age where he resented his parents for arranging everything for him.
He was also at the age when he wanted to prove that he lived a life that was recognized by the people around him.
Without thinking, he excitedly clasped his fists and said: "Young general is willing."
Ma Teng immediately reprimanded: "You don't think it's embarrassing and you call yourself a junior general.
You are not even a captain."
"The school captain is a high-ranking official."
Liu Cheng smiled and said to Ma Teng and his son: "This matter is settled.
Ma Chao, you quickly go and order three thousand Qingqi to lead the way.
Call two people."
The guide came and followed Meng Qi, leaving only one guide staying with me."
The soldier promised: "I obey" Ma Chao immediately clasped his fists at Liu Cheng and Ma Teng and said, "Ma Chao resign."
After Ma Chao left, Liu Cheng said to Ma Teng: "Shoucheng, your Xiliang army accounts for the majority of the army.
For the convenience of command, please stay with me and convey the order in time.
I will not take command of the army for the time being."
Pound is in charge, and my orders will be conveyed through you Pound, what do you think?"
Ma Teng was very impressed when he saw Liu Cheng's thorough consideration and meticulous attention to detail.
He immediately clasped his fists and agreed: "I humbly obey my orders."
The terrain of a large area south of the Qilian Mountains is complex, with mountains everywhere, and the roads are in particularly bad condition.
Almost all of them meander along the rivers at the foot of the mountains, and the army cannot march very fast at all.
It took two days to walk about a hundred miles.
After the army marched for two days, a heavy snow suddenly fell from the sky.
Along with the howling cold wind, the march was too difficult.
If the heavy snow continued to fall, the army was likely to be trapped on the way and unable to advance or retreat.
Liu Cheng had to order the army to camp on the spot and sent spies to explore the terrain and inquire about the surrounding situation.
In the evening of that day, Tan Ma brought the surrounding terrain survey results and investigation report, "Sir Sikong, there are four Qiang tribes within a radius of fifty miles.
The largest tribe has about three thousand people.
There are a thousand people in the smallest one On the left and right, at the foot of the northern mountain, thirty-five miles away from here, there is a tribe of 1,300 people, twenty-six miles to the west, and a tribe of two thousand people thirty miles to the east.
This is a difficult terrain.
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A simple map, the locations of the four Qiang tribes have been marked on it."
Liu Cheng took the topographic map surveyed by the sentinel and looked at it.
He raised his head and asked, "This tribe of three thousand people is on our only way to Longqi City."
"Yes, my lord" The heavy snow had been falling for two days in a row before slowing down a bit, and it was likely to stop soon.
The snow on the ground was already ankle deep.
That night, Liu Cheng convened a meeting with the generals and staff at the Chinese army tent and asked: "When do you think the snow will stop and can we go on the road tomorrow?"
Yan Xing said: "Brother, although I am from Xiliang, I have never been here.
I don't know much about the climate here.
The heavy snow shows signs of stopping, but I can't say for sure.
Who knows whether it will be there tomorrow?"
It will get bigger and bigger again.”
At this time, Liu Ye stood up and cupped his hands and said: "Master Sikong, the students don't know whether it will continue to snow tomorrow, but there is one thing that the students think Master Sikong should know.
Our army only brought ten days of rations when it set off from Mighty City.
Yes, it took one day to get from Wuwei City to outside Dadou Bago, and it took three days to cross Dadou Bago.
After crossing Dadou Bago, our army marched for two days, and it snowed heavily and we camped on the spot.
It took us two days to avoid the wind and snow, which meant that we had already eaten eight days of rations.
However, the weather was actually very cold, and the soldiers used up a lot of energy during the march and became hungry quickly, so they ate an extra day of rations.
Now we only have one day of food left.
Even if the heavy snow stops tomorrow and we set off immediately, it will still take at least five days to reach Longqi City.
How will we deal with the food and grass for the past few days?"
Liu Cheng's expression did not change at all after hearing this.
He looked at everyone and asked: "This means that tomorrow we must solve the problem of food and grass for the next five days, otherwise we will all be hungry starting from the day after tomorrow.
Is there any way to solve the food and grass problem?”
The young general Ma Chao stood up and clasped his fists and said: "Sir, there is no other way now but to steal it from the Qiang people."
Several other generals also agreed.
Now there is no other way to solve the food and grass problem except grabbing food and grass from the Qiang people.
Liu Cheng took out the surrounding terrain map of the sentinel painting and passed it around to everyone one by one.
After everyone had finished reading, he asked: "There are four Qiang tribes around us.
How do you think we should rob and which tribe should we rob?"
Zang Ba said: "If you want to rob, you must rob with a small number of people.
This way you can easily succeed."
A few people nodded, thinking that Zang Ba's considerations were reasonable.
The larger the number of Qiang people, the more soldiers they could fight, and the success rate would naturally be smaller.
However, Zhang Xiu expressed a different opinion: "Sir, tribes with a small number of people must have less food, grass, cattle and sheep.
We have 30,000 people.
If we rob the Qiang tribe with a small number of people, how many days can we survive?
I think We should rob the tribe of three thousand people.
It is blocking the way of our army.
According to the size of three people, their cattle and sheep should be quite large, enough for my army to reach Longqi City."
However, Yan Xing frowned and asked: "If one of these three thousand tribesmen escapes, the news of our army's arrival will be leaked, and our plan to raid Longqi City will be in vain.
I’m afraid it would be difficult to let someone escape.”
Zhang Xiu opened his mouth but couldn't refute, so he could only retreat sadly.
Liu Cheng glanced at everyone with his tiger eyes, and his eyes fell on Chen Qun: "Chang Wen, what do you think?"
Chen Qun was thinking about it when he heard Liu Cheng call his name.
He stood up and said, "Sir, the students do not agree to attack the Qiang tribes on the east, west, north, and west.
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The main reason is that it is time-consuming and labor-intensive.
We only have one day's food and grass.
No."
Dare it snow tomorrow?
If it doesn't snow, we all must take action, otherwise we will be hungry the day after tomorrow.
We can send troops to rob the Qiang tribe on the other three sides.
It is better for the army to go south directly to attack the tribe of 3,000 people, which can also save the time to reach Longqi City. " "As for the worry about leaking the news, the student thinks that there is no need to worry about it.
With this kind of weather and the snow on the ground, even if someone escapes and brings the news of our army's arrival to Longqi City, King Qiang will not leave until he gets the news.
I'm afraid our army has already arrived at Longqi City Nearby, he doesn't have much time to gather troops and horses.
Even if he sends out the order to summon the tribes to gather troops and horses, the Qiang tribes will not have enough time to rush to Longqi City to meet up.
We only need to defeat the tribes before the troops and horses arrive.
If we don't leave, the situation in Xiqiang will be settled."
Liu Cheng nodded and said: "Yes, Chang Wen's suggestion won my heart.
Pass the order, and the whole army will be prepared.
No matter what the weather is like tomorrow, we must set out as usual.
We must obtain enough supplies tomorrow."
"Yes," the generals responded with fists clasped together.
After the meeting, the generals and officials left one after another.
The soldiers brought sesame seed cakes, dried meat and boiled water to Liu Cheng.
Liu Cheng ate the jerky and ate the sesame seed cakes.
He had been worried about it for the past two days.
It was because of the problem of food and grass.
He couldn't tell it on his face.
He was very worried, thinking that he would wait for at most two days.
If the heavy snow did not stop for two days, the army would be in danger of running out of food.
At that time, no matter how heavy the snow was, he would still have to march in the snow to grab food and grass.
It is actually very tiring to pretend to be nonchalant and not worried at all in front of the generals and military officials.
Only in this way will the generals and officials not panic and the army will not be in chaos.
Late at night, Liu Cheng still couldn't sleep.
The problem of food and grass became a sharp sword hanging over his head.
This problem was too serious.
If it was not solved, he would not be able to sleep at all.
At this time, a soldier came in and clasped his fists excitedly: "Sir, the snow has stopped."
"What did you say the snow stopped?"
Liu Cheng asked in disbelief.
The soldier said: "Yes, the snow has stopped.
It stopped just now."
Liu Cheng immediately got up and walked out of the tent to the camp and looked up at the sky.
Although the sky was pitch black and nothing could be seen clearly, the snow had indeed stopped.
He took a deep breath, made a decision immediately, and shouted: "Come here, hurry up and notify the generals to come to discuss the matter."
"promise" The generals rushed over quickly, and judging from their appearance, they were not asleep either.
Liu Cheng looked at everyone's expressions and said: "You must all know that the snow has stopped, and God still gave us a chance.
Now that the opportunity has come, we can't miss it.
I have made up my mind, and the army will set off overnight.
Set off immediately when the heavy snow stops.
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We must capture the 3,000 people in front before dawn. tribe, try to prevent anyone from this tribe from escaping.
This battle is related to the life and death of our army.
If we cannot capture this tribe of 3,000 people and cannot get enough food supplies, we will starve to death.
Therefore, this battle can only be allowed to Victory cannot be defeated.
I have decided to personally lead three thousand light cavalry to attack the camp.
Where is Ma Chao?"
Ma Chao immediately trembled, stood up and clasped his fists, saying: "Here" "I order you to take your vanguard of three thousand light cavalry and follow me to attack the camp."
Ma Chao was shocked: "Follow your orders" Liu Cheng shouted again: "Where are Yan Xing and Ma Teng?"
"The end will be here," the two men stood up and responded with fists clasped.
"I order you two to lead the army and follow them in sequence.
We must try our best to prevent the soldiers from falling behind.
Everyone, go back immediately and prepare."
Everyone stood up and agreed: "No" Marching in the snow at night is definitely not a good idea, but Liu Cheng has been forced to a dead end at this time, and he has no choice but to do it.
It really feels like burning the boat.
If you don't succeed, you will die.
However, it is precisely because of the bad weather that the surprise attack can be carried out. unexpected effect
.
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