"Creak" The southeast gate of Toyun Castle opened, and a flying horse rushed out of the city.
The knight held a torch in one hand and whipped the horse's buttocks with a whip in the other, and kept shouting: "Drive!"
The crisp sound of horse hooves could be heard far away in the mountains.
Two heads stuck out from behind the rocks on the mountain road.
One of them whispered: "Have you seen clearly who it is?"
"You can't see clearly.
It's still a little far away.
It's not too late to take action when you can see clearly."
More than ten seconds passed quickly, and the knight got closer and closer.
The light from the torch illuminated his whole body, and the two people hiding behind the rock could clearly see his face and attire.
"Wearing armor, he should be coming out of Toyun Castle.
Regardless of whether he is a messenger or not, shoot him quickly.
At this time, Toyun Castle has already closed the city gate, and merchants coming from the west will never be able to enter at this time.
"Toyun Castle" "Don't rush," the other one muttered, and then he took out a crossbow and an arrow, and aimed at the knight coming in front.
The arrow moved with the movement of the knight.
With a "whoosh" sound, the knight holding the torch fell down and fell on the mountain road.
Another person immediately said: "Quick, I'll take care of the body, and you go get the horse back."
"Know" After seeing off the messenger at the city gate, Zhao Ziliang turned to Xi Yunqing and said: "Fortmaster, plus the 100 female knights brought by the princess, we still have 246 cavalry left.
These people are of little use in defending the city. , I took them outside the fort, waiting for the opportunity.
What do you think?"
Xi Yunqing said: "The Tuqishi army may appear at any time.
I'm afraid you won't be able to stay by Qingshui Lake.
And after today's noon raid, the Tuqishi people will definitely be more vigilant.
I'm afraid it won't be that easy if you want to raid them again." , they will definitely send out reconnaissance cavalry to search around, you can’t hide.”
Zhao Ziliang cupped his hands and said: "The Lord of the fort doesn't know anything.
More than half a month ago, I asked the soldiers to dig a cave on the back of Dagushan and store a lot of food and grass in the cave.
It is extremely hidden and the terrain is It’s a dangerous place.
If there is no one to lead the way, it will be extremely difficult to find the entrance of the cave.
We can be safe by hiding there.
Lord, please rest assured.”
"Well, you must be careful."
Zhao Ziliang said to Panzhu Junxiu again: "Princess, just stay in the castle and help the castle lord defend the city.
It's cold in the cave and there are no beds or hot water.
There are so many big men crowded together and it smells bad.
You and I You will suffer if you go” Panzhu Junxiu originally wanted to follow him, but after hearing what Zhao Ziliang said, he didn't want to be crowded with hundreds of grown men and smell the stench, and couldn't take a hot bath, so he gave up all thoughts of following and agreed: "Then Okay, I’ll just keep a few female guards around, and you can take the remaining 60 or so female cavalrymen with you."
Zhao Ziliang shook his head and said: "Forget it, their combat effectiveness is really limited.
Didn't you realize that in the noon raid, my cavalry only suffered less than twenty casualties, while your people followed and killed more than thirty people?
You Letting them follow us will not only not help us, but will also become a burden to us.
Okay, I'm leaving."
After returning to the cave in Dagushan, He Zhongzhong was arranging for people to pick up and cleanse the returning Wei Meng, Huo Kan and others.
The cave was just enough to hold two hundred men and horses.
They were all cavalry, and the infantry had withdrawn to Tuoyun Castle.
Now Zhao Ziliang still had 180 cavalrymen left.
After eating and drinking, I had a good night's rest.
On the morning of the next day, Zhao Ziliang sent five groups of scouts to the north to investigate.
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At noon, the scouts sent out returned one after another to report the news.
"Report" A knight rushed over and reported to Zhao Ziliang who was standing on the top of Dagushan Mountain: "Deputy Lord, the 3,500 troops of Tuqi Shi's army have arrived on the north shore of Qingshui Lake, and they are resting and eating."
"They came so quickly."
Zhao Ziliang's expression changed and he asked, "How alert are they?"
The knight said: "It's very strict.
Our army cannot make a surprise attack."
Zhao Ziliang said to Wei Meng: "Their marching speed far exceeded my expectations.
I think they must have traveled all night.
After they rest and eat, they can reach the south bank of Qingshui Lake in two hours at most, and they can arrive before dark Under Toyun Castle, but I guess they will camp at our former camp.
It is close to the lake, so there is no need to worry about lack of water.
Behind it is Qingshui Lake, and the surrounding area is flat, so there is no need to worry about being attacked by surprise."
Huo Kan cupped his hands and said: "Deputy Lord, what should we do now?"
Zhao Ziliang said: "Huo Kan, send someone to the beacon tower to light up the smoke."
"promise"
Bundles of dry firewood had been prepared on the beacon tower made of stones.
Several soldiers lit the dry firewood and covered it with bundles of wet thatch.
Thick smoke immediately rose from the beacon tower.
The imperial court stipulated that beacon towers were generally built in dangerous places surrounded by high mountains.
If there were no mountains, they would be built on plains in the wilderness, with no buildings around.
Beacon towers were generally five feet high, one foot wide at the top, two feet wide at the bottom, and round. , the top is covered with a round house, with a flag, a drum, two crossbows, rip stones, ramparts, water urns, dry food, hemp bags, fire drills, rockets, mugwort, wolf dung, and cow dung.
If the enemy situation is announced and the number of enemy troops who light cigarettes during the day and set fire to the invaders at night exceeds three thousand, they must light three piles of cigarettes, two piles of cigarettes for two thousand people, one pile for one thousand people, and one pile for less than a thousand people.
If there is haze and you cannot see clearly, you must immediately send a horse and foot force to report the situation to the beacon tower behind.
Three piles of smoke were lit at the beacon tower on Dagushan, indicating that the number of enemy troops was more than 3,000.
As soon as the wolf smoke rose here, it was spotted on the wall of Tuoyunbao.
The soldiers on duty immediately shouted: "The enemy is coming.
The enemy is coming.
There are more than 3,000 people.
Quickly inform the fortress!"
"Dong dong dong" the sound of drums resounded throughout Tuoyun Fort.
The soldiers who were training and resting quickly gathered in the school grounds and came to the city wall under the leadership of their respective commanders.
Xi Yunqing put his helmet on his head and walked up to the city tower holding the hilt of his sword.
Jia Chongguan, Zhao Chongxuan and some other gang leaders and chiefs saw Xi Yunqing's arrival, and they all raised their hands and saluted: "Lord of the Castle!"
Xi Yunqing said: "What's going on?"
Jia Chongguan said: "Master of the fort, three wolf smokes have risen in the direction of Dagushan.
The troops of Tuqishi are more than 3,000, but I don't know where they are."
Zhao Chongxun said: "I think they must have reached the north shore of Qingshui Lake.
With the scope of Zhao Ziliang's reconnaissance cavalry, the north shore of Qingshui Lake is already at its limit."
Xi Yunqing nodded and said: "Before evening, they will definitely be able to reach the city, or camp on the south bank of Qingshui Lake twenty miles away.
I'd better make preparations first.
You two will immediately take people to move the city defense equipment and supplies.
Come up, I guess they will definitely start attacking the city tomorrow morning."
"promise":