Chapter 26 Ominous Signs

Yang Yi led 17,000 troops to march northward, and wanted to attack the Khitan at a speed of thunder and lightning. The Uighurs' strongholds in the north.

The Tang army arranged nearly 90,000 troops in Beiluntai City. After Yang Yi left, there were only more than 70,000 left. Zhang Mai followed Yang Yi's advice and appointed Murong Chunhua to defend the northeast to serve as the Khitan, Guo Shiyong to defend the west to serve as the Uighurs, and the Khotan army horses were in the north, and he regarded himself as the center.

The Tang army had previously held a squad with the Khitan Uighurs, attacking and defending, and not falling short of a disadvantage. At this time, a large army was missing, and it was difficult to defend the original position. Guo Wei suggested secretly shrinking the front line and withdrawing all the troops and horses from the camp west of the Wuzaihe River. He also suggested that all the militias located on the inner third ring road were mobilized to increase the power of guarding.

It turned out that Yang Yi adopted the strategy of strengthening the outside but weakening the inside, and tried to arrange strong soldiers outside. The weaker militia were all arranged on the inner third ring road. In fact, the people on the ground of Anlong were strong. Even if they had not joined the army, they would have the power to fight as long as they were given weapons, but they were not as powerful as regular troops.

Since the Tang army was going to fight Beiting, Yang Yi considered that anything could happen during the war, so he organized all the stranded people who had not moved back to Gaochang so that they could protect themselves in a hurry. However, from the battle to the present, neither the Khitan nor the Uighurs could break through the outer three defense line of the Tang army. These militia were at the innermost point and were only responsible for doing some logistics.

At this time, Yang Yi left, all the regular troops were taken away. The defense power of the Beiluntai City Defense Zone was significantly weakened, and Guo Wei remembered to use the power of the militia. Zhang Mai had thought about it and agreed after hearing his mention. However, he said: "The militia can be launched, but if the garrison on the west bank of the Wuzai River is withdrawn, once Satuk sees it, we are afraid that our reality will be leaked!"

Guo Wei said: "When Satuk saw through the reality of the virtuality and reality in this situation, the northern Governor Yang had already attacked the valley where they met with the Khitan. If we advance westward, how could Satuk have the remaining strength to attack our Beiluntai City? If we use troops eastward, the troops on the western front will still have to be taken back. Since that is the case, it is better to prepare earlier."

Zhang Mai said: "This makes sense. I didn't expect this issue of military use at the moment."

After receiving Zhang Mai's approval, Guo Wei ordered the militias in the camps west of Wuzai River to be the most powerful. In one day, thousands of grass men were erected and erected in the camps as suspicious soldiers. He also left a small number of soldiers and horses to linger in the drums every morning and evening, but most of the people quietly retreated to the east of Wuzai River in the dark and night.

Beiluntai City is on the outer third ring of the Third Ring Road, and there are two ring camps to the north. Zhang Mai sent a cavalry battalion to arrange it in the north direction outside the outer ring, either thirty miles a battalion or fifty miles a battalion to facilitate the convenience of responding at any time. He also specially awarded the five Qianlijing frames that were easily allowed to be circulated to the lieutenants of these battalions, and ordered them to look far from time to time.

When Guo Wei returned to Beiluntai City, Ma Jirong also came back to report his duties. The two met. Ma Jirong's title was also a general, but he, a general, became a minister of the Khotanites. The senior executives of the Tiance Army were always on par with Guo Shiyong and Yang Yi and others. Guo Wei was a general of the Central Army, and he had just been promoted. He was the one with the least qualifications among the Central Army. When the two met, Ma Jirong was very polite to him.

This former minister of Khotan was able to hold a high position and successfully enter the Tiance regime, which made the old master not angry. His vision and methods were extraordinary! After hearing about Guo Wei, he naturally would not be careless. After meeting, he did not show too much intimacy after entering Zhang Mai's tent, but the decent emphasis was revealed in his words. Guo Wei was promoted by Zhang Mai continuously, and some people in the army were quite dissatisfied, so he enjoyed this just right appreciation of Ma Jirong.

The two of them entered the tent together, but they saw Zhang Mai paced back and forth in the tent, and seemed very worried and even anxious. Ma Jirong said, "Why do you have to do this by Marshal? Governor Yang is a powerful general in a hundred battles. Now he has led a lot of troops. Even if he really encounters difficulties, he is enough to get out of trouble."

Zhang Mai tried to speak several times but stopped, but did not reveal his heart. Instead, he asked Ma Jirong: "What's the situation in the north?"

Ma Jirong said: "Nothing is serious, they are all very calm."

Zhang Mai frowned and said, "Let's go, I'll go to Gengzi Village to have a look."

Gengzi Village is located in the north of the outer ring north of Beiluntai City, and is the closest place to Yang Yi.

Ma Jirong hurriedly said, "Marson, you should be in charge of the center, not act rashly!"

Zhang Mai said: "What's the point of going to Gengzi Village? Can the Hulu kill there in one go? Even if I kill there, I can come back!"

"The Hulu immediately came to Gengzi Village, so that wouldn't be the case." Ma Jirong said: "But Governor Yang had just left Beiluntai City and went to Gengzi Village. If the army heard about it, they would probably be secretly suspicious, worried that something had happened on the northern line. At this time, the Marshal should be more immovable."

He suddenly realized something when he said this and hurriedly said, "I dared to teach the marshal how it is. But the marshal has been fighting for a long time and has always been calm. Why does it seem that he is not as calm as usual today?"

Zhang Mai sighed and said, "I always feel something wrong with this matter. But Yang Yi's intuition has always been very accurate, so I believe him. General Ma, you should go back first after you finish your report. Pay attention to the north. If a war fire starts, you will repay it immediately!" After pausing, he said, "If there is unfavorable news, adapt to the situation! Alas, Beiting has a small victory, but I definitely don't want something wrong with Ayi. After he set off, I was really worried! I really shouldn't agree at the beginning. Being more conservative is better than..."

He said this and was unwilling to continue. Ma Jirong suddenly said, "Marson, if Governor Yang heard your words, he would be very unhappy."

Zhang Mai was stunned, and Ma Jirong said, "Although the last general did not participate in that Japanese tent meeting, he heard General Guo Shiyong's retelling afterwards. He knew that Governor Yang Yi was very angry that our Tiance Army had a dull aura after entering Hexi. He did not dare to fight desperately whenever he was in trouble. He loved his relatives and was brave. This is what the strong did, and loved his relatives and cherished his body. This is the journey of the weak. If the Marshal tended to be conservative because he cared about Governor Yang, I am afraid that after Governor Yang knew about it, he would not only not be grateful for the Marshal's kindness, but would rather be very unhappy!"

After hearing these words, Guo Wei remembered Yang Yi's personality and felt that it was indeed the case, and said, "General Ma said very well!"

Zhang Mai nodded and suddenly laughed: "It seems that the source of Hexi's conservative and shrinking wind is in me!" He cheered up and said: "Okay, let's believe in Yang Yi! As he said, he dared to take risks when he had nothing before, but now he has soldiers and generals. Do you want to be afraid?"

Ma Jirong went back after reporting his work that day. He saw that Zhang Mai was very nervous about Yang Yi, so he came to Gengzi Village in person so that he could get the battle report from the north as soon as possible.

Just the second day after he arrived, a team of cavalry suddenly rushed back in the north, entered the camp and shouted: "No, no!"

Ma Jirong's face darkened, and he ordered to bring it into the tent. He asked what happened and shouted. The team led by the cavalry was shouting: "Just now, a team of Khitan cavalry came from the east and cut off our army!"

Ma Jirong recognized that he was the fifth battalion sent out, only thirty miles away, so he hurriedly sent cavalry to help, and then he was about to set off. A group of people rushed back to the north. After asking, they were sent out the fourth battalion. These people were covered in blood. After seeing Ma Jirong, they said, "General! The Uighurs attacked from the west, and the troops were several times more than our battalion! Our army could not resist, but at the same time, the companions of the third battalion were originally from the north, and called me to return to the Moundai for help! They also said that they were attacked! When I ran back, I saw that the fifth battalion was trapped in a siege and called me to come back to report the news quickly! The last general was incompetent and could not hold his position. I also asked the general to sue him!"

Ma Jirong was shocked. The battalions arranged between Gengzi Village and Yang Yi were originally used as a means of maintaining channels and intelligence, and they had no responsibility to stick to them. Ma Jirong was not responsible for the time being, but thought: "The third battalion was attacked almost at the same time, and I believe that the first battalion and the second battalion would not be spared! Xiang Zhuang danced his sword, aiming at Pei Gong! It is easy to defeat these five battalions, but the intention of the captains must be to point to Governor Yang!"

He remembered the scene of Zhang Mai being worried about Yang Yi and was slightly confused. He knew that he valued Yang Yi very much and was responsible for the defense in the north. He had to take on Yang Yi's responsibility, but he must not let Yang Yi get into trouble! He urgently ordered someone to send the news back to Beiluntai City, and at the same time ordered eight thousand soldiers and headed to the north road in person!

When we arrived at the Fifth Battalion, we saw messy hoof marks, blood was everywhere on the dead tree and rocks, but there were only dozens of dead horses on the ground, but there was no dead person, and no living person could be seen.

Ma Jirong said intimately: "The so-called place where the Uighurs and the Khitan meet is indeed a trap!"

He rushed to urge the troops and walked for more than twenty miles, and suddenly thought: "Not good!"

Yutian was in a high position, after all, he was very alert. He was eager to rescue Yang Yi and sent troops. At this time, he thought that since the Khitan and the Uighurs could cut off the connection between Beiluntai City and Yang Yi, it would be safe along the way! Maybe the Hu people were going to surround and attack support!

"There are likely to be ambushing here!"

Hurry up and send the order to make the forward be careful!

"It's better to walk slowly than to fall into the enemy's trap!"

As soon as he came, he walked slowly. He walked for more than forty miles. It was already dizzy. A soldier in the vanguard shouted, "Who is it!"

Ma Jirong was on guard, and there were ambushes on both sides. Seeing that the Tang army discovered it and launched it in advance, they immediately cut off the vanguard's troops!

But when I heard the sound of drums beating around me, the horns roaring, and the sound of horse hooves came from a piece of gravel, I didn’t know how many people there were!

The deputy general urged to save the forward. Ma Jirong looked at the momentum and had to fall into it. He made a quick decision and shouted: "Go! Go back to the camp!"

At this moment, someone shouted, "Look! Look!"

Ma Jirong looked north, but saw fireworks appearing to be rising in the distant north. He took out the Qianli Mile Mile Mile Mile and looked again, and he was stunned...

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Just as Ma Jirong was in a tough battle, Zhang Mai had just heard Li Bin and Guo Shiyong discuss how to face the enemy in Beiluntai City. They calculated that if Yang Yi wanted to succeed, the news was coming soon. At this time, both of them strengthened the defense between the east and west routes.

"Once Governor Yang succeeds, our army should..."

Li Bin was just talking when the alarm suddenly came!

The Tang army was using flag language to convey simple and important news, but the news that was sent back this time was-

"Zhengbei! Unfavorable!"

"What!" Several generals in the tent started to move!

Although they don’t know the details yet, this is what they are most worried about!

"Give an order, gather elite troops!" Zhang Mai immediately ordered after hearing this!

Guo Shiyong said: "Marson..."

"Pass the order first!" Zhang Mai shouted sternly!

Soon after, cavalry from Gengzi Village ran into the city relay! Reported the news of the attack of the Fifth Battalion - Zhang Mai gave a strict order. If something happened in the north, no matter how small it was, it would be immediately rewarded. So after receiving the news of the attack of the Fifth Battalion, Ma Jirong immediately reported to Beiluntai City.

Li Bin frowned, but said, "Marson, there is something strange about this. But... it's just a battalion that was attacked, and that's outside the outside, maybe it's just a tentative attack from the Khitan..."

"You still talk about this now!" Zhang Mai said coldly: "This time must be a trap!"

Not long after, news came that Ma Jirong's Fourth Battalion was attacked, and at the same time, Ma Jirong's report of his aid was also reported.

Guo Shiyong said, "What's the matter so anxious about this Ma Jirong? The matter is not clear yet. If he is also ambushed, wouldn't that be bad!"

Shiba said: "I'll send someone to chase him back!"

Li Bin said, "No! The decision on the front line must have their own reasons! Ma Jirong is not a person who does not know the military situation. Now he should only strengthen the defense of Gengzi Village!" He ordered urgently: "Let's explore again!"

The troops in Beiluntai City gathered overnight. On this night, the whole city was sleepless. Yang Yi rarely became nervous like this. His eyebrows kept jumping, and there was always a strong sense of anxiety in his heart.

Li Bin noticed the future and said, "Marson, you must be more stable at this time! Now only two cavalry battalions have been attacked, so it may not be that something happened to Governor Yang. It is easy for the Khitans to cut off our contact with Governor Yang. After all, there are only four or five battalions, but it is difficult to move Governor Yang. Don't forget that he has 17,000 cavalry on hand!"

Zhang Mai Shensuo's eyebrows did not spread at all, and said, "Ten thousand cavalry, if they encounter an ambush, they will have to discount the combat power of the siege first! What's more..."

At this moment, Yang Zhuo broke into the tent and shouted: "Marson! Marshal! Has something happened in the north?"

Without waiting for Zhang Mai to respond, Guo Shiyong first scolded: "What are you doing! Is this place you can break into at will!"

Yang Zhuo shouted: "But I heard that it is north..."

Guo Shiyong said angrily: "Even if there is any chaos in the north, you are not allowed to have no rules. There is only law in the army and no love! Retreat!"

Yang Zhuo was concerned about his brother. His extremely nervous and extremely worried and fearful mood made him almost forget the military rules. However, Guo Shiyong's angrily shouted that he was a soldier! He was about to retreat, and when he stepped out of the tent, he found that it was terrible darkness outside. He was about to leave, but he saw a cavalry galloping towards him and rushed in without caring about Yang Zhuo beside the tent door and reported in: "Report to Marshal! General Ma led his troops to help the north, but unexpectedly encountered an ambush on the road..."
Chapter completed!