Fenghou

Wan Yanchang and Wanyan Helisa rushed out to greet them, only to see a group of cavalry outside, guarding a skinny old man in his fifties, Wan Yanchang recognized at a glance that it was Tang Kuochagan, the uncle of the state, the empress Tang Kuo's younger brother and Wan Yanchang's ally.

A glimmer of hope suddenly lit up in Wan Yanchang's heart. The wolf lord sent Tang Kuocha to do it, which might bring him good news.

He laughed and greeted him, the two embraced tightly, Wanyan and Lisa stepped forward to salute, and everyone surrounded Tang Kuochagan into the prison mansion like stars holding the moon.

In the back hall, Wanyan Chang dismissed all the servants, leaving only him, Wanyan Helisa and the special envoy Tang Kuo Chagan in the back hall.

Tang Kuocha took a sip of tea and said slowly, "Master Wolf's health is not good, you should know!"

Wan Yanchang's heart sank, and he asked anxiously, "How serious is it?"

"The imperial doctor said there is still half a year at most."

"Ah!" Wanyan Chang and Wanyan Helisa were both stunned.

Wanyan Heli became anxious, "Since that's the case, why doesn't Lord Wolf refuse to send more troops to Shaanxi Road? What exactly is he thinking?"

"Drink Lisa!"

Wan Yanchang's face sank, "Don't be so rude!"

Tang Kuo Chagan sighed slightly and said, "I understand the impatience of drinking Lisa. Although Zong Pan is extremely fierce for Khurub and holds the power of the government in name, the real power is in the hands of Zong Gan and Zong Han. It is Zuo Bo Jilie and the other is You Bo Jilie, who not only hold the power, but also control the military power. Without the consent of the two of them, no one can mobilize the 20 troops in Shangjing, and the ministers also echoed. No one can touch the foundation of the country, the imperial decree of the wolf lord cannot leave the palace, Zongpan has been emptied again, you now understand the situation in Shangjing!"

Wanyan Helisa was about to speak, but seeing Wanyan Chang's stern eyes, he had to shut his mouth consciously.

Wan Yanchang said calmly: "Chagan traveled all the way for this trip, he didn't just come to tell me these things!"

"Of course not. After all, Zong Pan is Hulu Bo Jilie. He still has some capital in his hands, but he can't leave Shangjing. Zong Pan's intention is to change the capital supervisor army to be the Marshal of Zuodu, in charge of Hedong Road and Shaanxi Road."

Wan Yanchang immediately understood that this should be the wolf lord's arrangement to let him command the [-] Jurchen troops on Hedong Road and Shaanxi Road. At present, Wanyan Zonghan firmly controls the [-] Jurchen troops in Hebei and Yanjing, and Wanyan Wu Shu controls the [-] Jurchen troops in Henan and Jianghuai, and they all have their own territories, so they have confidence.

Although the wolf lord was unable to increase troops to Shaanxi Road, he allocated Hedong Road and Shaanxi Road to himself, so that he had [-] Jurchen troops, which can be regarded as indirect support for himself.

Of course Wan Yanchang is willing to change to be the Marshal of Zuodu. He is a supervising army in name only. Neither Wanyan Zonghan nor Wanyan Wushu will buy him, and he can only manage Shaanxi Road.

Wan Yanchang immediately nodded and agreed, "Of course I am willing to be the Marshal of Zuodu, but when will I do it?"

Tang Kuochagan smiled slightly, and took out a golden wolf head order and five tiger charms from the bag he was carrying and put them on the table, "I still have the imperial order, and I just need you and me to go to Taiyuan!"

Wan Yanchang was overjoyed, "Shall we go now?"

"We'll set off when you arrange Shaanxi Road!"

Wan Yanchang pondered for a moment, and immediately said to Wan Yan: "Order the Jurchen army in Wanyan Ahuli to withdraw to Fengxiang, and the [-] Qi army to withdraw to Jingchuan County, under the command of Han Chang. As for the attack on Chengji The county's arrangements will be discussed after I come back from Hedong Road, you still have to continue to prepare for the battle here."

"Humble post obeys orders!"

……

Both sides are preparing for the battle intensively. By the end of March, the outer city wall of Chengji County has been successfully completed, and the army has moved to the outer city to station. Also began to migrate to the city.

Standing on the cable bridge to the north, Chen Qing looked at the large open and flat land, and said to Jiang Yanxian next to him, "It's a pity that such a large area of ​​land is empty, can we use all of it?"

Jiang Yanxian smiled slightly and said, "Employee, don't worry that the land is useless. Once war breaks out, a large number of refugees will flee to Chengji County. These open spaces can be used to set up tents and accommodate refugees."

Chen Qingruo realized something, thought for a while and said, "When you mentioned pitching tents, I wondered if we need to build another separation wall to separate the war buffer zone from the useful land behind."

Zhang Xiao also said: "It is indeed necessary to repair the wall. Go back and tell Hu Yanyun about it and ask him to build another wall about a hundred steps away from the outer city wall."

Walking through the iron chain bridge, Chen Qing came to the outer city wall. The outer city wall is very wide and thick, up to three feet thick, and can accommodate six large carts at the same time. Two hundred paces away.

At the head of the outer city, thousands of soldiers are already patrolling and standing guard. The moat is very wide, up to five feet wide. If the ships come to attack the city, will the things we worry about happen?"

Zhang Xiao is the designer of the outer city, and he quickly explained: "When I reported to the capital last time, I didn't mention the moat. The distance is as far as ten feet, and warships cannot build a ten-foot-long wooden bridge to go to the city. If it comes to war, we will set up barriers directly in the river, so that the enemy cannot approach the water gate."

Chen Qing nodded happily, "If this is the case, the possibility of using the moat to attack the city is indeed relatively low."

Just after finishing speaking, Chen Qing raised his head and saw an eagle flying slowly from the east, and finally landed on the eagle tower in the city. Chen Qing said with a smile: "It seems that important information has arrived!"

Not long after, a soldier ran across the chain bridge, ran directly in front of Chen Qing, knelt down on one knee and saluted, "Report to Dutong for emergency information on Jingzhao City!"

After finishing speaking, the soldier presented a red letterbox, and Chen Qing took the letterbox. Red means the most urgent. He shook out a scroll, unfolded it slowly, and said to Jiang Yanxian and Zhang Xiao, "The special envoy from Shangjing has arrived. , Wan Yanchang was changed to Marshal Zuodu, and then Wan Yanchang followed the special envoy to Taiyuan."

Zhang Xiao said with a smile: "It seems that Marshal Zuodu is quite powerful, not only in charge of Shanxi Road, but also in charge of Hedong Road. Calculated, he should have [-] Jurchen troops in his hands. Once he leads an army of [-] to attack Chengji County, It’s really a big problem.”

Chen Qing said lightly: "The [-] troops are Wan Yanchang's capital, he will not easily use them to attack the city, even if they attack the city, it will be the puppet Qi army, just like they attacked Pingliang City, once Wan Yanchang returns from Taiyuan City , is the time for the enemy's westward expedition, and we have to step up our combat preparations."

Chen Qing turned around and asked Zhao Xiaoyi, "Is there any news about Liu Qiong?"

Zhao Xiaoyi quickly bowed and said: "Not yet, he is going to the inner circle of Xiaoguan, which is deserted and inhabited, and cannot deliver news, even if there is news, it should be sent back by Pingliang City."

Chen Qing nodded, he was really worried about Liu Qiong's expedition!

……

On the Loess Plateau to the north of Shaanxi Road, an army is winding eastward through a huge ravine. The army is composed of [-] cavalry and [-] camels. The camels carry water and food. The expeditionary force led by Liu Qiong aimed at Yanzhou and attacked the fire oil warehouse in Yanzhou.

Chen Qing got a piece of information that there were currently only [-] puppet Qi troops in Yanzhou, and there was a large amount of kerosene in the warehouse that had not been transported. Chen Qing immediately made a decision and sent Liu Qiong to lead [-] cavalry to Yanzhou.

Of course, Chen Qing didn't make this decision by scratching his head, but the current situation in Xixia made him see this opportunity.

In the hundreds of years of confrontation between Song and Xia, the Song Dynasty and Xixia were bounded by Hengshan Mountain, which is today's Baigan Mountains. However, after the fall of the Northern Song Dynasty, the forces of the Xixia Army rushed out of Hengshan and occupied all the land within a hundred miles south of Hengshan. up.

Including the northern part of Zhenrong Prefecture, the northern part of Huanzhou, the northern part of Huanqing Prefecture, the northern part of Qingyang Prefecture, and the northern part of Yanzhou, a large number of fortresses built by the Song Army became the garrison of the Xixia Army.

But because of the outbreak of civil war in Xixia, all the troops south of Hengshan were withdrawn, and the Jin soldiers and puppet Qi troops were busy attacking Hanzhong, and did not pay attention to these deserted loess plateaus, so there were no soldiers stationed in the entire northern part of Shaanxi Road.

Chen Qing seized this opportunity and sent Liu Qiong to lead two thousand troops to expedition to Yan'an Mansion to snatch the strategic resource fire oil.

The army marched at night and day, and traveled westward along the uninhabited Loess Plateau. The wild Hengshan Mountains can be seen in the north. Not only did they not meet the army, but they did not even encounter ordinary people. Fleeing south, unwilling to become a slave of the Xixia people.

So I encountered many villages along the way, but there were no people there, and they had been abandoned.

After Liu Qiong led the army to walk for ten days, that night, they entered the boundary of Yanzhou. The guide led them to the southeast, and sixty miles to the southeast was Fushi County, which is rich in fire oil.

Chapter 533

Ever since the businessman Han Dongtang was killed, Chen Qing has been thinking about rebuilding a kerosene supply chain, but this opportunity has never appeared. Then I realized that this might be an opportunity.

The magistrate of Fushi County is called Li Miaowen, a native of Yanchuan County, Yanzhou. He was Zhang Xuan's father's most proud student. Father's handwritten letter, and got 300 taels of gold at the same time.

Li Miaowen is willing to be an eyeliner of Xihe Road in Yanzhou because of favor and profit.

In the past two days, Li Miaowen was a little anxious. He sent a report to Chengji County half a month ago, because he found that there were 1000 barrels of storage in the Yanzhou Huoyou warehouse, and there were only [-] people in the Yanzhou garrison. This is a rare opportunity.

But half a month has passed, and there is still no news from Chengji County. Li Miaowen just got the news that a transport fleet has set off from Jingzhao three days ago, and it is estimated that it will arrive in Fushi County in two days. If no one comes from Chengji County, all the kerosene will be transported away.

In the afternoon, Li Miaowen was sitting in the official room in a daze, when a follower walked in quickly and said, "Master, someone from your hometown is here to deliver a letter."

Li Miaowen's heart skipped a beat, this was what he and Zhang Xiao agreed to say, it wasn't from his hometown to deliver the letter, it was someone from Chengji County.

"Where is the person?" he asked anxiously.

"Wait outside the county office!"

Li Miaowen thought for a while and said: "You take the messenger to my house, I'll be right back!"

Li Miaowen cleared the table, got up and went back home.

In the study, Li Miaowen met the messenger, who was the scout sent by Liu Qiong, and he brought a message.

The soldier saluted, "My general is in Liujia Town, thirty miles to the north. My general wants to know if there is still kerosene in the oil depot, and whether the garrison has increased?"

Li Miaowen quickly said: "It's still the same as before. There are 1000 barrels of kerosene in the kerosene depot. The garrison is right next to the kerosene depot. There are only [-] people. The general is called Wang Sang. He is usually in the city at night."

After a pause, Li Miaowen added: "Three days ago, a transport fleet set off from Jingzhao to Yanzhou to extract fire oil. It is estimated that it will arrive in two days. You should act tonight."

After speaking, Li Miaowen found a confidant servant and asked him to follow the scouts to Liujia Town as a guide for Song Jun, and at the same time gave the scouts a map.

The scout put down a wooden box, said goodbye and left.

Li Miaowen opened the wooden box, and there were thirty top-quality rubies inside, all of which were worth a hundred guan. Li Miaowen was dazzled by seeing this box of gems, at least more than three thousand guan.

……

Liu Qiong led his men to rest in a nearby forest thirty miles away, which was relatively close to Liujia Town.

In the evening, the scouts sent out came back with a servant guide.

Liu Qiong looked at the map and asked in surprise, "Is the fire oil warehouse outside the city?"

Jia Ding bowed and said: "Reporting to the general, the fire oil warehouse is located by the Yanshui River, mainly for the convenience of transportation, and a camp of one thousand troops is also stationed next to the warehouse. Their general is called Wang Sang, and they have a concubine in the city Going back to town every night for the night."

"How is the army doing?"

Jia Ding shook his head, "Our people call this army four soft and one hard. When they see women, their legs are soft, their hands are soft when they see money, their mouths are soft when they go to restaurants, their pockets are soft when they go to gambling halls, and they are tough when they see people."

Liu Qiong nodded. He could fully understand that Yanzhou belonged to the rear, far away from the battlefield. It would be strange to deploy an elite army here.

He looked at the map carefully, and a bold battle plan quickly formed in his mind.

……

On the south bank of the Yanshui River, there is a warehouse group consisting of ten warehouses, surrounded by high walls. This is the fire oil warehouse, which was built in Luocheng last year.

The reason why the warehouse is not built in the city is that Yanzhou is far away from the Song army, and there is basically no external threat. Secondly, there is a garrison next to it, and it is not afraid of ordinary people coming to steal. The third important reason is that The transportation is convenient, and it can be shipped directly away, and there is no need to find a civilian husband to carry it out of the city.

The military camp is just to the east of the warehouse group, only a hundred paces apart, surrounded by barracks, and there is an open space to the north of the military camp. At night, the outside is full of business tents, prostitute tents for skin and meat business, and various food stalls. The liquor sellers and butchers, the sub-accounts opened by the gambling halls, etc., were extremely lively.

It was also because the general Wang Sang had to go back to the city every night. Once he left, no one was in charge of the barracks, and the soldiers took the opportunity to indulge in women, eating, drinking and gambling.

At two o'clock, the barracks finally became quiet, and the exhausted soldiers also went back to the camp to sleep. At this time, two thousand Song Army cavalry had passed the Yanshui Bridge, only two miles away from the barracks.

The cavalry kept approaching and stopped about [-] steps away from the barracks. Liu Qiong waved his hand, and dozens of scouts rushed up.

The gate of the camp was closed, and the soldiers on guard went to find places to sleep, but there was not a single soldier on guard in front of the camp gate.

The Song army scouts cut off the wooden bolt of the camp gate with a knife and opened the camp gate.

Liu Qiong could see clearly from [-] paces away, he galloped his horse and shouted: "Kill in, no one will be left behind!"

Suddenly, two thousand cavalry swept towards the barracks like a flood breaking a bank.

The cavalry rushed into the barracks, and he threw them into the big tent. The barracks was ablaze, and many soldiers fled from the big tent in horror, but they were killed mercilessly by the cavalry, and there was a lot of crying and shouting in the barracks.

Some soldiers escaped from the barracks by chance and ran to the county town several miles away...

In less than half an hour, the cavalry of the Song Army rushed out of the barracks, and the barracks had turned into a sea of ​​flames.

That night, Song Jun used [-] camels to carry away all [-] barrels of kerosene on their backs. These kerosene were all medium barrels, each weighing [-] catties, and each camel could carry ten barrels or even more.

At dawn at last, a large number of officials and general Wang Sang rushed to the river, the barracks were burned to the ground, and the surrounding business tents were also burned.

The general Wang Sang's face was extremely ugly, he couldn't explain to the commander Li, why was he not in the barracks at night?

Hiding among a group of officials, Li Miaowen watched in horror at the corpses burned to black charcoal, and the warehouse was looted, and all the [-] barrels of kerosene he had stored for half a year were taken away.

At this moment, a fleet of eighty thousand-stone ships slowly approached. They were here to extract fire oil and transport it to Jingzhao.

All the officials looked at each other in blank dismay, what should they do?

……

In the past two days, eight female guards and ten male guards have moved into Chen Qing's mansion. The male guards are mainly in charge of the outer house and the middle hall, while the female guards are in charge of the rear house.

Increasing security is also a part of preparing for war. Chen Qing has made too many enemies outside, especially Xixia, who likes to use assassination methods. The Xixia royal family also set up a special assassination group, Heijintang. When Xixia attacked Ganquan Castle, Heijintang's The samurai sneaked into Ganquan Fort.

When Xixia was unable to defeat the Xihe army in a normal war, assassinating the leader of the opponent must be the choice of the Xixia royal family. This is their tradition and a very effective means.

In addition to Xixia, the puppet Qi army would also do this kind of thing. They have many precedents, not only assassinating the leader of the enemy army, but also assassinating political enemies.

Although Chen Qing's personal soldiers are very elite, he really needs some personal guards with high martial arts skills.

Chen Qing already had a personal guard. Except when Chen Qing returned to the inner house, such a guard followed him like a shadow at other times. This guard was a young Taoist priest, his figure was as fast as a ghost, and his special skill was throwing knives.

At dusk that day, when Chen Qing went back to the mansion and entered the inner house, the personal guards disappeared, and he didn't care about the female guards who took over in the inner house.

Chen Qing went back to his study room, took off his coat and hung it on the hanger, the door creaked open, and his wife Lu Xiu came in with a cup of tea.

"Is my husband hungry? Why don't you go have dinner first!"

Chen Qing smiled and waved his hands, "Let's rest for a while, I'm not too hungry now."

"Husband, everyone in the city is saying that there will be no war, is it true?" Lu Xiu asked.

Chen Qing took a sip of tea and smiled, "Who did you hear that from?"

"I heard what Master said, and she heard what other people in the teahouse were talking about. Everyone is very concerned about this issue."

Chen Qing nodded, "It can only be said that the war may not break out. Wan Yanchang wants to preserve his own strength and will not use the Jurchen army to die. It depends on the puppet Qi army. If Bianliang Xiang pays attention to increasing troops, then this There will be war."

As soon as Chen Qing finished speaking, an arrow shot 'whoosh! ' shot through the window, and the arrow was accurately nailed to the wall with a letter stuck in it.

Chapter 534