Three thousand miles in exile

"The prime minister ordered the whole army to retreat!"

Before the battlefield was over, Pei Gongli ordered the [-] Chinese troops to retreat.

In this battle, he arranged all the infantry on the battlefield, leaving only the cavalry.

Xirong is a nation on horseback, and horses are abundant, which is why they fight quickly, they come and run fast.

Pei Gongli gave the order to retreat, and the entire Chinese army galloped away. The military order was passed on to the battlefield, and a large number of cavalry followed.

Xi Rong was completely defeated, and only the infantry remained to fight on the battlefield.

And these infantry are just sacrificial sons.

"This Xirong thief can run better than the Yan thief. Damn, I ordered people to chase after him, but he couldn't even see the shadow." Cao Zhuang was so angry that he smashed his hands.

In Wang Zhang, Liu Zhan convened a meeting of the generals and talked about the battle during the day. Although they won, everyone felt very unhappy about winning.

"King of Han, please personally lead the troops to hunt down the thieves." Cao Zhuang begged clasping his fists.

Liu Zhan originally planned to divide his troops to defeat the remnants of the Xirong army in various parts of Hanzhong.

"Cao Zhuang, you lead [-] soldiers and horses together with Zhang Taining's [-] soldiers and horses to advance northwestward, pass through Yongzhou, Wuwei County, and capture Yumen Pass."

Cao Zhuang and Zhang Taining immediately stepped forward to embrace the order.

On this road, Cao Zhuang led an army of 14 troops and marched northwestward with Zhang Taining as the assistant. Along the way, they wiped out the remnants of the Western Rong who stayed in Hanzhong, so that they could no longer gather into a large army to threaten the Han army.

"The remaining 40 troops followed the king to the south and took Peizhou directly." Liu Zhan made the final decision.

The remnants of the Western Rong army in Hanzhongli are nothing to worry about. The most important thing now is to capture Peizhou and Jizhou, and at the same time control the Baimaqiang pass into the Central Plains.

Moreover, every second counts, and King Xirong cannot be given time to react.

As long as Peizhou and Jizhou are captured, the Han army will be able to advance, attack and retreat with the back of the two cities.

The next day, the whole Han army set out to march, all the way to the northwest and all the way to the south.

As for the captured Mashanyi, no troops were left to garrison. For Liu Zhan in this battle, it was more important to annihilate the Xirong, and there was no need to disperse troops to garrison various places.

The army went out, and Song Fenglin arranged food and grass to accompany the army.

The grain transportation team went in the direction of the two roads in Gaozhou City, and the grain team heading northwest would eventually stop in Wuwei County, with Wuwei County as the grain and grass base.

The Liang team going south followed the pace of the army all the way, and this arrangement was even more important.

Song Fenglin personally supervised in Gaozhou, and when the food and grass were in full swing, he went to the front line to join Liu Zhan.

From Gaozhou to Peizhou, you have to pass through the vast wilderness of Mashanyi, and when you enter Peizhou, you will find a hilly area.

After Peizhou was massacred three times by Xirong, there was only the Xirong army in the city, and there were no people besides it.

The villages along the way are deserted, only dead bones are on the ground, and the air is stinky. These are the innocent people who died, and most of the bones were abandoned in the wilderness without burial.

Liu Zhan's face was as frosty. "Notify the entire army that the water source is poisonous from corpses. You cannot drink the water from rivers and streams directly. You have to boil it to drink it. Tell everyone."

The soldier who delivered the order was stunned when he heard the corpse poison, so he reacted and ran out to deliver the order.

If drinking unclean water causes the whole army to contract malaria, this is a terrible disease that can destroy an army.

Liu Zhan was worried, and the medical officer and the generals came to give a serious explanation.

For a while, the news of the dead body poisoning in Peizhou swept the army, and everyone would rather be thirsty than drink raw water from rivers and wells.

In this way, outside the city of Peizhou, the rancid smell is even more pungent.

The innocent people killed by Xirong Keng piled up outside the city. This horrific scene made the whole army boil with anger.

"Siege the city and attack it." Liu Zhan didn't want to delay for a moment, and immediately ordered to attack the city.

Naturally, the Han army's strong attack was not to use human lives to attack, but to use a large number of siege equipment.

In order to quickly capture Peizhou and Jizhou, Liu Zhan traveled thousands of miles and spent a lot of manpower to bring more than a dozen tower vehicles.

How can a mere [-] Xirong defenders be able to defend Peizhou.

It took only two days for the Han army to capture Peizhou.

"I don't need Xi Rong prisoners, all Xi Rong soldiers will be killed!" Liu Zhan ordered in a deep voice.

Why not kill these brutal Xibing soldiers to pay homage to the millions of innocent souls outside the city!

The next day, the Han army did not stay in Peizhou. Liu Zhan left 2 people stationed as planned, and the army continued to march southward, heading straight for Jizhou.

At that time, the army led by Cao Zhuang had captured Wuwei County and went straight to Yongzhou.

After coming to Yongzhou, I didn't expect that there were only [-] defenders in Yongzhou.

"At least 10,000+ of the remnants of the Xirong army fled. Why are there not many defenders in Wuwei County and Yongzhou?" Cao Zhuang keenly sensed something was wrong.

Zhang Taining also felt that something abnormal must be caused by a demon. "The king of Han is leading his army to the south. It is impossible for this Xirong army to go south and join the king of Xirong."

If it goes south, there must be traces.

In fact, they personally chased the deserter to the northwest that day, and it was impossible for them to appear in the south in a short period of time.

Therefore, this army must still be in the hinterland of Hanzhong.

"Beware of Xi Rong's sneak attack!" Zhang Taining said solemnly.

Cao Zhuang remained silent, his tiger's eyes were tense, and after thinking twice, he spoke. "Spread out the scouts to find the Xirong army. It is more important to defeat their main force first than to capture the city."

Before, they all thought that the deserters from Xirong would stick to a city, but now it seems that their purpose is to fight guerrilla warfare.

Cao Zhuang reported the situation to Liu Zhan, and at the same time ordered the whole army to attack and capture Yongzhou, and then focused on pursuing the fleeing Xirong army in the next step.

"Prime Minister, why are you doing this?" General Xi Rong came to look for Pei Gongli very unhappy after receiving the order to continue the transfer.

In the past few days, they moved around like mice, although they were all used to life on horseback, they didn't feel too tired.

It's just that this aimless escape is really tormenting.

"The time has not yet come." Pei Gongli only said so.

General Xirong was tired of hearing this sentence, every time he came to inquire in the past few days, Pei Gongli would use this sentence to prevaricate him.

"What are you waiting for?" General Xi Rong asked impatiently.

In the simple tent, Pei Gongli played with the chess pieces in his hands, and placed them one by one on the map of Hanzhong.

"This is chasing soldiers." He used a chess piece to represent Cao Zhuang's team.

"This is the main force of the King of Han." Another chess piece was used to represent Liu Zhan.

"There is one more person." Pei Gongli held a chess piece in his palm.

The candles in the tent were flickering, Pei Gongli raised his head and looked at the general, his half-destroyed face was very ugly, holding the chess piece in his hand, he smiled sinisterly.

"Do you know what the King of Han is most afraid of?"

General Xirong frowned. "What else is scary about the king of a country?"

Rumor has it that the King of Han started as a lowly man, and conquered the northern Xinjiang with his bare hands. What else could he be afraid of?

"You are wrong, he has a weakness." Pei Gongli put the chess pieces in Gaozhou.

"The truth is waiting for this person to come out."

"Who is it?" General Xirong frowned, he hated the Central Plains people who were full of words and didn't speak clearly.

"As long as you take down this man, you will take down the king of the Han army." Pei Gongli smiled uglier than crying, but there was no smile in his sinister eyes.

He knew that defeating the Han army would not shake this man.

Only killing his beloved will make him more uncomfortable than annihilating 50 Han troops than killing him!

Ever since he asked to stay in Hanzhong and tried his best to persuade the king of Xirong, Pei Gongli never thought of defending Hanzhong for the king of Xirong. From the beginning, his purpose was only revenge!

His family treated him indifferently and unfairly, and he had nowhere to go to find a way out, but he was always on the brink of death every time he changed owners several times. He vented all his misfortunes and pains on one person.

From the beginning, Pei Gongli's goal was the Queen of Han, Song Fenglin!

In order to ambush Song Fenglin, he did not hesitate to surrender Hanzhong, he only wanted Song Fenglin to die!

"Report! Queen, the main force of our army has captured Peizhou!"

At that time, Song Fenglin was supervising the grain and grass in Gaozhou. As time went by, most of the grain and grass in Gaozhou were already on the way.

Liu Zhan sent 3 soldiers and horses to the rear, plus Song Fenglin's [-] people to protect the grain team along the way.

"Queen, the King of Han sent an order, asking you not to wait for the grain team, and go to Peizhou quickly." On the same day, Zhang Xiaoman got the news and came to look for Song Fenglin.

The [-] soldiers and horses at the back of the palace had already been split into several convoys to escort the grain to join the Chinese army. The grain team had left in a hurry, and they should also leave Gaozhou.

If Song Fenglin set off again after the rest of the soldiers and horses had left, there would be more variables on the road.

So Liu Zhan came here to urge him to go to the front with the remaining soldiers and horses, and because the remaining soldiers and horses were dispersed to protect the grain team, only 2 people actually followed Song Fenglin.

If it was later, there would be fewer accompanying soldiers.

"I see, let's arrange to leave tomorrow." Song Fenglin closed the account book.

It was also on this day that Cao Zhuang finally grasped the traces of the deserters from Xirong.

"The Xirong army must have a plan when they return to Mashanyi. That is the only way for our grain team to go. We can't delay our departure immediately!" Cao Zhuang immediately led [-] cavalry to go first.

Zhang Taining led the infantry to follow.

From Yongzhou to Mashanyi, it will take a day and a night for the cavalry to advance at full speed.

"Prime Minister! We can't stay in Mashanyi for long, it's too close to Gaozhou!" General Xirong was in a hurry.

Judging from his experience, their tracks must have been exposed by now.

In the dark and gloomy tent, Pei Gongli was wrapped in a cloak, only showing his terrifying face. "Wait a little longer, I have a hunch that he will leave the city soon."

The wounds on his body, the experience of being violated by the King of Xirong, and the nightmarish nightmares kept him awake at night.

Both hatred and expectation and torment.

After sitting like this all night, the good news finally came the next day.

"Prime Minister! The Queen of Han has left the city!"

In an instant, Pei Gongli was jumping wildly. "Order the whole army to go!!"

12 cavalry ambushed the grain team of the Han State, like hitting an egg with a stone, and this battle will surely win.

He finally waited for this moment!

At the order of the prime minister, the 12 Xirong troops packed up lightly and prepared to set off one after another.

However, the information on the battlefield was changing, and the Xirong cavalry hadn't had time to set off, when the sound of horseshoes trampling was heard in the distance.

"The cavalry of the Han army is coming!!"

The Xirong army immediately exploded.

General Naxi Rong stamped his feet angrily. "I said that people from the Central Plains are unreliable! Come on, let's fight!!"

The news soon spread to Pei Gongli.

"Prime Minister, the Han cavalry are coming!"

How could it be such a coincidence!Pei Gongli hated secretly, but he calmed down quickly. "Divide half of the troops and leave with me."

He couldn't miss this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

"What? Divide the troops?" General Xirong was furious, but the king of Xirong gave the Central Plains people military power, and he couldn't stop him no matter what.

The cavalry of the Han army was extremely fast, and they rushed to the front in the blink of an eye. At this time, there was no time to arrange countermeasures for the Xirong general. He had only one battle.

The crude camp of the Western Army in the wilderness was smashed to pieces by the Han cavalry, and the Modao cavalry and Lancers destroyed the harvesting battlefield.

Over there, Pei Gongli quickly led half of the cavalry to leave.

Cao Zhuang had only 12 cavalry on this trip, and he was determined not to be able to stop the [-] Western soldiers, so he could only watch helplessly as another group of Western soldiers fled.

In autumn, the vegetation is withered and yellow, and the climate in Hanzhong is warmer than that in northern Xinjiang. Except for the lack of rainfall throughout the year, there are no other disadvantages.

Wearing a special red and black armor, Song Fenglin stepped out of Gaozhou City on horseback surrounded by soldiers guarding the front and rear.

The food team of the Han army went from Gaozhou to Peizhou, passing through Mashanyi. It took three days and two nights to ride on horseback, and double the time on foot.

To Song Fenglin, the area of ​​Mashanyi was neither unfamiliar nor unfamiliar.

He is no stranger because he and Liu Zhan came here in the early years. At that time, there was a shortage of war horses in the army. He and Liu Zhan almost ran all over Hanzhong to find horses.

Back then, the area around Mashanyi was covered with endless fertile fields, all of which were planted with wheat.

Strange because the same place is now beyond recognition.

Several villages that should appear in memory have disappeared, only the remaining mud walls that have not collapsed can be vaguely distinguished. There used to be villages here.

Song Fenglin set up two strongholds along the way in Mashanyi for the young and strong soldiers transporting food to rest, and they arrived at the first stronghold on the first night.

This is an abandoned village, and the soldiers stationed have erected wooden fences and watchtowers around the village.

Song Fenglin and his party stayed here at night.

Zhang Xiaoman built an uncollapsed mud house for Song Fenglin to rest in, with wooden beds and blankets inside.

The conditions for marching and fighting are limited, and living in a mud house is better than living in a simple tent with ventilation.

"Queen, I made hot tea, be careful of it getting hot." Zhang Xiaoman brought food and hot tea.

"The King of Han issued an order not to drink the water from the rivers and wells along the way directly. They said it was poisoned by corpses. I burned it and burned it again and again. Only half a pot of water was gone before I dared to use it to make tea."

This story had already spread to Gaozhou, but no one believed it at first, and a horse fell ill after drinking unboiled water, and died of foaming at the mouth within two days.

For a while, the whole army, including the young and strong who transported food, was frightened. Now even the horses in the army drink boiled water to enjoy the coolness, and no one dares to touch the raw water.

"The King of Han must be right." Song Fenglin smiled lightly.

"I'll remove your armor, go to rest early." Zhang Xiaoman wanted to come forward.

Song Fenglin raised his hand. "No, I can rest as I please, and you should rest earlier."

The sky was empty, and the food escort team set off again.

The information on the battlefield is ever-changing, and Chen Fuwei, who led the escort to escort the queen, did not dare to delay, and was ready to go early in the morning.

At the same time, the Han army arrived in Jizhou and was about to start a war with the Jizhou defenders.

A scout brought back news from the Central Plains that the King of Xirong proclaimed himself emperor in the imperial capital, named Tian Da Di.

When Daliang was destroyed, the aristocratic families from all over the country did not organize troops to drive out the foreign enemies. The aristocratic families in several cities in the Central Plains took the lead in crossing south, and most of the Central Plains had fallen into the hands of Xi Rong.

"The king of Xirong proclaims himself emperor, so he doesn't intend to return to the Western Regions?" Cao Ming asked.

The generals are also talking about it.

"The King of Xirong will not stay in the Central Plains." Liu Zhan said firmly.

"Xi Rong burned the imperial capital, and the next step must be to return to Mobei with the loot. Jizhou is the only way for them to pass. We must deploy defense as soon as possible."

The Han army must defeat the main force of Xirong, otherwise they will return to Mobei and make a comeback in the next year. Hanzhong and the Central Plains are still caught in endless wars.

Jizhou has [-] Western soldiers guarding the city, and the opponent is prepared, not as passive as Peizhou.

Because Liu Zhan didn't want to damage the soldiers on the road, he didn't order a strong attack immediately, and spent two days first.

There is no suspense in this battle, and it is only a matter of time before it is broken.

When he was in charge of the army, Liu Zhan always remembered Song Fenglin in his heart.

"Why hasn't there been news of the queen's arrival yet?" Liu Zhan frowned, and called his personal guards to find out the situation.

Li Futian talked back and forth. "Report to the King of Han, and there is no news about the queen in logistics."

A few days ago, Liu Zhan sent someone to spread the word, asking Song Fenglin to leave as soon as possible, there should be no unreasonable delay, and logically he should arrive.

Liu Zhan frowned. "You lead five thousand cavalry to fetch the queen."

Li Futian immediately took orders.

Liu Zhan said again: "Be sure to receive the queen as soon as possible, and send someone to notify me immediately after receiving the queen."

Li Futian cupped his fists. "Please rest assured, the King of Han."