The moon was cold and clear, and the sky was full of stars.
In the southwest, between the mountains of the frontline in Zizhou, a strange atmosphere was spreading among the hundreds of thousands of people.
The army was also a society. When an unexpected result of a battle occurred, the news would spread, and people would choose to face it with different attitudes.
Astonishment, anger, confusion, verification, perplexity, incomprehension … Finally, acceptance and response. There were thousands of people, and there were thousands of expressions on their faces.
After nightfall, torches were still spreading among the mountains. The atmosphere inside the camps was somber, but in different places, there were still warhorses galloping, information was exchanged, and even troops were mobilized.
Within the Jin army, the senior members had already entered the process of meeting. Some went to Shiling personally, while some generals were still making various arrangements.
At the frontline of Xiukou Town corresponding to Shiling, near midnight, a battle broke out on the northwest side of the foothills that was still under martial law. The Jurchen troops who tried to make a detour were blocked by the Huaxia army's patrol team. Then, several troops joined the battle. At the frontline of Xiukou Town, the Jurchen troops also organized a night attack under the leadership of Saba.
When they hurried to the Xiukou military camp, Ning Xi saw the scene of fierce battle in the dark: cannons, grenades, and arrows with fire flew in the air on the other side of the mountain. Soldiers ran between the camp and the frontline. When he found Qu Zhengyan who was in charge of the battle here, he was commanding the soldiers to support the frontline. After giving the order, he only noticed him.
"Ning Xi. Why are you here? "Qu Zhengyan frowned as usual, his tone calm and steady. The two saluted each other. Ning Xi looked at the fire at the frontline and said, "Saba still took a risk."
"There are two groups of scouts coming from the north. Looks like they were intercepted. It's not hard to predict the Jurchen's desperate move. The thirty thousand people at Jianqiao were inexplicably defeated. As long as they don't plan to surrender, they will definitely make a move. Maybe they will take advantage of our carelessness and break through the defense line in one fell swoop. Qu Zhengyan looked ahead, "But it's also a risk. The two groups in the north can't make a detour. The frontal attack looks beautiful, but it's actually weak."
Ning Xi nodded. He actually didn't have much contact with the frontlines. Looking at the intense sounds at the frontlines, he was probably adjusting his understanding: so this was still weak.
Then she smiled embarrassedly. "The battle at Wangyuan Bridge is over. My father asked me to come here and listen to your opinions on the next step of the battle … Of course, there is another thing. It's about Ning Ji. He should be coming here, so I came to see him …"
Qu Zhengyan nodded and looked in the direction of the mountain to the northwest of the battlefield. Then he patted Ning Xi's shoulder and led her to the small wooden hut that served as the command center. "So you were at Huanqiao in the afternoon."
"Yes, I followed the rear guard team and watched from afar. Later on, I participated in the custody of the captives and only set off here after dark."
"Okay, then tell me more about the battle and the rocket launcher."
In the afternoon, there were naturally other people who reported to Qu Zhengyan about the battle at Huanqiao. But the messengers couldn't compare to Ning Xi who was at the scene and was Ning Yi's eldest son. Qu Zhengyan pulled Ning Xi to the hut and poured him a glass of water. Ning Xi then repeated the entire situation at Huanqiao and introduced the basic attributes of "Dijiang". Qu Zhengyan deliberated for a moment and discussed the situation of the entire battlefield with Ning Xi. At this time, the movements on the battlefield had actually gradually calmed down.
Safa who took the risk but didn't gain any advantage chose to retreat one after another. Huaxia's army didn't chase after him.
It was close to midnight now. Not long after Ning Xi and Qu Zhengyan finished their conversation, they saw Ning Ji in the crowd returning from the battle. This youth who was a head shorter than the others was running forward with a stretcher. On the stretcher was a heavily injured soldier who was bleeding from his abdomen. Ning Ji moved quickly and deftly to try to stop the bleeding.
The camp for treating the wounded soldiers was not far away. But in reality, after every battle, there were always not enough doctors to follow the army. Ning Xi rolled up her sleeves and carried a basin of hot water to Ning Ji.
The stretcher was put down in the hut. Ning Xi also put down the hot water and reached out to help. Ning Ji looked up. Half of his face was covered in blood and there was a scratch on his forehead. Seeing his brother's arrival, he lowered his head and continued to treat the wounded. The two brothers worked together without saying a word.
Seeing this, Qu Zhengyan turned and left.
In reality, Ning Ji followed Mao Yishan's team and was still further north yesterday. This was the first time he made contact here. When the news was sent to Huanqiao, Qu Zhengyan also sent out an order for this team to quickly gather towards Xiukou. Mao Yishan, Ning Ji and the rest should be rushing towards Xiukou. When the Female Zhenren was first discovered in the northwest mountains, they were coincidentally nearby and quickly joined the battle.
When Ning Xi came over, Qu Zhengyan wasn't completely confident that Ning Ji could return safely.
After following the military medical team for close to two years, little Ning Ji, who had also received guidance from a good teacher, was not much inferior to other military doctors in terms of healing. Ning Xi had also received specialized guidance in this area and was able to help out to a certain extent. But the wounded soldier in front of him was too heavily injured. After treating him for a while, his eyes gradually dimmed.
Ning Xi had followed Ning Yi, Hunchback Chen and the others for the past few years to learn how to strategize. This kind of cruel practice was very rare. He had originally thought that if the brothers worked together, they would definitely be able to save him. Seeing the wounded soldier slowly die, a huge sense of defeat rose in his heart. But Xiaoning Ji who was kneeling at the side was only silent for a moment. He checked the dead soldier's breathing and heartbeat, closed his eyes and then stood up.
"Brother, let's go over there and help."
Ning Xi reacted and followed.
As partners, the two brothers saved a heavily injured soldier and bandaged a lightly injured soldier. There were military doctors and nurses everywhere in the camp, but the tense atmosphere had already calmed down. The two of them washed their hands and faces and slowly walked towards the side of the camp.
The night sky was filled with stars.
Ning Xi looked at her brother who was four years younger than her. It was like she was getting to know him again. Ning Ji looked around. "Brother, where is Sister Chuyi, why didn't she come with you?"
"She is helping the female soldiers on the other side of the bridge. Father told me to come over to talk to Uncle Qu and the others and also to see you." Ning Xi said and then remembered something. She took out a small package. "Oh right, Chuyi told me to bring you some rice cakes, they are all cold … I am also hungry, let's each eat half."
"Sister Chuyi gave it to me, how can you eat half?"
"She helped you along the way, even if she didn't do much, she worked hard. Hey, do you want the big half or the small half? "
"I am a martial artist, my body is still growing, I want the big one."
"Don't you know the principle of Kong Rong giving pears to others?"
"I know, brother, if it was you, do you want the big one or the small one?"
"Of course I want the small one."
"So I want the big one, hahaha …"
"Hahahaha …"
When the brothers said this, they all laughed. This was one of the Ning Family's classic jokes, the original source might even have come from Ning Yi. The two of them each held half a cake and sat down in an empty space at the side of the camp.
"Brother, I heard that Father attacked at the bridge?"
"Yes, Father took out all of his family property. Six thousand men defeated Xie Bao's thirty thousand men. We didn't suffer many casualties. Female Zhenren is going to have a headache. "
"So strong, how did they fight?"
Ning Ji had been marching the entire night and even participated in the battle. He had only heard bits and pieces of news about the bridge. Ning Xi told him in detail.
"… I heard that in the evening, Father had already sent people to the Female Zhenren camp to talk to Zong Han. The thirty thousand elites were wiped out, the Female Zhenren actually has nothing left to fight. "
As they spoke, the two brothers finished eating the cake. At this time, Ning Ji raised his head and looked to the north where he had been fighting, frowning slightly. "It seems that the golden dogs don't intend to surrender."
"It will take some time to digest the information on the bridge. The Female Zhenren might take a risk at first, but as long as we don't give them any openings, when they wake up, they can only choose to charge forward or retreat. The Female Zhenren fought her way out of the White Mountain Black Water, and in the past thirty years, she has always been the braver one wins. It's not that there isn't any danger of charging forward, but in general, it's most likely that she will choose to retreat … At that time, we will bite her all the way and swallow her. "
Ning Ji had been on the battlefield for a while. Although he had some achievements, he wasn't old enough and couldn't speak on the general direction and strategic level.
Ning Xi smiled. "Speaking of which, there is one thing that we can be sure of. If you aren't called back to Xiukou, you will probably find that Li Rulai's Han army is retreating quickly tomorrow. No matter if they advance or retreat, to the Female Zhenren, this Han army is completely worthless. If we use the rockets, they will probably all change sides and charge towards the Female Zhenren. "
Ning Ji blinked and his eyes suddenly lit up. "At this time, if the entire army retreats, we just need to charge at the back and they won't be able to hold on, right?"
"That's true, but the most important thing now is to focus on catching the Female Zhenren's all in one throw and stop their delusions. Once they start to retreat, it will be time to cut their flesh. Also, Father is planning to show off in front of Zong Han, so don't get caught by the Female Zhenren. "Ning Xi paused and then added," So, I am here to keep an eye on you. "
Under the starlight, Ning Ji's gaze was melancholy, his face sunken.
At this time, it was already the morning of the first day of the third month. While the two brothers were chatting by the camp, on the other side of the mountain, the Female Zhenren had never chosen to surrender after a sudden defeat. By the Yan Bridge, thousands of Huaxia soldiers were watching over the newly defeated twenty thousand captives. In the mountains over ten miles away, Yu Yu had already led a team over.
Waiting in front of them was another round of attacks led by Han Jing and the others.
In the dark forest at the Shiling frontline, there were also sporadic but treacherous clashes between scouts. This night, the Female Zhenren was anxiously trying every method to break through. In response, there was a small team of Huaxia soldiers advancing secretly on the east side of the Shiling.
There was wind at night, whimpering as it swept through the mountains.
The technical team, accompanied by elite scouts, set up their armors at the edge of the foothills. Someone had already calculated the direction.
"… Testing the horizontal line … 43 degrees to the west, 35 degrees to the launch elevation, 350 feet to the predetermined distance … Two shots …"
The hot air balloon floated on the peak of the Shiling. In the darkness, several senior officers of the Huaxia army, including Pang Liuan, were standing on the hot air balloon. Each of them had a telescope, and some were rubbing their hands, quietly waiting for the moment when their weapons would be displayed.
In the barracks of the Golden Men, the lights were lit. At a certain moment, a rocket with a bright tail rose from the mountains on the east side of the barracks.
The explosion overturned the tents in the barracks and set them on fire. The barracks of the Golden Men became lively, but there was no large-scale rebellion or bombing of the barracks. This was a sign that the other side had long been prepared. Soon after, several more rockets whistled toward the barracks of the Golden Men. Although it did not have the effect of a decisive mutiny, the momentum caused was amazing.
The scouts of the Female Zhenren showed some reaction. The two sides had a brief fight in the mountains. After two hours, two more rockets flew into the Shiling camp of the Golden Men from another direction.
Under the cover of the stars and the moon, countless conflicts and malice were about to break out in the seemingly peaceful night.
As long as there was a chance, neither side would give the other any breathing space.
Zong Han, Gao Qingyi, Han Qixian, Ba Lisu, Wanyan Sheyama, Dalai, and the others gathered in the tent behind the Shiling. They were calculating the next variables and possibilities of this battle. Dalai urged them to stake everything on one throw and charge into the Chengdu Plain. Ba Lisu and the others tried to calmly analyze the role and flaws of the new weapons of the Huaxia army.
Zong Han did not say much. He sat in the chair behind. It was as if in half a day, this old Female Zhenren general had aged ten years. Like an old but still dangerous lion, he recalled the countless hardships and obstacles he had experienced in his life in the darkness, seeking strength from the difficulties of the past. Wisdom and determination alternated in his eyes.
Decades ago, when the Female Zhenren only had a few thousand supporters, everyone was afraid of the great Liao. Only he and Wanyan Aguda persisted in their determination to rebel against the Liao. In the turbulent tide of history, they grasped the key to the rise and fall of the race, and thus determined the prosperity of the Female Zhenren for decades. At this moment, he knew that it was the same time again.
This moment came so suddenly that even the heroes gathered around him such as Gao Qingyi, Han Qixian, and the others might not have realized it at the first moment. But Zong Han was a man who carried the rise and fall of the race on his back all year round. It was as if a shivering and goosebumps had already descended upon him. What was truly frightening was not even the capture of his son, but the defeat of the thirty thousand soldiers, which was an omen that would fundamentally determine the fate of the entire Jin Kingdom.
Zong Han could not even fully understand this omen. In the darkness, he saw the rocket that flew into the military camp and then exploded. Admittedly, it might have some weaknesses, but on the big battlefield, even with such weaknesses, the distance between the Female Zhenren and the Huaxia army might have become an insurmountable moat.
And such a distance might even continue to widen.
Xi Yin had once told him about the possibility of studying things that were being researched in the southwest, but Zong Han did not fully understand it. Perhaps even the Goddess of Grains herself did not expect such a scene to happen in the southwest battlefield. The original intention of the southern expedition flashed through his mind. The next generation of the Female Zhenren had already begun to indulge in leisure and pleasure. Perhaps one day, they might even become like the Wu dynasty. He, Xi Yin, and the others maintained the last of the Female Zhenren's glory, hoping to get rid of the major threat in the southwest before the afterglow was extinguished.
Was it already too late? How much hope was there to move forward?
If they retreated, perhaps the Jin Kingdom would forever lose their chance …
"… All firearms must first be afraid of rainy days. Therefore, if we want to deal with such firearms, the first thing we need to do is to wait for a rainy day … It's spring now, and the southwest is rainy. If we can seize this opportunity, it's not impossible for us to win … Also, Ning Yi only took out these things now. Perhaps it proves that he does not have many of these firearms. If we can't conquer the southwest this time, when we fight again in the future, these firearms may cover the sky and cover the earth …"
"… Who knows if the other party deliberately lured us in …"
"… If that's the case, why didn't they guard the rain and Huang Ming in the beginning? Didn't we also come in? If he has an endless supply of firearms, how difficult would it be to win the battle when we reach the city of Zizhou? How many hundreds of thousands of people can stand against him? "
"… That makes sense."
Everyone was still discussing. In reality, they could only discuss the current situation. They did not dare to take the lead in saying things such as facing reality and withdrawing the troops. Zong Han supported himself on the chair and stood up.
"It's been more than four months since the war started last year. Our army has been advancing all the way, wanting to flatten the southwest. But the method of retreating out of the Swords Gate Pass was never used from the beginning to the end. "
As Zong Han said this, his gaze slowly swept across everyone. The tent was so quiet that it was almost suffocating. He slowly said, "Let's do it … Let's do it as soon as possible."
The eyes of Gao Qingyi, Balisu, and the others darkened like an ancient well, but they did not speak. Dalai clenched his fists, his body trembling. Shema lowered his head. After a while, Shema walked out and knelt in the middle of the tent.
"Your son is willing to bring up the rear for the army."
A pale aura was descending. This was a smell that none of the Jin generals had ever tasted before. Countless thoughts and mixed feelings surged in their hearts. No detailed decision could be made on this night. Zong Han did not answer Shema's request. He patted his son's shoulder and looked at the front of the tent.
"At dawn, send someone to report to the Huaxia army that I want to talk to that Ning Yi."
For the first time in decades, the air around the Female Enlightened Being's camp was slightly chilly. If one looked from the back to the front, in this dark night of conflict, the signal of the change of the times caught many people unprepared. Some people could clearly feel the huge gap and change, but more people might have to slowly digest all of this in dozens of days, months, or even longer.
At dawn, Yu Yu's attempt to rescue Huan Qiao was discovered by the intercepting army and returned in defeat. The front line of the Huaxia army was still as impregnable as before. The Female Enlightened Being replied to the message that Zong Han and Ning Yi would meet and "talk". Almost at the same time, some other news reached the camps of both sides.
In the morning sunlight, Ning Yi carefully read the urgent news. When he put down the report, he let out a long, long sigh. There was good news and bad news in this news.
Over the years, good news and bad news were actually similar in nature. Good news was always accompanied by bad news, but bad news did not necessarily bring good news. War could only make people passionate in novels. In reality, the only difference was that it hurt people more and more.
The battle of Changsha was won.
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