After the counterattack, Wang Shiyang could not eat or sleep well. He was always worried about Taiyuan, but he was also worried that these fellows would act recklessly and not march according to his rules. So he could only move the town to Xinzhou for easier control, leaving Taiyuan empty.
He always felt that the Northern Barbarians should not have been defeated so quickly. Moreover, he still could not figure out how the Northern Barbarians supplied their food.
Xiao Ruxun provided him with very important information.
"Governor-General, I always felt that the Northern Barbarians did not lack food. When I was at Zijing Pass and broke through the Northern Barbarians' camp, a large amount of food appeared in the Northern Barbarians' camp. It was all wheat, and there was even wheat that was four or five years old. These were all old food! How could Shanxi Datong have so much old food? Where did the old food come from? "
Xiao Ruxun didn't make it clear, keeping Wang Shiyang in suspense and letting him experience it himself.
As expected, in just a few breaths, Wang Shiyang's expression changed drastically.
"Moreover, there is one more point. Governor-General, there are only five thousand Northern Barbarians at Zijing Pass!"
Wang Shiyang's hand trembled and the teacup he was holding fell to the ground, shattering.
"Five thousand?!"
Wang Shiyang's eyes widened.
Xiao Ruxun nodded and looked at Li Rusong. Li Rusong understood and cupped his fists. "I killed a total of five thousand one hundred and seventy-two Northern Barbarians at Zijing Pass. It was not the forty thousand that the rumor said. Moreover, I interrogated the Datong soldiers who operated the cannons and other equipment that were kidnapped by the Northern Barbarians.
They said that on the fourth night after the forty thousand Northern Barbarians attacked Zijing Pass, the main force of thirty-five thousand left quietly and never returned. It was only when our army broke through the Northern Barbarians' camp that we discovered this. When our army reached Ling Qiu, the local refugees reported that they saw a large number of Northern Barbarians cavalry coming south from Ling Qiu! "
Wang Shiyang quickly stood up and paced back and forth anxiously.
"This is not right! This is not right! That's not right! How could this be? Aren't there only ten thousand Northern Barbarians? General Wei also reported that there were at most ten thousand Northern Barbarians. He killed five thousand along the way, and you killed five thousand at Wutai. Isn't it just ten thousand? Where's the 35,000? "
Xiao Ruxun opened his mouth and said, "This is what I is confused about. These thirty-five thousand Northern Barbarians are a huge number and a huge target. It is impossible for them to vanish into thin air. Even if they were marching in secret, there must be some traces left behind. However, along the way, there are no traces of the Northern Barbarians.
Governor-General Wang, I is very worried. These Northern Barbarians are still hiding somewhere, waiting for an opportunity to strike. Their actions are too strange, and not in line with military strategy. I really can't figure out their whereabouts or their goal. I just feel that it's dangerous. 35,000 Northern Barbarians suddenly disappeared, where would they go? "
Wang Shiyang paced back and forth, occasionally looking at the map hanging on his screen.
"Is it Taiyuan, or Qi County?"
Xiao Ruxun frowned and asked, "What about Taiyuan? What about Qi County?"
"Taiyuan is an important city in Shanxi. It is an important hub and main logistics base for one province and two towns. If it is attacked, the consequences will be unthinkable. Qi County. When the Northern Barbarians first moved south, I secretly moved the King Of Jin's bloodline to Qi County to prevent the same thing from happening in Ningxia. If these two places are attacked, it will not be good."
Wang Shiyang was deeply doubtful.
Li Rusong thought for a while and said, "Taiyuan's defenses are extremely strong, far stronger than those in Ningxia. Just what kind of people could break into Taiyuan? Not to mention 35,000 Northern Barbarians, as long as Taiyuan insists on defending, even if 35,000 came, it would not be able to take them down. The Northern Barbarians are not fools. They are cavalry. Even if they dismount and fight on foot, they will have to consider their losses, right?
Moreover, they will not be unaware that once they penetrate deep into Shanxi alone, our army will take Pingxing Pass. After the siege of Yanmen Pass is lifted, they will be trapped in Shanxi. This is a hopeless situation, and they will die without a doubt. That is why I feel that they will not attack Taiyuan. Qi County, on the other hand, is in danger. "
Xiao Ruxun shook his head in disagreement.
"The main goal of the Northern Barbarians moving south is food. Now, they may have more financial needs. As for Qi County, let's not talk about whether they know that the King Of Jin has been moved. Even if they take over Qi County, so what? Other than the King Of Jin, what else does Qi County have that attracts them?
On the other hand, if they destroy Taiyuan, it will bring us a lot of trouble. However, Taiyuan City is strong and has 20,000 soldiers defending it. The 35,000 Northern Barbarians will definitely not be able to take over Taiyuan. If this is not possible, then what are the Northern Barbarians doing? "
Wang Shiyang suddenly raised his head and looked at Xiao Ruxun.
"Ji Xin, do you think that someone leaked the news of the King Of Jin's relocation to the Northern Barbarians? When the King Of Jin moved, he also took away a large amount of gold and silver accumulated by the previous King Of Jin. If the Northern Barbarians find out …"
Xiao Ruxun expressed his doubts.
"Governor-General, the Northern Barbarians have made such a big move. Previously, you sent people to search for traces of the Northern Barbarians. Did you find nothing? There are many people around Qi County. How could the Northern Barbarians take over Qi County without leaving a trace? This is clearly illogical. Therefore, I even suspect that this group of Northern Barbarians have already escaped. "
Seeing that even Xiao Ruxun had such doubts, Li Rusong and Wang Shiyang were even more shaken.
"If the Northern Barbarians have really retreated and made preparations to retreat, then all of this makes sense. If that is really the case, then it is indeed inappropriate to delay the 40,000 soldiers here. The curfew in Taiyuan City has been going on for too long. Every day, only the citizens are allowed to go out and harvest. I fear that it will not last much longer. If there is really nothing else, then we should lift the curfew in Taiyuan City and let the refugees return home."
Wang Shiyang pondered.
Li Rusong also let out a rare sigh. "Now that the weather is so cold and the Northern Barbarians have moved south, it is really one disaster after another. On our way south, the number of refugees who have died of starvation or freeze to death far exceeds the number of people who have been killed. I fear that in the first two months of this year, many people will die in Shanxi!"
Wang Shiyang sighed deeply.
Xiao Ruxun stared at the map hanging on Wang Shiyang's screen. He stared at Taiyuan City. Suddenly, he thought of something else.
"Governor-General Wang, Commander Li, do you think it is possible that the Northern Barbarians … I mean, if, if they are really hiding in Shanxi, is it possible that they are hiding in the Taihang Mountain Range? Look, if they are hiding in the Taihang Mountain Range, they can attack Taiyuan City from the west, attack Yuci, and even attack Qi County further south. "
When he said this, Wang Shiyang shook his head.
"When I stationed my troops in Taiyuan, I have already sent out scouts everywhere to search for traces of the Northern Barbarians. The foothills of the Taihang Mountain Range is such an important place. I have sent people to search in depth. I have sent people to search every small path. Every single one of them came back empty-handed. That is why I was unable to suppress those arrogant people in Yulin."
Li Rusong also felt that it was impossible.
"Commander, even if people can hide in the mountains, how can they hide their warhorses? The Northern Barbarians are mobile cavalry. Without their horses, they have nowhere to run. This is impossible. "
Xiao Ruxun thought about it and felt that he was thinking too much.
In other words, those Northern Barbarians really did not move south, but north? Did those refugees see wrongly, or did the Northern Barbarians do it on purpose?
Are they that smart? What was this inexplicable feeling of uneasiness?
Xiao Ruxun walked back to his seat and sat down. He picked up his teacup and took a sip of tea.
"Report! Urgent report! Urgent report! Supervisor! Urgent report from Taiyuan! "
The voice that suddenly came from outside the manor caused Xiao Ruxun's heart to tremble. In a moment of carelessness, the teacup in his hand fell to the ground and shattered.
"What is going on?!"
Wang Shiyang angrily yelled at the soldier who had suddenly barged in to report.
"Forgive me, Supervisor! Forgive me, Supervisor! This is an emergency. A scout has returned to report that there is smoke rising from many places in Taiyuan City! There are faint sounds of explosions! "
Wang Shiyang was stunned.
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