Li Sen personally led the army to attack the Peace Inn and the Flying Star Crossing. Along the way, there were winding green mountains, jagged rocks, and flowing water. The scenery was very beautiful. But the soldiers looked like they were facing a great enemy and did not have time to appreciate it.
At the front were the rattan shield soldiers. They held up large rattan shields that were almost as tall as a person and carefully walked forward. There was no road in front, only a path with fallen weeds that seemed to have been stepped on. It was only wide enough for one person to pass. If the army formed such a formation, they would not be able to withstand a single blow. At this point, it was difficult for the army to move forward and they could not help but stop.
Li Sen looked around and saw a stream flowing out of the mountains. Although the sides of the stream were also overgrown with weeds and shrubs, it was a little wider. What was even more rare was that when advancing in the shallow stream, they could avoid the endless traps, bamboo nails, lassos, tripping bamboo spears, thorns, and other obstacles in the weeds that were half a person tall. Those hard to discover and troublesome traps not only seriously hindered the army's progress, but also killed a large number of soldiers.
Li Sen immediately ordered the army to move downwards and follow the stream upstream.
This stream was called Crab Stream. It was knee-deep and wide enough to row a bamboo raft. Although there were twists and turns, and from time to time there were slippery boulders blocking the way, the army's speed was much faster than on the road.
The barbarians could set up layers of traps in the grass, in the barley, under the ground, and under the rocks. There was no reason for them to let go of this stream that led to the valley. Li Sen did not dare to be careless and still ordered the soldiers to be on full alert. In the air, in the dense grass on both sides, and even in the stream under the water, he was afraid that something would suddenly jump out.
In front of them were two peaks, shaped like two doors. The mountain was strange and dangerous. The top of the mountain was covered with lush forest, and the cliffs were densely covered with hanging coffins. Li Sen immediately ordered the army to stop. He was preparing to send some spies to the front, but they had already been ambushed. Suddenly, the branches in front of them shook, and a strange whistling sound was heard. The soldiers who were caught off guard all screamed and fell down. Some did not even make a sound before their brains burst out and they died a horrible death.
The soldiers raised their rattan shields one after another, but the arrows coming from the front were neither arrows nor spears, but stones that were at least the size of a bowl. The rattan shields were smashed into pieces in just a few hits, and the soldiers could not see a single enemy. They blindly shot arrows for a while, and when they really could not withstand the rain of stones falling from the sky, they all hid in the grass on both sides.
Traps, bamboo nails, lassos, and thorns had long been set up in the grass. The soldiers who had blindly rushed into the grass and could not see were once again killed and injured amid a series of screams. The barbarians had an endless supply of trees and stones. They used the tree trunks as bowstrings and the stones as arrows. They were unstoppable and unstoppable. The Ming army left behind a large number of dead bodies and started to retreat out of the mountains.
The battle formation was in chaos, and Li Sen could not stop it, especially when a rock the size of a bowl flew past his shoulder. The strong wind made his face hurt. One of the bodyguards behind him was hit in the chest by the rock, shattering his sternum. He fell to the ground and twitched, blood spurting out from his mouth and nose. Even a veteran general like Li Sen, who was not afraid of death, felt a chill in his heart. He could only grit his teeth and order the rear formation to change to the front formation and escape from the mountain …
* * *
Back to General Li Ze's army. They formed a long snake formation along a short and narrow mountain ridge next to the gorge and circled around to Dog Head Mountain. The terrain here was dangerous and narrow. The army could only move forward in a long line. But on the right side of this short mountain ridge was a gorge, and on the left was a slope of green hills. Although the vegetation was lush, they could still see if there were men and horses hiding inside. They did not have to worry about falling into an ambush.
The army went deeper and deeper into the gorge, but they still did not see any sign of the barbarians. Following the mountain path, the Ming army had formed a line that was several li long, like a long snake, winding forward. Suddenly, in the dense forest on the left of the vanguard, the deep sound of drums suddenly sounded. The Ming army, who had fought with the barbarians many times, knew that there were barbarians lying in ambush in the forest. Fortunately, they were still far away from each other, and they were on a high ground, so they did not think that the barbarians would be able to charge up.
The Ming army's shield-bearers raised their shields to the ground. Behind them, the archers and gunners waited in formation. The soldiers at the back also rushed forward, preparing to form a second line of defense. But they were shocked to find that the people running out of the forest were not barbarians, but oxen, horses, and mules. These animals were all wearing bridles and their tails were lit. They charged up the mountain slope like crazy chariots.
There were only a few dozen of these animals, but the scene was shocking to see. The crazy oxen and horses ran up the mountain slope, and the whole patch of wild grass fell down. The scene was spectacular. A sharp-eyed officer shouted in alarm, "This is a chain of horses, quickly shoot! Shoot! "
The interlocking horse tactic was originally invented by the ethnic minorities, and it had been very useful in history. Originally, the interlocking horse formation of dozens of oxen and horses was not very useful, but in such a narrow and difficult place, with a cliff and deep valley behind it, its effect was very terrifying.
The panicked Ming army started to shoot their guns and arrows. Their butts were on fire. The animals that were madly running up the mountain had already lost their temper. They only knew to go forward and did not know to run left or right. Once they were hit by the guns and arrows, under the pain, they ran even faster. Behind them, the barbarians with bamboo spears, wearing animal skin skirts, howled and chased after them.
In a short while, the chain of horses and oxen reached the top of the mountain. The madly running oxen and horses could not stop their steps. They did not even have time to let out a sad neigh before they fell into the deep valley. The ropes and old vines that connected the oxen and horses brought countless soldiers and soldiers down into the abyss. Some clever soldiers rolled on the ground and dodged under the ropes. Just as they stood up in shock, the barbarians waving their bamboo spears attacked.
The center and tail of the long snake formation, the sections of the slope where there was a dense forest to hide, were also attacked at the same time. Although the barbarians did not know the art of war, the tactics they learned from hunting were ruthless and effective. First, they let the enemy go deep, then they cut off the head and tail, cut the stomach and dig out the heart, cutting a long snake into several pieces so that the head and tail could not touch each other.
The first attack of the 'chain of horses' had already heavily damaged the spirit of the Ming army. The Ming army could not figure out what other tricks the enemy had or how much strength they had. They could not help but be timid and afraid to fight. The thousands of soldiers and horses were instantly defeated. When the army retreated out of the mountain pass, three out of ten soldiers and horses had been lost.
※ ※ ※
Of the three armies that advanced together, only the guerrilla warfare general Cui Gui who had set fire to Mount Hou Wang had suffered less losses. He led his army into the mouth of the bull with great fanfare. Not long after he had entered, the troops at the back changed to the front and came out again. They changed to another path, the Maofeng Dam, which was more difficult to pass through.
This was a ravine between two mountains. There was a small path in the middle, but the two sides of the path were full of thorns. It was difficult for the soldiers to pass through, but the barbarians would not be able to set up an ambush in these thorns, so it was relatively safer.
The soldiers walked for about an hour in the ravine. The troops at the back were still outside the ravine. At this time, they suddenly heard the thunder-like sound of bronze drums coming from the rocks on both sides. The shouts shook the sky and the earth. First, there was a burst of stone bullets fired from tree branches. Although it looked terrifying, there were thorns in the middle. As long as the Ming army lay on the ground, the stones would either fly over their heads or be blocked by the thorns. Other than some of the soldiers who were initially unprepared, there were many injured.
Then, more than a thousand Barbarian men and women with knives and spears, drove the oxen and horses as the vanguard and attacked from the front. Jiao Gui saw that the situation was not good. If the oxen and horses charged through the narrow terrain, the whole army would be in chaos and could only be slaughtered.
He immediately ordered the whole army to retreat. At the same time, he gathered the gunners and killed three oxen and one horse, blocking the barbarians' attack. Only then did the army escape the ravine. Although they were in a sorry state, they did not suffer many losses.
The strategy of splitting up and advancing at the same time failed again. The defeated soldiers from the three routes met on the way back. The army was dispirited and returned to the main camp …
※ ※ ※
Li Sen had just returned to the main camp when a captain came to report that the imperial envoy, Yang Ling, had personally come to the camp and wanted Li Sen to see him as soon as he returned. Li Ling heard this and quickly adjusted his disheveled appearance and hurried to the commander's tent.
Ever since the suppression of the rebellion, Li Sen had never fought such a useless battle. Even in the dangerous Causeway Ridge, he had followed Yang Ling's light cavalry deep in and easily taken it down. But in this stronghold, even with all the elite troops gathered, not only was it difficult to advance, but he had repeatedly lost. He felt a little ashamed to see Yang Ling.
Li Sen hurried back to the commander's tent and announced, "Sir, Li Sen requests to enter!"
"Invite him in." Yang Ling, Advisor Feng, Imperial Messenger Su, and the Second Prince were studying the sand table and raised their heads when they heard the voice.
This was originally Li Sen's commander's tent, but this time, Yang Ling was the commander-in-chief in charge of the three armies and he was the deputy commander-in-chief. When Yang Ling came, he had to give way. The commander-in-chief power had to pass to Yang Ling, so he didn't dare to be careless.
Li Sen entered the commander's tent and knelt on one knee. He cupped his fists and said with shame, "Sir, I am ashamed. I have gathered fifty thousand troops but failed to take down the stronghold. I have let you down."
Yang Ling said nonchalantly, "Victory and defeat are common. The suppression of the barbarians has been going on for more than a hundred years. I don't know how many famous generals and tens of thousands of troops have been sent. If we won all the battles, we wouldn't need to come here today."
He walked over to help Li Sen up and said, "Get up. I have looked at the terrain of this stronghold with the other officers for a long time. I really can't see where the stronghold is more dangerous than Bowang Mountain, Causeway Ridge, and Lingxiao City. You have been fighting here for more than ten days. Tell us about the situation. The enemy of the six counties is only holed up in the stronghold and Jiusi City. I don't believe we can't take it down. "
Li Sen saw that Yang Ling had played down the matter of his losses, and he felt an indescribable sense of gratitude. He stood up and asked, "From Sir's tone, you have already taken over Ling Xiao City?"
Yang Ling smiled and said, "This official has also just received news that Commander Song has outwitted Lingxiao City. Now, one of Jiusi City's wings has been broken. As long as we take down the stronghold, this official can rest assured and lead the army straight to Jiusi City.
Commander Song has more than ten thousand troops, but this official did not transfer them over. I have already ordered them to build fortifications at the pass between Jiusi City and the stronghold, cutting off the connection between the two. This stronghold will be taken down by us alone. "
When Li Sen heard that Lingxiao City, which was as famous as the stronghold, had been easily taken down by a woman like Song Ai, the pressure in his heart increased. He couldn't help but feel his fighting spirit rise. He walked to the sand table and took a deep breath. He said sternly, "Mr Yang, Sirs, the stronghold is different from Causeway Ridge and Lingxiao City.
At first glance, this place did not look as dangerous as the other places mentioned above. The other places had mountain passes with one man guarding the pass, ten thousand men would not be able to break through, but Dudu Stockaded Village did not have such a mountain pass. However, the stronghold is different in that although it is called a stronghold, it is actually not a mountain stronghold. Instead, it is a collection of many mountain strongholds where the barbarians are concentrated.
The stronghold is divided into the First Capital, Second Capital, all the way up to the Fifth Capital. This is the main body of the stronghold. Five mountain peaks rise and fall. In the middle, there are dangerous peaks, cliffs, valleys, swamps, and dense forests. There are ambushes everywhere.
Including the outer area, the terrain is also complicated. This official originally wanted to cut off the outer area first and slowly shrink the camp inwards. Unfortunately, the terrain here is not suitable for encirclement and annihilation in other areas. Sirs, please take a look. On this side of the stronghold, there are Blue Cliff, Hong Cliff, and Ghost Slope Cliff. On the other side, there are A 'er Village and a dozen other mountain strongholds.
They are close to each other and if we try to take down one stronghold first, we will receive reinforcements from the other strongholds. Even if we take down one stronghold, we will not be able to stay for long under the constant harassment of the barbarian army. If we divide our forces to attack the other strongholds at the same time, we will fall into their trap. Once we enter the endless mountain range, all kinds of dangerous terrain will become killing weapons. We have been fighting here for more than ten days, and this is what we have suffered.
Look at this side, there is Gao Stronghold, Ping Stronghold, Dong Muba Stronghold. To the east is Fallen Leopard Stronghold. They are like horns to each other. If we attack one, the strongholds will join forces. If we divide our forces, we will be trapped in a jungle battle. Our advantage will not be able to be used.
To the south is Chicken Crown Ridge Stronghold. It is also an important pass for the barbarians. Nearby are the Internal Official Stronghold and Monkey Fishing Stronghold. The monkey stronghold is located on a dangerous cliff, so dangerous that we cannot climb it. Once our army attacks the other strongholds, they can easily descend the mountain. Using their familiarity with the mountain, they can come out from all kinds of strange places and attack our army. Our army will not be able to take care of both the front and back. There will be enemy attacks everywhere and traps everywhere. People often say that every bush and tree is an enemy. Here, it really is. "
Yang Ling, Zhu Rangjin, and the others frowned more and more as they listened. Their expressions became serious. No wonder this place was the hardest to conquer. The dangerous terrain here was endless, and the barbarian strongholds were scattered everywhere. It was practically the headquarters of the barbarians.
But the more it was like this, the more they had to take down the stronghold. Otherwise, the other counties and strongholds would be conquered and would be useless. The barbarians had this base. Once the army of the imperial court left, they could quickly rise from the ashes and take over the counties again to create chaos.
Li Sen also became more and more serious as he spoke. He pointed to the southeast and said, "This is Lunfu Stronghold. Its mountains rise hundreds of feet, and the forest is dense. It is made of stone and defended by tree fences. Even if the army advances an inch, blood will flow like a pool.
The current situation is that it is impossible to clip their wings. If we attack at the same time, we will immediately fall into the deep forest. Although the barbarian army is small, they can come and go as if they are flying. They can use mechanisms, oxen and horses. Ordinary household items can be turned into weapons. It is impossible to guard against them. "
Yang Ling and the others listened in silence. For a moment, no one had an idea. After a while, Yang Ling said, "Official Li has also suppressed bandits in Shandong. You have a lot of battle experience. In your opinion, what method should we use to take down the stronghold?"
Li Sen thought for a while and drew a large circle on the sand table. He said, "Set up blockhouses, side walls, and garrisoned soldiers. We will surround this place and imprison them until they have no way to survive and surrender."
Yang Ling's eyes narrowed. He said, "How many soldiers and horses do we need? How much time? How much money and rations? "
Li Sen could not help but be speechless.
Yang Ling shook his head and said, "The terrain here is different from Shandong. The mountains are high and the forests are dense. Even if we garrisoned soldiers, it will be difficult to completely imprison the bandits in the mountains. In addition, to surround this mountain range, we will need more than fifty thousand soldiers and horses. The amount of money and rations needed is not something Shu can afford. As for the time …"
Yang Ling smiled bitterly and pointed to the sand table. He said, "The stronghold of the barbarians is in the mountains. There is land, food, birds and beasts, fish and crabs in the stream, wild vegetables and dried fruits. If we besiege them for a long time, the imperial court will be dragged down before the Barbarians fall."
Li Sen's face reddened. He hurriedly said, "I am ignorant and stubborn. I am quoting from other places' experience."
Zhu Rangjin looked at the sand table and suddenly said, "Water is used in the plains, fire is used in the mountains. When Your Excellency annihilates the barbarian villages, most of them attack with fire. All the barbarian tricks are useless. Why don't you attack with fire here?"
Yang Ling shook his head and said with a smile, "Doesn't Second Prince know that playing with fire will burn oneself?"
Zhu Rangjin and Official Feng looked at each other in surprise. They did not understand what he meant.
Li Sen hurriedly explained, "Second Prince, Official Feng, you may not know this. There are forests everywhere in the Metropolis Stockade, including the villages of the barbarians. It is true that the fences are all made of wood, but the villages are too scattered. Secondly, the forests are inevitably separated by swamps, canyons, and cliffs. So if you set fire in one place, it will not have much effect. If you set fire everywhere … "
He pointed to the sand table with a shocked expression and said, "There are almost ten thousand people in the villages. Although they are all dependent on the rebels, but … not everyone can be killed. Also … this Wudu Mountain is connected to countless mountains. If you set fire everywhere, it will be difficult to control the fire. If it really burns, if it spreads, countless lives will be lost. This is a serious matter. I am afraid that even if the current Emperor was here, he would not dare to make such a decision for a small Metropolis Stockade. "
Zhu Rangjin and the others finally understood the reason behind it. For a moment, they were speechless.
Yang Ling furrowed his brows for a moment, but he was at a loss for a solution. He could only let out a faint sigh and said, "Everyone, let's take a rest first. Let's get a better understanding of our surroundings before we continue our discussion. There's always a way out.
Everyone silently cupped their hands in salute and left one by one. Li Sen saw that Yang Ling's brows were full of melancholy. At this time, he was not in the mood to talk, so he also bowed and left.
Yang Ling sat down in the empty commander's tent. Suddenly, he thought, If Yun 'er was here, would she have a good idea?
Once this thought came to him, Yang Ling immediately laughed. "Do you still need to ask? That girl will do anything to achieve her goal. If she was here, seeing that her people have suffered heavy losses, she would have long set fire to the place. As for the future trouble … "
Yang Ling sighed, "How can there be any future trouble? If today's commander is Cheng Qiyun, then in the end, it will be found out that the person who set the fire is the person who was burned to death. How would I not know these methods? It's just that a man has to do something and not do something. I have to do things with a clear conscience … "
※ ※ ※
Yan Gaocai was half a day late because he had to arrange for the newly conquered mountain stronghold officials and the allocation of land to the landless peasants who were summoned. He arrived at the stronghold at night. At this time, the sky was overcast and the moon and stars could not be seen. A few soldiers with lanterns and torches escorted him into the barracks. Unexpectedly, as soon as Yan Gaocai entered the barracks, he saw a dark shadow circling in the dark night. The two of them bumped into each other. When he saw that person, he saw that it was Commander Li Sen. Yan Gaocai hurriedly went up to greet him.
Although he was still a small county magistrate in name, his actual power was far less than that of a state magistrate. It was only a matter of time before he was appointed as the inspector-general of the Xuzhou military, political and legal departments. Yang Ling's memorial had already been sent to the capital. There was no reason for the Emperor not to approve this kind of thing.
So Li Sen politely returned the greeting and chatted for a while. Yan Gaocai asked about the process of the officials' discussion today. He thought for a while and asked, "I don't understand military strategy. Sir, tell me directly, if we want to take the stronghold, we can only attack quickly and not slowly. If we want to attack quickly, the Barbarians have the geographical advantage of a hundred thousand troops. It is not something that our manpower and weapons can contend against. We can only rely on the power of the five elements and the power of heaven and earth?"
Li Sen was straightforward. He nodded and smiled bitterly, "That's right, if we want to attack quickly, we have to ask Huode Xingjun for help. But there are tens of thousands of creatures in the mountains. This is really against the harmony of heaven and earth. If the fire spreads, it will be a disaster. No one dares to take this idea."
Yan Gaocai stared and said, "If we don't do this, the suppression of the rebellion will be like in the past. The army will drag on for three to four years until the soldiers are exhausted and the horses are exhausted. The surrounding counties have just returned to their original state. Once the Barbarians come out of the mountains, everything will return to its original state. After a few years, there will be another big battle. This cycle will repeat?"
Li Sen spread his hands and said, "What wise idea does Sir Yan have?"
Yan Gaocai rolled up his sleeves and said, "I don't have any wise idea. I'm going to see Sir!" After saying this, he asked for Yang Ling's residence and strode away.
Yang Ling was in the tent with his eyes closed, thinking about the thorny matter of the stronghold. Suddenly there was a knock on the door. A person said, "Sir, Yan Gaocai requests an audience."
"Oh?" Yang Ling opened his eyes and sat up from his chair. He hurriedly said, "Get up quickly."
Yan Gaocai entered the tent and bowed to Yang Ling, saying, "This lowly official greets Sir."
"No need to stand on ceremony. Take a seat. Someone come, spectator." Yang Ling smiled in acknowledgment and waved his hand for him to sit down. He asked, "How is the matter of the land returning to the stream going?"
Yan Gaocai said, "Xuzhou prefecture's Gao, Cao, Yunlian, Chang Ning, Jiang 'an and Naxi counties, other than this county, are all undergoing vigorous land returning to the stream. The landless refugees from the various prefectures are in high spirits and enthusiastically came forward. They are very supportive of the imperial court. This action not only solved the hidden danger of the refugees' riots in other places, but also provided the six counties with enough farmers to farm and work. It can be said that it is beneficial to the imperial court and the common people. "
"Good!" Yang Ling was delighted to hear this and applauded.
Yan Gaocai changed the topic and said, "However, this lowly official is afraid that this good situation will not last long. If the imperial court cannot take down the stronghold, it will be difficult to quell the chaos of the Barbarians. The army will set up camp and confront each other. The result will be the same as the previous times when the imperial court suppressed the bandits.
When the barbarians come out of the mountains, they will reoccupy Jiguan Mountain, Ling Xiao Peak, Copper Gong Ridge, Bowang Mountain and other important passes. They will pillage everywhere, half people, half bandits, causing the law-abiding common people to flee to other places. When that time comes, the Barbarians will still be a thorn in Sichuan's side. The common people living in exile will be extremely disappointed with the imperial court. The imperial court's prestige will hit rock bottom. If they want to change the land returning to the stream and completely resolve the Xuzhou matter, it will be as difficult as ascending to heaven. The Barbarians will become a chronic disease. "
Yang Ling listened to this and did not say anything. After a long time he sighed and pinched the space between his eyebrows and said, "I feel like I am riding a tiger's back, unable to advance or retreat. This is really difficult."
Yan Gaocai solemnly said, "Daren, since the Ling Xiao Peak has been broken, my teacher is in danger. This is the time for a clown to die. It is advisable to take advantage of the broken bamboo's momentum and end the 'Sweeping Meditation' early. Think of the barbarian warriors, there are only a few thousand of them. My teacher is several times more than them and cannot defeat them. The way to attack danger is to win by surprise. If we do not fight to the death and want to win by time, how much will the army spend in a month? This is a plan to trap ourselves. "
Yang Ling was silent for a long time. He said, "To win by surprise, the only way is to attack with fire …"
Yan Gaocai immediately cupped his fists and said, "Daren is wise!"
Yang Ling rolled his eyes and also cupped his fists. He said, "Mister is wise! Once the fire spreads, it will harm countless lives in the world. What does Mister want to teach me? "
Yan Gaocai rolled his eyes and said, "Under my rule, because most of the common people in the county live in densely forested areas, in order to prevent the fire from spreading, within a hundred feet of the forest, all the vegetation must be cleared. The mountain fire is strong and cannot be compared to a stove fire. But if we clear out a space of three hundred feet and have the soldiers standing guard, they can extinguish the weak sparks at any time. Why should we worry about the fire spreading? "
Yang Ling was startled, "Fire belt? This method is feasible. In any case, if the fire is not extinguished, there will be smoke everywhere, the imperial court's army will not be able to enter the stronghold. Let them temporarily be firefighters on the periphery, they will definitely be up to the task. "
He had a second thought and said hesitantly, "Yan daren, the rebels in the mountain are not roving bandits, they are the local mountain people rebelling. They are also bandits and people, there are quite a few women and children among them. Compared to Bowang Mountain and Copper Gong Ridge, I'm afraid … Ay! I'm afraid the innocent will be harmed. "
Yan Gaocai said solemnly, "Daren, no matter how innocent the people in the mountain are, can they be compared to the people outside the mountain? Can they be compared to the innocent soldiers who died and were injured? If we cannot solve this matter once and for all, to ensure that this place will be peaceful for a long time, won't the people in the future be innocent? "
Yan Gaocai stood up and bowed deeply, saying passionately, "Daren has shown kindness to this lowly official, this lowly official will tell daren everything I know, I won't hide anything. I ask daren to listen to these words from the bottom of my heart.
Daren, this lowly official thinks that only those who are not in their position, who are not responsible, will look on coldly from the sidelines, playing down the matter and talking about mercy, pretending to be magnanimous. This kind of nonsense from idle people is pure idle fart, bullshit, big stinky bullshit! "
Yan Gaocai's face turned red, not sure if it was because he was thinking of the suppression and restrictions he suffered when he was an official, making it difficult for him to move even an inch, but on the surface he was sanctimonious, constantly urging him to be diligent and love the people, to achieve more political achievements.
He angrily waved his hand, saying, "But those who are responsible must consider the whole situation, not only must they consider one place, they must also look at the whole situation. Not only must they consider the moment, they must also consider the long term. People say that bystanders see things clearly, I say that the bystander is light, his whole body is relaxed, he is not responsible, his words are only based on his momentary likes and dislikes, joy and anger.
Daren is a Daoist, the road is difficult to walk, easy to walk, there are pits and stones, naturally you have a clear idea in your heart, why should you care about the idle people's words by the roadside? In my humble opinion, the great government of the country, if it can be pacified with benevolent and lenient policies, it should be implemented with benevolent policies, the next best thing is to be fierce.
Everyone knows the pain of burning the skin, that's why everyone is afraid of fire since young, they know to avoid fire and prevent fire, careful not to play with fire, that's why not many people are burned to death.
The water is weak and gentle, everyone thinks that the green water is gentle, cute and approachable, but there are many people who die in the water.
Leniency is not necessarily a good thing, sometimes it is for the sake of a wider range of leniency, a longer range of leniency, Daren! "
Yang Ling was startled, "In troubled times, heavy punishment is needed. I remember that at the beginning of the country, smoking, prostitution and banditry were banned, swift and decisive, it was also a heavy punishment, among which there were some who were not punished with death, but was this kind of heavy punishment wrong? No! If it was not so, how could the world be cleansed and the country stabilized so quickly?
A woman's benevolence will only gain one's own personal praise, appeasement and weakness will only leave behind endless hidden dangers, bringing endless suffering to the people, and may even breed an even bigger disaster. "
He suddenly stood up, walked to the tent entrance and looked up at the gloomy sky, there were no stars nor moon, the wind has already started, swirling. Seeing that the heavy rain is coming, Yang Ling's fists gradually tightened.
Yan Gaocai walked to his back, bowed and said, "For the country, a gentleman must strengthen its foundation, strengthen its discipline, gather and follow it, do not provoke it. If there is a disaster, take advantage of it and quickly extinguish it, even if the method is harsh, do not hesitate, otherwise the disaster will grow and spread far and wide, a small good will breed great evil. "
Yang Ling listened for a long time, suddenly he raised his hand slowly and said softly, "Even if the sky is full of rain, it must be accompanied by thunder, is this the reason?"
Yan Gaocai's face lit up, he replied, "Exactly, holding the Asura Saber in my hand, proving Bodhi in the Law Field!"
"Good!" Yang Ling's eyebrows raised, he resolutely said, "Good! Since Heaven wants me to be the executioner, then I will hold the butcher's knife, stand in the Law Field, to prove this Bodhi way. "
Just at this moment, a flash of lightning flashed twice, followed by deep thunder rolling down from the sky, like the beating of war drums, the wind whistling and whirling.
Yan Gaocai clapped his hands and said with a smile, "With the Buddha's hand of thunder in your heart, the Vajra Bodhisattva's way with angry eyes. Our Buddha has Guanyin to save the world, and also the Unmovable Wisdom King's thunder. Daren's thunderbolt is also great mercy! "
"Ka cha cha!" Another thunderclap, the rain after a long drought finally came down …
* * *
The soldiers' attack stopped.
After three consecutive days of heavy rain, the inside of Dudu Stockade was muddy, slippery everywhere, the originally murmuring brook became a roaring water buffalo. In this kind of dangerous weather, even the local mountain people do not easily go out to walk. If they are not careful, they will inevitably fall into the gorge, sink into the mud, or be swept away by the sudden change of course.
So the barbarians did not even need to send out guards, they did not need to worry about the Ming army entering the mountains to surround and suppress them.
Using these three days, Yang Ling did not go out at all. Together with Feng daren, Second Prince, Yan Gaocai and the others, he also gathered Li Sen, Li Ze, Jiao Gui and the other generals who participated in the battle. They reviewed the various failed strategies of the past ten days, analyzed the strengths and weaknesses of the attack and defense of each stockade, and discussed countermeasures.
Three days later, the rain and wind stopped, the sun was bright in the sky, and the Ming army also began to move.
Groups of soldiers walked around the mountain, and began to set up camps at the various important passes in and out of the stockade. They built walls and castles, assuming the posture of a long siege. At the same time, Yan Gaocai, the local yamen officials, bailiffs, and some gentry and scholars to spread the news to the people of the nearby villages that the barbarians bullied the good, harmed the people, and disobeyed the law.
This was the base camp of the Du Barbarians, and it was different from the other districts. These villagers were the weaker people in the area and were usually bullied. They did not dare to speak up or be angry, so they deeply agreed with the propaganda of the government.
But they had lived here for many years and were worried that the court would leave the matter unsettled. When the barbarians came out to take revenge, they would be the ones suffering. So other than a small group of people who had no homes or jobs and no scruples who dared to stand out publicly, most of the people were still watching. But in the open and in the shadows, their help for the soldiers increased.
Liu Biao also secretly led people to the stockade. He sent a small group of scouts into the mountains to investigate the roads and the situation of the stockade after the torrential rain. At the same time, he visited the nearby villages to inquire about the people who were close to the Du Barbarians, as well as the people who stayed outside the mountains who were more obedient and kind to the government.
After understanding the situation, Yan Gaocai and the rest paid a visit to these doctors, tanners, tailors, and chiefs of other clans who had good relations with the Barbarians, as well as the kind-hearted people of the Barbarian Tribe. They talked about the power of the army, and especially exaggerated the achievements of the Commander-in-Chief Yang Ling in various places by ten times. They repeatedly told these people to listen, and persuaded them to enter the mountains to convince their friends and relatives who were on good terms with them to surrender.
Some of these villagers had never left the ten li radius of their homes in their entire lives. They could not read a word and had no knowledge at all. They could only listen with their mouths agape. When the people from the yamen left, even if the head of the household did not say anything, his wife and children had already vividly and vividly told the villagers what the government had said. After repeated processing, the villagers came to a conclusion: the Du Barbarians were definitely going to lose this time. The Commander-in-Chief of the imperial army was the reincarnation of Zhuge Kongming. Otherwise, how could he dare to lead fifty thousand people to attack the stockade? What? Why did they lose the battle a few days ago? That was because imperial envoy Yang had not arrived. Before Mister Kongming came, the Shu army had also lost the battle!
As a result, the virus spread by Yan Gaocai and the others produced various localized variants. Later on, even the mountain spirits and wood demons ran over to make a cameo appearance in the legend of Yang Ling. Do not underestimate this kind of rumor. In modern times, in the remote villages, this kind of supernatural legend still had a great influence, not to mention in the Du Barbarian Mountain area at that time.
As a result, there were fewer people in the nearby villages who dared to secretly cause trouble, and more people openly supported the government. The momentum of the public opinion spread into the mountains, more or less affecting the Du Barbarian Tribe. At the same time, it also strengthened the confidence of the villages and towns outside the mountains in the imperial court.
At this time, Yan Gaocai and the others began to pay special visits to the people who had various kinds of close relationships with the Barbarians. With the above psychological attack as a foundation, they moved them with emotion, reasoned with them, intimidated them with power, enticed them with benefits, and granted them official positions. These people were all shot one by one and 'sacrificed' in the hands of Yan Gaocai and the other government officials who were eloquent with their words.
The government officials left behind silk, money, and all kinds of gifts before politely taking their leave. As soon as they stepped out of the fence gate, these people carried their bags and baskets, as if they were going to the market to visit their relatives in the mountains.
On the battlefield, these people fought to be the first to go into the mountains to summon people to surrender and make a vow. Regardless of whether they succeeded or not, they had the effect of sowing discord, dividing, and disintegrating the strongholds, causing them to distrust each other, so much so that there was internal strife.
Duduzhai's mountain range was high and the forest was dense, everywhere was dangerous. It was precisely by relying on these tribes' coordination that they repeatedly defeated the officers and soldiers. If there was enmity between these tribes, when the big fire burned down the mountain, the officers and soldiers would be able to take advantage of the chaos and annihilate them, eliminating all future troubles.
The leader of the Great Capital Mountain Barbarians, Ah Hei, quickly discovered this strange movement. He immediately ordered all the mountain strongholds to forbid their relatives and friends from visiting the mountain. Those who disobeyed would be executed. After further investigation, he found out that Pheasant Stronghold's chief, Wa Jiu, had complained in public that it was the A family's chief who was too arrogant and had plundered the prefectures and counties, causing great trouble for the Great Capital Mountain Stronghold. He pretended to invite him to the Great Capital Mountain to drink and then chopped off his head. He sent his nephew, Ah Gui, to take over Pheasant Stronghold. Only then was the situation temporarily stabilized.
But at this time, the hearts of the people were restless. Once shaken, it would be very difficult to settle down. The barbarians were not good at stabilizing the morale of the army. They only knew how to punish the barbarians with harsh tribal rules. Instead, it aroused the secret opposition of some of the tribesmen. More and more people sneaked out of the mountains at night.
Ah Hei had no choice but to withdraw the troops and horses of each stronghold. He abandoned many strongholds and placed all the troops between the five peaks of the Great Capital Mountain and the dangerous mountain passes in front and behind. He hoped to rely on this natural barrier to fight a protracted battle with the Ming army until the soldiers collapsed. At that time, his A family would once again be the king of this place.
During this time, Li Sen's army was also undergoing a major reorganization. During this time, there were rewards for meritorious service, rewards for the brave, compensation for the wounded, and compensation for the dead. But there was indeed a small portion of the army that was afraid of battle and death. During every battle, they would cower at the back and bluff. They were simply too timid to engage in battle. Once they were identified by the indignant soldiers, they were immediately beheaded.
Rewards and punishments were clear, so that the morale of the army would not disperse even after suffering a setback. During this time, the soldiers explored the terrain around the Great Capital Mountain Stronghold and dealt with the areas that could cause the fire to spread. Some used swamps, mountain ridges and other natural terrain to isolate the area. Some areas were too densely forested, so they continuously broke open an isolation belt of several dozen feet in the middle. At the same time, soldiers were stationed to guard the area. Everything was ready; the big battle was imminent.
Yang Ling was surrounded by well-dressed generals, each of them attentively listening to his detailed battle deployment. Yang Ling finished assigning the tasks for each division and said, "This time, we will divide the troops and surround the enemy. We must finish the battle in one go. The rebels are relying on the natural hazards of the world. Once the fire spreads, the natural hazards will not be able to be relied on. But in the mountains, there are swamps, streams, caves, and some of the mountain ridges are barren. The barbarians are familiar with the terrain, so they will definitely avoid danger and defend themselves. At the same time, they will counterattack. Therefore, all divisions must not be careless. "
He pointed to the sand table of the Great Capital Mountain Stronghold and said, "This time, we will attack from the front, feint, and advance from both sides. The main direction of the attack will be the Five Capitals. I will personally supervise the advance. It will be easy at first, then difficult at the end, we will take the Great Capital Mountain."
Jiao Gui said in shock, "Daren, the Five Capitals Mountain is guarded by Ah Hei's younger brother Ah Dang. At the foot of the mountain is the Toad Ridge. That mountain is spiraling and towering, like a crouching toad. The mountain is a perilous peak piled up with boulders. Between the steep cliffs of the lonely mountain, there is also a waterfall that looks like a chain. It is extremely dangerous. We have attacked the mountain several times, but never chose that place. The Toad Ridge is not afraid of fire. If we want to take it, we can only take it by force. It is too dangerous. "
Li Sen also said with a serious expression, "Daren, the Toad Ridge is guarded by Ah Dang's brother-in-law, Liu Lang. This person was originally a soldier of the Bao Ning Wei Station. Because the Shangguan Army seized his family's land by force, his father was so angry that he died of illness. This person killed the Shangguan Army and rebelled. He escaped into the forest and later joined the Great Capital Barbarians.
This person is skilled in martial arts, fierce and brave. In the Barbarian Mountain Stronghold, he is one of the best men. Ah Dang appreciates him very much and even married his sister to him. Now he is Ah Dang's number one general and his confidant. With this person guarding the Toad Ridge, even though the Five Capital Barbarians is the shortest among the mountains, I am afraid it is also the hardest to take. If Daren is determined to break through the Five Capital Barbarians, then I will invite you to be the vanguard. "
Upon hearing this, Zhu Rangjin hurriedly advised, "Daren, you are the commander of the entire army. The responsibility is heavy and you cannot take risks easily. Should we choose another place to attack first?"
Yang Ling said indifferently, "Even though the Five Capital Barbarians are in Ah Dang's hands, this Toad Ridge has been taken down by me."
All the officials were shocked. They looked at each other and asked each other, but they did not know who it was that sent the troops to take down the Toad Ridge without a sound. Not only did no one hear anything, it is obvious that the Great Capital Barbarians do not know about it either. Up till now, they have not sent anyone to retake the pass. Isn't this person too capable? Everyone was secretly shocked. Only Yan Gaocai smiled without saying a word.
Councilor Feng said cheerfully, "Daren is very calm. The troops are about to be sent out and you are only telling us such good news. I wonder which General is so brave to make such a contribution?"
Yang Ling laughed, "This person is in my tent. Ji Laosi, please come out."
The curtain at the back of the tent was lifted. Before the person came in, there was a rustling sound and an old man with a hunched back slowly walked in. This person's long hair is all white and draped over his shoulders, reflecting his pale and skinny face. In broad daylight, anyone who sees him cannot help but feel a chill in their heart.
He is wearing a straw rain cape and a pair of straw rain pants. At first glance, one would think that he is a fisherman. However, that head of white hair is a little strange. This person has copper bells on his ankles, hands and waist. When he walks, they are ringing everywhere and the sound is mixed together. It is annoying to listen to.
Some of the officials suddenly exclaimed, "Old Si, so it is the Miao family's Old Si." Their voices are not loud and only the people beside them can hear them. It turns out that this Ji Laosi is not his real name. Old Si is the local name for the shamans of the Miao family.
Yang Ling said with a smile, "Ji Laosi often walks around the stronghold to pick medicinal herbs to cure the illness of the people in the mountains. He is very respected."
Zhu Rangjin was dumbfounded. She pulled Yang Ling's sleeve and said in a low voice, "Daren, you … you want to use shamans to attack Toad Cliff?"
Yang Ling laughed, "Of course not. Old Mister Meng generously helped and built a bridge to make peace. Now that Liu Lang has pledged his allegiance to me and agreed to be a spy, no matter how dangerous this pass is, it will not be a problem. "
Jiao Gui said in disbelief, "Daren can actually persuade Liu Lang to betray us?"
Yang Ling laughed, "What is so difficult about it? A black veil, two hectares of land, and three thousand taels of silver. Liu Lang's Toad Ridge will become my stepping stone! "
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