Late Tang Dynasty Floating Life

Chapter 794 Orderly Retreat
After Pang Shigu received the news, he summoned Kang Yanxiao, Xiao Fu, Zhang Shensi and other high-level camp officials and Zhu Yougong, the commander of the Kuangwei Army, for a secret discussion.

"I have received news that the Zhongwu Army is unreliable and may change." Pang Shigu straight to the point.

For these generals, there is no need to hide, and it is not a good thing to hide.

"General, if there is a change in the Zhongwu army, our army must make plans early." Xiao Fu was very surprised, his face was so pale that he couldn't get any worse, and said in a trembling voice: "General, the three armies of Changjian, Kuangwei, and Youguo are [-] people. They are all elites, so nothing can be lost."

Kang Yanxiao shook his head and sighed, looking sad.

Zhu Yougong looked surprised, and said: "General, is this true? What's the benefit of Zhao Jue's vote for Xia?"

Zhang Shensi looked at the desktop, as if recalling something.

"The thief Shao promised the Zhongwu Army Jiedu envoy, and Zhao Sui was greedy for power and position, so he rebelled. But this matter is not yet clear, I have to send someone to inquire, and you can just wait until you have a preparation. Don't withdraw the army, In a hurry, I can't leave for a long time." Pang Shigu said: "First——"

He couldn't open his mouth to pack up his things first, for fear that if he said it, the morale of the army would be shaken, and everyone wanted to leave, but no one had the will to fight.Retreating in front of the enemy is not that simple. Besides, it is a hasty retreat in such an extremely unfavorable situation. One bad thing is a big rout, which makes it easy for people to get killed.

All of you here have been in the army for a long time, how can you not know how powerful they are?Morale was not good at all, and after a hasty retreat, people's hearts were flustered, and they rushed for their lives. Xia Bing took advantage of the situation to cover up and kill him.

It's better someone breaks the back!
Zhu Yougong coughed and said: "The Jianrui army is nearby, why don't you let them build a floating bridge and cross the river to attack Xia's soldiers."

Pang Shigu was silent for a while, and said: "That's fine."

The fighting will of the Jianrui army is actually very average, and it is not a good way to let them die.But Pang Shigu was reluctant to let any of the two armies of Kuangwei and Changjian stay.They are all precious combat power of Liang land, and they are reluctant to be buried in vain.

"What about You Guojun?" Zhang Shensi asked suddenly.

This one is trickier because it's a little farther away.Moreover, the Youguo Army is actually not that bad. It is better than the Jianrui Army. If they retreat to the rear and rectify for a few months, they will be another strong army.There are [-] people, are you willing to throw it away?
"Youguo's army and Weisheng's army are fighting inextricably, I'm afraid it will be difficult to withdraw." Xiao Fu said.

You Guojun had already lost Tuokou, but a few days ago they defeated more than [-] people from Zhezongben, and they were firmly nailed to Yancheng.Moreover, the reason why Tuokou was lost was that Zhe Zongben used the Tibetans to attack regardless of casualties. Ding Hui didn't want to lose too much troops, and he was a bit slippery in the battle, so he took the initiative to retreat.

His defeat of Wei Shengjun in Yancheng was also to warn Zhe Zongben, don't force people too much, they may defeat you if they go all out.Isn't it good to spend three days fishing and two days drying the net?Why fight to the death?

"Now we can only let the Youguo army retreat to Yanling and return to Bianzhou via the Wei family." Kang Yanxiao said: "There is no other way."

In fact, there is another way, which is to enter Chenzhou eastward, but it is inevitable to be trapped, so it is better to go north and join a group with everyone.

"Youguo army retreat first, I will retreat later." Pang Shigu said: "Let's fight and go, don't mess up."

Zhu Yougong had some opinions, but he didn't dare to contradict Pang Shigu, so he could only get angry silently.

In the current situation, it is dangerous to stay for one more day.If you wait for Dinghui, how many days will you have to wait?What should Xia Bandit do if he takes advantage of the situation to attack?But Pang Shigu still has a bit of prestige, he can't say anything about his achievements in defeating Xu Zhen and his adoptive father's trust.

"The advance dispatcher informed Ding Hui." Pang Shigu Qiankun said arbitrarily: "If you lose the Jianrui army and the Tutuan peasants, just throw them away. The long sword, Kuangwei, and Youguo armies must be taken away."

Since the outbreak of the Xuzhou War, 8000 soldiers from Feilong and Jiama have been lost. Yang Shihou's Zhongwu Army and Zhang Quanyi's Fengguo Army add up to [-]. He doesn't even bother to count them.

Moreover, the surviving armies lost a lot after fighting for half a year, and recruited a large number of recruits—of course, the Xia bandits on the opposite side were similar, and the reinforcements sent to the front line never stopped. Both sides lost too many elite soldiers. The overall strength is much worse than before the war.

In fact, if you look at the world, why not?After a few more decades of fighting, how many of the elite soldiers who rose up before and after Chaos Chaos will be left?When the world is unified, I am afraid that there will be a new crop of people.If you fight for decades, it will be even more unbearable. The soldiers will definitely become weaker and weaker, and the atmosphere will definitely get worse and worse.

Well, I can't think of anything that far away.Pang Shigu came back to his senses and encouraged him: "It's really nothing to retreat from Yingdong. If we can regroup and wipe out a large number of Xia bandits' elite soldiers and generals, we still have a chance. All the towns in the world will not just watch Shao bandits seize From Henan, gentlemen, don't lose your confidence."

"Everyone has a good opinion." Everyone responded in a hurry.

And at this time, there was a lot of noise in the barracks, and it was obvious that some news had leaked.

******
In Xuzhou City, Zhao Jue felt empty in his heart.

A lifetime of faith just collapsed.

During the period of Zhonghe, Huang Chao's army attacked Chenzhou, known as a million.Eldest brother Zhao Ji encouraged the soldiers to fight to the death and defended the city for [-] days.When the army supplies were about to run out, Liang Wang led his army to break the siege of Chenzhou.

Zhao Jue still remembered what happened that day.King Liang rode his favorite horse "Yizhangwu", with a gentle voice and a radiant look, and he praised the soldiers and civilians of Chenzhou greatly.Zhao Jue thought about the past [-] days, so many old brothers died in battle, so many young men who were still at Mu Ai's age grew up to be veterans of all battles—it is true that they have fought many battles, maybe there are more than that.

Brother, please build a shrine for King Liang, no one objected, because it was indeed King Liang who saved the army and people of Chenzhou.At that time, Huang Chao had already taken the lead and attacked a city, but he couldn't take it down for more than 300 days. Too many soldiers were lost, and there was no way to explain if he didn't fight down and slaughter the city.

"The money and food that Bianzhou needs, we will give up all our efforts, and all the recruits will take the lead." This is what the eldest brother said before his death, and the second brother who succeeded him and himself firmly practiced it.

I thought that King Liang won the world, and this would be a good story.Now it seems that it is just a joke.

Zhao Jue felt that most of his life was wasted.

In fact, based on his original intention, he was definitely unwilling to betray King Liang.However, the crowd is raging, and they have surrendered one after another, so what can they do?

The failure of the Jiama Army was like a hammer, smashing people's last illusion about King Liang.

The matter has come to this point, and it cannot be restored by manpower.

He has ordered his nephews Zhao Lu and Zhao Yan to lead the sharp troops and recruit the brave men of the village.His son, Zhao Yu, commanded the soldiers and horses and guarded the camp.As for the rest of the matter, let the three children take care of it, he doesn't want to take care of it.

After sitting down by the window, he made a pot of tea and tasted it quietly, as if he was savoring the glorious years of his youth.

"Loyalty and warriors are known as righteous and brave, and Huaiyang is also called a strong soldier. It is advisable to work together to defend against bandits, to make meritorious deeds, to overcome dangers and to be safe, and you should follow it."

"Kuang, my family has been eating Chen Lu for a long time! Now the thieves are besieging, and the number is uneven. A man should die to survive, so why not be afraid."

"And dying for the country is not the same as rejuvenating Wuye who was born as a thief! But if you look at my broken thief, anyone who dares to disagree will beheaded!"

Every word of the eldest brother hits my heart like Hong Zhong Dalu.

The eldest brother, who is over sixty years old, still has such pride, and fights to the death with a knife, this is a real man!
On the other hand, if you look at yourself and do some villainous things, the gap is so big.

In Xuzhou City, the sergeants were frequently mobilized, with a murderous aura.

Zhao Yan, who hurried home was relieved, and personally led a thousand soldiers to stop a convoy.The convoy was full of people from Xuzhou, full of grain and beans, which were about to be transported to the front line.

"Stop! Don't give it away." Zhao Yan jumped into a carriage with his sword in hand, and said with a sneer, "Zhu Quanzhong demanded too much and exploited him too much. To accept my elite soldiers and harm my crops is tolerable or unbearable. It's time to end your days!"

The head of Xiangyong who was in charge of the escort was stunned for a moment, and after confirming that Zhao Yan was not joking, he said: "Since the yamen said so, I will take it seriously. I don't want to send it away. Pang Shigu's defense line is like a sieve. The thieves cavalry army leaked over, and sending food is like sending you to death, so don't give it away!"

"The yamen is like this, there must be a commander-in-chief's instruction, and we can't blame us." Someone said: "It's gone, let's go home."

The masters are like pardoned.

"Yamei, what should we do with the food?" Someone asked again.

"Put it away." Zhao Yan thought for a moment and said, "If King Xia brings troops here, it may be useful."

Everyone was a little disappointed.One Zhu Quanzhong left, and another Shao Shude came, so it's not the same as reminders for class and labor?
"Why are you gentlemen like this?" Zhao Yan laughed and said, "If you vote for King Xia, you will still have a chance to win wealth and honor in the future."

There is a lack of interest in everyone.

The warriors who could fight were taken away by Zhu Quanzhong long ago, and few of them came back. On the contrary, it was heard that many of them died.You have to trade your life for this wealth.It's just those young men who think that they can walk across the battlefield after practicing martial arts, and have unrealistic fantasies about wealth and honor.

These old people, who have experienced rain, snow and wind and frost, understand the cruelty of this world, and are not very interested in these things. They just want to live in peace and stability in their own small life.

"Being a dull fool, inadequacy and strategy!" Zhao Yan shook his head, jumped off the carriage, and almost sprained his feet under the agitation.

After cursing a few words in a low voice, he led the soldiers to another place.

Zhao Lu rushed to the post with more than [-] people, and with an order, all bows and crossbows were fired.

Dozens of Liao Zuo and generals of Bianzhou lived in the posthouse. After hearing the movement, they came out, and they were not guarded against arrows like locusts, and they fell to the ground immediately.

The Zhongwu soldiers shouted and killed them, and killed Bianren when they saw them, without mercy.

Overseer, envoy, guard, etc., no matter what your status is, you can kill it with one knife.

While in Yangzhai County, Zhao Yu released his soldiers and met Lu Huaizhong, the envoy of Wuwei Army, in person.

In the stockade on the opposite side of the Yingshui River, thousands of pacers rode out of the camp to form an array. An envoy from the Xia army came across the river to count the number of people and comfort them.

The Zhao family of the Zhongwu Army, anyway!
(End of this chapter)