Fenghou

Chapter 672 Manor
At dusk, Tang Qian finally saw the legendary manor. The first thing he saw was a row of tall fir trees standing on the plain like a pagoda. Going is like a high black wall.

This kind of fir tree has strong water storage capacity, straight and straight, often as high as more than ten feet, not only keeps the soil moisture, but also has a dense texture, which has a wide range of uses. Basically, all kinds of wooden utensils in Xixia are made of it. .

In the manor there are endless wheat fields, and there are many dilapidated low houses in the far distance, densely packed together, probably the residence of the grain slaves.

These food slaves are made up of families. The Xixia people not only kidnap young men, but also young women. They let them form families and grow food for their masters with peace of mind. Their children are also slaves. The Song people were captured as slaves, so that many slaves have been passed down for generations.

Tang Qian learned the lesson of underestimating the enemy, and instead of attacking hastily, he sent two skilled men to sneak into the manor from the river to investigate the situation.

Five thousand cavalry were waiting two miles away from the manor. At this time, the night had fallen, and the sky was full of stars. The velvet curtain was covered with precious stones. The summer season was over, and the night in Xixia had a chill, and the soldiers were not used to it. , Wrapped military blankets around their bodies one after another.

At this time, there were bursts of ferocious dog barking in the manor, and then the dog barking stopped abruptly. Not long after, more than a dozen support soldiers rushed over with two spies, clasped their fists at Tang Qian for the capital, and said: "A pack of ferocious mastiffs were chasing our brother, and they were able to jump over the ditch, and the humble officer had to order them to be shot."

"I see. How is the situation in the manor?" Tang Qian asked the two spies.

A soldier said: "Reporting to the general, the manor army does have an army. In the northeast corner, a hundred tents have been set up, and there are about a thousand people. Mr. Qiao said that the guards of the manor are not the same as them. They live separately. It is very close to the residential area, and it is estimated that there are about a hundred people."

Tang Qian nodded, "Have you been discovered?"

"It's possible that we were discovered, otherwise there wouldn't be so many vicious dogs chasing us, but they might not be able to guess our identity."

Tang Qian sighed in his heart. When he saw the mastiff shot by the crossbow, the other party could guess it.

He immediately said: "The whole army is assembled and ready to go!"

The cavalry of the Song Army got on their horses one after another, followed the general and rushed towards the manor with their horses.
As soon as he approached the main gate of the manor, he heard a rapid alarm bell from the manor, 'Dang!when!when! 'It should be the patrol Zhuang Ding who discovered the body of the mastiff.

Tang Qian ordered: "Go in!"

The cavalry of the Song Army pulled down the gate of the manor. Tang Qian galloped his horse and rushed into the manor first, killing towards the northeast of the manor. Hundreds of cavalry of the Song Army followed behind him with torches in their hands. The torrent of cavalry behind rushed into the manor. .

One hundred big tents are in the northeast corner. Zhuang Ding in the big tent heard the sound of bells and galloping horses. As soon as dozens of people rushed out of the big tent, the cavalry opened their bows and fired arrows, and a dense rain of arrows hit them Shooting away, dozens of Zhuang Ding screamed and fell to the ground.

The Song Army cavalry immediately divided into three teams and surrounded the barracks from three directions. Xixia Zhuang Ding rushed out one after another to fight desperately, but their strength was very different, and they were mercilessly killed by the Song Army cavalry.

More than a dozen Song slaves saw the situation clearly from a distance, and ran towards the densely populated houses, shouting: "The cavalry of the Song army is here, it is the cavalry of the Song army!"

The villages inhabited were boiling, and the villagers all heard the news that the Song army was attacking Xixia. They suffocated their anger and waited for this moment. rush away.

They were bullied, and their wives and daughters were wantonly insulted by these guards. The hatred had long been buried in their hearts. At this moment, the hatred that had accumulated for many years was instantly detonated.

The villagers rushed into the big camp like a tide, and many guards who rushed out of the big tent were knocked down by hoes and sticks. Fear, they didn't care about fighting the villagers and ran for their lives, but not long after they ran, they were surrounded by Song Army cavalry regiments and all were killed.

In less than half an hour, more than a thousand Zhuang Ding were killed by the Song army. The soldiers of the Song army lit countless torches, and the manor was illuminated like daylight. More than a dozen old men stepped forward tremblingly, knelt down and saluted, "I implore the general to forgive you!" pass us!"

"Are you all people from the Song Dynasty?" Tang Qian asked.

The other party spoke the same language, and a dozen or so elderly people burst into tears, "We are all, we are all citizens of the Song Dynasty. Some have been arrested for decades, and some were only arrested two years ago."

"You don't have to be afraid, we are the Western Army, here to rescue everyone back home!"

Hearing that it was Song Jun who came to rescue them back home, the three thousand people cried loudly, and many of them cried so hard that they were so sad that they fainted.

Tang Qian asked again: "Excuse me, old man, do you have someone in charge here?"

"Yes! Yes!"

Several old men turned around and shouted: "Song Dalang, this general has something to do with you."

A middle-aged man came over and saluted and said, "Song Cheng, the Han people in the farm are in charge. Please tell me, General?"

Tang Qian asked, "Are there ships and food in the manor?"

"There are more than a dozen large ships and granaries, all in the northwest. I will take the general there."

Tang Qian nodded, "Let everyone pack up their things first, and follow us to the south later."

The man went back to give some instructions, and thousands of serfs ran back home to pack their things. Then the man led Song Jun to the warehouse in the northwest.

More than a dozen warehouses were built in the northwest corner, surrounded by tall barracks and a row of bungalows. The two stewards of the manor lived here. They were all gone, Tang Qian guessed that they hadn't run far, so he ordered the commander Zhang Yan to lead a thousand cavalry to search outside.

The soldiers opened the gates of more than a dozen warehouses, which were not only full of food, but also accidentally discovered an armory. There were more than [-] spears, [-] swords, [-] pairs of armor, and thousands of weapons. Take the bow and tens of thousands of arrows.

But there is no money, and it should be stored in the mansion in the capital. Tang Qian looked at the grain again, and estimated that there were about [-] shi and more than [-] dans of fodder.

At this time, Song Cheng, the Han steward, brought five hundred young and strong men over, clasped his fists and said, "General, we are willing to help carry the food!"

Tang Qian asked happily, "Where are the ships?"

Just to the north of the manor, there is a small river over there. Fifteen large ships are moored in the river, less than a hundred steps away from here. In addition, there are thousands of mules and camels in the livestock shed, which can be used to carry food. "

"Then it's hard work everyone, go and bring all the livestock!"

Tang Qian immediately ordered the soldiers to participate in the transportation of grain and armor. Soon, the young and strong slaves brought [-] mules and [-] camels to participate in the transportation of grain.

As the sky gradually dawned, the last boat left the manor. There was no life in the manor, and Zhuang Ding's body was dug and buried deeply. The two stewards and a dozen Zhuang Ding who escaped could not escape. They were captured and executed by the Song army, and they were buried deeply, leaving only large expanses of blue and yellow wheat billows undulating in the morning wind.

The first batch of [-] Song Army cavalry, led by Commander Zhang Yan, withdrew to Mingsha County with [-] large ships, [-] large ships were loaded with food and armor, and the remaining [-] or so ships were full. The old and the weak, women and children, hold on to their meager property.

On the west bank of the Yellow River, young and strong men rode mules to follow the cavalry of the Song Army, and dozens of camels acted as temporary trackers, dragging the fleet slowly.

After the fleet passed the gorge, Tang Qian led [-] cavalry to turn around and head north quickly, continuing to search for ships.

(End of this chapter)