I Xiaoxiong

Chapter 319
"Brother, Shuai Xue, take care."

"Second brother, Mr. Pang, take care."

On the night of the fifth day when the official army attacked the city, the Red Lotus Army suddenly moved.

One south and one north, the soldiers fled in two ways.

Among them, the North Route Army went straight to Zizhou, which was indeed not what the officers and soldiers expected.

Fu Jinchuan even once thought that the Honglian North Route Army was just a tactic of suspicious soldiers, in order to cover the main force going south.

But as the scouts continued to report back, he also had to believe in this reality.

This time the Red Lotus Army really made Fu Jinchuan and his staff guess wrong. There are tens of thousands of troops going north, and there is no way they are suspects.

And there are about [-] Red Lotus Army going south.

But when the officers and soldiers discovered this, it was already a bit late.

Because all the previous arrangements and preparations were to deal with Honglian's main force going south, and Fu Jinchuan's own strength here is only more than [-], so it would be very risky to divide the troops and pursue them at this time.

However, he immediately ordered to gather troops and station them in Anyue, and ordered Zhao Fubai to lead the army to pursue the rebels going south.

After the Red Lotus Army that went north went out of Puzhou and entered Zizhou, it immediately fell into pieces.

Even in the cold spring, since the five thousand elites led by Fu Jinchuan defeated the Red Lotus Army's rear troops on the main road, since they insisted on walking the mountain road, they had nothing to do with the Red Lotus Army crossing the mountains.

Because after all, there were only 5000 officers and soldiers chasing, and the Red Lotus Army took the risk of military taboos, and nearly 5 people were divided into dozens of teams to march.

Faced with this situation, Fu Jinchuan could only let Zhao Yuanqi, the eldest son of the king of Shu, lead eight hundred soldiers to follow the traces of the various ministries.

These [-] tooth soldiers are all the children of Shuzhong. They were originally the tooth soldiers of the Dudu Mansion. After the establishment of the Jiedu Mansion, they were naturally merged into the Jiannan Jiefu.

This tooth soldier team is no stranger to crossing mountains and ridges, and is better at mountain warfare.

But no matter how good these 800 people are at fighting, it is still a drop in the bucket for the overall situation.

Although the Red Lotus Army was tracked several times and wiped out under the headquarters led by Fu Jinchuan, the other teams did not turn around to rescue them, even though they were only a few miles apart.

Breaking it down into parts like this made the Red Lotus Army lose the ability to fight against the official army, but it also really caused the official army some headaches.

And the mountainous forests in central Shu also made the official army lose the advantage of cavalry.

Although a lot has been gained, the goal of eliminating the main force of the Red Lotus Army in Shuzhong has failed.

And Honglian's South Route Army, under the leadership of Fang Qiu and Xue Julin, did go south and headed straight for Dazu just as the official army had imagined.

But they didn't take the official route, and even they couldn't count the way.

This also made Fu Jinchuan's arrangement a few days ago also come to nothing.

Tens of thousands of troops went directly to Bashan.

"What? Bashan?" Fu Jinchuan, who was chasing the Red Lotus Army in Zizhou, was also a little surprised when he heard Zhao Fubai's report.

In the military tent, Fu Jinchuan's eyes fell on the map.

Dazu is located in a dangerous location, at the intersection of hills and parallel ridges and valleys. It is the only place to pass through from central Sichuan to Yuzhou. As long as Dazu is occupied, it can guard the Jialing River, that is, control waterways and dry roads.

But he didn't expect that the Red Lotus Army went straight to the mountains.

Leading tens of thousands of people into the mountains and forests is no joke.

In other words, among Fu Jinchuan's military experience, this is definitely a taboo for military strategists.

But after thinking about it, I was relieved, it was nothing more than a helpless move under balance.

Everyone knew that Dazu was a must pass, and they also expected that the government and army must have arrangements.

No one can know which is greater, the casualties required to capture Dazu, or the losses required for the army to cross Bashan.

But the officers and soldiers who walked Bashan would definitely not go into the mountain to pursue them.

This is for sure.

Because Bashan is too big, throwing tens of thousands of people into the mountain is like throwing a stone into the sea at that time, and there will be no waves.

Moreover, in the mountains and forests, the officers and soldiers have no advantage, and logistical supplies will become extremely difficult.

If you don't do it well, you will fall into the trick of the rebels to lure the enemy.

"The red lotus rebels sneaked into the Daba Mountain, and there was less food and grass in the first place. Once they entered the mountain, maybe they would starve to death in the mountain right away?"

Shiro Fu Weichuan on the side spoke.

Fu Jinchuan frowned and did not respond to the fourth brother's optimistic words: "Judge Xu wrote a letter for me, and sent it to the governor of the Kuizhou Metropolitan Ninghou Zhu Lingshi, explaining our military situation here one by one, and told him that the two divisions of the Red Lotus Army are extremely powerful. Maybe go back to Yongan to meet up."

Xu Yinglong replied: "No."

He knew that the meaning of Fu Jinchuan's official document was no longer to let Changning Marquis Zhu Lingshi assist in suppressing the bandits, but to remind and inform.

The task of exterminating Honglian is no longer in Jiannan Jiedu Mansion.

At this time, in a mountain forest only a few tens of miles away from Fu Jinchuan, Fang Jiao was gnawing on a roasted and fragrant wild rabbit leg in his hand.

There was a bunch of bonfires gathered in front of them, and those sitting in front of them were all commanders at the first level, and directly opposite were the military adviser Pang Zhigu and the monk who had no return.

Pang Zhigu didn't eat rabbit meat, but baked a cake wrapped in a tree branch.

It was almost done, so he took one and handed it to the homeless monk next to him.

Monk Wugui clasped his hands together and thanked him, then took the cake and ate it.

"The place we're staying in now is in Yanting, and we're about to reach Jianzhou. Jianzhou is the gateway to northern Sichuan, and the mountain roads are steeper, so it's not easy to walk."

Pang Zhigu sighed while eating the cake.

The current situation is not optimistic for the Red Lotus Army.

Even the official army is temporarily helpless in the face of the fragmented Red Lotus Army, and can only passively catch up with them.

But the Red Lotus Army also lost the ability to fight back.

You can only go all the way through according to the original plan.

"Why don't we try to beat Yanting? Once the outside is beaten down, there may be no shortage of food along the way."

Fang Jiao asked tentatively.

Pang Zhigu shook his head: "No, as a Chinese army, we have less than 4000 people, so it is very difficult to attack the city."

Fang Jiao said: "Tomorrow night, I can lead a few good men to sneak into the city at night and open the city gate. Military commander, you lead the army outside. Let's cooperate from inside to outside. Even if it doesn't work, what experts in Yanting City can stop us?" Can't you live with me?"

Pang Zhigu still shook his head after hearing this, "No, after the division of troops, the marshal is the leader of an army, so you must not take risks easily."

Fang Jiao also frowned when he heard that, "What can we do? We only have enough food for a few days now, and we can't go to the edge of the city when we get to Jianzhou. There are no big towns along the way. Where can I get more food?"

At this time, the homeless monk who was eating scones said, "Why don't you take a walk, little monk?"

When Fang Jiao heard this, he said, "Monk, you are a guest, how can I let you go? No need, no need."

No Return said: "Whether guests are guests or not, people in the same boat should help each other. I am not talented, but I can do such small things when I am old enough. I should thank your army for their hospitality during this period of time."

At this time, Pang Zhigu said: "If the master is willing to make a move, he will be able to catch it, but does the master know the topography of the city?"

The monk Wugui said: "When I came here, I passed Yanting, and I rested in the city for a night. I probably remember the layout of the city."

Pang Zhigu nodded: "It's so thankful, Master."

"It's a trivial matter, don't be polite."

After all, the monk without return stood up and went to find a place to rest.

After the person left, Fang Jiao smiled and said: "Mr. Pang is really brilliant, he can make this homeless monk take the initiative to help us."

Pang Zhigu shook his head when he heard this, "Monk Wugui is a transparent person, he can hear the meaning behind the words. If he doesn't want to make an effort, nothing I can do will impress him."

Fang Jiao also nodded after hearing this: "It is so."

"I just don't know how much food there is in the treasury of Yanting, is it enough for us to eat in Longyou?"

(End of this chapter)