National color raw owl

The dark smog between the sky and the earth never dissipated, Hu Zongmao inspected the construction at the top of the city, and then went out of the city, surrounded by his subordinates, to inspect the ditches outside the city.

According to Hu Zongmao's design, tens of thousands of civilians who came out of Hezhou City dug several trenches outside the city continuously. Thinly concealed, outside the four gates, there are dense crowds of people, on the top of the city, there are figures of people moving around, and inside the city, there are soldiers patrolling back and forth on every street.

Of course Hu Zongmao understands how to defend a city. Defending a city requires not only a strong city, but also a stable heart. Since ancient times, many cities are often not attacked from the outside by the enemy, but collapsed from the inside. If you can't use the enemy's attack, you will collapse yourself.

After he took control of Hezhou City, he immediately issued an order to implement martial law. Hezhou City allowed entry and no exit, and spread public opinion with great fanfare to let the people of Hezhou know that he raised his troops not for rebellion, but to resist the new governor. The common people were confused, they didn't understand what Hu Zongmao said about the tyranny, on the contrary, after Chu Huan came, he brought them a way to resist the plague, they only thought it was a great favor, and I don't understand why Hu Zongmao raised his troops.

But people are killed by swords, I am fish and meat, and Hu Zongmao has military power in his hands and controls the city. Who dares to say that Hu Zongmao is wrong.

A small team of four cavalry came galloping from the gray wind, sand and smog. Behind them were small flags, which were higher than their heads. The small flags fluttered in the wind. When they got close, they got off their horses. The subordinates around him all looked over and knew that they were scouts sent out to inquire about the news. Just like what Chu Huan did, Chu Huan marched very close in this weather, and his sight was greatly restricted, so the scouts he sent out There are quite a few, and the number of scouts sent by Hu Zongmao is definitely not inferior to that of Chu Huan. The scouts under him have a wider range of exploration. Chu Huan's soldiers and horses will approach at any time. To build fortifications, once Chu Huan's soldiers and horses arrive within the warning range, everyone will naturally enter the city immediately and stick to the city.

"Report...!" After the scouts got off their horses, they galloped back, knelt down on one knee, and reported, "General, the enemy has arrived at Rabbit Ridge, less than a hundred miles away...!"

The people around Hu Zongmao looked at each other, the corners of Hu Zongmao's eyes twitched, the expressions in his pupils were complicated, his hands loosened and clenched his fists at times, he was excited but also nervous, he couldn't help saying: "It's finally here... ...!"

"General Hu, with the current weather, no matter how slow the march is, Chu Huan's soldiers and horses will definitely arrive before midnight today." A half-hundred-year-old man with long sleeves and brocade robes beside Hu Zongmao said respectfully: "When they arrive Before that, we will withdraw everyone to the city.”[

Hu Zongmao turned to look at the little old man, this is his military clerk, surnamed He Mingkui, and one of the few people around him who can give him some advice, Hu Zongmao heard what He Kui said, nodded and said: " Secretary He is right, although Chu Huan came earlier than expected, but we prepared in time, and the reinforcement of the city is almost done, and under the current situation, Chu Huan can't do anything to us if we stay behind closed doors."

A lieutenant next to him laughed and said, "The general is wise, and it seems that Chu Huan is going to win in person this time. It's a pity that he met the general. The general has a plan in his chest, and he has already thought of a countermeasure. Chu Huan This time, he will definitely return home without a feather, and the general will also be famous in the northwest...!"

"Famous in the Northwest?" Another general next to him said: "Chu Huan became a surname because of his tyranny. The general was the first to raise his troops to resist. If you beat Chu Huan again this time, you will not be famous in the Northwest, but a famous town." The world is gone."

All the generals laughed, but He Kui's eyes flickered, and he asked the scouts, "Have they passed Rabbit Ridge?"

The scout immediately said: "Have passed Rabbit Ridge, but once they passed Rabbit Ridge, they stopped marching and camped beside Rabbit Ridge!"

Hu Zongmao frowned and said, "You mean they camped at Rabbit Ridge?"

"Yes!"

Everyone looked at each other, and Hu Zongmao said in amazement: "Even if Chu Huan doesn't understand military affairs, the people under him won't be rich... Delaying it will only be harmful to them. He rushed to the city of Hezhou in one go...!" He was suspicious and thoughtful.

"Chu Huan doesn't know the art of war. Perhaps in his opinion, he needs to camp for a long-distance march and Hezhou City is right in front of him, so he needs to rest and recharge his batteries!" A general sneered, "Such a mediocre person will naturally not seize the opportunity. "

Hu Zongmao narrowed his eyes, and another person next to him said: "General, if we knew this earlier, we should set up an ambush at Rabbit Ridge. The visibility is very low in this weather. If we set up an ambush at Rabbit Ridge early, we should be ready. When they pass Rabbit Ridge, we take the opportunity to attack...!"

Before this person finished speaking, Hu Zongmao shook his head and waved his hands and said: "You are short-sighted. The battle between military strategists is not about one moment or one place, but about the overall situation. You think the ambush at Rabbit Ridge is a good strategy. Not very clever. They came from Shuoquan and passed Rabbit Ridge. Naturally, they knew the terrain of Rabbit Ridge very well in advance, and they must be wary of an ambush in Rabbit Ridge. , the attack turned into a decisive battle...!"

One general said: "What does the general mean to say that if we ambush at Rabbit Ridge, it is possible to turn an ambush into a decisive battle?"

"That's right." Hu Zongmao said with a proud smile, "Chu Huan holds three battalions of troops, nearly [-], and we only have a few thousand soldiers on hand. Unless we can succeed at Rabbit Ridge in one fell swoop, once a decisive battle is formed, it will be dire. Young... Since it is so risky, why don't you stick to Hezhou City, as long as we can stick to Hezhou City, Chu Huan will do nothing to us."

"What the general said is true." He Kui, the clerk, nodded and smiled: "The general is very good at defending the city. Hezhou City is a fortified city, and the general personally commands the city defense. The current Hezhou City is as solid as gold, let alone Chu Huan. There are less than [-] troops, even if we double the number of troops, it is impossible to capture Hezhou in a short time...!"

The general next to him smiled and said: "General, you said that Chu Huan attacked our Hezhou City and never broke it. Would you turn around and go to Jinzhou to fight Zhang Shuyan? If Chu Huan chose to attack Zhang Shuyan from the beginning, Zhang Shuyan might not be able to withstand it." Chu Huan." [

Hu Zongmao said: "Let's guard Hezhou well and don't care about Zhang Shuyan. As long as we can last for half a month, Chu Huan's morale will be greatly damaged... Their food and grass can't last long...!" The corner of his mouth was dark and cold Smiling, "This time we will be more patient than anyone else. If we can't hold on, then we lose. If they can't hold on, then they lose. Everyone, this battle is about your future. I will assure you that as long as If you stick to Hezhou City and force Chu Huan to retreat, you will be able to get more officials, honors and riches at your fingertips!"

All the generals were rejoiced when they heard the words.

Hu Zongmao is actively preparing for the battle, waiting for the arrival of Chu Huan's army, but the Chu army is currently stationed at Rabbit Ridge, which is nearly a hundred miles away from Hezhou City. camp.

It's midsummer, the climate is dry, and the climate in the northwest is also very hot. It's strange to say that the weather in Hezhou these days is very strange, even at night. This kind of weird weather, even a man born and bred in the Northwest, also complained in his mouth.

Chu Huan led the army across Rabbit Ridge, and camped by the freshwater lake within a short distance. This made Fang Rushui and other generals a little impatient. They were all experienced veterans who fought in the battlefield. According to common sense, The faster the marching speed, the more hasty the preparations in Hezhou City will be. A day's delay is equivalent to giving Hu Zongmao an extra day's preparation time. This is not a direct confrontation between the two armies. One day of preparation, Fang Rushui and the others wouldn't be too worried. This is a siege, and what the other side needs is time to prepare, while this side wants to fight for time, but Chu Huan ordered the entire army to be stationed near the water. Camp, which made Fang Rushui and others really confused.

Fang Rushui and Han Ying wanted to see Chu Huan and ask why, but it was a pity that the governor's tent was guarded by the personal guards led by Qi Hong. Fang Rushui and Han Ying were anxious to meet anyone, but they couldn't break into the camp. Doubtful, he wondered if Chu Huan was afraid of fighting and dared not march quickly.

Chu Huan was not in the big tent at this time. He disguised himself and brought only two guards, and found a small village near Rabbit Ridge. There were only a dozen or so families here, and the people left were old and weak. Women and children, when Chu Huan entered a village house, there was only one old man who was more than seventy years old, and his family was poor. Although the old man was from the countryside, he seemed to have seen through the warmth and coldness of the world. When Chu Huan brought people into his house, he did not have any fear or tension. When Chu Huan claimed that he was coming to ask for a glass of water, the old man casually pointed to the water tank in the corner of the room. The water tank was broken and the water in it was broken. There are also a few left.

"Old man, are you the only one living here?" Chu Huan looked at the shabby house and the old man with hollow eyes and bony eyes, and sat next to the old man, "Where did all your family members go?"

The old man obviously had good ears, turned his head, his wrinkled face was still calm, shook his head and said: "There is no family anymore, what should go has already gone... I wanted to come back to live, but my son has been killed Arrested to serve as strong men... There is going to be a war, you go quickly... The soldiers are coming, anyone will grab everything, you are strong and strong, you will be arrested and become strong men...!"