Lord: Start with a book of Water Margin

Chapter 364: Success in One Battle

In Bailiu Village, Ji Qingwan and others had been waiting for many days. When they met Zhao Zhen, they handed over the key to the misty world of [Uncle Thief].

Zhu Wu, Lu Fang, Guo Sheng, Liu Hui Niang, Ji Minghan, Ji Mingdan and the three sisters Black Ant joined the army together. Zhao Zhen took the key to the misty world, concentrated his mind, and more than 5,000 soldiers moved into the misty world of "Uncle Thief" at once.

When Zhao Zhen opened his eyes, he saw that they had entered a foggy world. There were only bean grasses growing here, a large river nearby, and the navy was in it. There was no sign of human habitation around. Looking ahead, there was a vast expanse of saline-alkali land.

Bai Sheng led the spies to scatter, and the navy, under the command of Ruan Xiaoer and Liu Lin, was divided into two groups to explore forward and backward.

Zhao Zhen chose a high ground near the river and set up camp.

After setting up the camp, the spies from both land and sea also returned. Zhao Zhen ordered the drums to be beaten to gather the generals. Soon, the generals of the three armies of water, infantry and cavalry gathered and sat down in the big tent.

Bai Sheng first spoke: "Sir, I led people to capture three groups of more than 20 people. After interrogation, we found that they were the scattered Ajiu bandits. This group has been gathering and dispersing since Liu Badao's death. In addition to Li Deyi gathering tens of thousands of Liu Badao's remaining troops and raising the banner of "Ajiu Army", there are also Du Yanbing and Wang Run who have gathered people to revolt. Now the two are besieging Pingyuan County, and Li Deyi is gathering troops to plunder the surrounding counties."

Zhao Zhen asked, "Can you tell me where Li Deyi is stationed?"

Bai Sheng shook his head: "These guys are just scattered villagers. They are only gathering information from the outside and don't know where Li Deyi is stationed."

Ruan Xiaoqi said, "My lord, my brother Liu Lin and I also captured some fishermen. There was a young officer among them. After interrogation, he also said that Li Deyi was gathering troops and seemed to be going to attack Bohai County."

Zhu Wu said: "Brother Ruan Xiaoqi, have you found out the number of Li Deyi's followers?"

"More than 20,000 people."

Zhao Zhen asked: "Brothers, do you have any ideas?"

Lu Zhishen said, "We don't even know where Li Deyi is. How can we fight this war?"

Zhu Wu said: "That's right. We are in secret while the enemy is in the open. If we set up an ambush, we can defeat Li Deyi's army in one battle."

After hearing this, everyone looked much more relaxed.

Zhu Wu continued, "If the news is true, we will first ambush them at the place where Bohai County must pass through, and attack them by cavalry, followed by infantry. We can defeat this group of people in one battle."

After hearing this, Liu Hui Niang said, "I don't think we need to be so anxious. Since he wants to attack Bohai County, let him attack first. If he can capture Bohai County, we can charge in afterwards. Not only can we defeat the thief Uncle, but we can also capture a city for free. If we can't capture Bohai County, we can take advantage of their recent defeat and low morale to rob their camp. We will surely win."

Zhao Zhen thought for a moment after hearing what he said, and then issued an order: "Coach Lin, the cavalry will be dispersed into teams of 50 cavalrymen each. You will each lead a team and patrol the area within a radius of ten miles. Do not let anyone know where we are. Pass the order again. Do not light a fire for breakfast these days. Eat the fried rice and pickles you brought with you. Brother Bai Sheng, you will also take the spies to inquire everywhere. It would be best if you can find out where Li Deyi's camp and Bohai County are. Brothers Ruan Xiaoqi and Liu Lin, patrol along the river. A large group of people and horses will gather together, and water is necessary. In my opinion, this camp should be not far from the river bank. The rest of the generals, lead the troops and horses, and do not make noise or slack off."

Everyone received the order and went about their business.

After a day and night of rest, Ruan Xiaoqi reported the next morning that he had found Li Deyi's camp. Just as Zhao Zhen expected, Ruan Xiaoqi led seven or eight fast boats and headed north, finally finding Li Deyi's camp. Forty miles from here, a new camp was set up at the intersection of the Majia River and the Dehui River. They caught a tongue and found that it was indeed Li Deyi's new camp.

Zhao Zhen was overjoyed when he heard this and asked, "Do you know when the troops will be dispatched?"

Ruan Xiaoqi shook his head: "I am afraid of alerting the enemy, so I dare not go deep into the camp. Today I will pretend to be a thief and go into the camp to explore."

Zhu Wu quickly stopped him: "Brother, I'm afraid you won't be able to do it with your appearance."

As he was speaking, Bai Sheng came in and reported: "Sir, I have found the location of Bohai County. It is 40 miles southeast from the camp."

Liu Hui Niang asked: "Do you know if Li Deyi's troops have any warships?"

Ruan Xiaoqi said: "Yesterday, from a distance, they were all small fishing boats."

"That's good. We will stay here and don't have to worry about Li Deyi's army passing by. We just need to find out when he will send out his troops. If we are one day behind him, we can naturally benefit from it." Zhao Zhen said, "In this case, I will have to trouble Brother Bai Sheng to pretend to be the uncle thief and go to Li Deyi's camp to find out something."

Bai Sheng said: "This is not difficult. I will bring two smart soldiers with me. After changing clothes, we can naturally blend into the camp."

After the discussion, Ruan Xiaoqi personally drove the boat and sent Bai Sheng and others to Li Deyi's base. Bai Sheng went ashore from a distance, pretending to be an uncle of the thieves who were gathering at the camp, and went into the camp to spy.

Here in Zhao Zhen's place, the cavalry patrolled the surrounding area every day. Pei Xuan had people build several large tents. In order to prevent the smoke from cooking from attracting attention during the day, they cooked in the large tents at night so that the soldiers did not have to eat cold and hard fried rice.

Three days passed like this, and Ruan Xiaoqi finally brought back the news that Li Deyi had broken camp and headed straight for Bohai County, more than seventy miles away in the southeast.

Zhao Zhen stayed here for another two days before breaking camp and heading for Bohai County.

Ruan Xiaoqi and Liu Lin were left here to lead the navy, while Shi Jin, Yang Chun and Chen Da led 200 cavalry. The two groups of people went north along the river to look for Li Deyi's old camp.

Zhao Zhen and his companions followed ten miles behind Li Deyi's group and slowly approached Bohai County.

Bai Sheng sent news every day that after three days of siege, more than 3,000 casualties had been caused, and Li Deyi's troops could not even climb the city wall. Li Deyi's troops were in low morale and would withdraw soon, asking Zhao Zhen to prepare to send troops.

After all, the uncle's army was not a well-trained army, but farmers who could not survive and gathered together to protect themselves. Now that there were many casualties, they had no will to fight. Li Deyi and other heroes were indeed considering withdrawing. This gathering of troops was just to support Du Yanbing and Wang Run in besieging Pingyuan County and prevent Bohai County from supporting them.

It was originally just a siege, Li Deyi was greedy and wanted to try to conquer Bohai County. After looting, he would not have to worry about expenses this year. Unexpectedly, during the siege, a commander was shot by a stray arrow from the city and died on the spot. This turned a siege into a siege.

Li Deyi discussed with several major bandit leaders and decided to attack the surrounding villages and towns instead. After looting, they would return to Douzi to take shelter temporarily.

Immediately, everyone broke camp and left. Li Deyi personally led the way. The large group of people packed up the camp and retreated. The officers and soldiers of Bohai County were few in number and did not dare to go out of the city to pursue. They watched Li Deyi retreat calmly from the city wall.

However, Li Deyi and his companions left Bohai County and walked north for five or seven miles. When they passed the foot of a mountain, they heard a burst of cannon fire and a group of cavalry rushed out, heading straight for Li Deyi's troops who were unprepared.

The cavalry rushed forward like a hot knife cutting through butter, and immediately scattered Li Deyi's troops.

The infantry followed and, just as Liu Huiniang had said, they defeated Li Deyi's troops in just one blow. The "uncle bandits" were at a loss, and five or seven of their horses were killed. The "uncle bandits" only wished their parents had given them two more legs, and fled in all directions to the deep villages and wild roads.

The cavalry also scattered in pursuit, and Zhao Zhen had people shout, "Those who surrender will not be killed!"

They were chasing the enemy everywhere, and only fought for more than an hour before they called the troops back. All the generals came to report their achievements, and Pei Xuan wrote down their contributions in detail.

It was the cavalry's credit to break the enemy's formation, and it was Lin Chong, Sun An and Yang Zhi's credit to kill three generals.

Nearly 7,000 people surrendered, thanks to the infantry. During the chaos, Bao Xu also killed a leader of the rebel army.

More than 200 war horses, more than 300 large livestock such as cattle and mules, and countless carriages, fodder, food, and armor and weapons were seized.

Unfortunately, Li Deyi died in the chaos.

Of the twenty thousand [Ah-Uncle bandits], more than four thousand were injured in the siege, seven thousand were captured, and nearly two thousand were killed, while the remaining six or seven thousand were scattered into the countryside.

Zhu Wu said, "Sir, why don't you take the prisoners and camp at Li Deyi's camp in front of Bohai County? Train the prisoners. If we can capture Bohai County, all the treasuries and granaries will belong to you."

After hearing this, Zhao Zhen immediately ordered his troops to set up camp in front of Bohai County.

(End of this chapter)