Dawn of the Empire

Chapter 157: Ge Yu Ruo Luo Xing (3)

After Zhao Xingde said all his inferences, there was silence in the military tent, even Zhao Xingde was surprised.

"Did you come up with this yourself?" Duan Huaixian asked after a moment of silence.He looked at the marching Sima next to him.Xia Guo's military officers will receive training arranged by the General's Mansion every time they are promoted.And Zhao Xingde's psychological and strategic analysis of the generals of the enemy and us just now is really not like the work of a centurion.

"Exactly." Zhao Xingde replied.Jin Changtai and others also showed admiration in their eyes.

"The analysis is good." Duan Huaixian nodded, Zhao Xingde was waiting to thank him, but he changed the subject, "But our battalion is here, representing the honor of the Great Xia sergeant and the country's credit." Looking at Zhao Xingde's puzzled expression Looking at it, Duan Huaixian said with emphasis, "So, you must not abandon Emperor Lumei and break out alone." He didn't say anything more, and a look of sadness flashed in the eyes of the other officers, and then turned firm, and they didn't speak out against it.

Zhao Xingde was silent, Duan Huaixian patted him on the shoulder, and said in a deep voice: "If you encounter a situation like what you said and inferred, I will try my best to admonish Emperor Lumei, let him move closer to the rear army column, and send a messenger to dispatch the rear army. Forward." There was a hint of uncertainty in his tone, Zhao Xingde raised his head, moved his lips, but did not make a sound, because he knew that Duan Huaixian had made up his mind, even if he fought to the end, he would not lose the country's credit, the sergeant's honor.

After the military discussion, all the generals returned to their tents.Duan Huaixian would rather fight to the death than lose the trust of Xia Guoren, Zhao Xingde has no choice but to do so.Even if the Turkic deployed only suspicious soldiers between the main force and the rear column, he could not break out of the encirclement by riding alone. "The nomadic tribes value craftsmen. Even if they are captured, they still have a chance of survival?" He suddenly thought, and then felt very ashamed.

That night, the moon was covered by dark clouds, and when the Imperial Guards of the Xia Kingdom marched, officers above the centurion used police pillows to sleep in their tents, shaped like a T. The hollow wooden stakes were more than three feet deep into the ground, and the semi-cylindrical wooden sleepers were also hollow. Both sides of the wooden sleeper are tightly covered with thin cowhide.The soldiers walking around, and the sound of galloping horses in the distance, could be heard much more clearly than usual.When Zhao Xingde first used this object, he couldn't sleep for several nights.In the middle of the night, Zhao Xingde, who was sleeping soundly, suddenly heard the sound of horseshoes like a tide, his eyes opened suddenly, his right hand subconsciously grabbed the horizontal knife, turned over and put his left ear against the cowhide surface of the sleeper again Listen carefully, and I am sure that there is no doubt that a large group of war horses are running, and they are getting closer.

Zhao Xingde immediately stood up and shouted loudly: "Enemy attack! Minghong is all in armor and lined up!" While shouting, he hung up his bow and quiver, put on his pocket, opened the tent door and stepped out. Everyone in the army had already woken up, only a moment later, the sergeants put on their helmets and armor and rushed out of the camp.Captain Duan Huaixian, accompanied by three marching commanders, boarded the observation tower on the mound in the camp. Looking around, he saw countless torches flickering in the distance in the darkness, and tens of thousands of riders came from all directions.

In the dark, the Turkic cavalry suddenly approached, and groups of cavalry began to shoot arrows around the camp of Emperor Lumei. Farther away, countless fireballs shot up into the sky, drawing bright arcs in the night sky, and the hay balls soaked in grease With raging fire, they smashed into the camp in groups.Many Lumei Army tents were set ablaze. Although the army suffered little loss, most of the soldiers who hurriedly got up in the cold night looked pale.A battalion of Lumei heavy cavalry marched out without authorization. After leaving the gate, they were buried in the boundless torches and Turkic cavalry. After a long while, the decapitated corpse was dragged back by the horses.

At the same time, there was also a lot of killing in the direction of the Eastern vanguard column and the Western rear column.Lumei Emperor Alexei sent heavy armored cavalry to escort the messenger forward and backward to understand the situation.Those who went to the rear column did not hear back, but those who went to the forward column brought back even worse news.Bermonds II once again led thousands of Antiochian knights and equestrian attendants, broke away from the protection of the infantry camp, and chased the Turks into a canyon, but was besieged by Turkic ambushes. The cavalry and weak-willed troops in the front column The infantry was divided again.Although besieged by the Turkic people, the former army column was still waiting for help, and asked Emperor Lumei to rescue them.

Looking at the blood-stained messenger, the old emperor Alexei's muddy eyes showed complicated emotions.Once again, he fell into the trick of the Turks, which made Alexei, who had been a soldier all his life, feel unwilling.He looked at General Lumei who was surrounded by him. The heavy cavalry commanders of the Imperial Guard, Conet and Lampa, both advocated storming the Turkic defense line, giving confidence to the front column and taking them out.

He looked at Duan Huaixian, the commander of Xia Kingdom's imperial guards, pondering about the decision.Duan Huaixian's analysis of the Turkic people's intentions is very convincing, and the Turkic people's attack and ambush tonight have confirmed his previous statement.However, the Antiochians were the only ones who surrendered to Lumei among the small countries of the Western Crusaders. If they were ignored and left, the credibility of the empire would definitely be discredited.The interior of the Lumei Empire is already rotten, and because of this, maintaining the glory and reputation of the empire is even more crucial.

Painful and complicated eyes flashed in Alexei's eyes, his fingers moved slightly, and with a deep and ambiguous voice, he agreed to the request of Conet and Lampa, and concentrated the elite infantry and heavy cavalry, the main force of the Imperial Guard, at all costs To storm the Turkic defense line to the east, we must take out the former army column.

"Your Majesty," Duan Huaixian said with a gloomy face, "the messenger sent to Crown Prince John has not received any news, and it is likely to be intercepted by the Turks halfway. Please send another messenger, escorted by a hundred cavalry from our battalion. Order the column of the rear army to approach our army." The bright candlelight reflected Alexei, the purple robe and the crown were not as clear as the age spots on his face, his eyes were very complicated, he nodded, and agreed to Duan Huaixian's request .

After coming out of the imperial tent, Duan Huaixian called Wang Tongdeng and Zhao Xingde, and ordered Wang Tongdeng to lead his own cavalry to escort the emperor's messenger to deliver the imperial edict.In addition, Zhao Xingde was asked to accompany him to meet with Crown Prince John to discuss his interests and persuade him to send troops to rescue the Chinese army.

"If Crown Prince John doesn't send reinforcements," Duan Huaixian lowered his voice and said slowly and carefully, "you two can stay in the rear." He sighed softly.

"General." Zhao Xingde was a little shocked, Wang Tongdeng also said: "General Duan, we are willing to share life and death with the brothers in the camp."

The elite cavalry led by Wang Tongdeng was crucial to the breakout operation. Duan Huaixian sent him out, saying that if Crown Prince Lumei did not send troops to rescue, the Imperial Guards of the Kingdom of Xia who stayed in the camp would also fight against Emperor Lumei. Advance and retreat together, and will never break through alone.

Duan Huaixian's face darkened, and he reprimanded in a low voice, "I will lead the battalion to defend the national system to the death, and you two should leave your useful lives to serve the country and plant some seeds for me." He looked at Zhao Xingde, put his hands down On his shoulders, he said earnestly, "I am a talented person in Daxia, and I will serve the country with integrity, and I will not let it go!" Zhao Xingde felt his chest was hot and his throat was a little choked, and he cupped his hands and said, "Thank you, Captain Duan, for your love." Duan Huaixian sighed , patted him on the shoulder, signaled the two to go out, and set off immediately.

Zhao Xingde returned to the tent with his head down, not sure if he was ashamed or uneasy.He arranged for Jian Cheng to be in charge of the capital before he came back.As soon as he put on the iron armor, Jin Changtai opened the tent door and came in. Looking left and right, there was no one else in the tent, and said eagerly: "Brother Zhao, I heard that General Duan looks at you differently and wants you to stay useful and serve the country. I have one thing to do." Entrust..." He took out a stack of handouts from his arms, and a letter and private seal, and handed them up with both hands.Zhao Xingde hurriedly put down the iron gauntlet, took these things over, and said: "Brother Jin, what are you doing?" But he was quite ashamed in his heart.

Jin Changtai's face was gloomy, and he said in a low voice: "I don't have anything to say about sacrificing my life to go to the country. If there is an emergency, I will trouble Brother Zhao to give it to Gui, the concubine of the long-term master of the Jin family in Lizhou." He paused , said in a low voice, "I, Jin Changtai, am sorry for her, and I failed to give her a better home." Zhao Xingde was tongue-tied. The elder of the Jin family in Lizhou was Jin Changtai's uncle. "The master of the long house of the Jin family in Lizhou".Looking at Jin Changtai's pale face, Zhao Xingde nodded, feeling a little embarrassed again, and said casually: "Brother Jin entrusted him with a dark matter, so he won't keep his mouth shut in the future, right?" As soon as he said this, he immediately felt regretful, and after thinking about it It was too late to make up for it.

Jin Changtai smiled wryly, and said in a low voice: "Brother Zhao is a sincere gentleman, I can trust you." He patted Zhao Xingde on the shoulder, and said in a deep voice, "Take care all the way." He turned and left.

Not long after Jin Changtai walked by, Du Chuijiao came in again to make a confession. He 'touched' out a paper bag, which contained the deed of becoming a shareholder of the caravan and a few notes.He whispered: "Trouble Zhao Dutou, bring this little belonging to my wife." There was a smile on his face, but there was a trace of sadness in his eyes.Looking at his forced smile, Zhao Xingde felt a little sour, and said in a deep voice: "Blow the horn, you are so good at assisting Jian Cheng, I will definitely get the rescuers." But Master Zhao can rest assured if he has a tone." Zhao Xingde patted him on the shoulder, seeing a thick patch on his military robe on his right shoulder, which must have been patched by Du Chuijiao himself, and felt uncomfortable again.

When it was over, Zhao Xingde took his horse to find Wang Tongdeng, and the second general took the cavalrymen to the imperial tent to receive the emperor's messenger.This breakout was quite dangerous, all the cavalry were in full armor, with only their eyes exposed under their helmets.The padded jacket is covered with rattan armor, which can not only distribute the weight of the armor evenly, but also prevent heavy blows from hurting the internal organs.The outer layer of rattan armor is soft armor, the inner layer is rawhide, and the outer layer is chain mail and scale armor. It is hung from the bottom of the helmet to the outside of the thigh below the waist, and is tightened with leather straps so that it does not hinder movement.In addition, there are Mingguang armor protection points.A thick wolf fur cloak was draped outside, and the belt was tied tightly. Not only was it warm, but it was also difficult for arrows to penetrate.

Along the way, Wang Tongdeng's face was very gloomy, as if he was depressed because he left his robes in the camp to break through alone.Zhao Xingde's heart moved slightly, and he said in a deep voice: "If the Lumei Crown Prince doesn't send rescue troops, will he just watch the whole battalion brothers die like this?" His voice is not loud, but it can make Wang Tongdeng and several cavalrymen around I can hear you clearly.

Wang Tongdeng's eyes froze, he glanced at Zhao Xingde, and said in a low voice: "Is there any other way?"

Zhao Xingde nodded, looking at the lights of Emperor Lumei's imperial tent, the emperor's messenger was galloping towards them on a horse, and said in a low voice, "Brother Wang, have you ever heard of Lord Xinling stealing amulets to save Zhao?"