"Are you asleep?" Meng Huan opened the curtain of Geng Chao's tent and asked softly.

It was dark in the big tent, without even a light. Geng Chao was a frugal man, and after several years of fighting, he became even more stingy.

Seeing no one responded, Meng Huan called out tentatively again in a low voice: "Old Geng?"

Meng Huan sighed softly, it was indeed too late. Just as he was about to leave, a rustling sound sounded, and then Geng Chao's tired voice came.

"Is this His Highness King Qin?"

"This is my king, disturbing Marquis Geng's rest." After the implementation of the new military rank system, Geng Chao was promoted to Marquis of Dingyuan, and his military rank was to lieutenant general.

"Your Majesty, you are joking. I am a little tired from touring the camps today. Please forgive me, Your Majesty." Geng Chao stood up and bowed in his underwear.

Meng Huan helped him up, and then Geng Chao lit the candle in the tent based on his feeling. Meng Huan took a breath when he looked at Geng Chao's face, his face turned blue as if he was poisoned.

"Marquis Geng, what are you?!" Meng Huan exclaimed.

Geng Chao was stunned for a moment, then smiled and said: "My lord, don't worry, today I took Tanma Junsi to the front, and they followed suit by applying a layer of grass juice on my face. When I came back, I was too tired and fell asleep without cleaning up.

.”

After hearing this, Meng Huan said seriously: "Marquis Geng, there is an iron law in the army. You are not allowed to go to the front. If you do this, it will be very difficult for me."

Geng Chao quickly raised his hands and said: "Please forgive me, Your Majesty. My subordinates were just worried that after Ning's army withdrew from the Western Region, there would be places that we couldn't guard against, so we went to have a look without worry. But it's good that we went there, otherwise we would still be there."

There may be loopholes."

Meng Huan couldn't sleep because Gan Ming's army all withdrew from the Western Regions. They decided to regain the Hetao area. Gan Ming was relatively easy to deal with. He retreated cleanly when he withdrew from the Western Regions. However, it was precisely because of the withdrawal of Ning's army that they defended

The pressure doubled. There were too many rocky areas in the desert in the Western Regions. The Xuan and Ning armies were under great pressure when they defended. The Beimu cavalry and the servants of various tribes in the Western Regions were too familiar with this land.

"Oh? What's going on?" Geng Chao's answer made Meng Huan immediately change his attitude. Military discipline was easy to talk about, but defensive loopholes were a big problem.

"Luotuo Spring, there are traces of the Beimu cavalry over there. According to the judgment of Tanma Military Division, this is a Beimu cavalry force of at least 30,000 people. They went southwest from Luotuo Spring. The time that has passed is no more than five

day."

Meng Huan immediately became nervous. He walked to Geng Chao's desk and looked at the geographical map of mountains and rivers. Then he swallowed his saliva and said: "Thirty thousand fine horses are heading to the southwest. Shi Zun from Yuanquan is just a little bit smaller."

Didn’t you notice it either?!”

It can be seen that Meng Huan was angry. The Northwest Bureau mainly stationed troops in three places: Longtingfei in Guazhou, the main camp in Subei, and Yuanquan for logistics. In the north, the Shule River was used as the boundary to confront the Beimu people.

In the west, Yumen Pass is used as the boundary to confront the servant armies of various ethnic groups in the Western Regions. The Shule River is a natural barrier, so the Northwest Bureau decided to place the grain and military supplies in Yuanquan. Of course, the garrison in Yuanquan is also responsible for monitoring the movements of Beimu, so

Only Meng Huan gets angry.

"Your Majesty, this is actually not Shi Zun's fault. If the Beimu people entered Mazong Mountain, it would be difficult for us to detect it." It's not that Geng Chao spoke for Shi Zun, but because this is a fact. Although Shi Zun's soldiers and horses can be regarded as

They are powerful soldiers, but their defensive pressure is actually the highest in the entire northwest game.

"You mean the Beimu people entered Mazong Mountain and then marched to Xingxing Gorge?" Meng Huan didn't want to worry too much for the time being. He had never had a good impression of Shi Zun. He was the backbone of the "Flame" organization.

One serving.

Geng Chao nodded and said, "Your Majesty, look here."

Meng Huan followed the landing point of Geng Chao's finger and became confused, An Bei.

After thinking for a while, he still didn't understand, so he asked: "Marquis Geng, Anbei? Are you sure you are not wrong?"

"That's right, it's Anbei. Our armies are all concentrated on the Subei line. Because the Shule River is a natural barrier, the Beimu people dare not attack rashly, so we don't pay much attention to the cities north of the Shule River, but Shule

The river is going to stop flowing."

"Cut off?!" Meng Huan was surprised again.

Geng Chao ignored Meng Huan's surprise and just continued speaking, which was considered a response to Meng Huan.

"Yes, the flow is cut off. Summer is coming, and the entire Shule River from the pass to Yuanquan will be cut off. The river bed will be exposed. For the Beimu cavalry, they can reach Yuanquan in an instant."

Meng Huan suddenly felt his heart beating faster and sweating all over his body. If the Beimu cavalry crossed the Shule River, Yuanquan would be besieged. Not to mention Yuanquan's food, grass and military resources, if Yuanquan was blocked, the Northwest Bureau army would fight with Long.

If we lose contact with you, they will become alone. The only way is to climb over the snow-capped mountains, walk through the sea of ​​flowers and meadows, and retreat south. If we do this, it will be harder to get back the entire Western Region than to climb to the sky.

The more he thought about it, the more frightened he became. Meng Huan grabbed Geng Chao's arm and said, "When will the flow stop?" As the commander-in-chief of the Northwest Bureau, Meng Huan must prepare for the worst. His only thought now is to cut off the flow.

Reshape new lines of defense before flowing.

"According to the locals, the fastest is one month and the latest is one and a half months."

Meng Huan slumped down in his chair. Even if he retreats to Longyou for a month and a half, he still won't be able to complete it. It's not just a matter of troops and horses, but also of the people. The people of Beimu have only one way to deal with those who don't surrender and those who betray, that is

kill.

Meng Huan could not give up on the border people. They fought against Beimu and the servants because they believed in Daxuan. Of course, these people also dared to do so because of the garrison of the army.

For the common people, they just want to live in peace and live a simple life. Meng Huan cannot ignore it, and Daxuan will not allow him to ignore it.

"Marquis Geng, summon them back to discuss matters." Meng Huan only had one thought in his mind now, to save the people first and let them retreat to Longyou, while they, the officers and soldiers, stayed to attract the attention of the Beimu people.

Geng Chao cupped his hands and said: "Your Majesty, before I went to bed, I sent messengers to Guazhou and Yuanquan. I think Longhou and Nanyanghou will be there tomorrow morning." In the new military system, Long Tingfei and Shi Zun are both awarded major generals.

Long Tingfei was granted the title of Marquis of Qin County during the Jin Dynasty, and Shi Zun was also granted the title of Marquis of Nanyang County.

Meng Huan frowned after hearing this. Geng Chao went too far. He was the commander-in-chief of the Northwest Bureau, but Geng Chao did nothing wrong. As the deputy commander-in-chief of the Northwest Bureau, he had the right to gather the generals to discuss matters.

Seeing Meng Huan's displeasure, Geng Chao immediately half-knelt and said: "Your Majesty, what happened happened too suddenly, so on the way back, I sent a messenger to notify Marquis Long and Nanyang. I'm sorry, please."

The prince will punish you!"

This explanation would probably be unacceptable to someone like Lu Ping, but it is acceptable to Meng Huan. Meng Huan knew Geng Chao too well. Geng Chao had no interest in power. He only had a soft spot for the Western Regions.

, he once promised His Majesty that if the Western Region was uneasy, he would never return to the DPRK.

Meng Huan stood up slowly, helped Geng Chao up with a smile, and said: "Marquis Geng's words are obvious. You and I are both serving the country. The matter is urgent. You are the deputy commander-in-chief of the Northwest Bureau. You do this."

That’s right, what’s the crime?”

Hearing Meng Huan's words, Geng Chao couldn't help but smile bitterly in his heart. Power and status were never what he pursued, but he could not ask for or stop others. Meng Huan was the first prince of the Xuan Dynasty. Although he was broad-minded, he still wanted to save face.

Long Tingfei came to Subei early in the morning of the next day, but Shi Zun came in a hurry at noon. Meng Huan, Geng Chao and Yan Lan were waiting outside the tent.

The five-person team from the Northwest Bureau gathered together. Meng Huan asked Geng Chao to tell everything about yesterday, and then Shi Zun was the first to raise questions.

"Your Majesty, Yuanquan cannot be lost. Our army has been operating in Yuanquan for a long time and has just gained the trust of the local people. Moreover, Yuanquan is also an important channel for communication with all ethnic groups in the Western Regions and Longyou. Once it is lost, the people's support will also be lost.

I don’t agree to give up Yuanquan if those who are willing to retreat from all the tribes in the Western Region!”

"I didn't say that I wanted to give up Yuanquan. I called everyone here to discuss countermeasures. Marquis Nanyang doesn't have to do this!" Meng Huan was very unhappy.

Shi Zun sat down angrily. He knew that Meng Huan didn't like him. He had been dealing with Meng Huan for a long time, but the two of them had always been at odds with each other. After the Luochen incident, the two of them only had official contacts.

Private friendship.

"Prince, what do you have in mind?" Meng Huan just glanced at Shi Zun, then turned to ask Yan Lan.

Yan Lan's expression moved slightly. He knew the relationship between these people in front of him very clearly. After he came here, his father's letter clearly asked him not to get involved in political struggles. The composition of the five people in the Northwest Bureau was complicated. Geng Chao and Long

Ting Fei is a general, Meng Huan is the first prince of Daxuan, and behind Shi Zun stands the entire "Flame" organization. At the same time, his parents are ministers of the Dragon and are highly valued by His Majesty, so he has always acted

He keeps a low profile and doesn't talk if he can, but now when Meng Huan asked him, he couldn't help but not respond.

"Your Majesty, everyone, if the Shule River cuts off, Yuanquan will be in danger. What I mean is that there is still at least one month left, and we have to re-open a link with Longyou outside Yuanquan.

channel as a backup."

This statement is relatively new. Neither Meng Huan nor Geng Chao, who had been paying attention to the war, had ever thought of this matter.

"Your Majesty, please elaborate." Geng Chao asked anxiously.

Yan Lan licked his lips, took a deep breath, stood up and bowed his hands to everyone: "Baoshi City, I thought that Yuanquan's military supplies and the people of Yuanquan had all retreated to Baoshi City, and then Yuanquan was set as the first line.

The defense line confronts Beimu."

Shi Zun opened his mouth and wanted to say something, but finally shut up because he found that the location of Baoshi City was the best for the moment, but the problem with Baoshi City was the water source.

"Bao Shicheng? Tsk, tsk, tsk, lord, you have worked hard." Meng Huan said with satisfaction.

"Your Majesty, I have an idea." Long Ting, who had been silent all this time, stood up and said.

Long Tingfei is a cautious person, and his abilities are not inferior to those of Geng Chao and others, but because he surrendered relatively late and has been with His Majesty since his surrender, his military achievements are not obvious. However, the main reason why Meng Huan is close to him is

Because of his engagement with Changsun Qingqing.

The identity of Changsun Qingqing and other members of the royal family are known to him. Qingqing also wants to call him uncle, so for Meng Huan, Long Tingfei is one of his own family members, just like Huo Youji.

Meng Huan did not speak, but motioned for him to continue.

"The servant armies of all the tribes in the Western Region are now gathered in Yasu City outside Yumen Pass. Although there are many of them, their combat power is average. It is better for us to take the initiative to attack Yasu City and cut off Beimu's arm first!"

"Although the fighting strength of the servant army is average, their backup is sufficient. If they cannot win with one blow, our arms will be broken by then." Geng Chao asked.

"It depends on Marquis Nanyang." Meng Huan immediately understood what Long Tingfei meant.

Shi Zun smiled slightly, cupped his hands and said, "Does Marquis Long want us people from all the tribes in the Western Region to make a move?"
Chapter completed!