Regardless of the mud on the ground, after the order to rest was given, many soldiers almost fell to the ground and fell asleep.

Running on the run for days was a fatal blow to these soldiers mentally and physically.

A war that was lost inexplicably.

Anger at betrayal, chagrin at failure, and fear of death all converged on these soldiers.

All morale has collapsed.

Nowadays, these people just run mechanically. No one thinks about where they are going and what to do next.

At this time, if the leader suddenly turns around and runs in the direction of the pursuers, most of the people may follow him in a daze.

But Zhang Cheng had to think about what to do next?

The allied forces of the Liao Army and the Hedong soldiers and horses were chasing them closely. If it were just the Hedong soldiers, Zhang Cheng might have turned back to fight his opponents.

But with elite soldiers from the Liao Kingdom mixed in, the situation was completely different.

After a great battle, the Shaanxi Forbidden Army was already filled with fear towards the Liao Army.

This is the first time the Shaanxi Forbidden Army has faced off against the Liao Army.

A devastating defeat even left a shadow in their hearts.

The enemy wants to sweep across the entire Shaanxi Road.

Zhang Cheng is now certain of this.

The spies of the Imperial City Department finally sent him news, but this news obviously came too late.

Moreover, this is almost public news.

The Emperor of Liao made Liu Quanyi the King of Jin and Gao Yao the King of Qin.

The title of King of Qin has fully demonstrated the opponent's strategic intention. Gao Yao definitely wants to capture the entire territory of Shaanxi. But relying on his own strength will definitely not work, so the people from Liao will be so enthusiastic to help.

Once the Liao people realize this strategic intention, they can ensure their safety in the northwest direction.

Who did the Liao people guard against?

There is no doubt that it is Xiao Ding from the northwest.

Li Chun on Qin Feng Road was not enough to make the Liao people spend so much effort.

This discovery made Zhang Cheng extremely uncomfortable.

But it has to be taken seriously.

Both sides are his enemies.

If he had the confidence to compete with any of them before, but now, he is already extremely weak.

It is said that Luo Song also surrendered to the Liao Kingdom, but Zhang Cheng didn't believe it.

The most likely possibility is that Luo Song is supported by Liu Quanyi, a high official.

Wang Jun, the governor of Hedong Road, was also missing. The most likely reason was that he was killed by Liu Quanyi and the others.

Wang Jun does not have Luo Song's status and influence.

After running away and gathering the defeated troops, Zhang Cheng now gathered around 3,000 more men.

But this combat capability, apart from hundreds of his own soldiers, there is no need to talk about other things.

The Shaanxi Forbidden Army needs time to rest and recover.

But it was obvious that the enemy also understood the key to this matter. They didn't give him any free time at all and just chased him and beat him.

Wherever Zhang Cheng ran, they chased him.

As a result, some counties along the way have directly sent people to beg Zhang Cheng not to run in their direction.

This made Zhang Cheng dumbfounded.

If I don’t come, won’t the enemy come?

But when I think about it deeply, I feel extremely shocked and angry.

If he doesn't go, Gao Yao will go.

But Gao Yao didn't want to smash the entire Shaanxi Road to pieces. A dilapidated Shaanxi Road obviously didn't suit Gao Yao's wishes.

And these counties may have noticed this and were preparing to surrender to the new master.

However, they still only have a little sense of morality in their hearts. If Zhang Cheng goes, they can't turn them away, but if they accept Zhang Cheng, they will be destroyed as soon as the enemy arrives.

Therefore, with the high-sounding reason of asking for life for the people, they asked Zhang Cheng not to lead the Liao army to their territory, causing the people's lives to suffer.

There are good reasons.

In this way, they will not have any psychological burden when they surrender to Gao Yao.

After all, everything is for the common people!

Regarding this, Zhang Cheng just wanted to curse:

shameless.

"Lieutenant, what should we do next?" Gan Quan came over with a skin bag, handed it to Zhang Cheng, and took a sip. Zhang Cheng was surprised to find that it was actually wine.

After taking a sip of wine, my body felt hot.

"The next step is to retreat to Yongji first!" Zhang Cheng pointed to the remnant soldiers everywhere and said: "We must first distance ourselves from the enemy, then find a space to rest, and then integrate into the new troops, so that we can have a

The power of war.”

"Lieutenant, we can't just go like this. Those places along the way don't want us to stay, so they must at least provide money, food and some young people." Gan Quan gritted his teeth and said: "Otherwise we will be empty-handed and short of manpower, and the road will only be harder in the future.

Take the narrower one.”

"Of course, that's what I'm thinking! Gan Quan, you can do this next thing! You don't have to be merciful, even if you are more ruthless, if we don't take it anyway, it won't be an advantage to Gao Yao in the end, and it will eventually become the reason for the Liao people to attack Tokyo.

assets.”

"Understood!"

"First rest for a while in Yongji, and then retreat to Tongguan and take advantage of the danger. As long as Tongguan can be defended, Jingzhao Mansion will be fine. If Jingzhao Mansion is not lost, the Shaanxi Road will still be there, even in name.

Up."

"But we have no power to fight back!"

"Take your time. The betrayal on Hedong Road was unexpected. This defeat is inevitable." Zhang Cheng said.

"But I'm worried about the Western Army!" Gan Quan pursed his lips and said, "If the Western Army is dispatched at this time, we're afraid we won't even be able to defend Jingzhao Mansion."

Zhang Cheng suddenly fell silent, yes, there is also the Western Army.

Now less than half of Shaanxi Road is in the hands of the Western Army!

In the past, Luo Song was still there, and with Luo Song as his guarantee, Xiao Ding promised not to take another step forward.

But now Luo Song has fallen into the tiger's mouth, the Liao army has attacked, and the entire Shaanxi Road is crumbling. How can Xiao Ding not bite such a big piece of fat?

He tilted his neck and took a big sip of the drink. Zhang Cheng's heart was filled with bitterness.

After a stick of incense, the officers whipped their whips all over the ground, forcing the soldiers to get up. They had been lying in the mud for a long time, but they were prone to getting sick. Once they got sick, under such conditions, they basically had a narrow escape from death.

.

The sound of horse hooves could be heard in my ears, and several scouts were galloping over.

"The Liao cavalry has arrived five miles away!" The scouts were already shouting loudly while the men were still on their horses.

With a bang, the remaining defeated generals who were sitting on the ground eating hard pancakes suddenly stood up. Ignoring the officers' shouts, they spread their legs and ran forward, unable to restrain themselves at all.

"Get ready to fight!" Zhang Cheng looked at all this helplessly. He got on his horse, picked up his spear, and headed upstream with his bodyguards.

He must cut off the rear of these defeated troops and protect their retreat.

Although the troops were defeated, Zhang Cheng believed that they could regain their combat capabilities as long as they were given time.

This failure was not a crime of war.

No wonder he Zhang Cheng,

Of course, no wonder these soldiers.

What Zhang Cheng didn't know was that at this moment, countless Western soldiers were pouring out from their garrison. Their purpose was to seize the Shaanxi Road before the coalition forces of the Liao people and Gaoyao.

In Shentangbao, Li Yi, Tuoba Fenwu, Zhang Yunsheng, He Zheng, Cao Can, Zhou Huan, Nanrenbao and other senior generals of the Western Army gathered together, and even Xin Jian, the commander of Tie Yaozi, arrived here.

You should know that Xin Jian was originally stationed in the Xuanleiguan area to monitor the Liao army in the direction of Shangjing Road to prevent the Liao army from attacking again.

Now, it is confirmed that Xiao Siwen and the Liao army are just deceiving people. The real goal of the Liao people is actually the Song Dynasty. At present, the Liao army's fight for Shaanxi has become the most important task of the Western Army.

"Everyone, the next period of time can be said to be the time to decide the final development direction of our Western Army!" Zhang Yuan stood in front of the map and looked at the group of generals with high-spirited expressions below.

Each of these guys knows that as long as there is a war, they can make achievements and be promoted and make a fortune, but how many of them really know the meaning of the next battle?

Zhang Yuan drew a circle with his hand on the huge hanging map and looked at everyone with a smile: "Shaanxi Road, we could win it before, but for various reasons, we had to give up, but now, the opportunity has come

.”

There was a burst of cheers and a sound of slapping the table from below.

Xiao Ding glanced at it and everything immediately returned to calm.

"The Song Kingdom is about to die." Zhang Yuan sighed: "The main force of the Liao Army has approached Bianliang, the Hedong Road rebelled, and the Shaanxi Road soldiers and horses were destroyed. If the Liao Army captured the Shaanxi Road, Tokyo would naturally not be protected.

But we will be surrounded on three sides by the Liao people. This is even more disadvantageous for us."

"Chang Shi, Shaanxi Road used to belong to the Song Dynasty, and we were surrounded on three sides. It's not like we have to fight and win every battle, but we are afraid of birds!" Cao Can said with a smile.

There was another burst of laughter in the room.

Everyone feels the same way.

"At that time, the Song State and the Liao State were in confrontation. We were sandwiched between them, so we could have both sides. They all had to worry about each other. But now the situation has changed. The Liao State is afraid that it will soon destroy the Song State. At least, the north

I'm afraid it can't be saved." Zhang Yuan said solemnly: "Tokyo is really going to be lost, and the Song Dynasty will be completely in chaos. Cui Ang is called the King of Zhao, Liu Quanyi is called the King of Jin, and Gao Yao is called the King of Qin. This is an example.

Next, I don’t know what kind of kings will emerge. Everyone, when there is only one superpower left in the world, will a force like our Western Army that can threaten the Liao Kingdom become a thorn in the Liao Kingdom’s side and a thorn in its flesh?

Woolen cloth?"

The room immediately became quiet, and many generals showed thoughtful expressions.

"When the time comes, the Liao Kingdom will attack with all its might, will we be able to withstand it?" Zhang Yuan then asked.

Everyone in the room was shaking their heads.

There is no doubt that I can't stand it.

In the battle that just ended, the Liao people were no more than a partial force, but they defeated the Western Army to the point where they almost couldn't take care of themselves! Although they won in the end, the price of victory was heartbreaking.

At that time, the Liao people will really be surrounded on three sides. If there is a wise commander, the Western Army will have no choice but to flee.

In fact, we don't need any brilliant commander, we just need a normal commander. Unlike Cui Ang, if he falls ill, the Western Army will be in bad luck.

"So, in this battle, we are not fighting for the Song Dynasty. Everyone must understand this. We are not fighting to save them, but fighting for ourselves!" Zhang Yuan said loudly.

In addition to the Han generals, there were many party, Tubo, Uighur and other generals in the room. They were all a little indifferent at first, but now that they heard that the matter was related to their own life and death, they all sat up straight, no longer like before.

It's so easy.

Xiao Ding nodded secretly.

In terms of gathering internal strength and getting everyone to unite from the bottom of their hearts, I am far behind Zhang Yuanke.

The seriousness of the problem is clearly revealed in this way, and I really can't speak as eloquently as Zhang Yuan.

"Eight hundred miles of Qinchuan!" Zhang Yuan sighed: "In the past, this was the foundation of the emperor. It's a pity that our manager doesn't want to be the emperor!"

Xiao Ding laughed and waved his hand, signaling Zhang Yuan not to dwell on this issue.

"Everyone, if we take the entire Shaanxi Road, we will own the entire Guanzhong Plain." Zhang Yuan also became excited at this time: "In the future, even if the Liao Kingdom destroys the Song Kingdom and unifies the world, we will defend it based on the danger.

You can also make the other side helpless. This is the beginning of an eternal foundation. So everyone, please move forward bravely in this battle. Zhang Yuan is not familiar with soldiers and horses, so he can only coordinate food and grass for everyone from behind. With Zhang Yuan here, he can

We will never let everyone lose a grain of rice. Now, please give the commander-in-chief the battle order."

Xiao Ding stood up, glanced at everyone, and said: "This year's continuous fighting has made the soldiers tired and the people's minds calm. However, the importance of this battle has just been made very clear by Chang Shi, so please be sure to

Make it clear to your subordinates that after this battle, we will really feel at ease."

"General Manager, give the order, the sons and daughters are eagerly waiting for it!" a Uighur general shouted loudly. For them, fighting in a war is the best opportunity to make a fortune.

"The most critical point of this battle is to seize time." Xiao Ding said: "The entire Shaanxi Road is now empty, and there are not many troops. Even in the capital Jingzhao Mansion, there are less than 10,000 people left behind, and most of them are Xiang troops. But

Everyone, our first target is not Jingzhao Mansion, but Lintong and Tongguan!"

"Xin Jian!" Xiao Ding said loudly.

"The end is here!" Xin Jian jumped up.

"You lead three thousand iron kites, and in addition, you will be assigned 20,000 tribal cavalry, seize Tongguan for me as quickly as possible, and block all the Liao people and Zhang Cheng outside Tongguan for me." Xiao Ding

said sharply.

"clear!"

"Block Tongguan, and the eight hundred miles of Qinchuan will be blocked. We can slowly straighten out the inside. I dare to say now that as long as Tongguan belongs to me, all places including Jingzhao Mansion will

, will surrender to us as soon as possible!" Xiao Ding said: "In this way, you can avoid committing murders. Everyone, I still say what I said before, on the battlefield, killing people does not matter, because you want to win, but if anyone kills people needlessly, then I

But if you don't obey, our Western Army has always been small in number, and everyone should be aware of this."

"Whoever violates the prohibition will not be spared by military law!"

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