The first year of Da'an in the Liao Dynasty, the eleventh year of Da'an in the Great Xia, and the night of Renyin (the tenth day of the lunar month) in May of the eighth year of Yuanfeng in the Song Dynasty.

On the banks of the Jialu River, the stars were shining brightly, and Renduo Baozhong led the sheep into a valley.

The wizard was already waiting for him.

This is the sheep-curling ritual of the Dangxiang people.

A ritual used to divine fortune or misfortune before a battle.

The black goat was thrown directly into the fire pit dug by the wizard by Nendo Baozhong.

After the goat was thrown into the fire pit, it immediately whined and struggled, and was soon swallowed up by the flames.

The people around the wizard began to throw dry wood into the fire pit.

The smell of burning mutton spread around the fire pit.

The wizard muttered something and began to dance, calling the river gods of the Jialu River, the ghosts and gods of Hengshan, and the ancestors of the Dangxiang people.

Outside the valley, the leaders of the local Dangxiang tribe who had followed Ren Duo Baozhong were kneeling.

These ignorant tribal leaders believe this!

But it doesn’t matter, there will definitely not be a drop of blood in the sheep’s heart when the wizard cuts it open tomorrow morning!

In this way, the army can attack Jialu Village and pull out this nail!

Relying on this military exploit, Renduo Baozhong can return to Xingqing Mansion to praise his merits, and the Queen Mother will also know that although the old marshal unfortunately died in battle, Renduo Baozhong is still the pillar of Daxia!

Nendo Baozhong just stood like this, watching the flames in the fire pit gradually extinguish, and watching the wizards dancing in front of him.

Until the sky gradually gets brighter and the morning fog fills the valley.

At this time, the wizards stepped forward and dug the burnt sheep out of the fire pit.

Then he grabbed a knife and cut open the belly of the sheep.

Remove the cooked intestines and stomach.

Then he walked outside the valley, held up the sheep intestines, and showed it to all the tribal leaders - the sheep intestines were smooth, with no lumps or blockages!

The tribal leaders saw it and shouted in Dangxiang dialect.

Then, the wizard walked into the valley and cut out the sheep's heart. Then he went out and cut open the ripe sheep's heart in front of everyone without a drop of blood inside!

The leaders cheered again and knelt down to the gods for blessing.

Then, the wizard distributed the sheep's hearts to all the leaders.

Everyone devoured the sheep's heart that had been blessed by the gods.

They believe that this will bring them luck and blessings!

Let them survive being hit by arrows on the battlefield!

Nendo Baozhong just watched all this, indifferent.

At the end of the ceremony, he took out the weapon in his hand, walked out of the valley, walked up to all the leaders, and said loudly: "God bless you, Buddha protects you!"

"Great White Gao Kingdom, this battle will be won!"

"We must win! We must win!" the leaders cheered.

If you keep many benevolences and keep your loyalty, you will be complacent and contented.

The spies he sent out have thoroughly found out.

The total number of Nanman military fortress defenders around Jialu Village is more than 2,000!

There are only less than a thousand in Jialu Village!

And the defense is lax and defenseless!

Under the attack of cavalry, if you are lucky, you can break the city without even attacking the fortress!

…

Jialu Village on the north bank of the Yellow River.

The morning fog had just dispersed, and a light horse galloped into the city.

Then, Wang Ying, the worship official at the east end of Zhijialuzhai, was woken up urgently.

Then, the alarm bell was sounded in Jialu Village.

All the soldiers, common people, and merchants in Jialu Village raised their heads.

They saw Wang Ying of Zhizhai Village leading the defenders of Jialu Village, neatly dressed and walking up the wall of the village.

At the same time, a large number of officials began to beat gongs and drums and began to notify people from door to door.

"The Western thieves are about to invade. All the young and strong men in the city, Han and Tibetan, must go up to guard the city..."

"Anyone who disobeys will be subject to military law!"

"Retreat from the enemy afterward and reward you according to your merits. The imperial court will never treat you badly!"

This is the obligation of the residents of Jialu Village.

They were arranged here to guard the border.

For example, in the battle of Dingxi City last year, guard Qin Gui led more than a thousand defenders and mobilized all the Han and Tibetan residents in the city to defend the city.

At the end of the war, even the Tibetan women took up arms and stood on the city wall, while the Han and Tibetan children took on most of the tasks of delivering water and food.

Even the elderly participated in helping to defend the city.

So after the war, Qin Gui was promoted, and all the people who defended the city, regardless of Han or Tibetan, men, women, old or young, were heavily rewarded!

Many Tibetan people were even directly awarded officials because of this.

Therefore, when the alarm bell rang and officials began to mobilize from house to house, most of the residents of Jialu Village had already proactively put on their own leather armor, brought bows and arrows, and carried quivers on their backs.

Frontier places, especially places like Jialu Village.

It was originally both a soldier and a farmer, and it was also the place where the Baojia Law was most strictly enforced and where the most training was conducted.

Almost all residents have military knowledge.

It may not work if you ask them to fight in the field, but with strong fortifications, no one will be afraid.

It just so happens that Jialu Village has a dangerous terrain!

Moreover, this city was expanded on the original site after Shen Kuo captured the Xithief Jialu Village in the third year of Yuanfeng.

It is backed by the natural danger of the Yellow River and is located on a cliff, controlling hundreds of miles of surrounding mountains and rivers.

There is water on the mountain, food is stored, and enough arrows and rolling stones are stored.

In the case of being prepared, even if it is a heavy siege, there is nothing you can do if you are anxious!

Moreover, on the other side of Jialu Village, on the south bank of the Wuding River, which is only eighty miles away from Jialu Village, there is Mizhi Village and Jialu Village echoing each other, forming a horns.

…

The sun is shining brightly.

Ren Duo Baozhong rode his horse to an unknown hill.

He looked from afar at the fort that stood on the north bank of the Yellow River and was raised high on the cliff.

The city gate has been completely closed!

The defenders on the wall are waiting solemnly!

How can it be?

Why was the news leaked?

Renduo Baozhong's face suddenly turned dark.

The surprise attack will turn into a violent attack!

And it looked like the other party had been prepared for a long time, and didn't look like he was in a hurry after discovering it in a hurry.

Just withdraw the troops like this?

impossible!

Renduo Baozhong knew that he had brought a total of fifteen thousand cavalry, one person and two horses, on this expedition, starting from Xingqing Mansion.

They only brought food for half a month!

Now, the food they brought has been eaten up long ago, and now all they eat is food and grass forcibly taken from the Hengshan Qiang tribe!

What if we just retreat, not to mention the food and fodder we bring back?

Are you going to rob Qiang people again?

In this case, the Qiang people in Hengshan are not fools. They will quietly come to Nanmanzi to beg for food.

If so, then who is he?

Come to send people to Nanman?
To be continued...