Chapter 12 Chapter Twelve

The river from the imperial capital to Dongping City is more than 2,000 miles long. If you travel along the river quickly, you can get there in about three or four days. If you are on the water, it will take about seven days.However, if a 30,000-strong army like ours sets off by land, it may not be possible to arrive in ten days. It would be faster to go by water. The sound of running water rubbing against the bottom of the boat is almost soft. Because it set off overnight, the oarsmen on the boat took turns to rest.This time, our vanguard battalion composed of the remnants of the Southern Expeditionary Army was at the forefront, followed by Xiexuan's wolf soldiers.Although Xie Xuan was also known as the commander-in-chief, this time there were only 30,000 people in total, and he could only form a team of 30,000 people. His wolf soldiers were reorganized under Pu Anli's command.Because Chu Wenzhong was only an earl, unlike Qingyuegong and Hongyuegong, who commanded troops abroad, and Xie Xuan himself had much fewer official positions than Pu Anli, Wang Changqing, and Shen Hong, so he didn't have any complaints.Behind the wolf soldiers came the 5,000 troops led by Pu Anli, followed by Wang Changqing and Shen Hong's 20,000 troops.Since the empire's navy was very small, the number of sailors selected this time was only one-sixth, and most of them were scattered on various ships to act as helmsmen.

Looking back from the head of the fleet, the huge Feihu looks like a high mountain rising abruptly from the water surface, even if it is separated by dozens of warships, it can still be seen clearly. I took off the helmet, smoothed my hair, and sighed. Since the day I returned to the imperial capital, I have never had a truly happy day.It's not just because of her, more, it's just those nightmare days in Gaojiu City.These days, I clearly know that I am in the imperial capital, but in my sleep, I always dream of those ferocious snake people and soldiers who are hopeless to fight under the snake people's swords and guns.Sometimes the quilt was so heavy that I dreamed that I seemed to be entangled by snakes and I couldn't breathe.

Marquis Wu is dead, and Lu Jingyu and Shen Xiping, who are known as one dragon and one tiger, have also died in battle. From the fourth army commander down, the collapse of the Southern Expeditionary Army almost completely wiped out the Imperial Army.But the death of those famous generals, I didn't sigh much, what reminded me often was the death of Qi Lie and Jin Qianshi.They died right in front of my eyes, but now, I'm afraid their bones may not be found anymore. I lowered my head and looked at the river.The moonlight was faint, and it was torn into thousands of silver threads on the river surface, dancing continuously.I touched the Baipi Dao at my waist with one hand, feeling indescribably perplexed.

"Control, don't you go to rest?" It was Cao Wendao who spoke.My ship is mainly composed of their remnant army of more than a hundred people.Because the three commanders of the Qianfeng Battalion were all from the former Qianfeng Battalion, I put all the people from the original Chinese Army and the Qianfeng Battalion under their command, and more than a hundred people like Cao Wendao became my personal troops. I put the helmet on my head, turned my head and smiled and said, "General Cao, I can't sleep. Why don't you go to rest?" Cao Wendao walked up to me, looked at the shore, sighed and said, "Back to the imperial capital, my buttocks are still hot, and I'm about to set off again. I don't know if I'll be lucky enough to escape this trip."

"Are you a little scared?" Cao Wendao turned his head and gave a wry smile: "If you say you are not afraid of control, that would be a lie. However, Cao also knows that since he is enlisted in the army, he can only go forward desperately and die. Fear is useless. After all, this What we want to protect is our elders and relatives, even if we die in battle, it is a worthy death." I always found his words a bit strange, as if he was saying that the Confederate Republican Army was worthless before us.I was silent and didn't say much.In fact, sometimes I also think about the significance of going south to the Republican Army.At that time, the ones we slaughtered were all people like me?Some of the IRA generals were my schoolmates, which made me even more uneasy.

The appearance of the snake man, maybe it can save me a lot of self-blame. Seeing that I was silent, Cao Wendao turned around and looked at the bank again, and said, "Tong Zhi, I haven't known you for a few days, and some words may be presumptuous, but since you are my boss, Tong Zhi, I want to ask you too." Let me ask you, Zhizhi, what do you mean by Marquis Wen ordering us to form a vanguard battalion?" I was stunned, and said, "What do you mean? Now that the imperial capital is empty and the recruits can't use it, then we veterans will naturally have to go into battle again."

"However, why did Lord Wenhou order us to be the vanguard? We are not a navy army. Once ambushed on the river, I am afraid that the newly formed vanguard battalion of more than 1,000 people will be wiped out again. Logically, Your Excellency should send the navy to lead the way." I frowned and said, "General Cao, what do you mean by that?" Cao Wendao smiled wryly again and said, "Control, I think you're probably going to accuse me of lying. It's just a general, I can't hold back. Marquis Wen seems to take us the least seriously. Look at that None of the student officers who just came out of the military academy this year were assigned to our vanguard battalion."

I couldn't help being at a loss for a while.What Cao Wendao said was correct. Most of the 387 students who graduated this time were assigned to serve as junior officers under Pu Anli's command.Naturally, it can be said that Wang Changqing and Shen Hong's 10,000-person team originally had a full range of officers and officers, and there were many middle- and lower-level officers in the remnants of the Southern Expedition Army. There is no need to add, but none of them came. Among them, our vanguard battalion was originally a force that could be sacrificed? I shivered and shouted: "General Cao, we are all soldiers, and soldiers take obedience as their bounden duty. There must be a reason for Lord Wenhou's assignment. Don't be suspicious anymore."

Cao Wendao didn't expect me to be so strict, he was startled, he stood up straight and said: "The last general is rude, please ignore my villainous heart." Is it the heart of a villain?In fact, I don't think so.I was at a loss again, and was about to comfort him with gentle words, when a voice came from the side of the river: "Is the commander of Qianfeng Ying Chu on this boat?" The voice was very unfamiliar. I leaned out to the side of the boat and said loudly, "Chu Xiuhong is here. Who is it?" In the darkness, someone shouted loudly: "My subordinate, Zhen Yining, joined the army. I have ordered General Bi to ask Commander Chu to go to the Central Army to discuss matters."

The voice of this person is very young, probably just a military student who has just graduated.I said, "Okay, Mr. Zhen, please come over." Zhen Yining's boat drew close to the side, and in the darkness, a vigorous figure jumped onto the boat.The boat I was on was a small boat with a crew of 150 people, but compared with the small boat that Zhen Yining was on, it was also a giant. He jumped onto the deck several feet high, of course. have to.It seems that this batch of joining the army is very different from those joining the army in Wuhou's tent who are mostly not good at shooting horses.

I patted Cao Wendao on the shoulder, and went up to Zhen Yining without saying a word.When I walked up to him, I realized that my guess was probably correct. This Zhen Yining was only eighteen or nineteen years old. Even if he hadn't just graduated from a military academy, he was still a recruit who hadn't been in the army for long. Zhen Yining bowed to me, handed me the command with both hands and said, "Please follow me, Chu Tongzhi." After he finished speaking, he jumped off the boat again.When I jumped down with him, Zhen Yining looked at me in surprise.Because when he jumped off the boat, the boat couldn't help shaking, but the boat didn't move when I jumped off.In the dark, I saw Zhen Yining grinning and said: "I have heard for a long time that General Chu is the champion of the three armies, and his body is as light as a swallow. Seeing you today, your reputation is well-deserved." When he said that, I was a little embarrassed.When I jumped down just now, I didn't intend to show off my ability on purpose. Hearing what he said, it seemed that I deliberately wanted to overshadow him.I said: "Mr. Zhen made fun of you. The last general is just used to getting on and off his horse. As a member of the army, Mr. Zhen also has this skill. It's really admirable." What I said is not all flattery, this Zhen Yining is so young, capable of both civil and martial arts, I really can't compare to him when I was his age.When Zhen Yining heard what I said, she just smiled, and said to the soldiers rowing: "Let's set sail and send General Chu aboard the Feihu." The boat paddled close to the surface of the water. The two soldiers probably came from the navy. The boat rowed extremely skillfully, fast and steady, and passed through the gaps of the battleships without even touching them.When they got to the side of the Feihu ship, the boat stopped, and Zhen Yining said: "Chu Tongzhi, please get on board." These three bronze characters have been nailed to the bow of the Feihu, and it seems that Jinfu's hands and feet are also surprisingly fast.Since these three characters were cast in less than half a day, they are also shining golden under the moonlight, very dazzling.But Feihu is too high, and of course I can't jump up at this height.I grabbed the gangway and climbed up. As soon as I got on the deck, Zhen Yining followed me up.He said: "Chu Tongzhi, please follow me." The Feihu is Bi Wei's ship, and all the soldiers on it are drawn from the Imperial Army, many of them are very young, and they must be the graduates of the military academy.Bi Wei's cockpit is in the middle. When I walked in, I handed over the general order to Bi Wei's personal soldiers, saluted him and said, "Chu Xiuhong, commander of the vanguard battalion, is here to report." Bi Wei stood up and bowed to me: "General Chu, please sit down, General Shen Hong will be there soon." Bi Wei's cockpit is very large, and the most conspicuous thing is the Akagi sword placed on the knife rest in the middle of the wall.I sat down, and after a while, Shen Hong slowly came over with two thousand commanders in his army.Although my control can be considered as a commander-in-chief, since the army of Lord Qinghong and Lord Hongyue does not have a commander-in-chief, the commander-in-chief under Shen Hong's command would have to lead five thousand soldiers, but there is no "five thousand soldiers." Commander", so they are still considered commanders.Thinking about the military system of the Imperial Army, it is indeed a little messy. Originally, a commander above a thousand was a commander of ten thousand, but from one hundred to one thousand, there was a difference of nine hundred people, and from one thousand to ten thousand, there was a difference of nine thousand. People, Wu Wanling once said to me that he proposed to abolish the commander-in-chief and set up an official position of four to five thousand people under the commander-in-chief. It is too difficult to send it down to ten commanders.It seems that the two town princes have also seen this deficiency in the military system, and have implemented it flexibly.Shen Hong must be an effective general under Red Moon Lord, and his military rank is also at the same level as Bi Wei, so he probably has some dissatisfaction with Bi Wei becoming the coach.His boat was in roughly the same position as Wang Changqing, but Wang Changqing came earlier than me, but he came late, maybe on purpose. After Shen Hong sat down, Bi Wei stood up and said, "Since all generals are here, please stand up first and salute Sir's Akagi Sword. Although Your Excellency has never come with me, this sword is as if Your Excellency came here in person." This is the "military power and noble one".I couldn't help laughing secretly, Bi Wei had a big beard and looked very rough, similar to the previous killer Wang Chai Sheng, but his speech was much more refined than Chai Shengxiang, his words were high-sounding and impeccable, while Wang Changqing, Shen Hong When they stood up and saluted together, it was as if they recognized the authority of the saber. In the future, Bi Wei would use this saber to issue orders, and they would no longer be able to evade it with excuses.Presumably he has been with Marquis Wen for a long time, Marquis Wen is good at scheming, and he has learned a bit. As soon as Bi Wei's words came out of his mouth, we all stood up.At this time, no one dared to stand up. We all saluted the Chicheng sword placed by the wall, and then sat down again.This time, it was considered a little more secure. Bi Wei took a look at us, and said slowly: "Generals, this trip to aid Dongping City is really a battle with the back of the river. If we go our own way and make mistakes, we will be sinners through the ages, and we will suffer thousands of times. Fathers and folks, more than just dying in the king's affairs, all generals please forgive Bi's rude words, and work together with me to overcome the national crisis." I just felt a shiver in my body, I thought that Bi Wei used the order of Marquis Wen to suppress us, but now I heard that his words are open and honest, and there is really nothing to blame.We were all stunned for a moment, at this moment Wang Changqing suddenly stood up and said loudly: "General Bi, even though Wang Changqing is not condescending to General Bi, but on the battlefield, our army should follow General Bi's lead and wait until he dies. " Although others were a little reckless, but what they said was very emotional, Shen Hong also stood up and said: "The last general is just like General Wang, and he is willing to obey the orders of General Bi." Pu Anli was originally controlled by Bi Wei, and Xie Xuan and I were the same. Now that Shen Hong and Wang Changqing had said so, we also stood up and said loudly: "General Bi, the general is willing to do his best." At this time, all the generals in the cockpit stood up, although they all said different things, they meant the same thing.I could see tears flashing in Bi Wei's eyes. Suddenly, he bowed deeply: "The general knows that he is young and weak, and he is not worthy of this important task, but the way of marching must be ordered and prohibited. Bi Wei is here First of all, thank you generals. This time, I will advance and retreat with all the generals. If I have the intention to retreat, heaven and man will punish me! And if anyone retreats before the battle, the last general will not forgive me lightly !" His words became louder and louder, but at this moment I didn't feel that his words made me uncomfortable anymore, I just felt like a fire was burning in my chest.Everyone said in unison: "Follow the order!" These words were extremely candid, I am afraid that they did not say anything against their will, even Shen Hong, who was quite dissatisfied before, spoke just as loudly. Bi Wei smiled slightly and said: "Generals, please sit down. Come here, bring up the topographical map." One of his personal soldiers came over with a large silk scroll, Bi Wei pointed to the ship wall next to Chicheng Dao and said: "Hang here." When the scroll was pulled open, a topographical map was revealed.Bi Wei pointed to the map and said: "Generals, our army is going down the river along the river. The river is 2,300 miles long. According to the speed of our army, we can travel more than 200 miles a day, and we can reach it in about ten days. There are three rivers in front of us. In the early morning of the 11th, our army may not be able to arrive at Dongping City until March 21. In Dongping City, the second prince and Shao Fengguan are looking forward to our army's rescue day and night, and at this speed, there will inevitably be delays." He glanced at us, Wang Changqing stood up, saluted and said: "General Bi, the last general has something to say, I asked the brother at the helm, he said that the first-class fast boat, under the smooth wind and the water, every hour It is enough to travel forty miles. Calculated in this way, the fast boat can travel four hundred and eighty miles a day, and it can be reached in about five days. I also asked him, although most of these fast boats in our army carry hundreds of people There were more than two hundred small boats going up and down. These small boats carried many soldiers, and the general thought that it would be better to send three thousand elite soldiers to set off first, and then the army would follow closely, so that Dongping City's urgent needs could be solved." As soon as he said that, I was taken aback.Wang Changqing's appearance is not surprising, he did not expect that this person is so delicate, he has already inquired about these subtle things clearly.Compared with him, I never thought about these things after I got on the boat. It seems that although I claim to be experienced in hundreds of battles, I have always been ordered to charge in the past. In fact, I can be said to be as brave as Chai Shengxiang.Now that I think about how Marquis Wen praised me as "intelligent and courageous", it really makes me feel ashamed. Wisdom is not just about making strange tricks repeatedly. A general as meticulous as Wang Changqing can also be called a wise general.I looked at his back and thought silently. Shen Hong also stood up and said: "General Wang's words are correct, but there are still some imperfections. If the 3,000 troops go ahead and the luggage does not follow, how will the food and grass for the 3,000 people keep up? Dongping City has been trapped for a month. If there is more than enough, if we want to solve it in the city, I'm afraid it will only add to the chaos." Wang Changqing suddenly smiled and said: "General Shen, I have already thought about this matter. The soldiers always carry three days' food with them, so let them bring two more days' food. Dongping City is always said to be rich, and there is another one on the north bank of the river. Dongyang City, which is almost the same size as Dongping City, can watch and help each other. The guard Shao Fengguan was a favorite general of Lord Wenhou at the time. There are many, there will be no trouble. Besides, our army is only five days behind with heavy troops." Shao Fengguan graduated from the military academy a few years earlier than me. In that year, there were four students with the best grades who were called the "Four Generals of Earth, Fire, Water and Wind", and Shao Fengguan was one of them.He originally followed Marquis Wen, but later he was stationed in Dongping City.Wang Changqing praised this person, and he also praised Bi Wei in private. I don't know how Wang Changqing used his troops, but just judging from his words, he will not be weak. In comparison, Shen Hong will be greatly inferior. Shen Hong lowered his head and thought for a while, then suddenly said: "What General Wang said is reasonable, but I never thought it through. General Bi, I would like to take up this position, and I ask General Bi to fulfill it." Although he is not as smart as Wang Changqing, he is as good as he is, one is one, and the other is two. I saw him late and looked down on him a little bit, but now I have changed a lot.He doesn't seem to be such a pure and brave man like Chai Shengxiang.From Bi Wei down, all of them have their merits, and I have a little more confidence in this trip to aid Dongping City.But looking at Pu Anli on the side, my heart inevitably sank slightly again. Although Pu Anli is now a general, his military rank is equal to mine, but his military rank is one level higher than mine.When the Gaojiu City was breached, the woman who committed suicide by jumping off the wall could be said to have died at his hands.I still don't know the name of that woman, but I remember it from time to time.I was already at odds with him, because that woman, it can be said that I hated him a little bit.Even though I saw him fight with his own eyes in Gaojiu City and made a lot of military achievements, I still couldn't get along with him.Fortunately, I was not sent directly under his command this time, but I still pretended not to see him when I saw him, and I have never spoken a word to him so far. At this time, Bi Wei smiled slightly and said: "General Shen, your army has worked so hard from afar, so let others do the work. Xie Xuan, Chu Xiuhong obeys orders!" I heard him call my name, raised my head and saluted, "The last general is here." Bi Wei said: "General Xie, your unified army has lived in Shihu City for a long time, and is very familiar with the navy. General Xie will divide your army into two thousand people, and General Chu will take charge of it and serve as the vanguard." Xie Xuan looked at me, and suddenly said: "General Bi, why not let our army be the vanguard, the general will surely win the first battle." Bi Wei said: "General Xie, I also know your desire to fight. But this battle is no small matter, the vanguard is just a partial division, and General Xie still needs to sit in the central army." After he said this, Xie Xuan was also a little disappointed, but he still said loudly: "Follow the order." Bi Wei said to me again: "General Chu, the vanguard battalion under your command has fought against those monsters before. This time, go first and be careful. If you encounter an enemy, you should not love to fight. Help in the battle is the first. Do you understand?" He is not much older than me, but in this way, it is like an elder teaching a younger generation.However, his words were neither humble nor overbearing, and did not make people feel that he was condescending. I bowed and said, "The final general will obey the order." Bi Wei glanced at us again and said: "Since it has been decided, generals, please go back to the ship and prepare. General Chu, I am sorry for your trouble. I hope you can defeat the enemy with one blow and make outstanding achievements for the first time. I look forward to hearing good news." He said this because he hoped that I would say a few bold words to boost morale.But I just said lightly: "The end general understands, please rest assured, General Bi." I know the attacking power of the snake man best. When Bi Wei said "defeating the enemy with one strike, the first achievement is extraordinary", I also know that it is absolutely impossible, otherwise the second prince would not come here in a hurry to ask for help again. But this time, I will never let the snake man defeat us easily. After stepping out of Bi Wei's rudder, Zhen Yining suddenly walked out of the darkness. He greeted me and said, "General Chu, what orders does General Bi have?" I said: "Ah, General Bi ordered me to lead 3,000 people to set off first." Zhen Yining's eyes suddenly lit up, and he said, "General Chu, please wait a moment." He turned and entered Bi Wei's cockpit.I was a little confused as to what he was going to do.He brought me here, so naturally he should take me back to my own boat. What's the point of throwing me aside like this?Fortunately, not long after, Zhen Yining came out and said, "General Chu, let's go." He got off the boat and set off again.When passing Xie Xuan's fleet, he heard him shouting loudly: "Tao Changshi, Liu Shixian, you two quickly gather at the headquarters." He called the names of two people, who must have been the two commanders.Chu Wenzhong’s subordinates, it is said that there are no commanders above the commander-in-chief, but five or four thousand households, each with four commanders, which is slightly different from the military system of Qingyuegong and Hongyuegong. different.In any case, he also found that setting up ten thousand commanders under the ten thousand commanders was a bit too much. Perhaps, the new army that Marquis Wen is currently training in the imperial capital may change the general system.If this can really be realized, Wu Wanling's merit in writing the letter is not insignificant.I couldn't help pressing my arms, and before leaving, Wu Wanling gave me the copy he had copied, and originally returned it to Yuan Kezhen.Although I haven't read it carefully, this book seems to have given me courage. It seems that this book has gathered the strength of the unknown military strategist, the Yuan brothers, and Wu Wanling. Back on my own boat, I was about to thank Zhen Yining, but he followed me into the boat, turned around and greeted the boat away.I was a little confused, so Zhen Yining bowed to me and said: "General Chu, Zhen Yining joined the army with a humble position, and asked General Bi for permission to enter the Qianfeng camp temporarily. Please take care of General Chu." He is going too?I couldn't help being startled, but immediately smiled and said, "Mr. Zhen, well, thank you very much." Joining the army was originally done by the chief general in the Chinese army tent. Zhen Yining was young, and I also felt an irresistible vitality in him, vaguely like myself who just graduated from the military academy a few years ago. Zhen Yining also smiled slightly and said: "General Chu, you don't have to be so polite, just call me Zhen Yining. General Chu, please give me a place to sleep, I haven't closed my eyes for two days, take advantage of this last chance , take a good rest first." I said, "then you can sleep in my room first." He was a little surprised, and said, "General Chu, what about you?" "During the Southern Expedition with Marquis Wu, it was not uncommon for me to stay awake for two or three days. I was used to falling asleep even standing up. Zhen...Yining, you go." Although I am being polite, I am not lying.At that time in Gaojiu City, when the Snake Man was in a hurry to attack, I would often stay up for two or three days, leaning against the city wall to close my eyes for a while, and then fighting on the top of the city for a while.Back in the imperial capital, although it is safe, I still seem to be able to hear the sound of fighting in my dreams every day, and I only sleep for an hour or two every day, but I don't feel sleepy.What's more, I have to leave soon, and I have to order someone to pass the order. Zhen Yining yawned, and said, "Thank you, General Chu, then I'm going to sleep, wake me up early tomorrow." He turned and walked to my cockpit.This small boat has very few cockpits, just a steerage, and even Cao Wendao slept with the soldiers.As soon as he left, Cao Wendao, who had been waiting for me on the boat, suddenly said, "What a young man, really good." He himself was a lad, though older than I was.Calling Zhen Yining a young man so old-fashionedly, I couldn't help laughing: "General Cao, you are not old. General Bi ordered me to go first, and you go and inform Qian Wenyi and the others immediately." Cao Wendao said, "Let's go first?" He frowned again, and I knew he was probably wondering if it was Marquis Wen's idea to regard us as troops that could be sacrificed, so he patted him on the shoulder and said: "This time, half of the wolf soldiers will go with us, so don't be suspicious all the time." He didn't say anything more, ordered people to put down the boat, and went to inform.As soon as he left, another boat approached my boat. Two people jumped on the boat, came to me, and asked one of them, "Excuse me, is this the Commander Chu Xiuhong from the Qianfeng Battalion?" I said, "Yes. Are you generals Tao Changshi and Liu Shixian under the command of General Xie Xuan?" They looked at each other, seemed a little surprised that I could blurt out their names, then knelt down and said, "The last general is waiting. We are ordered by Xie Dutong to temporarily enter the Qianfeng camp. Please give orders from General Chu." I hurriedly helped them up and said: "Two generals, the last general needs the cooperation of two generals, please don't be too polite. Two generals, this time going into battle, the last general should advance and retreat with the two generals. If the two generals are too polite , I’m afraid I’m going to be ashamed.” Having said this, I am really ashamed.These few sentences were almost the exact words of Bi Wei, they were startled again, and said in unison: "Don't worry, General Chu, I will obey General Chu's orders, and I will never refuse." Their words were very sincere, and I couldn't help but feel a little uneasy again.If they had also attended that meeting and had heard Bi Wei say this, they might not be so sincere.However, what I said is not purely copying power tactics. I can say that I know the strength of the snake people best when I went to aid Dongping City this time.If only relying on these more than a thousand people to take the lead, I am afraid that there will be no return.I said: "General Tao, you lead your headquarters to the left side of our camp, and General Liu is on the right side. Keep the team and don't get confused." Liu Shixian said: "General Chu, let's go back and make arrangements right away, please use the lamp to signal for General Chu." I couldn't help being startled, I didn't know what he meant, but I couldn't ask anything, so I just said vaguely: "Okay." As soon as they left, a ship speeded up from behind.This boat was a little smaller than mine, and it came nearer, and a small boat was lowered from that boat and came over.I didn't know who it was, and was about to ask, when I heard someone jump on the deck of the small boat and ask, "Is Chu Tongzhi here?" I walked over and said, "I am." Hearing my voice, the man stood still like a javelin, bowed to me and said, "The last general is Ren Ji, the centurion under General Bi's command, with sixty crossbowmen and thirty thunder crossbows. The Qianfeng Battalion listens, please give instructions from General Chu." Is that the thunder crossbowman under Bi Wei?I was delighted.Bi Wei's 800 people are specialized in training thunder crossbows, and he allocated 60 to me. It seems that he also hopes that we will succeed in the first battle. It must not be that Cao Wendao thinks that we are insignificant.I said: "General Ren has worked hard, please keep your ship parallel to mine. Ha, with your thunder crossbow, the snake man will suffer a lot this time." There was no expression on Ren Ji's face, he just bowed to me and said, "I obey." He was very young, and his face was fair and beardless, but he looked extremely stable.When he went back, Cao Wendao came over again and said, "General Chu, should we go?" When I saw him, I said, "General Cao, you came just in time. I heard that Liu Shixian said that he wanted me to send out a light signal as a signal. Do you know what that is?" Cao Wendao said: "This is the signal of the navy. It is signaled by two black and white flags during the day, and two red and yellow lights at night. I heard that this was decided by Marquis Wen. There are dozens of different signals. , I’ll ask him to send a letter.” That's right, I couldn't help but smile wryly.There are also flags on land to signal, but they are just a few simple ones, which are not as complicated as the navy. Fortunately, I am not timid. I am afraid that the set of words learned from Bi Wei will become useless.It seems that there is really a lot to learn. Two sailors were assigned to steer each ship. I followed Cao Wendao to take a look. I saw a soldier climb up the mast, light up the two lamps hanging on it, stroke it a few times, and immediately, a A batch of clippers speeded up and left the fleet. At this time the sky was approaching dawn, as soon as this group of fast boats accelerated, they were much faster than the big group, but after a short while, they were very far away.Looking back, I saw a faint light behind me, but darkness ahead.At this speed, they will be able to reach Dongping City in five days. Most of the big rivers of the empire flow from west to east, but this big river flows from north to south, which is really an odd number.Some people once said that this river is also a canal dug by hand, but it is a bit unbelievable to think about it.It is already so difficult to dig a canal from the imperial capital to the sea. To dig this north-south river, I don't know how many people will be used. I watched it for a while, then sat on the side of the boat and took a nap.I don't know how long it took, but I felt someone pushing me lightly. When I opened my eyes to look, I felt a bright light in front of me, and I almost couldn't open my eyes. It was dawn.After my eyes got used to the strong light, I saw Zhen Yining standing beside me with panic on his face.As soon as he saw me open his eyes, he said, "Guan Zhi, you should be damned for your lowly position, let Tong Zhi fall asleep on the deck." I stood up and said, "You're not wrong, I'm used to it too. Did you sleep well?" Zhen Yining's face was still filled with panic, and he said, "General Chu, it's really rude to be humbled, I'll just sleep in the big cabin tonight." I smiled and said, "No matter how big or small the army is, they are all brothers. You probably haven't been in the army for long, have you?" Zhen Yining blushed and said, "Yes, I just graduated this year. General Chu, you also graduated from a military academy?" "Yes, for many years." Having said this, I couldn't help but sigh.In fact, it has not been a few years, but after the battle of the Southern Expedition, it seems like a reincarnated human being. The scene of studying in the military academy really seems to have happened many years ago. Zhen Yining gritted her teeth and said, "That's right. I'll sleep in the cabin tonight, General Chu, you should have a good rest." I said: "If you are not used to sleeping, you can build a bunk in my cabin." I saw that he behaved and talked well, and I am afraid that he is also a son of a family. I'm afraid I won't get used to it.He doesn't have the slightest arrogance of a child from an ordinary family, so I have a good impression of him.Unexpectedly, Zhen Yining said: "General Chu, don't worry about it. You're not used to it now, but you have to get used to it. General Chu, go back to the cabin and rest." This young man doesn't look like a playboy at all, I looked at him with a smile and said: "Zhen Yining, how about respecting your lord?" He heard my words, but his face blushed, and he said: "my father is just a small official, but he has always taught me that in life, one must first endure hardships in order to be successful. I will always keep these humble words in mind, Dare not violate it." I patted him on the shoulder and said: "My lord is really good at teaching children." I took a nap on the deck, but I was still a little sleepy.At this time, the boats on the river were already advancing at full speed, with thousands of sails racing, and the trees, flowers and plants on both sides of the river seemed to be receding extremely quickly. Can I still see this view?Shaking my head, I put aside this unlucky thought, I returned to my cockpit and fell on the bed. After Zhen Yining woke up, she cleaned up very well.I haven't slept all day and night. I said I'm used to it, but I still feel sleepy after all.As soon as his head hit the pillow, he fell asleep.When Zhen Yining came to ask me to eat, it was already dark.I walked out of the cockpit, but saw Zhen Yining standing respectfully at the door of the cockpit, I also blushed a little.As I slept so dead, I am afraid that he will lose his status as the commander of the army, but he doesn't seem to think so, he still respectfully said: "General Chu, are you bringing the food?" I said, "Is there any food left?" The boat is not big, and there are only a hundred people in it. I thought it would be the same as in the army before, giving out some hard-to-eat dry biscuits as dry food, but I didn't expect that the boat could still cook meals. After eating, I went to the bow.After eating and drinking enough, the whole body seems to be full of strength.The northeast wind was blowing, and dozens of fast boats around were sailing fast with full sails.I looked at the front and said, "Zhen Yining, how many days will it take to arrive?" Zhen Yining said: "Reporting to the system, the wind is going smoothly and the boat is traveling extremely fast. Today is the 12th of March. At this speed, we will be able to reach Dongping City by the evening of the 14th." So two more days?I glance around.The dozen or so ships of the Qianfeng Battalion were close to the left and right, and a little further away was the fleet of Tao Changshi and Liu Shixian.I said: "Take a good rest these two days. When we arrive in Dongping City, I'm afraid I won't be able to sleep anymore." Zhen Yining said: "Controlling, you follow Marquis Wu on the southern expedition, and when you face those snake men, can you find any difference between them?" I pondered for a while, and said: "The snake man is extremely powerful, and his movements are very fast. In ordinary field battles, five or six people would not dare to say that they are sure of victory against a single snake man. This kind of monster is really a natural evil, and I don't know where it came from." .” Zhen Yining thought for a while and said, "Don't they have weaknesses?" "I only found that they are not good at using bows and arrows, and their accuracy is extremely poor. They can't shoot you from twenty or thirty steps away. Unfortunately, they also have thick scales on their bodies, and ordinary bows and arrows can't hurt them either." Zhen Yining frowned, and murmured: "Is it so powerful?" A burst of pride suddenly rose in my heart, and I said: "You don't have to worry too much, at that time Marquis Wu was surrounded by them in Gaojiu City, and he guarded it for forty days. If it wasn't for lack of food, it would be no problem to guard for another hundred days. Although the snake people are powerful, they are not very good at attacking the city." While talking with Zhen Yining, Cao Wendao suddenly came over and said, "Tong Zhi, the two small boats that explored the way just now haven't come back yet." There are more than 3,000 people walking on the river. I sent four people to explore the road ahead in two small fast boats. They take shifts every day. The four people I sent out today have not returned yet. I don’t know if there is something wrong, but If the whole army was slowed down because of such a trivial matter, it would be a bit of a waste of time.I thought for a while and said, "Send two more small boats to the front to see if the whole army is still advancing at the same speed. Maybe their small boats got entangled in some aquatic plants." Because there are very few boats on the river, it is spring again, and the water plants are very lush.Vessels like ours, which can carry hundreds of people, cannot be entangled by water plants. It is a headache if the small boats sent out to explore the way are entangled by water plants.Cao Wendao agreed, and went to arrange the manpower. As the sun set, the floating clouds were also dyed a bright red.I was looking at the sky, and suddenly I heard a waterfowl chirping in front of me. Looking far away, I saw hundreds of black spots flying towards us from a distance. 我没有在意，却听得甄以宁在一边道：“统制，那是什么？” 我笑了笑道：“蛇人总不至于会飞，不然，那就是天要绝我了。” 那些自然不会是蛇人，明显是些水鸟。我们一路南行，河里的水鸟也越来越多，原先偶尔只能看到一两只，越往南就越多，不过这么一大群我们也还是第一次看到。这时那片水鸟直冲着我们飞来，从头顶掠过，在船队后面才纷纷落下水面。甄以宁这时才放松了一点，道：“这么多鸟啊，我还没见过呢。” 他的话也只是随便一说，可是却让我象被火灼了一样。我猛地站直了，回头道：“曹闻道。” 曹闻道闻声跑了过来，道：“统制，怎么了？” “重新派出的四个人已经出发了？” 曹闻道道：“还不曾出发。怎么了？” 我看着前面的天空，道：“刚才那阵水鸟是怎么回事？” 曹闻道道：“大概是被先前那四个士兵惊起的吧。” “四个人，两艘小船，能惊起那么多水鸟么？” 曹闻道脸色也沉了下来，他还不曾说话，这时一个士兵跑到我跟前道：“统制，陶将军船上发出旗语，要我们小心，以防有变。” 陶昌时也发现这阵水鸟有点异样吧。我道：“曹将军，你传令下去，让诸军放慢速度，再把任吉的雷霆弩调到中间去。” 曹闻道应声道：“遵命。”他转身向后跑去，甄以宁道：“楚将军，难道前面会有埋伏？” 我苦笑了一下，淡淡道：“谁知道那些怪物会有什么惊人之举，我只是不敢大意。” 蛇人的行踪极是怪异，当初在高鹫城中，我们原本以为它们只是些异兽，可是它们进退之间，深合兵法，就算老于用兵的名将也不过如此，谁知道蛇人会不会来这一手。现在命令减速，也不知还来不来得及。 命令发下去，各帆都降了帆，船速登时减到了一半左右。此时江上仍是分成三大列，前锋营居中，狼兵的两千人分列左右，稍稍落后一些，船队约略成个箭头形状。 随后派出的小船已经出发了。这时曹闻道又过来道：“统制，命令都下去了。” 我看着河面，道：“好，让所有人备好兵器，注意前方。” 曹闻道看着那两艘小船，脸上也有了点忧色，道：“统制，真的会有埋伏么？” “小心为上。” 我刚说出这几个字，那两艘小船突然一顿，停了下来。这两艘小船因为轻快，在水面上本来象飞一般划过，离我们已有三四百步之遥了，从这里看过去已经只是两个黑点。远远望去，只见他们正在拼命地掉头，我心中一凛，挥手道：“马上让所有船只停下来！” 还好我本就已经下令让诸军注意了，这么疾停也没有出什么大乱子。船还没停稳，却突然听得前面的河水象是开锅了似的乱翻，那两艘小船在河面上打着转，突然从河中冲起两条黑影，象两条极粗的巨绳一样缠住小船船头，小船上那两个士兵突然间发出了惊叫，望去，只见他们正手忙脚乱地提刀挥舞，但只听得“当当”几响，他们一下被击倒在水里。 甄以宁吓得一把抓住我的手臂，叫道：“统制，那是什么？” 真的是蛇人！河里，真的有蛇人埋伏！我的心也似一下跳出喉咙，大声叫道：“全军准备，蛇人攻来了！” 这里的三千人中，当中的一千多前锋营都曾直接和蛇人交战过，冲在最前的几艘船也已看见了这景像，登时有一大片士兵冲上船头，手中持着刀枪。 蛇人竟然在河上设埋伏！我不禁一阵心悸。看样子，我们还不曾冲进它们的埋伏圈里，总算是尚可一战。如果让蛇人在水中发动袭击，我也不知道该如何对应它们。 曹闻道手持两杆长枪过来，把一杆交给我后道：“楚将军，怎么办？” 我看了看周围道：“让陶刘两位将军把队伍散开些，船只之间不要靠得太近，前锋营退后十丈。” 蛇人在水中不知战力如何，但我也清楚记得蛇人在高鹫城外游过护城河时的情景。我让两翼上前，这正是那庭天行军八阵中的鹤翼阵。在陆上，摆这鹤翼阵，蛇人攻击力如此之强，只怕会一冲即溃，但是在水上由船队摆出这个最能发挥弓箭威力的阵势，可以收到取长补短之效。可话如此说，我也不知道是不是真能有用。 河面上，密密麻麻地出现了一大片蛇人的头颅，象是突然间长出了一大片黑色菡萏，沿着水面疾行。另一艘小船见机得早，两个士兵手中木桨起起落落，小船也几乎要飞起来，可是那些蛇人虽然追不上，却跟得紧紧的，两者之间距离丝毫不曾拉大。 这时那艘小船已冲进了我们阵势之中，但此时有一个蛇人追得极快，猛然从水中冲起，如同一道长虹一般，尾部还在水中，两手已搭到船尾。它手中执着一柄短刀，一碰到小船，船速一下减慢，那两个士兵距我们已经很近，再加一把力便能逃出，但是功亏一篑，他们两人同时发出一声惊叫。 此时我若冲上前去，也未必不能救出他们来，而这阵势却要打乱了。可是眼见这两人已是命悬一丝，要我眼睁睁看着他们被蛇人乱刀分尸，也实在难以安心。我咬了咬牙，正待命人冲上去接应，忽然见到那小船上的两个士兵猛地势掉木桨，站了起来，其中一个大喝道：“怪物，老子和你拼了！” 他们也已知道定无幸理，已经要以死相搏了吧。我眼角有些湿润，已见河面上的蛇人又冲出了好几个，最后那个已盘在船尾，那小船一下子载重大增，在河面上摇摇晃晃，转眼便要翻倒。一个士兵猛地跳了起来，在半空中一刀劈向那蛇人，大叫道：“统制，快放箭！”但他的话未说完，那个蛇人已将尾部甩了起来，一把卷住他的身体，手中的短刀一掠而过，将他斩作两段。 血象红色的雨，洒在河面上，一丈方圆的河面一下子出现了无数个红点，在水中慢慢渗开，这一个大圈子的河水也都成了粉红色。此时另一个士兵也发出了惨叫，两个蛇人的刀已同时砍在他左右肩上，将他两臂都砍了下来，他还没死，却连惨叫的力气也没了。 我再忍不住，吼道：“放箭！” 话音甫落，从左右两翼的狼兵阵中，箭如雨下。此番南征，每人随身携箭二十支，我们这三千多人共有六万多支箭，这阵箭只是狼兵的一小半在发，也有一两百支了。他们同时对准了中间，那小船上的蛇人和两个士兵的尸身上都一下扎满了箭。那个被确落两臂的士兵固然又是惨叫一声，便是那些蛇人，也发出了一阵惨叫。 不论是蛇还是人，当箭透肤而入时，都会觉得疼痛吧。 这一阵箭射过，河面上原本密密麻麻的蛇人头颅一下子尽没入水，水面上只留下许多水纹。曹闻道在一边道：“统制，怎么办？” 蛇人的反应也极快啊。以前它们攻城，前仆后继，那等强攻虽然骇人，但毕竟还可以抵挡，可现在的蛇人好象一下子变得聪明多了，象现在这样一受攻击，马上就相应变化，较之帝国军的精兵也诚不多让。 看来，蛇人也在变强。我心中不禁更增不安，看看身后，前锋营已按鹤翼阵的列好阵势，一艘艘船交错排开，随时都可穿插而上。我道：“命各队各自后退两丈，仔细察看本船附近水面，蛇人在水下也不能呆多久，定会重新露出来的。” 蛇人不是鱼，自然不会水下呼吸。这时我倒有点庆幸没有蛇人一样的鱼人，不然我们这三千多人真如俎上鱼肉，任由宰割了。 曹闻道忽然皱起了眉道：“那两个水军弟兄都去把舵了，我去叫一个出来发旗语。” 这时甄以宁忽道：“曹将军，让我来吧，我也懂旗语。” 他说完便向船上的了望台跑去。我又惊又喜，曹闻道道：“统制，你也上去发号施令。这批怪物，今天非要报一下高鹫城全军覆没之仇。” 也不知道最后如何呢。我暗自想着，但嘴上却没有说这丧气话，只是道：“好，船头上由你一力承担。” 我冲上了船顶。这种船载员不过百多人，了望台也不是太高，我站在船顶时，甄以宁已站在了望台里挥舞黑白二旗，向各船打着旗语。他打旗语竟然比那两个水军士兵更为熟练，双旗挥舞，一黑一白两面旗帜迎风招展。 旗语发出后，全军应令而动。鹤翼阵的阵势，其实就是一个倒置的三角形，各船交错排列，可进可退。我们只是拼凑出来的队伍，前锋营更从未水战过，但两翼的狼军却是水陆皆能，石虎城本就是位于大江上游南岸，狼军娴于水战，他们这两翼的阵势丝毫不乱，前锋营虽然差一些，不过掌舵的因为是水军士兵，也还看得过去。各退两丈后，每两船的距离加大，当中围成的区域也大了一圈。 这时，我只见江心突然间水花直冒，正是前锋营前方十余丈之地，当即喝道：“前锋营听令，弓箭准备，蛇人一出来便放箭，注意节省箭矢。” 甄以宁在我身后又呼呼地打了几下旗语，前锋营的十余艘战船交错排开，箭在弦上。我以前一直都是充当冲锋在前的角色，在军校中兵法虽学得也算不错，但也从来没指挥过，这回成了发号施令之人，不免有些担心，生怕号令发下，下面做的却不是那回事。可是眼见甄以宁发出旗语后，诸队都应令而动，心中也不由多了几分信心。 江心的水象开了一样，这时一下冒出了一大片蛇人的头颅。它们刚露出水面又是一阵箭下，它们本就挤作一堆，何况前锋营水战虽不在行，箭术却都相当不错，这一阵箭雨射过，蛇人又发出了一阵惨叫，河面象是开了锅一般翻腾，一条条遍生鳞甲的蛇人身躯在水中翻滚，血花飞溅。 这一阵箭，总又杀了数十个蛇人了。前锋营较各军对蛇人多了一分仇恨，那些箭也都射得又准又狠，一箭过后，诸船之上发出了一阵欢呼。那些蛇人马上又没下水去，却还有人向水中发箭。我道：“传令下去，不要放箭，分一半士卒执长兵准备接舷战。” 蛇人在水下能行数丈之遥，它们首攻的定也是我这个位于鹤翼阵底部的中军战船。看过去，这支埋伏在水中的蛇人已是倾阵而出，数量总在一千上下。它们居然能一下发现我这战船是主将所在，也当真不凡。 绝不能只把蛇人当成妖兽了。现在，必须把它们看作是深通兵法的强兵。 我看着水面，忽然举手喝道：“传令下去，命陶昌时、刘仙石两部前锋向中心聚拢，全军转为方圆阵。” 蛇人主攻的，是我这边的中军，两翼虽也有蛇人攻去，但明显只是拦阻之意，不让我们守望相助。鹤翼阵最能发挥箭矢之威，但蛇人已冲到阵中心，两翼前端已然落空，而蛇人也已靠到了船前，箭矢已难再用，现在，也该是到了变阵之时。 甄以宁刚把令传出去，忽然整船猛地一震，甲板上发出了一阵惊呼，有人叫道：“船底漏了！蛇人要从水下攻上来了！” 蛇人竟然凿船攻上来！我只觉胸口一闷，几乎要吐血。我一味想着与蛇人在水上战斗，没想到水战不比陆战，蛇人会从下攻上，而我的战船又是冲在前列的，蛇人认准了我这船，那可如何是好？一时间，我只觉心头一沉，人也茫然不知所措，说不出话来。 这时甄以宁又挥舞了两下旗帜，高声叫道：“蛇人一时半刻凿不通船只，不必惊慌，严阵以待。船上分半数之兵入舱守御。” 我心头猛地一亮。的确，这些战船是工部监造，虽然从民船改装而来的要弱一些，但我的座船却是以坚木造成，哪里是一时半刻凿得通的？我镇定下来，喝道：“不要惊慌，蛇人在水下呆不了多久。” 果然，船只震了震，便不动了，两舷却传来了一阵喊杀之声。蛇人要凿船，只怕也并不熟练，在水下凿了两下憋不住气，纷纷冒出头来。但是曹闻道已率军列在两侧，蛇人一冒头，长枪所及便以枪攻，枪不能及便以箭射，只听得两边都是蛇人的惨叫和前锋营的喊杀声，一时嘶喊如沸，声欲震天。 这一轮攻击打退后，我已见战船两边浮起了一条条蛇人的尸首，几乎已要将船只拥起来。入眼之下，不由骇然。如果不是我们有备在先，措手不及之下，恐怕败的就是我们了。 哪知还不曾放下心来，左侧有一条船上忽然发出了一阵惊呼。这船猛地一侧，倒向一边，虽不曾翻倒，但已岌岌可危。这船是民船改装，船板较新造的战船要薄许多，那艘船大概已被凿通，水已涌入船舱了。