Chapter 183 He doesn’t care
In the drizzle, flags were waving and military drums were beating, tearing the tranquility north of Gaoliang River into pieces.

The army filed through the river with thick ice, and murderous aura rose into the air.

The rumbling sound of horse hooves swept across the fields. Countless war horses' hooves were flying, making the earth seem to tremble. The impact was unparalleled, and the prince consort Zhao Yan who came from Bianliang changed color almost every moment.

It should be noted that Dingbadu's cavalry was originally a mixture of light and heavy cavalry. Previously, two thousand light cavalry were dispatched to Yuan Xingqin, and then the excess armored troops were divided into smaller groups. The remaining ones were almost all heavy armored cavalry.

Of course, among these more than 6,000 soldiers, there are also a small number of about 2,000 infantrymen, and everyone is equipped with iron armor, which can be regarded as heavy armored infantry.

At this time, because they still had to march twenty or thirty miles, even the infantry had mounts, the so-called mounted mobile infantry.

The war horses needed for heavy cavalry were not manned, but were taken care of by auxiliary soldiers as they moved forward. Upon closer counting, it was found that everyone in this group of nearly 8,000 people had a horse, and there were even pack horses specifically responsible for carrying armor. It was estimated that there were probably tens of thousands of mounts serving these 6,000 soldiers.

For a moment, Zhao Yan's mind was in a mess. He had been in the Central Plains for most of these years. The so-called Central Plains wars, even the major wars, had never used so many war horses. Where did Xiao Yan get tens of thousands of horses! ?

He could not hide his gaffe, but no one could explain it to him, because he, a military inspector, was unknowingly pushed to the side corner during the march.

Amid the fluttering of countless military flags, Xiao Yan's figure in the center of the army had been invisible because of the countless generals guarding him. When he looked up again, he could only see that the periphery of the army was full of men in green shirts and black armor and bamboo hats following the troops. The scouts coming and going were all these men in bamboo hats. Basically, there was one man in a bamboo hat coming to report every five miles, and then they would join the army that was constantly advancing.

Does Xiao Yan really want to defeat the more than 100,000 Yan troops who have been blocking Youzhou city for nearly a month today?
How can there be only 6,000 soldiers against more than 100,000 Yan troops?

However, Zhao Yan looked at the people in Dingba and saw that they were full of high spirits. It seemed that everyone thought the same way, which made him feel suspicious.

No matter what, no matter what this so-called Zhao Jianjun thinks, he has no influence on Dingba City, and cannot shake Xiao Yan's decision at all.

At this time, the army had marched twenty miles in one breath, and the sky was finally bright, so the garrison took a short rest, and then took out the meat patties that had been prepared in advance from their arms and began to replenish their energy.

In fact, although a large army was dispatched this time, there were still people left behind in the camp on Gaoliang River, with Han Yanhui in charge of receiving the supplies transferred from Yingzhou.

And this meat pie, which was extremely luxurious in the military camp, was made in the kitchen under the personal supervision of Han Yanhui two days ago, so that every soldier would have enough.

Eating before the march and eating again before the battle is completely necessary to ensure that everyone has enough physical strength to fight.

At this moment, Xiao Yan was stationed in the center of the army, repeating the military orders.

In order to ensure the legitimacy of this, Zhao Yan was specially invited to come, after all, he was the military supervisor, and then after every military order, he would ask "What do you think of Zhao Yan?"

How could General Zhao dare to object? Even if he had to bite the bullet, he wouldn't dare to say a word of objection when the generals of Dingba were watching him covetously. He just kept nodding his head.

Just at this moment, a rider came chasing from the south.

It was the men in bamboo hats that Zhao Yan had seen everywhere in the past two days. After careful investigation, he found out that these people were the bad guys led by Xiao Yan before he returned to Liang.

But I didn't know that there were so many bad people under Xiao Yan's command...

Zhao Yan was secretly shocked, but when he saw the generals looking at him with different expressions, he suddenly realized something and said with a knowing smile, "I have a stomachache, so I'm going to help you. Please continue, please continue..."

This time, the bad guy knelt on one knee in front of Xiao Yan and presented him with a stack of letters in his hand.

"General Xiao, news has come from the east that a man has managed to escape, and it is none other than Lü Yan of the Yichang Army. We have also captured another man, who is Li Zhen's trusted aide. Under torture, he has revealed all of Li Zhen's schemes. Here is his complete confession."

Xiao Yan nodded slowly, took it, glanced at it briefly, and then laughed: "It's really tricky. It's actually going to be given to the Hades."

The generals around him didn't know the inside story, so naturally they didn't change their expressions. Yu Zhong, who knew the seriousness of the matter, wanted to say something but stopped himself. However, after seeing that Xiao Yan was still calm, he finally held back.

Then, the bad guy handed over an object wrapped in a cloth.

"Also, this is Gong Yang Zuoyi's severed finger. He knew that he had lied to General Xiao and felt guilty about it, so he said that he would leave his head in General Xiao's hands first, and when he captured Lu Yan's head, he would let General Xiao take it off."

Xiao Yan's expression remained unchanged. He spread out the cloth and saw a bloody black severed finger. Others clicked their tongues in amazement and admired the ruthlessness of Gong Yang Zuo.

"No problem. Send the finger back. If he can take it, then take it. If not, then find another way. As for the head, I'll take it. Tell him to find a way to do something meritorious and take it back someday. Also, let's not discuss this matter. Tell Gongyang Zuo and You Yi not to chase after Lu Yan anymore. Quickly bring everyone from Yingzhou back to Youzhou to wait for orders."

"Order!"

After being greatly impressed by Xiao Yan's calmness, the bad guy simply jumped on his horse and left the same way he came.

"General Xiao..." Yu Zhong stepped forward.

"It doesn't matter."

Xiao Yan waved his hand to interrupt, then took the map held by a general next to him and tapped on it with his finger.

"No matter what happens, even if the sky falls, we must first conquer Youzhou."

After saying this, he looked around at everyone again, pressed the hilt of the knife at his waist, and couldn't help but smile.

"Besides, even if the sky falls, I'll hold it up, so what's there to be afraid of?

Let me ask all the generals, are you afraid of following me, Xiao Yan?"

As soon as these words were spoken, the surroundings fell silent almost instantly. In the world, the only sounds left seemed to be the fluttering of military flags and the rustling of drizzle falling on armor.

After a moment, countless generals and soldiers guarding on the left and right felt their scalps tingling, and they all bowed in submission. At the same time, they responded with roars that tore through the rain curtain and went straight into the sky above their heads.

"For Marshal Xiao's victory, I, your humble servant, will not hesitate to die before you!!"

This sudden roar startled the entire team that stretched for a long distance. Then everyone looked towards the central army and stopped eating the meat patties in their hands. They all understood what Xiao Yan had just said after hearing the roars one after another.

In the next moment, the morale of the army exploded.

It should be known that among Xiao Yan's subordinates, Ding Badu has always received the most rewards, obtained the greatest military exploits, and been equipped with the sharpest armor. He fought in the south and the north, from Youzhou to Yuyang, and then from Yuyang back to Youzhou, and he won all the battles he fought!
The so-called surprise attack of 300 li, defeating 50,000 troops with 10,000 in Yuyang, and defeating 30,000 Jin troops with 20,000 in Gaoliang River, where did they not conquer the capital? Where did they not conquer the capital?
Make the most of small investments, like a wolf swallowing a tiger, do risky things, swallow up evil enemies, and seize the grand secrets!
Even if it's eight thousand against a hundred thousand, what is there to be afraid of!

If we fight, we will win, and if we win, we will win big!
As invincible as General Xiao and General Ding Ba are, they have become an army that has won hundreds of victories. They have won a whole year in a row, marching across Hebei, driving out the northern desert, defeating the Yichang army, and completely defeating Li Yazi. How can they not win? How can they not win?
It can be said that since its establishment, Dingba has never had such high aspirations and such strong morale.

At a certain moment, the entire army suddenly raised their spears and their roars shook the sky.

"Xiao Shuai, 10,000 wins!"

"Wan Sheng!"

In the dry grass not far away, Zhao Yan, who was squatting down to act, was caught off guard and sat down stupidly, with half of his pants covered in mud.

Even the hundred Jinwu Guards he brought with him were looking at each other in bewilderment.

How could an army as powerful as the Bianliang Imperial Guards have such momentum?

This doesn't look like a cavalry that is about to face more than 100,000 bandits. Instead, it looks more like a victorious army that is about to return in triumph...

In the central army, Xiao Yan stopped his horse under layers of military flags and just smiled faintly.

However, his eyes were still as sharp as ever.

What does Li Zhen’s painstaking conspiracy count for?
With such a strong army in hand, and having obtained the so-called righteousness before Li Zhen, how could a Hades Emperor control him after this matter was over? Moreover, could the Hades Emperor really receive such evidence?
Xiao Yan really doesn't care.

When he woke up after a heavy snowfall, he had finally gained a power that truly belonged to him. This power that defied everything was enough to keep him moving forward and become the person who could truly determine the direction of history.

This era will eventually change!
“Send the order!
After resting, we will march the last five miles in armor!

Follow me to defeat the enemy!"

------

North of Gaoliang River and south of Youzhou.

In one of the military camps farthest to the south of Youzhou City, a Yan army marshal named Cui Tie was just awakened by the bright sky.

Of course, although he was called a marshal, he was actually just a commander who controlled the nearby military camps. He was given the title of marshal only because he led the most people in the fort and his soldiers were more powerful than those of the other fort owners.

And the most crucial point is that unlike those fortresses that were forced to join in, Cui Tie's thoughts turned quickly and he became a large fortress owner who took the initiative to join the Yan army.

Since he was already a powerful person, and the nearly 1,000 soldiers under his command obeyed his orders, they fought all the way, and he led refugees and bandits from other places to plunder everywhere, and equipped all the proceeds to his own soldiers, and he actually suppressed the Yan army. Naturally, he became a marshal in the Yan army who could sit in charge of one side.

Even though he was just a marshal in name only, he could still be ranked at the forefront of the Yan army. The reason why he was far away from Youzhou City was that he only moved his camp here in the past two days.

According to what the Yan army saw when they entered Youzhou, there was almost no wealth in Youzhou city, and the places that could be looted in the north of Yan territory had basically been secretly taken by various tribes, so there was no profit left.

In the entire Yan area at present, perhaps only the south of Gaoliang River is still prosperous. As a rare smart man, Cui Tie naturally set up a general camp here early on, so that he could go south first in the future and eat his fill before everyone else.

As a genuine Yan person, Cui Tie was indeed too cruel to the people of Yan. But according to his own opinion, in this world, if you are not cruel, others will be cruel to you.

Moreover, as a distant descendant of the Cui family of Boling, he also hoped to use this opportunity to rise to prominence, and in the future, he would marry into a wealthy family and be praised by the so-called top aristocratic families.

At this time, he yawned loudly, stood up shirtless, and walked out of the camp gate without caring about the two young girls who were still huddled together on the couch.

His trusted personal guards were already waiting at the door. They escorted Cui Tie towards the commander's tent, nodding and bowing as they asked, "Marshal, would you like to have a meal... a meal?"

"Not urgent."

As his status has improved recently, Cui Tie's speech has become much more elegant. He has to replace "rice" with "food", otherwise he cannot show his status.

Moreover, as a marshal of an army, he was still wasting food lavishly at a time when countless people were starving to death every day. He didn't need to look to know that the breakfast prepared by his subordinates was some game meat, dry rice, vegetable soup, which he had already eaten, and it was nothing.

At this moment, he was obviously thinking about more important things, and asked questions as soon as he entered the general's tent.

"Come on, has the Youzhou discussion been completed?"

This kind of question naturally needs a professional to answer. A scholar immediately came out and said respectfully, "Marshal, the prince still does not allow the army to go south. He said that the army has just conquered Youzhou, so the garrison should rest well to prepare for the Liang army in the future."

Cui Tie sneered, spat, and said disdainfully: "What other bastard would be willing to do that?"

"Of course I don't want to. I heard that many marshals and generals of the left and right armies are making a fuss. If it weren't for General Yuan leading the army in the city, they would probably have brought their troops to threaten us."

“Bah, if Yuan Xingqin didn’t have those two thousand elite soldiers, how could he be called a general?” Cui Tie took the wine handed to him by the servant, gargled it in his mouth, and then spit it out. He said dissatisfiedly: “When we attacked Youzhou, all the people who died were ours. He didn’t even exert any effort. In the end, we were stopped from entering the city and he was allowed to go in to pick peaches by himself. What kind of thing is this!?”

The trusted generals around him naturally echoed his words with dissatisfaction, all of them were just venting their resentment towards Yuan Xingqin and even Liu Shouwen.

The scholar just laughed and said nothing more.

Cui Tie glanced at him sideways and snorted, "Tell me, what will happen to this Yan army in the future? Do we really have to listen to Liu Shouwen and sit and guard Youzhou?"

"Of course not, but..." The scholar laughed and analyzed, "At least for now, we can only stay in Youzhou for a short period of time. But Marshal, don't worry, the prince and his men can't hold on for long, and they can only go south.

After all, Youzhou has no money and no food. The army of more than 100,000 people needs to survive. It is impossible to stay here and wait. The only option is to go south to plunder. And the marshal can see that the reason why the Liu family can hold that position is just because of its appeal, but it does not have much restraint on the armies. Now that Youzhou has been conquered, the armies cannot get what they want. What do you think the result will be? "

Cui Tie's eyes lit up, he stood up and rubbed his palms: "You mean, they really dare to make trouble?"

"Marshal, you should know that the reason why the prince was able to suppress the various armies is because he had the thousands of elite soldiers of General Yuan and General Li under his command. Before taking Youzhou, he could naturally make the armies obey his orders with the so-called prospects. Now... it's hard to say. If the prince insists on not letting the armies go south, I'm afraid he will be attacked by everyone..."

The scholar smiled slyly and said, "It's hard to say. The resentment has already arisen. Now all we need is a leader. Marshal, this is a good opportunity..."

Cui Tie narrowed his eyes and was somewhat tempted.

He knew exactly what the scholar meant, which was simply to ask him to replace Liu Shouwen.

At present, the Lulong Army is still in Hengshan City of Danzhou, and Youzhou has only the forces of Yuan Xingqin and Li Mang. There is also the Yichang Army, which has been hiding in the east city of Youzhou and its intention is unknown. There are only about ten thousand people at most. Ignoring the Yichang Army, Liu Shouwen has only two or three thousand truly loyal generals.

If the various tribes become restless, would Liu Shouwen really dare to let two or three thousand people suppress more than 100,000 Yan troops?
At the moment, these more than 100,000 troops, whether they are the Yan army or the bandits, represent the genuine "public opinion"!
If Liu Shouwen really dared to go against public opinion, Cui Tie would also dare to take advantage of the situation and seize enormous wealth!

Thinking of this, Cui Tie stood up suddenly, then rubbed his hands again, and looked at several trusted subordinates with pretended calmness.

"Everyone, go and greet the old acquaintances in the left and right armies, as well as the rear army. I, Old Cui, will treat them to wine and meat today, and reminisce about the past!"

"Got it."

Several of his trusted followers were delighted and rushed away.

Cui Tie, on the other hand, just paced back and forth, rubbing his face, and pointed at the scholar and said, "The two women in my tent are yours."

The latter was naturally surprised and hurriedly expressed his gratitude.

Cui Tie waved his hand nonchalantly. There were plenty of purchased decent girls in the messy Yan army camp. He could easily buy a dozen women for a bag of rice, not to mention some of the former clan leaders. He himself had no idea how many of them he had ridden.

At this time, he was thinking about important matters and urged several of his capable men to carefully count how many men they had who could fight, how much armor they had, and how much food they had in stock.

Only after giving instructions like these did he feel at ease.

There is no rush to climb up the ladder. He still needs to get support from other marshals and generals. He knows his own business. With the few troops under his command, perhaps boasting of seven or eight thousand, they cannot even withstand a charge against the elite troops under Yuan Xingqin.

But if they join forces with other families to force the emperor to abdicate, things would become serious.

Thinking about Cui Tie, could he also satisfy his desire to be the King of Yan?
Just at this moment, before Cui Tie had time to think about it, someone suddenly rushed in as if there was a commotion.

"Marshal, there is movement in the south!"

"What else could be going on? The Liang army can't possibly come so quickly. There are still a few small camps ahead of us. If there really is a Liang army, wouldn't someone come to report it?"

Cui Tie waved his hand disdainfully, put on a mink cloak and walked out.

"Come with me and see who dares to touch my tiger whiskers!"

(End of this chapter)