Chapter 377: All recommended by Little Fifth [Thank you! Thank you again! Owed 9,000 words]

Keyi Gate,

Is the most important fortress north of Xingqing Prefecture in the Bai Gao Kingdom, none other.

This day in early July,

North of Keyi Gate,

On a mountain,

Several knights were standing on horseback,

From time to time, the sound of killing and wailing came over.

That was the elite Great Zhou cavalry, surrounding and killing the Bai Gao Kingdom scouts nearby.

Great Zhou Marquis of Yongyi Xu Minghua took advantage of the clear weather to look far away at Keyi Gate in the distance.

Beside Xu Minghua was a young knight with a sickly look, pointing to a gentle slope outside Keyi Gate in the distance, and said in Great Zhou language with some accent:

"General, if we advance directly to the fortress, the defenders will definitely deploy heavy cavalry on that slope. If we are not firmly established, they will take advantage of the situation and charge down!"

Xu Minghua on horseback looked at the terrain around Keyi Gate, which was easy to defend and difficult to attack, and nodded with an ugly face.

The descendants of the Great Zhou military nobles around him all had expressions of agreement in their eyes.

At this time, a knight passed through layers of guards from the foot of the mountain and arrived on the mountain. After dismounting, he bowed and shouted outside the crowd of personal guards: "General, a letter from the capital!"

The personal guard took the letter and handed it to Xu Minghua.

Seeing Xu Minghua about to read the letter, the people surrounding him retreated to one side.

Xu Minghua rode on his horse and unfolded the letter to read the content.

Afterwards, the Marquis of Yongyi, who was originally somewhat worried, gradually relaxed.

Putting away the letter, Xu Minghua took another look at Keyi Gate in the distance, pulled the reins lightly, turned his horse's head, and said loudly: "Go, return to the camp!"

Seeing this change in the Marquis of Yongyi's expression, the juniors of the Xu, Zhang, Cao, and other families in the army looked at each other with confusion.

After Xu Minghua left,

Flags waved on the mountain,

Zhu Qinghu, who was staring at the flags on the mountain, raised his chin to the personal guard beside him,

"Woo~~~~"

The retreat horn was blown,

Around the hilltop,

The Great Zhou elite cavalry who had been surrounding and killing Bai Gao scouts slowed down their horses, disengaged from the battle,

And after collecting the corpses of their fallen comrades, they gathered under Zhu Qinghu's flag and retreated to the north.

Great Zhou army camp,

Seeing the knights galloping from the south holding large flags, the camp gate was hurriedly pushed open.

The knights rode in.

Dismounted in front of the main tent with the curtains wide open.

Although Xu Zaiduan was the eldest son of the Marquis of Yongyi, he still had to follow behind everyone when entering the tent.

It was really because the one in front of him was Zhang Fangyan, the legitimate eldest son of the Duke of Ying, and the other was Cao Yang, the legitimate second son of the Marquis of Tuoxi.

Both were more than ten years older than him, and their qualifications and military exploits were higher than his.

After entering the tent,

The generals took off their helmets and held a military discussion in front of the sand table for a while.

A quarter of an hour later, Xu Minghua waved his hand: "Dismissed!"

After saying this, he began to focus on the huge sand table in front of him.

The generals bowed and responded.

After a while, Xu Minghua looked up, looked at the three people from the Xu, Zhang, and Cao families who were still in the tent, and said: "Anything else?"

The three didn't speak, Xu Zaiduan pointed to his father's chest, where the letter he had just received was placed.

Xu Minghua shook his head: "This is the Emperor's own handwriting, not something you can see!"

The three in the tent were stunned and hurriedly nodded.

Zhang Fangyan said: "General, that letter... is it the same as last time, urging us to be steady and steady?"

Xu Minghua nodded: "The meaning is clearer than last time! The Emperor is telling us not to be too impatient, always thinking about the Emperor's birthday next year and other miscellaneous things."

"The Emperor also said that his birthday can be celebrated at any time, and we should focus on steadily destroying the Bai Gao Kingdom."

Hearing this, everyone in the tent looked at each other with surprise, Xu Zaiduan said: "This, how would the Emperor know what we are thinking..."

Xu Minghua pondered for a while and said: "It was the memorial submitted to the Emperor by the old minister in the court, the Mayor of Kaifeng, Lord Gu."

Everyone in the tent nodded.

At this time, a personal guard outside the tent bowed and shouted: "Marquis, Li Li Chi Mei, the Commander who went to recruit the Yan Army Division in Heishui Town, is back."

Xu Minghua was surprised and looked at the few people in the tent, Cao Yang said: "How come it's so fast, it's only been ten days."

Xu Minghua said: "Let him in."

After a while,

Li Li Chi Mei, the younger brother of the Li family, came to the tent in armor, dusty, followed by a few people, two of whom were exceptionally tough, dressed as squad leaders.

Although Li Li Chi Mei was full of exhaustion, his eyes were full of excitement, and he bowed:

"Marquis! Fortunately, I did not disgrace the mission!"

Xu Minghua nodded with a smile: "How is it, how many people did you recruit in the Heishui Town Yan Army Division?"

Li Li Chi Mei looked back at the few people behind him and said loudly: "Replying to the Marquis, recruited nearly 5,000 people, they should be 200 li west of the main camp at this time."

"How many?"

"5,000!"

Hearing this number, everyone in the tent had expressions of disbelief.

Xu Minghua hurriedly asked: "So many people, and you returned to the main camp, who is in command?"

"Marquis, they are commanded by generals who have blood feuds with the Liang Yi family!"

Xu Minghua nodded.

Xu Zaiduan looked at the two squad leaders behind Li Li Chi Mei and asked: "How... how could there be so many?"

Li Li Chi Mei bowed: "All thanks to the bravery of these soldiers!"

Xu Zaiduan looked at the two squad leaders behind Li Li Chi Mei and said: "I recognize you two! Both were recommended by my little brother! You are Wu Song, you are Luan Tingyu!"

"The others, it turns out they are also warriors from the manor of the Great-Aunt! You are Wang Yan, Deng Yuanjue, Pang Wanchun!"

These tough soldiers bowed in unison.

After ordering the main camp to split 5,000 cavalry and 5,000 infantry to go west to make good defenses, Xu Minghua said loudly:

"Someone, bring a few folding stools! Tell me in detail how you recruited these 5,000 people."

"Yes!"

Afterwards,

Li Li Chi Mei sat on the folding stool in the main tent with Wu Song and Luan Tingyu, drank a bowl of water handed over by the Xu family personal guard, and said:

"Marquis, Heishui Town Yan Army Division was originally one of the twelve army divisions of the Bai Gao Kingdom. It is far from Xingqing Prefecture, and it is also guarding the Northwest Uyghurs, Mongols, and Northern Liao. Compared with the several army divisions in the East, it has always been a place where it is not easy to get military exploits."

"After the Liang Yi family of the Bai Gao Kingdom rebelled, many family descendants who had marriage ties with the Li family but also had good relations with the Liang Yi family were squeezed out there."

"And..."

Li Li Chi Mei said with some confusion in his tone: "And, there are quite a few low-ranking military officer families loyal to the Li family, who were exiled to the Zhenyan Army Division for some reason when they were targeted by the Liang Yi family."

"Vaguely heard it was bribing the Ren family of the Chuihuan Division..."

Hearing this, Xu Minghua's eyes flashed.

Zhang Fangyan in the tent said: "Could it be that when you went to the Zhenyan Army Division to recruit, you contacted these people?"

Li Li Chi Mei shook his head: "No! Instead, after arriving at the range guarded by the Zhenyan Army Division, I was almost deceived into the military camp by a thief who had received the Li family's favor but surrendered to the Liang Yi family!"

"I discovered something wrong when I approached the military camp! If it weren't for these soldiers guarding me, fighting against the crowd, I'm afraid I would have suffered a disaster at that time!"

Thinking of the previous events, Li Li Chi Mei still had lingering fears.

"How many people were there on the other side at that time?"

Zhang Fangyan beside him asked.

"Replying to the General, there should have been one battalion of 500 people at that time, and we only had two squads, 200 people."

"How many did you kill?"

"Only 200 ran back to the military camp, and the ungrateful thief who led them was also shot in the head by this warrior Pang Wanchun."

Hearing this, Xu Zaiduan and Cao Yang looked at Wu Song, Pang Wanchun, and the others with great favor.

"After the leader of the thieves died, I revealed my identity in front of the military camp, and only then was I able to recruit this first military camp."

"Later, with the low-ranking military officers loyal to the Li family in this first military camp, plus the earthquake in Yanzhou, and our Great Zhou is now attacking from three sides, winning consecutive battles and having great momentum, only then were we able to recruit so many Bai Gao soldiers."

"More than half of them didn't want to get involved in the life-and-death battle between Great Zhou and Bai Gao, and chose to stay in the seat of the Zhenyan Army Division."

After Li Li Chi Mei finished speaking,

The Marquis of Yongyi Xu Minghua nodded and said: "This is a great achievement!"

Looking at the people behind Li Li Chi Mei, he added: "You fought for the country, today I will submit a memorial to ask for your merits!"

Hearing this, Li Li Chi Mei, Wu Song, Pang Wanchun, and others in the tent hurriedly stood up, bowed and shouted: "Thank you, Marquis!"

Xu Minghua waved his hand: "No need to thank me! This is what you deserve!"

After some encouragement, everyone retreated from the main tent.

Sunset and moon rise,

Moonlight like water,

In the heavily guarded Great Zhou camp, a robust man was brought to the main tent by a personal guard.

In the candlelight,

"Subordinate Wang Yan, greets the Marquis!"

Xu Minghua put down the military book in his hand and said: "Sit!"

"Thank you, Marquis!"

"Among those who followed this Bai Gao Kingdom clan member, only you understand the Bai Gao language! Along the way, is there any situation?"

Wang Yan, a descendant of the Marquis of Yongyi's personal guard and a martial artist from the manor of the Sheng Old Madam, sat on the folding stool and said: "Replying to the Marquis, yes!"

Looking at Xu Minghua's face shaking in the candlelight, Wang Yan said: "Marquis, in the seat of Heishui Town Yan Army Division, on the night when we strangled the Commander of the Liang Yi family and his subordinates, a Bai Gao noble once suggested to Li Li Chi Mei, wanting to kill us, and build a country with troops in the West!"

Hearing this, Xu Minghua clenched the military book in his hand.

"This Li Li Chi Mei didn't listen to this suggestion?"

"Replying to the Marquis! Yes!"

"Why? Do you know?"

Wang Yan bowed and said: "The subordinate heard that Bai Gao noble say that they had collected three powerful warriors trained by the Chuihuan Division in Heishui Town Yan Army Division! With the army of the Zhenyan Army Division and these three warriors protecting him, Li Li Chi Mei would definitely be safe."

"But Li Li Chi Mei asked a few questions, and after hearing the answer, he just shook his head, and then said a few words to that Bai Gao noble. After hearing this, that Bai Gao noble was scared pale."

"Asked what?"

"Seems like, asking which of these three people is more powerful compared to those who besieged Empress Mi Mu. Said..."

Xu Minghua looked at Wang Yan, who was stuttering and hesitant, and frowned: "Hmm? Is there anything hard to say!?"

Wang Yan bowed, looking embarrassed, and said: "Marquis, you don't know, the subordinate is really afraid of affecting your overall command!"

Putting the military book on the table, Xu Minghua said in a deep voice: "Speak!"

Wang Yan looked embarrassed, glanced at Xu Minghua and said: "Li Li Chi Mei said, dozens of people who are much more powerful than these three were all left in the Marquis of Yongyi's mansion in Bianjing by the youngest son of the Marquis of Xu who is leading the army here. His Li Li Chi Mei's few relatives are all in Great Zhou, he will not do this."

Xu Minghua narrowed his eyes: "Have you seen these three powerful warriors mentioned by that Bai Gao noble?"

Wang Yan took a deep breath and said: "The subordinate has seen them!"

"Compared to you, how are they?"

Wang Yan looked up at Xu Minghua and said: "Replying to the Marquis! Off the horse, the subordinate is on par with them! On the horse..."

"The subordinate... is not an opponent."

"Wu Song brother and Pang Wanchun brother who followed also exchanged moves, and their battle record is about the same as the subordinate's."

Hearing this, Xu Minghua's breathing became a bit heavier.

"How do you know that I, the Marquis, don't know about this?"

"Replying to the Marquis, after the main tent was dismissed in the afternoon, the subordinate once asked the Eldest Young Master if he had heard about Bianjing after the New Year, and the Eldest Young Master said, it was just some bold thieves who wanted to steal things."

Xu Minghua nodded.

"Alright, you go down! I will count this as a merit for you!"

"Thank you, Marquis!"

Watching Wang Yan turn and leave the main tent, Xu Minghua rested his arms on the table and rubbed his eyebrows.

He knew Wang Yan's martial arts, his ability was not lower than Zhu Qinghu's, and he was a cut above the personal guards beside Xu Minghua.

Dozens of people as powerful as them, left in the Marquis's mansion by his youngest son?

He knew his youngest son was powerful, but this was also a bit too...

Thinking of these, Xu Minghua shook his head.

Just when Xu Minghua was shocked by his youngest son's "battle record" from half a year ago,

Bianjing,

In the Imperial Palace,

Zhao Zilong was also shocked by the news sent back by carrier pigeon by the Imperial City Division's spy in Northern Liao.

Holding the slip of paper poured out from the bamboo tube on the carrier pigeon's leg, Zhao Zilong read it twice, and then walked hurriedly toward the main hall where the Emperor was.

"Emperor, Emperor!"

Just as Zhao Zilong was about to step into the hall, he tripped over the high threshold and fell to the ground.

The Great Eunuch beside the Emperor hurriedly went over, wanting to help Zhao Zilong up.

"Emperor, secret report from the Imperial City Division spy!"

Zhao Zilong waved his hand and handed the slip of paper out: "Quick, give it to the Emperor!"

Seeing Zhao Zilong like this, the Emperor behind the imperial desk also stood up, walked a few steps, and took the slip of paper from the Great Eunuch's hand.

"What?"

The Emperor looked at the secret report in his hand and asked a question.

"Northern Liao Kingdom wants to establish Yelu Sun as the Crown Prince?"

Zhao Zilong, who was helped up, nodded and said:

"Emperor, now Yelu Ying is eyeing Northern Liao's Central Capital from the north with the Mongol tribes, and Northern Liao and the Jin Kingdom have been defeated repeatedly."

"Your subject thinks that after Yelu Sun becomes the Crown Prince, Yelu Ying will mostly lead people to fight against the Jin Kingdom!"

The Emperor looked at the slip of paper in his hand, his face full of joy, and said: "Good good good! Let the Imperial City Division spy investigate more clearly!"

"Intelligence related to the Jin Kingdom can also be transferred to Yelu Ying!"

"Yes! Emperor!"

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 378 =====