Guo Dong and Xu An became soldiers;

The first reason was the Battle of Dongshan Fort. Zheng Boye planted his banner there, and the commander's carriage pushed forward. Although the Chu army was defeated through a long battle, the casualties and losses on their own side were also very large;

Of course, the above is not the main reason. The real reason is that with batches of high-quality soldiers intercepted from the rear by Jin Shuke and the Blind Man, the expansion of the original Xuehai Army also began.

It was a kind of reward for meritorious service. Old soldiers became squad leaders, squad leaders became section leaders, section leaders became centurions, and centurions became colonels.

Only by bringing the old with the new can initial combat effectiveness be quickly formed. In the age of cold weapons, it is impossible to achieve the record of the first Marquis of Zhenbei a hundred years ago, who defeated 500,000 with 30,000 troops in every battle. Therefore, the death of old soldiers and the replenishment of new soldiers is inevitable.

The combat effectiveness on paper will inevitably decrease, but this is a necessary pain.

Not only is the Xuehai Army like this, but in fact, the Zhenbei Army and the Jingnan Army have fought so many fierce battles in recent years, and the replacement of old soldiers with new soldiers is also very serious.

Therefore, under these inevitable conditions, the reputation of an army becomes extremely important.

Even in later generations, heroic companies, steel companies, and tiger regiments will still be preserved, because an army with glorious achievements and a historical heritage can quickly make newly joined soldiers feel pride and belonging, and these, on the battlefield, will be transformed into... courage.

Courage can make up for the lack of horsemanship and to a certain extent, the lack of experience. It is like a halo. It has no specific effect to speak of, but it can make you become a little better than before.

The Zhenbei Army is an army with a tradition. Before Marquis Jingnan rose to prominence, the iron cavalry of Great Yan was the best in the world, and the Zhenbei iron cavalry was the best in Great Yan. This was a recognized evaluation.

Therefore, it is precisely for this reason that the barbarian chieftains who had been training with the Barbarian King in Beifeng County would specifically state their original auxiliary soldier sequence in Beifeng County when they saw Yan army cavalry appearing and reporting their origins.

The Xuehai Army relies half on its invincibility since its formation, and the other half on the personal prestige of Earl Pingye.

In the battles commanded by King Jingnan in recent years, Earl Pingye has almost never been absent;

Because King Jingnan deliberately erased his family's destruction, everyone tacitly avoided mentioning it. Therefore, a large part of the glory was transferred to Earl Pingye.

Commoners rise, laborers turn over, establish meritorious service, and military merits confer titles;

Plus the personal heroism of robbing a princess,

The name Earl Pingye has an unimaginable attraction in the auxiliary soldier camp.

When the Blind Man and Jin Shuke were intercepting soldiers in the rear, those auxiliary soldiers and laborers heard that Earl Pingye was recruiting soldiers, and they directly crowded over, almost squeezing their heads.

Guo Dong and Xu An were originally auxiliary soldiers, but now they have become regular soldiers.

However, it is not known whether it is lucky or unlucky, they joined the town led by Jin Shuke, and Jin Shuke's town was mobilized to cooperate with Gou Moli's first town and began to march westward.

Also marching together were the Gong Wang and Gongsun Zhi troops.

In other words, after the start of the war against Chu, the most meritorious and outstanding Eastern Army had most of its elite troops drawn away. The three main generals all left without exception. In this case, although the remaining troops of the Eastern Army were still numerous, they were no longer suitable for any targeted combat missions. After the war against Chu entered a new stage, they would serve as the rearguard of the army. Unless they encountered a real crisis, such as the extreme situation of the front line collapsing, the Eastern Army would hardly participate in the war again, but would focus on maintaining logistical stability.

The transfer of the Eastern Army was hidden in the new round of major transfers of the entire army against Chu, because the Chu people's strategic contraction made it almost effortless for the Yan army to clean up the remaining military villages and fortresses. The original garrisons and deployments of the various troops needed to be rearranged.

Under the command of King Jingnan, everything seemed to be in good order for the hundreds of thousands of troops, but the laborers in the rear became busy again during this period.

New barracks, new settlements, new paving,

And various siege equipment that are likely not to be used but still have to be built to confuse the Chu people,

Those who know it, this is the battlefield,

Those who don't know it, think Jindong is carrying out large-scale production and construction.

The Chu people were also adjusting their deployments, relying on Zhennan Pass to begin arranging new defense lines.

A new round of military confrontation between the two countries is about to begin.

Zheng Boye did not rush to join the main force, but after drawing out 5,000 elite troops from the various generals with a memorial stamped with the king's seal, he directly led this newly assembled force and headed west.

Most of the soldiers were confused and didn't understand what was going on.

They were all real old soldiers under the command of various generals, and some generals even sent their own guards up.

No one dared to hide anything. First, the troops drawn out were not too many, and it was not a big deal for these generals.

Secondly, no one dared to play tricks on King Jingnan and use the old, weak, sick, and disabled to make up the numbers.

The elite were elite, and the pampered soldiers were also pampered soldiers,

But when King Jingnan and Earl Pingye appeared in front of them together,

And Earl Pingye drew out his barbarian saber to signal them to line up out of the camp and head west,

They didn't even dare to ask a question.

The battlefield was clearly in the east, but everyone went west, west, and then west.

If it weren't for their trust in Earl Pingye's reputation,

If other generals commanded them like this,

They would probably think that the general was leading them to desert?

Fortunately, thanks to the entire rear being a Yan logistical supply line, the various armies did not have to worry about supply problems when they marched west.

After a period of long march,

Finally,

Wangjiang,

Appeared in front of them.

………

Yupan City was still that Yupan City;

Yupan City was no longer that Yupan City.

Once, Yupan City and Yingdu faced each other across the river, and were famous for their flower boats and dancers.

The richness of Yingdu was as it should be. As the capital of the Situ family, it had been managed for a hundred years and was a political, military, and economic center. It would be really strange if Yingdu did not develop.

In comparison, the prosperity of Yupan City truly revealed a pure beauty.

Jin scholars and poets all liked to visit Yupan City, either composing poems across the river or drinking on flower boats.

When Yao Zizhan traveled through Jin, he left behind the line, "Why should I care about Ying City? My heart is in Yupan."

Yao Zizhan's romanticism was well-known, but his pickiness was also well-known. If Yupan City was really not good, he, who was accustomed to the romantic scenery of Jiangnan in the Qian Kingdom, would never have praised it like this.

It's a pity,

Years of war and endless battles have made Yupan City, although the city walls have been repaired, still look extremely desolate when walking through it.

The only bit of popularity outside the city is because the logistics supply line for the army in front passes through here.

Walking on the city wall, Zheng Boye couldn't help but feel some emotion.

He was lamenting the decline and low point of a famous city. Sometimes, being moved by the scenery is not uncontrollable, it's purely a matter of whether you have the leisure, and right now, at least for the next few days, Zheng Boye has this free time.

So, steal a bit of sentimentality in the midst of being busy.

"Ah..."

Someone beside him also sighed, it was Gou Moli.

Zheng Boye was amused,

And said:

"What are you sighing about?"

The way Yupan City is now, you Barbarian King, have to take more than 50% of the blame.

"Boye, have you been here before?"

"This is my first time entering the city." Zheng Boye said.

During the first Battle of Wangjiang, Zheng Boye watched the show in Shengle City.

In the second Battle of Wangjiang, with King Jingnan taking command again, Zheng Boye was ordered to lead his army here, and soon he was arranged to cross the river from the lower reaches and raid the rear.

When he returned after guarding Xuehai Pass, it was the time to slaughter the prisoners.

At that time, there were Chu corpses everywhere under Yupan City, and Zheng Boye was too lazy to dirty his boots.

It is said that later, after the Yan army entered Yupan City, they found it full of human bones. The Chu people ate two-legged sheep during their defense because of the lack of food.

Therefore, it was not too unjust to slaughter those 40,000 Qingluan troops.

The last time he passed by Wangjiang, he deliberately detoured around Yupan City, because Xiong Liqing was also with him.

When he returned, Zheng Boye was in a hurry to rush back to prepare for the war against Chu, so he still couldn't enter Yupan City to take a look.

This time, it was really the first time.

"Boye, in the past, standing on the street in Yupan City, you could smell all kinds of rouge with a deep breath, and on that river, you could taste the taste of wine with a handful of water.

Yupan City was really a good place back then. If you take this city out alone, it is really no less than Jiangnan in the Qian Kingdom.

However,

It is precisely because it is now desolate that there is a different kind of feeling and atmosphere;

In my opinion,

Boye, you should have come in to walk around and see specifically to pursue that kind of feeling.

This,

Is also a kind of beauty."

Therefore, you have to admire the learning and thinking ability of this true hero. "Beauty" is a kind of habitual cognition between Zheng Boye and the Devil Kings. They usually talk about it occasionally, and Gou Moli is already familiar with it and can even use it.

Zheng Boye remained noncommittal,

Just silently took out his Zhonghua brand iron box, took out a cigarette, and bit it in his mouth.

"Boye, the troops we brought this time are quite mixed."

The chaos of the troops brought this time is beyond the reach of the Qian people.

But Zheng Boye didn't care,

And said:

"When we get to the place, we won't have time to be mixed."

Everyone takes a boat down, and arrives in a "besieged on all sides" situation. Besides hugging each other, they can only hug each other.

Besides, King Jingnan's banner is there, and Zheng Boye's identity is here, so there is really nothing to fear in not being able to command these complex soldiers.

Gou Moli echoed with a smile:

"So sometimes I think, the Qian people deserve it. They finally produced a tattooed Prime Minister back then, but they were killed by their own people.

Otherwise,

With the national strength of the Qian people, how could they have fallen to this point?"

"Some people look at the century-old national fortune, and some people look at their own power. The focus is different." Zheng Boye said.

"Boye, you're right."

Zheng Boye took out a fire starter, lit the cigarette,

And said:

"The news from the Secret Spy Division is that the old Chancellor Zhong of the Qian Kingdom may be gone, but the Qian people are keeping it secret."

"No wonder the Qian people have not made any progress on the three borders. I previously thought that we were fighting so fiercely with the Chu people here, and the Qian people wouldn't be so stupid as not to make a move on the three borders, right? It turns out that it's because of this.

I didn't believe in national fortune before, but now, I believe it a little. Otherwise, why have the Yan people been gambling and winning all the time?

Then there should be no threat from the Qian people. There are no tall people anyway, and the tallest of the dwarfs is gone, hehe."

"If you walk by the river often, you will always get your shoes wet. After this war against Chu, I guess we won't gamble anymore."

Because the one who is qualified and capable of putting the entire country on the gambling table,

Is about to collapse.

"Boye, look, there's a team coming." Gou Moli pointed outside the city and said.

"Report, Boye, the Fifth Prince requests an audience."

A scout came in to report.

The Fifth, he really knows etiquette. A dignified prince actually has to add a request for an audience to see himself.

However, this is also where the Fifth is smart. The identity of the prince is indeed extremely prominent and honorable, but it also depends on where he is.

"Please invite the Fifth Prince up."

"Yes!"

After a while,

The Fifth Prince, dressed in a worn-out long shirt, hurried up the city wall.

This appearance of his is not fake, it is not to play an ugly role specifically to see himself.

Because Zheng Boye discovered that the Fifth Prince's entire person was tanned to a mess, and there were spots and spots on the exposed skin, which was the sequelae of being sunburned.

This means that this Fifth Prince has not been sitting in the elegant building of Yingdu enjoying the flattery of local officials during these days by the Wangjiang River, but is really doing things.

A prince who can settle down and do things,

Zheng Boye wondered if he should focus on letting him pay attention to him when he writes to Little Sixth next time.

Of course, Zheng Boye also knew that Ji Lao Liu should know what kind of color his Fifth brother is, and it is impossible to really regard him as a carpenter.

"Greetings, Fifth Prince."

Zheng Boye nodded.

He is the main general leading the troops, leading his troops here for the next battle. In theory, he is still in armor, so he doesn't need to salute, of course, even without these prerequisites, you let the current Zheng Boye kneel to this prince, he can't do it, and people don't dare to accept it.

"Earl Pingye has worked hard. Although I am in Wangjiang, I can always hear about Earl Pingye's great achievements on the front line. Alas, Earl Pingye is truly the pillar of my Great Yan."

Zheng Boye immediately raised his hand and stopped the Fifth Prince's words.

Pillar of the sky, used on King Jingnan, is appropriate;

But he, Zheng Fan, can't afford it.

Complimentary words are said so heavily, which means that people have something to ask of you.

Under Zheng Boye's gaze,

Gou Moli and a group of guards retreated.

The Fifth Prince then leaned closer and said to Zheng Fan;

"Earl Pingye came with troops this time, and my Great Yan's newly built navy is now moored in the upstream water village 30 miles away from Yupan City.

Cheng Wen dares to ask, is it going to breach the dam?"

The Fifth Prince did not know the battle plan in advance; even, it is very likely that no one will tell him this plan when the river works are in progress.

Tian Wujing has been preparing for this battle against Chu for several years, and naturally he will entrust this project to someone he can trust.

But the Fifth Prince is personally involved in it, and he is already somewhat involved in this aspect, and he is willing to study it.

For ordinary soldiers and civilians who repair river works, they cannot knock out the deep meaning in it, because it looks like it is indeed repairing and reinforcing the river channel on the surface.

But the Fifth Prince is good at learning and deliberation, and he saw the problem himself.

Zheng Boye smiled and said:

"Please forgive me, Your Highness, this Earl is inconvenient to say."

"I know, I know, but... Earl Pingye, I just want to ask you for one thing."

"Please speak, Your Highness."

"After the dam is breached in a few days, the river will inevitably change its course, and since ancient times, the change of the river will inevitably poison the people along the coast. Affecting the harvest and displacement is a small matter. The key is that many people are likely to be washed away by the river without any preparation.

Although the downstream of Wangjiang is all Jin people, since Jin belongs to my Great Yan, the Jin people are actually the people of my Great Yan, and they are also the subjects of my father.

Therefore, I just want to ask Earl Pingye to evacuate the people along the downstream coast and give them a chance to live."

Hearing this,

Zheng Boye did not have too many moved emotions,

Just looked at the Fifth Prince with some slight surprise,

Then,

Zheng Boye shook his head,

And said:

"No."

"Cheng Wen knows that this is a strong man's difficulty. Military affairs are dangerous. Cheng Wen is not good at this, but I just want to try to do my best."

"Does the Fifth Prince know that the army in front has been busy for so long and made so many sacrifices just for this one act of this Earl in Wangjiang in the past few days?"

It is no exaggeration to say that the previous Yan army's siege and pulling out of strongholds, grinding and consuming, was to create a fog of war.

"Yes..."

"Your Highness's heart is good, and this Earl admires it, but evacuating the people will inevitably be noticed by the Chu spies, and even, it is very likely that the spies will directly discern our army's plan.

This battle is important in surprise, and it is important in rapid soldiers, and this Earl is unwilling to take risks, and it is impossible to take risks.

Because, this Earl's own safety is nothing, because this Earl has long been prepared to dedicate everything for my Great Yan!

But,

If this affects the overall situation of the war against Chu and affects this national war, then the price is not just a small amount of damage to the downstream people."

It is best that after the dam is breached, the water level reaches the conditions for the navy to travel, and the army will set off immediately.

The later the Chu people know about this, the more security this he will have.

This is not a cavalry galloping, you can rely on your mobility and the few Chu people on horses to play a game of hide-and-seek at will. This time, he and his troops are going to take a boat in. If the Chu people know in advance and make preparations, then Zheng Boye is the turtle in the urn.

"Alas."

The Fifth Prince nodded and didn't insist anymore,

And said with emotion:

"I just want to let the people suffer less."

Zheng Boye reached out and hooked his arm around the Fifth Prince's shoulders,

And smiled:

"Your Highness, logically speaking, these words should not be said by me."

"Um?"

"It is more appropriate for you to say it, because your surname is Ji, and you should also know how much my Great Yan has paid for this national war. We can't afford to lose this battle. If something goes wrong, Great Yan's society may also..."

"I know, I know."

Zheng Boye nodded and patted the Fifth Prince's shoulder.

Perhaps this Fifth Prince has experienced the suffering of the people these days, so naturally, he has a touch of compassion, fortunately, he is not pedantic.

At this time,

He recalled the words King Jingnan said to himself before he left,

At that time, he actually asked a question similar to the Fifth Prince, of course, Zheng Boye asked, it must not be as straightforward as the Fifth Prince.

But,

King Jingnan's answer was so straightforward that it could not be more straightforward, without even the slightest intention of concealment;

He said:

For us,

If Great Yan is gone, then what is the use of the people in this world?