Chapter 2352 Veteran sings old songs


    The catapult is in place.


    Fuel bomb equipment.


    Zhang Liao squinted his eyes, watching Yangping''s soldiers running around like ants on a hot pot, with a calm expression.


    The current war is not like it was ten years ago.


    Zhang Ze, Zhang Yuanxiu, hehe, you must know that times have changed.


    Speaking of which, Zhang Liao was also an early senior general who followed General Hussars, from Bingbei to Guanzhong, and then fought all the way to the present. Zhang Liao was particularly impressed by the changes in the war over the years.


    The saddle, stirrup and horseshoe strengthen the cavalry''s ability to fight and drive long distances. Not to mention the combat power, but the mobility alone. The new equipment allows the cavalry to pass through places that were originally difficult. They no longer fear that the gravel will cut the hooves of the horses, and they don’t have to worry too much about the wear and tear on the hooves caused by long-distance running. It is worth mentioning that after the cavalry had Takahashi saddles, their stamina was enhanced and they were more comfortable. It was no longer impossible for the cavalry to run all the way from the Western Regions to Qingzhou.


    The armor and blade of the soldiers and generals have improved the survivability and combat effectiveness of personnel. The improvement of smelting and forging technology makes all-steel armor no longer a dream. The stronger and tougher steel sheet replaces the original Dahan-style cast iron sheet, which can be thinner, lighter, and tougher.


    Just like the armor Zhang Liao is currently wearing, although it looks dark and plain on the outside, its internal support system can also transfer part of the weight originally added to the shoulders to the waist, lowering the center of gravity while allowing Zhang Liao to Being more stable on horseback also made Zhang Liao''s accumulation of fatigue during the battle further reduced, allowing him to fight for a longer time...


    There are also logistics reserves, carrying dry food and so on.


    There are also these catapults, kerosene bombs.


    There is also the "artillery" that General Hussars said may be installed on a small scale in the next step...


    All of this stems from the Hussar General Fei Qian.


    Once upon a time, Zhang Liao also worried whether Hussar General Fei Qian would be like Dong Zhuo, like Lu Bu, like those people who were in power in Guanzhong before. But defeated, the forces scattered and burst.


    But now it seems that such worries seem unnecessary.


    Because Hussar General Fei Qian is really like the abyss and the sea, there are endless things emerging all the time, and when these things become reality, they present an incomparable and even change the original form. strength!


    As for Zhang Ze in Hanzhong, he is only a frog at the bottom of a well, how dare he croak with the lord?


    Zhang Liao raised his hand slowly, and shouted, "The big man wins!" Hussars are victorious! 』


    Immediately there were more people, and the soldiers of the entire army shouted together, "The big man is victorious!" Hussars are victorious! 』


    Amidst the shouts that resounded throughout the world, Zhang Liao waved his arm and ordered the catapult to attack!


    When the huge fireball soared into the sky and hit the Yangping Pass, no matter how brave and powerful these Zhang soldiers boasted about themselves before, when they really saw the roar of the Vulcan, they still couldn''t help but feel the pain from the bottom of their hearts. The most frightening roar from the depths!


    In fact, these catapults of Zhang Liao are not in the most perfect state. After all, they are temporarily built, and there are always problems of this or that, but a little tolerance only reduces the range and loses the accuracy, but the power of burning It is not determined by the catapult, but by the fire oil, so the strength of the attack is still considerable.


    Although it is said that kerosene will not directly burn down the masonry city of Yangpingguan, but the wooden structures other than those bricks and stones in Yangpingguan will be moldy, such as the huge gate archway of Yangpingguan. The flames are blazing, and if it is brought to burn, it will spread even more. In addition to the dryness in autumn and winter, it is like purgatory!


    No matter how many times they fought in battle, they may not be able to calmly face the sea of ??fire, not to mention these relatively ordinary soldiers of the Zhang family at Yangping Pass. In the chaos and fear, he ran around crazily, and even jumped down the city wall regardless of his care!


    There are also jumping outside Yangping Pass...


    With less than ten pyrotechnic bombs, the number of lives directly or indirectly swallowed even exceeded that of a normal day-long war!


    In Zhang Kai''s eyes, this is a scene like purgatory.


    Among the steaming flames and the swaying air, the hussars outside Yangping Pass were quietly, like black cavalry who came out of hell, waiting to harvest their lives...


    Zhang Kai let out a howl of fear, and then found that his cry was drowned in the screams from up and down Yangping Pass, appearing so weak and pale.


    This is the power of hussars, this is a brand new war!


    What can I do?


    In addition to being burned and beaten here for nothing, he might just rush out of the city and fight Zhang Liao to the death!


    『Uncle…』


    Zhang Kai curled up under the battlements, watching the surrounding soldiers rolling in the sea of ??flames, then let out heart-piercing screams and finally turned into convulsive cokes, "Uncle, you have done something." what…"


    …(╥╯^╰╥)…


    On an unnamed mountain far away from Yangping Pass, several Di people were looking in the direction of Yangping Pass.


    From here, you can’t see the specific situation of Yangping Pass at all. Even if the weather is clear and the vision is extremely clear, Yangping Pass is like a rock the size of a fingernail, and the people who pass through it are smaller than grains of sand. It''s not clear who is who.


    As for why it can only be observed from such a long distance, I have to ask Zhang Liao’s scouts for a while...


    However, Yangping turned off such a big fire, and the black smoke that burned up clearly told these Di people a clear message!


    Fight!


    And the beating was very brutal, maybe the pig''s head was beaten out of the dog''s brain!


    Several Di people glanced at each other, and then happily ran down the mountain, intending to bring this news to the Seven Lei brothers...


    There are actually ten Lei brothers, this is common sense.


    Because Di people like the number seven and think it has magical power.


    Because the bloodlines and ages of the seven Lei brothers are similar, the tribes are an alliance and become the third relatively powerful group among the Di people, and they also have the mind to compete for the position of the king of the Di people.


    During this battle, the mission of the Seven Lei brothers is to deal with Zhang Liao...


    『Good fight! Let them keep fighting...』


    One of the seven brothers, Lei Zong, was wearing a slightly shabby leather robe, squinting his eyes and looking in the direction of Yangping Pass. It seems that he wants to see the tragic battle at Yangping Pass through the mountain, "The best time for us to fight is when they are exhausted from fighting..."


    Siege warfare has always been a grind of flesh and blood.


    This is clear to anyone with some military experience, and the Seven Lei brothers are no exception.


    Lei Han squatted aside, echoed, and then frowned and said: "By the way, I heard that Brother Nan... was ambushed when he went to Yinping?" Heavy casualties? 』


    "Ok? Lei Zong turned his head and looked Lei Han up and down, "Who did you listen to?" 』


    Lei Han snorted, "Who else needs to say that?" I can''t hide it...I''m just curious, what caused Lei Nan to go to Yinping...and was ambushed...』


    Lei Zong exhaled slowly, then squatted down next to Lei Han, and said: "This matter... it''s a long story..."


    Lei Zong let out a hey again, "What''s the matter? It''s probably because Lei Tong told him to go?" Are you stupid, you still run after that boy Lei Tong... I said, could it be that boy Lei Tong who sold him? 』


    Lei Han looked at Lei Zong, as if he was saying that you knew everything before asking, but after a while, he shook his head and said, "It shouldn''t be..."


    『Why not, that boy Lei Tong was originally a pickle! In the early years, for that reason, I followed that surnamed Liu, and then what? And then what? Lei Zong grabbed a handful of withered grass around him, then pinched the root of the grass, and threw it into his mouth, biting with some sand, and then spat out a mouthful of mixed gray and black saliva, cursing, "Trash!" How many of us have been killed! 』


    It''s just that I don''t know whether Lei Zong scolded Lei Tong, Lei Nan, or both.


    No one usually walks on Yinping Road, because it is too easy to be ambushed there.


    Lei Han opened his mouth, as if he wanted to say something, but quickly shook his head again, and said: "When Brother Nan comes back, I can say it myself..."


    "Ok. ’ Lei Zong nodded,


    In a word, Lei Nan basically wanted to take advantage of something, but he didn''t expect to be ambushed halfway, and almost killed himself.


    Such things naturally require Lei Nan to give an explanation to the brothers. If the explanation is not clear enough, or there are some new problems, the seven Lei brothers may become nine.


    『Then so and so, a few more people go to the top of the mountain to watch! ’ Lei Zong ordered loudly, ‘Also, kill two sheep! Bring me two legs of lamb, and share the rest! Let''s celebrate! Damn Han people, finally fighting with themselves! Victory must be ours! 』


    『Oh oh oh…』


    Di people cheered, and they seemed to feel that victory was just around the corner.


    …|··|*|··|*…


    The one who felt that victory was in sight was Zhang Xiao who was biting Wei Yan''s ass.


    When Shangyong was attacked, no matter how he solved it, how he evaded it, or how he flirted around playing hooligans, Zhang Xiao was the most responsible. Now, Zhang Xiao must be responsible for sealing the gap that should have been closed long ago. !


    Shangyong is besieged, Hanzhong is in a hurry!


    The road of more than a hundred miles, chasing Wei Yan''s trail all the way, exhausted a lot of physical strength. Although not to the point of weak bones and muscles, many people were covered in dust and panting.


    The reason is very simple. If Shangyong is captured, it is almost equivalent to losing a leg!


    By that time, how long can Hanzhong Zhang, who only has one leg, stand?


    Judging from the traces left along the way, as well as the broken and scattered information obtained from the mouths of some village folks, Zhang Xiao roughly outlined an overview of Wei Yan''s actions.


    It turns out that Wei Yan has been cruising around him almost constantly these days!


    This made Zhang Xiao feel unusually angry, and also felt a trace of fear.


    Suddenly, the queue in front of him suddenly stopped, and Zhang Xiao''s heart skipped a beat, and he immediately moved forward, and the guards around him were also awe-inspiring, tightly guarding him.


    Zhang Xiao walked very carefully and divided the team into three parts. The forwards were in charge of scouting, and the rear team was also investigating the surrounding situation. After all, they were facing Wei Yan, and a little carelessness could lead to irreparable and serious consequences. .


    『Report! 』


    The vanguard messenger in front ran over, "I met some villagers..."


    『Huh…』Zhang Xiao exhaled slightly, then thought for a while, and said, 『Come here! Someone wants to ask in person. 』


    The soldiers responded, turned around and ordered, "Come here!" Raise your hands! Raise high! There is a slight change, be careful of your life! 』


    Not long after, I saw a large group of people, including the old and the weak, women and children, all of whom looked tired and had packages on their bodies, as if they were refugees fleeing.


    『Where did you escape from? Have you seen other people? 』Zhang Xiao asked directly.


    An old man seemed to be the person recommended by the public, and he cupped his hands in front of him and replied: "So that the general can know that we are all from the villages around Shangyong... I escaped a few days ago, and I didn''t expect to meet the general here... 』


    『Shangyong...how is Shangyong? ’Zhang Xiao asked.


    『The little old man doesn’t know... 』 said the old man, 『The little old man was originally going to be...to go to Shangyong City, but then the soldiers and horses of the hussars came, and there was a panic everywhere, so they had to struggle to escape...』


    Zhang Xiao was silent for a moment, and he suddenly realized that these people were also victims. But since Wei Yan has shown his figure, and he can be sure that he is in Shangyong, it means that the route he is pursuing is correct.


    Zhang Xiao''s face was livid, and he asked again: "When you came, did you see the hussars?" There is a Honggu military stronghold ahead, but what has changed? 』


    The old man smiled wryly and said: "The little old man didn''t see it, but some people heard that someone saw it... We didn''t dare to stop... As for the Honggu military village, the little old man didn''t dare to approach. It seems that there are banners and so on. I didn’t see anything unusual from afar…”


    Zhang Xiao nodded.


    This is a very normal reaction. The refugees are the lowest level, so they might be recruited and robbed at any time. It is a normal reaction to avoid them far away.


    Zhang Xiao looked back, and then said to his guards: "Forget it, there is no need for strong men, more mouths and more military rations... Let them all go away!" 』


    If it was normal, perhaps Zhang Xiao would have other thoughts, but now that he is about to face Wei Yan, he doesn''t want to pay any attention to these refugees at all.


    The soldiers and horses of the brigade didn''t care about the group of panicked refugees, they went straight forward, walked among the mountains and ravines, and arrived at the side of a river valley not long after.


    Zhang Xiao raised his head and looked forward, and saw a military camp on the other side of the valley, standing on the side of the road ahead.


    From a normal book, this military stronghold in the Hongtu River Valley has a complete defense system. The Fengcheng stronghold should have been complete, but it has been in disrepair for a long time, and when Zhang Ze took control of Hanzhong, he was busy with his own family. How can they care about the daily repairs of these small army villages by taking power and benefits?


    Therefore, the dilapidated small army village in front of me has become a kind of necessity.


    Zhang Xiao didn''t know why, but suddenly felt a feeling of being watched by something, shivered, and then looked around, but saw nothing.


    The beacon towers that were supposed to stand high had long been abandoned, and there must have been no bonfires that could provide smoke. Even though the walls of the main village are still towering, they can only be seen from a distance. When you get closer, you can also see that there are many gaps in the wall of the main village, some of which are so big that three or two soldiers can walk in if they walk side by side.


    There are even some reclaimed fields around the Red Valley Military Village. Of course, they have all been harvested now. On the other side of the mountain far from the Military Village, there seems to be a brick-burning cave, which seems to be a by-product of the Military Village.


    Zhang Xiao and the others finally arrived before the military camp, and what they saw was this peaceful scene. The flags of Zhang''s soldiers were still fluttering on the wall of the village, fluttering weakly in the air one after the other. On the wall of the village, there were vaguely a few figures, either sitting or standing, looking idle and lazy. It can be seen from such a distance.


    The refugees were running around before, but these people didn''t notice?


    Or maybe Wei Yan didn''t pass by here, so these guys have survived until now?


    『Something is wrong...』


    Zhang Xiao frowned and said.


    Although Zhang Xiao and the others are not considered a large-scale army, the smoke and dust coming all the way is enough to distinguish ordinary refugees, and the army camp is still so lazy, it seems that there is nothing abnormal at all?


    『Come on! Go to a small team and explore the truth! 』


    Zhang Xiao ordered, and then added, "Take your shield!" 』


    One of the troops under his command responded, and then raised the shield in front of him, beckoning a dozen soldiers to look up along the mountain road in the river valley.


    『Array, alert! 』


    Zhang Xiaohu drank, then stared at Hegu Junzhai.


    Suddenly, when the team led a dozen soldiers approaching the military stronghold, dozens of figures suddenly appeared above the military stronghold, holding bows and shooting towards the bottom!


    On the wall of the army village, the original Zhang''s army flag was also brought down, and the three-color battle flag was erected again, and a flag of "General Conquering Shu" was flying wantonly in the air!


    All of a sudden, whether it was the deserted beacon towers or the houses and caves behind the military stronghold, many figures of hussars rushed out, all of them were fully equipped, and under the light of the sun, even You can see the bloodstains and the scars of swords and guns in their armor!


    Although the momentum is majestic, the number of people is obviously not many.


    After Zhang Xiao was taken aback, he reacted, quickly estimated, and found that there were only about three or four hundred hussars in the military village!


    Only three or four hundred!


    Three or four hundred!


    Is this an opportunity, or a trap?


    The water of the Red River is neither too much nor too little. It reaches the ankles and flows slowly.


    It’s winter, if the water is stored upstream, it should be dead by now...


    And the water flow is not turbid, indicating that there is no sediment mixed in it.


    Red River, no danger.


    The surrounding fields were quiet, without any smoke and dust, and no flags were seen.


    There seems to be no abnormalities within the surrounding visual range...


    Looking at Wei Yan who was showing his figure on the wall of the military village, Zhang Xiao felt old and new grudges in his heart, rolling and surging like a tide!


    『Wei Yan and Wei Wenchang! 』


    Zhang Xiao gritted his teeth. Even if it was a trap, so many people rushed up to it, but it was crushed to pieces!


    『I finally caught you! Issue an order to let the rear army catch up! A certain person is going to kill this dog here! 』


    (end of this chapter)