Chapter 669: Send troops to Xing'an Fort

Two days later, Yunzheng left Gu Ce to deal with the aftermath, and personally led an army of 80,000, known as an army of 100,000, towards Xing'an Fort on the southern border of Qiu Chi.

Among the 80,000 troops, only 20,000 were members of the Beifu Army, and the remaining 20,000 were servant troops expanded from the framework of the several thousand men led by Tong Gang.

This was also thanks to Dugu Ce and the others who had previously raided the army led by Lou Yi and seized a lot of weapons and armor.

Otherwise, they might not be able to gather 20,000 servants to serve as an army.

The remaining 40,000 were all civilians escorting grain, grass and supplies.

However, these common people are all young and strong.

When necessary, young men and women can be deployed to the army at any time.

Yuan Wei, who was originally imprisoned by Yuan Shu, was also taken away by Yunzheng.

I heard from Ji Miao that Li Wenzhou, the guard of Xing'an Fort, was Yuanwei's confidant.

I hope Li Wenzhou will be smarter and stop letting them use troops!

After leaving Yufeng City, Yunzheng immediately ordered Qin Qihu to lead two thousand cavalry and escort Yuanwei to meet Lu Xing, and then rush to Xing'an Fort to recruit Li Wenzhou to surrender.

Xing'an Fort is about three hundred miles away from Yufeng City.

Passing through Xing'an Fort, there is a Gobi desert that spans nearly a hundred miles from north to south.

This rolling stretch of Gobi has also become a natural barrier in the south of Qiuchi.

If you want to invade the tribes in the western desert, you have to go through the vast Gobi.

It is said that there is no water source in that stretch of Gobi. Many of the refugees who fled to Qiuchi to escape the war many years ago died of thirst in that barren land.

But as long as you cross the Gobi, you can see a clear river.

It's called Shimo River.

Shimo River is just a small river, less than ten feet wide at its widest point.

But Shimohe saved countless ancestors of Qiuchi.

Therefore, Shimo River is also called Shiyuan River by many Qiuchi people.

Xing'an Fort was built on the Shimo River.

On the way to Xing'an Fort, they also encountered many refugees.

At first, the refugees were hiding from them, but seeing that they had no intention of attacking or arresting the refugees, the refugees gradually became bolder, and some even followed their team.

Just because they have food here.

When Yunzheng ordered people to bury pots to make rice, he would also give some to the refugees.

Gradually, more and more refugees followed their team.

"Your Highness, the rear army has come to report, and hundreds of refugees have just followed."

Deng Baoce came to report on horseback.

Yunzheng smiled helplessly and asked, "How many refugees are there behind you?"

"Almost four to five thousand." Deng Bao was a little worried. "With so many refugees, the consumption of food and grass is the second priority. I will worry about these refugees causing trouble."

"That's true."

Yun Zheng thought for a moment and then ordered: "Send two thousand cavalry to separate the refugees from the food escort team. If they follow obediently, it's okay to give them some food! But if anyone dares to grab food and grass, regardless of gender, old or young, Kill them all!"

Although these refugees were pitiful, he would never let them cause riots.

If the food and fodder of their 80,000-strong army were set on fire, all their subsequent plans would be shelved.

"Yes!"

Deng Bao immediately took the order and left.

The next morning, Yunzheng received the news that Qin Qihu sent someone back.

They have successfully surrendered Li Wenzhou and stationed in Xing'an Fort.

After getting this result, Yun Zheng was completely relieved.

With the return of Li Wenzhou, it also marked that the last hard bone in Qiuchi territory was broken by them!

From now on, this land will be the real Northwest Protectorate!

After receiving this good news, Yunzheng immediately ordered the entire army to speed up and rush to Xing'an Fort as quickly as possible.

After another eight days of long march, Yunzheng and the others finally arrived at Xing'an Fort.

Xing'an Fort is a typical border military fortress.

However, the city walls of Xing'an Fort are relatively simple.

This kind of city wall is made of stone on the outside and filled with rammed earth on the inside, just like a sandwich pancake.

Xing'an Fort is not that big, and it can be considered as strong as a garrison of five to six thousand troops.

Yunzheng and his troops arrived, and Qin Qihu immediately brought people out to greet him.

"Are the dry food ready?"

As soon as he saw Qin Qihu, Yunzheng asked immediately.

"Everything is ready!"

Qin Qihu said excitedly: "As long as you have rested, we can send troops!"

"very good!"

Yun Zheng smiled with satisfaction, "Let the army rest for a day first. Early the next morning, you will lead the blood-coated army and start marching with Deng Bao's troops. Make a big noise and let the tribes in the western desert know that we have come to kill them!"

Although the blood-coated army is not suitable for long-distance travel, it must be sent out.

We want to show the Moxi tribes the heavy armored cavalry of Daqian!

Show them more than 2,000 people first!

As for how many heavy armored cavalry they have, let the Moxi tribes guess!

Qin Qihu came closer and said seriously: "Brother Xian, I think we can attack directly this time!"

"How to say?"

Yun Zheng was suspicious, "Does it mean that the enemy doesn't have many defenders on the border?"

"There really aren't many people."

Qin Qihu nodded and said: "I have sent people to investigate. The enemy has two outposts at the front. About five or six miles behind the outposts is Bwanda City..."

Bwanda City is said to be a city, but in fact it can only be regarded as a military garrison.

According to reports from their people, the city wall of Bwanda City is a simple rammed earth wall, which is inferior to the city wall of Xing'an Fort, and many places are still in tatters. It should be that it was damaged by this year's rain and has not had time to repair.

Moreover, Bwanda is not as big as Xing'an Fort.

Preliminary estimates suggest that the number of troops stationed should be less than five thousand.

As long as the soldiers at the forward outpost are eliminated, their cavalry can quickly attack and annihilate all the enemy troops.

Listening to Qin Qihu's words, Yun Zheng's heart suddenly moved.

If it were true as Qin Qihu said, it should be very easy for them to launch a surprise attack and capture Bwanda.

This Gobi desert is only a hundred miles deep.

It is now the cool season of autumn, and it is not so hot in the Gobi.

One day was enough to cross the Gobi and launch a surprise attack on the enemy.

If the enemy really didn't have a complete city wall, they would probably be able to capture Bwanda easily just by relying on the blood-coated army.

To intimidate the tribes in Moxi, it is better to attack Buwanda directly and cut off the heads of the defenders in the city and hang them on the city wall!

This is the greatest deterrent!

Yun Zheng thought silently in his heart, and immediately sent someone to call You Jiu, asking him to lead the Eighteen Ghost Cavalry to investigate carefully. It was necessary to determine whether the wall of Wu Wanda was complete and how many men and horses there were.

You Jiu accepted the order and immediately set off with the Eighteen Ghost Riders without any delay.

After watching the Eighteen Ghost Riders leave, Yun Zheng looked around again, and then led Qin Qihu to climb the wall of Xing'an Fort.

"Brother Xian, what are you looking at?"

Qin Qihu asked without knowing why.

"I want to expand Xing'an Fort!"

Yunzheng said: "Xing'an Fort only has 5,000 troops stationed there, which is too few! I plan to expand another wall outside Xing'an Fort so that at least 20,000 troops can be stored here!"

If they raid Bwanda, the Moxi tribes will definitely look for opportunities to retaliate.

In the event of a large-scale invasion by the Moxi tribes, the strength of Xing'an Fort is really overwhelming.

The Shimo River is too narrow to be a real natural barrier.

Whether it is to defend against the Moxi tribes or to deter the Moxi tribes, Xing'an Fort can play a great role.

Anyway, they brought so many people here this time, and nearly 10,000 refugees followed.

Just let these people build the city wall. We can't waste food in vain, right?