"Is there the latest military information on the Pingyang front line?"

Duan Wencao turned around slowly, looked at Kong Zhongqing with a slightly calming breath, and asked with a serious expression.

"I haven't received the latest secret from the leader of the group Xiao." Kong Zhongqing hesitated for a moment and said, "After entering the dusk, a scout reported that there were more and more bandit troops under Pingyang City. I guess that after the attack on Zoucheng was blocked, the thieves changed their attack strategy and wanted to mobilize the main force to attack Pingyang. Zoucheng was tall and strong, with more defenders, and Pingyang City was small and fewer defenders. Once the bandits surrounded Zoucheng and attacked Pingyang with their main force, Pingyang would be in danger."

Pingyang is only fifty or sixty miles away from Xiaqiu. If the bandit army conquered Pingyang, it will not only cut off the connection between Xiaqiu and Zoucheng, but also pose a serious threat to Xiaqiu. The power of the bandit army's attack from north to south is becoming increasingly apparent, which gives Duan Wencao a reason to never send troops until the last moment.

"The message is accurate?" Duan Wencao asked.

"I have sent additional personnel to Pingyang overnight to investigate. It is estimated that accurate news will come after the early morning."

Duan Wencao frowned, walked a few steps back and forth, looked at the map, pondering without saying a word.

Niu Jinda had already guessed Duan Wencao's thoughts. Duan Wencao wanted Zhang Xutuo to launch an attack first. When Zhang Xutuo fought with the thief army, he would lead the army to launch an attack, which would also achieve the goal of this battle. But if Zhang Xutuo deceiving Zhang Xutuo in this way, how could Zhang Xutuo give up? Niu Jinda sighed secretly and had to remind Duan Wencao, "Envoy, the envoy is still waiting for the envoy's reply in the city."

Duan Wencao did not respond clearly to Zhang Xutuo and did not make a promise. Zhang Xutuo would definitely not enter the battlefield easily to avoid being plotted. But the problem is that once Duan Wencao responded and made a promise but did not fulfill it, he deliberately deceived Zhang Xutuo, and the problem would be serious. The two sides lack trust, so there were conflicts and conflicts. Duan Wencao's calculations on the other party in this way would be unimaginable. Once Zhang Xutuo retaliated in anger, Duan Wencao's current situation and the bad situation in Lu County would definitely be more harmful than good.

Duan Wencao was not a person who was obsessed with profit and short-sighted eyes, but the situation was not subject to others. At this critical moment, either he planned Zhang Xutuo or Zhang Xutuo planned him. It was obvious that Zhang Xutuo wanted to preserve his strength and return to Qi County to suppress the rebellion. The stability of Qi County and even the eastern part of Lu really affected Zhang Xutuo's vital interests. So how could Zhang Xutuo pay the price on the battlefield of Lu County's suppression of rebellion? Zhang Xutuo was unwilling to pay the price, so the price of encircling and annihilation of the thieves would inevitably be paid by Duan Wencao. In this way, Duan Wencao's strength was greatly damaged. Even if he did not need to exhaust his energy to suppress the thieves, he was unable to lead the Qilu people to fight against the attacks from Guanlong and Jiangzuo people. The interests of the Qilu people were Duan Wencao's interests. Duan Wencao's interests were damaged and in danger. Wouldn't the Qilu people collapse and be defeated?

Duan Wencao paced back and forth, racked his brains to weigh the gains and losses repeatedly, and was unable to make up his mind.

"The traitors in Yuancheng are still not moving?"

Duan Wencao suddenly stopped, his eyes slowly swept over Niu Jinda's solemn and worried face, and then stopped on Kong Zhongqing's handsome and elegant face, revealing a hint of expectation.

He knew that once he made the decision to preserve his strength, although Niu Jinda would not publicly object, he would definitely have resistance. After all, from a military perspective, it is the right strategy to cooperate tacitly with Zhang Xutuo and join forces to attack. However, why should he believe Zhang Xutuo? Since he has been sure that Zhang Xutuo will not attack with all his might, why should he rush forward regardless of his life? At this moment, he needs support and urgently needs to strengthen his determination. Kong Zhongqing from the Kong family of Qufu clearly represents the interests of the Qilu people. As long as Kong Zhongqing "cooperates" properly, he can suppress the uneasiness and guilt in his heart and make a decision.

Kong Zhongqing shook his head, "There is still no movement. The bandit army sieges but does not attack. The purpose is very obvious, to prevent us from supporting Ningyang from Xiaqiu, and then to win more time for the bandit army that attacked Ningyang. According to Xu Shiren's secret report, the bandit generals surrounding Yuancheng include Han Jinluo, Zhen Baoche, Shuai Rentai and Huo Xiaohan, and the bandit army that attacked Ningyang is the Cangtou army of white-haired bandits. The Cangtou army has ten regiments of troops, equipped with heavy troops, and a large number of siege equipment. It is said that the Cangtou army has been conducting intensive training in Mengshan throughout the winter and repeatedly practiced siege techniques. Judging from the recent sweeping of towns on both sides of the Wenshui River, its attack power is very strong. It can be said that it is invincible and invincible."

Niu Jinda's face suddenly looked ugly, and a hint of anger and contempt flashed through his eyes. He was obviously very dissatisfied with Kong Zhongqing's intentional exaggeration of the combat effectiveness of the rebels. Isn't it just accusing the government army of incompetence to say that the rebels are invincible?

Duan Wencao was expressionless, but he was secretly happy. Kong Zhongqing was still understanding and scratched Duan Wencao's itchy spot, which made him very satisfied.

"The envoy will go out of the city to support Ningyang at this moment. First of all, he will be blocked by the bandit commanders such as Han Jinluo. Secondly, the Cangtou army will attack Ningyang at all costs." Kong Zhongqing continued, "If our army is blocked outside Xiaqiu City and cannot attack Ningyang for a long time, and Ningyang will quickly fall under the fierce attack of the bandit army, the battle situation will change. Although our army can still surround the bandit army, the bandit army will hold the city and have a lot of food in the city, and the enemy and us will be in a stalemate.

Our army then fell into a tough battle, not only the losses were astonishing, but the battle time would also be delayed infinitely. Juncheng Zhang and his Qi army could not stay in Lu County for a long time, and even more impossible to attack the city. Once he evacuated in a hurry, our army would attack the city alone, and the envoy would fall into a dilemma. Continue to fight, and he could not afford the losses; if he did not fight, he would let the thieves plunder and plunder. Then the losses in the early stage would be wasted, and he would be even more powerless to suppress the rebellion in the later stage. How would the envoy explain to the east in the future?"

Duan Wencao nodded repeatedly, his eyes full of praise. Who said that the Kong family members only know how to study? Kong Zhongqing in front of him is a talented person with both civil and military skills, and his mind is smart and not much.

Niu Jinda's heart was a little cold. It cannot be said that Duan Wencao and Kong Zhongqing are selfish and profitable, but at this critical moment, for the sake of personal interests and group interests, the two of them deliberately ignore the irreparable disadvantages that this decision may have, and only care about the immediate benefits. Are they too confident and optimistic? Once the gains and losses are unbalanced and they lose more than they get, the result will be unimaginable.

"Reply to the Chief Zhang Junzhu." Duan Wencao made a resolute decision, "I immediately launched an attack on Yuancheng and supported Ningyang with a camera. While restraining the bandit army outside Yuancheng, I attracted the attention of the bandit army to attack Ningyang to support the Qi army to successfully cross the water. At dawn the next day, a general led his army and the Qi army to attack Ningyang, giving the rebels a fatal blow."

Niu Jinda hesitated for a long time, but still couldn't help but advise, "Eunuch, just in case, I would like to lead three regiments of Yingyangwei to attack the thieves outside Yuancheng City to ensure that the envoy firmly controls the development of the war."

The three regiments went out of the city to fight, but at least it can be proved that Duan Wencao kept his promise and indeed launched an attack on Yuancheng as agreed, rather than simply deceiving Zhang Xutuo. In this way, even if Zhang Xutuo knew that he had been plotted in the future, he could only knock down his teeth and blood and swallow it, so that he would not break up with Duan Wencao.

Duan Wencao vetoed it. There were four Yingyang Guards in Lu County, with sixteen regiments of Yingyang Mansion, some of which went to the Eastern Expedition battlefield, and some were transferred to Donglai by Zhou Fashang. There were six regiments left. One and a half regiments of Yingyang Guards were defeated in the battle of Biancheng when attacking the Mengshan Rebel Army. Now there are only four and a half regiments left, with nearly a thousand troops. And the strength of these nearly a thousand troops is too important to Duan Wencao. He will never take it out until the most critical moment.

"Whether to go out of the city to fight, it actually cannot change the situation where our army and the thieves outside the city of Yuancheng." Duan Wencao explained, in order to appease Niu Jinda, "Besides, the white-haired thieves and Cangtou army are from Xuzhou, while Han Jinluo and other thieves are Qi people. Although they have to temporarily form an alliance due to the situation, they have no trust in each other, and will not work together to fight the enemy. This can be clearly inferred from the fact that the Cangtou army attacks Ningyang alone, while Han Jinluo and other thieves were watching coldly in Yuancheng. It is certain that after the Qi army crosses the river and fights fiercely with the thieves outside Ningyang City, Han Jinluo and other thieves decided that the Cangtou army would be defeated and would turn around and flee. Even if they did not escape for the time being, they saw our army killing Xiaqiu in a mighty manner, and they had no power to resist at all. They were panicked and frightened, and they still wanted to escape."

Duan Wencao's analysis sounded quite reasonable, but Niu Jinda shook his head secretly. This was purely taken for granted and regarded the rebels as foolish people. The white-haired thief was obviously not a fool. Since he dared to lead his army to kill outside Xiaqiu City, he must have made sufficient preparations. How could he not see that Ning Yang was a trap? At this time, the commander must not be lucky. Only by completing the siege of the thief army with absolute strength can Ning Yang become a real trap. Otherwise, it would be a talk on paper, and the so-called trap is also relative. If you are not careful, you will dig your own grave and fall into the trap you dug.

Niu Jinda knew that Duan Wenzhao had made up his mind and did not listen to the objections at this time. In desperation, he had no choice but to obey the orders, but he had a strong ominous premonition in his heart, because whether it was Zhang Xutuo or the white-haired thief, they were brave and resourceful people. Duan Wencao wanted to plot against them, which would be too arrogant. Once this strategy became a failure, Duan Wencao would be in trouble.

Niu Jinda's unknown premonition quickly became reality. Leonardo, he had just lie down for less than half an hour before he was woken up by his subordinates. The bad news came from Ningyang that the city had fallen and the entire army of defending the city was wiped out.

The battle situation suddenly changed, and the Cangtou Army captured Ningyang, and the white-haired thieves took the initiative in this battle. If Duan Wencao still insisted on the established strategy and continued to deceive Zhang Xutuo, then the plan of Qi and Lu Army to join forces to attack Ningyang will inevitably evolve into the Qi army attacking the tough alone. At that time, how could Zhang Xutuo swallow this anger?

Niu Jinda didn't care about his personal gains and losses, and rushed to the county government again to persuade Duan Wencao, but the result disappointed him very much.

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Chapter completed!