The next morning, Qin Youpeng and five thousand Song troops arrived outside Gaochang City and slowly unfolded the formation east of the city.

Long Luodusha looked at the city and rushed to the royal court. After being invited into the living room, Pu Gu Huaien hurried over and asked, "What's the matter? Could it be that the Song army has arrived?"

Long Luodusha said, "Go back to the king, it is indeed the Song army. I can see clearly at the top of the city that there were about 5,000 people coming, all of them were cavalry, and they lined up in the east of the city. These people did not use swords and guns, but all had short guns in their hands. The blades in front were thought to be what people mentioned before. Their formations were also very strange, and the formations were not dense. All the people in the middle dismounted, holding short guns in their hands, rows in rows, quite wide. There were cavalry on both sides, and they all used swords, with slender swords, and not many of them had seen before."

Pugu Huaien said: "The soldiers who arrived in Shengzhou all said that the Song army was strange, and it seemed that they were really different from ordinary troops."

Long Luodusha said: "King, since the Song army has arrived, do you want me to lead troops out of the city to fight?"

Pugu Huaien shook his head: "I think more than ten years ago, we sent envoys to Kaifeng Prefecture to pay tribute to the State of Song. The two countries have a good relationship and are fighting in Wuzheng. Now, they suddenly send troops to attack, and there must be nothing to say. You can send an envoy to question the Song army's crime of raising an army for no reason."

Long Luodusha said: "The army has arrived. What's the use of sending envoys now? The generals come to stop, and fight one first!"

Pugu Huai'en said: "The Song army launched an army without reason. We have the word "reason" in the word "reason". How can we raise troops invincible? The general ordered troops first and sent envoys out of the city first."

Long Luo Dusha had no choice but to leave in disappointment. This time the Song army came too suddenly, and all the important places west of Gaochang were lost. Originally, Liu Zhongcheng was on the west side of Gaochang, guarding the valley entrance where Puchang came, just as the main road. Unexpectedly, the Song army suddenly attacked, Gaochang had no news. Before Liu Zhong could close the city, the army had already passed. At this time, there was no danger around Gaochang, and he could only fight with the Song army.

Zhang Ke stood on the tower of Puchang City and looked south. He saw a piece of yellow sand on the south side, with towering mountains, which was extremely spectacular. The avenue that went out of the city went southwest along the northern edge of the desert.

Amali stood aside and followed Zhang Ji's gaze and said, "General, there are a great ghostly storm, with sandy mountains, which is extremely difficult to move. In the Tang Dynasty, it was the Dahai Road to Shazhou, which has been unused for several years."

Zhang Ke nodded and asked, "When you go to Gaochang again, what cities are there on the road? Is it easier to capture than Puchang?"

Amali said: "Go back to the general and go south to a place called Baozhuang, which is smaller than Puchang. There is no city, but just a village. After passing Baozhuang, it is Liuzhongcheng. There is plenty of water and springs to adapt to irrigation, which is not much different from here. After passing Liuzhongcheng, there will be no big city until Gaochang. The general's artillery can destroy Puchang, and naturally it can also destroy Liuzhongcheng. As for Gaochang, it is not my knowledge."

Zhang Ji said: "I don't need to know what Gaochang is like. This time I send troops, I just need to capture the city other than Gaochang. I will send troops to Baozhuang tomorrow. Can I arrive?"

Amali said, "Baozhuang is thirty miles away from here, and it is more than thirty miles to Liuzhong. If the general got up early, Liuzhong would have arrived too."

After hearing this, Zhang Ji asked, "You said there is no city in Baozhuang? If the army moves forward, can we go directly to Liuzhong?"

Amali said: "That's true. From Puchang to Liuzhong is the valley road, from the north to the flames mountain, and from the south to the great ghostly moraine. This area is the east gate of Gaochang. As long as you pass Liuzhong, there is no danger to guard behind you, you will be flat."

Zhang Ke looked at the valley road in the south, the northern part of the Fire Mountain was originally traveling south, but the great ghostly moraine in the south was not dangerous, but the desert area was naturally not suitable for walking. However, it was necessary for the army to force it to pass, and it was not a sad place. Of course, this time it was attacked by 70,000 or 80,000 troops. The gap in strength between the two sides was too big, so this area was naturally useless. If the difference in strength between the two sides was not so big, Gaochang could use the terrain of this area to block the Song army. Yizhou in the rear was hundreds of miles away, which was still useful.

Amali is an indigenous person, and now there is no business way to go to Yizhou. Gaochang does not attach importance to Puchang and does not send officials to let him be the city lord. This is true in many places under Gaochang's rule. In addition to important places, it still continues the previous governance structure. Since he was an indigenous person, Zhang Ji collapsed the city gate. Amali did not feel that the disaster was coming. He just came back as the former Central Plains dynasty and respected Zhang Ji. Especially after surrendering, he saw the continuous troops behind him, and felt even more wise. Unexpectedly, when the Song army attacked Gaochang this time, the Song army actually dispatched such an army.

After looking for a while, Zhang Ke said, "Zhao Zi's army has passed. Gao Chang should know that the imperial army has arrived. There is no need to hide it. It is unclear tomorrow to make meals, so set out early, and it is best to capture Liuzhong. Zhao Zi's army behind will be unhindered, so you can go to the city of Gaochang."

After saying that, he took Amali and got down the city wall. After entering the city lord's mansion, Zhang Sheng was looking at the map. When he saw Zhang Ji coming in, he greeted him.

The two of them sat down and Zhang Sheng said, "After passing Puchang, there is no city in Baozhuang. Going south is Liuzhong City. It is the important land of Gaochang. Wang Yande was ordered to envoy the Western Regions and recorded that there is only 80 miles from Liuzhong to Gaochang City. It took only one day to walk, and it took two days to walk. We captured Liuzhong and opened the gate to attack Gaochang, so there was no need to hurry. We can station troops in Liuzhong, each sending troops to attack various places, and wait for Zhao Zi's army to arrive. In addition to Yanqi, Beiting, Zhangbali, and Yangjibali, the important lands of Gaochang, are mostly made by local natives as city lords. As long as the taxes are paid in full, Gaochang will not be cared about. Zhao Zi surrounded Gaochang, and we can guide all the places."

Zhang Ke said: "The most powerful corps in Gaochang's defenders should be in Yanqi, which is opposite to Heihan. There are not many garrisons in other places, and there are not many indigenous people here, so as long as a small group of garrisons will be suppressed. After we occupy Liuzhong, we should also occupy the valley entrance from Yanqi to prevent the Yanqi army from returning to Gaochang. The few small cities there are not difficult to capture."

Zhang Sheng nodded: "The general is right. Those small cities should be captured first. However, the roads in this area are all east-west, and you have to pass through Gaochang wherever you go. After Zhao Zi's army arrives, we will follow behind and go to the southern mountain pass."

Zhang Ke was a little unwilling to accept that his 50,000 army was controlled by Zhao Zi everywhere. But after thinking about it, the most important thing this time was Gaochang City. Zhao Zi was the main force in attacking there, but he agreed. As long as Gaochang's army is isolated from the basin, Gaochang is a dead city.

Zhang Sheng said: "In fact, since the entire army was reorganized and personnel were greatly changed, Ji Zheng was somewhat confident in the current Hequ Road army. At this time, Gaochang had only 30,000 to 50,000 people, and our 80,000 troops, all guns and cannons should be easily captured. Ji Zheng fought undeclaredly and deliberately made such a situation. He was afraid that Gaochang's army would concentrate and fight us. Think about how sharp he was when Ji Zheng led 30,000 people into Hequ Road. He first defeated Yelu Chongyuan, then destroyed Yelu Zongzhen, and captured Dangxiang for thousands of miles in three battles without any hesitation. Compared with Khitan and Dangxiang, what was Gaochang worth?"

Zhang Ji sighed: "To put it bluntly, Jishuai may think that if I don't have Zhao Zi and Yang Wenguang and other generals, you can fight."

Zhang Sheng shook his head: "It has nothing to do with you, it's still the middle and lower-level generals. In the past, those who are capable in the camp were promoted, and those who are not able to do anything else besides the soldiers of the Xiang army. Now the generals who are replenished are mostly the positions of the imperial guards. It is easy for those who are capable to do it, but those who are unable to do it will be difficult."
Chapter completed!