The dream of a lonely hero

The next day, Guo Mao took Gao Qiong, Wang Zhao, Yuanda, Ma Wei, Li Bin, Wang Hanzhong, Zhang Baoyang, Li Jun, Fu Dun, and Geng Quanbin to recruit and post recruitment notices in the surrounding villages. The daily salary of soldiers is six hundred qian. The army had no money and no men came, so people who wanted to be recruited came in large numbers. In less than three days, more than 800 soldiers were recruited. After Guo Mao personally selected 500 of them. These five hundred people come from the Five Elements and Eight Works, including cultivators, fishermen, hunters, blacksmiths, carpenters, stonemasons, beggars, rogues, Taoist monks, fortune tellers, quacks, etc. Guo Mao first did not teach the five hundred soldiers to practice martial arts and practice military formations, and secondly did not issue armors and weapons. On the first day, they were treated with wine and meat in the military camp.

The next day, Guo Mao ordered five hundred soldiers to buy saws, axes, picks, shovels and other tools for cutting wood, cutting mountains and digging rocks. On the third day, Guo Mao led five hundred soldiers across the Gunlong River and climbed up to Chatian Ridge and Moyun Mountain on both sides of Pansi Valley. They cut wood, cut firewood, dug stones, and made ropes. For more than twenty days, Guo Mao and The soldiers worked together, ate and lived together. Gao Qiong, Wang Zhao, Yuan Da, Ma Wei, and Li Bin all suffered from low births, but they were depressed. If Guo Mao hadn't defeated Shang Feng and Li Bin at Aoyu Beach and lifted a thousand catties of"iron ox" outside the camp, Who would submit to his control? Gao Qiong couldn't hold it any longer and asked Guo Mao for leave, so he went down the mountain and returned to the Song army camp to find the King of Jin.

On this day, the king of Jin summoned Dai Xing in the commander's tent. Dai Xing said:"Report to Your Highness! When I arrived at Qilin Ya in Tieling Mountain, I saw a few huts surrounded by wooden fences. No one could see inside the houses and no one had lived in them for some time. I walked down the mountain and asked the villagers about Qilin Ya. There lived a mother and a son. The son made a living by hunting and cutting firewood. The mother passed away more than three years ago. The son went to make a living a few days ago and has never been seen. Villagers said that the son's appearance was very similar to Guo Mao. It will be concluded that this Guo Mao is a villager from Qilinya in Tieling Mountain."

King Jin listened attentively, thought for a while, and said to himself:"Such a genius can endure so many years of loneliness. Is it a god or a ghost? Do you know?" Dai Xing resigned. After a while, Gao Qiong entered the commander's tent in a hurry and shouted:"Your Highness, Your Highness! We can't let Guo Mao and that guy work hard anymore. If he doesn't go to drill all day long, he goes to the mountains to chop wood, dig rocks, and weave ropes. Look at me. My hands are bruised and blistered. This is not like fighting!"

King Jin said:"If you can't bear the suffering, just follow the lonely king."

Gao Qiong said aggrievedly:"Your Highness! I'm not afraid of death, so why should I be afraid? Suffer! That Guo Mao is pretending to be a ghost, I'm afraid he will ruin His Highness's affairs."

King Jin said:"If you are not afraid of suffering, just go back. The soldiers will make the grass follow the wind. Remember that you are now Guo Mao's subordinate."

Gao Qiong bumped. With a gray nose, he came back angrily. The King of Jin urgently ordered Wang Yande to take out the map of Pansigou, unfold it on the table and look at it carefully, thinking: Pansigou is more than a hundred miles long, with cliffs on both sides of Tianling and Moyun Mountains, and at both ends is the"Flying Tiger's Pass"."、""Hulukou" is really a natural battlefield to lay an ambush. It was the path I took to return from Xiongzhou's defeat. Alas! Why didn't I think of it! Could he have done it? A mere five hundred villagers had to face the elites of the Liao Kingdom. So he was on tenterhooks.

One day at 08:00, Guo Mao led five hundred soldiers down the mountain back to the Song army camp in Aoyutan. He ordered the soldiers to go to the armor warehouse to choose their own weapons and armor. One of the soldiers said :"Master Jun! I am a hunter and I don’t know how to use any weapons. I can only use my hunting fork and my bow and arrows. Another soldier said:"I am not used to using the sword, gun, sword and halberd. I can only swing my big iron pickaxe, and I am not used to wearing armor."

Guo Mao said:"Okay!" You can use your own forks, iron picks, axes, shovels, harpoons, and kitchen knives if you want. If you don't want to wear military uniforms and armor, you can always wear your own clothes. Arrive at the military camp at Youshi (17:00)."

The unitary hour has arrived, Guo Mao clicked Mao, but Wang Zhao missed the mark. Guo Mao ordered Gao Qiong to beat Wang Zhao with twenty military sticks. Everyone thought: Military law is ruthless, this little acting commander is even handsome to the King of Jin. Even the guards dare to fight, who dares to defy military law.

At 07:00 the next day (Chenchu), Tanma came to report: the marshal left in Nanjing of the Liao Kingdom, Emperor Uncle Yan Wang Yelu Tieda, was in Xiongzhou, and the deputy marshal of Nanjing, Emperor Fan Wang Yelu Tieda Han was the commander-in-chief of the attack on the Song Dynasty. Yelu Huaji, the governor of Zhennan, and Han Chengzhao, the chief governor of Zhennan, were deputy commanders. Yelu Tieda's eldest son Yelu Yong, second son Yelu Meng, and third son Yelu Gang were the vanguards. They commanded hundreds of thousands of troops to kill every day. The Song army camp at Gunlong River. Jin King Zhao Guangyi beat drums and gathered generals in the commander's tent to discuss countermeasures. All the civil and military officials in the tent turned pale with fear.

Chief Shi Jia Su controlled his panic and said:"Uncle Yan, Emperor of Liao State King Yelu Tieda was known as the"Invincible King", and his uncle Fan Wang Yelu Tiehan was called the"Basheng Tianjun". He conquered Dongdan in the east, Tubo in the west, Shijin in the south, and Nvzhi in the north. They conquered every battle and conquered every battle. Ma You is the leading tiger and wolf warrior in Liao State. This - what should we do!"The voice couldn't help but tremble.

Gao Qiong came out of the queue and shouted:"Guo Mao! Guo Mao, you guys have already boasted about Haikou and issued military orders to defeat the Liao army and capture Xiongzhou, but a few wild donkeys scared this guy into silence! Guo Mao came out and said,"

General Gao!" Shanfu was about to ask for an order. Your Highness! The last general is willing to lead five hundred soldiers to fight against the Liao army."

The king of Jin is ready to report. Guo Mao dispatched his troops and sent generals, saying:"Wang Zhao and Ma Wei each led twenty sergeants to prepare two days of military rations, prepare clear oil, red charcoal, gunpowder, and things to ignite the fire, and ambush them at the two mountain passes of Pansigou and Hulukou. On the side, I heard three loud arrows fired from the direction of"Feihukou", and quickly fired three loud arrows in the direction of Gunlong River. I heard a loud sound of arrows outside"Hulukou", and then I prepared rolling logs and rocks from the top of the mountain to block the mountain pass. , ignited the dry firewood rollers tied at the top of the mountain, and pushed the ash bottles and cannons down the pansi ditch. Tomorrow, Xu Zheng (20:00) will lead his soldiers to Zaoshulin, ten miles away from"Feihukou", to meet with our military academy."

Wang Zhao and Ma Wei took the order and retreated.

Guo Mao said:"Gao Qiong and Wang Hanzhong each led 20 sergeants, took two days of military rations, prepared clear oil, red charcoal, gunpowder, and things to ignite the fire, and ambush them at the two mountain passes of Pansigou and Feihukou. On the side, he saw the Liao army's rear team carrying supplies and horses entering Pansi ditch. He quickly prepared rolling logs and rocks from the top of the mountain and pushed them down to block the mountain pass to cut off the Liao army's retreat. He quickly shot three loud arrows in the direction of"Hulukou" and then tied up the top of the mountain. Good dry firewood rollers were lit, and gray bottle cannons were pushed down the Pansi ditch. If any Liao troops rushed up the mountain pass, they tried their best to kill them. Tomorrow, Xu Zheng (20:00) will lead his soldiers to Zaoshulin, ten miles away from"Feihukou", to meet with our military academy."

Gao Qiong and Wang Hanzhong took the order and retreated.

Guo Mao said:"Zhang Baoyang and Li Jun led fifty soldiers to prepare two days of military rations, prepare clear oil, red charcoal, gunpowder, and ignition materials to ambush in the middle of the top of Chatianling Mountain. Fu Dun Geng Quanbin led fifty soldiers to prepare two days' worth of rations, clean oil, red charcoal, gunpowder, and ignition materials to ambush in the middle of the top of Moyun Mountain. Hearing three noisy arrows shot from the direction of"Feihukou", three arrows were shot in the direction of"Hulukou". The arrows were fired, and then the wooden and stone rolls, ash bottle cannons and dry firewood rollers prepared on the top of the mountain were ignited and pushed down the Pansi ditch in batches. Tomorrow, Xu Zheng (20:00) will lead his soldiers to Zaoshulin, ten miles away from"Feihukou", to meet with our military academy."

Zhang Baoyang, Li Jun, Fu Dun, and Geng Quanbin took the order and retreated.

Guo Mao said:"Yuan Da reached the Military Treasury Department to collect the banner of the deployment of the camp in front of the mountain and the banner of the horse and infantry commanders of the thirteen counties in front of the mountain. Li Bin went to the money and grain. The commander received 320 pieces of brocade and 320 pieces of money and distributed them to the remaining 320 soldiers. He was ready to prepare two days' worth of rations with his generals, more than 300 soldiers, and crossed the Gunlong River to set up camp to face the Liao army.."

Yuan Da and Li Bin took the order and retreated.

Guo Mao turned to the King of Jin and said:"If you hear the sound of arrows tomorrow morning, please lead the army to Pansigou Pansigou"Hulukou" to clean up the battlefield."

Jia Su, Chai Yuxi, Sang Zan, Shang Feng, Ge Ba, Fu Qian, Dai Xing, Wang Neng, Zhang Xu, Wang Rong, Wang Xijie, Yang Mao, Mi Chao, etc. didn't believe it and were panicked.

Fu Qian said angrily:" Guo Maoxiu wants to fool you! Mr. Fu also came from a military background and has a good knowledge of the art of war. Let’s not talk about you stragglers and a ragtag group. You have violated the taboo of military strategists by setting up camp with your back to the water. You are talking so brazenly even when you are about to die! Yang

Mao sneered and said:"The King of Jin cannot win with his army of 100,000 people. You, a fool from the countryside and the common people, want to defeat the 100,000 elite Liao army. It's just like the Jade Box is used as a pillow - a fool's dream!" The enemy has 100,000 soldiers, but you only have 500. Not to mention fighting, even if you stand and let them be cut down, you will be exhausted to death. The dung beetle is lying on the tip of the whip - he only knows that he is flying in the clouds, but he doesn't know that he is dying before his eyes! King Jin was also uneasy, but he looked calm and shouted:"Fu Qian, Yangmao, don't talk nonsense!" Is it true that keeping secrets is a talent of a hundred miles? The lonely king who keeps secrets is waiting for the good news. The lonely king will practice it for you. Come and drink this cup." He picked up the wine glass and asked Guo Mao to drink it.

Guo Mao hurriedly saluted and said:"I will thank you, Your Highness! It will not be too late to drink this wine on the final day of victory.

The king of Jin took Guo Mao's hand and said,"The lonely king sent Cunmi on board.""The two walked out of the handsome tent. Guo Mao walked steadily, followed closely by Jia Su, Chai Yuxi, Sang Zan, Shang Feng, Ge Ba, Fu Qian, Dai Xing, Wang Neng, Zhang Xu, Wang Rong, Wang Xijie, Yang Mao, and Mi Chao. Later, King Jin, Guo Mao and others came to the bank of Gunlong River and watched groups of sergeants sailing to the other side in boats. At one hour (two hours) at the end of the month, five hundred sergeants had crossed the Gunlong River. The river bank was only There was only one boat left, and the sergeant on the boat ran to Guo Mao and said:"Young man, please respectfully ask the military academy to cross the river.

Guo Mao said:"You take a boat across the river, and I will be there soon."

The sergeant was puzzled and said:"Just a small boat to cross the river. How can the commander cross the river?"

Guo Mao said:"No need to ask more, I have my own solution.""

The sergeant resigned and took a boat to cross the river.

King Jin and others were all wondering: Without a ferry, how could Guo Mao fly to the other side of the river. While King Jin was hesitating, Guo Mao saluted forward and said:"Your Highness! I will say goodbye at the end."

The King of Jin took a step forward, slowly put his hands on Guo Mao's shoulders, looked into his eyes with expectant eyes, and said:"Cunmi - Cunmi! The lonely king - the lonely king is completely dependent on you!

Guo Mao felt that King Jin's hands were as heavy as Mount Tai. He met his gaze with extremely solemn eyes and said,"Your Highness, please be patient and wait for the good news.""He turned around and struck the thick cypress tree next to him with his right palm."Crack!" The eight-foot-tall cypress tree"popped" to the ground and raised a cloud of dust. He stepped on the tree trunk and"clicked" and broke it into two pieces. He bent down to pick it up. He lifted up a section and threw it suddenly towards the river. The tree section hit the middle of the river. He jumped up to the middle of the river, tapped the tree section with his toes, twisted and jumped to the other side of the river. The soldiers on both sides of the Gunlong River were stunned and cheered for a moment. The sound was endless.

King Jin laughed and said:"Haha! The lonely king has such a strange man, why should he be afraid of a hundred thousand Liao bandits!" He just said this to comfort everyone, but he was feeling uneasy in his heart.

Yang Mao said with a smile:"Congratulations, Your Highness! Mi Chao echoed.

Jia Su walked to King Jin and whispered:"If Guo Mao is defeated, what will your Highness do?" The

King of Jin thought for a long time and asked Shang Feng:"How has Shang Feng arranged the trenches, antlers, and forks on the river bank these days?"

Shang Feng said:"Report to Your Highness!" Already arranged."

The king of Jin said:"Sangzan, Shangfeng, Geba, Fu Qian, Dai Xing, Wang Neng, Zhang Xu, Wang Rong, Wang Xijie, Yangmao and Michao obey the order. You and the lonely king will defend Aoyu Beach in Gunlong River. In the camp, the Liao army crossed the Gunlong River, and this Aoyu Beach is the burial place of the lonely king! Chai Yuxi can send someone to build a good coffin for the lonely family."

Chai Yuxi accepted the promise.

Sangzan, Wang Xijie and other generals said impassionedly:"I will defend the Gunlong River to the death and will not let the Liao army cross the river even half a step." The King of Jin ordered the generals to lead the soldiers to line up along the Gunlong River and always pay attention to the movements on the other side.

King Jin returned to the commander's tent, pacing in the commander's tent full of doubts, sometimes slowly and sometimes quickly. Wang Yan, the personal attendant, dared not show his dignity and stood quietly on one side.

The King of Jin knew that this was a gamble that would determine his life and death. He led an army of 100,000 people and was killed by Zuo Yanzhang, the small governor of the Liao Kingdom, with 10,000 men. The entire army was annihilated, and he lost the important border town of Xiongzhou; if he could not make meritorious service, Self-efficacy, substituting merit for crime, what awaits him is to be demoted to a commoner, or be sent to the army and beheaded, and there will be no chance of a comeback. Can Guo Mao, a little-known man from the grassland, take on this important task? His martial arts skills are unparalleled, his lightness skills are superb, and his physical strength is unparalleled. How can he defeat an army of 100,000 tigers and wolves with his strength? Pansigou is indeed an excellent place to lay an ambush, but the 500-year-old city is surrounded by grass and grass. It has never faced the enemy on the battlefield and has not been drilled. So what if it is an ambush? Big beads of sweat covered his forehead. He didn't dare to think about it. The more he didn't dare to think about it, the more he thought about it. He kept turning the rosary beads in his hand and asked the attendant:"Yande, Guo Mao can - can it be done?""?" Rather than asking Wang Yande, it is better to say that he is asking himself.

Wang Yande was only twenty years old, but he had been following Zhao Guangyi for ten years. He, Pei Ji, and Shi Ying all started working for his master Zhao Guangyi when they were still in their teens..

King Jin paced again, for a moment, and said,"Yande, can Guo Mao do it?"

Wang Yande said carefully:"Your Highness! I have been following His Highness for some years, and I have never seen His Highness miss anyone."Although it was a casual remark, no one could give King Jin comfort and confidence at that time.

King Jin looked at him calmly, as if he was no longer so flustered. He smiled and said to himself:"This time - I think it's good this time! Heaven help me."

Then Guo Mao crossed the Gunlong River and ordered the army The soldiers set up camp and burned all the ships on the shore. They had food and wine for lunch and dinner. They ate and lived with the soldiers. During the night, the soldiers said to each other,"It's worth it to be a soldier. Every day." Don’t worry about the food and wine, I still have 600 yuan a day.——"

"Isn't it? Another thousand yuan was given out today, so don’t let your waist be heavy anymore——"

"If you think Shen is easy to talk to, give it to me! And that piece of brocade can’t be carried on my back, just give it to me"

"hey-hey! Beautiful thought! I feel relieved. Brocade for you! Just dream, my family has never seen such fine brocade in several lifetimes. When I bring it home, my father, mother, and daughter-in-law will burst into laughter! Ha ha! After hearing this,

Yuanda, who was responsible for patrolling outside the tent, was filled with smoke. He said to Li Bin, who was also patrolling with him:"Listen, is this--is he going to fight?"

Li Bin said:" Alas!" The worst we can do is to bury the fool in Guomao Village.

Yuanda stared and said:"The Sa family is unwilling to die like this!""

Li Bin said:"What can I do if I don't want to be unwilling? That guy Guo Mao is the master's favorite, he will obey his advice!

Yuanda said:"Master is really obsessed!" My seventh brother, Yan Yun, is also in trouble for recommending such a pig to his master."

It is said that Zuo Yanzhang, the governor of Tanzhou in the Liao Kingdom, defeated the Song Dynasty in one day. The front camp deployed Jin Wang Zhao Guangyi's 100,000 troops to capture the important town of Xiongzhou in the Song Dynasty. The battle report reached Youzhou Prefecture in Nanjing, Nanjing, and Huang Shuyan, the marshal left behind in Nanjing, King Yelu Tieda was furious and thought: Zuo Yanzhang, a governor of a state, a barbarian, and a surrendered general, could defeat a hundred thousand Song troops with eight thousand soldiers and horses. He, who was known as the"Invincible King" in the country, had never No general has achieved such a record since the founding of the Liao Kingdom. He then summoned Nanjing Deputy Marshal Yan Wang Yelu Tieda's younger brother Fan Wang"Yu Sheng Tianjun" Yelu Tiehan, Zhennan Governor Han Chengzhao, Zhennan Governor Yelu Huaji, the left governor, and Chen Mengyang, the right governor of Zhennan, went to the commander's mansion to discuss and decided that Yelu Tieda would lead an army of 100,000 to attack the Song Dynasty, and Chen Mengyang, the right governor of Zhennan, would lead 2,000 troops to guard Youzhou in Nanjing.