Jiuxi

Chapter 190 Chapter 189 [Drive straight in]

Among the managers of the Seven Star Gang, Ran Xuanzhi's status has always been aloof.

He himself was not very good at martial arts, and there were no very powerful masters around him. However, no one in the gang dared to look down upon him. The only time they were disrespectful to him was when Jiang Houming and others were plotting to cause trouble.

Lin Tang controls all the outside properties of the Seven Star Gang. If Ran Xuanzhi was not good at amassing wealth and built several secret material channels for the Seven Star Gang, the lives of tens of thousands of people in the mountains would be very difficult, and they would not be able to expand to what they are now. scale.

In short, Ran Xuanzhi is the God of Wealth of the Seven Star Gang.

It's just that the God of Wealth has been having a hard time recently, because the wealth he spent more than ten years building for the Seven Star Gang is thinning at a speed visible to the naked eye.

Arming an army of 3000 men is not a simple matter.

Ordnance, armor, bows and arrows, everything requires a lot of money. After all, the Seven Star Gang's ability in this area is very limited, and they must buy it from outside.

This was the result of Lu Chen's deliberate control. There were only five soldiers and ten archers in each team, otherwise Ran Xuanzhi would definitely give up.

If it were just these investments, Ran Xuanzhi could barely accept it, but the expenditure that really hurt him was another item.

"Brother Lu, the equipment for the cavalry team has been purchased."

Ran Xuanzhi's voice trembled slightly.

"Brother Ran is really smart and capable, and I admire him so much!"

Lu Chen smiled heartily, and a smile appeared on Lin Xi's face next to him.

A long time ago, Lu Chen decided to form an elite cavalry force of 300 people in the Seven Star Gang, using Lin Xi and the masters who followed her in the mountains in the past few years as the skeleton, and stuffing all the people like Xi Jun and Ji Shan into it.

During this time, the 300 people have been gathered, but some war horses and supporting ordnance are still missing. This important task must be entrusted to Ran Xunzhi.

Now that the work is done, Lu Chen is naturally beaming with joy.

Ran Xuanzhi smiled bitterly and said: "I can't deserve Brother Lu's praise, as long as you don't torment me anymore. Brother Lu, it's not me who complains in front of you. In the past two months, Lin Tang's savings have been consumed by most of it. You You must use it sparingly, otherwise I won’t be able to explain it to the gang leader.”

Lin Xi interjected: "Brother Ran, didn't my father say that everything will be subject to Junior Brother Lu's arrangements?"

Ran Xuan was suffocated, thinking that the eldest lady was not a family member, how could she know the importance of money.

Lu Chen understood how difficult it was for Ran Xuanzhi, so he smiled and comforted him: "Brother Ran, don't worry. You don't need to spend too much money anymore. You just need to prepare the soldiers' salaries. By the way, I also have a gift to give." you."

Ran Xuanzhi was slightly startled, and Lin Xi also looked over curiously.

Lu Chen took the two of them to his residence. In addition to Tan Zheng, there were two young people with unfamiliar faces waiting here.

"I've met Captain Lu!" The two of them saluted at the same time.

Lu Chen nodded and introduced: "These two are captains of the Huaizhou Governor's Mansion. They went north on the orders of Governor Xiao and walked for more than half a month before arriving in the mountains."

Ran Xuanzhi and Lin Xi greeted them and then looked at Lu Chen quietly.

One of the captains carefully took out a cowhide bag and handed it to Lu Chen respectfully.

Lu Chen weighed it, turned to Ran Xuanzhi and said: "When I decided to come to Baotai Mountain, Governor Xiao made a promise. If the Seven Star Gang is willing to fight the Yan Dynasty to the end, the Huaizhou Governor's Mansion will definitely not stand idly by. Except for myself, In addition, there must be some substantial help, not just words.”

Ran Xuanzhi gradually heard the implication of his words, and the surprise on his face could not be concealed.

Lu Chen continued: "Huaizhou and Baotai Mountain are far apart, and they are separated by the territory of the Yan Dynasty. It is undoubtedly fanciful to transport food and ordnance, so Governor Xiao secretly informed the emperor and allocated 20 yuan from the Huaizhou Army's military expenses. Ten thousand taels is considered the first support for the Seven Star Gang. As long as we can withstand the Yan Army's offensive, the Huaizhou Army will have more support, and it will not be limited to military expenses."

Ran Xuanzhi was a smart man, and of course he understood the meaning of "more support", but he didn't ask any more questions and said gratefully: "This move by Governor Xiao is really a timely help."

"We will be a family from now on, why should we distinguish between each other?"

When Lu Chen said this, he looked at Lin Xi intentionally or unintentionally, and then she gave him a shy and angry look.

Ran Xuanzhiquan pretended not to see it. In fact, many managers in the gang could see the intrigue between the young man and woman, but since the gang leader was happy to see the result, how could they cause trouble.

At the moment, he is only filled with joy for the 20 taels of silver.

Lu Chen opened the cowhide bag, counted it in person, and handed it to Ran Xuanzhi. He then said: "These 20 taels of silver notes belong to twelve bank accounts in the Yan Dynasty. Brother Ran does not have to worry about withdrawing them, and it will not attract others." attention."

Ran Xuanzhi was already good at this. Hearing this, he couldn't help but sigh: "Admiral Xiao is very determined. This must have taken a lot of effort."

"Actually it's fine."

Lu Chen smiled, pointed at Tan Zheng and said, "You tell me."

Tan Zheng said: "Hallmaster Ran, these 20 taels of silver notes were redeemed through our Lu family business at major bank accounts in Pseudo-Yan. The entire process was very careful and there were no flaws. Pseudo-Yan Cha The office will definitely not be able to find out that the users of these tickets are people from the Seven Star Gang. As for how to exchange the silver for the supplies we need, it depends on Hall Master Ran. However, my master said that the Lu family will stay in Puppet Yan The manpower within the country and the industries under covert control can help.”

Ran Xuanzhi nodded slightly, then took a deep look at Lu Chen and said seriously: "Brother Lu, Ran will definitely do a good job in the logistics work." Lu Chen cupped his fists and said, "Thank you, Brother Ran."

"This is my duty." Ran Xuanzhi returned the greeting, then looked at Lin Xi and said, "Miss, please come with me to find the gang leader."

Lin Xi naturally understood the purpose of this request. She looked at Lu Chen with some reluctance and said softly, "I'm going."

Lu Chen agreed, watched the two of them leave, and then turned back to the inner room. The two captains and Tan Zheng followed closely.

"Captain, the Governor asked us to ask what the situation is like here. Do we need Huaizhou to send troops to help?" One of the captains named Xu Kezheng asked.

The intelligence in the Yan Kingdom during this period came to mind in Lu Chen's mind. Some of it was obtained by the brothers of the Qixing Gang Yintang, and the other part was sent by Yin Shangfu, the manager of the Sutra Weaving Department in Heluo City. The latter part The information will naturally be sent to Xiao Wangzhi.

"Although Qing Yu Huaijin deployed more than [-] troops from Dongyang Road, this will not have much impact on the Puppet Yan Dongyang Road's defense line."

Lu Chen said calmly, and then fell into long thoughts.

He always remembered the teachings of several elders and never limited his sights to one city or one place. Even though most of his energy during this period was focused on military training and pre-war preparations, he would still think about the real way to break the situation. .

The more than [-] people from the Seven Star Gang alone may be able to deal a heavy blow to the enemy, but if the Seven Star Army wants to truly gain a foothold, it must rely on the power of the Qi Dynasty's border troops.

In other words, this battle was not just a matter of the Seven Stars Gang from the beginning.

After an unknown amount of time, the sky outside gradually darkened. Tan Zheng and the two captains sat waiting patiently.

Lu Chen took a long breath and said slowly: "When you go back, tell the Governor that I am going to take this battle in three steps. However, be sure to remind the Governor that various accidents may occur after the war starts. Please be careful. The Governor assesses the situation and does not need to deliberately cooperate with my plan."

Xu Kezheng and his companions responded quickly: "I will finally understand."

Lu Chen lowered his voice and spoke, and the two of them listened attentively, not daring to miss a word.

……

Time flies, it’s early August.

In the north of Dongyang Road in the Yan Dynasty, Fengqiu City was located.

In a palace requisitioned by the army in the city, several military generals were surrounding the sand table, and one of them, a man in his forties, was talking eloquently.

"The Seven Star Gang is entrenched in Baotai Mountain. Their biggest reliance is the complex terrain in the mountain. The four branch villages in the south were built according to the difficult terrain. If they want to break through their main village, they must first pull out these four nails. The roads in the mountain The journey is rugged, from entering the Baotai Mountain area to reaching the first branch village, which is about [-] miles away. After detailed description by the guide we found, there are a total of five ways to approach the first branch village. If we can capture this There are two relatively spacious roads and seven relatively narrow mountain paths heading north."

This person was Xu Cun, the deputy general manager of the Dongyang Road Army and Horses. He was 37 years old at the time and was a trusted general led by General Li Shouzhen.

Pusan ​​Si'en frowned upon hearing this and asked, "General Manager Xu, have you asked someone to draw a map of the mountain?"

"Have."

Xu Cun nodded, and then said: "These nine roads of different widths finally converged into two, and the second and third branches of the Seven Star Gang will guard the only way. If we can pass through, we can go further. Crossing a river to the north and bypassing two mountains, you can see the fourth branch village behind, which is also the last barrier to the Seven Star Gang's main village."

The complexity of the terrain there was far beyond Pusan ​​Si'en's expectation. He looked at the sand table for a while and said in a deep voice: "In other words, when we enter the scope of Baotai Mountain, we will not only have to face the choice of dividing our troops, but also Is it possible to be attacked by those reckless people at any time?"

"Yes." Xu Cun was quite respectful to the young Jingjun general next to him. He also knew that if he wanted to eliminate banditry in the mountains, the three thousand Jingjun brought by him would be the main force.

He thought for a while and then said: "There is another problem that we must guard against. Once we enter the mountains and use troops, our food, grass and baggage will most likely become the target of the opponent, so we must send elites to protect the baggage."

Pu San Si'en was silent for a moment and said with a smile: "They are just a bunch of rough bandits. Even if that Southern Qi Lu Chen is somewhat capable, can he train an elite army in just two months? You think too highly of them."

Xu Cun originally wanted to persuade the other party to be cautious, but when he thought that this person was a confidant of Marshal Qing Yugong of Jing Dynasty, he took back his words.

Pu Sansi En said leisurely: "You divide your subordinates into five armies, and form a camp step by step, and attack the first branch of the Seven Star Gang first to test their quality. There is no need to worry too much, the other side has no choice but to hold on to the stronghold. There are other ways. The Seven Star Gang only has 4 people at full strength. Excluding the old, weak, women and children, there are no more than [-] people capable of fighting. They can only send a few hundred people to attack from the flanks at most. For this kind of banditry that takes advantage of the terrain to harm one side , we just need to use Huanghuang’s momentum to overwhelm them.”

"The general is right."

Although he did not agree with the other party's arrogance, Xu Cun also felt that there was nothing wrong with this person's view. After all, an elite army of nearly 3 people dealt with a green forest gang. It was a lion fighting a rabbit, so why should he think too much?
Upon seeing this, Pu San Si'en patted Xu Cun's shoulder and said with a smile: "The main offensive task in the early stage will be handed over to General Xu."

Xu Cun felt helpless and could only force a smile and said: "I will obey the general's order."

Pu Sansi En nodded and said: "That's it. I stated my position in front of His Highness that the Seven Star Gang must be eliminated within two months. I also hope that General Xu will encourage the morale of the soldiers and not embarrass General Li."

Xu Cun accepted.

On the fourth day of August, the Dongyang Road army of the Yan Dynasty set out to march northward, approaching the southern foot of Baotai Mountain.

The flags were fluttering and the momentum was great.

(End of this chapter)