Chapter 94 of Volume 1
Tang Yin returned to Biancheng not long ago, Qiu Zhen and Bai Yong, Zhu Nu and other core military personnel also rushed to hear the news, leaving only Shangguan Yuanyi in charge of Hengcheng.
Obviously, everyone was excited about the victory of this battle. When they saw Tang Yan, they all came forward with a smile to ask about the details of the battle. However, Tang Yan didn't have as good a mood as them, his face was somewhat solemn.
Seeing this, the crowd felt bewildered and didn't understand why he didn't show any excitement despite defeating the invading barbarian soldiers. It's a remarkable feat to defeat them on the battlefield!
Seeing through everyone's thoughts, Tang Yin raised an eyebrow and asked in return: "Should we be celebrating now?"
"Of course!" Juno was a straightforward person, and without thinking, she blurted out: "Our army hasn't won against the barbarian troops for a long time, this victory is really uplifting!"
"Yes!" Others also echoed in unison. Cherish
Tang Yin shook his head and said, "As far as I know, the barbarian army has always had a strong psychology of revenge. This time in Yuwang Town they suffered a great loss, I'm afraid it won't be long before they launch a heavy counterattack. Has everyone thought about how we will defend against them at that time?"
"This......" As soon as these words came out, Zhuo Nu was suddenly speechless, and the excitement on his face also disappeared in an instant, replaced by a solemn expression. He is the commander of the third battalion of Pingyuan County, naturally very familiar with the habits of the barbarian soldiers, and of course clearly aware that Tang Yin's speculation is not alarmist, once the barbarian army really launches a large-scale attack, it will be extremely difficult to defend against with their current manpower.
Others also involuntarily took a deep breath, lowered their heads and fell into contemplative silence. Youth
After a long while, Qiu Zhen asked: "If the barbarian soldiers really come back for revenge, I wonder how many troops will they have?"
Before Tang Yin could speak, Zhang Zhou and Bai Yong replied in unison: "The barbarian army has suffered a loss, so the next time they come to attack, their forces will definitely not be small!" "It should be at least 50,000 or more!"
"So many people!" Qiu Zhen cursed under his breath. Although Pingyuan County had added two new legions, with a total of five legions, the manpower was still far from 50,000, and more than half of the soldiers were inexperienced new recruits with low combat effectiveness. With numerous defensive areas and towns to protect, the troops were scattered, making it almost impossible to resist the 50,000-strong barbarian army.
"Sir, the barbarian army's target for revenge will likely be the border city. I suggest immediately deploying two legions to the border city and leaving the remaining two legions to garrison Heng City. As long as we ensure these two cities are not lost, the barbarian army will not be able to harm our vital energy!"
"Ah! General Bai's words are reasonable!" The crowd nodded in agreement.
Tang Yin hesitated for a moment and asked: "General Bai, which two legions do you think should be transferred to Biancheng?"
"The Fourth and Fifth Armies!" White Yong thought without hesitation.
"New army corps?" Qiu Zhen furrowed his brow. The 4th and 5th army corps were newly established and consisted entirely of new recruits, wasn't sending these two corps to the most dangerous border city equivalent to sending over 10,000 soldiers to their deaths? He asked in a questioning tone: "Isn't this approach somewhat unwise?"
Bai Yong sighed and said, "Lord Qiu, this is also an unavoidable move! Although the barbarian army's target may be the border city, we must also guard against them bypassing the border city to launch a surprise attack on Heng City. Heng City is the county seat, the most critical place, and cannot afford to have any losses. Leaving two veteran soldier teams to defend it is more stable. Moreover, the fourth and fifth soldier teams are new teams, but they must participate in battles, otherwise they will always be new teams and cannot be used in major battles. This time is also a rare opportunity for them to gain experience!" He paused and added, "Of course, I don't mean to say that I'm afraid of battle. If you think it's more stable to arrange the second soldier team at the border city, I won't argue!"
He was the commander of the Second Legion and suggested that his own legion be left to garrison Hengcheng, also fearing that others, especially his colleagues in the Fourth and Fifth Legions, would misunderstand.
Qiu Zhen carefully considered his words, although he felt that Bai Yong's words also made sense, but letting the two new battalions go to the enemy's strongholds was a bit like forcing ducks onto a perch, and it was unlikely to be effective. Instead, it would only increase their own casualties. The Pingyuan County troops were too precious for their side, how could they be sacrificed in vain?
He shook his head and said to Tang Yin: "Sir, it's still not suitable to transfer the 4th and 5th troops to Biancheng!"
At this time, Tang Yin was also hesitant, Bai Yong said that it is true, Heng City is the key to the heavy city. If Heng City is broken, his own county guard will be thoroughly defeated. But if two new battalions are transferred to Bian City, when the barbarian army counterattacks, it is unknown how many people will be injured or killed. This is indeed a difficult choice.
Tang Yin used to be a decisive person, when things came, he would never hesitate, and immediately make a decision. But now it's different, he is no longer alone, his one decision will affect the life and death of tens of thousands of defenders in Pingyuan County, even the life and death of hundreds of thousands of people in Pingyuan County.
He bit his lip and remained silent for a long time.
At this moment, a guard rushed in from outside and came to Tang Yin's side, kneeling on one knee and saying: "Report, sir, the original Wangxian county people have arrived at the city gate, waiting for arrangements!"
Upon hearing this, Tang Yin regained his composure and said to the guard: "This matter will be handled by the castle owner of Biancheng!"
"That......" The guard's face was tinged with difficulty.
"Sir, there is no lord in the border city!"
"Oh?" Tang Yin was taken aback, if it wasn't for Zhang Zhou's reminder, he would have almost forgotten. Having been in Bian Cheng for so long, he indeed had not seen the lord of Bian Cheng before. He asked: "What's going on here?"
Zhang Zhou bitterly smiled and said, "The border city has been breached by the barbarian army many times, and the city lord has also been beheaded several times. In the end, there were no more civilians in the border city, so naturally, the city lord was no longer needed. Now, the border city is no different from a military fortress!"
"Ah, I see!" Tang Yin let out a soft sigh. The vast Wind Country, the vast Pingyuan County, was actually bullied by the Barbarian Gang to such an extent. Whose responsibility was this?
He clenched his fist slowly, as if speaking to the crowd around him and muttering to himself, saying in a low voice: "I don't care what Pingyuan County was like before, but during my tenure as the county governor of Pingyuan, I will never allow any city within Pingyuan County to be breached by the enemy!"
He turned his head and said to Zhang Zhou: "General Zhang, you arrange for people to take care of the arriving civilians!"
"Yes! Sir!" Zhang Zhou stood up straight and turned around to leave.
Tang Yan suddenly remembered something, stretched out his hand to stop him and said: "Right! Among the original guards of Yuwang Town, there is a captain named Xiao Muzheng. Bring him to see me now!"
"What's wrong with Xiao Muqing?" Zhang Zhou was stunned for a moment, and seeing that Tang Yin's face didn't look good, he didn't dare to ask more questions. He responded with a sound and quickly walked out.
He was no stranger to the name Xiao Muzheng, because this person's military age was even longer than his, unfortunately, he had only hard work but no merits, and never got a chance of promotion.
He didn't know what Tang Yin was looking for Xiao Mucqing, but he still honestly followed Tang Yin's intention to find Xiao Mucqing and took him there. At the same time, he also arranged for several thousand households under his command to organize officials and soldiers to settle the original Wangzhen townspeople who came to take refuge.
As Biancheng was almost a ghost town with many uninhabited houses, it easily accommodated the thousands of people from Yuanwang Town.
And so Zhang Zhou led Xiao Muzhen to meet Tang Yin.
Like Zhang Zhou, Bai Yong and Zhu Nu, the old guards of the plain, they all disapproved of Xiao Miaoqing, thinking that he was cunning and timid. But Tang Yin was very polite to him, when he saw Xiao Miaoqing coming, he slightly bowed his head, showed a smile, waved his hand and said: "Captain Xiao please sit down!"
"Thank you, sir!" Xiao Muqing really didn't expect Tang Yin to find himself, and he was a little surprised and honored. Moreover, the people in the hall were either regimental commanders or deputy regimental commanders, while he was just a small team leader, and his identity was out of place with everyone else's. He sat in the chair as if sitting on pins and needles, being extremely cautious.
Tang Yin took another look at Xiao Mucqing, who was not handsome to talk about, but could be considered delicate. He had a medium build, neither fat nor thin, and could be said to be plain and unremarkable, except for a pair of eyes that rolled around with a sharp and bright light.
He smiled and asked: "Xiao Captain, don't you think that the barbarian troops will definitely come back to take revenge after suffering a loss in Yuwang Town this time?"
"Yes! Sir!" Xiao Muqing straightened his body and replied in a low voice with great respect.
"Is the target Biancheng?"
"The possibilities of Bordertown are endless!"
"What about this: if the barbarian troops really come to attack the border town, how many garrison troops should be left here?"
I don't understand why Tang Yan would ask such an important question to Xiao Muzheng, and everyone's eyes fell on Xiao Muzheng.
After hearing Tang Yan's words, Xiao Mucqing's spirit was also shocked. Surprised at the same time, he immediately realized that his chance to perform had come. He turned his eyes and said in a low voice: "20,000 people are enough!"
"What?"
Everyone in the hall changed their faces. Zhen Jun's body leaned forward, and he said in a low voice: "Xiao Muqing, what are you talking about? This is not a place for you to speak nonsense..."
Tang Yin waved his hand to stop Zhuo Nu, a smile on his face, and asked Xiao Muqing in a soft voice: "Tell me, why do you think only 20,000 people are needed?"
Xiao Mqing said: "In my estimation, the number of barbarian soldiers who come to attack again will not exceed 600,000. Even so, the military strength is still much more than ours. If we defend the city, even if we barely repel the enemy in the end, the loss will be great. It's better to take the initiative to attack!"
"With an army of 20,000 troops, proactively attacking the barbarian army, isn't that equivalent to seeking death?" Bai Yong asked calmly. A dream.
Xiao Mucang smiled and said, "As I said before, a hard fight would not be to our advantage. But if we send out a detachment of ambush troops beforehand and hide them near the border city, when the barbarian army attacks the city, they will suddenly emerge and join forces with the brothers inside the city, attacking from both inside and outside, catching the enemy off guard and unprepared, which can disrupt the barbarian army's formation and take advantage of the momentum to defeat them!"
"It's simply ridiculous!" Juno scoffed, "Outside the border town, it's flat and open, with only the eastern mountain forest to hide troops. But the barbarian army is cunning and won't be caught off guard or neglect to investigate. How can our ambush troops possibly remain hidden?"
