Chapter 45, gather around

Zhang Yuan, Zhang Yu and others were welcomed into the backyard and ordered the servants to prepare tea to entertain the crowd.

Zuzuo introduced several uncles to know Zhang Yuan and Zhang Yu, and recounted the plan to besiege the thieves again.

After a brief thought, Zhang Yuan only made some suggestions on some details, and there was generally no objection.

Subsequently, Zu Zhao asked several uncles to make a team with the disciples of the Zhang brothers. After all, the Zhang brothers are not very familiar with others, so when they form a formation, they try to arrange to be with him as much as possible.

At noon, Zu Fan received the information sent by Zu Zhao and rushed from the county to Zujiazhuang. After hearing that the backyard had been assembled and would leave soon, his face was slightly anxious, and he kept rushing straight to the backyard. As soon as they arrived in the backyard, the children of the ancestral family and the brothers of the Zhang family had already got on the horse together and were driving out of the village. Zu Fan only found Zu Ke in the crowd, and could only ask him for specific information in a hurry.

Zu Ke talked about the situation of A Cheng, A Bao and others. He was a little puzzled by Zu Fan who came here at this time and said, "I sent someone to look for you earlier and made an appointment for you to take people to the official road round. You're upside down now, can't you go now?

Zu Fan was helpless and sighed and said, "The eldest son is so eager that he really doesn't know the situation in the county. Yesterday evening, Chen County gave a death order. Without the official approval of the county government, he would never easily cross the county to the command branch. The words have spread below. Not only the county lieutenant can't move, but also the more than a dozen strong men summoned by the juniors can't be called.

Zu Ke said angrily and said, "Chen really follows the rules! Well, what if my ancestral family doesn't have his help? How many people can be transferred by the county government? They are not all wall watchers.

When Zu Fan heard this, he was very embarrassed for a moment, and his face was a little solemn. Of course, he knows that the ancestral family has a great career. Not to mention the support of the county government, I'm afraid the county government will have to ask the ancestral family for support when necessary. But because of the big family, we should be more careful not to recruit people. Especially this time, the ancestral family made such a big move, and the armor was exhausted. If it is really investigated after the event, I'm afraid that I can't argue. It's really big or small.

The reason why he sent someone to tell this yesterday was that he hoped that the ancestral family must cooperate with the county government on this trip, so that there would be something to be argued later. By this time, the ancestral family had already set out on the road, and it would be useless for him to persuade him.

At this time, Zu Ke asked, "If you want to go together, get on the horse. If you are afraid of delay, then go back by yourself."

After saying that, he followed the team out of the backyard gate.

Zu Fan sighed and hesitated for a moment.

Zu Zhao, Zu Ling, Zu Ji, Zhang Yuan and Han Dang are at the forefront of the team. The team of more than 100 people is fully armed and looks full in the clear sunshine in winter. Passing by the nearby farmland, many people stopped in surprise when they saw such a scene. Although every winter, the county will invite all the heroes of each township pavilion, which is no less than the present, but after all, such a situation is not common, coupled with the recent rumors of horse robbery, must have something to do with this matter.

The speed of the team was not fast, and it didn't arrive at the official road in the east of the county half an hour later.

Originally, it was agreed to meet with Zu Fan here, but on the way, he heard Zu Ke talk about Zu Fan, so Zu Zhao did not stop much and led the team to the official road and galloped to Lingzhi County. I have to say that Zu Zhao still has some regrets that Zu Fan has never been with him. In addition to his personal appreciation for Zu Fan, he is also well aware of the great movement of the ancestral family, which must be covered by the identity of the government. Of course, now, naturally we can't stop.

Anyway, chaos is coming, and all existing orders and rules will be subverted.

However, not long after leaving the east of the county, a child's call suddenly came from the rear.

Zu Zhao, the leader, slowed down, and the team of more than 100 people slowed down. He looked back and saw the five riders chasing the official road behind the team. Not long after, when the other party approached, he saw at a glance that the leader was none other than Zu Fan.

Zu Zhao grabbed the reins and turned the horse's head back to the tail of the team.

Zu Fan and the other four riders quickly caught up with the team. They were not as fully equipped as the sons of the Zu family or the Zhang brothers. They were all light and simple, just equipped with a long sword.

"Afan, why did you follow me again?"

"It's a big deal. Even if you violate the order, I just hope it can help a little." Zu Fan is serious.

"Good." Zu Zhao smiled and said nothing more, leading Zu Fan to keep up with the team.

On the way to Lingzhi, Zu Zhao told Zu Fan about the encirclement plan he had arranged earlier. Because the formation had been decided, there was no way for Zu Fan to continue to lead a suspicious soldier and temporarily under his team.

Not long after marching, the team gradually deviated from the official road. The shortcut led by Handang will not pass through inhabited places along the way, and will run all the way from the wasteland in the north to the forest on the eastern outskirts of Lingzhi County. During the whole trip, there were only two short breaks, and the people and horses drank some water to replenish their strength. When the group arrived in Lingzhi County, just after noon, in order to meet Zucheng, Zubao and others in the county, Zu Zhao specially assigned three children to Xilitun Town in the south and told them to rush to the east to inform them as soon as there was any news.

The brigade continued to drive more than ten miles, and gradually there was a shadow of trees ahead.

Han Dang suggested that Zu Zhao and others divide their troops into four routes here, and agreed to take the fire and shouts of killing on the south road after dusk, and enter the three roads together. The East Road Suspect Team was led by Zu Ke. Because the road was the farthest, it set out first. West Road can stay here for a while and begin to collect branches tied to the ponytail. The suspected soldier of West Road was originally led by Zu Fan, but it was only then adjusted when the formation was made, and now it was changed to Zu Li led by the team. Zuling had a brief discussion with Zu Zhao, Zu Li, Han Dang and others for a while, and then gathered more than 50 people in charge of the south road to respond and went south around the wilderness on the outermost part of the forest.

Zu Zhao personally led Zu Ji, Gongsun Long, Zu Fan and Han Dang, led more than 60 ambushes on the North Road and continued north to Gobi.

On the way, he really observed the woods and looked at it at a glance. More than 40 thieves hid here like needles in the sea. He had to worry that even if the thief did escape to the north in the end, but with the more than 60 people he led alone, he was afraid that he could not take care of the whole north exit. In case the ambush circle was set in the wrong direction, he could only rush to chase him.

It took two quarters of an hour to travel, and the road ahead became more and more desolate, and the trees in the east became more and more sparse.

As Han Dang said, to the north is a large area of wasteland and Gobi Desert, and the terrain is sometimes undulating and sometimes flat.

Zu Zhao followed Han Dang and began to turn around and leaned slightly to the east. Until he came to a mound, he raised his hand to signal everyone to stop. More than 60 people behind him slowed down and stopped near the mound, while Shunlin, where the thief hid, was already in the south direction.

"Son, if you want to set up an ambush, the forest stretches for seven or eight miles, and the thief can escape from any place. How can we estimate?" Zu Fan looked in the direction of the forest and said worriedly.

Other people looked forward to this and may feel the same way.

Zu Zhao was not in a hurry to answer Zu Fan's words, but subconsciously took a look at Han Dang. After all, the idea of setting up an ambush in the north was put forward by Han Dang. As a local of Lingzhi County, Han Dang should not be unaware of this section. However, at this time, he found that Han Dang did not say a word, but stared at himself with a strange look.

He seems to have some awareness in his heart. In fact, he has been thinking about this problem long ago. Although it is difficult to predict the escape route of the thieves, it is not that there is nothing he can do. The ambush should be adapted to the local conditions. This is not only the desert Gobi but also has hilly terrain. The best lurking place is behind the hills, using the horizon to cover its whereabouts. Not only that, the high position of the hills can also provide an advantage in sight. At that time, the general direction of the escape of the thieves can be judged according to the firelight of a team of Zuling in the south.

Take a step back and say that even if the direction of the thief's escape is different from the prediction, I understand that most of these thieves are poor people. Even if they have robbed more than a dozen stallion before, no one will know equestrianism. And the people who participated in this siege are all good at bowing and horse skills, and it is not difficult to chase.

Considering this, Zu Zhao did not continue to hesitate and said directly, "Set up an ambush here, and everyone moved their horses behind the hill to hide. Aji, you go a hundred steps away on the left to monitor the east; Axing, you go a hundred steps away on the right to monitor the west.

not far away, Han Dang heard Zu Zhao's order, and a look of appreciation flashed on his face.

The children heard the order, and no one had any objection, and began to move behind the hill one after another.

After riding for most of the day, most of them were sleepy, and they came to the back of the hill and turned over and disared one after another. Zu Zhao specially arranged several people to take turns to take care of the horses, so that there were no accidents. In order to hurry, everyone did not eat at noon. At this time, they took out the dry food they had already prepared and had a cold fruit belly.

Zu Zhao handed over the horse to the children behind the hill. He squatted on the top of the hill with Han Dang, Zu Fan, Gongsun Long and others, closely watching the movement in the direction of the forest. However, at this moment, there is a loneliness in the forest, and occasionally the sound of birds comes out. Everything is calm and not strange at all, and even makes people confused to find the wrong place.

"Eunuch, so, the thief is really hiding here?" Gongsun Long asked while scratching his head.

Zu Zhao didn't say anything. In fact, he was also not sure, which is why he asked Ah Cheng, Ah Bao and others to find out the reason first. However, from the geographical map of Lingzhi County provided by Zu Fan, this forest is the only place that can be hidden for a long time within a hundred miles.

"There will be no mistake in nine out of ten. According to Han's understanding of this place, this wild forest is suitable for hiding. Dozens of miles of desert are desolate, which is not only difficult to hide, but also more difficult to supply. Seven or eight miles to the east is He Shangyi. There are people nearby. Don't the thief dare to go there? At this time, Han Dang said in a very positive tone.