Wang Yongji raised his head and looked into Wu Sangui's eyes: "General Wu, do you want to change your defense?"

"That's right," Wu Sangui nodded, "The Guanning Army suffered heavy losses and should be sent to the rear to rest for a while."

"If you leave, who will fight the next battle? How will we fight it?" Wang Yongji asked.

"Just fight like the Guanning Army and fight with your life. As for the people who fight...anyone can do it, anyway, they are not the Guanning Army!"

"But the problem is...I don't have a suitable candidate." Wang Yongji deliberately put on an embarrassed expression.

"There are so many people in the Ping Liao army, we can't just use the Guanning Army, right?" Wu Sangui raised his voice and said, "Jiefan Village is easy to defend but difficult to attack. It's winter and the road is slippery. The price of a strong attack is heavy losses."

"The Guanning Army has fought for more than ten days and lost more than 4,000 people. It is reasonable for them to rest for a while. Please think twice, Governor."

Wang Yongji began to hesitate.

What Wu Sangui said was indeed reasonable, and his losses were witnessed by everyone.

If someone else had made this request, Wang Yongji would have agreed without hesitation.

Wu Sangui can't do it.

He is suspected of collaborating with the enemy.

Wang Yongji felt unsure about putting him at the rear of the army.

But it would be unreasonable not to let him switch defense.

While he was hesitating, a postman rushed in from outside: "News from the South Route Army Pond!"

Wang Yongji stood up suddenly and said, "Read it."

"Yes," the postman opened the envelope, took out the letter and read quickly, "The southern army encountered an ambush by Jiannu troops when they reached Abdaligang, and their food and grass were burned. The thick smoke in the rear caused the army to lose morale and then collapsed. General Huang Fei died on the battlefield, and his troops lost more than 10,000 soldiers. The remaining troops have been gathered by Generals Zeng Ying and Yang Zhan, and are retreating to Kuandian Fort!"

There was a sighing sound in the central military tent.

"Defeated? How is that possible?"

"Yes, Huang Fei, who is such a good fighter, actually lost."

"General Huang Fei died on the battlefield, which shows how fierce the battle was at that time."

Wang Yongji raised his hand to signal everyone to be quiet.

After everyone got quiet, he asked, "How many Jiannu people are there?"

"I don't know the exact number, but it's estimated to be around 20,000!" the postman replied.

Wang Yongji was a little dazed: "30,000 against 20,000, and I was defeated so thoroughly..."

Huang Degong sighed, "Huang Fei is indeed a good fighter, but he is a naval officer after all. Although he has learned the art of land warfare, he has only learned the basics, not the essence. He may have no problem fighting in formation, but he is not good at encountering enemies."

Before everyone could continue to sigh, another postman came in: "Report from the Central Route Army, General Li Dingguo's advance was blocked and he was blocked by the Jiannu in the Yagu Pass area and could not move forward."

The southern army was defeated and the central army was blocked.

Two consecutive pieces of bad news instantly made everyone's mood drop.

Wang Yongji saw this and said loudly: "Everyone! The Southern Army and the Central Army are just a cover to make Jiannu split up their forces. The one who really has the strength to capture Hetuala is our Northern Army."

Wu Sangui was somewhat frustrated: "After fighting for more than ten days, we couldn't even take down a Jiefan village. How can we be so powerful?"

“General Wu,” Wang Yongji retorted unhappily, “Just because you can’t defeat it doesn’t mean others can’t either.”

Wu Sangui was overjoyed, but his face remained calm: "Then please ask the Governor-General to withdraw the Guanning Army and replace them with a more capable team."

Having said that, Wang Yongji could only snort and start considering changing defense.

The consideration of changing defense was due to both Wu Sangui and the war situation itself.

Although the Southern Army was defeated, the Central Army was still there.

Before the troops set out, the various armies agreed to arrive outside the city of Hetuala on the tenth day of March.

Today is already the seventh day of March. Any further delay will only delay military opportunities.

Although the central army was stagnant, if the northern army broke through Sarhu and reached Hetuala, the Jiannu army that was tying down the central army would have to retreat.

Li Dingguo's central army will soon reach Hetuala and complete the encirclement.

Just as Wang Yongji was looking for a suitable candidate, Huang Degong suddenly said, "Governor, it's getting late. Let's talk about the change of guard tomorrow. Even if it's urgent, it won't be rushed in one or two days."

Wu Sangui was a little upset. He shouted at the top of his voice: "What do you mean we are not in a hurry for one or two days? Do you know how many people the Guanning Army dies every day?"

"What are you yelling about? It's not certain whether we will go into battle tomorrow. Even if we do, there's nothing wrong with it. You have tens of thousands of soldiers and horses, but you can't even take down a small Jiefan village. How dare you ask for a change of defense?" Huang Degong retorted with a cold face.

Wu Sangui had a title, and he also had a title.

In addition to their titles, the two men also held the same official positions, and the soldiers under their command were all elite troops of the imperial court.

There is no need for him to indulge Wu Sangui.

"Huang Degong, this has none of your business, don't meddle!" Wu Sangui warned.

"I wouldn't have come to Liaodong if it had nothing to do with me!" Huang Degong snorted coldly.

"Don't seek death!" Wu Sangui waved his fist and warned again.

"Come on!" Huang Degong rolled up his sleeves.

"I must teach you a lesson today!" Wu Sangui rushed towards Huang Degong.

"I'm waiting!" Huang Degong stood there and sneered.

Just as Wu Sangui was about to rush to Huang Degong, the people around him immediately surrounded him and separated the two.

Wu Sangui was not convinced at all. He jumped up and down in the crowd as if this matter was not over yet.

"Stop!" Wang Yongji slammed the table and yelled.

The scene quickly became quiet.

"How can we panic when facing a powerful enemy?" Wang Yongji asked.

Wu Sangui turned his head and looked elsewhere, keeping silent.

Huang Degong stood there with a smile on his face.

Wang Yongji snorted: "Each unit should go back and count the remaining food and fodder and the damage in battle. We will discuss the rotation tomorrow."

"I obey your command!" The generals present saluted with their fists, turned around and walked out of the central military tent.

When they arrived outside the tent, Wu Sangui was the first to mount his horse but did not leave.

In addition to the generals, Prince Ding Zhu Cijiong also attended the meeting.

He didn't dare to leave first.

After Zhu Cixiong left, Wu Sangui whipped his horse and disappeared into the twilight.

Just as Li Xianzhong was about to leave, Huang Degong patted him on the shoulder.

"Is there something wrong?" Li Xianzhong asked.

"I'll treat you to a drink tonight," Huang Degong replied.

"It's good to drink!" Li Xianzhong smiled brightly: "I just happen to have two rabbits that can be roasted as a side dish."

Huang Degong then found Prince Ding Zhu Cijiong and Gao Yigong.

At nightfall, several people came to Huang Degong's central military tent.

Li Xianzhong and Gao Yigong were a little surprised by Zhu Cijiong's arrival, but they still saluted at the first opportunity.

After the ceremony, everyone took their seats one after another.

Li Xianzhong searched the central army tent for a long time but couldn't find the wine jar. He came to Huang Degong and asked, "Where is the wine?"

"No drinking today."

"Don't drink?" The three of them were stunned at the same time.

Zhu Cijiong coughed lightly: "General Huang is addicted to alcohol, why don't you drink today?"

"Because today we have to discuss a matter of life and death for the Ping Liao army."

"What's the big deal?" Zhu Cijiong asked.

"Wu Sangui wants to rebel!"