"There is not enough mule drivers, so I am used as a mule driver to drive a cart and transport military rations."

"Why?"

Sun Xuanya stared at him with a stern look, "Why do you want to act as a mule husband?"

"Because this is the only chance to escape, otherwise I would stay in the prisoner-of-war camp and I don't know what fate is, so the Sui army recruited mule drivers, and I was the first to sign up, and I was driving mules at home." Sun Ying replied sternly, and he was obviously a little unhappy.

Sun Ying's explanation was not very sufficient, but he could not find any fault. When Sun Xuanya thought of her blood relationship with him, his suspicion was slightly relieved. After pondering for a moment, he asked again: "Why would you rather join Wang Bo than come to me?"

After a while, Sun Ying lowered her head and whispered: "Uncle San should know the reason."

Of course, Sun Xuanya knew that because she killed Sun Daqing and Sun Xuanya's father back then.

"Then why did you figure it out again now?"

"Because... my nephew doesn't want to... get poorer anymore." Sun Ying said this with difficulty.

This sentence made Sun Xuanya's gaze soften. This is the truth he wanted to hear. He came to him to get rich and would not care about the fact that he killed his father back then, "wealth can make people forget the hatred of killing his father." What a classic sentence.

Sun Xuanya patted him on the shoulder, "I'm sorry for what happened back then, I didn't want to..."

Sun Xuanya sighed, "Anyway, I will double my compensation for you, and I believe your father will forgive me."

"Thank you, Uncle San!"

"Go! Have a good rest, and we will talk slowly later."

Sun Ying bowed and stepped down. Sun Xuanya looked at his far away back, and there was still a trace of doubt in her eyes. Zhang Xuan was too cunning, which forced him to be careful. Especially when Sun Ying arrived at this sensitive moment.

Sun Ying's arrival did not cause much trouble, and Sun Xuanya did not take him much heart. At this time, Sun Xuanya's attention was all focused on Zhang Xuan. He had a strong premonition that Zhang Xuan would definitely take action after successfully ambushing Wang Bo. He must master the Sui army's every move. For this reason, Sun Xuanya sent a hundred spies to investigate the news near Mengyin Fort and Dong'an County.

On the morning of the third day, Sun Xuanya came to the city wall again and looked into the north from afar. He wanted to know the current situation in Mengyin Castle.

At this time, a personal soldier whispered: "Didn't the king's nephew escape from Mengyin Fort? Can you ask him?"

A word reminded Sun Xuanya. He pondered for a moment and immediately ordered: "Go and come and see me!"

The personal soldiers rushed away and soon brought Sun Ying up. Perhaps because of the good food and sleep, Sun Ying's complexion was much better than the day before yesterday. Sun Xuanya looked at him and asked with a smile: "Are you satisfied with food and accommodation?"

"Thank you for your arrangements from Uncle San. My nephew is very satisfied. But I can't stay idle and want to do something for Uncle San."

Sun Xuanya knew that he was asking him for an official position, so she smiled faintly and said, "Don't hurry to do things, keep your health well. Do something with you."

"My nephew obeys the order!"

Sun Xuanya asked again after a change of topic: "I remember you said you escaped from Mengyin Castle, right?"

"Report to the third uncle. Mengyin Fort is very cautious, so where can I escape? I am a mule man who sends food and escape halfway back to Dong'an County."

"So, have you ever entered Mengyin Castle?"

"My nephew stayed in Mengyin Castle for two days, mainly transporting grain into the warehouse."

"Do you know how many soldiers are in Mengyin Castle?" Sun Xuanya asked without saying a word.

"I don't know how many nephews are, but it seems that there are only about a thousand people."

"What?"

Sun Xuanya was shocked. He asked a little uncontrollably: "You are right! How could there be only a thousand people, but it should be three thousand troops."

"Uncle San, my nephew has also served as a soldier. The three thousand people and one thousand people can be distinguished clearly. The castle is so big, and it is very crowded for three thousand people to live in. But there are really not many defenders in the castle, only a thousand people, so my nephew dares to guarantee it."

Next to him, Sun Xuanya's brother Sun Zhian couldn't help but say, "Aying, I'll ask you, who is the head of Mengyin Castle?"

"Reporting to the fourth uncle, it seems that his surname is Li, he is very young, and I have forgotten what his name is Li."

"Li Shou Festival?"

"Yes! Yes! That's the name."

The Sun Xuanya brothers looked at each other, and both of them were very confused. If Li Shoujie was the leader, what about Yuchi Gong?

Of course, it would be normal if Li Shoujie was the main general and only one thousand troops were stationed in Mengyin Fort, but Sun Xuanya remembered it very clearly. Ten days ago, he found Yuchi Gong patrolling the city of Mengyin Fort. Now Sun Ying actually said that he was gone. What was going on? Could it be that Sun Ying was deliberately deceiving himself?

Sun Xuanya felt a little unhappy and waved her hand and said, "You go down first!"

"Goodbye, my nephew!"

Sun Ying went down, and Sun Xuanya looked at Sun Ying's back and said angrily: "This kid is talking nonsense!"

But Sun Zhian hesitated and said, "Brother, maybe he didn't say nonsense."

"You... Why do you say that?"

"Did you forget it? There were two days when we didn't have spies in Mengyin Fort. Perhaps the troops in Mengyin Fort changed in those two days."

"How is this possible?"

"But what if it's true?"

Sun Xuanya was a little moved. If this was the case, he could have attacked Mengyin Fortress on a large scale and snatched Mengyin Fortress. However, Sun Xuanya did not dare to send troops easily, for fear that it would be Zhang Xuan's trap, so he pondered for a moment.

At this time, Sun Zhian whispered: "Brother, I have considered that we can actually send someone to climb to the top of the mountain. At the top of the mountain, we may see the situation in Mengyin Castle."

Sun Xuanya was suddenly afraid of his forehead. He was really confused. He actually forgot that Mengyin Castle was located on the mountainside, and they could indeed climb to the top of the mountain to investigate the situation in the fort.

"Your proposal is very good, send someone up the mountain immediately!"

...........

As Sun Ying described, the garrison of Mengyin Fort had decreased unknowingly, with only more than a thousand people. The generals stationed in the castle were also changed from Yuchi Gong to Li Shoujie. Three thousand people could make the castle solid, but only one thousand people could defend it, which was somewhat difficult. The Sui army knew this very well, and Sun Xuanya was also aware of it.

So when Sun Xuanya heard that the castle had only one thousand people defended, he was really moved. Mengyin Castle was only eighty miles away from Fei County. It can be said that it was a sharp sword hanging above Fei County's head, a stinger inserted in their backs, and the foundation of the Sui army's large-scale south attack.

If this stinger is removed, the supply of military rations and materials for the Sui army's southern expedition will become very difficult, and it will not be possible to carry out long-term combat. As long as Sun Xuanya defends the city, the Sui army will be defeated without fighting.

Therefore, Mengyin Fort was the most critical pawn for the Sui army's southern expedition, which was crucial to both the Sui army and Sun Xuanya.

In the early morning, the Sui army stood by the castle as usual. The main general Li Shoujie was taking stock of grain in the warehouse. In the past month of transportation, there were already 10,000 stones of grain in the granary of Mengyin Fort, which was enough to support the two-month battle of the Sui army. There were also 10,000 deputy soldiers and armor, as well as salt, oil, jerky meat, dried fish and other supplies.

These food, soldiers and other materials were allocated from Liyangcang to the Feiying Army, and Pei Renji transferred them to Zhang Xuan. A war was not just a document from the Ministry of War, but also the allocation of various war materials, which was the key.

It is easier to count grain, one pack of grain per stone, and one warehouse packs one thousand bags. A total of more than a dozen large warehouses were built in the city. In addition to the military camp, the entire castle seemed crowded.

Li Shoujie looked at the neatly packed grain bags, as if these heavy grain bags were pressing on him. He was really worried that only one thousand soldiers could withstand the large-scale attack of Sun Xuanya's army? Once the castle was lost, he would become the sinner of this battle. I don't know what the general thought about it, but he actually withdrew two thousand troops.

At this moment, a soldier ran to report: "Report to General Li, my brothers found that more than a dozen thief troops had gone up the back mountain. Captain Wang asked if he would send someone to capture them alive?"

Li Shoujie didn't say anything. He immediately left the warehouse, walked up the city wall quickly, and looked out at the majestic back mountain from a distance.

Mengyin Fort is built on the hillside. On one side is a cliff a hundred feet high, and on the other side is a majestic mountain. The forests on the mountain are dense and various huge rocks are rugged. They suddenly emerge from the lush forest, just like monster heads looking down.

Of course, you cannot attack Mengyin Castle from the mountain, but you can visit down from above and monitor every move in Mengyin Castle.

At this time, the captain Wang Tao quickly walked forward and whispered to Li Shoujie: "About 15 spies from the thief army went up the mountain. They must have come to visit the movements in our fort. I am willing to lead a group of brothers to capture them back."

Of course, Li Shoujie wanted to capture this arrogant bandit, but when he thought of Yuchi Gong's repeated explanations before leaving, he could only sigh depressedly, "Don't worry about them, whatever they do!"

Wang Tao was stunned, "This is... why?"

"This is the general's order. Ask me, who will I go?"

Li Shoujie glared at him dissatisfiedly, turned around and strode down the city. The captain looked at the mountain and scratched his head. He really couldn't figure out why. (To be continued.)
Chapter completed!