The Chu army in Bianliang withdrew from both sides of the Mingxi River and retreated to the cities of Queshan and Zhenyang. This was something that Chushan had long expected.
Therefore, for Xu Huai, it meant that he could relax a little after being tense for half a year, take a comfortable hot bath under the warm sunshine, and ask Liu Qiong'er to help him wash away all the dirt.
Liu Qiong'er was busy for a long time, wiping off the dirt on Xu Huai's body. The spring was warm, and the dress on her body was already thin, and it stuck to her slender waist and hips with water, revealing the jade color.
Xu Huai splashed water on her, causing her dress to get soaked, revealing her waist and hip curves, which were indescribably plump and attractive.
Liu Qiong'er stretched out her hand and hit Xu Huai twice. Seeing Xu Huai reaching out to pull her into the tub, she quickly begged for mercy: "This water is dirty and smelly. Please spare me. Get up quickly and get a basin of clean water."
You rinse it again!"
"All the clothes you are wearing are all wet. Please change the water and come with me to wash it!" Xu Huai grabbed Liu Qiong'er's delicate little hand and said, persistently.
Seeing Xu Huai's shameless look, Liu Qiong'er grabbed her little hand and pushed it under the water. There was nothing she could do to him, so she had to ask the maid to set up another wooden basin in the house to boil hot water and pour it in; she was not bold enough to fight with Xu.
They were pregnant and bathing together under the sun in the courtyard.
Xu Huai and Liu Qiong'er had a great time bathing together, and then fell asleep in Liu Qiong'er's fragrant bedroom. It was a rare holiday for themselves;
Lao Chang and others were taking care of the military affairs, so he didn't need to worry too much.
The withdrawal of the Chu army from Bianliang from both sides of the Mingxi River was an expected event for everyone in Chushan. Many things were done step by step.
When the news reached Xiangyang, it was a rare victory.
Zhou He, Gao Chunnian, Wu Wenche, Gu Fan and others, as the leaders of the ministers, never had a good impression of Xu Huai and the people in Chushan, but they were also excited when they learned the news that Yue Hailou had withdrawn his troops from Huaishang.
They rushed to the palace to deliver the good news to Emperor Jianji.
"It is Marquis Jingsheng who can take on the important task and live up to expectations!" Zhao Tuan was so excited when he heard the good news that the enemy troops had withdrawn from Huaishang. He looked at Zhou He, Gao Chunnian and others and said, "You sir, do your best for me.
Think about it, how should I reward Marquis Jingsheng for his merits?"
After the winter of last year, the Red Husbands once again launched an offensive. Gao Junyang and Gu Jiqian from Shaanxi Province were forced to withdraw to the south of the Wei River. They relied on the walls at the northern foot of the Qinling Mountains to fight against the fierce Japanese troops.
Most of Shaanxi, including Jingzhao Prefecture, has fallen to the enemy.
Yang Lin led his troops to reinforce Heluo, take over Gong County, and defend the second city of Yanshi, allowing Zheng Huaizhong to gather elite troops and horses to reinforce Pinglu.
As for Heluo, although the cities of Gongxian and Pinglu were not lost, the enemy had built strong fortifications in the two cities, filled them with tens of thousands of capable soldiers, built large trebuchets, and pounded the city walls day and night, leaving the two cities in ruins.
It was dilapidated and suffered heavy casualties.
As long as the enemy troops do not withdraw from Pinglu and Gong County, the situation in Heluo will not be reassuring.
In Huainan, although the main force of the Pingyan Army on Chihudong Road finally withdrew to the north bank, this was not because the Huaiwangfu army had a strong combat effectiveness, but because the Huaihe River was frozen for a short period of time, which prevented the Pingyan Army from staying in Huainan.
Han Shiliang, the general of the Huai Prince's Palace, originally led his troops to defend Sizhou City and repulsed many attacks by Yan Jijiang's vassal army and achieved many achievements. However, Huai King Zhao Guan was worried that Sizhou was isolated to the north of the Huai River and would be besieged.
The few elite combat forces under the Huai Prince's command were severely damaged. In late February, Han Shiliang was ordered to lead his troops to abandon Sizhou City and withdraw to the south bank of the Huai River.
The Chihu people realized that the Jianghuai River was a land of swamps and it was difficult for the cavalry to advance or retreat. At this time, they had gathered craftsmen in Xuzhou and Ruyin to build warships and train naval forces.
When its navy succeeds, it will definitely threaten Huainan again.
At present, Chushan is the only one who has definitely used hard power to push back the enemy.
Still after the Xuanwei Army was defeated, Chushan ensured that the Huaishang defense line remained intact.
The entire Huaishang defense line was the most fundamental vassal screen in Xiangyang. Zhao Tuan and the princes in the palace could not imagine how they would respond if the Huaishang defense line was torn open by the enemy.
"The Jiangdong Transshipment Envoy sent thousands of pieces of silk as a gift many years ago. Your Majesty has always been reluctant to use them. Maybe you can appreciate Chushan's contribution!" Zhou He said.
"Just a thousand bolts of silk, it doesn't make me too petty!" Zhao Tuan laughed and said, "Marquis Jingsheng is not a luxurious person, so he can reward less, but there are so many soldiers from Chushan fighting bloody battles on the front line, Xiangyang
No matter how embarrassed they are, they can't be discouraged. The princes will try to find a way to see if they can raise two hundred thousand silver coins and give Jingsheng Marquis a reward for their merits!"
Seeing the firm look on Emperor Jianji's face, Zhou He and others all shouted: "Your Majesty is wise!"
The war in Huainan, Heluo, and Shaanxi is stalemate, which is not optimistic, but it is not a direct threat to Xiangyang. At this time, the enemy troops withdrew from Huaishang, and everyone could finally sleep peacefully for a few days. Everyone also felt that although Xiangyang was in distress, it really could not be too
Xiaojiazi was angry.
Although Liu Yan did not encounter any major battles or fierce battles while guarding Wuyang, as one of the main commanders of the Huaishang defense line, he had to work hard even if he did not have any merit. The reward for his merit would be reduced accordingly, but he could not do without it.
It was then discussed that Zhao Yi, Princess of Wuwei, should go to Chushan on behalf of Xiangyang to announce the rewards, and the princes stood up and retired.
The Xiangyang Palace was rebuilt on the basis of the former Supervisor's Palace, and its layout is small, less than one-tenth of the Bianliang Palace.
Walking out of the palace gate, which is slightly smaller than an ordinary city wall, there is a corridor that is only a hundred steps long. Going forward is the Privy Courtyard.
As the prime minister, Zhou He was ranked above Hu Kai, Gao Chunnian, Zhao Yi, Wu Wenche and others, and walked in the corridor at the head.
There are Suwei piers on both sides of the corridor, and the city walls are towering, making the corridor appear narrow and narrow. The sun is setting in the west, and the warm sunlight illuminates a city wall, but it makes the faces of the people walking in the corridor look gloomy in the shadows.
.
Zhou He suddenly stopped walking, and everyone looked at him in confusion.
"It's hard for Heshan to be at peace at this time. Although Huaishang has survived this winter, enemy troops will continue to gather in Ruying. His Majesty will also have trouble finding peace in Xiangyang." Zhou He pondered for a moment, turned around and looked.
Xiang Gaochunnian, Hu Kai, Wu Wenche, Zhao Yi, Zhu Hang, Xu Wei, Wen Hengyue and others said, "This winter, Your Majesty has worked day and night and has lost too much weight. Making Xiangyang the capital may not be a long-term solution.
ah!"
Everyone looked at each other, some not knowing how to answer Zhou He's words.
Xiangyang is only four hundred miles away from Wuyang City, which is directly facing the enemy.
Even if Hu Kai, Zhu Hang, Xu Wei, Wen Hengyue and others did not support moving the capital, they could not deny that this distance was far from strategic depth.
Once Wuyang is defeated and Nanyang is attacked, the situation in Xiangyang can be affected at a critical moment.
This winter, everyone's mood was uneasy. They were mainly worried that once the Huaishang defense line was torn apart by the captive soldiers, it would be difficult for the Xuanwu Army on the left and right to hold the second line of defense, and the captive soldiers might kill directly to the gates of Xiangyang (Fancheng) at any time.
"Xiangyang is located in the world, connecting Jianghuai, Heluo, and Shaanxi. At this time, Heluo and Shaanxi are fighting fiercely. If we move southward rashly, I am afraid that the generals in Heluo and Shaanxi will be uneasy!" Hu Kai sighed slightly.
.
It’s not that he didn’t know that the Chihu army was approaching Huaishang, and the strategic depth between Xiangyang and Huaishang was too shallow, but at this time, Shaanxi and Heluo could barely support it. Not only did Xiangyang serve as the center, soldiers, horses, and supplies were mobilized
It is convenient, and at the same time, it also urges the generals to stick to the front fortress and fight bloody battles in the city without retreating.
If we abandon Xiangyang and move south, not to mention the inconvenience it will bring to the dispatch of supplies and troops, it is difficult to predict the impact on the morale and morale of the army.
"Of course we won't move the capital immediately, but doesn't Mr. Hu think that we should be prepared with both hands at this time in case of unexpected events?" Zhou He narrowed his old eyes, looked at Hu Kai and said in deep thought, "This unexpected event is not just in Huaishang.
If it is possible to hold on, we still need to consider Huainan..."
Hu Kai was silent. Although he did not advocate taking rash actions that would hurt the morale of the army, he had to admit that Zhou He's concerns were justified.
In the final analysis, Prince Huai's army cannot reassure everyone.
If the Huai Prince's army cannot hold the lower reaches of the Huai River, a hundred thousand soldiers and horses will be routed thousands of miles away, and the red cavalry will cross the Huai River and drink on the north bank of the river in the night. At that time, it will directly threaten Jiangsu and Zhejiang, causing endless turmoil in Jiangsu and Zhejiang.
At this time, more than half of the money and food that Xiangyang could raise was supplied by Jiangnan East Road, Jiangnan West Road and Liangzhe Road.
At this time, between the Yangtze River and the Huaihe River, except for the Huaiwangfu troops guarding the lower reaches of the Huaihe River, there was no one who could make people feel at ease guarding the river; and to the south was the real hinterland of Dai Viet.
Seeing that Hu Kai, Xu Wei, Wen Hengyue and others were silent, Zhou He looked at Qian Shangduan and said, "Young Masters, Qian Langjun should understand what you mean, right? Your Majesty is here, and Qian Langjun wants to make some insinuations first."
Wake up!"
Although Qian Shangduan's status in the court was not as good as that of Zhou He, Hu Kai, Gao Chunnian and others, and his blood relatives were not as close as those of Zhao Yi and Zhu Hang, the princes of Wuwei County, he followed Emperor Jianji when he was granted the title of King Jing and kept a low profile.
He was the real close minister around Emperor Jianji.
Emperor Jianji had a tough temper, and all the ministers had to pay Shangduan to prepare the groundwork for many matters with Emperor Jianji.
Qian Shangduan looked around and saw that no one had objections, so he nodded to Zhou He to express that he had kept it in mind.
Zhou He raised his hand to Zhao Yi again and said: "Your Majesty is quite convinced by Marquis Jingsheng. The prince went to Chu Mountain to work for the army. Maybe he would ask Marquis Jingsheng what his opinion is on this matter..."
