The deep sky is incomparably deep, and a crescent moon shines with a faint light, becoming increasingly clear.
The world is like a wash.
The roar of the turbulent water shattered the silence of the night, completely burying the chirping of insects that continued after nightfall; occasionally a wolf howled from nowhere.
Torches were inserted almost all over the long slope of the north bank, and everywhere there were busy young men working all night, breaking through the mountains to collect soil, and transporting it to the camps in the north in hundreds of wheelbarrows, even on their shoulders;
The loud trumpets converged into a turbulent flow no less powerful than the turbid water in early autumn.
In order to keep it secret, Chushan still claimed to the outside world that all this was to cover the retreat of the Heluo people to the south, so they mobilized thousands of young and strong civilians and craftsmen to build indestructible forts on the north bank of the Shuishui River to guard against possible enemy attacks.
Attack from the direction of Wanqiu.
The long slope on the north bank is still a bit narrower, while the terrain sinks to the north.
If you want to build two permanent strongholds there, which are at odds with Xiaoquegang on the south bank, you will need to transport soil to fill in two empty spaces, which is a matter of course.
The selected canal route is a valley with a slightly lower terrain.
The reason why we chose this place to build the canal was not because the terrain was two or three feet lower than the surrounding areas.
If the soil layer is thinner or thicker, it won't be a big problem.
Thousands of young and strong civilians worked day and night alternately to dig a channel more than 2,000 paces long, which was not a very strenuous task.
The key is that after breaking through the soil to expose the rock formation, it is expected that the excavation will continue to be more than two feet deep to be level with the river bed of the Shuishui River. At the same time, the bottom of the stone canal must be wide enough to ensure that the flood peaks in the upper reaches of the Shuishui River, Lishui River and other areas can be ensured.
It is very difficult to vent smoothly to the north.
With traditional means, this is even an impossible task; at least not this winter.
The excavated stone channel is only more than 2,000 steps long, and there is not much space to invest too much young and strong labor.
In fact, each group of young and strong laborers mainly relied on traditional methods such as burning accumulated salary and using iron drills to break and chisel. How deep can they really dig out a rock layer that is more than 2,000 long and 30 to 40 paces wide throughout the winter?
After Xu Huai left Wuyang, Yu Chengzhen, Zhuang Yong, Chen Zixiao, Shi Zhen, Su Laochang and others discussed repeatedly. The demolition plan was to ensure that the rock formations on the long slope of the north bank were broken as much as possible before the enemy troops gathered in large numbers.
The chisel must be able to reach a depth of one foot.
At this time, although there is still a gap of about ten feet between the bottom of the stone canal and the Juishui river bed, in addition to the fact that the dam to intercept the river needs to be built ten feet higher than expected, there is also the distance from Xiaoquegang to the west, along the south of the Juishui River.
A long embankment more than two feet high was built on the naturally formed river bank.
By doing this, it will be ensured that the water level of the Shui River is always higher than the bottom of the stone canal, ensuring that the upstream water flows to the depression zone in the north.
The Huan River and Lishui River flow through Ye County and Wuyang River. The place where they flow has a large slope. The south bank long embankment only needs to be built before the flood season next year. It is only about 20 miles long.
enough.
This is definitely much easier to implement than digging an extra ten feet deep stone ditch on the north shore.
As the upstream stream carries a large amount of sediment rolling down, the river near Xiaoquegang will soon silt up with the bottom of the stone canal, thereby reducing the pressure on the river interception dam on the right.
This is why Yu Chengzhen and Zhuang Yong led more than a hundred craftsmen to station in Xiaoquegang more than a month in advance to conduct terrain surveys.
In addition to measuring the depth of the rock formations on the north bank covered by thick soil in order to find the most convenient and economical location for the channel, they also surveyed the topography of the south bank and considered the possibility of raising the river bed in advance.
Compared to the busyness on the north bank, the camp on the south bank is much quieter at this time.
many.
However, Chen Zixiao's big tent at the south bank camp was still brightly lit at this moment.
Han Lurong, as the commander of the Sixth Chamber Guards Camp, pushed open the wooden door and walked into the tent. When he saw Chen Zixiao still bending over the desk and reading documents, he said, "It's so late at night, why doesn't the military prince rest?" He walked closer and asked for something.
After sorting out the messy letters on Chen Zixiao's desk, he saw that what Chen Zixiao was looking at was the plan of the canal and dam that was to be built near Xiaoquegang. He asked in confusion, "Everything has been finalized. How come the military prince has returned it again and again?"
Look at this picture again and again. Is there anything wrong with it?"
"Oh, there's no problem!" Chen Zixiao said with a smile, "There are just some things. The more you think about it, the more you learn! You have been with me in Chushan for more than a year. How do you feel now?"
After Chi Hu invaded the south, the remnants of the Khitan clan were almost at the end of their rope. In the end, they could only rely on the Southern Dynasty and moved to Qinfeng and other places to rest and recuperate temporarily.
When the Chihu people had risen to a huge power, the Southern Dynasty still ignored the threat and even sought the skin of the tiger. They launched two attacks on the Khitan, which shattered the last wish of the remnant Khitan tribe to establish themselves in Yanyun. The resentment contained in this is not so easy to eliminate.
of.
Although the northern Han people like Han Lurong did not have such deep resentment towards the Southern Dynasties, they definitely did not have any favorable impressions.
Chen Zixiao was finally able to lead more than a thousand Han soldiers among the remaining troops to surrender to Chushan. It was Xiao Linshi and Xiao Yanhan who did a lot of work.
Of course, Han Lurong followed Chen Zixiao (Han Lun) and surrendered to Chushan without any hesitation.
After all, the entire Han clan in Yunzhou, including men, women, old and young, only has more than a hundred clan members left. Apart from gathering under Chen Zixiao's command and defecting to Chushan, are they going to have another clan split?
However, Han Lurong didn't have much expectations for this southward trip at first. He even thought that after Chen Zixiao realized that Nantou Chushan was not a good choice, they would leave Chushan and go west to Qin.
Zhou, returned to serve in front of Xiao Shuai's account.
For more than a year, although the situation in Huaishang and the entire Southern Dynasty had not improved, and would even become more severe due to the Zheng family's withdrawal from Heluo, some of Han Lurong's inner thoughts were quietly changing.
After all, although he used to think that Xu Huai was brave and good at fighting and good at using cunning tactics, and that the Chushan Army was a rare elite in the world, his previous understanding was still superficial.
Only in the past year did he truly see what was behind the Chushan Army's bravery and prowess. Deep down in his heart, he realized that Xu Huai was at least as good as Xiao Shuai, and he also saw that he could stick to Chushan.
’s hope.
"Before Chushan in the future, I only knew that Chushan soldiers and horses were brave and good at fighting. After coming to Chushan, I realized that it was possible to fight like this!" Han Lurong said with emotion.
"This is why I always get something from reading these pictures and letters," Chen Zixiao stood up and said with a smile, "Xu Huai has really raised the combat level to a level that we can no longer match! Go out with me for a walk, it's very revealing.
Breathable!”
There are only so many members of the Han clan left, and Han Lurong is a leader among the younger generation. Chen Zixiao also hopes that Han Lurong will be able to hold a big position one day.
"Hey, what happened on the north bank?" Chen Zixiao walked out of the camp and saw someone walking in the direction of the bridge, and asked suspiciously.
In order to prevent accidents and damage from infiltrated enemies, the bridge crossings on both sides of the pontoon bridge will be closed after nightfall, and only those conveying urgent military information are allowed to pass.
The outside of the bridge is separated by a fence. There is a door for entry and exit on the road, and a small team of soldiers is on duty.
Under the light of the bonfire and the bright moonlight, Chen Zixiao and the others could barely see the bridge crossing on the north bank from the south bank.
At this time, Chen Zixiao saw
Several riders passed by the bridge crossing on the north bank and were being investigated by the officers on duty. They were leading their horses across the crossing. I didn't know that something urgent had happened and they needed to rush to the south bank at this time.
Soon Zhou Jing led three scouts into the Xiaoquegang camp and came to Chen Zixiao.
"In the past two days, thousands of cavalry have dispersed into Heishigou. Are they disguised as Tibetan soldiers?"
Hearing the news, Chen Zixiao was also shocked. He immediately rushed to Wuyang, Zhaoling, Ye County and other places to pass the news to Yin Peng, Su Laochang, Shi Zhen, Guo Junpan, Xu Wukun and others.
people.
Ye County is a long way away, but fortunately Shi Zhen was in Wuyang at that time. He rushed to Xiaoquegang with Yin Peng and other generals stationed in Wuyang, met with Guo Junpan, Tang Tiande and others who came from the remaining city of Zhaoling, and arrived before dawn
Xiaoquegang gathered together and were shocked by the latest intelligence in the direction of Heishigou.
"Based on the lessons learned from Huangyangzhai, Yue Hailou's reaction was more intense than we imagined!" Shi Zhen couldn't help but sigh after hearing the latest military situation.
Guo Junpan asked: "Looking at Yue Laogou's posture, he wants to secretly gather the elites to attack us and drive us out of the north bank in one fell swoop! However, Yue Hailou's crotch does not have much goods, so we also secretly gathered the elites.
Give him a head-on blow?"
Although Chen Zixiao is a former army general, the current situation is no longer something that can be solved by the more than 3,000 troops currently assembled in Xiaoquegang.
During Xu Huai's absence, major military and political matters were discussed and decided by the generals on the west wing, but the core was still Shi Zhen.
Chen Zixiao looked at Shi Zhen, but he didn't know what he thought about Guo Junpan's suggestion.
Shi Zhen shook his head and said: "We still have to try our best to avoid attracting the enemy's main force too early!"
If they are well prepared, it will not be difficult to repel a wave of enemy attacks on the north bank, and they can even make Yue Hailou steal the chicken but lose the rice. However, the whole thing cannot be done by repelling a single enemy attack.
Their initial plan was to control the scale of the early battles as much as possible and avoid drawing the enemy forces in Xingyang and Hulao to the south prematurely.
Their elite troops and horses hidden in Wuyang, Yexian, and Zhaoling are completely unafraid of an attack by Yue Hailou and his troops, and they are even extremely confident that they can severely damage the enemy troops that attack them.
However, if the main enemy forces from Xingyang, Hulao and other places are attracted too early, and the two sides engage in a fierce and cruel battle on the north bank, there will still be enough time to organize the manpower to break through the mountains and dig canals, right?
Besides, if they secretly gather elites to the north bank, can they definitely hide it from Yue Hailou's sight?
Will the first battle be such that both sides invest tens of thousands of soldiers into the battle?
And Xu Huai personally led his bodyguards and soldiers deep into the enemy's territory. Wasn't the purpose of disturbing the sight of the red soldiers and avoiding premature battles on both sides of the Nishui River, so that Xiaoquegang would have more time to organize young and strong laborers to break through the mountains and dig canals?
They even have to consider that once a battle opportunity is formed prematurely, it will inevitably greatly affect the enemy's deployment in the entire Hehuai region, which will bring more unpredictable variables to the troops sneaking into the enemy's territory!
Everyone looked towards Chen Zixiao.
If they pretended not to know anything and kept their troops hidden elsewhere, then Chen Zixiao would have to bear all the pressure on both sides of Xiaoquegang.
The amount of pressure involved is beyond words.
As a former military general, Chen Zixiao could refuse to bear the military pressure he could bear.
"Then just stand still!" Chen Zixiao said resolutely, "The commander-in-chief has already predicted that Yue Hailou will be difficult to deal with, and he will not hesitate to risk his own life to attack Bian. The generals in the sixth chamber will not even be able to fight hard.
