At present, the troops stationed near Xiaoquegang are limited. There are only 3,000 soldiers under Chen Zixiao stationed in the camps on the north and south sides. In addition, Guo Jun has the power to know Zhaoling County and leads 2,000 state troops to station in Zhaoling Can.
The city is only about fifteen or six miles away from Xiaoquegang. Once the north bank of Xiaoquegang is attacked, reinforcements can be sent there as soon as possible.
The state army was organized under the name of the State Military and Horse Supervisory Department. Compared with the local soldiers and horses, the generals, equipment and supplies were slightly worse than the regular soldiers of the Tianxiong Army. However, the state army under the command of Chushan Xingying was far from anything else.
The Xiang army can match it.
The current scale of construction on the north bank of Xiaoquegang is still relatively limited. It is mainly in the name of filling the land needed to build camps on the north bank, and excavating and borrowing soil from the site of the new canal. Currently, only young civilians and labor camp troops have gathered on the north bank of Xiaoquegang.
There are more than 3,000 people; there are still 2,000 young and strong civilians in the remaining city of Zhaoling, mainly for repairing the city.
After taking over the defense of Wuyang, Yexian and other west wings, what Chushan is currently pushing forward with all its strength is the construction of a new post road from Qingyi Ridge to Yexian, and a total of more than 30,000 young people have been gathered.
In addition to the elite troops led by Tang Pan and Yin Peng stationed in Yexian, Wuyang and other cities, Xu Huai also used the excuse to protect the construction of the new post road from being disturbed, and also expanded the army to nearly 6,000 troops from Xinyang and Chushan.
Waiting for the eastern line of the city wall to be transferred to Wuyun Mountain between Dengjiatai Mountain and Jinding Mountain.
This is mainly because when necessary, tens of thousands of elites can be gathered near Xiaoquegang as quickly as possible to ensure that the canal breaking through the mountain can proceed smoothly.
However, this can only be implemented after the mountain-breaking and canal-breaking work has been carried out for a period of time. The main purpose is to delay time.
Don't look at the two cities of Xuchang and Wanqiu, where the puppet Chu army is heavily stationed, not far from Xiaoquegang. But don't talk about the wild trails and fields between Yingru and even the post road from Shangshui County to Wuyang in the past two or three years.
Not only has it not been carefully repaired and maintained, but it has also been damaged twice by both the enemy and ourselves. It was also soaked by rain and floods, and it has long since become extremely bad.
Cavalry can gallop across the wilderness, but it is much more difficult for infantry to trek through the wilderness.
Chushan really wants to gather tens of thousands of elite troops on the north bank of Xiaoquegang. If Yue Hailou wants to attack hard, he needs to gather superior troops and horses of sufficient size. At the same time, he also needs to ensure sufficient supply of combat materials. Without a month of leisurely dispatch, he must proceed step by step.
, is simply not enough.
In other words, as long as Chushan gathers tens of thousands of elites at Xiaoquegang, it can buy at least one more month to break through the mountain and dig canals.
However, the task of breaking through the mountain and digging the canal has just been implemented. Tens of thousands of elite soldiers and horses were gathered too early. Even if it can still be delayed for a month, it is far from guaranteed that the stone canal can be dug.
Considering that they are stationed in Hulao, Xiao Qian's troops in Xingyang are very likely to move south in advance. The enemy's troops between Yingru and Yingru may be able to assemble up to 50,000 to 60,000 people, including a large number of elite troops from the Red Guards.
cavalry.
At that time, Chushan would not be able to engage in a large-scale battle with an enemy force several times its own in an open area where communication with the rear could easily be cut off by the opponent's superior cavalry.
At that time, they will be forced to withdraw from the north bank, and even Xiaoquegang on the south bank will be difficult to defend. Naturally, the task of breaking through the mountains and digging canals will be abandoned halfway.
Now Yue Hailou is trying to prevent the Huangyangzhai incident from happening again. What is his reaction?
It was more intense and intense than everyone in Chushan expected.
In order to prevent the battle from happening much earlier than expected, Chushan's only option was to stand still. Everyone in Chushan decided to use Chen Zixiao's troops who had already entered Xiaoquegang to prepare for the enemy's possible attack at any time.
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Ten days passed quickly, and by mid-August, dozens of enemy cavalry dispersed across Ru River from the direction of Shangcai and Xincai controlled by the puppet Chu army, and then quickly crossed to the west.
"...The Marquis of the Army has issued a strict order that you follow me back to the southern camp immediately and you are not allowed to get entangled with the enemy's cavalry, otherwise you will be punished by military law!"
In the wilderness south of Xiaoquegang, Han Lurong reined up his horse and stood in front of Xu Tan's horse. He shouted sharply and signaled two horsemen to come forward and help Xu Tan break the two arrow shafts on his shoulders.
The arrowhead was still stuck between the gaps in the shoulder armor. Fortunately, only a small amount of blood seeped out, so there should be no major damage.
Then Han Lurong ordered two cavalry guards to grab Xu Tan from the left and right, preventing him from having another chance to ride out.
Xu Feng didn't realize the pain from the arrow wound on his shoulder and back, and the veins on the back of his hands popped out. He grabbed the horse's crossbar in front of his knees and stared at the patrolling soldiers not far away with a splitting gaze. He was calmly moving the last
Dozens of civilians who failed to break out of the encirclement in time were shot one by one.
The enemy's cavalry crossed Ru River from the direction of Shangcai and dispersed between Wuyang and Zhaoling (Xiaoquegang) at an alarming speed. Several teams of mules and horses responsible for transporting supplies did not have time to avoid nearby.
The camp was blocked by enemy cavalry that suddenly rushed over like a swarm of locusts.
One of the mule and horse teams was blocked by dozens of captives more than ten miles away to the south of Xiaoquegang. Xu Fang saw it at the Xiaoquegang camp and did not ask Chen Zixiao for instructions, so he brought people to rescue him without permission, but he did not want to do it soon
Hundreds of captives came from all directions to surround him.
Xu Zang was young and extremely brave. He led more than 20 cavalry to kill left and right in the enemy's siege. He killed more than ten captives in a row, but no enemy could stop him.
However, the Chihu men were very good at galloping in the shallow mountains and low ridges. They realized that Xu Tan was powerful, so they no longer stepped forward to fight Xu Tan. Instead, they used bows and crossbows from the left and right to entangle Xu Tan and others, or shoot civilians.
, trying to lure Xu Pan and others deep into the wilderness to the south.
Chen Zixiao rushed to the south bank and ordered Xu Zan to withdraw twice, but was ignored. He was so angry that he had to ask Han Lurong to lead people over in person and forcibly dragged Xu Zan back to the camp.
Returning to the camp on the west slope of Xiaoquegang, Chen Zixiao reined up his horse and stopped on a hillock to observe the enemy's situation. Seeing that Xu Tan was still full of reluctance, he raised his whip and gave him a hard whip on the head.
Whip, angrily ordered: "Tie him up and reward him with twenty military sticks to punish him!"
"A boy who is usually very clever is messing with us now," Tang Tiande looked at the bloody mark on Xu Tan's face when Chen Zixiao used a riding crop to pull it out. He smacked his lips and shouted, "I will be in charge of supervising the punishment. Don't be cruel."
Clean it up, it won’t last long!”
Su Laochang pulled Tang Tiande to stop him from causing trouble.
Xu Wuqi is such an only son. If he really loses his life on the battlefield, it will be difficult for them to explain to Xu Wuqi. However, it is necessary to reward him with twenty army sticks and a long memory. Besides, the executioner still does not know the appropriateness. It is necessary.
Tang Tiande ran over to release the water?
Between Wuyang and Zhaoling, although the terrain has undulations, the difference is not big. Xiaoquegang, which is less than 20 feet tall at its highest point, is considered high here.
They reined in their horses and stopped on the hillock southwest of Xiaoquegang. They were secretly frightened when they saw more than two thousand horsemen rushing between Zhaoling and Wuyang from east to west in a short period of time.
It can be said that they know the enemy's deployment in Wanqiu and Xuchang areas very well.
In addition to the puppet Chu army under Yue Hailou, there are about 6,000 Chihu cavalry and Fanqi commanded by the deputy Wanhu Molihu, a descendant of the Nayan clan, stationed in Wanqiu, Xuchang, Ruyang and other places.
The enemy retreated from both sides of the Mingxi River in the spring. Mo Lihu had a considerable number of cavalry organized into infantry, and the cavalry was maintained at about three thousand people.
Now about two-thirds of the elite cavalry are directly interspersed between Wuyang and Zhaoling (Xiaoquegang). Their intention to cut off the communication between Zhaoling (Xiaoquegang) and Wuyang is naturally obvious.
After blocking the reinforcement channel from Wuyang to Zhaoling (Xiaoquegang), Yue Hailou's soldiers and horses gathered in Heishigou will inevitably advance towards the north bank camp as quickly as possible!
At this time, Xu Zang showed off his stubbornness and showed off his personal bravery in front of the superior enemy cavalry who were good at riding and shooting like a swarm of locusts. Chen Zixiao had to rush to the south bank personally and had someone drag him back to the camp. How could this be possible?
Not angry?
Juishui-Rushui is not considered wide. Chen Zixiao and others were standing on the hillock on the south side of the camp, less than three thousand steps away from the camp on the north bank.
At this time, I saw a dozen scouts on the north bank from a distance, rushing back to the camp on the north bank from east to west, holding smoke sticks that were lit for warning. Chen Zixiao led Fu Liang to lead his troops to guard the camp on the south bank. He and
Han Lurong, Tang Tiande, Su Laochang and others rushed to the north bank camp.
Chen Zixiao and others rushed to the north bank camp. Zhou Jingzheng was inside the tent and had already learned the details of the enemy troops' dispatch in Heishigou from the scouts. He told Chen Zixiao, Tang Tiande, and Su Laochang:
"At noon, more than a thousand enemy cavalry rushed to Heishigou without making any stop; Yue Hailou's 6,000 men and horses who had previously gathered in Heishigou also broke out of camp at this time, divided into five teams, and advanced this way before entering
Sixteen warships of the pseudo-Chu navy in Ru River have entered the Shangcai River section at noon..."
"We're finally here..." Chen Zixiao breathed out softly, looked at the generals of the North Bank camp, singled out one of them, and said: "Du Wu, please immediately order the soldiers and horses of the two battalions to go out and prepare for the enemy.
The army will attack head-on!"
The two to three feet deep soil layer along the new canal has been excavated. The follow-up work is mainly to burn fuel accumulated in the rock layer and carry out digging operations. This will be a relatively long process.
The working area is more than 2,000 steps long and narrow.
At present, there are two camps built on the north bank of the work site on the north side, one on the east and west sides, plus a camp on the bridge on the north side. The camps are connected by several thin fences.
As far as the overall defense is concerned, it cannot be said to be very tight, let alone indestructible.
If he didn't want to suspend operations, Chen Zixiao couldn't let the enemy forces comfortably advance to confront them in front of the camp, let alone build a camp in front of the enemy troops and surround them...
