Dozens of cavalrymen gathered around a carriage and rushed northeast along the post road on the right bank of Lishui River. The copper bells hanging under the horses' necks jingled endlessly in the wind.
The two cavalrymen who were responsible for guarding and exploring the road at the front turned back after passing through a forest. When they came to the carriage, they reported to Qian Shangduan, who was full of anxiety and looked eagerly at the surrounding fields:
"Ms. sir, ahead is the Xiaoquegang camp!"
"Okay, everyone, hurry up and wait until Xiaoquegang to rest. I have another reward!" Qian Shangduan urged his retinue to hurry up.
The chariots and horses quickly bypassed the elm forest in front. At this time, Qian Shangduan saw that the camp covering an area of about two or three miles square in the northeast was located on the west slope of a long hill, about eight or nine miles away from the mouth of the Lishui River into the Shuishui River.
There was also a camp built in the river where the Lishui River entered the Shuishui River, but the scale was smaller.
There is another post road from south to north entering Xiaoquegang Camp.
That post road comes from Wuyang City.
The supplies Chushan raised from Tongbai Mountain were all gathered in Wuyang, and then transferred from Wuyang to Xiaoquegang. Therefore, the post road from Wuyang to Xiaoquegang was much busier. In Qian Shangduan's field of vision, there were two teams of carriages and horses, about a hundred people.
The remaining people drove dozens of large vehicles slowly towards Xiaoquegang Camp.
This was the second time Qian Shangduan came to Huaishang on orders to inquire about the military situation after learning that Xu Huai personally led his elite troops to sneak into Bianliang.
Qian Shangduan went northward for the first time, and the situation was far less severe than it is now.
At that time, everyone in Xiangyang even thought that Chenzhou's army would be attracted to the capital and surrounded and intercepted Chushan's sneak attack troops. The military pressure directly on Huaishang would only be reduced, not intensified.
At that time, Emperor Jianji was in a restless mood. What he was most anxious about was whether Xu Huai could successfully escape from Bianliang and return south.
Therefore, when Qian Shangduan came over for the first time, he mainly settled in Ye County, where the Chushan camp was located. He learned about some of Xu Huai's arrangements for the sneak attack on Bianliang from Changshi Shizhen, Sima Xuwuqi and others.
Then returned to Xiangyang.
No one expected that not only the main force of the Chenzhou Army was not attracted to the vicinity of Bianliang, but the Red Husbands even intensified their efforts to mobilize elites from the east and west fronts and continuously gathered them towards Yingnan.
This not only stalled the originally planned southward withdrawal of Heluo troops and civilians, but also put the Huaishang defense line guarded by the Chushan Army under direct and severe threat.
In addition to Emperor Jianji, Zhou He, Gao Chunnian, Gu Fan, Wu Wenche, Hu Kai, Xu Wei, Wen Hengyue and others all had trouble sleeping and eating in Xiangyang.
Zhu Hang went to Jianye to take up his post as early as August, and together with Liu Yan, who led the Right Xiaosheng Army to the south, prepared to move the capital, but Qian Shangduan could only rush north again and came to Huaishang to inquire about the military situation.
However, at this time, the military and political focus of the Chushan camp was tilted towards the coast of the Shuishui River. Xu Wuqi, Shi Zhen and others either went to the Shuishui River to sit in command, or moved people, horses and supplies in Wuyangju. The camp was left empty in Ye County.
Qian Shangduan rushed to Ye County first. He didn't see anyone and didn't dare to delay. He rushed directly to Shuishui without stopping.
The post road coming from Ye County is basically built along the right bank of Lishui River. It also reaches Likouzhai first, and then leads eastward to Xiaoquegang along the right bank (south bank) of Lishui River.
However, when the carriages and horses arrived at Likou, the view of the north bank of the Shuishui River was completely opened, and one could see the numerous camps and villages standing crisscrossed on the north bank of the Shuishui River, which were much denser than those on the south bank.
When he was ordered to go north to inspect the army for the first time, Qian Shangduan learned that the company camp built by Chushan on the north bank of the Shuishui River extended to the north bank of the upper reaches of the Liubian River, and was stationed with Chen Zixiao's troops in the south of Miaowanggou.
There was only a gap of twenty miles between the former army camps.
In order to support the return of Xu Huai's sneak attack troops to the south, Chushan mobilized more than 10,000 young men and 20,000 elite soldiers and horses to cross the Shuishui River and stationed on the north bank of the Shuishui River.
and among the company camps in the south of Miaowanggou; in addition, tens of thousands of soldiers and horses were stationed in Xiaoquegang Village and Wuyang and Ye County south of the Shuishui River.
It can also be said that Chushan has carried out military mobilization to the maximum extent after entering August.
The workshops and mines are also trying to hire as many women as possible to replace the workers to avoid a sharp decline in production due to military mobilization; the transportation teams walking among the mountains are no longer all men, but Tian Mozhi
In ancient times, able-bodied women were mainly the main force in farming.
This ensures that more rural soldiers are incorporated into active service to prepare for war needs.
Of course, when enemy troops from Hehuai River continued to gather between Yingru and Yingru, Xiangyang could not remain indifferent. It mobilized more than 10,000 troops from Jinghu North Road and Nanyang Mansion to go north for reinforcements and accept the control of the Chushan camp to strengthen
To make up for the lack of defense troops in the cities on the east and west fronts; at the same time, an order was issued requiring Zheng to double the Xiangcheng garrison from the original base to 8,000.
However, as time went on, more and more enemy aid crossed the Yingshui River from Xuchang and Ruyin, and gathered between Shangshui and Linying. Not only did the situation between Ruyin and Ruyin show no signs of improvement, it became even worse.
It's becoming more and more urgent.
Although there were no traces of the enemy on the south bank of Shuishui-Rushui River, and Chushan even organized soldiers and civilians to resume production in Ye County and south of Wuyang, Qian Shangduan knew how serious the crisis he faced this time was.
This made him frown all the way, staring at the clusters of forts on the north bank of the Nishui River.
The Xiaoquegang camp had already reported money to Shang Duan to go north in accordance with the order. In addition to sending a small team from the direction of Ye County to lead the way and escort them, Su Laochang and a dozen generals came out of the camp to welcome them here.
"Wu Qi is in the northern camp to supervise the army and does not dare to leave for a moment. Mr. Shi is in Wuyang and may have to wait a little longer to get to Xiaoquegang to meet Qian Langjun. Wu Qi, Mr. Shi specially ordered me to serve Qian Lang on the south bank.
You take the wind and wash away the dust!" Seeing Qian Shangduan driving over, Su Laochang and Guo Junbin, Tang Tiande and others walked out of the gate of the camp to greet him, saluted and exchanged greetings.
"Qian Langjun came just in time. I was on my way to Xiangyang to meet the Holy Spirit, so I happened to be traveling with you!" Zhao Fan scurried out from behind Su Laochang and others, grabbed Qian Shangduan's arm and said.
"Mr. Zhao is also in Shuishui?"
Qian Shangduan was surprised when he saw that Zhao Fan was here, but after thinking about it, he felt that it should be so.
The large-scale gathering of Japanese soldiers on the south bank of the Ying River has greatly slowed down the southward retreat of Heluo soldiers and civilians. If the next war between Ru and Ying has a short and long term, while the Huaishang defense line is in danger, the Japanese soldiers may even directly come from
The gap between the Funiu Mountains and the Song Mountains expanded westward, completely cutting off the southward retreat of the Heluo army and civilians from the upper reaches of the Yishui and Luoshui Rivers, leaving them in an isolated and helpless predicament.
How could the Zheng family not be in a hurry?
Therefore, it is reasonable for Zheng Huaizhong to send Zhao Fan to the Nianshui River to personally watch the progress of the war in Ruying.
Qian Shangduan didn't care about Xu Wuqi or where Shi Zhen was at this time. He was not busy asking Zhao Fan what happened and rushing him to Xiangyang. Instead, he asked urgently to Su Laochang and others: "I'm here."
When I was in Ye County, I heard that Xu Hou had led his troops into Xihua County. Did Xu Hou send someone back to tell him when he would break out of the encirclement and move south?"
What Qian Shangduan was most concerned about at this time was when Xu Huai would break out of Yingshui and go south, and whether he could successfully break through.
This is also the focus of Xiangyang's current greatest concern.
Qian Shangduan must find out the details as soon as possible and return to Xiangyang to reply.
If Xiangyang needs to further mobilize troops and generals for reinforcements, it needs to be implemented as soon as possible.
No one wants the war between Ruying to drag out until the cold winter when the Red Husband cavalry can gallop across the Hehuai River without any restrictions.
At that time, what Huaishang and Heluo will most likely face is
The disaster of overturning.
Hearing Qian Shangduan's urgent question, Su Laochang and others remained calm, but Zhao Fan hurriedly said with a bitter heart:
"Qian Langjun, you still don't know that Xu Hou has stormed Xihua City last night and is determined to stay on the north bank of Yingshui River to defend Xihua City. He will not break out of Yingshui River and go south for the time being! Xu Hou is so confused. He is so willful and reckless.
If you are not careful, you will cause great harm!"
"...Ah? What's going on?"
Hearing what Zhao Fan said, Qian Shangduan's heart lake seemed to be hit hard by a huge boulder. He stared at Su Laochang in disbelief and asked,
"Here, how do I go back to Xiangyang to reply to His Majesty? What exactly does Marquis Xu want to do? Has he sent a messenger to explain the reason?"
"The messenger sent by Xu Huai returned from Yingying in the early morning. Here is the memorial written to His Majesty. We are planning to send someone to Xiangyang to present it to His Majesty." Su Laochang took out the memorial written by Xu Huai from his arms and said,
He handed it to Qian Shangduan and said, "Qian Langjun is here just in time. I would like to ask Qian Langjun to give the memorial to His Majesty..."
Qian Shangduan took the memorial and saw that it was not sealed with lacquer. He was too emotional to take it into consideration, so he opened it directly and found that it was just a song "Shou Suiyang Composition" recorded by Xu Huai himself:
"The war is coming in the spring, and the lonely city is becoming more and more in danger.
Encircled by the moon, they are separated and guarded like a fish.
Every time I get tired of the yellow dust rising, I wave my white feathers.
Wrapped in sores, he still emerges from the formation, drinking blood makes him ascend to the top of the mountain.
Loyalty should be difficult to defeat, and steadfastness should be unwavering.
No one can repay the emperor, so what are you planning to do..."
Qian Shangduan was an upright and eight-class Jinshi. Of course he knew very well about the famous minister Zhang Xun of the previous dynasty guarding Suiyang. He also immediately understood that Xu Huai's hand-written "Guarding Suiyang" by Zhang Xun as a memorial was meant to be used in
Your Majesty, what position do you want to express before me?
Qian Shangduan asked in disbelief: "Xu Hou really wants to defend Xihua and not withdraw?"
"Before he ordered the attack on Xihua City, Xu Huai had already scuttled hundreds of boats, leaving only forty or fifty warships to control the waterways and capture the troops. If Chushan did not withdraw from the south bank of Yingshui River, Chushan would be trapped in Yingshui River.
The soldiers and horses to the north have no possibility of retreating south." Su Laochang said with his hands spread.
No matter Su Laochang, Guo Junpan, Xu Wuqi, Chen Zixiao, Yin Peng and other generals who were still supervising the battle on the north bank of the Ying River, they did not want Xu Huai to take such a big risk and stay on the north bank of the Ying River.
They hoped that Xu Huai could return south safely. The success or failure of Shiqu's plan was definitely not the most important, but Xu Huai had already made a decision, so they could only act according to his orders.
But not only would they not explain all this to Zhao Fan and Qian Shangduan, they would not even state the reasons in memorials to Xiangyang and Emperor Jianji to prevent the news from leaking.
"Hou Xu is too willful!"
Zhao Fan didn't need to give Xu Huai face in front of Su Laochang and others, he stamped his feet and shouted,
"Xu Hou thought that by defending Xihua, he could force the soldiers to withdraw due to lack of food and fodder? How did he know that the Chihu people would not continue to reinforce troops, horses and food between Ruying at all costs, trapping Xu Hou to death?
North of Yingshui. Xuhou is north of Yingshui. He has more than 10,000 men and horses to guard the isolated city. Even if everyone has the ambition to resist, how long can the food and grass last? Xuhou must not be allowed to continue to be willful.
Even if more than ten thousand troops are left in Yingbei, Marquis Xu himself must withdraw and take charge of the overall situation in Huaishang!"
"We're afraid we won't be able to make the decision on this matter," Su Laochang said.
"I know you can't make the decision. Xu Wuqi may not be able to escape, but Shi Zhen must follow Qian Langjun and I to Xiangyang to meet His Majesty. Everything must be decided by His Majesty," Zhao Fan grabbed Qian Shangduan's arm and said,
"Let's go to Wuyang together, intercept Shi Zhen, and drag him to Xiangyang to see His Majesty! If we really drag him until the Chihu people are sent to send large reinforcements south, it may be too late..."
