Zhong Changqing advocated that they should continue to organize troops to go to the west of Caochang River to encircle and suppress the enemy. In addition to worrying that King Pingyan would eventually insist on attacking Jianye City, they could not relax at this time. They were also worried that if they gave up now, they would not be able to deal with the internal generals.
An explanation would dampen their high morale and fighting spirit since they crossed the river.
However, Zhong Changqing no longer had any hope in encircling Xu Huai.
For heavy armored riding, choose strong and strong horses. The net weight of a single war horse can be as high as 800 to 1,000 jins. With the addition of horse armor, strong soldiers and full body armor, it can even reach a terrifying 1,000 to 1,200 jins.
Even if a spear formation was used to block the armored heavy cavalry that was moving faster, it would still take some distance to completely contain its charge.
Generally speaking, if you sacrifice the four or five heavy armored cavalry at the front, no matter how dense the infantry array is, a gap will be opened - being able to quickly organize men and horses to block the gap is already an excellent performance among the elite.
However, according to Qianhu Zhuosu's description, in the battle on the west side of the Caochang River, the armored soldiers around Xu Huai were in groups of two or three, holding heavy shields to contain the momentum of the armored cavalry. This was definitely not an ordinary elite soldier.
Pawn can do it.
In this world, a single person is capable of stopping attackers wearing armor and heavy cavalry. All of them are unparalleled and brave generals. Zhong Changqing only has two or three people he has encountered in his life.
, Jingsheng Hou Xu Huai is exactly one of them.
Those who can stop the attack of heavy armored cavalry with two or three people sharing a shield must also practice martial arts to the level of entering the palace.
After all, in addition to having strong enough core brute force, you also need to have enough control over the changes in force release at the moment of contact; those who can do this must be at least elite military officials above the general level in the military.
It was also based on the strong performance of the five hundred soldiers that Zhuo Su concluded that Xu Huai had arrived in Jianye in person, rather than simply relying on a white tiger flag.
Facing such five hundred elites, if they were on flat ground, Zhong Changqing would surround them with a strong formation, contain them with shields and crossbows, and deploy war weapons to attack them. But now that Xu Huai has led his troops into Niushoushan, even if he has
There are tens of thousands of brave soldiers who are not afraid of death. Even if half of them die, they may not be able to wipe them out!
Furthermore, the troops they can mobilize near Jianye are also extremely limited.
For this southern expedition, not counting the 200,000 to 300,000 civilians requisitioned this time, and not counting the troops and horses in the rear to protect the grain roads, Ping Yanzong's palace mobilized a total of 200,000 troops, including the navy and infantry.
With 150,000 soldiers and horses, it was already another large-scale battle.
This is also the reason why Chihu is so powerful. The three armies going south have the terrifying ability to mobilize two to three hundred thousand troops, which is unimaginable in any era.
However, the East Route Army needs 50,000 soldiers and horses to garrison the lower reaches of the Huaihe River. On the one hand, it is to defend Xusuzhou, the core area of Prince Ping Yanzong's palace. At the same time, it also needs to contain the main force of Huaidong soldiers and horses in Chuzhou, making it unable to provide assistance.
Huaixi.
On the one hand, it is necessary to completely encircle the elite troops of Han Shiliang and Ge Yu, whose fighting spirit has not been dampened, within Shouchun City. It is necessary to use 80,000 soldiers and horses to build forts and barriers outside Shouchun City.
On the one hand, it is necessary to block Yang Qiye, who has led his troops to Qingliu County in Chuzhou, to the east of Luzhou, and to establish a defense line in the northwest of Luzhou, which requires at least 20,000 troops.
On the one hand, it is necessary to trap the remaining soldiers in Shucheng, Lujiang and other cities, and at the same time, it is necessary to establish a defense line in Lujiang and the west of Shucheng to delay as much as possible the Southern Dynasty's eastward advance of reinforcements in Jingxiang, Jingbei and other places. At least 30,000 troops are needed.
These four items alone used up a total of 180,000 troops from the Eastern Route Army.
Now, in addition to the navy that controls the river water and the total of 50,000 troops crossing the river south, King Pingyan Zong only has 20,000 elite troops left to maneuver.
In fact, even if all 20,000 elite soldiers and horses were deployed to the south bank, it would not be enough.
Even if Sun Yanzhou, Hu Dangzhou and others lead the German troops to surrender at this time, they still need to pacify and control the internal situation to prevent the generals from becoming restless and fleeing on a large scale. They cannot be expected to be of any use in a short time.
So no matter how you calculate it, their troop investment in Jianye is seriously insufficient.
Of course, at least on the surface, he could not give up lightly. Zhong Changqing suggested that Wu Chi immediately mobilize the main force of the navy overnight to enter the Caohe branch and the upstream Xiyi Lake.
Mobilizing the main force of the Navy into Caohe Branch not only makes up for the lack of infantry and cavalry on the south bank, but also needs to resolutely block the rebel army gathered by Jingsheng Marquis Xu Huai at Niushou Mountain to the west of Caohe River.
They wanted to prevent Xu Huai from gathering enough rebels to suddenly rush to the side of Jianye City and join the Imperial Guards of the Southern Dynasties.
In that case, it is no longer a question of whether there is a chance, but a concern that they are in danger of collapse on the south bank.
Listening to Zhong Changqing's detailed analysis, Wu Chi also felt deeply that his words were very good. He immediately sent out the messenger troops, made further adjustments to the deployment of troops and horses on both sides of the Caochang River overnight, and began to prepare for the battle between Huanglongxian and Yuelongzhai.
A pontoon bridge is set up on the Caochang River between them to facilitate the rapid entry and exit of pedestrians and riders...
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"what happened?"
Liu Yan was worried about the city's defense, so he climbed up the west city wall again at dawn. There was no fog, and the sky and the earth were shrouded in a misty blue halo.
In addition to the obvious decrease in the number of captive cavalry roaming outside Jianye City compared with the past, in the forts built by the captive soldiers along the Pogangdu River, groups of infantry were heading west. At the same time, he also noticed the doves occupying the magpie nest and stationed there.
The number of enemy ships in Dongshan Huwu Port has also been greatly reduced, and they have disappeared.
To put it bluntly, the total strength of the Red Army, including the navy, near Jianye was only 50,000, and there were only more than 25,000 infantry and cavalry ashore. It was impossible to hide a large-scale adjustment of troops from Liu Yan and others.
The general's sharp eyes.
"Perhaps the army from Beijing and Xiangzhou will be sent out soon?"
Wang Fan, who accompanied Liu Yan on the city wall, also tried his best to discern the deployment of enemy troops outside the city.
He also didn't know that Xu Huai had rushed to Jianye alone. The only possibility he could guess at the moment was that Xu Huai personally led the Beijing-Xiang reinforcements. He moved extremely quickly and might have threatened the flanks of the Japanese soldiers, forcing the Japanese soldiers on the south bank to quickly move westward.
Wing movement.
There were more than 25,000 infantry and cavalry troops on the south bank of the captive army, which was originally not enough to encircle Jianye City. As 2,000 cavalry and 5,000 to 6,000 infantry were transferred to the west of the Caocha River, the troops and horses outside Jianye City became smaller.
The situation is even more stretched, and even a strict blockade has become difficult.
"The blockade has been greatly reduced. We should send people out to find out what is going on!" Liu Yan said to himself.
"Prime Minister Yang is such a cautious person, so he may not nod." Wang Fan said calmly.
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"Although it is currently speculated that Marquis Jingsheng led the Beijing and Xiang reinforcements to advance eastward very quickly, which directly affected the deployment of the captive soldiers, we cannot wait in the city. It is still extremely necessary to send people out of the city immediately to find out the specific location of the captive soldiers.
Troop mobilization and new deployments. We cannot defend completely passively..."
In Chui Gong Hall, Liu Yan said sternly.
"The number of soldiers outside the city has been greatly reduced, but there are still about 3,000 horsemen wandering outside the city, and the waterways are completely blocked. It is not easy to send out scouts." Yang Maoyan, as the envoy of the imperial envoy camp and the defense of the four walls of the capital,
He retorted, "The scouts are all elites in the army and have extraordinary martial arts skills. They will almost die if they leave the city. It is hard to be lucky. Let alone the loss of thirty or fifty people, even the loss of ten or eight of them will be a huge loss to the defenders of the city. etc.
When the captive soldiers actually attack, they will be relied on to lead the ordinary soldiers to defend the city wall. How can they be sent to die just for a guess that has no basis? I think we need to wait and see for two or three days before deciding!"
"Send troops from the east and west city gates to form formations, attract the captive cavalry, and create space. The scouts can be roped out from the south city wall. There is not much risk!" Liu Yan said.
"Sending troops out of the city gate to form an array at this time?" Yang Maoyan retorted sternly, "Does Mr. Liu know that the troops are being mobilized today? Isn't it intentional to show my weakness? By doing this, aren't you just falling into their treacherous plan? Think about it, Mr. Liu.
Look, how did Bianliang City lose the Nanxun Gate before? The guarding of Jianye is related to the final safety of Dai Viet. Your Majesty trusts his ministers to guard the four walls. There is no foolproof plan, so please give it to Liu Xiangxiu."
"No matter whether you are attacking or defending, it is impossible to be without risks, and there is no foolproof plan!"
Qian Zerui had always avoided any dispute with Emperor Jianji's latent residence. At this moment, he finally couldn't help but stood up and spoke for Liu Yan. He raised his hands and said to Yang Maoyan,
"When the generals go to the battlefield with their heads held high, how can there be any foolproof plan? At this time, the captive troops are raging in the capital. If King Qin's reinforcements are like Yang Xiang's, what will happen?????????????
?Everything is safe and secure before setting off to Jianye. What will Prime Minister Yang think?"
"You are so quibbling! I just said that it is too dangerous for the troops to march out of the city," Yang Maoyan retorted to Qian Zerui, "Why not wait and see for two or three days before sending scouts? I did not say that we must not send out scouts.
!I was entrusted by Your Majesty to guard the four walls, so of course I must make good use of every general."
"If you send scouts out of the city now, you may not be able to get any information. It would be a pity if you lose the best soldiers in the army in vain." Wang Boqian stood up like a peacemaker to comfort everyone and said, "In my opinion, why rush for a while?"
, why not wait two or three days?”
When Qian Zerui heard this, he couldn't help but twitch the veins in his forehead. He never thought that Yang Maoyan, who was the imperial envoy and the defense envoy of the four walls of the capital, and Wang Boqian, the privy envoy in charge of military aircraft, could be so stupid and stubborn.
The military situation is raging and changing rapidly. Why at this juncture do you tell them that everything is foolproof and that they cannot rush?
He couldn't even understand why His Majesty would entrust such an important task to such a person?
Or in other words, they are basically the same type?
I usually feel that there is not much difference between His Majesty and the late Emperor. They are diligent in government affairs and thoughtful, but why is there such a big gap at this critical moment?
Recalling the late emperor's demeanor when he ignored the opposition of his ministers and personally conquered Ruying to meet the powerful enemy, Qian Zerui's eyes couldn't help but get wet.
"Okay, don't argue about such a trivial matter. Prime Minister Yang and Prime Minister Wang also want to take everything into account," Emperor Shaolong said with a dark face to everyone in his highness, "Is it more dangerous to send troops and horses out of the city to form an array? It is better to wait.
After dark, send people out of the city to find out what's going on now, and you can't just close the city and defend yourself! Being too cautious is not a good policy."
"I obey the decree." After hearing Emperor Shaolong's decision and oral instructions, Yang Maoyan obeyed.
"If you have nothing to do, let's go down first. If you have time to come here to argue, why not go up to the city wall and take a look." Emperor Shaolong motioned for everyone to leave.
Wang Fan watched all this indifferently and followed everyone out of the Chui Gong Hall. He saw that Liu Yan's eyes were red and tears were about to overflow. He reached out and patted Liu Yan's shoulder gently to express comfort.
Qian Zerui looked at this scene and felt even sadder in his heart. Liu Yan, as the deputy envoy to the Privy Council and the deputy envoy for the defense of the four walls of the capital, sent three or five scouts out of the city to find out the enemy's situation, but he actually wanted to go to Chui Gong Hall to ask Emperor Shaolong for judgment.
