In mid-March, Chi Hu withdrew his troops from the south of Hefei, and the siege of Shucheng, Chaoxian, Lujiang and other cities was resolved.
At the beginning of the war, the Privy Council considered that cities such as Hefei and Shouchun might be heavily besieged by the Chihu people. In order to avoid the influx of refugees, which would increase the consumption of food and fodder, these cities did not allow people to take refuge.
At the same time, the Privy Council thought that with Shouchun, Hefei and other strong cities standing on the Huaixi Plain, it would be difficult for the red cavalry's troops to penetrate too far south, at least they would not have the ability to attack the city, so they blocked the Yangtze River.
Along the line, while preventing people from overflowing to the south, more riverside cities such as Lujiang, Chaoxian, Wushou, and Wujiang are encouraged to accept people for refuge.
Although Lujiang City is only a thousand paces in radius, it is home to nearly 300,000 soldiers and civilians at most.
They were besieged for three months, which didn't seem like a long time. However, Shi Hu, Chen Jin, Xu Fang, Jiang Ang and other generals led the vanguard troops to station in Lujiang City. They saw that the city was full of food and skinny people.
There was no more tragic tragedy, and it was also because the advance of all forces seemed to be slow but actually slow.
The reinforcements from Beijing and Xiang, the Suwei Forbidden Army, the Qinwang soldiers and horses from all walks of life, plus the naval force totaled 130,000 to 40,000. It took a total of more than a month to use the tactic of "shallow attack and advance into the building" to defeat the captive troops.
The strategic space outside Lujiang County is completely occupied.
In order to avoid extending the front line too long and forming a top-heavy situation, the Japanese soldiers had no intention of continuing to deploy additional troops and horses to the southern front. At the same time, they did not dare to delay the opportunity at the risk of their troops and horses on the southern front being cut off from their retreat, so they had no choice but to retreat;
In order to avoid being seized by the Beijing-Xiangang Army and attacked one after another, a large number of elite cavalry were even transferred from Shouchun and other places to provide cover.
In late March, refugees were gradually evacuated to the south of Dafan Mountain
Among the riverside camps in Lu, Zongyang, Qianshan and other places, on the one hand, as all the soldiers and horses advance to Lujiang and other places, the large-scale built camps here have become idle, allowing conditions to evacuate the refugees for better resettlement.
On the one hand, relief grain and fodder are transported by waterways at low cost. Of course, another more important consideration is that the areas along the rivers in Qianshan, Songyang, Qiupu, Tongling and Lujiang counties are crisscrossed by lakes and have low levels of development, which will put refugees
When they are moved to the camp near the river, young and strong men and women can be organized to build embankments and reclaim beach land on a work-for-relief basis.
Although these cities have officials such as county magistrates, county magistrates, county captains and chief registrars officially appointed by the imperial court, Xu Huai also unceremoniously authorized the generals stationed in these cities to take charge of refugee resettlement and other matters, and also set up embankments.
Construction, road, canal repair and beach land reclamation are included in the camp repair and garrison affairs.
This is not a pure struggle for power or control of these areas.
The Japanese soldiers shrank the battle line northward to Hefei, Feixi and Jiangjunling, and deployed almost 120,000 elite infantry and cavalry along the Shishui (Nan Fei River)-Hefei-Huaiyang hilly belt (except for the northern part of Zhouzhou).
After Xu Huai consulted with Liu Yan, he decided that Liu Yan would continue to command the troops on the east wing and shift his focus from Wujiang, Wushou, Liyang and other places facing the river in the south to the northwest to compete with the soldiers in the hilly areas of Huaiyang.
of control.
The Huaiyang hilly belt extends from the junction of Luzhou and Chuzhou to the northeast to the banks of the Huaihe River and Hongzepu. If the left and right Xiaosheng troops can control the Huaiyang hills, they will always be able to threaten the flanks of the southern invading troops.
The main force on the west wing is based on the Lujiang River,
Shucheng and Shucheng were the core, and they spread out to the north from the eastern foothills of Huaiyang Mountain. The frontline of the troops was directed at the frontal defense line deployed along Shishui-Hefei.
At this time, the Linjiang area to the south and west of the Lujiang River was equivalent to the depth of the Huaixi War Zone. Of course, Xu Huai needed to thoroughly sort out these areas to ensure smooth water and land transportation and to ensure that a large number of civilians could be recruited from these areas.
For the construction of frontline camps and trenches, they even hoped to recruit capable soldiers from these places to supplement the consumption of soldiers and horses.
War is never limited to united troops fighting.
Even if we don't consider how many people would die from hunger and disease if left unchecked, countless people would gather in the mountains and forests and plunder rivers and lakes. How many troops would be invested in clearing out and defending the cities around Huaiyang Mountain?
Not to mention how much extra food will be consumed during the entire process. Will it completely collapse the empire's finances, which are already in danger?
At the end of March, the rains were getting richer. As the main general, Fan Zongqi, together with Jiang Ang, Chen Jin, Sun Yanguan, Yu Zheng, Wu Sanrong, Xiao Xun and other generals, led 20,000 forwards and advanced to the north of Shucheng to set up camp. Xu Huai also
The traveling carriage was moved from Tongling to Lujiang City.
The Jingbei Military and Horse Command deployed Gao Juntang, who at this time had also led Jingbei's advanced King Qin's troops to withdraw to the east of Yefu Mountain in Lujiang County and stationed themselves there. The Jingnan Deputy Military and Horse Command deployed Luo Wangze to lead the remaining troops and stationed in Wuwei County, south of Chaohu and on the riverside, to rest and recuperate.
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On the day Xu Huai entered Lujiang, Gao Juntang, Luo Wang and others also rushed to Lujiang City in advance to greet him and wait for his dispatch.
Gao Juntang is one of the core figures of the Gao family. Previously, Zhou He, Gao Chunnian and others tried every means to use Gao Juntang to replace Wang Fan as the Jingbei Military and Horse Headquarters.
The purpose of the establishment of the Department was to take advantage of the differences and conflicts between Jingxiang (Chushan) and the Gao family on the issue of resettling the remnants of the Khitan to weaken Jingxiang (Chushan)'s influence on Jingbei; when Emperor Shaolong would send Yuan Jiuliang and others
Huaidong generals from the Shenwu Army Department were transferred to Jingbei on a large scale, with even more impure intentions.
Luo Wang served as the deputy commander of the army and horses in Jingnan, and he was a direct general who had followed Ge Boyi (Ge Boyi) for many years and had a close marriage relationship with each other.
Before the war started, even if their status and reputation were not as good as those of Xu Huai, Gao Juntang and Luo Wang did not need to look at Xu Huai's face to act.
However, at this time, Xu Huai not only had the authority to control the troops and horses of King Qin in the world, but Gao Juntang and Luo Wang's troops were also under the control of troops and horses. At the same time, they had to admit that if Xu Huai had not advanced bravely, at the critical moment,
At this time, they stood up to turn the tide. It would be difficult for them to sustain it for long in Shucheng and Lujiang.
If they still want to confront Xu Huai at this time, they must first consider whether their generals will be obedient.
Previously, Xu Wujiang was in command in Tongling and could not effectively suppress the fear and avoidance of war among the troops of King Luqin. The main reason was that the commanders of King Luqin's troops and horses were all at the first level of deployment of troops and horses, and deputy capital deployment.
They themselves disliked Jingxiang (Chushan), and considered themselves to be more powerful than Xu Wujiang, who was of humble origin. On the surface, they seemed to be following Xu Huai's orders and accepting Xu Wujiang's control in Tongling, but they were harboring evil thoughts in their stomachs.
, secretly encouraged the generals below to cause trouble, resisted the commands of generals such as Xu Wujiang and Wang Jun, and caused various troubles.
It was also Xu Huai who personally returned to Tongling to supervise the battle and cut off dozens of generals' heads to show to the public. The situation was
Only then did things change.
Of course, the fundamental improvement was due to King Qin's troops and horses, which were weak in combat effectiveness and equipment. After adapting to the tactics of "shallow attack and advancement", they saw that they played an obvious positive role in advancing the battle situation, and the pawns were moved from top to bottom.
Build confidence in defeating the enemy.
As the enthusiasm of the middle- and lower-level generals to participate in the war and make meritorious deeds gradually increased, Xu Huai not only deployed the troops and horses of the king of Qin, but also deployed the deputy capitals, commanders of the capitals, Du Yuhou and other middle- and high-level generals.
In addition to actually removing their power to command the army, they also divided the soldiers and horses of King Qin from all directions into battalions and handed them over to the senior generals of the Jingxiang and Suwei Forbidden Army for control.
During this process, the commanders and commanders of the various roads and troops were constantly adjusted, first-level generals and military officials were promoted, and more grassroots military officials who were brave and good at fighting were promoted.
At this time, Xu Huai became really comfortable in dispatching the king's soldiers.
After entering Lujiang City, Xu Huai immediately made the next military arrangements.
In the lobby of the Lujiang County government office, which serves as the main tent, Xu Huai sits in the middle. On his left are Xu Wujiang, Fan Yong, Han Gui, Liu Shiwang, Zhang Xiongshan and other generals of the Jingxiang Army and Suwei Imperial Army, and on his right is Shangshu Youcheng
At the same time, Wei Chujun, the envoy of the Five Routes, as well as Gao Juntang, Luo Wang and other generals of the Qin King.
"The way to use troops is to rely on the right and the right," Xu Huaigao stood behind the eucalyptus and said slowly, "Liu Hou and I have also agreed long ago that I will lead my troops to attack the frontal defense line deployed along Shishui, and Liu Hou will attack its flank from the east wing.
Armpit. However, when I think about it carefully, the troops and horses on the east wing are still lacking. I just thought about Gao Juntang and looked at you two, but
Lead your troops and horses to march to Qingliu County in Chuzhou, accept Liu Hou's control, and go northwest from Qingliu Pass, Lianzi Mountain and other gaps to peep at Zhaoyi and other counties occupied by the soldiers. Do you have any objections?"
Luo Wang and Gao Juntang looked at each other, then looked at Wei Chujun.
The troops of King Qin of Jingnan and Jingbei are not only stronger in combat effectiveness, but also have the largest troop dispatch this time.
The Jingnan Army has dispatched a total of more than 35,000 Qinwang soldiers and horses. At present, except for Luo Wang who led his troops to defeat the captured soldiers at the northern foot of Yefu Mountain, there are still more than 25,000 soldiers including the navy at this time.
Accept Xu Huai's restraint.
The Jingbei Army was generally undamaged, and Shucheng guarded by Gao Juntang was not the focus and core of the early offensive of the army. Currently, there are nearly 30,000 troops under Xu Huai's control.
Logically speaking, Luo Wang and Gao Juntang, as the top generals of Jingnan and Jingbei, should have the highest command of the Jingnan and Jingbei armies; the Jingnan and Jingbei armies should be under their command, and then accept Xu Huai's command.
of moderation.
Xu Huai's current deployment is to ask Luo Wang and Gao Juntang to lead them to the northern part of Chuzhou, which is two to three hundred miles away.
Liu Yan's restraint allowed him to participate in the attack on the flanks of the Japanese soldiers; as for the troops and horses of King Qin subsequently dispatched from Jingbei and Jingnan, totaling about 25,000, they no longer wanted to intervene in the command...
