In mid-January of the 4881st year of the Tongli calendar, the city of Duping County changed hands. The First Army of the South was stationed in five cities in the northern part of Duping County, and actually contained the attack of the Eighth Army.
At the end of January, the 111th Division invaded Anyang County and captured Bai'an City one day later. According to the officers and soldiers who escaped from Bai'an City, Ding Kui appeared among the troops attacking the city.
The Southern First Army Corps in Duping County and the Second Southern Army Corps in Jinping County received a distress letter from Nanjing City at the same time.
"What's going on? A division scared them like this!" Shao Diantai was supervising the battle in the northern part of Yanling County.
He is responsible for commanding the troops of his headquarters and the Second Southern Army Corps to recapture Yanling County.
Yi Feng, chief of staff of the Tenth Army Corps, said: "The key lies with Ding Kui. He is the highest military commander of the rebels in Nanzhao Prefecture. The enemy's main attack direction may be Nanjing City."
The recent war situation has confused the city of Nanjing. The small imperial court attacked Yanling County at one time and did not hesitate to use the Shui 6 Army; the next time it attacked Duping County and did not hesitate to use the elite army; now the top military commander suddenly appears in Anyang County and can threaten him at any time.
Nanjing City.
Yi Feng and Shao Diantai discussed it many times. Each had their own opinions but neither could convince the other.
"A few days ago you said that the enemy was attacking in the east and in the west. The real target was Duping County. They wanted to cut off our connection with Zhongwangzhou. Why has it changed now?" Shao Diantai expressed deep doubts.
"At present, it seems that the news from the Gongsun family is true. The 21st Army Corps has defected to the rebels. Ding Kui can completely transfer the elite troops to Anyang County. Who can stop him? Unless our entire army returns to support."
Shao Diantai shook his head and retorted: "Nanjing is garrisoned by the Third Army of the South, and a hundred thousand troops are defending the city. How many soldiers and horses will Ding Kui need to capture it?"
He is a dominating knight who can travel across states and counties at any time. He might appear in front of us tomorrow. How can we easily judge his intentions?
I think he is spreading suspicion to lure us and Gongsun Mi back to defend, and then concentrate our forces to attack Yanling County or Duping County."
"This is too superficial and does not fit Ding Kui's style. My intuition tells me that his target is Nanjing City." Yi Feng has conducted in-depth research on Ding Kui and once said that he is Ding Kui's "confidant".
"How deep can a young boy go? If Nanjing City was so easy to defeat, he would have captured it long ago. Do we still need to wait until now?"
"It was different before. They had internal and external troubles, the two rebel armies (the National Protectorate Army and the Twelfth Army Corps) had not yet taken shape, and the logistics support was insufficient to support the rebels in long-term operations around Nanjing. Now they have this condition."
Yi Feng insisted on his opinion.
"Dingxiang County and the northern part of Duping County are still in our hands. The enemy's grain route to Nanjing City is still not safe. Moreover, if we want to recapture Yanling County, we will have to defend Dingxiang and Jinping counties separately, with 200,000 soldiers and horses.
If it is barely enough, how can there be any spare power to support Nanjing City?" Shao Diantai represented the views of some people.
"Jinping County is currently facing less threats and can dedicate one division. The same goes for Dingxiang County. Let's gather two divisions to rescue Nanjing City. It doesn't make sense to not send any at all." Yi Feng tried another method to persuade Shao Diantai.
"Forget it, deploying two divisions can slow down Yanling County's attack slightly." This is something Shao Diantai can accept, after all, he commands the largest number of troops.
Gongsun Mi was a little confused. He finally blocked the attack of the Eighth Army. Anyang County behind was in a hurry. He knew that the 111th Division had ballistas. It was normal to capture one or two cities, but it was unlikely to attack the city of Nanjing.
When the news came that the 71st Division ambushed the reinforcements of the Second South Army, Gongsun Mi couldn't sit still. He immediately ordered to shrink his troops and gathered 40,000 people in Baiyun City, which has the best terrain. Then the two divisions after the adjustment returned to defense.
Anyang County.
Just two days later, another bad news came. The two divisions returning for reinforcements were surrounded by the 77th, 78th and 8th divisions, and were completely wiped out in half a day.
Three generals, Luo Tao, Shu Li and Qiao Meng, came to Siding City in Anyang County near Guanhua County to meet and celebrate.
"It's time for Ma Zong and Xi Xiu to scold you. You are too cruel. Didn't you say you let a division escape? You have to leave some soup for others." Luo Tao picked his teeth and looked at Shu Li and Qiao Meng who arrived late.
Eat in a hurry.
Shu Li explained while eating: "Well, you can't blame me for the enemy's moving too slowly. I closed the net at the appointed time. Well, maybe the people below ran a few steps faster. Well, this is difficult to control."
"
Qiao Meng waved his hand and continued the liquidation operation.
"Hey, slow down, no one will fight with you." Luo Tao pushed a plate of meat in front of Qiao Meng.
Qiao Meng took a sip of soup and said calmly, "Yes! Ma Zhu and Xi Xiu won't wait for us. I bet they will go straight to Nanjing City."
Luo Tao opened his mouth slightly and dropped his toothpick to the ground, "Yes! Damn it! We have become a rear guard."
Shu Li stood up, wiped his mouth with the back of his hand, and said, "It's not us, it's you. I'll leave the good job of cleaning up the battlefield to you. I'll take the first step."
Luo Tao swooped down, hugged Shu Li from the waist, and shouted: "After you have a full stomach, you pat your butt and want to leave? If you don't clean the battlefield, you have to stand aside and wait. Don't even think about running away!"
"If you have something to say, what do you mean by running away? We have to advance and retreat together." Qiao Meng picked up the plate with one hand and grabbed Shu Li's arm with the other.
"Commander Wu! Go back quickly and order the troops to go out immediately and be sure to catch up with the 76th Division." Shu Li shouted outside the door.
Seeing this, Qiao Meng knew that it was useless to keep Shu Li, so he let go of his hand and ran out with the plate, "No, we have to chase him too!" He ate while running.
"Hey!" Shu Li patted Luo Tao on the head, "Xiao Qiao is gone too, it's useless for you to hug me."
"I don't care, you ungrateful people! If you can save one of them, at least you have to accompany me tonight."
"You old glass! I'm not on the same page as you!"
"..."
In Bai'an City, Han Ruren personally sent the battle report to Ding Kui, "Sir, the reinforcements of the Southern First Army were completely wiped out by the 77th Division and others. The 76th and 79th Divisions are transferring to Anyang County." She read out the full text.
"Oh." Ding Kui planted a small red flag on the Siding City and looked at the sand table for a while. "The 74th and 75th Divisions can join forces with the 71st Division early tomorrow morning. The divisions are arriving overnight. Tomorrow, at the latest
The day after tomorrow, we can capture Anyang County."
Han Ruren winked at him, and he turned his head away, pretending not to notice.
"Sir, it's time for the 111th Division to leave. We can't stay here forever." Han Ruren couldn't help but remind him.
"This is the Nanzhao Prefecture Theater Command now. I'm temporarily recruiting you as my personal guard division. You can't let me stand in Bai'an City as a mere commander."
"You're unfair! We are the first unit to invade Anyang County, so we should be the first to attack Nanjing City." Han Ruren did not care about the safety of the coach.
"Don't worry, Nanjing City is not that easy to fight. The 76th and 77th Divisions are going to cut off the food road. The 71st Division and others are preparing to ambush the 10th Army Corps. Nanjing City will not be touched unless the peripheral troops are cleared."
Ding Kui pointed out a few places on the sand table to Han Ruren. They were several roads leading to Nanjing City.
"Don't you want to capture the city of Nanjing as soon as possible? Before the enemy's reinforcements arrive, nearby troops rush to besiege. How many days can the local army defend it with its combat effectiveness?" Han Ruren has selfish motives and wants to be the first to rush into the state.
city.
"We can't underestimate the enemy. All our new weapons have been unveiled. Nanjing City is under the command of Wei Shiwen. He can think of ways to deal with it.
A state city defended by 100,000 people is not easy to fight even if it is full of new soldiers, and it will take several days to clear the fortifications outside the city." Ding Kui did not underestimate his opponent.
"Then we should attack earlier."
"No, as soon as the siege begins, the enemy will be able to conclude that our army cannot win. Shao Dianxi will not urge Shao Diantai and Gongsun Mi to return for reinforcements, and our ambush will be in vain." Ding Kui took the trouble to explain his tactics.
He is the one who most wants to capture Nanjing City as soon as possible, but the actual conditions do not allow it. Even though the senior military commanders under Shao Dianxi are not here, Zhenjing City can send several commander-level generals over at any time, and commanding the defense of the city is not a problem at all.
Every state city in Shaodian Kingdom is impregnable. The walls are tall and strong. There is a moat outside and a urn city inside. The corridors on the city can run war horses and are densely covered with trebuchets. As long as the defenders have enough troops, it will be very difficult to break through from the outside.
.
"Report! Commander Dou of the special operations group wants to see you."
Han Ruren curled his lips and strode out of the meeting hall without waiting for Ding Kui's order. Dou Xiao met her outside the door and wanted to say hello, but she walked away without even looking at him.
"For your humble position, please see the Commander-in-Chief!"
"No gift."
"General Han seems to be very unhappy."
"It's your fault." Ding Kui motioned to the attendant to serve tea.
He had no personal soldiers to follow him to the front line of Anyang County, and he was surrounded by Han Ruren's subordinates.
"The humble position led people to investigate Nanjing City. It was heavily guarded. There were three military camps occupying high points outside the city. Thousands of scouts patrolled day and night. More than ten peripheral roadblocks were also set up to strictly check the identities of all people entering and leaving.
Menial positions are hard to get close to."
It turns out that the special operations group has sneaked into Anyang County and inquired about the situation in the city.
"Well, it's normal. Young Dianxi is really afraid of death." Ding Kui expected everything. "You guys rush to Anyang County immediately to assist General Ma Zhi in attacking the city."
"Yes!" Dou Xiaoqi took the order and left.
Not long after he left, Shaodianmi came.
"Just now, Young Master Dianxi went to the Southern Demon Branch and publicly swore that he had nothing to do with the assassination of the eldest lady. He also asked the head of the Southern Demon Branch to supervise the oath." He brought the latest news.
"Hey, I finally lost my face. I thought he would wait until the siege of the city before he would do this. I was still lucky. Don't I have an excuse not to beat him?" Ding Kui showed a contemptuous smile.
"Also," Shao Dianmi continued to report, "at the request of Shao Dianxi, the Southern Demon Branch began to strictly control the portal. Everyone must obtain Shao Dianxi's consent before they can teleport."
Now I completely put an end to the thought of sneaking into Nanjing City.
"Lord, do you want me to persuade Shao Dianxi to surrender?" Shao Dianmi made a bold suggestion.
He and Shao Dianxi are both members of the royal family, and they were once close to the late king, so they have a certain degree of credibility.