On the Yangtze River, a huge fleet of ships floated down the river.
The commander-in-chief of the southern battlefield, the First Army Commander Su Xiong, took a river warship and commanded hundreds of thousands of Qin troops, marching eastward along the Yangtze River to attack Zhili in the southern part of the Ming Dynasty.
Su Xiong stood on the deck and looked at the Yangtze River.
In April, the flow of water in the Yangtze River was already very abundant, and the water depth exceeded what was recorded in previous years.
Su Xiong saw the fleet moving forward steadily and went to the war room.
He discussed with Su Zhuang, commander of the Second Army, Su Li, commander of the Fifth Army, and others on the strategic plan to attack Nanjing.
The three of them had certain differences regarding the Qin army's follow-up strategic plan.
Su Zhuang looked at the sand table in Southern Zhili and analyzed: "Our goal is to capture Nanjing.
We want to compete with the king to see whether he can capture the capital of the Ming Dynasty first or we can capture the city of Nanjing first.
The strength of the troops led by the king is almost the same as ours.
We also occupy the advantage of Yangtze River water transportation.
I believe that our speed in the southern battlefield will be faster than that in the northern battlefield.
I think we should divide our forces now.
Our three armies divided into three groups to capture Southern Zhili.
Attacked directly to Nanjing City, and finally surrounded the Ming army in Nanjing City.
The strength of the Ming army in southern Zhili is simply unable to stop our army.
As long as we have a large army and break through the Ming army's defense line, we can achieve final victory.
Breaking through by dividing the troops can also help the northern battlefield from the side.
The northern battlefield has already captured Henan, which borders Fengyang Prefecture in the south of Zhili.
Our army divides its forces to attack Fengyang Mansion, which will inevitably attract the attention of the Ming army.
The Ming army tried its best to encircle and suppress our army, which could also effectively hold back the Ming army in southern Zhili.
In this way, the Ming army in Zhili in the south would not be able to march north to King Qin.
We cannot allow the Ming army, which belongs to the southern battlefield, to be free and affect the northern battlefield."
Su Li looked at Su Zhuang's confident look.
However, he had a different opinion and retorted: "Commander Su Zhuang, we should not be tempted to compare and take down Southern Zhili step by step.
Relying on the combat effectiveness of our Qin army, we unite our troops in one place and gradually encroach on southern Zhili.
Sooner or later, we will be able to reach the city of Nanjing.
South Zhili is the richest area in the Ming Dynasty.
Ordinary people are richer than most places.
There are many places in South Zhili where you can at least have enough to eat.
The gentry earned a large amount of gold and silver through maritime trade. As long as they showed a little bit of money, they could allow the people to support their families.
Many of our soldiers in the north are skinny.
After entering the military camp, we didn't dare to let them have enough to eat.
The state they are in is what they show when they have been recuperating in the recruit camp for two or three months and have enough to eat every day.
When I first entered the recruit camp, I was basically skinny.
These are still relatively strong people, because the thin people are starving to death.
The farmers here in Nanzhili are extremely strong because many of them have enough to eat.
This is a very good source of troops.
With money, soldiers and food, Ming Dynasty provided these gentry with convenient conditions.
If these gentry really unite, they can recruit hundreds of thousands of soldiers.
Even if these soldiers are very weak in combat effectiveness, they can still cause certain obstacles to us.
Only by joining forces can we defeat the hundreds of thousands of troops that Ming Dynasty may recruit.
Ming Dynasty is happy for us to divide our troops. Once we divide our troops, our overall strength will inevitably be reduced.
Logistics supply lines will also be very fragile.
Ming Dynasty ignored the casualties of soldiers and destroyed our logistics supply lines.
Even if the morale and strength of our army are strong, once the logistics supply line is cut off.
It will also become a lone army and continue to be besieged by the Ming army until it is finally defeated.
Xiang Yu led the troops with great force, and the weak defeated the strong by destroying cauldrons and boats.
Wasn't it because Liu Bang used weak legions to surround him, which ultimately led to his defeat?
We now have some strength, but that is no reason to be complacent."
Su Li felt that Su Zhuang was underestimating his enemies. Although the gentry of the Ming Dynasty were usually very stingy.
When it comes to life and death, these people are not willing to spend money.
When Su Zhuang heard what Su Li said, he slowly shook his head, not believing that the Ming army could realize Su Li's conjecture.
He reasoned and argued: "When the Ming army was at its strongest, they did not have this ability.
He also recruited an army of four and a half million, but that was an army of four and a half million, not four and a half million pigs.
Think about the difficulty of commanding an army of four to five million people. This is not something ordinary people can achieve.
You can ask the gentry in the southeastern part of the Ming Dynasty to pay.
You ask them to lead troops to fight, but these people don't have the ability.
Given our capabilities, even if we can command tens of thousands of troops and do a good job, we can do so with great trepidation.
Those gentry of the Ming Dynasty were incapable of doing this.
Without this ability, even if you give him an army of millions, it will still be a mob."
Su Xiong saw that they did not wait to discuss a specific strategic plan, but instead started quarreling because of their differences of opinion.
He just wanted to dissuade the two of them. He should be calmer and there was no need to be angry.
The river warship he was riding on suddenly shook violently.
The sand table placed indoors was directly overturned to the ground.
Su Zhuang and Su Li were arguing, and the boat shook violently. They were unprepared and fell directly to the ground.
Su Xiong grabbed the handrail next to him urgently to prevent himself from falling to the ground.
When the shaking of the ship ended, everyone immediately ran out of the cabin.
First Army Zhu Shi Li Zhengfeng came from other places with his guards. When he saw that Su Xiong and others were fine, he felt relieved.
When everyone came out, they discovered that the river warship had tilted.
It is trying its best to slowly move closer to the shore.
Li Zhengfeng said: "Commander Su Xiong, fellow military commanders, the Ming Dynasty completely blocked the Yangtze River with concrete stones.
Only smaller ships can be allowed to pass, and larger ships will be stranded in the river.
There have been heavy rains recently and the water flow in the Yangtze River has become somewhat turbid.
The boat that opened the way did not see the concrete rocks under the water.
This resulted in the river warship being stranded in the Yangtze River.
Now the Ming army is using this method to block the Yangtze River, and our inland river warships and transport ships cannot sail in the Yangtze River."
After Su Xiong listened to Li Zhengfeng's report, he didn't look surprised.
The Ming army could not defeat the Qin army on the frontal battlefield.
They still have to defend the city, so they can only try their best to stop the Qin army as much as possible, even if they use any means or regardless of the consequences.
Su Xiong asked: "Send soldiers to explore how long the Ming army blocked the Yangtze River channel.
They are not afraid that during the flood season, the Yangtze River waterway will be blocked and the lower reaches of the Yangtze River will be flooded."
Su Zhuang interrupted: "The Ming army is not afraid of this situation.
There was a flood in the Yangtze River, which really flooded both banks.
Can we still continue to attack?
The Ming army did this on purpose.
They wish the Yangtze River would flood and block us through floods.
If the flood could destroy our army, those officials in Ming Dynasty would be very happy.
They don't care at all about the consequences."
Su Li couldn't help but angrily said: "These Ming officials are so abominable.
They don't care about the lives of the people on both sides of the river.
If the Yangtze River really floods, the impact will be huge.
This is not a matter of tens of thousands of people dying. Every large-scale flood in the Yangtze River will kill hundreds of thousands of people and millions of people will be displaced."
Su Xiong gritted his teeth and said: "I think Daming did this to achieve two goals.
Blocking the Yangtze River route makes it difficult for our army to move forward.
We dredge the Yangtze River, which takes a huge amount of time.
If the flood really washes away our army, they will take the opportunity to defeat our army.
This is the first purpose they want to achieve.
If the Yangtze River floods, both sides of the Yangtze River will be flooded.
There will be a large number of people affected by the disaster. When the time comes, we should continue to attack or rescue these people affected by the disaster.
If someone in the Ming army were more ruthless, they would organize the affected people, attack our logistics supply lines, and seize military rations.
By then our army will be unable to move even an inch.
This is the second purpose they want to achieve."
Su Xiong could see what the Ming army wanted to achieve by blocking the Yangtze River with cement stones.
But it is too difficult to crack this strategy.
The Ming army used this method to kill one hundred enemies and lose one thousand.
They do not think at all that both sides of the Yangtze River are under their rule.
In the eyes of the Ming army's top brass, these places would be occupied by the Qin army sooner or later, and they already belonged to the Qin army.
These people were very proud of using this kind of destructive strategy in the Qin army's territory.
The river warship had already docked, and after receiving the news, the ships behind them also slowly stopped and docked.
The army disembarked from the ships and set up camp on the shore.
Su Xiong used a telescope to take a look at Anqing City in the distance.
He said this to Su Zhuang and Su Li.
"The First Army led by me was able to capture Jiangxi so quickly.
We only used the method of attacking important cities. This marching strategy was very effective.
More than 90% of the Ming army was stationed in important cities.
As long as we eliminate these Ming troops, the Ming troops within the radiation range of this city will lose the strength to resist our army.
This will help us save our army's strength.
The Yangtze River is the most important transportation artery. We sent troops to capture the major cities on both sides of the Yangtze River.
Each army takes turns attacking the city in front.
In this way, each army has a chance to rest and reorganize.
We can capture the city of Nanjing as quickly as possible.
This strategy is what I had in mind before.
It can be effective, give full play to the strong strength of our army, and quickly allow our army to break through to Nanjing.
Now that the situation has changed, we cannot use this method."
While Su Xiong spoke, he drew two lines on the military map with a pen.
"Our army must now divide its forces for action.
Look at how turbid the water in the Yangtze River is now.
There have been heavy rains in the upper reaches of the Yangtze River recently.
The Yangtze River is bound to rise in the near future, and the waterway in the Anqing section of the Yangtze River has been blocked by concrete stones used by the Ming army.
It is easy to block the Yangtze River with rocks, but it is very difficult for us to salvage it by boat.
I have not forgotten the thrilling moment during the attack on Wuzhou.
If signs of flooding are not discovered in advance.
At that time, tens of thousands of troops could be wiped out if they were washed away by a flood.
Our army cannot all be concentrated on both sides of the Yangtze River.
We must not let the floods lead to the complete annihilation of our army.
The probability of this happening is low, but we can't give it a chance.
Su Zhuang led his troops to bypass Anqing and attack Luzhou Prefecture and Fengyang Prefecture.
Su Li led troops to attack Huizhou Prefecture. If the time is right, he can also directly attack Hangzhou Prefecture.
In Zhejiang, there should not be much defense against the southern Zhili area, and the Fifth Army has a great chance of succeeding in a surprise attack.
You must pay attention to the safety of logistics supply lines.
Try to save ammunition as much as possible. The southeastern region is relatively wealthy, and military rations should be raised locally as much as possible.
You can't attack quickly. If you want to occupy an area, let it stabilize as soon as possible and use the method of gradual encroachment to advance."
Su Zhuang frowned, Su Xiong's arrangement made it easier for the two armies.
The elite soldiers of the Ming Dynasty were concentrated along the Yangtze River, and the motley armies and gentry regiments they encountered encountered.
Even with bayonets, Su Zhuang was confident of leading his troops to defeat the Ming army.
The situation of the First Army is very dangerous, if it really encounters a flood.
Fire and water are ruthless, and the Ming army is taking the opportunity to attack, which will definitely cause heavy casualties.
But Su Xiong was right. Their army discovered that there was flooding in the Yangtze River.
Then we cannot hoard all our troops on both sides of the Yangtze River.
If there is a flood, tens of thousands more troops will not be able to solve the problem.
Su Xiong looked at the two men with some hesitation, and he directly said: "I am the commander-in-chief of the southern battlefield, I am not discussing with you, I am giving you orders.
Second Army and Fifth Army, execute military orders."
As soon as Su He said these words, Su Zhuang and Su Li immediately saluted with a military salute.
They said at the same time: "Second (Fifth) Army, obey military orders."
The system of the Qin army allowed the leading officers to have their own ideas.
But once a superior issues an order and disobeys the order, no matter how senior the officer is, he will be punished by the Military Justice Department.
As the commander-in-chief, Su Xiong issued military orders.
The Second Army and the Fifth Army immediately began to implement the troop division plan.
They led their troops and logistics forces to attack their respective targets.
Su Xiong set up camp on higher ground on both sides of the Yangtze River.
At the same time, engineering troops were dispatched to remove concrete stones from the Yangtze River.
…………………………
Anqing City of Ming Dynasty.
General Huang Degong was discussing with Governor Ma Shiying a plan to deal with the Qin army.
Huang Degong asked with some dissatisfaction: "Governor Ma, you have used concrete stones to block the Yangtze River ahead.
Why do you still use a lot of concrete stones to block the lower reaches of the Yangtze River?
If you do this, the Yangtze River will easily flood, inundating areas on both sides of the river.
Even if the city of Anqing is flooded, our troops will be doomed."
Ma Shiying said with great confidence: "General Huang Degong, this method was proposed by Hou Fangyu, a talented scholar who restored society.
After gathering the wisdom of many people, we came up with this method to stop the attack of the thieves in yellow.
If the thieves in yellow cannot clear the concrete stones of the Yangtze River, they will not be able to attack Anqing City with warships.
This is too slow, and the thief in yellow can't stand it.
If the thieves in yellow want to capture Anqing, they will definitely send troops to besiege Anqing City.
We have blocked the waterway of the Yangtze River, and there will be a flood in the Yangtze River.
Water and fire were merciless, and they immediately defeated the army of thieves in yellow.
At that time, our army was well prepared to attack directly in small boats and destroy the army of yellow-robed thieves.
As for the slight losses we suffered here, it is compared with defeating the army of thieves in yellow and saving the Ming Dynasty.
Which one is more important and which one is less important? General Huang Degong also had some considerations in mind.
Only by blocking the thieves in yellow can we save the Ming Dynasty.
If you can't stop the thieves in yellow, the place where the river washes away is also the territory of the thieves in yellow.
Those who welcome the thieves in yellow are only disobedient to the people, and they will not regret their death."
Huang Degong wanted to refute, but he had nothing to say.
He is a pure general who wants to use upright means to defeat the thieves in yellow on the frontal battlefield.
But with the Donglin Party taking control of the southern court, he has lost the power to command troops and can only ensure that the troops under his command are not cannon fodder.
Ma Shiying was talking eloquently about the various benefits of blocking the Yangtze River to the Ming Dynasty.
His master came in quickly and said a few words in his ear.
Ma Shiying laughed wildly and said: "Our plan was indeed successful.
In order to protect themselves, the thieves in yellow have divided their forces.
There are already gentry in other places, forming strong regiments and armed forces.
We also purchased a large number of artillery pieces from the Xiyi people.
It's no problem to hold back the thief in yellow.
In this war, victory will definitely belong to Ming Dynasty."
Ma Shiying walked out of the house and saw heavy rain pouring outside.
He smiled in surprise and said: "Let's go! If it goes harder, God will be angry and drown the thief in yellow."