Guazhou is located less than thirty miles south of Yangzhou City. It is an important transportation town and waterway hub in the north of the Yangtze River. Yangzijin is directly connected to the river.
This was originally a sandbar formed by alluvial quicksand, surrounded by water and shaped like a melon, hence its name. However, after hundreds of years of changes, Guazhou has become connected with the north bank of the Yangtze River, narrowing the distance between the north and south banks.
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As a thoroughfare, with its excellent transportation conditions, it has always been an important economic town in the lower reaches of the Yangtze River. However, after the Han Dynasty captured Huainan and captured all of Jiangbei, it also assumed more military roles. Starting from the fifth year of Qianyou,
Its garrison gradually increased from 500 to 2000, and it attached great importance to monitoring Runzhou on the south bank.
It is late autumn, with a cool breeze blowing, and the river is surging with torrential waves and the sound of waves is endless. In previous years, the river would have been crowded with travelers, and the river boats were flowing like shuttles. It is a place with the most frequent economic exchanges between the north and the south.
season.
However, as the relationship between the north and the south became tense, the imperial court sent troops to the north of the Yangtze River. After feeling the atmosphere of war, most people chose to retreat. It is human instinct to seek advantages and avoid disadvantages. For merchants, it is more sensitive. Although the southern part of the imperial court
The edict of conquest has not yet been sent, but in the south and north of the Yangtze River, even ordinary people know that the army's march southward is inevitable. In fact, many people are looking forward to it, especially those merchants traveling from north to south.
In addition, the blockade of the waterway by the north and the south made the front of Guazhou very desolate at this time, with only a small number of patrolling gondolas cruising on the river.
Of course, if you move your sight north, you will find that before the war, Yangzhou was more prosperous and lively than in previous years. On the canal, there were boats like clouds, and a large number of official ships, merchant ships, and civilian ships were fighting for the crossing, transporting various goods.
Some of the quasi-military supplies are officially transferred, some are conscripted and mobilized, and many are brought for profit.
During the years of war, the imperial court had consciously mobilized the enthusiasm of private merchants. In addition to controlled materials such as ordnance and armor, other items of clothing, shoes and socks, gloves, jade utensils, water containers and even military rations were gradually tried to be sold to private merchants.
The team is responsible for transportation and even purchasing and shipping.
Interests are exciting and can indeed stimulate people's enthusiasm. After the baptism of the Northern Expedition, the implementation of this policy has risen to a higher level. Although overall, the proportion is not large, but it is increasing, and it does give
The imperial court saved a lot of trouble.
Of course, there were a lot of problems, and some experiences were summed up and certain rules were formulated. Therefore, when we arrived in Pingnan this time, we were even more comfortable. War is an unparalleled test and exercise of a country's organizational capabilities, and after the Northern Expedition,
The Han Dynasty, which was tested by large-scale wars, was very good at organizing "small wars" like the Southern Expedition.
At the Guazhou Ferry, he was wearing a thick dark black cloak. Li Gu stood at the ferry, looking southward across the river. The cloak on his body was embroidered with gold dragon patterns, which was very noble. It was specially sent by the emperor from Tokyo.
The one who came from Yangzhou also had a pair of kneepads and leggings because the weather was getting colder and Li Gu was suffering from wind paralysis.
Li Gu could only repay the emperor's care and consideration by swearing to death, and devoted all his enthusiasm to the great cause of Pingnan, taking the final step for the Han Dynasty to unify the world.
Above the river, the cold fog is sparse. Looking from north to south, you can see the overlapping mountains on the south bank, as well as the enemy's water and land camps and other military facilities that rely on the formation of victory.
Although Li Gu was a scholar, he always possessed a kind of heroism and courage. This is why Liu Chengyou was willing and dared to let his leader Pingnan. It would be impossible to give him great power just to satisfy his wish. of.
Looking at Jingkou on the other side, Li Gu's old face revealed a sense of confidence and a complacent attitude.
“The great river spans thousands of miles, and its ancient passage spans thousands of miles.
The sound of the vast waves is dangerous, and the blue sky is sad.
Three sides belong to Han Ding, and one water limits Wuzhou.
Where is the hegemonic country now? The clear spring has always flowed by itself."
On a whim, Li Gu recited a poem by Dai Shulun in a low voice, with a bit of emotion in his tone. Next to him was a general who was not burly in physique but had a heroic demeanor. He looked like a general at first glance. It was this time that he Pingnan deputy commander Shi Shouxin. This is Liu Chengyou's deputy to Li Gu, and it is also a kind of insurance. It has been a month since he arrived in Yangzhou to prepare for the southern expedition.
Shi Shouxin still respects Li Gu very much, not only for his reputation, but also for being impressed by his talents and virtues after getting in touch with him. On the other hand, the demeanor of a Confucian general like Li Gu who is both civil and military is very contagious. , especially for an open-minded general like Shi Shouxin.
"Why is Mr. Li so interested in reciting a poem?" Listening to his recitation, Shi Shouxin couldn't help but said curiously: "The description is just the scene in front of me! Although it is suitable for the occasion, it is definitely not generous, which is not suitable for the Southern Expedition!"
"It's just picking up people's wits!" After hearing what he said, Li Gu couldn't help but chuckled and said, "Shou Xin also studies poetry?"
Shi Shouxin shook his head: "I'm just a rough man, not an elegant person. I'm good at leading troops in battles. I don't have the talent to study poetry and articles!"
"The general is obviously self-effacing. Your Majesty has said that Shi Shouxin, with his appearance as a famous general and his talent as a commander, can be trusted with great things!" Li Gugan said, looking at Shi Shouxin with admiration in his eyes. After all, this is Relying on a series of solid military exploits, he gradually became a high-ranking general of the Han Dynasty.
Listening to Li Gu's words, Shi Shouxin couldn't help but smile a little. After all, everyone likes to hear good things.
"Guazhou and Jingkou, a thousand-year-old ferry, are separated by a river. Since the Wei and Jin Dynasties, in the six or seven hundred years, there have been many iron horses and heroic heroes. Now, it is our turn!" His eyes, which were not sharp, became extraordinarily sharp. Firmly, Li Gu said in a deep voice.
After hearing this, his eyes also turned to the south, pointing to the Jingkou on the south bank. Shi Shouxin said: "Li Gong has been watching here several times. Could it be that he wants to use this place as a breakthrough target for the southern crossing?"
"What do you think of Shouxin?" There was no answer, so Li Gu asked Shi Shouxin what he thought.
Shi Shouxin was obviously thinking about it. He pondered for a moment and then spoke fluently: "Jingkou has always been an important place for military strategists and an important pass for river defense. It is bordered by the river in the north and the solid mountains in the south. It can be said that it is a place of victory. The Southern Army has been operating for many years and has complete fortresses. , there are sufficient ordnance, the defenders have been trained for a long time and are familiar with the terrain, and the defender Lin Renzhao is quite talented. If you want to break through head-on, I am afraid it will not be easy and the casualties will be high!
Moreover, we have heavily concentrated troops in Yangzhou, and the Southern Army is also gathering military strength, which also adds considerable risks and difficulties to the forced crossing.
However, if we cross the river from here, defeat Lin Renzhao's army and occupy Runzhou, we can go straight to Jinling and penetrate into its heart. Among the southern army, only Runzhou Town Navy has the strength to fight. If they are destroyed, the other armies will be insufficient.
For the Tao.
This is the simplest and most direct strategy for entering the army, but it is the most difficult. If it goes well, Jinling may be able to be conquered in one month, and the states south of the Yangtze River may even be decided by a message..."
"Keeping one's word is worthy of a general's talent. He has a clear view of the war situation!" Listening to his words, Li Gu's old face showed some excitement, and he said: "In your opinion, should we cross the river from now on?"
Shi Shouxin thought for a while and then said: "General Shu Mo will bluntly say that it is not a wise move to choose to force the crossing when the Southern Army is well prepared and the defense is solid.
In this southern expedition, the primary target was only lower Jinling, and the defenses of Jinling were one at Jingkou in the lower reaches, and the other at Dangtu and Caishiji in the upper reaches. The southern army concentrated heavy troops at Jingkou, which would inevitably weaken the defenses in other places. One Lin Renzhao,
It is impossible to take care of both the upstream and downstream, and a suppressing navy cannot cross the river and block my progress.
In my opinion, we can continue to deploy troops on the north bank to attract their attention, and at the same time send elite troops to cross the river from Hezhou. Then go east along the river, heading straight to Jinling, and wait until the troops threaten Jinling. No matter how strong the entrance of Jing is, it is useless!"
Hearing this, Li Gu said: "It's just that the Confederate army may not be defenseless if we just dodge the strategic area of Tu! It's not easy to cross the river easily!"
Facing Li Gu's gaze, Shi Shouxin pretended to be surprised and said: "Could it be that Mr. Li really couldn't see the flaws of the Southern Army? Their national power is weak. Although there are 100,000 troops, most of them are not useful. Furthermore, their military strength is weak.
More than 100,000 troops were deployed on the river defense, but they were still stretched thin.
In the direction of Ezhou, there is Cao Bin's army, which is enough to contain tens of thousands of troops. There are heavy troops in Runzhou Tun. Jinling needs adequate defense. How can Dangtu deploy sufficient defense?
Furthermore, when General Guo Tingwei moves north from Wuyue, how will the Southern Army resist it? As long as our army mobilizes from all sides and fights steadily, the Southern Army will inevitably collapse, and there is absolutely no possibility of victory!"
Shi Shouxin's eyes were full of strong self-confidence, and Li Gu was filled with admiration for his strategy and said with a smile: "General, I told you everything I thought in my heart!"
In fact, although the war has not yet begun, the strategic situation between the north and the south is already very clear. The imperial court holds two kings and four twos, leaving a bunch of consecutive cards. How to win.
"However, the first thing we need to do is to wipe out the navy in the south of the Yangtze River and completely control the Yangtze River waterway!" Li Gu said.
"Water warfare is not my specialty. I still need to rely on General Zhang Yanqing. However, the southerners are good at boating. In the Huainan War, they failed to exert their effectiveness. I don't know how much combat power their navy still retains ten years later.
?" Shi Shouxin said.
"We are still in the Runzhou Navy, but it is difficult to support a single tree, let alone its unbearable weight!" Li Gu said in a faint tone.
The waves crashed against the shore at his feet, and a burst of air hit him, rolling up his clothes and shaking Li Gu's figure. A middle-aged man beside him quickly supported him and advised: "Father, the wind on the river is very cold.
If you don’t feel well, you’d better go back to the city and don’t stay any longer!”
This middle-aged man was Li Gu's eldest son. He had been promoted to an official position by Liu Chengyou and was specially arranged to take care of Li Gu. At the same time, he was accompanied by an imperial doctor who was good at typhoid fever and wind paralysis.
At this time, the pain in the joints on his body became more intense due to the cool breeze. Li Gu did not hold on, but accepted his suggestion and returned.
As soon as he returned to the Guazhou military camp, he received a notice from Zhao Yanjin that the emperor had issued an edict and that troops could be mobilized.