Five hundred and fortieth IX accidents are everywhere
This time Wu Shigong wanted to take advantage of the bend in the Han River between Xiangyang and Wuchang to eliminate all the peasant armies surrounding it.
According to the information from the Shanchuan Division and the Military Intelligence Bureau, there are thirty to forty thousand peasant troops in this area, with more than a dozen groups of varying sizes, and some of them are connected to the spies of the Runing Army. Therefore, Wu Shigong's victory in this battle
Have absolute confidence.
But when Wu Shigong finished speaking, he was surprised to find that no officer had left, so he asked: "Is there anything else? I don't care about dinner here!"
Wu Shigong's joke caused another burst of laughter. After a while, He Fei, the more senior among the army commanders, asked: "Master! Who will command the entire army?"
Those officers already knew that Wu Shigong was not planning to fight in person this time, so this battle required a front-line commander. Since Xue Yongli and Zhou Xun were not here, these officers with similar qualifications were all peeping at this position.
Wu Shigong immediately slapped his head, but he ignored this, so he raised his head and looked around, and then ordered: "Just Zug!"
Zug suddenly smiled like a morning glory, and the other officers couldn't help showing disappointed looks on their faces. Especially He Fei and Li Sanhe, when Zug was only the deputy commander of the army, they were already the commanders of the army, so their
I always feel a little uncomfortable in my heart.
Wu Shigong also understood the psychology of those officers, so he explained with a smile: "In the future, you will all be released to take charge of your own affairs, so don't be impatient! This time, because it was Chug who made the plan, I will let him command. There will be a chance."
It’s time to break up! We’ll set off early tomorrow morning. You all should go back to camp quickly to get ready!”
"No!" After hearing Wu Shigong's explanation, the officers felt a little better.
Only Shu Mo was muttering secretly when he was leaving the tent: "I am also a part of this plan, why should I take advantage of Chu Huhu?"
Seeing that all his officers had left, Wu Shigong smiled and shook his head. He thought to himself: "Competition is everywhere. It's really difficult to find a bowl of water that is equal!"
On June 13, the ninth year of Chongzhen, the Runing Army set out in three groups towards Huguang. However, half a day after departure, Wu Shigong suddenly received an urgent report from the Runan militia. A local unit of the Runing Army suddenly made a surprise attack and captured the city.
Xinye County.
Previously, in order to cover the actions of the Runing Army, the militia group in Runan was scattered and frequently active on the southern border of Runing. On the one hand, it wanted to capture and intercept the spies sent by the Peasant Army; on the other hand, it also gave the Peasant Army a false impression.
:The troops of the Runing Army were not concentrated.
Of course, the order conveyed to the Runan militia was as follows: Because Shaanxi bandits are becoming increasingly rampant in Huguang, the militia must be vigilant and attack appropriately to deter the peasant army and prevent them from approaching the border of Runing Prefecture.
But here in Xinji Township, Tongbai County, several daring grassroots civil and military officers of the Runing Army made shocking moves in accordance with this order.
Let’s talk about the list of these grassroots civil and military officials! Yao Liang, Ye Chao, Fu Sheng.
Both Yao Liang and Ye Chao were sent to Xinji Township. So they immediately became friends because of the same illness. However, the two people's will was not depressed. They always thought about making meritorious deeds and wanted to win Wu Shigong's favor again.
Fu Sheng was promoted to deputy battalion commander after his meritorious service last time. This time, he led two companies and happened to arrive in Xinji Township. And these three ambitious people got together and immediately plotted a plot.
It was a long journey that no one expected.
The time forwarded to three days ago.
"We were told to attack appropriately, but the bandit army did not dare to approach us in Runing. How should we attack? Alas!" Fu Sheng sighed.
In order to welcome Fu Sheng's arrival, Yao Liang and Ye Chao hosted a banquet. Although they were not allowed to drink alcohol on these days, the atmosphere of the banquet became more lively as time went by.
"What? Battalion Commander Fu still wants to make meritorious deeds? You have been promoted quickly enough!" Yao Liang began to test Fu Sheng with words.
"Why don't you want to make meritorious service? Who would want to be an idle official? I just want to join the legion as soon as possible and become a real general who leads the army." Facing his senior, Fu Sheng was not wary at all.
"I have some news here. I wonder if Battalion Commander Fu is interested in it?" Yao Liang continued.
"Oh? Tell me quickly?" Fu Sheng asked.
"A few days ago, I took in a few gentry who escaped from Xinye County. They told me that Xinye County was already empty and that the rebels would enter Xinye at any time."
"Oh? Then why is Xinye empty?" Fu Sheng asked again.
"The magistrate there saw that the rebels had been moving around the county seat. He was so frightened that he fled to Yu Yushi, saying that he was going to bring in reinforcements. When he left, the whole city of Xinye fled." Yao Liang replied with a smile.
.
"How could that be?" Fu Sheng felt a little unbelievable, "The city is safer than outside the city anyway, and the county magistrate might have really gone to move reinforcements!"
"Who would take their family members with them to move the rescue troops?" Ye Chao interjected from the side.
After figuring it out, Fu Sheng burst into laughter.
Then Fu Sheng asked: "Do you want to take Xinye away? It's not close there. It's sixty or seventy miles away from us, and we have to pass through Tanghe County in the middle."
"What? Are you afraid of being out of reach?" Yao Liang asked.
"I'm not afraid of the long journey. It's just a day's march at most. I'm just afraid that the rebels have already entered the city and I'll make the journey in vain! You know, I only have two companies." Although he was a little excited, Fu Sheng was still relatively calm.
Yao Liang and Ye Chao looked at each other, as long as their hearts moved, then there would be a show. Then Yao Liang smiled and said: "Who said it's just you? It should be us!"
"Ah?" Fu Sheng was immediately startled by Yao Liang's words, "You? Aren't you civil servants? What kind of army do you have in your hands?"
"Don't underestimate people!" Ye Chao immediately replied: "We have more than 400 village protection teams here."
"Village Guard Team?" Fu Sheng's face suddenly showed an incredulous look. Can this militiamen compare with the regular army?
"What? You don't believe in my ability to train soldiers?" Seeing Fu Sheng's expression, Yao Liang pretended to be unhappy.
"No way!" Fu Sheng immediately changed his expression with a smile on his face, "Head Yao is the leader of the old people's regiment. I don't trust others, so how can I not trust you?"
"I'm not bragging to you. The village guards I trained are almost the same as the militia soldiers, except that their weapons are inferior. But compared with those bandits, they are still very different. They are absolutely qualified in lining up and marching. These are
In my free time, I just train them." Yao Liang kept encouraging Fu Sheng's confidence with his words.
"Then the total is only over 600, so there aren't enough people?" Fu Sheng was still a little worried.
"It's not like we're fighting head-on with the bandit army. If we encounter a large group of bandits, just stay away." Yao Liang didn't relax, "Listen to my plan! Let's put on people's clothes and move as quickly as possible."
Run towards Xinye County as fast as possible. Try not to fight with the rebels on the way, we also pretend to be the rebels."
"When we get to Xinye County, if no rebels enter the city, then we will take it. If there are rebels, we will sneak into the city if we have the opportunity. If the rebels are few, we will kill them and capture Xinye County as well."
"What should we do if we can't get into the city? Or if we get into the city but find that there are many thieves and soldiers, what should we do?" Fu Sheng then asked.
"Then what can we do? Let's go back home. But in that case, our trip will be in vain and we won't lose anything." Yao Liang replied.
Then Yao Liang tempted Fu Sheng again: "Think about it, what if we succeed? We will definitely not be able to capture the county seat, and we don't have the ability to eliminate too many rebel troops. But the official warehouses in Xinye County are full. Listen.
Those gentry said, there are tens of thousands of shi of food in there. What is our Runing army short of most now? Food! As long as we find a way to transport the food back to Runing, can you, the battalion commander, still run away?
It’s your choice! Go in vain or make a great contribution.”
"Hearing what you said, I'm a little moved!" Fu Sheng thought about it for a while and found that this is indeed the truth.
"Captain Fu! Why are you hesitating? Make up your mind quickly." Ye Chao urged from the side.
"But? But there is no military order?" Fu Sheng still couldn't make up his mind.
"Why are you such a mother-in-law?" Yao Liang suddenly became impatient, "Can't we attack appropriately? At most, the distance of your attack is longer. Besides, even if we return without success, will we still go around and spread the word?
Huh? No one knows that we have ever done this. As for occupying Xinye County, no matter how we say it, we have both merit and demerit! We are not afraid of others knowing."
"Okay! I will accompany you to go crazy once." Fu Sheng slapped the table and said.
Yao Liang and Ye Chao immediately beamed. The three raised their teacups and clinked them: "Happy cooperation!"
Finally, Yao Liang ordered: "Captain Fu! Don't tell anyone about what is discussed here. Even the soldiers under your command cannot let them know. I will prepare the clothes of the people, and I will gather the village protection team immediately in the evening. You can also
Gather your troops and we will set off on time tomorrow morning."
Just like that, Yao Liang, Ye Chao and Fu Sheng led 472 people from the militia and village protection teams to raid Xinye County on June 11. After that, the raid became a legend.
In the beginning of the march, this unit went quite smoothly, only encountering a few small groups of scurrying peasant troops. However, as Xinye County approached, the number of peasant troops increased, and even refugees from all over the place gathered.
Xinye County.
Since the news that Xinye County was empty has spread to Xinji Township, it must have spread to the nearby countryside. So those people all wanted to rush to Xinye County to harvest something. Seeing that the momentum was not right, Yao
Liang and the others immediately responded. They began to gather the refugees around them. (To be continued...)