While the West Route Army was conquering the city, the Middle Route Army led by Guo Ziyi, after capturing the prefectures and counties around Luoyang, stopped advancing and stationed in Ruyang (today's Runan) area to rest and recuperate.
On this day, the commander-in-chief Guo Ziyi came to the bank of Ru River and looked at the rushing river without saying a word.
Guo Xi, Guo Ziyi's third son, came to his father's side, saluted first, and then said: "Many generals in the army gathered in front of the tent this morning and wanted to invite a war to go south."
Guo Ziyi stared at the river without looking back: "No."
Guo Xi hesitated for a moment and said: "The battle report came from the West Road of Shannan. Duan Xiushi led the troops to capture Fangling. Lu Jiong and Zhou Shunian both surrendered. Duan Xiushi was also named Guanglu Shaoqing and a noble heir for his merits.
.After the generals in the army heard the news, they were all envious, so they had the idea of asking for a war."
Guo Ziyi: "I read the battle report and found that Li Siye was more than brave, but lacked in resourcefulness and acted recklessly. He was almost exhausted and defeated in Fangshan. Thanks to Duan Xiu's strength to turn the tide, we were able to achieve a great victory."
Guo Xi was a little dissatisfied: "The soldiers of the Puppet Tang Dynasty were not familiar with fighting. When they fought against the Puppet Yan, they were defeated one after another. From my point of view, it is nothing if Li Siye and Duan Xiushi can win the battle of Fangshan."
Guo Ziyi turned around, stared at Guo Xi and asked: "What you mean by this is that those people in Jiangnan are idiots. Since Duan Xiushi can win, you can win too?"
Guo Xi heard that Guo Ziyi's tone was not kind, and quickly bowed and said: "Father, calm down, I have no intention of underestimating the enemy."
Guo Ziyi: "When An Shouzhong attacked Jiangnan, all the elite soldiers of the puppet Tang Dynasty were stationed in Huainan, and there was no time to return for reinforcements. In addition, civil strife was widespread at that time, and Jiangnan's employees were not kind. Only then did An Shouzhong retreat. This gave An Shouzhong
You can take advantage of this opportunity.”
"Today, the elite soldiers from Jiangnan have gathered in Jiangxia (today's Wuhan), Baling (today's Yueyang), and Jiangzhou (today's Jiujiang). Their military strength is complete and their defenses are tight. In addition, there are also Lai Yi and Zhang Xun.
Veteran, now and then we are no longer the same."
When Guo Xi heard this, he looked puzzled: "However, when the Jiangnan army saw our army, they fled and voluntarily gave up a large area of land. The court did not allow our army to meet the enemy and fall. Why was it not allowed to go south to recover the land? No.
You want us to stay where we are and not move forward?"
Guo Ziyi picked up a branch from the ground and began to draw a map on the ground.
He first drew a small dot in the center of the map and said to Guo Xi: "This is Ruyang where the Central Route Army is stationed, which is where we are now."
Then, Guo Ziyi marked two adjacent pieces of land to the west of Xiaodian and said: "To the west of our army are Shannan West Road and Shannan East Road. The imperial court ordered Li Siye and Duan Xiushi of Shannan West Road to march eastward as soon as possible.
Take Fangzhou guarded by Lu Jiong and march to Shannan East Road."
Next, Guo Ziyi drew a piece of land northeast of Xiaodian and said: "To the north of our army is Hebei. Li Guangbi's troops are coming south quickly from here."
Guo Ziyi drew an area to the east of Xiaodian and said: "This is Henan Road. Shi Siming surrendered to the Puppet Tang Dynasty. His army took Xuzhou as a stronghold and entrenched here, adjacent to our army. Shi Siming can attack the capital if he advances.
Ji, Hebei, if you retreat, you can also enter the Luzhou (now Hefei) area on the Huainan Road and defend the city."
Finally, Guo Ziyi wrote in the south of Xiaodian: "Ruyang is located at the junction of Henan Road, Huainan Road, and Shannan East Road. The Puppet Tang Dynasty has now abandoned Shenzhou (today's Xinyang) and Anzhou (today's Anzhou).
Luhe Yingcheng), Guangzhou (today's Shangcheng, Guangshan and Gushi) and Huangzhou (today's Macheng and Huanggang) seem to be defeated by our army, so they retreated... However, if our army goes south, take a closer look
, can you see any clues?"
Guo Xi followed his instructions and looked carefully.
The Middle Route Army of the Northern Tang Dynasty is currently stationed in Ruyang. The Shannan East Road in the west has not yet been captured by Li Siye and Duan Xiushi, and Li Guangbi in the north is still on the way from Hebei.
If the Central Route Army went south, although it would be able to recover a large area of Huainan Road abandoned by the Southern Tang Dynasty, the entire army would enter the hinterland of the Southern Tang Dynasty.
Once it moves south, the Central Army will be surrounded.
To the west is Shannan East Road controlled by the Southern Tang Dynasty, to the east is Shi Siming's army stationed in Xuzhou, and to the south is the army under the command of General Qi of the Southern Tang Dynasty.
Seeing this, Guo Xi took a deep breath.
Guo Ziyi knocked the ground with a tree branch and said: "If the Central Route Army rushes southward, although it can occupy the lost ground, it will be trapped in a three-sided attack. Shi Siming can lead the army northward, resisting Li Guangbi's army on the one hand, and intercepting our army on the other.
As for the retreat, Lai Ai can lead his troops to attack and jointly attack us with the puppet Tang army on the east road of Shannan."
Speaking of this, Guo Ziyi shook her head at Guo Xi and said: "The imperial court ordered us to stay where we are and not to act rashly. It was a decision made after careful consideration. The emperor knows the troops and has fought on the border in the past years without any defeat. The Privy Council under his jurisdiction
, how can the tactics formulated be random?"
When Guo Xi heard this, he just sighed.
Guo Ziyi stroked his beard and said: "The emperor's intention is to let Li Siye and Duan Xiushi attack Shannan East Road, and then order Li Guangbi to go south to attack Shi Siming in Xuzhou. After these two armies drive the enemy southward, gather the three armies and advance together.
Go south and attack Jiangnan."
Guo Xi: "In my opinion, if the three armies gather together, where will they fight the enemy for a decisive battle?"
Guo Ziyi thought for a moment, used a branch to draw a small dot in the south of Ruyang, and said in a deep voice: "Jiangcheng (today's Wuhan)."
Guo Xi: "Jiangcheng?"
Guo Ziyi: "Jiangcheng is located at the junction of Shannan East Road, Huainan Road and Jiangnan West Road. Looking to the south, Jiangcheng is the best in terms of solidity and steepness. Moreover, there are many rivers and lakes in the territory, with dense water networks, as well as Tianmen Mountain, Tiger Claw
Mountains such as the Dahong Mountain and Dahong Mountain have obvious geographical advantages. The Puppet Tang Dynasty lured our troops southward and wanted to gather them together to annihilate them. If we are not fooled, they will definitely have to deploy heavy troops in Jiangcheng to defend the gate of Jiangnan West Road. "
Hearing this, Guo Xi nodded slightly.
After a while, Guo Xi saw Guo Ziyi frowning and asked, "Are you worried that Jiangcheng is dangerous and difficult to capture?"
Guo Ziyi shook his head and said, "No, I'm thinking about another thing."
Guo Xi: "What's the matter?"
Guo Ziyi: "The plan of the Puppet Tang Dynasty used Huainan Road as a trap to lure our army south. Although this plan is vicious, as long as a discerning person thinks carefully, it can still be seen through... But I always feel that the place in the south of the Yangtze River is
The level of a gangster counselor should be more than this."
Guo Xi: "What do you mean, father, there is a plan within the plan?"
Guo Ziyi: "Yes, the Puppet Tang Dynasty gave up large tracts of land, even if it was to strengthen the walls and clear the country and shrink the army, but this move will definitely shake the morale of the army and cause instability in the DPRK. Regarding this, Jiangnan cannot not know. According to me, since they did
Well, I’m afraid there is a back-up move. As for what the back-up move is, it’s hard to say..."