News that Ning Zechen successfully took over Shouzhou's defense reached Suizhou on the 29th; on the 28th and 29th, Suizhou's surrendered general Zhong Rong selected 20,000 soldiers from the Lishan camp and went northward. At the same time, Dong Chen Jingrong was originally sent to Suizhou to meet with Cao Zi'ang to discuss the Huaixi Army's march north to regain Ruzhou and grain crops, as if everything that had happened before did not exist.
The sound of rutting could be heard clearly. Chen Jingrong opened the curtain and ignored the cold wind blowing into the carriage, taking away the only cold air in the carriage.
The Chi Road going south to Suizhou passes through a hill named Luquan. Luquan Mountain is not high, but it stands out on the plains to the north of Suizhou City, and the terrain appears steep. There is a village on the west slope of Luquan, which was once used as a private residence by Suizhou army generals. , at this time, the elite first brigade of the Huaidong Army was stationed as a fortress, standing in the north of Suizhou City - within Chen Jingrong's field of vision, in the northeast, the same fortress stood on the steep terrain, guarding Suizhou from the south of Lishan Mountain. channel.
Now it seems that Huaidong has already made careful plans and arrangements for Huaixi.
The weather was hazy, with lead-colored clouds seeming to be pressing on the top of the mountain. I didn’t know whether it would be rain or snow next. Thinking that the Huaixi Army was short of food and clothing, and was forced to go north at this time, the situation was really bleak...
Chen Jingrong felt sad. Since he gave up resistance, the initiative rested with Huaidong. He really didn't know what the outcome would be when he came to Suizhou this time. In September, Luo Xiancheng led his troops to attack Xinyang from the north of Huaishan Mountain, making Xinyang Prefecture once again become a The military rations stored in Candi, Guangshan and Lishan camps can only last for more than a month. If the delay continues, the situation will only become more unfavorable to Huaixi.
When entering the city, he announced his intention, and all the accompanying cavalry had their weapons confiscated and taken to the guidance post house for surveillance. Chen Jinrong was also confiscated several times before being brought to a gray house.
Although the Huaidong Army Commander-in-Chief is used to being frugal, a sign should be erected in front of the house. Chen Jingrong said to the Huaidong Army General who was leading the way: "Chen Jingrong, the military commander for the Huaixi camp, is specially envoy to the Huaixi camp as deputy privy envoy. The general manager, Mr. Dong, has ordered me to come to Suizhou to meet with Luzhou garrison Cao Ziang to discuss important matters. Where is this place?"
"Jing Rong, don't dislike this place because it's so shabby!"
Chen Jingrong looked back and saw Yue Lengqiu wearing a crimson official robe standing in the courtyard with sleeves and hands, looking over with a smile.
Chen Jingrong didn't know that Yue Lengqiu was already in Suizhou, but looking at his smiling face, he felt that there was a murderous edge in it.
"Don't you dare? Don't you dare? Jingrong doesn't know that Governor Yue is in Suizhou." Chen Jingrong had no temper and could only bow and salute.
"You're welcome," Yue Lengqiu waved his sleeves and said, "You are here to see Cao Zi'ang under orders. Cao Zi'ang is busy with military affairs and may not have time to see you. However, I have also been specially ordered to go north by the Privy Council. What do you have to say to me? The same goes for saying..."
"..." Chen Jingrong was stunned for a moment and asked, "May I ask Governor Yue if there are any strict orders from the Privy Council?"
Yue Lengqiu's eyes were like knives cutting into Chen Jingrong. He thought that the capture of Shouzhou had indeed taken root and sprouted in the hearts of everyone in Huaixi like a seed. He said: "I have been ordered by the Privy Council to leave prison in Huaixi. The armies in Henan are also in charge of grain and fodder, and Deng Yu's troops in Chizhou are about to be ordered to move north and merge into Huaixi. What questions does Jing Rong have about the order of the armies in Henan?"
Chen Jingrong naturally knew that Lin Fu would have a back-up plan against Huaixi, but he did not expect that it would come so quickly, nor did he expect that Lin Fu would ask Yue Lengqiu to divide Dong Yuan's military power...
Especially when Yue Lengqiu's title was added with the words "Huaixi and Henan armies", Chen Jingrong was even more frightened:
It is not difficult to imagine that Dong Yuan's title will soon be changed to "recruiting envoys and controlling the armies of Huaixi and Henan". It seems that Lin Fu wants to use the power of the Privy Council during the war to control the Huaixi army.
It was broken into several towns, only giving Dong Yuan the power of control and Yue Lengqiu the power of supervising the army, while increasing the power of Tao Chun, Xiao Kui'an and other garrison troops, in order to achieve the purpose of weakening Huaixi and making Huaixi internal checks and balances.
If someone else were to serve as the supervisor of the army, Dong Yuan would not be greatly restrained. However, the significance of Yue Lengqiu leading Deng Yu's troops to the north to serve as the supervisor of the army was of great significance.
Tao Chun's director, Huai Jun, was almost single-handedly founded by Yue Lengqiu. From Tao Chun on down, they were all Yue Lengqiu's cronies who were promoted by Yue Lengqiu. Although Chang Huai Jun has been weakened a lot in Huaixi in recent years, its strength cannot be underestimated.
peep.
In the past, Tao Chun was under the command of Huaixi, so he could not escape Dong Yuan's control. However, when Yue Lengqiu entered Huaixi, Tao Chun's generals would inevitably fall to Yue Lengqiu.
After the Chizhou Army was defeated in Songyang, Yue Lengqiu's influence and actual military power were weakened by most. Chen Jingrong thought that Lin Fu would continue to weaken Yue Lengqiu's power and influence, but he never expected that Lin Fu would
Use Yue Lengqiu to go north to check and balance Huaixi...
*************
Although Chen Zhi's troops recaptured Shicheng on the 23rd, it was not until the 29th that Lin Fu moved the carriage to Shicheng. Zuo Chengmu, as an envoy to observe the army, also accompanied him to Shicheng; a day later,
Hu Wenmu, Mr. Hu and his son came from Jiangxia to Shicheng to meet Lin Fu.
The sunken ships and hidden piles at the fork of the Han River were not cleared until the 26th. At this time, the Han River from Hanjin to Changlin were all warships from the Huaidong Water Camp.
After winter, the wind blows from the northwest, and the wind and current are against each other, and the water is thin. It can be imagined that the speed of warships traveling on the water of Hanjiang is very slow. From Hanjin to Shicheng, the land road is three hundred miles, and the waterway is winding.
More than five hundred miles away; Hu Wenmu, Hu Xuechang and his son crossed the river from Jiangxia before noon on the 28th, and then drove all the way north to Shicheng to meet Lin Fu.
The warships of the Huaidong Water Camp did not wait for the river obstruction to be completely cleared before entering the Han River. At least when Hu Wenmu, Hu Xuechang and his son rushed to Shicheng, there were hundreds of Huaidong Warships parked on the Han River outside Shicheng.
Boat.
On the west bank of the Han River, Ye Jiluorong's main force on the western front has completely withdrawn to the Xiangyang, Nanzhang, and Zhongyi lines. The nearly 8,000 cavalry of his rear army, Pu Xie Shi, have also abandoned Jingzhou, Changlin, Yiling and other southern areas.
Line city, retreat to the line north of Jingmen...
Although it was possible to cross the Han River from Shicheng to the west bank, it was necessary to maintain the smooth flow of the Han River so that the Huaidong Shuiying warships could directly enter Xiangyang, so a pontoon bridge could not be built in Shicheng.
Before driving into Shicheng, driving over the Nanhu Slope, you can have a panoramic view of the 20 to 30 miles upstream and downstream of the Han River and the Pengwan Ridge on the other side: the Huaidong Army that entered Shicheng early has divided its troops to occupy the Pengwan Ridge on the other side.
A fort across the river was established, and warships were being used to transport more soldiers and supplies...
"It's impossible to cross the river from Shicheng to pursue us!" Senior Hu lightly reined in the reins, approached the carriage his father was riding in, looked at the situation above the Han River, and said.
Hu Wenmu nodded.
His father and his son originally intended to rely on Jinghu to support themselves, so they were naturally very familiar with the topography of Jingxiang.
Ye Jiluorong's main force had already withdrawn to the Xiangyang line, and his flight to the north was from the west of Xiangyang to Gucheng, crossing the Han River and heading north via the Danjiang River.
The Lumen Mountains in the southeast of Xiangyang are surrounded by Han Mountains, and the terrain is steep; the Longzhong Mountains, the former residence of Shu Prime Ministers of the Three Kingdoms, are to the southwest, and the northern foothills of Jing Mountain to the south are all natural shields outside Xiangyang. Therefore, the Huaidong Army crossed the river from Shicheng and entered the west bank of the Han River.
, it is difficult to pursue the enemy troops west of Xiangyang.
Of course, the Huaidong Shuiying warships can trace the Han River northward and enter the Han River section west of Xiangyang, directly cutting off the channels for Yan and Hu troops to escape north. That is the most straightforward method. However, the Han River is thin, and the Huaidong Shuiying
It will take a long time for the main force to advance to the Han River section of Xiangyang. Furthermore, Yanhu still has considerable naval power near Xiangyang and has an advantage upstream.
Chasing and annihilating enemy troops is still not a simple matter.
Hu Wenmu sighed again and said: "For Huaidong, even if there is no way to annihilate Ye Ji Luorong's troops this time, the recovery of Jingxiang and Nanyang is a foregone conclusion; and after the war, Haoshou and other places will also
Huaixi should be demarcated—the situation is like this, and given time, the Northern Expedition can be expected!"
Hu Wenmu has been able to occupy Jinghu for several years, and his eyesight is beyond comparison with common sense. The battle of Jingxiang is coming to an end. Whether he can destroy more Yanhu soldiers and horses does not matter to the overall situation.
"Father said Dong Yuan would not jump over the wall in a hurry?" Senior Hu asked.
"No, jumping over the wall in a hurry is just throwing yourself into a trap. Dong Yuan can't even see through this, let alone the opponent of the Privy Council..." Hu Wenmu said.
"The privy envoy asked Yue Xiang to go north, and I was a little puzzled," Xuexiang Hu asked. "The privy envoy has been fighting with Yue Xiang for so many years, and finally had the chance to completely weaken him. How can he be asked to go north and regain military power?
Chance?"
Hu Wenmu and Senior Hu knew the news about Yue Lengqiu being transferred from the north to supervise Huaixi and the armies in Henan. He knew it when Senior Hu crossed the river to Hanjin. What puzzled Senior Hu was how Lin Fu gave Yue Lengqiu a chance to become a leader again!
The strength of the Chizhou Army controlled by Yue Lengqiu was greatly weakened after the defeat of Songyang. However, Yue Lengqiu was asked to lead the Chizhou Army northward and have a chance to regain control of the Changhuai Army. The Chizhou Army controlled by Yue Lengqiu
Military power will quickly return to its peak.
"Everything depends on the people's hearts," Hu Wenmu said. "Yue Lengqiu has been fighting with the Privy Council for many years, with ups and downs. Even if he still has ambitions, he should know where the bottom line is. He is more reliable than Dong Yuan.
It is safer than following Dong Yuan's soldiers on a dangerous front. Who can be sent north to immediately separate Tao Chun from the Huaixi army? After all, Huaixi did not make a big mistake. The Privy Council can only expel him to Huaixi this time.
North of the water, provide them with food and fodder to contain Yanhu's troops in Henan, but how can they not prevent Dong Yuan from using superficial war to cover up secret peace talks? Yue Lengqiu led the Chizhou army to the north, and he could immediately take Tao Chun from Dong Yuan
To win over his subordinates, there is strength to compete with Dong Yuan on the north bank of the Huai River. Even if Dong Yuan intends to make peace with Yan Hu secretly, how can he hide it from Yue Lengqiu's eyes? Even if Yan Hu does not guard against Dong Yuan, how can he not?
Prevent Yue Lengqiu? Therefore, we will inevitably contain a large number of troops in Henan to share the pressure on Huaidong on other fronts..."
"My child is not as perceptive as my father." Senior Hu thought for a moment and felt that his father was right. Using Yue Lengqiu would bring more benefits than harm to Huaidong.
"Only when you let go can you see clearly!" Hu Wenmu sighed softly.