On the 30th, under Lin Fu's order, Ge Cunxiong led the Jinghai No. 3 Water Battalion to follow the Huai River westward to Shanyang County, assist Liu Tingzhou in crossing the Huaihe River at the west entrance of Shanyang Bay, and transferred Lin Fu's Shanyang County garrison to Liu Tingzhou for control.
The order to cross the Huaihe River together was submitted.
Deng Wei, the supervisory censor sent from the capital to convey the order, saw Lin Fu's official letter and jumped up and down anxiously. Regardless of his manners, he pointed at Ge Cuxiong and scolded: "Lin Fu, a child, regards aiding Xu as child's play. He is a small thief who is harming the country and the people."
, I will not let him go even if I die under Xuzhou City, I will go back and present a memorial to him right now!"
Before setting off, he was given instructions by Lin Fu in person. Ge Cunxiong did not think it was surprising that Deng Wei and others reacted so violently. He held his saber in his hand and stood in front of the hall. Ignoring Deng Wei's accusations, he clasped his fists and said to Liu Tingzhou: "I am here under orders.
Assist Mr. Liu in leading his troops to cross the Huaihe River. The division of power and responsibilities is stated in the order letter. After Mr. Liu crosses the Huaihe River, the Zhizhi Envoy will launch an offensive against the Liuqiao camp on the east road to fight with Liu.
Your Excellencies, please go hand in hand to help Xuzhou in order to alleviate the danger of Governor Yue..."
Liu Tingzhou looked as usual and said: "I have learned about the military order to set up the envoy, and Colonel Ge will have to work hard to cross the Huaihe River..."
Ge Cunxiong said goodbye and left, returning to the ferry camp. He came here to be responsible for water surface security and to ensure that the tens of thousands of people recruited by Liu Tingzhou were not attacked when they crossed the Huaihe River in civilian boats. As for whether they could gain a foothold on the north bank and whether they could successfully attack Siyang
It's none of his business whether Zhai launches an offensive.
Ge Cunxiong went down to the hall and left. Teng Xingyuan, the magistrate of Shanyang County, could not hold himself back. He stood up and spoke harshly, pointing the finger at Lin Fu and said: "The envoy is going to kill the governor! The governor of Shanyang County also defended the army.
If we move across the Huai River to fight, once the battle fails, there will be a big hole in the Huaidong defense line in Shanyang, and the Zhizhi envoys can justifiably withdraw from the east road to fill it in Shanyang..."
Liu Tingzhou flipped through the order letter sent by Lin Fu, sighing slightly in his heart, but said: "If our march along the Si River goes smoothly, leaving a hole in Shanyang is not a big deal. Could it be that you don't have any intention of crossing the Huai River to aid Xu?"
confidence?"
Teng Xingyuan could not refute Liu Tingzhou and gave Ma Fu a wink.
"I'm not afraid of ten thousand, I'm just afraid of the worst! I'm even more afraid that this is Lin Fu's treacherous plan!" Ma Fu said.
Because Ma Fu violated the curfew order, several of his loyal family members were executed by Lin Fu. He and his wife were also imprisoned for half a night, and finally they were able to escape with 300,000 taels of cash.
Such a great shame and humiliation, Ma Fu would naturally not forget it. After learning the news that Liu Tingzhou and Lin Fu had a falling out over the aid to Xu, he immediately provided money and people to help Liu Tingzhou raise the army to cross the Huaihe River.
Therefore, when discussing matters, Ma Fu could sit in front of the hall opposite Liu Tingzhou, Deng Wei, Teng Xingyuan and others.
Ma Fu helped Liu Tingzhou. In addition to wanting to use Liu Tingzhou to suppress Lin Fu's arrogance in Huai'an, he also least wanted Xuzhou to fall.
The princess of Chu, the head of Yunyang County, ordered Ma Fu to serve; the Ma family was able to show off their power in Huai'an. In addition to the Ma family being salt and iron eunuchs for generations, Ma Fu also relied on the power of the Chu Prince's Palace in Xuzhou. If Xuzhou was surrendered to bandits
After the attack, the Prince of Chu lost his heirs, which was a severe pain for Ma Fu.
Originally, Lin Fu transferred the garrison of Shanyang County to Liu Tingzhou to cross the Huaihe River to relieve the siege of Xuzhou. This was a good thing for Ma Fu. After all, the garrison of Shanyang County was quite powerful, with four to five thousand soldiers and horses, far more than Liu Tingzhou.
The hastily recruited civilian bravery has a better chance of winning the battle across the Huaihe River, but the Ma family is based in Shanyang, and Ma Fu really can't imagine what kind of evil tricks Lin Fu will play after the Shanyang County garrison is transferred.
Tao Chun remained silent. At this time, he no longer expected Lin Fu to send troops, and it was an unexpected surprise for him to be able to lead the Shanyang County garrison across the Huaihe River.
Xiao Kui'an didn't say anything. He actually knew that if he went north, he would escape death. He was promoted by Liu Tingzhou and was obliged to lead the troops on his behalf. If he could bring the Shanyang County garrison with him, he would have more chance of survival. Xiao Kui'an also
How could you object?
Ma Rulong didn't say anything. He didn't object to taking the Shanyang County garrison across the Huaihe River. He was thinking, should he quickly send someone to notify his family to live in Huai'an City for a while?
Deng Wei's heart was filled with regret. He was not against the Shanyang County garrison crossing the Huaihe River. He jumped out to recruit people to bravely cross the Huaihe River with Liu Tingzhou to aid Xu. He just wanted to make a gesture to force Lin Fu to march north.
In fact, when Ge Cunxiong came with Lin Fu's letter, Deng Wei did not think that he would actually lead the Huai army to the north together with Liu Tingzhou.
Deng Wei and Liu Tingzhou were civil servants in charge of civil affairs, while Lin Fu was the commander-in-chief who led the army.
There has never been a principle of civil servants going to war and commanders guarding the territory. Therefore, Deng Wei was not very worried and thought that Lin Fu would eventually give in. However, he never expected that Lin Fu would play the poisonous plan of "the east and the west, advancing at the same time".
Lin Fu crossed the Huaihe River and marched north along the Sishui River. At the same time, he asked Liu Tingzhou to lead his troops across the Huaihe River and march north along the Sishui River. Even if Liu Tingzhou was defeated and died, others would only say that Liu Tingzhou had no ability to use troops, and no one would blame Lin Fu.
Just as Teng Xingyuan, the magistrate of Shanyang County, said, Deng Wei also believed that once the Shanyang County defenders failed to advance north along the West Road and suffered heavy losses, those Huai'an Qingliu, squires, and scholars who had surrounded Green Willow Garden and scolded Lin Fu for not saving him would
The general immediately changed his face and begged his grandfather and his grandmother to ask Lin Fu to withdraw his troops to fill the gap in Shanyang's defense line. Only then did Deng Wei realize that he was driving himself to death.
Deng Wei stared at Liu Tingzhou's face, hoping that he would tear Lin Fu's order letter to pieces and ignore it.
Liu Tingzhou put the order letter on his desk and said slowly: "The military orders of the Zhizhi Envoy are like mountains. You must also know them, so you can only act in accordance with them. Shanyang County Magistrate Teng Xingyuan," Jiran raised his voice and stared at Teng Xingyuan, "
You are the magistrate of Shanyang County and the military governor of Shanyang. You must lead the Shanyang garrison to prepare for crossing the Huaihe River within two days. If you fail to meet the deadline, I will report to the imperial court and have you imprisoned.
There will be no mercy. In addition, Shanyang City Defense will follow the orders of the Zhizhi Envoy and transfer one or two thousand soldiers and horses from Huai'an City, and the county magistrate Liu Tao will temporarily act as the county magistrate..."
Deng Wei looked depressed. When Liu Tingzhou went north, he was too embarrassed to complain about illness and stay. The northward journey was inevitable, and he also hoped to bring the Shanyang County garrison with him. The more troops and horses, the better.
Teng Xingyuan and Ma Fu looked at each other and sat in the hall. The two of them knew that they were isolated at this time.
Ma Fu violated the curfew order and skinned Lin Fu alive. At this time, he jumped out and firmly opposed it. Will Lin Fu accuse them of obstructing Xuzhou's aid?
Aiding Xuzhou means aiding the King of Chu. Even if we don't think about Lin Fu's vicious methods, Ma Fu will never let others accuse him of preventing the rescue of Xuzhou. Otherwise, how will the people from the King of Chu's palace treat him after they escape?
Ma Fu sighed bitterly and said: "My family still has more than 300 guards. Please bring them with you, Mr. Liu, when you cross the Huaihe River..."
The elite soldiers of the Shanyang County garrison of the Sixth Battalion were transferred, and the Ma family only retained more than three to five hundred soldiers, which was of little use. It was better to strengthen the combat effectiveness of the Huaihe crossing army as much as possible. As long as Liu Tingzhou led his army northward along the Surabaya River smoothly, Shanyang
There won't be any danger in the county. Maybe it would be better to take the family to Weiyang first to avoid the limelight, Ma Fu thought to himself.
Mafu is the real local leader of Shanyang. Although Teng Xingyuan is the county magistrate and the military commander, how many subordinate officials in the county are not from the Ma family? How many military attachés in the Shanyang County garrison have nothing to do with the Ma family?
?
Seeing Ma Fu lowering his head and admitting his weakness, Teng Xingyuan expressed his position and said: "Follow the government's order, I will go and prepare immediately!"
With Ge Cunxiong leading the Jinghai No. 3 Water Camp to guard the dozens of miles of waterways upstream and downstream of the west entrance of Shanyang Bay and the Sishui River branch, Shanyang County's preparations for crossing the Huaihe River became much easier.
Borrowing a warship from Ge Cunxiong, Liu Tingzhou went to the north bank in person to observe the terrain and choose a place to cross the Huaihe River and land.
With the Third Water Camp of Jinghai in charge, there is no need to worry about attacks from the water when crossing the Huaihe River. However, the key is whether they can stand firm after crossing the Huaihe River and successfully launch an offensive against Siyang Village.
Under the setting sun, the Siyang Village standing on the north bank of the Huai River and the west bank of the Surabaya River was covered with flags. Liu Tingzhou and the others stood on the deck and looked up at it. The wall of the village covered by those war flags seemed like a dark cloud.
Xiao Kui'an and Tao Chun squatted on the deck, discussing how to use the terrain of the north shore for landing operations.
Liu Tingzhou watched them rowing and stood in the distance, holding on to the ship's side wall, and said: "Sukou River Beach, with such unfavorable terrain, Zhizhi Envoy can also send five or six thousand elites ashore overnight - Zhizhi Envoy
If you’re not here, it’s not like there’s no one you can ask for advice from…”
Xiao Kui'an heard what Liu Tingzhou said and looked up at Ge Cunxiong who was standing on the deck of the stern cabin.
Ge Cunxiong was the water camp general of the Jiangdong Left Army. He was naturally familiar with water warfare and beach warfare. If he let Ge Cunxiong go without asking for advice, it would be difficult for laymen like them to think things over here.
Xiao Kui'an stood up, walked to Liu Tingzhou, and asked in a low voice: "Your Excellency, don't you resent the envoy?"
"Why are you resentful?" Liu Tingzhou smiled bitterly, "Unlike Deng Wei, I was determined to cross the Huaihe River in order to die. The envoys sent water camps to help me cross the Huaihe River, and also dispatched Shanyang County garrison to fight with me across the Huaihe River. Anyway,
It gives you and me two to three percent more hope of survival. What excuse do I have to resent him? Even if you and I are loyal to the court on the banks of the Sishui River, we still have the system to retreat to fill the gap in Shanyang, and we don't have to worry about Huai'an being lost.
There won't be any regrets, so what excuse do I have to resent him? It's just a pity that you are young and follow me north."
"Kui'an is a fool. Your Excellency treats me with great kindness. Please don't say such words again!" Xiao Kuian said firmly.
Liu Tingzhou suddenly felt that he was a little out of his depth. I believe Lin Fu knew what the relationship between the Shanyang County defenders and the Ma family was. Lin Fu had many plans by engaging in two fronts, the east and west, advancing hand in hand.
Among the rebellious officials and traitors, Liang Xi is one, Cao Yiqu is another, and Lin Fu will definitely be one too.
Ge Cunxiong stood on the deck of the stern cabin and could see the situation on the shore. A large group of soldiers and horses were coming from the north and entering Siyang Village. It seemed that the refugee army had already detected the movement on the south bank and began to strengthen Siyang's defenses.
I don’t know how Liu Tingzhou will attack Siyang, but compared to the seven or eight thousand rabble plus two or three thousand government troops, the crossing Huaihe army is reinforced by the elite soldiers of the sixth battalion of the Shanyang County garrison, and it is no longer so ugly. The formation in Siyang
The confrontation situation may not be too difficult.
A wisp of dark clouds drifted across the western sky, covering up the sunset, and the clouds were quickly dyed with brilliant golden colors. The Huaisi War, which had been silent for more than a month, would pour out again like a summer rainstorm.g