Although the county town was not completely wiped out by the hurricane, it was left in a state of disarray with buildings torn down and sheds torn down.
Chu Zheng's mind was heavy and he tossed and turned in the library after nightfall, unable to fall asleep. Gao Zongting's book boy Chen Xiaoyan came to him, opened the door and said, "Sir, please come over and talk! Mr. Gao and Mr. Ye are both there."
Coming to Huaidong, Lin Fu invited him over at night to reminisce about old friendships. Anyone else would have been very excited and happy, but Chu Zheng felt unspeakable uneasiness and heaviness in his heart. He followed Chen Xiaoyan to Lin Fu's house with a tense face. Walking to the palace of Changguo.
Insects buzzed in the streets and alleys, occasionally dogs barked, and babies cried. The night was deep. Chu Zheng raised his head and looked at the sky: In the night sky that was narrowed by the high walls on both sides, a bright moon shone brightly. When the sky was clear, it was already midnight.
"Don't your Excellency and Mr. Gao usually take a break at this time?" Chu Zheng asked.
"The situation in Qingzhou is so bad. When the news came, I didn't have a good night's sleep," Chen Xiaoyan said. "The same is true for you, sir. It happened to be that the storm hit Changguo. It was even more difficult to rush over to inspect the relief..."
Although he only fought side by side with the Jiangdong Zuojun in Yangxin for a period of time, Chu Zheng had already learned about Lin Fu's diligent style. Unexpectedly, Lin Fu would now hold a high position and be an eloquent and diligent person. It hasn't changed.
Chen Xiaoyan added: "I have known that Colonel Chu is in Yangxin these years, but I have been looking forward to your coming to Huaidong. Not only sir, but Colonel Chen and Colonel Geng have also repeatedly raised the idea. A few days ago, Colonel Chen came to Mingzhou for business. I heard that Captain Chu, you are coming to Mingzhou, and I have to meet you before returning to Yongjia. Unfortunately, a hurricane is passing through, and I don’t know how long you will be delayed in Yudong, so Captain Chen returns to Yongjia— - Before leaving, I recommended you to serve as a general in Yongjia. But Sir, he said that Captain Chu was tired from the journey, so he went to the Military Intelligence Department to serve as a commander and joined the army. He took his family to Huaidong and resettled him. After he became familiar with Huaidong, he would not take up other general positions. Late……"
Along the way, Chen Xiaoyan kept talking non-stop; Chu Zheng, however, was thinking a lot, but several of his followers who came to Huaidong with Chu Zheng were very excited after hearing this.
Except for Chu Zheng's five retinues, it can be said that he came to Huaidong alone. Whether Huaidong would pay attention to him, Chu Zheng didn't say it, but the retinues who joined him in Huaidong were very worried. I heard that Gao Zongting recommended Chu Zheng He advanced to the Huaidong Military Intelligence Department as a commanding officer and joined the army, which was considered a pretty good job.
Zhou Pu was waiting in the yard. When he saw Chen Xiaoyan bringing Chu Zheng over, he led Chu Zheng in directly.
In the side hall, Lin Fu was holding a charcoal pen in one hand and an oil lamp in the other. He was lying on the table studying the map. Gao Zongting and Ye Junan were standing at the door talking about things. Seeing Zhou Pu leading Chu Zheng in, Lin Fu raised his head and put the oil lamp down. At the desk, he said: "There are some things I want to ask you about Qingzhou..."
"Excuse me, sir." Chu Zheng said.
"You also heard what Mr. Meng said during the day," Lin Fu held the charcoal pen between his fingers, asked Chu Zheng to sit down and talk, and said, "The main force of the Qingzhou Army was surrounded in Yangxin, and the Liang family is more concerned about whether their own territory To consolidate, Chen Xiyan transferred Dong Yuan to Huaidong, which was essentially to seize power in northern Zhejiang. The main force of the Huaidong Army was also involved in a stalemate war with the She family in eastern Zhejiang, and the situation in Qingzhou was also far away and could not save the fire near - just With the current situation, we have to consider the worst consequences..."
"My lord, are you worried that Yangxin will fall?" Chu Zheng asked, his heart palpitating.
"It's much more serious than this." Gao Zongting and Ye Junan sat down. Gao Zongting took over Lin Fu's words and said to Chu Zheng, "Yan Hu chose this opportunity to use a large number of troops against Yang Xin. He was very targeted and was on guard against Huai
Dong Conghai interfered with their attack on Yangxin - Yanhu was bound to win this time, and the amount of troops invested in Yangxin was beyond imagination. In fact, unless Huaidong could obtain the authorization from the court to command the troops and horses of the towns in Hehuai, only
Relying on the Huaidong family to send 20,000 to 30,000 elite troops to the north, there is no way they can break the siege of Yangxin."
Gao Zongting pointed to the map on the table and said to Chu Zheng: "Yuan Lishan has surrendered to Yanhu and been granted the title of Marquis of Yi. Almost all the surrendered troops from Ji Town have been organized under his banner. Only the newly attached troops under Yuan Lishan's command are as high as
60,000 people. We had previously considered that Yanhu would use Yuan Lishan as the main general and rely on troops to fight against Yang. Unexpectedly, Yanhu also transferred Chen Zhihu from Qinyang to the east to participate in the war. We estimated that Yanhu would eventually gather on the eastern front and move south.
The troop strength will most likely exceed 150,000."
"Yan Hu will invest so many troops in this battle!" Chu Zheng took a breath of cold air and felt his spine numb.
The formal formation of the new auxiliary army of Yanhu can be traced back to the border invasion in the ninth year of Chongguan. It was first hastily organized from the surrender armies of Yannan, Shandong and other places. The new auxiliary army formed at that time was like a mob, and it was formed under Yangxin City.
It suffered a heavy blow from the Jiangdong Left Army, and its actual combat effectiveness was very poor.
Yanhu did not despise the new auxiliary army because of the defeat of Yangxin. Just after the Battle of Yangxin, the scale of the new auxiliary army increased greatly. They successively participated in the siege of Datong, Jinhai and other wars, and their combat effectiveness was rapidly improved.
Although the situation in the North finally collapsed like a mountain falling apart, this was directly related to the imperial court's blind command. Based on the situation at that time, the main fighting forces in the government and the public were concentrated in the border troops. Datong, Xuanfu and other armies
, they all held on until they ran out of food before being forced to surrender.
Yan Hu's new auxiliary army finally absorbed a large number of generals and soldiers from the surrendered three-town frontier army, and its combat strength was completely different.
The total strength of the four Hehuai towns is only 150,000 or 60,000, and they are scattered along the Hehuai defense line, which is nearly 2,000 miles long. It is difficult to imagine what it would be like for Yan and Hu to have 150,000 troops pouring in from the eastern front.
"At the beginning of the year, Yanhu invaded Qingzhou aggressively and entered the state. It was just an outpost battle," Lin Fu said. "The significance was to destroy the river and land routes for reinforcements to enter Qingzhou from the Jiaolai River and destroy the supply capacity that Qingzhou could provide. Yanhu's attack in the east
The total number of soldiers and horses gathered along the line is enough for Yanhu to divide his troops to seize Linzi and Qingzhou first while besieging Yangxin. By then, the Liang family will be disadvantaged in fighting. Without fighting, the entire flank will be exposed to Yanhu's troops——
The worst consequence is that the entire Hehuai defense line is likely to completely collapse after this battle!"
Chu Zheng also knew the military strategy. At first, he was just in it and could not see the danger. Then he listened to Lin Fu and Gao Zongting analyze the situation and broke out in a cold sweat.
"If the Liang family could decisively resist the Qingzhou coalition forces at the beginning, they could take advantage of their unstable footing and repel them. However, the Liang family is only focused on strengthening their own territory at this time, and the four towns in Hehuai are suspicious of each other -
"With such a bad situation, if we can survive, there may only be a one-tenth chance. Huaidong is also helpless about this situation," Lin Fu pointed at the map and said, "But Mr. Gao and I studied the situation and believed that the enemy troops were actually encircling them."
After Yangxin, they divided their forces to capture Linzi first. The Liang family was in Jinan, and the troops from the two plains would be drawn to the east. Before capturing Yangxin or defeating the Liang family's troops, Yan and Hu divided their forces to capture Linzi's troops first, and then
There is no ample time to calmly clear the surrounding fortresses, and the remaining troops of the Qingzhou Army who have not been besieged still have the last chance to escape into Yishan and Kunyu Mountains - Hehuai is in a critical situation and no one can turn the tide, but in the end we still have a chance to escape.
We must make concerted efforts to expel the Hulu from the Central Plains. What we can do at this time is to preserve the resistance strength in the Hehuai area to the greatest extent. When you left Qingzhou, you met Cheng Weiyuan. I want to ask you, Huaidong at this time
Send someone to contact Cheng Weiyuan and Zhang Jinxian to see if you can convince them to decisively abandon the city and retreat to Yishan to preserve some strength before the situation collapses..."
Chu Zheng's forehead was beaded with fine beads of sweat. Lin Fu's question was really difficult for him to answer.
Cheng Weiyuan and Zhang Jinxian were rejected by the Gu family and their son. Fortunately, they were not in Yangxin City. However, before the situation in Qingzhou collapsed, they were asked to abandon the city and retreat to Yishan. To put it nicely, they were to preserve their strength for future counterattacks.
, to put it mildly, it means running away without fighting, but when held accountable, it is a serious crime of confiscating your home and executing you.
The right and wrong here cannot be explained clearly with one mouth.
Zhang Jinxian and Cheng Weiyuan are both people who cherish feathers. It is easy for them to die calmly, but it is much more difficult to persuade them to abandon the city and save their lives.
Zhang Jinxian and Cheng Weiyuan were close to Huaidong, but in fact they didn't have many opportunities to have close contact with Huaidong. Lin Fu didn't know much about their character, so he came to Chu Zheng to ask.
Looking at Chu Zheng's expression, Lin Fu knew that his idea might not be realized.
Lin Fu couldn't force anything. Everyone had their own path to follow. He thought that for Zhang Jinxian and Cheng Weiyuan, perhaps dying in defense and leaving their names in history would be more in line with their personal wishes, so he patted Chu Zheng's hand.
Shoulder, he wanted to brush this matter aside and said: "Zong Ting recommends that you join the Army Intelligence Department as a commander and join the army. First, you should familiarize yourself with the situation in Huaidong. What do you think..."
"Sir, Chu Zheng has something to ask of me..." Chu Zheng suddenly stood up and knelt on one knee in front of Lin Fu.
"If you have anything to do, stand up and talk." Lin Fu said.
"Masters Cheng and Zhang cherish their feathers and may not be willing to abandon the city to save their lives before the situation collapses," Chu Zheng said, "but according to your prediction, the captive troops will divide their forces to attack Linzi first. After Linzi fell, Master Cheng was in Guangrao, hand
If there are not more than a thousand county soldiers, it will be difficult to save the crisis. At that time, Mr. Cheng will be persuaded to give up Guangrao and withdraw to the south. Mr. Cheng is not a rigid and stubborn person. Although it is dangerous, there is still a chance to retreat to Yishan. Chu Zheng wants to go back
Qingzhou takes advantage of this opportunity!"
"There is a slight chance; but I will write a letter and ask the scouts to sneak to Qingzhou and deliver it to Cheng and Zhang. You don't need to make this trip yourself," Lin Fu said.
"The matter has to be withdrawn into Yishan. We still have to fight for the territory in Yishan from the bandits, and we also have to face the brutal encirclement and suppression by the Japanese soldiers," Chu Zheng said.
I am familiar with the school, and I believe I can help Mr. Cheng when I return to Qingzhou..."
Lin Fu helped Chu Zheng up, looked at Gao Zongting, and asked for his opinion.
Gao Zongting thought for a moment and said: "No matter how many troops there are, no matter how many hills of Yishan can be defended in the end, it will be very beneficial to the future tug-of-war in the Hehuai area - of course, Huaidong cannot openly send troops before it has a bad relationship with the Liang family.
In the past, they could send an elite team to take off their military uniforms and sneak into Yishan first. At this time, the Liang family also hoped that Dong Yuan could leave Huaidong to contain Huaidong's troops in the Huaisi area. Only in this way can the Liang family feel at ease.
Transfer troops and horses from Yinan to the northern line to reinforce Jinan. As long as the Liang family drains troops and horses from Yinan, their control over the Yishui River will inevitably weaken. Huaidong can transport some supplies to Yishan through the Yishui River, and can also send people along the Yi River.
Shuinan evacuation and resettlement..."
Gao Zongting suggested, and Lin Fu thought to himself: Isn't this the volunteer army plus guerrillas?
Since the world used cold weapons to fight, guerrilla tactics were greatly restricted, but Yishan is located in Shandong, and being able to preserve part of the military power in Yishan is of great significance and is worth a try.
Thinking of this, Lin Fu also made up his mind, turned around and said to Zhou Pu: "Go and ask the guards quickly if there is anyone familiar with the situation in Yishan, and if anyone is willing to temporarily take off his Huaidong military uniform and follow Chu Zheng north to Qingzhou.
, go into Yishan to lurk? Then order the Military Intelligence Department to send all the scouts that can be mobilized nearby to the island to listen to orders - tell them clearly that Huaidong will not admit them before Huaidong and the Liang family officially turn against each other.
There is. If anyone is willing to go north, Huaidong will treat them kindly..."
Perhaps by selecting people from the entire army, thousands of elites could easily be gathered to accompany Chu Zheng northward, but time waits for no one. The situation in Qingzhou is extremely critical, and the entire army may collapse at any time. Chu Zheng and others must be sent north to return to Qingzhou immediately.
It is too late to take the land route, and we may even have to risk taking the sea route. Fortunately, the ability of the "Little Princess Class" super-large sea-going ships to withstand wind and waves is much stronger than that of ordinary sailing ships. As long as they are not caught in hurricanes, they are still quite safe.
Zhou Pu turned around and walked out, summoned the half-battalion of guards who had come to escort Lin Fuli to inspect Changguo Island, and selected a group of volunteers to follow Chu Zheng northward.
Lin Fu said to Chu Zheng again: "It will be difficult to return to Qingzhou this time, but the people of the country will definitely remember your achievements. I will take your family from your hometown to Huaidong and resettle it. I can only pick some first."