Located in Fuxian County on the bank of the Han River (opposite Yicheng in Hubei Province), Chen Ying is facing a life and death decision...
More than a month ago, Wang Ben's army crossed the Han Dynasty and won the Battle of Wanshan. Han Dong could no longer stop his chariots from attacking and plundering.
The land a hundred miles north of Fuxian County had been completely occupied. Wang Ben's partial army stationed in the east of Han Dynasty also left Lumen Mountain and moved to the foot of Fuxian County and began to attack this ancient city.
There were only 5,000 guards, but the enemy numbered 20,000. Fortunately, Fuxian County had once been the capital of the Chu State, and was named "Beiying". The city was relatively high, so it was difficult to repulse Wang Ben's army's offensive.
But they were not much better. The dilapidated city, the soldiers with scars, and everyone was exhausted. After Chen Ying took a tour, he looked at the mountains of earth slowly building up outside the city, as well as the endless supplies of food being transported from the north.
Siege equipment, worried.
Chen Ying knew very well that Yan County could not be lost. Although Wang Ben won the Battle of Wanshan, Marquis Wu Zhong personally guarded Yan City, and Wang Ben was unable to defeat him.
So I set my sights on Handong. Once the county is lost, Wang Ben's army can use it as a base to roam freely across Jianghan, even threatening the safety of Jiangling...
However, the attacker was a direct descendant of Wang Ben and was very good at attacking cities. Chen Ying felt tremendous pressure. If Yancheng did not send reinforcements, he might not be able to withstand the next wave of offensive!
Although he was not a direct descendant of Hei Husband, Chen Ying had no intention of surrendering.
"In the eyes of Qin Ting, we are the Chu people who filled the ravines and the rebellious garrison. Once the city is defeated, we will all be beheaded and become dead souls..."
At this time, Chen Ying's subordinate Deng Zong from Ruyin hurriedly came to see him: "Captain Chen, the commander-in-chief has sent someone here!"
Chen Ying immediately went to the west of the city. The only good news was that the Han River was still in the hands of the Northern Expeditionary Army, and Yancheng's messenger could get in touch with Fuxian County as soon as he docked his boat.
The person who came was Yuan Yong from Anlu. He was the son of Heifu's old tribe and he rose to prominence in the Battle of Anlu.
"How? When will the commander send troops to help?" Chen Ying asked hurriedly with red eyes.
Yuan Yong said: "The enemy troops on Wanshan Mountain have retreated. The commander sent me to Handong to inform Chen Jun that reinforcements will arrive shortly!"
"Retired?" Chen Ying was very surprised: "The commander-in-chief's side won?"
"Well, a great victory, a great victory, Mr. Wang Ben has been defeated, Xiangyang has also been relieved..."
Yuan Yongyan said insincerely, and at this time, Deng Zong also came to report with a face full of joy: "Captain, the enemy troops under the city have also withdrawn and are retreating towards Lumen Mountain!"
"Captain Chen, should we pursue him?"
"Pursue! The enemy army is defeated, of course we must pursue them. They have been showing off their power in Handong for more than a month and burned many acres of land. We must make them return them all!"
Chen Ying breathed a long sigh of relief, walked to the city wall, gritted his teeth as he looked at the smoke and dust moving away to the north.
Many of his soldiers survived the severe heat and disease in Lingnan, but they fell among the battlements of the county town and perished together with the enemy troops who had attached themselves to them!
Yuan Yong panicked at this time and hurriedly stopped him: "Chen Duwei, the commander-in-chief said that our army's casualties are not small. We have sent chariots and cavalry to pursue them from the front to prevent Wang Ben from crossing the Han River. As for the Fuxian side, we must limit the casualties."
Chen Ying just leaned against the battlement, closed his eyes, and did not answer him.
Yuan Yong and Deng Zong were shocked. They had seen some soldiers who were full of energy during the battle, but after the dust settled, they fell on the battlefield and never got up again, but they were not seriously injured.
After pushing for a few times, Chen Ying did not wake up, and then tested his breathing again, and found that he was just asleep. Although he was still standing, he was already snoring vigorously, so he breathed a sigh of relief.
Someone quickly carried Chen Ying down to the top of the city. Yuan Yong turned around and found that many soldiers on the city were lying down to sleep, regardless of the hard ground and the corpses of enemies on the left and right.
It was cold at the end of autumn, so someone brought quilts to cover them. Deng Zong said with red eyes: "The enemy's offensive is fierce. Chen Duwei and many soldiers have not slept for five days and five nights! Look at this pursuit..."
"Let Captain Chen and the soldiers rest."
Yuan Yong sighed: "I heard that the captain of Dongmen has led his army westward along the Tangbai River after defeating the enemy forces in Sui County. He should be able to block the retreating enemy divisions!"
…
"Boom!"
Three days later, at the old camp of Wang Ben's army in Fancheng, Dongmen Bao bowed his head to Heifu: "A Bao has lost his master and humiliated his army. Please punish him, Commander-in-Chief!"
It turned out that Dongmen Leopard went to Anlu from Minge under the orders of Heifu, and cooperated with Ji Ying who was fighting guerrillas in Suixian County, and defeated the Suixian division that was in trouble, forcing the enemy troops to retreat to Tang County.
The Dongmen Leopard immediately came out and headed west with thousands of light troops to harass the flank of Wang Ben's army.
At that time, Wang Ben was retreating, and Dongmen Leopard was chasing after him. He wanted to take advantage of the enemy when they were halfway across the Tangbai River. Unexpectedly, he was ambushed and lost two thousand soldiers. Fortunately, he realized something was wrong and retreated in time.
, otherwise the entire army may be annihilated...
Dongmen Leopard was distressed and aggrieved. At the moment, he looked like a hunter who had hunted geese all year round, but today he was pecked in the eye by a goose. His face was full of shame, and he asked Hei Fu to punish him.
"You wiped out thousands of enemies in Suixian County and beheaded Ying Lun, but you pursued too closely and fell into a trap. You can't make up for your mistakes."
But Heifu shook his head: "I was also beaten very badly by Wang Ben. In two months, I suffered nearly 10,000 casualties, which is much more than you."
Moreover, Heifu personally observed Wang Ben's camp. The bad old man retreated in a clear order without any panic. The army in Hannan also detoured from the upper reaches of the Han River. Some went to Hanzhong and most of them retreated to Nanyang. In this case
If you pursue rashly, you will be counterattacked.
But in a stalemate, whoever retreats first will lose. As soon as Wang Ben withdrew, the fierce attack on Jianghan for several months was completely defeated.
Even if the entire army is pulled back, morale will be greatly reduced, and the situation in the Central Plains is completely different from what it was a few months ago!
"This battle can be won because of the great efforts of all the generals."
Heifu did not hesitate to praise his subordinates:
"Gongwei and Chen Ying are guarding Xiangyang and Baocheng. They have repeatedly repelled the enemy troops. They are like rocks that can't be contained by storms! They all should be promoted to Zuogeng!"
Although a new central government is established, military merit cannot be lost. This is the soul of the Qin army, and it is now very convenient to reward merit. We no longer have to reward Xianyang like when we conquered Baiyue. I have been here for several months, and I am very happy.
There is no need to wait anymore. Now, as long as the previous one has meritorious service and the military judge counts the beheadings and calculates the contribution of each department in a victory, Heifu can assign them a title of merit...
Of course, the status of this title is getting bigger and bigger. Heifu predicts that if he really invades Xianyang in the future, he will probably have as many concubines as dogs, and the princes will be everywhere. Wang Jian has already destroyed two countries but can't make him a prince. It's completely impossible.
Same thing.
But knowing this, those who should be promoted must still be promoted, and the promotion speed must be fast, so that everyone who has done meritorious service can see the hope of becoming a prince. Heifu knows very well that people's hearts are insatiable. Compared with those grass-headed kings next door,
, becoming a marquis or a knight already seems a bit trivial.
"Ji Ying and Dongmen Leopard are like ropes, tightly binding the 30,000 enemies attacking Sui County and forcing them to retreat. Ji Ying can be the right guard, and Dongmen Leopard is made by the young commander."
"Lu Jia persuaded Bashu with his lips and tongue to make Shu County abandon Xianyang and join our army. He should be promoted to You Geng and appointed as the governor of Ba County. Zhao Tuo and Wu Chen can take Ba County for me. Zhao Tuo can build it for the great superior.
Wu Chen is Zuo Geng."
"Xiao He and Xiao Tao are my backers. They are sending troops and supplies from Jiangling continuously, so that our army can fight more and more. Only in this way can we resist Wang Ben's offensive. Xiao He is the commander-in-chief and Xiao Tao is the commander-in-chief."
As long as those who participated in this battle, the captains were basically Zuo Geng or above, the Sima were the Zuo Shu Commander and the Right Shu Commander, and the soldiers below were also promoted to one level per person, and they all had merit rewards according to the amount of money they were given.
It seems that the money-making workshop in Tonglu Mountain has to put all its efforts into starting work...
Of course, there are two more people who must not be left out.
The most direct reason why Wang Ben retreated when he could no longer support the troops in Fo County and Xiangyang was that the rear was attacked and two important grain routes were cut off!
Like daggers, they penetrated deeply into the enemy's rear and turned the world upside down!
"The reason why Wang Ben retreated so quickly is because Wancheng was attacked a few days ago!"
"ah!"
The soldiers who didn't know Heifu's extraordinary skills were very surprised.
"It's Han Xin and Li Cang!"
Of course, there is also Wu Chen.
Heifu said: "I just hope they return soon. By then, there will be another great commander in the army!"
Everyone was surprised. Of course Hei Fu was not talking about Li Cang, but Han Xin.
It really makes people jealous and envious when I think that this son is only over 20 years old and has only served the emperor for three years, but he has moved so fast and is already on an equal footing with Zhao Tuo, the general of the Southern Expedition.
But they had to admit that Han Xin had fought four or five good battles since he gained Heifu's trust and deserved this honor.
So on the surface, no one dared to say no, except Dongmen Leopard, who was a little unhappy, probably feeling the pressure of "latecomers taking over".
Heifu saw this in his eyes: "After this battle, the north and south attack and defend in different positions. Next, it will be our army's turn to attack!"
When everyone heard this, their spirits perked up.
Heifu said: "The scout reported that Wang Ben's army has withdrawn to the Xinye line, and the north of Han Dynasty is empty. The army will follow me to occupy Fancheng, and Deng County will be the camp. While resting and licking their wounds, they will send people to harass Nanyang counties, and make plans to Wanwan."
Attack the city, hoping to join forces with Han Xin’s troops!”
The Dongmen Leopard immediately asked for a fight: "I am willing to be the commander's vanguard and attack Nanyang to defeat the enemy with snow!"
"No, the attack on Nanyang is a lie. The main force of our army needs to rest and recuperate. If they want to take advantage of it, just hold back Wang Ben's main force."
Heifu looked at Dongmen Bao: "Ah Bao, don't you want to make up for your past mistakes?"
"I will give you 20,000 men to go up the Han River to attack Shangyong and attack Hanzhong for me!"