After receiving the new edict from Emperor Tianyou, Zhang Ping, the supervisor of the army, personally rushed from Chenyang to Datan Village to recruit Xi Ying and other chiefs.
At this time, the Wuling Army had assembled nearly 7,000 soldiers and horses in Chenyang, Qianyang, Longya and other places, while Tanzhou was suppressed in the lower reaches of the Yuan River. It did not dare to continue to extend the front line and rashly attack Chenyang City against the current, let alone
Talk about attacking Xuzhou, the base camp of the Wuling Army.
Xiying also knew that if he did not accept recruitment, even if Tanzhou could severely inflict heavy losses on the Chu army from other directions, with the strength they had assembled in Datanzhai and Xupu City, it would be difficult to resist the Wuling army from Chenyang and Wukouzhai.
siege.
However, Emperor Tianyou's new edict was really generous to their recruitment, and the explicit restrictions on Xuzhou's new policy also eliminated their worries.
On the 15th of January, Xiying released Xixunqiao, who had been detained for nearly two months, and formally accepted the recruitment. Except for his second son Xishesheng who became the magistrate of Xupu County and stayed in Xupu County, he personally led 1,500 people.
The Fan soldiers entered Chenyang City to undergo reorganization, and formed an independent Fan battalion under the Wuling Army to participate in the attack on Yuanling.
Xiying was dismissed from the post of Chenyang County Magistrate, but he was appointed as the commander of the Fanying camp and also held the posts of Chenzhou Sima and Military Envoy. Subsequently, Jianyong recruited from Chenzhou local area will also be incorporated into the Fanying camp.
At the end of January in the 16th year of Tianyou's reign, the Shuiying warship carried the Fanying commanded by Xiying as the vanguard, and first arrived at the river beach outside Yuanling City, officially launching an offensive against Chenzhou Prefecture's Yuanling City.
Although the combat power of Tanzhou's navy is not weak, in order to prevent the more elite Jinlinglou naval forces from directly penetrating deep into Dongting Lake to attack the hinterland of Tanzhou, the main warships are staying in Dongting Lake, and there are no powerful water camp warships to accompany them.
Ma Rong entered Chenzhou.
At this time, the Wuling Army's water camp had rapidly expanded to twelve large and medium-sized warships and 1,800 generals. The Yuan River in the Yuanling section was narrow and the water flow was fast. No matter how strong the Tanzhou water camp was, it could not
Dare to fight against the Wuling Army's Shuiying battleship against the current.
Ma Rong led five thousand soldiers to guard Yuanling City, while Wuling's army landed on the river beach south of Yuanling City in an orderly manner. They first wiped out the peripheral forces of Yuanling City and established a camp.
Han Qian also rushed to Meizi Mountain, forty miles south of Yuanling City, in early February to make final preparations for the attack on Yuanling City.
Meizi Mountain is located on the west bank of the Yuanjiang River. The mountain slopes deep into the Yuanjiang River, forcing the river to circle a large bay around the mountain bank. This also makes this section of the river flow rapidly and dangerously. After passing Meizi Mountain, it reaches Yuanling City and the Yuanshui River.
The river channels are relatively open and straight.
So in any case, Meizi Mountain is an important interruption point in the battle against Yuanling. The logistics base is built on Meizi Mountain, which not only facilitates the transfer of supplies, but also takes into account the failure of the battle against Yuanling, and can also defeat the enemy.
The pursuit was contained to the north of Meizi Mountain, and they could not rush through the rapids and continue southward.
To be honest, many people in Xuzhou had strong opinions on the preferential treatment given to Xiying and other surrendered generals and chiefs. Even the loyal and honest Ji Xiyao couldn't help but murmur in private when he saw Han Qian coming over: "Is the court still worried about the young master?"
Are you and I, who are powerful in Xuzhou, giving such preferential treatment to traitor chiefs like Xiying to prevent us from extending our hands into Chenzhou?"
"What nonsense are you talking about?" Han Qian glared at Ji Xiyao and reprimanded, "The imperial court must end the war to eliminate the feudal vassalage against Tanzhou before Liang Jun frees up his hands from the northern front. The window period may not be long. Your Majesty hopes
The Wuling Army can exert stronger military pressure on Tanzhou, and sometimes some compromises have to be made! After Xiying surrendered, not only were we able to successfully enter Banzhai like Meizishan, but it also made Ma Rong dare not trust him anymore
The various forces in Yuanling City even had to disarm the various soldiers in Yuanling City and imprison them! And if Xiying wanted to prove her loyalty and reliability, she must first lead the enemy battalion to attack the city and fight to the death.
The Wuling Army can greatly reduce the casualties during the siege, so why are you dissatisfied?"
As the prefectural government of Chenzhou, Yuanling has a strong city and Ma Rong is a veteran. The defense deployment with Yuanling City as the core is very rigorous and there are no flaws to be found.
From Yuanling to Wuling, the Yuan River is fast and long. There is no possibility of bypassing Yuanling and attacking Wuling three hundred miles away, so we can only attack Yuanling honestly. This will be a bloody battle and a tough battle.
Even though Emperor Tianyou had the intention of restricting Xuzhou, Han Qian at this time also hoped that the Fan soldiers could replace the generals of the Wuling Army and attack the city first to fight a war of attrition with the Tanzhou soldiers!
Han Qian scolded Ji Xiyao and drove him and others out to work, leaving Feng Liao alone. He said: "In March and April last year, there were rumors in Tanzhou that my father and son conspired with Jinling to cut down Tanzhou.
Fan, it’s just that Ma Yin didn’t believe it all the way to the Yingyu Village trap—do you think such rumors are groundless?”
"Ji Xiyao and the others are resentful. It is indeed His Majesty who was a little mean to the adults and his son. Feng Liao definitely did not say anything nonsense." Feng Liao hurriedly clarified himself.
"You want to cause harm, do you need to say anything directly?" Han Qian looked at Feng Liao calmly and said, "I won't pursue this matter with you, because you haven't answered my question just now."
Feng Liao pondered for a while and said, "Your Excellency, are you saying that someone has already discovered Emperor Tianyou's plan to cut down the vassal vassal and reminded Tanzhou in this way?"
"If you think about it again, who would have already seen through His Majesty's plan to reduce the vassal state and intentionally warned Tanzhou?" Han Qian asked.
Feng Liao frowned and fell deeply into thought. He seemed to answer Han Qian's question, but also said to himself: "Those who have seen through Emperor Tianyou's plan to eliminate the feudal clan and have the motive to warn Tanzhou's defenders can first
Naturally, the two countries that come to mind are Shu and Liang, but those who saw through this strategy at that time should also have seen that Emperor Tianyou cut down the vassals and used all the troops in the county and prince's palace. In addition to the lord and the boss who went out to control Xuzhou, Shen Yang and Zhou Dang also
They all went to Ezhou to prepare for war. They deliberately sabotaged the plan to reduce the vassal state. When reminding Tanzhou, they could not help but remind the prince and King Xin. After all, the prince and King Xin would never want the prince's government to use this time to reduce the vassalage to continue to grow.
Power... I understand. Your Excellency is saying that there have been such rumors in Tanzhou for a long time, but Jinling was calm until the end of last year, and no relevant rumors came out. This matter reveals something strange! Could it be the prince?
The people over there have long been aware of it, and they just sent people to Tanzhou to spread rumors because it was inconvenient to destroy it publicly?"
"The Crown Prince and King Xin may have suspicions, but they are not the ones spreading the rumors. Spreading rumors is obviously out of their reach and they have no choice but to do so. As a result, Tanzhou did not pay attention to this matter. The Crown Prince and King Xin really want to sabotage this matter.
, there must be more means. In fact, after July and August, after the Zifangsi learned about it, they also fully cooperated with the reduction of Tanzhou. There were no obvious errors or omissions in the intelligence collected and transmitted." Han Qian shook his head.
He shook his head and said.
"Your Majesty said that it was indeed the Shu and Liang Kingdoms that were responsible for this, but why didn't they spread rumors in Jinling and use the conflict between the Crown Prince and King Xin and Yang Yuanpu to further undermine this matter?" Feng Liao asked in confusion.
"What makes you think they didn't tamper with the Crown Prince and King Xin?" Han Qian asked, staring at Feng Liao.
"Are you saying that the Crown Prince and King Xin had actually known for a long time that Emperor Tianyou supported Yang Yuanpu by cutting off the feudal vassal, but they just chose to be patient, silent, and even deliberately blocked the spread of this news in Aurous Hill?" Feng Liao asked in shock.
"This is all just speculation. What I want is for you to be more honest with me in the past two years and stop doing all this nonsense behind my back!" Han Qian glanced at Feng Liao and warned him.
"Two years? Sir, are you saying that there will be chaos within two years?" Feng Xiao blurted out and asked, but then he realized that it was stupid for him to ask directly, so he quickly changed his words, "Two shiploads of supplies have just arrived, I will go over and count them.
, I won’t disturb you adults.”
"Go ahead!" Han Qian waved his hand, signaling Feng Liao to leave first, and then smiled at Xi Rong behind him, "Your Majesty used Zheng Hui to divide the power between my father and my son, but the Zheng family is more powerful than my father and son.
Recruiting extra soldiers is what it should be, but Feng Liao didn't understand it, so he still missed the mark."
"Can anyone be as cunning as you?" Xi Rong asked disdainfully and curiously, "Are you really going to let it go?"
"Things are planned by people and accomplished by Heaven. The word 'power' is what we call it," Han Qian said. "Your Majesty is very strong, but he cannot buck the trend. If it weren't for him, he would not have trouble sleeping and eating for the Xu family. Your Majesty used
Zheng Hui is recruiting Fan Ying, but not everything that will happen in this landscape will be under his control."
"I don't understand." Xi Rong said.
"Then you just wait and see." Han Qian said mysteriously.
Seeing that Han Qian was being mysterious, Xi Rong asked again: "Is there really a big change in Jinling within two years?"
"Just wait and see." Han Qian said.
Xi Rong wanted to kick Han Qian's feet, thinking, "Look at your mother's head."
Han Qian established the Zuo Division, which was divided into wards, barracks, and craftsmen. In addition to engineers and scouts, he trained nearly a hundred secret agents and inspectors in two years. However, according to needs, these secret agents and inspectors were mainly lurking.
In Jinling, there were Shouzhou, the base camp of Xu Mingzhen, Chuzhou, the base of King Xin, and Bianjing, the capital of Daliang Kingdom.
Emperor Tianbi was determined to cut off the vassalage of Tanzhou, leaving Han Qian with very limited time. He did not want to leave any loopholes. Not only was he unable to mobilize this part of the secret power to lurk in Tanzhou, he even fled out of Jinling, leaving most of the people behind.
Cha Zi and the secret agent were all "abandoned".
After Zheng Hui, Yuan Guowei, and Zheng Xingxuan arrived in Xuzhou, Han Qian resumed command of these spies. However, Tanzhou had already become vigilant at that time, and outsiders could not lurk in Tanzhou at all, and the current information transmission methods were crude and inconvenient, even if the detectives
Son, by the time the information obtained by the secret agent was sent to Han Qian's case, it was almost more than a month old news.
Even so, Han Qian still saw some strange clues from these old news.
Last year, as early as March, there were rumors circulating in Tanzhou that his father and son were cooperating with Emperor Tianyou to reduce the vassal state. Of course, no one in Tanzhou was wary of such rumors, but Ma Yin did not pay attention to them. However, there were no such rumors in Jinling.
Spread, if Han Qian is still aware of the weirdness in this, he would be too slow.
Han Qian couldn't help but think of the scene that night when he was summoned by Emperor Tianyou in Chongwen Hall. The sweet aroma emitted by the candles lit in Chongwen Hall really impressed him.
Although Han Qian had sent people to investigate this matter, his "absconding from Xuzhou" was too realistic. Affected by this incident, Chazi and the secret agents who stayed in Jinling were in chaos. Even though Jiang Huo and Yuan Guowei took over related affairs,
But people are panicking, so this matter has been suspended, and no clear information has been conveyed so far.
However, the Crown Prince and King Xin were so cooperative in reducing the vassalage of Tanzhou. Others might think that Emperor Tianyou was majestic, but in Han Qian's view, this was just the silence before a bigger storm.
Han Qian originally planned to wait for the storm to come, and he would try his best to satisfy any of Emperor Tianyou's demands and hints, not to deal with a dying man at this juncture, but Feng Liao was somewhat unable to bear it.
Well, he had to give him a little reminder to prevent him from doing anything unnecessary and causing Emperor Tianyou's spy in Xuzhou to look at him and cause unnecessary suspicion.
Of course, Han Qian also hoped to successfully cut off the vassalage of Tanzhou before the biggest storm broke out in Jinling. Only in this way could the third prince really defeat the conspiracy of the crown prince and King Xin...
Yes, Han Qian has no doubt that the Crown Prince (Anning Palace) and King Xin of Chuzhou are plotting something!