Chapter 79 The second step strategy to seize Jizhou
In mid-September, there was not much food and grass left in Ganling City.
Even if they are frugal, the daily consumption of an army of 40,000 is too great.
For example, Cao Cao and Lu Bu faced off, relying on three cities, and they could barely hold on for a hundred days.
Yuan Shao besieged Zang Hong for a year. There were only seven or eight thousand people in the city. In the end, even the rats were eaten.
Therefore, there is actually a lot of grain and grass in Ganling City. Under normal circumstances, relying on the transportation from Yecheng and the summer grain collected this month, there are hundreds of thousands of stones, which is enough to support the beginning of next spring.
Unfortunately, this year's summer millet harvest will definitely not be possible. Most of the entire Qinghe area is occupied by Liu Bei's army. The only places where Zhang He can collect grain and grass are around Ganling and Beiqiu.
However, as if they knew that he was coming to collect grain and grass, the Qingzhou troops from Guangzong, Dongwucheng, Yimu, Qianxian, Lingxian and so on moved in full force, and 50,000 people surrounded Ganling.
The people outside the city were safe and sound. The Qingzhou Army issued a death order. They were not allowed to harass innocent people. Anyone who dared to harass the people would be executed.
Moreover, this order was not only circulated within the Qingzhou Army. Thanks to Chen Mu's public opinion machine, each township pavilion had already posted leaflets and announcements, and the people in dozens of township pavilions around Ganling City were all aware of it.
Therefore, in this battle, the people seemed to have become insignificant spectators. The mighty army was outside the city, and the people in each village pavilion in the wilderness were harvesting the ripe summer millet in autumn. Both sides were in peace, just like the sky and the ocean.
The two are unrelated.
"Yeah, is that the Qingzhou Army?"
In the endless plain fields outside Ganling City, a twelve or thirteen-year-old boy was working in the fields wearing a trousers. From a distance, he saw a large group of people walking slowly on the official road.
With flags waving and queues neatly lined up, this team headed all the way to Ganling City along the official road. Because there has been no war in Jizhou for almost ten years, even if Liu Bei attacked Jizhou this time, he did not harass the people, leaving the people to do whatever they needed to do.
Whatever they were doing, when the Qingzhou Army passed by, they were just curious, not afraid.
Seeing his son stop his farm work and look at the Qingzhou army curiously, the middle-aged man also stopped harvesting corn, leaning on farm tools and said with a smile: "Yes, Liu Shijun of Qingzhou Mu is a kind man, and he was kind to us in the past.
Jizhou, this attack on Qinghe will do no harm to us."
"But......"
The young man hesitated and said: "Wang Shijun is also a good person. Why do two good people want to fight?"
"this......"
The middle-aged man didn't know how to explain to his son that there were very few people in the village who were literate and understood the truth. He only heard from the clan elders that it was because the two sides had different positions. As for what the positions were, he didn't quite understand.
.
"Because Wang Shijun did something wrong."
In the field next to it, a thin man in his thirties, wearing a bamboo hat and a short coat, was tying up the harvested corn and handing it over to the people next to him to take back and shell.
The middle-aged man asked with some confusion: "Young Master, Wang Shijun has been ruling Jizhou for many years without making any mistakes. If there are occasional minor troubles, it shouldn't be a big fight."
More than a dozen villagers working in the surrounding fields were also curious and stopped what they were doing to hear the thin man's explanation.
They didn't understand current affairs, but they also wondered why Liu Bei had to fight Wang Fen. Both men had great favors to Jizhou, and a conflict between them was the last thing the people of Jizhou wanted to see.
"hehe."
Fang Zhang, the second son of the Ganling Fang clan, smiled and said: "Wang Fen was a Han official, and before Emperor Huai died, he took the initiative to establish the emperor of Jizhou. This is a big mistake. How can there be two emperors in the world?
?Such a rebellious act, those loyal people will naturally not give up."
Two emperors?
Many villagers looked at each other. As local people in Jizhou, they naturally knew about Wang Fen's attempt on Liu Bian's life. However, they did not know that Wang Fen did it when Liu Bian was still in power. So after hearing Fang Zhang's explanation, they immediately became confused.
Understand the reason.
The villagers may not understand politics, and many may even be illiterate, but they still understand this bit of common sense.
It's like there is a patriarch in a big family, who is responsible for leading the tribe to reproduce and reproduce. But there is another patriarch who also wants to be the patriarch. Before the previous patriarch has passed away, he wants to snatch the position. This is of course not allowed for the tribe.
It is natural for him to be ostracized by his clan.
"So that's the case. It seems that Wang Shijun is really..."
"It's a pity that Wang Shijun treats our people very well. Whenever there is a disaster, he often reduces or exempts taxes. The people of Jizhou are prosperous, and Wang Shijun has made a great contribution."
"Liu Shijun also treated us very well. During the Yellow Turban Rebellion, he saved countless people. Many people in Jizhou miss him for their kindness."
"Forget it, forget it, these are matters for the big shots. We, the country folk, should still take care of ourselves. But fighting this war is not a bad thing. At least this year, the grain collector cannot leave the city and does not need to pay taxes."
"Haha, you are quite cunning. But you are right. There has been a drought and the harvest has been much smaller. If we continue to pay taxes, I am afraid that we will not be able to survive the wheat harvest next year."
Many villagers were talking about it. Some were sorry that Wang Fen and Liu Bei went to war, while others were glad that they went to war.
Because Jizhou has also suffered a drought this year, although corn is very drought-resistant and requires almost no watering, the prerequisite is that underground water resources can ensure the growth of millet seedlings. If the earth is dry and cracked, the millet seedlings will naturally not survive.
.
This drought has also caused a reduction in food production in many water-scarce places in Qinghe Country. There is already a lot of food shortage, and if taxes are paid again, the situation of the people will be much more difficult.
Therefore, because most of the people involved their own interests, they felt that Liu Bei's attack on Jizhou was not a bad thing.
The villagers gathered together to chat. On the official road in the distance, Chen Mu saw it from a distance while riding on his horse.
Among the crowd, a familiar figure was faintly seen.
The man was also looking at him.
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Chen Mu has a very good memory. Even if he only met Fang Zhang once, he would still be deeply impressed.
In fact, it’s hard not to be deeply impressed, because the friendship between Fang Zhang and Zhou Xian is still touching. Two families with feuding families have two life-and-death friends, which is indeed unforgettable.
When Fang Zhang saw him looking over, he nodded. Chen Mu smiled, nodded, and gave instructions to the guards beside him.
The guard followed Chen Mu's instructions and looked over. After identifying the house seal, he got off his horse and handed the horse to another guard. He crossed the field ridge alone and came here.
The army continued to move forward, and the bodyguard came to Fang Zhang, bowed his hands and said, "Sir, my four generals have invited you."
Fang Zhang thought for a while and said, "Okay, let me go back and change my clothes before I visit you again."
"I'll accompany you, sir."
"No, you go back first, I know where your camp is."
"Well, the four generals are waiting for you in the camp."
The guard then left.
Fang Zhang smiled, handed the bamboo hat to the slave beside him, returned to his ox cart on the field ridge, and headed towards his home Wubao surrounded by his slaves.
Large families in the Han Dynasty generally had real estate in the city, but on weekdays, most of them lived in the clan fortress.
Since the Yellow Turban Rebellion, Wubao has become popular in the north. Clan clans in various places have built fortresses on their own, with tall gates and courtyards and various defense facilities. The tribesmen and their hidden slaves and vassals also live in them and build forts to defend themselves.
The Fangzhang family is a wealthy family in Qinghe, and Wubao is a peach forest and courtyard under the mountain col in the distance. In late September and autumn, the peach leaves have withered, and the dry branches are swaying in the wind. There are nearly hundreds of houses and courtyards scattered outside the forest.
It covers an area of 100 acres and can accommodate thousands of people. It is the habitat of the Fang clan.
The ox cart crossed the small river outside Wubao and slowly drove into a small building in Taolin Courtyard. After returning to his home to wash up and change clothes, Fang Zhang was about to go out, but at this moment he heard someone outside.
The servant shouted.
It turned out that it was Fang Zhang's father who called him over.
Fang Zhang's grandfather Fang Zhi was once a scholar leader during the Emperor Huan's period, rising to the rank of Sikong. His father Fang Chikang was once the governor of Changsha. Now he resigned and returned home. Fang Zhang himself was once recruited by the imperial court as a councilor. During the Dong Zhuo Rebellion,
At that time, he abandoned his official position and returned to his hometown. When he heard his father's call, Fang Zhang came to the hall.
Fang Chikang was nearly sixty years old, but after all, he had been in high and low official positions and was known to be wise and the patriarch of the clan. When he saw Fang Zhang coming in, he bowed politely and said hello, then sat down at the table and said, "Zhong Gui,
I heard that Chen Zigui from Qingzhou asked you to go to his military camp?"
Fang Zhang is the second eldest son and has an older brother. However, his older brother died of illness a few years ago, so he is now the sole heir to the Fang family. His every move is related to the life and death of the entire clan, and involves the safety of thousands of people in the clan.
But now Jizhou and Qingzhou are hostile to each other and are at war. The Fang family lives in Jizhou, and the direct son comes into contact with the number two figure in Qingzhou. This is not good news for the Fang family.
"Back to my father, Chen Zigui did invite me to the military camp to reminisce about old times. He passed by Ganling back then, and I happened to be a guest at the Prime Minister's Mansion and met him once."
Fang Zhang answered honestly that the big family has strict upbringing and there is no room for lying in front of the parents.
Fang Chikang said sternly: "Do you know what will happen to the Fang family in Ganling if you go to see him now and if someone finds out? The Zhou family is still staring at us every day. Once they see it, they will report it to Ye
Even if you are guilty of collaborating with the enemy, you may not be able to escape."
"I naturally know this."
Fang Zhang muttered: "But I was invited by an old friend, so I had to go. I decided to go alone to see what Chen Zigui wanted to say to me. Maybe our Fang family will have a way out in the future."
Fang Chikang frowned: "Do you think Liu Xuande can be the master of the Ming Dynasty?"
"I have no idea."
Fang Zhang shook his head: "It's just that the world is in chaos now, and heroes from all over the country are everywhere. In these troubled times, those of us who have fields and food reserves will be attacked by the soldiers. Liu Xuande raised the flag of benevolence and righteousness, but he didn't do any harm to us Qiu.
But it's hard to say for other princes. If we can't rely on one party's power, the Fang family is like a floating duckweed, in danger of overthrowing at any time."
As the direct son of the Fang family, Fang Zhang may not be as intelligent as he is. But he is from a famous family, and his grandfather is a high-ranking official. He has been studying and practicing calligraphy since he was a child, and his family has learned a lot. His perspective on current affairs is naturally much clearer than that of ordinary people in the countryside.
, the vision is also longer-term than ordinary people.
A big family with land and food but little ability to protect itself is no less than a piece of fat meat in troubled times. The one who invaded today is Liu Bei. He did not send troops to plunder their clan, but it does not mean that other princes will not do it.
What's more, Zhang He has already issued instructions to the clans outside the city, and after the autumn harvest, each clan will be asked to pay a portion of the grain and send it into the city.
This year's tax is much heavier than in previous years. In the past, it was charged 10% and 1% paid, but this year it is 30% charged and 10% paid, which is quite harsh.
If the Qingzhou Army had not suddenly attacked Ganling and surrounded the city, I am afraid that all the grain collectors in the city would have already mobilized to pay this year's grain under the urging of the heads of the pavilions, village elders and village officials.
Hearing his son's words, Fang Chikang thought deeply: "Wang Fen is a public enemy of the world because he established a false emperor. He once invited me to serve as an official in Jizhou, but I refused on the grounds of old age, knowing that he would not last long. Looking at it now
, if you don’t rely on Wang Fen, Liu Bei is indeed the best choice, but the clan is in Jizhou after all, does Zhong Gui think Liu Xuande can win this battle? "
"Disaster."
Fang Zhang said: "The foundation of Jizhou is too strong. Even if Wang Fen is critically ill, Liu Xuande will not be able to occupy the entire Jizhou in a short period of time. Moreover, I heard that Yuan Benchu has been summoned to Yecheng. If nothing happens, he will be the next shepherd of Jizhou.
, Yuan Benchu has a great talent, if he captures Jizhou and defeats Liu Xuande, it should be no problem."
"Then why does Zhong Gui still need it?"
Fang Chikang was puzzled. Since it was difficult for Liu Bei to conquer Jizhou in a short period of time, why would he choose to rely on him?
Fang Zhang smiled and said, "So I'll go take a look. If it doesn't work, I'll come back naturally."
This chapter is not finished yet, please click on the next page to continue reading the exciting content! "Yeah."
Fang Chikang thought for a while and said, "Yes, then you can just go."
"only."
Fang Zhang stood up and backed away with his hands in his hands.
Watching him leave, Fang Chikang's eyebrows showed a thoughtful look.
A big family like theirs naturally understands that eggs cannot be put in the same basket.
But after all, they are still under the rule of Wang Fen. If Wang Fen is angered, the entire clan will be implicated.
.....
.....
Chen Mu was in the camp at this time.
The first ones to arrive at Ganling were the nearest Zhang Fei tribe, and then the Gao Shun tribe in the north.
Liu Bei took Tian Feng, Ju Shou Dian, Wei Huang Zhong and more than a dozen generals to the Ping'en front line. As for Zhang Liao, he is now at Tao Guan.
Just after arriving outside Ganling City, the army was still encamped on the spot. Chen Mu did not call Zhang Fei, Gao Shun and more than ten generals in the army for a meeting. He happened to see Fang Zhang on the way and invited him to come over and talk.
"Fourth General, Fang Zhang is here."
Xuanjia's personal guard Hu Yong reported to Chen Mu that his brother Hu Ping had retired and was serving his parents at home. Now only Hu Yong, Da Aer, Zhang Long, Zhao Hu and others are left with him.
Chen Mu was reading in the camp. When he heard Hu Yong's words, he said, "Let him in."
After a while, Fang Zhang was guided by Hu Yong from outside the military camp to the tent. When he saw Chen Mu, he cupped his hands and said with a smile: "Shang Shuling, it's been six years since I last saw him."
Chen Mu put down his book, stood up and returned the greeting: "It's rare that Brother Zhonggui still remembers you, but I'm no longer the minister, so don't call me like this anymore. If you don't abandon me, just call me home."
"You are an important member of the imperial court, and I am just a commoner in the country. How can I dare to address you by your name?"
"Brother Zhonggui, how can we care about common etiquette when we are friends?"
"In that case, please forgive me for being rude."
"Where is it? Brother Zhonggui, please take a seat."
After the two of them finished their polite greetings, they sat down.
In fact, Fang Zhang is not stupid, it is just a one-time relationship, there is no deep friendship.
Chen Mu was so polite for the sake of profit.
Although the Ganling Fang clan has declined and has no high-ranking officials in the imperial court, its words still carry a lot of weight in the three-thirds of an acre of land in Ganling County.
The Qingzhou Army wants to take Ganling City, probably because they want to borrow the influence of these local aristocratic families.
But knowing it in my heart is one thing. Naturally, I can't say these things out loud. Fang Zhang said: "Zi Gui invited me to the camp. Is it to reminisce about old times? To meet old friends?"
"Of course not."
Chen Mu smiled and said: "Brother Zhong Gui is a great talent. I just want to ask him, what do you think of the general trend of the world today?"
The general trend of the world?
Fang Zhang pondered for a moment and said: "Today's world is chaotic and unclear, and it is difficult to figure out. However, in the next few years, Jizhou and Qingzhou will probably compete for supremacy. If they can annex each other, they will be able to dominate the world."
This can be regarded as the consensus of celebrities all over the world. It is not unusual. Generally, people with an intelligence of 50-70 can see it.
It seems that Fang Zhang is just a slightly outstanding ordinary person, not a talent with an intelligence above 80.
However, Chen Mu knew that it was good for ordinary people to have this knowledge. In the Han Dynasty, when the people were not enlightened, only people from aristocratic families could achieve this level. Top talents were hard to come by, and it was not so easy to come across them.
So he just smiled and said: "It seems that Brother Zhonggui thinks that our Qingzhou attack on Jizhou will fail this time, and at least we will not be able to defeat Wang Fen within a few years."
"Is not it?"
Fang Zhang asked rhetorically.
Chen Mu was sincere and admitted openly: "Indeed, Jizhou and Yuzhou are the two richest states in the world, and Yuzhou has experienced too many wars and has been ruined. Only Jizhou has been defeated by Wang Fen since the Yellow Turban Rebellion.
It has been recuperating under the rule, so it is one of the best in the world and has strong strength. If Wang Fen had not been critically ill this time, our offensive would not have progressed so quickly."
There is nothing that cannot be admitted. Although Qingzhou has been recuperating for nearly ten years. But the population base and land base are here. During the period of Emperor He, Jizhou had a population of 6 million, and Qingzhou had a population of 3.7 million. The cultivated land area of Jizhou was
Occupying most of the North China Plain, Qingzhou cannot be compared at all.
Moreover, after the Yellow Turban Rebellion, Qingzhou's population had even dropped to less than three million. Thanks to Liu Bei and Chen Mu's rule for many years, as well as absorbing a large number of refugees from various places and encouraging childbirth, the population of Qingzhou has grown to nearly four million today.
.
But Jizhou was doing the same thing under Wang Fen's governance. In addition, Jizhou's vast cultivated land area made it much more attractive than Qingzhou.
Including the people of Luoyang during the Dong Zhuo Rebellion, the people of Bingzhou in Youzhou during the Xianbei invasion, and the people of Yanzhou and Yuzhou during the invasion of the Black Mountain Bandits, many people in Yanzhou and Yuzhou also moved to the relatively stable Jizhou, resulting in the population of Jizhou remaining at around six million.
, and after ten years of governance and encouraging childbirth, the strength is only stronger than before the Yellow Turban Rebellion.
Therefore, precisely because the family's financial resources are so strong, even if Wang Fen is critically ill and attacks now, it is impossible to capture Jizhou in a short time. This is almost the consensus of knowledgeable people in the world.
Hearing his words, Fang Zhang smiled slightly and said: "In that case, it seems that I was not wrong. In the future, the number between Qingzhou and Jizhou will probably be 50 to 50, and as time goes by, if Yuan Benchu succeeds, it will be even more difficult."
After two years of training and planning to develop and grow, I am afraid that the outcome will be tilted. Even if Qingzhou and Youzhou unite, it will be difficult to defeat them. Instead, they will encroach on them step by step and attack them separately."
Chen Mu sighed: "Brother Zhong Gui is worthy of being the Duke of Bowu. He has extraordinary knowledge, but there is one thing that Brother Zhong Gui said is wrong."
"oh?"
Fang Zhang asked: "What's wrong?"
Chen Mu smiled confidently: "There is no successor in Jizhou now. It is only a matter of time that Yuan Benchu takes over. But it is also at the time when they are changing from old to new that it is time for Qingzhou to take action. If we can capture Qinghe at this time and go north to capture Bohai,
Then Jizhou's strength will be greatly reduced. At that time, one will decline and the other will increase, and Yuan Shao will be the one who is cannibalized by us step by step."
"Occupy the Qinghe River and take the Bohai Sea?"
Fang Zhang thought: "If it can be done, that's right. There are more than one million people in Bohai and Qinghe Dingkou, and three-fourths of Jizhou's land is in these two counties. If it can be captured, Jizhou can indeed be greatly weakened.
, but the question is, these two counties are in danger of being defended. Even if they are captured, can they be defended?"
This chapter is not finished yet, please click on the next page to continue reading the exciting content! Qingzhou is dangerous and can be defended, and the Yellow River natural chasm is right there. But Jizhou has a smooth road and no danger to defend, even if the two counties of Qinghe and Bohai are captured.
, facing Jizhou’s counterattack, whether it can hold on is a big question.
Chen Mu smiled and said: "There are indeed few places in Qinghe and Bohai that are easy to defend and difficult to attack, but because of the plains along the way, as long as we are connected to Youzhou, Yuan Shao will not dare to invade."
"Youzhou Cavalry?"
Fang Zhang understood immediately.
On the plains, the Youzhou Cavalry were simply invincible.
Especially after the invention of the stirrup, cavalry often no longer make flanking raids as in the past.
Now, a frontal assault and a direct collision with the infantry regiment have the power to fight.
Therefore, even if Jizhou's internal problems are resolved, Yuan Shao succeeds to the throne peacefully, and the connection between Qingzhou and Youzhou is opened at this time, with the cavalry, at least Bohai County is really likely to fall into Qingzhou's hands.
"Exactly."
Chen Mu said: "So the future battle point between Qingzhou and Jizhou will definitely be in Qinghe, Anping and Hejian Kingdom. If Qinghe can be taken today and Jizhou's strength is greatly weakened, Jizhou will return to the imperial court and the Han Dynasty sooner or later.
The whole world."
"I see."
Fang Zhang nodded thoughtfully. Now he knew what Qingzhou's strategic plan was. But then, his face changed slightly and he smiled bitterly: "Why did Zigui tell me such a secret?"
Chen Mu smiled and said, "Of course it's because Brother Zhonggui belongs to a large family in Ganling. If we want to take Qinghe, we will need Brother Zhonggui's help. What do you think if I don't come to Qingzhou to serve as an official?"
Fang Zhang was speechless: "Do I still have a choice?"
"Come to think of it...there is no such thing."
Chen Mu smiled.
This is the second strategic goal of Qingzhou's conspiracy against Jizhou. First, take Luoyang to threaten Wei County, and then take the Bohai Sea to connect with Youzhou.
You must know that in history, Guang Gongsun Zan's Youzhou once made Yuan Shao miserable and almost occupied the entire Jizhou. Now coupled with Qingzhou, the strength is far from as simple as 1 1 = 2.
In this way, the three areas of Luoyang, Qingzhou, and Youzhou are completely integrated into one, besieging Jizhou, and gaining control of Longwang Shu. Taking Bohai County, they covet the three counties of Qinghe, Anping, and Hejian. Qingzhou's infantry and Youzhou's cavalry are connected, and they are at least invincible.
place.
A set of operations can be described as step by step and interlocking.
Such a top-notch strategic plan was told to Fang Zhang, unless Fang Zhang agreed to serve as an official in Qingzhou and help him defeat Zhang He's conspiracy to seize Qinghe. Otherwise, it would be difficult to get out of the military camp today.
Fang Zhang naturally understood this, but what he admired more was this highly feasible strategic policy. He no longer hesitated at the moment, stood up and said, "Zhang is willing to serve as an official in Qingzhou and serve Liu Shijun as hard as he can."
.”
Chen Mu said with great joy: "Hahahahaha, with brother Zhonggui, taking Ganling is as easy as flipping a finger!"