Late Tang Dynasty Floating Life

Chapter 666 Mangshan
The New Year's Day in the third year of Qianning (896) came soon.

On the outskirts of Bai Sima Ban, countless rangers moved around, covering a range of dozens of miles.

And above Baisi Maban, a wooden camp had already been erected, and Yang Sheng, the deputy envoy of the Tiande Army, entered the camp with [-] infantry.

Beside the camp, the Tutuan villagers are doing the final work: digging trenches, reinforcing trench walls, laying out horse pits, and installing defensive weapons such as antler guns and caltrops.

Obviously, they intend to firmly nail this place.

At noon, Cai Songyang, the envoy of the Tiande Army, personally went to inspect the fortress named Baimazhai.

Baisi Maban, also called Baimapo, is thirty miles southwest of Luoyang.When the army broke into this place, Liang Jun was greatly shocked psychologically.

In fact, the Liang army also has a chance. If Luoyang sends elite troops to the north, Zhengzhou sends a large army to the west, and the defenders of the south city of Heyang attack the Xia army's rear, there is every chance that the Xia army who crossed the river will be wiped out on the south bank of the river.

But the army in the direction of Zhengzhou was gone, and there were only garrison troops left in the area. It was too late to protect themselves, and it was impossible to go west for reinforcements.

This time, it depends on who moves faster.

After careful inspection, Cai Songyang and Yang Sheng explained some details, and then left with their own soldiers, heading straight for Pingluo Village, more than ten miles to the east.

This stockade is located at the exit of a relatively low and flat passage at the northern foot of Mang Mountain, and the post road leads north to Heyang.

If you go south, you can reach Jirunyi in the east of Luoyang through Mangshan Mountain.

This place is actually the old city of Luoyang in the Han and Wei Dynasties. Jirunyi is just outside the upper east gate of the old city. There is Caoqu Wharf Shiliangwu nearby. There is a stone bridge on the river and Shiqiaodian is opposite. It is about [-] miles west of Luoyang. .

The stockade has also been completed, but the work of the Tutuan villagers is not over. In fact, they have already started to build a city at the northern foot of Mang Mountain in the north of the stockade.

Three thousand infantrymen of the Tiande Army entered the stockade and were fully on guard.

"The two northward post roads in Luoyang are blocked. I want to see if Hu is in a hurry." Standing on the mountain where the north wind howls, looking down at the ruined city of Luoyang, Cai Songyang haha laughing out loud.

His laughter seemed to travel through time and space, and landed in Luoyang City dozens of miles away.

Hu Zhen immediately went to look for Kou Yanqing, the envoy of the Changzhi Army, but he was not there. After asking again, he went to Yanshi.

Although Hu Zhen was angry that he didn't know that he would act without a word, there was nothing wrong with going to Yanshi.Seventy miles northeast of Yanshi is Gong County and Xingluo Cang (Luokou Cang). It is said that a large number of thieves have already guarded the place, felled trees and built a stronghold, and continuously attacked Luokou Cang and Gong County. The situation is already in danger.

"Marshal, General Kou has gone to Yanshi, so there should be no worries along the way." The aides persuaded one after another.

Hu Zhen just smiled.

He is a veteran who has been in the arena for many years. What kind of enemy has he never encountered?What kind of battle has not been fought?Experience can be described as rich.

The current situation seems a bit dangerous to him.He also understands Xia thief's intentions, it's for Luoyang, it's not Bianzhou or Huazhou at all.

"Marshal, my subordinates invite Yibing to Luonan Sanguan." Amidst the commotion, a loud voice suddenly sounded.

Hu Zhen took a closer look, and it turned out that it was Duan Ning, the inspector of the shogunate, a talent who had just reached the age of weak crown.

"Aren't there soldiers in Luonan Sanguan? The Changzhi Army has dispatched a thousand soldiers, and the Youguo Army has an infantry. Isn't 2000 soldiers enough?"

"Luonan Sanguan picks up Ru and Xu, what is there to guard against?"

"Inspector Duan, what do you mean? Make it clear!"

"Duan Ning wants to run away!"

"Shut up!" Hu Zhen's face fell, stopped the crowd, and asked: "Inspector Duan, Yibing Luonan Sanguan, what do you mean?"

"Shuai Hu." Duan Ning bowed and saluted, and said: "The bandits Xia suddenly moved southward, and they moved quickly. Looking at their movements, it seems that they are stationed in Bai Simaban and Luokou, and cut off the channel between Luoyang and Zheng and Bian."

The main passage between Luoyang and Zhengzhou is north of Mang Mountain and south of the Yellow River.

The area along the river at the northern foot of Mangshan Mountain is very flat. Going east through Sishui County, you can reach Zhengzhou. The famous Sishui Pass and Hulao Pass are located in this area.

"It's fine if we can repel the Xia bandits, but if we fail to attack again and again, won't we be trapped in Luoyang?" Duan Ning said again.

Hu Zhen was thoughtful. Although the others were not convinced, they had to seriously consider this possibility.

It's not clear how many soldiers the Xia Bandits have come, but they definitely didn't leave after looting, which can be judged from many details.And since they don't leave, the purpose is obvious, they want to eat Luoyang!
This is the bad aspect of Luoyang's terrain.

Surrounded by mountains and rivers, there are many dangerous passes around, which seem to be very conducive to defense.But don't forget, the Yiluo Basin is too small, and there are only a few counties. Once trapped in it, I am afraid that they will not be able to support themselves, let alone others?
Guanzhong is the real four-siege country. With the Guanzhong Plain dozens of times the area of ​​the Yiluo Basin as its foundation, it is not afraid of being besieged.Luoyang, it’s just a miniature version, and its self-sustaining ability is very poor.

"For this reason, my subordinates have invited soldiers from the three capitals of Yi to go to Yique and other places." Duan Ning finally said.

The Youguo Army originally consisted of [-] people. After Hu Zhen took control of Luoyang, he integrated the original garrison troops and sent reinforcements from all walks of life.

At that time, Liang Wang also agreed, otherwise the command system would be too complicated, and it would be difficult to fight.

The [-] You National Army was divided into left and right hatchbacks, each with fifteen capitals, each with a thousand soldiers.As a result, half of them were transferred by King Liang last year, leaving only the fifteen capitals.

With the strength of the fifteen capitals, it is very difficult to defend Luoyang.Although there is a long and straight army of tens of thousands of people to help, it is still not enough.This can only be recruited from the more than [-] households in Luoyang. At present, a total of [-] Tutuan peasants have been recruited to serve in rotation. In addition, the troops sent by other states to garrison from time to time can barely support the stall. .

Hu Zhen was silent when he heard the words.

In fact, from the bottom of his heart, he agreed with Duan Ning's words.But if you do this directly, it's too eye-catching!
Even without a fight, you think about securing your way out first, isn't that too much?
Moreover, this matter is not that simple. It is not only a matter of Luoyang, but also involves the Ding Club in Ruzhou.Once you run away and let those [-] members of the Dinghui open their doors, what can he do?They could only be forced to retreat and go to Xuzhou to rebuild the defense line.

If things really develop to such a point, Hu Zhen can't imagine what he will face, maybe surrender is the only way out.

But if it is not a last resort, how can he surrender?For so many years with Liang Wang, although he has suffered all kinds of suspicions, he is not short of wealth.Not so, not so!
"That's all. How can we get 3000 troops now?" Hu Zhen smiled wryly, and said: "Most of the troops are used to defend against that thief Li Tangbin. In Luoyang City, there are no more than Wudu soldiers. Kou Yanqing's 2000 troops left here, I don't know." The command doesn't move. What about the Changzhi army, the king of Liang is the military envoy himself, who can move?"

In the tone, there was still some dissatisfaction after all, and everyone just pretended not to hear it.

Duan Ning still wanted to say something, but Hu Zhen waved his hand and said: "Don't say too much. I have received the great kindness of the King of Liang, and I will repay it. Pass down the order, and the counties of Henan, Luoyang, and Yanshi will recruit [-] troops. The sooner the better , I want to go north to attack the Xia bandits and re-open the connection with Heyang. The soldiers and horses of General Huo and his son are still trapped in the south city, maybe they can cooperate with the inside and outside to defeat the bandits."

Pang Shigu's Yellow River defense line was cut into several sections on the spot after Xia's army went south.

Heyang Nancheng and its affiliated Cangcheng are the largest group of soldiers and horses, and Huo Cun, the envoy of the Baosheng Army, sits in charge.

Gong County and Luokou Cang are a lump, and Biankou and Xuanmen Pass are also guarded by soldiers and horses. There are more than 1 people, and they cannot look at each other from head to tail, and the connection is interrupted.

If there is a heavy army group deployed on the second line, it is actually fine, it can completely cooperate with the isolated strongholds on the first line, attack from inside and outside, and smash the enemy army.But now it's gone, and that's the problem.

"Conscript immediately, without hesitation." Hu Zhen made the final decision.

……

In the area around Shiqiaodian, some Xia Army cavalry had already appeared.

They came from the Fan tribe in Guanbei, led by Wang He, the son of Wang Xie, the inspection envoy of Mula Mountain, with a total of thousands of riders.

Because there were almost no enemy troops in this area, they led their horses on foot with ease, passed the rugged post road in Mangshan Mountain, and entered the flat Yiluo River Valley.

If it were normal, they would not dare to do this, because Gein's back road was unstable, and they could easily be shut down and beaten, and died in Luoyang.But it was different now. Bai Sima Ban had set up a fortress, and a trench had been dug in Heyang South City to restrict the defenders from leaving the city.

The howling Qingqi passed by the Shiqiao store, showering arrows with rain.More than a hundred soldiers of the Liang army and tax collectors who were guarding the stone bridge dispersed, allowing them to cross the stone bridge and arrive at the area of ​​the old city of Luoyang.

There was a warehouse near Shiliangwu, guarded by dozens of defenders, but it was rushed by the cavalry, causing many casualties.

Wang He thought he couldn't take away the thousands of dendrobium grains and beans, as well as a lot of cloth and equipment in the warehouse, so he simply asked someone to bring firewood and ignited it.

The thick black smoke column shot straight into the sky, visible from far and near.

Duan Ning, who had just got off the straight, saw her expression changed drastically, and immediately ran home, intending to let her family leave the city quietly, take a detour to the south, and return to Bianzhou.

At this moment, the sound of neat footsteps sounded on the street.

Duan Ning went out and saw that it was Chang Zhijun.The brigade went out of the city to the east, and it seemed that they were going to Jirunyi and Shiqiaodian.

Well, it’s not really out of town.Because Luoyang is very small, the Changzhi Army was stationed outside the city in a barracks that had been picked up from the rubble, and many Luoyang officials also lived outside the city.

"It's because I'm worried that the thief Xia will cut off Kou Yanqing's back and supply road!" Duan Ning sighed, and turned around to see that the parents and family were all worried, only the five-year-old girl didn't know why, and her eyes were sloppy. Turn around and look at everything outside curiously.

This battle is hard to win!

This is not Duan Ning's opinion alone, it may have become the consensus of everyone in Luoyang.There are only five soldiers and horses in the city, even if [-] Tutuan peasants are conscripted, can they really win if they just go north like this?What's more, the conscription seems to be facing difficulties now. Luoyang County is in chaos, and the people are in panic. Where can I find someone?

"Brother, there is also smoke in the north." The younger sister Duan's small hand pointed to the sky in the north, and said cheerfully.

Duan Ning's face darkened, another Xia Zei cavalry?

(End of this chapter)