Fenghou

Chapter 308
It was just dawn, and it was also the quietest moment, when there was a faint sound of rumbling wooden wheels and oars on the Han River, and the soldiers stationed at the head of Xiangyang City on the south bank of the Han River heard this roar.

Xiangyang City is still two miles away from the Han River, but the sound of wooden oars can be clearly heard. After dawn, the soldiers can still see the huge fleet on the Han River.

The puppet Qi army was very helpless. They had already controlled Xiangyang, but the surface of the water had become the world of the Song army, leaving them helpless.

The general Dong Xian stood on the top of the city and looked at the river angrily. It has been three days since ten thousand cavalry arrived on the other side of the Han River, but they could not cross the Han River.

At this time, Kong Yanzhou stepped forward and said, "Marshal, let the cavalry divert to Fangzhou! This is the only way to cross the Han River from the upper reaches."

Dong Xian shook his head, "It's not that simple. Li Chengcheng didn't want to send cavalry to us, and he had to send this cavalry under the pressure of the emperor. If we divert the cavalry to Fangzhou, Li Chengcheng found a reason, and he would oppose the emperor. Read our book, even Hanshui can't control it."

"But it is a fact that the Han River cannot be controlled. We can't let the cavalry wait on the north bank. After another two days, they will return to Chang'an. It's better to let them go to Fangzhou to cross the river."

"They will definitely not leave Fangzhou!"

At this time, Jiang Yanxian said from the side: "Can you ask the Wanyan Du Supervisor to come forward? Ask him to order the cavalry to come over from Fangzhou, they should dare not refuse."

Dong Xian smiled wryly and said, "I have already told the Supervisory Army, and he said he would not participate in this matter."

Jiang Yanxian and Kong Yanzhou were stunned at the same time, "Why?"

"If the cavalry came from Bianjing, he might help, but the cavalry came from Guanzhong, which involves the relationship between him and Wanyan Wushu, so he doesn't want to be troublesome, I guess, but I It is probably the normal answer."

Speaking of this, Dong Xian turned back to the generals and said: "If the cavalry really can't get through, it doesn't matter. We can defeat the opponent without cavalry, but the key is that the Han River blocked by the Song army is not a solution!
What about our logistics supplies and reinforcements?Even the morale of the army is still there. Now the soldiers know that our retreat is cut off. We have to find a way to reverse this unfavorable situation, instead of thinking about going to Fangzhou to cross the river. If the news spreads, we will lose face! "

Everyone was silent, and the opponent's navy was strong, what should they do?
Seeing that Jiang Yanxian was about to speak, Dong Xian said, "Jiang Dutong, say something!"

Dong Xian still valued Jiang Yanxian very much. Jiang Yanxian was quite strategic, and he was able to lead [-] troops back from under Chen Qing's nose. Even Wan Yanchang praised him unceasingly.

Jiang Yanxian sighed and said: "A spy who escaped from Hanyang told me that the Song army's water warfare strategy is very simple, that is, to use fire oil balls. Our soldiers can't save the fire at all. Two or three fire oil balls can burn down a ship. ferry.

In addition, I observed the river surface for a long time yesterday, and I always felt that the wooden wheels of vehicles and boats are easily damaged. For example, if you insert a wooden stick into it, the wooden blades inside will break, or if you throw straw on the river surface, the wooden wheels will get entangled. "

Dong Xian nodded approvingly, "It can be said that the heroes see the same thing. Jiang Dutong and I thought of going together. I still have fifty scout ships in my hand. We also use kerosene to burn the ships, and we don't need any kerosene." When the ball hits, just use a thin-skinned pottery pot to fill it with kerosene and throw it onto the boat, and throw torches at the same time, fifty small boats with two hundred and fifty gunpowder pots are enough to burn all the vehicles and boats on the river."

This plan is very practical and feasible, and everyone's enthusiasm was mobilized. Kong Yanzhou scratched his head and said, "We can dismantle some of the large catapults on the top of the city, transport them to the riverside, and throw fire oil balls on the boat from the riverside."

"This method is too troublesome!"

Qin Sinian, the governor of the capital, said with a smile: "It is not only troublesome to dismantle and carry the trebuchet, but it is also very difficult to hit. Others will not stand still and let you throw it. It is better to send dozens of water ghosts to dive with fire oil tanks in wooden boxes." Go over and light the fire after getting close to the enemy ship."

Kong Yanzhou couldn't hold back his face, and he became angry from embarrassment: "How do you light a fire in the water?"

"Wrap it in pig urine foam. It's not like we haven't done this kind of waterproof thing before!"

At this moment, a soldier rushed over and said, "Report to Marshal, the eagle letter has just been sent from the other side of the river!"

Dong Xian took the eagle letter and looked it over, with a bitter expression on his face, and said to everyone: "Sure enough, I was right. The [-] cavalry have already retreated north to Guanzhong. The reason is that they can't cross the river and there is not enough food and grass."

Everyone was silent, and this result made everyone deeply disappointed.

Dong Xian cheered up and said: "I don't care about the cavalry, let's follow the method discussed just now, I'll go to ask Wanyandu Supervising Army for instructions, and see what he thinks!"

After all, Dong Xian was a civil servant, he had been in the officialdom for a long time, and he was quite slippery. He knew very well that Wan Yanchang was sitting in Xiangyang, and the coach was actually Wan Yanchang. His plan must be supported by Wan Yanchang, otherwise, no matter the victory Negative, Wan Yanchang will not be happy.

Wan Yanchang is really not in a good mood recently. It was also because the Song army blocked the Han River that he realized that the Qi army was not well prepared for the battle against Jingxiang. They did not have a navy, which meant that the army could not pass the Han If the water cannot cross the Yangtze River, the strategic plan drawn up before will be greatly reduced.

What annoyed Wan Yanchang even more was that he came to Xiangyang to hunt and kill Chen Qing. Judging from the current situation, the idea of ​​killing Chen Qing by taking advantage of the Jingxiang battle might come to nothing again.

In this battle of Huguang, Wan Yanchang personally drafted a three-step plan. The first step is to occupy Deng, Sui, Fang Sanzhou and Xiangyang Prefecture within one month of dispatching troops, and open the door of Jingxiang. The first step plan has been completed. Done successfully.

The second step of the plan is to occupy a large area of ​​land south of Xiangyang Prefecture, north of the Yangtze River, east of the Three Gorges, and west of the Hanshui River within the next two months, including Yingzhou, Fuzhou, Hanyang Army, Jiangling Prefecture, Xiazhou, and Guizhou. Zhouzhou, Jingmen Army and other places.

Originally, the second step of the plan was also very smooth. It successfully lured Wang Yan's Jiangling army to go north and wiped it out in one fell swoop. Li Gang's [-] main force was also trapped in Changlin County.

But at this time, Chen Qing led his army northward, which destroyed their plan and severely damaged the morale of the Qi army, forcing Wan Yanchang to give up the second step he had already captured, and retreated to the original point.

They had an absolute advantage in military strength before, but they failed to defeat Li Gang's main force in one fell swoop and completed the second step of the plan. Now the Song Army is recruiting a large number of troops. Seeing that their military strength is gradually being equalized, the major defect of the navy appeared again. Whether the second step of the plan can be realized, Wan Yanchang was full of anxiety.

At this time, a soldier reported from the hall, "Marshal Dong, please see me!"

Wan Yanchang sighed, "Let him in!"

Soon, Dong Xian walked into the lobby quickly, bowed and saluted, "See the Imperial Guard for humble posts!"

"Marshal Dong, what's the matter?"

"Just now I received the Eagle's letter that the [-] cavalry on the other side have insufficient food and grass, and cannot cross the river. They have already returned to Guanzhong."

Wan Yanchang was taken aback, "Why not let them cross the river from Fangzhou?"

"The humble official said it, but they didn't adopt it."

"why?"

Dong Xian shook his head, "I don't quite understand the humble staff, maybe they think they are Marshal Li's subordinates, so they don't need to listen to my command!"

Dong Xian hinted to Wan Yanchang, "You refused to intervene and order, that's the result." '

Wan Yanchang glanced at Dong Xian and said: "Forget it, the cavalry you can't command came to add horses to Chen Qing, it's better not to come."

"The capital inspector army has an excellent opinion, and I have another matter to report to the humble officer."

"what's up?"

Dong first presented a booklet to Wan Yanchang, "This is a plan for the humble official to take back the control of the Han River, please take a look at it."

Wan Yanchang was refreshed, this was exactly what he needed, he quickly took the plan booklet and opened it for a closer look, gradually, a hint of disappointment appeared in his eyes, this was far from the plan he had been considering these days, Mr. The situation is still low, and in Wan Yanchang's view, the plan under consideration cannot be put on the table at all.

Dong Xian saw the disappointment in Wan Yanchang's eyes, and quickly said: "We have considered several plans, and even wanted to dismantle the trebuchet and transport it to the river, but none of them felt practically meaningful. In comparison, only the present plan is the most feasible. .”

Wan Yanchang smiled and said: "Actually, I have been thinking about making up for the shortcomings of the navy these days, but I am not only considering the Han River, but also the Yangtze River. Your plan is also good. You can implement it first, and I approve it! "

"Thank you Dujianjun, I will arrange the implementation as soon as possible!"

"It's best to have a proper drill in East Lake to let the soldiers know what they are going to do and how to do it, otherwise they will be in a hurry when they arrive on the battlefield, but pay attention to clearing the field and keeping it secret."

"Humble job understands!"

Dong saluted first and hurried away.

(End of this chapter)