Hengdao Sixteen Kingdoms

Chapter 496 Veteran General
The elite Jin army was transferred to the northern battlefield by Huan Wen, and the water strongholds were all old, weak, sick and disabled.

By this time, news of Hefei's defeat had spread to the south, and people were panicking.

The cavalry rushed in, collapsed at the first touch, and quickly occupied the water village.

However, there were only dozens of small sampans in the stronghold, and all the big ships went north to rescue Huan Wen, so it was of little significance to capture this water stronghold.

Unless we can break through Ruxu City on the opposite side.

But this city has always been an important town in Jiangbei. During the Three Kingdoms period, Wei and Wu fought four wars here and never fell.

The Liang army was all cavalry and lacked both large boats to cross the river and siege equipment.

"Who is the guard of this city?" Li Yue asked.

If it were Xie Shang and Yin Hao, Li Yue would not hesitate to cross the water and attack.

The scout cupped his hands and said, "Jinxi Zhonglang General Yuan Zhen."

There is no doubt that Yuan Zhen is a veteran Jiangdong general. He followed Yu Yi and Yin Hao in the Northern Expedition, captured Hefei, and fought many tough battles.

"The army rests." Seeing that it was getting late, Li Yue could only order and wait for the infantry from behind to arrive before he could have a chance to break through the city and stop Huan Wen.

The army stayed in the water stronghold.

Dusk fell quickly, and Li Yue looked across. Ruxu City gradually disappeared into the night, without any light, like a wild beast hidden in the night.

"Your Majesty, Huan Wen knows that our army is in Ruxu and is coming at full speed. It is expected to be here tomorrow!" The soldiers were all sleeping in their armor, but the scouts were coming and going non-stop.

"Where are our infantry?"

"Still on the border of Chao County, Generals Gao and Lu came on a starry night journey."

Calculating the time, we will arrive almost tomorrow, so there is still a chance.

"Send some men to keep an eye on the Ruxu City opposite, and set up more hidden sentries. If there is any trouble, report it immediately." Li Yue looked at the city disappearing into the night, and felt that the silence on the opposite side was a bit strange.

There must be a demon in the abnormal situation.

Ordinarily, the other side knew that Hefei was defeated and the army was approaching the city, so they should roar twice to be brave no matter what.

Unless... Yuan Zhen is planning a night attack or fleeing.

Li Yue came up with a plan and secretly ordered the soldiers to rest half and be on alert.

Before midnight, there was movement on the other side.

A naval force crossed the river at night, preparing for a night attack, but was discovered by scouts and secret sentries.

Li Yue was overjoyed. He couldn't find anything after wearing iron shoes. It took no effort to get it. Even if the infantry came, it would not be easy to capture Ruxu City. But it was another matter if Yuan Zhen came to the door himself.

The soldiers were also waiting excitedly, holding their swords and spears tightly in the darkness, staring at the river.

The sparse moonlight casts its light on the river, making it appear white.

But the gleaming white color did not dispel the surrounding darkness. There was a "squeaking" sound of the oars shaking on the water, as if a big fish was slowly swimming into the net.

As long as they get ashore, they will definitely die, and Ruxu City can take advantage of the situation to break through. If Yuan Zhen is captured, the entire Yangtze River defense line will be in danger.

Just when Li Yue was thinking about it, war drums and thunder suddenly sounded on the river, and fires burst out, reflecting dozens of warships hanging in the middle of the river.

With a whoosh, countless rockets slid across the sky and shot towards the water village.

Some of them hit the village fence and the sampans by the river, burning slowly.

"Kill all the Beibei!"

There was a loud noise on the river, and there seemed to be countless people and horses, but they just refused to go ashore, just shouting hysterically.

Later I stopped even shooting arrows...

After making a fuss for half an hour, they rowed back again.

"Everyone in Jiangdong is a rat!" Heiyun generals were so angry that they yelled.Li Yue was depressed for a while and had been preparing for most of the night. The fish rubbed against the mouth of the net and then retreated.

Could it be that Yuan Zhen discovered it?

If you think about it carefully, Yuan Zhen has been fighting all his life. He is now at least five or sixty years old and as stable as an old dog. During several Northern Expeditions, others were severely defeated, but he returned with all his troops.

From his point of view, as long as he defends Ruxu City and supports Huan Wen's move south, there is no need to take risks and attack the water stronghold on the east bank.

Li Yue secretly cried out that it was a pity. It seemed that he could only wait for the infantry to arrive tomorrow.

After inspecting the camp, just as he was about to go to bed, there was another loud noise on the river, and Yuan Zhen left and returned.

Li Yue was shocked. At this time, the soldiers had lowered their guard. If Yuan Zhen launched a fierce attack, it would be extremely dangerous, so he quickly ordered the soldiers to form a formation.

There was a noise from the troops and the soldiers hurriedly formed their formations.

Unexpectedly, the Jin army just roared for a while and retreated.

Li Yue stared at the river in a daze. Although he knew that Yuan Zhen was suspicious of his tactics, he had to be on guard. What was false was real, and what was real was false. Yuan Zhen might actually come and kill him.

In the middle of the night, Yuan Zhen came three more times. When the soldiers were accustomed to it and relaxed their guard, they actually came ashore and burned more than a dozen camps. When the Black Cloud Army came to kill them with swords, hundreds of them jumped naked into the river. , disappeared...

The commotion continued until dawn.

The soldiers were extremely exhausted, and even the horses were greatly disturbed.

"Reporting to your majesty, our infantry was harassed by Deng Ya's troops in Dongguan last night and could not arrive on time." The scout ran out of the morning light.

Deng Xia and Yuan Zhen were both fellow villagers and cousins. They were extremely brave and powerful in the Eastern Jin Dynasty, and people at that time called them Fan Kuai.

There are dragons in the Mian River in the north of Xiangyang, which often harm people. Deng Xia drew his sword and entered the water. The dragons wrapped around his feet.

Huan Wen's Northern Expedition to Guanzhong was defeated. After Deng Xia was ordered to cut off his troops, his troops shot Fu Chang and died of his injuries.

Deng Xia must have been ordered by Yuan Zhen to send troops.

I often walk by the river, but today my shoes got wet.

Now it seems that Yuan Zhen deliberately abandoned the east water village.

Li Yue looked at the wide river. Not everything in the east of the river was wine bags and rice bags. Yuan Zhen's hand was extremely beautiful.

Saved Huan Wen's life, and saved Jiang Dong once!
How could the huge Jiangdong have no generals?

"Ruxu is no longer available. Send an order for the whole army to go eastward and attack Juchao, Hengjiang, Liyang, and Tutang! The infantry will follow to contain the people." Li Yue adjusted his strategy.

Huan Wen was no longer available. When his navy joined Yuan Zhen, his momentum was bound to increase. On the water, Li Yue admitted that he was no match for Jiangdong.

The soldiers took out their war horses and spent more than an hour getting ready to go.

After being disturbed by Yuan Zhen last night, the soldiers' faces were obviously tired, and even the horses were listless.

At this time, the sky was already bright, and a large flag with the word "Jin" was hoisted high on the Ruxu City on the other side. To the north of the Ruxu River, Huan Wen's naval warships gradually revealed their huge bodies from the water waves and river fog.

Getting closer.

You can almost see the figure standing at the bow of the ship, condescending and arrogant, surrounded by a group of soldiers behind him.

In line with the principle of killing people and punishing the heart, Li Yue ordered his soldiers to shout towards the river: "Work hard with the royal family to conquer China, why should we be prisoners of Chu?"

The sound is rushing with the river, traveling back and forth.

How can you become a prisoner of Chu if you work hard with the royal family to conquer China?
How many people in Jiangdong today still have the ambitions of Director Wang?

The shouts rippled away and shook the land of Jiangbei.

The man at the bow turned around again and returned to the cabin.

Li Yue threw his riding whip into the wet water, laughed, turned the horse's head, and ran eastward with the river.

(End of this chapter)