Elegy of Tang Dynasty

Chapter 546: The Light Boat Has Not Passed the Mountains

The next day, Gele Khan, who was beaten black and blue, left Baiqiao Town on horseback.

Not only was he released, but he was also given a lot of dry food to eat on the road.

There is no doubt that the "one-on-one" battle between Gele Khan and Fang Chongyong ended in a miserable defeat.

He ate too much and was soaked in the river for a day. In this bad state, even if Xiang Yu was reborn, Gelu Khan would not be able to defeat Fang Zhongyong.

Of course, Geluk Khan's purpose was to lose, and he never intended to win.

If a person defeats the enemy commander in a one-on-one hand-to-hand fight with bare hands, can he still expect to escape unscathed?
This kind of behavior of winning the game but losing life is no different from seeking death.

Geluk Khan is not such a naive person. The only purpose of doing so much is to find a way out.

Because the war had reached this point, the feud between him, Fang Chongyong and the Silver Spear Filial Piety Army had become meaningless.

It is even questionable whether he can still command his troops when he returns to Yecheng this time.

Therefore, at this critical juncture, if you still want to engage in a dispute of pride, you would be no different from a fool.

The best solution is to roll down the stairs, gather the remaining troops and return to the grassland to recuperate.

Of course, the Uighurs were a tribal alliance, and it was not surprising that Geluk Khan's direct followers had suffered heavy casualties, so he would go back to lick his wounds. However, other Uighur tribes might not be willing to give up the right to rob.

Moreover, internal divisions within the Huihe tribe were inevitable. A series of chain reactions, including alliances within the tribal alliance, were probably brewing.

The earlier you prepare, the greater your chances of winning over your opponent.

It is hard to say whether Gele Khan and Fang Chongyong will still be enemies in the future.

He also knew that the soldiers who were beaten to death because of the failed sneak attack might have died in vain.

This may be the fate of the grassland people.

With the departure of Gele Khan, the problems that Fang Zhongyong and the Silver Spear Filial Piety Army would face next were also put on the table.

He and all the soldiers of the Silver Spear Filial Piety Army under his command had to face their fate like students taking an important exam.

Late at night, the cabin of a canal boat on the Yongji Canal was packed with people and oil lamps were lit.

Fang Chongyong and his main generals gathered around a table with a simple map on it.

Important military affairs are being discussed.

This is a map of enemy deployment drawn by military scouts based on reconnaissance.

Although the map sketch and tracing level was very average, everyone present could see from the content on the map that the situation they were facing was not optimistic.

"General, for now, Gao Miao has divided his troops into two cities to support each other.

One is Changlu County, which is right next to the canal. It is the city that manages the Changlu Salt Field and was also built for the salt field.

To the southeast of Changlu County is Cangzhou City, the capital of Cangzhou Prefecture.

The city is adjacent to Fushui, a tributary of the Yongji Canal, which is not deep enough for canal boats to pass through.

Water diverted from the canal is purely for irrigation of farmland.

The troops under Gao Miao's command were evenly distributed in the two cities of Changlu and Cangzhou, so they could support each other in case of an incident.

There are a large number of outposts, camps and trenches between the two cities, which can provide mutual support.

This person's planning skills are very impressive and should not be underestimated."

Che Guangqian introduced to everyone that this was the opponent in front of them, as well as the basic situation of the troop distribution.

“It’s not that Gao Miao’s subordinates are very strong, but I’m afraid they will hold me back and make it difficult to attack them.

This defense is like a hedgehog. It’s difficult, very difficult.”

Wang Nan hesitated for a moment and said.

"General Wang is right, and Gao Miao has set up many flying ropes and rafts in the Changlu section of the canal to hinder the progress of our fleet.

If we force our way through using a canal boat, I'm afraid... it will be difficult."

Che Guangqian said with a frown.

Feiluo, a thick rope, is fixed on both sides of the river to prevent ships from crossing the river. It can also be used as a cable for a floating bridge.

A mechanical raft is a raft made by tying together multiple bundles of gun sticks horizontally and vertically, and is usually used in conjunction with a flying rope.

Simply put, Gao Miao sent people to build a dam that was easy to dismantle, but it did not block the river and would not affect the water level.

Who knows if there are any ambushes here?
"No wonder there are no ships from Youzhou coming here. It turns out that Gao Miao is the one causing trouble."

Duan Xueshi nodded slightly, finally figuring out the whole story.

Gao Miao had seriously established a defense line that included both water and land routes.

A defense line was built using two cities and a "river dam" as core nodes, forcing the Silver Spear Filial Piety Army to abandon their baggage and bypass them to continue northward.

There was an important reason why the Silver Spear Xiaojie Army was able to run rampant in Hebei and beat anyone they caught, and that was that they relied on the canal and grain ships for supplies, so they could advance deep into the enemy territory alone.

Gao Miao’s “turtle” strategy is extremely disgusting!
"Everyone, do you have any good ideas?"

Fang Zhongyong looked around at everyone and asked in a deep voice. He was also blind this time, and he didn't expect Gao Miao to be so abnormal.

No one answered, and all the generals around him fell into deep thought.

Gao Miao's move was similar to a "choice without choice". Whether it was attacking which city or removing obstacles on the canal, there were great risks.

But from a military perspective, each option faces similar difficulty, each has its own disadvantages, and each option also has its own opportunities. There is no so-called "absolute dead end."

This makes people feel at a loss.

"General Jie, are the generals under Huangfu Weiming really serious about encircling and suppressing us now?"

Che Guangqian suddenly asked a very strange question.

"how do I say this?"

Fang Zhongyong frowned slightly, having thought of something.

"General Huangfu Weiming has already conquered Luoyang.

Now all his thoughts should be on how to advance into Guanzhong. We are no longer a serious threat to him.

The generals under Huangfu Weiming naturally knew this. After they had conquered Luoyang, who wouldn't want to go into Guanzhong and make a fortune?

We were a tough nut to crack. We defeated Wu Lingxun, Yin Ziqi, An Shouzhong and the Huihe cavalry one after another. It was obvious that we were not easy to deal with.

What real benefit would those Hebei bandits get from fighting us to the death? "

Che Guangqian continued to explain.

I have to say, this makes a lot of sense.

The strategic focus of the Hebei rebels would be different if they captured Luoyang or not.

Now that Huangfu Weiming has conquered Luoyang, Li Baochen, Gao Miao and others have actually been marginalized. It is very likely that even if Huangfu Weiming succeeds in changing the dynasty, they will not be able to gain much benefit from it.

Therefore, it is very likely that the Silver Spear Xiaojie Army wanted to return to Bianzhou, and Gao Miao also hoped that this powerful enemy army would leave Cangzhou as soon as possible and stop making trouble in Hebei.

There is a possibility of peace between the two sides.

Of course, this is just a guess. Maybe Gao Miao is just a fool, and he just wants to shed his last drop of blood for Marshal Huangfu?
Who can say for sure?

Do you want to take a gamble?

Fang Chongyong fell into deep thought.

He also felt that he was now in a situation where he was afraid of both ends, as the other party did not know his strengths and weaknesses and would still be cautious. If he lost this advantage, the other party would probably become unscrupulous.

"General Jie, do you want to send a messenger to Cangzhou City to get the feel for the situation?"

He Changqi asked uncertainly.

Seeing that he rarely spoke on such occasions, Fang Zhongyong did not want to dampen his enthusiasm, so he just waved his hand and said, "Sending a messenger would be a sign of weakness, and it would inevitably be controlled by them. The risk is too great, and it is not appropriate."

He Changqi shut up in disappointment, he thought he had thought too simply.

The psychological game in war is very subtle and complex, and a small action may expose one's own strengths and weaknesses.

He Lao Hu is still not used to this kind of scheming mode.

"You all go back and think about it, and come up with a strategy tomorrow morning."

Fang Chongyong waved his hand and asked his generals to go and rest first.

In fact, he could no longer find a solution through collective consultation and just wanted to make his own decision.

After everyone left, Fang Chongyong crossed his legs and stared at the enemy distribution map on the table.

If He Changqi's bad idea is taken into account, there are currently four options to choose from.

The first was to attack Changlu County.

The second was to attack Cangzhou City. The third was to burn down the temporary dam on the canal.

The fourth one was a deal with Gao Miaopy, where both parties acted out their decision.

Each one has its pros and cons.

If you choose the first or second option, it is an indirect way to lift the siege. Whether it is burning the dam or py trading, as long as Gao Miao's leg is broken, it can be achieved naturally.

If you directly choose the third or fourth option, you will run the risk of a disastrous defeat.

And the risk is not small.

After much thought, Fang Chongyong still felt that the third method was the most direct and had the highest success rate.

The only thing they can rely on as an isolated force is the time difference.

The recent beating of the Uighurs would surely make the Hebei rebels who were chasing and blocking them nervous and afraid to engage in battle rashly.

If we attack a city, no matter which city it is, it will be difficult to conquer it in a short period of time. Even if the siege is successful, it will cause huge casualties on our side.

Not worth the candle.

Only the third option can use fire attack to break the wooden dam, and then just take advantage of the situation to let the fleet pass through the canal.

The crossbows on the ship can also cover the fleet's progress. After passing this pass, there is no need to worry about Gao Miao's pursuit.

The Silver Spear Xiaojie Army is quite experienced in dealing with pursuits.

From the perspective of time, this plan is the fastest. As long as it succeeds, we will head straight to Youzhou.

Do you want to take a chance?

Fang Chongyong was really unsure and couldn't make up his mind for a while.

He suddenly began to understand why many generals throughout history, both in China and abroad, liked to do divination, toss dice or take a gamble before making important decisions.

The psychological pressure is so great that it is hard to bear.

Fang Chongyong thought about it over and over again and didn't sleep a wink all night.

When he walked out of the cabin to get some fresh air, he found that the morning sun had already hung on the horizon, and the entire Yongji Canal was dyed red, as if it was covered with blood.

Fang Zhongyong called all the generals to a meeting at the bow, and then found that they all had dark circles under their eyes, just like pandas. With the enemy at hand and the situation not looking good, anyone who could sleep well was really a fool.

Even He Changqi didn't dare to say anything nonsense, for fear that his words would come true.

"How are you thinking about it?"

Fang Zhongyong took a deep breath and asked.

The river breeze blowing in his face made his mind a little clearer.

"We all obey the commander's orders!"

All the generals knelt down and asked for battle.

If you can’t think of it, then don’t think about it. Whatever Fang Zhongyong says is what it is, and these soldiers do their work cleanly and efficiently.

"Since you have all made up your minds, then this commander will not be vague either."

Fang Zhongyong drew out his phantom blade, pointed at the rising sun in the sky and said, "Then I will advance without retreat. Anyone who stands in my way will die! Just drive the boat over there and burn that damn dam!"

ha?
The generals who were kneeling on the ground and asking for battle were dumbfounded.

They never expected that Fang Chongyong was a real tiger!
In their opinion, this move is the most risky, no doubt about it.

Since Gao Miao had arranged a defense line, how could he not know that the canal was the most vulnerable place?

Now that we know this, we will definitely focus on preventing it!

Besides, that wooden dam cannot be breached just because you want to.

Not only are there likely to be defenders here, but there are also defenders in Changlu County who can provide quick reinforcements.

But the Silver Spear Filial Piety Army needed time to prepare for a land battle. It took time for the men and horses to disembark and board the ship, and to assemble and form a team.

In the past, everyone was prepared on the ground in advance, so they didn’t care about this. Now the situation is different.

"Marshal Jie, isn't this a bit too risky?"

Che Guangqian asked doubtfully.

Everyone is on the boat and cannot gather on land. Even if the Silver Spear Filial Piety Army has a thousand skills, they can't use them!
"Yes, Commander Jie, I think we should cut off Gao Miao's leg first before we can rush over."

Wang Nande also holds a different opinion.

"This is not okay, that is not okay, what on earth do you want to do?"

Fang Zhongyong was immediately furious! He looked around at all the generals with angry eyes!

After weighing the pros and cons for a whole night, he finally made up his mind to rush forward. However, he didn't expect that the bunch of cool guys under his command would say this and that were not possible at the critical moment.

There are risks in every war. Is there no risk in attacking Changlu or Cangzhou City? Do you really think that Li Baochen, the pursuer behind you, will let you go?

Fang Chongyong didn't dare to bet on this "fool".

Just when the atmosphere was tense, a personal soldier came running over and whispered something in Fang Chongyong's ear.

"Ok?"

Fang Zhongyong raised his eyebrows, somewhat unable to believe that what he heard was true.

Gao Miao actually sent someone to contact us, this is not right!

"Bring the people here."

Fang Chongyong gave instructions to his personal soldiers.

After a while, the person was brought there.

The man looked around, seeming to want to say something but stopping himself, as if he felt that there were too many people at the scene and it was inconvenient to talk.

"General Jie, he has no weapon on him."

The bodyguard whispered a reminder.

But Fang Zhongyong waved his hand and said, "These are all the commander's confidants, and there is nothing that can't be said to them."

He looked at the visitor and asked, "We each serve our own master. What does Gao Miao want to teach me?"

The man had a long face and a thin body. He looked weak and didn't look like a soldier even in the Tang army uniform. Instead, he had a strong scholarly air.

He looked to be in his fifties and did not introduce himself.

"Marshal Fang Jie was in great danger, but he was able to remain calm. I really admire him."

The man said it in a neutral tone, as if he didn't take Fang Zhongyong seriously, and there was a frivolous tone in his words.

Who the hell are you? Why are you so arrogant?

All the generals around Fang Zhongyong were furious! They held the hilt of their swords and wanted to draw their swords and kill people!

"Mr. Li, please come to the cabin to chat."

Fang Zhongyong made a gesture of invitation.

Che Guangqian and the others looked at each other, not understanding what was going on. But they obviously couldn't follow Fang Zhongyong, so they had to wait outside the cabin.

Inside the cabin, after Fang Zhongyong and the messenger surnamed Li sat down, the messenger stroked his beard and said with a smile: "Gao Miao's move must have made General Fang Jie very uncomfortable, right?"

He seemed to be very confident and hit the nail on the head with just one sentence.

Fang Zhongyong smiled nonchalantly and said, "Mr. Li guessed wrong. A clay chicken and a clay dog ​​can defeat Gao Miao in three days."

Hearing Fang Chongyong's "big words", the messenger sent by Gao Miao laughed, as if he was not surprised by his reaction.

"General Fang Jie is indeed like Cao Mengde, extremely cunning and good at disguise.

Li has already told Gao Miao that he must ambush heavy troops at the dike, and use kerosene, straw and other flammable materials to ensure that your fleet will never return.

Fang Jieshuai, did Li guess wrong?

Hey!
Fang Chongyong was so frightened that he stood up suddenly, then calmed down and slowly sat back down.

"Please teach me, sir."

Fang Zhongyong clasped his hands and bowed deeply to the messenger!
A murderer will not waste time talking to you. On the other hand, this person must have no ill intentions in talking so much.

“In fact, although Li is Gao Miao’s messenger, he is more of Pei Gong’s confidant.

This time I came here to lend a helping hand to Marshal Fang Jie."

The man handed the badge to Fang Chongyong with a smile.

On the back of the wooden sign, there were five words written: "Jingsai Army" and "Li Quan".

(End of this chapter)