Prince of Song Dynasty

Chapter 563 Erecting the Pontoon Bridge
On the other hand, Zhao Zan was also very straightforward. He failed to persuade the surrender in the morning, and launched an attack on Changzhou City in the morning. Zhao Zan personally visited the city to command the attack. This day arrived in the afternoon, at a quarter of the clock, relying on the latest invention of the Huaxia Weifu Weapons Department. Taking advantage of the ladder, Liu Yanchen, Zhao Zan's number one general, led his men to the top of the capital.

This was another result of the war that no one in the Southern Tang Dynasty had expected. The fortified city, which was thought to be able to be defended for at least a few months, fell to Zhao Zan in just half a day.When the sunset of the day turned the sky into dusk, Zhao Zan led [-] cavalry into the city gate, and the soldiers of Song Dynasty had already driven straight in, and the whole city was full of smoke.

On March [-], Pan Mei ordered a special naval force from Jiangbei Daying to start from Jingnan and advance downstream along the north side of the Yangtze River to Jinling.This water army consists of thousands of large ships, yellow dragon ships, black dragon ships, and various civilian ships.These boats were all prepared for erecting pontoon bridges and crossing the river according to the plan provided by the Huaxia Weifu. The boats were filled with thick bamboo poles and ropes.The mighty fleet sailed down the river and sailed in.

On the south side of the river, there are warships from the Southern Tang Dynasty, sailing with thousands of sails, and masts and oars like a forest.No.1 in the Southern Tang army, Lin Renzhao, the most capable of fighting, commanded the most elite Beidaying in the Southern Tang Dynasty with 10 horses and [-] navy Chen Bing here.Lin Renzhao knew very well that his troops were weaker than the Song army in land battles, but he had full confidence in water battles. In the past year, Song Guo's navy had practiced a lot under the leadership of Pan Mei, and their combat power had improved significantly. , but judging by the information that Lin Renzhao sent to pay back in detail, Lin Renzhao believed that his [-] navy would definitely be able to block and defeat Song's same [-] navy.

The Southern Tang Dynasty knew that the Song Dynasty was going to use force against them, not to mention the tens of thousands of troops, and it was impossible to hide it. Lin Renzhao led the army on the south bank of the river and had already entered a state of war readiness. Eat and sleep on the warships, as long as the horn sounds, thousands of warships can rush out.

However, because Li Yu and the people sent by the imperial court repeatedly urged not to take the initiative to provoke the Song army and focus on defense, so the defenders in the Southern Tang Dynasty on the south bank of the Yangtze River just saw that the ships were of different sizes and very scattered. Compared with the ships that are like a miscellaneous army passing by the center of the river, I feel contemptuous in my heart.Although Lin Renzhao felt that something was wrong, he thought that 'the soldiers will block the water and the earth will cover', so he just ordered the people below to strengthen their combat readiness and be vigilant. As soon as the Song Army's navy crossed the middle line of the Yangtze River, the warships would attack.It never occurred to them that these ships were not used for water warfare at all.

On the south side of the Yangtze River, Chizhou City is located a hundred miles east of Caishiji.

The military division of the Dajiang Gang, Su Zengshu, the number three figure in the Southern Palace of Huaxia Weifu, and Du Peizhong, the guard of Chizhou, stood at the head of the city. Behind them, the screams that started to sound from the early morning in the city gradually became weaker and weaker.The prefect of Chizhou has been locked up, and some loyal people who were loyal to the Southern Tang Dynasty were all killed.During this period, the four city gates have been closed, and nothing that happened in the city has been reported outside the city.

Su Zengshu secretly calculated the time, turned his head and said solemnly: "General Du, our Dajiang Gang is responsible for the construction of the [-]-foot-long pontoon bridge in Chizhou, and once the pontoon bridge starts to be erected, Lin Renzhao will definitely find out that it is up to General Du at this time As long as General Du can lead people to block the people sent by Lin Renzhao for three days, General Du will make a great contribution."

Du Peizhong took a deep breath and said, "Mr. Su, I never doubted that the Song State could take the Southern Tang. It's just that the pontoon bridge on the Yangtze River is unheard of, so I will"

Su Zengshu smiled and said, "General Du, the laying of the pontoon bridge on the Yangtze River was planned by my chief envoy."

Su Zengshu's words had no beginning or end, but Du Peizhong's eyes flashed when he heard the words, and his whole body was shocked, and he no longer had the slightest doubt in his heart.If other people, including those who are most familiar with the Yangtze River and water warfare in the world, raise such a thing, it will only make everyone laugh.No one believes that a pontoon bridge can be laid on the Yangtze River with human power.But if this matter was planned by the Xiangfu County King who created countless miracles, then no one would doubt this matter.

Huaxia Weifu Nanfu made the first contribution, and the Song army successfully occupied Chizhou without firing a knife or a shot.

Occupying Chizhou is naturally to build a pontoon bridge on the big river to transport the army and grain across the river.

There is no precedent in history for erecting floating bridges on the vast and wide Yangtze River.When Fan Ruoshui offered advice to Lu Yuqing, the latter did not believe it at first, but Fan Ruoshui was well prepared and convinced Lu Yuqing with data and facts.And when Li Junhao mentioned this plan in the Chongzheng Palace, many people in the Song court thought it was impossible, but when everyone knew that this was what Ye Chen had ordered the South Palace of Huaxia Weifu to prepare for half a year, Zhao Kuangyin firmly believed it was not possible. Doubt, just laugh at those who disagree.

Just as Su Zengshu, the military adviser of the Dajiang Gang, said, although they avoided the front of the army led by Lin Renzhao and started laying floating bridges on the river facing Chizhou City, two hundred miles to the east of Lin Renzhao's army, Lin Renzhao's side also soon knew that the Song Army What are you doing, and also noticed that Chizhou City has changed.

Although Lin Renzhao and his officers and soldiers were outraged by Du Peizhong's rebellion, they heard that the Song army built a pontoon bridge on the Yangtze River, and they thought it was just a whimsical play, and they didn't take it to heart.

Lin Renzhao’s 15 troops, in addition to the 5 horses he directly commanded, the other [-] troops were commanded by seven generals, namely Li Shitie and Zhang Xingtao who commanded the navy, and Guan Xing, Xu Yaoxing, and Wu Xiong who commanded the [-] army. , Qi Jie, Yang Jialun.

At this time, after Lin Renzhao received a report from the spies that the Song army was building a pontoon bridge, he summoned seven generals to discuss the matter.When the generals heard that the Song army had actually built a pontoon bridge on the river, they laughed for a while, and then cursed Du Peizhong, the Chizhou general.

At this time, Xu Yaoxing rolled his eyes, thinking that this was an opportunity to make a head start, so he took the lead in cupping his fists at Lin Renzhao and said, "Commander, it is purely delusional to build a pontoon bridge on the big river. I will go to the north and see the Yellow River. How wide is the Yellow River?" It is only one-tenth of the Yangtze River, and the depth is only one-fifth at most. There is a pontoon bridge on the Yellow River, but it took several years of work by the northerners to build a series of foundations in the river during the dry season. Now Song people think It is simply whimsical to build a pontoon bridge over the Yangtze River in a few days. But Pan Mei, the commander-in-chief of the Song Army, was not in vain, so the general thought that the Song army's move must be deceitful, and the final general boldly guessed that the laying of the pontoon bridge was a treacherous plan of the Song army. It is to use the so-called erection of floating bridges to lure our navy away, and the Song army has another ambush."

After hearing the words, everyone thought for a while, and felt that Xu Yaoxing was right, and they all nodded in agreement.

After pondering for a while, Lin Renzhao also believed that it was impossible to build a pontoon bridge on the Yangtze River, so after much deliberation, he also thought that Xu Yaoliang's words were reasonable, and finally said: "In this case, pass on my order, and the navy is ready to go to battle at any time. Stand still."

Li Shitie and Zhang Xingtao, the commanders of the water generals, bowed and said yes.

Lin Renzhao glanced at the five generals, and finally fixed his gaze on Xu Yaoxing, and said, "Du Peizhong in Chizhou has rebelled, and there are 7000 troops in Chizhou City. Xu Yaoxing! You lead 1 troops to attack Chizhou. In addition, you will be on the shore wharf Kill all the water thieves of the Dajiang Gang who helped the Song Army lay the pontoon bridge."

Xu Yaoxing was overjoyed, clasped his fists and said yes, turned around and strode out of the big tent, full of anticipation and confidence to make his first contribution.

Du Peizhong left only one confidant in Chizhou City to lead 1000 troops to defend the city, while he led 6000 troops under his command and [-] Dajiang gangs to firmly protect the pier on the north bank of Chizhou City.

When Xu Yaoxing rushed to Chizhou with 1 people, he saw that there were 8000 people on the wharf where the pontoon bridge was laid, which was not much different from his own number. He also saw that there were only 1000 defenders in Chizhou City. He was overjoyed and shouted in front of the army, " God help me too'.He didn't believe that the pontoon bridge could be successfully erected at all, and in his opinion, his main goal in coming to Chizhou was to take back Chizhou City and make the first contribution in the war between the two countries.As for the 8000 people by the pier, as long as he captures Chizhou City and the pontoon bridge will not be erected successfully, these 8000 people will be isolated on the south bank. These 8000 surrendered.As for how Marshal Lin and the court punished Du Peizhong after the surrender, that was none of his business.

Thinking of this, Xu Yaoxing did not hesitate to choose to attack Chizhou City with only a thousand guards first.

Three days later, on March 2000th, Xu Yaoxing captured Chizhou City with nearly [-] casualties.

And almost at the same time, the pontoon bridge on the Yangtze River was successfully erected.

This is the first bridge on the Yangtze River since ancient times. It is a pontoon bridge connected by huge ships and long trees and bamboos.The Song army on the north bank of the river, led their horses and carried their luggage, walking on flat ground, with morale like a rainbow, and crossed the natural danger of the Yangtze River talking and laughing.

After Xu Yaoming learned of this, he was shocked and hurriedly led an army to attack the pier, trying to destroy the pontoon bridge before the Song army came.But at this time, he only has 8000 troops under Du Peizhong's command, which is comparable to the 6000 troops led by Du Peizhong and the 6000 Dajiang Gang. They have just attacked Chizhou City for three days, and they are really exhausted troops, so even if Du Peizhong's [-] troops are weaker than the army led by Xu Yaoming It's a bit better, and the members of the Two Thousand Rivers Gang are very strong in martial arts but not good at long battles, but it will be difficult for Xu Yaoming to capture the pier for a while.

At the same time, Lin Renzhao learned that the Song army had actually built nearly half of the pontoon bridge. He couldn't help but turn pale with shock. He suddenly thought of the Xiangfu County king of the Song Kingdom who was said to be dying and was good at performing miracles. It is not impossible to build a pontoon bridge.

(End of this chapter)