Great Han Empire

Chapter 901 Troubled Times Heroic Chapter Wins Central Plains
In June, Yuzhou, Xuchang.

Liu Bei slowly put down the letter in his hand, looked up at Jian Yong who was rushing over, and suddenly felt suffocated in his heart.

Four days ago, the scouts successively spotted the Northern Xinjiang army marching towards Yingchuan on the front lines of Kaifeng, Weishi City, and Langtangqu. But before Liu Bei could react, Yuan Shao from Luoyang sent an emergency horse with an eight-hundred-mile gallop. The book said that the Northern Xinjiang Army attacked across the Henan battlefield, Guancheng was captured, Aocang was in a bloody battle, and warships were densely packed on the Yellow River along the Chenggao line. The battle situation was very critical.Yuan Shao begged Liu Bei to prepare to go north to support the Henan battlefield.

This letter from Yuan Shao made Liu Bei smell strong blood.At present, Hebei is taking advantage of the situation in Jiangdong and Jianghuai to mediate, intending to temporarily stabilize Cao Cao in Xuzhou and Sun Quan in Jiangdong on the north and south banks of the Yangtze River, so that they can restrain each other and be unable to take care of the Central Plains, so that the northern army can attack Luoyang without any worries. , but in Liu Bei's view, if Hebei launches a strong attack in Hanoi and Henan, the possibility of capturing Luoyang is very small, because Luoyang, with the continuous support of Guanzhong, Jingzhou and Yuzhou, can rely on the natural dangers of the Yellow River and strong passes to block the north. Frontier Army.If Hebei wants to capture Luoyang, it must first encircle Luoyang, take Guanzhong and Yingchuan first, and completely cut off Luoyang's foreign aid, otherwise the northern army will definitely be defeated in Guandong.

If Hebei's strategy of attacking Luoyang is the same as his own thinking, then the current offensive of the Northern Army on the Henan battlefield may be a feint attack, and the real target of the Northern Army's attack is Yingchuan.

Liu Bei immediately told Yuan Shao in writing, detailing what the scouts had discovered in the past few days and his own guesses about the attack strategy of the Northern Xinjiang Army based on these news.From the analysis of the current situation, it is better for the armies of all walks of life in Yuzhou to stick to the cities, especially the big cities of Yangdi (zhai), Yingyin, and Xuchang in Yingchuan.For this reason, Liu Bei hoped to get Yuan Shao's help. He asked Yuan Shao to tell the prefects of Yuzhou counties to do their best to support him, and to do everything possible to provide him with money, food and reinforcements, so as to defend Yingchuan and ensure that Luoyang, Jingzhou, and Yuzhou were unimpeded.

During the period when Liu Bei was in charge of Yuzhou, the relationship between him and the prefects of the counties in Yuzhou was once tense because of the recruitment of troops and the collection of wealth.After the end of the Guandu War last year, all localities were recruiting troops to expand the army, but Yuan Shao was obviously worried that Liu Bei would take the opportunity to restore his strength and occupy Yuzhou, so he ordered the prefects of all counties in Yuzhou to recruit troops on their own, depriving Liu Bei of the right to recruit troops in Yuzhou.Although Liu Bei was nominally also the prefect of Runan County, Guan Yu and Zhang Fei's army was in Runan, with more than 1 people. If he recruited new soldiers arbitrarily, his motives would be problematic.In addition, the counties in Yuzhou directly handed over the collected property to Luoyang, without passing through the Yuzhou government at all.Liu Bei has always wanted to strengthen the city defenses of the cities of Yingchuan, but because of lack of money, he was unable to start construction.He asked Yuan Shao several times, but Yuan Shao delayed for various reasons, and he has not transferred yet.

Now Yingchuan has only 2 troops, of which [-] are new soldiers recruited last year, and the defenses of the cities are even worse.When Yuan Shao led his army to crusade against Dong Zhuo, Yingchuan was the main battlefield, and the defensive facilities of many cities were destroyed.In the past few years, Yuan Shao has repeatedly used troops abroad, which has cost a lot of money and has no money for repairs.Liu Bei was worried because of this. If the main force of the Northern Xinjiang Army entered Yingchuan, if the counties in Yuzhou could not work together to support decisively, he would most likely be defeated in Yingchuan.

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Jian Yong stepped into the lobby, held up the bamboo slips in his hand, and shouted at Liu Bei: "My lord, the northern border army has entered Yingchuan and is besieging Yan (yan) mausoleum."

Liu Bei was dizzy, shivered involuntarily, and the bamboo slip in his hand fell to the ground with a "slap".What I was most worried about inevitably happened.

"Where is the Northern Xinjiang Army now? How far is it from Xuchang?" Liu Bei tried his best to calm down, spread out the map on the case table, and asked in a trembling voice.

Yanling is only sixty miles away from Xuchang, and the Northern Xinjiang Army can arrive overnight.Jian Yong pointed to the Wei (Wei) River on the map, "The scouts reported that the vanguard army of the Northern Xinjiang Army is building a pontoon bridge on the river, and it is estimated that we will be able to see the Northern Xinjiang Army tomorrow morning."

"how many people?"

"According to the scouts, there are at least 3 people, and there are also a large number of cavalry. This is the main force of the Northern Xinjiang Army, definitely the main force." Jian Yong said in panic, "Now we can be sure that the target of the Northern Xinjiang Army is Yingchuan. Their attack on the Henan battlefield was only to cut off the connection between Henan and Yingchuan, and prevent Xin Ping's army from going south to support Yingchuan."

Liu Bei's face was very ugly. He stared at Yanling City on the map, and sighed helplessly, "Yanling only has 2000 people, and the city is small. If you are caught off guard, it will be good if you can hold on for two or three days."

"My lord, what should we do now? There are only 5000 people in Xuchang, and the force is limited. We need to recruit reinforcements immediately."

The [-] troops stationed in Yingchuan are distributed in Yangzhai, Yingyang and Yingyin and other big cities. Except for Yingyin City, which is [-] miles away from Xuchang, the defenders in other cities cannot catch up before the Northern Xinjiang army surrounds Xuchang. arrive.After Liu Bei thought for a while, he said to Jian Yong: "Report to Luoyang urgently, please ask Master Yuan to order Xin Ping urgently, so that he must take back Guancheng at all costs on the battlefield in Henan, and open up the road between Henan and Yingchuan. As long as Lord Xin Ping has regained Guancheng, and the northern army that attacked Yingchuan will have to split up and return to defense. This will give us more time to defend Xuchang. When the reinforcements from Jingzhou and Yuzhou arrive on the battlefield one after another, the strength of the northern army is at a low level. disadvantage, they will not be able to capture Yingchuan."

Jian Yong nodded again and again, and the nervousness on his face was slightly relieved.

"The book tells Master Liu Biao of Jingzhou, please go north as soon as possible to support."

"Let's tell the prefects of the counties in Yuzhou to gather their troops as soon as possible and rush to Yingchuan."

Liu Bei readjusted the deployment of troops in the shortest possible time, and asked Jian Yong to send letters and orders immediately.Jian Yong hesitated for a moment, then asked in a low voice: "Why didn't your lord call Yunchang (Guan Yu) and Yide (Zhang Fei) to Yingchuan to help?"

"Yun Chang wrote a letter a few days ago, saying that the Runan Yellow Turban Army suddenly became active, and Yide was ambushed in Gebei and Xincai, and lost a batch of food and supplies." Liu Bei frowned and said thoughtfully. "Recently, Li Hong, uncharacteristically, took the initiative to negotiate peace with Cao Cao and Sun Quan. Then the Northern Xinjiang Army on the Henan battlefield captured Guancheng, and the Yellow Turban Army in the Runan area suddenly took the initiative to attack. Think of today's Northern Xinjiang Army The main force is attacking Yingchuan, don't you see something from it?"

Jian Yong suddenly realized, "Does your lord suspect that it was not the Yellow Turban Army who ambushed Yide, but Yuan Yao who has been active in Jianghuai?"

"It must be him." Liu Bei said confidently, "After the Great War in the Central Plains, Li Hong ordered Yuan Yao to rush to Jianghuai. Obviously, his purpose was not to let Yuan Yao gain a foothold in Jianghuai, but to let him reorganize Yuan Shu. Army, and then marched into Runan when the Northern Xinjiang Army attacked Yingchuan, and let us suffer from the enemy, and they took the opportunity to capture the entire Yuzhou." Liu Bei reached out and patted the table, and said with emotion, "In today's world, if you talk about the use of troops, there is no No one can match Li Hong. He is getting better and better."

There was a trace of panic on Jian Yong's face, mixed with a bit of bitterness, "My lord, you ordered the counties to support Yingchuan immediately, but let Guan Yu and Zhang Fei stay in Runan to kill the Yellow Turban Army, which will make the prefects of the counties mistakenly think If you preserve your strength, they may feel resentful, delay or refuse..."

"When is this?" Liu Bei waved his hand angrily, "Yingchuan is lost, Luoyang is in jeopardy, how long can Yuzhou hold on? If they insist on disregarding the safety of Yingchuan and Luoyang for their own selfishness, then Let them go and let them lose their heads."

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At the end of June, Yuzhou, Changshe (now northeast of Changge, Henan).

On the Wei (Wei) River, thirty miles east of Changshe City, the Northern Xinjiang Army was crossing the river.

On the embankment, Wen Chou, Wu Xiong, Xiang Cheng, Song Xian, Yang Yi, Guo Xun and others gathered around the map and were discussing the attack strategy.

The army's food and grass are limited this time, only one month's supply.In order to complete the planned attack target, the army must capture the main city of Yingchuan in the shortest possible time and obtain food and grass supplements on the spot.

After the end of the Central Plains War, Yingchuan was under the direct attack of the Northern Army. Xuchang and Yingyin were the first to bear the brunt and became important cities to resist the attack of the Northern Army. They had heavy troops and a large amount of food and supplies, but Xuchang and Yingyin were battlefields At the frontier, most of Yingchuan's grain, grass, and supplies are still stored in Zhaicheng, the county government.Yangzhai City is located in the northwest of Yingchuan County, bordering Yingshui in the east, Songshan Mountain in the north (there is Yuyuan Pass connected to Luoyang), connecting with Nanyang in the west, and flowing down Yingshui and Rushui in the south, so you can directly enter Rushui. South, so this city has always been a transit point for Yuzhou to send grain to Luoyang.

As early as when the army began to gather in Chenliu, General Li Hong suggested that Yan Liang, Zhao Yun and others should encircle Xuchang first, and then gather the main force of infantry and cavalry to encircle and annihilate the enemy troops who came to support them in Xuchang and Yingyin, and eliminate them to the greatest extent. Ying Chuan's forces, and then captured Ying Chuan.Since the army that attacked Yingchuan this time was only [-], there was no advantage in strength, and the army only had one month's food and grass. In order to reduce the loss of the army, it was the best way to wipe out the enemy in the wild.Of course, the most important thing about this strategy is to ensure that the army can retreat completely in the event of an unfavorable attack, so as not to lose troops or suffer heavy losses.

The attack strategy agreed upon by Yan Liang, Zhao Yun and others was basically formulated according to the general's suggestion, and Wen Chou was also one of the planners at that time.After Yan Liang and others rushed to Xingyuan, Wen Chou was ordered to command an army to attack Yingchuan.After he led his army across the Langtang Canal, he received news that Yu Du had conquered Guancheng on the Henan battlefield.After Guancheng was occupied by the northern border army, the rebels on the Henan battlefield could not go south to support Yingchuan. In other words, the army was no longer threatened by the enemy, and could attack Yingchuan wholeheartedly.Wen Chou immediately decided to change his attack strategy and immediately ordered to adjust the deployment of troops.

Wen Chou decided to encircle Xuchang with a part of his army, and lure the defenders in Yingchuan cities to quickly support him. At the same time, he mobilized the main force of the army to conquer Changshe, and marched directly westward from Changshe to seize Yangdi.

Taking Yangdi City, the northern army can not only get supplementary food and grass, so that the army can continue to fight in Yingchuan, but also cut off the food supply from Yuzhou to Luoyang, causing Luoyang to fall into panic.Luoyang will definitely not just watch Hebei get its neck broken, and Yuan Shao will definitely mobilize reinforcements to attack south. In this way, the Guanzhong, Hanoi and Henan battlefields will all benefit from this.Especially in the Henan battlefield, Yu Du is very likely to take advantage of the momentum to attack Xingyang and approach Hulao.

However, Wen Chou's strategy is very risky.Yangdi is only more than 100 miles away from the surrounding cities such as Yangcheng, Yingyang, Yingyin and other places. If the army's attack is blocked and Yangdi city cannot be taken quickly, it is very likely to be outflanked by the rebels returning from Xuchang.Although the strength of the Northern Army is obviously greater than that of the rebels, after a hard battle, the Northern Army will suffer a lot of losses, and the attack time will also be delayed. Reinforcements from Nanyang, Luoyang and other counties in Yuzhou may come in a steady stream. Come, so the army will have to retreat and give up attacking Yingchuan.

Wen Chou believed that Yangdi should be attacked first. Even if Yangdi could not be captured immediately, he could still take advantage of the iron cavalry to attack the rebels in the narrow area between the Yingshui River and the Sun (sun) River, delaying the rescue speed of the rebels.If this still fails to win Yangdi, then we will turn around and go south, and then fight Xuchang.At this time, the reinforcements of the rebel army were restrained in the area of ​​Yangdi City. Considering the importance of Yangdi, they must not dare to go south to rescue Xuchang again, so Xuchang can go down.

Wu Xiong, Xiang Cheng, Yang Yi, Guo Xun, and others are all courageous people, each crazier than the other, and they strongly support Wen Chou.Although Song Xian and a few cautious generals felt that this plan was too risky, Wen Chou was the commander-in-chief of the army, and Wu Xiong and others were eager to try it.

Wen Chou commanded the main force of the army to surround Changsha overnight.Song Xian and Zhao Hu set off from Yanling with an army of [-] and directly killed Xuchang City.

=

After the Northern Xinjiang Army captured Changsha, they rushed to the Lushui River.

At this time, there were still sixty miles away from Yangzhai, but the Northern Xinjiang Army couldn't get up sooner than they wanted to cross two rivers.The Northern Xinjiang scouts scattered around, trying to hunt and kill the opponent's scouts as much as possible to hide the traces of the army.

The scouts who rushed to Yangdi first reported back in a hurry, and a reinforcement army of about 3000 people rushed south from Yangdi City and was rushing to Yingyang along the west bank of the Yingshui River.

Wen Chou was overjoyed, and raised his hands and shouted, "God help me. Order the army to cross the river overnight. Tomorrow morning, we will attack Yangdi."

=

At the beginning of July, Luoyang.

Yuan Wei was sweating profusely, and rushed into Yuan Shao's study panting, "At the beginning, Yangdi City was lost, and Yangdi City was captured by the Northern Xinjiang Army."

Yuan Shao stood up in shock and did not speak for a long time.

"At the beginning, immediately increase the troops in Luyang to ensure that Jingzhou's food can come in from Yiqueguan." Yuan Wei wiped the sweat from his brow, and said anxiously, "If Luyang is robbed again by the Northern Xinjiang Army, Luoyang The roads to Hejing and Yuzhou were all cut off."

"No, increase troops in Guanzhong, immediately increase troops in Guanzhong." Yuan Shao sat down slowly, gritted his teeth, and said coldly, "As long as Guanzhong wins, the northern army will never get a foothold in Yingchuan."

"Urgently tell Han Sui and Gao Gan to launch an attack immediately, attack immediately."

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(End of this chapter)