The wind on the river was a bit strong, causing the flags to whistle.
In three days, the pontoon bridge was erected and the leading troops crossed the river.
The first group to cross the river were 2,400 people from the Silver Spear Army. After arriving at the north bank of the river, they formed an array on the spot, echoing the Fangtou garrison.
Following closely behind was a group of logistics personnel, large and small carts, horses, donkeys and mules, loaded with various supplies, arriving along the pontoon bridge to the north bank.
"The wind is too strong, hold on steady." An ox cart loaded with stone mills passed by, the pontoon shook endlessly, and the auxiliary commander who maintained order kept shouting.
"Don't panic, stay calm." The driver smiled.
The chief also laughed and said: "I'm afraid that the stone will be ground into the river and there will be no food to eat."
"Is there no stone mill in Hebei?"
"Less. They don't grow enough wheat."
In the past few years, small stone mills driven by animal power have gradually become popular in Henan. The main reason is the change in the food structure: more winter wheat is planted, and stone mills are naturally needed.
Before that, wealthy families relied on large mills driven by hydraulic machinery to grind flour, which was different from small households. When Jinguyuan was in its heyday, there were "more than thirty areas" of water mills, not more than thirty units, but thirty.
Many places.
The water hammer can pound corn, and can also grind flour after modification. However, the equipment is too large and is suitable for large-scale processing in the manor economy. It is not suitable for small-scale rice milling or flour grinding by homesteaders.
The increasing popularity of stone mills is rooted in the changes brought about by Shao Xun, and it is also a sign of development driven by demand.
This year's summer grain harvest is all wheat. Ships are sent to the army. How can we eat it without grinding flour? Well, maybe, wheat rice or wheat porridge, but it is really too unpalatable. Silver Spear Soldiers want to eat it.
Scolding mother...
There is a ferry on the river heading north.
The sergeants sat in the cabin, looking at the crowded pontoon, pointing and occasionally laughing.
The people on the pontoon looked at it, laughed and cursed a few times, and then moved forward.
The overall morale is pretty good, at least it's not the kind of person who has his head down and is weak.
This is actually the change brought about by Shao Xun.
He opened a way for the warriors to ascend. Although it was still relatively narrow, it was really useful. The soldiers worked harder than before.
The entire river crossing operation lasted several days.
Silver Spear's right camp consisted of 6,000 men, and Yanzhou's 10,000 soldiers (Manheng, Tang Jianbu), plus 10,000 men from Chenliu, Puyang, and Xingyang, arrived at the north bank of the Yellow River in a mighty manner.
If we include Fangtou, Chaoge's 10,000-strong garrison (Yanzhou Shibing) and Shao Xun's personal soldiers, the total military strength reaches 37,000.
As for the government troops, they cannot be dispatched for the time being.
One part of the Puyang Prefecture's troops is in Heyang, and the other part stays in the town.
Chen Liufu soldiers also stayed in the town.
Dongping and Gaoping soldiers were on guard against the refugees in Qingzhou and Hebei.
Luonan Prefecture soldiers are in Hongnong.
Baichao City has just been captured by the Forbidden Army.
Wang Mi suffered more than 3,000 casualties, the Imperial Guards and the Zhuang soldiers, and the refugees suffered more than 15,000 casualties, and it was no longer possible to attack.
Xin'an and Baichao both suffered four or five times the casualties, and Tan Hongnong, the imperial army, was greatly dismayed.
After staying in the two cities of Baichao and Xin'an, while licking his wounds, he enlisted among the refugees and reorganized.
Another 2,400 people with meritorious military exploits were transferred to the Fu soldiers to give them a little hope. So far, 6,000 Fu soldiers are or are about to move to the Liang Kingdom.
Wang Mi was unable to fight back.
His old base only has 18,000 or 9,000 people left. Last year and this year, he selected 10,000 more strong people from the refugees in Bingzhou, and farmed and trained. He used the mountainous terrain to wear away the flesh and blood of the Forbidden Army bit by bit, but until now, he has already lost his strength.
Xin'an retreated forty miles, and the battle line was pushed to the outside of Xiashi Fort.
After Xia Shibao, there is Han Mianchi County (located in the valley to the north of Mianchi County, Shanxi).
After Mianchi County, there is the Erling area of ​​Koban that Shao Shen and Wang Mi have repeatedly fought for.
The repeated fighting on this line is a bit like the back-and-forth between East, West, Wei, and Zhou and Qi. It is not about who has more soldiers, but who occupies the favorable terrain.
Shao Xun didn't care much about this flank battlefield, he still focused on Hebei.
On the first day of September, he crossed the river in person and set up the banner on the bank of Qishui River.
This battle must be fought well, because he will use this victory to implement many things.
Without victory and prestige, nothing can be accomplished.
****
Desheng Township, Zhongqiu County, Zhao County.
At the former site of Zhangjiao Camp, shogunate officials and county magistrates were supervising the distribution of the second batch of relief grain.
"This is Mr. Liang's kindness, please remember it." The county officials who distributed food did not care whether the victims understood or not, they kept talking one after another.
After receiving a bag of food, the victims left with a lot of gratitude, and then ran towards their homes.
The wife came up to him, her body was so shriveled that it looked like she could be blown over by a gust of wind, and she was carrying a sleepy baby on her back.
"The food is here!" The victims opened the patched sacks with trembling hands and laughed.
The wife wiped her eyes.
As herdsmen, they had little personal property. They just lived by grazing livestock for others and exchanging some dairy products. When the locusts were all over the field, the couple tried their best to cut some hay and green grain to go home and survive until now.
This will be the second time I have received relief food. If I eat sparingly, I will be able to survive until winter. I just don’t know if there will be a third batch of relief food.
After giving the grain to his wife, the shepherd picked up his saber and horn bow.
When the wife saw it, she trembled.
"I'm going to fight for the nobles." The husband tugged at the corner of his mouth and said with a forced smile: "Food and accommodation in the military camp will save you a lot. After the war is over, there may be rewards."
My wife's tears kept falling, but she knew that this was the only way the world could go.
She took the thickest fur in the house and handed it to her husband.
The fur is made of lambskin, which is actually very expensive. It was one of the dowries for the couple when they were still living in Guanzhong.
The man put on the thick fur and wanted to speak, but didn't know what to say. In the end, he just looked at the child his wife was carrying on her back, his eyes full of nostalgia.
The child has fallen asleep, squeaking and drooling.
The man sighed and walked out of the house ruthlessly.
The township chief and township assistants are already recruiting people. The applicants are very enthusiastic and there is a scramble for them - they have to work hard to get it. This is the cruel reality.
By the time the relief grains were distributed, a thousand men had been recruited.
The nobles reluctantly took out the horses and gave them to the young men to ride.
Someone was so generous that he even gave me a saddle.
Someone was stingy and simply gave a bare horse and asked the young men to prepare their own saddles.
The township chief, Li, was standing on a high slope not far away, looking at the young herdsmen leading their horses.
After a while, they also got on their horses.
The sound of horns suddenly sounded.
A thousand people rode out, roaring, and rolled towards the south.
They have to fight for their lives and give themselves and their families a chance to survive.
Almost at the same time, large groups of knights from Anping, Changshan, Zhongshan, Boling, Fanyang, Yanguo and other places surged southward and gathered in the direction of Weijun according to the designated route.
Many people can't wait for a long time and are very anxious.
If Liang Gong does not buy their lives with money and food, they will plunder everywhere, and then there will be wars everywhere in Hebei, and rebellions will occur one after another.
They really don't care who they swing their knives at.
Whoever allows them to live, they will sacrifice their lives for.
A total of more than 20,000 riders were recruited in Jizhou and Youzhou. They set off from their respective stations, like a stream flowing into a big river, and gradually gathered in Anyang and Dangyin areas, waiting for the next order.
Anyang has stocked up a large amount of horse feed, with less hay and a lot of bran and beans.
This is their base of advance.
****
There is almost no life in Yecheng.
There are few pedestrians on the street, walking in a hurry, and there are plenty of dishes to eat.
Under the three platforms, the defenders were weak and huddled against the wall.
The once bustling Ye Palace was deserted. After one night, it became dark inside and there was almost no movement. It is hard to imagine that just over two years ago, this place was full of people and bustling with people.
This is Yecheng, like a woman abandoned by her husband, confused and lifeless.
Taobao is packing his luggage.
Because Yang Quan went south to Huai River, they were liberated and returned to their long-lost home.
But after only a month's rest, the Zhongyi Army was about to move out again.
There was some commotion in the army, but it was suppressed. Not only the officers were coercive, but the current situation in Chichichi also put great pressure on them, and they had to suffer themselves-at least, they would give their families more money before going out.
Food as departure fee.
In fact, they were not the only ones going on the expedition.
Five thousand infantry were also recruited in the Yecheng and Anyang areas - all veterans who divided their fields and houses during the Shile era.
When Taobao heard the news, he felt that Liang Gong seemed to have more trust in them, Shi Le's subordinates, and actually used them to fight against the Xiongnu, and even Shi Hu, Shi Le's nephew!
But this is also normal.
As time goes by, Shi Le's influence gradually decreases. The soldiers who were grateful for his kindness in the past will now say nothing - he was defeated in Bingzhou, and there is almost no possibility of coming back. People should look forward. , let the past go.
They are now Liang people, and they are the people under the rule of Liang Gong Shaoxun. Don't think too much about it.
To put it bluntly, right now we are just beating Liu Han, not the big guy, so why are you thinking so much?
Outside Yecheng, ships were approaching one after another.
Last year to rest and recuperate, the five counties of Wei, Zhao, Qinghe, Pingyuan, and Yangping recruited conscripts to dredge the Anyang-Yecheng section of the canal that had been blocked for many years.
This water conservancy project that was reviled by many people at the time - not only suitable for boating, but also for irrigation - actually became a life-saving channel this year. The grain boat started from Fangtou, went down the Baigou water, and then turned into the Huan River, the canal, and reached Yexia.
The damage was very light and the speed was very fast. I don’t know how many lives were saved.
Even the sergeants gathered in Yecheng and Anyang can take empty boats to go south and gather in the Fangtou area, saving time and effort.
In this way, the armies from Henan and Hebei gathered one after another.
The military camps on both sides of the Qishui River are extending outward every day, with new people arriving every day, and the atmosphere of war is getting stronger.
On the sixth day of September, Liu Qia came out from Chaoge and led 5,000 people to the east of Ji County.
At the same time, a large group of cavalry went south from Anyang and rushed to the Gongxian area, where they fought with hundreds of people from the Shihu Cavalry Army.
This was the first confrontation between the two sides on the East Road battlefield, which took place on the seventh day of September.
Chapter completed!