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In July of the second year of God's Blessing, the two combatants on the Gaoping battlefield were working hard to adjust the allocation of troops and desperately hoarding combat supplies. The decisive battle with hundreds of thousands of troops did not break out immediately. Instead, the decisive battle began in the Xiangyuan area to the north, which was not the main battlefield.
prelude.
The Allied Forces of the Three Kings, which occupied Wuxiang, the northernmost part of the Shangdang Basin, finally couldn't bear it after waiting for nearly two months, and raised their troops to move south. Their goal was the Yan army to cover the Xiangyuan of Pingfan in the north of Luzhou.
In fact, Wuxiang is no longer within the Shangdang Basin. It spans the Taihang Mountains and the Taiyue Mountains. The territory has undulating hills, crisscrossed ravines, and crisscrossed rivers. From Wuxiang to the north, it passes through the Taihang Mountains and the Taiyue Mountains.
The valley leads directly to Jinyang and is the choke point from Shangdang to Jinyang.
Beginning in April, King Zheng Li Sizhao, King Jin Zhou Dewei and King Han Li Siyuan joined forces to attack Jinyang until they drove the remnants of Li Cunxu to Shangdang. It took less than a month and they had almost gained control of Hedong. Only Zetian was left in the entire Hedong.
Half of the state, most of Luzhou is still under the control of the Yan army.
Li Sizhao was already in Jinzhou, and Zhou Dewei was also proclaimed king in Jinyang. Only Li Siyuan was left with the title of King of Han but no territory of his own. Li Sizhao and Zhou Dewei, who had obtained the territory, were reluctant to continue to attack Luzhou.
Yes, they hope to sit in Wuxiang and watch the progress of the war between the Yan army and the allied forces of the princes. As long as the allied forces of the princes win in the Gaoping battlefield, they can naturally take advantage of the situation and go south to recover the two states of Zelu without the help of the soldiers from Hedong.
Li Sizhao and Zhou Dewei were not in a hurry. But Li Siyuan was very anxious. He also knew that the sit-and-see strategy proposed by his two friends was reasonable, but he could not sit idly by no matter what. Li Siyuan's biggest worry was not the Yan army, but the coalition of princes.
.Although it was already negotiated during the Eastern Metropolitan Alliance. Zelu Province is Li Siyuan's territory. He will establish Korea here, but he is afraid of everything. If the coalition of princes succeeds in the battle, after taking over Zelu Province
What should he do if he refuses to leave? Li Siyuan knew that what he didn't eat would never be his, so he kept thinking about it anxiously.
In addition, Li Siyuan was also worried that although he could preserve his strength by sitting back and watching the Gaoping War, he would not get any credit at all. When the time comes, the King of Liang will not be able to see it anymore and use it as an excuse to reduce his fiefdom. Where can he reason? Don't look at Li Sizhao and Li Si at this moment.
Zhou Dewei vowed to do so. He said that "the three kings will advance and retreat together", but when that time comes, will the two people who have already obtained the territory really be willing to fight for themselves?
Therefore, Li Siyuan became more and more anxious as he stayed in Wuxiang. By July, he couldn't bear it anymore. He used various excuses and threats, and finally convinced Li Sizhao and Zhou Dewei to let them go.
They support their plan to send troops.
The plan Li Siyuan told Li Sizhao and Zhou Dewei was just a plan to send troops to Xiangyuan, that is to say, the target was Xiangyuan. Li Siyuan said that he planned to send troops to give it a try. If the Yan army's defense force in Xiangyuan was not strong, they could try it.
He was trying to attack Xiangyuan and try to capture Pingfan north of Luzhou. He believed that the main force of the coalition forces of the princes was on the Gaoping line, and it was impossible for the Yan army to maintain heavy troops on the Luzhou battlefield to the north. As for Xiangyuan north of Luzhou, the number of troops should be smaller.
That's right.
If Xiangyuan can be captured, it can directly threaten Luzhou. Once the coalition of princes wins in the Gaoping battlefield in the future, the coalition of three kings can quickly capture Luzhou and put Luzhou under their own control. Not only can they gain military exploits,
He is also qualified to negotiate terms with the coalition of princes.
After thinking about it, Li Sizhao and Zhou Dewei believed that the plan was feasible and were willing to send troops to give it a try. After all, the three kings were all from the Hedong Army and were of their own accord. When the Liang King was the dominant force, the three kings had to unite to have the strength to protect themselves.
At that moment, Li Sizhao and Zhou Dewei each allocated 3,000 sergeants to be controlled by Li Siyuan. With Li Siyuan's "Han Army" as the main force, they set out from Wuxiang and attacked Xiangyuan in the south.
But as soon as he left Wuxiang, Li Siyuan couldn't wait to reveal his true intention. As the "King of Han" with no territory, Li Siyuan had to get the support of Li Sizhao and Zhou Dewei if he wanted to send troops south, because now all the food and fodder of the three kings' coalition forces
It was supplied by Li Sizhao and Zhou Dewei. Li Siyuan knew that his two "good friends" did not agree to start a large-scale battle with the Yan army now, so he just said that he would try to attack Xiangyuan. As long as he got the approval of the two and got the food and fodder for the army,
Li Siyuan was satisfied. In fact, his purpose was very clear, not only to capture Xiangyuan, but also to attack Luzhou.
As for the support of Li Sizhao and Zhou Dewei, who had a total of 6,000 troops, it was an added bonus. This allowed Li Siyuan to control 20,000 troops, which made him even more confident in taking Xiangyuan and Luzhou.
Li Siyuan was originally the commander-in-chief of the Han-horse infantry of the Hedong vassal, guarding Luzhou, which was his territory. He was very clear about the direction of the mountains and rivers of this land. Going south from Wuxiang, crossing Wushan and entering the Shangdang Basin, this is the main route to Xiangyuan.
, but it is not the only channel.
Li Siyuan detached 6,000 infantry and appointed General An Chongjiao of Hengchong Duya as the main general. He followed the Xiangshui River to the east, took the Huangyadong Trail, then turned into the Zhuozhangshui Valley, went south along the Zhuozhangshui Valley, and started from Licheng
A surprise force was sent out to attack Luzhou in a sneak attack. In fact, this surprise force was Li Siyuan's real hope for taking Luzhou. An Zhongjie had a very heavy task. In addition to ensuring that the army passed this dangerous trail safely, he also had to make a sneak attack on Li Siyuan.
City, capture Luzhou. After capturing Luzhou, they have to go north to Xiangyuan, join forces with Li Siyuan, and attack Xiangyuan from the north and south.
In order for An Zhongjie to complete this sneak attack, he even handed over nearly a thousand of his most elite Hengchongdu sergeants to An Zhongjie, while he led the remaining more than 10,000 infantry and 2,000 cavalry southward with great fanfare.
The attack on Xiangyuan created conditions for An Chongjie to sneak attack on Luzhou.
After Li Siyuan led his troops to Xiangyuan, he was not in a hurry to attack the city. Instead, he camped in Shiyu, fifteen miles north of the city. He ordered his men to use the undulating hills and woods to set up more camps and bluff. Most of Li Siyuan's men were Luzhou veterans.
, is very familiar with this terrain, and knows where to camouflage. Often two military tents are set up behind a hill. From a distance, they look like a military camp. It is difficult to distinguish the true from the false.
Li Siyuan's suspicion formation was so effective that Li Xiaoxi, who was stationed in Xiangyuan, was confused. According to the estimates of the Youyan Security Army, the three kings' coalition forces in the north of Xiangyuan City were at least 50,000. This number made Li Xiaoxi a little unbelievable. Later,
Li Xiaoxi also called Li Dutou, the former Dongyang capital, to investigate Li Siyuan's military camp.
It was midsummer, and there were continuous heavy rains in the Xiangyuan area, which brought great inconvenience to the Yan army's investigation. After the heavy rain ended, Li Dutou actually took office and began to conduct a careful investigation.
Li Dutou was Li Siyuan's adopted son and an old subordinate, and he was very clear about the reality of the feudal Han horse infantry. He walked around Li Siyuan's military camp for a day, pointing at the false tents in it, and finally reduced the number to less than 30,000.
Li Xiaoxi's Youyan security army in Xiangyuan has more than 6,000 people. Including Li Cunxu's remnant army, the total is less than 8,000. In Licheng to the east of Xiangyuan, there are also more than 5,000 people from Zhao Zaili's Liaodong security army. Further south, there are
King Yan was temporarily in Luzhou, but King Yan had already led the main force south to Gaoping. Guarding Luzhou was Gao Xingzhou's Guizhou Army of more than 12,000 people.
In addition, there was a steady stream of Hebei recruits entering the Shangdang area to fight in Luzhou City. These recruits were under the jurisdiction of the training department staying in Luzhou and were undergoing wartime training. By July 18, Hebei soldiers who entered Luzhou
The number of new recruits has reached thirty-eight battalions, nearly 20,000 people.
In addition to Zhou Kan, the general manager of the Training Department, who stayed in Luzhou, Zhao Hongde, the general manager of the Logistics Department, was also in Luzhou City. Luzhou has become the logistics and transshipment base of the Yan army. A large amount of materials entered Shangdang through Fukouxing and were hoarded in Luzhou.
Then they will be transported to Gaoping according to combat needs.
Li Xiaoxi immediately sent the Allied Forces of the Three Kings southward, and sent the information about their preparations to attack Xiangyuan to Luzhou. Zhou Kan and Gao Xingzhou did not dare to neglect, and the general's report was sent to Gaoping urgently.
Li Chengzhong convened Zhang Xingzhong, Jiang Miao and other important generals in the army to discuss and concluded that with the strength of the Yan army in the area north of Luzhou, it would be no problem to block the attack of the three kings' coalition. Youyan Security Army, Liaodong Security Army and Guizhou Army joined forces.
Up, there are 25,000 infantry and cavalry people. The three-city corner formed by Xiangyuan, Licheng and Luzhou can also provide space for the army to maneuver. In addition, there are also new battalions entering Luzhou one after another. To the north of Luzhou
It should be possible to ensure stability. Therefore, we are not planning to mobilize troops from the Gaoping battlefield to go north for support. After all, Gaoping is the main battlefield, and the Yan army's troops in Gaoping are quite tight.
Based on the opinions of the consultation, Yuhousi responded to Luzhou and appointed Zhou Kan, the commander-in-chief of the Operation and Training Department, and Gao Xingzhou, the military commander of Guizhou as his assistant, to take full charge of the defensive operations north of Luzhou. Yuhousi suggested that it could be used as appropriate.
Deploy a section of the Liaodong Security Army from Licheng to march west to Xiangyuan to assist the Youyan Security Army in the defense. If necessary, the Guizhou Army can be dispatched to march north to give the enemy a head-on attack and ensure the smooth progress of the Gaoping decisive battle.
After Zhou Kan received the military report, he met Gao Xingzhou. The two immediately rushed to Xiangyuan, held an emergency military meeting in Xiangyuan, and conveyed the military orders of Yu Housi. Li Xiaoxi, Li Cunxu, Guo Chongtao and Zhao Zaili who came from Licheng and others
Everyone was present, including Li Dutou from Dongyang City, who served under Li Siyuan and was very familiar with the Han horse infantry. He was also allowed to attend.
With Zhou Kan in charge, Li Xiaoxi felt much more relaxed. He reported the situation of the enemy forces in the north of the city, and then pointed out that the Allied Forces of the Three Kings had the advantage, the Hedong Army was also relatively strong, and Xiangyuan City needed to continue to strengthen its forces.
Zhou Kan immediately made arrangements. He asked Zhao Zaili to send the cavalry troops of the Liaodong Security Army to Shideng Mountain to the west of Xiangyuan City to fight against Li Siyuan's Hedong Cavalry. At the same time, he built a camp on Wuyang Mountain in the south of the city and put it under the control of the Guizhou Army.
Gao Xingzhou mobilized five battalions of soldiers to establish a baggage transfer point between Luzhou City and Xiangyuan City. The matter of building the fort was not complicated for Zhou Kan. There were mountains of supplies in Luzhou City, and there were also logistics.
The general manager of the department, Zhao Yuande, is in Luzhou, and there are ten logistics camps in the city. It would be quite simple for professionals to do this kind of thing.
Finally, Zhou Kan's intention was not limited to defense. He believed that with the strength of the Yan army in Luzhou, there should be a chance to defeat the Three Kings coalition in front of them. The key lies in grasping the fighter opportunity.