Han Shizhong led an army of 60,000 troops to the north suddenly, catching Li Qiong off guard. Li Qiong's pigeon letter asking for help arrived in Jingzhao three days later.
It was already late January, a warm breath spread throughout Guanzhong, the willow trees had turned green, the ice and snow had melted, groups of cheerful birds were flying in the sky, and farmers began to fertilize the winter wheat to protect seedlings and loosen the land.
Chen Qing was preparing to go to Hanzhong and Bashu for inspection within a month and a half, but a distress letter from Li Qiong Feige disrupted Chen Qing's plan.
Early that morning, Chen Qing said to his family while having breakfast: "The plan may change. I may not go to Sichuan Road and Hanzhong Road for inspection, but I may go to Xuzhou."
"Husband, is it because of the war in Xuzhou?" Lu Xiu asked.
They all read the newspapers and knew that the imperial army was attacking Xuzhou and seemed to have the upper hand. The situation was not good for them.
Chen Qing nodded, "The situation is complicated. The Jin soldiers may also take the opportunity to counterattack. If we don't deal with it properly, all our previous efforts will be wasted."
"How long will the official leave?" Zhao Qiaoyun asked.
"It's probably about a month and a half, but this time it's not easy to take care of the family."
Chen Qing looked at Yu Lian, who looked sadly. She had been looking forward to going to Bashu with her husband for almost a month, but she didn't expect that the plan had changed.
"I will be at home today and tomorrow, and I will leave early the day after tomorrow."
At night, Yu Lian tried her best to welcome Chen Qing, letting his passion explode in her body again and again.
The two of them went crazy until the third watch, when Chen Qingcai lay down exhausted with his arms around Yu Lian's alluring body.
Yu Lian suddenly hugged her husband's neck and started to cry.
Chen Qing touched her back apologetically and said, "I'm sorry this time, maybe next time!"
"Where should we go next? When do you want me to wait?"
"This year, I will definitely go to Bashu and Hanzhong for inspection, so I will take you with me!"
"I can't regret it anymore."
"I promise not!"
"My lord, lie down and rest. I will serve you again."
Yu Lian turned her back to her husband and lowered her head. Chen Qing gently stroked her amazing back. She really had a figure that only a noble concubine could have!
Before dawn on the third day, Chen Qing personally led 50,000 cavalry to leave Bashang and galloped eastwards.
The cavalry marched very fast. The army arrived in Luoyang four days later. They rested for a day in Luoyang and then continued their march to Bianliang. In only one day and one night, 50,000 cavalry arrived in Luoyang.
This was the fastest march. In just five days, 50,000 cavalrymen rushed from Jingzhao to Bianliang, setting a new march record for the Western Army.
Yang Zaixing did not expect King Yong to arrive so quickly, so he and Zhang Xiao rushed outside the city to welcome Chen Qing's arrival.
"See His Highness King Yong!" Zhang Xiao and Yang Zaixing bowed together.
Chen Qing turned over and dismounted and said with a smile: "Thank you for your hard work, I and the 50,000 cavalry will not enter the city and will camp outside the city!"
Yang Zaixing had already set up a large camp outside Xicheng. He quickly sent his deputy Li Fuxing to arrange for 50,000 cavalry to enter the camp. Zhang Xiao also sent people to bring grain, mutton and vegetables to give the cavalry and horses a good meal.
have a good rest.
It was getting late, and Chen Qing did not enter the accounts. He stayed in the Chinese army's tent outside the city. Yang Zaixing and Zhang Xiao also came to report to Chen Qing the latest battle situation.
In the big tent, Chen Qing listened to Yang Zaixing's report with a solemn expression.
"Both subordinate commanders Yao Zheng and Xu Qing each led 10,000 troops to the outskirts of Xuzhou to attract the attention of Han Shizhong's army and reduce the pressure on Xuzhou. However, when Yao Zheng's army crossed the Yellow River in Xiao County, they were attacked by Han Shizhong's 20,000 troops who were halfway across the river.
Fortunately, Xu Qing's army arrived in time and rescued Yao Zheng's army. There was a melee between the two sides. Han Shizhong personally led 20,000 reinforcements and we had to retreat. In this melee, our brothers suffered more than 3,000 casualties.
Pretty much the same.”
Chen Qing frowned. This was actually the first time they fought against the imperial army, and they failed. Although the opponent had the advantage in strength, the outcome would not change.
Chen Qing had a headache for a while. Yang Zaixing could never change his habit of underestimating the enemy. How could he send only 20,000 people there? Did he think that the imperial army was so vulnerable? This was Han Shizhong's army!
After the Yue Family Army, it was the last elite army of the imperial court.
Chen Qing sighed secretly in his heart. He couldn't say Zaixing. After all, Yang Zaixing was the commander-in-chief. He had given him the power to command, so he had the right to make such arrangements.
Chen Qing could only ask: "How many imperial troops are besieging Xuzhou now?"
Yang Zaixing hurriedly said: "About 110,000 people. In addition to Han Shizhong's 50,000 troops, Liu Qi, Wang Jian and Yang Yizhong each led 20,000 troops to Xuzhou. Prime Minister Zhu Shengfei served as the commander-in-chief and led an army of 100,000 to sit in Chuzhou."
"Is there any movement in Jin Bing?" Chen Qing asked again.
"Yes! It's exactly what I want to report from my humble position. Li Cheng led an army of 30,000 to capture Kanhaizhou. It was only a hundred miles away from Zhu Shengfei's army of 100,000, but Zhu Shengfei made no move."
Haizhou was the only state occupied by Chen Qing east of the Yellow River. It was guarded by Li Qiong, but it was successfully attacked by Han Shizhong. Unexpectedly, it was captured by the Jin soldiers. As a result, everything east of the Yellow River was controlled by the Jin soldiers.
.
"What a bastard!"
Chen Qing was naturally scolding the Song army for handing over Haizhou to the Jin army. Is this still the Northern Expedition?
The situation was indeed complicated, and it exceeded Chen Qing's expectations. He had never thought that the Western Army would fight the imperial army, but he did not expect that Han Shizhong would not hesitate and directly send troops to fight. He really underestimated Han Shizhong.
Chen Qing walked a few steps with his hands behind his back and asked: "Why did Yao Zheng want to cross the Yellow River from Xiao County?"
"Reporting to Your Highness, Yao Zheng wants to support Xuzhou from the other side of the Yellow River. The city of Xuzhou has been surrounded by imperial troops on three sides. The only way to enter Xuzhou is through the waterway on the north bank of the Yellow River."
Chen Qing sighed in his heart. It seemed that Han Shizhong had guessed the Western Army's intention in advance, so he attacked halfway. He was worthy of being a famous general.
"What do the military advisors think?" Chen Qing asked Zhang Xiaodao.
Zhang Xiao smiled slightly and said: "The idea of humble position is exactly the same as that of His Highness. Han Shizhong is the key!"
Chen Qing nodded. If Han Shizhong could be eliminated, their threat would be even smaller.
Chen Qing smiled and said, "Does the military advisor have any clever ideas?"
"Bi Zhi has an idea, let's see if Lin'an can implement it."
A dozen miles north of Lin'an, there is a village called Niuwan. There are more than 20 families living here, surrounded by mountains and rivers, and their lives are quiet and peaceful.
The family in the east of the village is named Jiao. The two brothers are also natives of the village. Since three years ago, the two brothers have raised pigeons and cooked pigeon meat in soup, which is best for patients with fractures, so the business is not bad.
The government also visited a few times and saw that they were indeed raising meat pigeons, so they stopped asking.
But in fact, this is an intelligence point of the Western Army stationed in Lin'an, responsible for collecting pigeon messages. The eldest son of the Jiao family has been working in the village, but Jiao Laoer is a scout of the Western Army. He was ordered to return to his hometown and start this operation with his brother.
The domestic pigeon farm is used to cover their pigeon messenger station.
That evening, a homing pigeon flew from the north and landed on a pole in the yard, cooing. Jiao Er carefully took off a letter tube from its leg. The letter tube was actually a small leather bag, half of which was
Red means the situation is urgent or of great importance, and there is a little gold on the bottom, which means it is an order from King Yong.
Jiao Er took the pigeon letter and ran away, "Brother, you watch the pigeon, I'll go to the city!"
Boss Jiao also saw the carrier pigeon and knew it must be an important carrier pigeon. He quickly said: "Be careful!"
Jiao Er sailed south from a small river near the village and soon entered the West Lake and headed towards Qiantang Gate. After the imperial court declared Lin'an as the capital, they began to build the city wall along the West Lake. In the past, it was to temporarily accompany the capital, so there was no construction of the city wall.
It is necessary to spend money on large-scale construction projects. Things are different now, and we cannot leave a huge defense loophole.
But for Jiao Er, who was born and raised here, it doesn't matter whether he cultivates or not. There are more than a dozen small rivers flowing into the city from West Lake, and he can sneak into the city from any river.
There was no need to go into the water now, so he rowed directly from a small river into the city.
