In the big tent, Wang Gui said to Cai Rang: "There is no need to persuade me to join the army. I have been thinking about it for a long time. If I can surrender to the Western Army, I surrendered last year. There is no need to wait until now. Zhang Jun accused me of having an affair with the Western Army. The imperial court summoned me for this."
If I don’t go to Beijing to report on my work, it will be like confirming Zhang Jun’s slander, so I must go to the court to report on my work. Even if I lose everything, I must prove my innocence.”
There was silence in the big tent. At this point, it was really difficult to persuade any more. Cai Rang said slowly: "If the control has been decided, I can understand and won't persuade you anymore. I am worried about what will happen next."
Zhang Jun will definitely find a way to annex our army. I suggest that the troops be divided into two groups, one group guarding the Han River, imitating the Western Army to block the river, so that Zhang Jun's army cannot cross the Han River, and the other group defends Xiangyang City. If we attack with two prongs, at least we can
Support until the imperial investigation team arrives. Once the imperial investigation team arrives, Zhang Jun will not dare to act so recklessly, and it is very likely that the general can return to Xiangyang."
Wang Gui thought for a while and then agreed, "We can divide the troops into two groups, one to guard Xiangyang and the other to guard the Han River. What do you think of the arrangements for joining the army? Or should we follow the old rules? Tang Huai will stay outside and Zhang Xian will guard the inside?"
Cai Rang shook his head, "In the past, because the commander was still there, we could arrange it like this, but when the commander went to the capital, we couldn't arrange it like this. I thought that Tang Huai was cautious, more than capable of defending, but not flexible enough. He was more suitable for defending the city, while Zhang Xian was flexible.
Changing things, I thought it would be more appropriate for him to stick to the Han River."
"This. Let them choose for themselves!"
Wang Gui immediately sent someone to find Tang Huai and Zhang Xian. Not long after, they walked into the tent and said, "Please give me your orders, Commander!"
"Since the imperial court has called me to return to Beijing to report on my duties, I have considered it again and decided to return to Beijing. I have made up my mind, and you don't need to persuade me anymore."
The two nodded silently, presumably Cai Rang had already tried to persuade him, but even Cai Rang couldn't persuade him, let alone them.
"I'm now worried about the arrangements after I leave. Cai Shenjun suggested that I divide my troops into two groups, one to guard Xiangyang and the other to guard the Han River. What do you two think?"
Tang Huai and Zhang Xian looked at each other. Of course they expected the same. Tang Huai said: "Two armies guard Xiangyang. In fact, there is only one army. Once Xiangyang falls, both armies will be lost. If the two armies guard separately, no matter which one
If something happens to one army, the other army can be warned, and I agree to separate the two armies for guarding."
Wang Gui nodded and looked at Zhang Xian again. Zhang Xian also bowed and said: "Bizhi also agrees to separate the guard. In the past, I always guarded Xiangyang. This time I asked to be released. I am willing to guard Hanshui. This is fair to everyone."
."
Wang Gui was worried that Zhang Xian was unwilling to defend Hanshui, which made Tang Huai dissatisfied. After all, the conditions for guarding Xiangyang were good, but the conditions for guarding Hanshui were relatively poor in all aspects. Unexpectedly, Zhang Xian actually asked to guard Hanshui, giving Wang Gui a heart.
With his heart dropped, Wang Gui said happily: "General Zhang has taken the overall situation into consideration, and I am more confident. Okay! It has been decided that General Tang will guard Xiangyang City, and General Zhang will lead his troops to guard Han River, with Yicheng County as the base."
Wang Gui never dreamed that the three of them had a tacit understanding, let alone that Zhang Xian, whom he sent to guard the Han River, had defected to Zhang Jun as early as the beginning of the year.
It is weak and too unreliable. Surrounded by two giant crocodiles, it will be swallowed up sooner or later.
Wang Gui finally made the decision to return to Beijing to report on his duties. In the afternoon of the same day, he took a dozen soldiers and followed the envoy to Lin'an to report on his duties.
Just as Wang Gui left Xiangyang and returned to Beijing, the 20,000 Xiangyang troops were also divided into two groups. One group was led by Tang Huai with 10,000 troops to continue to defend Xiangyang, while the other group was led by Zhang with 10,000 troops and rushed to Yicheng, which is close to the Han River.
County, defense against the Han River.
At three o'clock in the morning, Chen Qing, who had just returned to Jiangling, was awakened by a knock on the door while he was sleeping. "What's the matter?" Chen Qing asked.
"Your Highness, there is urgent information from Xiangyang!"
"I see!"
Zhao Yingluo quickly got up and put on clothes for her husband. She also put on her underwear and washed her husband briefly.
Chen Qing walked out of the room and went to the outer hall, where he saw several soldiers and a messenger waiting for a long time.
The messenger was one of Xu Mu's men. He quickly walked up to the hall and bowed: "Your Majesty, Wang Gui has rushed to Lin'an to report on his duties. Zhang Xianjun went to defend the Han River. Xiangyang Prefecture is currently guarded by 10,000 people from General Tang Huai.
Chen Qing was so happy that he immediately issued a military order, ordering Liu Qiong who was in charge of Dengzhou to lead 20,000 troops to Xiangyang City. Chen Qing immediately packed up and led 10,000 cavalry to the north from Jiangling.
Two days later, the army passed Wang Yan's tomb. Chen Qing paid homage to Wang Yan's tomb, left 500 coins and ordered the local squire to guard the tomb carefully and not to destroy it.
The army continued to move north, still fifty miles away from Xiangyang. At this time, Chen Qing received news that Zhang Xian led an army of 10,000 people to cross the Han River and went south to join Zhang Jun's army.
At the same time, Chen Qing also received news from Xiangyang that Liu Qiong's 20,000-strong army had entered Xiangyang. The overall situation was decided, and Chen Qing immediately led the army and continued to rush towards Xiangyang.
Outside Xiangyang City, Liu Qiong led everyone out of the city to welcome His Highness King Yong. Chen Qing appeased everyone one by one. He then promoted Xiangzhou to Xiangyang Prefecture, appointed Xu Mu as the prefect of Xiangyang, appointed Cai Rang as the general magistrate of Xiangyang, and appointed Tang
As the commander-in-chief, Huai announced that the remaining surrendered generals would not change their military positions, but would be promoted to one rank each. Everyone was happy for a while.
After resting overnight in Xiangyang City, Chen Qing, accompanied by everyone, went to the Hanshui Pier outside the city for inspection early the next morning.
Chen Qingxiao asked Liu Qiong: "You are relatively familiar with Shangzhou. I would like to know how to get from Xiangyang to Shangzhou by water transport?"
"Reporting to Your Highness, we can reach Longju Village in Shangluo County by taking a thousand-stone cargo ship."
"Can't we go further north?" Chen Qing asked again.
"It is possible to walk. There is a long stretch of rocky shoals, about twenty miles long. Ships that are blocked from going north can only use rafts. If this twenty-mile stretch of river is dredged and the river channel is dug deeper, then
The Qianshi cargo ship can continue walking about sixty miles north to reach Shangluo County."
Chen Qing now has some experience. Dredging a 20-mile river channel requires about 50,000 people for five months, and the labor cost is about 500,000 yuan. Including other material expenditures and warehouse construction, Shangzhou requires about 700,000 yuan.
The warehouse must be built for about 10,000 guan, but in order to dredge the short 60-mile river channel, it would cost 500,000 to 600,000 guan. Chen Qing was not that wealthy.
Chen Qing asked Cai Li again, "Excuse me, Cai Tongpan, can Xiangyang berth the Wanshi cargo ship?"
Cai Li had just been promoted to the general magistrate of the first government. He had been excited all night and seemed a little tired at this time. At this time, Chen Qing asked him. He was stunned for a moment, and it took him a long time to react. He quickly said: "Reporting to your highness, no Wanshi cargo ship has ever arrived in Xiangyang Prefecture.
However, there are only five thousand stone cargo ships at most."
Chen Qing nodded. According to experience, if a five-thousand-stone cargo ship can be berthed, then there is basically no problem in berthing a ten-thousand-stone cargo ship. He smiled slightly and said: "I plan to build Xiangyang into the largest cargo transit center for goods from overseas and Jiangnan.
A large amount of goods were transported to Xiangyang via a giant ship of thousands of stones, and then transferred to a cargo ship of thousands of stones to Shangluo County, Shangzhou, and then transported to Guanzhong by camels and carts. Do you have any good ideas?"
Tang Huai, who had been silent all this time, raised his hand and said: "Your Highness, I have an idea!"
Chen Qing had a good impression of Tang Huai, so he smiled and said, "Tell me, what do you think?"
Tang Huai pointed to Jiangxinzhou and said: "Yuliangzhou in the Han River in Xiangyang occupies a large area. I suggest building a warehouse group on Yuliangzhou. The waterway in the north is wide and can accommodate huge ships with thousands of stones. The waterway in the south is slightly narrower and can be used to berth transshipments heading north.
Qianshi cargo ship, this way the unloading and loading are separated, and the original Xiangyang Wharf can continue to be used for civilian purposes."
This plan is very good. Chen Qing nodded in approval and asked: "Is there anyone living on Jiangxin Island?"
Tang Huai shook his head, "There used to be, but during Wanyanchang's southern expedition, Jiangxin Prefecture was requisitioned to stockpile material warehouses, and it is now a wasteland."
Chen Qing said happily: "After I returned to Jingzhao, I immediately sent people to survey and draw up a plan. There are only two things your government has to do right now. One is to recruit civilians to cut a large number of trees, and the other is to level the land on the island.
Fish ponds and the like have been filled in and compacted to prepare for the subsequent large-scale construction of warehouses and docks. To collect the money and food needed from the people, I will have Jinghu South Road Shangshu Xingtai transport it to you."