Although he was very tired and sleepy, Chen Qing still managed to gather his energy and write a reply to Lu Yihao. In the letter, Lu Yihao stated that he hoped that he would return to the southeast to take up a position. If he agreed, he could recommend him to join the newly formed imperial loyal army.
Lu Yihao also pointed out in the letter that Wang Yan was recommended by Zhang Jun to serve as the governor of Yuezhou and was preparing to participate in Li Gang's battle to quell the Dongting bandit Yang Yao. Wang Yan should have a chance to make a comeback.
Lu Yihao must have seen the risks he would face when Zhu Shengfei took office as the propaganda envoy to Sichuan and Shaanxi, so he tried his best to persuade him to take up a post in the southeast.
Chen Qing put down his pen and gently played with a jade plaque on the table. It was a beautiful piece of Khotan jade. There was no pattern on it, not even a single word. It should have been given to him by Lu Xiu. It was called an undecorated plaque, which is homophonic.
It's just a no-things card, I hope I'm safe and sound.
Chen Qing hung the jade plaque around his neck. He thought for a moment and wrote:
The snow-capped mountains are covered with long clouds in Qinghai, and the lonely city overlooks Yumen Pass in the distance. The yellow sand wears golden armor in a hundred battles, and Loulan will never return it if it is not broken.
Chen Qing sent people out of the city overnight to deliver the letter to Hanzhong, and then from Hanzhong to Lin'an.
.........
Early the next morning, Chen Qing received the intelligence sent back by Zhao Xiaoyi. They discovered that the main force of the Xixia Army thirty miles away to the east was not the more than 2,000 people last night, but 20,000 people.
This information confirmed his guess that the Xixia Army launched the offensive because of Zhu Shengfei's arrival. The three thousand army was just the vanguard to seize Ganquan Fort, and the twenty thousand army was the main force.
Since 20,000 troops appeared thirty miles away, their target must still be Ganquan Fort. Only by pulling out the nail in Ganquan Fort can the Xixia army move south smoothly.
In the afternoon, 20,000 Xixia troops appeared outside the east city of Ganquan Fort and began to set up camp outside the city.
Chen Qing stood on the top of the city and looked to the east. He saw large tents appearing like mushrooms. The nearest one was about three miles away from the city wall. Large carts were coming from the official road in the east.
The cart was loaded with food and various military supplies.
"Tongzhi, our food can only last for twenty days. Do you think the Xixia army outside the city will attack us?" Zheng Ping did not see the opponent's siege weapons and was really worried.
"Calm down and don't be impatient. The situation will definitely change."
The Xixia army's camp was quickly set up, but they still refused to attack Ganquan Fort. The Xixia army seemed to know that there was not much food, so they wanted to trap the Song army in the city.
On the morning of the fourth day, Chen Qing received an urgent eagle letter from Yang Yuanqing from Chengji County.
Chen Qing immediately summoned the deputy commander and the generals above to discuss the matter.
"Everyone, I just received the eagle message from Vice General Yang. The puppet Qi army has begun to attack the Song army."
Chen Qing shook the eagle letter in his hand and said slowly to everyone: "The 150,000 puppet Qi troops were divided into two groups. They took Jingyuan Road to attack Pingliang Mansion and Fengxiang Mansion. Longzhou's army has dispersed towards Da
Guan retreat."
"What a bastard!"
Zheng Ping slammed his fist on the table. He knew very well what it meant for the Longzhou army to evacuate to Dashanguan. If the Longzhou army gathered towards Fengxiang Mansion, Fu Xuan might resist the puppet Qi army.
The evacuation of Dashan Pass means that Fu Xuan will also abandon Fengxiang Mansion.
Fu Xuan wants to preserve his own strength and is unwilling to fight the puppet Qi army. This is normal and in line with Fu Xuan's character. But the key is that Fengxiang and Longzhou fall, and Qinzhou will face the attack of the puppet Qi army.
Chengji County only had 2,000 new soldiers led by Yang Yuanqing. How could it possibly resist them?
Everyone's eyes were turned to Chen Qing.
Chen Qing pondered for a moment and said: "I am considering retreating two thousand troops and all supplies to Ganquan Fort. Do you have any better plans?"
Yang Zaixing said: "Beizhi fully agrees with the army's withdrawal from Chengji County, but Beizhi feels that instead of retreating to Ganquan Fort, it is better to temporarily retreat to Beixianren Pass."
Chen Qing shook his head, "Going to Beixianren Pass is equivalent to giving up Qinzhou."
Liu Cui couldn't help but said: "But even if we come to Ganquan Fort, what should we do if we don't have enough food? Tongzong, if 150,000 puppet Qi troops come to kill us, we really can't defend Qinzhou. This is not Tongzhi's responsibility."
Chen Qing still shook his head, "I have made up my mind. I have my own way to solve the food problem!"
Yang Zaixing and Liu Cui looked at each other, and they suddenly thought of the 20,000 Xixia troops outside the city. Yang Zaixing quickly asked: "Do you mean, do you mean that the 20,000 Xixia troops outside the city will retreat soon?"
Chen Qing nodded, "They should retreat soon!"
There was a sudden buzz of discussion in the big tent...
After everyone left, Zheng Ping said to Chen Qing: "There is no need to hold such discussions in the future. There are some things that people will not understand. You are the coach, so you can make your own decisions!"
Chen Qing smiled and said: "Actually, I have made my decision a long time ago. Today I just want to give everyone some ventilation and let everyone know my next move. In the end, everyone will understand."
"Why do you think the Xixia people will withdraw their troops?" Zheng Ping also asked with a puzzled look on his face.
"The reason is very simple. The Xixia Army was eager to capture Ganquan Fort because there were only a hundred golden soldiers in Ganquan Fort. It was an opportunity. Now this opportunity is gone.
But the Xixia army is still outside the city because they are betting that we will not be able to sustain it for long and will run out of food within a month or two and will have to withdraw. The premise of this bet is that the main forces of the puppet Qi army and the Song army have not changed.
Only then can the Xixia army patiently fight us.
Now the situation on the periphery has changed. The puppet Qi army has sent troops to Fenglong and Pingliangfu, which has threatened the strategic interests of the Xixia people. Why are they still fighting against Ganquan Fort? Could it be that they will not retreat to advance and temporarily abandon Ganquan Fort?
When there are not many troops in Ganquan Fort in the future, will they come back?"
"Zhi Zong is right, I understand it completely."
Chen Qing smiled slightly and said: "But if you want to advance, you will be restrained. I estimate that the Xixia army will definitely attack Ganquan Fort before withdrawing."
As soon as Chen Qing finished speaking, the fierce sound of war drums came from outside.
"Boom! Boom! Boom!"
...........
Outside the city, 20,000 Xixia troops began to gather. They carried a small amount of siege weapons and dozens of siege ladders. The general was named Murong Tao. He was originally the deputy commander of the Western Army surrounding Qing Dynasty. Due to the defeat of Fuping,
, Zhang Jun investigated the responsibility of the Huanqing army and killed the capital commander Zhao Zhe. Murong Tao led thousands of troops and fled into Xixia in panic.
Murong Tao was originally from Xixia. He was brave and decisive, and highly skilled in martial arts. He was favored by Li Qianshun, the son of Xixia. He was made the commander of Zhende Army, controlling Zhenrong and Deshun prefectures and commanding an army of 20,000.
Murong Tao was ordered to capture Ganquan Fort at the right time and open up a way to go south to Qinzhou. Xixia was still negotiating with the Jin Kingdom, hoping to give up Ganquan Fort.
But at this moment, Murong Tao heard the news that Zhu Shengfei had taken office. He immediately realized that the changes in the northwest were coming, and Ganquan Fort must be secured as soon as possible. He immediately sent General Cao Li's 3,000 troops to capture Ganquan Fort, and at the same time, 20,000
The army marched westward, preparing to capture Qinzhou along the way.
They just didn't expect that Chen Qing was also capturing Ganquan Castle at the same time. They were a step too late and the castle was taken away by the Song army.
How could Murong Tao be willing to do so? He bet that the Song army's food and grass supplies would not last for a month. As long as the siege lasted for one month, the Song army would definitely run out of food and abandon the city.
Murong Tao's idea was good, but it was a pity that the plan was not as good as the change. The Qi army marched westward, focusing on attacking Pingliang Mansion. This shocked Murong Tao. You must know that the important task assigned to him by the Prince of Xixia was to defend Deshun Prefecture and wait for opportunities.
Capture Pingliang Mansion and open the main route to Guanzhong.
Deshun Prefecture was unguarded, the Qi army captured Pingliang Mansion, and then captured Deshun Prefecture along the way. How could I explain to the emperor?
Although Ganquan Fort is important, it is still far behind Deshun Prefecture and Pingliang Prefecture. Their strategic positions are not on the same level.
Murong Tao had decided to withdraw his troops and go back to defend Deshun Prefecture. However, before withdrawing, he wanted to test the defensive capabilities of Ganquan Fort and prepare for his next attack on Ganquan Fort.
The drums beat like thunder, and the five thousand troops have been assembled.
Murong Tao looked at the tall Ganquan Fort and the densely packed Song soldiers on the castle. He sighed secretly in his heart, it was only one step away!
Murong Tao drew out his sword and shouted loudly: "Beat the drum and attack!"