Wang Yan has already served as the governor of Jiangling. At the Jiangling Prefecture Government Office, Chen Qing and Wang Yan made a handover and officially took up the post of governor of Yuezhou. This is an out-and-out civilian official, but with a military position and a civilian supervisor, this
It is not surprising, there are many precedents, for example, Yue Fei concurrently served as the governor of Xuanzhou, Liu Ziyu concurrently served as the governor of Xingyuan as the military governor of Yongxing, and Han Shizhong, Liu Guangshi and Zhang Jun also held military and civilian positions.
Therefore, it is not surprising at all that Chen Qing served as the governor of Yuezhou in his capacity as governor and governor.
"How is Yang Yao's situation now?" Chen Qing asked.
"The situation is a bit strange!"
"What's the weird trick?"
Wang Yandao: "Yang Yao shrank in the past two days. There are no more ships on the Yangtze River. All his warships have withdrawn to Dongting Lake."
"Why? Could it be because of the arrival of the imperial fleet?"
Wang Yan shook his head, "Many people think so, but I don't think so."
Chen Qing smiled and said, "Then what do you think the prefect thinks is the reason?"
"I think it's like a tiger attacking. It squats back first and then pounces out."
"The prefect thinks Yang Yao wants to give me a blow?"
"This is just my guess, I have no evidence."
Chen Qing pondered for a moment and said: "It's probably like this. When I go to Yuezhou, the fleet will definitely pass by the mouth of Dongting Lake. Yang Yao shrinks, giving me the illusion that the Yangtze River is safe. When my fleet passes by the mouth of the lake, he will
They will suddenly come out and hunt my fleet!"
Wang Yan laughed, "This little trick may be effective against the troops coming from the imperial court, but it is really meaningless for you who have experienced hundreds of battles. But how can you get to Yuezhou with so many supplies?"
Chen Qing sighed, "This means that the opponent has all the advantages on the water. Even if I see through the opponent, I can't counterattack, let alone take advantage of it. Now I can only temporarily store the money, food and materials in Jiangling City, and the army will go overland."
Wang Yan nodded, "This is a wise move. I suggest you go to Huarong County first. Huarong County is a bait I put. There are tens of thousands of stones of food in the county and only two thousand defenders. Yang Yao has always been extremely hostile to it.
Shushu, your cavalry will probably cut off the rebel army's retreat if they attack us."
"Thank you, Magistrate, I will leave tonight!"
Wang Yan patted Chen Qing on the shoulder and said, "I want to say a few words to you."
"Prefect, please tell me!"
Wang Yan pondered for a moment and said: "You once put down Zhang Kui's rebellion in Muzhou. Of course, Zhang Kui's rebellion cannot be compared with Yang Yao's rebellion, but it was the most well-known counter-insurgency by the officials. It was also because of that fight that you got
It means that he recognized your counter-rebellion ideas and asked you to participate in quelling Yang Yao's rebellion this time. What I mean is that you have to maintain your own style.
Showing a bodhisattva's heart may be much more effective than being blindly ruthless or blindly gentle."
Chen Qing nodded, "Chen Qing will bear in mind Lao Dutong's words."
Wang Yan laughed loudly, "I asked you why you didn't ask me to unify you, but now I realize it. It turns out that you have also unify them. Are you afraid of irritating me?"
Chen Qing was a little embarrassed and said: "I'm afraid that Lao Dutong is not balanced."
"How could it happen? If someone else becomes president, I may feel unbalanced, but if you become president, I will only be happy."
Chen Qing felt hot in his heart and said apologetically: "I'm getting ready to leave, so I'd like to ask the old commander to take care of my friend."
Wang Yan smiled and said: "Don't you think I don't know? That is your fiancée, I know it well."
.........
Chen Qing then bid farewell to Lu Xiu for the time being. He led 10,000 cavalrymen to leave Jiangling Mansion and go south, rushing towards Huarong County.
It has to be said that Wang Yan is brave and wise. After he learned that Chen Qing's fleet had arrived in Yiling, he chose Huarong County as bait. Huarong County is neither on the Yangtze River nor on the Dongting Lake. It is at least 10 kilometers away from Dongting Lake.
For nearly a hundred miles, his county had 10,000 shi of grain stored in it and only sent 2,000 men to guard it.
If Chen Qing's army had no cavalry, he would not dare to take such a risk, but if Chen Qing had 10,000 cavalry, he would definitely be able to catch up with the rebel army within a hundred miles.
This is actually a counter-routine. Yang Yao set a trap on the Yangtze River to lure Chen Qing's fleet. Then Wang Yan also set a trap in Huarong County to lure Yang Yao's army to see who could not help but fall for it in the end.
However, the risk is also very high. If Chen Qing arrives late and Huarong County falls, Wang Yan's plan will be defeated and only a piece of chicken feather will be left.
Chen Qing led the cavalry and galloped all the way. At noon the next day, they were still thirty miles away from Huarong County. Chen Qing ordered the troops to rest where they were and wait for news from the scouts.
About an hour later, several scouts rushed back and reported to Chen Qing, the capital's chief enemy: "Let me report to the capital, the rebel army is indeed attacking Huarong County. There are about ten thousand people. They are attacking fiercely, and the county seat is a bit fast.
I can’t hold on any longer.”
"Are there any ships nearby?" Chen Qing asked again.
"There are ships. One mile west of the city, there is a small river that leads directly to Dongting Lake. There are more than a hundred ships moored on the river, large and small, and more than a thousand soldiers are responsible for guarding the ships."
"Are there any cars or boats? They are boats with wheels on the outside of the hull."
"When Dutong said this, he seemed to have an impression. There were about two or three ships, all with wheels."
"Let's explore again!"
"Follow the order!"
Several scouts turned their horses and ran away. Chen Qing immediately said to Liu Qiong: "General Liu can lead two thousand cavalry to intercept the fleet and kill the enemy defenders, but do not burn the ships. I have great use for the ships!"
"I'll leave now!"
Liu Qiong took the order arrow and went to greet the cavalry of his headquarters.
Chen Qing immediately ordered that the entire army set out to kill Huarong County. Ten thousand cavalry set out again, and if tens of millions of sharp arrows were fired, they shot at Huarong County thirty miles away.
...........
Just as the scouts said, the fierce fighting in Huarong County has entered the most dangerous situation. The rebels' siege ladder was lagging behind and they could not attack the city. They concentrated their forces to attack the city gate. The moat had been filled in and the suspension bridge was damaged.
It fell heavily on the moat.
Without the external resistance of the suspension bridge, the city gate was directly exposed to the rebels. Five thousand rebels fired arrows at the top of the city. The dense rain of arrows suppressed the Song army on the top of the city.
Huang Qian, the leader of the bandit army, shouted: "Up the battering ram!"
A thousand thieves covered a huge battering ram and rushed towards the city gate. The front end of the battering ram was sharpened and equipped with a cast iron ram. The hammer was covered with iron grips. A hundred soldiers came from both sides.
Carrying this seven-foot-long giant wooden battering ram, there were hundreds of soldiers on both sides holding high shields to protect them.
"Come on!"
A general yelled, and the bandits gathered around the battering ram and rushed towards the city gate. The soldiers on top of the city couldn't raise their heads at all. They finally threw a rolling log down, but it had no effect.
The battering ram quickly approached the city gate, and there was only an earth-shattering muffled sound, 'Boom--'. The city gate shook violently, sand and dust fell, and three of the five door bolts inside broke.
"Come again!"
The battering ram quickly retreated, once again gathering a mighty force.
Zhao Ping, the leader of the Song Army at the top of the city, saw that the city gate was in danger and shouted: "All the troops go down to the city and guard the city gate!"
Only less than a thousand of the two thousand defenders were left. They rushed down the corridor and down the city, raised their spears, stretched their bows and nocked arrows, waiting for the moment to break the city.
"Dong——"
With a loud muffled sound, five door bolts were broken at the same time, the city gate was slammed open, and the bandits holding the battering ram rushed in.
"Fire the arrow!"
Zhao Ping roared and fired hundreds of arrows at once. The rebels were hit by arrows one after another, screaming and falling down. The huge battering ram fell to the ground and rolled to the side.
But the bandit army came in like a surging tide, and bows and arrows could not stop them. Thousands of bandit soldiers shouted with excitement and rushed into the city one after another.
Zhao Ping roared angrily: "We will never let the thieves enter the city, come and fight with me!"
"Kill!"
Eight hundred soldiers roared in unison and charged forward with spears in hand. But their numbers were too small and they gradually could no longer support them.
At this moment, a low horn sound suddenly came from the north, and the horn sound was like a biting cold wind sweeping across the wilderness.
Zhao Ping shouted excitedly, "We have reinforcements coming, brothers, hold on!"
The soldiers of the Song Army had high morale and fought desperately.
However, the rebel army felt that something was not good. The ground was shaking, as if thousands of troops were coming to kill them. They were so frightened that they retreated one after another.
At this time, Huang Qian suddenly understood and shouted in fear: "It's the cavalry! Retreat quickly!"
It was too late. The overwhelming cavalry came from both sides of the city wall. They were extremely brave and swept towards the frightened bandits.
A huge flag with the word "Chen" is flying in the wind...