Just after dawn, which was also the quietest moment, there was a faint rumble of wooden paddles on the Han River. The soldiers stationed on the head of Xiangyang City on the south bank of the Han River heard this roar.
Xiangyang City was still two miles away from the Han River, but the sound of wooden oars could be clearly heard. After dawn, the soldiers could still see the huge fleet of boats on the Han River.
The puppet Qi army was helpless. They had controlled Xiangyang, but the water surface had become the Song army's domain, leaving them with nothing to do.
General Dong Xian stood on the top of the city and looked at the river angrily. It had been three days since 10,000 cavalry arrived on the other side of the Han River, but they could not cross the Han River.
At this time, Kong Yanzhou stepped forward and said: "Marshal, let the cavalry divert to Fangzhou! Crossing the Han River from upstream is the only way."
Dong Xian shook his head, "Things are not that simple. Li Cheng did not want to send cavalry to us in the first place. He had to send this cavalry due to the pressure of the emperor. If we let the cavalry divert to Fangzhou, Li Cheng found a reason and he would turn against the emperor.
If you read our book, you can't even control the Han River."
"But it is a fact that the Han River cannot be controlled. We cannot let the cavalry wait on the north bank. If they wait two more days, they will still return to Chang'an. It is better to let them go to Fangzhou to cross the river."
"They definitely won't go to Fangzhou!"
At this time, Jiang Yanxian said from the side: "Can you please ask Wanyan Dujun to come forward? Ask him to order the cavalry to come from Fangzhou. They should not dare to disobey."
Dong Xian smiled bitterly and said: "I have already told the Du Supervisor Army, and he said he will not participate in this matter."
Jiang Yanxian and Kong Yanzhou were stunned at the same time, "Why?"
"If the cavalry comes from Bianjing, he may help, but the cavalry comes from Guanzhong, which involves his relationship with Wanyan Wushu, so he doesn't want to be troublesome. This is my guess, but I
It’s probably a normal answer.”
Speaking of this, Dong Xian turned back to several generals and said: "If the cavalry really can't get through, it doesn't matter. We can still defeat the opponent without cavalry, but the key is that the Han River blocked by the Song army is not a solution!
What about our logistics supplies and reinforcements? We even have military morale. Now the soldiers know that our retreat has been cut off. We have to find a way to reverse this unfavorable situation, instead of thinking about crossing the river to Fangzhou and spreading the news.
, we lose face!"
Everyone was silent. The other party's navy was powerful. What should they do?
Seeing Jiang Yanxian stop talking, Mr. Dong said: "Jiang Dutong, please say a few words!"
Dong Xian still valued Jiang Yanxian very much. Jiang Yanxian was quite strategic and was able to lead 30,000 troops back from under Chen Qing's nose. Even Wan Yanchang praised him.
Jiang Yanxian sighed and said: "A spy who escaped from Hanyang told me that the Song army's water warfare strategy was very simple, which was to use kerosene balls. Our soldiers could not put out the fire at all, and two or three kerosene balls could burn down a ship."
Boat.
In addition, I observed the river for a long time yesterday and always felt that the wooden wheels of vehicles and ships were easily damaged. For example, if you inserted a wooden stick into it, the wooden blades inside would break, or if you threw straw on the river, the wooden wheels would become entangled.
"
Dong Xian nodded approvingly, "It can be said that heroes think alike. Jiang Dutong and I thought of going together. I still have fifty scout ships on hand. We also use kerosene to burn the ships, and we don't use any kerosene."
Just fill the thin-skinned clay pots with kerosene and throw them onto the boats. At the same time, throw in torches. Fifty small boats are loaded with 250 gunpowder pots, which is enough to burn all the cars and boats on the river."
This plan was very practical and feasible, and everyone's enthusiasm was mobilized. Kong Yanzhou scratched his head and said: "We can dismantle a few of the large trebuchets on the city top, transport them to the riverside, and throw kerosene balls from the riverside onto the boats."
"This method is too troublesome!"
Qin Sannian, the governor of the capital, laughed and said: "It is not only troublesome to dismantle and carry the trebuchet, but also difficult to hit. Others will not stand still and let you throw it. It is better to send dozens of water ghosts to dive with fire oil cans in wooden boxes."
Go over there, get close to the enemy ship and light it up."
Kong Yanzhou couldn't help but said angrily, "How do you light a fire in the water?"
"Wrap it in pig urine bubbles. It's not like we haven't done this kind of waterproofing before!"
At this moment, a soldier rushed over and said, "Marshal, a message from the Eagle has just been sent from the other side of the river!"
Dong Xian took Ying's letter and read it, with a bitter expression on his face, and said to everyone: "As expected, I was right. Ten thousand cavalry have withdrawn north to Guanzhong. The reason is that they cannot cross the river and there is insufficient food and grass."
Everyone was silent, this result deeply disappointed everyone.
Dong Xian cheered up and said: "Ignore the cavalry, we will still do it according to the method we just discussed. I will ask Wanyan Du to supervise the army and see what he has to say!"
After all, Dong Xian is a civil servant. He has been in the officialdom for a long time and is relatively slick. He knows very well that Wan Yanchang is in charge of Xiangyang and the coach is actually Wan Yanchang. His plan must be supported by Wan Yanchang. Otherwise, no matter whether he wins or not, he will win.
Wan Yanchang won't be happy if he loses
Wan Yanchang was indeed in a bad mood recently. It was also because the Song army blocked the Han River that he realized that the Qi army was not fully prepared for the battle to attack Jingxiang. They had no navy, which meant that the army could not cross the Han River.
If water cannot cross the Yangtze River, the strategic plan previously formulated will be greatly reduced.
What's more troubling to Wan Yanchang is that he came to Xiangyang to hunt down Chen Qing. Judging from the current situation, the idea of using this Jingxiang battle to kill Chen Qing may come to nothing.
In this battle of Huguang, Wan Yanchang personally drafted a three-step plan. The first step was to occupy Deng, Sui, Fangzhou and Xiangyang Prefecture within one month of sending troops, and open the door to Jingxiang. The first step of the plan has been
Done successfully.
The second step of the plan is to occupy a large area of land south of Xiangyang Prefecture, north of the Yangtze River, east of the Three Gorges, and west of the Han River, including Yingzhou, Fuzhou, Hanyang Army, Jiangling Prefecture, Xiazhou, and Guizhou.
Prefecture, Jingmen Army and other places.
Originally, the second step of the plan went very smoothly, successfully luring Wang Yan's Jiangling army northward and annihilating it in one fell swoop. Li Gang's 20,000 main force was also trapped in Changlin County.
It happened that at this time Chen Qing led his army northward, ruining their plan and severely damaging the morale of the Qi army, forcing Wan Yanchang to give up the second step of the victory and retreat to the starting point.
Before, they had an absolute advantage in military strength, but they were unable to defeat Li Gang's main force in one fell swoop and complete the second step of the plan. Now the Song Army is recruiting a large number of troops. Seeing that their military advantage is gradually being equalized, the major flaw of the naval army has appeared again.
, whether the second step of the plan can be realized, Wan Yanchang is full of anxiety.
At this time, a soldier reported in the hall, "Marshal Dong wants to see you!"
Wan Yanchang sighed and said, "Let him in!"
Soon, Dong Xian walked into the lobby quickly, bowed and saluted, "In this humble position, I will see you as the Governor of the Army!"
"What's wrong with Marshal Dong?"
"I just received a message from Eagle that the 10,000 cavalry on the other side are short of food and cannot cross the river. They have returned to Guanzhong."
Wan Yanchang was startled, "Why not let them cross the river from Fangzhou?"
"Hongzhi said it, but they didn't adopt it."
"Why?"
Dong Xian shook his head, "I don't understand even the humblest ones. Maybe they think they are Marshal Li's subordinates and there is no need to listen to my orders!"
Dong Xian hinted to Wan Yanchang, 'This is the result of your refusal to step in and give orders.'
Wan Yanchang glanced at Dong Xian and said, "Well, the cavalry you can't command will only come to give Chen Qing more horses. It's better not to come."
"Thank you very much, Commander-in-Chief. In addition, I still have something to report in my humble position."
"What's up?"
Dong Xian presented a brochure to Wan Yanchang, "This is a low-level plan to regain control of the Han River. Please review it."
Wan Yanchang perked up. This was exactly what he needed. He quickly took the plan booklet and opened it to look at it carefully. Gradually, a trace of disappointment appeared in his eyes. This was far from the plan he had been considering these days. Mr. Dong
The situation is still low, and in Wan Yanchang’s opinion, the plan being considered is not even on the table.
Dong Xian saw the disappointment in Wan Yanchang's eyes and said quickly: "We have considered several options, and even wanted to dismantle the trebuchet and transport it to the river, but it seems that there is no practical significance. In comparison, only the current option is the most feasible.
."
Wan Yanchang smiled and said: "Actually, I have also been thinking about making up for the shortcomings of the navy these days, but I am not only thinking about the Han River, but also the Yangtze River. Your plan is also good. It can be implemented first. I approved it!
"
"Thank you to the Imperial Guard Army. I will arrange and implement it as soon as possible!"
"It is best to conduct a proper drill in East Lake to let the soldiers know what they are going to do and how to do it, otherwise they will be in a hurry when they arrive on the battlefield, but they must pay attention to keeping the battlefield clear and confidential."
