Thirty thousand puppet Qi troops and 60 warships crossed the Han River from Qingshanji and raided Hanyang County. Hanyang County fell. Fortunately, there were 5,000 troops garrisoned in Hanyangcang City and were not captured. However, the four moored troops on the riverside
Ten warships were captured by the puppet Qi army.
The puppet Qi army did not continue to attack Hanyang Cangcheng, but left 10,000 troops to defend Hanyang. The remaining 20,000 troops crossed the Yangtze River and captured Jiangxia County. The 2,000 navy troops were destroyed and Ezhou Governor Zhang Ying committed suicide.
Currently, an army of 20,000 troops marching by land and water are marching toward Baling County in a mighty manner.
Chen Qing immediately stopped the martial arts competition and summoned his generals to urgently discuss countermeasures. The generals' families were all in Baling County. When they heard the news, they suddenly felt like a pot exploded. The people were furious and asked to rush to Baling County immediately.
Chen Qing shouted: "Quiet!"
There was a sudden silence in the big tent. Chen Qing said to everyone: "Baling County is our home base. It is facing a crisis. I am also very anxious, but I believe that Commander Yang will not put everyone's family members in danger and will definitely move them in time."
, Now not only Baling County is facing a crisis, but the entire Huguang is facing a crisis from both sides. How we respond is the key. Everyone should calm down and come up with useful suggestions."
Counselor Zhang Xiao said: "Now the puppet Qi army actually has a hundred warships. Fortunately, they did not enter the Han River. The commander-in-chief must immediately order General Zheng and General Niu to withdraw from the Han River. It is best to recapture Jiangxia. The commander-in-chief is Yue'e.
Zhenfu envoy, the loss of Jiangxia is a heavy responsibility and must be recaptured.
In addition, the capital commander must immediately notify the Xuanfu Envoy and advise them to withdraw to Hanyang. If we withdraw our troops, the puppet Qi army in Xiangyang will definitely attack Changshou County in a large scale, and the Xuanfu Envoy's main force will be in danger."
Chen Qing nodded, "Joining the army makes sense!"
At this time, Yang Zaixing also said: "I humbly suggest that we send three thousand cavalry to Baling first, and then the main force rush back!"
This suggestion was also timely. Chen Qing immediately appointed Yang Zaixing as the chief general and Gao Ding as the deputy general. The two led 3,000 cavalry and immediately crossed the river and rushed to Baling County.
Chen Qing then sent two eagle letters, one to Zheng Ping, asking him and Niu Gao to withdraw from the Han River immediately, counterattack Jiangxia, and must recapture Jiangxia County.
Another eagle letter was sent to Li Gang, suggesting that he immediately abandon Changshou County and retreat to Hanyang. Chen Qing had been stationed in Changshou County. The city walls of Changshou County were dilapidated and low and could not withstand the fierce attack of the army. Once the county fell, it was likely that all
The army was destroyed.
After arranging a few things, Chen Qing finally calmed down a little. The reason why he did not immediately lead his army to withdraw to Baling was because he had to consider the overall situation. Once his army withdrew, the 100,000 puppet Qi troops in Xiangyang would
Immediately kill Changshou County, the consequences will be very serious.
Moreover, he withdrew his troops without Li Gang's consent, which was a serious crime and no one could protect him.
"In fact, you don't have to worry, Commander-in-Chief."
Zhang Xiao persuaded him with a smile: "The goal of the puppet Qi army is not to seize Baling County. I think their intention is more to put pressure on the capital and force the capital to withdraw its troops back to Baling."
"How to see it?"
"It's very simple. If they were eager to capture Baling, they wouldn't have attacked Jiangxia first. They would have taken a boat and headed west along the Yangtze River. Without anyone noticing, they would have suddenly landed in Baling County and attacked the city. Commander Yang had no time to prepare.
.
But they did not do this. Instead, they attacked Jiangxia first, and then advanced by land and water to create momentum. They were afraid that Baling County would not know about it. Isn't this a reminder to Yang Yuanqing that you quickly ask Chen Dutong for help. If they really attack Baling County, Chen Dutong will
The commander-in-chief may not be in a hurry to go back, so their attack on Baling must be loud with loud thunder and light rain."
Chen Qing laughed, it was really like this, Zhang Xiao was calm and saw things thoroughly.
At this time, there were soldiers outside the tent reporting, "Report to the capital, an urgent eagle message has been sent from Changshou County!"
This eagle letter arrived just in time. Chen Qing immediately ordered the soldiers to present the eagle letter. He took the eagle letter and unfolded it slowly. It was written by Li Gang himself. Li Gang already knew about the 30,000 puppet Qi army crossing the Han River. The Huguang army was attacked from both sides.
, the situation was critical, he had decided to abandon Yingzhou, withdraw to Hanyang, and asked Chen Qing to abandon Jiangling Prefecture and rush back to Baling for rescue.
It seems that Li Gang is also very clear-headed and knows that the current situation is dangerous. Moreover, Li Gang understands Chen Qing's difficulties and offers him to rescue Baling County.
But Chen Qing knew in his heart that Li Gang actually hoped that he could defend Jiangling. He pondered for a long time and said to Zhang Xiao: "Although the Xuanfu envoy asked me to abandon Jiangling, when we can't really give up, I decided to leave 6,000 new troops to defend Jiangling County. I personally
Commander, then join the army and Liu Qiong will go to Baling under my banner, and Yang Zaixing will command the cavalry. I believe he will be able to defeat the enemy and keep Baling County intact."
Zhang Xiao thought for a while and said: "This is not impossible, but I think it is not possible to use all the new soldiers to defend Jiangling. We must also leave five thousand cavalry, and there is no need for Liu Qiong to follow. Hu Yanyun and I took two thousand cavalry to fight with Yang Zaixing.
The generals will gather together, but we all need to make a fake crossing of the river."
Chen Qing immediately understood and said with a smile: "I will show it to the spies of the puppet Qi army in Jiangling City, but I will hide on the other side of the Yangtze River."
Zhang Xiao gave a thumbs up, "The commander-in-chief is brilliant!"
Chen Qing immediately found Liu Cui and ordered him to command 6,000 new soldiers to guard Jiangling City. At the same time, he told him his arrangements and ordered him to keep it a secret and not to leak it to his subordinates.
News that the Huguang Song Army was attacked from both sides spread throughout Jiangling. Chen Qing led 10,000 cavalry back to Baling for rescue. Liu Cui led 6,000 new soldiers to guard Jiangling County. Hundreds of large ships with thousands of stones were moored at the pier outside the city.
Cargo ship, seven thousand cavalrymen began to board the ship to cross the Yangtze River......
Just as there were spies from Chen Qing in Xiangyang City, there were of course spies sent by Wan Yanchang in Jiangling Mansion.
The old Shunchang Teahouse located in the south of the city was the intelligence point of the Puppet Qi Army. The teahouse, like the restaurant, was a place where guests gathered. Teagoers came in and out every day, bringing a lot of information, so it was very suitable as an intelligence point.
Shopkeeper Yang quickly came to the backyard and knocked on a door. Someone inside said, "Please come in!"
Shopkeeper Yang pushed the door open and walked in. Inside was a man in his thirties. His name was Wang Guan. He was the intelligence leader specially selected by Wan Yanchang. He was unsmiling and very smart and capable.
"What's the news?" Wang Guan asked.
"Commander Wang, I have just received news that Chen Qing personally led the cavalry to retreat, and the army is crossing the river!"
Wang Guan's eyes lit up and he quickly asked: "Then who will guard Jiangling City?"
"I heard it was Liu Cui who led 6,000 new soldiers to guard Jiangling City."
Wang Guan couldn't hold back his excitement, stood up and said: "Prepare a bullock cart for me immediately, I'm going to the river to take a look!"
Wang Guan got on an ox cart and headed towards the riverside dock...
Jiangling City is located on the north bank of the Yangtze River, close to the Yangtze River. Just outside the city is the Yangtze River. There are nearly a hundred large cargo ships of three thousand stone moored at the Yangtze River pier. These large ships were all captured from Yang Yao's navy. The Yangtze River cargo ships were plundered by Yang Yao.
, these hundred cargo ships also became the assets of Chen Qing's army, and they were needed to carry grain, grass and war horses.
Thousands of cavalry lined up on the pier, and teams of cavalry were getting on boats. On the river, there were already large ships heading to the south bank. Of course, the cavalry would not go to Baling by boat. The speed was too slow and it would take at least three to four days to sail.
The cavalry can reach Baling in two days.
Chen Qing is riding on a war horse. What is he explaining to the left-behind general Liu Cui?
Behind him is a huge black dragon flag with a red background and a black border. On the other side is a big word 'Chen'. This is Chen Qing's handsome flag. Wherever the handsome flag appears, it means that Chen Qing is there.
!
Chen Qing and Liu Cui clasped their fists and saluted each other. Chen Qing turned his horse's head and, guarded by dozens of soldiers, urged the horse towards a huge cargo ship, with Shuai Qi following closely behind him.
Wang Guan was among the crowd in the distance. He could see clearly that Chen Qingzong immediately got on the big ship. The big ship untied the mooring rope and left the dock and sailed towards the Yangtze River. Chen Qing stood at the stern of the ship and waved goodbye to Liu Cui and others.
Wang Guan turned around and squeezed out of the crowd. He got on the bullock cart and ordered: "Go back to the city!"
Wang Guan hurried back to the teahouse in a hurry. He went back to his room and wrote a pigeon letter, handed it to shopkeeper Yang and said: "Go outside the city and send a pigeon letter to Xiangyang immediately!"