The Han River was once again controlled by the Song army, and Wan Yanchang's second battle to capture Jingxiang suffered a disastrous defeat. Not only did the offensive and defensive efforts of both sides return to their original starting point, but more importantly, the puppet Qi army's 80,000-strong army was wiped out.
There are currently about 30000 Xiangyang defenders, and the command truly belongs to Dong Xian. Shortly after the news of the failure of the attack on the Three Gorges Road came, Wan Yanchang led 3000 Jurchen cavalry to Fangzhou, crossed the Han River, and left Xiangyang.
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The exact number of troops in Xiangyang is still 28,000, while the strength of the Song army has increased to 70,000. Li Gang's main force alone has increased to 50,000, mainly to recruit surrendered soldiers. Chen Qing sent people to escort nearly 10,000 Li Gang
All the surrendered soldiers on Sanxia Road were recruited by Li Gang.
Chen Qing's military strength also reached 20,000, including 18,000 troops commanded by himself and 2,000 naval troops commanded by Zheng Ping. If the armies of Jiangling and Baling are added, as well as the injured and recovered soldiers of Hanyang, he
The total strength of the army is about 29,000.
It's definitely not possible to have such an army, and he himself can't afford it. He has to return Jiangling's 6,000 recruits to Li Gang.
Outside Xiangyang City, the Song army set up three camps. To the south was Li Gang's main camp, to the east was the camp of 20,000 troops led by deputy general Zhe Yanzhi, and outside the west city was the camp of the capital commander Chen Qing.
Three thousand tents were pitched in Chen Qing's camp alone, surrounded by thick camp fences, trenches were dug in front, and dozens of sentries were built outside the trenches.
But it was not easy for an army of 70,000 to seize Xiangyang City. The main reason was that Xiangyang City was too difficult to attack. The city was tall and wide, the moat was 18 feet wide, and there were nearly 30,000 defenders. If Kong Yanzhou had not sacrificed Xiangyang to surrender, Qi would have surrendered.
The army may not be able to capture Xiangyang.
It's a pity that this guy who deserved death was attracted by Wan Yanchang and took him away together.
In the coach's tent, Li Gang summoned five senior officials to discuss the strategy of attacking Xiangyang, including Zhe Yanzhi, the deputy envoy of Huguang Xuanfu, Cheng Changyu, the envoy of Suizhou Town, Chen Qing, the governor of Yue and E towns, Xie Qian, the governor of the capital, and Xie Qian, the governor of the capital.
Liu Hongdao.
Cheng Changyu said: "The biggest difficulty in Xiangyang City is that the moat is too wide. I suggested using small boats to build eight pontoon bridges overnight, two in the east, west, and south, and then launch attacks from four directions at the same time to overwhelm the opponent with superior force. In a few days, we can
Capture Xiangyang City."
Chen Qing didn't say anything. Cheng Changyu had the right idea to use his superiority in strength to win, but the casualties would be too high and at least 20,000 to 30,000 people would be killed. Li Gang would definitely not agree.
Sure enough, Li Gang didn't say anything. Zhe Yanzhi, who was always famous for his bad mouth, said coldly: "If we fight like this, we will suffer at least 10,000 to 20,000 casualties every day. Governor Cheng feels that our soldiers are all ants. No matter how many people die, he will not feel bad."
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Cheng Changyu said angrily: "How can we fight without killing people? If you don't want to fight, I will lead an army of 10,000 to attack Beicheng. When I capture Xiangyang, you can't even think about taking the credit!"
Li Gang immediately agreed, "Okay, Governor Cheng Zhen will lead 10,000 troops to attack Beicheng tomorrow!"
Cheng Changyu immediately understood that Li Gang was using himself as a test to attack! What he just said was too full, and it was too late for him to regret it.
Cheng Changyu could only say gloomily: "I don't have a boat to build a pontoon bridge."
Li Gang didn't give him any chance and made a decisive decision: "I will allocate money to build the pontoons for the ships in the afternoon. You build the pontoons tonight and start the attack tomorrow."
Cheng Changyu and everyone left. Li Gang sighed and said to Chen Qing, "You have also seen that before the war started, there was internal fighting."
Chen Qingxiao asked: "It seems that there is a conflict between Cheng Changyu and Zhe Yanzhi?"
Li Gang smiled bitterly and said: "The two of them have a deep conflict. It happened during the process of annihilating Yang Yao. You also know that Zheyan is a noble person. He looks down on Cheng Changyu and is a straightforward person. In fact, today
He has restrained himself a lot, if they had fought before, they would have fought."
Chen Qing nodded, "Cheng Changyu's plan is quite satisfactory, but the casualties are too great and the gains outweigh the losses!"
Li Gang smiled and said: "I know you are good at using cunning strategies. You should have a plan in mind. I want to hear your plan even more."
Li Gang was very satisfied with Chen Qing's rescue of the Three Gorges Road, especially Chen Qing who did not kill prisoners. This is commendable, which shows that he kept his promise to himself. After this battle, he must express his credit to the emperor!
Chen Qing smiled slightly and said: "I have some ideas, but I also hope to see how Cheng Zhenfu will attack the city tomorrow. I also need to know the defense situation of Xiangyang!"
"Okay! I'll listen to your opinion again after the trial battle is over tomorrow!"
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Dong Xian stood on the top of the city with his hands behind his hands, looking worriedly at the camp outside the city. He had not received any news from the court so far, as if the court had given up on them. Only then did Dong Xian feel regretful. If he had known it would be over,
After Yan Chang evacuated, he should follow closely and evacuate Xiangyang.
Although Xiangyang is an extremely important strategic place, it still depends on whether it can play a role. If the strength cannot defeat Jingxiang, then it will be meaningless no matter how important Xiangyang is.
Now that he couldn't retreat, he could only hold on and see if the war situation in the west could affect Jingxiang's side.
At this time, a soldier rushed to report, "Marshal, a group of small boats were found on the Cao River."
This was a new situation. Dong Xian hurriedly walked towards the North City. After a while, he came to the North City Wall and looked out. He saw dozens of small boats moored on the Cao River, but he didn't know what they were going to use them for.
Dong Xian thought for a moment and suddenly realized that this boat was clearly used to build a pontoon bridge!
The Song army was preparing to attack the city. He immediately ordered the general on duty: "Keep me under close surveillance, especially at night. Once the enemy builds a pontoon bridge, report to me immediately!"
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That night, Chen Qing also received news that Cheng Changyu had begun to build a pontoon bridge outside Dongcheng. The reason why he chose to build a pontoon bridge in Dongcheng instead of Beicheng was actually due to some special structures of Xiangyang City.
The Xiangyang City Wall is still one foot away from the moat, so craftsmen built a wall close to the bank of the moat. This was not for military purposes, but to prevent the city wall from overflowing when the water rose, so as to prevent the roots of the city wall from being soaked in water for a long time.
This waterproof wall was built in a circle along the entire moat bank. Among them, the waterproof wall outside the north city wall was the tallest, eight feet high, and the other three walls were only about three feet high.
And if the pontoon bridge is built on the north city wall, there will be a problem. The attacking soldiers will have to jump from the eight-foot-high waterproof embankment, which will definitely cause injuries. However, the waterproof embankment in the East City is only three-feet high.
It's much easier.
Chen Qing led more than a hundred soldiers on horseback to the east city. When passing by the north city, he looked at the high waterproof embankment. It was indeed built very high. If all cities built such a high wall on the outer shore, then the attack would be difficult.
The city is more difficult, but Xiangyang City has thought of it, and it can be used as a reference in the future.
At this time, Chen Qing saw the water gate again, which was right next to the main gate. Compared to the city wall, he actually cared more about the water gate.
The strategy Jiang Yanxian suggested to Chen Qing to capture Xiangyang refers to the Water Gate, which is a defensive weakness of Xiangyang City. There are two iron fences inside and outside, and there is a narrow passage in the doorway between the two iron fences, which leads directly to
At the top of the city, the soldiers guarding the city would usually come down along the passage and inspect the ships in the doorway.
Jiang Yanxian told Chen Qing that the two iron fences had not been replaced for at least fifty years. They had long been corroded by water and looked rough on the surface. In fact, they were no different from rotten wood and could be cut off with a sharp axe.
At this time, the rapid sound of horse hooves was heard later, and a sergeant caught up with him, clasping his fists towards Chen Qing and saying: "This is to inform the commander-in-chief that the ship from Baling has arrived and is anchored on the river north of the camp."
Chen Qing temporarily gave up his plan to go to the east of the city to check the pontoon bridge, and instead headed to the west of the Han River. Soon he came to the Han River north of his camp. There were more than twenty three thousand stone ships moored here.
A special ship coming from Baling County.
At this time, someone stood on the side of a large ship and waved to Chen Qing, "Chen Dutong!"
Chen Qing recognized the person who came, it was Xie Changzhi, the chief craftsman in his army.
Chen Qing walked onto the boat and asked with a smile: "Have you done what I asked you to do?"
Xie Changzhi smiled and nodded, "Replying to the Commander-in-Chief, it's ready. Please come with me, Commander-in-Chief!"
