According to Zhe Keqiu's original plan, after the Western Army captured Shaanzhou and Mianchi County, it was necessary to immediately rebuild Xin'an County and build Xin'an County into a new city. However, the puppet Qi State at that time was not focused on the west, but on attacking with all its strength.
Jianghuai did not support Zhe Keqiu's idea, and instead reached a compromise with the Western Army. The two sides used Mianchi County and Xin'an County as buffers, neither stationed troops in each other, nor changed the status quo.
Building a city is also a way to change the status quo. Zhe Keqiu could not withstand the pressure of the puppet Qi court and did not have the financial resources to build a city. The plan to build a city in Xin'an County was abandoned.
After discovering Chen Qing's intention to attack the Central Plains, Zhe Keqiu tried to build Xin'an County again, but it was too late.
But Xin'an County is the west gate of Luoyang, and it cannot be left without someone guarding the gate, otherwise the Western Army will march straight in. But how can Xin'an County, a dilapidated county town, be able to hold it?
Zhe Keqiu was worried about gains and losses. In the end, under the supervision of Wanyan Wushu, he sent 10,000 troops to defend Xin'an County. His principle was that if he could hold it, he would defend it; if he could not, he would immediately abandon Xin'an County and withdraw to ensure that the army could not
damage.
It was a pity that he met Chen Qing. Chen Qing's principle was that regardless of the gains and losses of a city or a place, the enemy must be completely annihilated.
The chief general of Xin'an County is called Wang Zan, and he is a trusted confidant. He is currently the official commander and has an army of 10,000 people. From the time he garrisoned in Xin'an County, Wang Zan has been in a state of restlessness and is extremely concerned about the movements of the Western Army.
Sensitive, as long as he gets the news that the main force of the Western Army has appeared in Mianchi County, he will retreat immediately.
At dawn the next day, several cavalrymen rushed in from a distance, holding high the black dragon and red flag of the Western Army. The defenders immediately became very nervous and immediately closed the city gate. Hundreds of people, holding bows and crossbows, stood ready.
The leader of the Western Army rushed to the city and shouted: "Yang Dutong has a letter for your general!"
After saying this, the soldiers of the Western Army shot the arrow message onto the city wall. Some soldiers picked up the arrow message and immediately rushed to the military camp to report it.
At this time, Wang Zan was discussing countermeasures with three commanders in the tent. One of the three commanders was Xie Zhensheng, Wang Zan's brother-in-law. They were both from Luoyang and married two daughters of Zheng Ting, a wealthy family in Luoyang.
The other two commanders, one named Shi Dawu and the other Su Qian, were both from Ruzhou and their hometowns were in neighboring counties.
"I feel that the spies in Shaanzhou are not reliable at all. Why did the five thousand troops in Mianchi County show up? There is no news at all from Shaanzhou. Later, it was said that the army in Shaanzhou has not been reduced, so why didn't they notice the five thousand troops crossing the border?
?”
Su Qian also said: "Control, General Shi is right. Chen Qing's army cannot be delayed until May. The day lily is cold. He has always been elusive when sending troops. It will be too late to leave when the enemy's main force appears. Let's hurry up."
Return to Luoyang!"
Shi and General Su certainly didn't call for withdrawal for no reason. The main reason was that their spies in Mianchi County discovered an anomaly yesterday. The five thousand Western Army soldiers originally stationed in Mianchi County were all infantry, but the spies found that they had all turned into cavalry.
, this is very strange.
Not to mention where the war horses came from, the key point is that they always thought that the Mianchi garrison was the army of Shaanzhou, but the Shaanzhou garrison could not be cavalry, which means that the five thousand garrison came from Guanzhong. Since the Guanzhong army came,
I'm afraid the war will come soon.
Wang Zan sighed and said: "I will send someone to ask the commander-in-chief for instructions! If the commander-in-chief allows us to withdraw our troops, we will withdraw immediately."
At this moment, the soldiers outside the tent reported: "Reporting the command, the Song army is shooting arrows to the city!"
"Bring it in!"
The soldiers came in and handed Wang Zan an arrow letter. Wang Zan quickly opened the letter and looked at it carefully. He suddenly stood up and his face changed drastically.
The three of them looked at each other, and Xie Zhensheng asked: "Zongzong, what's the news?"
"It was written by Yang Zaixing." Wang Zan's face was extremely complicated.
The three of them were also shocked. How could it be Yang Zaixing? He should be in Jingzhao.
Shi Dawu asked anxiously: "What did he say?"
"He persuaded us to surrender, saying that we had done no evil and could be pardoned. He said that he had led his army to Mianchi County."
"impossible!"
Xie Zhensheng denied it flatly: "If he is in Mianchi County, how come we don't have any news at all?"
Su Qian sneered and said, "Don't we have no news about the five thousand war horses I just mentioned?"
"Horses are different from people!"
"What's the difference? Are five thousand war horses still cargo?"
"Okay! Stop arguing."
Wang Zan interrupted the argument between the two and sighed: "Whether he is here or not, we will have news at noon!"
There was no need to wait until noon. An hour later, they received a message from Fei Ge in Mianchi County. Yang Zaixing led tens of thousands of Song troops to appear outside Mianchi County. The army had passed through Mianchi County and was heading towards Xin'an County.
Wang Zan no longer hesitated and immediately led an army of 10,000 to retreat eastward. The army left Xin'an County and evacuated towards Luoyang. However, within twenty miles of the withdrawal, they encountered soldiers who came from Luoyang to report the news.
The messengers were two soldiers from Zhe Keqiu, whom Wang Zan knew. They came forward to greet him. The leading soldier clasped his fists and said: "General, 20,000 Western cavalry are coming from the east and are about to attack.
The commander ordered the general to immediately turn back to the south and return to Luoyang around the southern official road."
"What!"
Wang Zan was shocked. He suspected that he had heard wrongly, "You just said that the Western cavalry came from the east?"
"Exactly! The Western Army bypassed Beimang Mountain and came from Yanshi County. They came to Luoyang yesterday evening and should be almost at Xin'an County."
Several generals looked at each other, and Xie Zhensheng asked anxiously: "Where is the other party?"
"We are riding two horses, and the other party may rest for an hour or two, and is probably about forty or fifty miles slower than us."
All the generals looked towards Wang Zan. He was the commander-in-chief and the final decision was made by him.
Wang Zan sighed and said: "Pass my order, and the army will turn back and head south!"
The 10,000-strong army turned around and walked west for a few miles, then took another official road heading south, speeding up and running towards the south.
The march of an army is not like that of scouts. Scouts can walk on mountain roads, trails, and even in the wilderness, but normal army marches must take flat official roads. Soldiers are not easily injured and can travel long distances.
The distance from Xin'an County to Luoyang City is one hundred miles. There are two official roads, one is the Zhenguan Road, also called Luoyang Avenue, and the south along Luoshui is another official road, called Luoshui Road.
The Luoshui Road to Luoyang is about fifty miles farther than the Luoyang Avenue, which is equivalent to walking on the back. Although it is much farther, the 10,000-signed army has no choice. They can only change the route to the south.
At this time, Li Muqing led 20,000 cavalry who were already thirty miles away. He also received news from the scouts of the former army that the 10,000-signed army had turned south and headed south.
This was what they expected, and the Song army certainly had a plan. Li Muching immediately ordered General Yang Duan to lead 10,000 cavalry to continue intercepting Luoyang Avenue, while he personally led 10,000 cavalry to Luoshui Avenue.
Wang Zan led an army of 10,000 people all the way south. It was getting dark. The soldiers were tired, hungry and thirsty, so they had to stop and rest. Unfortunately, Wang Zan had no choice but to order the entire army to rest for two hours.
The soldiers were sitting on the grass, eating dry food and drinking water. The news that they were surrounded from both sides had spread throughout the army, and people were panicked.
At this time, Su Qian sat next to Shi Dawu and whispered: "What do you think, do you really want to go back to Luoyang?"
Shi Dawu shook his head and said: "How can we return to Luoyang? With 20,000 cavalry, don't others know that we are going south? They will catch up with us soon, and maybe they will intercept us in front. There is Yang Zaixing's army behind us.
."
Su Qian was silent for a moment and said: "Since Yang Zaixing surrendered to us and said that we are not evil, I want to surrender."
Shi Dawu sighed, "I think so too! I have no shame in returning to my hometown if I work for the Jin soldiers."
Su Qian looked around and whispered: "It's not enough to surrender like this. It's better to kill Wang Zan and surrender with his head."
Shi Dawu shook his head and said: "It is enough for us to surrender with our own troops. He is very skilled in martial arts and has Xie Zhensheng's support. I am afraid that I will not be able to kill him and will be harmed by him."
"Then do it!"
Su Qian made up his mind and said: "Gather our six thousand brothers, turn around and go north."