Chapter 188: Competing with the Imperial Decree for Time
Fang Yuan, Li Er, Fu Youde and Yu Tonghai all entered the Hangou Canal and headed for Shaobo Town with the determination to fight to the death!
However, when they arrived outside the town, the scout boat sent out reported that the river in Shaobo Town was not blocked, and there were no enemy troops waiting on the shore!
Everyone was surprised and happy. Li Er said suspiciously: "Since they are guarding Shao Bo Town, why don't they block the waterway? Is there some conspiracy?"
Fang Yuan waved his hand and said: "No matter what conspiracy they have, we have to pass this level anyway, there is nothing to hesitate!"
So the navy set sails full and sailed straight through the waterway without being attacked at all along the way.
Everyone was overjoyed and ordered the warship to move forward at full speed. Soon they met Jiangdu Army scouts and went with the scouts to see Zhang Yangquan.
Zhang Yangquan was greatly surprised when he saw several people returning safe and sound. He immediately ordered the army to turn around, and the rear army became the front army, and the front army became the rear army, and returned to Jiangdu.
On the way back to Jiangdu, Fang Yuan and Zhang Yangquan rode side by side and reported all the details of the battle one by one.
After Zhang Yangquan heard about the fall of Xinghua, he asked: "How is Bian Yuanheng? Is he still alive?"
Fang Yuan smiled and said: "That boy is very tough, but he needs to cultivate for a few months!"
Zhang Yangquan nodded and said: "That's good."
Qin Lingsi pulled the reins and frowned: "Strange, why did Chahan Timur let you come over so easily? Could it be that there was a plague in his army?"
Fang Yuan laughed and said: "Then I don't know!"
Wang Da shook his head and said: "I just said, he must be afraid of us!"
The mountain boar said solemnly: "Whether he is afraid of us or not, only one thing is needed to understand!"
Wang Dal was stunned and said: "What?"
The mountain pig said: "Will he still stay in Shao Bo Town?"
Wang Daqi asked: "Does this matter?"
Shanzhu said: "Looking at the overall situation, although our crisis has been lifted now, Gaoyou will fall into a huge crisis. Xinghua has been lost, Dong Tuanxiao's left army has been liberated, and the Tatars will attack Gaoyou in a big way!" p>
Zhang Yangquan understood what the mountain pig meant and said: "There are not many defenders left in Gaoyou, and we are the only ones who can save them!"
Shanzhu said: "Yes, so whether Chahan's right army can block our rescue road in Shaobo Town will be the key to this battle!"
Fang Yuan touched his chin and said: "Gaoyou probably won't last long, we still have to send troops to help!"
Zhang Yangquan said nothing.
The previous desperate measures were to rescue Fang Yuan, Li Er and others. Now that we have rescued them, we need to consider whether it is worth spending all the money on Gaoyou Army!
"It's better to wait and see what happens. If Gaoyou is in danger, it won't be too late to send troops to assist!" He said after thinking for a long time.
……
In the right military camp near Shaobo Town, after Chahan learned that the Jiangdu navy had left, he ordered his subordinates: "Send the order and block the canal waterway. They must not be allowed to pass through Shaobo Town again!"
A general left as promised.
Not long after, Yesu led people to Shaobo Town. His face was as black as the bottom of a pot and he said coldly: "Commander Chahan, the Prime Minister invites you to come over!"
Chahan had already prepared and sent someone to call Kuo Kuo, and the father and son followed Yesu back to the outside of Gaoyou City.
Tuotuo's Chinese army has returned to camp in the north of the city.
When Chahan and his son arrived at the commander's tent, they found that King Xining, Dong Tuanxiao and King Jing were all in the tent.
Except for Dong Tuanxiao, everyone looked at him as if they wanted to eat him alive.
King Jing stood up and said sternly: "Chahan Timur, why did you let the Jiangdu navy leave? Are you secretly colluding with them, or do you not dare to fight with them?"
Chahan said nothing.
Kuangkuo said: "We have just received news that Xu Shouhui's army in Mianyang has just won a victory, and Liu Futong in Anfeng is also ready to make a move. We should end the fighting here as soon as possible and suppress the rebel armies in other places!"
King Jing laughed angrily and said: "Kuokuao boy, do you think we don't know the general trend of the world and the importance of military force and speed? You want you, a young boy, to teach us?"
Kuangjiu ignored him and looked directly at Tuotuo.
Tuotuo said calmly: "General Kuakuo, what do you mean, would it be possible to win faster if we let go of this Jiangdu naval force?"
Kuang Kuo said loudly: "Yes, the most important thing for us now is to capture Gaoyou as soon as possible! If we block the return of this navy, it will only force them to enter Gaoyou City!"
Tuotuo said expressionlessly: "The prime minister led his army to block the water gate to the west of Gaoyou. How did they enter Gaoyou City?"
Kuangkuo said: "You did lead the army to block the water gate, but what about the north gate? What about the south gate? Can't they abandon the ship and go ashore and enter Gaoyou City from the north and south gates?"
Tuotuo frowned and said nothing.
Kuo Kuo continued: "You have also seen the tenacity of the Gaoyou army. If we get this new force, how many years and months will it take for us to capture Gaoyou?"
Dong Tuanxiao suddenly said: "In my opinion, the enemy seems to have no intention of entering Gaoyou City. When they ran out of food, they chose to go to Shaobo Town, which means that they would rather risk returning to Jiangdu than enter Gaoyou!"
Kuo Kuo glanced at him and said, "Shuai Dong, I'm afraid they are going to Shao Bo Town, right?"
Dong Tuanxiao said lightly: "It's hard to talk about it. I just think that although this naval force is not large in number, it carries thirty or forty firecrackers. They must be reluctant to abandon the boat!"
King Jing said coldly: "I heard that Jiangdu's army was dispatched and went straight to Shao Bo Town. You and your son are not cowards, so let them go back!"
Kuo Kuo smiled and said: "Since King Jing thinks we are timid, how about letting King Jing guard Shao Bo Town and we are responsible for transporting grain and grass?"
King Jing said angrily: "You..."
Chahan finally spoke and said in a deep voice: "My father and son will definitely guard Shaobo Town and will never let any soldiers from Jiangdu Army come over again. You don't have to worry!"
King Jing sneered and said: "What you say is better than what you sing. Now that there is a first time, who knows if there will be a second time!"
"Okay, there's no need to argue. Since General Chahan has made his promise, let's trust him again!" Tuotuo said in a deep voice.
King Jing was furious: "Prime Minister, he violated military orders so much, but you still want to protect him. Is this just a show of force for a general?"
Tuotuo sighed and said slowly: "Everyone, let me tell you the truth! The battle of Yangzhou has started so far, and your Majesty must be very disappointed, not only for me, but also for you."
Everyone's expressions changed when they heard him mention the emperor.
Tuotuo continued: "Your Majesty has become more and more irritable recently. If he dismisses us all in anger, this battle will definitely fail! By then, all the elites of the imperial court will be lost here, and you and I will also become
The sinner of Dayuan!"
In his heart, he was actually angry at Chahan for not obeying orders. However, among his generals, King Jing could not even defeat Gaoyou's army, and Dong Tuanxiao was no longer worthy of trust.
As for the King of Xining, there is no need to consider it, so in the end, he can only rely on Chahan's right army!
Everyone looked at each other and said nothing.
Tuotuo's eyes swept across and he said loudly: "We have no way out now. In ten days at most, the situation of the war will be reported to His Majesty's ears. We must regain the Yangzhou Road before the imperial edict arrives, in order to make up for our merits!"
Everyone had different expressions, but still did not say a word.
Tuotuo said: "I know you have conflicts with each other, but the righteousness comes first. I hope you can put aside your selfishness and work together to eliminate the traitors, not only for yourself, but also for the court!"
King Jing and King Xining looked at each other and performed Mongolian etiquette.
"I am willing to listen to the Prime Minister's orders!"
Dong Tuanxiao and Chahan also expressed their opinions one after another.
"I am willing to listen to the Prime Minister's orders!"
Tuotuo stared at Chahan and said: "General Chahan, the key to whether you can capture Gaoyou now lies in Jiangdu! I believe you are a man of your word. I hope you can hold Shaobo Town and don't let Jiangdu's army come over one by one.
!"
Chahan crossed his arms and said, "The last general will take your orders!"
Tuotuo swept past King Jing, King Xining and Dong Tuanxiao and said: "Starting from tomorrow, the front army will be responsible for attacking the east gate, the left army will attack the south gate, and I will lead the middle army to attack the north gate..."
Before he finished speaking, a personal guard entered the tent and said: "Prime Minister, there is an urgent message from the left minister!"
Tuotuo took it and took a look, and his face instantly became even more ugly.
King Jing hurriedly asked: "Prime Minister, what's wrong?"
Tuotuo slapped his credit force on the table and said with a livid face: "The red scarf thieves from Haozhou have captured Linhuai and are heading towards Xuzhou!"
Everyone's expressions changed. Xuzhou is the base camp for food and grass supply. If it is captured by the Red Scarf Army, the 400,000-strong army will lose its logistical supply!
Tuotuo knew in his heart that the rear army's combat power was low and could not stop the Haozhou rebels. His eyes swept over Dong Tuanxiao, King Xining and King Jing, and finally stopped on King Jing.
"His Royal Highness King Jing, your front army is marching the fastest, so you can only return to Xuzhou for rescue!"
King Jing did not shirk anymore and said loudly: "Prime Minister, don't worry, I will kill those red scarf thieves and come back to help attack the city!"
That night, King Jing set out overnight and led more than 60,000 Mobei cavalry to rush toward Xuzhou.