October 18th, the first year of Dashun, Hexi County.
Hexi County is under the jurisdiction of Hezhong Prefecture, but it is on the west bank of the Yellow River. Since the Chinese Dynasty, its ownership has been changed repeatedly. It once belonged to Tongzhou on Guannai Road, and sometimes belonged to Hezhong Prefecture on Hedong Road. It is currently occupied by Hezhong.
Hexi County was probably within the territory of Pingmin Township in Dali County in later generations. On the opposite bank was Hedong County (today's Yongji) of Hezhong Prefecture, which was also the seat of Hezhong Town.
There is a city on the bank of Dongerli River in Hexi County, which is called "Xiguan City".
There is a city on the bank of Xierli River in Hedong County, called "Dongguan City".
Zhongli (tān) City was built on the center of Hezhu, which is similar to the three cities in Heyang.
There is a pontoon-built bridge, about 200 paces wide, connecting the three cities. Before the ninth year of Kaiyuan, it was connected with bamboo, and later it was added with iron chains to facilitate the navigation of north-south ships and not to interrupt the navigation.
Four iron oxen and four iron men were placed on each side of the river to fix the iron chains. Two iron pillars were cast under each iron ox, one in front of the other and one in back, more than ten feet deep into the ground.
Xiguan City, Zhongli City, and Dongguan City are collectively called "Pujin Pass".
Under the imperial system, there were post roads on all sides of the capital called Shangguan. There were six in total, with Pujinguan and Tongguan occupying one each.
The post roads where these two gates are located are also the two main roads leading into Chang'an from the east.
"Senior Zhao, this city and this pass are obviously in the west of the river, why are they allowed to be occupied by the river? It's like a thorn in the back, which makes people feel uncomfortable." Shao Shude, who was standing on the top of the pagoda, pointed to the county seat to the east and asked the pass.
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"In the Yuan Dynasty of De Dynasty, the imperial court set up a defense envoy in Hezhong to capture Puguan. The next year, he was promoted to the governor of Hezhong and the defense envoy at Puguan, and it has been passed down since then." Zhao Guangfeng is indeed well-read, and if asked casually, he can tell the year.
You said it clearly, you are worthy of being a Jinshi.
This is unreasonable! Shao Dashuai was angry.
Shouldn't there be half of such a strategic passage for one person?
The three cities of Puguan are all stationed by Hezhong soldiers, and it is less than three hundred miles from Chang'an. Do you take the saint seriously?
"After I finish sorting out the affairs of the five states in Weibei, I will have a good talk with Wang Chongying about the affairs of Hexi County." Shao Shude got off the pagoda and said.
"Why are you making fun of me, Marshal!" Zhao Guangfeng laughed and said, "The imperial court also doesn't want to see me seize Hexi."
"The imperial court still doesn't want me to seize Tongzhou." Shao Shude also said with a smile.
Tongzhou's population of 300,000 to 400,000 may not be a big deal in Hebei, but in Guanzhong, it is a first-class large county, currently only slightly inferior to Huazhou.
After receiving the imperial edict, Shao Shude led his main force and marched southward. He counted Tielin's army of 10,000 people, Tianzhu army of 7,000, Feixiong army of 10,000 people, Tianxiong army of 5,000 people, Yi Cong army of 8,000 people, and a total of 40,000 infantry and cavalry troops.
With the title of righteousness given by the imperial court, 40,000 troops marched into the empty Tongzhou. Six of the seven counties surrendered after hearing the news, but Fengyi County (i.e. Tongzhou, today's Dali) closed its doors.
Defend, don't surrender, don't fight.
Let him go!
Shao Shude had appointed Zang Dubao, the envoy of the Tianxiong Army, as the envoy of Qingdao Beheading. He crossed the Luoshui River in advance and set up camp on the south bank.
He led the main force of the Chinese army southward along the Yellow River and occupied Chaoyi County (today's Chaoyi Town, Dali County) less than thirty miles west of Hexi.
"The rebel general Hao Zhenwei has been besieging Huazhou for more than ten days without success. What strategy can we use to break it now?" On the way to Chaoyi, Shao Shude asked the two aides Zhao and Chen.
"The strategy formulated by the commander-in-chief is feasible." Chen Cheng answered first: "The main force surrounded Tongzhou, and Zang Jun sent his troops to camp on the south bank of Luoshui River, which made Hao Zhenwei think that our army was going to fight with him."
"If he wants to come to a decisive battle, I can't ask for it. He has only ten thousand exhausted troops. I can defeat him in one battle."
Shao Shude asked someone to spread out the map and look carefully at the mountains and rivers of Tongzhou and Huazhou.
Hao Zhenwei failed to annihilate Wang Bian's troops in one fell swoop, which was half the battle.
Wang Bian took the 500 cavalry that Shao Shude lent him and rushed back to Huazhou. Later, 2,000 defeated soldiers came back one after another. There were still 1,000 state soldiers in Huazhou City, and he relied on these 3,500 people to fight again.
The army was conquered and the people were strong, and they have been holding on till now.
Hao Zhenwei, with only ten thousand men, gathered troops at the foot of Huazhou City. It was very difficult to attack, and he was reluctant to leave. It was really a dilemma.
What's worse is that he has been deprived of all his posts by the imperial court. After all the people left, six of the seven counties in Tongzhou were empty. Faced with such a situation and changing places, Shao Shude didn't know what to do.
Perhaps the only way to survive is to return to Tongzhou quickly, cooperate with the defenders in the city, and defeat the main force of Shuofang's army.
It sounds a bit fantasy, but it is indeed his only way.
"The commander-in-chief's use of troops always gives the impression of being cautious and steady. The same is true with the current posture. The main force is besieging Tongzhou, and an army is also stationed on the south bank of Luoshui River. It can be said that it is extremely safe." Zhao Guangfeng laughed.
Said: "Tie Lin Army, Yi Cong Army, and Fei Xiong Army all appeared outside Tongzhou City in two days, and Tianxiong Army's 5,000 infantry were also watching in Luonan, but Tianzhu Army was missing..."
"When all the cavalry are out, we must expand the search area. We must not let the rebels get close to Tongzhou, and we must not let them know the strength of our army." Shao Shude ordered: "Shayuan Supervisor will take it first, and there should be horses donated by each town in the garden.
, give it to the Flying Bear Army first. After the battle is over, compensate it to the imperial court."
Shayuan Prison is under the jurisdiction of Taipu Temple. It is a pastoral prison established by the imperial court in Guanzhong, located in the south of Tongzhou City. It was originally a horse breeding farm, but now it has been degraded into a "food base", raising many cattle and sheep for the imperial banquet.
It is used by the sacrificial monks and the food bureau. Most of the livestock donated by various towns are fostered here and sent to Chang'an regularly.
****
Outside Huazhou City, Hao Zhenwei was sitting motionless, seemingly calm and relaxed.
"Commander, our family members are all in Tongzhou. If we are captured by the Shao thief, the morale of the army will collapse." Although Hao Zhenwei has been deprived of all his posts, the Tongzhou army is still regarded as the governor of the Zhenguo Army.
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"The Shao thief has a hundred thousand troops surrounding Tongzhou, but there are only 2,500 soldiers in the city. Even if he recruits strong men to join the army, it will not last long, Commander!"
"Where did he get an army of 100,000? At most 50,000."
"If fifty thousand troops besiege the city and attack day and night, how long can it be defended?"
"Is he really going to attack Tongzhou?"
"Is there any lie? There is a messenger from the north asking for help. It is said that the Shao thieves have made great progress in Chaoyi, Hancheng, Baishui, Heyang and other counties. They have collected grain and grass and sent them all to Shayuan Prison."
"Fengxian, Meiyuan, Fuping, and Pan counties in the west are indeed collecting Minzhuang, grain and grass, and plan to cross the river to deliver them to Tongzhou City. The army's rangers have seen it from a distance, and the minzhuang team can be seen as far as the eye can see."
"In engaging in such a big battle, we are determined to conquer Tongzhou."
"Commander, if you don't think of a way, if Tongzhou is lost, someone in the army will have a secret conspiracy with Shao."
"Bang!" Hao Zhenwei slapped the table hard, stopping the generals' chatter.
I underestimated this thief! Hao Zhenwei felt a little upset.
The troops are meticulous and considerate of every aspect. He likes to use force to overwhelm others, attack the weak with the strong, and attack the small with the many.
Even if the strength of both sides is similar, this thief will use all kinds of insidious means to weaken the opponent's morale and shake his military morale. When his combat effectiveness drops significantly compared to his heyday, he will then engage in a decisive battle with thunderous force.
If only I had killed him with one blow in Shuozhou! I wouldn't have the troubles I have today.
Hao Zhenwei stood up and glanced at the generals. Most of them were his own soldiers and generals who had followed him south from Fengzhou.
Regardless of other people, Thief Shao was a very righteous man. He released all the family members who had been trapped in Tiande Army City one by one. He heard that the captured generals could also survive.
This person's mind is indeed good, and he is not the kind of villain who will retaliate for his anger.
"I believe you are all aware of the current situation. A quick decision is not conducive to a protracted battle." Hao Zhenwei said: "Shao Shao has been fighting for ten years, and I have never seen him play any new tricks. This time I must have used the same method again."
The state was used as a bait to lure me forward, and then tens of thousands of troops came out to wait for work, and then attacked me with ten thousand tired troops."
"This man attaches great importance to 'power' in his military use," Hao Zhenwei said as he recalled.
Sun Tzu said: "Those who are good at fighting look for the power and do not blame others, so they can choose people and follow the power."
Judging from the current situation, Shao Shude has indeed created a situation: first, 40,000 troops, with high morale, well-trained, and overwhelming momentum; second, to besiege Tongzhou, which has a weak force, and the families of Tongzhou soldiers are all in the city.
, were on tenterhooks; third, because of the imperial court's righteousness, the surrounding counties either surrendered in anticipation of the wind, or were very cooperative, with provisions, grass, and wives in hand, and had won peace; fourth, the Tongzhou army wanted to come back for reinforcements, and hurried on, and their strength was greatly reduced.
, while Shuofang’s army is waiting for work...
The sound is great, the sound is great, and the skill is as clumsy as it is clumsy.
This person has never fought an extremely exciting, wonderful, soul-stirring battle, but he can still win.
The potential was used to the extreme.
But you can't say this to your generals, it would be frustrating!
No one has much capital, and they are still so passive in terms of "power", so they have no choice.
Hao Zhenwei is also a veteran. He really hates fighting such a battle without choice, but he has to fight this time. Unless he doesn't care about anything, he leads his army eastward and joins Wang Chongying and his son or Zhu Quanzhong.
"Slowly withdraw our troops in the past two days to get rid of Wang Bian's entanglement." Hao Zhenwei finally made a decision and said: "If he dares to go out of the city to pursue him, we can just annihilate him in one battle. If he doesn't dare, go back north and defeat the Shao thief first.
Luonan camp, and then take advantage of the victory to fight decisively and defeat the enemy in one fell swoop."
"In this battle, our army has the potential to be in mourning. Tens of thousands of soldiers from the same state have worked together to rescue the young family, and they will definitely be willing to fight to the death. Shao's thieves are in charge of going to the stronghold. It seems safe. Don't you hear that they will not stop when they return to the army?" Hao Zhenwei said loudly.
Said: "The advantage is mine!"
The expressions on the generals' faces were extremely wonderful.
A marshal is a marshal. Such an analysis does sound somewhat reasonable.
That's all, as long as the sergeants believe it, it's better to be willing to fight to the death than to be defeated thousands of miles away. Now, like a bird, there really is no other choice.
Everyone looked at me and I looked at you, and they always felt that some of them were already in cahoots with Shao Thief.
"In this battle, there is no retreat. I am invincible." Hao Zhenwei said: "The reward will be given out tomorrow."
"The commander is wise!" the generals said in unison.
Hao Zhenwei looked at everyone with satisfaction, but he was thinking in his heart: I will send an envoy to Heyang tonight, please accompany Zhu Quanzhong. Almost all the people in Guanzhong are Shao's thieves, so they are alone!
