"The summer thieves are coming!" A rider rushed back from the west of Zaoyang County, Suizhou, shouting.
"What are you calling!" Zhao Cen scolded, then dismounted, stood on the left side of the road, and waited silently.
He specially rushed from Lisuosui County to Zaoyang, and met the Xia army heading for Suizhou in the westernmost county under his jurisdiction.
Many state and county officials followed, as well as a thousand state soldiers.
In the Battle of Xiaojiangkou, Suizhou's main force was almost wiped out. Now there are few soldiers in the state and cannot resist. It is better to surrender and protect the country and the people.
The accompanying generals were somewhat uneasy.
There are many warriors in these days who are ruthless. After seizing the city, what if you kill them all?
They are also outsiders and have no roots in the local area.
Although they have married into local big families and gained some support in recent years, after all, it has only been five years, and the interest pattern has not yet been completely stabilized, so this rule is still somewhat weak after all.
The rhythmic sound of horse hooves sounded in the distance.
Everyone looked solemn, straightened their robes, and waited quietly.
The first thing that appeared on the eyelids was a team of silver cavalry.
There were about a hundred riders, all wearing heavy armor. As expected, it caused a commotion.
The reputation of the iron kite has already become famous in Shannan East Road, and it is regarded as a fierce god by many people.
After this battle, I believe that the military leaders will pay more and more attention to the role of armored cavalry and follow their example.
It would be really funny if it were to resemble the armored cavalry arms race of the Southern and Northern Dynasties.
Renaissance!
"The sun is scorching hot, and it is really a sin to make Zhao Cun wait for a long time." Pei Yuan, the governor of Shannan Road, got off his horse and walked towards Zhao Cen.
When he got close, he held his arm and said: "Before I came, the king of Lingwu County granted me the right to recruit people, and said that those who submit their land with dedication will be guilty of meritorious service. Zhaodutou, you have indeed made great achievements, don't worry.
.”
Zhao Cen felt a little relieved, but he still couldn't help but ask: "My father is still at Xiaojiangkou. I don't know when he will return home."
Pei Yuan was a little surprised. Zhao Kuanglin, Zhao Cen and his son seemed to be really kind and filial, which made him have a better impression of Zhao Cen.
"Your residence is at Xiaojiangkou, where you drink tea and play chess all day long. It's so uncomfortable. Zhao Dutou doesn't need to worry." Pei Yuan said with a smile.
Zhao Cen was helpless.
Since ancient times, we have always been sons and nephews, and our brothers have been used as hostages. I never thought that my father would be used as a hostage.
"Commander Zhe and your Majesty hit it off like old friends at first sight. The two talked about the battles in their youth. They got along quite well, and they have become irreconcilable friends." Pei Yuan Yuan frowned and couldn't help but comforted him a little more. Then he looked at the Suizhou officials.
, smiled and said: "Why don't you introduce the talents of Suizhou to Zhao Dutou?"
Zhao Cen calmed down and introduced Pei Yuan one by one.
The armored cavalry brigade also caught up and stopped more than a hundred paces away. There was silence and the troops were neat and tidy. They looked like a strong force that was used to fighting.
After introducing the officials of Suizhou, Zhao Cen couldn't help but look back.
The knights on horseback wore masks, leaving only their orifices exposed, so their expressions could not be seen clearly. But looking at their neat appearance, the Battle of Xiaojiangkou had no idea how much of a shadow it had cast on the leaders of the Loyalty Army.
"I don't know about this army..." Zhao Cen was a warrior after all. He was really curious and couldn't help but ask Pei Yuan.
Pei Yuan's heart flashed, and he immediately found a follower, whispered a few words, and the follower immediately ran back.
Soon, more than ten armored cavalry left the team and came slowly.
The Suizhou officials were a little panicked and timidly even took a step back.
Zhao Cen stood still.
The first rider took off his curtain and said: "Zhao Dutou, I heard that you want to see me?"
"But the Leopard Cavalry can defeat the general?" Zhao Cen saluted.
"Zhe Congyun has resigned. I am Wang Chong." Wang Chong corrected Zhao Cen's somewhat outdated information.
"Since the Battle of Shaanxi City in the Wei and Song Dynasties, although armored cavalry is still at its peak, tiger-spotted cavalry gradually began to emerge." Zhao Cen looked at the iron kite in the distance and said: "It has been two hundred years since the dynasty.
It is difficult to find armored cavalry. Unexpectedly, Prince Lingwu rebuilt this army. In the future, I am afraid that all towns will have to imitate it and form one after another."
History may be like this.
During the Northern and Southern Dynasties, they used armored cavalry against each other, and they were majestic and arrogant on the battlefield. Both the North and the South maintained a large number of armored cavalry as the decisive force.
But later, as the infantry equipment and tactics of both sides improved day by day, the armored cavalry suffered heavy casualties when attacking the heavy armored infantry, and they could not win at all. The cavalry who rushed into the formation had their horses' legs hooked with hooks and sickles below, and their horses were hooked above them.
For details, please refer to the time when Jin Wushu was violently beaten by Yue Fei when he was beaten with long-handled axes and other blunt weapons. In fact, there were too many scenes like this in the Southern and Northern Dynasties. By the end of the Northern Song Dynasty, it is estimated that the sergeants no longer had much to deal with armored cavalry.
experience of.
The armored cavalry charge into the formation was repeatedly frustrated, leading both sides to continuously reduce the weight of the armored cavalry to improve their mobility, and finally slowly disappeared from the battlefield.
During the Sui Dynasty, adhering to the legacy of the Northern Dynasties, only 5,000 armored cavalry were retained in the country, and the number was greatly reduced.
There are even fewer imperial dynasties, and now they have almost disappeared.
However, as the legacy of the brave infantry in the Southern and Northern Dynasties of cutting off horse legs and mounting armored cavalry gradually dissipated, and with the gradual loss of experience, perhaps it was time for armored cavalry to be revived again.
But once everyone gets used to it, it will probably disappear again. After all, the standard equipment of the infantry of the Guo Dynasty is the hook sickle and the long-handled axe. What are these two weapons inherited from the Northern Dynasty? You will understand after a little thought.
Pei Yuan was listening quietly on the side, and then interjected: "We will talk about the battle battle later. Why don't we enter the city first? I have important matters to discuss with Zhao Dutou."
"That's fine." Zhao Cen took one last look at Tie Yaozi and led everyone into Zaoyang County.
"Zhao Dutou, Zhao Fan, the governor of Tangzhou, and Zhao Guan (qiú), the governor of Dengzhou, may it be said that he is coming to surrender?" After the two sat down, they dismissed the rest and began to discuss secretly.
"Zhao Fan is the adopted son of my uncle (Zhao Deyi). He was originally a beggar, and he was taken in by his uncle. He taught him martial arts and entrusted him with important responsibilities. The land of Tang and Deng was very important to Xiangzhen and could not be controlled unless he was close to his uncle.
When Weng was still alive, uncle Kuang Ning was appointed as the governor of Tangzhou, and Yuhou was the governor of the seven states. When his uncle passed away and succeeded to the throne, the troops and horses of Tangzhou were handed over to Zhao Fan. This man would not surrender, even if he himself
Even if you surrender, the generals below may not surrender, so don’t waste your efforts." Zhao Cen said straightforwardly.
"Zhao Dutou is saying that even if Zhao Fan wants to surrender, he may be blocked by Tangzhou soldiers, so he dare not surrender?" Pei Yuan asked with some surprise.
Zhao Cen nodded and said: "Zhao Zhuan in Dengzhou is about the same. His military strength has not been damaged. Even if he is afraid, he will probably refuse to surrender. The Xia army is really resolute and good at fighting, so it is better to start with the easier and then the harder. Yingzhou is empty, but it can be
The drums are coming down. Fangzhou is hanging outside, and it is not difficult to surrender. Now we have two states. I don't know what to do with the important land of Xiangzhou. Pei Shijun may have a strategy in his mind, and I am all ears."
"I'm about to ask Zhao Dutou to get more details." Pei Yuan said with a smile.
When formulating a war and treatment strategy, insiders must be used as reference. Otherwise, if the medicine is not right for the patient, why not suffer the consequences?
"A certain person wants to make some suggestions to subdue the commander and raise a large army to surround Xiangyang," Pei Yuan said.
Zhao Cen frowned in thought.
In Xiangyang Xiongcheng, before the expedition, Zhao Kuangming led 5,000 yamen troops to stay behind, and now thousands more have escaped. There are 8,000 yamen soldiers in total, some state and county soldiers, and local Tuan villagers, making up a total of 15,000 people.
No problem.
Moreover, there is sufficient food and grass, the city defense is complete, and there is no shortage of equipment. As long as Zhao Kuangning does not run away, a strong attack will not be possible.
Will Zhao Kuangning run away? It’s unlikely.
To the east, Yang Xingmi had just luckily defeated Sun Ru, and his strength was just that, so it didn't look like he was worth defecting to.
Du Hong of the Wuchang Army had only ordinary connections, and most likely he had been attached to Quan Zhong for a long time, so it was not appropriate for him to defect to him.
Jiangling and Li Kan have a bad relationship, let alone defecting.
Then Zhu Quanzhong is the only one left, who dares to defect? It would be better to surrender to Shao Shude.
"Or is it a strategy to induce surrender?" Zhao Cen asked tentatively.
"Of course, Zhao Dutou is indeed very wise." Pei Yuan said with a smile: "When I went south, the King of Lingwu County granted me full power. Now that I want to recruit Zhao Kuangning, I may have to make a trip to Zhao Dutou to make a statement.
guest."
"What's the best way to surrender?" Zhao Cen asked.
At this juncture, it is risky to be a lobbyist. Even one of your own family members may be chopped down with a knife. But now that the matter has come to this, what can be done?
"The east road of Shannan originally had eight prefectures, Jun and Fang prefectures, which have been transferred to Zhaoxin Army. Li Yanling was appointed as the Jiedushi envoy to collect gold, Shang, Jun, Fang and Fang prefectures to govern Jinzhou. Or Tang and Deng could be appointed as Jiedushi envoys.
, led the Tang Dynasty, Deng, followed the three prefectures, and governed Tang Prefecture. The Zhongyi Army remained, led Xiang and Ying, restored the three prefectures and thirteen counties, and governed Xiangzhou." Pei Yuan said.
In the Tang Dynasty and Deng Dynasty, Deng and Deng followed the Jiedushi envoys and appeared in the Guo Dynasty. When the rebel generals in Huaixi were attacked, Li Su held this position.
Fuzhou has three counties: Mianyang, Jingling, and Jianli, with a population of tens of thousands. They are currently occupied by Du Hong of Ezhou.
"The land of the Eight Prefectures has been demolished to pieces." Zhao Cen said with a bitter smile.
If this happens, the Loyalty Army will have Jiangling Li Kan on their left, who have a bad relationship, and Ezhou Du Hong on their right, who will have a bad relationship.
Li Kan actually controlled five prefectures in Kuixia, plus Jiangling Prefecture. Du Hong controlled seven prefectures: E, Mian, Yue, Qi, Huang, An, and Shen. Xiangyang only took over three prefectures. He was not allowed to rely on the two towns of Tang, Deng, and Zhaoxin?
Moreover, Fuzhou's three counties had to be conquered by their own troops, which was not easy.
"Pei Shijun wanted to take advantage of the great victory and persuade Uncle Kuang Ning to exchange the land of Tang and Deng for Xiangyang. What a trick to make something out of nothing." Zhao Cen raised his hand in admiration, and then said: "Tangzhou Zhao
Fan's military strength has been greatly reduced, and the people in the town are unstable. If he is given the post of governor of Yingzhou, he may be willing to hand over seven counties of Tangzhou. But how to arrange Zhao Qiu of Dengzhou? Fuzhou is still in Du Hong's hands. If it is necessary to send troops
I'm afraid I won't be willing to capture it. This matter must be cut quickly. If it is delayed for a long time and Zhu Quanzhong is involved, it will not be so easy. To the north of Dengzhou is Ruzhou, and the Bian army can arrive in a moment."
Cutting the knot quickly is indeed the most important thing today.
It cannot be delayed, otherwise changes will occur, it will become complicated, and the results of this battle will be greatly reduced.
If the Tang and Deng states were forced to surrender Zhu Quanzhong due to the situation, then the fight would be in vain, and would even be worse than no fight at all.
There is still a shortage of troops! If there are 70,000 to 80,000 troops and horses, which can not only surround Xiangyang, but also attack Tang and Deng, and can stop Zhu Quanzhong all the way, why bother!
Bianzhou has 40,000 soldiers and horses in Puzhou, 20,000 in Suzhou, Henan Prefecture estimates there are 30,000 more, and Ruzhou has 20,000. There are still mobile troops, and like Shuofang Army, these are field troops. Marshal Shao has state soldiers, and there are
Among the Tibetan soldiers, Zhu Quanzhong also had state soldiers, county soldiers, and local soldiers, and he could still draw out a lot of troops.
If Tang and Deng were pushed to Zhu Quanzhong's side, he would gain another 10,000 or 20,000 troops out of thin air, and he would occupy the dangerous passes of the city and be able to supply supplies on the spot. This would be almost a local battle, which is something that needs to be avoided at all costs.
"The army led by Marshal Zhe is about to approach Xiangyang, and I would like to ask Zhao Dutou to go into the city to persuade Zhao Kuangning. Don't worry, the post of governor of Suizhou is still yours. Even if Marshal Zhe becomes the envoy to Tang and Deng in the future, he will not be moved."
Pei Yuan said.
"It doesn't matter, success or failure, let's just leave." Zhao Cen also risked his life. Perhaps he suddenly thought of something, and whispered: "Of the four counties in Suizhou, only Lingwu County King's order is obeyed."
"Zhao Dutou is really wise and deserves wealth." Pei Yuan praised.