The river was surging, and a torrent of cavalry was advancing along the river.
The main river valley of Boilingshui is more than a mile wide, with green mountains and good vegetation on both sides. There are a small number of alluvial flats along the river, and the soil is fertile and suitable for farming.
The river is home to carp, silver carp, crucian carp, grass and other fish. The shipping is underdeveloped and there are many rapids and whistles, making it difficult for boats to navigate. Only the Liangkou line can pass large boats.
These cannot be seen on the map. Liu Xiang knew this in detail because he met a caravan on the road and rescued a man named Liu Yi.
This man was a Han citizen. When the Anping Army invaded Liaodong, in order to avoid the war, he wanted to take his family and flee to Lelang County via Goguryeo. Then, his family was all lost and he himself became a slave of the Goguryeo people.
He grew up as a wealthy nobleman and was reduced to a slave who was no better than a big animal. His parents and wife both died, and he was filled with hatred.
In the war-torn years, such sufferings abound, which makes people sigh with emotion.
"General, we are ahead of you at the Zubongchuan River, which is a flat land beside the Boiling River. The former capital of Goguryeo, Heshenggu City, is there. General, do you want to attack the city? The city is built on the mountain and is not easy to attack. I am willing to hide in it.
Go in to find out the news and help the army break the city."
Liu Yi introduced the terrain diligently. He wished that Goguryeo would be destroyed immediately and all of them would be massacred.
Liu Xiang was not interested in Heshenggu City and asked: "How far is this place from the inner city?"
"There are still more than three hundred and eighty miles to go along the river."
"Is there a road through the mountains?"
Liu Yi trembled, and the pain from the past seeped into his bones, making it difficult for him to forget: "The mountains are rugged, making it difficult for large armies to pass, and the paths are winding and winding. It is not much faster than walking along the river. I walked through it once with a caravan and was almost beaten.
die."
The miserable experience caused too much damage. Liu Xiang advised him: "The caravan was completely slaughtered. You have already taken revenge. You cannot imprison yourself in the past. The past is like a dream. Just forget it. From now on,
We still have to live our lives.”
Liu Yi bowed and saluted: "Thank you, General, for your comfort. I am deeply grateful."
"It doesn't have to be like this. The military situation is urgent and we have to hurry up. Can you still bear it?"
Liu Yi steeled himself and gritted his teeth: "I used to be able to carry heavy loads, but now I can ride on horseback. I just want to see the army break the city and slaughter Goguryeo. Before that, I can endure any hardship."
have to."
The army ignored the panic of Heshenggu City and ran southward for one hundred and fifty miles along the boiling water. The river turned eastward, and the cavalry followed the terrain eastward and walked another one hundred and fifty miles.
It took four and a half days, wading through deserted beaches and gravel, crossing blisters and silts, and traveling more than 300 miles, before finally arriving at Liangkou where the two rivers meet.
Sixty miles north of here is the inner city of the royal capital.
Yunfan Camp, who had agreed to wait here, disappeared.
Liu Xiang was very confused. The middle and lower reaches of the Yalu River were navigable. This place was only more than 200 miles away from Xi'anping. Why hadn't it arrived yet? Yunfan Camp had been there for almost a year, and they had also carried out the task of opening up navigation routes. Why?
Maybe they didn’t investigate the local hydrology? If navigation was not possible, they should have reported back earlier.
He couldn't help but ask Liu Yi: "Isn't Mazi Water navigable?"
"It is already navigable in spring and March."
The answer he got was pretty much what he thought.
"Yan Zhi, take a group of Yueqi to search downstream. After you find it, go to the inner city to report it."
"The last general takes orders." Yan Zhi led about 200 people and searched southwest along the river.
The remaining troops headed northeast and continued to advance into the domestic city.
At nightfall, we were only about 20 miles away from the royal capital of Goguryeo, and then we entered the Tonggou Plain. It was densely populated there, and it was difficult to hide our traces even if we marched at night. It was impossible for an army of nearly 30,000 people to approach the city quietly.
Either disguise or attack the city.
If you want to attack quickly, there are only two ways.
Liu Xiang decided to visit the city at night.
If you don't see it with your own eyes, you won't know.
He ordered the army to hide in the mountains and valleys on the west side. He took Zhao Jing, Shi A, and Dian Wei and set off. Cui Yi wanted to follow him life and death. He grabbed his sleeve and acted like a rogue: "My lord won't let me follow, so-and-so."
Don’t let the lord go.”
Liu Xiang sighed, knowing that Cui Yi was worried about his safety and went to investigate with a few people. He actually didn't want to do such a dangerous thing. He had ridiculed Li Er more than once before and almost got captured alive while investigating the enemy's situation.
This is not how a master should behave.
But there is no way. Now that we are going deep alone, we have to think carefully about every battle and understand the details of the battlefield.
While he was mocking Li Er for not taking risks, he also made mistakes more than once. In life, he is slapped in the face everywhere.
"Let's do it together, don't drag her, how can you be so decent? I'm not as good as Long Yang."
Liu Xiang complained and ordered Yan Gang to temporarily lead the army, and the five men set off.
We drove quickly all the way, and soon we saw the domestic city.
How did you find this place? It was perfect for defensive warfare.
He feels toothache.
The domestic city is located on the bank of Ma Zishui River, on the west side of Tonggou Plain. Two miles north of the city is Yushan Mountain, and 60 meters to the west is Tonggou River. The river turns a corner under the city and flows through the south gate.
, injecting Mazi water to the east. On the west bank of Tonggou is Qixing Mountain, in which a Weinayan City was built, which is nearly five miles away from the inner city and serves as its acropolis.
Surrounded by mountains and rivers, the two cities are dependent on each other, making it difficult to fight.
The Longshan Mountain on the east bank of the river can be ignored. This terrain is already difficult enough for the siege.
Liu Xiang didn't even know where the siege army's camp should be.
If you set up camp on the south bank of Tonggou, you will have to cross the river to fight every time you attack the city. If you set up camp on the north bank, the supply line will be easily cut off.
The space that can be used by the siege party is too small.
Compared with the terrain, the city itself is not that good. It is based on the construction model of small cities in the northern part of the Han Dynasty. The city wall is a rammed earth building with a circumference of more than four miles and a wall height of about three feet. There are four city gates.
There is a double-story tower built on it.
For those who don’t know the situation, who knows that this is the royal capital of a country, and Dingtian is considered a northern county.
The Wena Rock City in the west is more imposing than him. It was built according to the mountain topography. The city walls are made of mixed stones. The walls are rough and rough. The shape is convex and crooked. There is a stream flowing out from the south gate. There must be a water source inside.
The deputy has made it clear that he wants to make you look ugly and not easy to mess with.
"Damn it, how can you fight like this?" Cui Yi expressed his admiration for the capital of Goguryeo.
How to fight?
Liu Xiang also has some numbness.
I knew it was difficult to fight, but I didn't expect it to be so difficult.
The plain next to the river can be farmed, the two rivers can be fished, and the mountains behind it can be hunted. There is probably no shortage of supplies. With the support of the mountain city, the mountains also have their own water sources, so there is no need for siege.
Even if the army goes out to fight, it is impossible for the royal capital to leave no defenders behind.
It doesn’t take much, one or two thousand is enough.
The cavalry's charge into the city is blocked by the river, so it can be abandoned.
If you pretend to be a caravan and seize the opportunity, your accent and demeanor may be too different, so the success rate is probably not high.
Liu Xiang glanced at the residential houses on the plain outside the city. This place was to be included in the territory of Youzhou. He couldn't bear to drive the local people to be cannon fodder. Moreover, it would bring too many disadvantages to the subsequent governance. He could not use this method unless it was a last resort.
means.
He went deep alone with more than 20,000 cavalry, and he still had supplies for half a month. He originally wanted to rely on the navy to transport them, but Yunfan Camp lost its chain and now he doesn't know where it is.
It won't work without the leadership of a general.