In the Jianghuai region of the Han Dynasty, there was no agricultural technology for two-season planting. The autumn harvest was basically in early August. Further north, Yanzhou and Jizhou mostly harvested in the middle of August.
This is also the reason why the Mid-Autumn Festival has become an important festival. The origin of this festival is to worship the harvest. For a farming civilization, how can we not celebrate the harvest?
As for later generations, a series of festival traditions such as moon appreciation, reunions, etc. have evolved, but they just add expectations for a better life.
After all, the Mid-Autumn Festival in August is a harvest season.
The Mid-Autumn Festival already existed in the Han Dynasty, but it was not promoted throughout the country. It did not exist in the northern border counties. It was more popular in the Central Plains and Jianghuai areas.
It was not fixed on August 15th, but at the autumnal equinox, people welcomed the cold, offered fur coats, worshiped the moon, and respected the elderly. It was not until the Northern Song Dynasty that the Mid-Autumn Festival was designated as August 15th, and the tradition of eating mooncakes started even later.
Already.
It was early August, and Liu Xiang didn't want to watch his enemies finish harvesting the crops and celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival happily, at least not in Jiangbei.
The south bank has more ships and more naval forces, and the number of warships is two or three times that of the north bank. If it really involves water warfare, the Anping Army, whose main combat force is from the north, will definitely suffer. This is using its own shortcomings to attack the enemy's strong points.
Not advisable.
"Who said that when it comes to Chibi, there must be a battle at Chibi? Some people come here to recite poems." Liu Xiang never liked being led by the enemy.
His concept of war is to strive for the initiative.
The rhythm of the battle must be in your own hands. If you can win, take action. If you can't, keep looking for opportunities.
He came all the way here and had a water fight with the enemies in the south of the Yangtze River. He would not make the same mistake as Lao Cao did.
The Western Jin Dynasty destroyed Wu, advancing simultaneously by land and water, with six simultaneous attacks; the Sui Dynasty destroyed Nanchen, by containing it in the upper reaches, and crossing the river in the lower reaches; the Song Dynasty destroyed the Southern Tang Dynasty, by attacking from multiple routes.
Looking through the history books, if the Northerners win, water warfare can only be used as a supplement. If the Southerners win, they will definitely pursue a decisive naval battle.
The Battle of Chibi during the Three Kingdoms period clearly illustrates this problem. Lao Cao went south in two directions, but Liu Bei blocked the land route. He failed in the water battle at Chibi, and then was completely defeated.
Now that you are standing on the other side of Red Cliff, don’t you understand how to choose?
Sun Tzu is fighting against the navy with you!
Of course, he had no intention of letting Xu Huang lead his right army across the river. Jiangling was not a good place to go south.
During the Han Dynasty, Dongting Lake had not yet been fully formed. On both sides of the Yangtze River east of Jiangling was the Yunmeng Daze with a radius of several thousand miles. Rivers and lakes were intertwined and silts were everywhere. The Yunmeng Plain in later generations was still a muddy pond that was difficult to march on.
son.
It was not until we reached Sha Xian that we were beyond the scope of Yunmengze. This is a battlefield determined by the terrain. Cao Cao in history and Liu Xiang today led their troops here because of the terrain.
Yizhou, located in the upper reaches of the Yangtze River, will only be used as a rear base for transporting grain and grass to Nanjun, and there will basically be no war.
In the Jingzhou area in the middle reaches, Xu Huang was stationed in the north of the Yangtze River, mainly guarding the grain road. In the north of Xiangyang, Zhang Miao led his army to transport grain and grass. The main force of the imperial court was stationed in Shaxian, Jiangxia County.
The 90,000 coalition troops of the southern warlords have been stationed in Chibi and Xiling. Zhang Xian of Jingnan is still silent, neither surrendering nor raising troops. The 40,000 troops under his command will become a big variable.
As we all know, when fighting, you are not afraid of the enemy's strength, and you can always think of ways to deal with the enemy's apparent combat power, but you are afraid that the enemy is hiding it and making plots. Many famous generals have fallen into trouble in this regard.
Liu Xiang really wanted to win Zhang Xian's support. As long as he could win it over, I would be 40,000 strong and the enemy would be 40,000 strong. There was a difference of 80,000 in combat power between inside and outside. But this ambiguous attitude made him suspicious.
.
Don't tell me there's some kind of trap waiting for him to fall into it, right?
Not far, not close, hanging him in a lukewarm manner, wearing down his patience, and then trying to trick him into plotting?
It's not impossible, and the more he thought about it, the more likely it was.
Just imagine, if the opponent blocks Liu Xiang's southward movement in Chibi, the longer the delay, the more anxious he will be. At this time, if Zhang Xian surrenders, he can help the imperial army attack and destroy the enemy.
Will he be moved? Will he let down his guard and let Jingnan's boatmen go down the river to fight together?
It will definitely happen.
Once you get to that point, there will be many places to calculate. Maybe you will follow in the footsteps of Boss Cao and be driven into the water village by a fire ship, resulting in a great defeat in Chibi.
I have to guard against it.
Jia Xu stayed in Chang'an to look after the family, Guo Jia served as military counselor in the Right Army, Chen Gong took care of civil affairs in Xiangyang, Xi Zhicai assisted Guan Yu in Runan, Xun You was implicated by Guo Jia and did not accompany the army, Ju was in charge of the staff department, and Tian Fengzheng
Busy monitoring the officials.
Pang Tong, a newly defected young man, was beheaded by Cai Mao at a banquet in Jiangling before Zhuge Liang had grown up.
Liu Xiang glanced around the Chinese army's tent. Zhao Yun was calm and useful in helping to lead the troops, but forget about asking for advice. As for Dian Wei, Le Jin, Gan Ning, Gao Shun, Cao Xing, Wenpin, and Zhang Ren
, Yan Yan, Wang Ping and others are all good at charging and fighting, and others cannot be too demanding.
Cai Mao and Guo Dian are not good at wisdom and planning, let alone Sun Ce and Ma Chao. It is better to ask them for advice than to think for yourself.
Looking around, there was no one even discussing.
Since he is not good at strategizing at this time, he cannot use his wits to defeat the enemy. Liu Xiang made up his mind not to play tricks with his opponent, but to compete on the battlefield.
"Send a messenger to Changsha, recall Xun Chen, and tell him that if Zhang Xianruo surrenders, he can be ordered to lead his troops eastward and capture Kuaiji County in Yangzhou without participating in the war along the Yangtze River. If he does not surrender, there is no need to force him, and he can just come back."
He didn't want to talk nonsense with Zhang Xian. It would be bad luck if the other side pretended to surrender and tried to borrow Dongfeng and burn the joint venture.
As for the soldiers and horses from Jingnan supporting Chibi and blocking the imperial army, that doesn't matter. He has no intention of a decisive naval battle and a forcible attack across the river.
The downstream front has not yet advanced to the bank of the Yangtze River. Lujiang County and Jiujiang County in Yangzhou and Guangling County in Xuzhou are all located on the north bank of the Yangtze River. They are confronting Guan Yu and Zhang Liao on the Huaihe River line, and most of their troops have been transferred to Jiangxia. It is empty.
when.
So, take advantage of his illness to kill him.
Again, who said that when it comes to Red Cliff, there must be a battle in Red Cliff?
I won't go south.
I want to go eastward!
Break Xiling, cut off the retreat of Lujiang, Jiujiang, and Guangling from the south, cooperate with Guan Yu and Zhang Liao, and capture the Huai River defense line.
Once the Huai River is lost, the Yangtze River will be difficult to defend. Let’s see how many places you can defend the Qianli River in the middle and lower reaches!
The strategic initiative must be in your own hands. You can only fight at my pace. I will not infiltrate the battlefield you have prepared.
Thinking of this, Liu Xiang loudly ordered: "Gan Ning listens to the order."
"The end is here!"
"I order you to patrol the river, consolidate the water stronghold, make a big noise, and drag the enemy's navy here."
"The general will obey the order!"
The main force wants to advance eastward, but the enemy cannot leave. The light and water army may not be able to hold them back.
"Cai Mao, I order you to lead the people to enrich the camp, place more flags, make weapons and arrows, and prepare to cross the river.
Guo Dian, I order you to command our troops and garrison the camp to guard against enemy attacks."
"I accept the order." The two men have ten thousand infantry and twenty thousand civilians, so their fighting strength is not enough.
Liu Xiang thought about it and concluded that if he entered the Lujiang River eastward, he would enter the Dabie Mountains. It would be difficult for the light vehicle camp to move. He did not want to take the Yangtze River waterway for fear of alarming the enemies on the south bank.
"Wenpin, I order you to lead the Qingqing chariot battalion to assist Guo Dian in garrisoning the military camp."