The army crossed the Yishui River and occupied Xincheng County and other places. No large enemy troops were found in the county seat and on the west bank of the Yishui River.
Sima Yi is about to start a decisive battle. Just like when he hits someone, he will retract his fist first, and like the calm before the storm, this sign of almost giving up the defense on the periphery is the atmosphere of a big battle!
The Yishui River flows in this section, with a north-south direction, and Yique Pass is on the west bank of the Yishui River. The scouts of King Qin's army went north along the east bank of the Yishui River, and looked across the river across from the Yishui Pass. As expected, they reported and found a large number of enemy troops.
No one knows exactly how many people there are in the Luoyang Army, and even the spies of the school affairs office have difficulty getting a more accurate number for a while.
Not all the Chinese and foreign troops in Luoyang could be dispatched, which involved a rotating guard system, temporary recalls, and troops stationed in the city and the palace. In addition, there were several military generals and military commanders around Luoyang, and some of the military soldiers could also be summoned.
Qin Liang estimated that Sima Yi's army this time exceeded at least 100,000 people!
But the total strength of King Qin's army also exceeded 90,000. Among them were Chinese and foreign troops in the hands of three state-level officials: Wang Ling, Zhuge Dan, and Linghu Yu, totaling more than 40,000; Lujiang County soldiers and private soldiers arrived nearby
20,000 people. There are also thousands of troops who have taken refuge in Xiangcheng and other places, and 20,000 to 30,000 various troops from the Sima Division have surrendered.
However, the people here have a strong will to fight, and at the same time, the most capable people are only about 60,000. Excluding a considerable part of them who are baggage, service, engineers, and elite combat soldiers, there are only about 50,000. This is already an extremely large military force.
The internal battle may be more convenient because of the supply, and the scale of the battle is larger than the national war between Wei, Wu, and Shu. And as Qin Liang thought before, the hatred and conflicts between the upper echelons of both sides of the civil war may be deeper.
There won't be a big gap in numbers between the two sides, and Sima Yi will have a certain numerical advantage.
It happened to be raining at this time, so Qin Wang's army was repairing near Xincheng County. Thousands of pigs, sheep, chickens, and old and dying cattle were transported from the rear. Each camp killed the pigs and sheep and ate the meat together.
The gentry and wealthy people in various places are still very sensible. As long as they don't fight against the local tyrants to divide their land, and after the army comes, they can negotiate and ask them to bring something out, and they will not be too stingy.
The rain stopped early the next morning.
The main force of the army began to advance northward along the flat corridor between Xiong'er Mountain and Yishui.
Qin Liang rode back across the pontoon on the Yishui River and took a group of people to the east bank of the Yishui River to have a look.
Not long after, Qin Liang encountered a military camp on the east bank of Yishui River. His own people and military generals came out to greet him.
On the other side, there is also a forward team setting up a stronghold. The two military strongholds are guarded by iron chains tied to big stones and iron piles. These iron chains come from the iron mines in the Dabie Mountains and are transported from Huainan, more than a thousand miles away. Fortunately, they mainly travel along the
It's a waterway.
It was originally intended to be used to block the Yingshui River, or to seize the canal, but there was no war there, only one was fought in Xuchang. So the iron chain was transported to Yishui again.
King Qin's army was on the offensive side, but all they did in the first two days was defensive fortifications. The purpose of blocking the Yishui River was to protect the nearest pontoon bridge, which could maintain timely communication between the east and west sides of the Yishui River.
Locking rivers with iron chains is an effective method. Not to mention small rivers in the Central Plains, even the Shu Han Dynasty guarding large rivers may also use the strategy of locking rivers with iron chains.
In addition to iron chains, the soldiers also rowed rafts and placed iron cones in the river. They could not be seen on the river, but the bottom of the boat would be broken as soon as it came over.
Qin Liang continued walking north and came to the other side of Yique Pass.
Yishui passes between two mountains, and the mountain looks like a tower at the gate of the city, so it is named Yique Pass. Later it seemed to be called Longmen, and the Longmen Grottoes should be nearby, but there are no such things now.
The mountain to the west of the river is called Yique Mountain. It may be regarded as the remnant of Xiong'er Mountain, but it is not connected to Xiong'er Mountain. The mountain range to the east is the remnant of Songshan Mountain.
Many soldiers were digging trenches at the mountain pass, and some went to the foot of the mountain to cut down trees and trim antlers. A large number of troops had blocked the east bank of the Yishui River.
Wang Kang, who was accompanying him, said: "This is the road I took when I left Luoyang."
Qin Liang said casually: "It will be difficult to get through to the other side."
Everyone immediately laughed "hehe" a few times.
Qin Liang looked at Yique Pass on the other side of the river. The enemy soldiers were also building fortifications there. Although it had rained a few times before, after the soil below was turned up, when there were more people, it was still smoky and dusty from a distance.
shrouded.
And Luoyang is in the north, very close to here. There is a plain in that direction, but it is still invisible to the naked eye at this time. (Luoyang in the Han and Wei Dynasties was in Pingle Town, near the White Horse Temple, on the north bank of Luoshui. During the Sui and Tang Dynasties, it moved westward to modern times.
Near Luoyang City, between the two Yiluo Rivers.)
When he left Luoyang before, Qin Liang thought about coming back, and now he finally came back with nearly 100,000 troops!
Luoyang is close at hand, but whether he can complete the final stretch depends on this battle. If he loses, Qin Liang feels that he may never be able to return to Luoyang in this life.
After a while, Huan Fan heard the news and rushed over. The people guarding the east bank of Yishui, Dagu Pass and other places were none other than Huan Fan. In addition to the military camps he had acquired in Yingchuan County, some of his men had also been replaced.
The general's Sima division surrendered its troops.
Everyone bowed to each other, and Qin Liang said: "Sima Yi probably won't send troops to the east bank, but Duke Huan still needs to be careful."
Huan Fan cupped his hands and said, "When this is critical, I dare not slack off."
Qin Liang nodded and said: "Very good. Victory in the war is the most important. If we win, everyone will benefit."
Huan Fan said, "Don't worry, General Qin." Then he pointed to the west bank and said, "Sima Yi is also building fortifications."
Qin Liang took out a homemade map from his horse's luggage, pointed at the drawing and said: "Yique Pass is not for defense. This is Sima Yi's attack direction."
Huan Fan, who always had a sullen face, now said a rare good word: "General Qin is indeed well-read in history books and proficient in military strategy."
Qin Liang was noncommittal. But he could tell from the terrain that Yique Pass was indeed undefendable, and the pass was not designed to be defended.
Yique Mountain is close to Yishui, with only a long and narrow passage in the middle, which looks very dangerous.
But there is a problem here. Behind Yique Mountain and between Xiong'er Mountain, there is a large gap. Although the terrain of that area also has differences in heights, it is very gentle. The army can completely bypass there and reach Luoshui directly.
Plains by the river.
If Yique Pass is used for defense, it cannot be defended at all.
But there is still a pass here, and the pass is not in the north, but at the south entrance of the narrow corridor. This location also makes sense. The ancients were indeed full of wisdom in construction.
The pass tower contains narrow passages within the pass, leaving open space for possible enemy forces to spread out; rather than trying to block invading enemy forces in the narrow valley...the reason is that this pass is used for offense
.
Most of the troops attacking Luoyang will detour through the large gap on the northwest side. The defenders rush out of Yique Pass and immediately enter the open area, where they can effectively attack the opponent's flank and rear and cut off their retreat.
Qin Liang looked at the location of the fortifications on the other side, which could also support his thoughts.
The Luoyang Army did not strengthen the defense of Yique Pass, but extended the fortifications a long distance south to leave more space for the army to deploy troops. This is what it means to attack.
Sima Yi's defensive position is not at this pass. It should be on the plain beside the Luoshui River in the north, and he must be digging a trench there. After a while, Qin Liang returned to the camp and asked the forward scouts for details.
At this time, Qin Liang said: "Huan Gong is in a very good location. You can have an overview of the battlefield from the side."
Huan Fan turned his head and pointed to several thatched huts on the mountain, which may be the quiet rooms of Taoist priests. Huan Fan said: "During the war, I went there to watch and wait for General Qin to win the victory."
Qin Liang nodded and continued to look at the other side of the Yishui River. A moist wind blew from the river, the water surface was sparkling, and the air was filled with lively "buzzing" noises.