Zhangshui is located in Julu County and flows northeast.
Along the north bank of the Zhang River, the two armies kept approaching each other in the wilderness south of Fan County, with neither showing signs of avoiding. Although the army's claims were exaggerated, even including the recruited Dingkou, Guanqiu Jian was known as the Tenth Army. Thousands; but in this small area, the actual total strength of both sides at this time must have exceeded 100,000!
A huge decisive battle is inevitable.
Although the two sides are advancing against each other at a slow pace, if this continues, the main forces of the two armies will encounter each other within a day!
However, another spring rain cooled the hot atmosphere briefly.
This spring, there seems to be more rain in Hebei than in previous years. Especially since March has just entered and it is late spring. Guanqiu Jian has been stationed near Fan County, stopped advancing, and took shelter from the rain.
A war requires conditions. There are many conditions that will prevent the war from proceeding, including weather, terrain and other reasons. Under normal circumstances, almost no generals would choose to send troops to fight on rainy days. The colloid of the bows and crossbows will be damaged in rainy days, and the roads will be muddy and inconvenient to walk on. , Wearing wet suits for a long time may cause illness and various difficulties may occur.
Although difficult situations are also not conducive to the opponent, the opponent can choose to defend and rely on fortifications to delay the battle.
However, the rain will eventually stop, and the light rain stopped in the afternoon.
Guanqiu Jian observed Zhangshui. The water surface, which was originally rough in the raindrops, had now become smooth, and the air was fresh and clean.
He couldn't help but say: "Tonight is Qin Zhongming's last chance to retreat."
The generals laughed after hearing this.
Of course Qin Liang's army would not retreat suddenly, otherwise why would he march from the front for so many days?
Guan Qiujian said this just as a way to express his mood. He went on to say: "The troops are smaller than ours, and his right wing is blocked by the Zhang River, so he cannot attack in a roundabout way; the left wing is at a disadvantage. Why do you dare to be here? Are you going to face our army head-on? Qin Liang is just an opportunistic young Confucian scholar. I really feel that he is bullying the smaller ones with the big one, and he cannot win with force."
What Guan Qiujian is talking about is a detail of cavalry tactics. Generally, cavalry will be used to attack in a roundabout way on the flanks. There is a difference between the fighting on the left wing and the right wing, because the flexibility of people's left and right hands is different. People often praise a general's martial arts, and there will be " There is a saying that "draw the bow from the left and right", but most soldiers still draw the bow with the right hand, which is more convenient for holding the weapon. It is better for the cavalry to outflank the right wing.
The general's voice said: "It doesn't matter whether he is martial or not, let's kill Qin Liang first!"
Guanqiu Jian glanced at the general who was speaking and said to himself that some warriors really didn't understand how to modify words.
After the decisive battle was won, at least the entire Jizhou had no power to resist Guanqiu Jian. With such a result, would Guan Qiu Jian still be merciful? What's more, the banner Guan Qiu Jian was flying was King Qin, but in Luoyang, it was rebellion. It's a life-and-death battle. Why bully the small with the big? Who cares if you win without force?
What Guanqiu Jian just said may sound like a demeanor at first glance, but in fact it is just an insult and contempt for the other general.
On the contrary, Kou Loudun from Wuwan understood the meaning and turned around with a mocking look on his face and asked loudly: "The scholar from Luoyang is trembling in front of our iron hooves. General Zuo has a heart of compassion. Should we take action?" lighter?"
When Aluopan and other Karasuma generals heard this, they cursed one after another. Some people spit on the ground, and some people laughed.
Xianbei people look down on the weak the most, especially men. The weak are inherently guilty! It doesn’t matter whether he is a scholar or not, and what etiquette he has, not to mention those Luoyang soldiers are still men with weapons. If they are weak, they will only be despised and cannot get sympathy.
"Kill all the Luoyang troops without taking prisoners, and then seize their wives and daughters!" someone shouted. All the Xianbei people agreed.
Colodon immediately bowed and said: "General Zuo, please let us be on the right wing. I will attack the enemy's flank first, break up their ranks, and trample their heads. The general will then defeat the enemy in one fell swoop from the front."
Guanqiu Jian said: "The Luoyang Central Army also has a lot of cavalry. The first thing you have to deal with is their cavalry. Before that, you can't get close to the formation."
Guanqiu Jian still knew the Luoyang Chinese Army. The local elite Chinese and foreign armies were not much different from the Chinese and foreign armies in Luoyang. However, after all, money and food from all over the world were transported to Zhongyang, and the Luoyang Chinese Army had more cavalry than most Chinese and foreign armies. .
Kou Loudun said: "I will first lead my cavalry to disperse the enemy's cavalry, and then General Zuo will send out Youzhou's fine cavalry to give the final blow."
After Guanqiu Jian heard this, he nodded and said: "Very good! The soldiers who have made meritorious service in this battle will be rewarded heavily. I will not be partial."
Kou Loudun bent down and said: "By the order of General Zuo!"
Guanqiu Jian looked back at the generals and found that they were all full of fighting spirit. This was a good thing!
A war means huge casualties, and people will inevitably be nervous and fearful, but Guanqiu Jian must fight this war.
It was impossible for Luoyang to be willing to hand over the power like this, and there was no room for compromise. Guanqiu Jian could only successfully advance to Yecheng through a battle and concentrate on destroying the enemy forces.
Guanqiu Jian looked at the blue sky emerging from the clouds, and was already prepared in his heart. Tomorrow, or the day after tomorrow at the latest, would be the decisive battle!
... The rain was not heavy today, and it will clear up completely in the afternoon. As long as the wet ground is left to dry overnight, it should not affect the advance tomorrow morning.
Around this place, there are no cities within dozens of miles on the north bank of Zhangshui River. The nearest city is Fan County on the border of Julu County.
Not far from the south bank is the county seat of Anping County. Across the wide Zhangshui River, you can even see people watching by the river. Usually the population near the city is indeed denser. People are watching the excitement across a river, it seems. There is also a sense of security.
Among the crop fields on the north bank of Zhangshui River, you can still find the manors of wealthy families. The owners of the manors have long since disappeared. Qin Liang estimated that these manors may be the property of people from Anping County on the south bank.
At dusk, Qin Liang held a banquet in the manor to entertain the generals of each camp. However, the food was very simple. There was only a stew with vegetable leaves, meat, salt, and lard, and there was no wine. The staple food included wheat cakes and Rice cooked on rice plate.
When Tian Yu arrived with his generals, Qin Liang and others greeted him outside the door.
Previously, Tian Yu's army was located in the far north and had been commanding troops in the army. Contacts were all through messengers under his subordinates. Today is the first time that we have met each other in person.
The relationship between people is so strange. Sometimes when you meet for the first time, your relationship can be better than that of neighbors who have lived together for many years. After everyone greets each other, the atmosphere is very warm, and they greet each other as if they are long-time friends, or meeting an old friend in a foreign country. .
Qin Liang directly took action, held Tian Yu's arm with force, looked into Tian Yu's eyes and said: "I have heard about the old general for a long time, and today I finally meet him. I am so lucky, so lucky!"
Tian Yu does look older than Wang Ling, with deep wrinkles on his face, and his hair and beard are mostly gray. However, he has a thick waist and round arms, and his aura is not weak, and his eyes are not cloudy, so he still looks fit for purpose.
Tian Yu was very grateful for such courtesy, and his eyes showed an excited brilliance as he said: "General Wei is young and famous. I am lucky to meet him. He is indeed very magnanimous. He is a hero no matter how young he is!"
Qin Liang immediately sighed: "It's so late to meet each other."
Sometimes older people are not necessarily cunning, and Tian Yu's temperament seems to be more straightforward. He immediately explained: "It's just because it rained, otherwise I would have arrived earlier. In previous years, there was little rain in the Taihang Mountains, but this year is different.
As usual."
"I know that General Tian is a man who keeps his promises. It's not too late now." Qin Liang nodded.
The generals met and talked for a while, and then Qin Liang invited Tian Yu and others to sit in the hall.
Several banquets had been prepared, and the dishes and food were served. Qin Liang turned around and said: "The generals in the Zhongba camp all know that when we are on the battlefield, the generals and soldiers eat the same food. Don't dislike it, General Tian.
After we win, we will meet you in Luoyang, and I will certainly not hesitate to have good wine and delicious food."
Tian Yu said: "General Wei is considerate of the officers and soldiers and treats each other with sincerity, and the officers and soldiers will repay him with their lives. The general lives in Luoyang, and is well-dressed and well-fed, but he is a simple man and is not a hypocritical person. General, don't worry about an old man like me.
Have you ever suffered anything in your life? This banquet is very good."
Qin Liang said: "The old general has served the country for decades. He is really a general who does practical things."
Tian Yu said with a smile: "When there was a war in my hometown, we fled to the mountains. We didn't even have enough leaves to eat. It would be good to have food."
The generals sat down one after another. Because the war was about to begin, everyone quickly started talking about the war while eating.
Bravery is the ethos in the army. Generals will not easily avoid fighting and will have a war-seeking mentality in front of others. This is mainly because everyone has a different perspective. Considering the overall situation is generally the responsibility of the commander and the generals.
Don't worry about it so much.
So when Qin Liang expressed his attitude and planned to attack the enemy early tomorrow morning, most of the generals did not object.
Perhaps this battle is not an attack by Qin Liang. Guanqiu Jian is also taking the initiative to attack, and it will most likely end in an encounter. But in the eyes of the soldiers here, as long as the officers and soldiers are taking the initiative to advance, they are attacking in terms of momentum!
Wen Qin took the initiative to request troops to form a formation at the front of the left wing and launch a flank attack with cavalry first.
But Qin Liang said euphemistically: "General Wen is good at fighting in close combat, but if he is at the front, he will easily lose his spirit. I decided to charge the front with a group of Xiong Shou's cavalry. After the two sides fought, General Wen would lead his troops to cover up the attack.
Only then can it have the greatest impact.”
Wen Qin agreed with this statement and immediately approved Qin Liang's arrangement.
However, at the banquet, one or two officials expressed their opinions tactfully, and they were somewhat disapproving of Qin Liang's decision to rush to the war. They believed that Guanqiu Jian had been blocked at the Zhangshui line, and they could stabilize the situation first and wait for the enemy.
The army showed some unfavorable signs.
Fortunately, this is in the army, and most of them are military generals. If the battlefield was decided in Luoyang, there would probably be more people with this attitude. After all, there is a saying in the book, attack the enemy with your strategy, and defeat the enemy without fighting.
.But just talking about great principles is definitely not enough.
Qin Liang knew in his heart that the strategy would not work all the time, and the Guanqiu Jian rebels would not surrender voluntarily. At this time, if he was afraid of a head-on confrontation, blindly thinking about taking tricks, and lacking courage and determination, it would affect the most critical and important event: the main force.