After the armies passed through Liang County, they followed the Ru River and advanced by land and water.
Under the sun, the people and horses look like a long dragon, with different colors. If it were not for the flags and the formation, the large group of people and horses would not look like an army at first glance.
Everyone walked lightly and simply, walking at an even pace on the road, and the cavalry also led the horses on foot. Because there were almost no armors, long weapons, and various baggage, people did not need to carry heavy loads. They were just walking, which was not very hard. The army seemed to be walking.
It has to be slow, but if you keep this speed, it's not difficult to walk dozens of miles a day.
Even when the tribes set up camp, they did not need to build too many fortifications, because the army was basically unlikely to be threatened in the hinterland of Wei like Yuzhou.
According to the rules set by Qin Liang during the training, the army marched in a safe zone. Every ten thousand people needed five hundred cavalry to maintain combat status. But in a place like northern Yuzhou, he was too lazy to take care of the armies.
Whether it meets the requirements? It is estimated that in order to save effort, the soldiers did not deploy so many fully armed soldiers.
The sails on your water are like clouds, and the flags are flying in the northwest wind. The fleet of ships follows the current and wind, sailing faster than the army.
There are endless plains on all sides, with square fields and scattered villages everywhere, and cities, towers, and pavilions also appear in the field of vision from time to time. The various places in the Wei State are not prosperous, but in the interior, they are still better than those desolate mountainous areas.
few.
The entire march route went south along the Ru River, then passed through the Toulu Canal and entered the Ying River. Then it marched along the Ying River and reached the Huai River Basin.
The army has ships and water transportation, and there are grain storage warehouses and mansions along the way, so supplies are no problem. Qin Liang estimates that the entire army will be able to reach Huainan before the first day of October!
When Qin Liang's troops from the Zhongjian Camp arrived at the small town of Lejia, it was just afternoon and it was still early. However, military camps had been set up in Lejia City in advance, so the soldiers from each department stayed here and rested for half a day.
Qin Liang and his generals entered the city and climbed onto the platform of the attic. He couldn't help but stand by the wooden railing for a while, looking back at the scenery around him. Looking towards the north of the city, he could directly see the ripples on the Yingshui River.
The generals also stopped beside them, and the left captain Pan Zhong said: "The general passed by here a few years ago and discussed military affairs here."
Qin Liang also remembered, nodded and said: "Yes."
Sima Wang Kang said: "That time we went from south to north to attack Luoyang, but this time the direction is exactly the opposite."
At this time, the accompanying soldier Jia Chong looked a little strange and stood silently. He obviously understood that what everyone was talking about was the Battle of King Qin of Yangzhou. At the beginning, Jia Chong belonged to the hostile party and was still working for the Sima family!
On the side, Wang Hun was dismissed from office because he had served as a vassal of Cao Shuang, and A Tong was probably still working as Xu Miao's assistant, so they had little to do with the Battle of King Qin.
Qin Liang looked around for a while. It was just a little-known town with nothing special about it. However, because he had been here before and revisited the old place, he still felt a little familiar.
He then turned around and walked towards the hall, saying to Wang Kang beside him: "Your Majesty will keep the reports coming from everywhere."
Wang Kang cupped his hands and said, "Here."
At this moment, I saw Yinci leading the horse into the courtyard, and then quickly climbed up the steps. Seeing this, Qin Liang said: "There will be no discussion today, everyone will perform their duties. General Pan will go and inspect the military camp."
Everyone bowed to him one after another and said, "Please leave me."
Yinci stepped forward, took out two rolls of yellow and white paper from his arms and presented them, bowed and said: "General." Qin Liang immediately responded: "Come in and talk."
Qin Liang remembered that there was an office room next to the hall, and it was indeed the case. He and Yinci entered the room together and knelt down on the straw mat.
It turned out to be Ma Mao's secret letter, and Yinci had already translated the content.
Qin Liang read the letter carefully. It roughly stated that Zhuge Ke believed that there was a traitor in Jianye, Sun Jun, the minister of Wu State, had some doubts about Ma Mao's identity, and Shi Bao and others also had spies in the Wei State Office! Ma Mao's article
I mean, I might be exposed in Soochow, which is very dangerous. I hope I can be allowed to return to Wei.
There are many talented officials in the Wei State, but it is very rare for someone to break into the top leadership of Soochow. The place where Ma Mao can best display his value is obviously to continue to stay in the State of Wu.
Sure enough, Yinci, who was kneeling beside him, said in a deep voice: "If Ma Mao comes back, it will be of little use."
The secret letter was translated by Yinci, so of course he knew the content. Moreover, Yinci was a school official, and people like Ma Mao were also very useful to him.
Qin Liang looked sideways and said, "Dead people are even more useless."
Yinci immediately said: "What the general said makes sense."
Qin Liang thought for a moment, pondered for a while, and said: "I think it's better for Ma Mao to decide this matter. He is in the enemy camp and knows better how dangerous it is and how urgent it is."
Yinci whispered again: "If it is very urgent, he may not have time to send a letter asking for help."
Qin Liang glanced at Yin Ci and felt that it made sense. A person like Ma Mao who was precarious might just want to know if there was a way out, but it didn't necessarily mean that he had to leave!
Qin Liang said: "Through the secret envoy of 'Juicang', I will reply to Ma Mao. There is Shanyang Pond on the other side of the Zhongdu River in Xuzhou, which is on the edge of the no-man's land between Wei and Wu. Juicang will set up a pond there.
The supporting base. Tell him to stay in Wu as much as possible and not to leave easily; but if he thinks it is really necessary to evacuate immediately, he can go north by water."
Yinci sighed, cupped his hands and said, "The general is benevolent and righteous."
Qin Liang said calmly: "Ma Mao is doing things for us. If we ignore him, the school affairs office, the rice warehouse, the silk warehouse and others are doing things for us, what will everyone think?"
Yinci nodded, stood up and bowed his head: "I'll make arrangements right now."
Qin Liang watched Yin Ci's back and continued to kneel on the straw mat. He looked at the yellow paper on the wooden desk, translated the document, and thought for a while.
Sima's family is in the school affairs office, and it is very possible that there is a spy who has not been found out. Qin Liang has been alert to this matter for a long time. Shi Bao is a close confidant promoted by Master Sima, and may also be in contact with Master Sima's people!
Just like during the Battle of Hanzhong, Jiang Wei knew in advance that the Wei army was going to transport the trebuchets through the Mianshui East Road. This time when the Wei army went south, Wu Guo probably also knew the news.
Of course, with such a big movement, it was not difficult for the Wu people to detect the signs of war, it was just a matter of time. Qin Liang did not want to sneak attack Dongguan this time.
Qin Liang turned his head and saw Qi Da and others walking slowly in the hall wearing swords and swords. He called out: "Qi Da, go and call Wang Wuji."
Qi Da immediately cupped his fists and said, "Here."
After a while, Wang Kang came in to meet him. Qin Liang said: "Give the order to Wang Gongyi, the governor of Yangzhou."
Wang Kang was well prepared, so he immediately opened his bag and took out paper, pen, inkstone and other items. There was dried ink left in the inkstone. Wang Kang picked up the cowhide bag and poured some water into it to stir out some ink.
Qin Liang continued: "Appoint General Wang as the vanguard, and on the first day of October, within three days, march south to Juchao. However, we cannot continue to advance rashly. We must station troops in Juchao, wait for the Chinese army, and send out scouts at the same time. Find out Wu’s army’s preparations.”
Wang Kang responded and immediately began to write military orders.
The person who did this work in the past was Xin Chang, but now Xin Chang was promoted to General Shi and went to Huaibei in advance to recruit corvees, mules and donkeys, and ships to adjust grain.
General Sima Wang Kang took over the task of sending and receiving military orders. Wang Kang was well-educated and literate, but his level was obviously far inferior to those of noble family backgrounds. He looked a little nervous, and there was excitement in his focused eyes.
After resting for a night, the drums and trumpets were blaring early the next morning, and the city was in a commotion. After dinner, the army left Lejia and continued southward along the Ying River.
As expected, Qin Liang arrived in Shouchun at the end of September.
Qin Liang was very familiar with the city of Shouchun. When he saw the Shamen Gate Tower outside the city and the double eaves of Xiaoyao Tower and other buildings inside the city, many memories came to mind easily.
But at this time, there were few familiar people in Shouchun City. Wang Ling was dead, Wang Guang, Wang Jinhu and others, and even Zhuge Dan's father and daughter were in Luoyang. His second uncle Wang Feixiao had also led his troops south to live in his nest. So people missed him. When it comes to hometown, do you care about that place or the people you know there?
Now that he was back in Shouchun, Qin Liang only took a few glances outside the city. Without even entering the city gate, he led his troops directly south to the Feishui River Basin. After all, he was not in the mood to travel at all.
From the east of Shaopi, the armies continued to advance by land and water along the Feishui River until they reached the upper reaches of the Feishui River. At this point, the ships could no longer go south because there was no navigation between the Feishui River and the Feishui River. The army was originally on foot, so it did not affect the transport camp. Then you have to replace the vehicles with mules and horses.
The northern court can mobilize more mules and horses, so the last section of land transportation is not a big deal. In addition to the cavalry, the shortcomings of the Soochow Northern Expedition are actually insufficient logistics. They are short of mules, horses, donkeys and cattle, and they have left the waterway. , the food road will be very difficult.
Qin Liang led the backbone camp southward along Shishui River and passed by Xiaoyaojin, the ruins of the old city of Hefei. Many abandoned fortifications were added nearby. It can be seen that there was a war here a few months ago.
After that, people came to the north bank of Chao Lake. Walking east from the north bank of Chao Lake, you will find Juchao, the entrance of Ruxu River. According to the deployment, Wang Feixiao, Hu Zhi, Fu Gu and others should have stationed troops in Juchao in advance at this time.
Shishui, there is a low hilly area near Chaohu Lake. Most of the places are slightly undulating hills, which can be considered flat. There is also sufficient light, heat and water, but now you can see withered and yellow grass everywhere, and the population is extremely sparse. Completely It was because of the war that a lot of land was abandoned.
In early October, Qin Liang arrived at Juchao, Chao Lake, and a large number of fortresses and military camps on the east bank of Ruxushui, and then appeared in front of him. The previously desolate scene suddenly became lively because of the military camps.
Wang Feixiao, Fu Gu and other generals rode out of the camp to welcome Qin Liang and others.
When old friends reunite, even though they immediately start talking about frontline military affairs, familiar people meet suddenly, and their expressions and words still show enthusiasm.
…
... [Thanks to the book friend "Book Friends Jane" for being another ally, and thanks to the book friends "Rose in the End", "My Name Is Not Park Guochang", "peetteeee", "Digli 123321" and other book friends for their recent support. I coded today. There are not enough words, so I will add more tomorrow.]