When the army left Chenzhou, the sky had been clear for several days, and the road was dry and the ground was filled with dust and mist. Read the novel: Various types of vehicles, mules and horses, and infantry were in full force. During this period, the sound of bugles, whistles, and small drums were accompanied by the shouts of the generals.
It was very lively; but the marching speed was very slow, not only because of the burden of baggage, but mainly because of morale.
The morale of the officers and soldiers of the Suzaku Army was a little low at this time. Many of them looked back after taking a few steps. Some looked at the Chenzhou City Tower behind them, and some looked to the north. After Zhang Ning occupied Changde City and carried out reforms, most of the soldiers, especially Standing Guards,
The soldiers all divided their lands and settled down, and most of the land was in the relatively prosperous city of Changde. Changde City fell, and people always thought it would be recovered. Unexpectedly, the direction of the army's dispatch was now to the southeast, and in the opposite direction.
Zhang Ning realized that exaggerating the corruption of military discipline, burning, killing, and looting for propaganda purposes may have had side effects. Now the soldiers are very worried about the safety of their families in Changde. Few people are really willing to give up their progress in Changde and go to Baoqing Mansion.
Who doesn't love family? Zhang Ning left Chenzhou himself and took his family with him.
There are only a few defenders left in Chenzhou, and most of them are family members who stayed there voluntarily. The empty city defense is probably a disaster...
At this time, Yu Qian of the Chinese Army was riding next to Zhang Ning. He looked up and looked in the direction of the sun, and finally asked: "Chenzhou doesn't have enough food. Are you going to attack Baoqing?"
Zhang Ning did not shy away and looked at Yu Qian calmly: "Ting Yi should know in his heart that I will not attack Baoqing Mansion. This move is just to lure the enemy. When our army is dispatched, Chenzhou is empty. It depends on whether Xue Lu will be fooled.
.”
Yu Qian was silent for a while and sighed slightly.
Zhang Ning couldn't help but smile slightly: "You also understand that it is difficult for Xue Lu not to fall into the trap. How can he turn a blind eye to the great contribution of 'recovering' Chenzhou? Seeing our army leaving, he can stand still and wait for us to arrive.
Baoqing Mansion? If he really planned this, why bother to send troops to reinforce Baoqing? What's more, with the troops Xue Lu has now, he is not afraid of fighting us at all. Speaking of which, a decisive battle on flat ground is a fair outcome.
, otherwise he is hiding in the mountains, forcing us to attack from behind, and what is the point of hiding behind a heavy army?"
Yu Qian said: "Allowing your army to break through to the south will not be too harmful to the overall situation. I hope that knowledgeable people in the court will take a fancy to this and the Ministry of War will intervene in a timely manner."
"The general is out, and the military orders are not obeyed." Zhang Ning said, "What's more, the people in the Ministry of War don't understand the actual situation on the ground. How can they conclude that General Xue Lu can't pacify the place in one fell swoop? Not to mention the courtiers who are far away, even me now
It’s hard to guarantee victory.”
Yu Qian stopped arguing. However, Zhang Ning was a little worried at this time. If Xue Lu really didn't pursue for unknown reasons, this matter would be in trouble. Turn around and fight the officers and soldiers who have the advantage of the terrain. Regardless of the outcome, a quick victory is certain.
If it can't be done, the supply of food and grass is a problem; giving up the intention of occupying and simply attacking Baoqing Mansion will not only be detrimental to the situation, but also a problem of morale. The soldiers will have negative emotions towards Zhang Ning's early announcement of taking back Changde City.
However, this worry was soon relieved. After marching for three days, it was reported that the forward of the imperial army had moved closer to Chenzhou, and the main force was also moving westward. In three days, the Suzaku Army only traveled less than a hundred miles, and the road conditions were good for three days.
For more than ten years, the impact of morale on marching operations can be seen clearly.
While camping that night, Zhu Heng said: "From the current situation, Xue Lu has no intention of standing still. If they want to go out, they will definitely try to occupy the empty Chenzhou City first. With the big city as the base for their garrison, they don't even need to build a camp."
The minister’s opinion is to wait for two more days. When the main force of the army is completely close to Chenzhou, our army will insert from the north of Chenzhou City towards the direction of Yuanshui to occupy the terrain and cut off the army’s food road. The army must move along the route.
If Yuanshui and I confront each other, the decisive battle will begin."
Chen Gai next to him said excitedly after hearing this: "Zhu Butang's brilliant plan, let's tell the brothers to go and prepare to turn around and fight!"
Zhang Ning said hurriedly: "Don't go out and yell around, otherwise the military law will not spare you! The spies of the Jin Yiwei are inaccessible, and it is possible that there are spies in the army. If the leaked military plane happens to reach Xue Lu's ears,
Here, he was careful not to miss the opportunity when he was suspicious."
So things were calm in the army that night, and the next day the Council of Ministers ordered the army to march eastward as usual, and all the troops marched slowly.
...Between the undulating mountains on the bank of Yuanshui River, there is smoke everywhere in the morning light, and the many camps stretching for miles seem to be full of people. This scene is like the imperial court recruiting soldiers to overhaul the embankments of the Yellow River. On the north side of the water is
There were so many ships, and there was an endless stream, as if the wilderness had suddenly turned into a business district.
These troops were all commanded by Xue Lu. He held the handle of the knife with one hand and put his hand on his waist, looking into the distance. After a long time, he turned to Hu Futai and the generals beside him and said: "Zhang Ping'an will not go up the mountain to attack us.
, sit back and wait for any effect."
Hu Ying did not comment, and the generals listened attentively as many people nodded in agreement. Xue Lu added: "Master Yu and his wife were captured by the rebels. Zhang Ping'an must have known Master Yu's strategy, and they would not knowingly know that it was disadvantageous.
Force to consume.
General Qin Yousheng said: "In this way, are the rebels really going to seize Baoqing Mansion, or do they want to wait until we get closer to Chenzhou and then come back to fight?"
Xue Lu did not answer and continued to look around at his magnificent troops.
"Report!" A voice shouted. A young general was seen coming from below. He was quickly released by the guards. He walked to Xue Lu and others and knelt down on one knee and said: "Report to the Marquis, General Ma Dai of the former army has sent a report. The vanguard has been sent back."
When we arrived at Chenzhou City, we encountered no resistance along the way. There were not many defenders in the city, so General Ma Dai guaranteed entry into the city within two days."
Xue Lu's personal entourage came forward to receive the military report and sent the young general away.
After a while, another man in cloth came up the mountain. Although he also saluted Xue Lu, he was talking to Lu Qianshi, the Jin Yiwei. The spy also reported: "The rebel army has indeed left the city.
The army is old and weak, and the artillery. The workshops for making firearms are still there, and our people can't enter for the time being, but when our vanguard seizes the city, we may gain a lot in the workshops."
Another general couldn't help but said: "There are so many dangerous places near Chenzhou, what should we be afraid of? We have never seen anything like this when we are fighting in the north and south, so we are afraid that he can't do it with his few men!"
At this time, Hu Ying finally spoke. He said calmly: "I have only one thing to tell Marquis Wuyang. It's not a bad thing to calm down."
Xue Lu seemed to be quite calm on the surface. He remained calm and collected despite the words spoken to him by the people next to him, and he did not mean to make any judgment lightly.
Although Hu Ying is the governor, the main focus of the army is military affairs. It is easier to mobilize everything. Xue Luxu can also mobilize the army through the governor, unless Hu Ying forcibly stops it... And Hu Ying has something to say.
Characteristics: Does it make sense? It seems very reasonable; does it have any real content? It doesn’t seem to be there. If you say it, it means you haven’t said it yet.
At this time, Xue Lu turned around and looked at the people around him and said: "Send someone to send orders to all the battalions. The army will set off on the same day and head to Chenzhou."
All the generals agreed, and some even shouted at the messenger: "Why are you still standing here? Go and deliver the Marquis's general order!"
"Got the order." A group of sergeants responded and took the order flag and went off.
Xue Lu then said to Hu Ying: "Futai should know that when marching and fighting, being steady is as important as seizing the opportunity."
The staff next to him hurriedly seized the opportunity to take a picture and said: "What Mr. Hou values is not the time, but the opportunity!"
Xue Lu ignored him and only said: "The army cannot march too far. If we stay here too long, the rebels will be able to get rid of the threat of our army and take the lead in attacking Baoqing Mansion.
The army's artillery attack on the city was so sharp that ordinary cities could not stop it; the South Route Army and other units were no match, and Baoqing was about to lose... This strategy is dead, but the people are alive. The more than 10,000 rebels have knives and weapons.
Can you really starve to death on your own with a gun? What is supposed to come will always come, and it will take a fight to be able to use it."
After Hu Ying listened and held the ceremony, he neither agreed nor argued. So what if he won by being reasonable? Hu Ying was very self-aware when he was old. There was no need to argue with others about the art of war without actual combat results; what is written about Zhao Kuo in the history books
I can still remember clearly that "I have talked extravagantly with my father about military matters. It is not difficult to talk extravagantly, but it is not a good thing." Therefore, it is useless to win the battle verbally.
Moreover, most of the generals were very happy with the commander's order. Xue Lu himself said: "The soldiers are stationed in the dark and wet places in the mountains and forests. They set up a tent and huddle together to keep warm. How can I not notice the suffering of the soldiers? Jin Zhanchen
Behind the state, there is a house to take shelter from the rain and cold, where you can wash up, change clothes, and refresh yourself."
After hearing this, all the generals bowed in admiration and praised Xue Lu for treating his soldiers as if they were his own sons.
The military order had been issued, and everyone clasped their fists and said, "The general will return to the camp to restrain his men and prepare to leave." Xue Lu waved his hands gently to show his agreement.
After the generals left one after another, Xue Lu still stood there, looking down at the surrounding scene, as if he was thinking about something. Hu Ying was also with him, and Hu Ying seemed a little more indifferent. There were mountains and water here.
The scenery is pretty good.
Xue Lu's eyes stayed on the boats on the Yuanshui River for a long time. Yuanshui was his supply line. In addition to the things carried with the army, follow-up supplies mainly passed through waterways. The advantage of water transportation is that it has greater shipping capacity and saves manpower and animal power. The disadvantage is that
It's slow.
As a battle-hardened veteran, he would certainly consider the conventional military tactic of cutting off grain routes. Baggage ships were transported against the current from east to west, and trackers were needed when the wind was bad; although the rebels did not have a naval force
, but as long as you approach the river, you can cut off its food path by riding on foot.
However, the rebels must have that ability. The government army does not have to wait for the food road to be cut off, and can fight to clear the obstacles. As for the rebels to seize the mountain shape on the river bank, that is not practical. The government army has the advantage of strength and can block the road.
Instead of attacking and easily opening up the river, the rebels would end up trapped in a cocoon.
After thinking about it, Xue Lu didn't feel that there was any unexpected danger in this battle.