To the east and south of Xingyang City, with the exception of Mi County located on the eastern slopes of Songshan Mountain, half of Xinzheng County in the southeast of Mi County, including Xinzheng City, became a floodplain area with monstrous floods.

The year before last, the Yu River flooded down, and Liang Jun was forced to abandon Xinzheng City, which was flooded to a depth of three to four feet.

At present, the soldiers and horses closest to Xingyang City in Daliang have also withdrawn to Niujianling in the south of the floodplain to set up camp. They are about 130 miles away from Xingyang City and less than 90 miles away from Mi County in the south of Xingyang.

The river ice is about to thaw. At that time, the floodplain area will restrict their troops from attacking Xingyang and Mi County from the south. The ice-free period in the Hehuai area south of the Yu River is only more than two months. Such a short time is far from enough.

After they captured Mi County and other surrounding cities of Xingyang, they were asked to calmly organize tens of thousands of troops and tens of thousands of supplies to pile up under the city of Xingyang and set up camp to organize the siege.

Choosing to organize soldiers and horses to attack Xingyang City during the ice period, even if the two naval brigades in Luoyang can develop a large enough scale and enter actual combat before autumn this year, there is no way to attack the Yu River, the southern floodplain area and the Jialu River after the ice freeze

, to prevent the enemy forces in Mengzhou and Bianliang from reinforcing Xingyang.

If you want to use the Yu River and the floodplain area to block enemy reinforcements, you can only capture Xingyang before the ice period.

This requires solving two problems. First, the Luoyang navy must develop enough combat effectiveness to solve the problem of the enemy troops in Yuzhou crossing the Yu River to reinforce Xingyang from the direction of Hulao Pass. The second is that if they are in Xuzhou, then

It is necessary to solve the problem of how a large group of soldiers and horses can pass through the floodplain area and attack Mi County and Xingyang northward.

Although the floodplain area is frozen solidly at this time, and it is no problem to run wildly, but in ten days and a half, the weather will warm up, the ice layer will become thinner day by day, and the large floodplain will be filled with a lot of sediment for more than two years.

The Yu River poured out into the southern area of ​​Xingyang and silted up, turning a large area including Xinzheng City into a large lake.

To the west of the flood plain, especially to the west of Xinzheng County, are the rugged peaks and cliffs at the eastern foot of Songshan Mountain, making it difficult for monkeys and birds to cross.

Even among the flooded floodplains and rugged peaks, several passages can be found to send troops from Niujianling into the western part of Xinzheng and the southern part of Mi County. However, the Dongliang Army built many strong castles in the southern part of Mi County.

, only a small number of troops and horses are needed to block their troop dispatch channel.

"Ta-ta-ta..."

Zhao Wuji turned around and saw a group of cavalry galloping from the hills to the north toward the main camp of Dingjun Village.

"Perhaps General Li is back?" He Liufeng said hesitantly.

The floodplain area is greatly affected by the flood season of the Yu River. In addition, as the degree of sedimentation in the low-lying land flowing east from Xingyang into the Jialu River increases, the floodplain area will also undergo unpredictable changes.

Therefore, after receiving Han Qian's secret letter, Zhao Wuji, as the general, could not leave the camp at will. Li Xiu took the initiative to lead a team of troops to Xingyang for further terrain reconnaissance.

Zhao Wuji was not sure whether Li Xiu was back, but the river ice would melt in just a few days, so he had to make a decision within these two days.

With a wave of his big cloak, he and He Liufeng, surrounded by guards, rushed to the Dingjunzhai camp. In order to protect Xuzhou from enemy attacks as much as possible, Zhao Wuji did not set up a big tent in Xuzhou city after arriving in Xuzhou.

More than 20 miles northeast of the remnant city of Changge (northern Xuzhou), on Dingjun Mountain, a slope on the edge of the flood plain on the west bank of the upper reaches of the Yingshui River, we found a remnant stronghold to set up camp, and tried our best to keep the inner walls of the fortified city intact.

Leave it open for the people to hide in to avoid enemy attacks.

In front of the camp gate of Dingjunzhai, they met the cavalry coming back from the hills to the north. It was Li Xiu who was leading the troops to reconnoiter the terrain in Xingyang.

Zhao Wuji, Li Xiu, and He Liufeng walked into the big tent and sent people to summon Cao Ba, Zhao Ci, Feng Zhang and other generals to discuss the matter.

The large tent built by cutting down logs still looks dim in the early spring dusk, even if the candles are lit.

Li Xiuxian made some adjustments to the previously drawn map of Xingyang based on what they obtained from this reconnaissance, and added more specific deployment of the Xingyang defenders as well as some defensive equipment and measures that could be seen in Xingyang City and the surrounding fortresses.

As the sedimentation situation on the west bank of the Jialu River has become quite serious in just two years, several of the northbound passages they scouted have become narrower. When the flood season comes this year, these passages will still be greatly swollen.

Possibility of flooding.

"There is nothing to hesitate. Although Chenqiao Village has two thousand defenders, as long as we can send troops to block the passage between Xingyang, Mi County and Chenqiao Village at this time, if I cannot capture Chenqiao Village within three days,

I’ll give you my head to use as a urinal!”

Cao Ba didn't care that he was a cavalry general. He opened his mouth and wanted to take over the task of attacking Chenqiao Village. He patted his chest and said,

"By taking down Chenqiaozhai, we can widen the road between Niujianling and Chenqiaozhai. Then, whenever you decide to attack Xingyang, we can pass through the slopes of the northeastern foothills of Songshan Mountain and fight to Mi.

County, under the city of Xingyang. If we can't capture Chenqiao Village, we still want to organize troops and horses to attack Xingyang by the end of this year. I think most of the time, the bamboo basket will only be in vain. Even Mi County may not be able to capture it. Anyway, we

There's nothing you can do here."

Chenqiaozhai is a village located in the west of Xinzheng City at the foot of Mount Song. It is a porcelain producing area in Xingzhou that has become increasingly famous since the middle of the former dynasty.

The porcelain merchants of Chenqiaozhai went to the nearby mountains to collect porcelain clay for firing cellars, and accumulated a huge fortune. They occupied the sloping valley at the western foot of Songshan Mountain and built houses and villages at no cost.

Thick fort walls.

However, in the last ten years of the previous dynasty, when swords were flashing and the Central Plains was bloody, the original owners and villagers of Chenqiao Village had long since disappeared, leaving only a ruined village.

After Xinzheng was flooded, Liang Shixiong divided his troops to garrison Chenqiao Village, and reinvested his efforts to build a military fortress south of the city of Mi County, which together with Mi County formed the enemy's defense core on the southern flank of Xingyang.

After the ice period, both Xinzheng and Xingyang were flooded swamps. The several passages from the northern part of Xuzhou near the western foot of Songshan Mountain to Xingyang territory almost all had to pass through Chenqiao Village, and then from the slopes of the northeastern foothills of Songshan Mountain.

Advance towards the higher terrain of Mi County and Xingyang City.

It is undeniable that he

If they want to send troops to go north, Chenqiao Village must be captured; after all, the ice period in the year is still too short. If they want to go north, they will not be able to bypass Chenqiao Village most of the time, and as long as they capture Chenqiao Village

, whenever we attack Mi County and Xingyang in the future, we will not be affected by the flooded areas to the east.

You have to fight early.

If they wait until the river ice thaws, they can only attack Chenqiao Village from the front.

When the time comes, the area for a frontal attack will be narrow and it will be difficult to deploy troops. Not only does it take Xingyang and Mi County half a day to send reinforcements to Chenqiaozhai, but they are unable to go around to the Songdongpo Valley north of Chenqiaozhai to intercept.

However, they have to capture Chenqiao Village by force before the ice in Xihe River breaks off. This time may be less than ten days. They also have to divide their forces to intercept Liang Shixiong's troops sent from Xingyang to reinforce Chenqiao Village. The difficulty of this battle is really not that great. Generally large.

Feng Zhang said hesitantly: "Should we send someone to Luoyang to ask for your instructions?"

Even if their early target is only Chenqiao Village, considering that they must divide their forces to intercept the superior enemy reinforcements and ensure that Chenqiao Village is captured before the river ice begins to melt, they are destined to lose the main elite of the entire Xuzhou Camping Army. All went into battle.

The use of troops on such a scale obviously exceeded Luoyang's requirements for them years ago.

"The river ice will thaw in a few days. If you want to fight, we will fight. At this time, we send people to Luoyang to ask for instructions. It will be delayed for three or four days at least on the way. By the time you give the order, I think the day lilies will be completely cold." ," Cao Ba was dissatisfied with Feng Zhang's hesitation and said, "We will send troops directly. When the time comes, all we need is Chen Kun, Shen Peng and others to send troops from Hulao Pass to cooperate."

Although Li Xiu dared to personally take risks and sneak to Xingyang, although he was the deputy commander of the capital, he did not directly express his position at this time.

Zhao Wuji clenched his fists, exhaled lightly, put them on the long table and said:

"The enemy didn't expect that Jun Shang would plan to recapture Xingyang this year, so they couldn't estimate how strong our determination was to attack Chenqiao Village, which would directly affect their determination and intensity to reinforce Chenqiao Village. This is also why we The biggest advantage of attacking Chenqiao Village at this time is Li Xiu, you and Cao Ba will lead two brigades of cavalry to penetrate to the north of Chenqiao Village, delay and intercept enemy reinforcements from Xingyang. I personally go to Chenqiao Village with He Liufeng and Feng Zhang. , Zhao Ci each led a brigade of infantry and a brigade of cavalry in Changge, and guarded the flanks in the Xinzheng area..."

Zhao Wuji also felt that he could not waste the critical three or four days on asking for instructions. Since Feng Zhang had doubts, he used He Liufeng's troops as the main force to attack Chenqiao Village, but he would use the limited dozens of spring-arm bed crossbows. , Scorpion cannons and other sophisticated war weapons were concentrated in He Liufeng's command.

Although Han Qian encouraged both lower-level military attachés and generals to express different opinions, the final decision on whether this battle should be fought, whether it is worth fighting, and how it should be fought rests with the commander-in-chief.

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No one in the world could accurately predict weather changes. The Dongliang Army's soldiers and horses attacking Yingxi could not wait until the river ice really started to melt before withdrawing.

The Xuzhou Army's interception, counterattack and harassment operations were extremely resolute, and they also had formidable and extremely sophisticated field ordnance. The Dongliang Army's invading troops drew on their experience over the years and withdrew ten days and a half months in advance in order to be more leisurely.

As the Dongliang Army's harassing troops withdrew to the area east of the Ying River, the Xingyang defenders naturally believed that the harassment on both sides of the Ying River had continued for two months this year, and the counterattack and harassment war should have come to an end for the time being.

Even at this time, a team of dozens or more than a hundred Liang Jun cavalry stepped across the river ice that had not yet begun to melt. They were like swarms of large and small locusts, crossing over from the south. They were bold and almost provocative, approaching Xingyang in a dense manner. Under the county seat, south of Xingyang, in the valley at the eastern foot of Songshan Mountain, wandering among the defense villages. In the eyes of the Xingyang defenders, this was just what Liang Jun had done this year after seeing Chen Xu and other places being harassed and suffering serious casualties. Some retaliatory and provocative actions may be taken in less than ten days before the river ice thaws.

Liang Shixiong strictly ordered the defenders of Rongyang, Mi County and Zhucheng Walled City to guard the city and strictly prohibited them from leaving the city wall to fight.

With this mentality, in order to avoid unnecessary losses, the defenders even sent scouts and sentries back to the walled city.

This is consistent with Zhao Wuji's expectation. The most direct benefit is that Cao Ba leads groups of cavalry to penetrate in and completely block the channels between Chenqiao Village, Mi County and Xingyang.

Even though He Liufeng led 5,000 elite infantrymen and dragged many light vehicles and weapons to advance to the wall of Chenqiao Village, Mi County, which was less than 30 miles away from Chenqiao Village, was not aware of it.

All the personnel sent by Chenqiaozhai to ask for help were intercepted.

Although the woods in the valleys on the western slopes of Songshan Mountain have been cut down by humans and have become sparse, there are also many weeds and shrubs. Cao Ba sent people to set fires everywhere, and black smoke rose up, causing chaos.

Remove the distress beacon signal lit inside Chenqiao Village.

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On the third day when He Liufeng led his troops to formally attack Chenqiao Village, the fire oil cans thrown set a large number of buildings in Chenqiao Village on fire. After nightfall, the fire burned half of the southwest sky red, reflecting the stars and the moon. The Mi County Guard

General Zhu Wei realized that there was a big problem and sent a team of cavalry to break through the siege and rushed to Xingyang to report to Liang Shixiong.

Even though Liang Shixiong was not aware of Han Qian's determination to regain Xingyang this year at this time, in order to ensure that the Xingyang defenders had enough space to move at the eastern foot of Songshan Mountain, he suppressed the Xuzhou Army south of Mi County and prevented it from passing through Mi County.

He had direct contact with the defenders of Hulao Pass in the slope valley at the northeastern foothills of Songshan Mountain to the west of Xingyang City, so he could not just sit back and watch Chenqiao Village suffer.

In addition to sending people to Wuzhi, Bianliang, and Mengzhou to ask for help, Liang Shixiong also opened the city gates and asked the general and his nephew Liang Xing to lead his troops to Mi County so that he could reinforce Chenqiao Village nearby.

Li Xiu and Cao Ba led two brigades of cavalry, and Shen Peng led 5,000 horse infantry from Hulao Pass. At this time, with lightning speed, they penetrated from both wings into the valley at the northeastern foothills of Songshan Mountain between Xingyang and Mi County, and fought fiercely.

One day, more than 5,000 soldiers of the Dongliang Army were killed and wounded, forcing Liang Xing to lead the remaining army to retreat to Xingyang City for rest and recuperation. Mi County was closer to Chenqiao Village, but the defenders in Mi County were limited, making it more difficult to reinforce Chenqiao Village.

Mengzhou deputy general Xiao Siqing led 5,000 Mongolian cavalry across the Yu River to the south for reinforcements. Li Xiu, Cao Ba, and Shen Peng led their troops to entangle with them at the northeastern foothills of Songshan Mountain. It was not until three days later that He Liufeng's troops completely captured Chenqiao Village. They succeeded.

Complete the block

After completing the combat mission, we distanced ourselves from the enemy and withdrew to the south.

Since the focus of the follow-up operations was to capture Fanpingmi County in the south of Xingyang from the southern front, after learning about Zhao Wuji and Li Xiu's battle plan, Han Qian issued an edict to transfer Shen Peng's troops to the Xuzhou Camping Army.

The order is temporarily under Zhao Wuji's control, so that a more powerful elite combat force can be organized from the southern front to attack Mi County.

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To be continued...