The reconnaissance cavalry dispatched by Liu Yu reported that Lu Xun's army had withdrawn to Xunyang to rest, and sent general Fan Chongmin to lead an army of 5,000 to garrison in Nanling (near today's Tongling, located in the middle of Jiankang and Xunyang, south of Gushu) to intercept the imperial troops. Horse pursuit.
Knowing that the rebel army had not set up an ambush, Liu Yu sent auxiliary general Wang Zhongde, Guangchuan prefect Liu Zhong and others to lead an army to pursue Lu Xun's army by land. He ordered Yu Yue, the governor of Jiangzhou who was temporarily stationed in Dongyang, to lead Yu Yu, the prefect of Poyang. Qiu attacked Poyang and cut off Lu Xun's grain route from the south.
Liu Yu judged that the purpose of Lu Xun's temporary retreat from Xunyang was to attack Jiangling. Jiangling lacked troops and horses, Jingling's Yongzhou army was unclear, and Jingzhou was in urgent need of reinforcements, so he sent Suo Miao, the internal history of Huailing and General Ning Ni, to lead 2,000 light cavalry to rush for reinforcements from a small road. Jiangling.
In order to eliminate the hidden dangers caused by Xiangyang's return to the official army, Liu Yu ordered General Jianwei Sun Chu and General Zhenwu Shen Tianzi to lead 5,000 naval forces to sea to attack Guangzhou Panyu.
Sun Chu, Yu Qiujin, Dao Yanzhi, Meng Huaiyu and others all followed Liu Yu when he was still young, and won Liu Yu's trust. When Guanggu City was conquered, Sun Chu was the first to be awarded the county title for meritorious service.
Liu Yi advised: "The waves on the sea are monstrous, and the journey from Jiankang to Panyu is long and risky. Lu Xun's army is entrenched in Xunyang and has 100,000 people. It is not appropriate to disperse the troops and go to Guangzhou at this time."
Liu Yu ignored it and said to Sun Chu: "Ji Gao, you must have destroyed the rebel army led by Lu Xun years ago. You went to Panyu to attack their lair and make them homeless. This is your fault."
Sun Chu bowed and said, "Don't worry, my lord, I will definitely live up to my lord's trust."
Liu Yu patted Sun Chu on the shoulder and glanced at Shen Tianzi, who was standing aside. Liu Yu secretly told Shen Tianzi that most of the troops on this trip were officers and soldiers returning from Xiangyang, and they were taken to Guangzhou to fight. These people will be in the future. Will be placed in Guangzhou.
After Lu Xun occupied Xunyang, he sent troops to rob merchants on the river, and the information between Jiankang and Jiangling was cut off. Although Liu Daogui repelled Qiaoshu's attack and killed Huan Qian, rumors spread in Jingzhou and bandits emerged in droves.
Wang Zhen'e led the Yongzhou army to suppress bandits everywhere, and shipped the captured bandits to Xiangyang, where they were dispersed by Yang Anxuan and placed in various counties to serve.
In Jiangling City, Liu Daogui was worried about Jiankang's safety, so he sent Prefecture Sima Wang Zhenzhi, Tianmen Prefect Tan Daoji, and General Guangwu to Yanzhi to lead his army eastward to rescue Jiankang. Six thousand troops met the rebel army near Wuchang City. Unable to win the battle, they had to retreat to Jiangling City.
Yu Qiujin, who was advancing westward, defeated Lu Xun's garrison one after another and occupied Poyang County. The grain route for the rebel army to transport grain from Panyu was cut off. Knowing that the food route was cut off, Lu Xun was restless and ordered Xu Daofu to seize Jiangling City as soon as possible.
In Jiankang City, Liu Yi, who was defeated and demoted to the rank of general, moved around and planned to lead his army to recapture Liyang City and then attack Lu Xun. Wang Dan, the chief historian, secretly warned Liu Yu that Liu Yi was in decline due to the defeat and should not let him take charge of the army and make meritorious deeds, otherwise he would still have to fight with him in the future.
After Wang Dan was exiled to Guangzhou and returned to Jiankang, he changed his impatience and assisted Liu Yu wholeheartedly. During his tenure in the Yangzhou Governor's Office, he worked diligently day and night and did not dare to slack off. He followed Liu Yu all the way to the Northern Expedition and gradually became Liu Yu's reliance.
Liu Yu listened to Wang Dan's words and decided not to give Liu Yi the opportunity to command the troops. The war has temporarily subsided, but the undercurrent is surging. All parties are accumulating strength, waiting for the next fierce battle to break out.
On September 3rd, Yang Anxuan quietly came to Jingling City with dozens of personal guards. Wang Zhene was not notified in advance, so he was caught off guard and panicked.
During this period, in the name of suppressing bandits, Wang Zhenye plundered a lot of money from the den of thieves, more than two hundred taels of gold alone, as well as various treasures. Wang Zhenye secretly asked his brother Wang Yuan to send them back Xiangyang.
Wang Zhene suddenly thought of the all-pervasive secret guards, he couldn't help but feel worried, and his smile became a little stiff. Yang Anxuan arrived suddenly, maybe he heard some rumors that were not good for him.
"To suppress the evil, Yu secretly came here because he speculated that the rebel army would attack Jiangling in a large scale, and wanted to take advantage of the conflict between the rebel army and the Jingzhou soldiers and horses." Yang Anxuan sat down and motioned for Zhou Chao, Li Qiang and others in the hall to sit down. Fei and Shen Qingzhi sat quietly behind him.
Wang Zhen felt sick and said with a smile: "My lord, that's right. Yu has received reports from the reconnaissance cavalry in the past two days, saying that the Xunyang rebel army has begun to march towards Xiakou and should attack Jiangling soon."
The map was hung up. Yang Anxuan looked at the map and asked: "Some time ago, Jingzhou soldiers and horses fought with the rebel army in Wuchang. Where are they retreating now?"
Wang Zhen evil said: "Tan Daoji led 2,000 men to garrison in Baling, and the others have returned to Jiangling."
Yang Anxuan stroked the short beard on his chin and asked: "Everyone, if you turn into a civilian army and march westward, will you send troops to Jingling?"
Zhou Chao and others have few opportunities to come into contact with Yang Anxuan, and of course they hope to get Yang Anxuan's attention. Zhou Chao was the first to speak: "Lord, my servants are stationed in Jingling. You can go east along Hankou and take Xiakou to cut off the retreat route of the rebel army. You can go south to Huarong to rescue Jiangling. It is impossible for the rebel army to let your servants be stationed in Jingling." , at least a partial force will be sent to contain it."
Yang Anxuan smiled and nodded, and said: "Zi'an's analysis is very good. Hongzhi (Li Qiang), what do you have to add?"
Li Qiang and others expressed their opinions one after another. Everyone believed that the rebel army would not let Jing Ling go. However, they had different ways of dealing with it. Some said that they would take advantage of the rebel army to attack Xunyang and capture Lu Xun while others said. Taking advantage of the battle between the rebel army and the Jingzhou army to seize Jiangling, some thought that they should temporarily go to Dangyang and sit on the mountain to watch the tiger fight.
Yang Anxuan's habit of holding discussions in the army has continued. His analysis of the war afterwards and beforehand made many people stand out and gain Yang Anxuan's appreciation. Zhou Chao was the beneficiary.
Wang Zhen'e calmed down and looked at his subordinates arguing with a smile. This time he led Zhou Chao and others into the battle. He rescued the captured imperial soldiers and horses last time. Wang Zhen'e promoted General Long Xiang and gave him the title of Duke Dong. A man from Wu County, Zhou Chao and others were all promoted to one level.
Wang Zhene knew that his background in the army was not as good as that of Meng Longfu, Kuai En, Yin Ji and others, so he carefully promoted low-ranking generals such as Zhou Chao, who would be his assistants in the army in the future.
Zhou Chao and others were grateful to themselves for being awarded this meritorious service. They used the name of suppressing thieves to collect the thieves' money. Naturally, they did not forget to give a portion to Zhou Chao and others. After all, they were carrying guns together to perform meritorious service, and sharing the spoils and eating meat together. Yes, the relationship is very close.
Watching Yang Anxuan interrogate Zhou Chao and others, Wang Zhene was happy to see the results. He took Zhou Chao and others out from the army because he knew that these few people had real talents and knowledge. They could not only kill enemies on the battlefield, but also had flexible minds. As long as they did not die, On the battlefield, he will be valued by his lord in the future.
"Zhene, what do you think?" Yang Anxuan's question interrupted Wang Zhene's reverie.
Wang Zhene confidently stood up and came to the map, saying: "Before setting off for the expedition, my lord wanted me to fish in troubled waters. I thought the big fish my lord was referring to were the militiamen and the common people they were threatening."
Yang Anxuan nodded and said: "The number of rebel soldiers exceeds 100,000, and most of them are common people who have been coerced by them. These people are forced to become thieves. They should be rescued and enriched in the land of Yongyan."
Wang Zhen'e pointed at the map and said: "The rebel army has thousands of ships, and water is its strength. Yu speculates that the rebel army will attack Jiangling from the waterway. According to detailed investigation, Jiangling's defenders are less than ten thousand, and there are only three or four ships. Hundreds, there is a huge difference in strength."
Feng Heng said: "Does Wang Biejia think that the Jingzhou army will occupy the city and wait for reinforcements?"
Wang Zhen'e shook his head and said: "Liu Daogui is brave and resourceful. He is a famous general in the world. Some time ago, when Lu Xundong was advancing, he took the risk to send troops to pacify Huan Qian. This shows his wisdom. I guess this person will not be trapped in the isolated city, but will take the initiative to attack."
"Yes, suppressing evil is the same as what you think." Yang Anxuan said: "Liu Daogui will not fight head-on with the rebel army. He must set up an ambush somewhere. If it were you, where would you set up an ambush?"
After hearing Yang Anxuan's question, Zhou Chao and others stood up and came to the map to take a closer look. Jiangling City is crisscrossed by waterways, numerous lakes, and crisscrossed tributaries of the Yangtze River, so ambush can be set up in many places.
Wang Zhen evil said: "Although Liu Daogui will go out of the city to fight, he will never be too far from Jiangling, otherwise he may lose his foundation if the war goes against him. I guess it should be around Yuzhangkou (1)."
After dinner, Yang Anxuan left Wang Zhen'e to drink tea, while Shen Qingzhi followed Zhou Chao and others to the military camp. Zhou Chao and others had served under Shen Qingzhi when they attacked Suining City, and they admired this young and brave general.
The aroma of tea spread with the light mist. Yang Anxuan sipped the tea unhurriedly, and the room was very quiet.
Wang Zhene seemed to feel invisible pressure, moved his body uneasily, and said: "My lord, is this this year's Bichun tea? It has a refreshing fragrance."
Yang Anxuan smiled slightly and said: "Zhen Evil guessed it wrong. This is the Five Pure Heart Tea that my master, Master Huiyuan, asked someone to send to Yu. Yu brought it to Zhen Evil to taste."
Wang Zhen felt nauseated and said: "I had the pleasure of tasting it at Master Tanjie of Tanxi Temple. Master Tanjie said that drinking this tea can calm the mind and enlighten the Buddha's teachings."
Master Tanjie was also a disciple of Master Dao'an. Master Daoan returned to Chang'an and stayed with Master Tanjie to preside over Tanxi Temple. Master Tanjie and Master Huiyuan were brothers.
"Suppressing the evil, Yu admires your grandfather's deeds very much. I have some free time today, so I might as well give you a lecture on suppressing the evil. Wouldn't it be a pleasure to drink the tea that purifies the mind, discuss the past events of the sages, and become more eloquent."
Yang Anxuan's words tickled Wang Zhene's itch, and he talked endlessly about the anecdotes and great achievements of his grandfather Wang Meng. Yang Anxuan listened with a smile, high-fiving and praising him from time to time, and the two chatted happily.
Wang Zhen'e talked for a full hour, and then he said, "My lord, our ancestors had a keen eye for people and did not follow Huan Wen back to the Jin Dynasty. Instead, he chose Fu Jian, the king of heaven, to help him choose an honest man, work hard to govern, work hard, and create something A great achievement, and the good name of our ancestors should be left in the history books."
Yang Anxuan nodded and said: "Lingzu was a loyal minister of King Qin, assisting him to achieve hegemony. If he had not died at an early age, the former Qin might have unified the world. In Yu's opinion, Lingzu's achievements are definitely not inferior to those of Zhuge Wuhou. .”
Wang Zhene was a little excited and said to Yang Anxuan: "Zhene is lucky enough to follow my lord. My lord's benevolence, virtue, bravery and martial arts are better than those of the King of Heaven. In the future, his achievements will definitely be higher than those of the King of Heaven. I am sure that I will be able to establish immortal achievements like my ancestors."
Yang Anxuan calmed down and said: "Zhenwu Zhiyu values you not because you are the grandson of Wang Wuhou, but because you value your own talents and learning."
Wang Zhene said sincerely: "It is really a blessing for Zhene to be able to drive for our lord." He had been following Yang Anxuan since he captured Xiangyang, so he naturally knew that Yang Anxuan treated him differently from others.
Just as Yang Anxuan once said, Meng Longfu, Kuai En and others are meritorious dogs, but he is regarded as a meritorious person by Yang Anxuan just like Xiao He was favored by Emperor Gaozu. Whenever he thinks about it, Wang Zhene's chest is full of gratitude.
Yang Anxuan said in a deep voice: "Lingzu was clear about rewards and punishments and had a strict style, which won Fu's trust and trust. His talent in suppressing evil was not weaker than Lingzu's. Yu also imagined that Fu had a firm belief in ordering Zu to be as trustworthy as Lingzu in suppressing evil. Secretary Shi ordered Zu and Fu In order to maintain order, we should also remember today that you and I hope to suppress evil, and do not lose sight of the big for the sake of small things, or disappoint the expectations of fools."
Wang Zhen'e heard the knocking meaning in Yang Anxuan's words, and his lord knew about his search for money in Jingling. After getting up and leaving the banquet, Wang Zhene prostrated himself in front of Yang Anxuan and said sincerely: "My servant knows that he is greedy for money and lust, but he dare not destroy his official position for personal reasons and harm his great cause. I hope my lord will see clearly."
Yang Anxuan stood up and helped Wang Zhenei up, and said with a smile: "No one is a sage, and he has no faults. Master said, if you know your mistakes and you can correct them, there is no great virtue."
The two held hands and smiled at each other.
"Note (1): "Shui Jing·Jiang Shui Zhu": The river reaches the mouth of Yuzhang in the east, and is connected by the Xia River. There is Yuzhang Gang in the northwest, and it was named because of the hill. It may be said that it was named Yuzhang Terrace by the King of Chu. "
