On July 30th, after Yongzhou made an urgent report, Hou Qin sent troops to Luo. General Yang Anxuan of the left asked troops from Yongzhou, Yanzhou, Sizhou and Liangzhou to fight back.
In the memorial, Yang Anxuan did not mention preparations to attack Qin. He knew that if he said that he would attack Qin, he would definitely be opposed, and even Liu Yu did not want to see him make great achievements.
Liu Yu only gained fame by conquering Yan last year. This year Yang Anxuan plans to conquer Qin. If he succeeds, it will overshadow him.
The vague memorial was quickly approved, and Liu Yu was preparing to raise an army to annihilate Liu Yi. He wished that Yang Anxuan would be tied up by the Later Qin Dynasty and issue an order in the name of the emperor to allow him to do things conveniently.
In Shang County, Yao Bi had been attacking the city for five days. Not only did he fail to capture Shang County, but two days ago, Yin Ji led an army to attack the camp at night, injuring hundreds of people.
When Zhao Tian led his army against Danshui and arrived, Yao Bi felt that the opportunity to fight had been lost. When he went on the expedition, his father repeatedly told him to take care of his troops, so Yao Bi had to lead his army back outside Shangluo City and join forces with Yang Fosong again.
Zhao Tian followed him to Shangluo City. Zhu Lingshi was relieved when he saw reinforcements arriving. Zhao Tian brought Yang Anxuan's order. The soldiers obeyed Zhu Lingshi's command. Those who disobeyed the general's orders were punished according to military discipline.
Zhang Feng stood in the queue, with gauze still tied on his shoulders. He saw his father-in-law glaring at him several times when he announced the order. He couldn't help but feel guilty, wondering how the Lord would punish him.
"Zhang Feng," Zhao Tian shouted angrily. Zhang Feng bravely stepped forward, cupped his fists and said, "I have seen Zhao Sima before." Zhao Tian said coldly, "You are so greedy for merit that you have sacrificed your soldiers, so you have been demoted to the rank of general, and you will be punished forty times after you recover." ." Zhang Feng thought of Gao Lin's broken arm and the wounded and wounded soldiers, and felt sad in his heart, and responded: "The last general will accept his punishment." Zhu Lingshi thought in his heart, and the lord handed over the troops and horses to his command, and even Zhao Sima, who came with the reinforcements, He also obeyed his subordinates, and it seems that the defeat did not affect the lord's trust in him.
In September last year, the lord called everyone together to propose an attack on Qin, and Qin took the lead in attacking Shangluo. It seemed that he would be the first to launch several large armies to attack Qin, which was an opportunity for him.
Glancing at the sullen Zhao Tian, Zhu Lingshi knew that Zhao Tian was dissatisfied with him. He did not blame anyone in his letter to Yang Anxuan. After writing it, he also showed it to Zhang Feng, and waited until Zhao Tian asked Zhang Feng behind his back. The front should clear up the misunderstanding.
The Qin army was still outside the city. Zhu Lingshi didn't want to think about anything else and said: "The Qin army knows that my reinforcements have arrived, so they will probably retreat to Yaoguan. The lord ordered us to attack Qin. This is the opportunity to make a contribution." Zhao Tian and Zhang Feng Everyone knows that Yang Anxuan is planning to attack Qin in five ways. Whichever way can capture Chang'an City first will get the greatest credit. There is no doubt that the general who will lead the army will be granted a title.
If you take the lead and seize the opportunity, you will hopefully be one step ahead. The map was hung up. Zhu Lingshi had already memorized the checkpoints and cities from Shangluo to Chang'an. He placed his finger on Yaoguan and said: "To attack Chang'an from Shangluo, you must pass Yaoguan. The emperor of Han Dynasty used to break Yaoguan. Enter Xianyang. The terrain of Yaoguan is dangerous, easy to defend but difficult to attack. It is the choke point into Xianyang. If Yao Bi leads 20,000 Qin troops to retreat to Yaoguan, even a hundred thousand soldiers and horses will be difficult to conquer." Zhang Feng knew that my lord He was only demoted one level. He felt calm and witty again. He cupped his fists and asked, "General Zhu, just now you mentioned that Emperor Gaozu of the Han Dynasty broke the pass. I don't know how he broke it. Can we repeat the same plan?" Lingshi nodded approvingly and said: "General Zhang asked a good question, but it is difficult to follow the example of Emperor Gaozu of the Han Dynasty in breaking through the pass. At that time, Emperor Gaozu of the Han Dynasty used the strategy of retaining the marquis. On the surface, he bribed Han Rong, the guard of the Aoguan Pass, and secretly sent troops to bypass it. At Yaoguan, he crossed Mount Mount and set fire to the mountain. He planted flags all over the pass and planted suspicious troops to shake the morale of the Qin army before conquering Yaoguan. After Fu Jian captured Chang'an, he ordered people to build a beacon tower on Yaoshan and stationed troops there. When Yao Qin returned Shangluo to his lord, he ordered people to patrol the mountain roads. It would be difficult, difficult, difficult to sneak past Yaoshan." Zhao Tian realized the meaning of Zhu Lingshi's words and said: "What General Zhu meant It is to prevent Yao Bi's army from returning to Aoguan."
"That's right," Zhu Lingshi said, "Zhao Sima came to help Shangluo and brought 120 warships. He can lurk near Yaoguan before the Qin army returns to the army. When the Qin army enters the pass, they can attack with Yu to win the battleship. Capture the Pass." Zhang Feng asked for a fight and said: "The last general is willing to atone for his sins and lead his army to intercept and kill the Qin army." Zhao Tianyi glared and said: "You don't want your arm anymore. There will be more when you recover from the injury. Forty military batons are waiting for you, and you still want to take credit." Zhang Feng was frustrated and looked at Zhu Lingshi eagerly, hoping that he could speak for him.
Zhu Lingshi didn't want to get involved in the relationship between their father-in-law and his son-in-law, so he said with a smile: "Zhao Sima is coming from far away. Let's go down to rest first. I will throw a banquet for you in the evening." Zhao Tian nodded and said: "You are not spared by age. I'm really tired after this long journey, so I'll take my leave first." Zhao Tian clasped his fists and saluted, and took Zhang Feng back to his residence without mentioning it.
At the Qin army's camp, Yao Bi and Yang Fosong were discussing retreat. Yang Fosong said: "The scouting horse reports that there are more than a hundred warships in Jin's reinforcements. We must be careful to prevent the Jin army from going to Aoguan from the waterway to set up an ambush. The general led his light cavalry to go to Aoguan first, and finally stopped the rear." This expedition to Shangluo did not grab food. , Yao Bi was a little frustrated and said: "If the Jin army goes to set up an ambush in front of Aoguan as General Yang expected, I will let them go and never return." Three days later, Yao Bi returned with 4,000 light cavalry and 4,000 infantry. Aoguan.
There is a distance of more than 70 miles between Shangluo City and Aoguan. Yao Bi did not rush back to the pass. Instead, he set up camp thirty miles away from Aoguan and sent someone to inform the guard of Aoguan, General Ning Shuo and Zhao Xuanqin, to pay attention to the Jin army's sneak attacks at any time. .
After the Qin army withdrew, Zhang Feng finally persuaded his father-in-law Zhao Tian and Zhu Lingshi to lead 6,000 troops with him to set up an ambush near Yaoguan in advance.
Yang Fosong had already seen through the possible sneak attack by the Jin army. There were Qin reconnaissance cavalry patrolling the Danshui bank day and night. As soon as the Jin army's warship appeared, it was detected by Zhao Xuanqin. Zhao Xuanqin sent a horse to notify the general Yao Bi.
Yao Bi learned that the Jin army was indeed coming, so he led his Qingqi to cover up the enemy. Zhao Tian saw dust rising in the distance and knew that the Qin army was coming, so he hurriedly ordered his soldiers to board the ship.
The Qin army was on the shore and the Jin army was on the ship. The two sides were about half a mile away from each other and fired arrows at each other, with few casualties. Seeing that there was no opportunity to take advantage of it, Zhao Tian took the fleet back to Shangluo.
Outside Shangluo City, Yang Fosong began to set up camp, and Zhu Lingshi led his army to pursue him. Yang Fosong camped step by step and defended tightly. Zhu Lingshi charged several times but failed to find a chance. He was afraid that he would chase the enemy too far and fall into the trap of luring the enemy, so he had to lead his army back to Shangluo City.
Yao Bi and Yang Fosong returned to Yaoguan, rested for two days, and then led the army back to Chang'an. Five days later, Zhu Lingshi received more than ten ships' baggage from Xiangyang. In addition to crossbows, rams, catapults and other items, there were also more than a thousand kilograms of black powder packed in more than 300 bamboo poles.
Zhu Lingshi had seen the power of black gunpowder at Baizhang Mountain and knew that it could set fires and emit loud noises and thick smoke, but the actual combat effectiveness had not yet been tested.
There were more than two dozen craftsmen from Baizhang Mountain who came with the baggage. Yang Anxuan explained in the official letter that these craftsmen should be protected and the craftsmen's opinions should be followed on how to use instruments and gunpowder.
After Yang Anxuan sent Zhao Tian away, he immediately ordered the attack on Qin. He ordered Wang Zhenewei to go to Hongnong to attack Tongguan, Liu Zhong led the navy to attack Puban, ordered Yang Siping to lead the army to attack Ankang, Meng Longfu sent troops to Chencang, and five The plan to attack Qin on the road was launched.
In this attack on Qin, Yang Anxuan's baggage for Wang Zhen'e and Zhu Lingshi each contained more than a thousand kilograms of black powder, while Liu Zhong's battleship was equipped with newly developed rockets.
Although black powder has been developed for several years, the reserves of black powder are not large. Due to the low production of saltpeter and sulfur, the black powder in Yang Anxuan's hands can only be stored in more than 5,000 kilograms.
The saltpeter and sulfur in his hands mainly came from Liangzhou and Shuzhong. Yang Anxuan secretly told Hua Daoning to purchase large quantities of saltpeter from Mianzhu City in the name of alchemy. The price of one stone of saltpeter was three taels of gold, and with transportation costs, the price was expensive; as for sulfur It's a little better, and it's produced in Fengjie, Jiangzhou.
Money was needed everywhere, and Yang Anxuan could not raise much money to buy saltpeter. However, Yang Anxuan made up his mind that when Liu Yu attacked Shu, he must find a way to control Mianzhu City in his own hands.
.........In August, Liu Daogui, the general who conquered the west and the governor of Yuzhou, died of illness in Jiankang. The imperial court gave posthumous gifts to Shizhong and Situ, and the posthumous title of Liewu. In recognition of his contribution to pacifying Huan Qian, he was posthumously granted the title of Duke of Nanjun.
Queen Wang Shen'ai was seriously ill, and there was a shortage of doctors and medicines in the palace. She had to write letters to the Wang family for help and ask for medicine. She died of illness soon after.
Liu Yu appointed Zhuge Changmin, the governor of Xuzhou, as the governor of Jiang and Henan; Liu Daolian was appointed the governor of Xuzhou, sitting in Jingkou; Liu Jingxuan was appointed the governor of Northern Jizhou, and Liu Huaisu was transferred to be the internal historian of Pengcheng, and Tan Shao was appointed the prefect of Xiapi.
In order to attack Liu Yi, Liu Yu mobilized the auxiliary generals Wang Zhongde, Longxiang general Yu Qiujin, Ningshuo general Zang Xi, Ningshuo general Liu Zhong, Fujun general Tan Zhi, champion general Tan Daoji, Ningshuo general Liu Zunkao, Jian There are a large number of brave generals such as General Shen Linzi, a military general, and Shen Tianzi, a soldier in the Taiwei Mansion.
Xi Hui, the minister Zuo Pushe, found that the offerings in the palace were declining and the queen could not even seek medical advice. Liu Yu's ambition to aspire to the throne was growing day by day, and the soldiers and horses in the court gathered again. Feeling powerless, he resigned from the minister Zuo because he was old and frail. As for the post of Pu She, the emperor ordered Xie Hun to take over in Zhongshu.
Liu Yu was preparing intensively, but Liu Yi, who was far away in Jingzhou, fell ill again, and was very seriously ill, making it difficult to manage.
Liu Yi asked Shangshu to transfer his cousin, General Liu Fan, to Jingzhou to assist in the administration. Liu Yu pretended to agree and ordered Liu Fan, who was guarding Guangling, to go to Beijing to report on his duties.
When Liu Fan arrived in Beijing, on September 12, Liu Yu issued an edict in the name of the Emperor.
"Liu Yi'ao is fierce and cruel. He has been in the frost for a long time. He was defeated in the middle. It is time to kill him... He was favored again. He never thought about being guilty of internal litigation and had a lot of resentment... He has always been evil and is determined to be treacherous. Tomb The superiors abused the subordinates and indulged in excess. After being relieved of the governor's post, Jiangzhou was no longer under the rule, but moved troops frequently, stole military resources, expelled the old garrison, and established loyal parties. The second bureau of the West Prefecture, with thousands of civil and military personnel, was cut off I have never said a word... and I have a distant influence with my disciple Hui, recruiting cunning people, repairing armor to stop the troops, taking care of foreign diseases, making practical arrangements to wait for gaps, helping each other with evil, and trying to meet Jing Ying. Shangshu Zuopu shoots Xie Hun relied on his worldly resources and received special treatment, but he was frivolous and impetuous. His position was in a disorderly position, which stirred up internal and external disturbances and made plans for thousands of miles. This is tolerable, but who can't be pregnant." Ting Wei was ordered to detain Xie Hun and Liu Fan. He was sentenced to death in the name of the emperor that day.
On September 13th, Taiwei Liu Yu went to Shu to attack Jingzhou Governor Liu Yi. The emperor gave him a yellow Yue and ordered him to supervise the Western Expedition.
Liu Yu appointed Liu Huaishen to guard the entrance of Jingkou. Zhuge, the governor of Yuzhou, supervised the affairs of the eunuch staying in the government, and added the eunuch Sima. Danyang Yin Liu Muzhi was appointed as the general of Jianwu, commanding the troops in the capital.
Yin Youqi learned that Liu Yu was about to attack Jingzhou and reported to Yang Anxuan in Xiangyang through the secret guard. Yang Anxuan didn't like Liu Yi, but he didn't want to sit back and watch Liu Yu annex Jingzhou, so he sent a secret guard to deliver a letter to Liu Yi, who was still in his dream, telling him that Liu Fan and Xie Hun were dead and Liu Yu was about to send troops.
He conveniently copied the emperor's edict written by Xu Xianzhi to him. As for Liu Yi's response, he left it to fate.
The war against Qin was in full swing, and Yang Anxuan originally went to Yanzhou to patrol to prevent the soldiers and horses of the Northern Wei Dynasty from taking the opportunity to attack. Kou Qianzhi's letter reassured Yang Anxuan. He learned from the letter that the young emperor of the Northern Wei Dynasty had begun an eastward tour. According to previous years' practice, he would not return to Pingcheng until the end of the year.
Now in September, there are still more than three months before the Chinese New Year. Yang Anxuan plans to make a quick decision and strive to capture Chang'an City within this year.
