On May 12, Qian Lei led 8,000 navy troops to raid Yangkou stronghold and destroyed it until Yanzhi defended Jingling. Qian Lei sent General Ning Shuo Zhou You to lead 2,000 naval troops from Yangkou to Yangshui in a gesture of attacking Jiangling.
Liu Daolian was horrified and sent out all the remaining three thousand naval forces in Jiangling City to stop the enemy. At the same time, he ordered Yanzhi to build a high platform on the bank of Yangshui and set up catapults and crossbows to block the water.
In Yangcheng, Sima Xiuzhi received a letter from Yang Anxuan. Yang Anxuan expressed in a tactful tone that he wanted Sima Xiuzhi to launch an all-out attack and recapture Jiangling City.
After Sima Xiuzhi received the letter, he summoned Sima Guofan, Sima Chuzhi and others for discussion.
Sima Guofan said: "Right now, Yonggong is surrounded by enemies. Yufucheng has been captured. The situation is critical. We want to reduce the pressure by attacking Jiangling and contain Liu Yu's attack."
Sima Xiuzhi sighed: "We are living under the fence. If we don't obey orders, we will have no place to stay when Liu Yu defeats Yang Anxuan. It is better to obey orders and attack Jiangling. If we can recapture Jingzhou, we will still have a place to stay."
Sima Chuzhi agreed: "My uncle is right. When Yanzhi Zhangshan was defeated, the Yangkou Navy suffered heavy losses. The Jingzhou Navy went to capture Yufucheng. Jiangling City was empty, which was a good opportunity to counterattack."
Sima Xiuzhi stroked his beard and muttered: "When Fool defeated Jiangling, he had less than five thousand soldiers and horses accompanying him. This time the counterattack on Jiangling mainly relies on Yong's army."
When Sima Xiuzhi was appointed as the governor of Jingzhou, he made friends with aristocratic families. He treated the soldiers kindly and took the corvee lightly, which was quite popular among the people. Liu Yu captured Jingzhou, and more than 4,000 soldiers and horses fled to Dangyang.
Sima Chuzhi felt sad, saying that the Jin Dynasty belonged to the Sima family, and these less than five thousand soldiers and horses were the Sima family's last hope.
When attacking Jiangling, you must not lose all your capital, otherwise even if you capture Jiangling City, it will be a wedding dress for Yang Anxuan.
Sima Chuzhiqiang smiled and said: "Yu led the army to fight against Liu Zhong, and Ningyuan General Zhang Dan cooperated quite well. Yonggong ordered Yu and others to attack Jiangling. I believe General Zhang also received Yonggong's order."
While they were talking, a small official outside the door reported that Ningyuan General Zhang Dan asked to see him. Zhang Dan and Sima Xiuzhi are old acquaintances. When Huan Xuan killed the old generals of the Beifu, Sima Xiuzhi, Liu Jingxuan, Gao Yazhi and other Beifu generals decided to flee to the (South) Yan and (Later) Qin. Zhang Dan, the head of Jiangdu, was recruited to join the Yong army. military.
Yang Anxuan treated Zhang Dan well and gave him the title of General Ningyuan and guarded Danshui City. However, Zhang Dan's ability was limited and he was defeated by Qin general Yang Fosong. Yang Anxuan did not blame him and later appointed him as the governor of Bajun.
Liu Yu and Yang Anxuan competed for Yizhou, and wars broke out frequently. Zhang Dan was old and took the initiative to ask Yang Anxuan to return to Xiangyang. When Liu Yu attacked Jing, Yang Anxuan sent him to lead his army to defend Dangyang together with Lu Gui.
Sima Xiuzhi stood up to greet Zhang Dan, held arms with Zhang Dan, and asked with a smile, "Is Guangyou here to attack Jing?"
"Brother Ji Yu is right." Zhang Dan slowly stroked his beard and said, "I wonder what brother Ji Yu has planned?"
Sima Xiuzhi said with a bitter face: "There are only more than 3,000 people under Yu's command. It is barely enough to defend Dangyang. There is no spare power to attack Jiangling."
Zhang Dan understood Sima Xiuzhi's intentions and said: "In this attack on Jiangling, Yonggong ordered Yu to cooperate fully. The deployment of troops and horses will be subject to brother Ji Yu's arrangements."
Sima Xiu was secretly happy. There were more than 10,000 Yong soldiers. If they were under his command, it would indeed be possible to capture Jiangling City.
Zhang Dan said unhurriedly: "There is also good news for brother Ji Yu. General Qian broke Yangkou stronghold yesterday and sent partial troops from Yangshui to attack Jiangling."
Sima Xiuzhi did not look happy and said: "Liu Dao pities the cowardly man. If Jiangling is in danger, he will order Jingling to Yanzhi to come back for reinforcements. Yanzhi is a famous general on the battlefield. If he is stationed at Jiangling, it will be difficult to leave Jiangling."
Sima Chuzhi on the side said ambitiously: "You will know after fighting."
On May 15th, Sima Chuzhi led five thousand soldiers and horses to fight with Liu Zhong outside Dangyang Pass. This battle had been going on for nearly a month. As Liu Cui left, Liu Zhong felt that his soldiers were tired and wanted to lead his army to Zhijiang. (The current Dangyang and Zhijiang are not ancient addresses. If you are interested, you can check the map. The author uses the "Chinese Historical Atlas", edited by Tan Qixiang) to rest, but I asked Jingzhou Governor Liu Daolian several times for permission.
At noon, Liu Zhong ordered the horn to be blown, and his subordinates began to retreat. At this time, Sima Chuzhi
The team also sounded the horn, and both sides began to break away from the battle.
Liu Zhong was a little confused. Song Gong attacked Yong with five routes, and the other four routes all achieved results. Only his own route was blocked outside Dangyang City. Although Sima Chuzhi was young, he fought bravely, and his soldiers and horses were a great army that had fought many battles. He tried his best but could not defeat the enemy.
After learning the news that Liu Cui had captured Yufucheng, Liu Zhong was secretly anxious. Liu Cui would definitely be ranked above him in the future after making great achievements. Looking at Dangyang City several miles away, Liu Zhong frowned. What method should he think of to break the city?
Hearing that a batch of elixir fire had been sent from Jiankang City, Liu Zhong decided to apply for thousands of kilograms from Liu Daolian, which might have miraculous effects.
Sima Chuzhi led his army back to Dangyang City, and the city gate slowly closed behind him. Sima Chuzhi asked the soldiers to return to the camp to rest, and then he rode his horse to the government office to see Sima Xiuzhi.
Sima Xiuzhi asked: "Dexiu, have you gained anything from watching the enemy these days?"
Sima Chuzhi thought: "The imperial troops are no longer as vigorous as before and are showing signs of fatigue. The Yongzhou Navy is galloping on the Yangtze River. My nephew estimates that Liu Daolian will soon order Liu Zhong to retreat and defend Jiangling City."
Sima Xiu said: "Liu Zhong is careful with his troops and will be fully prepared even if he withdraws. You have to be careful of him setting up an ambush."
"Yu knows." Sima Chu replied confidently: "If Liu Zhong wants to withdraw, there are only two ways. One is to cross the Juzhang River to Zhijiang, and the other is to go south along the Xiangjing Ancient Road to Jinan City. Then Yu Shu Qingqi will act according to the opportunity. .”
Yong's army had four thousand light cavalry, but Zhang Dan was too old to fight on the battlefield in person, so he simply handed over Yong's army to the command of Sima Chu. Sima Chu only had to inform him to mobilize Yong's army, and Zhang Dan never delayed.
The messenger Liu Zhong sent to ask for Danhuo returned empty-handed, but brought back an order for him to retreat to Zhijiang City. Liu Zhong had no intention of fighting, so he divided his eleven thousand soldiers and horses into three groups, each one ten miles apart, and retreated to Zhijiang City in turn.
There was a distance of more than fifty miles between Dangyang and Zhijiang. Liu Zhong withdrew his troops in turns and marched slowly. They could only march thirty miles a day, and they had to cross the Juzhang River on the way.
When Shen Chu arrived at the bank of the Juzhang River, Liu Zhong saw dozens of small boats coming to take him across the river. Such small boats could only carry a dozen people at a time. He had tens of thousands of soldiers and horses and a lot of baggage. How long would it take him to cross the river? river.
Liu Daolian had no choice. Most of the Jingzhou Navy was taken away by Liu Cui, and the remaining small troops were sent to Yangshui to intercept the Yongzhou Navy. These dozens of small boats still collected fishing boats on the river to replenish their numbers.
Liu Zhong immediately ordered a camp to be set up on the east bank of the Juzhang River, and sent people to fly to report to Liu Daolian, the governor, that he would change his itinerary and go directly south to Ji Nancheng, asking him to send people to support him.
Seeing Liu Zhong withdrawing from the camp, Sima Chuzhi did not rush to pursue him. Instead, he sent reconnaissance cavalry to find out where Liu Zhong was going and whether there was an ambush lurking.
Knowing that Liu Zhong had divided his troops into three groups and retreated slowly, Sima Chu couldn't find a flaw for a while. After discussing with Zhang Dan, he led four thousand light cavalry to patrol the side, looking for fighters.
Liu Zhong's troops stopped by the Juzhang River, and Sima Chuzhi planned to launch an attack while Liu Zhong's army was crossing the river. However, the scouts reported that there were only dozens of small boats on the river and no Jingzhou navy was seen.
Sima Chuzhi came to his senses and said with a smile: "There is no navy in Jingzhou, and Liu Zhong is afraid that he will not be able to cross the river."
Since it was impossible to cross the river to Zhijiang City, Liu Zhong could only lead his troops south along the river and eastward toward Jinan City.
Sima Chuzhi asked people to bring the map. From the Juzhang River to the east was a plain, suitable for Qingqi to hire. Sima Chuzhi was confident and led Qingqi to leave first.
The next day Liu Zhong's army set off again. This time, Liu Zhong did not divide the army into three more, but divided the army into five columns and marched together. There were chariots on the outside to protect the soldiers in the middle. Liu Zhong kept urging his troops to speed up, hoping to reach Ji Nancheng before Shen Shi.
At the right time, Sima Chu's rate of light cavalry came and killed him. Liu Zhong was well prepared and blew his trumpets to form a formation, but the light cavalry was so fast that it took away more than a hundred lives in one pass.
Liu Zhong ordered the chariot to be deployed on the outside, with the crossbow carriage mounted on it, the archers and shield bearers on the inside of the chariot, and the infantry in the middle to form a formation, deliberately leaving several gaps to lure Yong's army in.
Sima Chuzhi led his army back and saw Liu Zhong's army deliberately exposing several gaps, apparently to lure him deeper. Sima Chuzhi smiled and said: "Liu Shizhi's skills are limited. There is no need to attack forcefully, just shoot him with arrows."
Qingqi carries three quivers with him. Each quiver contains twelve arrows, making a total of thirty-six quivers. For four thousand people, there are more than 100,000 arrows.
With his light cavalry galloping past the outside of Liu Zhong's army, Sima Chuzhi bent his bow towards the formation, and arrows shot up into the sky like dark clouds.
The arrows just flew over the car formation and landed on the infantry in the middle. People kept falling to the ground after being hit by arrows, and screams of misery could be heard.
Liu Zhong ordered the archers to fight back, but the Qingqi were so fast and easy to dodge that only a few of them were hit by arrows and fell off their horses.
Although our troops outnumbered Yong's cavalry, our infantry was at a disadvantage against Qing's cavalry, so we could only defend firmly and wait for reinforcements from Ji Nancheng to arrive. This place is only more than twenty miles away from Ji Nancheng. Calculating the time, the reinforcements should arrive.
At noon, dust started to rise in the southeast, and Liu Zhong shouted loudly: "Reinforcements have arrived, and the men are ready to fight back."
Sima Chuzhi saw the dust rising several miles away and said with a smile: "Sui Yu, go ahead and defeat Jingzhou's reinforcements."
When the horn sounded and the sword pointed, Sima Chuzhi and his Qingqi abandoned Liu Zhong's army and headed towards Jingzhou's reinforcements.
Last night, Liu Daolian received a letter asking for help from Liu Zhong. He knew that Liu Zhong could not cross the river because he could not send a navy to respond. Liu Zhong was defeated and he could not escape the blame afterwards.
Most of Liu Zhong's troops were infantry. If the Yong army sent light cavalry to attack, it would be difficult to resist. There were still more than 2,000 cavalry in Jingzhou City, and Liu Daolian sent Yingyang General Peng Hui to lead him to meet Liu Zhong.
Seeing that Sima Chu had abandoned himself to fight the reinforcements, Liu Zhong knew that he could not let Yong's cavalry overwhelm the reinforcements, so he personally led all his thousands of cavalry in pursuit. At this time, Sima Chu's vanguard had already contacted Peng Hui's reinforcements and passed by.
Jingzhou Qingqi were war horses obtained from the destruction of (Southern) Yan that year, and most of the Qingqi led by Sima Chuzhi were good horses taken from (Yao) Qin. The two sides competed to determine the strength of the weak, and Jingzhou Qingqi was killed by more than 200 people.
After Liu Zhong and Peng Hui reunited, they did not go to chase Sima Chuzhi. Instead, they ordered chariots to be deployed on both sides to protect the infantry in the middle. When Sima Chuzhi led his cavalry to attack, he led his cavalry forward and fought to prevent Yong's cavalry from entering the formation.
Fighting and fighting all the way, Liu Zhong worked hard and used many tricks, and finally reached five miles away from Ji Nancheng. Sima Chuzhi saw that Ji Nancheng was in sight, stopped chasing, and roared away with his Qingqi.
Liu Zhong looked at the dead bodies scattered all over the field behind him, feeling sad and angry. He had lost more than 2,000 soldiers in this battle, and his morale was greatly depressed.
Three days later, Sima Chuzhi led 12,000 troops to Ji'nan City. Liu Daolian ordered Liu Zhong to guard Ji'nan City and was not allowed to go out to fight. He rushed to Yanzhi to send troops from Jingling to reinforce Jiangling City.
Yanzhi had no choice but to send five thousand reinforcements to Jiangling. The eyes of the soldiers and horses in Jingzhou were attracted by the land battle. They didn't know that two days ago, Qian Lei led 6,000 naval troops down the river and drove straight to Jiukou.
