On July 22nd, Duke Liu Yu of the Song Dynasty led his troops to the expedition, and court officials such as Yuan Zhan, Xu Xianzhi, and Zhao Lunzhi came to see him off.
Liu Yu stood on the bow of the ship and said goodbye to everyone on the dock. The wind on the river was strong, making the flags flutter. The sound of drum music was blown by the river wind, which made him feel annoyed.
The boat left the dock and headed east along the river, preparing to go north from Jiangdu (on the Yangtze River, different from today's Jiangdu) along Cangou to Guangling (now Yangzhou). Fan Yuanzhi of Guangling City prepared five thousand soldiers and horses for Liu Yu, and wanted to go north with him.
The river wind blew against his face, and Liu Yu felt heavy during this expedition. He recalled that when he conquered the (Southern) Yan, he was impassioned and full of ambition. Then he suppressed Lu Xun's rebellion, the clan surrendered, and the people praised him, making him feel that the world was under his control.
In the past few years, Yang Anxuan destroyed Yao Qin, defeated Daxia, and competed with him for Qiao and Shu. They were tit for tat at every turn, but he still had the upper hand, forcing himself to seek foreign aid from Wei.
Smoothing down his beard that was blown by the wind, Liu Yu sighed inwardly. His beard and hair were all white, and competing with the young and powerful Yang Anxuan, he was afraid that things would get worse. Looking at the roaring river, he felt like a hero in his twilight years.
Fu Liang saw Liu Yu looking at the river in a trance, so he stepped forward and whispered: "My lord, the wind is strong on the river, please go inside the cabin and take a rest."
After passing Guangling for a while, the ship entered the Huaihe River, passed through Xiapi and went up the Sishui River to Pengcheng. When he learned that Song Gong led an army of more than 10,000 people, the morale of the Song army was greatly boosted. Liu Yu took a short rest and then led his army north to attack Peixian County.
Tan Shao learned that Song Gong led his army to Pei County and gathered 4,000 soldiers and horses from Fengcheng. After seeing Liu Yu, he apologized. Liu Yu demoted Tan Shao to the rank of general of the auxiliary state and ordered him to perform meritorious service.
In Peixian County, Zhu Lingshi was heartbroken when he learned that Liu Yu was coming. He knew that Liu Yu was very brave and was defeated by him last time. He could not repeat the same mistake this time.
There are 7,000 soldiers and horses in the city, and there are enough grain, grass and baggage to hold out for a period of time. Fang Yu had six thousand soldiers and horses left in the city, and Zhao Tian, Pei Fangming, and Yan Gang had more than 30,000 troops. If there was an emergency, Yanzhou could send troops to help. At this time, the troops were sufficient, and they were no longer stretched when the Song army came to attack.
Standing at the top of the city, Zhu Lingshi looked at the Song army camp. He relied on water troops to capture Peixian County. To defeat the Song division this time, he also relied on the navy.
After capturing Peixian County, Zhu Lingshi wrote to Lu Gui, asking him to ask Chen Yu to lead the navy from the Yellow River to Sidukou (probably Linyi, today's Dezhou, Shandong), go south along the Jishui River, and pass through the counties of Jibei and Dongping. Arrive at Dayeze (now north of Juye County, Heze City, Shandong Province), then walk through Huan Gongdu and enter Weishan Lake.
Peixian County, also known as Peize, is surrounded by waterways. When Chen Yu's navy arrives, he can use Weishan Lake as a base to move across Sishui, Bianshui and Paoshui, including Pengcheng, Fengxian, Xiayi, Shuqiu, Xiao County can attack quickly, and the Song army will be unable to defend itself.
Liu Yu took a warship all the way north from Jiankang. There were 600 naval vessels stationed in Pengcheng. Knowing that Peixian County had been defrauded by the Yong Army's navy in a detour to the south, Liu Yu attacked Peixian County from Pengcheng and took 400 warships northward. He entered the Sishui mouth at Weishan Lake and set up a water fortress to strangle the Yong Army's waterway. He also ordered Xie Hui to set up fences and archery towers along Weishan Lake to block the way for Yong's navy to attack westward from Weishan Lake. Xiu Shuzhu
Chen Yu came to rescue Yanzhou with Lu Gui, and was nominally under Lu Gui's dispatch. After the Yellow River thawed, the possibility of the Wei army crossing the river to attack became smaller. Lu Gui asked Chen Yu for his opinion, and Chen Yu readily agreed.
Liu Zhong defeated the Song Navy's navy at Shuilingshan Island, and the results were brilliant, which really stimulated Chen Yu. Compared to Qian Lei, Chen Yu was more ambitious and always wanted to compete with Liu Zhong.
After the naval battle, Liu Zhong's position in the navy was almost established. Chen Yu retreated to the next best thing and set his goal behind Liu Zhong.
Qian Lei defeated the Song Navy in Zhunkou and Xiakou, while Chen Yu had little success in battle on the Yellow River. If this development trend continues, he may be inferior to Qian Lei.
Chen Yu wanted to kill the enemy and make meritorious deeds, so he encouraged Lu Gui several times to take a boat to attack north. However, Shusun Jian and Yu Lixi led the Wei army to densely build ditches and fortresses on the north bank of the Yellow River, making it difficult for the scouts to penetrate deep. Lu Gui did not follow his advice.
Zhu Lingshi wanted to ask him to go south to attack Liu Yu, but Chen Yuzheng got his wish. He led 300 warships and 2,000 soldiers to rush all the way, and arrived at Hulu City on August 5, more than 40 miles away from Peixian County.
After arriving at Hulu City, he received news that Liu Yuzheng was leading his army to attack Peixian County. Chen Yulue was resting and recuperating. He was eager for success and decided to lead his navy not to go to Surabaya, but to detour to Weishan Lake.
Enter Pengcheng and use the strategy of surrounding Wei and rescuing Zhao.
Three hundred warships sailed south from Weishan Lake. Chen Yu was not familiar with the water conditions of Weishan Lake. He did not know that the shallow part of the lake was only four or five feet, and more than ten stern ships were silted in the lake.
After Xie Hui heard the report, he led his troops to capture them, while Chen Yu led his troops to fight. Xie Hui brought many small boats, which were like maggots attached to bones, very nimble in the lake. Chen Yu had no choice but to light the boats that were silted in the lake and escape with the remaining boats.
When Liu Yu learned of the arrival of Yong's navy, he ordered Xie Hui to lay iron cones in the lake to block the Weishan Lake waterway, so that Liu Zunkao, who was stationed in Pengcheng, would be on guard against sneak attacks by Yong's army.
After Chen Yu returned to Hulu City, he honestly led the boat through Surabaya to Pei County. When Master Song did not react, he entered the water and passed by Feng County, which made Mao Dezu nervous.
The navy of the Yong army then entered the Bianshui River again, passed outside Xiayi City, sent ships to the leader of Mizai City, sailing past in a show of glory, and hurriedly sent people to deliver messages to Shuqiu City downstream.
Compared with Fengxian and Xiayi, Shuqiu and Xiaoxian had few garrisons. After receiving Liu Yu's notice, Pengcheng Liu Zunkao was worried that the defenses of these two cities were weak, so he sent 3,000 troops from Pengcheng to support them.
Chen Yu turned back from Shuqiucheng and did not return to Peixian County. Instead, he went west and stopped in Mengzhu Zezhong next to Yu County. From Mengzhuze, you can take the Paoshui River to attack Fengxian County and go to Peixian County. You can also take the Bianshui River to go to Xiayi, Shuqiu, and Xiaoxian County, which is more convenient.
With the help of the navy, Pei Fangming asked Zhao Tian for orders to bypass Xiayi City and directly attack Shuqiu and Xiaoxian in the east, and Zhao Tian agreed. He ordered Pei Fangming to lead 8,000 troops and horses eastward, leaving 8,000 troops to contain Xiang Mi in Xiayi City, and asked Chen Yu to lead the navy to accompany Pei Fangming in the battle.
Shuqiu is a small city. The city is about three miles long, and the city's defenders are no more than three thousand. When Pei Fangming's army arrived, the gates of Shuqiu City were closed, and the guard Yang Da quickly sent people to Pengcheng for help.
Pengcheng originally had more than 10,000 troops, and had already sent 3,000 to Shuqiu and Xiao counties. If he led another large army to rescue, the city would be empty, and Liu Zunkao would have to send someone to ask Liu Yu for help.
Liu Yu has been attacking Peixian County in the past few days. Zhu Lingshi defended it well and was unable to break the city in a short time. Knowing that Shu Qiu was in danger, Liu Yu felt that the battle line was too long and the troops were scattered, making it easy for Yong's army to defeat them one by one. He simply ordered to abandon Xiayi, Fengxian, Shuqiu and Xiaoxian, and the entire army retreated to Pengcheng.
Xiang Mi, Mao Dezu and others took the order to return to the army. Zhao Tian was unaware of Liu Yu's plan for a while. When the scouts found out that the Song army had withdrawn, they were unable to pursue them. More than 40,000 Song troops gathered in Pengcheng.
Pengcheng (today's Xuzhou City) has a long history. The Yellow Emperor established his capital here (Zhuolu). During the Chu and Han Dynasties, Xiang Yu made Pengcheng his capital and called it the Overlord of Western Chu. During the Western Han Dynasty, it was the capital of Chu. Often used as the administrative center of Xuzhou.
Pengcheng city is twelve miles in circumference, four feet high and four feet wide. The Sishui River and the Bianshui River meet outside the city and serve as a moat. Last year, Liu Yu led his army to attack Yong and garrisoned Pengcheng. When the Bian River surged, the city wall collapsed. Liu Yu believed that Pengcheng was a base for attacking Yang Anxuan and its location was very important, so he ordered the soldiers to burn bricks and fortify the city. Pengcheng's solidity was rare in the world ( 1).
After Zhao Tian and Zhu Lingshi met in Pengcheng, they were stunned when they saw the brick city wall. It was difficult for them to win with more than 30,000 soldiers and horses. After Zhao Tian and Zhu Lingshi discussed it, Zhao Tian and Pei Fangming retreated to Yicheng, Yan Gang stationed his troops in Feng County, and Zhu Lingshi returned to Pei County. Shuqiu and Xiao County were small and simply gave up.
In Xiangyang, Yang Anxuan received the good news from Zhao Tian, mobilized 20,000 troops and horses, and personally led his troops to Xiayi to prepare for a decisive battle with Liu Yu in Pengcheng. …
In Jiankang City, Liu Muzhi's condition gradually worsened and it was difficult for him to govern. At the court, there were Shangshu Youshe Yuan Zhan, Zuomin Shangshu Zhao Lunzhi, Wubing Shangshu Wang Hong, Duzhi Shangshu Wang Yuzhi, and the newly appointed shrine minister Cai. Kuo, Song Gongzuo Sima Xu Xianzhi and others presided over it.
After Yin Youqi arrived in Xiangyang, he resigned from the post of Shangshu of the Ancestral Temple on the grounds of returning home to pay homage to his relatives, and Liu Yu took over the post with Cai Kuo. Cai Kuo, the great-grandson of Situ Cai Mo, was a man of fortitude, skill and fairness. He was liked by Liu Yu and was transferred from Duzhi Shilang to Minister of the Ancestral Hall.
Liu Muzhi was ill. Among the remaining people, the right servant of Shangshu shot Yuan Zhan, who had the highest official position. However, Yuan Zhan was reprimanded by Liu Yu because of the imperial examination, and he was depressed and uninterested. Before leaving for the expedition, Liu Yu told everyone to discuss everything with Xu Xianzhi. Everyone knew that Liu Yu wanted Xu Xianzhi to make the decision.
In Song Gong's Mansion, Xu Xianzhi and Zhao Lunzhi discussed raising cotton clothes. According to Liu Yu’s instructions, at least 80,000 cotton-padded clothes must be supplied.
Yes, each cotton coat uses two kilograms of cotton, which is 160,000 kilograms.
This year nearly 300,000 acres of cotton are planted in Jiangnan. However, an outbreak of insect pests has severely reduced the yield. The average yield per mu is less than 20 kilograms. The yield of cotton on both sides of the Huai River reaches more than 50 kilograms per mu, and the price of cotton is around 20 yuan, which makes cotton growers in Jiangnan lose all their money.
Zhao Lunzhi said: "When we planted cotton, we agreed that we should pay ten kilograms of cotton per mu of cotton as tax. If we follow the agreement, the cotton growers will pay the tax."
Xu Xianzhi said: "Since the disaster has affected us, we will naturally have to reduce or reduce the tax. Let's use the tax rate of two kilograms of cotton per mu of cotton field."
Zhao Lunzhi pondered for a moment and said: "It would be better to just ask the cotton growers to pay two cotton coats per household (Jiangnan is a Ding tax), so that we can raise 80,000 cotton coats before September."
Xu Xianzhi smiled and said, "Mr. Zhao's proposal was very good, so he sent Wenzhou County to deal with it and asked them to transport cotton clothes to Beijing before the end of September."
Zhao Lunzhi stroked his beard and said: "Song Gong specifically mentioned Yiyang Cotton Shop before leaving the capital. These people want to make money in Jiangnan. They must sell at least 40,000 of these 80,000 cotton coats."
Wan Chang's mouth has been bubbling in the past few days, his eyes have been red, and he has been too anxious to sleep. The Yiyang Cotton Company planted nearly 80,000 acres of cotton in Jiangnan this year, and the cotton they received was not as much as the 30,000 acres produced in Yiyang County. With more people growing cotton, wages will naturally rise. Last year, a piece of cloth cost 400 yen. This year, it was 600 yen and still couldn't find anyone. According to this situation, we will definitely lose money.
After receiving an official document from Xunyang Mansion, which ordered Yiyang Cotton Co., Ltd. to sew 40,000 pieces of cotton-padded clothes for tax, Wan Chang was so angry that he cursed. This was clearly an act of exploitation that involved killing the donkey and sucking out the marrow.
Just as the cotton growers in the south of the Yangtze River were wailing, a group of barbarians came from the north and bought cotton at a high price. The price of cotton quickly rose to thirty-six or forty yuan, and it was seen that it was going to fifty yuan.
Talis turned into a Wei merchant and purchased more than 30,000 kilograms of cotton at a price of 40 yuan in five days. He was really puzzled. Obviously the cotton in the Huaihe River area only costs more than 20 yuan, so why pay high prices to come to Jiangnan to harvest cotton? Isn't this a loss?
The cotton growers in the south of the Yangtze River finally had a smile on their face. The price of cotton at 40 yuan per pound was barely enough to cover the cost of growing grain. The court offered two cotton coats as compensation for the field tax, so it was not a loss. If you include the income from making cotton clothes and weaving cotton cloth, growing cotton is still cost-effective.
This year we suffered from insect infestation, but the income from growing cotton is not inferior to that from growing grain. Many farmers are tempted to plant several acres of cotton fields next year.
"Note (1): "Shui Jing Zhu": In the twelfth year of Yixi (AD 416) of Emperor An of the Eastern Jin Dynasty, the Bian River surged and the city collapsed. At that time, Liu Yu was stationed in Xu. Nothing." There are records of brick city walls appearing in the Qin Dynasty, but the real beginning of brick city walls should be in the Southern and Northern Dynasties. "
