After leaving the battlefield in Jiangzhou City, hundreds of Song warships lined up in a long line, sailed down the river and headed straight for Yufucheng.
Liu Cui stood on the building ship and felt depressed. In the Jiangzhou water battle, he lost an eight-stern ship, a building ship, and 16 other large and small ships, and suffered more than a hundred casualties.
These battle losses and casualties are nothing, but the Yong army defeated the many with less. With the appearance of strong and fast warships on the Yangtze River, it can be predicted that in the near future, the Yong army navy will dominate the rivers.
Arriving at Yufucheng at Shenzheng time, Liu Cui did not land, but directly set up a waterproof stronghold. He was busy until the end of Youzheng period when he had time to meet with Chen Xian, the magistrate of Yufu County who came to work for the army.
While devouring corn porridge, Liu Cui asked Chen Xian about the battle situation in Yiling City. Yufucheng and Yiling City were separated by more than 500 miles, and merchant ships on the river were cut off during the war. Chen Xian did not know much about the fighting situation in Yiling City. The news he learned was that the Yong Army sent troops to attack the city seven days ago.
Liu Cui did not dare to delay in Yufucheng, so he left the damaged ships to be repaired in Yufucheng, and took more than 300 warships to Zigui City the next day.
Arriving at Zigui City, the situation in Yiling City became clear. Yong General Fan Zhan led 6,000 light cavalry and 6,000 infantry to set up strongholds outside the east and north gates of Yiling City, and began to attack the city on April 2.
There were five thousand soldiers and horses in Yiling City. General Guangwei and Sima Suntian defended the city. Prefect Dong Qing mobilized the people in the city to go to the city to help defend. Although the Yong army attacked Yiling fiercely, they were unable to capture Yiling City in a short time.
Liu Cui asked about the situation in Yidao City again. Zigui ordered Song Shao to say: "After Yidao City was captured by Sima Chuzhi, Sima Chuzhi led his fleet to sneak attack Jiangling, but was defeated by Xiao Governor on the river. After returning to Yidao City, , Sima Chuzhi made no move, and only set up camp on the other side of the river to guard the waterway."
Since there is no danger in Yiling City for the time being, Liu Cui plans to rest temporarily in Zigui City and wait for the opportunity to go to war. Liu Cui ordered people to send a message to Yiling City to inform him of his arrival. It was more than 150 miles from Zigui to Yiling. If there was an emergency in Yiling, the navy could arrive in two hours downstream.
He sent scouts to inquire about the situation in Yidao City. Liu Cui learned that Sima Chuzhi was recruiting talents in Yidao City, and also sent people to Wei Mountain to recruit barbarians into the army. For a time, the momentum was great, and nearby heroes came to join the army.
Liu Cui laughed and said: "After Sima Xiu's death, the Sima family had no choice but to change their ways and join Yang Anxuan. Sima Chuzhi was famous among the Sima family for his bravery and heroic spirit, but it seems that he just gained fame in vain and recruited some ruffians. How could he succeed? thing."
Mu Qian, the bodyguard beside him, cupped his hands and said, "General Liu, I am an old acquaintance of Sima Chuzhi. I would like to take the opportunity to go to Yi Dao to assassinate Sima Chuzhi."
Mu Qian was a good soldier Liu Cui recruited when he was recruiting troops in Zhuti County. Because of his outstanding martial arts skills, he took him as a personal guard. Unexpectedly, Mu Qian actually knew Sima Chuzhi.
After asking, we found out that when Sima Rongqi was the governor of Yizhou, his son Sima Chuzhi liked to make friends with strangers, and Mu Qian followed Sima Chuzhi at that time. Later, Sima Rongqi was killed by Yang Chengzu, and Sima Chuzhi helped his spirit return home, and Mu Qian and others dispersed.
Liu Cui said happily: "Ju Qing (Mu Qian), if you can assassinate Sima Chuzhi this time, I will ask Song Gong for your credit. If things are not harmonious, it doesn't matter. You can find a way to stay by Sima Chuzhi's side and send him out." In military affairs, rewards will be given based on merits afterwards."
Mu Qian bowed and said, "As ordered."
Liu Cui thought for a while and said, "You are alone and weak, and it is inconvenient to convey military information. I will pick a few brothers from the army for you and go with you to defect to Sima Chuzhi. We will act according to the opportunity."
Mu Qian said respectfully: "Wei."
Liu Cui thought for a while and then said: "In order to gain Sima Chuzhi's trust, you might as well tell him that he came from Zigui City and saw Yu leading the navy stationed in Zigui City. You might as well tell him the general situation of the general."
Mu Qian thought Liu Cui didn't trust him, so he knelt down and said, "I dare not betray the general."
Liu Cui smiled and said: "Ju Qing is overly concerned. It won't take long for Sima Chuzhi to know when Yu leads the navy to Zigui City. You should take this news to Sima Chuzhi as intelligence. There is also a promotion level, and it is easy to obtain Sima Chuzhi." Chu Zhi’s trust.”
When Mu Qian took the order and left, Liu Daoji on the side said: "Brother, is this Mu Qian possible?"
Liu Cui disapproved and said: "People in the world are very eager to fight for fame and gain. If you try to lure him with military exploits, you should give it a try. If you succeed, you will be happy. If you don't succeed, you will be fine."
What to lose. "
Mu Qian returned to his tent, calmed down, and regretted his impulsiveness in front of Liu Cui. At that time, I wanted to be rewarded for my meritorious service, so I rashly asked for orders to assassinate Sima Chuzhi. However, it seemed that Liu Cui did not trust me. He said that he wanted to choose a few helpers, which may have the intention of spying on him.
Thinking back to the time when I followed Sima Chuzhi, Sima Chuzhi treated me well, and later dismissed everyone and gave me two thousand coins, which was considered my kindness and righteousness. I let you fool me and wanted to exchange his life for credit, and I felt guilty. ah.
While he was thinking about it, the tent curtain was raised, and two big men walked into the tent. They both clasped their fists and saluted: "Brother Mu, the general ordered the two servant brothers to obey your orders."
The two burly men were also Liu Cui's personal guards. They were two brothers, the eldest brother Meng Rong, the second brother Meng Tong. Mu Qian had a good relationship with the Meng brothers, and they often drank together and practiced martial arts.
The matter had reached this point and was irreversible. After discussing with his brothers, Mu Qian decided to go with Meng Tong to seek refuge with Sima Chuzhi, while Meng Rong stayed in the city to adapt to changes and deliver the news.
Two days later, Mu Qian led the Meng brothers into the city from the west gate of Yidao City. Sima Chuzhi occupied Yi Dao, leaving Ximen to go in and out as usual, but the interrogation was very strict.
Meng Rong disguised himself as a fisherman and entered the city first. Mu Qian and Meng Tong carried swords on their bodies and became the focus of the soldiers' investigation. Mu Qian directly stated his purpose of coming. He and Sima Chuzhi were old acquaintances. He learned that General Sima had chosen talents, so he came here to join him.
Someone led Mu Qian and others to wait in a tent inside the city gate. There were already a dozen people who wanted to defect to Sima Chuzhi gathered in the tent. They were all Jiujiu warriors like Mu Qian. After waiting for about half an hour, several more people entered the account one after another. At almost noon, a clerk took them to the county government office where Sima Chuzhi was stationed.
Knowing that someone was coming to surrender, Sima Chuzhi happily came out of the hall to greet him. Mu Qian looked at Sima Chuzhi. He and Sima Chuzhi had been separated for twelve years. The handsome young man back then had turned into a young man with three black beards. Mu Qian looked at Sima Chuzhi. Qian couldn't help but sigh.
When Sima Chuzhi heard the sigh, he raised his eyes and looked at Mu Qian. He hesitated for a moment and laughed loudly: "It's not Brother Mu. I didn't expect to see Brother Mu again after more than ten years of separation. I'm really overjoyed."
Seeing Sima Chuzhi's happy face, Mu Qian was a little moved. He stepped forward and bowed deeply: "Mu has met Mr. Chu."
Sima Chushang stepped forward and took Mu Qian's arm, laughing loudly and saying: "Brother Mu is an old friend. I am very happy to meet again today. Come, let's hold a banquet in the hall to welcome Brother Mu and all the brothers."...
On April 12, six hundred warships arrived in Jiankang from Jingkou. Liu Yu went to the court to bid farewell to the emperor Sima Dewen and asked the emperor to stamp his seal on the edict against rebellion.
After sealing the seal, Sima Dewen held the warm jade seal in his hands, looked at Liu Yu's walking away figure, and lamented in his heart that the day when the jade seal would change hands was not far away.
Tan Shao's five thousand troops arrived at Stone City first, and waited for the Jingkou ship to arrive before boarding the ship to rendezvous. On April 20, the ship arrived at Xiakou, and Wang Zhongde led his troops to Yangkou first, where he had set up a water fort and waited. Liu Yu arrives.
The location of Xiakou was crucial. Liu Yu ordered Tan Shao to garrison Lushan City and Yanyue Base, and to guard the rear with Yu Qiujin's navy. The Battle of Jiangling will not end in a short time. Last year, the Yong Army Navy attacked Jiukou and Xiakou. Liu Yu did not want to be deprived of his escape.
In Xiangyang City, Yang Anxuan felt deeply that this battle with Liu Yu was crucial and might even determine the final outcome. It would be impossible without advisors and brave generals around him.
After careful consideration, Yang Anxuan decided to recall Wang Zhene from Luoyang City, Lu Gui from Puyang City, Xu Xiaozhong from Taishan County, Pei Fangming from Xiao County, Zhang Feng from Dianjiang, plus Yu Fei and Gao Changqing, Zhou Chao and others from the staff. A man can be said to have advisers like rain and powerful generals like clouds.
Although many advisers and generals have been recalled, Meng Longfu still exists in Beiyongzhou, Kuai En and Cen Minghu are in Qinzhou, Yang Anyuan is in Sizhou, Yang Siping is in Luoyang, Wang Huilong and Pei Qiang are in Xingyang of Yanzhou, Qi Ke and Linqiu are in Puyang of Yanzhou. There were Mao Xiuzhi, Zhu Lingshi and Yan Gang and others in Pei County, Yin Ji and Du Ji in Yizhou, Zhu Chaoshi in Jiangzhou, Hu Fan in northern Jizhou, Yang Zijing and Liu Zhong in northern Qingzhou, and Chen on the Yellow River. Fishing, these people are all veterans on the battlefield, and they can maintain a stable situation.
After hearing the news that Liu Yu was leaving from Jingkou, Yang Anxuan left Zhaotian to guard Xiangyang and personally led 10,000 Qingqi and 10,000 Qingqi.
Six thousand infantry went south from the starting point and arrived at Dangyang City on April 23. Qian Lei led 400 warships and 6,000 naval troops to station in Zhangshan Water Village.
On April 26, the Song division's ships arrived at Yangkou Village. After Liu Yu joined Wang Zhongde, he led 16,000 troops to station in Jingling City and sent someone to notify Xiao Yuanzhi in Jiangling City.
When Yang Anxuan learned that Liu Yu was stationed in Jingling City, he ordered Lu Gui to lead 3,000 light cavalry and 6,000 infantry to stay in Dangyang City to take over Zhang Dan's command. He led 7,000 strong cavalry and 10,000 infantry to set up a stronghold in Zhangshan eastward.
Two years ago, there was no winner in the Jingling Battle. This time the whole army came back, and Yang Anxuan and Liu Yu were determined to win the battle.
In Jingling, Liu Yu received a report from Liu Cui that the Yongjun navy had a new type of ship with fast movement and hard hull. It was suspected that it was the same ship that defeated Changyu in the naval battle, and informed him of the crash of the eight-armed ship. .
Liu Yu was shocked. He brought three eight-foot warships with him on this trip. As the main force in water battles, according to Liu Cui, wouldn't the eight-foot warships have to be slaughtered when they encounter Yong's new ships? If the Yong Navy were to equip a large number of these new warships, it would probably be difficult to compete with them on the river just by relying on numerical superiority.
After passing the information to everyone around him, Liu Yu said, "Yong Jun has also equipped new ships on the river. How should we deal with them?"
Wang Zhongde said: "Judging from the results of Zhang Yu and Liu Cui's battle with them, Yong's ships are extremely powerful and cannot compete with them for the time being. My lord might as well order people to cross the river with ropes to block the passage of Yong's navy, etc. We will discuss it after the victory in the mainland battle." Kanshu La
Liu Yu frowned, Yang Anxuan was full of tricks, and the longer the time passed, the more disadvantageous it was for him, so he had to fight with him as soon as possible.
"Leaving the city tomorrow, Yu Yao will personally lead the troops to fight Yang Anxuan."
