Jingling, the Jingling Mausoleum, is located in the Jianghan Plain, with a flat river.
In May, the blue sky was clear, the wind was turning the green waves, but the sound of war drums and horse hooves broke the calm. The Yong and Song armies fought on the plain west of the Han River and north of Jingling.
This was once a densely populated place where boats and carriages buzzed. Years of war forced the people to leave their homes and go to Yongzhou's Nakou, Euxian, and Jiangling areas to escape the war. Nowadays, the vast fertile fields are covered with green grass, which is perfect for war horses to gallop on.
The arrows pierced the sky and scared away the flying birds; the sound of drums, shouts, hoofbeats, and collisions blended the blood with the grass, nourishing this fertile land.
Yang Anxuan stood on the high platform, quietly watching the fighting on the battlefield not far away, and issued brief orders from time to time, and soldiers and horses rushed back and forth under his mobilization.
In order to deal with the Qingqi of the Yong Army, Liu Yu brought thousands of chariots with him on this trip. During the war, they were arranged in several routes. Cruise outside the car formation.
The Song army had strict orders, and the soldiers were neatly arrayed. They skillfully changed their formations following the sound of drums and horns, and started fighting with the Yong army.
Liu Yu personally took command. The Song army was not as brave as the Yong army. They fought for several days, but the Yong army did not gain the upper hand.
Pei Fangming relied on his bravery and led a thousand cavalry to charge into the formation from the side, but was intercepted by Shen Linzi. Liu Yu ordered four hundred chariots to surround him, and Yang Anxuan ordered Xu Xiaozhong to lead Pei Fangming back.
The wind in May was blowing to the southeast, which was not conducive to the Yong army. In order to prevent the Song army from setting fire, Yang Anxuan divided the soldiers and horses into six battalions, separated by a few miles, and responded to each other.
The camp dug deep trenches, introduced running water, built fireproof belts inside, and set up hidden sentries outside. There were many watchtowers and watchtowers, water was stored in leather bags and large tanks, and there were enough blankets and so on.
As Yang Anxuan expected, on the evening of May 9th, dark clouds covered the sun, and Liu Yu dispatched a catapult carrying Danhuo to set fire.
The night attack was led by Dao Yanzhi, who dispatched 2,000 light cavalry, 6,000 infantry, and 200 escort catapults, carrying 4,000 kilograms of pill fire.
Yang Anxuan secretly ordered people to dig a tunnel in many places in the Song camp, and ordered a secret sentry to ambush it. When the Song army left the camp, the sound of rolling catapults, horse hooves, and footsteps shook the earth. The secret sentry had already known about it.
The Song army's catapults were still a few miles away from Yongying. Pei Fangming and Zhang Feng had been ordered to go out with 2,000 riders each, holding torches to burn the catapults.
When Yanzhi arrived, he was also on guard. He first blew the horn and passed through the Song camp, then used light cavalry to meet the enemy, and the infantry formed a formation to protect the catapult in the middle.
Liu Yu was preparing his troops in the camp. When he heard the trumpet and knew that the night attack had failed, he immediately led his troops to rescue. Yang Anxuan also led his troops to fight. The two sides fought together in the dark night.
Yang Anxuan and Zhang Feng reported that there were catapults in the Song army's formation. They knew that the Song army wanted to use the catapults to throw pill fire. If they could ignite the Song army's gunpowder, the battle would be won. Immediately ordered Xu Xiaozhong and Zhou Chao to lead the brave battalion to break the formation and strive to attack the catapult to ignite the elixir fire.
Liu Yu knew that the Yong army's light cavalry was sharp, but the number of light cavalry in his army was insufficient, so he had to rely on chariots to defend. In a hurry, before the chariots formed a formation, Yong's army rushed towards them like a tide. They saw that the troops and horses in front could not resist the enemy.
Rather than being rushed into the formation by Yong's army to ignite the elixir fire, it is better to throw out the elixir fire first. The soldiers on both sides of the night battle held torches in their hands, and the elixir fire ignited immediately when thrown.
The soldiers from both sides fought together, and the elixir fire exploded without distinguishing between ourselves and the enemy. Yang Anxuan saw that Liu Yu was like a gambler who lost his eyes, and the elixir fire was thrown in all directions. Moreover, the elixir fire had already been thrown, and his plan failed.
The alchemy fire ignited the green grass and spread to all directions, sending thick smoke everywhere. Soldiers on both sides fled the fireworks, horns sounded, and soon the battlefield became empty, leaving only dozens of fires burning silently in the darkness.
The night attack failed, with few casualties. Only the four thousand kilograms of Danhuo were left. Liu Yu was a little frustrated. It seemed that the battle with the Yong army would be difficult to determine the winner in a short time. It seemed that he could only wait for the Wei army to move south before attacking.
However, Liu Yu's hopes soon came to nothing. He received an urgent report from He Lang. The Wei army, which had high hopes, was taken by Emperor Wei to attack the State of Yan. It was impossible for him to go south to attack Si Yan in a short time.
Liu Yu felt powerless in his heart. He had never felt this way in his entire life. Xie Hui saw the sadness flashing in Liu Yu's eyes and said: "My lord, the weather is hot, and it is extremely hard for soldiers to wear armor and carry weapons. My lord, don't
For example, go to Jiangling City temporarily to calm the morale of the army. "
Shen Linzi also said: "Jiangling is the top priority, and the Lord's presence there can really boost the morale of the army. Now that Yidao City is occupied by Sima Chuzhi, it is better to recapture Yidao first and solve the worries to the west."
Therefore, Liu Yu left Wang Zhongde to garrison Yangkou Village and went to Yanzhi to garrison Jingling City. He led 20,000 soldiers and horses to leave Jingling and go from Yangshui to Jiang'an to join up with Zhang Shao, the governor of Xiangzhou.
Three thousand soldiers and horses were left under the command of Yangwei General Liu Kangzu. Liu Yu secretly asked Liu Kangzu to prepare to attack Yi Dao by land, and then enter Jiangling City by water from Jiang'an.
When Xiao Yuanzhi learned that Liu Yu and his army had arrived, he led the Jingzhou gentry and common people out of the city to greet him with great fanfare. Liu Yu stood on the eight-stern ship and looked down at the cheering soldiers, sweeping away the worries in his chest.
After learning that Liu Yu had moved to Jiangling, Yang Anxuan left Wang Zhene and Pei Fangming to contain the Song army in Jingling, and took Zhang Feng and others back to Dangyang City.
When Yang Anxuan and Liu Yu were fighting outside Jingling, Lu Gui led his army to attack Ji Nancheng, but Liu Zhong stood firm and refused to fight. Gao Changqing proposed a plan, saying that Ji Nancheng was located in a low-lying area. Ji Nancheng was flooded when Sun Wu attacked Chu, and the flood plan can still be used today.
Jinan City is located in the lower reaches of the Zhangjiang River. There is a tributary flowing through the Chihu Lake in the west of Nancheng. At that time, Sun Wu dug ditches to divert water from Zhangjiang into Chihu Lake and built a long embankment to let the lake water flow into the city. Jinan City was flooded and collapsed without attack.
When Liu Zhong saw Yong's army moving to a higher place in the camp and knew that Yong's army was planning to use Sun Wu's old plan, he sneered secretly in his heart. Eight hundred years have passed since Sun Wu's plan to flood the city, and the river courses in Ji'nan City have changed. The Zhu River and Xinqiao River merge into the Longqiao River in the city to the east. There are three water gates in the city, which can not only defend against enemies but also prevent floods.
Yong's army wanted to divert the Zhang River to flood the city. As long as the water in the south and west of the city was closed, the river water would not be able to enter the city. If used properly, Yong's army would suffer the consequences.
Liu Zhong ordered the soldiers and horses in the city to pile sand and gravel on both sides of the river. Sure enough, Yong's army dug canals to bring water to Ji Nancheng. Liu Zhong ordered the gate of Chan to be closed so that no water could enter. In half a day, the water in the west of Ji'nan City was eight feet high. Lu Gui did not distinguish between false and true, and led his army to attack on rafts. When the Yong army approached, Liu Zhong ordered the gate to be opened, and the water flowed into the city along the river and flowed away in an instant.
Lu Gui was dumbfounded when he saw the flood flow away and the bamboo raft on which Yong Jun was riding fell to the ground and could not move. At this time, Liu Zhong led his light cavalry out of the city.
The Yong army came to fight on rafts, and they were all infantry. They were easily scattered by the Song army's light cavalry. Lu Gui tried his best to gather troops and horses to set up defenses. By the time Gao Changqing led the army to help, the Yong army had nearly a thousand casualties. Lu Gui had no choice but to lead his troops to retreat to Maicheng.
When Liu Yu entered Jiangling, Liu Zhongjie's report coincided with the arrival. He was overjoyed and promoted Liu Zhong to the right-guard general and concurrently to the post of General Long Xiang. After learning that Liu Zhong had three sons joining him in the war, he gave three famous horses with gorgeous saddles and bridles to Liu Zhong's three sons.
There is no need to worry about the north of Jiangling. Liu Yu is planning to take back Yidao City first and open up the Yangtze River waterway. After discussing with everyone, Liu Yu decided to divide his troops into four groups to recapture Yidao City.
Shen Linzi led eight thousand soldiers and horses to attack Zhijiang City, blocking the passage between Zhijiang and the Yong army on the north bank of Yidao City; Liu Kangzu was ordered to lead five thousand soldiers and horses from Jiang'an to Yidao City; Liu Cui was ordered to lead the navy eastward, from Attack Yidao City by water; Liu Yu himself led 5,000 troops to attack the Yong Army camp on the north bank of Yidao City, and ordered Meng Chu to lead the Jiangling Navy to respond at any time.
At this time, Yang Anxuan had led his army to Dangyang City. When he learned about Lu Gui's defeat, Yang Anxuan sent people to comfort him, added 3,000 troops, and ordered him to fight again in Ji Nancheng.
Three days later, Zhijiang defender Qin Hua reported that the Song division came to attack the city. Yang Anxuan received the battle report and immediately realized that Liu Yu was going to attack Yidaocheng.
On the one hand, he sent someone to inform Sima Chuzhi of Yidao City to be on guard, and on the other hand, he urgently ordered Zhang Feng to lead 3,000 light cavalry to Zhijiang. After defeating the enemy, he reinforced the garrison on the north bank of Yidao City.
It was only more than seventy miles from Dangyang to Zhijiang, but we had to cross the Juzhang River. The water in the upper section of the Juzhang River was relatively strong, so Zhang Feng led his army to the lower reaches to find a shallow place to wade across the river.
Liu Yu expected that Yong's army was approaching, so he first led his troops to set up an ambush near the shallow water on the west bank of the river. When the front team of Yong's army just stepped ashore, Liu Yu led his troops to fight out. Liu Yu's troops also had 1,500 Qingqi, waiting for work. They took advantage of Yongqi's half-finished attack to attack, and drove Yongqi's forward into the water with one go.
The horses were slow in the water and became targets for archers to snipe. Thousands of archers lined up on the river bank, shooting arrows at Yongqi in the river like a torrential rain. In an instant, the river was dyed red with blood, and the horse corpses,
Human corpses floated in the water.
After losing more than 200 cavalry, Zhang Feng led his light cavalry back to the east bank. Looking at the flags flying on the west bank, he led his army to continue southward along the river. The Song army could set up an ambush here, but it was impossible to set up an ambush in the entire Juzhang River. After he crossed the river with a light horse, he would seek revenge from the Song army.
After walking more than 20 miles south, they found another shallow water. Zhang Feng took the lead in crossing the river and saw no ambush from the Song army. Half an hour later, more than 2,000 light cavalry crossed the river, and Zhang Feng led his army north to reinforce Zhijiang City.
Having been ambushed once by the Song army, Zhang Feng was extra cautious and sent more than ten groups of reconnaissance riders to explore the way forward. He soon learned that there was a Song army formation ten miles south of Zhijiang City to block the enemy. The Song army had more than 5,000 people. .
The Song army still adopted the strategy of arranging chariots in front, infantry in the middle, and light cavalry on the wings to block the road to Zhijiang.
Zhijiang guard Qin Hua reported that the number of Song troops attacking the city was about 10,000. Judging from the flags and the number of people, this group of Song troops should be the soldiers and horses that had just set up an ambush, but I don’t know whether they were the troops attacking the city or other Song troops. .
If there were other soldiers and horses of the Song Army, it was very likely that the Song Army had an ambush nearby. Zhang Feng ordered the Qingqi to temporarily retreat several miles away, and ordered the reconnaissance cavalry to investigate to the left and right.
In the Song army's formation, Liu Yu paid attention to the movements of Yong's army. Seeing that Zhang Feng did not lead his army to attack, he knew that the plan to lure the enemy into an ambush had failed, so he immediately ordered an attack to entangle Yong's cavalry and allow the Song army hiding on both sides to break out of the encirclement. .
When Zhang Feng saw the light cavalry on both wings of the Song Army taking the initiative to attack, he knew that the Song Army must have set up an ambush and immediately ordered them to retreat.
Qingqi retreated south, and sure enough, they heard trumpets blaring from both sides. Countless Song troops emerged from the mountains and forests and rushed towards the road with all their strength.
There was a huge disparity in the number of soldiers and horses between the two sides. Zhang Feng did not dare to fight. After escaping from the siege, he led his light cavalry straight to the north bank of Yidao to join the Yong army led by Shi Ping.
The next day, Liu Yu's army arrived at the north bank of Yidao and camped on the east side of Yongying; the navy led by Meng Chu also arrived and set up a water fort on the river; Liu Kangzu led 5,000 troops and horses to arrive outside Yidao City.
In Yidao City, the city gates are closed tightly, and a war is about to break out.
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