Hu Yang and his troops marched quickly to Shi and it was already noon.
Jidi is an alluvial basin formed by the intersection of two rivers. One comes from the north and is called Jishui; the other comes from the northwest and is called Yuanshui. It is surrounded by mountains, and the peak to the north is particularly majestic, and a lookout post has been placed on it. The Han army and the Qin army each advanced five miles to camp upstream of the two rivers and occupied the commanding heights in front.
Shangdang Shou did not advance with the Korean front army, but stayed in the basin. There used to be thousands of households here, and they were basically not kings. When they saw the army stationed, they had already run into the mountains to hide. There are large and small cities scattered throughout the valleys. The former army basically relied on the cities to the west and north to establish a defensive line; due to insufficient troops, the area downstream of Yuanshui lacked security, and only a few sentries were released.
After Hu Yang came in, he immediately set up a command tent in the largest city at the intersection of the two rivers. The Shangdang Shou met him at the mouth of the valley. Let Lieutenant Lantian be responsible for arranging the city's defense and the residence of each army, while he took Ye Xing, Zheng Anping, Chen Si and others to inspect the surrounding areas.
Ji Di is very huge and surrounded by mountains. It is very inconvenient to check the terrain. Hu Yang wanted to find a local to ask about the situation, but he couldn't find anyone. He asked Ye Xi to send one person to Qin Qianjun, and asked Shangdang Shou to send one person to Han Qianjun, and asked them to try their best to find a few locals, comfort them, and bring them here for questioning. He led people along the small river flowing in the city to the east entrance. He watched the small river merge with a south-going small river not far ahead and continued downstream. Hu Yang asked the Shangdang Shou, where does this river lead? The Shangdang Shou couldn't answer, saying that he rarely came here to collect taxes, and the terrain was even more unfamiliar. He only knew that he went north along the river in front of him and crossed a mountain ridge, which was Yanyu. As for the situation of Yan Yu, he was even more dark-eyed, and there was no news from hearsay.
The Qin army's camp was vaguely visible five miles ahead, and there were obvious valleys on both sides of the river, leading into the distance. But Hu Yang was very worried, as if he had some premonition that told him to explore the situation downstream of the river.
There are many houses and contiguous fields here, which should be able to ensure the food supply for an army of 100,000 people. He wanted to stay here for a few days to find out more about the situation before deciding on his next move. As soon as he thought of this, Hu Yang said to Shangdang: "I see that the lower reaches of the river are very dangerous, and there may be changes. I would like to use the army to guard it. I hope that the Korean army can guard Ji River, and the Qin army will go downstream, is that okay?"
Shangdang Shou did not dare to make the decision, but he said he was willing to tell the former general. Hu Yang asked him to send people to report to the Han army's front army, and he led people to the Qin army's front army. Wang He came out of the camp to take Hu Yang into his tent. Hu Yang said: "The doctor worked hard and just went down to the stronghold. It's time to break up the camp again."
Wang Lu said: "I have been told to advance northward, why should I break camp again?"
Hu Yang pointed to the river flowing eastward: "I see that the lower reaches of the river are dangerous. If there is no defense, I will feel uneasy. I hope the doctor will set up camp and guard it."
Wang Hao's two public servants each took one side and set up camp on both sides of the river. Wang Hao asked people to call the two public servants to discuss the matter.
When the public transport arrived, Hu Yang explained his concerns to the two public transports and asked to send troops to defend the lower reaches of the Yuanshui River. Although everyone was unwilling, they also felt it was reasonable. Hu Yang said: "I look at this river and it ends at the mountain. The way is difficult to pass. If you take the lower reaches, you can find the way. I want to turn this river to the Koreans, so we will go east and find another way. May five The officers will lead one male chariot to go ahead, and the other male chariot will wait for the Korean army to arrive, and then move forward. I will go forward with the five senior officers."
Although Wang Hao was very reluctant, he had to do it under such clear instructions from Hu Yang. He took his relatives and his camp and immediately broke out of the camp, returned to the Yuan River, and turned downstream of the Yuan River. Hu Yang took Ye Shi and a hundred people, and followed Wang Lu to the downstream, and walked ten miles straight. Camp in the open. By the time the camp was over, it was already dark. When Hu Yang saw a bonfire lit in the camp, he sent out warnings in all directions and controlled the key points in all directions. Regardless of fatigue, he returned to the city of Shi with Wang Lu.
While Wang Hao was setting up camp downstream of the Yuan River, the Chinese armies of Qin and Han had already entered Ji. Both Shangdang Shou and Lantian Lieutenant sent people to report to Hu Yang. Hu Yang only asked them to enter their respective camps according to the predetermined plan and send out warnings to the surrounding mountains. We'll talk about the rest when he comes back.
Now that he is back in the city, Prince Jiu has also camped here. The Qin army's central general Sima Jin and the Han army's central army general are on both sides of the city. They have set up their own tents close to the city gate and have not entered the city. Hu Yang invited the two Chinese generals, Prince Jiu and his retainers, together with Shangdang Shou and Wang He, to discuss future actions. The former general of the Han army refused to come because he had too many things to do when moving the camp.
The generals gathered in a hall in a high-gate house in the city and lit several torches to illuminate the hall. Hu Yang drew the ground with his finger and said: "Now I am entering Shi. There is Yuan River in Shi, which goes from west to east; there is Shi River, which enters Yuan River from north to south. The river is in the north of Shi River. This is what I know. Yeah." He looked at Shang Dang Shou and asked Shang Dang Shou to make some additions.
Shangdang Shou said: "It is more than three hundred miles from Yanyu to the eldest son; it is also more than two hundred miles from the eldest son to Ji. Although it is said that the land of Shangdang is not from the king's transformation, there is no pastoral guardian. From Ji to Yanyu, or I heard that if you go up the Shi River, you will reach it after crossing the mountain, but in fact you have not reached the place."
Seeing that Dang Shou was honest and told all his ignorance, Hu Yang had nothing to say except feeling helpless. Indeed, the three hundred-mile mountain road is rugged and difficult to navigate, and it is difficult for the eldest son to manage it here. Hu Yang said: "When I look at the land of Shi, there are vast fields and thousands of households. Now that I heard that the soldiers have arrived, they are all scattered in the mountains, and it is difficult to find their traces. Now that I have gone to Shi, I know that Yanyu is a hundred miles away in the north. Where is it? , any road that can lead to it will be put to the sky. Since Shi has vast fields and no shortage of food and fodder, I intend to stay in Shi for a few days to carefully explore the surrounding terrain, where the mountain is, and where the mountains and rivers are accessible. It is now the depth of winter. , the people living in the mountains are inconvenient, and they must return. If they return, don't be surprised or frightened, give them good words of comfort, and lead them back to me. I will carefully inquire about the situation of the mountains and rivers, and the roads are everywhere. I will wait until the situation becomes clear. It’s about sending troops.”
The young master was overtired because of his overwork, so he was naturally overjoyed when he heard that he was going to rest here. He said: "What the Zhong Geng said is true! Here... we will rest our troops and horses for a while, and only then can we attack when we are full of energy. We will surely win a complete victory. Now The old soldiers in the division are tired, so the battle will be unfavorable!" When the retainers saw that Master Jiu had said something unlucky, they quickly stopped him and said, "As the Zhong Geng said, we must wait until the situation becomes clear before we advance the army. This is a solid plan. I second my opinion!"
All the generals agreed one by one.
Hu Yang said: "In that case, we should separate our routes. The land of Shi is known as Han land, west of Shi to the upper reaches of Yuanshui River, and to the north of Shi to Yu Lianyu, Lao Gongzi Jiu and the Ministry of Supervision Wu Qin will explore it. I should lead Qin to claim it. Downstream of the shaft, don't look for a road that leads to Yanyu. Every day at dusk, all the generals will gather here to share their gains."
Young Master Jiu became a little anxious and said: "How can the Korean army sent out sentries to explore the Jishui alone? They will definitely fight for peace and send troops!..."
The retainer hurriedly stopped him and said, "This road is the land of Han Shangdang, and Han is the vanguard." This was considered as blocking the matter.
Hu Yang naturally knew that the center of Shidi was between the Shi and Yuan rivers. The land here is fertile, the people are numerous, and the wealth is abundant. It is a treasure land. Downstream from Shi to Yuanshui, the canyon is roughly exhausted. There are not many wide areas and even fewer people. But Hu Yang had other plans in mind. He could not restrain his desire to explore the lower reaches of the Yuan River, so he would rather live in a barren land to make room for exploring the lower reaches of the Yuan River.
It's not early today, so we haven't moved camp yet. The two sides agreed to move camp early tomorrow morning. The specific division of camps will be negotiated by the Chinese military generals of both sides.
The Han generals all left, and they gathered at Young Master Jiu's place to discuss their actions carefully. But Wang Hao and Sima Jin still stayed here with Hu Yang, listening to his plans.
Hu Yang said: "I heard in the past that Zhao wanted to pass through Handan and Taiyuan, and the Shangdang was the key point. I sent out my eldest son and heard that the river was the source of Zhangzhou. I believe it or not. However, the person who was confused by me is in a remote place. However, Zhao will definitely want to take it, and Han will definitely want to recover it. I am afraid that it will lead to Handan. Therefore, I would like to live downstream and find the road to Handan."
As soon as these words came out, everyone suddenly became excited. If this road can lead to Handan, that would be very important. In the past, everyone only knew that there were two ways to get to Handan. First, you can go down from the Yellow River and go to the foot of Taihang Mountain to Handan. This is a highway, but along the way it passes through the cities of many countries such as Han, Wei, Zhou and so on, so it is basically impossible to pass through. Second, enter Taiyuan from Lishi, take the road to Zhongshan, exit Jingxing, and reach Handan. This road is all Zhao territory, and the terrain is dangerous. Qin has to attack the plateau cities all the way to get out of the mountains and into the plains. But if you go to Handan via Shangdang, you have never heard of it. If this road can be opened, even if the mountains are high and the rivers are far away, the army can sneak in and use one brigade to offset the division, constantly causing trouble for Handan, which is strategically very advantageous! Wang Hao and Sima Jin are both men who have experienced battles for a long time and are familiar with the art of war, so they are naturally good at it.
Hu Yang finally said: "We are temporarily leaving a place of comfort and living in a dangerous place. The plot is far away. Downstream of the Yuan River, we still don't know who is guarding the upper party. Let me explore it, and we may get a strange plan. As far as food and fodder etc. During the festival, I should supervise Young Master Qiu frequently and provide relief at all times. When the five senior officials arrive after the royal tomb, they should stay in the trenches as backup. However, when the army is behind the royal tomb, the food and fodder support should not be cut off."
After breakfast the next day, the Han army went to accept the Qin army's camp on the upper reaches of Shi River. Qin Gongcheng handed over the camp and turned to the lower reaches of the Yuan River. Wang Lu then sent sentinels down the Yuan River to explore where they could camp next. At noon, the sentry reported that thirty miles down the Yuan River, there were four places outside the open area where you could camp, all close to mountains and rivers. The mountains on both sides were not steep and could be climbed. There were still a few residential buildings in some areas, but they were uninhabited. If you live there, you may be afraid of the army and hide in the mountains. After Wang Lu received the report, he ordered the sentinels to report the information obtained to the central army and the central watch in turn, and at the same time he set up camp and headed downstream.
