In November of the fifth year of Xining, the weather has become increasingly cold.
On the land of Minzhou, several rivers wash down from the valley, merge into the Qiang River, flow from east to south, and finally merge into the Bailong River until Sichuan.
But the Qiang River runs through the mountains, making the mountains on all sides look particularly desolate.
The wooden boat pushed away the waves and traveled upstream against the Qiang River. Countless waves hit the bow of the boat, raising countless crystal water splashes and spraying them all over the body.
Zhang Yue stood on the wooden boat and looked at the scenery above and below the Qiang River. When he saw the fortress standing on the bank of the Qiang River, his eyes became slightly solemn.
The waves were beating against the bow of the ship. Cai Bian was sifting wine in the cabin. Cai Jing stood beside Zhang Yue and said, "Commander, the water in Li Daoyuan is filled with clouds. The Qiang River flows southeast and runs to the east of Dangchang City. Looking at it now, It’s exactly what the book says.”
Zhang Yue nodded and looked at the several forts on the other side of the Qiang River. These were built by the local Dangchang Qiang. These forts were built according to the mountains, with two inner and outer walls, and the outer wall was five or six feet high.
The fortress is located on a high mountain with steep sides on three sides, connected only by paths. Many forts are built on the Qiang River, so there is no need to worry about being cut off by enemy troops or being surrounded.
Wang Shao, who has always been in the northwest, was put in a dilemma by these forts and was helpless.
So much so that I was stuck in Minzhou for a month.
Cai Jing said: "It is said in the Book of Wei that the Dangdang Qiang first covered the Yin of the Three Miao Kingdoms. In the Zhou Dynasty, the eight kingdoms of Yong, Shu, Wei, and Lu followed King Wu to destroy the Shang Dynasty. It can be seen that these Dangchang Qiang are not without their origins, and they are now resisting us. The main members of the army are the seven Mu family clans."
Zhang Yue nodded, but the local Qiang people had also followed King Wu to conquer the merchants, so it was indeed a long time.
In fact, the Zhou people also came from the Qiang tribe, and were later used by merchants to capture Qiang people from other tribes and feed them to the merchants. To be more careful, the Qiang people are actually closer to the Han people than the Khitan and the Xiongnu.
Zhang Yue said to Cai Jing, "Keep talking."
"Yes, when Wang Zichun conquered Minzhou, the seven Mu family clans pretended to surrender to our army when they saw our military strength. At that time, Wang Zichun did not clear these people out of Dangchang City, but let them continue to guard here. Send several supervisors to guard it."
"After Mu Zheng came back, the seven members of the Mu family were lured by Mu Zheng and killed the supervisors to rebel. When Wang Zichun attacked again, the other party was already well prepared."
Zhang Yue thought of this and looked towards a place where Qiang people live on the other side of the Qiang River. There are felt houses here, with yak skins covering the roofs. A group of Qiang people are dancing the Qiang Nuo dance by the river, while in the distance women have set up hanging pots on the firepit and are cooking rice.
Zhang Yue pointed to the Qiang people on the shore and asked the guide: "Are these familiar Qiang people?"
The guide said: "The good commander knows that they are indeed familiar with the Qiang. The Qiang people who do not follow our army have already followed the seven tribes of the Mu family and fled into the fortress. Most of the people in Minzhou are still obedient and stubborn. There are not many spiritual people.”
Zhang Yue thought for a moment after hearing this, then raised his head and looked at the fortress standing on the riverside. It was not that such a fortress was impossible to defeat, but that it was really difficult to attack.
Referring to the two battles to capture Jinchuan and Jinchuan during the Qianlong period of the Qing Dynasty, the Qing army with ten times the strength could not capture Jinchuan, and suffered numerous casualties, and the military expenditures consumed were even more than when they conquered Junggar.
At that time, numerous forts were built in strategic locations in Jinchuan and Jinchuan to fight against the Qing Dynasty.
Zhang Yue said seriously: "In the past, the Northern Zhou Dynasty general Tian Hong attacked and destroyed the Dangchang Kingdom, captured twenty-five kings, and conquered its seventy-six strongholds. The Northern Zhou Dynasty could conquer the strongholds back then, why can't I now!"
Cai Jing and Cai Bian both said so.
Zhang Yue looked at everything in Qiangshui and felt perseverance. At this moment, Cai Bian handed the sifted hot wine to Cai Jing, and Cai Jing handed it to Zhang Yue.
Zhang Yue took a sip of highland barley wine brewed by the local Qiang people. In addition to highland barley, it was also mixed with wheat and other grains.
This wine is very strong, but drinking it in the army will increase your courage.
Zhang Yue drank three bowls of wine in a row and let out a sigh of relief. It felt like the big waves wiped out the heroes, and they reunited happily with a glass of turbid wine. Many things in ancient and modern times were all talked about and laughed at.
The wooden boat went up for a while and reached the other side. This was the camp of the Song army.
The military camp was very lively, troops and horses were frequently dispatched, and several grain ships loaded with grain were transported here from the other side of the Qiang River.
However, I saw that the Song army had built many camps along the Qiang River from the foot of the mountain to the mountainside, and blocked all the main roads, as if they were going to trap the Qiang soldiers in the fortress.
However, looking at the more than ten Qiang fortresses in the mountains, Zhang Yue felt that they would not be able to defeat them for a while.
At this time, Zhang Kai, Xu Xi, and Wang Junwan were already waiting in front of Zhang Yue.
Zhang Kai didn't know what method he used to convince Wang Junwanling to stay.
It is said that the two of them talked all night, and Zhang Kai and Wang Junwan drank wine all night, until the entire wine jar was empty.
The next day, Zhang Kai, who was drunk, went to Zhang Yue and told him that Wang Junwan was convinced. After saying this, he couldn't help but fell asleep and slept all night.
Zhang Yue was overjoyed. After Wang Shao was driven away by him, if Wang Junwan was driven away again, the 20,000 Song troops in Minzhou would be without a backbone.
Wang Shao can go, but Wang Jun must not leave. He is the third general of Xihe Road. He usually leads these soldiers and horses. If he leaves, it will take at least several days to re-adjust. In this way, the combat effectiveness will be compromised.
I don’t know what method Zhang Kai used to persuade Wang Junwan after talking with him all night.
Now the king is following Zhang Kai with all his heart and soul.
Zhang Yue asked Zhang Kai: "Have you figured out any strategy to capture these dozen fortresses?"
Zhang Kai said: "At present, we can only die of starvation and wait for the food to run out."
When Zhang Yue heard this, he stopped and glanced at Zhang Kai. Zhang Kai knew that he had said the wrong thing, while Wang Junwan said: "Commander Qi, Commander Wang also tried his best before, but the location of these forts was too high." It’s too cunning. Our army is attacking from behind and we really can’t take it. Commander, please take a closer look!”
Clearly aware? If they fail to capture the fortress, will the army miss the opportunity to rescue Hezhou?
Seeing that Xu Xi was also silent beside him, Zhang Yue did not accuse Zhang Kai and Wang Junwan face to face, but asked instead: "Has the way of cultivating the world arrived?"
Zhang Kai said: "Here we are, drinking in the camp."
Everyone didn't know why Zhang Yue valued the world so much. As soon as he arrived, they asked him if he had arrived?
After a while, everyone entered the tent, only to see Zhong Shidao drinking one bowl after another.
After Zhang Yue sat down, Zhong Shidao kept drinking.
People on the side scolded: "Why don't Zhong Shidao bow to the commander-in-chief when he sees him!"
Zhong Shidao smiled and didn't answer. Zhang Yue smiled when he saw this and poured wine for Zhong Shidao himself.
When Master Zhong saw Zhang Yue pouring wine, he immediately took the bowl and drank it all in one gulp without being polite at all.
Zhang Yue poured wine for Zhong Shidao again. He drank three bowls in a row without any courtesy at all.
I can't stand it anymore.
At this time, Master Zhong stood up and said to Zhang Yue: "Thank you, Commander-in-Chief, for the wine!"
Zhang Yue smiled and said: "It seems that Uncle Yi has already figured out how to break the stronghold."
Master Zhongdao smiled and said, "Exactly."
Wang Junwan on the side showed a displeased look, thinking that this man is really good at bragging, but he can do something that neither he nor Wang Shao can do? Who does he think he is?
