With Xun Yu in charge of Luoyang, Xu Shu could go on an expedition with peace of mind. He left the city the next day and crossed the river from Pingyin to Mang in the north.
Although it's March, the spring is still cold in the north. On the river in the early morning, there is a light mist. Snow and ice can still be seen in the stone seam mountain depression, and the sound of waves is heard in the distance.
Shamoke had already prepared more than a hundred canoes and sheepskin rafts. Zhang Ni and Guo Huai protected Xu Shu on board the boat and took advantage of the morning fog to row to the other side.
In order to avoid Xu Huang's suspicion, Ma Chao and other generals stayed put. Xu Shu only led his partial generals to Heyang. Shamoke and Zhang Yi's troops were all elite barbarian soldiers who were proficient in water skills.
The wind and waves on the river were strong and the boat was heaving. Xu Shu saw Guo Huai carefully guarding behind him. He pressed his sword and said with a smile: "I am not a Confucian scholar like Kong Ming or Shi Yuan. Bo Ji does not need to guard like this."
Guo Huai smiled and stepped aside. He originally followed Liu Qi to the Central Plains, but unexpectedly Liu Biao died of illness. Liu Qi returned to Xiangyang to mourn, so he ordered Guo Huai to go to Luoyang to obey orders, and specifically told Xu Shu to focus on training.
For several years, Liu Qi has been advocating teaching and preaching, selecting and appointing talents in an eclectic way, and even encouraging various professions to establish sects, especially medical schools, martial arts schools, and art schools. This is very different from the current aristocratic families who criticize and praise each other. From this, Jingzhou The trend of recruiting disciples is prevalent.
Xu Shu saw that Zhuge Liang and Pang Tong both accepted disciples and taught them, but Guo Huai was well liked in both civil and martial arts, he was smart and steady, and he came from a famous family, so he accepted him as a disciple and taught him the art of war and strategies. He also asked Ma Chao and others to teach him martial arts. He made great progress in six months. quick.
An hour later, the fleet arrived on the other side. Someone had already been waiting to meet them. When everyone came to the mountains, they saw a middle-aged general leading three hundred soldiers out of the city to meet them.
Seeing that Xu Shu was surrounded by strange-looking barbarians, the man frowned slightly and stepped forward to greet him and said, "Your Majesty, Heyang Guard General Shen Gu, may I ask who your Excellency is?"
Xu Shu returned the courtesy and said, "I'm Xu Shu."
"Ah?" Shen Gu was shocked. He didn't expect that Xu Shu would come to Heyang in person. His face changed drastically and he quickly said: "There are still five thousand Wei troops here. How dare the Ming Dynasty dare to take the risk to come here in person?"
Xu Shu smiled and said: "The general knows his way back, which deeply comforts Duke Yang. I know the general is a human being, so naturally I should treat him with sincerity."
Shen Gu was moved in his heart, clasped his fists and said, "The Lord of the House is so complimentary, I am willing to do my best to revive the Han Dynasty."
Xu Shu asked: "There are still five thousand soldiers and horses in the city?"
"Exactly!" Shen Gu said with a bitter smile: "I'll tell you the truth, these men and horses are all Xu Huang, I don't dare to persuade you rashly. I only have these three hundred soldiers as my confidants. Although I want to attack the thieves, I can't do anything about it."
Speaking of this, I can't help but get a sour nose, thinking that he was recommended by Yang Jun and went to Xuchang with famous people from Hanoi such as Chang Lin and Wang Xiang to face the Holy Spirit. In the end, everyone held high positions and he was just a subordinate general, even a subordinate. No one has the right to mobilize people, and these years have been in vain.
"It's enough for the general to be willing to fight against thieves!" Xu Shu did not despise him because he had few soldiers. He reassured him: "This time, the general should be the first to take Hanoi!"
Shen Gu was overjoyed, but when he glanced at the men and horses behind Xu Shu, there were only more than 2,000 men, and he said worriedly: "Xu Huang has deployed a large number of troops in Heyang. He visits and reports three or five times a day. Mr. Xu Shu only has 2,000 men and horses, so he may not be able to accomplish anything."
Xu Shu chuckled and said: "Since I am crossing the river to go north, I have my own plan to deal with it. General, please return to the city temporarily. That's it..."
"Sir, great idea!" Shen Gu left overjoyed after hearing Xu Shu's arrangements.
Xu Shu ordered his men and horses to rest in the mountains, and sent people back to Henan to report the news, asking Ma Chao to act according to his plan.
…
Ma Chao had already been waiting outside the camp gate for a long time. After receiving the news of the scouting horse, he immediately sent a message to the men and horses to go to Mengjin Port and make a move to cross the river.
In the past few months, more than ten warships were built in Luoyang. The large and small ships were lined up on the river. The drums were beating loudly. The Xiliang troops boarded the ships one after another, and their mounts were also driven onto the big ships.
At the same time, Ma Dai led another five thousand fine cavalry around Beimang Mountain and crossed the river from Pingyin. There were only five large ships here. They first transported the war horses across the Yellow River in batches.
The movement in Luoyang had been reported to Xu Huang in detail. Xu Huang personally led troops to guard the other side of Mengjin, and ordered people to report the news to various passes and strictly guard them.
Meteor Scouting Horse reported to Heyang. Shengu immediately mobilized the garrison in the city to prepare for war. He sent his confidants to patrol the river bank and sent intelligence to more than 30 places along the river. The Wei army learned that Ma Chao was leading the army across the river.
Ma Chao threatened to take revenge on the Sima family many times. Everyone in the Wei army knew that this was the third time to cross the river to attack, and everyone became nervous.
In the evening, the scouts reported urgently that Ma Chao was attacking the port of Wen County. The offensive was very urgent. He ordered Shen Gu to send troops to support. Shen Gu did not dare to neglect and immediately transferred the garrison in the city to Wen County to support.
All the Heyang defenders were dispatched. Half an hour later, people and horses were swarming in the southwest mountains. Xu Shu led the Han army to the city. Under the setting sun, the temporarily mobilized officers on the city were dumbfounded!
They were just government militiamen, recruited temporarily to make up the numbers. Facing the heavily armed enemy troops, they suddenly panicked.
After hearing the report, Shen Gu came to the city, looked at the panicked people, and said helplessly: "General Xu will mobilize all the defenders. The enemy force is strong. If we resist, not only will we not be able to protect ourselves, but we will also harm our relatives and friends in the city. I heard Liu Qi's troops never kill prisoners and treat the people well, so why don't we open the city and surrender, what do you think?"
Everyone was already panicked and nodded one after another. Before Shen Gu could give the order, someone ran to open the city gate and welcome the Han army into the city.
Xu Shu ordered Zhang Ni and Samoko to guard the city, and Guo Huai patrolled. The group came to the gate of the government office. Along the way, some people watched secretly, with doubts on their faces. The Wei army had just left, and the Han army had entered the city. How come there was no movement at all?
After entering the government office, Shen Gu led the officials to meet Xu Shu, to appease the officials and to bring peace to the people. Then he clasped his fists and said, "Sir, you really know things like a god. He made noises in the east and attacked in the west, and took Heyang without any effort."
Xu Shu said: "Heyang is saved from the disaster of swords and soldiers, which is also the merit of the general!"
It turned out that Xu Shu listened to Xu Huang's careful deployment and sentry reports from time to time, so he simply took advantage of his plan and ordered Ma Chao to feint to attack the north bank of Mengjin. While waiting for Ma Chao to report, Xu Shu asked Shen Gu to arrange someone to fake the general's order, mobilized the defenders, and captured Heyang without any bloodshed. .
Not long after, Ma Dai arrived with his troops. With these five thousand cavalry entering the city, the people of Heyang suddenly felt much more at ease. Some even brought eggs and grain to express their condolences to the Han army.
Hanoi is the place where Guangwu made his fortune and the foundation of his career. Although it is not as good as Nanyang Imperial Township, it has been listed as a capital city since the Eastern Han Dynasty and is under the direct jurisdiction of Sili Xiaowei. The people are all proud of it. Now there are rumors that Liu Qi With Guangwu secretly protecting them, after their achievements, they should naturally support the Han army and re-establish the Han Dynasty.
Xu Shu summoned the generals to discuss the matter and said: "Xu Huang was ordered to guard Hanoi. He knew that his troops were insufficient, so he took advantage of the danger of the river to set up defenses along the bank. If he knew that Heyang was lost, he would have personally led troops to attack. You all obey my orders and do not do anything. mistaken."
Ma Dai laughed and said, "If Xu Huang dares to come in person, he will be captured."
