In March of the ninth year of Taiyuan, outside Linzi City, the sky was approaching dusk, and the spring was cold. The sunset, which was about to end, left a dazzling light for a moment, and then fell into the abyss of darkness.
Since the end of the Battle of Linzi, Xu Zongwen's 20,000 troops have been stationed near Linzi. In the blink of an eye, a month has passed by.
In the camp outside the city, several teams of well-equipped night-time sergeants were shuttled back and forth near the gate of the camp, performing patrol duties. From the gate of the camp to the Chinese army tent, there were many soldiers along the way, the people and horses were silent, and the light of torches flickered. It illuminates the entire camp.
Xu Zongwen's habit was always to sleep in the military camp. After recovering from his injury, he left the Qi County Prefect's Mansion and returned to the military camp outside the city.
He likes to stay with the sergeants in Linzi City. No matter in the past life or now, everyone chats around a bonfire. Although there is no food and wine, he can talk about some topics that all men understand instantly, making everyone happy. Laughing is also a very happy thing.
Moreover, as a general, he can mix with the sergeants and establish a strong emotional connection, which will also help Xu Zongwen command the battle.
In the early Warring States period, Wu Qi, a great military strategist, relied on getting along with the soldiers to command invincible battles. He fought against seventy-two princes and won sixty-four. Wu Qi often personally bandaged the wounds of the soldiers when they were injured and fed the wounded soldiers. This made Wu Qi's image in the hearts of the soldiers become as tall as a giant. Everyone was willing to risk their lives to fight the enemy for him, and no one escaped from the battle!
But tonight, Xu Zongwen was not chatting with the sergeants to enhance their feelings. Just this morning, Xu Zongwen received a secret message from the commander of the Northern Expedition Central Route Army, Chariot General Xie Xuan, requesting support for the operation. Xu Zongwen could not refute this old boss's face. .
So, in the dead of night, when everyone was deeply asleep, Xu Zongwen summoned his generals to the Chinese army's tent to discuss matters.
"You have all read Governor Xie's secret letter, so let me tell you what you think next."
Xu Zongwen handed the secret letter to Zhang San and passed it on to the generals. Everyone read it carefully and returned it to the generals. Then Xu Zongwen began to ask the generals what they thought.
As usual, the first one to speak was the impatient Zheng Lue. He said: "It's not complicated. My eldest brother directly led us brothers into Yanzhou and took away Zhang Chong's lair. I don't see how they can besiege Sui." Positive?"
Zheng Lue's thoughts were not only his own, but also echoed the sentiments of many people. Zheng Lue's words were rude but not rude. It was indeed feasible to march into Yanzhou, attack Zhang Chong's rear, and cut off Zhang Chong's retreat. .
The gentle Shen Yu said: "Taking Linqiu City will affect the military morale of all Yanzhou counties. We went all the way north and fully recovered Xuzhou and Qingzhou. No one will doubt our strength. As long as our army When they set foot on Yanzhou, the Qin army will definitely be frightened and fearful, and the possibility of Zhang Chong returning to help is also very high. This is the strategy of encircling Wei and rescuing Zhao."
"The two captains are right. This strategy of besieging Wei and rescuing Zhao is indeed feasible. I also think that I can temporarily decide to attack Linqiu first." This time, the person who took the initiative to answer the call was Xu Zongwen's Yamen General, Donghai, who was second only to him in status. County Wei Pei Qing, Pei Fuji.
Pang Bai, the commander of the Jinyiwei, also stood up and replied: "According to the report from the Jinyiwei spies, Zhang Chong, the governor of Yanzhou, left Linqiu with 30,000 troops to attack Suiyang. The military capitals of Taishan, Dongping, and Jibei counties were close to Linqiu. Once they have been levied, as long as the general orders to send troops, these counties will basically have no power to fight with our army. The general can even choose to bypass the three counties and attack Linqiu directly, which will save time and effort."
A flash of light flashed in Xu Zongwen's eyes. He scratched his hair and looked at the sheepskin tent above his head. After thinking about it, he felt that Pang Bai's suggestion was very good.
Since the defense forces of Taishan, Dongping, and Jibei counties are weak, when the Xu troops pass through these jurisdictions, they will only close the city gates and defend to the death. What they are afraid of is that the Jin army will attack the city, but the Jin army will not attack the city. They left directly, they were probably eager to do so! Not to mention going out of the city to actively pursue them and asking for trouble.
"I wonder, Mr. Keeper, if Mr. Kou Mansion has any good advice for me?" Although he had an idea in his mind, Xu Zongwen remained silent and continued to ask as usual.
Xi Jian arched his head and said: "I think that attacking Linqiu, taking Yanzhou, or even defeating Zhang Chong are not the most important issues."
"So what does Mr. Keeper think is the big problem?" Even Zhuge Kan couldn't help but ask.
Not only Zhuge Kan was suspicious, but most of the people here had their own doubts. Originally, what we were discussing tonight was how to march into Yanzhou, force Zhang Chong to return to withdraw from the siege, and help Xie Xuan get out of trouble, but now Xi Jian said these things. None of it is important. If it wasn't important, why would so many people discuss it for so long and spend so much effort?
According to Xi Jian's words, wouldn't everyone become dead trees in the mountains and a bunch of useless talents?
"Don't be anxious, let Mr. Shou Yue finish what he said." Xu Zongwen saw that all the generals could not sit still, so he hurriedly pressed his hands and gave advice.
Seeing that everyone was more or less dissatisfied with him, Xi Jian stopped delaying and said slowly: "After we captured Linqiu, defeated Zhang Chong, and even occupied the entire Yanzhou, I wonder if you have thought about it. What will you face next?”
After Xi Jian pointed it out, Pei Qing suddenly realized, and he quickly asked: "Dear brother who keeps the promise, do you mean to be wary of the Xianbei people?"
"That's right!" Xi Jian answered Pei Qing affirmatively: "Brother Fuji is right. The people we should guard against the most are the Xianbei people. Hebei and Guandong are both the hometowns of the Yan Kingdom, and there are more than 100,000 people in Bingzhou, Jizhou, and Sizhou. The Wubao built by the Xianbei people, Dingling people and the Huns. Murong Chui is the person with the highest seniority and prestige in the Yan Kingdom. With Murong Chui raising his arms, the land in Hebei will become the backyard of the Murong family in the blink of an eye. Even then, even if We occupy Yanzhou, and it is very likely that we will become the target of the Murong family!"
The Di people live together with the Han people in Yizhou and other places in the southwest, and their temperament is milder than other Hu people. The Xianbei people are different. The Xianbei people originate from Liaodong, and wars often break out with the Dingling people, Gaoche people, Goguryeo people and other ethnic groups. They are cruel and easy to kill. , like tigers and wolves!
The Xianbei people are wolves, Murong is the most ferocious wolf in the group, and Murong Chui is the wolf king among the wolves! There is a rebellious factor in the Murong family's blood. Although Qin King Fu Jian destroyed the Yan Kingdom, he did not slaughter all the Yan Kingdom's royal family. Instead, he was given high officials and generous salaries, and everyone was supported in Chang'an, enjoying endless glory and wealth, and not being able to eat. Complete delicacies from mountains and seas!
However, just like the farmer and the snake, when the edifice of the Qin State collapsed, Murong immediately showed his green-faced fangs. Less than a month after returning to Hebei, he first killed the supervisor Fu Feilong sent by Changle Gong Fu Pi in Anyang. , then marched to Yangwu, formed an alliance with Ding Ling, got help from Zhai Bin, and ascended the throne in Xingyang and proclaimed himself emperor!
Hearing Pei Qing's words tell the truth, Xu Zongwen suddenly realized that taking Yanzhou was indeed not a beneficial and harmless thing. Murong Chui should not be underestimated! That was a god-of-war existence. Not only was Great Sima Huanwen defeated by him, but the King of Qin Fu Jian and the Prime Minister Wang Meng were both very afraid of him. If he hadn't been ostracized in the Yan State and defected to the Qin State, he would not have been able to unify the north. Do you know the state of Qin or the state of Yan?
Thinking of the upcoming confrontation with a generation of war gods, Xu Zongwen felt fear in his heart, and at the same time, his heart was surging, and his blood was rising. He was looking forward to meeting Murong Chui, so Xu Zongwen did not dare to face this highly regarded war god in history. There is the slightest slight!
"Everyone, what Mr. Keeper and Mr. Auxiliary Machine said are correct. Our biggest enemy in the future will not only be Qin, but also the Murong clan of Xianbei!"
"General, Murong Chui is now proclaiming the emperor and establishing the country in Xingyang, reviving the Yan Kingdom. Mao Dang's 100,000 troops are confronting the right army general Huan Yi, Longxiang general Xie Yan, Jianwu general Liu Laozhi in Suanzao, Yecheng and Luoyang Very empty, will Murong Chui take advantage of this opportunity to capture these two strategic locations?" Captain Tian Luo, who was sitting at the bottom, stood up and stated.
Xu Zongwen also understood that the confrontation with Murong Chui was inevitable, but not in the present, but in the future. The most urgent thing now is undoubtedly to march into Yanzhou, lure Zhang Chong back to Linqiu, lift the siege of Suiyang, and take the opportunity to attack the Yanzhou Zhuge Liang. County, it is naturally best to win Yanzhou!
The suggestion Xi Jian just made is also to warn everyone to pay attention to the Xianbei people, to look further ahead, and to focus on the situation in the entire Central Plains and Hebei, rather than being limited to Yanzhou.
"Who is willing to be the vanguard and attack Linqiu first to test the reality of Yanzhou?" Xu Zongwen played with the token in his hand and asked loudly in front of everyone.
Everyone looked at each other, and Zheng Lue stood up naturally: "Leave the vanguard position to me! I will not let the general down. I will never come back until I take Linqiu!"
Zheng Lue's courage was well known to everyone in the Xu Department and even the entire Eastern Route Army. As a vanguard, there was no doubt that Xu Zongwen nodded, handed the token to Zheng Lue, and appointed Shen Lue at the same time. As Zheng Lue's deputy general, Yu, in Xu Zongwen's eyes, everyone should be in charge of the army independently and become a unique general!
"Zheng Lue and Shen Yu will each lead their own troops of 3,000 troops, with a total of 6,000 as the vanguard. We will set out tomorrow to capture Linqiu. There must be no mistakes!"
"promise!"
Xu Zongwen made a decision and decided on the candidates for the vanguard army, and all the generals expressed no objection to this.
Xu Zongwen wanted to lead five thousand troops to set off in person, but was stopped by the generals.
He had no choice but to let Shen Yu and Zheng Lue try Yanzhou first. According to the historical trajectory, Zhang Chong, the governor of Yanzhou, surrendered to the Jin army himself like Fu Lang. However, according to Pang Bai's Jin Yiwei secret report, this Zhang Chong was mobilizing his troops and generals, looking like he was ready to make a grand plan. He was completely different from the cowardly Zhang Chong in history who escaped from the battle and then surrendered at Kaicheng.
Xu Zongwen understood to some extent that it was him, the butterfly, who inadvertently flapped its wings and changed the direction of history little by little...
