Yanzhou fell and Hebei was shaken.
Grand Sima and Grand General Cao Hong seemed to have changed. He took out all the family property given back by Cao Rui and reorganized the tiger and leopard cavalry and heavy infantry.
In addition to stationing Jizhou soldiers in Liyang and Pingyuan, Cao Hong also set up beacon towers in the lower reaches of the Yellow River to closely monitor the Han army trying to cross the Yellow River.
Although Cao Pi treated Cao Hong poorly, Wei was on the verge of life and death. Cao Hong remembered Cao Cao's last instructions and Wei's hard-won victory, so he stood up at the critical moment.
Although Cao Hong didn't know how to use troops, he had been with Cao Cao for many years and learned a few things about defense.
The morale of the Wei State was currently low. Although Cao Hong was an old minister and had insufficient prestige in the army, someone came to help him at the critical moment. Wu Zhi, who was stationed at Chaoge, neglected military affairs, and Cao Hong happened to use his head to establish his authority.
Wu Zhi was unruly, unruly, and domineering. Cao Pi still relied on him when he was emperor, but when he left, no one spoke up for him. Cao Rui thought he deserved to die after he found out.
Through this series of actions, Cao Hong gradually stabilized the decline of the Wei army and established his absolute prestige in the army. The soldiers obeyed the orders and actively assisted Cao Hong in defending Guan Yu.
Guan Yu occupied Yanzhou in a hurry, and the Wei soldiers took all the boats with them when they fled north. Now there is not a single fishing boat on the south bank of the Yellow River.
The people in the newly occupied areas were not yet stable, and Yanzhou was an area tightly controlled by the Wei State. If Guan Yu immediately recruited people to build ships, it would likely affect subsequent governance and easily provoke civil uprisings.
At present, the most convenient method is to mobilize the naval warships of Lu Xun and Gan Ning to enter the Yellow River from waterways such as Yingshui, Suishui, and Langtang Canal (artificial canal), tributaries of the Huai River.
At present, Qingzhou is still undecided south of the Yellow River. There are 50,000 or 60,000 defeated troops from Xu, Yu, and Yanzhou gathered there. The 20,000 soldiers of Zhao Yun and Wei Yan alone are not enough.
In the spring of the second year of Yanyao (227), Guan Yu, as the Grand Sima, mobilized warships to move north, and asked Gan Ning, Zhao Yun, and Lu Xun to send troops to Qingzhou, and asked Guan Ping to lead 10,000 troops out of Jibei and south of the Yellow River. Completely returned to the rule of the Han Dynasty.
More than 100,000 Han troops from four routes attacked. Except for those counties near the sea, there were fighting in the northwest, southwest and south of Qingzhou.
Because Xia Houru was cut off from his way back to Hebei by Guanping, and there was no big ship to return to Hebei from the sea, he could not surrender but gritted his teeth and persisted. Although the remaining army in Qingzhou numbered 50,000 to 60,000, their morale was low and they collapsed in one battle. The result is that the number of soldiers becomes smaller and the territory becomes smaller and smaller.
By late May, Xia Houru was forced to retreat to the vicinity of Dongmou County, Donglai County, with only two thousand veterans brought from the northwest battlefield around him.
"It's not that Xia Houru is incompetent, but it's God who doesn't bless us, the Wei Dynasty. Let's all disperse. I can't surrender, so I will die for my country." Xia Houru finished speaking impassionedly and ran towards the sea without looking back. middle.
Xiahou Ru died for his country by throwing himself into the sea. Zhao Yun, the governor of Qingzhou, settled in to govern. Gan Ning, the governor of Yuzhou, and Lu Xun, the governor of Xuzhou, each returned to the army.
Since the states had just taken back from Wei, it still took some time to stabilize the people's hearts, so they could not all pile up on the south bank of the Yellow River.
When the first batch of warships arrived at the Yellow River, Guan Yu tentatively rushed to the north bank to cross, but Cao Hong was like a mad dog sniping. He tried several times during the day and night but returned without success.
Seeing that the morale of the Wei army had recovered, Guan Yu decided that if he tried to land on the beach at all costs, the Han army would suffer huge losses. Furthermore, the battle line was several times longer than before, and it would be difficult to transport supplies from Jingzhou, Jiangdong, Jiaozhou, and Yizhou.
After weighing the pros and cons, Guan Yu chose to postpone the attack on Hebei. While recuperating with the people, he trained his soldiers to reorganize the navy, and planned to advance after being fully prepared.
At the end of the second year of Yanyao's reign, Lan Yuan, the prefect of Langya, came to the capital according to the order. He has not returned home since Liu Wan gave birth to a son. Now his son is two and a half years old, and he only has the nickname given by Lan Tian.
After Lan Yuan returned to the capital, Liu Bei hosted a banquet for Lan Tian's family at Changqiu Palace. Prince Liu Chan, Zhang Xingcai and his wife, Lu Wang Liu Yong, and Liang Wang Liu Li were all present.
Liu Chan and Lan Yuan were childhood playmates. They had not seen each other for several years and had endless conversations. Zhang Xingcai also chatted with Liu Wan about daily life, while the newlywed Guan Yinping took care of Lan Qing.
Seeing that the juniors were chatting happily, Liu Bei nodded and said to Lan Tian: "It's a pity that your tiger son Zhong Ling is not here, otherwise all of you Lan family would be here. I didn't expect Cao Hong to be so tenacious."
Lan Tian replied sternly: "Jizhou has not had any wars in these years and has accumulated a solid foundation. Otherwise Cao Pi would not have moved the capital. Yunchang was right not to choose to attack urgently. The newly occupied counties also need to be stabilized. We will send troops two years later." One battle will determine the outcome."
"The Prime Minister said the same thing. There are not enough officials now, so we can only use some old Wei officials. It would be great if the Jiaozhou system was fully adopted." Liu Bei shook his head slightly.
"Your Majesty, don't be anxious. This matter must be taken slowly, just like Luling and Jiangdong. Let the water flow slowly." Lan Tian nodded lightly.
Liu Bei affirmed: "Ziyu wrote a letter a few days ago. Jiangdong is developing towards Ziyu's layout. He admires you very much."
"Uh" Lantian responded with a smile.
"Your Majesty, today is a family banquet. You and Da Sinong should not talk about state affairs." Empress Wu Ran reminded in a low voice.
Liu Bei laughed and said: "I forgot, Ziyu and my brothers and sisters will come here more often in the future, Qing'er, don't be cautious."
"Qing'er doesn't know that." When Lan Qing smiled as bright as a flower, she was glared at by Lu Lingqi, complaining that the other party answered the question indiscriminately, saying that the palace was not comparable to home.
"Qing'er doesn't know the rules. Your Majesty, please forgive her for being rude." Lan Tian looked embarrassed.
Liu Bei frowned, smiled at Lan Qing and said, "What are the rules? Qing'er, don't listen to your father. His biggest shortcoming is his modesty."
"Thank you, Your Majesty, for your tolerance." Lu Lingqi also echoed Lan Tian in thanking Liu Bei.
"Mrs. Lan is so polite. Your Majesty and General Lan have a close relationship. In addition, Qing'er is smart and lovely. I remember that she was born in the 21st year of Jian'an, so she is one year younger than Li'er." Wu Ran originally wanted to change the topic. , but Lan Tian and Liu Bei's eyebrows twitched slightly at the same time.
Liu Bei interrupted and said, "It's rare that Ziyu's whole family is here together. Let's talk about other important things, such as Yang'er's name. Have you and your son decided on it?"
"I'll let Boyang make the decision himself." Lan Tian pointed at Lan Yuan.
"Well, I didn't think of asking your Majesty to give me a name." Lan Yuan scratched his head in embarrassment. In the past two years, he had been commanding troops abroad. When he was free to think of a good name, he found that he had read so many books. It's hard to find the perfect one, and it's getting delayed by getting entangled.
Liu Bei smiled slightly: "Your father has contributed to the peace and stability of the country. My grandson should follow the example of Ziyu in governing the country. I will use the name of governance. How about the word "jingguo"?"
"Thank you, Your Majesty, for the name." Lan Tian and Lan Yuan both expressed their thanks.
Liu Bei smiled leisurely and said: "Haha, as long as you and your son approve it, don't blame me for overstepping my bounds."
Because Liu Bei did not act like an emperor at all in front of everyone in the Lan family, everyone was talking and laughing during the family banquet. It was not until the Lan family and Liu Bei's children left the palace that Liu Bei's smiling face turned serious.
"Your Majesty, what's wrong with you?" Wu Ran asked carefully, watching the words.
Liu Bei looked at her and replied seriously: "Queen, don't have Lan Qing's idea. I have my own ideas about Li'er's marriage."
"I just want to"
Wu Ran wants to say that if Lan Yuan marries Liu Wan, and then if Liang Wang Liu Li marries Lan Qing, the relationship between the two families will be closer, and she can repay the kindness recommended by Lan Tian.
"Don't even think about it." Liu Bei left these four words and strode away from Changqiu Palace.
Lan Tian will definitely assist Liu Chan in the future. If he marries his daughter to Liu Li again, it will leave hidden dangers for Liu Chan in the future. Liu Bei is very politically sensitive.
After writing about the Nanyang War, I will not write about the war in detail for three reasons: 1. The military power and economy can be pushed horizontally, and it is impossible to write the feeling of pulling and pulling; 2. The author describes the tactics from the beginning, and each battle of Nanyang Cao Xiu is different. , it is not good to write repetitive tactics; 3. The book is being completed as planned, and it is really not possible to write about war in a large space. Please forgive me for any inaccuracies.
(End of chapter)
