Jinan County, Licheng.
The 10,000 Youzhou troops and 5,000 Xianbei cavalry led by Ningbei general Wang Huan have completed repairs in Licheng.
During this period, the edict from the Luoyang court had been sent to Licheng, Jinan County.
Sima Yue, King of the East China Sea, who governed on behalf of the foolish emperor Sima Zhong, appointed Wang Huan as the governor of Qingzhou and general of Ningbei in an edict in the name of the emperor.
Through the contents of the edict, Wang Hu seemed to see the face of Sima Yue, the king of the East China Sea, full of intrigues.
Sima Yue's younger brother Sima Lue lost ground due to his incompetence, allowing a group of rabble from Donglai County to conquer most of Qingzhou. Now that he was here to wipe their brothers' butts, he was only given the post of governor of Qingzhou.
The military and political chiefs of a state in the Western Jin Dynasty often served as governors of a certain state's military affairs and as governors of a certain state. Those who were entrusted with important responsibilities would be given various titles such as a certain general or even a certain general.
If it is higher, it can also be awarded with a scepter symbolizing imperial power, which can be used to deal with officials at all levels under the rule, making them hold festivals, hold festivals, or make false festivals.
In the edict to Wang Huan, only one Qingzhou governor was added to Wang Huan's position as General Ningbei. Not to mention the commander-in-chief of Qingzhou's military affairs, there was not even a lower-level supervisor of Qingzhou's military forces. For this kind of The governor of a certain state who was single-handedly was called the "bicycle governor" at that time.
Wang Huan understood that this was a back-up plan left by Sima Yue, the king of the East China Sea. Now that Sima Yue had taken sole control of the court, his original ally, Wang Jun, the governor of Youzhou, was very powerful. In Sima Yue's view, he was very likely to threaten his authority in the future.
This time the Donglai rebels rebelled and occupied Linzi. Although Sima Yue asked the Youzhou army to quell the rebellion, he did not want Qingzhou to fall into Wang Jun's hands after the rebellion subsided. In that case, Wang Jun would have Youzhou, Pingzhou, and Qingzhou. The three states, as well as the strong support of the Wuwan and Xianbei people, may be too big for Sima Yue's court by then, so Sima Yue only gave Youzhou Ningbei General Wang Huan the Qingzhou Governor, while retaining the capital. The position of supervising the military of a state.
Although Wang Huan understood this matter, he didn't care too much.
Wang Huan is Wang Jun's younger brother. He comes from the well-known Wang family in Taiyuan. He doesn't care about Sima Yue's petty thoughts at all. Since you don't give me the power to arbitrate a state, then I will take it for myself.
In Licheng, in the name of Qingzhou Governor and Ningbei General, Wang Huan moved all the baggage in Licheng, Jinan County, and recruited tens of thousands of private troops from the surrounding powerful people. Many of these were beyond the authority of Qingzhou Governor.
Then a message was issued, claiming that an army of 50,000 people had been assembled, including 20,000 Xianbei cavalry, to attack the Donglai rebels entrenched in Linzi, and asked the soldiers and people of Qingzhou to raise troops to respond to the king's army, otherwise the rebels might be so powerful by then that they might The soldiers should be motivated by plundering the city.
The local scholars and common people in Qingzhou were frightened after seeing the message from the new Qingzhou governor Wang Hu, because this time there were 20,000 Xianbei cavalry. Although according to the warning from people in Licheng, the Xianbei cavalry was at most Seven or eight thousand, it is impossible to have 20,000, but even seven or eight thousand is terrifying.
These scholars and people in Qingzhou felt that the Xianbei barbarians were as cruel as animals. They were robbing and ruthless in Jizhou and Sizhou. If these Xianbei barbarians were to kill in Qingzhou, they would definitely be more terrifying than the Donglai army.
Therefore, just two days before Ningbei General Wang Huan led the army to march, batches of Qingzhou powerful people came to pay a secret visit. Among them, the powerful families in Linzi City included the Yan family, the Chen family, the Zuo family, and the Cui family. The arrival of the five Jiang families made Wang Huan most at ease.
The five families of Yan, Chen, Zuo, Cui, and Jiang are the leaders of the Qi State in Qingzhou. They not only own a large number of land and manors, but also have a large number of shops and houses in Linzi City. There are only five private military branches in Linzi City. A total of five to six thousand people.
After meeting with Wang Huan, the envoys of these five families told Wang Huan one by one the situation of the Donglai rebels in Linzi City. They also stated with certainty that they had received the news and that the leader of the bandits, Liu Bogen, had decided We must give up defending the city and fight in the field outside the city to meet Wang Hu.
After hearing this, Wang Hu felt that this was exactly what he wanted, which was also in line with Wang Jun's request for a quick victory.
Because Jizhou, the back route of the Youzhou army, was still not at peace, and Liu Yuan, the Xiongnu chanyu who rebelled in Bingzhou, also left the Taihang Mountains eastward several times, threatening Youzhou and Jizhou.
Finally, Wang Huan promised the five powerful families that the imperial army would be able to defeat the Donglai rebels in the field. As long as the five families could raise troops in the city, seize the city gate, and cut off the Donglai rebels' retreat route to return to the city, then he would Promise not to let Xianbei soldiers enter the city.
After hearing the guarantee from the governor of Qingzhou, these five powerful families also expressed that as long as the main force of Donglai thieves left the city, they would have a way to control Linzi. Even if the Donglai thieves see the power of Wang's army and dare not leave the city to fight in the field, they can still find a way to open a certain city gate to let Wang Hu's Jin army enter. Of course, the notorious Xianbei cavalry will not enter the city.
After sending away these powerful envoys from Linzi who were preparing to respond to the imperial army, Wang Hu sneered in his heart. These powerful people from Qingzhou were the most shameful. For the sake of their wealth and population, they would not hesitate to surrender to the traitors. If he hadn't released the envoys now, After the news of the massive plundering of Linzi after the war, I am afraid that these wallflowers will still be hiding in their own homes and being cowardly turtles.
Although these Xianbei cavalry have a bad reputation, in Wang Huan's view, these Xianbei slaves are all excellent soldiers. They have no complaints about eating and sleeping in the open. They have been familiar with riding and shooting since they were young. Each of them is an outstanding ranger. , and recently with the support of a large number of weapons and armor from Youzhou, the Duanbu Xianbei people have even begun to practice the art of attacking hard formations.
After Wang Hu, the governor of Qingzhou and general of Ningbei, swore an oath at the north gate of Licheng, he led 10,000 Youzhou troops, 5,000 Xianbei cavalry and nearly 20,000 levied civilians from Jinan County and marched towards Linzi.
The strength of the Jin army in Youzhou was indeed well-deserved. Just one day later, Wang Hu led the advance guard of the Jin army to march more than 30 miles at night, suddenly appeared at the foot of Liangzo City, and captured Liangzo with thunderous force. Qiandong Lai's army abandoned the city and ran away. Almost all of them were killed by the Youzhou and Xianbei cavalry who caught up. Only three of them ran back to Linzi to report to Liu Bogen.
After receiving the news, Liu Bogen heard about the strength of the Youzhou Jin Army and hurriedly ordered the Donglai Army in Gaoyuan City to closely monitor the actions outside the city and not give the Youzhou Army any chance of a sneak attack.
But in the early morning of the next day, as soon as Liu Bogen's envoy was sent to Gaoyuan, a cavalry force of thousands of people appeared outside Linzi City. After receiving the news, Liu Bogen hurriedly went to the city wall to check.
Looking from a distance, thousands of cavalry plundered several markets outside Linzi City, and then set fire to the pontoon bridge in Zi River. The Donglai Army soldiers guarding the pontoon were all killed and injured. When Liu Bogen ordered the troops to leave the city When they arrived, the thousands of cavalrymen ran away like the wind.
