Bao Yuchun stood in front of the map and thought quietly for a long time. Finally, he pointed to a place: Hongze Lake.
"Li Jiangyao's navy should be hiding here!"
A deputy general next to him asked curiously: "Shuai Bao, why isn't it Gaoyou Lake?"
Bao Yuchun sneered: "If it were in Gaoyou Lake, then Li Jiangyao is not Li Jiangyao, but a huge fool! I will send the main fleet north, and it will only take three days to burn all his broken boats." Being at Hongze Lake, with Gaoyou Lake in front of us, we can prevent us from daring to advance rashly, and we can advance and attack, and retreat and defend. This is the way to be a general."
The deputy general nodded sincerely: "That's true. Although Gaoyou Lake is closer to the river, making it easier to get in and out, it also makes it easier for us to advance and retreat. This is not the case with Hongze Lake. The fleet sets out from Gaoyou Lake and attacks northward. The entire lake is not like a river. It is so easy to clear and defend, but once the enemy warships hidden in the dark regain control of Gaoyou Lake, we will be in a desperate situation."
"That's why Li Jiangyao dared to be so presumptuous!" Bao Yuchun snorted: "Sneak attack on Yao Mingjie, robbed hundreds of boats, and then left without worrying that we would pursue him. Perhaps, he wanted us to go In pursuit."
Another general asked: "Commander Bao, what should we do next? Is this bad breath in vain? The Zhenjiang Army killed Xiao Jing and Xue Meng. We must avenge this!"
Bao Yuchun glared at him: "Did I say I won't take revenge? Why are you panicking? When fighting a war, military intelligence comes first. What's the use of being anxious before you fully understand the enemy's reality?"
The general bowed his head and said, "I was acting recklessly because of my humble duty. Please forgive me, Commander-in-Chief Bao."
Bao Yuchun snorted dissatisfied and reprimanded: "You are all veterans who have followed me for many years. In Kuohai, we were victorious and invincible. Why did we become less and less good at fighting once we returned to Shengtang?" Are you there? Either you are slacking off in every possible way, or you are in a hurry and can’t calm down at all!”
He couldn't help cursing, and ordered: "Go, send elite scouts, secretly cross the river northward, go to Hongze Lake and Gaoyou Lake to investigate carefully, and give me a thorough understanding of the details of the Zhenjiang Army Navy. Including how many people there are. , how many ships are there, who is in command, and what equipment are there. Go immediately!"
-
As soon as Li Jiangyao's cavalry arrived at the Hongze Lake base, the navy officers and soldiers burst into cheers like a mountain roar and a tsunami, warmly welcoming the arrival of the coach.
They had just experienced their first major victory since becoming an army, and it was a time when their morale was high.
Li Jiangyao waved to the navy officers and soldiers on the horse, and was accompanied by Xu Youchang all the way to the command post. As soon as he got off his horse, a tall and handsome young officer stepped forward and saluted: "In this humble position, please see the Great Protector!"
Xu Youchang smiled and introduced: "He is Nie Xianzang, the great hero of this battle. Of the two at the back, the fatter one is Luo Yuan, and the gentle one is Wang Wenlie."
Li Jiangyao nodded, looked at Nie Xianzang and the others and said with a smile: "You three are really amazing. Bao Yuchun has been in the world for nearly thirty years, and I'm afraid he has never suffered such a big loss."
Nie Xianzang said modestly: "It's all thanks to the careful guidance of Da Duhu and Xu Shuai. The navy brothers fought bravely. The three of us didn't make any great contributions."
"Very good!" Li Jiangyao patted him on the shoulder: "He takes credit but is not arrogant. He has the demeanor of a general. Come on, let's go in and chat."
Everyone followed him, walked into the command post together, and sat down in order.
Xu Youchang ordered: "First of all, you can tell Daduhu about the results of this battle."
Nie Xianzeng agreed and said loudly: "Defender, our army was ordered to raid Jingkou this time. We destroyed and damaged a total of one hundred and thirty-five enemy ships, and captured seventy-four enemy warships and five-sailed warships." Twenty-three ships, thirty-five sterns, and ten troop transports of various sizes, totaling 142. More than 3,000 enemy troops were killed, and our troops suffered 716 casualties. The soldiers fought Brave and a complete victory! In addition, I would like to thank General Du Jian and the brothers of the Second Army for their full cooperation. Without them, there would be no victory at Guazhou Ferry."
Li Jiangyao nodded with satisfaction and said proudly: "Although the Kunpeng Tenth Army was established not long ago, the Battle of Jingkou shocked the enemy and became famous in one battle! You have lived up to the expectations of the army and did not embarrass the Zhenjiang Army. Brothers. ,Thanks for your hard work!"
The generals of the Tenth Army all stood up and shouted in unison: "Follow your Excellency to the death!"
Xu Youchang looked at Li Jiangyao with a smile and asked: "Can I, the temporary commander-in-chief, step down and take over?"
"Well, I feel relieved." Li Jiangyao smiled and immediately shouted: "From now on, Nie Xian will be promoted to the post of chief general of the 10th Zhenjiang Army, Luo Yuan will be appointed deputy general of the 10th Army and captain of the first banner, Wang Wen He will be appointed as Sima of the Tenth Army and Captain of the Second Banner, and other meritorious officers will be promoted and rewarded as appropriate!"
Nie Xianzang was stunned when he heard this. He looked at the two companions beside him who were also dumbfounded. He couldn't help but burst into tears and knelt down on one knee: "Protector, I am willing to die for my humble duty!"
Luo Yuan and Wang Wenlie also knelt down quickly: "I am willing to die for my humble position!" "The kindness of the protector of the capital will be unforgettable forever. I will never destroy the rebels, and I will never be a human being!"
Li Jiangyao smiled and helped the three of them up one by one, and then asked: "Tell me what your plans are next."
Nie Xianzang thought carefully and responded: "Protector, the three of us have discussed it before and agreed that the decisive battle with the rebel navy in the future will definitely take place on the waterway from Jinling, Jingkou to Dajiang where it enters the sea. Because crossing this waterway to the south is the closest to Hangzhou, the hometown of the rebels, and it is also the most important support point for Bao Yuchun's entire river defense line."
Wang Wenlie continued: "Therefore, our Tenth Army should rely on Hongze Lake and Gaoyou Lake to continuously move out of the river to harass and weaken the enemy's navy, and look for decisive opportunities to provide conditions for the army to cross the river."
Luo Yuan waited for him to finish speaking, and then said angrily: "In addition, the Governor said that attacking the enemy's rear from the sea is an excellent strategy. We plan to train two or three battalions who are familiar with naval warfare and good at landing. Take charge of this operation.”
Li Jiangyao smiled and said: "Well, yes, it has both a grasp of the overall situation and specific measures, and it is very comprehensive. But..."
He paused briefly and said mysteriously: "However, what you should do most now is to lead the team north immediately, along the Xuhong River, to Luoma Lake."
Nie Xianzang was stunned when he heard this, looked at Luo Yuan and Wang Wenlie blankly, and then couldn't help but asked curiously: "Go there... for what?"
Xu Youchang was also a little puzzled: "Yes, Protector General, Luoma Lake is north of Siyang County, close to Xuzhou, why are you traveling so far?"
Li Jiangyao didn't answer but asked: "If you were Bao Yuchun, what would you do after suffering such a big hidden loss?"
Luo Yuan replied without hesitation: "Of course he is looking for an opportunity to take revenge. He will definitely not be able to swallow this breath because of his own strength."
Xu Youchang thought carefully for a moment, shook his head and said: "Revenge is right, but what Bao Yuchun should do first is to find out our true and false situation and make a decision before taking action."
"I understand!" Nie Xianzang said with a smile: "The Protector General wants us to continue to confuse the enemy and maintain our advantage."
Li Jiangyao nodded slightly: "You are right. Although the Tenth Army won a victory, there is still a big gap with the enemy navy. Our advantage is that the new warships are more advanced than the opponent, and the details of our strength have not been revealed. They figured it out. Only by continuing to do so can they let Lao Bao be fooled again."
Luo Yuan slapped his thigh: "The Protector is wise! We only left some old boats on Hongze Lake, while the main force secretly went northward and hid far away. When the enemy's spies have seen enough, they will definitely order Bao when they return. Yuchun is confused!"
Wang Wenlie thought carefully and pondered: "We fought too fiercely before, so I'm afraid it's hard to deceive Bao Yuchun. In addition to avoiding the scouts and spies, we have to think of more ways. For example, we must make the enemy produce a kind of The illusion is that the reason why the Tenth Army was able to defeat them was due to luck rather than strength.”
Li Jiangyao praised: "Yes! That's what I mean! You must use your brains to not only deceive the enemy's ears and eyes, but also to deceive your senior teacher Bao Yuchun."
Nie Xianzang couldn't help laughing and said: "Although we have never heard Bao Yuchun personally teach various navy tactics, many of the classics in the martial arts hall were written by him. This time, we will focus on Teacher Bao's ideas and The idea is to prescribe the right medicine and treat the person in his own way."
"Hahaha, what a wonderful idea," Xu Youchang couldn't help but laugh: "Bao Yuchun is very unfamiliar to the three of you, but you are very familiar with him. This is equivalent to having an advantage."
Li Jiangyao clapped his hands and said loudly: "Brothers, hurry up and get some wine. Let's chat while drinking and see how to use the good things taught by Teacher Bao to deal with Teacher Bao."
-
In the evening, the afterglow of the setting sun filled the entire Hongze Lake, making it sparkling and dazzling.
The main fleet of Kunpeng's Tenth Army set sail, lined up neatly, and headed north.
At the same time, more than a hundred captured rebel warships and fifty Zhenjiang warships without flywheels were arrayed in Hongze Lake and began to practice water warfare techniques.
Their tactical moves may seem extremely powerful, but in reality they are specious. Especially in many key areas, they may inadvertently make some mistakes that only laymen would make.
It seems to be strong, but in fact it stretches the hips and cannot withstand careful scrutiny at all.
Looking again at the naval camp, although hundreds of tents are arranged neatly, as if military discipline is strict, if you pay close attention, you will find that all the baggage, food, arrows and equipment are scattered and disorderly, and patrols and guards are everywhere. The sentinels all looked careless and relaxed.
