Hebei, Liyang Ferry.
Liyang is one of the main ferries on the Yellow River. Its history can be traced back to the period of the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors in ancient times. Like Fangtou, Yanjin and other ferries along the Yellow River, it looks like a large city from a distance, but there is nothing in the city. Residents were replaced by hundreds of docks and berths. At both ends of the Yellow River ferry, there was a busy scene. Luoshui, a tributary of the Yellow River, entered the city from the south. On it were a steady stream of pump boats, carrying ordinary ordnance, grain and grass. On the other side is the turbulent Yellow River. Large flat-bottomed sand boats are shuttling back and forth between Liyang and the Mengjin Ferry on the opposite side, transporting the grain and weapons stored in the warehouse to Hebei, and then by water to land. The Fangtou front line on the other side.
Liu Yu was dressed in mail and dressed as a military commander, and walked with dozens of military officers behind the two leading generals. One of them, tall and tall, with a black beard, was the Huan family guest general Zhang Yuan, while the other one, He is short and fat, like a winter melon, and his face is red, which is so incompatible with the leather armor on his body. He looks more like a country rich man than a general. He is not the newly appointed governor of Liyang, the Northern Expeditionary Army. Deputy Commander Teng Tianzhi?
Zhang Yuan stopped and stood at the top of the city, looking far ahead. His brows knitted together. He slapped the crenellations of the city wall heavily and said in a deep voice: "Liu Yingyang (Liu Lao) fought in the battle the day before yesterday. ) was unlucky at the start. When they were about to capture Zha, they were attacked by Murong Chui himself and lost more than a hundred people. It was said that the Beifu Army was unrivaled in the world. However, in the first battle in Hebei, they suffered a small defeat. It seemed , the rumors may not be true.”
When he said this, he glanced at Liu Yu standing in the crowd intentionally or unintentionally, and a smug sneer appeared at the corner of his mouth.
But Teng Tianzhi smiled and waved his hand: "But Murong Chui retreated after all. Liu Yingyang was in a mood to attack. It's harmless. General Zhang, look at Fu Pi in Yecheng. He still left the city to attack. As for Yan Jun, Xie Zhenjun was worried that Fu Pi would betray him before, but now it seems that this worry is unnecessary."
Zhang Yuan frowned and said in a deep voice: "Prefect Teng, you said we led the army all the way to the Northern Expedition. What on earth did we do?"
Teng Tianzhi was slightly startled: "Of course we will wipe out the Hulu and restore the lost ground."
Zhang Yuan patted the crenellations of the city wall: "We just wait here and just watch, can we regain the lost ground? Liu Yingyang can move forward with no more than 10,000 troops. We have 10,000 elite troops, but here we can only Guarding the grain and fodder is just a matter of transporting food every day. If we had known this earlier, why would we have come here?"
Teng Tianzhi laughed and waved his hand: "General Zhang, if there are people charging in the front, there must also be people sitting in the rear. The soldiers and horses have not moved, and the food and grass must go first. We are in Hebei, and the most important thing is food. Guard this At the ferry, the army in front will have food and fodder. When the follow-up troops come up, they can naturally replace us. By then, sweeping across Hebei and the land of Youyun will be easy."
Zhang Yuan sneered: "Sweeping across Hebei? I'm afraid Governor Teng is overthinking. How many cities will Liu Yingyang give us to sweep across? He is about to have a decisive battle with Murong Chui. Once he wins, Murong Chui will just run away. , I am afraid that the states and counties in Hebei will also change their flags quickly, and by then I am afraid that not even a small county will be able to fight."
A trace of suspicion flashed across Teng Tianzhi's face, and he blinked: "That's not true, Murong Chui has an army of hundreds of thousands, and Liu Yingyang can only have more than 10,000 troops. Although he has gained a foothold in the front, We can only set up camp and hold on. If we want to fight a decisive battle, I’m afraid we don’t have enough troops.”
Zhang Yuan said in a deep voice: "Prefect Teng probably doesn't know Liu Yingyang well enough. He has 5,000 men and horses, so he dares to take the initiative to attack the 50,000 Qin army's infantry and cavalry on the opposite side. With 10,000 tigers, he dares to attack directly on the Feishui River." The Qin army had millions of people to attack, and most of Murong Chui's men were just a mob, with only thirty to forty thousand infantry and cavalry troops, so there was nothing Liu Yingyang didn't dare to fight."
Teng Tianzhi curled his lips, turned to Liu Yu in the crowd and said: "General Liu, they say that you have experienced hundreds of battles and are the number one warrior of the Beifu Army. Do you agree with what General Zhang just said? ?”
Liu Yu smiled slightly, pressed his hand on his chest, and performed a military salute: "Bizhi is just a small military leader. He only knows how to act according to orders. The way to fight and defend is determined by the general. However, I know that the responsibility lies with the second officer." The general's defense of Liyang is not only to provide food for the frontline soldiers, but also to ensure the choke point for the army's advance and retreat. Its importance is no less important than General Liu's confrontation with the Yan army in the front. "
Zhang Yuan snorted loudly: "Liu Yu, they all say that you are an invincible hero, how amazing you are, but this time I saw it with my own eyes, it really disappoints me. Where is your vigor and your fighting spirit?" ? Do you also want to sit here and watch others perform meritorious service while you do nothing? According to the military laws of the Jin Dynasty, merit is calculated based on beheadings and captures. Can you achieve these merits while guarding here? "
Liu Yu said calmly: "These are things that Commander Xuan has to consider. I don't dare to speak nonsense. I only know that as a soldier, I should obey orders and obey orders. The confrontation between Murong Chui and Liu Yingyang on the front line will definitely cut off our army's food supply. He Our troops have an advantage, and they are likely to send a partial division to attack Liyang Cang City. I am waiting here, not doing nothing, but always in danger."
Teng Tianzhi opened his eyes wide: "You, what did you say? How dare the Yan army come here to attack?"
Liu Yu nodded: "When the two armies confront each other, they must cooperate with each other and win by surprise. If we can cut off the enemy's retreat and burn their food and grass at the same time, it is naturally the best strategy. It is precisely because of this that Commander Xuan regards guarding Liyang as so important." The task is given to the two generals. This is a show of respect and trust for the two generals. How can you say that you are doing nothing?!"
Zhang Yuan stomped his foot heavily: "That's enough, Liu Yu, you don't know anything. In this land of Hebei, there are not only the Qin and Yan rebels, but also other forces. If we can take the initiative to fight for it, we will let We have added an additional 100,000 troops, so why are we still holding a stalemate here?"
Teng Tianzhi perked up and immediately turned to Zhang Yuan: "General Zhang, what do you mean by this? Who is this other force?"
Zhang Yuan glanced at Liu Yu proudly, pointed at an inconspicuous sergeant-looking man in the crowd, and said, "Liu Yu, this man is also an old acquaintance of yours. Do you want to meet and say hello?"
Liu Yu's heart moved. Just now, he felt that there seemed to be an acquaintance among these people, but he couldn't tell who it was. The person seemed to have been deliberately avoiding him. Until then, he turned his attention to Zhang Yuanshuo. In the direction he was pointing, a face came into Liu Yu's eyes, and he took a breath: "It's actually you?!"
