On August 1, a hillside somewhere ninety miles southeast of Jingchu
Although the more than 10,000 Fengwu Army officers and soldiers were very tired, they still struggled to advance toward the southeast...
At the same time, Ma Zhongjun, the general of the First Division, who was riding on a tall horse, was frowning at the map in his hand, while Hu Zhiwu, the general and guide of the First Division, introduced to him:
"Sir, the Dahuang Mountain is not far away thirty miles ahead. Let's rush to the Dahuang Mountain tonight. As long as it doesn't rain heavily, we can arrive at the foot of Hanyang City before dark tomorrow!"
Ma Zhongjun nodded slightly when he heard this. As a northerner, he was not familiar with the terrain of Jingchu, so he could only follow the guide's words now!
When the news for help sent from Hanyang ten days ago came to Kangyin, Ma Zhongjun was also shocked. He even suspected that the news was forged by the Zhennan Army!
After all, judging from a series of news before the war, it was shown that the strategic focus of the Zhennan Army was in Kangyin, and most of the elite main forces of the Zhennan Army were assembled in Kangyin.
The Zhennan Army was on the defensive on the Jingchu front line, so Ma Zhongjun's first division was in Kangyin. There were always only two options in the plan!
The first option is to go north to Anqing to help the Fourth Army, and the second option is to forcefully cross the Nanjiang River and attack Shouchun!
Ma Zhongjun never thought that the Zhennan Army would launch its force in Jingchu and so quickly annihilate the main force of the Fifth Army, tens of thousands of people, before reaching the gates of Hanyang City... ··········
Although he was doubtful about such a news, Ma Zhongjun also knew the seriousness of this matter. If Hanyang fell, it would be extremely difficult for the Fengwu Army to get back this strategic town!
At this moment, the importance of Hanyang is no longer just a city or a place, it represents confidence and will!
Once Hanyang falls, this will greatly boost the morale of the southern princes, making them hesitant to make up their mind to resist the Fengwu Army!
So there is no room for failure in Hanyang!
And the first division under his command, Ma, is the Fengwu Army closest to Hanyang, so it should have the responsibility to rush to help!
So on the one hand, Ma Zhongjun sent someone to confirm the authenticity of the news, and on the other hand, he also began to gather troops and horses in Kangyin to prepare to rush to Hanyang!
Kangyin and Hanyang are 700 miles away from each other, and part of it is a mountain road. The road conditions are very difficult. Tens of thousands of people must be prepared for the march. Ma Zhongjun also has to make arrangements to stay in Kangyin!
When he thought that the Zhennan Army had probably attacked Hanyang, Ma Zhongjun didn't care about anything else. He only prepared for one day before the people he sent came back to deliver the message, and then led three battalions of the First Division. Fifteen thousand people began to attack Hanyang
So far, they have been marching from Kangyin for seven days. They have to travel at least 60 to 70 miles every day, but they are still quite far away from Kangyin!
On the way to help, Ma Zhongjun also confirmed that the Fifth Army was defeated. The news of the crisis in Hanyang was true. Xu Zhaojie personally led tens of thousands of Zhennan troops to surround Hanyang. This also made Ma Zhongjun anxious in his heart, wishing he could grow wings on his back. Fly to Hanyang······························
Just when Ma Zhongjun and Hu Zhiwu were deciding on the path, Ma Zhongjun's subordinate commander Ye Kaishan Yue also came to Ma Zhongjun and asked for instructions:
"Sir, it's noon now and the sun is at its most scorching, and the road ahead is mountainous and rugged. Can you please let the brothers rest for a while, eat and drink enough, and then continue moving forward!"
Hearing this, Ma Zhongjun also looked at the sun in the sky, and saw that the scorching sun was mercilessly scorching the earth at this time. Although the soldiers of the first division were still working hard, they were all sweating, and their faces were covered with sweat. Looking tired, many people rely on willpower to persevere!
Seeing this scene, although Ma Zhongjun wanted to rush to Hanyang as soon as possible, he felt compassion in his heart. He thought for a while and said:
"It takes half an hour to repair! Let everyone hurry up and eat and rest. We must arrive at Dahuang Mountain tonight!"
"Tell the soldiers that Dahuang Mountain is full of game. When we get to Dahuang Mountain, we can hunt some game and eat meat!"
Ye Kaishan was also overjoyed when he heard the news, and immediately bowed to Ma Zhongjun and said:
"Thank you for your consideration! The soldiers will definitely speed up after they have eaten and drank enough!"
Ma Zhongjun frowned slightly when he heard this. He also understood that the soldiers under his command had worked hard, but the military situation was so fierce that Hanyang must not lose anything!
As Ma Zhongjun's order was issued, the advance of the First Division also stopped, and the soldiers also found some shady places to sit down... ············
Because Ma Zhongjun was only given half an hour to rest, the foreman did not have time to light a fire and cook some hot meals for the soldiers.
The soldiers could only make do with dry food and dried meat, drink some water, and then take the time to rest. After all, they still had dozens of miles to go!
At this time, ordinary soldiers could stop and take a rest, but Ma Zhongjun, the general of the first division, was not idle and kept looking around the surrounding terrain.
Although Ma Zhongjun is not very old, he is only in his early thirties this year, but after joining the army as a teenager, he can be regarded as a veteran who has been on the battlefield for more than ten years and still has very rich experience!
Therefore, although he felt that the Zhennan Army would probably attack Hanyang now and had no energy to take care of himself, he probably would not have expected that his unit would be progressing so fast.
But looking at the terrain in front of him, Ma Zhongjun also had a bad feeling. He felt that the terrain in front of him was very suitable for an ambush.
Therefore, after Ma Zhongjun thought for a while, he couldn't help but ask Hu Zhiwu who was in the river:
"Will the rest of the road still be like this?"
Hu Zhiwu, who had walked this road before, swallowed the water in his mouth, thought quickly, then nodded and said:
“It might be a little easier to walk, but overall it’s pretty much the same..."
Ma Zhongjun wrinkled slightly after hearing this answer, and then asked Hu Zhiwu, who was in command of the scouts:
"How's the situation with the scouts?"
When Hu Zhiwen heard this, he also understood what Ma Zhongjun was planning. He hesitated and said:
"General, to be honest, the scouts are quite tired. Many of our brothers are spinning around and don't even have time to rest!"
Ma Zhongjun was also a little helpless when he heard the words. He knew that Hu Zhiwu's words were unpleasant but they were true. Most of the first division was struggling to advance. The whole army was very tired, and as a scout at the front of the team, it was even more tiring. It doesn't work anymore!
After pondering for a while, Ma Zhongjun ordered:
"I know the brothers are very tired, but the terrain here is perfect for an ambush. Let the brothers hold on for a moment and I'll give them credit for who made the trip!"
The Fengwu Army attaches great importance to military merit. Therefore, in the Fengwu Army, military merit is more attractive to the soldiers than money. So when he heard that there was military merit, Hu Zhiwu did not talk nonsense and said directly:
"Sir, I will explain it right now!"
After saying that, Hu Zhiwu left in a hurry, and soon a dozen scouts got on their horses from the resting team to explore the way forward for the army!
Ma Zhongjun felt relieved when he saw the scout leaving. Although from a rational point of view, he felt that the Zhennan Army should not ambush him here... ·········
But firstly, the terrain here is very suitable for an ambush, and secondly, the soldiers under his command are generally very tired from the continuous journey!
According to the art of war, his first division is now a truly exhausted division. If someone were to ambush at this time, the situation would be very dangerous!
Therefore, with the idea of keeping the Wannian Ship carefully, Ma Zhongjun still wants to be safe even if he wastes a little time!
The half-hour rest time passed quickly, but seeing that the scouts sent out to explore the road had not returned, Ma Zhongjun, who frowned, never gave the order to continue on the road.
Another stick of incense passed, and Hu Zhiwu, Ye Kaishan and other subordinates also reminded Ma Zhongjun that he should start on his way now. If he didn't hurry up, it would be difficult to reach Dahuang Mountain before dark tonight!
But at this moment, a shaky figure appeared in Ma Zhongjun's field of vision!
Seeing the appearance of this person, Ma Zhongjun was shocked. He remembered that this person was the scout who had just been sent out!
As soon as Ma Zhongjun waved, someone immediately went to meet the scout, and soon the scout was helped to Ma Zhongjun!
At this time, Ma Zhongjun could clearly see that the scout had been injured several times, his body was covered in blood, and he was even hit by an arrow in the shoulder. However, fortunately, protected by the Fengwu Army's cotton armor, his vitals were not injured.
Seeing Ma Zhongjun at this time, the scout was also very excited and preached intermittently:
"General... there is an ambush in front... They have prepared oil for a fire attack..."
As soon as these words came out, Ma Zhongjun was shocked. In fact, when he saw the scout like this, he knew that his uneasiness was confirmed. Zhennan Army bastards were really waiting for him in front!
But he didn't expect that the bastards of the Zhennan Army would be so ruthless and wanted to set up a burning company for him. Is this a posture that wanted to completely annihilate his first division?
Ma Zhongjun took a deep breath and ordered to his subordinates:
"This brother is a great hero of our first division. Hurry up and take him to the military doctor so that the military doctor must save him! I will reward him with a hundred taels of silver for saving him!"
"yes!"
After arranging the scout brother, before Ma Zhongjun could give orders to form a formation to meet the enemy, there were loud shouts of killing in front of them. Obviously, the Zhennan Army also knew that their whereabouts were exposed, so seeing that the ambush could not succeed, they simply stopped. After setting up an ambush, we immediately started to attack!
At this time, Xu Zhaojie could be said to be furious, and he kept cursing:
"These stupid pigs who fail to achieve anything but fail!"
"You are stupider than pigs! Even pigs know how to hide, but you actually let the Fengwu Army scouts discover you and let these scouts run away. You bastards are worse than pigs!"
For today's ambush, Ma Zhongjun started planning after realizing that it was impossible to storm Hanyang!
The importance of Hanyang is self-evident and everyone knows it, so it is obvious that the Kangyin First Division will definitely take action after getting the news... ·······
Xu Zhaojie believes that they will rush to the rescue of their colleagues as quickly as possible, defend Hanyang, a city of great strategic value, and defend the determination and will of the Fengwu Army to seize it!
Xu Zhaojie thought this was something he could take advantage of. Although he had achieved considerable results, he almost completely wiped out the Fifth Army and captured Tanzhou!
But Xu Zhaojie knew very well that as long as Hanyang was not captured, the damage to the Fengwu Army would only be superficial, and it would not really harm the Fengwu Army!
This also made Xu Zhaojie a little discouraged. He was not willing to just achieve this result!
After all, compared with the Fengwu Army, the strength of his Zhennan Army is more than a step behind. If he does not take the initiative to expand his advantage now, then when the Fengwu Army calms down, the Zhennan Army will definitely be destroyed. Otherwise, There will be no second result!
Driven by this idea, Xu Zhaojie put his idea on the head of the First Division!
After the Battle of Huainan, the First Division, as the ace unit of the Fengwu Army, stationed in Kangyin, and this also made them a sharp sword hanging over the head of the Zhennan Army!
It took a lot of energy from the Zhennan Army to prevent the First Division from crossing the Nanjiang River at any time and heading straight for Shouchun, the political center of the Zhennan Army... ········
If Xu Zhaojie's previous expedition to Jiangnan failed, the main reason was because of insufficient troops. Only 30,000 people were not enough to defeat the Jiangnan Army with nearly 100,000 people!
So the reason why Xu Zhaojie only led 30,000 people to attack Jiangnan was not because the Zhennan Army only had 30,000 people, but because the existence of the First Division contained the strength of the Zhennan Army!
Therefore, Xu Zhaojie hates the First Division so much that it can be said that his teeth itch with hatred. In addition, the First Division is known as the ace among the aces in the Fengwu Army, the direct lineage among the direct lineage, and the equipment and treatment are the best in the Fengwu Army. Therefore, Xu Zhaojie At night, I dream about annihilating the first division!
He knew that the First Division was Ye Mingsheng's heart and soul. Even if the First Division could not be completely annihilated, as long as it could be severely damaged, it would be enough to make Ye Mingsheng feel very distressed!
The First Division served as the vanguard of the Fengwu Army's external expansion several times and made great contributions to the Fengwu Army. It was also regarded as a glorious banner of the Fengwu Army both inside and outside the Fengwu Army!
Therefore, if we can severely damage or even completely annihilate the first division, we will definitely be able to severely combat the arrogance of the Fengwu Army and improve our military morale and morale!
In terms of strategic value, annihilating the First Division is not much worse than capturing Hanyang, so Xu Zhaojie planned this ambush with all his heart, vowing to cut down this glorious flag of the Fengwu Army!
However, what Xu Zhaojie did not expect was that at the last moment, the Sichuan and Shu Army men were discovered by the Fengwu Army on the hill where they were ambushing. This undoubtedly made him cry without tears and lament the injustice of God... ···············
