When the army on the northern route won victory in Lizhou and sang a triumphal song, their eyes turned to the east. Under the command of Zhao Kuangyin, the Han army on the eastern route also fought consecutive battles and made smooth progress.
After defeating the Kuizhou Navy and successfully capturing Shusongmu Village, the next day, the fierce general Dang Jin led the crowd to attack the enemy Sanhui Village. The Shu army could not defeat it and defeated it in half a day. Dang advanced and killed the defender Nan Guanghai.
On July 23, Dang Jin led the army from Sanhui Village to the southwest, and cooperated with the land and water division led by Han general Cui Yanjin to jointly attack Wushan Village, the important stronghold in Wuxia.
Cui Yanjin led the Jiangling Navy led by Wei Lin to cut off the upper reaches, and then divided his divisions to land, occupy the east-west passage, and eliminate the land reinforcements from Wushan Village. After making sufficient arrangements, they immediately launched an attack on the Shu army. The first battle was unsuccessful, but after figuring out the defense and combat power of the defenders, they strengthened the attack the next day. The party took the lead and climbed up with strong determination. They were brave and unrivaled. The Han army was inspired and the Shu soldiers were frightened. They fought fiercely. At that time, Wushan stronghold was broken, and Shu general Yuan Dehong surrendered.
After the Wushan stronghold was destroyed, all the surrounding strongholds surrendered. Afterwards, Zhao Kuangyin quickly advanced with the light army of Zhang Yongde, the general of the imperial army, and captured the Wushan county seat. As a result, the Han army completely broke through the dangerous Wu Gorge and directed its troops towards Fengjie, the capital of Kuizhou. .
When the Han troops came, they were invincible and Fengjie was shocked.
The autumn wind was bleak, and the high-flying Shu flag at the top of Fengjie City seemed a little sluggish. The Shu soldiers stood at the top of the city. Although they were not in panic, the low morale was visible to the naked eye.
A veteran general, wearing military armor, supported the city wall and looked eastward. This person is Pang Fucheng, the Jiedushi of Shukui Province. His old face has even the brown spots showing fatigue, his eyes are a little dim, his back looks rickety, and he seems to be unable to bear the weight of the armor on his body.
When the Han army attacked various villages, especially when they besieged Wushan Village, Pang Fucheng struggled and sent troops to the east for reinforcements. As a result, he was firmly manipulated by the Han army. Defending was difficult, but as for the attack, the three thousand troops who came to support were repulsed. If the Han army had not focused on attacking the stronghold, the three thousand troops would not have been simply repelled.
"Your Majesty, we have been defeated one after another. Wushan has fallen, all the strongholds in the east have been lost, and the Northern Han army is about to attack the city. Now we have only a small number of generals, how can we do it?" A lieutenant next to Pang Fucheng asked with a sad face. He said, his tone full of fear of failure.
"The Han army is powerful and unstoppable. We need to make plans in advance!" another person said.
Hearing this, Pang Fucheng's expression became solemn, his dim eyes became sharp, with great intimidation, and he said coldly: "What are your plans? As I said, the Han army cannot be defeated, I should surrender directly?" "
When Pang Fucheng directly revealed his thoughts, several staff members couldn't help but froze and did not dare to look at him. There was a bit of embarrassment in the tense atmosphere. One person said timidly: "More than half of Kuizhou's military strength was stationed east of Wushan. In just a few days, they were all lost at the hands of the Han army. How can we protect the army and the people of the city when the enemy invades?" ah?"
Over and over again, that's what it means, the Han army is unstoppable!
Seeing them acting like this, Pang Fucheng's face became extremely cold, his decayed body straightened up, and his momentum was so strong that people didn't dare to look away. He said sternly: "I know what you guys are thinking! But, a word of advice, put it away Your little thought! I, Pang, have been favored by two generations of emperors, and I will never betray the Lord and act cowardly! If you dare to say surrender again and disrupt the morale of our army, I will cut off your head and sacrifice it to the flag!"
Pang Fucheng's words and expressions didn't seem to be fake. They were so frightened that Nono no one dared to speak any more.
"Your Majesty is right!" A stern-faced Shu general nearby said: "There are still thousands of soldiers in Fengjie, 100,000 grain stores, and sufficient weapons. Why fear the Han army? The Han army coming from the west is only 20,000. The rest of us have been attacking the stronghold for days, but no damage has been done. You mediocre and cowardly warriors can't open their mouths and surrender, so why should you stand on the top of Fengjie City? Why should you roll down the city and don't shake the morale of the army here!"
This Shu general is named Wu Shouqian, and he is the supervisor of the Fengjie army. Judging from his performance, he is a tough guy. Many of Kuizhou's staff members blushed at his blunt rebuke, but they were more angry than ashamed.
"Okay!" Pang Fucheng said, looking down at the Yangtze River, he seemed to be able to see the Han army resting in Wushan and preparing to attack.
"You retreat, appease the soldiers and the people, recruit all the young and strong laborers in the city to carry equipment, and also bring wood to strengthen the floating beams across the river!" Pang Fucheng ordered.
"yes!"
"You don't have to worry too much!" Thinking that in times of crisis, we should work together to consolidate the city, Pang Fucheng softened his tone and reassured: "Deputy Privy Han is on the way, mobilizing reinforcements along the way. Our army You only need to guard him for three to five days and you will be safe!"
Reluctantly suppressing the discordant voices inside, Pang Fucheng returned to his twilight state and stood at the top of the city for a long time.
"Pang Shijun, the Han army has not arrived yet, so you should go back to the Yamen and rest! Let the defense of the city be left to the general for the time being!" Wu Shouqian advised.
After looking into the distance for a while, Pang Fucheng showed a smile to Wu Shouqian: "Then I'll bother the military supervisor!"
Turning around, clenching his old fist, Pang Fucheng's face showed determination, and he said silently in his heart: "I have enjoyed happiness in Shu for nearly thirty years, which is enough!"
At this time, Pang Fucheng seemed to have regained the pride and magnanimity he had when he followed Meng Zhixiang to conquer the country. Of course, in Pang Fucheng's heart, he may not have much confidence in the defense of Kuizhou and the power of Hou Shu. All he can do is probably do his best and obey fate.
In the east of Fengjie City, the Shu army built a floating beam across the two banks. It was more like a fence than a floating bridge. The wooden palisade is three-layered, with iron cables across the river, ferocious iron cones, and towering spikes, pointing straight to the east. The purpose is naturally to block the attack of the Han army's boats. Since the Han army marched westward, Kuizhou Jiedu has invested manpower in its construction. Now it has grown into a large scale and is one of the pillars of the Shu army's defense.
Not far downstream, several boats were moored on the shore. Zhao Kuangyin, the commander of the East Route Army, stood on the bow of the ship, looking at the "strong" defense line in the distance. The huge floating beam is like a black dragon with teeth and claws, lying on the river. Under the impact of the river water, it surges slowly, exuding a dangerous atmosphere, and seems to be ready to devour everything that dares to infringe upon it at any time.
"Commander Zhao, the task of investigating the enemy's situation has to be done by someone else. As the commander-in-chief of the first army, you are concerned about the safety of the three armies. Why do you come here personally?" On his side, there were General Longqi Army and Marquis Yu of the East Road. Zhang Yongde, who was serving as a soldier, couldn't help but say to Zhao Kuangyin.
"It doesn't matter! The Shu army can't do anything to me, Zhao Kuangyin!" Zhao Kuangyin said lightly.
Pointing to the defensive floating beam across the river, Zhao Kuangyin chuckled and said: "This floating beam is well built. If our army's boats go upstream, if they hit it, the ship will be destroyed and people will be killed! The fortresses along the coast are also very good. If you place troops within it, you can defend Fuliang, and you can also command the river from a high position and use crossbows to control the river..."
Zhao Kuangyin's mouth was full of admiration, but his expression was always calm and relaxed, and he had obviously found a way to deal with it.
Zhang Yongde said: "I heard that in the early Jin Dynasty, when the Jin army attacked Wu, the Wu army made large iron chains and threw them in the dangerous and narrow part of the Yangtze River to cross the river to prevent the Jin army from marching eastward. This Shu army probably followed this method. , want to block our army’s advance! This move is a bit wishful thinking!”
"General Zhang is so knowledgeable!" Zhao Kuangyin cast admiring glances at Zhang Yongde, his eyes bright, and asked: "In your opinion, how can our army break his delusions?"
Zhang Yongde thought for a while and said: "Although Fuliang is established, it still needs soldiers to garrison it! All we need to do is divide our troops and land ashore, advance by land and water, and defeat the troops guarding the bridge. Then we can seize Fuliang and cross the river to attack Fengjie City."
As he spoke, pointing his finger to the north, Zhang Yongde continued: "By marching in this way, we can also cross the Shimen, Baidi City and other villages along the north bank of the river and their river-protecting fortresses! Therefore, this Fuliang will not only be difficult to stop our army, Instead, it is an easy way for our army to march!"
After listening to his analysis, Zhao Kuangyin subconsciously touched his palms and said: "General Zhang is a truly wise and strategic general!"
"Dushuai Zhao is truly a commander in chief!" Zhang Yongde looked at Zhao Kuangyin with a humble look on his face: "I'm afraid Dushuai already has all these situations in his mind!"
Zhao Kuangyin did not accept this, but followed his analysis and said: "If you want to achieve the general's plan, you need to pull out the forts on the south bank and defeat the troops guarding the bridge. How about leaving this offensive task to General Zhang?"
"As ordered!" Zhang Yongde agreed simply.
Nodding, Zhao Kuangyin greeted: "It's almost done. Give me the order to turn the ship around and go back to Wushan!"
"yes!"
When Zhao Kuangyin came to inspect the enemy's situation in person, the Shu army garrison on the river bank was actually aware of it, but they did not dare to move lightly and allowed it to come and go as they pleased.
"That's Baidi City!" On the way back, Zhao Kuangyin asked the guide with interest, pointing to a small pass on the north bank.
"Hui Du is handsome, exactly!"
"After the Battle of Yiling, Emperor Zhaolie of the Han Dynasty was famous for his work in Bi Tuogu. After defeating Fengjie City and having some free time, I will go visit and pay homage..." Zhao Kuangyin chuckled, quite leisurely. .
On July 26, the army of the Eastern Route Defeat Shu, which had rested for a day in Wushan, boarded boats again and headed westward. When they arrived at Shimen, Zhao Kuangyin ordered that the troops be divided into two groups and advance by land and water. On land, Zhang Yongde and Liu Guangyi, the generals of the Forbidden Army, led their troops to abandon their boats and land ashore, directly taking Fuliang across the Yangtze River. Zhao Kuangyin led his own army to cover and respond and attract the attention of the defending Shu army.
The war in Kuizhou has entered the final stage, and the choke point of the east road to Shu is about to be opened.
