Chapter 158 Meng Jin Breakthrough
This is also the norm in this era.
It is simply impossible to have the intelligence perception of future generations. Most of the time, both sides fight in a fog. Being separated by dozens of miles, it is normal to not know where the opponent's main force is.
However, there are many traces of the great luck that can be traced. Beijing’s intelligence agencies south of the Yellow River don’t just have personnel in Shandong. Fu Youde can clean up the local people in Shandong. You may not be able to understand the eyeliner along the line.
So Fu Youde did something to hide the truth.
Xuzhou Iron Works can naturally produce normally. It has become an important base for the supply of weapons to the Southern Army. The Xuzhou Iron Works almost always supplies supplies to the armies along the Yellow River. The Jialu River is also an artificial river parallel to the Yellow River south of the Yellow River. It is possible to transfer ships.
Naturally, this is the best way for the army to advance westward.
Ye Chen was silent for a while and said: "Scatter the cavalry out. Don't do anything else for now. Wait for news."
The advantage is mine. Ye Chen wanted to see who could lose his temper first.
Ye Chen secretly said: "Fu Youde, are you really not here?"
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The north bank of the Mengjin section of the Yellow River.
Jin Shengyu has been silent for a long time.
At the beginning of this year, Jin Shengyu was stationed here. Nothing seems to be done. But I am accumulating supplies little by little. Accumulate an army bit by bit.
It’s not even from this year. It started last year.
However, when we were stocking up supplies here, we were also worried about a sudden attack from Shanxi. You know, Jinshengyu was almost attacked from both sides. To the north and west are Shanxi and to the south is the Yellow River.
They are all enemies.
Mengjin is an ancient ferry crossing, especially suitable for large armies to cross the river.
But from the beginning, Ye Chen never thought of starting from here, and this was one of the reasons.
But things are different now.
Now Song Sheng is attacking Anyi, and the war between the two sides is urgent.
Jin Shengyu tested it, and even at this time, Zhao Yong did not give up the defense on Zhiguan Road. But one thing is certain, that is, Jin Shengyu does not have to worry about the Shanxi Army suddenly coming out from behind.
The Jinshengyu tribe, which originally maintained some mobile troops in addition to maintaining defense, suddenly had redundant troops.
More can be done.
Ye Chen chose to let Jin Shengyu cross the river to attack Mengjin.
Anyway, Ye Chen is already ready. The mouth of Qinshui River is already in hand. A large amount of supplies can be transferred from Beijing to the Wei River through the canal, from Weihui to Qinshui via the established wartime railway, and then loaded onto ships from Qinshui and transferred to the Yellow River to go westward, directly supplying the frontline army.
Of course, there are many problems here.
After all, the Southern Army actually had many ships hidden in the Yi River and Luo River basins. There is still a certain water warfare capability in the Yellow River section of Luoyang. Although the Northern Army occupied both sides of the Yellow River below Guangwu Mountain, making it difficult for the water forces in the lower reaches of the Yellow River to support Luoyang, it does not mean that Luoyang had no power to resist.
Sheng Yong has been operating in Luoyang for such a long time, not without preparation.
Moreover, Ye Shen's army did not actually go to Luoyang, but was on both sides of the Qin River.
In this case, what will Luoyang do? It's hard to say.
However, Ye Chen was not in a hurry.
Anyway, to this day, in terms of absolute numbers, the Northern Army has defeated the Southern Army.
Although the Forbidden Army only has more than 600,000 people, and including the navy, it is only more than 700,000 people. However, there are many guard troops and even militia groups that can be recruited. The Beijing court never lacked weapons. Therefore, as long as they go south, it will be enough to give the Confederate Army a hard time.
Moreover, Ye Chen's move seemed to be a test. But the Confederate Army did not dare to treat it as a test. Nothing else. Meng Jin immediately realized that the connection between Shanxi and Luoyang was in jeopardy. Once the continuity between Shanxi and Nanjing is severed, even if Zhao Yong's family is in Nanjing, Shanxi soldiers may kill Zhao Yong and send his head to Beijing.
Jin Shengyu naturally knew the importance of doing this.
Ye Chen didn't have high demands on him. But to himself
The requirements are very high.
He wants to capture Luoyang City.
After receiving Ye Chen's order, he immediately organized the navy to go south. The Confederate Army was also well prepared. The two sides had a very ancient water battle on the Yellow River.
Otherwise, the ships on both sides were not too big. The cannon cannot be loaded onto the ship. And small guns don't have the ability to sink ships.
Both sides can only shoot with artillery and muskets until they get close. The two sides joined forces and fought with swords.
For a time, the Mengjin River section was filled with blood.
Both sides suffered heavy casualties.
After all, for Jin Shengyu, his ability to withstand casualties is stronger.
Not because of anything else. It was because the people fighting the war were not his direct descendants.
The Twelfth Army compiled and trained by He Xi, plus the Thirteenth Army in the northwest, are all field armies. Their mission has always been field battles, but now there are also tough battles. There has never been the idea of letting them fight in water. Letting these armies fight water wars is essentially a waste.
And Beijing has occupied the north bank of the Yellow River for several years. Naturally, we can reorganize several guard stations on the north bank of the Yellow River and let them fight. ..
As for the level of water fighting. Anyway, these people are not experts in water warfare.
The military pay these people eat is not the military pay of the regular army. But for these guardsmen, it was enough.
Therefore, Jin Shengyu did not feel deeply about how many people died.
Fortunately, after several days of fierce fighting, the Confederate army could no longer hold on.
After all, the Northern Army has abundant supplies, and many generals are transferred from the Navy. These people were not used to the Yellow River at first, but over time, they got used to it. Moreover, there are not many professionals in the Confederate Navy.
It’s not that Nanjing doesn’t have water warfare talents. But these talents are all doing one thing, resisting the Northern Navy in the southeast and regaining control of the Yangtze River outlet. Where can anyone be deployed?
Beyond that, Beijing has deep pockets. That's the most important thing.
Because of this war, Huaiqing Mansion built several shipyards. After all, it was too troublesome to transport them from behind. The boats are built locally, with major parts shipped over from behind. It is not difficult to sail boats between these rivers.
Even after the war, Huaiqing Mansion wanted to thank this war. Because of the needs of the war, many industries were built in Huaiqing Mansion consciously or unconsciously. After the war, although these industries that emerged because of the war all withered. But the craftsmen who participated in these constructions did not leave.
Instead, local industries were established. Because Huaiqing Prefecture has a lot of local minerals, it gradually developed and became a powerful prefecture in Henan over a long period of time.
Of course, this is something to talk about later.
Under such circumstances, how could the Confederate Navy win?
Sheng Yong is also a clever woman who cannot make a meal without rice.
It is impossible for him to become Zhou Yulai. One night, the Northern Army Navy sent death squads and rushed into Mengjin Port at night. A fire burned many ships, although not all the ships in Nanjing were burned down. But everyone knew that the Southern Army could no longer stop the Northern Army from moving south.
The news quickly reached the ears of Sheng Yong and Fu Youde.
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Fu Youde and Sheng Yong sat opposite each other.
Sheng Yong smiled bitterly and said, "What should we do now?"
Ye Chen was too calm to hold his breath.
Build a new pontoon bridge at the eastern foot of Guangwu Mountain, a dozen miles east of the Guangwu Mountain battlefield. No, it should be said to be a group of floating bridges. Then the army crossed the Yellow River in a mighty manner. Set up camp on the south bank of the Yellow River.
Logically speaking, if things go so well, shouldn't we head south in a big way?
But Ye Chen didn't do it.
He released a large number of cavalry scouts.
These cavalrymen ran everywhere, and some even ran to Kaifeng City.
Fu Youde had to send out the remaining cavalry in his hands to block the cavalry on the opposite side. Otherwise, in many prefectures and counties in Henan, people's hearts will be unstable. It’s hard to say a lot of things.
But do it.
In fact, he was telling Ye Chen that there was a problem here.
I don't know what the problem is, but the appearance of such a large-scale cavalry is unusual.
This situation is passive at one step and passive at every turn. Guangwu Mountain gave it to the opponent, but did not catch the big fish on the opposite side.
Sheng Yong couldn't say he regretted this incident. Without him, the war is becoming more urgent now. Nanjing urgently needs a big victory. And in this case, even if he sticks to Guangwu Mountain, won't Meng Jin have any problems?
Of course not.
It's just that the situation has reached this point step by step, and the possibility of winning in danger and turning the tide is getting lower and lower.
