A ray of sunset hangs in the western sky, and the sunlight shines down, reflecting the rippling waves on the Yi River. Zhai Xing was riding on his horse, looking at Longmen Mountain and Xiangshan Mountain facing each other in front of him, his brows furrowed.
The Yi River comes from the southwest, with an open surface and gentle flow. When we arrived at Longmen, we suddenly encountered two mountains, running straight through them. There are steep rock walls on both sides of the water, which are very difficult to climb. It is a natural gateway.
The Zhai army came to attack Luoyang from Fenniu Mountain Stronghold. They had to pass through Longmen before they could approach Luoyang City. Meng Bangxiong's army occupied the mountains on both sides and blocked the Longmen road. For more than ten days, Zhai Xing was at a loss and could not move forward.
After watching for a long time, Zhai Xing turned his head and looked at the setting sun in the west sky, and couldn't help but sigh heavily.
what to do? How can this stalemate continue? If, like before, the dragon gate cannot be breached, Zhai Xing will have no choice but to retreat to Yique, and Meng Bangxiong will not dare to chase him out. But now Wang Xiaolie's tens of thousands of troops are in Ruzhou, and he can't capture Luoyang. How can he explain it?
At first, Wang Xiaolie said that he fully supported his Northern Expedition. Tens of thousands of troops came to Ruzhou, and Zhai Xing was very happy. Now that the attack on Luoyang is blocked, I realize how careless I was at that time. Wang Xiaolie mobilized hundreds of thousands of troops, how could he do nothing and return without success? On this trip to the north, Wang Xiaolie must go to Luoyang. If Zhai Xing can attack Luoyang, Wang Xiaolie will attack elsewhere. If Zhai Xing cannot capture Luoyang, Wang Xiaolie will have to do it himself. Wang Xiaolie captured Luoyang, should he stay in Xijing?
Thinking of this, Zhai Xing only felt a bitter taste in his mouth.
To be honest, Wang Xiaolie was quite good at the surrounding forces. He saved Li Yanxian from Shaanzhou twice, Jie Qian from Jingmen once, and Wang Yan from Jinzhou once. Only the old rules of De'an Mansion can protect the place, and there is no attack by the Jin army and no favor from Wang Xiaolie. But as Wang Xiaolie's power grows, can he still accommodate these local feudal towns?
Zhai Xing said there were tens of thousands of troops, but in fact the actual army capable of fighting, including Dong Xian, was less than ten thousand. Without Dong Xian, he only had about 6,000 troops. Biyi is just a river valley, how many people can it support? With 6,000 people to support, Zhai Xing still lacks food every year. Wang Xiaolie's army now numbered more than 100,000. In the face of such huge power, Zhai Xing also felt powerless.
If Luoyang cannot be captured, Zhai Xing can only think of one outcome. Like Li Yanxian, he was annexed by Wang Xiaolie. Moreover, he could no longer serve as Wang Xiaolie's deputy like Li Yanxian, so he had to find another way out.
There is more than one way to go north to Luoyang: Longmen. There is also a path in the mountains to the west that leads to the Luo River Valley. But Dong Xian has been stationed in Shou'an and has not attacked. What's the use of being in the Luo River Valley? Not to mention, Dong Xian will definitely not allow his own power to pass.
what to do? Zhai Xing frowned.
At this moment, Zhai Cong came on horseback. He crossed his hands and said: "Dad, it's getting late, let's have dinner first. Today is the New Year, and Wang Jieshuai of Ruzhou has sent fifty sheep to reward us. Commander Yang ordered his soldiers to roast one and drink with us tonight. .”
Zhai Xing nodded, glanced at Longmen, turned around and returned to the commander's tent with Zhai Cong.
A bonfire was lit in the tent, and a sheep was placed on it. The emerging oil dripped onto the fire and made a sizzling sound.
When forward Yang Wei saw Zhai Xing coming in, he hurriedly stood up, saluted and asked questions.
Several people took their seats, and Zhai Xing said to Yang Wei: "Commander, today is a small year, so that everyone in the army will have meat to eat."
Yang Chuan said: "Don't worry, Governor, Wang Jieshuai of Ruzhou has sent fifty sheep, which is enough to eat!"
Without the fifty sheep sent by Wang Xiaolie, Zhai Xing would not have dared to say that everyone would have meat to eat. In the past two years, under the protection of Yique City, Zhai Xing's conditions have improved a lot. But after all, the land in this county is barren, and Zhai Xingjun is still relatively poor.
The soldiers served wine and meat. Zhai Xing raised his glass and said: "Let's have a drink! Although today is the New Year, it can be regarded as the New Year's Day. But we must not slack off. We must unite the whole army to capture Longmen!"
Yang Wei said: "Capture Longmen and celebrate the new year!"
A few people drank a glass of wine and ate a few pieces of meat. Their bodies warmed up and the atmosphere slowly relaxed.
Yang Wei said: "In the past few days, I have seen that the morale of Meng Bangxiong's army is really not weak. It seems that their military morale has not weakened. Moreover, Meng Bangxiong has not sent anyone out to fight with us in recent days. There is really nothing we can do against them."
Zhai Xing said: "Yes, if Meng Bangxiong doesn't come out, this battle will be difficult to fight. There is no danger to defend from Shou'an to Luoyang. I really don't understand what Dong Xian means by staying in Shou'an and not attacking Luoyang!"
Yang Wei said: "Mr. Dong has many soldiers and horses, and he is ambitious. He has never been willing to live under the governor. I estimate that the reason why he sent troops was simply that if the governor defeated Longmen, he could take advantage of the situation. Attack and get some benefits. If the dragon gate cannot be breached, of course he will stay put in Shou'an. It will be difficult for him to help us pull chestnuts from the fire. "
Zhai Xing said: "Wang Jieshuai has tens of thousands of troops in Ruzhou. What's the use of thinking about it now? We can't attack Longmen, and Dengzhou's soldiers will probably lose their control and send troops to attack Luoyang. At that time, Dong Xian had 3,000 soldiers in his hands. What's the use of Dengzhou's army?"
Yang Wei said: "We know the strength of Dengzhou soldiers in Ruzhou, but others may not know it. Mr. Dong has been in the Luo River Valley for several years, and he may not be able to see that far. If he wants to come, if we break the dragon gate, there will be an advantage. Occupy. We can't break through the dragon gate, and of course he won't work hard."
Zhai Cong said: "Dad, this is not the way to go. How about I go to Shouan in a few days to urge Mr. Dong?"
Zhai Xing lowered his head and thought for a while. He said: "How can anyone else push Dong Xian's temper? When Shou'an arrived in Luoyang, there was a vast plain, but he didn't attack for a long time. It must be because he didn't want to do it. What's the use of pushing him for something he doesn't want to do?"
Yang Wei said: "You can't say that. When you arrive in Shouan, if you tell Dong Xian about the situation of Dengzhou's army and advise him on their interests, maybe Dong will be persuaded? Tens of thousands of Dengzhou's troops are in Ruzhou, and we can't capture Luoyang. It makes it difficult for people to sleep and eat well!”
Zhai Cong said: "Dad, what Yang Zongzhi said is right. When Dengzhou soldiers came to Ruzhou, everything was different from before. Dong's three thousand soldiers could run rampant in the past, but how can they do it now? I heard that Dengzhou soldiers controlled three thousand people, and there were countless Where is the Ten Commandments!"
Zhai Xing nodded and said nothing.
When he rescued Shaanzhou in the past, due to terrain restrictions, Wang Xiaolie sent out not many troops, but Zhai Xing didn't think it was a big deal. This time, all the elite troops came out to cover the sky and the sun, and it was only then that Zhai Xing truly realized the gap between him and Wang Xiaolie.
Tens of thousands of troops are stationed in Ruzhou. Near Zhai Xing, there is a military camp not far away. If you add in the team of civilians who deliver supplies to the military camps, the number exceeds 100,000, exceeding the local population of Ruzhou, and it will be really terrifying.
