A small soldier of the frontier army in the late Ming Dynasty

Chapter 411
The hall was quiet, except for everyone's heavy breathing, and it was so heart-wrenching to learn that Xiangyang's unprepared military situation was just now.
Luo Rucai's eyes rolled: "Jingxuan, this is a rare opportunity. Xiangyang is the camp of the old thief Yang, and there are countless military supplies in it. If you take Xiangyang, it will be terrible. Not only can you seize a large amount of food, grass and supplies, but also increase the price The momentum of my rebel army."
"Xiangyang still has Prince Xiang's Mansion. Killing the vassal king is a serious crime for the vassal. How can old thief Yang survive? He also avenged our deep hatred!"
Zhang Xianzhong was also extremely moved, Luo Rucai had already mentioned the benefits of capturing Xiangyang, and he had several wives and concubines, his military advisers Xu Yixian and Pan Duao were in Xiangyang prison.
Both Zhang Xianzhong and Zhang Xianzhong valued him very much, especially Xu Yixian, who was appointed as the chief military adviser, and many of his schemes came from his hands.There is also Pan Duao, who wrote all the documents and announcements in the army, and he was quite effective in his work. Losing the two of them, Zhang Xianzhong felt like he would die.
He murmured: "Two days ago, did we kill a few couriers of the old thief Yang and seize a batch of arrows for the call to arms?"
Luo Rucai's eyes lit up: "What does Jingxuan mean?"
Zhang Xianzhong chuckled and said, "Aren't there many of our brothers in the city? What I mean is, send someone to sneak into Xiangyang with old thief Yang's token, get in touch with the brothers in the city, create civil strife, and then open the city gate , our army can easily take Xiangyang."
Luo Rucai gave a thumbs up: "Wonderful, Jingxuan's clever calculation, brother, I'm ashamed of myself!"
Zhang Xianzhong laughed loudly, got up and shouted: "Donkey ball, do it, wealth and wealth are in danger, starve to death the timid, and support the bold to death."
He called his adoptive son Liu Wenxiu: "My son Wenxiu, you lead the elite of the old battalion with 28 cavalry, set off now, enter the city with old thief Yang's order to create chaos, and open the city gate for my army. Don't reveal it It's a trick, you know?"
Liu Wenxiu is Zhang Xianzhong's righteous son, a confidant general, not only brave in battle, but also quite scheming, Zhang Xianzhong entrusted him with such an important task, because he also valued him.
Liu Wenxiu said loudly: "Father, don't worry, the child promises to sneak into the city and open the city gate for the army!"
Zhang Xianzhong said: "It is not too late. I will lead two thousand elite cavalry and leave now. Master Cao, you lead the rest of the army and follow Yicheng to guard against the death of old thief Yuan, the governor of Yunyang, and the death of Chengtian Mansion." The eunuchs Liu Yuanbin and Lu Jiude, their generals, Zhou Yuji, Huang Degong, Sun Yingyuan and the others are not easy people to deal with."
Yuan Jixian, the governor of Yunyang, heard that Zhang Xianzhong and Luo Rucai had arrived in Dangyang, and he was already planning to send troops.Although the rebel army entered Xingshan, Dangyang, and Jingmen, wherever they went, they burned post houses and killed pond soldiers, interrupting news from east to west.It is also difficult to guarantee that Lu Jiude and the others will get the news.
Only then did Luo Ru know that Zhang Xianzhong was better at this kind of task of attacking bravely than himself, and he was not arrogant, so he got up and said, "Don't worry, I will keep the camp."
All the people in the room got up, all of them were very hot, and they all said in one voice: "It's done!"
Zhang Xianzhong laughed wildly all the way out of the station: "Xiangyang must be the place where I, Zhang Xianzhong, made my fortune!"
……
On the 29th of the first lunar month, Wang Dou led his army to set off from Xinye, and on the same day, they arrived in the territory of Xiangyang Prefecture and entered the boundary of Huguang.However, he never crossed the Han River, but led his army to hide in the mountains dozens of miles northwest of Fancheng, and only dispatched intelligence every day and night.
The reason why he didn't enter Xiangyang was because Wang Dou was afraid that Zhang Xianzhong would take precautions after learning the information.
These peasant troops were as smart as ghosts, and strong and weak troops could be distinguished at a glance. Once his own army arrived, whether Zhang Xianzhong and others would come was a problem. After all, Zhang Xianzhong's surprise attack on Xiangyang in history was based on the emptiness of Xiangyang's defense.
Moreover, in order to save King Xiang, the rescue must be done at the most critical moment.
According to the night-time detection, there was no movement inside and outside Xiangyang. It seems that according to history, Zhang Xianzhong and others arrived around the fourth day of February.
While Wen Daxing and others did not receive reconnaissance information at night, they also added a batch of food and grass through the spy merchants placed in Xiangyang City by the Intelligence Department.In Wang Dou's arrangement, as early as last year, the intelligence department united with a large number of merchants on the East Road, and hoarded a lot of food and grass for the army in Kaifeng, Luoyang, Xiangyang and other places.
Wang Dou led the army and rushed all the way from Luoyang to Xiangyang. The army ate fried noodles and dried meat every day. Now that they arrived in Xiangyang, they could finally eat something good.
On the first day of the second lunar month, Wang Dou even disguised himself in micro-clothes, and under the protection of his guards and Ye Bu Shou, he used the identity of a big merchant to investigate the situation around Xiangyang City.
Everyone was wearing inner armor, and entered the boundary of Fancheng from the Shuanggoukou Inspection Department in the northeast of Fancheng.The merchants and common people on the road, the inspecting archers saw the pedestrians, horses, mules, carriages, and a group of elite guards all carrying knives and bows and arrows.
Right now, Ming Dynasty is in chaos, how can he walk outside without equipment guards?As long as you don't carry spears, halberds, strong bows, armored horses, etc., even if you carry firearms such as three-eyed guns and hand guns, no one will make a fuss. They just feel that the powerful merchants and guards are so strong.
Fancheng's status in the Ming Dynasty was not prominent, and its fortification was also very sparse. In addition, the earth embankment in the north of the city broke down from time to time, and it has always been known as "Xiangyang of iron, Fancheng of mud and water".
However, Fancheng is connected to Xiangyang and is on the main north-south traffic road, but it is full of cars and horses, and it is full of prosperity. It is very different from the dilapidated ones along the way, which makes people wonder that Ming Dynasty is in a peaceful and prosperous age at this time.
There are nine gates in Fancheng. Wang Dou and others did not enter Fancheng, but walked along the pilgrimage gate and Dingzhong gate in the north of the city, passed the pilgrimage gate in the northwest, and the Yinghan Gate in the southwest, and came to the edge of the Han River.Looking ahead, it looks like a big river, the river is wide and clear, with some broken ice floating on it, but people and horses cannot step on the river, and a ferry is needed.
However, Xiangfan is known as "Southern Ships and Northern Horses, the thoroughfare of seven provinces", but there is no shortage of ferries.On both sides of the Han River, the river ports and wharves are densely covered, and the masts and oars are really like clouds.Looking up, the Han River is full of ferries and cargo ships.
From Wang Dou's direction, you can see the south of Fancheng, where there is a pontoon bridge that undulates slightly in the river wind and leads to the edge of the "Linhan Gate" in Xiangyang City. Wang Dou couldn't help but feel moved.
They boarded the boat from a pier near Migong Temple, hired a luxury cruise ship, and headed for Xiangyang City along the Han River.
Wang Dou was dressed in brocade and stood on the bow of the boat with his hands behind his back. The scenery on both sides of the Han River made his heart flutter.
Beside Wang Dou, there are Wen Daxing, Xie Yike and others, as well as a group of intelligence department personnel, staff officer Zan Hua, and many other guards and Ye Bu Shou officers who are stationed around the four corners of the ship, vigilantly checking the surroundings.
Qin Yi, who praised the painting, also stood on the side. He was wearing a green shirt with fluttering sleeves. He pointed to the opposite bank and said, "Xiangyang has Hutou Mountain in the south and Mount Xian in the south. There is Lumen Mountain in the southeast, and there is Mount Xian in the west. Long Zhongshan, the Han River is in the north of the city, also known as the Xiangjiang River. The Baihe River is in the northeast of the city, joins the Tang River, and enters the Han Dynasty in the south. There is the Tan River, and all the downstream flows into the Han River."
Before Qin Yi took refuge in Wang Dou, he used to be a seller and traveled around the world, going all over the world, going everywhere, Xiangyang, an important town, was of course the key object of understanding.After joining the Shunxiang Army, I felt that the crouching tiger, hidden dragon was in the army, and I didn't feel that I was standing out from the crowd, so I was disappointed for a while.
However, he raised his ambitions and studied silently. He gradually became familiar with the various systems in the army, and also understood the combat methods of the Shunxiang Army.Going out with the army this time is a god-given opportunity, especially when the Lord Wang Dou pays so much attention to Xiangyang. Qin Yi has a premonition that something big will happen, so he speaks out at this time, intending to attract Wang Dou's attention, and finally get reused, showing what he has learned.
He continued: "Its potential is the gateway to the upper reaches of the Han River. It leads to Ruluo in the north, Qin and Shu in the west, covers Huguang in the south, and overlooks Wu and Yue in the east. In terms of the world, it is focused on Xiangyang."
For Qin Yi, Wang Dou actually still values ​​it in his heart. For all things in the Ming Dynasty, he relies on his foresight, while Qin Yi has a super strong view of the overall situation and strategy. In terms of strategic planning ability, he is not as good as him. also.
However, as the protagonist, the most important thing is to discover and use talents, and you don't need to do everything yourself.
He nodded and said: "The words of Gongfu fit my heart very well. Those who are in Xiangyang are the backbone of the world. If it is in the Central Plains, it can be merged with the southeast. If it is in the southeast, it can also be in the northwest. If Xiangyang is lost, the south of the Yangtze River will not be preserved. Since ancient times, there has never been anyone who lost Xiangyang and protected the country."
Everyone on the boat was moved, especially those staff who praised the painting, they couldn't help but sigh.What Wang Dou said is only the universal truth of later generations, but to know this at this time, one must have a great talent.Then think of Wang Dou's background as an ordinary Dunjun, so how can he have such knowledge?
It is said that General Dingguo descended from the stars in the sky, and all his plans were foresighted, and everyone followed him even more.
Qin Yi was even more impressed, and bowed deeply: "The general is a great talent, and Yi is not as good as him."
Wang Dou nodded slightly. This is the advantage of the traveler. A casual word can condense the essence and wisdom of thousands of people in the future. The information advantage is not comparable to this era.
At the same time, I was excited, Xiangyang City, historical materials and novels, the description is not ordinary, I can also leave my footprints in this city and become a legendary story.
Perhaps it was because of Qin Yi's leadership that the praises of the paintings all pointed to Jiangshan and were impassioned.
The closer the big ship got to the south bank of the Han River, the more clearly the city of Xiangyang could be seen. Wang Dou sighed in his heart. It is not for nothing that the city of Xiangyang was valued by the military strategists of all dynasties. It is surrounded by water on three sides and surrounded by mountains on one side.
In Wang Dou's eyes, the city of Xiangyang is tall and thick, and under the north wall is the raging Han River, forming a natural barrier, and no navy can fight.To the east and west, there are extremely wide moats. It is said that the world is the widest, and it is true. It looks like a big river to the naked eye.
I haven't seen the south yet, but according to information, the moat in the south is also very wide, and there are mountains and hills not far from the south gate, and the army's position is not easy to attack.
It's a pity, no matter how strong the city is, if the guardians are weak, it will be in vain.
……
Everyone disembarked at a wharf not far from Furen City in the west of Xiangyang City, and saw that the suburbs of the city were also densely populated, with shops and buildings everywhere, a peaceful and prosperous atmosphere, merchants coming from south to north, with accents from all over the place, so colorful world.
Wang Dou didn't care to watch, but went around the city to detect. There are six gates in Xiangyang. According to Wang Dou's estimation, the circumference of the city is about fifteen li.
When we arrived in the outskirts of Xiangyang, we discovered that outside the east gate and west gate, in addition to the wide moat, there was a moat surrounding it, and there were thorny bamboo sticks buried in the bottom of the trench. In this way, the defense range of the west gate and east gate is as wide as Rich.
As for the south of Xiangyang City, there are mountains as a screen, the city is not far from the mountains, and there are many rivers and valleys, which are not easy for the army to move, but no trenches have been dug outside.
Wang Dou pondered, although he knew that Zhang Xianzhong wanted to take Xiangyang, but he didn't know which gate to enter through. According to his inference, there may be more west gates.
He led the people to survey the surrounding terrain of Xiangyang, walked through Hutou Mountain, Xian Mountain and other places, and then went to Zhanggong Temple and Huangjiawan area.
Thinking: "Zhang Xianzhong's two thousand fine riders came from the direction of Yicheng. When Zhang Xianzhong made a surprise attack, Luo Rucai and others were also in the direction of Yicheng."
Thinking of this, I have a plan.
On the second day of February, Wen Fangliang and Gao Shiyin quietly crossed the upper reaches of the Han River and entered the outskirts of Xiangyang under the order of Wang Dou.
Two waves of ambushes were enough to cut off the return of Zhang Xianzhong's army and prevent him from fleeing towards Gucheng.

(End of this chapter)