Autumn of the 17th year of Chongzhen

Chapter 315
Yicheng is located in the north of the Yi River, close to the west of the Han River, and more than three hundred miles south of Xiangyang. Outside the mansion, it is to prevent the Ming army from going north to support Xiangyang.

If the Ming army wanted to go to Xiangyang, Yicheng would be the place to pass no matter whether it was going north by land or by boat. Of course, the Ming army could also take other mountain roads, but in this way, it would not only make a long detour, but also cannot transport heavy supplies. There will be many troubles.

Gaodi's 1-thousand horses are in Yicheng. Yuan Zongdi, the vanguard, has no choice. His rash attack will only attract the attention of Azige and Wu Sangui, and let the Qing army prepare in advance. After discussing, they immediately decided to wait for Wang Yan and the main force to arrive in accordance with the previous thinking, and discuss the battle plan.

Three days later, Wang Yan came to Chengtian Mansion together with [-] troops, and there were not enough troops to be stationed in the city, so he set up the main camp on the east bank of the Hanshui River.

Yuan Zongdi had already made preparations to welcome the main force, and built a crude camp by the river. After Wang Yan arrived, he only built a camp with a circumference of about ten miles on the original foundation and slightly repaired it. The board-wall camp is for tens of thousands of troops to live temporarily.Thousands of large tents were set up in the big camp, and thousands of large and small boats transporting supplies, grain and grass in the Han River were cruising around, a scene of a war approaching.

In the large tent of the Chinese army, Wang Yan stood in front of a huge sand table with his hands behind his back, meditating for a long time, while Jiang Yueguang, Chen Hongxu, and the Song brothers stood aside, holding a map while directing the documents to pile up the Han River with soil The terrain of the area.

The rudiment of the sand table originated in the Qin Dynasty, when the emperor built a large terrain model in his tomb when he built his tomb.

The model is not only built with mountains, hills, cities, etc., but also simulates rivers and seas with mercury, which can be regarded as the ancestor of the sand table.

In the eighth year of Jianwu in the Han Dynasty, when Emperor Guangwu conquered Tianshui and Wudu, the local tycoon Kuihuo, the general Ma Yuan "gathered rice into a valley and pointed out the situation", which made Emperor Guangwu feel that "the captive is in my eyes". It is the earliest sand table operation.

It seems that sand tables were rarely used in the Ming Dynasty. Wang Yan inadvertently remembered that there happened to be Song brothers who were proficient in making sand tables, so they happened to build one for Wang Yan to command operations.

At this time, Yuan Zongdi and others walked into the big tent quickly, and just about to salute, Jiang Riguang who was on the side quickly waved to them and pointed to Wang Yan. Everyone understood, and they quietly did not disturb the commander's meditation.

Wang Yan was really thinking about the current situation. After a while, he noticed the many generals who had entered the account, and then smiled and said: "Everyone is here, so let's take a look at this sand table and talk about how to fight in the future." Bar."

When Yuan Zongdi and others heard the words, they gathered around and saw the mountains, rivers and rivers on the sand table at a glance, and they were very surprised.Seeing this, Wang Yan smiled slightly. He picked up a wooden pole and pointed at Yicheng and said, "Master Sun said that there is a Qing army of more than [-] people in Yicheng, which happened to block our way to the north. Mr. Yan Ji I suggest that the governor should be the first to take the lead and frighten the enemy army with a stance of victory, among you, who among you can give the governor this city with a thunderous blow, so as to help our army prestige?"

The generals heard the words, looked at the sand table for a while, but did not respond, because Yicheng is really not very easy to fight, if it can be easily defeated, Yuan Zongdi, who is the vanguard, would have gone to fight a long time ago, and he will not stay. to them.

Seeing that the generals were silent, Wang Yan couldn't help frowning and said, "Why, don't you generals have any confidence?" At this time, behind Sun Shoufa, a young general came out and said, "Mr. Chu, I am willing to fight Yicheng~"

Wang Yan couldn't help being slightly taken aback when he heard the words, but the generals burst into laughter. Seeing this, Sun Shoufa's face was full of embarrassment, and he quickly reprimanded: "Feng'er, don't be rude."

Qin Feng saw the crowd full of people laughing, his face flushed, he said to Sun Shoufa annoyedly: "Uncle, I am not being rude, I am sure to take down Yicheng~" He looked at Wang Yan again and said, "Mr. , I only need 5000 troops, and I will take Yicheng within three days. If the Duke doesn’t believe me, I’m willing to issue a military order.” The generals heard Qin Feng’s words and saw that he was willing to issue a military order, and immediately suppressed their laughter, knowing that it was not a joke There was a look of surprise on his face.

Those present are all veterans in the battlefield. If a young man who is not yet a weaker champion can defeat Yicheng, he will inevitably feel ashamed. Even if he does not defeat them, they will not feel good. It wouldn't be a glorious thing for a boy to die.

"Duke, a certain person is willing to lead 5000 troops and break the city in three days~"

"Duke, the last general~"

For a while, Yuan Zongdi, Dai Zhifan and others came out one after another.

Seeing this, Wang Yan smiled slightly, Yicheng is not difficult to attack, and [-] troops can be captured after a few days of siege, but it does not have the sense of shock that Wang Yan requested.

The veteran in the army may be able to take down Yicheng, but he can't play the feeling Wang Yan wants, which is why they didn't speak at the beginning.

At this moment, Qin Feng saw a group of generals pleading for orders, but became anxious: "My lord, I only need 2000 people, and I can still take down Yicheng."

Listening to his words, Wang Yan not only became serious, even counting from tomorrow, except for the marching time, Qin Feng would only have one and a half days to attack Yicheng. He only needed 2000 men, how could he win 1? What about Yicheng, which is guarded by people?At this moment, Wang Yan was really interested in the young man in front of him, so he immediately said, "Your name is Qin Feng, right? I still give you five thousand soldiers and horses, and I don't want you to issue any military orders, but you have to tell me Superintendent, why are you so confident that you can defeat Gaodi?" Seeing Wang Yan's response, Qin Feng was overjoyed, "The strategy for defeating the enemy is to know yourself and the enemy. Loo, I already know his habits very well. With [-] Qing soldiers in Yicheng, a forceful attack will not work, but as long as you use a strategy, it will be easy to break!"

"Oh?" Wang Yan saw that the young man was confident, and he admired in his heart, but Yuan Zongdi came out and said, "Master Guo, don't listen to the boy talking nonsense, what strategy does he have at such a young age? He said he I know Gaodi, and I also know this kid. When I met him for the first time, I almost shot him to death. There is no plan. Don't trust him, Duke, if something bad happens, it will be troublesome."

Qin Feng felt embarrassed when he heard Yuan Zongdi's words, but he couldn't refute it, because what Yuan Zongdi said was completely true.

When Yuan Zongdi came out, he didn't mean anything malicious, but Qin Feng was only eighteen years old, so young. Yuan Zongdi couldn't believe that a young boy could take down Yicheng. He was afraid that Wang Yan's event would be ruined, so he did his best. Prevent.

Seeing this, Wang Yan saw the appearance of the two of them, but he had a decision in his heart, so he said with a smile: "The military order is like a mountain. Since the governor has agreed to let Qin Feng lead the army, he will not change it, but Qin Feng is still a little short. Lieutenant general, is General Yuan willing to take the job?"

(Thanks to Hu Daoyi, Shushanqin Climbing, Feng Kezhiyun for staying, and Yuedong Woxin for the reward.)
(End of this chapter)