Fenghou

Chapter 283 Huarong
Wang Yan has already served as the magistrate of Jiangling. In the government office of Jiangling Prefecture, Chen Qing and Wang Yan made a handover and formally assumed the post of governor of Yuezhou. It is not uncommon, there are many precedents, for example, Yue Fei concurrently served as governor of Xuanzhou, Liu Ziyu concurrently served as governor of Xingyuan with the post of Yongxing Army Jiedu envoy, Han Shizhong, Liu Guangshi, and Zhang Jun also served as both military and civilian posts.

Therefore, it is not surprising that Chen Qing served as the governor of Yuezhou in the capacity of Zhenfu envoy and capital controller.

"How is Yang Yao's situation now?" Chen Qing asked.

"The situation is a bit strange!"

"What kind of strange method?"

Wang Yandao: "Two days ago, Yang Yao shrunk. There were no more of his ships on the Yangtze River. All his warships were withdrawn to Dongting Lake."

"Why? Could it be because of the arrival of the imperial fleet."

Wang Yan shook his head, "Many people think so, but I don't think so."

Chen Qing smiled and said, "Then what does the magistrate think is the reason?"

"I think it's like a tiger attacking, squatting back first, and then jumping out suddenly."

"The magistrate thinks that Yang Yao is trying to give me a bad name?"

"This is just my guess, I have no proof."

Chen Qing pondered for a moment and said: "It is very likely that when I go to Yuezhou, the fleet will inevitably pass through the mouth of Dongting Lake. Yang Yao shrinks, giving me the illusion that the Yangtze River is safe. They will suddenly come out and hunt down my fleet!"

Wang Yan laughed, "This kind of trick may be effective against the troops coming from the imperial court, but it is really meaningless to you who have experienced many battles. But how can you get to Yuezhou with so much supplies?"

Chen Qing sighed, "This means that the opponent has taken advantage of the water. Even if I see through the opponent, I can't counter it, let alone follow suit. Now I can only temporarily store the money, food and materials in Jiangling City, and the army will go by land."

Wang Yan nodded, "This is a wise move. I suggest you go to Huarong County first. Huarong County is a bait I put. There are tens of thousands of grains in the county, and there are only two thousand defenders. Yang Yao has always treated it extremely. Salivation, your cavalry will probably cut off the retreat of the bandit army if you kill them."

"Thank you magistrate, I will leave overnight tonight!"

Wang Yan patted Chen Qing on the shoulder, "I have to say a few words to you."

"Prefect, please tell me!"

Wang Yan pondered for a moment and said: "You once quelled Zhang Kui's rebellion in Muzhou. Of course, Zhang Kui's rebellion cannot be compared with Yang Yao's rebellion, but it was the quelling rebellion that the officials knew best. It means that he approves of your counter-insurgency thinking, and that’s why he let you participate in the suppression of the Yang Yao Rebellion this time. I mean, you have to maintain your own style. Showing the heart of a Bodhisattva may be more effective than blindly ruthless or blindly gentle."

Chen Qing nodded, "Chen Qing will remember the old Dutong's words in his heart."

Wang Yan laughed loudly, "I also said why didn't you tell me to control everything, only now did I realize that you have also controlled everything, are you afraid of irritating me?"

Chen Qing was a little embarrassed and said: "I'm afraid that Lao Dutong's heart will be unbalanced."

"How could it be? I may feel unbalanced if someone else becomes the Dutong, but I'm only happy if you become the Dutong."

Chen Qing's heart felt hot, and he apologized: "I'm ready to go, my friend, please ask Lao Dutong to take care of me."

Wang Yan smiled and said, "Do you think I don't know? That's your fiancée, I know it well."

Chen Qing bid farewell to Lu Xiu temporarily, and he led [-] cavalry to leave Jiangling Mansion and head southward, and rushed towards Huarong County.

I have to say that Wang Yan is bold and experienced. After he learned that Chen Qing's fleet had arrived in Yiling, he chose Huarong County as the bait. Huarong County is neither by the Yangtze River nor by Dongting Lake. Nearly a hundred miles away, his county has [-] shi of grain stored in it, and only [-] people are sent to guard it.

If Chen Qing's army had no cavalry, he would not dare to take such a risk, but if Chen Qing had ten thousand cavalry, he would be able to catch up with the bandits within a hundred miles.

This is actually a counter-routine, Yang Yao set up a trap on the Yangtze River to lure Chen Qing's fleet, so Wang Yan also set up a trap in Huarong County to lure Yang Yao's army, and see who can't help being fooled in the end.

However, the risks are also great. If Chen Qing comes late and Huarong County falls, Wang Yan's strategy will be overwhelmed, leaving only chicken feathers on the ground.

Chen Qing led the cavalry and rushed all the way. At noon the next day, they were still [-] miles away from Huarong County. Chen Qing ordered the army to rest where they were, waiting for news from the scouts.

About an hour later, several scouts rushed back and reported to Chen Qing for the capital's head: "I want to report to the capital, the bandit army is indeed attacking Huarong County. There are about ten thousand people. They are attacking violently. The county is a bit fast. I can't keep it any longer."

"Is there a ship nearby?" Chen Qing asked again.

"There are boats. One mile to the west of the city, there is a small river leading directly to Dongting Lake. There are more than one hundred boats moored on the small river, big and small. More than a thousand soldiers are in charge of guarding the boats."

"Is there a car boat? It's a boat with wheels outside the hull."

"When you say that, I seem to have a little impression. There are about two or three ships with wheels."

"Go and investigate again!"

"Follow the order!"

Several scouts turned their horses and galloped away. Chen Qing immediately said to Liu Qiong: "General Liu can lead [-] cavalry to intercept the fleet and kill the enemy guarding the ships, but don't burn the ships. The ships are of great use to me!"

"Humble job, let's go!"

Liu Qiong took the command arrow and went to greet the cavalry in the headquarters.

Chen Qing immediately ordered that the whole army set off to kill Huarong County, and ten thousand cavalry set off again, if tens of thousands of sharp arrows were fired, they would shoot at Huarong County thirty miles away.

Just as the scouts said, the fierce battle in Huarong County has also entered the most dangerous situation. The siege ladder of the bandit army was behind and unable to attack the top of the city, so they concentrated their forces to attack the city gate. The moat had been filled and the suspension bridge was also damaged. It fell heavily on the moat.

Without the external resistance of the suspension bridge, the gate of the city was directly exposed to the bandits. Five thousand bandits fired arrows at the top of the city together, and the dense rain of arrows suppressed the Song army on the top of the city.

Huang Qian, the leader of the bandit army, shouted, "Attack the battering ram!"

A thousand thieves ran towards the city gate covering a huge battering ram. The front end of the battering ram was sharpened, and a cast iron bumper was installed. The hammer was covered with iron grippers. A hundred soldiers came from both sides. Holding this seven-foot-long giant wooden battering ram, there are hundreds of soldiers on both sides holding up their shields to protect them.

"Come on!"

A general shouted, and the thieves rushed towards the city gate surrounded by battering rams. The soldiers on the top of the city couldn't lift their heads at all, and they finally threw a log down, but it didn't have any effect.

The battering ram quickly approached the city gate, only to hear an earth-shattering muffled sound, 'Boom—', the city gate shook violently, mud, sand and dust fell rustlingly, and three of the five door bolts inside broke.

"Come again!"

The battering ram retreated quickly, once again gathering all its strength.

Zhao Ping, the leader of the Song army at the top of the city, saw that the city gate was not secure, and shouted: "The whole army will go down to the city and guard the city gate!"

Of the [-] defenders, there were less than [-] left. They rushed down the city through the corridor, raised their spears, drew their bows and arrows, and waited for the moment to break through the city.

"Boom-"

With a loud muffled sound, five door bolts were broken at the same time, the city gate was smashed open, and the bandits with battering rams rushed in.

"Fire arrows!"

Zhao Ping let out a loud roar, and hundreds of arrows were fired together. The bandit soldiers were hit by the arrows one after another, screamed and fell down. The huge battering ram fell to the ground and rolled to the side.

But the thieves rushed in like a tide, bows and arrows couldn't stop them, thousands of thieves shouted excitedly, and rushed into the city one after another.

Zhao Ping roared angrily: "Never let the bandits enter the city, follow me!"

"Kill!"

Eight hundred soldiers roared in unison, and charged forward with their spears in hand.But their number was too small, and gradually they couldn't support them.

At this moment, a low-pitched horn sounded suddenly from the north, and the sound of the horn sounded like a cold wind sweeping across the field.

Zhao Ping shouted excitedly, "Our reinforcements are coming, brothers, hold on!"

The morale of the soldiers of the Song Army was high, and they fought desperately.

But the bandits felt something was wrong, the ground was shaking, as if thousands of troops were coming, they were terrified and retreated one after another.

At this time, Huang Qian suddenly understood, and shouted in fear: "It's the cavalry! Withdraw!"

It was too late, the overwhelming cavalry came from both sides of the city wall, they were extremely brave, and swept away towards the terrified bandits.

A huge Chen Zishuai flag flutters in the wind.
(End of this chapter)