Lord: Start with a book of Water Margin

Chapter 687: A Favorable Battle

Zhao Zhen, after hearing Miao Yi's call, [Little Li Guang] Hua Rong went out first and shouted as planned: "Miao Yi, you have kidnapped the emperor, and now you still dare to resist. This is the way to death."

Miao Yi looked at Hua Rong and shouted, "Who are you? Why have I never seen you before?" He pointed at the female rider behind him and shouted, "Female rider, you are not imperial soldiers."

Hua Rong didn't say anything, and shouted, "I'm going to kill you."

After saying that, he rode his horse straight forward. When Miao Yi saw this, he also charged forward with the spear in his hand.

The two horses met, weapons raised. The two spears crossed, four pairs of arms were in chaos. After fighting for about five or seven rounds, Hua Rong turned his horse and ran away. Miao Yi saw him and shouted, "You are defeated, leave your life behind." He rode his horse and chased after him.

Hua Rong secretly took the steel spear, picked up the bow and arrow, aimed at Miao Yi, turned his back and looked at the arrow that was swishing in front of Miao Yi. Miao Yi kicked in the air and fell off his horse with a thud. Zhao Zhen saw this and called on his troops to attack.

Most of Miao Yi's soldiers were killed, and the rest fled in all directions. The generals took advantage of the situation and seized Xinghua County.

According to the plan, Yan Shude, the commander of Sai Mengben, was left behind to garrison with 3,000 soldiers and horses, while Zhao Zhen led his troops and took advantage of the situation to attack into Yongfu County, Fuzhou.

Fuzhou has silver fields, salt fields, and gold mines. The governor Miao Fu personally led 6,000 [Red Heart Army] and recruited 20,000 local militia. Yongfu County has two silver fields, Huangyang and Baode. It is the source of Miao Fu's wealth. The garrison here is Miao Fu's confidant Ma Rouji, who led 2,000 soldiers.

When Zhao Zhen led his troops to the scene, Ma Rouji had already received the news and burned all the bridges over Dazhang Creek, then retreated to his hiding place.

During these days of marching, Zhao Zhen also deeply understood what "eight mountains, one river, and one piece of land" meant for the Fujian Road. "The road to Shu is difficult, more difficult than climbing to the sky. The road to Fujian is even more difficult than the road to Shu."

No wonder it has been said since ancient times that Fujian is a place where war is not fought over. The reason why Zhao Gou fought with Zhao Zhen here was not entirely because of the self-determination of Miao and Liu.

There are few fields here, so there are few people, and few people mean insufficient soldiers. The number of soldiers stationed in a county may be as many as three or two thousand, or as few as five or seven hundred.

If they wanted to attack the city, they could naturally take it. The surrounding villages were all in the form of earthen buildings. Although they could not withstand the artillery and flying thunder of Zhao Zhen's army, Zhao Zhen did not bother to attack. He only ordered people to shout along the way that as long as they did not show hostility, they would ignore the earthen buildings hanging the big flag with the word "Zhao" of Liang State.

In order to deter others, they naturally attacked and destroyed the two villages where the messengers were killed. The entire village was razed to the ground, leaving no man, woman or child alive.

Leaving behind [Little Li Guang] Hua Rong and Mian Yixin to lead 5,000 soldiers and a part of the Feitian Shenlei Camp, Zhao Zhen led the army downstream along the Dachang Creek and headed straight to the south bank of the Minjiang River in Huai'an City.

Li Jun and his men, who were sweeping along the coast, had captured many islands including Meizhou Island, Nanri Island, and Haitan Island. Villages along the coast also hoisted the flag of the Liang State.

Ruan Xiaoqi went deep into the interior and led his troops to capture Fuqing County, which was only guarded by 300 to 500 soldiers. Li Jun went north and recruited all the ships he encountered along the way. After capturing Changle County, he went upstream along the Minjiang River and plundered Min County, Houguan, Huai'an and other places.

The navy under Miao Fu's command was defeated by Li Jun in just one battle, and now the Minjiang River is full of Liang State warships.

Miao Fu saw this on the city wall of Min County and was furious, but there was nothing he could do.

Zhao Zhen fought his way to the bank of the Minjiang River, joined Li Jun, and attacked the island in the middle of the river where Huaian was. When Miao Fu saw this, he did not dare to send troops to rescue him.

In Huai'an City, the magistrate He Rui, the county magistrate Yue Rui, the chief clerk Pang Weiqiang, and the county lieutenant Lin Zhicheng saw it, killed the generals trusted by Miao Fu, opened the gate and surrendered. Miao Fu, who was across the river, became even more furious.

Unfortunately, the Minjiang River blocked their way and they could not engage in battle.

He Rui's surrender let Zhao Zhen know the situation in Fujian Road.

There were six states and two armies. Miao and Fu occupied five states, namely Fuzhou, Nanjian, Quanzhou, Zhangzhou, and Xinghua. The remaining three states were Jianzhou, Shaowu, and Tingzhou, which belonged to Liu Zhengyan. The two of them both heavily guarded Fuzhou and Jianzhou, which were close to Liangzhe Road, and there were not many troops in the other states. There were still some resistance in Tingzhou and Zhangzhou, but the two of them only sent a deputy general with 3,000 to 5,000 soldiers to suppress them. The county magistrate and others were not replaced, and only 500 to 700 soldiers were stationed in the important county towns. The rest were still guarded by the local county lieutenants, yamen runners, and local soldiers.

After hearing the news, Zhao Zhen sent Shi Qian and Bai Sheng to lead a group of people to pass on the message to Dong Ping and Li Ying, and to go south to Quanzhou to try their best to capture and surrender the county.

He also ordered Ruan Xiaoqi's troops to march south to Quanzhou and attack by sea, creating the impression that a large army was approaching the city.

Li Jun's troops divided half of their boats, and were led by Zhu Xiaoba, the Water-Dividing Rhino, and Yu Gui, the Diving Kun, who carried Tang Meng, the Mountain-Guarding Warrior, and Bao Xu, the God of Death, along with two thousand soldiers, and went upstream to capture Minqing.

We must take over all the areas south of the Minjiang River in Fuzhou.

Besides, there weren't many troops in Xianyou City along the way led by Dong Ping and Li Ying. When they saw the big flag with the word "Zhao" on it, they surrendered directly.

Li Kui complained that those defending the city were all wimps and didn't have any courage at all.

County Magistrate Zou Hong and others felt embarrassed when they heard this.

However, when he heard that they were not imperial soldiers, his expression changed several times, and finally, he sighed, as if he had accepted his fate. After all, they killed the training envoy sent by Miao Fu and took the initiative to open the city and surrender. In the future, they would not be able to escape the criticism of others.

Zou Hong also told Dong Ping and others what he knew. After hearing the news that Quanzhou had few soldiers, [Little Yang Youji] Pang Wanchun shouted, "General Dong, the king has given you the power to act according to your own discretion. Why don't you attack Quanzhou?"

Li Kui heard this and shouted, "This is a merit that has been delivered to our door. If we don't take it now, when will we take it?"

Dong Ping shouted, "Who said we won't go? Who will stay here to guard the city?"

After hearing this, Li Kui quickly turned his face away.

[Iron Fan] said loudly: "Commander, the mountain roads here are rugged and the artillery is not easy to move. I will take the people here to stay."

Dong Ping listened and nodded. He left behind the heavy artillery and only took the Weiyuan General Cannon. He also left behind a deputy general to lead 500 cavalry and all the war horses.

Carrying dry food and equipment, everyone, led by the county lieutenant Hua Xiuyong, headed straight for the neighboring Yongchun City.

With the official document issued by Xianyou County as a guide, all the villages and towns along the way changed their flags. [Putian Diao] Li Ying occupied Yongchun County effortlessly under the banner of the Miao family, and everyone was even more excited.

The magistrate and others surrendered under Hua Xiuyong's persuasion.

Dong Ping and his men divided their troops into two groups. With the cooperation of the magistrate of Yongchun County, one group went north to attack Dehua, and the other group went south to attack Qingxi.

Zhang Chi, Ba Zeng, Ji Guang and Lu Duo were left behind to guard the city, while the others went down along Xixi River to attack Nan'an.

There were not many Miao Fu soldiers stationed here, and the army surrendered as soon as they saw the enemy.

Leaving Li Gui to guard the city, the army continued to move down. When they approached Jinjiang, they found that Jinjiang City was already under martial law.

(End of this chapter)