Northern Prefecture Rivers and Mountains

Chapter 149 Confrontation
Caizhou is a sandbar in the Yangtze River, less than 30 miles southwest of Jiankang, and has always been a place for military garrisons.

In the third year of Xianhe (328), when Su Jun rebelled, Tao Kan and others came to Jiankang to provide assistance. The generals and their fleet numbered 40,000, second only to Cai Zhou.

At this moment, there are four or five hundred warships anchored on the shore, stretching across the river. Among them are some huge tower ships, with flags covering the sky and soldiers looking mighty and majestic.

However, on the northeast bank of the river, the Northern Army was not at all weaker in momentum. They set up fortifications along the river, and their armor shone brightly, blocking out the sun.

Ten years ago, these two groups of people shared the same hatred and fought together against the Di Qin army.

In the blink of an eye, they were facing each other and became life-and-death rivals.

"Liu Laozhi is a common man, from a humble family. There are no heroes in this era, so this young man has become famous. Lingbao can lead 5,000 boats to attack Guabu upstream and directly attack Jiankang. Sima Daozi will definitely order Liu Laozhi to come to his aid. I will lead my elite troops to attack him from behind and kill him. I will definitely destroy Liu Laozhi's 20-year reputation!"

Yang Qunqi was born into the Hongnong Yang family. He did not even take the noble families of Jiangzuo seriously, so naturally he looked down on Liu Laozhi.

The strategy he proposed has a great chance of success.

By controlling the water supply of the Yangtze River, one can enter and exit at will, and by crossing the river south from Guabu, one can bypass the Stone City and attack the enemy's weak spot.

Liu Laozhi's defense in Xinting would be meaningless and he would be exhausted. By then, Yang Qunqi would have the possibility to defeat the enemy.

But Huan Xuan looked at him as if he were an idiot. The Huan family took the lead and endured the attacks of the Northern Army, allowing him to sit back and reap the benefits. Huan Xuan didn't know what was going on in his mind.

How dare you bring up such a crappy plan?

Wang Gong was dead, Sima Daozi's position was consolidated, and Huan Xuan had obtained what he wanted most - military power.

Now all that is missing is an imperial decree from the court.

There is actually not much point in fighting any further.

Both the Northern Army and Sima Daozi suffered heavy losses, and the only one who benefited was Sima Daozi.

"General Yang, please be patient. This is not the way to fight a war. The Northern Army has been famous for a long time. There is no need to fight to the death. If my predictions are correct, the imperial court will issue an imperial decree soon."

Huan Xuan leaned his fat body against the railing, looking very high-spirited.

"Why should the Northern Army be afraid? In my opinion, they have become complacent. Our army can go downstream and attack Jiankang directly. Our chances of victory are extremely high!"

Yang Qunqi was a qualified general, but he was not good at political strategy and had no idea about the power structure in Jiangzuo.

If they really marched into Jiankang, they would become like Wang Dun and Su Jun.

Even if they controlled the imperial court, they would be attacked by the aristocratic families in the blink of an eye.

Huan Xuan's father Huan Wen was well aware of the reason and refused to enter Jiankang no matter what.

The combined forces of Huan Xuan and Yang Qunqi were only 10,000, and they were unable to defeat even the Northern Palace Army.

"General Yang is truly the reborn Overlord. How can a mere Liu Laozhi be his opponent? In my opinion, the General should immediately lead his troops to the east bank and take Liu Laozhi's head to shock the world!"

Huan Xuan stopped persuading him and instead kept encouraging him.

Yang Qunqi had not yet realized that the relationship between the two had changed, and there could not be two tigers in one mountain.

"Okay, we will report to the envoy immediately and attack together to defeat Liu Laozhi!" Yang Qunqi's eyes flashed. If he really had to rush up and face the Northern Army head-on, he didn't think he had much chance of winning.

Yin Zhongkan commanded 20,000 elite troops and stationed them in Wuhu in the rear.

The combined forces of the three parties totaled 30,000, three times as many as Liu Laozhi's.

Moreover, the Western Palace Army was also quite powerful. With the three parties working together and advancing by land and sea, Liu Laozhi was no match for them.

"General Yang is mighty. You and I will jointly submit a memorial to Envoy Yin, nominating you as the vanguard to fight Liu Laozhi." Huan Xuan narrowed his eyes, his face full of cunning.

Yang Qunqi heard the sarcasm in his words and snorted coldly, "The court has been unable to accomplish so many important matters because of your hesitation. Your father suffered two great defeats in his Northern Expedition because of this!"

"How dare you!" Huan Xuan's face changed drastically.

Yang Qunqi was nothing but a lost dog, yet he dared to directly judge Huan Wen. The surrounding Huan family generals drew their swords and rushed over, but Yang Qunqi was not afraid at all, and all his troops also rushed forward to meet him.

"I am only speaking the truth. If you don't listen, I will take my leave!"

After saying that, he left without looking back.

Huan Xuan had been encouraging him to charge ahead, but he was provoked by him. He secretly hated him and cursed in a low voice, "This old bastard will be eliminated sooner or later!"

Bian Fanzhi said: "After this battle, the Huan family and this person will be like water and fire."

"It's better to strike first. I will take people to kill this thief right away!" Feng Gai was also promoted by Huan Wen, and he hated to see others belittle Huan Wen the most.

Huan Xuan took a deep breath, "A little impatience can ruin a great plan. The enemy is outside. If we cause internal strife, it will be an easy opportunity for Sima Daozi. Such a man is brave but not wise, and he will definitely be captured by me!"

Although he was angry, he still had a sense of the overall situation.

At this time, the entire Western Palace Army collapsed due to the infighting.

Bian Fanzhi said: "Prince Xiang believes he has the Northern Army to rely on and will not easily compromise. The chess piece in the east should also be moved."

"You mean the Heavenly Master Dao?"

"Sun En hasn't risen yet. He wants to sit back and watch the fire from the other side of the river, watching the Northern and Western Prefectures fight each other and deplete the imperial court's strength so they can come out and reap the benefits."

Everyone knows the ambition of Tianshi Dao.

These days, evil bandits are causing chaos one after another.

Both Huan Xuan and Sima Daozi wanted to use the Tianshi Dao, and the Tianshi Dao also wanted to use them.

"Very good, very good. Once this fire is started in the Three Wus, it will be enough to make Sima Daozi suffer." Huan Xuan sneered repeatedly.

"Sun Tai, the master of the Heavenly Master Dao, is in Jiankang. Once he dies, Sun En will surely rise!"

"Immediately send someone to Jiankang to spread rumors that the Tianshi Dao will rebel. I want to see how Sima Daozi responds."

Huan Xuan became furious when he recalled how Sima Daozi had publicly insulted Huan Wen as a thief.

Without the Huan family, how could the Sima family be what it is today?

At this time, several fast boats came down the river, with large flags with the word "Yin" on their bows. In a dozen breaths, they sailed into the water fort and came under the tower ship. They shouted to Huan Xuan: "Envoy Yin orders the two generals to withdraw immediately!"

"what?"

Huan Xuan thought he had misheard.

On the other boat, Yang Qunqi's roar was heard, "We have the advantage. We can defeat Liu Laozhi in ten days. Why are you retreating?"

The Northern Army was clearly in a passive position.

Even if the outcome cannot be determined for the time being, we should not retreat at this time.

Bian Fanzhi said: "It must be a conspiracy between the court and Yin Zhongkan."

Huan Xuan sneered, "How could such a thing happen in the world, if you want to abandon my Huan family and conspire with Sima Daozi? Yin Zhongkan and Wang Gong are both incompetent men. They want to withdraw their troops when the situation is so good. How foolish!"

Like Wang Gong, Yin Zhongkan was hesitant and cowardly. He had neither the talent to govern the people nor the ability to command the army. Jingzhou suffered from floods and droughts for years, and the people were starving. Yin Zhongkan neither comforted the people nor built dams.

Last year, a flood swept through Shu, destroying seven thousand homes in Jiangling. The people wailed everywhere, but Yin Zhongkan turned a deaf ear and spent his days conversing with famous scholars like Gu Kaizhi.

"The Suolu people are planning to seize Luoyang and Yuzhou, so the Yin envoy retreated." The military officer at the bow advised.

"Reporting to Envoy Yin, the two armies are facing each other. If we retreat even a little, Liu Laozhi's army will press forward and we will be defeated. If we have to retreat, we should let Liu Laozhi retreat first. Please understand, Envoy Yin."

(End of this chapter)