Northern Prefecture Rivers and Mountains

Chapter 355 Lost

Just as the provisions and soldiers were assembled, news of victory came from Jiangling.

Wang Zhen'e and Liu Zhong used a tactic of luring the enemy to their advantage and inflicted a great defeat on Huan Shikang and Huan Zhen, killing 7,000 men, capturing 4,700, and the rest scattered. Their own casualties were less than 1,000.

Huan Shikang and Huan Zhen fled back to Yichang and Yiling in a sorry state, but it was too late.

Seeing this, Qiao Mingzi dared not engage in battle and hastily retreated to Baidi City.

Taking advantage of the situation, Wang Zhen'e besieged Yiling north of the Yangtze River. He conscripted 10,000 able-bodied men from Jiangling to dig earthen ramparts and build fortifications to surround the city of Yiling.

However, with increased manpower, the consumption of food and fodder also increases.

Liu Daogui was forced to open up a grain route from Xiangyang to Yiling. To the north, Mao Dezhu, along with Hu Fan, Fu Hongzhi, Mao Xiuzhi, Liu Huaijing, and other troops, led an attack on the Qin army.

Jingxiang was at a critical juncture of land division, with war raging in both the north and south.

At this time, Xiangyang needed Liu Daogui to personally oversee the situation.

Sometimes, strategic planning and logistical support are more important than conquering territory.

With the current combat strength of the Northern Army and the Western Army, as long as they have sufficient food and supplies, they are almost invincible.

"Report! Liu Jingxuan and Sima Xiuzhi have escaped from Southern Yan and fled to Pengcheng," Meng Ganzhi rushed in to report.

"Liu Jingxuan?" Liu Daogui was taken aback, as he hadn't heard from this cousin for several years.

Previously, he wanted to rebel in Southern Yan and kill Murong De. At that time, Liu Daogui was not strong enough. He was under pressure from Huan Xuan in the south and was fighting with the Hu people in the north. He was in a difficult situation and did not agree to it. He was told to lie low for the time being.

Last year, the Wei army withdrew, greatly reducing the pressure on Southern Yan. Murong Chao took power and attacked and plundered everywhere. Liu Daogui planned to gather the forces of the Western and Northern Prefectures after Jingzhou and Xiangyang recovered their strength to destroy Southern Yan.

Unexpectedly, Liu Jingxuan failed to remain calm.

Meng Gan said: "Liu Jingxuan and Gao Yazhi joined forces with the Xianbei chieftains, intending to take advantage of Murong De's serious illness and the doubts in the country to launch an uprising, eliminate Murong De, support Sima Xiuzhi, and restore the Jin Dynasty. However, Liu Gui, who had been treated well by Murong De, could not bear it and informed him of the plot. Liu Jingxuan, Sima Xiuzhi, and Gao Yazhi were defeated and fled from Southern Yan. On the way, they were pursued by Murong Chao. Gao Yazhi died in battle, and Liu Gui's family was also exterminated by Murong De."

This group of people has been around for so many years and they're still more trouble than they're worth.

If we wait another year or two, Liu Daogui will be able to launch a northern expedition.

If only Liu Jingxuan had returned, it would have been easier to handle. The problem is that he dragged back Sima Xiuzhi as well.

This man was the fourth son of Sima Tian, ​​a descendant of the Prince of Qiao. His elder brothers were Sima Shangzhi and Sima Huizhi. Sima Tian had served as the Commander-in-Chief of the Northern Army, so Sima Xiuzhi had a certain reputation in the Northern Army.

"How many men did he bring back?" Liu Daogui had a headache. If it was an outsider, he could find a reason to marginalize him and send him to Jiankang to live out his days in peace.

However, neither Liu Jingxuan nor Sima Shangzhi were ordinary generals of the Northern Army.

"The two thousand remnants of the army, once they returned to Pengcheng, gained the support of the Liu family of Pengcheng and the old troops of the Northern Army."

During the Southern Yan period, Liu Jingxuan rebelled against Murong De and returned to Pengcheng, where he immediately undermined Liu Daogui's power.

Pengcheng was Liu Laozhi's base of operations, and he had many loyal followers there.

As expected of Liu Laozhi's son, Liu Jingxuan is as childlike in political maneuvering as a three-year-old, and he doesn't even know how to be discreet after returning...

Yin Zhongwen said, "Liu Jingxuan and Sima Xiuzhi have too great a reputation; it is not appropriate for them to stay in Pengcheng for a long time."

"Order the two men to lead their troops westward to attack the Qin army together. Then send someone to the court to inquire about the General of Chariots and Cavalry's intentions." Liu Daogui had no choice but to transfer the two men away from Pengcheng first.

Despite having only two thousand soldiers, the two wielded enormous political influence.

One was the son of Liu Laozhi and a benefactor of Liu Yu and Liu Daogui. The other was a member of the Sima clan and one of the few with military power.

A few days later, Jiankang responded: Liu Jingxuan was appointed as the Prefect of Jinling and inherited the title of Baron of Wugang County; Sima Xiuzhi was promoted to Prefect of Wuling and General Who Pacifies Bandits.

The meaning of these two appointments is very clear. Jinling is the prefecture where Jingkou is located, while Wuling is to the west. This is to divide Liu Jingxuan and Sima Xiuzhi, and at the same time, to help Liu Jingxuan.

It is evident that the elder brother Liu Yu still cherished old friendships, after all, Liu Jingxuan had treated the two brothers quite well back then.

Liu Daogui understood immediately.

The empire is nominally still under the Jin dynasty, and power is in the hands of the brothers Liu Yu and Liu Daogui. This does not mean that they can take over the throne now.

Since the southward migration, many people have seized power, including many ambitious individuals, but all of them failed.

Twenty years ago, Huan Wen and Huan Chong were far more powerful than Liu Yu and Liu Daogui are now. They could even depose emperors at will, but due to the disastrous defeat in the Northern Expedition, they ultimately did not dare to take the final step.

Sima Shangzhi and Liu Jingxuan were the first to raise the banner against Huan Chu, and now they have defected from Nan Yan to the Jin Dynasty. In the eyes of the gentry and people of Jiangzuo, this is a righteous act.

"Report: The vanguard of our army, led by Liu Huaijing and Mao Xiuzhi, was ambushed by Yao Wenzong's large force at Luhun. The two generals fought bravely but were trapped by cavalry. They were later rescued by Mao Dezhu, but suffered more than 1,100 casualties."

A wave of waves has risen again.

They thought their attack on the Qin army in the north was a sure thing, but they were surprised to suffer a defeat in their first battle.

The more than 1,100 casualties were not miscellaneous troops, but elites selected from the Northern and Western armies.

Liu Daogui frowned and carefully reviewed the battle report. It turned out that Liu Huaijing, who was from the Northern Army, and Mao Xiuzhi, who came from the Western Army, were vying for merit and wanted to outdo each other. After marching from Dengcheng into Hongnong territory, the troops were exhausted and their horses were worn out, which Yao Wenzong seized upon.

After taking Jingzhou and Xiangyang, Liu Daogui tried his best to bridge the regional conflicts between the Northern and Western Prefectures, but the inertia of decades could not be eliminated in just one or two years.

If Liu Daogui had personally led the troops in this attack, he might have been able to suppress the rift between the two sides.

But if they are not there, both sides will immediately reveal their true colors.

Yin Zhongwen said, "The Northern and Western armies have been fighting each other for a long time... It is not advisable for them to unite into one army."

"I was being naive. Order Mao Dezhu to lead the Northern Army to attack Hongnong, and Hu Fan to lead the Western Army to attack Hongnong. Bring Liu Huaijing and Mao Xiuzhi back to Xiangyang for questioning." Liu Daogui immediately corrected his mistake.

The messenger rushed away.

Less than five days later, news of victory came from the north: Mao Dezhu had defeated Yao Wenzong, captured Lushi, joined forces with Liu Jingxuan and Sima Xiuzhi, and advanced towards Hongnong.

Hu Fan also defeated Qin general Yao Liangguo, who led 13,000 Qin troops, with 5,000 elite troops from the Western Prefecture, and swept through the counties of Fangling Prefecture.

Upon seeing the good news, Liu Daogui couldn't help but smile bitterly. Both men and their forces were extremely powerful, like fierce tigers, but when combined, their fighting strength plummeted.

Internal strife is human nature; this applies to people from all walks of life, regardless of their origin or social status.

After a fierce attack lasting half a month, Wang Zhen'e in the south captured Yiling and Yichang, killed Huan Shikang, and his son Huan Yu and his family committed suicide by burning themselves to death.

However, Huan Zhen protected Huan Qian as he fled into Baidi City and sought refuge with Qiao Zong.

Huan Qian had no other skills, but he was an expert at escaping. As early as when he was defeated at Xiaoting, he saw that something was wrong and fled from Yiling to Yichang in advance, where he and Huan Zhen prepared to surrender to Shu.

After removing Yidu County as a thorn in their side, the Huan family's influence was completely driven out of Jingxiang.

(End of this chapter)