Chapter 41: The Battle of the Dragon Gate II

Cao Zongyu seemed to have done nothing in the past two years in Xiangyang. But I've been working hard and getting ready.

When the news of Nanjing reached Xiangyang, Cao Zongyu immediately decided to strike first, and then attack.

He cut first and then played. The army left Nanyang, turned to Xiangcheng, and then moved west to Ruzhou. Advance to Luoyang. At this time, Prince Zheng Zilharang had just left the city of Beijing.

However, Luoyang was originally a key defense place for the Qing army, and the main garrisons were the Shang family, the ancestral family, the Geng family, the Mao family, and other soldiers and horses in the Han Dynasty in Liaodong.

There were at least 100,000 horses near Luoyang.

The geographical location of Guy Luoyang is too important. Connecting the Central Plains with the Northwest.

Although it is not that other places cannot be traveled, it is not convenient here, and it resists the attack of the Xia army. In the Central Plains, there was a great drought first, and then there was an excuse for the Yellow River, and then there were military disasters and killings, although there were some remnants of the people, but they were all like fish swimming at the bottom of the kettle, and they could not support the army.

Although the Qing army built several cities on the south bank of the Yellow River to garrison troops, such as Zhengzhou, Xingyang and other places. But they were all under the command of Luoyang.

As for the area around Xiangcheng, it is almost a no-man's land.

It was not until Cao Zongyu arrived in Ruzhou that he encountered resistance from the Qing army.

It's just that for the terrain of Henan, Cao Zongyu and others can be said to be familiar with the road, and the decisive battle with Sun Chuanting was fought here, so after dividing the troops and detouring through Ruzhou City, they blocked the Luoyang reinforcements. Then the army besieged the city of Ruzhou and bombarded it with a big run, but it took ten days. and broke the city of Ruzhou.

Immediately the troops entered Luoyang. Arrive at Longmen Pass.

The Qing army, led by Geng Jimao, brought tens of thousands of troops to garrison Longmen Pass to resist the Xia army.

Longmen Pass in ancient times, there is a name, that is, Yique.

It was here that the famous Battle of Yique began. This is the battle for fame in vain.

Speaking of which, Yique is not too dangerous, after all, it can accommodate hundreds of thousands of people to fight, Yishui interrupts Longmen Mountain, and the mountains on both sides are like gates.

That's why it's called Yique.

Geng Jimao was stationed here and blocked the offensive of the Xia army directly under the city of Luoyang.

After all, the city wall of Luoyang was picked up by Li Zicheng.

Later, although there were many repairs, but in general, it was still not as good as the city wall of the Ming Dynasty.

And as far as the Qing army is concerned, in general, they are not very good at defense.

Before, it was a clear attack and summer defense, but now although the strategy has changed, the skill points in defense are not so easy to open.

Therefore, the Qing army preferred to fight in the field.

However, with Prince Zheng's army behind, he just wanted to drag it now, and when Prince Zheng's army crossed the Yellow River, it would be much easier.

Based on this strategic intention, the Qing army was divided into two parts, one part was in Luoyang City, and the other part was in this Longmen Pass.

Between Longmen Pass and Luoyang City, phase

It's not far away. Each other, they can echo at any time, plus the Shaanxi Qing army is already mobilizing.

Maybe in a few days, it will come from Tongguan. There is also the department of Prince Zheng Jierharang from Hebei.

When the Qing army came from all directions, there was not much strength left for Cao Zongyu.

Cao Zongyu looked at Longmen Pass.

Seeing that the Qing army was in a tight formation, the artillery was dense, and there were also Qing troops stationed on the mountains on both sides.

Even above the Isui River, there are iron cables connected to each other, and large and small boats form pontoon bridges.

This simple water defense naturally cannot be compared with the southern water division.

However, Yishui gushes out of the mountains, flows into Luoshui, and then flows into the Yellow River.

The upper reaches of the water are not spacious. There were not many ships either, and even if the Xia Dynasty had the advantage on the water, it was impossible for the boats to fly from the Yangtze River to the Yellow River.

Therefore, this Yishui is definitely not the focus of this battle.

Cao Zongyu turned to Jin Shenghuan and said, "General Jin, what do you think?" What now? ”

Jin Shenghuan said cautiously: "Lord Wang, if you can't break it quickly, if you delay it like this, the Qing army reinforcements will arrive." We're in danger. ”

Cao Zongyu said, "What do you mean? We stormed Longmen Pass? ”

"Nope." Jin Shenghuan said immediately.

What is the situation at Longmen Pass, Jin Shenghuan sees it in his eyes, although it cannot be said to be an iron wall, but it is also difficult to leap in natural danger. Under the attack, for example, there were heavy casualties.

At that time, even if it can break the Longmen Pass, it will be a difficult problem to face the superior reinforcements of the Qing army.

After all, Cao Zongyu attacked first, and did not bring several large battalions directly under Zhang Xuan's direct jurisdiction, such as Wuchang, Nanjing, and Jiangbei camps, but only used the men and horses of Xiangyang and Xinyang.

There are 100,000 people in these two towns, but they can't, and they don't guard the lair. Although Henan is desolate, it is a great plain after all, and there is no danger.

Therefore, Cao Zongyu also has to stay behind some people.

However, after Zhang Xuan received Cao Zongyu's order to go on the Northern Expedition first, he immediately ordered that all the departments in Xijing should go to Xiangyang and Nanyang one after another.

It's just that the brigade is mobilized, and it takes time

Cao Zongyu secretly calculated that the first wave of reinforcements would come over about half a month later. In any case, they were behind the reinforcements of the Qing army.

Speaking of which, under Luoyang City, the strength of Cao Zongyu's department is almost the same as that of the Qing army.

"Lord Wang." Jin Shenghuan said: "Our current Northern Expedition, even under several counties, has shaken the position of the Qing army, why not accept it if it is not good, and withdraw first." Now the situation, even after Zilharang came, he had to rectify it before he dared to attack Nanjing in the south. By that time, all the ministries in Xijing had already arrived. ”

"It's not too late to fight the Qing army again."

Cao Zongyu glanced at Jin Shenghuan, although he didn't say anything, but there was a sense of contempt, and said, "General Jin."

But scared? ”

When Jin Shenghuan heard this, he was immediately furious and said: "Where is the prince, since the last general joined the army, he has been killed in life and death, and he has seen I don't know how many battles, but I don't know how to write the word 'afraid'." ”

Cao Zongyu said: "Okay. I have a plan now, and I need a wise and brave future to do it. ”

When Jin Shenghuan heard this, he immediately understood Cao Zongyu's thoughts, and said: "If there is anything, even if the prince commands it, why use the method of agitation." ”

Cao Zongyu said: "It's not an immediate matter, it has to be General Jin." That's why I'm afraid that General Jin won't agree. ”

Jin Shenghuan said: "The prince has a life, how dare he disobey his humble position." ”

Cao Zongyu said: "Okay, I know that there is a small path, from the peak on both sides to the Longmen Pass. I want a general, with 20,000 soldiers, between Longmen Pass and Luoyang City. ”

"Hold on for a few days. Buy me time to break through the enemy at Longmen Pass. ”

When Jin Shenghuan heard this, his heart suddenly cooled.

Jin Shenghuan has been marching for decades, what kind of war, just need to look at it to know whether it can be fought. Now the battle planned by Cao Zongyu is impossible to fight in his opinion.

Luoyang City and Longmen Pass are not far away, and they are inserted into it, although the Qing army of Longmen Pass is blocked, but it also blocks the dead end of his subordinates.

There are only two results, either you die or I live, it is a dangerous chess game to die and then live.

Cao Zongyu also knew the danger, so he was a fierce general and a boaster, because if Jin Shenghuan was not willing, this war would not be too easy to fight.

When Jin Shenghuan saw Cao Zongyu talking like this, he gritted his teeth in his heart, knowing that he actually had no choice.

What a person Cao Zongyu is.

is Zhang Xuan's henchman, without his outstanding achievements, he jumped above the kings, and the military power he controls is all for His Majesty.

Even Jin Shenghuan has a backstage in the court, and his backstage is Yuan Shizhong.

But how can Yuan Shizhong compare to Zhang Xuan.

If he doesn't agree to come down today, with Cao Zongyu here, he will have no future in the future.

And Jin Shenghuan also has a sense of eagerness to try.

Jin Shenghuan intuitively felt that this was the only victory or defeat that could determine the outcome before the Qing army reinforced.

It's just that the risk is also high.

Until the dust settles, I don't know whether it will be them or the Qing army who will win.

However, Jin Shenghuan is willing to give it a try.

Jin Shenghuan said: "The last general is willing." ”

Cao Zongyu said: "Okay, such a big task, I think all over the army, only Brother Jin can bear it, please rest assured Brother Jin, three days, within three days, I will definitely break the Dragon Gate Pass." ”

Cao Zongyu has long wanted to prove himself.

Daxia has several princes, Li Dingguo has the Great Western Army, Zheng Chenggong has the Zheng family, and Yuan Shizhong also has a small Yuan army, but Cao Zongyu relies on Zhang Xuan's support.