Chapter 961 Something So Familiar

The army marched out

Not only did the Black Flag Army in Guyuan City pull out, but it was also in the Suzaku Mountain.

The reason why Fang Xie has waited so long is that one is to be safe, and the other is to wait for someone.

Fang Xie was waiting for Chen Dingnan's army to return.

After Chen Dingnan received Fang Jie's military order and learned that he was going to attack Chang'an City, where did he dare to delay, he used all the troops available in Yunnan Road, first took the waterway to Xinyang City, and then sent people back to Zhuque Mountain to mobilize people and horses to meet in Xinyang. Chen Dingnan waited in Xinyang City with his men and horses, while Chen Yishan returned to the camp of Vermilion Bird Mountain to mobilize the remaining available men and horses.

After the two people converged, they did not go east into Jiangnan according to Fang Jie's instructions, but went all the way north, crossing the Huangniu River into the northwest of Dasui.

The reason why Fang Xie arranged this way was because the number of soldiers and horses was too large, and if the troops were concentrated, the speed of crossing the river north would inevitably be slow. Although the sailor is now strong, it is not a matter of one or two days to escort so many soldiers and horses across the river. Chen Yishan and Chen Dingnan took people and horses to cross the not particularly wide Huangniu River without the assistance of a sailor, and they could build a bridge.

The task of the two of them was to go to the northwest first and consult Jin Shixiong in the northwest remnants. Then the iron ore in the northwest was taken, and after leaving people to garrison, the brigade crossed the Yishui and entered Hedong Road.

There are two advantages to this arrangement.

Needless to say, although the northwest is tired, after all, it is thousands of miles of rivers and mountains, not to mention that there is a huge iron mine. Second, it entered Hedong Road from the northwest and cut off Gao Kaitai's return journey.

Chen Dingnan and Chen Yishan both knew how important this battle was, so neither of them dared to slack off. After the army converged, he sent someone to deliver a letter to Fang Jie, and then the two men immediately set out to fight. Naturally, there will be nothing to do in Huangyang Daozhi, and there is no difficulty in crossing the Huangniu River. Even in the northwest, the resistance faced by the two men will not be strong. Kim Shixiong almost came out of the nest when he left, and the defenders left in the northwest were few in number and poorly equipped.

Fang Xie was not worried about Chen Yishan and Chen Dingnan, but was quite concerned about the team rushing to the aid of Dongjiang. There is no problem with Nalan Dingdong leading the troops, the problem lies in the chaotic situation in eastern Xinjiang. Now there are more than two teams from Jiangnan and Jiangbei to help Dongjiang, Zhao Tianzheng and Nalan, and after arriving in Dongjiang, all the teams are nominally under the control of Mu Guangling, but if such a huge and complex team wants to manage it well, it is as difficult as the sky.

It's good that everyone is going to fight against foreign enemies, but you must know that whether it is Fang Jie's past life or this life, the desire for power of the Han people in the Central Plains has never been at any time or place. It is true that Mu Guangling is the nominal commander, but how many people sincerely listen to his military orders? How many people think they should be the deputy marshal?

Worries are worries, but now that the team has been released, Fang Xie knows that he can't interfere too much.

Winter passed in such a hurry, and on a sunny day, the curtain of the Black Flag Army's Northern Expedition slowly opened.

According to Fang Jie's military order, the army was divided into six routes. The first to open the way was Xiahou Baichuan, with 50,000 troops. The left wing is Zhuge Wuyan, and the right wing is Liu Xuri, each leading 50,000 troops. The rear team is Cui Zhongzhen, leading 80,000 soldiers. Fang Xie brought his own Chinese army, and Dugu Wenxiu served as a staff officer for military affairs, leading 200,000 troops.

This is a typical front and rear left and right in the Great Sui military formation, although compared with the foreigners in terms of weapons, the Great Sui army is lagging behind, but in the formation, the Great Sui will never lag behind either side.

An army of 380,000 is mighty.

In addition, Zheng Qiu and Duan Zheng's two water divisions were already waiting on the Yangtze River. After Fang Jie's military order was sent to Yunnan Province, the first to arrive was Duan Zheng's newly formed naval division. After integrating the original Nanyan's naval division, coupled with the newly built warships, Duan Zheng's naval division was no weaker than Zheng Qiu's fleet in terms of scale.

Such a vigorous use of troops was the first time since Fang Xie established the Black Flag Army.

Fang Xie has been planning in the southwest for many years, and has been accumulating strength in a down-to-earth manner. By the time it comes out now, this strength is enough to make people fearful.

"The Lord"

Dugu Wenxiu looked at the map, sitting in the slightly swaying carriage, the upper body of this literati was straight, and he already had the appearance of a bit of a soldier.

"Duan Zheng's sailor is in Qinglin, and Zheng Qiu's sailor is in Wanzhou. The two places were separated by no more than ten miles, and according to the size of the naval division, it would take at least ten days for the army to cross the river. There were 380,000 soldiers, more than 100,000 auxiliary soldiers, plus war horses and carts, especially the baggage battalions, and it was even more time-consuming to cross the river. ”

Fang Xie nodded: "I have already ordered Duan Zheng and Zheng Qiu's sailors to fight down a place on the north bank, the Sui army on the north bank has basically been cleaned up by Gao Kaitai's men and horses, and there is basically no defense on the river bank." The forces of the naval division are abundant, and it is not difficult to take the place necessary for the landing. ”

"Although Xiahou is anxious, he is not steady."

Dugu Wenxiu said: "The lord uses him as a pioneer and is the most suitable candidate. ”

"Your job is not to be a sycophant."

Fang Xie smiled and said, "Find the best route from this map, this is what you have to do." ”

Dugu Wenxiu also laughed, and then drew a line on the map with charcoal: "It's best to land from Qiongai City, Qiongai City is close to the river, and it used to be a supply place for merchant ships on the Yangtze River to dock in the past, and now the war is much less than in previous years, so there must be a lot of ships on the side of Qiongai City, and those merchant ships can be requisitioned to transport troops at that time." ”

Wu Yi said beside him: "The fleet of ships that are traveling through the world is also waiting in Qiongai City. ”

……

……

Fang Xie looked at the map, and the thoughts in his mind extended along the line drawn by Dugu Wenxiu. There is no doubt that although the route selected by Dugu Wenxiu is not the most recent, it is definitely the safest. If you follow this route, as long as you cross the river, you can reach the city of Chang'an in less than a month.

"Now the biggest strength in Jiangbei is naturally Gao Kaitai. After Wang Yiqu's death, although some of Wang Yiqu's subordinates were unwilling to respect Gao Kaitai's orders, and a few troops even fled, Gao Kaitai still had at least more than 100,000 or 200,000 horses in his hands. Counting on these forces to break through Chang'an is tantamount to a joke, but it is an obstacle in front of us. ”

Dugu Wenxiu sighed: "It would be nice if the contradictions in Gao Kaitai's camp could be intensified a little more before the battle." Wang Yiqu's subordinates, even those who stayed to listen to his orders, may not be convinced by him in their hearts. If you can find some suitable people to encourage the rebellion, then this real first battle will be much smoother. ”

Fang Xie snorted: "I have already informed Chen Xiaoru to start doing it, Xiao Riding School is doing this errand, no one is better than them." ”

"If Gao Kaitai is not a problem...... Then the biggest problem is the city wall of Chang'an City. ”

Dugu Wenxiu said: "Although my subordinates have never been to Chang'an, I can imagine how strong and tall this circle of city walls built by the power of the Great Sui in the two hundred years of prosperity is, even if we have a firearms battalion, it is difficult to break through that city wall." ”

"And ......"

Dugu Wenxiu said: "We don't know much about the things in Chang'an City. In addition to the five thousand iron generals left by Yang Jian, how many troops are there in the city? If you can find out in advance, it will be of great benefit to the attack. ”

"It's not hard"

Wu Yi smiled: "I have a fat man named Jiu Secai under me, who is in Chang'an City. Even if his light skills are not unparalleled in the world, it is not too difficult to enter and exit Chang'an City. ”

Fang Xie nodded: "I know the ability of wine and color wealth, he runs like a ball of catkins blown by the wind." ”

"Although...... It looks like a big lump. ”

Dugu Wenxiu's eyes lit up, he really didn't expect Fang Xie to leave a chess piece in Chang'an City.

"It's not just the number of defenders, if we can get in touch with our people in Chang'an City, then we can completely divide those dignitaries in the city. Yang Jian died, and his general Wei Mu led five thousand iron generals to guard Chang'an, which was like putting a knife on Chang'an City, which was already an absolute defense, and it could not only defend but also attack. However, his subordinates thought that not all the dignitaries in Chang'an City wanted to accompany Wei Mu to defend it. ”

Wu Yi nodded: "Those people are the most knowledgeable about the wind and the rudder." At first, they may not make any moves, but as long as the lord fights with majesty, many people will take the initiative to contact the lord. ”

Fang Xie snorted: "Jiu Secai is not a stupid person, if he learns that the army has arrived, he knows what to do." ”

Wu Yi thought for a while and said, "The eldest princess's rebellious text ......"

He looked at Fang Jie, but the rest of the words did not come out.

"Fat!"

Fang Xie did not hesitate: "Inform all places." ”

"The next thing to talk about is the grain and grass......

Dugu Wenxiu said: "Not counting Chen Yishan and Chen Dingnan's team, the total number of people and horses led by the lord and his father-in-law will exceed 500,000, plus war horses and livestock, such a huge team will require a huge consumption every day." Let's bring the military rations of Shengtu and Yang Jian, plus the ones brought from the Vermilion Bird Mountain, plus the ...... from the families in the south of the Yangtze River It is estimated that it is enough for the army for a month. Can't bring more......"

"It seems that the food is worry-free for the time being, but after arriving in Jiangbei, that place has been swept by Wang Yiqu Gao Kaitai for two or three years, the people are poor, the land is barren, and it is difficult to supply military food. If it was transported from the camp of Vermilion Bird Mountain to the north, then Hou Ye's fleet and sailors would be accounted for a large part of it. ”

He shook his head: "It's better to solve the problem of grain and grass in Jiangbei." ”

"So...... The route marked by the subordinates has made a small turn here......"

Dugu Wenxiu pointed to a place: "Anqingcang"

Wu Yiyi shook his head: "Gao Kaitai has been in Jiangbei for a few years, but I'm afraid that Anqing Cang has already been emptied." ”

"Not necessarily"

Dugu Wenxiu said: "The reason why Gao Kaitai looted the people so ruthlessly, I thought it was not that he had emptied Anqingcang, but that he wanted to leave Anqingcang to the end." I have specially understood Gao Kaitai, who is extremely cautious in his personality. His team ate the looted food first, keeping the food in Anqing's warehouse for emergencies. ”

"It's going to be fought after all."

Fang Xie thought for a while and said: "The problem of grain and grass, in addition to the Anqing Cang and the Zhuque Mountain camp, there is also the Xinkou Cang in Xinyang City. It is the fastest to transfer grain from Xinkou Cang to the north along the waterway. ”

As he spoke, he looked outside the carriage: "It's almost to the river, and I can already smell the smell of the river." ”

At this moment, suddenly the carriage stopped.

Chen Xiaoru's voice sounded outside: "Lord, there are many famous people and countless people gathered by the river in front, saying that they want to work for the army." ”

"Lao Jun?"

Dugu Wenxiu smiled: "It's time for them to make a gesture." ”

"How many things did the Lao army bring?"

Fang asked.

Chen Xiaoru came in from outside, holding a large wooden plate in his hand.

"Except for grain and grass...... And this. ”

Fang Xie turned his head sideways and looked at it, and his heart suddenly tightened.

On that big tray, there is a set of shining gold armor!