How many Zhao troops are there under Pingyang City?

According to the judgment of the cardinal, if Shi Hu led the main force south, the number was likely to exceed 40,000; In fact, if the defenders of Pingyang are around 10,000, they can force Liu Yang and others to defend the city, and they dare not dare to confront the enemy on the plain, and the Zhao army must be at least about 30,000. Wang Ze's 10,000 troops were able to echo Liu Yang inside and outside, and destroy Shihu's main force in one fell swoop? It's unlikely.

Especially before leaving, Pei Gai also repeatedly admonished, saying that Shi Hu is good at fighting, and this time he is going south violently, in terms of overall strategy, it is actually a battle of trapped beasts - if he does not take the initiative to attack, after we grow stronger, Xihe and Taiyuan will definitely be difficult to defend - then the trapped beasts cannot directly attack its edge. General Wang, the purpose of your trip is to assist Liu Yang, hold Pingyang, and delay the war until after the autumn harvest.

This is also one of the main reasons why Pei should not be appointed as a general. Although Zhen Sui is not as brainless as he appears on the outside, he is eager to fight and is too impatient, which is still his temperament and weakness - before in Qinshui, didn't he almost drop the chain because of this?

In the past, there were many victories, one is because there are few strong enemies, and the other is that after the review, there is indeed an element of gambling, but it is impossible to rely on luck in planning. For example, a cautious general will not rush even if the odds of winning are more than 60%; A reckless general, if he has a three-point chance of winning, he dares to rush forward; What about Zhen Sui? First of all, he did think about it before the war, and secondly, when the results were evenly matched, he would naturally be ready to move......

Therefore, with Pei Gai's advice, it was impossible for Wang Ze to cover his head and rush to Pingyang City in one go, but halfway through, he suddenly turned around, crossed Fenshui in the east, and finally settled in the Yao Temple about ten miles southeast of Pingyang City.

Almost at the same time, Shi Hu personally commanded 7,000 elites, and Yin Nong, another general, led 5,000 miscellaneous Hu, and parted ways, intending to cooperate with Guo Tai on the shore of Fenshui, twenty miles south of Pingyang City, to block and even surround Jin Aid, but the result was, of course, inexplicably pounced......

According to legend, Pingyang was originally the capital of Emperor Yao, so as early as the former Han Dynasty, the imperial court set up a shrine in the county and offered sacrifices every year. This Yao Temple was originally in Fenxi, to the Jin Hui Emperor Yuankang years, that is, more than 20 years ago, due to disaster damage, so rebuilt in the east of Fenshui, and added the god of Shun and Yu, the folk commonly known as the "Three Holy Temple".

The Yao Temple was built on the plain, slightly higher ground, with a total of dozens of houses, outer earthen walls, densely planted trees, pine and cypress forests, even when Hu Han occupied Pingyang, they were all sent to take care of it, and from time to time to repair it - after all, Liu Yuan was a self-proclaimed Chinese, inheriting the foundation of Yan Han - it was an excellent infantry camp. And from here to the east, less than forty miles away is the county seat of Xiangling, once defeated, there is still a chance to retreat into Xiangling to defend, not to be wiped out.

Wang Ze once followed Pei Caibing into Pingyang, and then Zhen followed the southern transfer, and Liu Yang went north, and he also served as the highest military governor in Pingyang County for a period of time, so he was naturally familiar with the nearby terrain. Therefore, Guo Mo, Yang Qing and others asked the generals about Pingyang before, saying that if Pingyang City is trapped, although there are reinforcements, they cannot break the siege, and can only confront the thieves for a long time, then in your opinion, where is it better for the reinforcements to set up camp?

The key is to judge the map and even the sand table, around Pingyang City, within a radius of one or twenty miles - if it is too far away, it will be difficult to echo the defenders of Pingyang - except for a Fenshui, all of them are large plains, basically there is no danger to rely on, it is really inconvenient to set up a formation. Then ask the generals who were once stationed in Binh Duong.

Whether it is Zhen Sui or Wang Ze, they all pointed to Yao Temple, saying that only here is the best place to set up camp.

So today, Wang Ze went straight to the Yao Temple, still thinking in his heart: "If this temple is still in Fenxi, it will be more convenient and safe to act and respond." "It's just that there are few perfect things in the world, and it is rare to find such a place on the great plains, so what is there to complain about?

When the news reached Shi Hu's ears, Shi Jilong couldn't help but scold: "I don't want to die ten thousand years ago, and I will also come to bad things!" "Wang Xu and the others hurriedly persuaded Yao, saying that Yao is an ancient saint, and the king must not speak in vain—besides, who told you that he has been dead for 10,000 years?

Shi Hu said angrily: "If I divide my troops to take Xiangling first, I will not come here!" ”

He paid too much attention to Pingyang City in front of him, and estimated that the reinforcements of the Jin side would definitely hit the south, so he only sent Guo Tai south to harass Linfen and Jiangyi, and easily let go of Xiangling City east of Fenshui. If Xiangling is captured in advance, then Yao Temple will be sandwiched between the two Zhao armies of Pingyang and Xiangling, and if he gives the Jin general ten dares, he will not dare to run there to set up camp.

Zhang Qun persuaded and said: "Xiangling has its back against Huoshan Mountain, and it is not an easy city to attack. If you divide the troops to attack, it will be difficult to attack if there are few soldiers, and if there are many soldiers, you are afraid that the Pingyang Jin army will take advantage of the situation to kill, which is really not a good strategy...... "That's why we didn't suggest to you a few days ago to go to Xiangling, this has to be explained first-" The king is not upset about this matter. The fact that the Jin people came so quickly was beyond our expectations......"

Originally, it was estimated that even if Chang'an City had prepared in advance, as soon as it had an urgent report, it would be necessary to send troops north immediately, and it would take at least another six or seven days to reach Pingyang - unless the light cavalry came to help, but according to the report of the outpost, the Jin army that came to reinforce was almost all foot soldiers. Where did they come from?

Shi Hu almost blurted out: "How could Mr. Pei be expected by you?!" But in the end, he just coughed lightly, and then said: "The enemy should be lenient...... Actually, this sentence is also what "Mr. Pei" said back then - "A light enemy will lead to defeat." Everyone, and for me to be lenient, that is, Tunyao Temple, how will you seek me next? ”

Zhu Rail: "The main force of our army is to encircle Pingyang, mostly in Fenxi, while the Jin people cross Fenshui in the east and go down to the Yao Temple, so it is not easy to deal with the enemy of Pingyang. Therefore, the ministers expected that their actions would be based on the Yao Temple first, in order to observe the movements of our army. If I divide my troops to cross Fen to attack, the siege will be weak, and it will be even more difficult to take Pingyang; If you don't attack, or take Yang County in the north, or even cut off my back road, the king must not be careless. ”

Shi Hu nodded and asked, "How should I deal with it?" ”

Before Zhu Liang could answer, Zhang Qun first said: "It is rare to fight two rabbits first, and now there are tens of thousands of enemies, one is based on the strong city, and the other is based on the Yao Temple, if I divide the troops and attack, I am afraid it will be difficult to fall." If only the Yao Temple is attacked and its reinforcements are broken, the morale of Pingyang will be depressed, and it will not be difficult to attack again; If we continue to attack Pingyang, the enemy of Yaoci will disturb our rear road, and its situation will be dangerous. It was to ask the king to temporarily release the siege of Pingyang and go all out to cross east to the Yao Temple. ”

Zhu Liang waved his hand and said: "What Zhang Jun said, although it is reasonable, but the actual application is very difficult." If the siege of Pingyang is released, the defenders can also kill the back road to disturb me, and the grain, cattle and sheep are all in Xiping City, close to Pingyang, and far away from Yao Temple, once attacked, how to deal with it? ”

Zhang Qun said: "Since the heavy general guards Xiping City...... "so much food and materials, it is inconvenient to follow the army to the east, and in addition to Xiping City, there is no suitable place to store nearby.

Wang Xu interjected: "To the north of Xiangling, there is the ancient city of Gaoliang, the former Jin Dynasty Like killed Xi Qi, Zhuo Zi, Xun Xi, Qi Huan Gong is the army of the princes, west to the Jin, to the high beam and returned, that is, this place." It is said that the ruins are still there, and grain can be stored. ”

Zhu Liang asked rhetorically: "The grain and straw cross the Fen and don't leave the tun, the labor is laborious, and if the enemy of Pingyang takes the opportunity to kill, how should it be handled?" ”

Shi Hu couldn't help but be a little impatient when he heard him always ask rhetorical questions, so he asked: "With the intention of Zhu joining the army, how should I deal with it?" ”

Zhu Liang arched his hand and said: "I should make the troops in the south and east of the city slightly biased towards Fenshui, so as to prevent blocking Jin and aid, and not to make the enemy in Pingyang coordinate." Then its reinforcements will not be able to enter, as a certain said before, or will go north to Gaoliang and Yang County. Gaoliang Xiaoyi also, Yang County is broken, its potential may not be as good as Yao Temple, when the time comes, it is not difficult to break it. It is necessary to prevent the enemy army from rushing north to Yong'an and other places......"

Zhang Qun and Wang Xu were about to refute, but Shi Hu waved his hand and said: "What Zhang Senjun said is indeed reasonable, and Wang Senjun's words are also in line with my heart...... Why is it in line with his heart? Because the siege is too difficult and too boring, it is better to go all out to fight the Yao Temple first, after all, there are no deep trenches and high walls, and there is no need to waste time and energy to build so many siege equipment, right?

He was originally an impatient person, and he has been attacking Pingyang for the past few days, but he has never succeeded, and he is really upset. As a result, Zhu Rail, what do you say, you can send Jin people to reinforce Gaoliang and Yang County? No matter how broken it is, there will be a city wall there after all, and I will have to build siege equipment when the time comes—such a heavy thing, of course, it is impossible to push it under Pingyang City—this is not tiring!

It's better for me to directly lead the main force to fight the Yao Temple, if the enemy of Pingyang dares to come out, then come out, I just need to protect the hundreds of thousands of cattle and sheep - oh, now it is estimated that it is less than 100,000 - not lost, the back road is cut off for a few days, what's the big deal? Once the Jin army leaves the fortified city and sets foot on the plains, I don't believe that with my superior forces, I can't defeat them!

Since Shi Hu had already made up his mind, Zhu Railnai did not dare to raise any more objections, so he had to plan repeatedly with Zhang and Wang to determine the overall marching order and route.

The Zhao army still made Guo Tai lead the cavalry to the west of Fenshui, and ordered Chen Chuan to guard Xiping City, and at the same time one south and one north, to monitor the movements of the Jin army in Pingyang City. Shi Hu sent 7,000 elites to cross the Fenshui River first and attack the Yao Temple; Guo Quan led the main force to merge and supervised the transportation of grain, grass, cattle and sheep, and transferred them from Xiping City in Fenxi to Gaoliangyi in Fendong.

In the meantime, an ambush was set up, if the Jin army in Pingyang City dared to kill the generals and harass the grain transportation, they could be surrounded and annihilated in one fell swoop!

——————————

Besides, when Wang Ze arrived at the Yao Temple, he immediately assigned soldiers and horses to build camps and fortifications.

After all, Yao Ancestral Hall is only an ancestral hall, not a city, and its area and defense power are quite limited—it is better than camping on flat ground—he is in the middle of the ancestral hall, and in the direction of Pingyang, there is a camp on the left and right, and they are horns on each other.

After the specific reinforcements arrived at the Yao Temple, how should they respond to Pingyang City, and how the Qian army might respond, the cardinal department had already drawn up six or seven sets of plans, which could be selected according to the changes in the situation. Anyway, there are only three movements around Shi Hu-

First, seeing that he could not win, he withdrew from the siege and retreated...... The probability is very low, if the army really retreats, eighty percent of it is a pseudo-retreat and ambush, then our side must not rashly chase after it.

Second, divide the troops to cross the Fen, to advance or monitor the Yao Temple, and the main force will continue to attack Pingyang City - if the army sent is small, Wang Ze should find an opportunity to break it, and the army sent is large, just to divide the pressure on the Pingyang side, and the Yao Temple side will stick to it.

Third, the main force crossed Fen to attack Yaoci, and left part of the troops to monitor Pingyang - in that case, Liu Yang would need to take the initiative to seek a way to break the situation.

The first two movements are not very stressful for Wang Ze, and he can calmly spread them; And if Shi Hu personally attacks the Yao Temple, the importance and danger of holding the Yao Temple will be greater than the defense of Pingyang City. Zeng Yun, the governor of the capital: "Be lenient to the enemy." Wang Ze prepared for the worst for this, supervising the soldiers to repair the fortifications in preparation for the coming fierce battle.

However, what he is most worried about is the problem of food and grass.

10,000 troops hundreds of miles away, from Hexi rushed to rescue Pingyang, the grain and materials brought could not be too much, the original plan of the cardinal, this part of the grain and grass first gathered in Anyi, and then transported from Anyi to Jiangyi, Jiangyi to protect the grain north. However, between Linfen and Jiangyi, only Mo Huaizhong's 500 foot soldiers can be mobilized, and if the Qian army mainly attacks the Yao Temple, it will inevitably send troops to attack and even cut off the transportation route. If the grain is insufficient, then you can only give up the Yao Temple and retreat to Xiangling......

Therefore, on the one hand, Wang Ze divided his troops to the south to meet Mo Huaizhong, and on the other hand, he sent an envoy to Xiangling to ask the county to supply grain and straw - no matter how poor the small county is, how much can the treasury take out something, right?

The preparations have not stopped, and it has been reported that the army has set up a pontoon bridge on the Fen River, intending to cross eastward. Wang Ze personally sent 2,000 soldiers and horses to intercept and disperse the soldiers who crossed the bridge first. But then more than 1,000 horsemen swam across from ten miles upstream, and copied over, Wang Ze saw that it was not easy to be defeated, so he had to withdraw his troops and retreat. Shi Hu led a large force of Zhao troops, successfully crossed the Fenshui, and turned his back to the village to force the Yao Temple.

Besides, in Pingyang City, naturally they had already received the information that the reinforcements had arrived--the two sides could pass on simple news through Burning Feng--and then saw the brigade of the Qiang army rising from the camp, escorting grain carts, cattle and sheep, surging eastward, and knew that they were going to kill the reinforcements. Chen An asked for an order to go out of the city to intercept and kill the enemy's food team, but Liu Yang shook his head and said: "The thieves who transport grain from the front of the city must set up an ambush, and Chen Jun must not move lightly." ”

Chen An said: "As Chang'an previously passed the official document, this is to reinforce, but there are only thousands of people, if you can cooperate with me, you may be able to repel Shihu, but if it is besieged by thieves, or even destroyed, it will hurt the morale of the city, and then Pingyang may not be able to defend it." I see today's situation, Shi Hu will cross the main force to Yao Temple, if you don't take the opportunity to go out of the city to attack, I am afraid that the reinforcements will be in danger. I know that General Liu has always been cautious, but with a small enemy and a big enemy, it may be difficult to win if he does not surprise his troops! ”

Yao Yizhong stood on Liu Yang's side and advised Chen An: "It is strange to frustrate the enemy, but if the thief has already taken precautions, the so-called strange soldier will be trapped to death, and the general will think twice." Then he turned to Liu Yang and suggested: "The intention of the last general, and wait for the main force of the Qiang army to cross, and then General Chen can lead the knights out of the city to seize its stronghold, and intercept it to support the battle of Fendong." ”

So the city did not move until the next day, and although the flags were still fluttering on the barracks of the Ka army, it was obvious that most of them were empty. Nai secretly sent knights out of the city to investigate, knowing that the soldiers left in Fendong were divided into two groups, the infantry was mostly in Xiping City, and Guo Taizhi's rangers patrolled in the south of Pingyang City.

So the generals gathered to discuss, let's go out of the city first, who should we fight?