When the Eastern Jin Dynasty was actively preparing for war in response to the invasion of the Former Qin, the Former Qin, as expected, was actively preparing for the south.

Although it suffered a crushing defeat in the battle for Huainan and several subsequent small-scale attacks, on the whole, the Former Qin forces were still in a state of expansion, and on the eve of the Battle of Weishui, its territory was so vast that it was "the sea in the east, Qiuzi in the west, Xiangyang in the south, and the desert in the north." "In the entire land of China, only the Eastern Jin Dynasty in the southeast corner has not been taken into the pocket by Fu Jian.

Although there are Wang Meng's last words, and the ministers often take them out to remind Fu Jian, but at that time, after unifying the north, it was Fu Jian's inevitable choice to go south to eliminate the Eastern Jin Dynasty and establish a unified country.

No matter who is in that position and historical period, they will not choose to rule the river and coexist peacefully with the Eastern Jin Dynasty. At that time, the situation corresponded to such a poem: "Why does Hu Yun have to ask, Heri is from the middle." "It is the general trend to go south to crusade against the Eastern Jin Dynasty.

In October 382, Fu Jian and his ministers began a discussion on whether to conquer the Eastern Jin Dynasty in the south. Now I can get 970,000 for my soldiers, and I want to ask for it, what is it? ”

Not so good! Fu Jian's wishes were strongly opposed by many civil and military ministers and even harem concubines represented by Fu Jian's younger brother Fu Rong. Summarizing the objections, there are three main points:

One of them: The internal instability of the country, rebellions occur from time to time, the Xianbei, Qiang, and Qiang people are not long after they are attached, and they have the enmity of destroying the country and destroying the family.

Second: The Jin Dynasty is the orthodoxy of the Mandate of Heaven, harmonious from top to bottom, concentric inside and outside, and with the dedicated assistance of Xie An, Huan Chong and others, and the Yangtze River is difficult to cross. As the saying goes: when you have the sky, you will occupy a favorable area and support people. Honesty is not profitable.

Third: Our soldiers are tired, and the people are afraid of the enemy. The defeat in Huainan and the subsequent battles seriously affected the morale of the former Qin army. At this moment, the most important thing is to "accumulate the valley according to the army and wait for it to change." ”

For the above three points, Fu Jian refuted them one by one, he believed: as long as we continue to achieve victory and defeat the Jin army, the Xianbei, Qiang, and Qianren people will naturally fear our heavenly power and be convinced, and the so-called hidden dangers will no longer exist; As for the natural danger of the Yangtze River, "Now with my people, I throw the whip into the river, and cut off its flow, so why is it dangerous?" "Xie An, Huan Chong and others, after the Jin Dynasty is destroyed, let them enter the court as officials, and everyone will gather together, wouldn't it be better? And the so-called fear of the enemy is even more impossible to talk about: the royal drive is a personal conquest, with millions of troops, and the battle is like a mountain, and the elimination of the Eastern Jin Dynasty is like an autumn wind sweeping away the leaves, and it can even "have a campaign without a war".

In short, as long as this attack is victorious, all worries are unnecessary. What's more, in Fu Jian's view, the crusade against the Jin State is "taking advantage of the momentum of the dying country to attack the dying country, why not be loyal!" "Van Jin is sure to win!

The ministers would actually object, Fu Jian said he was very confused!

Is there no one to support it?

Naturally, there were, namely those Qiang and Xianbei people who were regarded as enemies by their opponents, and 30,000 Yulin Lang composed of "good family sons" who were born into rich families. These people have either never experienced war and do not know the dangers of war, or they are eager to make meritorious contributions, be crowned officials and lords, and gain a firm foothold in the former Qin; Either they have ill intentions and have the heart of "praying mantis catching cicadas, yellow finches behind", in short, the war can give them benefits, and they will naturally fully support it.

Jingzhao Yin Murong Chui once supported Fu Jian, "Weak and strong, small and big, this reason is natural, and it is not difficult to know." With His Majesty's Shenwu Response, Weijia Overseas, Tiger Brigade Millions, Han and Bai Manchu Dynasties, and Yuer Jiangnan disobeyed the king's order, how could he be left behind to leave his descendants! "Poetry" cloud, 'Husband Condo, is not needed. 'Your Majesty is enough to break the Sacred Heart, so why should you consult the court? Jin Wuping Wu, the people who fought Zhang (Hua) and Du (pre) two or three ministers, if they follow the words of the court, how can they be mixed? ”

It was the words of this Xianbei God of War that strengthened Fu Jian's determination to send troops to attack Jin, "The one who decides the world with me is just the only one." ”

Many people believe that under the opposition of the ministers of civil and military affairs, Fu Jian still decided to send troops to fight against the Eastern Jin Dynasty, which is a manifestation of self-righteousness and obstinacy, and Murong Chui and other manpower persuaded Fu Jian to send troops, which is even more ulterior motives, after all, Fu Jian and the Xianbei Murong family, whether men or women, have had too many indescribable things! The grievances in this are hard to describe.

His younger brother Fu Rong said to Fu Jian: "Xianbei, Qiang, my enemy female, often think about the changes in the wind and dust to achieve their ambitions, what can be done!" The young people of the good family are all rich children, and they are not idle in the army, and they are flattering to meet His Majesty's intentions. Now Your Majesty believes in it and uses it, and if you take it lightly, you are afraid that the merit will not be successful, but there will be troubles, and there will be no regrets! ”

Before the war started, the results were not revealed, and no one could fail to serve the prophet, so it was naturally difficult to judge which was right and which was wrong. The warmongers talk a lot of war, and those who steal peace will make peace. The key to whether to mobilize troops lies in the strategic decision-maker - Fu Jian.

In fact, if the Battle of Weishui ended with the victory of Qianqin, Fu Jian's millions of people would be under the city of Jiankang, and they would be able to slightly determine the southeast and dominate the world. I think that Murong Chui, Yao Chang and others will definitely not rebel, but will only be a loyal and good general who "determines the world" with Fu Jian. Who's to say that they weren't brave and faithful when they spoke out? And the remarks of Fu Rong and others are not obstructed by stubborn conservative forces?

It's a pity that the defeat of the former Qin is the sin of the war-talkers!

In order to disrupt the former Qin's plan to go south, in May 383, Huan Chong gathered an army of 100,000 and launched the Battle of Xiangyang of Qin and Jin with the purpose of capturing Xiangyang. However, the campaign ended after only a few skirmishes, and the Jin army retreated to its original position, failing to achieve its strategic attempt to contain the southward advance of the former Qin.

On August 8, 383, Fu Jian, the king of Qin, sent troops from Chang'an to attack Jin.

Before leaving, Fu Jian not only canonized official positions for Sima Changming (Emperor Xiaowu of the Jin Dynasty), Xie An, Huan Chong and others, but even the mansion where they lived had been built, just waiting for Qing to come.

Many people believe that Fu Jian's actions are the best description of the so-called "arrogant soldiers will be defeated", thinking that they can easily win, but they will eventually become a laughing stock.

It's not the first time this has happened, when attacking Qianliang, Fu Jian also built a house for Zhang Tianci and then sent troops, and in that battle, the Qin army was successful. Isn't this a morale-boosting move?

History, heroes by success or failure.

The Qin army was divided into three routes, and the specific plan was as follows:

The East Route Army moved south from Youyou and Hebei through Pengcheng (now Xuzhou, Jiangsu), first occupied Huaiyin and Xuyi, passed through San'a, and attacked Guangling; The Western Route Army marched through the Yangtze River and Hanshui in Shu and Han, captured Jiangling, Xiakou and Jiangzhou, and together with the main force, advanced by waterway to Jiankang of the Eastern Jin Dynasty; Fu Jian led the main army as the middle road, passed through Luoyang, along the Ru River and Yingshui to Shouyang (now Shou County, Anhui), and then advanced to the north bank of the Yangtze River, causing the Jin army to be attacked on three sides, taking care of the situation of losing the other.

On the day of the dispatch, the former Qin army had a total of more than 600,000 infantry and 270,000 cavalry.

In terms of strategic intent, the former Qin army concentrated its main force in Huainan, in an attempt to annihilate the main force of the Jin army in the Huaishui area in one fell swoop, and completely destroy the defense of the Eastern Jin Dynasty in the eastern region, so as to sweep away the basic resistance to attack Jiankang.

Looking at the situation at that time, in addition to perhaps letting the former Qin soldiers and civilians rest and rest, I think that Fu Jian's decision was correct, and the strategy and tactics were also remarkable, and until this time, there was nothing wrong.

In the face of the large-scale attack of the former Qin, the Eastern Jin Dynasty adopted the countermeasures of resisting from the east and west, concentrating mobile forces to ensure Huainan, and building health from the frontal barrier.

In the west, with Huan Chong as the commander, he led more than 100,000 troops to hold the Jiang and Han regions and prevent the former Qin army from advancing eastward along the river; In the east, with Xie Shi (Xie An's younger brother) as the commander and Xie Xuan as the forward governor, he concentrated 80,000 mobile troops to defend the strategic points on the Huai River line, prevent the Qin army from crossing the Huai River, and ensure the safety of Jiankang.

The march of more than 900,000 people was a big problem, and by September of that year, when the main force of the Middle Route Army led by Fu Jian arrived at Xiangcheng (now Shenqiu, Henan), more than 200,000 troops led by the forward commander Fu Rong and Zhang Oy, Fu Fang and other troops had advanced to Yingkou (now southwest of Shou County, Anhui), and Murong Chui's headquarters was marching towards Yuncheng (now Anlu, Hubei), and the follow-up Liangzhou Army had only advanced to Xianyang (now Xianyangdong, Shaanxi), and had just gone not far from Chang'an; The East Route Army from Youzhou and Jizhou was on the way, and successively marched into Pengcheng (now Xuzhou, Jiangsu); The tens of thousands of soldiers and horses led by Yao Chang of the Western Route Army only began to descend the river from Shu at this time, and they may have just received the order to march!

This was a huge march, but it can be seen from the march that the millions of people of the former Qin army did not arrive at the battlefield at the same time, let alone enter the battle at the same time. In fact, in the end, only Fu Rong's more than 200,000 forward troops participated in the battle. Although the disparity in strength between the two sides is huge, it is not as serious as imagined.

For the expression of the Eastern Jin Dynasty, it can be expressed as "stunned", the Jingshi was shaken, and everyone was frightened. Except for one person, Xie An, who always remained calm.

At that time, Xie Xuan, who was the forward governor at the time, asked Xie An for advice on how to deal with the enemy, and Xie An replied very calmly: "There is another purpose," and then he no longer paid attention to Xie Xuan. Xie Xuan, who was left aside, didn't dare to ask again, so he sent his subordinate Zhang Xuan to ask for instructions again, but Xie An directly ignored it, took his relatives and friends out to play, and returned late at night.

Huan Chong, who was responsible for defending the Western Front, was worried about the safety of Jiankang and sent 3,000 elite troops to assist in the defense of the Beijing Division. Xie An rejected Huan Chong's reinforcements with "the punishment has been decided, and the armor is perfect". After Huan Chong got the news, he sighed to the officials: "Xie Anshi has the amount of a temple, and he doesn't ask the general (I don't know the strategy), now the enemy is coming, Fang You can't talk about it, and he sends all the innocent young people (Xie Xuan) to refuse, and the people are weak and weak, and the world is already known, and I am in vain!" ”

Huan Chong, who held an army of more than 100,000 troops, still thought that the Eastern Jin Dynasty would be finished, which showed the strength of the former Qin and the critical situation at that time,...... Xie An's psychological quality is good.

In fact, where is the reason for the need, Huan Chong on the Western Front or Xie Xuan on the Eastern Front, if either side is defeated, the soldiers and horses guarding Jiankang, even if there are 30,000 more, there is nothing they can do.

On October 18, Fu Rong, the forward commander of the Qin army, conquered Shouyang (now Shou County, Anhui), a strategic town known as "the shoulder and spleen of Jiankang and the origin of Huaixi", in the direction of the Huai River, and opened up the Yingshui and Rushui waterways.

Here is a brief introduction to the geography of Shouyang.

Shouyang, now Shou County, Anhui Province, is located in the central part of Anhui Province, the terrain is inclined from east to west, the north of the county is low mountains and hills, the famous Bagong Mountain, Kip Stone Mountain, etc. are all in its territory, along the Huai Liebu, forming a north Great Wall, during the confrontation between the north and the south, it plays an important role in resisting the attack of the enemy troops in the north. In particular, Kip Stone Mountain, facing on both sides of the Huai River, the situation is majestic and dangerous, and it has always been a place that the Northern Dynasties must attack and the Southern Dynasties must defend. The topography of Shou County is more important in that the vortex and Yingershui flow into the Huai River from north to south through the east and west sides; The water comes from the south and enters the Huai through its northwest. Before the chasm water transportation network is not destroyed, from the Central Plains to the south, you can follow the Langdang Canal (i.e., the chasm) into the vortex and Yingershui, enter the Huai River, and then go out of the Huai River, Chaohu Lake, and Weixu Water directly to the Yangtze River; It is also very convenient to get from Shou County to Hefei by land. Therefore, at that time, Shou County could be described as "the north chokes the vortex and Ying, and the south is the south and the nest"; "There is the obstacle of the rivers and lakes outside, and the solidity of Huaihuai inside"; Advance to the north to the Central Plains, retreat can stick to Huainan, in the north-south traffic in the important position.

Therefore, the occupation of Shouyang greatly facilitated the logistics supply and march of the former Qin army, and its strategic significance was extremely important.

The Eastern Jin Dynasty was in a passive defensive position.

At this time, Hu Bin, the general of Longxiang of the Eastern Jin Dynasty, who went to reinforce him, stopped his army from advancing after learning that Shouyang had been lost, and led his 5,000 naval troops to retreat to Kipshi (on the north bank of Huaishui in the northwest of Shouyang, southwest of present-day Fengtai, Anhui), intending to prevent the former Qin army from advancing eastward along Huaishui by virtue of the dangerous terrain of Kipshi Mountain.

Fu Rong naturally understood the intentions of the Jin army, and after occupying Shouyang, he immediately attacked Kipshi. At the same time, he ordered Wei General Liang Cheng and others to lead an army of 50,000 to occupy Luojian (Luoshui, south of present-day Huaiyuan, Anhui), and set up a wooden fence (zha huai) at Luokou (where Luojian enters Huai) to block the Huai River traffic and prevent the Jin army from advancing westward along the waterway.

At this time, Fu Rong made a strategic mistake, after the attack on Kip Shi did not go well, the main force actually turned the direction of the attack and besieged Hu Bin's department with all his might. This created a situation for the Eastern Jin Dynasty to contain the enemy's main force with partial divisions, and the large army was able to deploy calmly and seek fighters.

The advance of the Former Qin should be aimed at eliminating the living forces of the Eastern Jin Dynasty, rather than being defeated by a blunt army in front of a certain city. After Liang Cheng advanced eastward, if Fu Rong could continue to besiege Hu Bin with only part of his troops, and the main force would then advance, it would cause greater pressure on the Jin army, and it would not lead to the serious consequences of Liang Cheng's lone army standing out later, and he could not be rescued after the defeat and was completely annihilated. After all, Hu Bin's troops who were trapped in the lonely city only had 5,000 men, and they could not pose a substantial threat to the former Qin army.

However, it was because of these 5,000 people that more than 200,000 troops under Fu Rong's command stagnated in the Shouyang area of Weishui.

A similar story was repeated a thousand years later, and a man named Chen Youliang made the same mistake, and he stayed under the city of Nanchang for more than 100 days. And his opponent used this time to complete the assembly, repair, and dispatch of the troops, and then wiped out all his 600,000 troops in a place called Poyang Lake, and decided the battle to belong.

It's a pity that Fu Rong doesn't know!

Due to Fu Rong's hesitation, the main force of the 80,000 Jin army led by Xie Shi and Xie Xuan successfully arrived in the Weishui area, and went down to the village twenty-five miles away from Luojian to observe the battlefield situation.

At this time, Fu Rong intercepted Hu Bin's distress letter and learned that the Jin army was exhausted and the army's heart was shaken. So, he sent a message to Fu Jian, "The enemy soldiers are few and easy to capture, come quickly!" ".

After receiving news from Fu Rong, Fu Jian made his first mistake since he moved his troops: he abandoned the main force of the Chinese army and only led 8,000 light cavalry to Shouyang.

Although the soldiers can capture the fighters in time, as the head of a country, Fu Jian's most important job should be to make central dispatches, coordinate the situation, and enable the armies of all walks of life to realize the strategic intention of dividing troops and attacking together. However, it is really unwise to easily break away from the main force and put himself in danger. Moreover, due to leaving the command position, after the defeat in the battle, Fu Jian was unable to reintegrate the army, which was fatal, and also laid the groundwork for the serious consequences of the overall collapse of the Qin army after the defeat of the forward troops.

We can only say that at that time, Fu Jian was quite confident in defeating the Eastern Jin Dynasty.