Chapter 538: The Fifth Marshal

"It's been more than ten years since we raised troops in the Daimyo's Mansion, right?"

"yes, I remember it's been twelve or thirteen years." Yang Yan sighed. He is generally not easy to sigh, but two days ago, he went to his hometown to pay homage to Ma Tai, and remembered the death of Ma Er back then, which is still painful.

Xu Wei snorted: "It's so fast, we were all sixteen or seventeen offspring back then, and in a blink of an eye, we are all past the age of standing." In the past ten years, our brothers have fought in Lianghe, Shandong, the Central Plains, and Shaanxi, relying on more than 90 descendants of Xujiazhuang to build up today's situation, which is not easy. ”

Zhang Qing and Yang Yan both bowed their heads and were silent, since the start of the army, dozens of battles have been fought large and small, and our old brothers have broken a lot. But there is no help, the crockpot is not broken from Inoue, the general will inevitably die in front of the battle, and there will be a day when I serve the country, this is the fate of my generation.

"What is even more commendable is that our brothers have been companions since childhood, and along the way, life and death have been helping each other in weal and pain. This is what I cherish most in Xu Jiu. Although we are superiors and subordinates in the public, we are always brothers in private. Xu Wei said solemnly.

Yang Yan raised his head at this time: "Do you need to say this?" Since I was a child, I will do whatever Brother Jiu does, if it weren't for you, there would be no today, black face, right? ”

Zhang Qing stared at him: "Can't you call me Zhang Jiyi?" ”

Xu Wei smiled and continued: "Although you have been following me to fight in the east and west, you are no different from my brothers. But if conditions allow, I still hope that you can have your own development. ”

Hearing this, Yang Yan said with a straight face: "Brother Jiu, I don't know about others, anyway, where you hit, I will follow." Others can't pee in the same pot as me. ”

Xu Wei frowned: "Can you be a little promising?" You have already been in charge of my commandery, even if you are promoted to deputy commander in the future, what can you do? Now that there is an opportunity, I discussed with Zhang San for a long time and decided to push you out. ”

Yang Yan was confused: "Where to push?" ”

"In the first battle the year before last, the Western Army recovered Jingzhaofu, Yaozhou, Ningzhou, Fangzhou, Huazhou, Shaanzhou and other places. Although the whole of Shaanxi was not recovered, the former Yongxing military road was largely recaptured. With such a large piece of territory, it is impossible for it to all be under the jurisdiction of my Qin Feng Shuaisi. I thought about it for a long time, talked to Mianzhou, and intended to rebuild the Yongxing Military Road Commander. This can stabilize the recovery zone and play a deterrent role against the enemy. Xu Xuanfu has roughly agreed, the position of Yongxing military marshal, I want you to sit. Xu Wei finally told the truth.

Yang Yan was very surprised to rebuild the Yongxing Military Road? I'm going to be the commander? It's too sudden, isn't it? Why didn't you show any tone before? Looking at a black face, seeing that he nodded slightly, it seems that this matter is not over.

Yang Da was silent, he raised troops with the Purple Gold Tiger, from the head of the capital to the current capital control, dozens of battles of all sizes, and the battle wounds on his body were innumerable, which rolled over in the sea of blood in the corpse mountain. What did you join the army for? At the beginning, I was young and frivolous, and I didn't think much about it, anyway, I just followed what Brother Jiu did. Later, the army grew stronger day by day, and the rank rose day by day, and it was impossible to say that there was no idea.

Who doesn't want to be an officer when they are soldiers? Who doesn't want to be a handsome official? But in Shaanxi, in the Western Army, there are only a few commanders, and there are only a few marshals, not who can be if they want to. Look at the four handsomes in Shaanxi now, which one doesn't have a background of generals? Relying on military exploits alone, you can't be a commander, you have to have a mountain behind you.

His father is a farmer, at most he is a hunter, and he has never been an official for eight generations. With this background, how dare you think about the handsome position? But now, Brother Jiu personally told himself that he wanted me to be the commander of the Yongxing army to hand over such a large defense area, and it was to the front of Jin, to me, I Yang Da, how could he do it......

"I said Yang Da, the minister made you a handsome, why didn't you even say thank you? I want to sit in this position, but I haven't had a chance yet," Zhang Qing said.

Xu Wei raised his hand and looked serious: "Don't worry, Xie has a sentence I asked ahead, this dispatch, do you think you can do it?" If you don't have confidence in yourself, then I'll replace someone as soon as possible, otherwise I'm afraid I won't be able to lose this face at that time. ”

Yang Yan was still silent, Zhang Qingdu was anxious for him, and urged: "The handsome man asked you"

Yang Yan suddenly bounced up, stood solemnly, and changed his fists: "Brother Jiu, if you let me do it, I will do it"

Xu Wei shook his head: "It's not that I asked you to do it, it's you who want to do it yourself, and you can do it, understand?" It's not that I'm going to put a yoke around your neck to plough the country. If you don't think you have that ability, then I didn't say it. ”

Zhang Qing was so anxious that he sweated, and shouted: "I said Yang Da, why are you crazy?" ”

Yang Yan gritted his teeth, his face turned red, and he said loudly: "Brother Jiu, no, to be honest, I didn't expect that I could be a handsome man, but when Xianggong said it now, he also felt that this Yongxing military marshal, who else would I be?" ”

As soon as this sentence came out, Xu Wei and Zhang Qing were both shocked. No, I asked you to express your determination, how can you still come up with a "who else will I be"? Co-author, do you think the commander of Yongxing has no other choice but you? There are more people who want to be this handsome, and who can do this handsome. Isn't Wu Jue as good as you?

"Then tell me, who are you going to give up?" After Xu Wei was stunned, he asked with a smile.

"It's not a lowly boast, in the army, in terms of force, military exploits, and qualifications, no worse than anyone else. Moreover, I am familiar with the situation in this area, and I have traveled all over the prefectures and prefectures, and I know that the rebuilding of the Yongxing Military Road is to prepare for the recovery of the whole of Shaanxi, and if I become a commander, I will definitely go to this goal" Yang Yanfei burst out like artillery.

Xu Wei turned his head to look at Zhang Qing, and both of them had surprises on their faces. I didn't expect this guy to see it so clearly

After a while, Zhang Qing said: "You are half right. I'm not afraid to tell you, in fact, there are other ideas on top, but the minister insists on helping you get on the horse, do you know why? ”

Yang Yan's expression became more and more solemn: "Our brothers can be of the same heart and not like others, and they have different dreams in the same bed"

Zhang Qing was speechless, turned to Xu Wei and smiled: "It seems that it is not okay not to give him this handsome position." ”

Xu Wei smiled and said nothing, that's right, to help Yang Yan get on the horse, first of all, his ability is enough; Secondly, if he wants to unify the command of the Western Army, the commander of Yongxing must be Yang Yan

In the second year of Song Jianwu, in September, the Sichuan-Shaanxi Xuanfu Disposal Division officially issued an order to reduce Jingzhaofu to the Yongxing Army, abolish the Dingrong Army, and merge it into Huazhou, and rebuild the "Yongxing Army Road Passage and Pacification Division", which governed the Yongxing First Army, Yao, Sui, Hua, Shang, Yu, and Shaanxi six prefectures. With the former Qin Feng Jingluo pacifying Sidu, Yang Yan was the "official matter of the Quan Yongxing Army's road and the pacification of the Division", and he also knew the Yongxing Army and was in charge of the handsome seal. After Wang Yan, Yang Yan became another handsome man who was separated from the Purple Gold Tiger and stood alone.

Xu Wei actively supported his old department, in addition to allocating money, food and equipment, he also assigned the thousands of troops commanded by Yang Yan in Chang'an to his control, and assigned Li Cheng, Liang Xing, Fan Zhong, Wang Fu and their troops to the Yongxing Army Commander's Division, all of whom were given the post of commander.

The reconstruction of the Yongxing Military Road is of great significance. In the past, although the Western Army had recovered these areas, it could only assert its sovereignty by establishing institutions. In addition, Shaanxi originally had Yanyan, Huanqing, Jingyuan, Qinfeng, Xihe, plus the Yongxing Army in the interior of Guanzhong, collectively known as Shaanxi Sixth Road. But under the onslaught of the Jin army, the two most important ways to fall were captured. Now that the Yongxing Army Road is being rebuilt, it is also a clear and unmistakable telling to the Jurchens that you have to go back all the way to the Yongxing Army, and the Sprinkle family has to take Yan Yan back

Sure enough, Han Chang, who was in Yan'an, immediately couldn't sit still as soon as he heard that the Yongxing Military Road was being rebuilt. He knew what the Zijin Tiger was planning, so in late September, he resolutely sent troops to the security army in an attempt to recapture this important town in northern Shaanxi and contain the threat of Huanqing all the way to Yan'an.

This time, Liu Guangshi, who has always been lackluster in battle, fought for a while. After Xu Yuan's Jingyuan army recovered the security army and handed it over to him. He knew very well that if he wanted Qingyang Mansion, where the Qingshuai Division was located, to no longer be ravaged and destroyed by the Jin Army, he had to run the security army well. As long as the security army is in my hands, the Jin army will not be able to defeat it, so he appointed Liu Qi, the general of the gate, as the security army's commander, and allocated 6,000 elite soldiers to let him stick to the security.

Liu Qi finally waited for this opportunity, and as soon as he arrived, he took off his official robe, put on cloth clothes, and worked with the soldiers and people to strengthen the city defense and set up barriers. He expected that if the Jin army came to invade the security guard, it would march along Luoshui, first take Jingde Village, then take Jintang City, and finally come to Baoan City. Therefore, he focused on Jintang City, which is "a city within a city", and arranged 3,000 elite soldiers here to ensure that half a year's food was stored, and more bows and arrows were prepared.

When Han Chang's most courageous commander led 12,000 elite soldiers to take Jingdezhai lightly and attack Jintang City with great fanfare, Liu Qi's efforts paid off. With four times the strength of the Jin army, they used all the available equipment such as goose carts, flying bridges, trench bridges, and city-breaking hammers, and even sharp weapons such as the eight-ox crossbow and the divine arm bow, and attacked for half a month, and Jintang City was still impregnable. Han Chang was shocked when he heard the news, and sent an additional 4,000 soldiers from Ganquan to help in the battle, set up artillery trucks, and bombarded the city day and night. However, Jintang Castle was originally built for war, and all its structures were for military purposes, especially since it was sandwiched between mountain peaks and had only two attack sides. Even though the Jin army had the advantage in strength, it was helpless to take the defenders. At the beginning of October, Liu Guangshi ordered Zhang Zhongyan to lead 7,000 troops to the north, and just entered the territory of the security army, the Jin army retreated after hearing the news and returned in vain.

Liu Guangshi asked for credit for Liu Qi on this matter. Liu Qi used to be under Zhang Shen, just a nine-grade petty official. Later, Xu Wei was ordered to recruit the descendants of the famous generals of the Western Army, and Liu Qi was promoted to one level. Later, he followed Liu Guangshi into Huanqing, and he was only a seven-rank martial artist. After Xu Wei received Liu Guangshi's report, because Liu Jiu was the son of the family and had meritorious service, he was exceptionally promoted to Zuo Wu Doctor, who was the sixth grade, and rewarded Liu Guangshi and Huanqing Shuaisi.

Just as the situation in Shaanxi continued to improve, the sound of war drums came from the south

In October of the second year of Jianwu, Wushu, who was sitting in Tokyo, launched a campaign aimed at capturing Xianghan after careful preparations. This time, Wushu used 30,000 Jin troops in the real sense of the word, such as Jurchen and Bohai, 10,000 Khitan and Xi troops, 40,000 Han Er troops, and 70,000 Han signing troops, totaling 150,000 troops.

It is worth noting that just now when he was in power, the red and purple Wushu commanded the troops, but only used a mere 30,000 real gold troops. Is it that the fourth prince of the Dajin Kingdom despised the Song army to the point of no return? Of course not, his opponent is He Guan, a veteran of the Song Army, and the famous Fuzhou Zhejia in the west, who dares to underestimate it?

The reason for the decrease in the number of Jin army's expeditions year after year is that the losses are too great, and the Jurchen army alone in the hands of the Western Army alone has reached tens of thousands. Second, for the southern invasion, tribes like Bohai who are iron buddies with the Jurchens are not highly motivated, and it is difficult to recruit. There is no way, so I can only supplement it with the Khitans, Xi people, and Han people.

However, this time, the "Han Army" and the "Han Army" under the command of Wushu are different. The Han Er Army refers to the troops recruited by the Jin State from the Han people under the former Liao State. The Han army refers to the Han troops recruited by the Jin State in the Lianghe or Central Plains areas of the Great Song Dynasty, and most of them are former Korean troops.

Anyway, the miscellaneous multinational forces are now collectively referred to as the "Golden Army". The 150,000-strong army, under the command of Wushu, left Tokyo and rolled south.

But this time, the Song army had already taken precautions. Soon after Wushu arrived in Tokyo, he was discovered by Yue Fei Yue Pengju, the deputy commander of the Shenwu Rear Army stationed in Tangzhou. Because the Jin army's rangers increased significantly, and they often crossed the south of Yingchang Mansion to spy on them. Yue Fei hurriedly reported that he was in charge of Zhang Bofen, and the latter flew to report He Guan.

Although He Guan is nearly seventy years old, but the treasure knife is not old, he believes that after comprehensive intelligence analysis, it is very likely that the dog that does not bark is going to bite Wasn't the Great Song Dynasty categorically rejected Jin Guo's request for half of Shaanxi? The Jurchens were very surprised that they did not react or express anything, and at that time, many people thought that the dog that bit people did not bark and had to be guarded.

He Guan quickly made arrangements, the other party is here, it must be Xiangyang, first of all, Xiangyang's troops must be strengthened, and he ordered the capital control of the Shenwu rear army, and it is also the capital control of the Jinghu Xuanfu Division, Zhang Shuye's eldest son Zhang Bofen personally sat in Xiangyang, and sent the deputy commander Han Shizhong into the city. He ordered Bofen's younger brother, Zhang Zhongxiong to garrison Suizhou, and then reduced his troops, transferred Yue Fei's department back, and worked with Zhang Zhongxiong to defend the flank of Xiangyang. In the end, his descendants, the troops under the command of his eldest son, He Ji, served as a reserve.

While busy arranging, he sent people to Jiangnan West Road to inform his family, and sent people to Hangzhou to report for help. He Guan also had an extra eye at this time, he knew that the Western Army had defeated the Jin people in Shaanxi, and now life is getting better and better. Although the battle has not yet been fought, it is still necessary to let the Western Army know the situation in advance. So, he sent people west to Sichuan to inform Xu Churen.

When the news that the Jin army might attack the Xianghan region reached Hangzhou, the Manchu civil and military, even the emperor, were not shocked. Because I have been mentally prepared for a long time, and in terms of actual action, I am more prepared.

Under the auspices of Xu Shao, the imperial court hoarded a large number of materials, and when the war was going on, the money and food were enough. In addition, the Shenwu rear army of the Jinghu Xuanfu Division has expanded to more than 60,000 people, and the Shenwu front army of the Jiangxi Xuanfu Division, although it is an elite route, has reached 80,000 foot cavalry. At this time, the various departments of the Imperial Camp Division can be described as having enough soldiers.

Zhao Chen, the young emperor, although he was still a little flustered, was still in a strong spirit under the instruction of Emperor Zhao Huan. Ordered the right servant of Shangshu to shoot, and with the Zhongshu Sect under the Ping Zhangshi, and also the imperial camp envoy Xu Shao, fully presided over the military and political affairs, and took measures for military affairs.

Xu Shao was not in a hurry, and first ordered Yousi to send the prepared money, food, and ordnance to Jinghu. He also instructed Jiangxi to fold his family, pay close attention to the battle situation, and "move with the camera, and advance with profit." In the end, he ordered Zhao Ding to prepare and wait for the opportunity to cross the river.

The war began in mid-October, and the Jin army was divided into two routes, one to attack Tangzhou, one to Suizhou, and all the way to Xiangyang through Dengzhou. Wushu last expedition to the south, all the way to the Yangtze River, straight to the Yangtze River, the exploits can be described as brilliant this time, after the fall of Sticky Han, his prestige is rising, so he took advantage of the arrogance to send troops, full of ambition, naturally will not put the Song army in his eyes.

After the Jin army entered Tangzhou, they found that the Song army was nowhere to be found, and they rushed to Suizhou without stopping at all.

Suizhou, is the confluence of the Yangtze River and the Huai River, east of Ezhou, west of Xiangyang, north of Xinyang, south of Jingzhou, is "Jingchu to rush", choke "Hanxiang throat", is an important town in northern Hubei Province.

Zhang Zhongxiong and Yue Fei led more than 14,000 elite soldiers to guard this place. When the Jin army swarmed and occupied the suburbs of Suizhou, Yue Peng saw that it was disorganized and scattered, knowing that the other party was underestimating the enemy. So he asked for his son Yue Yun and asked him to lead 800 horsemen out of the city to kill him.

But Zhang Zhongxiong, for the sake of safety, did not agree. But he still comforted and said, knowing that your son is an enemy of ten thousand, but the enemy is current, Suizhou has the responsibility of defending Xiangyang, so be cautious. Yue Fei did not insist, and led the army to wait for him.

Seeing that the defenders were closed and could not come out, the Jin army became more and more despised, so they set up artillery carts outside the city, collected arrows and stones, and prepared to attack the city. Yue Fei peeked at the Jin army camp and its siege method for several days, and found that this group of birds was not the one that was defeated by us in Yingchang Mansion last time? I thought that if I played the banner of the Jin Army, I didn't know you?

When the siege battle began, Zhang Yueer would calmly command. Last time, with the assistance of Zhang Zhongxiong and the Zhejia Army, Suizhou was recovered, and he knew where the key weakness of this city was, and made corresponding arrangements. The Jin army shelled for several days, and then the horns and war drums sounded in unison and swarmed up

As soon as he saw it, he was stunned by the defenders. Under the dense bow fire of the defenders, the Jin army paid a great deal of casualties, and it took a lot of effort just to build the trench bridge to the moat. Even if they attack the base of the wall and set up a goose cart, few people can go to the city.

Tens of thousands of troops besieged Suizhou City, which looked lively, but it was fought down in a few days. The defenders became more and more courageous, and the Jin army became more and more afraid, because they paid the price of thousands of people, and they still haven't even seen what Suizhou City looks like