Linhuai is located on the south bank of Huaishui, the vortex water flows into the Huaishui at the northeast thirty miles of Linhuai City, traces the vortex water to the north, it is the southern town of Qingzhou County Pengcheng, the southeast of Pengcheng is Suining, Suining and Pengcheng are more than 50 miles apart, two years ago it was still a horn for each other, and it is the gateway to the south of Qingzhou, but now it is the forward base of the East China Sea to launch an offensive against Pengcheng.

In the battle of the East China Sea, Xu Ruyu sneaked to Yizhou to assassinate, Yi Zhouwu, the head of the Yi clan and the lord of Qingzhou, died violently, and Yi Hanwen was wrapped in the East China Sea battlefield at that time, in order to be able to lead the troops back to Qingzhou and fight for the position with his brother Yi Chongwu, he ceded Linhuai to the Chen family, and the Chen family dismissed the army.

Zhang Jidao led the Yuba battalion army to take over Linhuai, sent troops from Linhuai to the west, occupied Sangyi, Boling, and Dingyuan cities in the west, and invaded Jiangjin and Qinghe; To the south to occupy Haozhou, Qingliu Zhucheng, its momentum is close to the south of Baishi, and in the north bank of Huaishui to build Sizhou City, send troops to the northeast, seize Suining, Bayang, Haizhou Zhucheng.

Zhang Jidao was in charge of the military and political affairs of Zhucheng as the head of Yixing Xingyuan, and the area under his jurisdiction was more than twice as large as the original Yixing Mansion. Cheap war on the northern front, Chen Pre put Zedang, an important town in the northwest of Wanling, into the jurisdiction of Yixing Xingyuan. Zedang is located in the northwest of Zehu Lake and the north shore of Huaishui, and has always been an important town in the northwest of the East China Sea.

Zhang Jidao led the troops to fight endlessly, expanding the territory of the East China Sea to the north and west, and Ze became the hinterland of the East China Sea, forming a flank attack on Xiapi and Pengcheng with Suining and Linhuai.

A few years ago, the war on the northern front was very convenient, and Chen Yu did not worry about anything else, so he handed over the military and political affairs of Zedang and nearby small towns to Zhang Jidao. Xu Ruyu returned from the Northern Tang Dynasty to the south, gathered heavy troops in Baishi and Guangling to threaten the southern border of the East China Sea, and Chen pre-urgently transferred troops from the northern front to the south to aid but could not, only to find that Zhang Jidao had formed a court in the northwest of Donghai County.

Zhang Jidao has been operating in Linhuai for several years, and in the past, Xiaoyi has become the most important city in the upper reaches of Huaishui. When Yiguanyuan first carried out the "County Policy" in Fen County, Zhang Jidao knew the subtleties, and learned from it in Yixing, built a city and a county, and absorbed displaced people to reclaim the wasteland and plant fields. Yixing was separated from the Qingzhou ghost cavalry and the East China Sea War, and the clan power of the family was empty, and under the control of Zhang Jidao, the wealthy clan forces of the East China Sea failed to enter Yixing on a large scale. The government affairs of the thirty-one counties under the jurisdiction of Xingyuan are under the control of Zhang Jidao alone.

Although Zhang Jidao also formed a guard army in Yixing Mansion, most of the control of the battalion army was still in the hands of Chen Xuan. Although the structure of Yixing's military forces was gradually changed through continuous campaigns, it was only after Wan Rong led his troops to move north that Zhang Jidao was able to gradually control the army on the northern front.

Hulan from the western foot of Taihang Mountain to the southern border of Youji, Zhang Jidao instigated Chen Pre to seize Pengcheng, Pengcheng is the gateway to the southwest of Qingzhou, as long as Pengcheng is captured, the East China Sea army can drive straight in.

Zhang Jidao raised his eyes and looked at the vast sky, his eyes were deep and distant.

Chen Ang went to Jiangning to watch the ceremony, but did not return to Wanling, and then Chen Zifang and his wife also left the Houshan Thatched Cottage and disappeared. Does Chen Ang's escape from the world mean that the conflict between Jiangning and Wanling will be inevitable?

Zhang Jidao fell into contemplation, for more than ten years, he has come to this day cautiously, and the desire in centrifugation is only one step away, will he be willing to give up? Zhang Jidao smiled slightly, and said: Xu Ruyu made peace with Wanling on the condition that Wan Rong led his troops to move north, and he had a plan. I knew in my heart that Wan Rong would lead his troops to move north would be a glass of wine, but when I drank it resolutely, I saw the only glimmer of hope and light hidden in it. Xu Ruyu, Xu Ruyu, maybe this line of hope and light has long been expected by you.

When the cold wind blew, Zhang Jidao leaned over and stroked the horse's neck, and the brown horse's mane was draped down and swayed slightly. Zhang Jidao looked at the mountain range in front of him, and after passing the mountain range, until the foot of Pengcheng City, it would be a flat field. The whirlpool skirted the east side of Pengcheng and meandered to the southeast. The camp of the North Line of the East China Sea was stationed on the gentle slope of the northern foot of the mountain range and on the west bank of the whirlpool.

Countless boats and ships exchanged with this place in Suining, and the grain and grass in the rear were continuously transported to Suining through Huaishui and whirlpools to assemble. Zhang Jidao didn't like to take a boat, and he used to ride horses between Linhuai, Suining, and Pengcheng camps. Since the founding of the New Dynasty, among the people in the world who have the most thorough understanding of water warfare, Xu Xing and Xu Ruyu should be regarded as one of the top people.

Wanling's defense system connected by waterways allowed it not to lose a single city in the battle of the East China Sea, and it could use the Huaishui and its branch waterways to quickly transport troops outward. Water warfare has flourished for nearly 200 years, but it has only been in recent decades that the water battalion has been elevated to the same strategic level as infantry and cavalry.

Xu Ruyu went one step further in the understanding of his predecessors, using sea boats to open up strategic passages in the sea areas beyond the land, such a vision is difficult for the world to reach. It is not difficult for Zhang Jidao to see Xu Ruyu's intentions from Jiangning's operation of Wuhu Island, which is far away in the northeast sea of Qingzhou.

Although Zhang Jidao could see this, he still felt so much for Xu Ruyu in his heart, his eyes were teasing, in the distance, Wan Rong led dozens of elite horsemen to usher in the camp, Zhang Jidao sighed secretly: There are only two people in the East China Sea who can't turn back. But I don't know if Wan Rong regrets betraying Yongyang now, Zhang Jidao thought maliciously.

Zhang Jidao rarely regrets anything, but last year, Li Sixun's attempt to assassinate Xu Ruyu failed, which still made Zhang Jidao and Wan Rong sigh for a long time.

"Commander, Wan Rong has been waiting for a long time." Wan Rong turned over and dismounted, hurriedly saluted, still thinking about the harvest of Zhang Jidao's trip, "How is Wanling?" ”

Zhang Jidao bowed his head slightly and said, "Jiang Ning's measures in Guangling, Wanling is deeply worried. ”

The deeper Wanling's worries became, the more dissatisfied he became with Chen, but Wan Rong didn't have any joy on his face, and asked worriedly: "Does Jiangning really have plans to invade the East China Sea north?" ”

Zhang Jidao nodded, but immediately shook his head again, his eyes falling into the distance. Wan Rong turned his head, but it was Chu Wenchang, Chen Jingzong and others who rushed out of the camp.

When Xu Ruyu was in Wanling, Chen Jingzong was the leader of Xu Ruyu's Jingwei, and he was deeply influenced by him, if he was not limited to the identity of Chen's disciple, he would probably go to Yongyang with Zhang Zhongdao to join Xu Ruyu. When Chu Wenchang was in Yongyang, he was a general under Xu Ruyu, but he was idle for several years, and he was very resentful. Xu Ruyu reorganized the political situation in Yongyang, and Chu Wenchang returned to Wanling with Chen Zifang, and served in Zhang Jidao's army, shining brightly, and was deeply grateful to Zhang Jidao for his kindness.

Wan Rong walked over Chen Jingzong and others and whispered: "The commander is not in the camp, Chen Jingzong did not move, and refused to send troops to attack Pengcheng. ”

Zhang Jidao's face was gloomy, the generals of the northern front, only Chen Jingzong was still firmly on Chen Yu's side, if he hadn't let the Pengcheng war wrap up, he was afraid that he would have led his troops and horses south.

Zhang Jidao lifted the big man, got off the horse, handed the reins to Jingwei behind him, and walked towards Chen Jingzong and the others.

Chen Jingzong said politely: "Commander, can't you mediate with Jiang Ning?" ”

Zhang Jidao's eyes fell on Chen Jingzong's slightly anxious face, and he said quietly: "My father-in-law is living on an overseas desert island, and I am afraid that my father-in-law also thinks that Xu Ruyu will lead his troops to drive directly to Wanling City." ”

Chen Jingzong saw him call Master Chen like this, and thought: You really have the intention to use this identity, you will really wave your troops to drive Wanling, how could Master Chen go to Wanling to watch the ceremony first? But he couldn't say anything, and his worries grew, and he didn't hide it on his face, and he stepped aside and was silent.

Chu Wenchang snorted coldly and said: "Jiang Ning is not capable of invading the East China Sea yet, but Xu Ru's plan is not small, and he must not be guarded against. ”

Zhang Jidao nodded approvingly, and said, "Xu Ruyu is suspicious in Yuejun, which makes people worry. ”

Chu Wenchang said: "On the way north for Xu Ruyu, he took Fan Wenlong, a famous general of Yuejun, under his command, which was indeed unexpected by the world, and there was no suspense in the battle of Yuejun. Fan Wenlong did not have an inch of land, so he was in the position of the commander of Qingfengwei, and he was Xu Jinchen, and Xu Ruyu's intention was to entrap the Fan family. The war in Yuejun has stalled, probably because Fan Che and Xu Ruyu are talking about the conditions. The Fan clan is attached, what will the remnants of the Zhu clan still have? ”

"Wen Chang also thought that Fan Che would finally give in?"

Chu Wenchang nodded and said, "Fan Che is attached, and Xu Ruyu will transfer the soldiers and horses belonging to the Fan clan to other places for reorganization. ”

Wan Rong was shocked when he heard this, and said: "The Fan clan has surrendered, and there are no less than 50,000 soldiers who can go directly to the battlefield, Xu Ruyu really intends to organize the Guangling War in winter?" ”

"The newly surrendered army does not have much morale at all, and it is impossible for Xu Ruyu to transfer the newly acquired 50,000 troops directly to Guangling." Zhang Jidao denied Wan Rong's speculation, but the worry in his heart was no less than Wan Rong's. Xu Ruyu is good at overlapping forces in the war, if you want to reorganize the soldiers and horses attached to the Fan clan into an elite division with only Jiangning and horses, it is probably the most convenient to conduct a war, "Maybe Xu Ruyu will transfer the newly attached soldiers and horses to the west of Liyang, Xu Ruyu is very scruples about Rong Yanmen." ”

"It's easy to know Xu Ruyu's intentions." Everyone looked at Chu Wenchang, but heard him say, "As long as we step up our attack on Pengcheng, Jiangning will definitely take action." ”

Chen Jingzong said: "But what does it matter? When the river was frozen, Jingzong thought that he should withdraw his troops from Pengcheng and give Yi a chance to breathe, so as to prevent Hulan Tieqi from moving south. ”

Zhang Jidao's face sank, and he reprimanded lightly: "Pengcheng is the gateway to the Huaishui water system in the north, and Pengcheng is not in the hands of the East China Sea, so it is like a wide opening." To capture Pengcheng, as long as an elite army is guarding here, the rest of the army can go south to support Chen Dudu and stifle Xu Ruyu's ambitions. ”

Chen Jingzong said angrily: "The reason why Jiangning has gathered heavy troops in the south is to ask me to give up the offensive against Pengcheng in the East China Sea. With that, he turned around and walked away.

Zhang Jidao's face was gloomy, staring at Chen Jingzong's back, his teeth clenched.

Wan Rong scolded: "This husband, do you believe that a person who has plotted against me in the East China Sea three times? ”

Chu Wenchang said: "The vertical son can conspire with the enemy who killed his father, and his heart is ruthless, and ordinary people can't reach it, so it should be a big disaster in the East China Sea." ”

Zhang Jidao was slightly stunned, but he thought that what Chu Wenchang said was that Yi Hanwen killed Xu Xing, but Xu Ruyu did not want to avenge his father, but conspired with Yi Hanwen several times. Zhang Jidao smiled slightly, but didn't say anything.

Wan Rong said: "Xu Ruyu can recognize Wu Chu as his father, what else can't he do?" ”

Chu Wenchang let Wan Rong's words stir up the knot, and he snorted hatefully, but did not respond to his words.

The reason why the five sons who escaped under Bayang City were ruined was due to the gift of Wu Chu and Yi Hanwen, Chu Wenchang and Tian Wenguang were older at the time, and their hatred did not diminish with the years, but their hatred for Xu Ruyu was bred by the resentment of being idle for several years. However, Zi Zhongnan and Ge Jing were young and did not remember anything, and when they grew up, they wanted to make a name for themselves and returned to Jiangning with Fang Su.

Chen Jingzong left angrily and walked to the north gate of the camp, the anger in his heart began to ease, and he regretted it slightly, although Zhang Jidao was talented, he was not broad-minded, although he could hide it, but he still had a deep grudge. He rushed at him like this, and he didn't want to bite at himself.

Since the Battle of Pengcheng, Chen Jingzong, Zeng Yixing and others have led 50,000 elite battalions to participate in it. Pengcheng is the gateway to the south of Qingzhou, Yi's business for many years, the city is deep, and the elite soldiers are stationed, the attack is quite hard, and the army attrition is quite serious. Zhang Jidao learned from Jiangning that in Yixing, the military cantonment system was implemented, and the vacancies for the casualties were quickly replenished by the tunding, and the vacant middle and low-level generals were also directly filled by the tun lieutenants. At first, I didn't think it was too late.

Chen Jingzong intended to lead his troops south, but he didn't know how many soldiers and horses he could really take away. If you obey Zhang Jidao's orders, I don't know how many more lives will be killed and injured before you stop the siege with ulterior motives.

Chen Jingzong didn't pity his life, but all the losses in the city were the elite of the Chen family, which made people feel heartbroken. In recent years, Zhang Jidao's ambitions have become more and more vigorous. Xu Ruyu gathered heavy troops in Guangling, Chen pre-transferred the troops and horses of the northern front to the south, Zhang Jidao led the generals to openly ignore the military orders and did not move, but Wanling was silent, Zhang Jidao not only seized the vast majority of the military power of the Pengcheng battalion, but also obtained the status of fighting against Chen Pre in the East China Sea.

Chen Jingzong was worried, but there was no one to talk about, he looked up at the light clouds that were rolling above the sky, sighed lightly, and collected the infinite indifference in his eyes.

When Chen Jingzong returned to the barracks, he heard the drum sound of the tent rising from the direction of the big tent, and he was shocked, and looked up at Wei Shuwei leading a team of soldiers to wait at the camp gate, and said loudly: "The commander is raising the tent, please General Chen go to the big tent to meet you quickly." ”

The commander raised the account, the generals gathered when they heard the drums, and the ten drums were finished, and those who did not arrive were punished with a cane.

If there is no reason, Chen Jingzong will naturally go to the drums, but Zhang Jidao sent Uncle Wei to invite people, and the intention is self-evident. Chen Jingzong's gaze crossed Wei Shuwei and the armor sergeant, and landed in his own battalion, but he saw that the two members of his command and more than a dozen battalion captains were all on the camp and colonel, and he must have known about the change. Seeing the indifference of bystanders in their eyes, Chen Jingzong sighed, looked at Wei Shuwei fixedly, and said, "Do you also think that Zhang Jidao is a person who can be trusted?" ”

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