Ding Mianchen led 10,000 elite soldiers to leave the Falling Mast Fort and go eastward, day and night for 100 miles, and when he was 50 miles away from Xinzi City, the defenders when he discovered Xinzi City increased to 6,000.

Ding Mianchen held his sword on the ground, his eyes looked in the direction of Xinzi, but his vision was blocked by the pale blue remnant hills, and the flowing clouds in the sky were extremely low, rolling and changing on the ridge. The Eastern Navy in Dingyuan, Longyou and other places did not move, but the Xinzi garrison suddenly doubled, revealing many strange things. In any case, it has become difficult to realize the original plan of surprise attack.

Xinzi is located behind Longyou, and seizing Xinzi not only seals Longyou in the Jiangning region, but also cuts off the return route of Chen Pre's army in the northeast direction and forces Chen Pre to enter Jiangning.

On the seventh day of the first month, Ding Mianchen ignored the dissuasion of his subordinates and resolutely gave up the original plan to attack Xinzi, and the army suddenly turned fifty miles southwest of Xinzi City and attacked straight to the northeast corner of Chen Pre's camp. On the eighth day of the first month, he captured Qingqiu Mountain, which was located in the northeast of Chen Pre-camp.

Between the Yangtze River and the Huai River, the area from Jinshui to the east is a plain landform, and there are some remnant hills and broken ridges in between. With Guangling as the boundary, the western region is more dense, with the Aoshan Mountain in Jiangjin and the Cuiping Mountain in Baishi as the typical landforms. Qingqiu Mountain is about 60 zhang high, southeast to northwest direction about four miles, across the northeast of Chen Pre Daying.

After Jiangning captured the Fallen Mast Fort, Qingqiu Mountain became critical, and Chen Pre deployed two battalions of 4,000 elite soldiers on Qingqiu Mountain, which was more than the defenders of Xinzi City. Ding Mianchen led the army to leave the mast fort and went straight to Xinzi, the guard of Qingqiu Mountain saw that Xinzi was in danger, and divided half of his troops to disturb Ding Mianchen's back road, but he did not expect Ding Mianchen's leading army to suddenly turn around, leaving aside the eastern navy that disturbed the attack, and went straight to Qingqiu Mountain.

Qingqiu Mountain has an easy terrain, it is not a dangerous place, and there are only 2,000 defenders, and they attacked all night, and before the arrival of reinforcements from the East China Sea, Ding Mianchen successfully captured Qingqiu Mountain.

On the long case of the map, Xu Ruyu's eyes fell on the location of Qingqiu Mountain, frowned, and said: "Qingqiu Mountain is not an easy place to defend and difficult to attack, Ding Mianchen has 10,000 elite soldiers in his hands, and it is not difficult to defend it for a few days, but it is just a ......" Speaking of this, he turned his head and asked Zhao Jingyun, "When Ding Mianchen left the Falling Mast Fort, how many days of military rations did he bring?" ”

"Five. Maybe I can hold on for eight days, but it's been three days. ”

Qingqiu Mountain is located on the inner line of the East China Sea, and it is in the wilderness, so Ding Mianchen could not take food from the people, so he could only rely on the military rations he carried when he left the Falling Mast Fort. Not to mention that Chen Yu will actively counterattack Qingqiu Mountain, it is the grain and grass, and Ding Mianchen can only support five days in Qingqiu Mountain.

Xu Ruyu said softly: "The sudden doubling of the defenders of Xinzi City should be due to Zhang Jidao's secret deployment. Ding Mianchen saw that the new posture was unbreakable, so he should go to the southeast, jump out, and find an opportunity to join the Mei Liting Division, instead of storming Qingqiu Mountain. ”

Zhao Jingyun glanced up at Xu Ruyu and said: "Ding Mianchen's attack on Xinzi, its purpose is to cut off the return route in the northeast direction of Chen Xuan, Xinzi is untakable, and he attacked Qingqiu Mountain, which also achieved this purpose, Jingyun thought that Ding Mianchen's decision was not bad." ”

Shao Haitang said: "The garrisons of the East China Sea in Dingyuan and Longyou dare not move, and Chen Pre does not dare to divide too many troops to capture Qingqiu Mountain. ”

Xu Ruyu looked tired, holding the long case with both hands, looking at the fire heart of the oil lamp and the dim fire, and said, "Zhongdao will give me an order." After saying this, he seemed to have spent a lot of energy, returned to the handsome seat and sat cross-legged, looking through the dossier passed from Jiang Ning.

Shao Haitang, Zhang Zhongdao, Fang Su, Zi Yangqiu, Zhao Jingyun and others carefully scrutinized every detail around the long case map.

Wu Cheng stood far away in the corner of the tent, looking enviously at the few people standing in the middle of the tent. Zhao Jingyun followed Xu Ruyu for less than two years, but he was reused at the beginning of his follow-up, although the rank could not be compared with Shao Haitang and others, but he was one of the generals that Xu Ruyu relied on the most.

Wu Cheng also had more than a month by Xu Ruyu's side, and Xu Ruyu's performance in the rest of the month can only be described by the word lazy. Almost all the details of the military operation were agreed upon by Shao Haitang, Zhang Zhongdao, Fang Su, Zhao Jingyun and others.

Shao Haitang, Zhang Zhongdao, Fang Su, Zhao Jingyun and others, no matter which one of them can be alone, if Xu Ruyu still wants to participate in the trivial matter, he is suspected of competing with his subordinates.

When he was in a trance, he suddenly felt that the burning stone standing beside him was pulling his clothes, and he turned his head sideways, but saw him pouting towards the camp tent, and looked over, Xu Ruyu was beckoning him to pass.

Wu Cheng joined the army as a battalion, and he also served in the camp, and occasionally he could talk to Xu Ruyu, but it was rare for Xu Ruyu to call him over to speak, and he was apprehensive and uncontrollable, so he stood in front of Xu Ruyu, gave a military salute, and said, "What do you command?" ”

Xu Ruyu put down the file in his hand and said: "Qin Zhongshu changed his name to Qin Ziqing to serve as a pawn in Jianyan Palace, Zicheng and Qin Ziqing have known each other for a long time, what do you think of this person?" ”

When Wu Cheng heard this, he was shocked, there had been no news from Qin Zhongshu for a long time, and there were all kinds of speculations hidden in his heart, but he didn't expect it to be the worst. However, Xu Ru was calm and calm, and called each other with honorifics, so that Wu Cheng's heart was more stable.

Catching up with Xu Ruyu's clear eyes like water, Wu Cheng carefully chose his words and said: "When Qin Ziqing Xuancheng said that he was fighting, Wu Cheng met at the right time and was able to get acquainted. Wu Cheng or Fail out of Chengdu and Chongqing, nowhere to be home, drifting in the four fields, feeling that the people of Jiangning are kind, and they have been staying in Jiangning before they have to meet Qin Ziqingshu again. Wu Cheng admired Mr. Kou's name, and Qin Ziqing regarded himself as Mr. Kou's disciple, and was willing to introduce him, so he became familiar with each other. ”

Xu Ruyu smiled slightly, but he didn't mind that he was eager to clean up the relationship with Qin Zhongshu, and said: "Mr. Kou wants to recommend you to serve in the army, and the acquaintance between you and Qin Ziqing will be explained one by one in the recommendation, and there is no need to repeat it." ”

Qin Ziqing's matter was widely implicated, and Kou Zichan was also deeply affected. Kou Zichan did not avoid suspicion, and still recommended himself, this kindness of knowing made Wu Cheng very moved.

"Wu Cheng is ashamed of Mr. Kou's promotion." Wu Cheng calmed down a little, "Wu Cheng thinks that Qin Ziqing is not a minister of his subordinates. ”

When Shao Haitang heard this, he couldn't help but glance back at Wu Cheng and said: "Zhang Jidao is not a minister of his subordinates, Qin Ziqing's talent may not be inferior to Zhang Jidao, but the success of the heroes needs to be urgent, Qin Ziqing defected to Nanping, and he can't be allowed to have too many thoughts, maybe he will become a powerful minister of Nanping." ”

Shao Haitang can also be regarded as a powerful minister of Jiangning, but the princes in charge of the three governments and one division have real power in their hands, and they are not weaker than Shao Haitang.

However, Shao Haitang is the most majestic among the princes of Jiangning, Wu Cheng owes his body, and does not dare to be disrespectful, but he disagrees with his opinion in his heart, and says: "Qin Ziqing gave Wu Cheng the impression, but he is not a person who is nostalgic for the powerful in the world, Wu Cheng said that he is not a minister of his subordinates, but he does not say that he is the same as Zhang Jidao, and has uncontrollable ambitions. ”

Zhang Zhongdao, Fang Su, and Zhao Jingyun turned their heads to look at each other, but saw that Xu Ruyu heard Wu Cheng's words, and his brows were frowning at this time, and there were many worries hidden in his eyes.

The atmosphere in the camp tent became very depressing for a while, and after a while, Xu Ruyu stood up and said to Wu Cheng: "Wu Cheng has been with me for more than a month, talking about military affairs, so that I have gains. Zhong Dao, you draft a policy in the name of Sima Ya, and Tang awarded Wu to join the army in the Qingwei military camp, and add the rank of left captain. ”

Wu Cheng joined the army with a battalion, but he had no real title, could not lead the army to fight, could not accumulate military achievements, and it was difficult to get ahead.

Wu Cheng was overjoyed when he heard this, and he was about to thank him immediately, but when he saw Zhang Zhongdao looking at it horizontally, he said in a loud voice: "Go to the Green Guard Army to do something, stay by my side, command the personal guard camp for me, and add the rank of left captain." ”

Jiangning military system, General Ce's personal guard battalion is full of 500 people, and the battalion lieutenant is under control; General Wei's personal guard battalion was full of 300 people, and the left lieutenant commanded it.

Zhang Zhongdao served as the head of the Jiangning Xingyuan camp and the commander of the armed guard army, and he can be regarded as the most powerful military figure in Jiangning, second only to Jiang Lingtian in the Jiangning army.

Wu Cheng didn't mind the high military rank, but Zhang Zhongdao said that he was in Jiangning, and the personal guard battalion was just his escort in Jiangning Mansion, so how could he have any soldiers and horses to command. Wu Cheng smiled bitterly in his heart, but he didn't dare to show it.

Xu Ru smiled and said, "Since you also value Wu Cheng, stay by your side." ”

Zhang Zhongdao hastily wrote a military order, handed it to Wu Cheng, and said: "You take this to the West Camp to select 500 people, and you must be worthy of the name of the personal guard battalion." ”

Shao Haitang said: "Zhongdao is my Jiangning heavy general, and I should be cautious when choosing a personal guard." ”

Wuzhou surrendered the army here, and Shao Haitang was worried.

Zhang Zhongdao laughed and said: "Yue Jun is so brave and brave, I can't let Zhu not give him a chance to come out because of Zhu's fault, Zhongdao thank you Mr. Shao for your concern." ”

Seeing Zhang Zhongdao like this, Shao Haitang didn't say anything anymore, and waved his hand to let Wu Cheng act accordingly.

Xu Ruyu understood Zhang Zhongdao's thoughts, called Wu Cheng, and said: "Then take a full battalion system, and only after the war can it be downsized." ”

More than 40,000 soldiers and horses were gathered here, and a battalion was only 2,000 people, but the big war was coming, Wu Cheng knew that the 2,000 people he selected would be used as the vanguard.

In the 58th year of the New Dynasty, on the 10th day of the first month, the 40,000 Jiangning troops stationed on the north bank of Xia'a Creek for nearly half a month left the camp on the north bank of the river embankment, advanced northward, and advanced from the front to the Chen Pre-camp set up on the north bank of Xia Axi in the East China Sea.

Wu Cheng led a battalion of pioneers to attack Qingzhuyan first. Qingzhuyan is located in the southeast of Chen's camp, which is not a mountain, but a low hill more than ten zhang higher than the surrounding plains, and it is Chen's outpost camp outside the camp.

Since Xu Ruyu's 40,000 troops on the north bank advanced northward together, Qingzhuyan would sooner or later fall into the hands of Jiangning.

Xu Ruyu climbed the Qingzhu Rock, looked north from here, and reached the south camp of the Chen Pre-camp in the East China Sea, and the ground for more than ten miles was an unobstructed Pingchuan.

The South Camp of the East China Sea is backed by Fangshan Mountain, and the only small city Qingchi between the hundred miles on the north bank of Xia'a River is built on the back of Fangshan. Qingchi City is small, 10,000 soldiers and horses are enough, Chen Pre set up the north camp in a valley in the west of Qingchi City, and there is a narrow valley through Fangshan, connected with the south camp.

Chen pre-stationed 60,000 elite soldiers in the East China Sea in three large camps in the north and south of Fangshan, the farthest distance was only ten miles, and the special terrain of Fangshan was used to make use of each other's horns. Jiang Ning could not use his troops to encircle Fangshan within a radius of more than ten miles, and concentrated his forces to attack the North Camp, and the main force of the North Camp temporarily took refuge from Changgu to the South Camp, and could also send reinforcements from the South Camp to disturb the flank of Jiang Ning, making it impossible for Jiang Ning to attack the North Camp with all his might.

Zhao Jingyun pointed to Fangshan in the north and said: "Chen Pre used the terrain of Fangshan to set up camp, Jiangning needs to use twice the strength to trap it, considering that to lead the East China Sea garrison of Dingyuan and Longyou, it is necessary to invest three times the troops, no wonder Chen Pre is not afraid of the encirclement of our army." ”

Xu Ruyu said lightly: "Chen Pre-use of soldiers has its own uniqueness, but it is just that he can't see through the fog of the world. "Wrap the blue and black big sluice a little tightly, and walk down the gentle slope. On the gentle slope in the north, there are more than a dozen corpses of East China Sea soldiers that have not been buried, Xu Ruyu just blushed his face, didn't say anything, and walked straight to the foot of the mountain, before saying to Wu Cheng: "Build a camp along Qingzhuyan, don't be sloppy, you must guard against Chen Pre attacking the camp, there is chaos here, and retreat to the river embankment to stop the decline." ”

Although most of the troops are surrendered to Wuzhou, the generals in the army are all children of Jiangning Yanwutang, and although the combat power is weak, as long as Chen Yu does not die to attack, there should be no problem in holding Qingzhuyan. The Green Guards, the soldiers and horses of the Fan clan, and the middle base army came from the flanks, how could Chen Yu still have the courage to attack here.

Wu Cheng thought so in his heart, but Xu Ruyu opened his mouth to order, but he didn't dare to be sloppy, and he should have lowered his hands.

Xu Ruyu said: "Zisu is good at camping affairs, you can ask him for more advice." ”

While he was talking, the peripheral rangers led a general in armor over, Xu Ruyu stood there, far away, and recognized the person who came was Xu Haofei, the general of the Fan clan.

Fan Wenlong was originally the commander of the Fan clan, but he was later deposed, but his prestige in the Yuhang army did not weaken. The generals who surrendered to the Fan clan were probably old in the past, which saved Fan Wenlong a lot of effort to regain control of this army.

In the first battle of Yantan Mountain in Fuzhou, Xu Ruyu was trapped in the old man's peak, Fan Wenlong led the troops to help, Xu Haofei was also in the army, and Xu Ruyu met in a hurry, but he didn't leave any impression on Xu Ruyu.

The arrangements for the generals of the Yuhang army were all recommended by Fan Wenlong, and most of them were generals of the Fan family, and Jiang Ning gave full trust to them, that is, they also appointed people from Yuhang in the newly established auxiliary posts such as marching, military affairs, and staff officers.

Xu Haofei was a lieutenant of the teaching school, and was actually awarded the rank of battalion lieutenant, and was one of the generals that Fan Wenlong relied on.

Xu Haofei dismounted from a long distance, walked closer, knelt on one knee, and said: "Xu Haofei, the captain of the teaching school, was entrusted by General Fan to ask for orders to attack the North Camp of the East China Sea. ”

Wu Cheng was shocked: Xu Ruyu asked Yu Hang to surrender his army to participate in the siege, but let the Green Guards contain Zeng Yixing in Dingyuan.

;