Zhang Bohu was repeatedly defeated by Yang Zhi, but he was very unconvinced and extremely depressed.

At the beginning, Linglong and Yang Zhi were captured, only a little bit away, just a little bit to take the lives of the two, he blamed it on impetuousness, so that he got carried away. Half a life of exile, in Nanchu forbearance and dormancy for many years, he thinks that he is ill-fated, and only to "the heavens will descend on the people" as the spiritual power. Knowing that there is a huge difference between the two countries in political, economic, military and other aspects, the general trend of Southern Chu has gone, and I can only sigh helplessly in my heart: It is a crime of non-war!

Wen Huanzhang has commanded the Chu army for decades, how can he not know what the national situation is? How is the war, is there any confusion? Asking Zhang Bohu how to fight next, it seems that he is planning to deal with it, but he is actually suspected of evading.

The solution is not nothing, it is related to the survival of the country, it is nothing more than to throw down all the capital, hold the belief that the death will be left behind, and give it a go. But the biggest problem is that Nan Chu's capital is not much left, and it is not theirs. They are neither the chairman nor the general manager, but just two wage earners.

Nan Chu invited peace for the first time in order to gain time, and Zhang Bohu said that he moved the general manager Tan Chongyuan. The second time he sued for peace, Emperor Chu, the chairman and general manager Tan Chongyuan, didn't even say hello, bypassed the two and directly sent an envoy to contact Yang Zhi, but was simply rejected by Emperor Xia. The two giants are so indisputable, if there is a third time, it must not be a peace, but a begging!

Seeing that the building is about to collapse, it stands to reason that it is not impossible to change the boss to work, and there will not be too much pressure. Both of them are willing to fight to the end!

Zhang Bohu did not answer Wen Huanzhang immediately, and after being silent for a long time, he asked instead of answering: "How does Wen Shuai think he should fight next?" ”

Wen Huanzhang let out a long sigh. Xu Xu said: "Shen Chong crossed the river, you and I originally intended to break Chen Zhun's plan. There is no way to put it into practice. The number of troops stationed on the periphery was less than 30,000, and the situation was precarious. It may be surrounded and annihilated by Shen and Chen at any time. If they were ordered to retreat to Changsha, Yang Zhi would be waiting in Pingjiang again, and he would definitely make every effort to block them. As long as our army is delayed for three or two days, the Shen and Chen troops will pursue them from behind, and they will still be in a catastrophe. ”

"If you send someone to ask the emperor to send tens of thousands of troops out of the city from Changsha to respond, at least half of them can be withdrawn, and you can even take the opportunity to defeat Yang Zhi. However, this plan is decisive and fast. Otherwise, it will never be feasible. ”

From a tactical and strategic point of view, Wen Huanzhang's plan is extremely feasible and can be described as a great good. If the Chu army outside the city can withdraw to Changsha, the precious vital force can be temporarily protected, and it will also add an important weight to the defense of Changsha. Yang Zhinai was the commander of the Xia army, and if he could take the opportunity to defeat him, the pressure on Baling and Changsha would be immediately reduced, and the morale of the Southern Chu army would be greatly encouraged.

But it is not difficult for Zhang Bohu to hear the implication that Wen Huanzhang is inconvenient to say explicitly. The battle has come to this point. Yang Zhi's outstanding military skills have been recognized by the whole world. What you can do, he can't think of? The Xia army is fierce, will it give the Chu army this opportunity to withdraw to Changsha? Emperor Chu and a group of courtiers are still counting on you to defend Baling. Blocking the Xia army from moving south, will they immediately send troops out of the city to respond?

It is up to people to plan things, and it is up to heaven to make things happen. Anyway. It's worth a try.

"Two days, we only have two days. No more than three days. Zhang Bohu said on the matter: "Shen Chong has just crossed the river and is busy assembling the army. and liaise with Chen Zhun to discuss how the two departments will cooperate in the next step, so there will be a very rare gap. ”

Wen Huanzhang nodded and said, "The fighter plane is fleeting. The old man immediately wrote the chapter and sent someone to Changsha urgently. Later, he ordered the army outside the city not to engage Chen Zhun in battle, and immediately assembled and went to the south of the city to stand by. If it doesn't work out, what happens to it? ”

Zhang Bohu said with a tired face: "Chen Zhun is a fierce general of the Xia army, our army will avoid fighting and gather to the south of the city, and we will definitely notice it." With Shen Zhong in the back, Chen Zhun can let go of the attack. For the sake of prudence, Wen Shuai should send another army out of the city to cover! At least it will make Chen Zhun scruples, and our army will be relatively safe for a while. ”

"Before dawn the day after tomorrow, if the emperor does not reply, our army can only withdraw and live and die with Baling. More than half of the Xia army's naval division has been lost, with only more than 15,000 troops left, and less than 400 large and small warships, so it is difficult to fight a decisive battle with our army's naval division. ”

"Wen Shuai can order the water division to be the main one, supplemented by a infantry army, to be responsible for the defense of the waterfront side of Baling. Grain and ordnance can also be replenished by water. For the defense of the city on land, we only need to order our army to drive Chen Zhun out of the range of artillery and heavy crossbows, and send troops out of the city at the right time to prevent them from successfully building a position, so that the Xia army will not ignore the casualties and take the liberty of forcibly attacking the city. With such a deployment, it is not a big problem for Baling to hold on for a year and a half. ”

"That's all I can do." Wen Huanzhang was quite helpless, and said another worry in his heart: "Since the capture of Nanchang, Wei Feiyang's department has been resting and recruiting troops, and there has been no movement so far. At that time, even if there are 20,000 troops left to garrison Nanchang, at least 60,000 to 80,000 troops can be drawn to attack Changsha. I hope that our emperor can order our army to defend tenaciously! ”

Zhang Bohu was relieved: "The emperor sent an envoy to ask for peace again, but Emperor Xia strictly refused. If you don't defend it tenaciously, won't you sit back and wait for death? Even if Shen Chongye had already crossed the river, the Xia army wanted to conquer Baling, but the troops were still too small. If you want to capture a fortified city like Changsha, which is heavily defended, the combined strength of Yang Zhi, Ye Chuang, and Wei Feiyang is only more than 100,000, and the strength is obviously insufficient. Yang Zhi is too ambitious and wants to take care of both cities, but he has fallen into a stalemate. Wen Shuai doesn't need to worry too much! ”

Facts have proved that Wen Huanzhang and Zhang Bohu's judgment of the battlefield situation is very accurate, and their tactical use is extremely appropriate.

On October 29, while the Chu army on the periphery of Baling moved to the south of the city, it sent 20,000 troops out of the city. Chen Zhun saw that the Chu army was strong, and thought that as he had thought before, he intended to fight him in a decisive battle outside the city. On the one hand, he joined forces with Shen Chong's two units, and on the other hand, he divided into 20,000 people to attack the army and intensify its deployment.

It wasn't until late at night on October 30 that the scouts reported that the two Chu armies were shrinking towards Baling at night, and Chen Zhun suddenly realized. Immediately ordered the whole army to abandon artillery and heavy crossbows, and to pursue and kill with all their might. The battle lasted until dawn, and although more than 10,000 Chu troops were killed outside the city, most of the Chu army still withdrew to the city under alternate cover.

Chen Zhun had to make a slight adjustment to the original formalities and plan, and the whole army advanced to the city of Baling. Every day, small forces of three or two thousand men were sent to the east and south gates, carrying several artillery pieces and dozens of heavy crossbows. If there is nothing to do, a few cannons and rounds of shots will be fired at the city tower and the city gate in pieces. The Chu army insisted on avoiding the battle, and only used artillery and heavy crossbows to fight back appropriately. Always be vigilant not to let the Xia army get close to the dead end of the city, and not let the Xia army build a position within the firing range.

The same is true of Shen Chong, who was stationed in the north of Baling City. On the one hand, take advantage of the gap to recuperate. On the one hand, small units of troops are dispatched every day to shout, provoke, and seek war.

After several fierce battles between the two sides, although the Southern Chu Naval Division has been reduced to 30,000 people, it still maintains an absolute advantage twice that of the Xia Army's naval division. Zhang Desheng is proficient in water warfare, and of course he will not be so stupid as to fight hard with the Chu army at every turn. It was still a piece of cake to fight a dozen guerrilla attacks with the Chu army on the lake within a radius of hundreds of miles, and to burn some transport ships in sneak attacks every once in a while.

The Chu army's plan to defeat Chen Zhun's troops at any cost failed to materialize, and Yang Zhi and Chen Zhun's plan to annihilate the Chu army on the outskirts of Baling had also been declared frustrated. As Zhang Bohu said, the two armies then reached a stalemate.

In the month since Yang Zhi ordered the battle on the 2nd of October, the battle losses of the two armies seem to be roughly equal. In fact, the balance of power has changed radically.

As of the second day of November, the strength of the Chu army stationed in Baling included 30,000 sailors and 70,000 defenders in the city, totaling 100,000. On the Xia army's side, there were more than 15,000 sailors, nearly 40,000 people in Shen Chong's department, and 50,000 people in Chen Zhun's department. As the absolute main force of the siege, Chen Zhun's troops suffered little damage in battle.

The Xia army still had a slight advantage in strength, and Yang Zhi personally acted as a nail wedged between Baling and Changsha. laid down the pattern of attacking Changsha with Ye Chuang. Fifty thousand new troops are coming from Jiangxia, and Wei Feiyang should also come in handy.

In mid-November, the Chu army sent back a report to Baling that the 50,000 Xia army had arrived in Xianning. Wei Feiyang personally led 90,000 troops out of Nanchang.

After Wen and Zhang got the report, Zhang Bohu groaned: "It's time for us to make a decision again. It stands to reason that since learning that Yang Zhi and Chen Zhunbing are separated. From the day I personally led the army in the direction of Changsha, I should have thought of it. ”

"Yang is fatal and heavy, and Zhang Desheng is attacking from the northwest. Chen Zhun was ordered to attack from the northeast, but he stopped when he reached the periphery. He turned to besiege Baling but did not attack it. At that time, Yang Zhi was worried about ....... ”

Wen Huanzhang interrupted: "I'm worried that you and I will be desperate to abandon the city and break through to Changsha to meet." At that time, we did have this opportunity, on the one hand, we built a defensive line in Changsha to hold on, and on the other hand, we strongly persuaded the emperor to move the capital to Hengzhou for temporary refuge. At that time, although Hengzhou was seized by Ye Chuang, we could still recapture it by gathering heavy troops, and when things were not working, we kept the retreat to Yungui. In this way, it can ensure that my Great Chu Guozuo will last for a few years or even ten years. ”

"Strategist, in fact, you thought of it a long time ago, but you didn't say it in front of the old man, did you?"

Zhang Bohu asked rhetorically: "At that time, you and I had hundreds of thousands of male soldiers, but we abandoned the fortified city and did not defend it, what kind of determination and courage is needed to make such a decision?" Will Wen Shuai agree? Will the emperor and the courtiers agree? Even if I present this plan to Wen Shuai, what is the use? ”

Wen Huanzhang sighed: "It's too late to regret it now!" It's useless to say anything. Yang Zhizhi's talent, the old man is also deeply admired! For the sake of today's plan, it is either to forcibly break through before the Xia army's backup and Wei Feiyang are in place. Either you still can't hold out and fight until the last moment! ”

Zhang Bohu persuaded: "That's why we have to make a decision early." If Yang Zhizhen wanted to attack the city, he would have attacked it a long time ago. I dare to guarantee with my head, and after that, Yang Zhi will still use no less than 80,000 troops to watch Baling to the death. In less than a month, he will personally lead the army and Wei Feiyang and Ye Chuang, and besiege Changsha with more than 200,000 troops! Once Changsha falls, Baling will be self-defeating! ”

Wen Huanzhang said angrily: "Forcibly breaking through is tantamount to a sheep falling into the mouth of a tiger, and holding on to it is equivalent to sitting still." No matter how you choose, it's a dilemma! But the old man had already decided to stick to it. ”

"The military division is disabled, and it is inconvenient to lead the army to break through by land, and it is easy to be recognized by the Xia army. As early as half a month ago, the old man had ten clippers on the dock outside the West Gate City, and ordered 500 sailors to accompany him. ”

Zhang Bohu replied with great firmness: "No! I'm not going! If you want to go, you will also be handsome! Changsha is still capable of fighting with the Xia army, and Wen Shuai needs to be in command. I'm disabled, didn't Wen Shuai also say that I have limited mobility? Besides, Yang Zhi and I are old friends, even if the city is broken, it may not take my life. Baling should be held by me! ”

Wen Huanzhang continued to persuade bitterly: "The old man is already old, and his children and grandchildren are full. Tired of the two generations of emperors' kindness, he did his best to repay the whole of the ministers, although he had no regrets in death. The military advisor is a guest in Jizhou, not a native of Chu, and he is in his prime, with a young wife and young children. The second half of his life is still promising, so why bother ....... ”

Zhang Bohu resolutely said: "Wen Shuai doesn't need to persuade anymore!" I have made up my mind, and I will not change it! (To be continued.) )