Soon, under the personal guidance of Wang Wu, a large-scale preparatory action was launched in the direction of Rencheng, and at the same time, the heralds sent by Wang Wu also went to all directions of Yanzhou at the fastest speed, ordering Zhang Yu, Zhou Cheng and other generals to lead the main force of the troops and horses to immediately reinforce Rencheng.

Of course, such a big matter naturally had to be reported to Hua'an, and Wang Wu sent his henchmen to Luoyang City and report the matter to Hua'an.

In order to build the defense line of the swimming water into a fortress strong enough to block the Yao Xiang army, Wang Wu personally led his own soldiers to the west bank of the swimming water to make pre-battle arrangements.

In some locations that are more suitable for building pontoon bridges, Wang Wu not only sent soldiers and horses to garrison, but also recruited people to build large arrow towers in these locations, so that when the Yao Xiang army launched a strong attack, it could rely on the powerful power of the arrow tower to cause a lot of casualties to the Yao Xiang army.

In addition to arranging the defensive line along the river, Wang Wu also drew some troops and horses and deployed them in a depth position five miles away from the river bank, so that necessary reinforcements could be carried out at any time according to the battle ahead.

Looking at the soldiers and people under his command, busy arranging the defense line, Wang Wu nodded with satisfaction, in his opinion, the swimming defense line is enough to block the Yao Xiang army for a while, at least, before the various armies in Yanzhou arrive in Rencheng, the swimming defense line will not be breached.

"General, news has just been sent back from the direction of Qingzhou, Yao Xiang led an army of 60,000 people, and he has left Taishan County half a day ago, and has come to kill me Rencheng, it is estimated that he will arrive on the east bank of the water within three days." Just when Wang Wu was swimming in the water defense line, the general reported the situation in the direction of Qingzhou.

When Wang Wu heard this, he was slightly happy, paused, and said, "I didn't expect this Yao Xiang to keep a hand." He must have been afraid that Qingzhou would be attacked by someone, so he left 20,000 soldiers and horses to garrison Qingzhou, but in this way, Yao Xiang's army only had 60,000 troops. This is extremely beneficial to our army. ”

"Yes! General, after our army expanded by 10,000 soldiers and horses, the strength has reached 30,000, Yao Xiang's 60,000 army is only twice the size of our army, there is a water defense line on the east side of Rencheng, Yao Xiang's army must not be able to quickly attack Rencheng, this battle, our army will win. A general said happily.

"That's right. General, as long as all the soldiers and horses reinforce Rencheng on time, the strength of our army will be more than twice that of Yao Xiang, and if we counterattack Yao Xiang's army with twice the strength advantage, Yao Xiang will inevitably fail, and our army will win. Another general, said confidently.

When Wang Wu heard this, he was very happy in his heart. After a pause, Zhengse said: "What the two generals said is too right. This battle is the first battle between our army and Yao Xiang, and we must show the prestige of our army. ”

"Yes, General." The ministers will answer with a loud voice.

Subsequently, Wang Wu and his subordinates faced various positions in the direction of the water. Conduct a careful inspection to ensure that there are no accidents in the direction of the swimming.

Wang Wu and his generals were actively preparing for battle, and at the same time, Yao Xiang's army had left the jurisdiction of Taishan County. And entered Luguo County, the distance from Rencheng is only more than 100 miles.

Near Bian County in the Lu State, Yao Xiang and his army of 60,000 stopped at dusk, and they were going to stop and rest for the night, and then continue their march the next day.

"Report, general, news has just been sent back from the direction of Rencheng, Wang Wu and his soldiers and horses are swimming on the west bank of the water, arranging a strong defensive line, and they have also recruited 10,000 new soldiers." As soon as the army set up camp, the news of the direction of Rencheng reached Yao Xiang's ears.

Yao Xiang and his subordinates were all slightly shocked when they heard this, they didn't expect that Wang Wu and his soldiers and horses would start preparing for war so quickly, which is enough to show that Wang Wu did not relax his vigilance, and planted a fine work in the direction of Qingzhou.

"Fifth brother, it seems that Wang Wu has been prepared for a long time! So do our troops still want to march? Seeing that Wang Wu had already prepared, Yao Chang looked at Yao Xiang and said.

Obviously, Yao Chang thought that since Wang Wu and his soldiers and horses had been prepared, the suddenness of the attack on Rencheng would be gone, and the chances of victory would naturally be greatly reduced.

When Yao Xiang heard this, he frowned and thought for a while, looked at Yao Chang, and said: "Since our army has set off, how can there be a reason to return without victory, no matter whether Wang Wu is ready or not, our army must capture Rencheng and retrieve the weapons and military salaries that belong to us, otherwise, will Wang Wu laugh." ”

Obviously, Yao Xiang felt that if he retreated, his prestige would be greatly damaged, and the morale of the army under his command would also be severely damaged, which would be extremely unfavorable to him on the whole.

Yao Chang naturally understood this truth, but he was worried that after Wang Wu made full preparations, Rencheng would not be so easy to capture, and there were more than 100,000 soldiers and horses in the direction of Yanzhou, and if reinforcements came, they would be wiped out.

"Fifth brother, Wang Wu relies on the swimming water to arrange the defense line, if our army can't break through within two days, I'm afraid that the main army in the direction of Yanzhou will arrive in Rencheng, so our army has no chance of winning." Yao Chang said worriedly.

Yao Xiang nodded, and said with a straight face: "I naturally understand what you said, but the swimming defense line arranged by Wang Wu is completely a dead snake formation, as long as our army reaches the east bank of the swimming water, it can break through the swimming defense line within one day, and finally take Rencheng." ”

"Fifth brother, although the swimming water is not wide enough, under Wang Wu's careful preparation, I am afraid that in a short period of time, it will not be so easy to be attacked!" Yao Chang said suspiciously.

Yao Xiang smiled and said: "It is naturally impossible to attack the swimming defense line clearly, but our army can completely repair the plank road and secretly Chen Cang, and send a small number of soldiers and horses to smuggle across the swimming water from a position thirty miles downstream, so that we can definitely reach the west bank of the swimming water unknowingly, and together with the main army, completely break through the swimming defense line carefully arranged by Wang Wu." ”

"Oh, what the fifth brother means is to divide the troops to smuggle across the water, so as to catch Wang Wu off guard." Yao Chang hurriedly said.

Yao Xiang nodded, and said, "That's right, our army is going to divide troops to smuggle across the water, and this task is up to you to complete." After speaking, he looked at Yao Chang.

Yao Chang hurriedly clenched his fists and said, "Fifth brother, you just have to give orders!" I'm willing to go. ”

"Okay, tonight, you immediately lead five thousand elite soldiers, quietly leave the camp, and take another road, covertly go to the position of thirty miles downstream of Rencheng, and begin to quietly cross the water at night two days later, our main army will arrive at the opposite bank of Rencheng at the same time, as a cover for you, after your five thousand soldiers and horses cross the water, you must immediately march upstream, and before dawn, attack the defenders under Wang Wu's command, and our main force will also attack in a while, Under such a two-sided attack, the soldiers and horses under Wang Wu's command are bound to collapse on the whole line, so that the main force of our army can easily land in the city. Yao Xiang looked at Yao Chang and ordered.

Hearing this, Yao Chang nodded, hugged his fists and said, "Yes, fifth brother, I know how to do it." ”

Subsequently, Yao Xiang had a careful discussion with Yao Chang in front of the military map, and analyzed what kind of accidents would happen to the 5,000 elite soldiers after crossing the water, and discussed these unexpected situations, until the evening, Yao Chang left Yao Xiang's Chinese army tent, and returned to the camp, and began to gather 5,000 elite soldiers.

In the middle of the night, in Yao Xiang's camp, most of the soldiers and horses were resting, but Yao Chang and his five thousand elite soldiers were already ready to go, and they could march immediately with just an order.

"Fifth brother, five thousand elite soldiers and horses, are fully ready to set off at any time." Yao Chang looked at Yao Xiang and said loudly.

Yao Xiang nodded with satisfaction, and said, "Okay, it's time to go." ”

"Let's go, the whole army will go at once." Yao Chang ordered loudly.

Subsequently, the 5,000 elite soldiers, divided into five routes, left the camp from the five exits of the camp and ran to the designated position.

"Fifth brother, I'm going." Yao Chang stepped on the war horse and saluted Yao Xiang.

Yao Xiang nodded, and said, "You must be careful, the victory or defeat of our army depends on you." ”

"Fifth brother, don't worry, Yao Chang will go." After Yao Chang finished speaking, he rode his horse and ran outside the camp.

Soon, the 5,000 elite army led by Yao Chang was briefly assembled in a hidden position five miles outside the camp, and then, under the leadership of Yao Chang, they marched to the predetermined position.

After Yao Chang led 5,000 elite troops to leave the camp, Yao Xiang's heart was always a little apprehensive, although he had thought about the plan very carefully, but the plan could never catch up with the changes, for this, his worries were inevitable.

Early in the morning of the second day, Yao Xiang led the main army under his command, continued to march in the direction of Rencheng, for the 60,000 army of 5,000 people and horses missing, the soldiers did not have much feeling, and even, did not find it at all, after all, for the 60,000 army, there are only 5,000 people and horses, and the reduction of troops is less than one percent, which is easy to be ignored, however, the generals of the various armies found that Yao Chang was missing, so they all came to ask Yao Xiang, Yao Xiang in order to keep the secret of dividing the troops to smuggle across the water, he lied that he sent Yao Chang to lead a team of soldiers and horses, went to the rear to escort the grain and grass, and the generals naturally understood the importance of grain and grass, so they were also convinced of this, and did not doubt what Yao Xiang said.

Just as Yao Xiang's army continued to march in the direction of Rencheng, the henchmen sent by Wang Wu had already arrived in Luoyang City and went straight to the Beiwang Palace, so he naturally wanted to inform Hua'an of Yao Xiang's attack on Rencheng and ask for Hua'an's instructions.

At this time, Hua'an was also working with his generals to analyze the situation in the Yanzhou direction, and decided to take the Yanzhou direction as the current focus of work, and poured more manpower and material resources into the Yanzhou direction to ensure that Yanzhou is impregnable. (To be continued......)