"It seems that Dong Yuan really gave up resistance this time......"

In the Xingyuan Hall, Gao Zongting marked the Deng Yusuo Department that was heading north to defend Li Mountain, and the movements of the Huaixi and Suizhou surrendering troops were also marked on the map, clearly indicating that they were moving northward, and the vanguard had crossed Huai to the north from near Pingchang Pass.

Now staying in Xinyang and along the Shihe River, the main ones are the remnants of the Nanyang Army led by Yuan Guizheng, Liang Chengyi, and Liang Chengdong.

Liang Chengchong led his troops to retreat from Nanyang to the Tang River when the enemy cavalry was defeated, Liang Chengchong was wounded by arrows at that time, fled to Tongbai Mountain for lack of medical treatment, and failed to escape into Xinyang through the blockade of Yanhu in time, and his injuries became serious, only to let his troops flee into Pingchang Pass with the body, and the remnants of Nanyang were controlled by Yuan Guizheng and Liang Chengyi, and there were more than 10,000 soldiers and horses.

Song Fu turned around and stared at the map for a moment, nodded and said: "Dong Yuan doesn't jump off the wall in a hurry, the threat of the flanks will be weakened a lot, and the main force of the southern front can rest assured that they will go north......"

"Grab his eggs and seeds in his hands, Dong Yuangou jumped off the wall in a hurry and was not afraid to tear off his own eggs first?" Zhou Pu said disdainfully.

Lin Lian laughed and discussed the military deployment with the left and right: "Don't worry about Dong Yuangou jumping over the wall and biting our flanks, I want to adjust the deployment, and Zhang Gou and Zhao Bao led their troops to cross the Han River on foot and then pursued the enemy's soldiers and horses from Jingmen to the north, with Nanzhang as the limit, and no longer too deep, so as not to be strongly counterattacked by the enemy in Xiangyang; Chen Yan immediately led his troops north, entered Fancheng with Zhou Tong, expanded to the west and north, and pinned down the enemy; Ao Canghai led Zhang Gou and Yu Wencheng to the north to take over the first-line defense line of Pinglinbu and Zaoyang, mainly concentrated in Zaoyang, and was ready to go north at any time to recover Nanyang; Hu Yu'er immediately led his naval army to the north from Shicheng with Ao Canghai - do you think this arrangement is good? ”

Although it will take a few days for the main force of the Huaidong Water Battalion to come from the lower reaches of the Han River, as of the 30th, the main force of the Huaidong Army assembled on the front line of Shicheng includes Chen Yan, Zhang Gou, Zhang Jiheng, Yu Wencheng, Zhao Hu, Zhou Pu, and the troops of Hu Yu'er of the Navy, plus Liu Zhenzhi, Huang Zuyu, Sun Zhuang and other troops who have entered the front line of Fancheng and Zaoyang, there are nearly 140,000 elite infantry cavalry elites available.

Ge Cunxin led the main force of the second water battalion with more than 20,000 troops and four or five hundred warships to march from Hanjin to Changlin, and it will take seven or eight days to advance from Changlin to the line of Zhongyi and Longzuishan.

In addition, Cao Ziang led 15,600 soldiers and horses of the Tang Fuguan Institute to guard Suizhou, Lishan, and Chaishan to ensure that the flanks of the main force of the Huaidong Army in the north were not threatened; In Hanjin and Huangpi, Fu Qing led more than 15,000 people of Su Pinxiao's naval army and some infantry and cavalry, imprisoned a total of 80,000 prisoners, and ensured that the grain route and back road of the Huaidong Army in the north were worry-free.

Zuo Chengmu looked at the dazzling signs on the map, and sighed in his heart: Although Yan Hu's troops on the front line of Xiangyang and Nanyang add up to 1560,000, purely in terms of troops, they are not weaker than the main force of the Huaidong Army, but after losing Fancheng, Yan Hu's 1560,000 soldiers and horses were separated by Hanshui on the north and south lines, and only the narrow passage of the Danjiang River on the west line could be contacted.

Of course, the Huaidong water camp is limited by the wind direction and water flow, the speed of the main force going north is very slow, it is difficult to completely cut off the Han River before the main force of the southern line of Yanhu retreats north, the victory of Jingxiang has been decided, and the recovery of Xiangyang and Nanyang is the proper meaning of the question, but as long as Ye Ji Luorong knows forbearance, does not want to still occupy Nanyang in the face of Huaidong's strength, and shrinks through Wuguan to Guanzhong, Zuo Chengmu does not think that the main force of the Huaidong Army is going north at this time, and it can also give the main force of the western line of Yanhu a heavy blow.

Fu Qinghe stayed in the Hanjin Governor and the grain and straw, and in front of the army, Gao Zongting, Song Fu, Ao Canghai, Zhou Pu, Song Jia and others assisted Lin Tie in making military decisions, and Zuo Chengmu could also attend the military meeting as an envoy to watch the army.

Gao Zongting looked at the map and said: "Ye Ji Luorong is not slow, he gathered two hundred warships east of Xiangyang to prevent the vanguard of our navy from directly piercing in, and gathered another two hundred boats to ferry people to Baiyang Pass in the grinding ditch west of Gucheng. From the polishing ditch to the Baiyangguan waterway of less than 50 miles, 200 boats can go back and forth day and night, and cross 35,000 people and horses. ”

"We have 4,000 elite sailors and eighty warships in Shicheng, which is enough to break through the enemy's naval blockade east of Xiangyang!" Hu Yu'er, the general of the naval army who entered Shicheng first, asked for battle, he was unwilling to obey the order, but led his troops to the front line of Longzui Mountain to wait for the fighters.

"Let's see if Zhou Tong can cause chaos in the enemy's naval formation upstream, otherwise it will be difficult for you to lead your troops to capture the fighters from Longzui Mountain to the north. From Xiangyang to Zhongyi, the Han River turned at a right angle, and the water surface widened sharply from three or four hundred steps to more than two thousand steps. The Han River to the north from Longzui Mountain is too shallow, and the Jiyun-class warships are afraid that they will not be able to maneuver flexibly in that waterway. The enemy could have scuttled a few more ships and delayed us for two or three days; They didn't block the waterway, they just wanted to make a nice counterattack to boost morale, and we couldn't do what they ......wanted," Lin said.

Lin Jian personally vetoed his proposal, and Hu Yu'er smiled bitterly and stopped asking for battle. The Battle of Jingxiang was so heroic and macroscopic, but there was no chance for Shuiying to perform, which made him feel a little regretful.

Lin Jian saw that Hu Yan'er was disappointed on his face, and comforted him with a smile: "The soldiers are plotting, and the soldiers who surrender to the enemy without a fight, even if you don't have a chance to perform this time, don't be angry." If you really want to fight, this war will transfer you to Haidong, don't complain! ”

"The privy envoy sent him, Hu Yu'er will not obey." Hu Yu'er replied.

Gao Zongting tapped lightly on the map and said: "It is also for Dong Yuan to drag us for a few days, so that Ye Ji Luorong has a chance to stabilize his position, and if Zhou Tong's side can succeed, it will also be a hard ......battle."

Zuo Chengmu also knew the meaning of Gao Zongting's words.

Now at least three to four thousand enemy soldiers can cross the river from Gucheng every day and withdraw to Baiyang Pass, and the main force of the Huaidong Water Battalion will advance from Changlin to Zhongyi, and it will take at least six or seven days to break the enemy's blockade in the east of Xiangyang from Zhongyi to the north, and it may take seven or eight days to delay - such a long time is enough for all the main forces on the west bank of Yanhu Hanshui to retreat to the area west of Wuguan through the Danjiang and Wuguan rivers!

If Dong Yuan hadn't released water, Chen Zhihu would have dragged on for three or five days to lead his troops into Nanyang; If it weren't for Dong Yuan's threat to the flank, the Huaidong Army could even ignore the rout at the southern foot of Dahong Mountain and go directly to the north, and this battle might even completely annihilate Yanhu's soldiers and horses on the western front - it was because of Dong Yuan's ambition and greed that the Huaidong Army had to delay on the southern front for a few days to solve the threat of the Huaixi Army to the flank.

It dragged on for five or six days, so that Ye Ji Luorong's main force on the west bank of the Han River could ease his mind, be able to hold his position, retreat to the front line of Xiangyang in an orderly manner, and carry out limited military deployment behind the palace, and even more than 10,000 soldiers and horses had crossed the river and retreated to Baiyang Pass.

Based on Dong Yuan's actions alone, Lin Jian did not ask for an order to kill him in front of the army, even if it was polite.

What Zuo Chengmu thought in his heart, Lin Lian didn't care, after agreeing, he asked Gao Zongting to go directly to the order, and asked Zuo Chengmu: "Should Duke Hu come to Shicheng today?" ”

"As soon as Dexin entered the city, he went to the post house to wash up and came to meet the privy envoy!" Zuo Chengmu said.

"Sin, sin," Lin Lian hurriedly said, "Duke Hu is a cadre of the country, guarding Jingzhou to contain the main force of the enemy's western front, and making the first contribution to Jingxiang's great victory, how can we be so lazy?" Please accompany me to the post house to greet Hu Gong......"

Zuo Chengmu thought to himself that although Hu Wenmu Leng and his son completely gave up their ambition to occupy Jinghu, but after Lin Lian personally determined that Jingxiang was the first meritorious victory, glory and wealth were naturally indispensable, and he thought: The evidence of Yu Pijiang's surrender to the enemy is conclusive, and Yu Xinyuan will inevitably resign, so will Lin Tie let Hu Wenmu replace the vacant deputy minister?

At this time, although the prime ministers of the political hall did not have great real power, but the status of the Zunlong was far from that of other generals, but Lin Tie Daiyuan, as the minister of the old dynasty and attached to the new dynasty, was written in the history books, and there seemed to be no special brilliance, what choice would Hu Wenmu make: return to the township with the lord and change his son to serve Huaidong?

Thinking of this, Zuo Chengmu couldn't help but worry about the name after getting up, thinking about whether he would resign and return after this battle?

After Hu Wenmu and his son entered the city, they went to the post house to wash and wait for Lin Jian to summon them, listening to the crowds in the courtyard, pushing the door and looking, they saw Zuo Chengmu accompanying several people into the courtyard, and a person in the center had a clear face, wearing armor and holding a knife, and his lips were short and bearded, which was the same as the appearance of Lin Jian in the rumor, and he immediately saluted with sincere fear: "The lower official Hu Wenmu is not effective in guarding Jingzhou, and he has come to ask the privy envoy for guilt!" ”

"Hu Gong led a lone army to defend Jingzhou, fought a bloody battle for more than 20 days without retreating, and contained Hu Lu's hundreds of thousands of elite soldiers and horses, so that this court was able to annihilate most of the enemy on the Eastern Front; Hu Gong succeeded and temporarily abandoned Jingzhou, with compassion for the soldiers, great virtue and righteousness, what is the crime? Lin Jian picked up Hu Wenmu, who was bowing for a long time.

Hu Wenmu came to Shicheng just to get this assertion, with this assertion, as long as the Hu family follows the trend and keeps his duty, whether it is the old dynasty or the new dynasty, the wealth of the Hu family is indispensable, and it is enough to have this in the world.

Hu Wenmu immediately presented the list of Jinghu generals and ministers, and said: "The war in Jingxiang has subsided, and there is no need to set up a camp to govern and defend the war, and the Privy Council and the six ministries have implemented a new system of prefectures and counties. This official has also been old and tired all these years, and no matter how difficult it is to be competent for political affairs, he also wants to resign and return to his hometown and enjoy a few days of blessings......"

"Hu Lu has not been destroyed, the national disaster is at the head, the Northern Expedition has a day, this country is still a little hard for Hu Gong to serve," Lin Lian persuaded him, "Moreover, the center also needs an old and knowledgeable minister like Hu Gong to sit in charge, Lin Lian dares to ask Hu Gong to return to Nan......shan in the later years."

Hu Wenmu repeatedly refused, Lin Jian repeatedly retained, Hu Wenmu reluctantly said: "The lower officials should work hard for the people, in order to make the Northern Expedition a grand event, in order to make the Northern Expedition ......" no longer mention the word "imperial court" at all.

Seeing that Lin Jian kept Hu Wenmu in the center, Zuo Chengmu also temporarily pressed the idea of retreating.

After the banquet, Lin Jian invited Hu Wenmu and Zuo Chengmu to discuss the military and political arrangements in Jinghu and Xiangtan.

Lin Jian intended to transfer Hu Wenmu to the center, but his son Hu Xuechang was in the prime of life, and he would continue to serve as the prefect of Eastern Hubei Province, responsible for cooperating with Jiangzhou to eliminate the remnants of Liang Zishou who occupied Mubu Mountain; But at the same time, Huangzhou, Qichun and other counties on the north bank will be carved out and the Huangzhou capital will be newly located.

Jiangxia Prefecture, including Jiangxia, Hanjin, Huangpi and Changlin counties, including Xiangtan in the south and Jingxiang in the north, is the core area of the two lakes, and will also be the political, military and economic center of the two lakes in the future, and also the core heart and depth of the support for the Nanyang and Xiangyang theaters in the future.

The Cao family retreated into the two rivers to recuperate, although the loss of Guanzhong, so that the Cao family's vitality was greatly damaged, but the two rivers are thousands of miles wide, and easy to defend and difficult to attack, can not help but guard against the Cao family has the ambition to go east, Jingzhou will set up a town to the water army, with Su Pin Xiao as the main general, the integration of Xiangtan, Jinghu was originally not so strong water army, in case the Cao family went east.

Since Hu Wenmu has completely given up his ambition to occupy Jinghu, and in addition to Huangzhou Mansion, Lin is bound on the east bank of the Han River, and there will be three more prefectures of Suizhou, Xiaochang, and Shicheng, including Jingmen and Zhucheng north of Jingmen, as well as Nanyang and other places, there are enough seats to place Jinghu generals, so that he can be regarded as having an explanation for the generals who have followed him for many years, and Hu Wenmu naturally has no opinion on the military and political arrangements of Jinghu after the war.

The elite of the Jinghu Army was almost exhausted in the battle to defend Jingzhou, but the remnants of the army still had 30,000 soldiers.

Lin Tie also pushed the Huaidong Army's order to reward fields for military merits to the Jinghu Army, so that some of the meritorious soldiers of the Jinghu Army could get enough land to retreat to the people to support Jinghu's livelihood. As for grain fields, there are millions of acres of tuntian fields near Suizhou alone, which can be directly allocated to meritorious generals; In the hinterland of Jingxiang, there are more tens of millions of acres of cultivable wasteland that can be used for cultivation, but there is no worry that these generals will not be able to settle down.

Zuo Chengmu thought that Jinghu could have such an arrangement, which could be regarded as a good beginning and a good end, without the strength to respond, and being ambitious was just a disaster to kill himself......