In the early morning of the next day, Zhang Zemao came to Wei Ran's residence.

Regarding Zhang Zemao's arrival, Wei Ran had already expected it, and said, "What is General Zhang coming for?" ”

Zhang Zemao replied humbly: "The grass people came to Wei Gong to get an errand. ”

After hearing this, Wei Ran said without thinking: "General Zhang can first go to persuade the two cities of Wuzhou and Wuchang to surrender, and then connect the troops of Xiakou to select 10,000 elites, and General Zhang will personally take command, I don't know how?" ”

"Yes."

"General Zhang, slow down." Wei Ran stopped Zhang Zemao, who was about to leave, and then handed Zhang Zemao a holy decree: "Your Majesty specially entitles General Zhang as General Zhenyuan, and the history of Yingzhou Assassin." ”

Zhang Zemao looked at the holy decree and suddenly cried and laughed: "It seems that Wei Gong has already calculated everything." ”

Wei Ran smiled and said, "The general must not live up to the holy will. ”

After Zhang Zemao left, Wei Ran then rushed to the Xiakou Mansion to meet Xiao Ju.

Xiao Ju was in a slightly better state at this time, and he was already able to handle official business normally, and when he saw Wei Ran coming, he hurriedly said, "Brother Wei, please take a seat." ”

Wei Ran sat down and said: "Zhang Zemao has gone to appease Wuchang in Wuzhou, our army can be the whole army to approach Jiankang, Yang Hu sent news from Stone City, Xiao Yi, the king of Changsha, has left Jiankang and returned to the fiefdom, and Weichen has asked people to go to the king of Changsha to attract foreign aid." ”

Xiao Ju frowned slightly after hearing this, and then said: "At present, except for Xiao Yi, the rest of the vassal kings are all ambiguous, and they support their own troops, which is quite troublesome. ”

"The vassal king is watching the battle between His Majesty and the traitor Xiao Luan, and when the situation is clear, they will naturally take action. The war in Jiankang is imminent, and if Lu Cao colludes with Northern Qin, it will be another fierce battle. ”

"I heard that Xiao Luan has a 150,000-strong army entangled around Jiankang, we are currently newly incorporated into the Jiangzhou Army, and when General Zhang integrates the Yingzhou Army, our army will probably have 100,000 people, and I want to transfer troops from Xichuan and Xiangfan, what does Wei Di think?" Xiao Ju looked through the official documents exchanged and asked Wei Ran what he meant.

"Weichen thinks it's inappropriate, Northern Qin is eyeing it, if Northern Qin takes the opportunity to attack Xiangfan and Xichuan, even if we break through Jiankang, we won't be able to return to the sky. Northern Qin has already occupied the land of Lianghuai, and if they seize Xiangfan and Xichuan, then the Yangtze River will be reduced to decoration. ”

Wei Ran was quite worried, there is a waterway in Shu that can go directly to the Yangtze River, and Xiangfan has a Han River to connect the Yangtze River.

"What's the best way for Wei Di?" Xiao Ju was also stunned after hearing this, but he was even more worried.

"Winter is coming, our army quickly sent troops to Danyang County to encircle Jiankang City. The winter in the northern land of Northern Qin was cold, and it was impossible to mobilize a large army normally, and the only available soldiers were two Huai sergeants. ”

Then Wei Ran used his sword to cut a hole in the sand table, and said: "General Yang's Huainan Army is now stationed in Guangling, if the Northern Qin Army crosses the Yangtze River, the Guangling Army can cut off the retreat of the Northern Qin Army at any time, we can quickly conquer Dongfu, encircle Jiankang, and then intensify the attack, forcing the Northern Qin Army to rescue, after the Northern Qin Army crosses the river, let the Huainan Army quickly cross the Feishui and cut off the Northern Qin retreat." ”

After speaking, Wei Ran drew a circle on the sand table again: "Winter is not suitable for camping in the wild, we can sell a flaw in Stone Town, lure Northern Qin to attack, and then release Stone City to Northern Qin, when the Northern Qin army enters Stone City, we will mobilize a large force to surround Stone City, and then use the elite to intensify the attack on Jiankang." ”

After hearing this, Xiao Ju couldn't help but say: "This plan is very good, but I am afraid that our troops are not enough to besiege the city on both sides." ”

"Your Majesty doesn't need to worry, when the Northern Qin army attacks Stone City, our army and the Huainan Army will destroy the Northern Qin ships together, and if they lose their ships, the Northern Qin army will have no way to retreat, we only need to dig a trench outside the Stone City, and set up a chariot array, and only half of the men and horses can trap the Qin army." Wei Ran was full of confidence, and then said: "When the Qin army runs out of food, we can negotiate the conditions to let it return to the north." ”

Xiao Ju was puzzled, why should he be released when he could wipe out the Northern Qin army.

Seeing Xiao Ju's incomprehension, Wei Ran explained: "After the civil war, our army is tired, and the people need to recuperate. If the Northern Qin army is trapped to death, the Northern Qin will send troops to rescue, the north is a vast land, and it will be very unfavorable to our dynasty under the stalemate. ”

Xiao Ju was stunned after hearing this, and then nodded: "Then according to what Wei Di said." ”

On December 15 of the first year of Hongzhi in the Southern Qi Dynasty, Xiao Ju's army all set off from Xiakou, and along the way, the states and counties looked at the wind and fell, and Zhang Guisuo's army arrived at Xinting on the south bank of the Qinhuai River in only ten days to set up camp, and got in touch with Stone Town.

At this time, in Jiankang City, Xiao Luan's face was pale in Shangyuan Palace: "The traitor has arrived in Xinting, what other good plan do you have." ”

It turned out that a few days ago, after learning the news that Xiao Ju had marched from Xiakou, the general Yuan Huzhi said that he should seize Liangshan on both sides of the Yangtze River and defend against Xiao Ju according to the danger. However, Lu Ke suggested sticking to Jiankang on the grounds that the ship was slightly smaller and there must be no siege equipment.

Xiao Luan, who had no military acumen, naturally did not dare to send troops easily, and then ordered the people on the south bank of the Qinhuai River to be forcibly relocated to the north bank, and burned down all the houses on the south bank to stick to Jiankang.

But the consequence was that Xiao Ju's army went straight down the river and arrived at the Qinhuai River without encountering any obstacles, which made Wei Ran wake up with a smile in his dreams.

"Your Majesty, although the thief army has arrived at Xinting, the thief army has been fighting hard in Xiakou one after another, the men and horses are tired, and the winter is approaching, and the thief army will inevitably have a grudge if it cannot be attacked for a long time. The person who spoke was Yuan Huzhi, the commander of the Imperial Forest Army appointed by Xiao Luan.

"Your Majesty, Weichen thinks that he should send a letter to Northern Qin and invite him to cross the river to attack Xiao Ju." Lu Ke retorted at this time.

"What does Lu Xiang mean by this, wouldn't inviting the Northern Qin army lead the wolf into the room? Now there are more than 100,000 troops, which is enough to destroy the enemy, and if the Northern Qin army comes, the accident will only be between the elbows and armpits. Yuan Huzhi immediately retorted.

Xiao Luan was at a loss for a moment, and at this time Lu Ke said again: "General Yuan's words are wrong, now the big enemy is Xiao Ju, after repelling Xiao Ju, pour the strength of the whole country, why be afraid of the Northern Qin army." The minister has learned that Zhao Youzhi, the concubine of the Northern Qin, has returned to Chang'an, and now the person who leads the troops is Yu Wenzhi. This person is not as good as Zhao Youzhi in terms of martial arts, and it is easy to control him if he is used as a helper. ”

Xiao Luan was silent, and after a while, asked, "What does General Yuan think of Wei Ran?" ”

Yuan Huzhi was also calm: "The minister can never be compared with Wei Ran, but the brave wins when they meet on the narrow road, and if the troops are the same, the minister can fight to the death." ”

Xiao Luan sighed and said, "General Yuan's words mean that he doesn't have the confidence to defeat Wei Ran. Even General Yuan is like this, and other generals are even worse. ”

Then Xiao Luan seemed to have made up his mind, slapped the table and said: "I have made up my mind, stick to Jiankang, Lu Xiangke sent someone to inform Yuwenzhi, hoping that the Northern Qin army would cross the river and reject Xiao Ju." ”