Rations were brought from the south, along the Yongji Canal to Guantao, and immediately across the Yellow River into the Zhanghe River, where the Yellow River was diverted 28 years earlier to change the water system. The eastern section of the Zhanghe River after its bifurcation flows directly into the Yellow River.

The military rations were then loaded along the eastern section of the Zhanghe River, and went west to Cheng'an and entered the northern section of the Zhanghe River.

Then turn into the Hulu River to Hengshui, and go north to Raoyang through Wuqiang, which is where Zhu Ming sent troops.

The military rations were carried out by water throughout the journey, and there were not many civilians needed.

The 30,000 new troops who were transferred to the north, including 20,000 Huainan soldiers, followed the military rations to this road. The other 10,000 Zhejiang soldiers went up from the northeast of the mountain to join Deng Chun, Han Shizhong and others.

Those generals in the south, because of their deep grudges, had to separate them in order to prevent the intensification of contradictions.

Li Hui, Cao Cheng, Yang Zaixing and others walked all the way with Huainan soldiers.

Yang Hua, Li Herong, Chen Yao and other pseudo-Chu generals went all the way with the Zhejiang soldiers.

In late September, 20,000 Huainan New Army successfully arrived in Raoyang. They changed a batch of equipment, and Zhang Bo and the seed master who were waiting there led them straight to Zhu Ming's camp forty miles away.

As soon as he arrived at the place, a sergeant came over and gave an order: "Generals, Your Highness has asked you not to camp anymore, and immediately go to the prince's tent!" As for the Huainan New Army you brought, rest in place and set up a pot to eat. ”

Everyone didn't know why, so they followed the sergeant to see Zhu Ming.

To the north of the camp is the Tang River, and to the south is the Mudaogou, and Zhu Ming set up the camp between the two rivers.

The narrowest part of the distance between the two rivers is the camp of the Ming army, and the river becomes a natural barrier.

Although there were no rivers on the east and west sides of the camp, a trench four meters wide and three meters deep was dug on each side. The excavated earth was piled up behind the trench to form a strong barrier.

With such an arrangement, Wanyan Zongwang sent light cavalry to cross the river to investigate, and after learning the situation, he became without any desire to attack, so he could only wait for Zhu Ming to lead the army across the river to fight in the field.

Yang Zaixing followed everyone into the camp and carefully observed the situation along the way.

Walk for a long time to a big tent.

Li Heng took the lead in unloading his weapons, and Yang Zaixing, Cao Cheng and others also hurriedly disarmed their weapons and handed them over to the guards.

Bai Sheng stood there to greet him, and when he saw this, he said, "The long soldiers can be placed outside the tent, and the short soldiers can be brought into the tent." Your Highness has said that you are all fierce generals, and this place is a battlefield, and weapons cannot be separated from you. ”

"Yes!"

The generals received the order and were in a happy mood.

Although they hadn't seen the prince yet, they were allowed to bring weapons inside, which made the generals have a very good impression of the prince.

The curtain was lifted, and the generals entered.

I saw a person sitting upright on the main seat, with a sword at his waist, starry eyes and sword eyebrows, not angry and self-assured.

"Meet His Royal Highness the Crown Prince!"

The generals from the south wanted to bow down, but when they saw that the leader Zhang Bo and the seed master only performed a new-style military salute, they also followed the salute with apprehension.

Zhu Ming smiled: "Let's sit down." ”

In fact, there are some confusions among the planters, he has been transferred to the Privy Council, and this time he was inexplicably transferred to the front.

After everyone sat down, Zhu Ming said, "I prepared some food, but I don't drink alcohol today." Before the defeat of the Jin soldiers, no alcohol was allowed in the army. ”

"Yes!" The generals shouted in unison.

"Chatting while eating," Zhu Ming asked with a smile: "Who is Li Hui?" ”

Li Heng just sat down, and stood up suddenly when he heard the words: "The end will be!" ”

"Sit down and speak," Zhu Ming nodded in approval, "The bearing is elegant and majestic, and he is really talented in civil and military affairs." ”

"Yes!"

Being named by the crown prince, Li Heng looked extremely excited, and at the same time a little guilty.

He went to Beijing three times and failed the imperial examination, and turned to become a martial artist, and he was extremely loyal to the Great Song Dynasty, and Song Huizong never treated him badly. Now he has become a military general of the new dynasty, and he is praised by the prince of the Ming Dynasty, and he is somewhat sorry for the emperor of the Great Song Dynasty.

Cao Cheng was looking forward to it, hoping that he could also be named by the prince.

Zhu Ming really asked, "Who is Cao Cheng?" ”

"The last general!" Cao Chengluo stood up. Halfway through the stand, he found that the prince asked him to sit down, so he squatted down instead, almost pouting his ass in response.

Zhu Ming nodded and said: "He is also a fierce general, and he should kill the enemy in the future." ”

Cao Cheng's face turned red with excitement, and he shouted: "The last general will definitely fight bravely to kill the enemy and open up the territory for my Ming Dynasty!" ”

"Excellent," Zhu Ming nodded and smiled, and asked again, "Who is Yang Zaixing?" ”

Yang Zaixing arched his hand and said, "The end will be." ”

Zhu Ming said: "I have seen the good news, you are also extremely brave, and you should make persistent efforts in the future." ”

Yang Zaixing said: "I will die for the imperial court!" ”

After some idle talk, Zhu Ming said: "On the battlefield in Hebei, our army is divided into three places. I personally led the heavy troops to the middle road, and I planned to quickly conquer the Yongning army. Even if it can't be defeated for the time being, it is necessary to lure the main force of the Jin soldiers to come to the aid and reduce the pressure on the friendly forces in the east and west. But I didn't think about it, the Jin people knew that I was here, and Wanyan Zongwang personally led the main force to kill quickly. ”

"Since he is here and wants to fight me, I don't want to do what he wants!"

The planter asked, "How does Your Highness plan to use the soldiers?" ”

Zhu Ming said: "I want to lead the troops westward and go straight to the manuscript city (Gaocheng) along the Hutuo River." Take the manuscript city, and the pseudo-Song Kingdom is really in front of you! And the 20,000 new troops you brought with you are stationed in the camp I have built here. ”

"Wanyan Zongwang wants to kill him, and you will defend it to the death. Wanyan Zong wants to rush to the aid of the draft city, and you will wait for the opportunity to go north, and if you can fight, you will fight, and if you can't fight, you will be delayed. I don't have to worry about it, if Deng Chun and Han Shizhong's Eastern Route Army needs reinforcements, you can divide your troops to attack Hejian Mansion! ”

"The only ones who can fight in the Jin soldiers are those Jurchens, Xi people, Khitans, Bohai people and old Liao Han'er. These strong soldiers, a total of 50,000 or 60,000, have to be divided into three ways to deal with our army. Wherever I personally lead my troops, the main force of the Jin soldiers will follow. Especially in Zhending Mansion, the main force of the Jin soldiers will come to the rescue. ”

"So you and the Eastern Route Army are not facing many strong soldiers of the Jin State, most of them are the newly recruited Hebei Han Army last year."

"These Hebei Han troops, many people are reluctant to fight, and they can use the technique of attacking the heart. Those who are willing to surrender will be accepted. Thou shalt not kill a captive, nor plunder the people of the enemy's territory. The better our military discipline is, the worse the military discipline of the Jin soldiers, and the more Hebei Han troops and civilians are willing to submit. ”

"Zhang Bo stayed here as the main general, assisted by the deputy general in the seed division, and Li Heng, Cao Cheng, and Yang Zaixing each led one."

The seed master suddenly asked: "Will Wanyan Zongwang leave some elite soldiers to defend the city, he just sticks to the west and east roads, but takes the main force to fight our army's east road?" ”

"Probably not," Zhu Ming said, "as long as I show the banner, wherever I go, he will follow." He is short of troops and food, and he must defeat me as soon as possible. If he dares to lead the main force to the East Road, even if he can completely annihilate the East Route Army, I can also take the opportunity to take the Zhending Mansion and the Yongning Army! ”

From Tianjin to Shandong, the boundary east of Nanpi, the Jin soldiers did not have any desire to occupy there.

It is full of saline-alkali yellow flood areas, and there is only one Cangzhou in the huge land boundary, and there are only two counties in the entire state. Even if the Jin soldiers are defeated, they can't grab anything, and if they want to continue south, they must conquer the Yongjing Military City.

And Yongjing Military City is the base camp of the Eastern Route Army.

The city is high and the pool is deep, and the heavy troops hold on.

In this case, Wanyan Zongwang will only lead the main force to fight against the Eastern Route Army if his brain is broken.

Zhu Ming asked Zhang Bo: "Can you understand?" ”

Zhang Bo replied: "Understood." ”

Zhu Ming said: "You have little experience in the battle formation, you have only fought one game in Shaanxi, and you have led your troops to pacify the thieves in Shandong. When fighting, you should listen to the advice of the seed division, I called Mr. Chong from Kaifeng, which is specially for you to be a military advisor. ”

"Yes!" Zhang Bo stood up.

Zhu Ming glanced at Li Heng, Cao Cheng and Yang Zaixing again: "The three of you are playing bells, the military food is insufficient, and you are looting along the way, this is understandable. But now that the soldiers have enough food, if they dare to plunder again, they will not be spared! ”

"The last general obeys!"

The three of them hurriedly stood up, not daring to slack off.

Zhu Ming continued: "You and the Huainan New Army under your command will not know the soldiers, and the soldiers will not know the generals, which is a taboo for soldiers. Along the way, let you lead the troops north, and I think you already know the officers under your command. Are there any officers who don't listen to your orders? ”

"Not yet." The trio immediately replied.

Zhu Ming said: "Including Zhang Bo and the seed division, you generals, you will guard the camp for half a month and not send troops, and try to be familiar with the soldiers under your command. ”

"Yes!"

The five shouted in unison.

The next day, in front of the golden soldiers and sentry cavalry on the north bank, Zhu Ming swaggered and led the troops out of the camp and vacated the camp for the newly arrived Huainan soldiers.

Then he held aloft the banners of Daxu and Shuai, and walked slowly to the west for a while, and then crossed the river and headed south.

This is telling Yan Zongwang that the Prince of Daming will lead his troops to fight, and if you want a decisive battle, you should hurry up.

Wanyan Zongwang learned the news and personally brought a group of cavalry to check.

Zhu Ming's main force was crossing the Mudaogou River, but Daxu had been standing between the Tang River and the Mudaogou, as if he was afraid that Wanyan Zongwang would not see it.

Wanyan Yan's mother also came: "Could it be fake, luring our main force to the west, then Prince Zhu took the opportunity to attack Yongning Military City?" ”

"It shouldn't be fake," Wanyan Zongwang shook his head, "Our army only needs to leave an elite army to defend the city, and the main force will soon be able to return to help, and Prince Zhu's tricks will not work." Their reinforcements arrived, and Prince Zhu had more troops available, so he personally led his troops to fight Zhending Mansion, wanting to destroy the small court there first. ”

Wanyan Xiyin said: "He wants to fight a decisive battle in Zhending, which is exactly what we want." ”

Wanyan Yan's mother suggested: "Just transfer the elites of the east and middle roads to the decisive battle, and the Yongning army and Hejian Mansion will not care, just leave the Hebei Han soldiers to garrison." ”

Wanyan Xiyin strongly objected: "The Han soldiers in Hebei can't fight, if they don't leave some elites of Dajin, I'm afraid they won't even be able to defend the city." ”

"If you can't hold it, you can't hold it, it's all Han land anyway," Wanyan Yan's mother said, "We also took away the military rations from the middle and east roads, and only left food for the Han army in Hebei for a month or two." As long as the decisive battle of Zhendingfu is won, no matter how many cities are lost, they can be fought back. ”

Wanyan Xiyin said: "The land that has been knocked down by the Jin country is the land of the Jin country!" Support the puppets now, and in a few years, they will be able to actually annex them. ”

The two argued and continued to argue there.

Wanyan Zongwang thought about it repeatedly, and made up his mind to say: "I will lead the main force to Zhending first, and you will go to the central and eastern roads respectively." Once I am sure that Prince Zhu is over there, you will send troops and food to help, and all the elites will be transferred to Zhending Mansion, and the other two roads can be dispensed with. There is no room for loss in this battle, Prince Zhu's firearms are sharp, and I am afraid that it will be difficult to win after dividing the troops. ”

Wanyan Zongwang is going to make a desperate bet.

(End of chapter)