Xiangfan, Yuliangzhou.

When Huo Jun led the army north to Yuliangzhou, it has been two months. In spring and summer, the rain gradually abundant, the Han water gradually rose, and the sailors ran rampant in the Han water, cutting off the news of the two cities of Xiangfan. In the upper reaches of the Han River, due to the existence of the three eastern counties, the sailors could not go deep into the barrier.

Outside, the rain poured down, wetting a large area of the tent. In the tent, Huo Jun, Jiang Ji, Wen Ping, Gao Xiang and others discussed the military.

"Governor, Cao Cao transferred more than 10,000 people from the two armies of Zhu Ling and Zhang He, crossed the Han River from the Shandu area, and led the army to Xiangyang." Gao Xiang pointed to the map and said, "Cao Cao's move seems to have the idea of going south to support Jiangling. ”

"Is there any change in Xiangyang?" Huo Jun asked.

"There are also soldiers and horses mobilized in Xiangyang City, and it seems that they want to join forces with Zhu and Zhang Er. And Cao Cao wanted to send tens of thousands of people around Xiangyang to migrate to the north, not to stay in Hannan. Gao Xiang said.

"What do you think?" Huo Jun asked.

Jiang Ji pondered a little and said: "Cao Cao has the intention of moving north to Jingmin, so Cao Cao no longer has the heart to aid Jiangling in the south. Today, Zhu and Zhang Er sent generals to the south, or to receive Cao Ren's troops and horses, rather than to support Jiangling. That is, Cao Cao wanted to give up Jiangling and protect Xiangfan. Cover the rumors that there is chaos in Xuchang, and Cao Cao may return to the Central Plains in the north. ”

Therefore, in the opinion of Ji, Cao Cao knew that Jiangling could not be defended, and the land between Xiangyang and Jiangling was eight or nine hundred miles, and there were few dangers, so he wanted to move the people of Jianghan to the north, and carried out the strategy of strengthening the wall and clearing the wilderness, and blocked our army in Hannan with the solidity of Xiangyang. At this time, our army should choose to act, and do not let Cao Cao get his way. ”

Huo Jun pointed at Xiangfan Ercheng with his finger and asked, "In your opinion, can Xiangyang City go down?" ”

"Xiangyang is afraid that it is impossible to go down, the solidity of Xiangyang City, the danger of the moat, is rare in the world. If the governor wants to break Xiangyang City, it is better to choose Fancheng. Fancheng is short, and there is no natural danger, and if Fancheng is broken, it will have Xiangyang. However, Fancheng was defended by Xu Huang, Xu Huang was brave and good at fighting, known as a soldier, and it was difficult to take Fancheng! Gao Xiang said.

The two cities of Xiangfan, named the two cities, are actually large and small cities. The two cities are standing on the north and south sides of the Han River, and they are horns of each other, advancing and retreating freely, easy to defend and difficult to attack. Whether it is the north or the south, if you want to go south and north, Xiangyang is a city that cannot be avoided.

Huo Jun relied on the benefits of the water master to go deep into Xiangfan, but let him attack Xiangfan City, but he didn't dare. In his current opinion, and looking at the soldiers and horses arranged by Cao Cao in Xiangfan, if he wants to break the second city of Xiangfan, he needs at least 70,000 or 80,000 soldiers and horses, or even 100,000 troops to fight this battle. Now let him use 20,000 soldiers to take Xiangfan City, but it is too difficult.

The second city of Xiangfan cannot be won in the short term, but it does not mean that Huo Jun does not want to strive for more strategic interests and lay a solid foundation for the future capture of Xiangfan.

Huo Jun considered his words and said: "Although Xiangfan is difficult to overcome in the short term, it needs to be planned for the long term. Since ancient times, the strength of the comparison is not enough to compete with China, but it can be worried about the patients of China, and the Jianghan is the city, and the boat is used, and the advantage is to pursue, and the unfavorable is to enter the water. ”

"My Wu Chu's army is longer than the boat, and when it enters the Han River, the Han River is broken, and Xiangyang is a lonely city. Therefore, I want to choose a dangerous place next to the Hanshui River between Xiangyang and Xiakou for 800 miles, build a new city, control and defend the Hanshui, and retreat Cao's soldiers. If the water rises, it will enter Xiangfan, and if the water is shallow, it will retreat to the city. Frequent attacks, step by step, plotting against Xiangfan. When it is appropriate, raise troops to the north and conquer Xiangfan. ”

Historically, Jiangling became the front line of Yucao, and hundreds of thousands of people in Jianghan were relocated. Guan Yu led Xiangyang to guard the rear. He used troops to the north many times, and the battle of Qingni and the battle of Xunkou broke out with Lejin and Wenpin, all in order to push the front north to Xiangyang.

Guan Yu's battle of Xiangfan was never achieved overnight, but he fought against Cao Ren, Lejin, Wenpin and other Cao generals for many years, and slowly pushed the battle line forward. After defeating Cao Ren, the troops entered Xiangfan, flooded the Seventh Army, and besieged Fancheng.

Thanks to the Battle of Chrysostom, Cao Cao was defeated, how could Huo Jun not take advantage of the situation to use troops, use the strength of the water division, and make Xiangfan the front line, so as to eat the essence of Nanjun. When the time is ripe, you can fight Xiangfan.

Jiang Ji bowed slightly, and said: "It is not impossible to choose to build a new city at the Han River, take Jianghan as the pool, and the army will be mighty. However, the Han River is seven or eight hundred miles, and it is necessary to choose a difficult and dangerous place to build a city, and the water division can be in it, and the distance from Xiangfan is moderate, so that it can advance and retreat freely and block the enemy in the north. ”

Huo Jun looked at Wen Ping, Han Shui is the dividing line between Nanjun and Jiangxia, and Wen Ping, as the Taishou of Jiangxia, will share the responsibilities of Jingzhou with Nanjun.

Wen Pineng rushed from Jiangxia to discuss with Huo Jun about building a new city. Although Cao Cao was defeated and retreated, Suixian, an important place in and out of Nanyang, was still in Cao Cao's hands. He also needs a new stronghold to push the battle line forward, not to take Xiakou to the front line.

Wen Ping comprehended Huo Jun's meaning, and said: "I have been stationed in Xiangfan for many years, and I know the dangers of Han water. More than 200 miles from Xiangyang, the northeast of Dangyang, the upstream of Jingling, the surroundings of Lankou gathering, looking at Jingshan in the west, seeing the Hanshui in the east, and there are lakes and boats mooring, you can build a city according to the mountain. ”

"If this city can be built, the Chaofa boat can reach Xiangfan, and the enemy of Xiangfan must pass through this city when they go south. And the west is connected with the county, Dangyang two cities, the east looks at Anlu, then the south county, Jiangxia can be an, Xiangfan can be expected. ”

The location of Wenpin is Zhongxiang City in later generations, and it is Yingzhou in the Southern Song Dynasty. During the Southern Song Dynasty, the Mongols conquered Xiangfan, and the Yangtze River defense line was exposed to the Mongol iron cavalry.

In Meng Gong's strategic plan to recover Xiangfan, Yingzhou belongs to the core position of Xiangfan's strategy, that is, Yingzhou must be able to look at Xiangfan, and at the same time, Jingmen (Handangyang) can surprise troops. Through the situation of advancing by land and water, Zhengqi troops and horses cooperated, not only to attack Xiangfan, but also to resist the southward advance of the Mongol army.

Of course, Meng Gong's strategy of recovering Xiangfan, Huo Jun had heard of it in his previous life. In this world, Huo Jun relied on his understanding of the geography of Nanjun and his own military strategy. It is not difficult to choose a site to build a new city and build a defensive system in Jingbei. Therefore, he wrote to Wen Ping, and asked Wen Ping to follow his orders to explore the terrain of the Han River.

Huo Jun was very satisfied, and said: "This new city land, this governor thinks it is feasible. The two cities of Dangyang and Xincheng in the north, that is, the people of Jiangling can be peaceful, and hundreds of miles of rich land can be exempted from soldiers. If the people are safe, they can raise soldiers, and if they are strong, they can return to Xiangfan. ”

After a pause, Huo Jun looked around at everyone and said, "The construction of this new city can be done by Wen Xiang. The governor wrote to the chariot rider to explain this matter, and sent the people of Nanjun to build the city. ”

Xu Sheng came out to receive the order and asked, "Sheng Yuan received the order, but what should the Cao army do to attack and disturb?" ”

Huo Jun smiled and said: "Cao Jun wants to compete with our army for the people today, how can there be time to spoil the construction of my new city, and you can choose to build a city with peace of mind." ”

"No!"

"Then Cao Jun wants to move the people of Jiang and Han to the north of the Han River, what should I do now?" Jiang Ji asked.

Huo Jun stared at the counties of Hannan such as Zhezhong, Bianxian, and Dangyang on the map, and said with a smile: "Our army has the advantages of the Han River, and the boat can cut off Xiangfan across the river." Now Cao Jun wants to move the people, how can Jun do what they want. ”

"That's?"

Huo Jun pressed down with both hands, signaled everyone not to worry, and said: "Cao Ren retreated to Xiangfan in the north, and General Zhu and Zhang went south, and their troops were far superior to our army, so they should not be moved lightly." Write to the second prince to ask for troops, and our army will sit and watch the enemy's movements. ”

"No!"

(End of chapter)