Royal road

Chapter 306

Sending troops to Shangdang again, Liu Yao's mood is completely different from the previous time.

If you say that what is the most difficult thing for soldiers and horses in Bingzhou to deal with, it is to fortify the wall and clear the field.In the face of the smoldering wolves, Wubao Lilin's enemy formation, not to mention the soldiers and horses of the Han Dynasty, even the Xianbei cavalry, which was far superior to them, were helpless.If you attack by force, you will encounter thunderbolt chariots and arrow arrays; if you lure the enemy out of the city, you are more likely to be lured into a dead end by the enemy.After the cavalry was exhausted, they encountered the battle formation as strong as a city, it was like a dog biting a hedgehog, and there was no place to bite.

This time, however, the situation was completely different.The target of their attack was not a city!

Without stopping, Liu Yao rushed into Shangdang with his troops.High martial law?He didn't pay attention to those cities at all, the endless, dark green wheat fields were the direction to attack!

All the waterwheels were burned, and the fields were trampled by the army.This time Liu Yao didn't bring any fodder at all. The wheat just emerging from the ears in the field was the best fodder for horses.

Fifty thousand cavalry swept past, what kind of posture?It is somewhat better than the locust!

However, this extremely swift and destructive attack stopped after crossing Xuanshi.Further forward is the hometown of Changping, where Qin and Zhao fought against each other.Almost overnight, Shangdang soldiers and horses lined up in front of the formation, a total of [-], and even a lot of cavalry.As long as Liu Yao dared to bypass this barrier, he would be chased and intercepted.

Looking at the moving heads behind the army formation, Liu Yao smiled.It can be seen that even Bingzhou cannot tolerate the loss of a season of grain and grass.Further forward is the hinterland of Shangdang.More than [-]% of Shangdang's food was produced during the period.Now that Bingzhou and Sizhou are facing food shortages, how dare they let themselves in?

"Your Majesty, the enemy's troops are insufficient, so there is more than one way to lead to the eldest son and Tunliu? It is better to go around the barrier and go straight to the hinterland!" General Pi said.

Looking at the less dense formation on the opposite side, Liu Yao narrowed his eyes: "No need! If you really want to stop our army, how can Bingzhou send only [-] troops? It must have set up an ambush to lure me into the bait. Attack this barrier It is a good strategy to let them continue to increase their troops!"

The summer harvest is less than half a month away.The best way is to take advantage of him to underestimate the enemy, lure the enemy to go deep, and defeat him in one fell swoop.Just like Zhang Dian and Pu Hong did when they defeated Zhang Dian.If it can't be realized, after half a month's delay, the army and civilians in the rear can also be organized to grab food.However, for Liu Yao, these are nothing more than a mantis arm!

He doesn't need to detour at all, as long as he keeps attacking the defense line, he can make the enemy helpless.How much food and grass will be consumed when the army confronts each other?Behind him is the country of Han, and what is there in Bingzhou?Is it the dilapidated Luoyang city?

More importantly, the wheat has not yet fully matured, and when the wheat is ripe, there is no need for manpower to destroy it. Just a fire can burn thousands of acres of fertile land into a sea of ​​flames.At that time, sending a few small teams to bypass the defense line will still make the Shangdang soldiers fall short.When the target is not a city, there are too many choices he can make!

"Pass down the order, keep an eye on Gaodu and Liang's mansion, and keep an eye on the future!" This is the only thing to worry about, Liu Yao sneered.It's not him who is in a hurry now.The food shortage seems to be a trivial matter, but the hidden dangers it brings will expand step by step, affecting Luoyang, which has just been recovered, and even half of Sizhou.Once fatigued, the Shile tribe located in Yanzhou can immediately turn to attack Sizhou and regain the previously lost ground, and Jizhou may also be shaken.

Liang Feng is still a woman's benevolence, can he support this way of gathering refugees?Bingzhou is not Yongzhou or Sizhou. This barren land cannot support so many people.Since they insist on going their own way, don't blame them for sticking a knife in the back!

Following the order, the Xiongnu army began to attack the newly built line of defense.Although the number was slightly smaller, Shangdang soldiers and horses still played their strengths in defending the formation, and for a while, the battle fell into a stalemate.

■

"General, the food and grass in the city are about to run out!"

The Shangdang fight was in full swing, and the winner had not yet been decided.Sizhou, not far away, fell into crisis first.Luoyang was besieged last year, so it was impossible to plow in winter, and the grain replanted in spring could not be harvested until autumn.In the middle months, we can only rely on Bingzhou for relief.

Any food that wants to be transported out of Bingzhou has to go through Shangdang.Now that Shangdang is being aggressively invaded by the Huns, he is too busy to take care of himself, so how can he have the energy to take care of Sizhou?

At this time, the lost ground regained by Zu Ti made the grain reserve even worse.It could have lasted until the summer harvest, but with the continuous influx of refugees, I am afraid that it will not be able to last for a few days!

What should I do?

Zu Ti was not flustered: "The order is to go down, the soldiers and horses will retreat and stick to Luoyang. The refugees will be temporarily taken in, and the food rations will also be reduced. There are a lot of wild vegetables that can be eaten in spring, and they should be able to last for a while."

So what if you survived this period of time?The puppet Han had no intention of withdrawing their troops. Once the Shangdang defense line was breached, the food reserves for a season would be completely wiped out.However, it is the county that has been in peace for the longest time in Bingzhou. With such a big gap, let alone Sizhou, it is a problem whether there is enough food in Bingzhou.

There are too many people and no food, and there will be big troubles!

The officials below looked terrified, but Zu Ti remained unchanged: "It's only a few days, so you can always figure out a way. The important thing is that Sizhou and Luoyang can't be messed up!"

The word Shijun exited, but there was silence below.Today, half of the officials in Luoyang come from Bingzhou, and many of them are selected through the department.The future of each of them is shared with Bingzhou.He is even more aware of Liang Shijun's methods.Is the governor's office really not aware of the current situation?Why did they issue the order to take back the counties and gather the refugees?There must be some plans!

Thinking about it this way, the panic in my heart was a little less.Everyone no longer hesitated, and began to appease the people one after another.Even if life is harder than before, Sizhou is a rare refuge nearby.The troubles in Yuzhou and Yanzhou are serious, who will come to seek death?As long as it lasts until the summer harvest!

■

"The current situation is just like the confrontation between Qin and Zhao in ancient times." Liu He stood at the bottom of the steps, talking eloquently, "At the beginning, Qin attacked the Shangdang and confronted Zhao Guo in Changping for three years, mobilizing hundreds of thousands of troops. However, Qin was in Guanzhong. , Zhao lives in Handan. It is a long way to transport the grain and grass of Qin State to Shangdang, but Zhao State can send grain to the front line as long as it passes through the Xingdao. If the old general Lian Po's sticky method is followed, it may not be possible to kill Qiang Qin .”

After talking about the situation in Changping that year, Liu He changed the subject: "However, today our Han Dynasty is located in Sizhou, occupying several counties of Hedong and Hongnong, and has thousands of miles of fertile land in Yongzhou. There is no shortage of food. But Bingzhou is poor. , Jizhou is newly attached, and the war in Sizhou has not disappeared. Once Shangdang loses, there will be a shortage of food. There are chaos everywhere, and the Han Dynasty strictly prohibits the flow of food and salt into Bingzhou. In this way, Bingzhou is too busy to take care of itself. How can I stop me? Imperial Han Foundation?"

These words are reasonable, and they also hit the key point of this duel.The Han State is now implementing a two-ethnic system, with Hu people joining the army and fighting in all directions.The looted Jin people were responsible for farming the fields.In this way, the two have nothing to do with each other, and it is not a big problem to send troops in such a busy farming season.But Bingzhou is different. The vast majority of soldiers are stationed. Once the busy farming encounters the enemy, the harvest will be delayed.It can only become weaker and weaker, unable to support.How can such a military structure last?It even said that as long as the Xiongnu continue to use troops like this in the future, Bingzhou will be plunged into eternal doom!

Sitting on the seat, Liu Yuan pressed his belly with one hand and nodded: "That's right. Yongming is cautious in using his troops. Even if Bingzhou soldiers and horses use some tricks, he will not be able to stand up to him. As long as the Shangdang wheat is ripe, it will be time for a decisive battle." Moment. Send more soldiers in the direction of Lishi, and make sure to block the Bingzhou soldiers and horses within the territory."

Hearing Liu Yao's name, Liu He's complexion darkened.If Shangdang is conquered this time, Liu Yao's reputation will definitely be even greater.How will he suppress this person when the capital is moved to Chang'an?Liu He was very grateful that his younger brother Liu Cong, who was afraid at the beginning, died unexpectedly.I don't know how long Liu Yao can live.

Just a moment's distraction, Liu He hastened to restrain his thoughts.However, on the throne, Liu Yuan did not realize that this moment was inappropriate.The hand that was pressing on his stomach was a little harder, and he frowned.What happened the last few days?The abdominal pain is getting worse day by day, and the imperial physician can't see the cause.

However, this matter cannot be made public.At least until the end of the Shangdang affairs.This battle is related to the foundation of the Han Kingdom. It can only be won, not defeated...

Just as Liu Yuan was suppressing the abdominal pain, the city of Luoyang boiled.

"General! There is a grain ship!"

Zu Titeng stood up suddenly: "Where did the boat come from? How much food is there?!"

"There are more than 100 ships, and they seem to have come from Jizhou!" The messenger's excited voice changed, and he shouted loudly.

More than 100 grain transport ships cost at least [-] to [-] hu grains!Enough to solve the urgent need!

However, the joy on Zu Ti's face was only flashed, and he calmed down quickly: "I will go to meet them in person, and inform the states and counties of the news, saying that the rescue food and grass have arrived!"

He couldn't be sure that these grain ships were a cover made by the envoy.But no matter what, the news must spread!Only by letting the Huns know can the siege of Shangdang be resolved.Isn't the reason for fighting this battle so hard is to cut off the food supply?If there is another way of food, what is the use of this battle!

It's just that this food is real or fake?Where is there no chaos in the hinterland of the Central Plains? Where can we get so much food?

Not daring to be negligent, Zu Ti set out to meet the grain ship.Luoyang City is surrounded by water, but since Qianjinyu was destroyed by Zhang Fang, the river channel is not very smooth, so many grain ships cannot enter the city.Even so, it didn't take much effort to go out of the city to the Luoshui River.

When he stood on the bank and saw the mighty fleet in the river connected end to end, with sails and masts touching the sky, Zu Ti's breathing became heavy.It is really a grain ship, and each ship is fully loaded with goods, and the draft is quite deep!How can this posture look like a fake? !

Knowing that Ling Yin came out to meet him in person, soon, the food pressure officer came from the boat and saluted: "Fortunately, the officer did not disgrace his order. Fifty thousand stones of rice millet and three hundred stones of salt are all escorted back! The ship is not strong enough, and there are still 25 Thousands of stones of grain and fodder are piled up in the warehouse..."

It's really food!A total of 30 stones!How much grain can Shangdang harvest in one season?Not to mention the shortage of salt!

Although he was so excited, Zu Ti was not overwhelmed, and asked anxiously, "Where did you get this food? Why is there still rice?"

Seeing that the Shangguan had grasped the important point at once, the grain pressing officer laughed and said, "To tell you the truth, the grain was shipped from Jiaoguang and Guangzhou. This is the first batch. After that, there should be enough grain and grass bought by Goguryeo, which is enough for the army." consumption!"

Oh!Zuti suddenly understood.These grains are all shipped by sea!Jizhou is close to the sea, and the envoy mentioned the shipping matters before. Who would have thought that the waterway would be opened so soon!Wars are raging in all four territories, but Jiaozhou and Guangzhou are remote and have not been affected by the flames of war, let alone a vassal state like Goguryeo.As long as you have money, can you still buy food?

And once the sea route is connected, no one can stop the grain road in Bingzhou.With a respite of one or two years, I am afraid that the doubled population will be able to feed!This battle is already won if you don't fight it!

"As expected of the envoy's plan! Hahaha, quickly spread the news to all the counties to stabilize the hearts of the people!" Zu Ti shouted loudly, stroking his beard and laughing.

The chess game has been revealed, and it's time for a comeback!

It was shockingly good news, and Zu Ti deliberately built up momentum, and the news that the grain team arrived spread throughout the two counties of Henan and Hanoi in no time.Naturally, it also fell into the ears of the Huns' scouts.

"What did you say? More than a hundred grain ships have arrived in Luoyang? Where did the grain come from?!" The medicine bowl hit the ground with a bang, and Liu Yuan suddenly stood up and shouted sharply.

"It is said, yes, it is Jizhou Shipping..." the scout tremblingly replied.

Shipping!Liu Yuan felt dizzy for a while.The Xiongnu are horsemen, and what they are best at is riding and shooting.Even if it occupies the Yellow River, it has not yet utilized the transport capacity of this river.How can I think of the sea thousands of miles away?

However, Jizhou is close to the sea, so there is no difference.Liang Zixi is also the best at strange skills and ingenuity, taking the banned white porcelain, colored glaze, and silk brocade from the Han Dynasty to the south, can they still exchange for food?What is this war for?Too bad, the [-] elite troops led by Liu Yao...

Liu Yuan's eyes widened suddenly, a sharp pain came from his stomach, and even his heart twitched violently.Unable to stand any longer, he screamed and fell to the ground.

"Father!" "Your Majesty!"

In an instant, the inside and outside of the sleeping hall became chaotic.