On July 18, 699 in the mainland calendar, although everyone knew that the civil war in the empire would break out sooner or later, no one thought that the civil war would first ignite in the Wuhu and Jiangnan regions. No one thought that the civil war between Situ Tai and Situ Biao would begin. Two brothers who had been fighting for the throne a few months ago suddenly launched an attack on Cheng Dayou, the deputy commander-in-chief of the southern military region of the empire and the commander of Jiujiang and Huzhou, who had been keeping a low profile at the same time. However, judging from the analysis of the early stage of the war, it seems that the commander had already prepared for this battle. If we want to be more precise, it should be said that the commander's troops were ahead of the battle to the east and south. Situ Biao's Sixth Army launched a counterattack to Huanggang in the east before launching an attack on Jiujiang, which led to the outbreak of the war.
Although it is already July, you can still feel the coolness brought by the river breeze in the second half of the night. The monsoons from the Atlantic and Southern Oceans mix together and always bring coolness to the entire Eastern Continent from May to September every year. Abundant rainfall was also a prerequisite for the five lakes in the south of the Yangtze River to become a land of plenty. Sufficient rainfall allowed rivers and lakes to spread throughout the southern part of the empire. It also made water transportation in the south extremely developed, replacing the usual land transportation on the mainland and becoming the most popular. important mode of transportation.
The main transportation channel between Huanggang and Jiujiang can only refer to the Yajiang River. This river changes its name at almost every section of the river. This section is called Yajiang, probably after Jiujiang. The beautiful mountains and rivers within the territory, the beautiful people and the hometown of culture and art are called elegant land, so it got its name. This river, which is called Yajiang in this section, is generally called Dajiang in geographical terms. It is also the birthplace of civilization called Tanghe and Liangjiang together with Shanjiang River that flows through Zhongzhou, the capital of the empire. The stretch from Huanggang to Jiujiang is also the busiest and most important section of the river. Most of the rivers and lakes from the south enter the river at this section. Such as the Dongting Lake water system south of Huanggang. The Chaohu water system in the south of Jiujiang is precisely these major water systems and the main water systems of the rivers that form the river system, making Dajiang the de facto first water system in the empire. The geographical scope of its communication should be said to far exceed that of the Shanjiang water system.
Objectively speaking, the river entered the golden section of the river when it entered Jincheng from Hanzhong, Hanzhong, Jincheng, Huanggang, Jiujiang, Huzhou, Suzhou, and finally entered Quanzhou and the sea. These eight major cities almost connected the entire empire from west to east. The richest and most prosperous area. Later economic historians even described the importance of the Dajiang waterway to these eight prefectures as the Eight Prefectures of the Yangtze River. If Weiyang, Yuhang, Jinling, and Dengzhou are connected by canals, it can be said that this waterway is enough It can be said that it controls the economic lifeline of the empire. The section of the river that enters Quanzhou from Suzhou to the sea has often changed its course many years ago and even got mixed up with the canal. It is difficult to say whether that section is the dredged river channel or the canal channel that was originally excavated and transformed from the depression. . It is precisely because of the importance of this river that rulers of all dynasties have regarded this area as their heartland. In fact, this area is unashamedly worthy in terms of financial revenue, food supply, education, culture and art. It is called the elite zone of the empire. It is precisely with the support of this region that the aging Tanghe Empire can sustain itself under such circumstances.
Now the fight for control of this waterway is almost on the table again. Neither Situ Biao nor Cheng Dayou seems to be willing to give up control of this waterway. Situ Biao's control of this waterway means that he The alliance with Situ Tai can become even closer, and since Dayou occupies this water area, he can also firmly connect himself with his new master's territory, and no longer have to worry about threats from several other directions.
"How's the situation?" He almost welcomed him in from outside the tent. Such treatment made the exhausted chief of staff feel a little frightened, facing the expectant eyes of his two bosses. The chief of staff didn't even have time to take a breath before he quickly introduced in a hoarse voice.
"Everything is as expected by the two division commanders. The enemy is already making final preparations thirty miles away from our Jiujiang border. According to the intelligence gathered by our intelligence personnel and scouts, uh, plus the information from Western Xinjiang, According to various intelligence reports coming from the side, the enemy will probably complete their assembly and launch the attack in three to five days. According to my personal observation on the front line, it should be a relaxation period before the end of the enemy's assembly. Although the enemy's performance is not bad, as long as We have carefully arranged the plan. We can definitely find the loopholes in it. After all, they may launch an offensive in three to five days. Both officers and soldiers have a relaxed mentality. They will never imagine that we dare to launch a counterattack. I personally think that today and tomorrow The sky should be the best time to launch a surprise attack."
Hearing the affirmative tone of his chief of staff. The square-faced man with a heavy face looked at his colleague, a lean man with a sallow complexion but a burning gaze. Their eyes suddenly collided in the air, and they seemed to be able to feel the strong fighting spirit in the other's chest.
"Okay, done. This is a one-shot deal. We can't expect to defeat Jin Zhiyang's Sixth Army at once, but we have to find a way to castrate the scourge of Situ Biao's Navy Army, otherwise these guys It is always a disaster. Your Excellency has given us the gate to the west of Jiujiang and left it to us to decide the strategy. If we want to guard the west gate without destroying the navy deployed by Situ Biao in Huanggang, we will not be able to live in peace in the end. But the army , although this mountainous area is low and gentle, if Jin Zhiyang’s Sixth Army wants to climb here, I want to see how awesome his Sixth Army is and whether it can pass our ten-finger barrier. Let’s set the combat goal to destroy the enemy. Navy commander, Old Jian, what do you mean?" The man with a heavy-faced face suddenly gave a high-five and expressed his feelings. Then he thought that he was not fighting with a division this time. Although the commander-in-chief focused on himself, he was still I need to seek the opinion of the yellow-faced man next to me.
"Haha, Lao Guan, your opinion is exactly what I think. Although the enemy's army is Situ Biao's main force, in fact, the performance of this Sixth Army in the south and the Maci Khans is average, not to mention that most of the people in our defense area It's a low mountainous area. Hehe, to put it bluntly, it happens to be a good place for us to perform. If they want to think about this land, I'm afraid they have to leave something behind. But the navy is different. The commander still hasn't The main force of Tian Jinbao's navy is transferred over. It is estimated that the commander-in-chief wants to stop Situ Tai's southern invasion in Huzhou. This will make our original navy in Jiujiang appear too weak. If he wants to fight with Situ Biao in Huanggang I am afraid that the navy forces deployed will not be able to withstand the competition. We must find a way to destroy their navy forces. At the very least, we must make them lose their vitality. Otherwise, it will be difficult for us to fight the battle below. They can be free with their navy forces. It's hard for us to get in and out of our back flank." The sallow-faced man wiped the short beard on his lips and nodded, obviously very much agreeing with his colleagues' opinions. Annihilating or severely damaging the enemy's navy will win a victory for our defense. advantage, which brings great benefits to later defensive operations.
"Hehe, heroes have the same idea. What we call it is to avoid its edge and attack its weakness. Well, it seems wrong. Uh, we should use our own strengths to attack the enemy's weaknesses, right? Okay, Boss, no matter how good you are, Please introduce the layout of the enemy's navy to me and Lao Jian." The red-faced man grinned, his momentum was like a rainbow, and his knuckles cracked. He obviously wanted to fight for a long time to vent his idleness for so long. Hands and feet that are about to get moldy.
"Well, two division commanders, please look at this map. The second division of Jin Zhiyang's Sixth Army is stationed here. Well, this is Hushanji. The third division has set up a wedge-shaped attack posture in this direction. , it is estimated that this third division will serve as the main attack vanguard. They are in this area where the defenses of both sides meet. News from Western Xinjiang states that the relationship between the second division and the third division of the Sixth Army has never been good. The two sides used to There have been many small-scale conflicts on the battlefield. Although Jin Zhiyang had sternly warned the commanders of the two divisions before the war that if personal grudges delayed the general's conduct of combat operations, it was still unclear how effective it would be. However, his subordinates went to check it out. The handover area between the garrison areas of their two divisions was probably because the commanders of both divisions did not want to offend Jin Zhiyang due to conflicts before the war, so they both deliberately maintained restraint. There is about one to two miles here. There is a gap in the ground. I passed through here twice with the scout team and did not find any guard force. There is a police post at least a mile away to the north, and there is a sentry post about a mile and a half here." The chief of staff, who is called Lao Ba, is obviously focusing on the geographical location of this gap, and his intention is obvious.
"Oh?" The interest of the two men was aroused almost at once. Their eyes immediately followed Lao Ba's finger and landed on the point on the map. It was not far from the river bank and was only ten miles away. They were advancing four miles to the west. Under the black dot in Shili, an anchor-shaped symbol appeared on the paper, almost making their hearts jump out of their chests. "Ba, what do you mean..."
"Hey, division commander, now that both divisions have some scruples, I'm afraid they are more or less unwilling to interfere with the other's actions. If we have an army wearing the other's clothes and carrying the other's designation because of the change of defense If you pass by there, do you think they will ask? Even if they ask, my subordinates are thinking that it is just a routine matter, and they will definitely not deliberately provoke me, right?" A fox-like smile appeared on Lao Ba's face.