Guo Shao received a military order from the Privy Council, said goodbye to his family, and led his troops out of the capital.
He was very considerate of his subordinates. After everyone shared the spoils, he arranged positions for his subordinates in the name of the commander of the wing. Some higher positions were temporarily held, and a written report was submitted to the Tokyo Imperial Guards and the Infantry Division. However, Li Chongjin, the commander of the cavalry and infantry of the Guards, and Wei Renpu, the Privy Councilor, were both in Huainan, so no one would approve it, so he had to copy another copy to Huainan and give it to Li Chongjin first.
The Cavalry Division and Infantry Division of the Imperial Guard Division are in charge of the Dragon Army and the Tiger Army respectively. However, the Cavalry Division and Infantry Division are just titles, because both the Dragon Army and the Tiger Army have cavalry and infantry, and the Dragon Army has more cavalry and is stronger.
The draft book appointed Li Chuyun as the commander of the first army, Luo Yanhuan as the chief military officer; Wang Zhang, the former chief military officer of the second army, was appointed as the commander-in-chief, who helped Guo Shao win a crucial battle in Tangcang Town, Yang Biao as the chief military officer, and Luo Mengzi as the commander of the personal soldiers. Because some low-level and middle-level generals were killed or seriously injured in the battle, other meritorious generals were promoted; Guo Shao directly appointed the generals below the commander. The right way is to share the money among the rich, but Guo Shao silently gave all the key positions with military power to his confidants. Wang Zhang of the second army also said that no one above was willing to serve.
More than ten days later, the troops arrived at the north bank of the Huai River, and then Guo Shao arranged for the troops to cross the river in batches from the pontoon bridge on the river.
It was just the beginning of July, and the weather was still so hot. Guo Shao stood by the Huai River and looked around. There was an endless field, lush green, blue sky and clear river. The Huainan Plain was really a good place in this era, which was conducive to farming and convenient for transportation. It was completely different from what he saw in the Qinling Mountains at the beginning of the year. No wonder the Emperor of the Great Zhou and the Emperor of the Southern Tang fought to the death, and both sides spared no effort to compete for this piece of land here.
The place where the floating bridge was built was no longer Zhengyang, west of Shouzhou today, but Xiacai Town, north of Shouzhou. On the main road leading to this area, there is a very tall and spacious archway with Xiacai written on it. It is really impossible not to know the place name. I heard that the Zhou army's floating bridge was in Zhengyang before, but how it was moved to Xiacai is unknown. Perhaps the emperor thought that the cities in the upper reaches of the Huai River had not been captured, and the terrain there was too wide and easy to be attacked by the Tang army.
The location of the floating bridges in Xiacai is quite particular. The Huai River bends greatly here, forming a convex upper shape, and Xiacai is at the top of the convex shape. The terrain on the north side of the river is open, but after crossing the river, it is narrow and long due to the limitation of the river.
Guo Shao led his troops across the Huai River safely. Both sides of the Huai River in Xia Cai were controlled and garrisoned by the Zhou army, and the country was very peaceful.
But just after crossing the Huai River, Guo Shao's right eyelid began to twitch for no apparent reason. He felt uneasy and had a vague feeling of bad luck. Ever since the Taoist's elixir cured the queen's illness, and in connection with the Taoist's words about fate, Guo Shao, who had received a lot of modern education, could not help but become more and more superstitious. He always felt that these mysterious things were hard to explain.
With a vague feeling of uneasiness, Guo Shao led his troops south along the Huai River. Walking along the main road, they arrived at the bank of a river in the afternoon. There was a stone arch bridge on the river. This river was the Chaohu Lake in the south flowing into the Huai River. It was called Feishui, which seemed to be the place where the Battle of Feishui took place. Compared with the Huai River, the river is narrower now. In some places, the water is shallow and you may have to wade across the river on foot. However, it is more convenient to cross the bridge.
There was an endless stream of soldiers and horses, and the soldiers in front marched in unison. The clacking sound was very similar to the rhythm of modern armies marching in step.
Guo Shao looked up and saw that the stone arch bridge in front seemed a little fragile. He remembered the resonance phenomenon, so he ordered all the troops to disrupt the formation and cross the bridge at random.
Unexpectedly, just as Guo Shao crossed the bridge, he saw a civil official with several riders watching on the side of the road. The official was sighing when he saw Guo Shao's army in chaos. Guo Shao smiled and went forward to greet him. After asking, he found out that it was Hanlin scholar Dou Yi. A total stranger. But when Dou Yi introduced the others, there was a man named Zhao Pu in the entourage. Guo Shao felt as if he had heard of Zhao Pu somewhere. But Zhao Pu looked like an unknown person, and even his official position was not introduced. Guo Shao felt a little surprised, but suddenly he couldn't remember what was going on.
When Guo Shao just saw Dou Yi sighing, he explained: If they walked too neatly, the bridge might collapse, causing unnecessary casualties.
Dou Yi was stunned and speechless. Guo Shao had no words to say, and he didn't know how to talk to this Hanlin Academy scholar, so he had to give up and just sighed: It's terrible that a scholar has no education.
Guo Shao then bid farewell to Dou Yi. At this time, the commotion in the south could be heard. Guo Shao looked into the distance and saw the Shouzhou Tower with smoke billowing in the depths of the wilderness. In addition to various noises, there were also faint shouts of people.
We entered the battlefield so soon. The Zhou army's battle line was really long. I heard that the vanguard had already captured Chuzhou city and was not far from the Yangtze River, while the fighting was still going on on the Huaihe River side.
At this time, Guo Shao met another official, a man in his fifties. Like Dou Yi, he was wearing an official uniform and standing by the road watching the marching army. This man had narrow eye sockets, a flat forehead, full cheeks, a full beard, and a tall stature.
Guo Shao rode his horse to the side of the road, and the man looked at him with a smile. Guo Shao looked at him, slapped his forehead, and said with a smile: Prime Minister Li
It turned out to be Li Gu. Guo Shao felt that he looked familiar. Before this, he had only met Li Gu once in his life. Last year, on the way from Gaoping to Jinyang, Li Gu rewarded Guo Shao with more than twenty horses.
Haha Li Gu laughed loudly, Guo Du used his good memory, we only met once, more than a year later, and you still remember me. But I am not the prime minister now.
Guo Shao thought that when he arrived in Huainan, the first person he would meet was Wang Pu, but he was surprised to see Li Gu, whom he didn't know very well. Guo Shao was very happy to meet someone he knew, and answered without thinking: "Haha, I easily forget who treats me badly, but I always remember who treats me well. Last year, Lord Li rewarded me with more than 20 military horses, which was a great reward for me at that time. How could I not remember it?"
Li Gu smiled, and looked at Guo Shao with a more interesting look. It was probably because he blurted out the twisted theory of good and bad.
Li Gu sighed again: He was promoted really fast through military merit. It's been more than a year since we last met. One really has to look at people with new eyes after three days of absence.
No, no. Guo Shao pretended to be modest and asked, "What important position does Mr. Li hold now?"
Li Gu said: I am in charge of the affairs of Shouzhou Prefecture. I am now mainly responsible for supplying military rations and preparing military equipment for the various units in Shouzhou. I will also send people to nearby areas to appease the people and let them do their jobs. I no longer lead troops, but these matters are also very difficult. The officers and soldiers are arrogant and sometimes kill innocent people indiscriminately, which cannot be stopped despite repeated prohibitions.
Guo Shao hurriedly said: I will definitely restrain my subordinates and forbid them from burning, killing and looting, so as not to cause trouble for Lord Li. He thought: If we can share the spoils after robbing, why would we bother to rob
Li Gu suddenly seemed to be very open with Guo Shao, and said in a deep voice: The government blamed me for missing the opportunity to fight, and I almost got convicted.
Guo Shao didn't think much about it and said directly: I have also heard about Zhengyang's affairs. Lord Li is a steady and cautious person, so he takes every step carefully. The emperor is eager to win and has different ideas. I don't think Lord Li did anything wrong.
That's right. Li Gu stroked his beard and agreed.
Li Gu added: "By the way, I am also responsible for arranging the barracks for the new troops, so I am waiting for Envoy Guo Du here. I will go with you now. The fences of the barracks have been repaired, and a small village has been requisitioned in the camp. The central army can be stationed in the village. There are many houses for people to live in, which is much better than living in tents."
Guo Shao hurriedly thanked him: That’s a really great place, thank you for your care.
Haha, of course it is. Li Gu said with a smile.
The group followed the army closer to Shouzhou City and came to the west of the city. Guo Shao observed along the way and found that the terrain of Shouzhou City was not so dangerous: although it was known as guarding the Huai River, it was not on the Huai River. There was a vast flat area to the northwest of the Huai River, and there were even many rice fields in the middle. The city was backed by the Fei River, a river flowing from Chaohu Lake to the Huai River, and there was a water gate in the north. The three sides were relatively flat. The terrain was surrounded by enemies on three sides and threatened by the water on one side, so it was not really dangerous.
However, the city wall of Shouzhou looks very tall, and there is a very wide moat, which shows that a lot of effort must have been put into building the city.
As he got closer, Guo Shao saw countless siege weapons outside the city walls. The moat in several places was filled up, and some ladders were set up on the city walls. People with burning bodies kept falling down. Black smoke billowed outside the city, and rocks and arrows flew in the air. There were countless people surrounding it on three sides. The noise and shouting made people's ears buzz. On the road away from the Shouzhou city wall, a continuous stream of militiamen carried the horrible wounded soldiers towards this side, and the road was full of people.
Seeing this, Guo Shao felt his scalp tingling, thinking: I hope you don't let me attack the city, this is really impossible, it's too miserable.
I think the first and second armies of the left wing of the Tiger Jie Army are the two best field troops on the left wing. They should not be forced to climb the wall, otherwise it would be a waste. Thinking of this, Guo Shao felt relieved.
Guo Shao invited Li Gu to the military camp again. Unexpectedly, Li Gu said: I will send you food and prepare weapons in the future, and there will be many opportunities for communication. Now, Guo Dushi had better hurry to the central military camp to see the emperor. Li Gu whispered, I just heard a secret report that Yangzhou, the eastern capital of Southern Tang, is not guarded. It is estimated that the emperor will personally go to Chuzhou to deploy a new campaign soon. If you don't go to see him, you won't even see him when you come to Huainan.
Thank you Mr. Li for reminding me. Guo Shao did not linger, but quickly asked for the location and went to the central army camp.
After entering the camp gate, he met Wang Pu and was gently reminded: The emperor wants you to attack Shouzhou City.
Guo Shao's face suddenly turned dark, and he thought to himself: Oh my god!