Chapter 673 Fighting for Life
The wind on the river was a bit strong, causing the flags to whistle.
In three days, the pontoon bridge was erected and the vanguard crossed the river.
The first batch of people to cross the river were 2,400 people from the Silver Spear Army. After arriving at the north bank of the river, they formed an array on the spot, echoing the Fangtou garrison.
Following them were a group of logistics personnel, with large cars and carts, pack horses, donkeys and mules, loaded with various supplies, arriving along the pontoon bridge to the north bank.
"The wind is too strong, hold on steady." An ox cart loaded with stone mills came over, the pontoon shook endlessly, and the auxiliary commander who maintained order kept shouting.
“Don’t panic, just be steady.” The driver smiled.
Shi Chang also smiled and said: "I'm afraid that the stone mill will fall into the river and there will be no food to eat."
"Is there no stone mill in Hebei?"
"Few. They don't grow enough wheat."
In the past few years, small stone mills driven by animal power have gradually become popular in Henan. The main reason is the change in the food structure: more winter wheat is planted, which naturally requires stone mills.
Before that, wealthy families relied on large mills driven by water-powered machinery to grind flour, which was different from small households - when Jinguyuan was in its heyday, there were water mills in the "Thirty-plus District", not thirty There are more than thirty places in Yutai.
The water hammer can pound corn, and can also grind flour after modification. However, the equipment is too large and is suitable for large-scale processing in the manor economy. It is not suitable for small-scale rice milling or flour grinding by homesteaders.
The increasing popularity of stone mills can be traced back to the changes brought about by Shao Xun. It is also a sign of demand-driven development.
This summer’s grain harvest is all wheat, and it’s being sent to the army in boatloads. How can we eat it without grinding flour? Okay, maybe, wheat rice and wheat porridge, but it tastes so bad that I want to curse my mother-in-law after eating it...
There is a ferry on the river moving northward.
The sergeants sat in the cabin, looking at the crowded pontoon, pointing, and occasionally laughing.
The people on the pontoon looked at it, laughed and cursed a few words, and then moved forward.
The overall morale is still good, at least it's not the kind of weak looking with your head down.
This is actually the change brought about by Shao Xun.
He opened a way for the warriors to ascend. Although it was still relatively narrow, it was really useful. The soldiers worked harder than before.
The entire river crossing operation lasted several days.
Six thousand soldiers from the Yinqian Youying camp, 10,000 soldiers from Yanzhou (Manheng, Tang Jianbu), plus 10,000 people from Chenliu, Puyang, and Xingyang Dingzhuang arrived at the north bank of the Yellow River in a mighty manner.
If you include the tens of thousands of troops stationed at Fangtou and Chaoge (Yanzhou Shibing) and Shao Xun's personal soldiers, the total force reached 37,000.
As for the soldiers, they cannot be dispatched for the time being.
One part of the Puyang Prefecture troops is in Heyang, and the other part stays in the town.
Chen Liufu soldiers also stayed in the town.
Dongping and Gaoping soldiers were on guard against the refugees in Qingzhou and Hebei.
Luonan Prefecture soldiers are in Hongnong.
Baichao City has just been captured by the Forbidden Army.
Wang Mi suffered more than 3,000 casualties, and more than 15,000 soldiers, soldiers, and refugees suffered casualties. It was impossible to attack.
Xin'an and Baichao both suffered four or five times the casualties, and Tan Hongnong, the Forbidden Army, became distraught.
After staying in the two cities of Baichao and Xin'an, while licking his wounds, he enlisted among the refugees and reorganized.
Another 2,400 people with meritorious military exploits were transferred to the Fu soldiers to give them a little hope. So far, 6,000 Fu soldiers are or are about to move to the Liang Kingdom.
Wang Mi was unable to fight back.
He only has 18,000 or 9,000 people left in his old army. Last year and this year, he selected 10,000 strong people from the refugees in Bingzhou to work hard and train. The mountainous terrain was used to wear away the flesh and blood of the Forbidden Army bit by bit, but by now, they had retreated forty miles from Xin'an, and the battle line had been pushed to the outside of Xiashi Fort.
After Xiashi Fort, there is Han Mianchi County (located in the valley north of Mianchi County, Shanxi).
After Mianchi County, there is the Koban Erling area that Shao Shen and Wang Mi have repeatedly fought for.
The repeated fighting on this line has a bit of a back-and-forth between Eastern and Western Wei and Zhou and Qi. It is not about who has more soldiers, but who occupies the favorable terrain.
Shao Xun doesn't care much about this flank battlefield, he still focuses on Hebei.
On the first day of September, he crossed the river in person and set up the banner on the bank of Qishui River.
This battle must be fought well, because he will use this victory to implement many things.
Without victory and prestige, nothing can be accomplished.
******
Desheng Township, Zhongqiu County, Zhao County.
At the former site of Zhangjiao Camp, shogunate officials and county magistrates were supervising the distribution of the second batch of relief grain.
“This is Mr. Liang’s kindness, I hope you will remember it.” The county officials who distributed food did not care whether the victims understood or not, and kept talking.
After receiving a bag of food, the victims left with a lot of gratitude, and then ran towards their homes.
The wife came up to him, her body was so shriveled that it looked like she could be blown over by a gust of wind, and she was carrying a sleepy baby on her back.
“The food is here!” The victims opened the patched sacks with trembling hands and laughed.
The wife wiped her eyes.
As herd slaves, they have little personal property. They just make a living by grazing livestock for others and exchanging some dairy products. When the locusts were all over the field, the couple tried their best to cut some hay and green grains and brought them home, where they survived until now.
This will be the second time I have received relief food. If you save some food, you can almost last until winter. I just don’t know if there will be a third batch of relief food.
After giving the grain to his wife, the shepherd picked up his saber and horn bow.
My wife trembled when she saw it. "I'm going to fight for the nobles." The husband tugged at the corner of his mouth and said with a forced smile: "I can save a little on food and accommodation in the military camp. After the battle is over, there may be rewards."
My wife's tears kept falling, but she knew that this was the only way in this world.
She took the thickest fur at home and handed it to her husband.
The fur is made of lamb skin, which is actually very expensive. It was one of the dowries for the two of them when they were still living in Guanzhong.
The man put on thick fur and wanted to speak, but didn't know what to say. At the end, I just looked at the child that my wife was carrying on her back, and her eyes were full of nostalgia.
The child has fallen asleep, his mouth is squeaking, and he is still drooling.
The man sighed and walked out of the house ruthlessly.
The township chiefs and township assistants are already recruiting people. The applicants are very enthusiastic and there is a scramble for them - even if they work hard in battle, they have to fight for it. This is the cruel reality.
When the relief grains were distributed, a thousand men had been collected.
The nobles reluctantly took out the horses and gave them to the young men to ride.
Some people were so generous that they even gave us saddles.
Some people were stingy and simply gave a bare horse and asked the young men to prepare their own saddles.
The township chief and Li Zheng were standing on a high slope not far away, looking at the young herdsmen leading their horses.
After a while, they also mounted their horses.
The sound of horns suddenly sounded.
A thousand people rode out, roaring, and rolled towards the south.
They have to fight for their lives and give themselves and their families a chance to survive.
Almost at the same time, large groups of knights surged southward from Anping, Changshan, Zhongshan, Boling, Fanyang, Yanguo and other places, gathering in the direction of Wei County according to the designated route.
Many people can’t wait for a long time and are very anxious.
If Liang Gong does not buy their lives with money and food, they will plunder everywhere. By then, there will be wars everywhere in Hebei, and rebellions will occur one after another.
They really don't mind who they swing their knives at.
Whoever allows them to live, they will sacrifice their lives for.
A total of more than 20,000 riders were recruited in Jizhou and Youzhou. They started from their respective stations, like a stream flowing into a big river, and gradually gathered in Anyang and Dangyin areas, waiting for the next order.
Anyang has stocked up a large amount of horse feed, with less hay and a lot of bran and beans.
This is their forward base.
******
There is almost no life in Yecheng.
There are few pedestrians on the street, walking in a hurry, and there are many dishes.
Under the three platforms, the defenders were weak and huddled against the wall.
The once bustling Ye Palace was deserted. It was dark inside after one night, and there was almost no movement. It was hard to imagine that just over two years ago, this place was full of people and lively.
This is Yecheng, like a woman abandoned by her husband, confused and lifeless.
Taobao is packing his luggage.
Because Yang Quan went south to Huai River, they were liberated and returned to their long-lost home.
But after only a month's rest, the Xiejie Army and the Loyalty Army were about to move out again.
There was some commotion in the army, but it was suppressed. Not only the pressure from the officers, but also the current situation of Qianli Chidi also put great pressure on them, and they had to suffer themselves - at least, their families would be given more food as departure expenses before setting off.
In fact, they were not the only ones going on the expedition.
Five thousand infantry soldiers were also recruited in Yecheng and Anyang areas - all veterans who divided their fields and houses during the Shile era.
When Taobao heard the news, he felt that Liang Gong seemed to have more trust in them, Shi Le's subordinates, and actually used them to fight against the Xiongnu, and even Shi Hu, Shi Le's nephew!
But this is also normal.
As time passed, Shile's influence gradually decreased. The soldiers who were still grateful for his kindness in the past will remain silent now - he was defeated and went to Bingzhou, with almost no possibility of coming back. People should look forward and let the past go.
They are now Liang people, and they are the people under the rule of Liang Gong Shaoxun. Don't think too much.
To put it bluntly, right now we are just beating Liu Han, not the big guy. Why do you want to do so much?
Outside Yecheng, ships are approaching one after another.
Last year to recuperate, the five counties of Wei, Zhao, Qinghe, Pingyuan, and Yangping recruited conscripts to dredge the Anyang-Yecheng section of the canal that had been blocked for many years.
This water conservancy project that was reviled by many people at the time - not only suitable for boats, but also for irrigation - has actually become a life-saving channel this year. The grain boat departs from Fangtou, goes down the Baigou water, and then turns into The Huan River and the Canal reach Yexia.
The damage was very light and the speed was very fast. I don’t know how many lives were saved.
Even the sergeants gathered in Yecheng and Anyang can take empty boats to go south and gather in the Fangtou area, saving time and effort.
In this way, the armies of Henan and Hebei gathered one after another.
The military camps on both sides of Qishui are extending outward every day, with new people arriving every day, and the atmosphere of war is getting stronger.
On the sixth day of September, Liu Qia came out from Chaoge and led 5,000 people to the east of Ji County.
At the same time, a large group of cavalry went south from Anyang to the Gongxian area and fought with hundreds of people from the Shihu Cavalry Army.
This was the first confrontation between the two sides on the East Road battlefield, which took place on the seventh day of September.
(End of this chapter)