Water Margin: The opening scene involves assassinating Emperor Huizong of Song and forcibly taking L

This can alleviate the pressure on military food supplies.

It can also protect the grain route from Pingjiang County.

As long as we hold the river mouth,

It could also prevent the Ming army from advancing south.

And to receive Zhong Xiang's reinforcements,

This provided a bridgehead for the Chu army's counterattack.

The Chu army's elite troops had strong execution capabilities.

Once the plan is finalized, take immediate action.

When Zhong Yi led the main force to withdraw,

They carried not much baggage.

Travel light and briskly along the stream.

Zhou Lun left two thousand men to garrison the fortress.

He personally led his troops to intercept the Ming army.

He then appointed Red Jin to command the remaining naval forces.

The naval port hidden between two "antlers"

This forms a three-dimensional land and water defense system that coordinates the twin castles and warships.

The south has a dense network of waterways.

This is no joke.

From the garrison locations of Lin Chong and Wang Yuan,

It's only twenty li to Lujiaozhai.

However, it requires crossing five unnamed streams.

.

(The Xinqiang River had not yet formed in the Song Dynasty; it was divided into many small rivers that flowed into Dongting Lake.)

Each time we crossed a river,

Lin Chong and Wang Yuan were both very cautious.

First, send reconnaissance troops across the river to investigate.

Then send elite troops to quickly cross the river and establish a foothold.

Then the main force was divided into several groups to cross the river.

There was no other way; they were afraid the new army would be ambushed.

If we are attacked while the enemy is crossing the river, we're doomed.

They also have elite veterans under their command.

But only six thousand people,

They were all direct subordinates brought by Lin Chong from Sichuan.

Among them, Lin Chong had three thousand personal guards.

The remaining three thousand were Lin Chong's troops.

At a small river that is only a dozen meters wide

Zhou Lun, who was responsible for covering the rear,

They encountered tens of thousands of Ming troops.

When Zhong Yi withdrew,

Many flags were left behind.

Now Zhou Lun is using them all.

They were planted in the woods along the river to disguise themselves as ambushes.

Wang Yuan observed through the telescope for a while and said:

"The enemy's main force may have fled,"

"We've assembled our troops very quickly,"

"It's not harvest time yet,"

"It is impossible for the Chu army to mobilize enough grain and fodder to Lujiaozhai."

"What if the main force of the Chu army hasn't left?" Lin Chong asked.

Chapter 1901 War of Attrition

Lin Chong smiled and said, "Then let's surround them without attacking."

"Set up camp and wear them down,"

"Then let the navy cut off the Miluo River and the Xiang River."

"Our army is only short of supplies,"

"Zhong Xiang, however, was besieged on all sides."

"We'll spend another month here,"

"Our allied forces in Jiangxi and Guangxi can then capture several more counties."

"Moreover, there are also various ethnic groups rising up to attack."

As the three were talking,

The reconnaissance troops have been deployed.

Several crossing points need to be identified.

In the late afternoon,

The main force of the Ming army crossed the river in five separate locations.

Zhou Lun had too few soldiers.

They dared not easily stop them.

Just harass them with arrows.

They then quickly retreated towards Lujiaozhai.

This is all he can do.

If the main force of the Ming army pursues to the southeast...

Then Zhong Yi will have to find a way to get rid of it himself.

However, the Ming army did not pursue the main force of the Chu army.

Instead, they cautiously approached Lujiao Village.

Lin Chong, Wang Yuan, and Lin Chong themselves had no choice.

More than 80% of their troops belong to the new army.

If we had another 10,000 elite troops

They had already divided their forces and marched directly to Guiyijiangkou.

That evening,

The Ming army completed the siege of Lujiaozhai.

Deer Horn Village can be described as resembling deer antlers.

It can also be described as resembling a crab claw.

Twin castles were built at both ends of the pincers.

The middle of the pincers contains the water fortress and the naval forces.

There is also a small river.

It flows into Dongting Lake through the middle of the pincers.

Two other branches separate the entire clamp.

The terrain is extremely complex!

This is the Deer Horn Kiln, one of the six major pottery capitals of the Tang and Song dynasties.

It was also a garrison point for Yue Fei's troops during his campaign against Yang Yao.

During the Ming Dynasty, a patrol and inspection office was also established here to control the Dongting Lake.

If we can capture this place

Even if we can't eliminate Zhong Xiang this year,

It's like putting Zhong in a cage.

Lin Chong and Wang Yuan set up camp separately.

The camp was set up to the northeast and east of Lujiaozhai.

Lin Chong's camp was right next to Dongting Lake.

Next, military supplies were transported directly from Dongting Lake by water.

They can also coordinate with the navy during combat.

The Ming Dynasty's navy was divided into two.

Half of it was diverted to block the Xiangjiang and Miluojiang rivers.

No troops were sent to attack the fortress that day.

Instead, they bombarded the fortress with arquebuses.

The shelling lasted all day.

Yingxuan sent people again to persuade them to surrender.

Zhou Lun said to the envoy who was trying to persuade him to surrender:

"Let that scoundrel surnamed Ying come here in person,"

"He was the Holy Duke appointed by the master back then,"

"I am only a Saint Marquis now."

"If you wish to persuade him to surrender, the Holy Duke should speak with the Holy Marquis face to face!"

The messenger returned and reported the truth.

Ying Xuan immediately set off in a small boat.

Pang Dingzi and Qiu Shanshui were too lazy to persuade them.

They don't really like the British propaganda.

It's just as well that we were killed by the Chu army this time.

Seeing that Yingxuan had dared to come alone, Red turned and asked:

"Should we kill him?"

Zhou Lun sneered, "Give him some face."

"After all, he is the Holy Duke,"

"You and I are both just Saint Marquises."

"Bah, you traitorous, worthless Holy Duke!"

Red spat down towards the city walls.