On the occasion of rebirth Zhou Sui

Chapter 598 The Governor of Nanjun

Zhang Xutuo led the Xiangyang navy and finally arrived at Jiangling on foot after many hardships, waiting for the city gate commander to give him permission.

Zhou Fashang, the governor of Nanjun, was overjoyed when he heard the news. He said excitedly:

"Quickly lead the way, I want to greet them personally!"

Zhou Fashang already knew the news about the fall of Xiangyang and Cui Che's blockade of the Han River. He thought that Zhang Xutuo and his navy had become a turtle in the jar, but he never expected that they actually escaped.

After Cui Che captured Xiangyang, his next target was undoubtedly Nanjun. With the Xiangyang navy joining him at this time, Zhou Fashang would be more confident in defending Jiangling.

However, Zhou Fashang soon discovered that he was happy too early.

Things were a little different from what I expected. The visitor did not lead me to the water gate, but brought him to the north gate.

Zhou Fashang looked at the Xiangyang Navy outside the city, who looked like victims of a disaster, and was disappointed.

However, Zhang Xutuo was still welcomed into Jiangling City. When he learned that Zhang Xutuo had broken his wrist, scuttled the warship, and came on foot, Zhou Fashang also knew that he could not ask him to do more.

Zhou Fashang had also heard about Cui Che's arrangements in the Xiangyang River. Under such circumstances, it would be a fantasy if a certain number of warships could be retained to break through the Yan army's blockade. Otherwise, Zhou Fashang would not have done this before.

Excited.

Zhou Fashang comforted himself in his heart and said:

'At least the worst-case scenario didn't happen.'

If Zhang Xutuo was really greedy for wealth and fearful of accusations, and led the Xiangyang Navy to surrender to Cui Che, that would be the real bad news.

Zhou Fashang placed all the Xiangyang Navy officers and soldiers in Jiangling, but Zhang Xutuo was sent to Jiankang and handed over to the imperial court.

Zhang Xutuo had also been mentally prepared for this. He had told the generals before that if there was any guilt, he would bear all the blame.

And Zhou Fashang also heard that Zhang Xutuo decisively killed the general who proposed to surrender, forcing everyone to join him.

Zhou Fashang admired Zhang Xutuo's behavior very much, and he also mentioned this matter in his memorial to Yang Guang.

When Zhang Xutuo left, Zhou Fashang came specially to see him off. Seeing Zhang Xutuo's sad face, Zhou Fashang comforted him and said:

"The emperor loves loyal people most. You can scuttle warships and lead the Xiangyang navy back on foot. You are meritorious and innocent. Zhang Juncheng does not need to worry about being punished."

Zhang Xutuo sighed:

"How could Zhang not know what Mr. Zhou Fu said?

"What I worry about is not the fear of being punished by the emperor, but the fear of losing my master and losing my land. I feel guilty and feel that I have no face to see the emperor."

Zhou Fashang thought Zhang Xutuo wanted to speak softly, so he shouted sharply:

"Now is the time when the country's survival is at stake. What Zhang Juncheng should do is serve the court instead of lamenting the previous failures!"

After hearing this, Zhang Xutuo cheered up again and no longer looked sad. He said seriously:

"Mr. Zhou's words awakened Zhang. The country is in misfortune and the traitors are trying to be cruel. It is the time for us to serve the court. A temporary failure is not enough to discourage people. The one who laughs in the end is the real husband!"

After that, Zhang Xutuo bowed farewell to Zhou Fashang, and with his farewell, boarded the ship bound for Jiankang.

After sending Zhang Xutuo away, Zhou Fashang also urgently contacted the reinforcements from Jingnan and Shu.

Since Cui Che deployed heavy troops in Xuzhou, Huainan's military strength had been contained. Yang Guang, who had already learned that Cui Che was attacking Jingxiang, did not dare to easily mobilize the troops stationed in Huainan.

After all, who knows whether this is actually Cui Che's attempt to make trouble.

Today's Xuzhou not only has the 30,000 elite cavalry under Cui Che, but also the 30,000 infantry cavalry selected by Cui Qiji from the 100,000 Qingzhou soldiers, and the remaining 30,000 navy troops, all of which have been left in Xuzhou.
It also includes the original soldiers from Xuzhou, as well as the soldiers from Qingzhou and other places who can go south at any time. Even if Cui Che is in Jingxiang, Huainan still faces huge military pressure.

Of course, it was precisely because heavy troops were deployed in Xuzhou and enough troops had to be left to defend the northern regions that Cui Che's troops in this southern expedition were far less than those in his previous western expedition to Guanlong.

Although Yang Guang was unable to send troops from Jiangdong to assist Jiangling, he still sent envoys to Jingnan and Bashu.

Especially for Bashu, Yang Guang ordered Yi Governor Shi Zhangheng to personally lead the army to rescue Jiangling.

Zhou Fashang is now sending people to contact them, wanting to know when reinforcements will arrive.

Of course, Zhou Fashang also knew that once Zhang Heng led the Bashu army, he would have to obey his orders.

Whether it was his official title or his personal relationship with Yang Guang, Zhang Heng was far superior to him.

And Zhang Heng was not a civil servant with no military knowledge. During the Kaihuang period, he served as the commander-in-chief of the army and commanded 50,000 cavalry to quell the rebellion in Xizhou (governing Huaining County, now Qianshan County, Anhui Province).

Zhou Fashang was originally a general of Nanchen. Because he was at odds with Chen Shujian, the king of Changsha, he was framed by him. In order to save his life, he had no choice but to lead his army to betray Nanchen and defect to the Sui Dynasty.

Having experienced betrayal, Yang Guang naturally did not dare to let him lead the reinforcements gathered in Jiangling after the fall of Xiangyang.

Zhou Fashang was also self-aware of this. He once lamented to his confidants:

"The fact that the emperor still keeps me in Jiangling is the greatest trust."

At the same time, Shi Zhangheng, the governor of Yizhou, had led 50,000 Shu soldiers to leave Chengdu and go to rescue Jiangling.

In this army, King Yang Jian of Qi sent a confidant to accompany him, Yu Wenshiji, who was deeply trusted by the reporter and joined the army.

Cui Che had long known that his attack on Jingxiang would be supported by Shu troops, so he instructed Yu Wenshiji in advance that once Yang Jian sent troops, he would try his best to request that he accompany the army on the expedition.

When Wei Chijiong rebelled, Wei Xiaokuan sent a small army of supervisors to the court. As a result, Yang Jian found Liu Fang and Zheng Yi. They were afraid of the dangers on the front line and refused. Only then did Gao Jiong come up.

Now, regardless of his own safety, Yu Wenshiji took the initiative to ask for military service and asked to accompany the army on the expedition, and secretly monitored Zhang Heng. Yang Jian was so happy that he could not refuse.

Yu Wenshi and Yingfeng stood on the deck of the ship. The ship was going down the river, and the cries of apes on both sides of the river could be heard one after another.

At this time, he didn't know that Xiangyang had fallen, otherwise he would have been even more happy about his original decision.

"The wind in the river is cold in the early morning. If Yuwen joins the army, won't he be afraid of getting cold?"

Zhang Heng walked onto the deck and laughed loudly.

Because Yu Wenshi and his post in the Records Office joined the army, they were called Yu Wen joined the army.

How could Zhang Heng not know what the purpose of Qi King Yang Jian was in placing Yu Wenshiji by his side?

Zhang Heng did not reject Yu Wenshiji's joining. At least the two of them had a good relationship, which was better than Yang Jian sending a difficult person to work with him.

Moreover, Yuwen Shiji was the most intelligent person among the three sons of Yuwen Shu.

Far superior to his brother, Yu Wenhuaji is known as a frivolous young man.

In Zhang Heng's eyes, at least Yu Wenshiji would not cause trouble or hold him back.

No more today

(End of chapter)