The Sixteen Kingdoms of the Eastern Jin Dynasty: The Competition in the Central Plains

"Okay, these officials will arrange for each county to handle it. Zhou Fang asked Li Heng again:"How many armors, knives, arrows and shields are there in the military camp?" How much more is left?"

"Eight thousand infantrymen, two thousand armed with sabers, and two thousand armed with spears. One thousand shield bearers, each one needs a dagger, and two thousand pairs of shields, one as a spare. In addition, a thousand swords and spears should be carried in case of damage and replacement. Two hundred swords, used for general command and self-defense. Two thousand archers, each with 200 arrows. Each of the thousand soldiers responsible for rowing and steering the boat needed a saber for self-defense. In a real fight, if we attack each other on a boat, a lot of arrows from the other side will definitely fall on the boat."Li Heng said. Zhou Fang praised:"General Li is as careful as silk and thinks very carefully."

One morning three days later, on both sides of the Gan River not far from the Yuzhang official office, a fleet of more than a hundred large and small ships was ready to go. Eight thousand soldiers boarded the ships one after another in the designated order. Battles of varying sizes On the boat, the flags and sails were fluttering and the horns were fluttering. People on both sides of the Ganjiang River formed a gong and drum team, and the gongs and drums were beating loudly. Zhou Fang and his son Zhou Fu, Li Heng and Xu Chao looked at so many enthusiastic people and felt very happy. Touched. A gray-haired old man took Zhou Fang's hand and said,"Master Sheriff, this Du Zeng has been causing trouble for several years. The fifth Yi who rebelled with him was the governor of Jingzhou appointed by Emperor Min earlier. These two people are so hateful! You must return in triumph!"

"Don't worry, old man, thanks to you and the fellow villagers, the soldiers will surely win the battle and achieve immediate success! Zhou Wan let go of the old man's hand and said to Li Heng and Xu Chao:"Let's go!""

Many people from Yuzhang County came with their families to watch the excitement. They looked at the huge fleet that was about to set off. Some children were running around on the river bank and enjoyed it.

The old man looked at the people who were about to set off. In the fleet, the old man burst into tears. The old man wiped his tears and murmured:"The barbarians are acting like monsters, the country is suffering, the people are suffering, and all lives are in ruins. I have many relatives in my family who went to the Central Plains decades ago. Now some places in the Central Plains and the north are occupied by the Huns. I don’t know if all my relatives are safe."

"There is no need to feel sad, old man. King Sima Rui of Jin is now in charge of the government and is expected to succeed as emperor soon. As long as people with lofty ideals in the south and north unite and form a rope to drive out the Hu people and regain the north, it will definitely come!"A middle-aged man said

"Father, look at how powerful the soldiers on the ship are. When I grow up, I want to join the army and go to the north to drive away the Huns and regain the homes of our relatives in the north." said a child in his teens who was holding the hand of a middle-aged man. It seemed that the child was very envious of the soldiers who were about to go north. Many family members of the soldiers came to see them off and were reluctant to leave.

Zhou Fang and Zhou Fu, father and son, were wearing swords. Fully dressed in military uniform, he stood majestically on the handsome ship at the front. Looking at the mighty warship that was about to go north, and at the lively soldiers on the warship, the middle-aged man said again:"The governor is a famous general in our court. Outstanding military exploits. This young man will not be a coward, and will definitely become a famous general in the future!"

"Soldiers, set off!"Li Heng and Xu Chao, who were standing on the second large boat, issued the order to set off at the same time. There were forty large boats at the front of the huge expedition fleet. The ten large fishing boats at the back carried sampans and grain. There are fifty horses on one of the fishing boats for the generals to use when fighting on the shore. Following is the medium-sized boat, and at the end is a small boat that can seat ten people. After hearing the order to set off, everyone The oarsmen on each boat were all shaking the oars in the same rhythm, and the helmsman controlled the direction of the boat. The fleet moved forward slowly at first, and then faster and faster. The huge fleet carrying eight thousand soldiers sailed along the Jiangxi The river sailed all the way north. The fleet of different ships formed a moving scenery on the Gan River. Zhou visited his son Zhou Fu:"Two years ago, Master Xun Song served as the commander-in-chief of the military forces north of the Jingzhou River and was stationed in Wancheng. Du Zeng led his troops to surround Wancheng. Xun Song's troops were outnumbered and they ran out of food and grass. In desperation, Master Xunsong sent someone to ask for help from Shi Lan, the prefect of Xiangcheng, and his father. At that time, I sent you to lead three thousand troops and horses, together with Master Shi Lan, to relieve Xun Song. Du Zeng, who was brave and skillful in fighting, was defeated by you and Shi Lan. This time the battle is bigger. Facing Du Zeng's army of more than 10,000 people, what is the best way to deal with it?"

"Father, I am already eighteen years old, and I have been fighting with you for several years. Zhou Fu said with a smile:"Du Zeng had brute strength. To exaggerate, he was infinitely powerful. People also called him the brave champion of the three armies." In my opinion, they actually have strength in numbers. As long as we find ways to disperse his troops and defeat them one by one, it is not difficult to defeat Du Zeng."

"Then tell me how we should arrange our troops?"Zhou Fang wanted to test this son, so he said. Zhou Fu said:"In order to form an alliance with Wu Yi, Du Zeng not only went to Xiangyang to welcome Wu Yi, but also asked his nephew to marry Wu Yi's daughter. In the past few years, Du Zeng had many battles with the imperial army and rarely lost. The famous old general Tao Kan was also defeated by Du Zeng. Tao Kan's Wang Gong, who joins the army, is a pickpocketing guy. Under the guise of Tao Kan, he appointed Du Zeng as the commander-in-chief of the vanguard. Later, Wang Gong and Du Zeng joined forces to rebel, and not only defeated Tao Kan, but Tao Kan almost lost his life."

"Yes, Du Zeng is extremely cunning and cunning and should not be taken lightly."Zhou Fang said:"So this time against Du Zeng, what can we do to be sure of winning?"

"Brave generals often underestimate the enemy. We can take advantage of this by exposing our weaknesses to him. My father can let General Li Heng lead the left wing and General Xu Chao lead the right wing. My father and I are in charge of the Chinese army, adapting to changes and acting according to circumstances."

"got windy!"The soldiers on the boat shouted. Zhou Fang said:"God help me!"

"Each ship raised its sails and moved forward at full speed!"Li Heng and Xu Chao loudly issued the order.

The south wind was getting stronger and stronger, but the soldiers paddling were very happy. The soldiers celebrated with high-fives in twos and threes, while admiring the scenery along the coast. The southeast wind for several days made the rowing soldiers extremely happy. Zhou Fang's warship, like an arrow from a string, quickly sailed towards Du Zeng's lair, Miangkou.

"Stop moving forward!"Zhou Fu conveyed his father's order to the handsome boat on which he was riding. The handsome boat at the front stopped, and the boats behind also dropped anchor one after another.

A sampan was lowered on a large fishing boat in the middle. The sampan Two rowing soldiers boarded the boat. The two soldiers rowed quickly and came to the second big boat. When the sampan and the big boat approached, Li Heng and Xu Chao jumped onto the sampan one after another. The two soldiers continued rowing. , the sampan came to the handsome ship where Zhou Fang and his son were.