Zhang Xuan talked with Gongsun Shangzhe for half an hour before sending him away and promising to speak to the court on his behalf.

Zhang Xuan returned to the military hall, but saw Fang Xuanling standing in front of the hall, Fang Xuanling had just returned from the Jiangdu Mansion, he stepped forward and said with a smile: "The general should have a good harvest today!" ”

"Talk to the insider, how much do you know in your heart, what is the situation on the military division's side?"

Fang Xuanling went to go through the grain delivery procedures today, and the Ministry of War promised to give them 100,000 stone of grain, and Yang Guang, the son of heaven, also approved it, and paid it from the Jiangdu grain depot.

Fang Xuanling followed Zhang Xuan into the lobby, and the two sat down and said, "Wei Zheng promised to deliver 100,000 stone of grain to us in two batches, first 50,000 stones, and then 10,000 stones per month. ”

"Why didn't he give it to us all at once, and deliver it in batches?" Jaung Hyun asked puzzled.

"They are also difficult to do, originally stocked more than 500,000 stones, but 100,000 stones were robbed by Du Fuwei, they have to send another 100,000 stones into Beijing, which is only 300,000 stones, and then give us 100,000 stones, the Ministry of War also approved 100,000 stones to the general Chen Ling, and finally there are only about 80,000 stones left in the grain warehouse, Wei Zheng told me that he is afraid that if something happens again, the pressure will be too great."

Zhang Xuan walked back and forth a few steps with his hands in his hand, turned back to Fang Xuanling and said: "If Wei Zheng wants to transport grain to the north, he will still face the threat of being robbed of grain, originally I planned to recruit three thousand water ghosts for training first, but now it seems that time does not allow, we must act as soon as possible to open up the transportation line of Tongji Canal, and only by giving an explanation to the imperial court first, we will have a reason to recruit sailors." ”

Fang Xuanling can fully understand Zhang Xuan's slightly anxious psychology, only by successfully taking the first step, can they gain a firm foothold in Jianghuai, which is also an extremely important first step.

Fang Xuanling pondered for a moment and said, "Where does the general plan to attack?" ”

Zhang Xuan said slowly: "Gongsun Shangzhe has given me an important clue, and I plan to start with Huaming County." ”

Two days later, the Sui army, which had arrived in Jiangdu, finally sent troops. Zhang Xuan left Pei Xing to assist in the defense of Jiangdu with 5,000 troops, and he personally led 15,000 troops and 80 warships to advance by land and water, and marched north along the mighty ditch.

At this time, Du Fuwei's forces had already infiltrated Jiangdu County, and there were spies on both sides of the ditch and even in Jiangdu City, and the Sui army had just set off. Immediately, a spy sent a message with a flying pigeon to urgently inform Duvowe.

Du Fuwei is a very suspicious person, there are more than 20 nests in the Jianghuai area, and he himself has no fixed residence, and he has to change places every six months.

At this time, Du Fuwei is located in the old nest of Lotus Lake in Liyang County, the water surface of Lotus Lake is hundreds of hectares, backed by Luozhu Mountain, the water is wide and the mountain is high, and there is an island in the water, called Lotus Island. It is about 100 acres in size, and the shape is like a lotus flower, hence the name of the lake.

Du Fuwei's nest is located on the east bank of Lianhu Lake, by the mountains and rivers, is an area of 500 acres of slab wall type barracks, there are about 5,000 garrisons, surrounded by thousands of acres of fertile land, by the thief army family responsible for farming. Once the officers and soldiers go to encircle and suppress, they will immediately retreat to Luozhu Mountain to defend. Or retreat directly into the Yangtze River.

Although the retreat route of the Du Fuwei military camp has been arranged, in fact, they have never been surrounded and suppressed by officers and soldiers, and Liyang County, twenty miles away, is also safe and sound, and anyone with a discerning eye can see it. If the Liyang Mansion has nothing to do with the thief army, then it will be hell.

In fact, the reason why Du Fuwei was able to cross the Jianghuai River is also related to his means, they rely on water to draft water. The foreign merchant ships that robbed the Yangtze River and the Tongji Canal also often went to plunder the counties of the Central Plains.

On the other hand, Du Fuwei is also a grace and power to the local government, if he secretly surrenders to him, he has good manners, and will not harass him, but the officials who dare to oppose him, he is ruthless, and even his wife and children are not spared.

In this way, the officials of the counties of Jianghuai were all cleaned up by him, and at the same time, Du Fuwei was not embarrassed by the magistrates, most of his nests were not located in the city, either in the mountains, or in the water, and the water and land were eaten, and they were called Jianghuai wolves.

However, there are exceptions, such as Miao Haichao, who occupied Huaming County, which was also the only county occupied by Du Fuwei's army.

In the barracks at the foot of Luozhu Mountain, Du Fuwei opened the pigeon letter that had just been sent, and the content of the letter made him gasp, Zhang Xuan led the main force of the Sui army to the north by land and water, and his intentions were unknown.

"Hurry up and invite the Left Army Division!" Du Fuwei shouted repeatedly.

Not long after, a middle-aged scribe walked quickly to Du Fuwei's big tent, this person is called Zuo Caixiang, originally a bandit leader in Huaibei, after taking refuge in Du Fuwei, he was named a military advisor because of his resourcefulness, he walked into the big tent and smiled: "General, but there is movement on the Sui army's side?" ”

"How did the military advisor know?" Du Fuwei asked puzzled.

"It's very simple, Zhang Xuan was urgently sent to Jianghuai by the Sui Dynasty, if he doesn't open the Tongji Canal again, the emperor of the Sui Dynasty will be so anxious that he will jump to his feet."

"The military advisor thinks he is going to the Huai River?"

Zuo Xiangcai nodded, "It must be going to the Huai River, if I am not mistaken, his target is Huaming County, everyone in Jianghuai knows that it is our foundation in the Huai River, where will Zhang Xuan go if he doesn't go there?" ”

Du Fuwei felt irritable for a while, pacing back and forth in the room with his hands in his hands, he has gradually developed and grown in Jianghuai in recent years, and the imperial court has not treated him well, but since he sent troops to loot 100,000 grains in Jiangdu, he has been pushed to the forefront.

He originally wanted to replace the Wagang Army and become the banner of the Righteous Army of the World, but it seems that the Righteous Army of the World did not recognize him, but attracted the encirclement and suppression of the Sui Army, which made him feel a little like stealing chickens and losing a handful of rice.

Zuo Xiangcai felt Du Fuwei's frustration, so he persuaded him: "The matter has come to this, it is useless for the general to retreat, fortunately, our territory is vast, there is no need to fight hard with the Sui army, the Sui army comes, we will go, if the Sui army is lone and deep, we will surround and annihilate it, if the Sui army attacks from all sides, we will break each one, but the soldiers will block, the water will cover the earth, Zhang Xuan is only 20,000 people, not to be afraid." ”

The strategy of the military advisor made Du Fuwei have a little spectrum in his heart, he sighed and said: "Many people have asked me to concentrate my forces to fight a decisive battle with the Sui army, and even Fu Gongqi has written to persuade me to consider the opinions of the generals, but I feel that it is not the right time, knowing myself and knowing that the other side can survive a hundred battles, I don't know anything about Zhang Xuan, but it is really unwise to recklessly hit the troops and fight with him!" ”

"The general has seen Gao Ming, and it is not a while for him to oppose Zhang Xuan in Jianghuai, and it is not too late to fight him after fully understanding him, but I think the general is a little afraid of him in his heart, I am right!"

Du Fuwei nodded lightly for a long time, "The military advisor is right, because I am from Qi County, I know the situation of Qi County and the surrounding counties very well, he can actually sweep Qingzhou, and defeat the strong with the weak, and completely annihilate Zhang Jin's 80,000 army, which is no less than Zhang Xutuo's fierce opponent, I am a little afraid of him, but it is because of fear that I am cautious, otherwise I don't know how to die." ”

"Since the general also thinks that he should be cautious, then please ask the general to pass on the order, let Miao Haichao quickly evacuate Huaming County, preserve his strength first, and wait for Zhang Xuan's army to retreat, and then we will return to the Huai River before it is too late."

"Just according to the words of the military advisor!"

Du Fuwei immediately ordered: "Pass my order, order Miao Haichao to evacuate Huaming County quickly, and not be allowed to meet the Sui army, and those who violate the order will be beheaded!" ”

Zhang Xuan's army arrived in Xuyi County after four days of marching, but Zhang Xuan did not continue to advance westward, but set up a large camp in Xuyi County, at the same time, Zhang Xuan got the latest information, more than 10,000 thieves in Huaming County have been evacuated, and Huaming County is now almost an empty city.

The big tent of the Chinese army was particularly lively, and the four soldiers who went to Jiangdu to take up their posts happened to meet Zhang Xuan's army halfway and were directly integrated into the army.

The four who joined the army were Lu Yuanqing, Pei Hong, Li Qingming and Cui Yuanhan, each of whom shouldered the expectations of their families and participated in the most active army in the Great Sui at present.

At this time, the four soldiers also participated in the military affairs, and they sat on the side, quietly listening to Jang Hyun explain the current situation to everyone.

"According to the latest information from the scouts, Miao Haichao's army evacuated Huaming County overnight last night, and left on hundreds of ships, and their current whereabouts are unknown, and the warehouse has also been emptied by them, that is to say, we will find nothing if we kill Huaming County now, so I am thinking about where Miao Haichao went? My gut told me they were going here! ”

Zhang Xuan pointed to the Lianshui Road on the map: "This is a river parallel to the Tongji Canal, the nearest place is only twenty miles, and there is a small river in the middle. ”

At this time, Fang Xuanling said with a smile: "If the general thinks that they want to continue to cut off the Tongji Canal, then I have a plan to test whether Miao Haichao's is really in the water." (To be continued.) )