It had always been Jiang Pengji who angered people to death. When had others ever angered her?
The battle in Cangzhou seemed to be losing ground, but everything was within Feng Jin's expectations. Yuan Xin was still unaware that he had fallen into the enemy's trap. He sent Huang Song three reports of victory. The contents of the reports exaggerated his role and deducted Nie Xun's contribution.
He admitted that Nie Xun was indeed very smart, but he had personally led the troops to kill the enemy and attack the city. He had done it with his sword and spear!
Nie Xun had only moved his lips from beginning to end. Did he want to take most of the credit?
Yuan Xin was naturally unwilling, but he had learned his lesson. He knew that Huang Song did not like him to be a spy and snitch. Other than deducting Nie Xun's credit, he did not say anything bad about Nie Xun. Nie Xun was aware of his little tricks. He did not express his discomfort.
The reports of victory came one after another. A few small victories dispelled the dark clouds in everyone's hearts. Huang Song felt the huge rock on his shoulders lighten a lot.
"It seems that Liu Xi is seriously ill …"
According to Feng Jue's impression of Jiang Pengji, this person was not willing to suffer any losses. If something had not really happened, how could he have allowed Cangzhou to suffer continuous losses? Not only was there no movement in Cangzhou, but the main forces were also becoming more and more conservative. They were like turtles huddled together, passive and lazy.
In the eyes of outsiders, it was because Jiang Pengji, the backbone, had fallen ill that they were without a leader. That was why they used this method to delay time.
Cheng Jing still had doubts, but when he saw Yuan Xin's successive reports of victory, he could not help but wonder if he was thinking too much.
Could it be that Liu Xi had traumatized him so much that he viewed him as so terrifying?
The people in the tent had long been dazzled by Jiang Pengji's words. Although they were not people who were eager for quick success, they did not want to see such a good opportunity be delayed. They all came out to persuade Huang Song. As the saying went, 'Once the opportunity is missed, it will never come again'.
If they did not take advantage of Jiang Pengji's serious illness to attack Hu County and Wanzhou, could they wait until she recovered to confront them "openly"?
Huang Song believed it. Now that most of the people in the tent were in favor of sending troops, he did not hesitate.
Jiang Pengji's territory was vast and the battle line was long, so it was not suitable for her to provide support. Huang Song occupied Hejian County, so it was very convenient for him to divide his troops to attack.
Not long after, the army received a secret report.
Liu Xi dispatched fifty thousand troops to reinforce Cangzhou!
Cheng Jing and the others shook their heads when they heard this. Although Yuan Xin had taken over a county in Cangzhou, the frontlines had not completely collapsed yet. Now that they had sent fifty thousand reinforcements, it was clear that their enemies were panicking. Although these 50,000 troops could stabilize the occupation of Cangzhou, they would also put Wanzhou and Hu County in danger.
They all knew that Jiang Pengji was taking the route of an elite army. She only had about two to three hundred thousand troops.
Dispatching fifty thousand men to assist Cangzhou was equivalent to sending thirty percent of his troops to Cangzhou.
Huang Song made a prompt decision to split his forces to attack Hu County and Wanzhou.
Feng Jue was in charge of the battlefront in Wanzhou, while he himself was in charge of attacking Hu County.
Jiang Pengji's side only defended and did not attack. Although the line of defense had not been breached, they had fallen into a passive situation.
Hu County was overseen by Cheng Yuan and Meng Heng, while Luo Yue commanded the troops and promoted several new generals. The situation was in a stalemate.
Luo Yue was originally a commander of the imperial guards of Dongqing. Later, he was forcibly lured by Jiang Pengji onto the pirate ship. He simply resumed his old job in Xiangyang District of Wanzhou. All these years, he had been in charge of the security of the surrounding area. Luo Yue's efforts behind the scenes could not be ignored for so many years of peace in Wanzhou.
It was too easy. At the same time, some of the generals were promoted and developed, but he was still in the same place.
If it were not for the lack of manpower in Hu County, he would not have wanted to go to the frontlines this time. Leading troops to war could cost lives. He just wanted to live comfortably.
What Luo Yue lacked was not ability. If he was really incompetent, he would not have been able to become the commander of the imperial guards when Dongqing was still around.
However, he was inclined to defend. Attacking was not his strong point.
Jiang Pengji also knew Luo Yue's problem. She simply asked him to listen to Cheng Yuan and Meng Heng's suggestions. She also asked Han Yu, who was squatting in Zhe and Hu Counties, to pay close attention to the situation in Hu County. If there was anything wrong, she would directly send troops to restrain Huang Song's troops and try to delay the battle until after the autumn harvest this year. Hu County was a major grain-producing county. This year's autumn harvest might be the most important part of this decisive battle.
Hu County had been peaceful for so long. Suddenly, it was under pressure from a large number of troops. The people were in a panic.
Luo Yue originally wanted to go out of the city to face the attack, but it was not a solution to keep defending. The people in Hu County were easily shaken.
"Military Counselor, Huang Song has been attacking us for several days. It is not a good idea for us to avoid the battle …"
If it was possible, Luo Yue really wanted to lead his troops out of the city to fight and destroy the enemy's prestige and arrogance.
Meng Heng and Cheng Yuan were also very helpless because Jiang Pengji's order was to "defend" and they could not easily send troops out.
Hearing this, Meng Heng could not help but frown. He said unhappily, "It has only been a few days since the battle started. The troops of both sides have not really fought, and the outcome has not been decided. The enemy has not even stepped half a step into Hu County! The enemy is not anxious yet, and we have already begun to retreat? Who is causing trouble behind our backs? "
Hu County had a lot of grain reserves. They were not afraid of a war of attrition.
It had only been a few days. Why was there someone stirring up trouble already?
Luo Yue also did not understand. War was not a matter of one or two days. It was normal for a tug-of-war to last for half a year or even several months.
It was the first time he saw someone so impatient.
"I will send people to investigate. I will not let the culprit go if he is caught."
Meng Heng said, "I will have to trouble General Luo to take care of this matter."
Luo Yue sent people to investigate in secret. He caught a few people who were spreading rumors and killed them in public to correct the situation.
After killing a few people who were spreading rumors, the morale of the army was stabilized.
After this incident, Meng Heng smelled something different.
He asked Luo Yue to kill a few people, and the others who were more well-hidden were secretly watching them.
Luo Yue did not understand. "Why not kill these people too? Leaving them alive is a disaster after all … "
Meng Heng frowned deeply. He was deep in thought. Cheng Yuan, who was beside him, helped to explain.
"Naturally, it is to cast a long line to catch a big fish. Our lord has given us a death order to defend Hu County. We must not suffer any losses. Both sides have been in a stalemate at the border of Hu County for a few days. Under the situation where we have yet to show any signs of defeat, someone has taken the opportunity to stir up trouble and spread rumors that our army will definitely lose, shaking the morale of the army. Officer Luo, don't you think this is a little strange? It is never wrong to be more cautious. "
Meng Heng and Cheng Yuan were cautious people. They did not seek to be meritorious, but to not make mistakes.
Meng Heng was also older and more mature than Cheng Yuan. It was not wrong to listen to him.
Luo Yue said, "Isn't the morale of the army shaken because our lord announced to the public that she is seriously ill?"
She was so ill that she was about to die. She did not even have an heir. It would be strange if those who did not know the truth did not panic.
Cheng Yuan shook his head and asked Luo Yue.
"Officer Luo, what do you think of the army in our lord's tent?"
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