Zhonghetao is the Hetao Plain east of today's Wuliangsuhai. When the Yellow River turns north from the Ningxia Plain, it is divided into two streams here, one flowing south and one flowing eastward. The two Yellow Rivers flow for thousands of miles and then merge into one and continue to flow eastward. These two Yellow Rivers are like a rope cover, and the name of the Hetao Plain comes from this.

Donghetao is Yulin County, Zhonghetao is Wuyuan County, and Xihetao is Lingwu County. This is the greatest contribution of the Yellow River to the northwest region. The surging Yellow River water nourishes this vast land, fertile land, rich irrigation water and abundant sunshine, making this area a famous irrigation agricultural area during the Han Dynasty. However, with the arrival of the chaotic period of the Jin and Southern and Northern Dynasties, the vibrant Hetao area has since become a barren area and gradually becomes a grazing place for nomadic peoples.

Decades ago, Northern Zhou and Emperor Wen of Sui Yang Jian also moved some people from Guanzhong and Guan to the Hetao area to reclaim their colonies, and established the Fengzhou General Administration here, with 20,000 troops stationed in the Hetao area to protect the people from the Hetao area. After more than 30 years of population reproduction and land reclamation, the population of Wuyuan County has gradually increased to more than 100,000, half of which are the families of soldiers, and they have formed military households.

Zhang Wenxun was the last Fengzhou general manager of the Sui army in the Hetao region, commanding the Wuyuan and Yulin counties. When the news that the emperor Yang Guang died in Jiangdu came, in order to protect the lives and safety of more than 100,000 people in Wuyuan County and Yulin County, Zhang Changxun surrendered to the Turks and was named Selitler by the Turks.

But shortly after the establishment of the Tang Dynasty, Zhang Changxun secretly surrendered Li Yuan and was named the prefect of Wuyuan County by Li Yuan. However, Zhang Changxun was afraid that the Turkic Khan would be furious and led a large army to attack Hetao. Therefore, he did not change the flag and the Turkic white wolf-headed flag was still planted on the top of the city.

This time, when Chuluo Khan led a large army to fight south, Zhang Changxun was also closely monitoring the progress of the war, but he could not have imagined that after the Sui army wiped out the Turkic army in Mayi County, Li Jing led a 50,000 army to start the western expedition, and captured Dingxiang County and Yulin County in one fell swoop. Zhang Changxun began to panic, and it seemed unrealistic to ask for help from the Turks. The Turkic army was trapped in Loufan County and seemed to be counting on others to rescue him.

It is also unrealistic to ask for help from the Tang Dynasty. The Tang Dynasty army had just been defeated by Song Jingang. Besides, if the Tang army could go north to Hetao, why couldn't we destroy Liang Shidu first?

After Zhang Changxun found that he was helpless, he had no choice but to save himself. He ordered his son Zhang Wu to lead 5,000 troops to defend the county and Jiuyuan County, while he himself led 15,000 troops to Yongfeng Town.

Yongfeng Town is the east gate of Jiuyuan County and is also the most convenient place to cross the Yellow River. This section of the Yellow River is the smoothest, and the riverbed is not wide. You can easily cross the Yellow River with a raft. Therefore, Yongfeng Town is also a famous Yellow River ferry crossing, and the town flourishes.

When Zhang Changxun learned that the Sui army was still on the south bank of the Yellow River, a glimmer of hope arose in his heart. He had received information that the Sui army did not carry the ships from Yulin County, and the scouts did not find any signs of the Sui army carrying rafts.

You should know that there are no trees on the south bank of the Yellow River, and the Sui army has no way to log and build ships. Perhaps they can really keep the Sui army south of the Yellow River.

Perhaps because of the beginning of summer, the south bank of the Yellow River was also the edge of the desert. The sun was in the sky, and the sky was so hot that it seemed to have dried everything. However, the temperature became very cool at night, which made the Sui army march very slowly. They hid in the day and walked only forty or fifty miles a day. As soon as the sky was dawn, the Sui army rested. They marched after getting dark. It took ten days to enter Wuyuan County, but there were at least three hundred miles away from Jiuyuan County, the county seat.

Although Li Jing walked leisurely like a trip, his generals were a little anxious. When would they arrive in Jiuyuan County if this continues? However, the Sui army is of strict rank and subordinates must not question the decision of the chief general. In desperation, everyone had to recommend Cao Sining to speak with the chief general on behalf of them.

Cao Sining, the general of Hu Ben, was the oldest among all generals. As early as when Zhang Xuan participated in the third Eastern Expedition to Goguryeo, Cao Sining was the captain of Zhang Xuan. He also gradually promoted to the general of Hu Ben, but due to his own ability limitations, he could not become the general who was the only one of Pei Xingyan. But even so, he was also one of the highest titles among General Hu Ben, and was named Duke of Zhuyang County.

At noon, the sun was scorching, and 50,000 Sui soldiers were stationed under a cliff. The steep and straight cliffs covered the scorching sun like fire, bringing a little shade to the Sui soldiers under the rock wall. The soldiers who had just had lunch covered their faces with bamboo hats and lay down to sleep under the cliff. There were more than a hundred cavalry scouts patrols on the cliff, vigilantly monitoring the surrounding situation to prevent being attacked by the enemy.

Li Jing's marching tent was also under the cliff. Cao Sining quickly came to the big tent and reconciled his personal soldiers outside the tent and said, "I have something important to discuss with the chief general, please report it for me!"

The personal soldiers entered the tent and came out for a moment and said, "General, please come in!"

Cao Sining walked into the tent and saw Li Jing standing in front of the map with his hands behind his back. He bowed and said, "See the master!"

"What is important about General Cao?" Li Jing asked with a smile.

"There is a suggestion to cross the river, and I hope the general can adopt it."

"Tell me!"

"We did not bring rafts, nor ferries, and brought countless supplies. Crossing the Yellow River would be a big problem. If the ships from Yulin County could be brought on at that time."

Before he could finish speaking, Li Jing decisively interrupted him, "I understand General Cao's meaning, but it's meaningless to say these words now. Please give me a suggestion directly!"

Of course, Cao Sining could not say that the generals questioned the marching strategy of the chief general and specially recommended him to object. That was something that the Northern Sui Army would absolutely not allow. He could only persuade him tactfully, and it would be better to use crossing the river as an excuse.

"I heard that Yongfeng Town is the largest ferry in the Hetao area, and there must be many ferries there. Beizhi is willing to lead a cavalry to reach the ferry quickly and seize the ferry."

Li Jing smiled and said, "General Cao has a good idea, but it's a little late. Zhang Changxun had led his army to Yongfeng Town a few days ago. All the ferries were on the north bank of the river, and there was no ferry on the bank of the Yellow River."

Cao Sining was stunned. He was anxious and stuttered: "We walked hundreds of miles and couldn't see a tree along the way. There would be no trees when we walked west, and we didn't carry a raft. So how can we cross the Yellow River?"

Facing Cao Sining's questioning tone, Li Jing was not angry and explained with a smile: "Why should you be anxious? It is also the matter of me, the chief general, but I am not anxious and confident. What does this mean? Can't General Cao still see it?"

Li Jing's words made Cao Si a little confused. It was right to think about it. If Li Jing, as the main general, would be strange if he was not in a hurry to jump, but he was very calm. Did he have made arrangements in secret?

"Did the Lord General have other arrangements?"

Li Jing stroked his beard and smiled slightly, "It's boring to say it thoroughly. The answer will be revealed in the next two days. However, General Cao reminded me that I would give General Cao three thousand cavalry, just like General Cao's suggestion just now, and immediately rushed to Yongfeng Town to seize the ferry."

"But the master general said that all the ferries have reached the north bank of the river."

"It's good to pretend!"

As soon as Cao Sining realized something, he nodded and said, "Abide by the orders of humble duties!"

At the beginning of night that night, Cao Sining led three thousand cavalry to run westward. Li Jing was still not anxious. He ordered the soldiers to get up and set off after dark. The army continued to march westward slowly.

．

．

．

．

．

．

As soon as dawn, Zhang Changxun surrounded hundreds of guards and inspected the Yellow River Wharf. Zhang Changxun was about fifty years old and from Yong County, Fufeng County, Guanzhong. He was born in a noble family. He was tall and had a face like copper. He used a tiger-toothed sword weighing 70 kilograms. He was very skilled in martial arts.

Although he has been in charge of Hetao for many years, he has little ambition and does not have the idea of ​​establishing himself as emperor like Liang Shidu and Liu Wuzhou. Although Shibi Khan was willing to sign him the King of Hetao, he refused to accept it and only wanted to be the governor of the whole place.

Perhaps because of his many years in Hetao, he loved this area very much and treated the people very well. He never levied a single tax, had strict military discipline, and did not allow soldiers to disturb the people. Therefore, he was deeply loved by the people of Hetao. However, he was from Guanzhong and had a deep relationship with the Dugu family. He served as the chief supervisor of Fengzhou, which was recommended by Dugu Shun. The Dugu family was his backstage. So when Li Yuan established the Tang Dynasty, he naturally surrendered to the Tang Dynasty.

Just as Zhang Changxun looked at the other side, a scout cavalry rushed from a distance and rushed to Zhang Changxun and reported: "Report to the general, the scout on the other side had just sent an eagle letter, and a group of about 3,000 Sui cavalry was rushing towards this side."

Zhang Changxun stroked his beard and smiled coldly. As expected, the army deliberately marching slowly, but sent cavalry to come quickly. Didn’t it just want to grab the ferry? The idea was good, but unfortunately the Sui army miscalculated...
Chapter completed!