After the Tang army captured Xiao Xian, they obtained at least 10,000 surrendered soldiers. The most important surrendered soldiers were 20,000 navy troops and more than 400 large and small warships. This made the Jiangling Tang army reach 150,000, with 400,000 stones of grain and countless various weapons and armor and materials, and the pig iron inventory alone reached 30 million kilograms. It was the huge war bonus and the strength of the Tang army in the south that greatly enhanced Li Yuan a little confused. He burst out his ambition and began to consider the strategy of unifying the south.

Li Yuan decided to use three to five years to unify the south of the Yangtze River, greatly expanding the territory of the Tang Dynasty. The first step to expand the territory was to seize the sphere of influence of Lin Shiqu in the past, and Yuzhang County and Yichun County in the south were the first to bear the brunt.

At present, the Northern Sui Dynasty did not garrison in Yuzhang County and Yichun County. There were only 30,000 naval troops in the south who came to Hu'er to command. It can be said that in terms of security, the Northern Sui Dynasty did not attach much importance to the south. On the one hand, the south was relatively stable, but on the more important side, the capitals and economic focus of both sides were in the north. Therefore, the Northern Sui Dynasty's strategy for the south was to try to maintain stability and peace.

But Lin wanted to be quiet but the wind did not stop. The Northern Sui Dynasty did not want to break out in the south, and even accused Li Yuan of tearing up the agreement and going back on his word. However, the Tang Dynasty, who tasted the sweetness, gradually shifted its strategic focus to the south, and the Tang army's Eastern Expedition was inevitable.

At present, the 15 major armies of the Tang army were stationed in three places, one in Yiling County. Due to the empty internal forces of Bashu, the Tang army must strictly guard two routes into Shu, one is the Three Gorges Road and the other is the Qingjiang Road. These two routes into Shu meet at Yidao County. Therefore, the Tang army stationed 30,000 troops in Yidao County and 20,000 troops in Yiling County. All navy and warships were deployed in Yiling County, and were commanded by Liu Hongji, the General of the Right Guard.

The 100,000 troops preparing for the Eastern Expedition were deployed in Baling County and Changsha County, targeting Yuzhang County and Yichun County respectively. Among them, Li Xiaogong led 60,000 main forces to be stationed in Changjiang County in Baling County. In the battle between Xiao Xian and Lin Shiqu, this was the only way for Xiao Xian's army to enter Yuzhang County.

General Wang Renshou led 30,000 troops to Liling County, Changsha County, and from here it was only a hundred miles away to Yichun County.

The remaining 10,000 troops were stationed in Baling County. As early as a few months ago, hundreds of thousands of stones of grain and a large amount of military supplies had been quietly transported to Baling County. The Tang army would use Baling County as a logistics center and launch a fierce attack eastward.

At this time, Li Xiaogong was not in Changjiang County, but in Baling County. Their attack had been deployed for nearly a month, but he had not received the official order of the Eastern Expedition issued by the emperor for a long time, which made Li Xiaogong a little anxious.

Li Xiaogong also knew in his heart that Zhang Xuan could not see their intentions when deploying an army like them, but if the Jianghuai River is in chaos, then even if the Northern Sui River knows their intention to fight east, he will be helpless. After all, the Jianghuai River is connected to the Central Plains. Once the Jianghuai River is in chaos, the Central Plains will gradually become chaotic, and the Northern Sui River cannot afford such a situation.

It was precisely because of this that Li Xiaogong also paid special attention to the situation in the Jianghuai River and was waiting for news from Du Fuwei.

That morning, Li Xiaogong urgently convened military discussions, and dozens of generals gathered together. Seeing that Li Xiaogong was particularly energetic, everyone asked: "Your Highness, I heard that an envoy from Chang'an has arrived. Is it because the Lord issued an order?"

Li Xiaogong raised a book of edicts and said with a smile: "Everyone is right. This is just received by the edict. The emperor officially ordered us to fight in the east."

There was a sudden cheer in the lobby, and Li Xiaogong waved his hand again to calm everyone down. He said slowly: "The Jianghuai Dynasty is in chaos, and the main force of the navy who came to Hu'er has rushed to rescue Hefei. Even if there are a little left-behind troops in Jiujiang County, there should be not many left-behind troops. This is our opportunity. The emperor asked us to use this opportunity to expand eastward with all our might. If we can conquer Wu County and Kuaiji County, then all the generals will be given a higher title. Many of you here will be granted the title of Duke."

Everyone couldn't help but feel excited, and they were ready to fly to Kuaiji County. At this time, Deputy General Huang Junhan asked: "Your Highness, we are attacking the east, so how can we ensure the logistics and food?"

Li Xiaogong ordered people to bring a large map and spread it in front of everyone. He pointed to the map with a wooden pole and said, "This eastern expedition, grain transportation is the key. It is obviously unrealistic to transport by land. We can only use the Yangtze River water transportation. We have 200 cargo ships, but only fifty warships guarding, which is a bit weak, so seizing Jiujiang County is the top priority. According to the naval army defense map obtained from the Northern Sui Dynasty, the Northern Sui Dynasty hoarded grain in Jiangnan County, Danyang County, and the other is Pengze County, Jiujiang County, with 300,000 stones of grain in it. Therefore, we must seize Pengze County first. Even if the logistics grain supply in Baling County is not enough, we still have sufficient food supply."

Another general, Lu Shangzu, asked: "Your Highness wants to seize Jiujiang County first, so what should you do if Yuzhang County?"

"This requires us to send troops separately. This time we must seize several important cities. Pengze County mentioned just now, as well as Fengcheng County close to the Yangtze River, Yuzhang County, Poyang County, and Yichun County and Luling County upstream of the Gan River. These are all relying on the Jiangxi City and convenient waterways, so that we can successfully obtain food and supply. Therefore, seizing these six big cities is our first step. I am responsible for leading the army to capture Fengcheng County and Pengze County, General Huang Junhan is responsible for seizing Yuzhang County, General Lu Shangzu is responsible for seizing Poyang County, and General Wang Renshou is responsible for seizing Yichun County and Luling County. This is our previous arrangement. Now I just reiterate that all the goals must be seized within ten days. If they cannot be seized, they will be treated as military law!"

Everyone bowed together and said, "Abide by the order!"

Li Xiaogong turned around to the general Qinwu Pass: "I will give you the important logistics location of Baling County. Please be careful and cautious, and do not give the Sui army any opportunity to take advantage of. If you lose Baling County, don't blame me for being ruthless."

At the end, Li Xiaogong's tone became very strict. Qin Wutong was so scared that he bowed tremblingly: "I will definitely defend Baling County."

.........

After receiving the order from Chang'an to the Eastern Expedition, the Tang army, who had been preparing for a long time, finally launched the Eastern Expedition. Ninety thousand Tang troops were divided into four groups, led by Li Xiaogong, and rushed straight to Jiujiang County. He wanted to capture the two counties of Shangcheng and Pengze at lightning speed, and seize the cargo ships and huge amounts of stocks of grain from the Sui army.

The second route was led by Huang Junhan and killed towards Yuzhang County, the third route was led by Lu Shangzu and killed towards Poyang County, and the fourth route was led by Wang Renshou to capture the two counties of Yichun and Luling.

The Tang army planned very thoroughly and had clear goals. They occupied the five counties of Jiujiang, Yuzhang, Poyang, Yichun and Luling in a very short time. Once they gained a foothold, they would continue to march eastward and attack Jiangnan counties such as Danyang, Wujun and Kuaiji. Li Yuan's ambition has been demonstrated and he will use Du Fuwei's rebellion in the Jianghuai River to annex the entire south of the Yangtze River.

But neither Li Yuan nor the entire court realized that the Northern Sui army had secretly increased its troops to the Jianghuai River as early as last year and had already completed the war preparations for Jingbei. They even expected that Du Fuwei was dead. The so-called civil strife in the Jianghuai River was just the guards of the Northern Sui army pretended to be Du Fuwei's army to act in the Jianghuai area.

Li Yuan still couldn't imagine that Zhang Xuan was in Qichun County at this time, and even on a large ship on the Yangtze River.

More than 200 Northern Sui army warships have blocked the Yangtze River between Jiangxia County and Qichun County. On the surface, this is to prevent the Jiangxia Tang army from taking advantage of the opportunity of civil strife in Jianghuai, but in fact it is to prepare for the Northern Sui army in Qichun County to attack Jiangxia.

On a warship of 3,000 stone, the wind blows on the face, and waves slap the hull. Zhang Xuan looks at the land of Jiangxia County several miles away with his hands. Qu Tutong, the famous general on the other side, has been replaced by a counter-espionage plan and has become a versatile official in the officialdom. Li Shenfu, who has mediocre military qualities, is no longer a concern for seizing the six counties in Jingbei, but Zhang Xuan is now considering the entire Jingzhou. This is an opportunity. Successful strategic deception has won Zhang Xuan this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Can he seize it?

At this time, Fang Xuanling hurried out of the cabin and walked to Zhang Xuan and whispered: "Your Highness, news has been heard from Baling County that Li Xiaogong's army has launched an attack."

Zhang Xuan had no expression on his face and asked lightly after a long time, "How many troops are there in Baling County? Who is the commander?"

"The garrison in Baling County is still 10,000, and it is still commanded by Qin Wutong."

"What is the background of this Qin Wutong?"

"Report to your highness, Qin Wutong is from Hanzhong. He was once a Huya Lang General stationed in Chang'an. After Chang'an fell, he surrendered to Li Yuan and was named General of Right Martial Guard by Li Yuan. He was very skilled in martial arts and used a large iron spear weighing 80 kilograms to drive the three armies. He participated in the World Heroes Club and entered the top forty. He was defeated by General Su Dingfang when he was fighting for the top twenty."

Zhang Xuan's eyes showed a look of confusion and asked in confusion: "I actually sent a fierce general to defend the city. Why did Li Xiaogong make this decision?"

"Although Qin Wutong was a powerful general, he defended Chengdu with an army of 3,000 people during the rebellion of the Qiang people the previous year, blocking the attack of tens of thousands of Qiang people. It should be because of this that Li Xiaogong decided to let him guard Baling County."

Zhang Xuan sneered and said, "The Qiang people are just mobs. They rush forward and collapse in one battle. What honor can be said to defeat them? Does Li Xiaogong think we are also Qiang people?"

At this time, Luo Shixin next to him couldn't help but say, "Master, the Tang army has launched an Eastern Expedition. Beizhi believes that it is not appropriate to delay it. Over time, the Tang Dynasty may see through the illusion of Jianghuai."

Zhang Xuan said lightly: "It's too late for them to see through now. Our time to attack is not yet ripe. Please wait patiently for a few more days."

Luo Shixin didn't dare to say anything anymore. Seeing that the generals were confused, Fang Xuanling smiled and said, "The opportunity mentioned by the General Secretary refers to the attack of Li Xiaogong's army to Pengze County. They went deep into the hinterland and it was too late to retreat. That was the time for us to attack."

"The military advisor said a lot, that's the time for us to attack."

After Zhang Xuan finished speaking, he immediately ordered the two personal soldiers: "Go and summon Liu Lancheng, the commander of the inner guard, to see me!" (To be continued.)
Chapter completed!