Unlike Fang Xuanling, Zhang Xuan's collusion with the Guanlong nobles and the Jiangnan Association was not surprising. At least a few years ago, he knew that Zhang Zhongjian, who taught his martial arts, was lent to Wuchuan Prefecture by the Jiangnan Association. Some conditions must have been met during this period.

In addition, the rebellion in the Jiangnan region has always been continuous. It wiped out Liu Yuanjin and Shen Faxing came again. Behind this is the Jiangnan Association making trouble, and behind the Jiangnan Association is the figure of Guanlong nobles.

The Dou family actually transported weapons to the Jiangnan Association, which really made Zhang Xuan a little embarrassed. If he intervened in this matter, it seemed meaningless. Besides, Dou Qing treated him well, and once such a thing was revealed, the Dou family might be the consequence of raiding the family and extermination.

But if you don’t care, these thousands of soldiers will trade under your nose, not only will you lose your face, but if you fail, Zhang Xuan will also be charged with condoning bandits.

After thinking about it, Zhang Xuan decided to write a letter to Dou Qing, implying that Dou Qing temporarily stopped trading weapons with Jiangnan Association, at least not under his nose.

Zhang Xuan immediately wrote a letter that was obscure but Dou Qing could understand. He found a personal soldier, handed the letter to him, and told him a few more words to ask him to come to Beijing to deliver a letter to Dou Qing.

Just as Zhang Xuan sent his personal soldiers away, someone came out of the hall to report: "Report to General Wei, Chief Wei has an urgent matter to ask for a meeting!"

Zhang Xuan nodded, "Please come in!"

Not long after, Wei Zheng, the chief of Jiangdu, hurried in and said, "The Sui army was defeated in the Central Plains, do you know?"

"What's going on?" Zhang Xuan asked in confusion. He had no news about this.

Before Wei Zheng answered, Zhang Xuan asked him to sit down and ordered his personal soldiers to serve tea. Wei Zheng took a sip of tea and said, "I just got the message from Fei Ge. General Zhang was unfortunately killed in Pengcheng County. Meng Haigong attacked with all his strength. At noon yesterday, the Sui army could not resist and most of the soldiers were damaged. He retreated in the direction of Liang County."

Zhang Xuan was shocked, General Zhang Jin was actually killed. He asked anxiously: "How did General Zhang die?"

Wei Zheng sighed, "I heard that during the battle for Fuli County, General Zhang was shot by a scattered arrow on the forehead, and the army retreated to Pengcheng County. However, because he was old, he was unable to cure it in the end. Unfortunately, he died. The Sui army lost its backbone. The morale of the army was disintegrated and was defeated by Meng Haigong. The situation in the Central Plains was very critical."

Zhang Xuan walked a few steps behind his hands. He realized that Wei Zheng came to find him, which must have had another meaning. He asked without hesitation: "Is the Sui army's great defeat? Is it what happened yesterday?"

Wei Zheng nodded, "Gexin came to me from Pengcheng County, half a day is enough. It must have happened yesterday."

He whispered again: "General Zhang was killed. The Sui army was defeated in a miserable situation, which would inevitably shock the government and the people. If we jointly send troops to rescue Xuzhou, I think this is an opportunity."

Zhang Xuan sneered in his heart. Wei Zheng had no troops at all. He had to rely on himself to send troops. He even said that he would jointly send troops.

However, Zhang Xuan changed his mind and said that Wei Zheng had a lot of connections in the court and was a former Minister of War. If he could save the situation, the credit would be expanded exponentially after Wei Zheng came to ferment.

As the saying goes, it is beneficial to share. I did not do well in this area before. I should consider improving, and this is indeed an opportunity to open up Donghai County.

Thinking of this, Zhang Xuan glanced at Wei Zheng who was full of expectations and smiled and said, "How could I not give Wei Changshi a face?"

Wei Zheng was overjoyed and hurriedly said, "I will explain to the court, please send troops as soon as possible."

Zhang Xuan nodded, "I'll prepare and I'll send troops as soon as tomorrow."

.........

The battle situation in the Central Plains was very serious for the Sui army. As Wei Zheng said, Zhang Jin was unfortunately killed in a battle with a trap in Fuli County. This had a serious impact on the Sui army. The morale of the Sui army was sluggish and the morale of the army was dispersed. He was immediately defeated in the Battle of Pengcheng and was forced to retreat to Liang County to evacuate.

At this time, Meng Haigong's army had grown to more than 100,000 people, and its momentum swept across the four counties of Xuzhou including Donghai, Pengcheng, Xiapi and Qiao. Meng Haigong immediately proclaimed himself King Peng and established his capital in Pengcheng County.

Before dawn, a fleet of more than 100 large grain transport ships was sailing north along the Hangou. Thousands of boatmen were pulling these large ships filled with grain and military funds. On the east bank of the canal, 15,000 Sui troops were marching in a row.

The chief general of the Sui army, Zhang Xuan, stood in the fleet of large ships, stared at the northern sky with deep eyes. The sky had turned into blue and blue, and you could clearly see the endless rice fields and woods on both sides.

This time the army headed north was a joint operation between Zhang Xuan and Wei Zheng. Wei Zheng was responsible for logistics, food, grass, military weapons and civilians' requisition, while Zhang Xuan was responsible for military operations.

Since Du Fuwei had been severely injured and fled to Huainan County, Jiangdu would not have any threat for the time being, so Zhang Xuan led his army north to fight against Meng Haigong.

Of course, Zhang Xuan has his own strategic purpose. He mainly wants to take over Donghai County and open up the channels between Jiangdu County and Qingzhou County, which is crucial to him.

Moreover, Meng Haigong was in too strong momentum. Once he could not march westward, he would inevitably turn northward and march to the Qingzhou area with empty troops, seriously threatening Zhang Xuan's vital interests.

"Are the general worried about the strength of the thief army?" Fang Xuanling asked, standing behind Zhang Xuan.

Zhang Xuan nodded, "After all, ten times more than me, saying that he is not worried is self-deception."

"What is the general going to do?"

"I don't know now, I can only take one step at a time."

Speaking of this, Zhang Xuan looked back at Fang Xuanling and asked with a smile: "Does the military advisor have good strategies?"

"There is no strategy yet, but there are two suggestions."

"I hope to hear it carefully!"

"The general's advantage is the warship. I suggest using Shanyang County as the foundation, first control the Huai River. If you win, you can go north. If you are not good, cross the Henan and retreat in the south. In this way, there is a rule of advancement and retreat, so that you will not be confused."

"What's the second?" Zhang Xuan asked again.

"The second is intelligence. Know yourself and your enemy, and you will never be defeated in a hundred battles. The general must strengthen intelligence."

Zhang Xuan nodded silently. He had also considered this issue. Wei Zheng suggested that he use official intelligence points to transmit information at various inns along the way, but Zhang Xuan no longer believed in official intelligence. After all, the inns have been controlled by the thief army, so whether the inns can transmit real intelligence is still the same.

"The military advisor's two suggestions are very good. I will leave the information deployment to the military advisor. I will arrange for the Huaihe River garrison."

………….

Shanyang County is a Zhongxian located on the south bank of the Huai River. Tongji Canal is transferred from here to Hangou. Shanyang County is prosperous because it is located on a major transportation road and its population is gradually gathering. Currently, there are more than 100,000 people here, and half of the young and strong people rely on Hangou to transport their lives.

Zhang Xuan's army arrived in Shanyang County after two days of traveling north. The army then set up a wall-like camp on the west side of the county town.

On the top of the city, Zhang Xuan patrolled the city with a circumference of nearly twenty miles surrounded by generals. The county magistrate introduced to Zhang Xuan: "General, the county was rebuilt five years ago. The city was two feet high and eight feet high. The moat below was three feet wide, which was very solid and solid."

"How deep is the moat?" Zhang Xuan asked, looking at the moat.

"The south is slightly deeper, one zhang five feet higher, and one zhang deeper in the north."

Zhang Xuan nodded, pointed to the Shuicheng Gate and asked, "Where will the Shuicheng Gate lead to?"

"Please look outside the East City, General!"

The county magistrate took Zhang Xuan to the east wall and pointed to a lake outside the east city and said: "That lake is called Wild Duck Lake. It is actually formed by a depression, connecting Hangou to the east and moat in the west. There is a Caohe River in the county, which passes through the water gate and the moat, and finally connected to Hangou."

Cui Yuanhan, the military officer of the Warehouse next to him, asked: "The river channel is too narrow, and our big ship may not be able to enter and unload the grain. May I ask the county magistrate, do you know if there are small boats in the county?"

The county magistrate showed a look of embarrassment on his face, "To be honest, all the small boats in the county have been requisitioned by Miao Haichao, and there is not even a single boat."

"Yuanhan, the ship is not a problem!"

Zhang Xuan said on the side: "We seized a lot of ships from Miao Haichao, all of which were parked in Xuyi County. I will send someone to send them tomorrow."

Cui Yuanhan quickly saluted, "Thank you, General, if you have a small boat, you can unload the grain into the city."

"Then the matter of unloading food will be annoying Lao Yuanhan Duoduo to do his best."

Zhang Xuan turned around and said to several participating soldiers: "This time the fight against the thief army may require the assistance of civilians. You should discuss with the county magistrate and organize as many civilians as possible to prevent any trouble."

Several soldiers and the county magistrate agreed together, and then Zhang Xuan turned around and headed towards the military camp.
Chapter completed!