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In the New Year of the 20th year of Jian'an, a heavy snow covered the land of Jingnan. Snowflakes were flying, the cold wind was howling, and the sky became gray.

The common heavy snow in the north is rare in Jingnan. The climate in Jingnan, especially in Lingling County, is warm and spring is like spring. In the coldest December, the north is already covered with ice and snow, but the streams are still gurgling here and the mountains are full of green.

But the climate this year is a bit abnormal. The weather is cold after winter. Finally, it has been a heavy snowfall that has not been seen in decades during the New Year.

The mountains and land in Lingling County were covered with snow, and the buildings in various counties were covered with thick snow. The snow was a bit unexpected. The streets and alleys were filled with people sweeping snow, but the happiest thing was the children. Many people saw snow for the first time in their lives. They played and laughed, rolled on the snow, made snowmen, and played snowball fights. Adults and children played happily.

Lingling County is also the most important transportation hub in the south of Lingling County. Lingqu communicates with Xiangshui and Lishui here. Lingling County was originally only a medium-sized city, but in the past few years, the Jingzhou government and the Han army jointly expanded and transformed Lingling County on a large scale, increased the height and widened the city walls, and built a solid warehouse city in the city. Since last year, the official grain was transferred from Xiangdong County, Helin County, Guiyang County and Lingling County to concentrate it here, and nearly 150,000 stones of grain were stored.

Just on the eve of the New Year, a 10,000 Han army quietly entered Lingling County. This army was the Han army in Jingzhou that retreated from Jiangdong. After several months of rest, the 50,000 Han army in Jingzhou gathered again in December. The troops were divided into two groups. One went south to Lingling County, commanded by veteran Huang Zhong, and pointed at Cangwu.

Another 20,000 people entered Yuzhang County and were deployed in Fucheng County close to Luling County. The general Wei Yan and deputy general Liao Hua were commanded by Luling County. The target was Luling County.

This is a sensitive military mobilization, especially after the capture of Jiangdong, attacking Jiaozhou was gradually becoming a general trend. These two armies went south separately and approached the border of Jiaozhou. It contained many meanings. Even children could guess that the Han army was about to attack Jiaozhou.

The Han army's camp was located in the wilderness outside Lingling County and consisted of thousands of large tents. The sudden heavy snow caught the army a little off guard. The entire camp was covered with heavy snow, and all the soldiers were dispatched to clean up the snow in the camp.

In the central army's tent, Huang Zhong and several generals were standing in front of the sand table to discuss military information. Among the generals, in addition to Liu Zheng and Wang Ping, two generals from Jiangdong, Jiang Qin and Zhu Heng were also listed.

"Everyone, I just received the order from His Highness the King of Han. In addition to congratulating everyone on the New Year, I also hope that we will take military actions against Cangwu County in a few days. Pay attention to it, not launching an offensive, but only taking certain military actions. In short, it is to let Liu Bei know our existence."

Huang Zhong picked up the wooden pole and pointed it at Guangxin County, the county seat of Cangwu County on the sand table, and said to everyone: "According to the scout's information, the Jiaozhou army deployed more than 10,000 troops in the Guangxin area, commanded by Guan Yu. It is obvious that we are defending us from going south. Since the other party is prepared, we cannot be rushed."

Everyone had been through the battle and understood Huang Zhong's meaning. From Lingling County to the south, they were blocked by 100,000 mountains. The mountains were steep and the road was rugged. It was difficult to march. The large brigade of supplies and food was difficult to advance from the land. Even if they were wooden oxen, they could not bear it far. They could only go to Lingqu to enter Lishui and then to Cangwu County to the south. Once the Jiaozhou army was prepared, they would inevitably block the Lishui, causing their transportation of supplies to face danger.

At this time, Wang Ping pondered for a moment: "We can use the method of attacking Longxi to build a military city on the southward road and store supplies and rations. In this way, there is no need to unload goods in Guangxin. We can establish a stronghold on the Lishui River and gradually transport the army, grain and materials to the south."

Huang Zhong nodded, "The King of Han also means this. Establishing a new city can not only be used in war, but even after the war is over, it can also be converted to civilian use to communicate the connection between Jiaozhou and Jingnan."

Huang Zhong said this and turned his eyes to Liu Zheng, and said with a smile: "My plan is to go to Guangxin County to disturb the Jiaozhou army, so that the Jiaozhou army would not dare to go north easily, so that he could build a city with all his strength in the middle of the Lishui River. Although His Highness, the King of Han, did not say it clearly, I believe that he was the one who meant it."

Liu Zheng nodded, "Bizhi will lead the Eagle Strike Army to set out tomorrow morning."

At this time, Wang Ping said on the side: "The number of soldiers in the Five Eagles attack is small, so I can also lead 5,000 barbarians to help General Liu's support, so that Guan Yu dare not go north easily."

Huang Zhong happily agreed, "This plan is feasible!"

............

That night, the Han army killed pigs and sheep, and opened another ten thousand jars of wine, and held a New Year's banquet for the 50,000 Han army. Everyone drank and ate meat. They stopped drunk. Before dawn the next day, Liu Zheng and deputy general Ren Ping led the Five Eagle Strike Army to set off with dry food. They marched quickly across Guangxin County, Cangwu County, a 100,000 mountain.

Guangxin County is today's Wuzhou, Guangxi. Yushui, Lishui and Heshui meet here, and Yushui directly connects to Fanyu, which makes Guangxin County the most important transportation hub and population center in northern Jiaozhou.

Guangxin County has 8,000 households and a population of nearly 60,000. This can only be a small county in the Central Plains. However, in Jiaozhou, which is vast and sparsely populated, it is already the largest city after Fanyu and Jiaozhi. This also destined that Guangxin County will become the most important strategic center in northern Jiaozhou.

Guan Yu led an army of 10,000 to enter Guangxin County at the end of October last year. It was only two months since the beginning of the year. When his elder brother Liu Bei set out, he told him that if the Han army wanted to attack Cangwu County, it would be at least until the month.

But just after the New Year, the intelligence detective lurking in Lingling County came from a fast message from Feiying. Tens of thousands of Han troops had entered Lingling County. This news made Guan Yu very nervous. He knew very well that with Lingling County's financial resources, he could only bear the maximum 5,000-year garrison. Now there are tens of thousands of people who are stationed in. Obviously, it is not a permanent garrison. This is clearly the Han army is going to take action against Jiaozhou.

In the military camp, Guan Yu was walking back and forth with his hands uneasy. He had sent someone to report to his elder brother Liu Bei urgently. He received a reply from Liu Bei this morning, asking him to strengthen his defense against the Lishui dangerous places and prevent the main force and supplies of the Han army from sailing south.

Guan Yu also fully agreed with his elder brother's plan. It was almost impossible for food and supplies to transport from Jingnan to Jiaozhou, which were separated by countless mountains and ridges. They were almost impossible to transport food and supplies from the land. Back then, they were able to enter Cangwu County by using a plan to gain the trust of Cangwu Gu, and the Han army wanted to go south to a large scale, and could only rely on water to enter Cangwu County through the Lingqu River.

Guan Yu pondered for a moment, then said to his personal soldiers: "Let my son Guan Ping come to see you immediately!"

Soon, Guan Ping hurried into the tent and bowed, "Please give me instructions!"

Guan Yu pointed to the map and said, "I am worried that the Han army will move south from Lishui. There are few troops stationed in Liren Fortress. You can lead thousands of troops from our headquarters to support Liren Fortress."

"Boy obeys the order!"

Guan Yu said again: "Be careful of ambushing troops along the way. If you find a brigade, you must report it immediately."

"Don't worry, father, the child will be cautious."

Guan Yu advised Guan Ping a few more words, and Guan Ping immediately ordered his troops to rush to the defensive land of Liren Fort two miles away.

Although the defense was strengthened on the water, Guan Yu was still a little worried about the land. If the Han army was walking lightly, it would come from the land. At present, the Jiaozhou army has built more than a dozen passes in the mountainous areas in the northern part of Jiaozhou, and stationed troops to five people. Among them, there is also a pass in the north of Guangxin County, called Bakou, and there are troops stationed. If the Han army heads south from Lingling Lu, the first fierce battle will be the one at Bakou.

Thinking of this, Guan Yu ordered the captain Zhang Zhi to lead two thousand troops to reinforce the dam and sent 5,000 people to guard the two waters. Only then did Guan Yu feel relieved...

The Han army actually had to pass through Linhe County from the south of the land. Linhe County was a small county, originally part of Lingling County. More than 90% of the land in the county were mountainous areas. Bakou was located at the junction of Linhe County and Cangwu County. "Ba" is the local name for basin, and this title has been continued to this day.

The so-called dam mouth, as the name suggests, is the entrance of a basin. From Cangwu County to the south, climbing over the mountains and ridges, the mountains disappear and the terrain becomes gentle, forming a large area of ​​farmed basins. In addition, the Heshui River crosses it, with abundant irrigation water sources, forming a rare agricultural area.

The dam entrance is located south of this agricultural area. It is a canyon that is more than ten miles long. At the critical point of the dam entrance, the Jiaozhou army stationed soldiers. They not only guarded the key points of the dam entrance, but also controlled the agricultural area ahead. The taxes were originally to be handed over to Fengyang County, but under the threat of the army, the farmers living in the dam were forced to hand over the taxes to the Jiaozhou army.

That night, the farmers living in the dam all rested early. A heavy snow that had not been seen in decades made the dam entrance look like a silver-covered world. The cold moonlight shone on the silver earth, making the earth bright like daylight.

An army was winding from the north, walking rapidly, without any influence from the thick snow on the ground. This army was the Five Eagle Strike Army that came from Lingling County. The Eagle Strike Army was the most elite special soldiers of the Han army. They were all very skilled in martial arts and strong in body, and they could fight ten in one enemy. For them, climbing mountains and ridges was like walking on flat ground. After a seven-mile journey, they marched to the dam entrance all night.

It was already two o'clock, and the closest house was also inside. The wilderness was silent. Under the reflection of snow and moonlight, the Heshui in the distance was like a black satin spread in the undulating fields. Liu Zheng pointed to a forest not far away and whispered: "Go into the woods and rest for an hour."
Chapter completed!