Du Mao was from Guanjun County, Nanyang County. He joined Liu Xiu when he was patrolling Hebei. He followed him to pacify the refugee army and fight for separatist forces from all directions. He made contributions. After Liu Xiu ascended the throne, he was granted the title of marquis and was appointed as the General of the Cavalry.

Liu Xiu's generals, Wu Han and Geng Yan, were generals from Hebei. Both of them could fight tough battles, and Geng Yan was even more brave and resourceful. When Liu Xiu led his army to attack Wang Lang, he failed to attack the city, and he fought hard and almost lost. Thanks to Geng Yan and others, he led the Youzhou cavalry to arrive in time. As soon as he entered the battlefield, he was unstoppable and showed an invincible momentum, which shocked all the generals under Liu Xiu. Since then, Du Mao has been in awe of Geng Yan.

With Geng Yan's ability, he had tens of thousands of elite riders in his hands, and Du Mao was a little afraid from the bottom of his heart. Fortunately, Liu Xiu had an order to defend the city and not have to go out of the city to fight to the decisive battle. After Du Mao obtained this order, he hid in Zhuo County and allowed Geng Yan's cavalry to traverse Hebei. Even if he lost Liangxiang, he had no idea of ​​sending troops to recover.

This time the enemy attacked, and it seemed like a large number of cavalrymen. Du Mao was so upset. Could it be that Geng Yan actually went south to Zhuo County?

He immediately ordered the city defense to be strengthened and prepared for the guards. At the same time, he sent people to Gaoyang to report to the emperor. When the enemy cavalry was out of the city, he did not dare to send troops to fight.

Since the emperor was close, Du Mao was too lazy to touch his mind anymore. He sent envoys to Gao Yang several times a day to convey military information.

Strangely, although the thunder cavalry is everywhere and appears and disappears from time to time, it has never siege.

Four or five days later, the emperor suddenly led the elite cavalry to arrive.

It turned out that more than 8,000 people from the Jingqi Cavalry in Youbeiping and the Liaoxi, who were close to each other, rushed to Gaoyang to join the army. Liu Xiu felt that the troops could have a decisive battle with Geng Yan at this time, so he went north to Zhuo County himself.

Du Mao went out of the city to greet him, Liu Xiu promoted to the tent, and asked about Du Mao's battle situation over the past few days. Liu Xiu asked: "Where are the enemy cavalry appearing?"

Du Mao said: "I have seen enemy cavalry in your Majesty, Yuanshui, Taoshui, Huangling, Chengdongsu Village, Yangxiang and other places, and there are thousands of cavalry every time."

"Does there be a case of rushing to harvest spring wheat a few days ago?"

"No one has snatched the harvest of spring wheat these days, and even burned the farmland only happens occasionally."

"Can enemy attack be attacked by nearby counties?"

"No."

Liu Xiu's face sank and said in a low voice: "So, are you talking about tens of thousands of riders walking around Zhuo County?"

Du Mao was so scared that he immediately bowed down and said, "It is the minister who makes the enemy cavalry rage here."

Liu Xiu said: "Have you ever sent troops out to fight?"

"My minister..." Du Mao paused for a moment, thinking that he was guarding the city according to the emperor's will. Seeing that the emperor looked bad, he did not dare to say it, but just lowered his head and said, "No."

Liu Xiu scolded: "I ordered you to defend the city but didn't let you be a turtle! Holding a hundred thousand troops and thousands of elite cavalry, you actually watched the enemy come and go at will, and you didn't even understand their background. You are indeed incompetent."

Du Mao was on the ground and did not dare to argue a word. The emperor cursed it justified, and there was no such thing as defending the city. The enemy troops had already gone outside the city, so they should send people out to attack tentatively and touch the truth. But he was frightened by Geng Yan's cavalry corps, and he didn't even dare to leave the city gate.

Several of his army were stationed outside the city. Du Mao ordered them to stay in the camp and all became spectators, watching thousands of enemy cavalry march back and forth.

Liu Xiu said: "When a large army is deployed, it must do something, either attack the city or plunder. If you want to sneak attack on the city behind us, you should stop and attack in secret. You should not make such a loud noise. Like such behavior, there is no practical action, and it is mostly bluffing. If the enemy bluffing here, the goal must be elsewhere."

Du Mao was shocked. Could it be that Geng Yan's army was not in the direction of Zhuo County?

Liu Xiu said: "I have ordered Zhang Kan to gather cavalry in Yuyang, including Liaodong and other counties, and wait for the troops and horses to advance westward and attack Geng Yan. If Geng Yan aims to be in the east, their two armies will have a battle."

Wuqiang Hou Wang Liang said: "Your Majesty, I am willing to lead the cavalry to Anci, rush to Yuyang to fight against Geng Yan."

Anci is a hundred miles south of Ji County, and can escape the enemy and go straight to Yuyang.

Liu Xiu said: "If Geng Yan intends to fight Zhang Kan, you may not have time to go to rescue now. Moreover, Geng Yan's intention may not be in Yuyang. Those who are good at fighting will lead people but not to others, and they do not have to chase Geng Yan's army and run away. Our army only needs to rescue the enemy, and Geng Yan will definitely return to the army."

Wang Liang said: "What does Your Majesty mean?"

Liu Xiu pointed from afar, "The battlefield of this battle should be in Juyongguan."

Liu Xiu met with his subordinates, and obtained a total of 19,000 people. He also selected 50,000 elite infantrymen and set off eastward immediately.

Liu Xiu ordered: "After half a day, infantry will arrive at Liangxiang City today!"

Wang Liang led thousands of cavalry as vanguards and arrived at Yuanshui not long after. He did not encounter any enemy troops along the way. The enemy camp in Yuanshui mentioned as Du Mao was also empty, and even the military stove in the camp still had residual fireworks.

Wang Liang followed the emperor's will and did not stop. He immediately walked eastward through the wall and walked more than ten miles. An enemy cavalry suddenly broke out from the woods next to him. Wang Liang was caught off guard and was quite passive at the beginning. Fortunately, there were not many enemy troops and there was no entanglement. He rushed for a while and retreated eastward.

Wang Liang's army went forward again and went straight to the bank of the Shengshui River. The other side of the river was Liangxiang.

Liu Xiu arrived at dusk. When he looked at the other side, he saw soldiers guarding the city of Liangxiang on the other side, and there were many flags on the shore, as if they were all enemy troops.

Liu Xiu sneered: "I haven't seen tens of thousands of elite cavalry along the way. In my opinion, Geng Yan must not be here, but he is here. Our army is strong and powerful, and we can fight. The most likely thing is that the enemy is just a partial army, and we are just bluffing here... No matter how they act, our army only goes to Juyongguan."

The Holy Water River is not like the water of the wall, and can be wading by water. In summer, the center of the river is quite deep. Liu Xiu sent someone to prepare the ships urgently, declaring that no matter how many ships you find this night, you will have to cross the river early tomorrow morning and how much you can cross.

I also found a local person and asked where the water could be shallow. Someone said that there was a shallow and narrow place thirty miles south of this place. Although people could not go directly, horses could wade through the water and forcefully cross.

Liu Xiu ordered Wang Liang to set out south overnight and lead 5,000 cavalry to wading across the river. He would cross the river early tomorrow morning and attack the enemy troops on the other side.

The next morning, the Han army crossed the river together and launched a strong attack to the east bank. The opponent was blocking the crossbow. With Liu Xiu here, the soldiers used their lives to move forward bravely. In half an hour, they attacked the east bank and occupied the beachhead position. The subsequent army rushed forward continuously. At this time, Wang Liang's cavalry arrived and rushed for a while, and the enemy could not resist it. The Han army broke through the enemy's defense line in half a day, and the other side had already begun to turn around and retreat.
Chapter completed!