A group of white-robed cavalry gathered at the border of Xiapi Kingdom. This cavalry has white horses and white robes, and is equipped with weapons such as ring-headed knives, spears, and horned bows. The war horses are expensive. Just one war horse is equivalent to several years' salary of a low-level soldier.

Chen Qingzhi joined the White Robe Legion and took charge of the White Robe Legion together with Xue Rengui and Zhao Yun to participate in the crusade against Huainan.

Although Chen Qingzhi's force is not even a match for high-level soldiers, and compared to Xue Rengui and Zhao Yun, he is extremely weak. However, Xue Rengui and Zhao Yun did not underestimate Chen Qingzhi. Placing Chen Qingzhi in the White Robe Legion can also make up for Chen Qingzhi's lack of force.

"What kind of army is that? Almost all of them are white horses and white robes."

Villagers in the border villages of Xiapi State were shocked when they saw a large number of white-robed cavalry passing by.

The White Robe Legion has 27,000 cavalry, including 6,000 high-level cavalry and 21,000 low-level cavalry.

This time they swept through the Shouchun area, with the White Robe Legion as the vanguard, and no one dared to compete with them as they marched across Huainan!

Xu Sheng was sent to the Huaihe River area and used the Huaihe River to transport grain and grass from Xiapi State and Guangling County to the front line of Jiujiang County to relieve the pressure on the army. A large number of ships were forcibly recruited to transport grain, grass, soldiers and horses.

There were not only Hou Jing's forces in the Huaihe River area, but also a large number of mountain bandits and water bandits. When they heard that the Xuzhou Mu army was sweeping through Huainan, they all fled.

For Chu Tian, ​​this crusade was like the autumn wind sweeping away fallen leaves, it was not difficult.

More than 100,000 troops advanced in two directions.

Along the way to Pi State, Chu Tian personally served as the commander-in-chief and had jurisdiction over the Northern Army's five schools, the reconnaissance legion, the servant legion, the white-robed legion, the invincible legion, the Langya defense legion, and the East China Sea defense legion. There were about 100,000 people in total, and they attacked along the Huaihe River.

Along the way to Guangling County, Chen Deng served as the commander-in-chief, with the Guangling Defense Corps as the main force, a total of about 30,000 people, attacking along the Yangtze River.

In addition to the main force, a large number of rural warriors were recruited to transport food and siege equipment.

"Will the lord use too many soldiers and horses..."

Chen Qingzhi saw the endless army and marveled at Chu Tian's generosity.

After experiencing many large-scale conquests, Xuzhou already has a mature troop deployment and logistics system. Even if a hundred thousand troops are mobilized at one time, there will be no pressure.

Chen Qingzhi thought that Chu Tian only sent 40,000 to 50,000 troops to attack Shouchun, but he did not expect that the number of troops mobilized by Chu Tian exceeded 100,000.

It seems that Chutian has the ambition to annex Jianghuai.

Chutian's attack direction was erratic, sometimes south and sometimes north. He also used the Yi River, Huai River and other rivers to transport troops, and had a large number of cavalry. He advanced very quickly, causing misery to the surrounding princes.

They would never be able to guess who Chu Zimou's next target would be.

"Chu Zimou actually went to fight Shouchun!"

Tongque, who was attacking Qu'a County of Wu County in the south of the Yangtze River, heard the news and fell into silence for an hour.

To defend the Yangtze River, you must defend the Huaihe River, which means that to defend the Yangtze River, you must defend the Huaihe River. Shouchun and Hefei are important cities that control Huainan. If you occupy Shouchun and Hefei, you can attack when you advance and defend when you retreat.

For Jiangdong forces, it is crucial to have Shouchun and Hefei.

If it weren't for the annexation of the lords of Jiangnan, it would be a good time to annex Jiangnan, and Tongque would have captured Shouchun by now.

Tongque went to attack Jiangnan, and Chutian took the opportunity to ride on Huainan. It was very uncomfortable for Tongque, extremely uncomfortable.

Emperor Sun Quan attacked Hefei many times just to capture Huainan.

"Order Huan Wen and Zu Ti to lead their troops to capture Hefei. They are not allowed to compete with Chu Zimou in Shouchun."

Tongque hesitated again and again. Since Chutian wanted to attack Shouchun, he could capture Hefei. As long as he captured Hefei, he could go north to the Huaihe River and invade the Central Plains.

Tongque's order soon reached the desks of Generals Huan Wen and Zu Ti in Lujiang.

Huan Wen carefully checked the map of the Huainan area and found that Hefei's terrain was dangerous: "Send troops to capture Hefei immediately without further delay. I will lead 20,000 Chaisang troops to capture Hefei, and you will lead the Lujiang troops to support you!"

"good!"

Zu Ti also had a strategic vision and knew the importance of Hefei, so he began to march towards Jiujiang County.

This is an action between the two princes of Xuzhou and Yangzhou to compete for control of Huainan. It is not just as simple as attacking Hou Jing.

Chaisang soldiers and Lujiang soldiers, totaling 40,000 people, attacked Hefei.

Tongque, the prefect of Lujiang, made a decisive decision. When the main Beifu army attacked Wu County, he immediately mobilized the military generals guarding the home to occupy Hefei.

If he captures Hefei, Chutian's ability to control Huainan will decline.

Chu Tian personally led the five schools of the Northern Army, Wu Anguo served as deputy general, and Fang Xuanling and Lu Su served as army officers.

Lu Su's hometown is adjacent to Jiujiang County, and he knows Jiujiang County quite well. He holds a parchment map in his hand: "Shou Chun and Hefei are important towns in Huainan. If the lord takes it and station troops here, not only can he have a glimpse of the south of the Yangtze River, but also he can

By working in the fields, we obtain a large amount of military rations every year.”

"You can indeed farm in Shouchun. That's why I came to attack Huainan."

Chutian has been coveting Shouchun and Hefei for a long time. Taking these two cities will have limited effect at present, but it will have great effect in the future.

The princes stationed in Shouchun, Hefei, and Jiangnan cannot go north, but Chutian can not worry about the south.

Fang Xuanling reminded: "Lujiang's troops may go to attack Hefei."

"It is indeed possible. The invincible army and the servant army go to take Hefei."

Chu Tian decided to divide his troops into two groups, one to attack Shouchun and the other to capture Hefei, thus capturing all the two important cities in Huainan.

After Yang Ye received the order, he immediately led 10,000 cavalry south to seize Shouchun.

Joan of Arc's legions of servants include cavalry and infantry, and the order she received was to follow Yang Ye.

This time no one was monitoring her, but she led the troops alone.

Probably because she had adapted to her current status, she did not even think of escaping. Instead, she led her army of servants and followed the instructions on the map to coordinate Yang Ye's invincible army southward.

In Shouchun City, Hou Jing learned that the great princes of Xuzhou and the great princes of Yangzhou were attacking Jiujiang County. He couldn't help but regret that he had offended Chu Tian and Tongque at the same time.

He led his cavalry out of the city, hoping to block the Xuzhou army.

"White robe army, more than tens of thousands of white robe army!"

As soon as Hou Jing left the city, the cavalry scouts in front sent back more detailed news, which made Hou Jing frightened.

In just two months, a large number of white-robed troops appeared in the Huainan area!

"Isn't the upper limit of Chen Qingzhi's white-robed army seven thousand?"

Hou Jing was greatly frightened when he heard that there were tens of thousands of white-robed troops arriving.

So Hou Jing, who was just about to leave the city, retreated back to Shouchun City, reinforced the city wall, and planned to defend it to the death.

"Xuzhou Mu came to attack Shouchun City with all his strength. He must be fully prepared. You once burned, killed, and looted in Pengcheng Kingdom. If you were captured alive by Xuzhou Mu, you would all be executed, and you would even be sunk in the Huaihe River to feed the fish."

Guo Jia still did not forget to be sarcastic.

Hou Jing's face was ferocious: "If Shouchun City is destroyed, I will kill you first! So you still have to protect Shouchun for me!"

Guo Jia's expression changed slightly: "I...I will try my best."

The White Robe Army advanced with great speed. Wherever it went, Zhongli, Dangtu and other counties all surrendered, and no county magistrate was willing to defend the city for Hou Jing.

Chutian's fifth school of the Northern Army was in the rear. When they arrived at Dangtu County, the people greeted them with pots of food and rice.

"The people have been suffering for a long time. Ming Gong attacked Jiujiang and actually saved the people here from the fire and water."

When Magistrate Tu saw the Xuzhou Mu army approaching, he burst into tears and almost hugged Chu Tian's thigh and told Hou Jing about Hou Jing's evil deeds.

Hou Jing allowed his soldiers to burn, kill and loot everywhere in order to win people's hearts, and Dangtu County also suffered greatly.

"I thought Hou Jing would resist tenaciously, but it seems that taking Huainan this time will be easy."

Popular support is the same as the blessing value. It usually doesn't have any effect, but sometimes it can have miraculous effects. The public support in Jiujiang County under Hou Jing's rule was low, and they almost gave up. Each village and county also took the initiative to provide food and grass for Xuzhou Mu's army.

"After Hou Jing arrived, the amount of food each household had to turn in increased by 50%, and rebels looted everywhere from time to time. At least 100,000 people in Dangtu County fled to the mountains and forests to avoid the harsh government and the rebel army.

"

The Dangtu County Magistrate detailed the damage done to Huainan by Hou Jing's Rebellion.

Millions of people may be affected throughout Huainan.

Chutian summoned the civilians of Dangtu County: "Hou Jing caused chaos and bandits ran rampant in Huainan. This is God's punishment for Huainan. But God sent me to quell Hou Jing's rebellion. Please help me and restore peace..."

Chu Tian has learned to play tricks in front of the local people, and the people's hearts have really risen.

"Presumably the White Robe Legion has arrived in Shouchun City by now."

When Chu Tian, ​​as the rear army, gathered people's hearts in Dangtu County, the white-robed army had already arrived at Shouchun City.

Hou Jing was frightened by Xuzhou's army and did not dare to go out of the city to fight Chen Qingzhi's white-robed army.

"All men taller than the wheel will participate in the defense of the city!"

Hou Jing knew that Xuzhou Mu wanted to eliminate him. With Chen Qingzhi around, once he was captured alive by Xuzhou Mu, he would definitely be executed.

In order to protect himself, he drove all the men in Shouchun City to defend the city at any cost. About 200,000 people were forced to come to the city wall.

Hou Jing's cavalry also realized that they would die if the city was broken, so they agreed with the general Hou Jing's approach and drove out the people to defend the city. With the strength of Shouchun City and the forced conquest of 200,000 men and children, the entire city defended to the death.

They did not believe that Xuzhou Mu's army could conquer Shouchun.

"As long as they hold on for two or three months and wait until Xuzhou Mu goes to participate in the Battle of Mobei, they will be forced to withdraw their troops."

Hou Jing encouraged the generals.

His idea is also correct. As long as he holds on for two months, Chutian will have to retreat.

Hou Jing led a group of soldiers to the city wall and looked down at the white-robed troops below the city. They were all white-robed, with a large number of white horses and flags covering the sky, which was awe-inspiring.
To be continued...