Chapter 54 Chapter 5 Happy New Year

The heavy snow fell viciously, and no matter how much I could persuade it, I couldn't persuade it. It continued to fall until New Year's Eve, and there was still no sign of stopping.Although the god of heaven refuses to be beautiful, the year must be passed after all.People who have worked hard for a year have every right to rest and entertain themselves on this day.In the Han army camp, the soldiers temporarily forgot about the deadly battle, played music and danced around the bonfire to celebrate the New Year. Zhenfu, across the river, looked at the jubilant Han camp, and he knew that the Han army was sending them off on their last New Year's Eve.Zhen Fu smiled with satisfaction, and lyrically said to the other side with an authentic stage accent:

"Let's have the last carnival, this is the grace I bestow on you, let's have a carnival, humble and poor people, it's best to stay up all night without sleep, because this is your last time in this world, and it is worth cherishing. When When the sun rises, you will die in a new day. Let this rushing water witness, I will dye the clothes red with your blood, and the sky will cover your corpses with snow." While expressing his feelings, Zhen Fu felt his own nobility. At this moment, he seemed to be with many famous generals from ancient times, and the battlefield etiquette of the Spring and Autumn Period has not disappeared in the world.He believed that his compassion and benevolence to the Han army would be praised and sung in later generations, just like the glorious deeds of many famous generals.

Liang Qiuci watched with cold eyes. In his opinion, Zhen Fu's lyricism was more like hypocrisy. He interrupted Zhen Fu and said: "The Han army is celebrating the New Year, we can't let the soldiers watch the Han army celebrate the New Year, but we are here Suffer from the cold." Since ancient times, all famous generals have loved soldiers like their sons, and Zhen Fu was naturally unwilling to let others go, so he greatly appreciated Liang Qiuci's proposal, saying: "It's really not easy for you sons to fight with me. Pass the order down, cook wine and meat, and be careful." New Year's Eve." Under the order, the camp was full of cheers and thunder, and for a while, firecrackers, music and dancing, made a lot of noise, and the movement was far better than that of the Han army on the other side.

The night is getting darker, the snow is falling more tightly, on both sides of the Bian River, there are laughter one after another, and the lights echo each other.On this New Year's Eve, the opposing sides put aside their swords and bid farewell to the old and welcome the new.Looking at the snowflakes falling in the sky and listening to the singing in the wind, people fall into the illusion that the world is peaceful after fighting with each other. Cen Peng was imprisoned, isolated from the outside world, and was not allowed to hear about military affairs. Seeing that the officers and soldiers hadn't attacked for a long time, he had already secretly felt that something was wrong.The jailer laughed and said: "The prefect is kind, rewards wine and meat, and orders me to wait for the New Year." Cen Peng was shocked and said, "Take me to see the prefect."Cen Peng said anxiously: "Liu Yan will never sit still and wait for death. He must hide his conspiracy. The eunuch must not fall into the tricks of the Han army." Can't you say something auspicious?" Regardless of his status, Cen Peng begged bitterly, but the jailers just ignored him while drinking and punching.Cen Peng retreated to the corner of the cell, tears streaming down his face, looking through the window at a small piece of sky outside the window, the snow was still falling relentlessly.Cen Peng muttered to himself: "It has been snowing for three consecutive days. I don't know if the water has ever frozen? If it freezes, everything will be over!"

Cen Peng was not wrong, Liu Yan was indeed on the move.Those staying in the Han camp at this moment are all old, weak, sick and disabled. Although these people are not good at fighting, they are more than enough to make the noise bigger.Liu Yan led the main force to attack Lanxiang, where the officers and soldiers were carrying supplies, at night.The army marched in the snow, the march was so difficult, the north wind tore the flags and cracked the skin, the horses shivered, and the soldiers froze to death as the Taoists looked at each other. In the middle of the night, the army arrived in Lanxiang with difficulty.The defenders of Lanxiang were unprepared. They took it for granted that the enemy would never dare to attack from a long distance with such heavy snow, so they fell asleep early after drinking and eating.The Han army swarmed in and wiped out the defenders almost without resistance, taking all the supplies.

For Liu Yan and others, although Chinese New Year is celebrated every year, this year's New Year is undoubtedly the most memorable. It is not because of the victory in Lanxiang, but because of the long period of foreplay before the victory-the rapid march with their lives on the line.Traveling tens of miles at night in the ice and snow is not only a test of personal will, but also a test of the cohesion of the troops. They survived and they are qualified to win this victory. Lan Township was stockpiling almost all the luggage of the officers and soldiers, and now it was in the pockets of the Han army. The Han army was all overjoyed to receive such a big red envelope just after Chinese New Year.They no longer have to suffer from food, grass and clothing, and now they have the capital to fight protracted wars and wars of attrition.

Just as the big guys were thinking about how to move the so many luggage back, Liu Yan ordered to continue marching. The generals asked for instructions on the destination. However, afraid of Liu Yan's power, he could only obey orders.After staying up all night, they are exhausted, not only can't rest, but also continue to march, everyone thinks they will die. When the first snowflakes fell to the world, what it brought to Liu Yan was not only a world covered in silver, but also inspired Liu Yan to conceive a whole set of battle plans.How to fight the battle, how to take each step, everything is within his plan.

Under Liu Yan's deployment, Lanxiang stationed a small number of defenders, Liu Xiu led 800 troops to act alone, and the rest of the troops all marched towards Bianshui.Liu Yan also ordered fifty carts of hay to be carried, leaving one cart for every mile the troops marched.When the generals asked about his intentions, Liu Yan smiled and did not answer. The army arrived at Bishui, the sky gradually brightened, a new day began, and a new year began. Looking across the bank of Bishui, the officers and soldiers camp was silent. After the indulgence and joy last night, most of the officers and soldiers are still sleeping soundly .Liu Yan ignited the last cart of hay with his own hands, and the fireworks rose into the sky. After that, the hay left along the way gradually ignited, like a beacon, sending the message back to Lanxiang.Deng Chen, who stayed behind in Lanxiang, gave an order, and the soldiers set fire everywhere, and the whole Lanxiang suddenly became a sea of ​​flames.

Lan Township was on fire, and it could be seen from the bank of Bishui. The Han army's heart was bleeding, knowing that the luggage they had finally acquired was gone.A porridge and a meal should be thought of as hard-won; every strand of it is hard to keep in mind.Well, you Liu Yan, you are really willing to burn so many luggage, you can burn it as you say.The Han army was full of grievances, and they all vented towards the officers and soldiers on the other side. After several days of heavy snow and low temperature, the water in Bi was frozen three feet.The Han army was divided into two groups, advancing from the ice, Liu Yan led his troops to attack Zhenfu from the southwest, and the Xiajiang soldiers attacked Liangqiuci from the southeast.

The officers and soldiers woke up from their sleep and had no time to wash up, so they put up a defensive position and rushed to the battle.Zhen Fu regretted not listening to Cen Peng's words, and hastily ordered the release of Cen Peng to defend against the enemy together.As soon as Cen Peng was released from prison, he led his guests to meet him, but the officers and soldiers lost their morale, and most of them refused to fight to the death. Seeing the fire in Lanxiang, he knew that all the luggage was burned, and his heart became more and more frightened. The resistance of the officers and soldiers did not last long, Liang Qiuci's camp collapsed first, and the soldiers scattered like birds and beasts, fleeing for their lives.Fear on the battlefield can not only infect each other, but also magnify each other. Seeing Liang Qiuci's defeat, Zhen Fu's camp collapsed and fled in all directions.

Zhen Fu and Liang Qiuci led the remnants and fled towards Huang Chunshui.Along the way, Zhen Fu laughed loudly on his horse. People asked why he was laughing, and Zhen Fu replied: "The old man was so arrogant that he burned the return bridge. There is no hindrance to the passage, although there is no bridge, it is better than having a bridge." Everyone echoed: "Yes, we are really lucky." The ice surface could be seen in the distance, Zhen Fu and the others ran faster.When he came to the water's edge, he suddenly saw a fire dragon rising into the air from the ice.Zhen Fu and the others couldn't believe their eyes, a fire suddenly broke out on the ice, could this be the legendary double sky of ice and fire, or was there another sorcery? It turned out that Liu Xiu and his 800 troops had already quietly circled to the other side of the Huangchun River, laid hay on the ice, poured black oil, and set fire to the ice when the officers and soldiers withdrew from there.Ice will melt when it is heated, and it will be thin if it does not melt, so the road becomes a natural moat, and it is difficult to travel for a while. Liu Yan and others chased after them fiercely, and the officers and soldiers would die if they retreated, so they had to bite the bullet and forcefully cross the Huang Chunshui.For a time, countless people were drowned and burned to death. They were lucky enough to cross to the other side, but they were charged and killed by Liu Xiu again, and the losses became even heavier.In the rebellion, both Zhen Fu and Liang Qiuci were killed, but Cen Peng was more fatal. Although he was seriously injured, he still insisted on fleeing back to Wancheng. In less than a meal, the war was declared over.Counting the results of the battle, more than 10,000 officers and soldiers surrendered, more than 20,000 died, and the rest who escaped were like scattered sand, returning to their hometowns, and could no longer gather into an army. This battle is known as the Great Victory of Bishui in history, and it was a battle of transshipment for the Han army.