Chapter 578: Beacon fire in Jiangling, seize the Yangtze River area!

Chapter 578: Beacon fire in Jiangling, seize the Yangtze River area!

Just as the various forces in the coalition camp were scheming against each other, the war drums on the south bank of the Yangtze River were already booming like thunder!

Gaoyao's southern border troops swept down like a torrent, with dark warships covering the river, masts like a forest, and flags covering the sky. The cities that once belonged to the four counties of Dongting, Cangwu, Lujiang, and Gudan now had large black-bottomed gold-patterned "Qin" flags on their tops, fluttering in the bloody setting sun.

Han Xin stood on the deck of the ship, the cold river wind lifted his scarlet battle robe. At this moment, Han Xin squinted his eyes and looked towards the north bank, his fingertips gently stroking the deep cut on the hilt of the sword - that was the mark left by the battle with the Chu army a few years ago.

"Report! The vanguard has captured Xiakou!" The messenger knelt on one knee, with blood still staining his armor.

Han Xin's mouth curled up into a cold smile. Once Xiakou was breached, the natural barrier of the Yangtze River had already been torn open. When he turned around, the breath of his generals was choked - in those hawk-like eyes, there was a terrifying fire of ambition burning.

The Yangtze River has never been a gentle body of water since ancient times. It has turbulent waves and majestic momentum, like a ferocious dragon entrenched in the land of China.

At this moment, on the river surface covered by the night, the southern border army's warships and the local warlords' warships were engaged in a thrilling battle. Rockets streaked across the night sky like meteors, and the burning canvas fell into the river with blazing flames, instantly steaming up large clouds of white mist. The flames and the white mist intertwined, dyeing the entire river surface a strange red.

In this chaotic battlefield, the screams of soldiers falling into the water were heard from time to time, but they were soon swallowed up by the roar of the waves. The blood-stained ring-handled swords floated up and down in the whirlpool, as if telling the cruelty and ruthlessness of war.

"Release the pole!"

Following a roar from the general of the Southern Border Army, more than ten iron-clad logs suddenly extended from the side of the giant warship, like a ferocious beast with its bloody mouth opened wide, and fiercely rammed into the enemy ship. There was a loud noise, wood chips flew everywhere, and the warlord's ship, which was already at a disadvantage, was broken in half. Hundreds of soldiers fell into the turbulent river like dumplings, and were instantly swallowed by the river water.

This did not make the soldiers of the Southern Border Army relax, but instead they continued to fight hard. At the same time, more black-sailed warships were slowly sailing out of the mist, and on their ferocious bronze rams were still hanging the broken flags of the defeated a few days ago, as if showing off their achievements.

Han Xin stood at the bow of the ship. His voice was not loud, but it echoed throughout the ship like a huge bell: "Send a message to the whole army. Within three days, I want to see our army's flags planted at every ferry crossing south of the Yangtze River!"

"Yes!" All the soldiers responded in unison, their voices resounding through the sky, full of confidence and determination to win.

With the unanimous response of many soldiers below, the huge southern war machine seemed to be reactivated and started to work quickly. The first, second and fourth legions were like a ferocious beast, divided into three groups, and launched a fierce attack on various places along the Yangtze River.

These armies were not only well-trained and well-equipped, but also possessed a strong naval advantage. On the broad Yangtze River, the warships of the Southern Border Army were like fish in water, coming and going freely, allowing them to quickly break through the enemy's defenses and invade various places.

Facing such a powerful Southern Border Army, those small warlords, local warlord forces, rebel forces, and even some small princes seemed powerless. They were simply unable to compete with the Southern Border Army, which had an all-round advantage, and could only watch their territory being gradually eroded.

At this time, Jiangling City, where the Fourth Army was located, was in chaos. The granary in the city suddenly caught fire, and the raging fire burned in the night sky, dyeing the entire night sky of Jiangling City red. The fire became more and more fierce, and the granary made a deafening collapse sound in the explosion, as if the whole city was shaking.

The heat wave swept through like a gust of wind, carrying scorched grains, and the streets were filled with acrid smoke and the smell of burning. People fled in panic, and the defenders were in chaos in the face of this sudden disaster.

At this chaotic moment, Erniu, wearing heavy black iron armor, appeared like a god of war. The horse under his crotch neighed, as if it also sensed the murderous intent of its master. Erniu led his personal guards, like a sharp blade, and pierced straight into the already scattered defenders.

"Whoever stands in my way will die!" Erniu shouted, and swept his long spear across, sending two halberd-wielding soldiers flying. The iron cavalry of the Southern Border Army trampled through the chaotic defense line, splashing not only blood and mud, but also the defenders' last will to resist.

In the light of the fire, Erniu leaped onto a ruined platform, pointed his spear at the fleeing soldiers, and said in a thunderous voice: "My lord has an order - those who surrender will be spared, and those who resist will be exterminated!"

The remaining defenders looked at each other in bewilderment, and finally someone dropped his sword with a clang. A chain reaction spread instantly, and the sound of weapons falling to the ground was like hail. The county governor on the tower looked ashen, and tremblingly took off his seal - this important town that controlled the middle reaches of the Yangtze River changed hands.

Almost at the same time, the Southern Border Army quickly took control of the salt fields near Yiling. Although the Southern Border Army itself was not short of salt, this was mainly due to its rich salt mine resources and a large supply of sea salt. However, the importance of salt should not be underestimated. It is almost as important as food. After all, without salt, even if the soldiers had a full meal, they would become weak and unable to fight bravely on the battlefield, and they would even be prone to illness.

In ancient times, the distribution of salt mines was mainly concentrated in the southern region. In the north, except for Shanxi, most of the salt mines in other places were small amounts of well salt. These major salt-producing locations naturally became the primary targets of Gaoyao's attack. These salt fields were not only important strategic materials, but also played a vital role in the outcome of the war.

In war, attacks must be prioritized. In ancient times, capturing ten cities was not as important as capturing a salt pond. The reason for this is that, in many cases, once a strategic location or a location of special significance is occupied by the enemy, the loss will not only be as simple as losing a city, but it is also likely to cause the morale of the entire army to be weakened.

This is why in ancient times, when marching and fighting, the army often rushed directly to a certain city, while ignoring other counties along the way. This is because these counties are relatively less important than strategic locations.

Only by concentrating forces to capture key strategic targets can we guarantee victory in the war to the greatest extent possible. First, capture the county governor's city, and then take over the county towns in turn, so as to achieve twice the result with half the effort.