Chapter 422

Liu Bu deployed his main army in Xuzhou as his new base camp.

Xuzhou Prefecture belonged to Sishui Prefecture in the Qin Dynasty. In the Western Han Dynasty, Xuzhou's assassin department was set up to govern xiapi. During the Three Kingdoms period, Cao Cao got Xuzhou and moved the assassin department to Pengcheng. Pengcheng was called Xuzhou from the beginning. Xuzhou went 2000 Li to the capital in the North, 110 Li to Pizhou in Huai'an in the East and 90 Li to Suzhou in Fengyang Prefecture in the south.

Xuzhou is known as the "thoroughfare of five provinces". Xuzhou is adjacent to Shandong and Anhui. Its history, humanities and geography are closely connected with Shandong. In particular, its cultural customs are very similar to those in western Shandong and southern Shandong. Therefore, some people have the illusion that "Xuzhou was once a city of Shandong". In fact, although Xuzhou once belonged to Shandong, it has been very short.

In fact, Xuzhou and Shandong were not the names of administrative regions at first, but just a geographical region.

Xuzhou was one of the earliest ancient Kyushu. Yu Gong recorded that "the sea, Dai and Huai are Xuzhou", which refers to the vast area south of Mount Tai and north of the Huai River. Today, it belongs to southern and southeastern Shandong.

The pre Qin period of Shandong refers to the east of Gushan Mountain. Therefore, the six countries other than Qin in the Warring States period are also known as the six countries of Shandong, and later also refers to the east of Taihang Mountain.

After the establishment of this dynasty, it was renamed Xuzhou, which successively belonged to Kaifeng Prefecture and Linhao Prefecture. In the 14th year of Hongwu, it was promoted to Zhili Prefecture. It is one of the four Zhili prefectures in southern Zhili, governing Xiao County, Pei County, Feng county and Dangshan County.

Relying on the Beijing Hangzhou Grand Canal, Yangzhou Prefecture and Huai'an Prefecture are both places of economic prosperity and cultural prosperity. They are two of the four major cities along the canal. Yangzhou Prefecture is divided into TongZhou Zhili Prefecture and Huai'an Prefecture is divided into Haizhou Zhili Prefecture. Pizhou, which originally belonged to Sanzhou, was transferred to Xuzhou, and Xuzhou Zhili Prefecture was upgraded to Xuzhou Prefecture. Since then, the pattern of three prefectures and two prefectures has been formed in the South Zhili River and the north.

Why did Liu Bu order the troops to go north? To Xuzhou? Is this because Yangzhou people don't welcome them? Under the threat of roving bandits and constant war, Xuzhou welcomed Liu Jiajun. Liu mu'an, the governor of Xuzhou, kept writing letters to Liu Bu to express his admiration. If Liu Jiajun can come, he will be greatly admired and respect the above guests.

In troubled times, survival is the first factor. For example, other prefectures in the south of the Yangtze River, singing and dancing are promoted to peace, and officials consider how to get money. For example, Xuzhou, which has been threatened by roving bandits for many times and the place is not tranquil, gives more consideration to the problem of survival.

And it is also under the jurisdiction of governor Fengyang, Gongwei Jianghuai's north gate.

This is because the geographical location of Xuzhou has important strategic significance in military affairs. It is called "the key to the north" and "an important town in the South". In the words of Xuzhou people, the city they live in is "neither South nor north, neither big nor small".

In the eyes of Southern strategists, occupying Xuzhou is equivalent to getting a key to open the lock of the north gate; In the eyes of northern strategists, winning Xuzhou is tantamount to occupying the bridgehead of marching to the south.

Xuzhou is close to the Yellow Sea in the East, the Central Plains in the west, Lunan mountains in the north and Jianghuai plain in the south. Like a giant, it stands on a commanding height and looks covetously. It can supervise the four places of Jiangsu, Shandong, Henan and Anhui, so as to advance to the East, West, North and south. It is unstoppable like running water from high places.

Xuzhou is quite big. The waist in the east of the Ming Dynasty is the throat of the north and the south. It is a key position for the decisive battle between the two armies.

Strategists commented on Xuzhou's strategic position as follows: "the South can't do this, there is no plan for Jidong, the north can't do this, there is no way to see Jiangdong. It's a place for victory and defeat.

It has convenient transportation. It is necessary to mobilize the army to fight a war, especially a big war. Moreover, it is important to complete the military deployment at the fastest speed in the shortest time. In addition to dispatching troops, it also has the common sense that soldiers and horses have not moved and food and grass go first.

Under these conditions, traffic conditions become a key. If anyone occupies Xuzhou and transports troops, weapons, grain and grass, there will be little difficulty.

Since ancient times, Xuzhou has had smooth waterways. Before the Southern Song Dynasty, Surabaya surrounded Xuzhou City in the north and East, and bianshui flowed in the West. From Surabaya to the north, you can reach Jinxiang, Qufu and Dingtao; from bianshui to the west, you can reach Kaifeng and Luoyang; along Surabaya to the south, you can reach Huaiyin. These cities accessible from Xuzhou were very important at that time, and some were also places for strategists.

In the Southern Song Dynasty, the Yellow River burst, seizing Si and flowing. After the Yuan Dynasty, Surabaya was incorporated into the water system of the Beijing Hangzhou Grand Canal. In this dynasty, a wharf was built in Xuzhou. More than 10000 grain ships go north through Xuzhou every year. Since the Yuan Dynasty, both dynasties have established their capital in Beijing, but their grain is taken from the lower reaches of the Yangtze River. If this water artery is blocked, Beijing will be hungry for food, and the capital is in danger.

Xuzhou is the only place that this water artery must pass through. Therefore, Xuzhou is known as the "thoroughfare of five provinces". It connects Shandong, Hebei and Beijing in the north and Zhejiang in the south. The pailou area of Beiguan in Xuzhou is the big wharf, and the pailou and drum tower are important symbols of the wharf. Thousands of sails have competed here for hundreds of years.

In addition, the land transportation of Xuzhou is also relatively convenient. One of its signs is that there are post stations passing through the territory. The official roads extend in all directions and connect all parts of the country. The post station is a place for people who passed government documents in ancient times to change horses, rest and accommodation. Since the post station is set up, the road will be well built.

Many official roads meet here, which makes it possible to transport troops and grain on a larger scale and more quickly. It also makes the transportation here more convenient and more convenient to transport troops and grain. This is one reason why Liu Bu likes here and deploys his main force here.

Water, land and railway have woven a dense network in Xuzhou. Once there is a war, militarists regard it as a smooth road. After occupying Xuzhou, they can deploy troops and attack in all directions; Day and night, so you can't argue.

In addition, there is another reason. The land is abundant and it is easy to recruit soldiers and grain.

Xuzhou is located in the border area between Jiangsu, Shandong, Henan and Anhui. It is not only the largest city in Huaihai Economic Zone, but also a regional central city. In thousands of years of history, there has been a long period of prosperity and development. Because it is rich in resources, moderate climate, land suitable for food, mountains suitable for forest, beaches suitable for fruit, water suitable for fish, and abundant adoption of Kyushu, food and grass are not a problem in war and heavy troops.

Xuzhou has always had a large population density and sufficient military resources. Moreover, Xuzhou people advocate martial arts and are brave and good at fighting. Since the Qin Dynasty, there have been more than 50 peasant uprisings in Xuzhou. The primary target of their uprising is Xuzhou City.

In the 11th year of the Zhizheng reign of the Yuan Dynasty, Li Er, a native of Xiaoxian County, made a secret plan at the beginning of the uprising, raided the garrison officers and soldiers, occupied Xuzhou overnight, set up a big flag after dawn, and recruited hundreds of thousands of troops. He defended the city and sent troops to attack all counties in Xuzhou. Later, sesame Li set up troops here and easily hired hundreds of thousands of mercenaries. Liu bu also had plans, Once the army is launched, it will also be his main recruiting place, which can easily recruit hundreds of thousands of troops for him.

Xuzhou is rich in minerals, iron ores and coal mines. As early as the Western Han Dynasty, Xuzhou had iron officials set up by the emperor. In the Song Dynasty, Li Guojian and Baofeng Jian were set up to take charge of mining and ironmaking. This is one of the symbols of Xuzhou's military strength. In this era, the so-called iron making technology is equivalent to the technology of manufacturing weapons, which can be used to build agricultural tools and weapons, Therefore, the iron industry has always been monopolized by the state. Xuzhou, which has iron mills and minerals, has become an important place for strategists.

Whoever owns Xuzhou will have the important resources to make weapons. If we use local materials, make iron with coal and make weapons with iron, won't it be more certain of victory to fight?

In addition, Xuzhou is surrounded by mountains and water. Su Shi wrote in his record of releasing cranes pavilion that: the mountain of Pengcheng is surrounded by hills and mountains. Xuzhou is also a place for the exchange of ancient bianshui and Surabaya, and the Yellow River and the Grand Canal pass by the city. This terrain, Song Chen Wuji said: "the land of Pengcheng is an important place for strategists to attack and defend."

Although Xuzhou belongs to the Huang Huai plain, the mountains in southern Shandong extend to this point. Therefore, there are ups and downs in the territory, surrounded by mountains, with a potential like an inverted kettle. In the age of cold weapons, these mountains were like the natural barrier of Xuzhou City. They were easy to defend but difficult to attack. It can be said that one man was in charge of the pass and ten thousand men could not open it. The rivers outside Xuzhou also have a natural defense function.

In that case, the mountains around Xuzhou have become a place of fierce battle. The Western army of Chu and Han Dynasties fought at the foot of Jiuli mountain. When Chengzu Zhu Di attacked Xuzhou, he also ambushed Jiuli mountain. Therefore, there is a poem that "the front of Jiuli mountain is a battlefield, and the shepherd boy picks up the old knife and gun".

Mizhu is now committed to the world. Naturally, he will not let go of places like Xuzhou.

And one thing, that is, others think that his withdrawal from here is actually a complete abandonment of the colorful world of Yangzhou, which is a very foolish act.

But Liu Bu's thinking is different. What is giving up Yangzhou? He has a military base in Yangzhou and left behind troops. He can withdraw at any time. If someone dares to question their military presence, he can send troops back to reinforce and teach them a lesson at any time.

Liu Bu learned from the later American Empire to set up military bases all over the world. Once there is a problem, he will immediately reinforce and quickly enter the state to solve the battle. This kind of military presence is better than the full-scale garrison. Xuzhou is also the main government in Fengyang area. He designed camps with the nature and functions of military bases here, Welcome his army to enter at any time. Although there are not many soldiers, they are capable. They have promoted a group of young generals to take charge of commanding these places for him, such as Chen Wenruo, Li Dingguo, sun Wang, AI Wannian, etc. they are among the best. These people are famous generals in history. Now they have been promoted by Liu Bu to lead a single army and control a place, Although they are in charge of a very small number of troops, they have made very good achievements.

In particular, although Chen Wenruo has only a few hundred people under his command and controls the huge Yangzhou government, he makes the officials and gentry here want to live and die. When Liu Bu was here, he didn't have such scenery and arrogance, but he did it easily, which made Liu Bu very satisfied.