"Did you get any information about firearms from the captive Song people? For example, where were the firearms made?"
Subotai said thoughtfully, his cold eyes stopping on Chaul.
"I heard from captured Song officials and people that there was some kind of weapons manufacturing branch in Lizhou, and there was an iron workshop and a gunpowder-making official office in Mianzhou, which seemed to specialize in making firearms. However, both Lizhou and Mianzhou had large Song troops stationed there. Especially the Lizhou camp, which has tens of thousands of elite Song troops and is hundreds of miles away from Lintao Prefecture, may not be easy to fight."
The air-conditioning in Subotai was so intense that Chaul felt chilled in his heart, so he quickly spoke out.
He was smart. He did his homework in private and learned from the Song prisoners that he knew a lot about the firearms situation on Lizhou West Road.
"It seems that they are trying to find a way to steal some craftsmen from the Song people and go back."
Subotai killed decisively and made a decision quickly.
"Bring those Song prisoners up here, I want to interrogate them!"
Mianzhou was the administrative seat of Lizhou Rongsi, so there must have been a firearms workshop. If we could destroy the Song Dynasty's firearms workshops and plunder some of the craftsmen, we would no longer have to fear the enemy's firearms.
Firearms are extremely lethal and are well-deserved military weapons. If the Mongolian army wants to conquer the world, they must have firearms, otherwise they will always be passively beaten.
"Subotai, do you want to use troops against the Song people?"
Tali was shocked. Hearing Subutai's words meant that he was going to use troops against the Song people.
The Song people had firearms and were defending the city. It would not be easy to attack. Lingzhou City is a precedent.
"You all know how powerful firearms are. If we could capture Mianzhou City and plunder the southern craftsmen, wouldn't it be even more powerful for our Mongolian army? If the Great Khan knew about it, would his condition be much better?"
Subotai said slowly, with a lot of hope in his eyes.
In the past, the Mongolian army did not know how to attack cities. Instead of conquering all directions and plundering countless skilled craftsmen, they were able to conquer the world. The same goes for today's firearms. As long as the craftsmen of the Song Dynasty are captured, firearms can be made and the advantage on the battlefield can be regained.
Most of the generals in the tent nodded and agreed with Subotai's proposition. Since one's own craftsmen cannot make firearms, the only option is to capture the other party's craftsmen.
They had fought and thought like this before, and this time was no exception.
When the Song prisoners came in, Subotai interrogated them one by one, extremely carefully. The general on the side was translating, sweating profusely.
Sure enough, after some inquiries, it was found that there was an iron factory outside Mianzhou City, but the strong walls and clear fields were all transferred to Mianzhou City.
"Subutai, how about plundering the iron factory?"
"Without craftsmen, looting an iron factory is useless!"
Subotai rejected Tali's stupid suggestion and turned to the uneasy Chaul.
"Chawu'er, that Mianzhou city you mentioned, how high is it and how wide is it? How many troops are there?"
"Mianzhou City is the seat of the Song Dynasty's Lizhou West Road. There are five thousand soldiers in the city. Xihe Prefecture and Fengzhou both have three thousand, but there are still many strong people..."
"alright!"
Chawuer's words were interrupted by Subutai impatiently.
"Just tell me, how does that government office and other western states compare to Lingzhou City?"
"Mianzhou City is smaller than Lingzhou City and not as high as Lingzhou City. Xihe Prefecture is much more dangerous. It is surrounded by slopes and mountains. I'm afraid it will be difficult to attack!"
Chawuer quickly explained. Lingzhou City is a famous city in Xixia. It is naturally much taller and thicker than the small Mianzhou City.
“I don’t have time to deal with this bullshit Xihezhou!”
Subotai said with a dark face, pondered for a moment, and then said:
"Send military orders, let the craftsmen build shields and siege equipment, and call back soldiers from all over the country. Prepare to use troops against the Song people!"
It should be easy for him to conquer a small city garrisoned by 4,000 to 5,000 Song soldiers under his command of 20,000 troops, plus 4,000 to 5,000 infantry.
Subotai was full of ambition, and Chawuer complained secretly in his heart, but did not dare to speak out.
A Xihe Prefecture guarded by 3,000 Song soldiers could inflict heavy casualties on the Mongolian army. Mianzhou City, which is the administrative seat of Lizhou West Road, may be even more difficult to capture.
In other words, with the sharp weapons of the Song army, even if the Mongolian army could capture Mianzhou City, how many soldiers would be killed or injured?
If the war goes unfavorably, will Subotai be blamed and he will not be able to escape?
"Chaul, what, do you have something to say?"
Subotai frowned when he saw Chaul's submissiveness.
"Yes! There are some rumors!"
Chawuer was frightened and said quickly:
"I heard from the captives of the Song Dynasty that one of the concubines of the Southern Emperor seemed to be a princess from the Tang... Wuti Kingdom."
"The princess of Tang Wu Ti Kingdom!"
The generals were stunned for a while, and it took Subotai a while to react.
"So that's it!"
Subotai suddenly realized, one eye looked evil, and the other eye started to water.
"Needless to say, Tang Wu Ti's firearms were given by these damn Song dogs! These damn Song dogs deserve to die!"
Subotai roared angrily and became even more vigilant.
Needless to say, Song and Xia were getting married, and the firearms in Lingzhou City were reinforced by the Song people.
The people of the Song Dynasty who possess firearms are the most serious problem of the Mongolian Kingdom!
…………
In early March of the third year of Xingqing in the Song Dynasty, Cold Food Festival took place at the head of Xihe Prefecture.
Looking at the Mongolian troops outside the city, they were all over the mountains and fields, on foot and on horseback, with chariots and ladders. The smoke was billowing, and they were marching eastward all over the mountains and fields. They were marching in groups, and Lu Wende and other generals on the city wall were all wide-eyed. .
These guys, this is gone and gone.
Judging from the direction in which they were marching, it seemed that they were not attacking Xihe Prefecture, but rather the direction of Mianzhou City.
"The Tatar army is going to Mianzhou?"
Chen Yin wiped the sweat from his face, feeling sad.
Jiezhou was destroyed, and tens of thousands of people were killed or injured, which made him heartbroken. There are so many Mongolian troops today, and they are so vast. It is not known whether there is an ambush behind them.
"The Tatars lost troops and generals in Xihe Prefecture last time. Why didn't they attack Xihe Prefecture and instead headed southeast?"
The generals at the top of the city were all talking in confusion.
"The Tatar army built chariots and shields in Lintao Prefecture and directly attacked Mianzhou City. It is not easy for a Tatar general to use troops without anger!"
Lu Wende's face was ugly, but he was helpless.
Xihe Prefecture is a military state. Although there are 3,000 soldiers and more than 2,000 militiamen in the city, the soldiers suffered 700 or 800 casualties. Facing the 20,000 Mongolian army, I still felt a little guilty.
He had asked Lu Yuanting to go to Mianzhou to report the movements of the Mongolian army, and he believed that Cao Youwen had his own arrangements.
"General, do you want to follow us out of the city and fire a few shots at the Tatar army?"
The warrior Cao Erxiong said with a red face, eager to try.
It seems that the last fierce battle made these guys fight bloody hard.
Four to five thousand troops were stationed in the dangerous city, and he was not afraid of any number of Mongolian troops.
"There are too many Tatar troops. Don't move yet. Be careful of these guys gathering around for reinforcements. Send scouts to follow from a distance and let's explore later!"
Lu Wende looked at the large formation of the Mongolian army, then looked at the smoke-filled village outside the city, and snorted coldly.
The people's houses were burned down, the Mongolian army trampled on them, and there was no hope for this year's crops. These guys only destroy but do not build. What are they doing in the Song Dynasty?
The Mongolian army has a well-organized lineup and elite cavalry. No wonder the emperor said that the Mongolian army will be a powerful enemy of the Song Dynasty in the future.
"General, just watch them do evil like this and we don't say a word?"
General Gao Xu asked, his face full of unwillingness.
"General, the terrain around Mianzhou City is flat, and the city is not as strong as Xihe State. If the 20,000 Tatar army goes forward, it will probably be a fierce battle."
Another general, Zhao Ming, looked worried.
"With an army of 20,000 and so many cavalry, it will not be easy to break through Mianzhou City!"
Lu Wende glanced at the angry generals, thought for a moment, and then issued the military order.
"Zhao Ming, you and Gao Xu defend the city. Cao Erxiong comes with me to the Tianshui Army!"
The Tianshui Army is only a few dozen miles away from Xihe Prefecture, on the border between Song and Jin Dynasties. There are currently two thousand Song Army soldiers stationed there.
The current guard of Tianshui Army is Ma Zhong, the former defeated general of Qifangguan.
"General Lu, don't act rashly! The elite Tatar army is better to be careful!"
Chen Yin, the governor of the state, was frightened and immediately persuaded him.
"What's the matter with the elites? I'm going to fight the elites! If you are timid and don't talk about the common people scolding you, the emperor will probably fire me!"
Lu Wende's face was ashen and he strode away.
"Ms. Chen, after we finish beating the elites, I'll treat you to horse meat!"
Cao Erxiong laughed and ran to follow.
The gate to the north of Xihe Prefecture was wide open, and Lu Wende led more than a hundred cavalry and rode north towards Juechen.
Chen Yin looked at the backs of Lu Wende and his group and shook his head helplessly.
Why are the emperor's subordinates all warlike and reckless warriors?
However, with these guys around, he can concentrate on handling civil affairs with peace of mind.
However, the Song Dynasty's northwest frontier fortress may be full of weapons again.
