On the seventh day of March in the third year of Xingqing in the Song Dynasty, at Chen time, Mianzhou City.
As the administrative center of Lizhou West Road and an important town in Shukou, Mianzhou City has a radius of ten miles. The city wall has been repaired and increased in height and thickness. It can reach seven meters and five meters wide. It has 5,000 officers and soldiers stationed in it. It is the first fortress in the three passes and five states of Shukou. .
As for the defense at the top of the city, in addition to 80 heavy general cannons, there are also 120 secondary cannons. Since the terrain outside the west city wall is the flattest, there are more artillery pieces and the most powerful firepower.
In the main hall of Mianzhou Rongsi, Cao Youwen, the commander of Lizhou West Road, Gao Jia, the magistrate of Mianzhou, Guo Zhengsun, the pacifier of Lizhou West Road, and a group of generals and officials were sitting separately, discussing matters.
The Song army was already at war with the Mongolian army, just in case. Cao Youwen had asked all states and Guan to stand ready to prepare for the Mongolian army to attack. And sent out various scouts to detect the movements of the Mongolian army.
In view of the fact that the Mongolian army detoured to the Song-Tibetan border last time to attack Mianzhou, Cao Youwen had already ordered the two roads in Lizhou to strengthen their alert. According to news from the front, the Mongolian army has been building ladders, trebuchets and other siege equipment on Lintao Road. It seems that the Mongolian army is going to launch a large-scale attack on the three passes and five states.
"General, the Tatar army is building siege equipment on Lintao Road. I'm afraid they are going to use their troops against the Song Dynasty. General, be careful!"
Lu Yuanting cupped his fists and reported. He was ordered to report military information from Xihe Prefecture, which bordered Lintao Road and was most familiar with the Mongolian army's military information.
800 people were killed in Xihe Prefecture, and 3,000 people were killed in Qifangguan and Xianrenguan. In the first test, the Mongolian army did not bring any siege equipment and suffered a big loss. If the Mongolian army comes to take revenge, it will definitely be a fierce battle.
Cao Youwen nodded and frowned slightly.
Jiezhou was captured by the Mongolian army, with nearly 10,000 civilian casualties and 4,000 soldiers killed and wounded. I still don’t know how to explain it to the emperor.
"General, what should we do if the Tatar army attacks Xihe Prefecture in a large scale?"
Wang Jian couldn't help but ask.
"As long as the Tatar army dares to come, do you think I have a choice?"
Cao Youwen said softly, it goes without saying.
The vacancies in Xihe Prefecture have not been filled yet, but with strong people to defend the city, they should be able to hold on for a while. Qifang Pass and Xianren Pass suffered too many losses, and they have already combined their forces at Qifang Pass. Xianren Pass was originally designed to guard against the Jin people, so there was no need to garrison the army.
The Tatar army came to attack the city and seize the territory, burning, killing and looting. The Song border troops did not dare to leave the city. What was the use of the court in raising them?
"When the Tatar army came, all the states were cleared. Houses were burned, crops were destroyed, the people cried and robbed the land, and the soldiers felt aggrieved!"
Wang Jian had a bitter look on his face and was angry in his heart.
The common people went to the city to take shelter, and when they saw the soldiers, they scolded them, saying that the officers and soldiers were useless and useless, making the soldiers unable to hold their heads high.
On Lizhou West Road, in addition to Mianzhou where 5,000 soldiers were stationed, Dashanguan, Xihezhou, Fengzhou, Tianshui Army, and Neisanguan, each of these seven places stationed 3,000 soldiers.
In total, there were 26,000 people stationed along Lizhou West Road.
In addition to the 20,000 people on Lizhou East Road, there are already 46,000 troops stationed on both Lizhou Roads.
But in the first battle alone, nearly 4,000 people were lost.
4,000 people plus more than 10,000 civilians. Such a huge loss is indeed unacceptable.
"The Tatar army came to attack, and the emperor did not issue an order. Should it be war or peace? Do we have to defend the city all the time?"
Lu Yuanting asked reluctantly.
"Didn't the emperor say he was coming to the northwest? Why has there been no news?"
Wang Jian asked anxiously.
It has been more than a year since the emperor left Shukou. The emperor once said that he would come back during the war between Mengxia and Xia, but he didn't know whether it was true or not.
"Why are you so anxious? If the emperor doesn't come, you won't be able to fight?"
Cao Youwen glanced at the generals and raised his voice.
"Your Majesty has a decree: I will not offend anyone unless they offend me. If someone offends me, he will be killed no matter how strong he is! You should know what to do, right?"
All the generals were startled, and Lu Yuanting blurted out with a smile.
"Your Majesty, Holy Might!"
Since the emperor has issued an order to actively respond to the battle, the soldiers also know how to deal with the Mongolian invasion.
"Xiangong Guo and Xianggong Gao, there will be no oversights in the matter of strengthening the walls and clearing the wilderness, right?"
Cao Youwen looked at the two important civil servants on Lizhou West Road.
The last time the walls were fortified and the country was cleared, some people were unwilling to move into the cities in the Shukou prefectures, so they were burned, killed and looted by the Mongolian army, resulting in numerous deaths and injuries. The emperor has trusted me so much and I have given him so much kindness, but I still don’t know how to face the emperor.
This time, such an incident cannot happen again.
"Don't worry, General Cao. This time, the government is leading the army. The last time we were harmed by the Tatar army, this time the people are obedient. Compared with losing their lives in vain, the hardship of life is nothing." !”
Gao Jia stroked his beard and spoke calmly.
After the disaster last time, who would dare to do it again?
Wang Jian held back his words. Some things, if they don't happen to you, will never be taken seriously.
"That's good. Your Majesty is coming to Shukou, and we can't make any mistakes again. Otherwise, we will be sorry for the emperor, and we will be sorry for the people of Liming."
Cao You heard that the two of them were worried and remained calm.
"You two sirs, don't worry. The loss of Jiezhou is all due to my mistakes in the formation of troops and has nothing to do with my two sirs. When your majesty arrives, I will bear the thorn and apologize to the emperor."
When people move into the city, the poor, old and weak will receive government relief, and the young and strong can help defend the city and transport supplies. With Guo Zhengsun and Gao Jia here, he doesn't have to worry.
"General Cao, you and I are one body. There are also shortcomings in the affairs of Jiezhou and the government should be shouldered by you and me."
Gao Jia's face was serious and he did not shirk his responsibility.
"Xiangong Gao, no wonder His Majesty favors your Wei Gao family so much. They are all important officials of the imperial court. Looking at what you did today, we can see that the Wei Gao family has a noble and honest family style, which is admirable."
Guo Zhengsun complimented Gao Jia, turned around and said softly:
"General Cao, as the pacifier of Lizhou West Road, I am naturally involved in such a big matter in Jiezhou. Let's wait for His Majesty's decision together."
"Then it will drag down the two husbands."
Cao Youwen cupped his fists and saluted, and said warmly.
Both of them are capable ministers with impeccable personal integrity. With these two people handling civil affairs and transporting food, grass and baggage, he felt much less worried.
"Wang Jian, please send out all the military orders for all Guanzhou prefectures to stand firm."
"General, don't worry, military orders have been issued. We are all here to stay. Without the military orders from Lizhou Rongsi, we are not allowed to leave the city to fight!"
Wang Jian hesitated for a moment and continued.
"General, if the Tatar army enters Chizhou from Motian Ridge, will they climb mountains and cross ridges and go straight to Lizhou? If so, they will go straight to Shu."
"Tatar Policy" clearly states that the Mongolian cavalry is highly mobile and prefers large roundabout tactics. Breaking the state walls is a precedent. From Jiezhou and Motianling on the Tibetan border all the way south, you can directly penetrate into Lizhou behind the Da'an army. If Lizhou is defeated, it can penetrate directly into the Sichuan hinterland of Chengdu Prefecture.
"There are nearly 40,000 soldiers in Lizhou Camp, 50,000 troops in Chengdu Prefecture, and Cui Yu, the envoy of Sichuan, and Fan Zhong, the commander-in-chief of Sichuan, are in charge. Are you afraid of thousands of Tatar cavalry?"
Cao Youwen sneered and shook his head gently.
This is an era of firearms, and no matter how fierce the cavalry is, they may not be able to do it smoothly.
The fighting in Shukou was so lively, the emperor must have already left.
"General Cao, do you think this Tatar army will really come?"
Gao Jia, the magistrate of Mianzhou, asked while stroking his beard.
He is the eldest son of the Wei Gao family in Pujiang. He is over fifty years old, still fierce in temperament, and an upright official.
"Xiangong Gao, the Tatar army is invincible and the military front is at its peak. Lu Wende annihilated more than a thousand Tatar cavalry in Xihe Prefecture. How will they suffer this loss? In my opinion, we may have to send troops to reinforce Xihe state."
Cao You heard Youyou said, but his heart was full of expectations.
There were many casualties, and he couldn't wait to fight the Mongolian army.
"General Cao, I feel that if the Tatar army invades again, they may go straight to Mianzhou City. They have suffered a big loss, so they should not just focus on Xihe Prefecture."
Gao Jia's words made Cao Youwen slightly startled before he blurted out.
"Xiangong Gao means..."
"General Cao, you are a fan of the authorities. The Tatar army has suffered a loss in firearms. If they come again, I am afraid it will be for the firearms of Mianzhou City instead of just capturing Mianzhou City!"
Guo Zhengsun probably understood what Gao Jia meant and said it after thinking.
Mianzhou City is an important border town. There is a Gunpowder Bureau in the city, which specializes in manufacturing gunpowder. If he were the coach of the Mongolian army, he would go straight to Mianzhou City to get rid of the enemy once and for all.
"firearm?"
Cao Youwen suddenly realized it, smiled slightly, and felt even more at ease.
Originally, he was worried about leaving the city and fighting the Mongolian army in the field. After all, the frontier army lacked cavalry and the number was limited. If the Mongolian army took the initiative to attack, he would be much less worried.
"Xiangong Gao, I hope you and Xianggong Guo will pay more attention to the resettlement of the people in the city."
Cao You did not forget to remind Guo Zhengsun and Gao Jia.
"It's natural."
Guo Zhengsun solemnly replied, suddenly changing the subject.
"General Cao, do you have any news about your brother?"
Yu Jie and Cao Youwan led their troops to Xixia, but there has been no news yet. He, the pacifier of Lizhou West Road, was also worried.
Gao Jia also raised his head and stared at Cao Youwen.
"The Tatar army has blocked the traffic between Song and Xia. Even if there is military information from Xixia, I'm afraid it won't be able to reach here. Your Majesty asked Yu Jie and the others to guard until the end of June, and we will see the outcome naturally. As for Your Majesty..."
Cao Youwen was about to speak when suddenly the artillery warning sound sounded outside the lobby, and it was a continuous barrage of fire. It was obvious that there were many intruders, at least tens of thousands of people.
The lobby immediately became quiet.
"If I am right as I expected, the Tatar army has arrived."
Gao Jia stroked his beard and spoke softly.
"All generals, go to the city immediately!"
Cao Youwen was refreshed and stood up and strode out. All the generals followed him and quickly walked out of the hall.
The emperor was able to predict the future and take precautions. He was really amazing!
Now that the Mongolian army is coming, let's actively fight.
With tens of thousands of Mongolian troops approaching the city, this will definitely be a fierce battle that will go down in history!
"Happy National Day to all of you!"
