Yangzhou City faces the Yangtze River to the west and faces Jinling across the river; it borders the Huai River to the north and is adjacent to Gaoyou and Chuzhou; the Grand Canal runs through the north and south. The terrain is dangerous, easy to defend but difficult to attack, and serves as a barrier for Jinling City on the south bank of the Yangtze River.
At the beginning of the Southern Song Dynasty, Zhao Gou, Emperor Gaozong of the Song Dynasty, fled southward after being chased by Jin soldiers. Before officially taking Lin'an as his base, he used Yangzhou as his capital for one year. In the next hundred years, Yangzhou has always been the front line of the Southern Song Dynasty's anti-Jin Dynasty. As the war raged on, fertile fields were laid waste, ruins were destroyed, people fled, and everything was devastated.
The Grand Canal passes around Yangzhou City, forming a natural moat and a fortified city with deep pools. If the city is defended, it will be impregnable. This is the first choice for most city defenders.
The wilderness to the north of the canal is full of camps, and it is endless as far as the eye can see. Flags are flying, horses and artillery are countless, trenches, horse-proofing, and arrow towers are all around the camp. The soldiers are elite, well-organized, and full of murderous intent.
This time, the Huaidong Song Army did not defend Yangzhou City, but set up a large camp in the wilderness to the north of Yangzhou. This may be related to the fact that Jinling City is just across the river behind them, and the emperor sits at the Jinling Martial Arts Hall. . The meaning is self-evident, that is, to fight with Li all over the field, not giving in an inch, and competing against each other.
"Yangzhou City is not what it used to be, which is disappointing!"
In the military camp, on top of a carriage, young Jia Sidao used a telescope to look around the camp. He saw the dilapidated walls and ruins to the north, the vast expanse of barren fertile fields, and the endless green rice fields to the south of Yangzhou. A world of difference.
As a fifth-term artillery science trainee who graduated from the Jinling Military Academy, Jia Sidao was only a general officer after joining the army for half a year. This was because of his outstanding performance during his studies at the Jinling Military Academy and the "soldier soul" "dagger.
Although he was the emperor's brother-in-law, he also had to make meritorious deeds on the battlefield, just like all the officers who graduated from the Jinling Martial Arts Hall.
The legendary experience of Yu Jie and Cao Youwen becoming the head coach of the first army right after graduation is difficult to replicate.
"Is this surprising? The emperor doesn't have the courage, so how can the soldiers fight so hard?"
Xin Su on the side smiled coldly, with a very disdainful expression. Xin Su is the grandson of Xin Qiji, a master of the Southern Song Dynasty. He is the first artillery scientist who graduated from the Jinling Martial Arts Lecture Hall. He has been in the army for four full years. During this period, he fought with Li Quan in more than ten battles, large and small, and is considered a veteran in the army.
"Senior, aren't you talking about today?"
Jia Sidao asked confusedly.
Today, people are never afraid of causing trouble, otherwise they would not send troops to attack Li Quan.
"What are you thinking about? How could I say today? Since Hu Ma peeps into the river, the abandoned pond and trees are still tired of talking about soldiers. You should have read Jiang Baishi's "Yangzhou Slow", right?"
As a descendant of Xin Qiji, although Xin Su's literary attainments were far inferior to his grandfather's, they were still higher than Jia Sidao's.
"...The snow has just begun to fall at night, and you can see the shepherd's wheat. When you enter the city, you will see the depression all around, the cold water turns blue, the dusk gradually rises, and the garrison horns groan sadly...Senior, you are talking about Gaozong Zhaogou, it is true!"
Jia Sidao just picked it up and even called Zhao Gou, Emperor Gaozong of the Song Dynasty, by his first name without any politeness.
In the first month of the third year of Jianyan's reign in the Song Dynasty, the Jin soldiers arrived in Yangzhou. Zhao Gou, Emperor Gaozong of the Song Dynasty, abandoned Yangzhou and fled to the south of the Yangtze River. The Jin army massacred Yangzhou city with corpses and rivers of blood. After burning, killing and looting, the Jin soldiers burned Yangzhou City to the ground.
"With a hundred thousand troops and the emperor sitting in command, if he defends the city, what will happen even if hundreds of thousands of golden soldiers attack? The emperor has no vitality and is in disarray. The only people who suffer are the people."
Xin Su shook his head and agreed with Jia Sidao.
What works first and what works next. The reason why he dared to say this was because of the emperor Zhao Hong. Zhao Hong was very disdainful of Zhao Gou, Emperor Gaozong of the Song Dynasty, and all the previous students of the Jinling Martial Arts Hall knew him well.
But Zhao Hong probably didn't expect that these young students of the martial arts hall would be more resentful and dissatisfied with Song Gaozong Zhao Gou than him.
"I once said in the martial arts lecture hall that Zhao Gou, Emperor Gaozong of the Song Dynasty, was the instigator of Yue Wumu's death. As for Qin Hui, he was just a treacherous minister. No matter how traitorous a treacherous minister is, he is still a minister. Without Song Gaozong's permission, how could Qin Hui dare to kill him for an unfounded crime? How could Yue Wumu dare to cause trouble and yet end well?"
Jia Sidao's words made Xin Su couldn't help but nod his head, leisurely and fascinated.
"Li Quan, this clown, killed me, the envoy of the Song Dynasty, and even tried to go south. If it weren't for the war in the northwest, he would have been destroyed long ago!"
"That's what the senior said! Li Quan, a treacherous minister and traitor, actually joined the Tatars. He has simply forgotten his ancestors and is extremely shameless. Let's kill this thief's majesty, fight for the country, and share the worries for Your Majesty!"
Jia Sidao's blood boiled and he said loudly.
After studying at Jinling University Hall and Jinling Martial Arts Hall, the dandyism in him disappeared, and instead he became more composed and enthusiastic.
"Jia Jia, I heard that you went to see your mother. Congratulations on the reunion of your mother and son. You must make a good contribution and make your old mother look good!"
Xin Su laughed.
Jia Sidao's face turned red and he nodded solemnly.
Speaking of which, it was the emperor who reminded me to go see my mother. However, the emperor seemed to disapprove of his father's "scumbag" behavior.
The emperor is quite straight!
Xin Su looked at Jia Sidao and smiled mysteriously.
"Jia Sidao, Uncle Jia Guo, Zhou An, you should know about the murder of Uncle Zhou Guo in Japan."
They are both uncles of the state, and the foreign relatives in this dynasty are weak. One is serving in the army and started as an ordinary officer; the other died unexpectedly in Japan, and the emperor did not use his anger to raise an army. This is how the emperor can distinguish between public and private affairs and win the morale of the army.
"Senior, do you want to harm me?"
Jia Sidao made a joke and said seriously:
"Although Zhou An is the uncle of the state, he is also a subject of our Song Dynasty. The reason why your majesty is forbearing is because the Tatars are powerful and a trusted concern of our Song Dynasty. The Coastal Planning Department is building ports in Tamluo and Goryeo, probably for the Eastern Expedition. Japan is preparing. Just watch, after the Tatars are destroyed, Your Majesty will definitely send troops to Japan to avenge Zhou An!"
"I think so! His Majesty swallows his anger, which is not like what he usually does. After the Tatar army is destroyed, let's go to Japan together, destroy those Japanese, and vent our anger for Zhou An!"
Xin Su nodded and said excitedly.
The two looked at each other and laughed. Jia Sidao followed up and said:
"Senior, I heard that Li Quan has defected to the Tatars. He has added nearly 10,000 war horses. Li Quan has strong soldiers and horses, so it is difficult to fight against them."
"Strength of soldiers and horses is nothing! After a round of artillery fire, the flesh and blood are all bruised and covered with blood holes! Kill Li Quanquan and cut off this kid's head, it will be a glorious sight. Return to your hometown to worship your ancestors, this life will be worth it!"
As the grandson of Xin Qiji, if Li Quan is defeated, Shandong can be restored, and he can return to his hometown in an upright manner and recognize his ancestors.
The two were chatting randomly when suddenly, the whistle on the archery tower sounded, sharp and harsh. Following the waving of the flag and the sound of drums, the Song Army camp immediately started to move.
"The Tatar army is coming!"
Xin Su cheered up and immediately got off the carriage with Jia Sidao. The two mounted their horses and rode towards the artillery position.
"Formation!"
In the camp, Du Shu, deputy commander of Huainan East Road and commander of the Chinese Army, immediately issued military orders.
One by one, the messengers galloped in the Song army's formation, shouting loudly and shouting at the top of their lungs.
"Everyone! Get ready to fight!"
The military orders were like mountains, and the Song army quickly gathered. The swordsmen and shieldmen raised their shields, the spearmen followed, the artillery was in the front of the central army, and the cavalry protected the two wings. The 30,000-strong army formed square formations in an instant, orderly, busy but not chaotic.
Du Shu raised his telescope and looked toward the northern sky.
Hundreds of horsemen came from north to south. The knights on the horses were strong and vigorous. Everyone was beating their horses and running wildly. Their faces were sweating profusely. The tooth flags on their backs were clanging fiercely. They were obviously scouts of the Song army.
Behind them, smoke and dust were billowing, drifting in the wind, and countless cavalry appeared, flags waving, and heads of people and horses, crowding the sky. Along the east bank of the canal, mercury was pouring down the ground.
The sound of horses' hooves rumbled, the ground shook continuously, and the Mongolian cavalry was overwhelming, like a tide, boundless.
On the canal east of Buqi, countless warships filled the water, large and small, and the decks were filled with sergeants wielding swords, guns, bows and arrows, and they were filled with murderous intent. On the flag flying high on the mast, the word "李" is clearly visible.
Sure enough, all Li went south!
Unexpectedly, this guy was so successful that he could make waves from the Jin Dynasty to the Song Dynasty, and from the Song Dynasty to Mongolia. He could be described as a tyrant.
"In terms of infantry and cavalry alone, there are at least 60,000 to 70,000 thieves! And at least 20,000 cavalry!"
Liu Keyong, the commander of the left army, looked solemn and took a deep breath.
It seemed that the Mongolian army was out in full force.
"How come Li Quan has so many cavalry?"
In the telescope, he saw the Mongolian army with countless cavalry and endless war horses, and deputy commander Zhang Jin was filled with astonishment.
He has been in love and fighting with Li Quan for many years, and this is the first time he has seen so many cavalry under Li Quan's command.
"If you vote for Mongolia, you will have as many war horses as you want. Didn't you see, all the short and stocky Mongolian horses are so eye-catching!"
Du Shu watched carefully and secretly wiped the sweat from his forehead.
Fortunately, the Song Army also had a lot of cavalry!
"Liu Keyong, the left army is dealing with Li Quan's navy. The messenger sent the order, let the artillery and cavalry prepare, and the whole army is ready to fight!"
Du Shu put down the telescope and said softly.
Li Zhijun's nearly 100,000 troops, with countless war horses, were coming with a fierce force. It seemed that they would not stop until they captured Yangzhou.
Fortunately, the Song army also had a lot of cavalry, enough artillery, and well-trained soldiers, so it seemed to be okay.
He turned his head and looked at the city head of Yangzhou. There were densely packed soldiers. His father, Du Gao, seemed to be directing the city's defense.
His father recommended him to command the army in front of the emperor. He had good intentions and he could not let go.
At the very least, you can't let that guy Yu Jie look down on you.
Du Shu's military order was passed down, and the entire Song Army formation became busy.
In the middle of the Mongolian army's formation, Li Quan sat on a tall horse, frowning and looking towards the south of the Song army's formation.
The Ming army was in great formation, with flags fluttering, and the armor of infantry and cavalry shining brightly in the cold. They were all over the mountains and plains, solemn and silent, and the muzzles of each artillery piece were faint, pointing straight ahead.
"En Mansion, the chief general of the Song Army seems to be Du Shu, the son of Du Gao, the envoy of the Huaidong system, and the deputy commander of the Huaidong border army. Judging from the banners of the cavalry and artillery, it should be the Huaidong commanders Xiang Shibi and Huaidong Xin Su is the commander of the Eastern Army. These three are all students of the Jinling Martial Arts Hall and the favorite disciples of Emperor Zhao Hong of the Song Dynasty."
Zheng Yande, the deputy general next to Li Quan, introduced Li Quan.
There were constant frictions, big and small, and Zheng Yande was no stranger to the Du family and his son.
"Zhao Hong didn't come, and Du Gao didn't come out either. So he sent a few young men from the Jinling Martial Arts Hall to fight. Are you looking down on our loyal army?"
Li Quan was furious and snorted coldly.
The Emperor of Song Dynasty wrote a letter and called him "Brother Quan". He sent his troops south, and no matter what happened, it would be the feudal officials of the Song Dynasty who went to fight. A few unknown juniors showed off their power, clearly despising him, how could they not make him angry.
"En Mansion, there are no more loyal soldiers in the world."
Zheng Yande sighed and looked towards the Song Army formation ahead.
The artillery of the Song Army was faint, one after another. Zheng Yande looked at it and felt a little guilty. On weekdays, the battles with the Song Army were basically small-scale battles between cavalry. Artillery was rarely used and most of them were thunderbolts, which already gave the subordinates a headache.
The appearance of large-scale artillery on the position today really made him uneasy.
"Give me the order and get ready to fight! Let the navy go behind the Song army!"
Li Quan looked ugly and coldly issued the military order.
"Quick! Bring those Song people up!"
Zheng Yande shouted loudly, and countless Song people were driven out of the Mongolian army's formation. Among the crowds of Song people and behind them, there were countless Mongolian cavalry, holding sharp blades or bows in their hands, ready to fight.
Most of these loyal soldiers who had been transformed into the Mongolian army had been on the battlefield for a long time. They had long been hard-hearted and regarded human life as nothing. In order to kill each other, they will use any means.
"Let the people of the Song Dynasty attack the Song Army's formation! The cavalry then shot and killed the Song Army and broke up the Song Army's formation!"
Zheng Yande pulled out his sword, shouted loudly, and issued military orders.
Fighting on the battlefield, you and I live and die, without the slightest bit of kindness as a woman.
"Run forward or I will chop off your head!"
"Why are you dazed? Run! I will chop you to death!"
The Mongolian cavalry rode in front of the people, shouting threats, and stabbing them with swords and spears if they became impatient. In an instant, blood was dripping and screams continued.
The people of the Song Dynasty were driven by the Mongolian cavalry. They panicked and rushed straight to the Song army's formation with tears on their faces. The people, disheveled and disheveled, came crying and filling the mountains and plains. The Mongolian cavalry came on horseback, with arrows in their bows. As soon as they entered the shooting range, they shot the Song army.
Seeing the misery of the people, Jia Sidao sighed softly.
It's better to be a peace dog than a liar.
The emperor lowered his voice to persuade An Li Quan, but when the war broke out, the people were in tears and could not even decide their own life or death.
"You see, this is a bloody war. Let's settle this account later!"
Xin Su patted Jia Sidao on the shoulder. The densely packed Mongolian army came into view in front of him. The mountains and fields were covered with darkness. Xin Su's face darkened and he shouted loudly.
"Artillery, prepare!"
It was the first time he commanded so many artillery pieces. His little heart was also "thumping, thumping" and beating wildly.
