Xingyuan Mansion, Xingyuan Rongsi Yamen.
In the lobby, there are many ministers and generals gathered together. The lowest official positions are controllers and transport envoys, with different expressions.
In recent days, Jindi soldiers and civilians have been fleeing southward and entering Xingyuan Mansion. From their mouths, they learned that the Mongolian army was gathering in Fengxiang Mansion, and the rangers kept going south to investigate. It seemed that a southward attack on Song Dynasty was just around the corner.
"Your Majesty, 50,000 Tatar cavalry and 20,000 Han troops, a total of 70,000 troops, have gathered in Fengxiang Mansion. The commanders are Tuo Lei and Subutai, and the Han troops are Liu Heima. They will go south to invade the Song Dynasty. In just a few days !”
Xingyuan Rongsi Du commanded Jiang Wanzai to report, and all the generals and ministers looked solemn.
The 70,000-strong army, including 50,000 cavalry, was indeed menacing and frightening.
In the year of Dinghai, there were only 20,000 Mongolian troops, which had already caused chaos on Lizhou West Road. This time, the attack of 70,000 troops was no small matter.
"Your Majesty, the Tatar army is coming with such force this time, I'm so nervous!"
Yu Jie's words relaxed the atmosphere in the hall a lot.
"Yu Jie, have the reinforcements from Hexi Road and Xixia Road moved eastward to Qinzhou?"
Zhao Hong smiled and asked Yu Jie.
"Your Majesty, our army entered Qinzhou and Gongchang Prefecture in batches, with 20,000 troops in Qinzhou and 30,000 troops in Gongchang Prefecture. As soon as your Majesty gives the order, they will immediately go south to fight the Tatar army to the death!"
Yu Jie cupped her fists and asked for orders, impassioned.
The Mongolian army gathered heavy troops, and under pressure, he became more motivated.
"Cui Yuyu, you are stationed in the Lizhou camp, and the army's retreat will be left to you."
Zhao Hong gave instructions one by one with a solemn expression.
"Chen Longzhi, Guo Zhengsun, and Lizhou West Road have all been fortified and cleared?"
After the two comfort envoys responded one by one to confirm, Zhao Hong continued:
"My lords, this is a national war and a great war, and there is no room for error. I still say the same thing, the purpose of war is to kill the other party to the maximum extent and make the other party lose the ability to resist. This war is won, We, the Song Dynasty, have a chance to reverse the situation between the Song Dynasty and Mongolia. If we lose, I am afraid the situation will be even more difficult!"
He looked at the generals and ministers in the hall and smiled.
"Everyone, do you have confidence?"
Destroying the 70,000 Mongolian army and deciding the outcome in one battle, this is an excellent opportunity!
"Your Majesty, don't worry. As long as the Tatar army goes south, I will definitely kill him and leave his corpses everywhere and his blood flowing like rivers!"
Meng Gong, who accompanied him to guard Xingyuan Fucheng, said excitedly.
The emperor was really good at predicting events, and the Mongolian army really wanted to send troops southward and take advantage of the Song Dynasty.
"Your Majesty, as long as the Tatar army enters Xingyuan Mansion, I will make it easy for them to enter and difficult to exit!"
Wang Jian's eyes shone with excitement.
The 40,000 troops on the Yangzhou Defense Line must kill the Mongolian army until the fields are littered with corpses and rivers of blood flow before they give up.
"Your Majesty, the Tatars have 50,000 cavalry, and they want to kill the opponent. In the final analysis, they have to conduct field battles. This time, I am afraid we have to take a look at our army's field capabilities."
Cao Youwen hit the mark and spoke to Zhao Hong's heart.
To prevent the Mongolian army from advancing eastward, we must fight in the field, and it is impossible to defend based on danger. With hundreds of thousands of troops fighting, the Hanzhong Plain will probably become a huge and bloody slaughterhouse.
"It's not about killing or repelling, but trying to annihilate the Torre tribe as much as possible. We want to turn Hanzhong into a tomb for the 70,000 Tatar army, breaking the myth of the Tatar cavalry being invincible in one fell swoop!"
Feeling that the ministers did not seem to understand his intentions, Zhao Hong solemnly warned everyone.
Strategically, we despise the other party, but tactically we value the other party. This is also the style he has always adhered to.
"Send an order to Wang Shixin, the guard of Dashan Pass, not to block the Tatar army when it goes south, but to let them in."
Zhao Hong looked at Cao Youwen and Yu Jie seriously.
"Once the Tatar army went south, Cao Youwen led an army of 20,000 to capture Fengxiang Mansion, cutting off the Tatar army's retreat. Yu Jie led an army of 30,000 to go south and entered Hanzhong from the Wuxiuguan line. Lu Wende and Jiang Wanzai did not intercept, and The entire Tatar army was put into Hanzhong, and together with Yu Jie, they made a big bag and trapped Torre to death in Hanzhong."
He looked at Fan Zhong and Guo Zhengsun and warned:
"Fan Zhong and Guo Zhengsun, once our army is victorious, we will take advantage of the opportunity to enter Shaanxi. Is there no problem with the transportation of grain, grass and baggage?"
Food, grass and baggage are the guarantee for troops to enter Shaanxi.
"Don't worry, Your Majesty, 300,000 shi of grain and grass from Hexi have been concentrated in Lanzhou. As the war breaks out, it will be transported to Chang'an in less than half a month. The subsequent 700,000 shi of grain and grass will also arrive one after another."
There was an imperceptible hint of pride in Fan Zhong's voice.
It has only been four years since the Song army advanced into Hexi, and three million acres of land have been cultivated, almost reaching the level of the mid-Tang Dynasty. The military settlement reached 20%, covering 600,000 acres.
This year, the millions of grain and grain provided to nearby roads all come from military and civilian villages.
If the supply of war horses is included, Hexi has truly become the granary and horse farm of the Song Dynasty.
"Your Majesty, the baggage required by the army, including firearms and ammunition, can be transported from Mianzhou to Qinzhou and then to Shaanxi at any time."
Guo Zhengsun was also confident and answered without hesitation.
There are two firearms manufacturing sites, Lizhou Arms Manufacturing Branch and Mianzhou Arms Manufacturing Branch, so the supply of firearms is not a problem. In addition, Mianzhou is only five hundred miles away from Fengxiang Mansion, and there are Song Army stations along the way. It can take up to ten days to enter Fengxiang Mansion.
"Two Qing family members, please."
Zhao Hong nodded happily. It seems that it is a good choice for Tiao Fanzhong to enter the center to replace the elderly Xue Ji or Xuan Zhen.
Zhao Hong looked at everyone and made a final summary.
"Everyone, the war is about to begin. If we win, the offensive and defensive positions of the enemy and us will change, and the army will capture Shaanxi. If we lose, the country will decline and even be unable to recover. I am here, please take care of you!"
Zhao Hong bowed his head gently to the generals in the hall.
"I will never disappoint His Majesty's trust!"
Everyone bowed together and spoke in unison.
The sergeant came in to report, his head covered with sweat.
"Your Majesty, the Tatar envoy has arrived in Mianzhou City!"
"Sure enough, it's here!"
Zhao Hong patted the table lightly, and all the courtiers in the hall became excited.
"Your Majesty, the Tatar army is indeed going south!"
Yu Jie couldn't help but say something, her excitement was beyond words.
"Your Majesty is planning strategies and predicting events like a god. This is really a blessing to our Song Dynasty! A blessing to all the people in the world! I congratulate our Song Dynasty!"
Cui respectfully bowed to him.
He was able to strategize and anticipate events like a god. With such a wise king in the Song Dynasty, the resurgence of China was just around the corner.
"I congratulate my great Song Dynasty!"
All the ministers spoke solemnly together, truly convinced.
If the emperor had not made preparations and mobilized troops and generals in the northwest in advance, I am afraid that the border fortress would have been in chaos, and countless people would have suffered.
"Take it now!"
Zhao Hong felt relieved and laughed.
"Lu Wende, you and Guo Zhengsun will return to Mianzhou City first. Do you know how to deal with the Tatar envoys and how to anger them?"
The two countries are already at odds with each other, and there is no need to waste any more expressions.
"Your Majesty, don't worry. I will not let you worry!"
Lu Wende and Guo Zhengsun knew it well and followed the orders one after another.
If they weren't tougher, the Mongolian army would be so angry that they would have to move south in a big way.
I've been dormant for so long, why don't I just wait for this day?
They also wanted to see if the Mongolian army did not borrow the road, would the Mongolian army forcefully borrow the road?
"Torre sent an envoy to come. I'm afraid it will only take a few days for the Tatar army to move south. Each general will return to his own territory and don't act rashly. Remember, put the Tatar army into Hanzhong and fight to the death!"
Although the Tuo Lei Department has 20,000 Han troops, it also has 50,000 cavalry, each with two or three horses. The marching speed will not be slow, and the war is about to break out.
When the generals left the official office, everyone was walking heavily and it was hard to see a smile.
"Wang Jian, the Yangzhou Defense Line is the last barrier eastward to our Song Dynasty's hinterland. You must guard it!"
Cao Youwen took the matter seriously and warned Wang Jian.
There are 40,000 troops on the Yangzhou Defense Line. If the Mongolian army attacks with all its strength, the pressure will be huge.
"Cao Youwen, don't worry! As long as I am here, the Tatar army will not succeed. If they want to break through the Hanzhong defense line, they have to step over my body, Wang Jian!"
Wang Jian nodded, his face solemn.
Compared with previous city defense battles, this time it was a complete field battle. The Mongolian army of 70,000 is no small matter.
"Let Cao Youwan do a good job under your command and make meritorious service. Tell him to put down the burden and don't let His Majesty down!"
Cao Youwen patted Wang Jian on the shoulder and whispered.
From being the coach all the way, he was demoted three levels in a row. If my brother couldn't handle it, he would really be a loser.
"Lu Wende, Jiang Wanzai, when the Tatar army goes south, I will lead the army from Wuxiuguan into Hanzhong. At that time, I will send someone to convey the military information, and we will march together. Your Majesty, with his body of ten thousand gold, cannot make any mistakes!"
Yu Jie said to Lu Wende and Jiang Wanzai, the lightness on his face was gone, and he was full of worry.
It seems that when the Mongolian army moved south, he was also uneasy and lost his due calmness.
"Old Cao, I'm afraid we have to rely on Wang Shixian brothers to attack Fengxiang Mansion. They are Tatars and should be able to come in handy."
"Lao Yu, don't worry. Leave Fengxiang Mansion to me!"
Cao Youwen and Yu Jie whispered to each other.
"Brothers, the battle of Hanzhong is left to you!"
Meng Gong came out and saluted Cao Youwen and others with cupped fists.
"Lao Meng, if the Tatar army dares to go south, make sure they never come back!"
"Lao Meng, His Majesty is in the city of Xingyuan Mansion. If his old man loses a hair, we brothers will not be able to spare you!"
"General Meng, please take good care of His Majesty's safety!"
The generals spoke one after another with serious words, and Meng Gong solemnly agreed.
"Don't worry! Brothers, we will meet on the battlefield!"
"See you on the battlefield!"
"See you on the battlefield!"
All the generals reluctantly said goodbye and mounted their horses one after another. I didn't know who it was, but they were so generous and heroic that they immediately started singing loudly.
"Open your eyes
Watch carefully
Who wants to be a captive? "
All the generals raised their voices and sang loudly.
"Because of shrinking and forbearing
People's arrogance is growing day by day
Open your mouth and scream loudly.
Here is the whole country with troops
Robbers have always wanted to invade
………”
Everyone beat their horses and went their separate ways, but the singing was still loud. When the singing came, Zhao Hong also felt emotional in his heart.
The sleeping lion of the Song Dynasty should also wake up.
