The second year of Jianwu in the Song Dynasty, the winter of 1131 AD, November 16th, early winter.
Early on the next morning, at early Si hour, Zhao Hong and his ministers were discussing matters at the Xingyuan Rongsi Yamen. It was the Mongolian army going south to deal with the matter.
Wuxiuguan is only a hundred miles away from Xingyuanfu City, and the Mongolian cavalry comes and goes like the wind. It is inevitable that troops will approach the city.
"Your Majesty, you have nothing to worry about. There is enough food and grass in the city to last for three months!"
"Your Majesty, the people in the city are well settled, no one is sleeping in the open, and the people are not disturbed. Your Majesty, there is no need to worry!"
Chen Longzhi, the pacification envoy on Lizhou West Road, and Zhao Yanna, the transshipment envoy, all gave speeches one after another.
"Okay! Thank you for your trouble!"
Zhao Hong said appreciatively to all the civil servants.
When food and grass are sufficient and the people are at ease, soldiers can guard the city without distractions.
"Your Majesty, the war tents at the top of the city, artillery ammunition, rolling stones, golden arrows, etc. have all been arranged and prepared. Your Majesty has nothing to worry about!"
"Your Majesty, the army and civilians in the city center have begun to gather for training and can go to the city for reinforcements at any time."
Zhao Shu, the commander of Xingyuan Prefecture, and Meng Gong reported to each other one after another.
Zhao Hong nodded slightly.
If both the army and the people of Xiang were to garrison in the city, then the war would be at a fever pitch.
"Your Majesty, the Tatars are powerful, and a 70,000-strong army is no small matter. Do you want to light up the flames of war and summon the Western Route Army to come for reinforcements?"
Xuan Zhen, Minister of the Ministry of War, was very worried and his face was full of sorrow.
"Xuanqing, please be patient. There are ten thousand soldiers in the city, and I have three thousand elite soldiers of the Forbidden Army, not to mention ten thousand soldiers and civilians. With an army of twenty thousand, we can withstand it for a month or two."
Zhao Hong laughed.
Although the Mongolian army also had firearms, he didn't care.
Song military firearms, whether iron smelting or gunpowder formula, reflect the crystallization and progress of science and technology. The advanced use of medicine packs and gun mounts, as well as the repeated training of gunners and grenadiers, are the result of the professionalization of the army.
He did not believe that the Mongolian army's firearms were stronger than those of the Song army.
"Your Majesty, once the Tatar army arrives, the land of Hanzhong will be ruined and the countryside will be deserted!"
Chen Longzhi couldn't help but shook his head and sighed.
"I have no choice. I also want to keep the enemy outside the country to prevent the people from suffering and the place from suffering. But I am afraid of failure, otherwise there will be countless casualties among the soldiers and the people will be in dire straits. Just like today's Wuxiuguan, two people died overnight. More than a thousand soldiers are gone, and they will never come back."
Zhao Hong unknowingly let out a sigh of relief.
Meng Gong and others in the hall listened carefully.
"I am worried that our Song Dynasty's border army is not strong enough to fight outside the country. Only with sufficient strength can we not lack courage. In major national affairs, I have to be cautious and rely on strength to speak for itself."
Just like Pan Fu's escape from the battlefield, it was not because he was afraid of the Mongolian army and was not sure of victory.
"Your Majesty, Holy Might!"
Chen Longzhi, Meng Gong and other courtiers worshiped together and were all impressed.
Everything is based on strength, and there is nothing wrong with this statement.
"Your Majesty, if the Tatar army goes all the way east without stopping in Hanzhong, I'm afraid a war is about to break out!"
Xuan Zhen was still feeling heavy and uneasy.
The Song Dynasty cannot afford to lose in this national war. I wonder if it can withstand the thunderous blow of the Mongolian army?
Zhao Hong was about to speak when a horn suddenly sounded outside, which seemed to come from the top of the city of Xingyuan Mansion. Everyone in the hall was shocked.
"Your Majesty, the Tatar army may have arrived!"
Meng Gong was refreshed and said aloud.
Soon, the sergeant came in and hurriedly reported that the Mongolian army from the north had arrived.
The ministers couldn't wait, so Zhao Hong stood up and walked down.
"My lords, please come with me to the city wall to admire it."
Wuxiuguan is a hundred miles away from Hanzhong, and the Mongolian cavalry can arrive in an hour. As expected, they can come and go like the wind, enough to conquer the world.
The walls of Xingyuan Mansion were filled with Song soldiers who were eagerly watching. Seeing Zhao Hong coming up, all the soldiers knelt down on one knee and spoke in unison.
"See Your Majesty!"
The emperor was stationed in Xingyuan Fucheng, and the soldiers suddenly felt much more at ease.
"All officers and men, please get up!"
Zhao Hong said loudly and asked all the soldiers to stand up. He stood by the city wall and looked north.
The earth trembled, and the city wall and the ground underfoot seemed to be shaking. At the end of the sky to the north and east, under the cover of the mountains, countless moving points appeared, and soon the moving points became larger. Endless Mongolian cavalry came into view, overwhelming the sky. , all over the mountains and plains, countless flags flying, accompanied by galloping war horses and billowing smoke, Mongolian cavalry rolled straight towards Hanzhong City from two directions in the northeast.
On the city wall, all the officers and soldiers of the Song Army looked solemn. Even Chen Longzhi, Meng Gong and others all changed their expressions.
Soon, the Mongolian cavalry arrived in front of the moat outside Hanzhong North City. There was a sea of horses and black cavalry, with no end as far as the eye could see.
"Your Majesty, the Tatar army has thirty thousand troops and thirty thousand cavalry. It seems that the Tatar infantry of the Han army have not caught up yet!"
Zhao Shuqiang, the commander of Lizhou East Road, pretended to be calm and explained Zhao Hong's doubts.
He was once the commander of Xihe Prefecture, an important town on Lizhou West Road, but now he was promoted to the commander of Hanzhong, which was regarded as a two-level promotion.
In fact, as the number of wars increased and the territory of the Song Dynasty expanded, most of the frontier generals were promoted.
"The Tatars had so many war horses that even the Han infantry in the army also had war horses. The reason why the Han army did not follow up was probably because they had to carry artillery, crossbows, trebuchets and other siege equipment."
Meng Gong frowned and said analytically.
"It looks so scary! I feel so scared!"
Zhao Hong smiled slightly, nodded, and raised his telescope. He saw hundreds of Mongolian army rangers heading east and west, apparently to investigate the military situation.
In the east and west directions, Jiang Wanzai and Wang Jian led 20,000 and 40,000 troops respectively to defend the area. Especially Wang Jian's tribe, once they fight against the 70,000 Mongolian army, it will definitely be a field battle and it will be extremely tragic.
Field battle!
Today's Mongolian army still has firearms. Although its lethality is limited, can the 40,000 Song army stop the thunderous impact of the 70,000 Mongolian army?
Zhao Hong's expression darkened involuntarily.
At this time, he hoped that the Mongolian army would attack the city first and frustrate the Mongolian army's vigor.
"Do you think Torre knows that I am in Xingyuan City?"
Looking at the huge crowd of Mongolian troops outside the city, Zhao Hong suddenly said something.
Wu Xiuguan was attacked by surprise, and the news that he was in Xingyuan Mansion City may have reached the ears of Torre and others. I don't know if this is an unexpected gain.
After a night of hustle and bustle, in the wilderness to the east of Xingyuanfu City, densely packed Mongolian military camps were like mushrooms after the rain, overwhelming overnight and occupying the entire wilderness.
From early in the morning, the Mongolian army camp was full of noise and horses neighing and people barking. Countless trees and horses were dragging people, and a large number of Mongolian army craftsmen were building siege equipment. Xingyuanfu City was surrounded by the Mongolian army in circles and layers. It seems that the Mongolian army is preparing to attack Xingyuanfu City, and it is bound to win.
In the main camp of the Mongolian army, the Mongolian army coach Torre was sitting on a grand master's chair, listening to reports from the rangers in the army.
The Taishi Chair was ordered by Qin Hui, the traitorous prime minister of the Southern Song Dynasty. It has a wide body, and the backrest and armrests are connected to form a three-leaf screen. The lotus leaf supports the head, so that one can sleep with one's head up. It was used by all the dignitaries of the Song Dynasty.
This grand master's chair was a treasure plundered by the Mongolian army after they conquered Wuxiuguan, and was exclusively owned by Pan Fu, the commander of Wuxiuguan.
"Marshal, the Song army has set up a large formation east of Yangzhou. The number is about 40,000. It seems to prevent our army from advancing eastward!"
"Marshal, the Song army has set up a large formation in Xi County. The number of people is also 20,000. It seems that they intend to prevent our army from advancing westward!"
"Marshal, Chenggu, Yangzhou, Xixian, and Xingyuan Fucheng are each guarded by Song troops. Chenggu and Xingyuan Fucheng each have 10,000 soldiers. According to reports from prisoners of the Song army, the Emperor of Song is in Xingyuan Fucheng."
The sergeants came one by one, and Torre leaned on the Taishi chair, frowning and saying nothing.
"Marshal, the Lizhou East Road is fortified and clear. The Song Army seems to have been prepared for it. In addition, the Song Emperor is also in Xingyuan Fucheng. Do you think the Song Army knows that our army is going to use Hanzhong?"
Wanhutabu'er is a little older and needs to be more cautious.
The army marched south from Wuxiuguan, and the entire route was uninhabited. The villages and towns were deserted. Except for the captured mountain people and the Song people in Wuxiuguan, all the Song soldiers and civilians in other places seemed to have evacuated.
From the prisoners of the Song Army at Wuxiuguan, they also knew that the Song Army was in Hanzhong to fortify its walls and clear the country, and it seemed that it had gathered a large number of troops.
"Marshal, according to the prisoners of the Song Army in Wuxiuguan, the Song Army has been fortifying the walls and clearing the fields for more than a month. It seems that the Song Army was worried that the war would spread to Hanzhong, so they ordered the order to clear the fields."
Wanhu Liu Heima said thoughtfully, but also had doubts.
The army went south to borrow a road, and I just found out about it. How could the Song army know about it a month ago?
It was a hot day!
Could it be said that there are really some people in the Song Dynasty who can predict the future and predict the future?
"The Great Khan met with the princes in Guanshan, and the marshal proposed to use the Song Dynasty. How could the people of the Song Dynasty know about it! In my opinion, the Song army was frightened because our army was attacking cities and territories in Shaanxi, so they prepared early! Four years ago! When the former army attacked the Song Dynasty, didn't the Song people also defend the country and clear the country? It's no big deal!"
The prince Kuoduan said loudly, somewhat disapprovingly.
Torre nodded slightly.
The Mongolian kings had always made their own decisions on the Mongolian army's campaigns. Even the senior Han officials in the country were not qualified to intervene, and the Song people would never know.
As for the Song Emperor being in Xingyuan Fucheng, this was really an unexpected surprise.
"Marshal, if our West Route Army wants to join forces with Ogedai Khan's Middle Route Army, it must pass through Hanzhong. Why don't we send an order to Subutai and Yianzhu'er and let them advance eastward quickly and not stay on the Lizhou West Road? Our army It would be better to defeat the Yangzhou Song Army as soon as possible and go straight to the Jin Realm!"
Wanhuta was more cautious than himself and spoke out.
The Emperor of the Song Dynasty was in Xingyuan Mansion, the Song people were fortifying the walls and clearing the country, and nearly 100,000 troops were hoarding Hanzhong. It seemed that some of the intruders were evil.
"Marshal, the Song Emperor is in Xingyuan Mansion. If we can kill the Song Emperor, we can not only avenge the death of four years ago, but also frighten the people of the Song Dynasty. The Jin people are now like locusts after the autumn, and they can't move much. sky."
Emperor Song was in the Xingyuan Mansion City in front of him, and Liu Heima's heartbeat accelerated.
It's okay if Ta Buji doesn't mention Wo Kuotai, but if he mentions Wo Kuotai, it may be counterproductive. If his prediction is correct, Torre will definitely attack Xingyuanfu City.
"That's right! If we besiege the city and fight for reinforcements, won't the Song army come to rescue their emperor? Killing the Song emperor would be a great feat!"
The young Kuo Duan screamed again.
The generals were clamoring, and Torre was already moved.
Encircling points for reinforcements and luring the enemy into fighting in the field are the advantages of the Mongolian army. The Kingdom of Jin is old and not worth mentioning. If the Song Emperor could be killed or captured, all the previous grievances would be avenged, and the benefits would not be too great. It would be beneficial for the Mongolian army to move south in the future.
"Let's go out with me and take a look!"
Torre stood up and led a group of generals out of the tent with ease.
What else is worthy of his high regard for the Song Army, which has strong walls and clear fields? They are just a bunch of cowardly cowards who are defending the city.
