"In the Northern Expedition, we must succeed in one blow. There will be no retreat!"
Zhao Hong pointed to the sand table with a solemn expression.
"You all need to discuss how to respond to the use of troops in the two rivers. Military preparations, and the mobilization of the morale of the soldiers and civilians. Everyone must discuss it, check for leaks and fill them up, and there can be no chance or sloppiness!"
I only plan the overall situation and lead the way. As for marching and fighting, and decisive battles on the battlefield, I still need generals like Meng Gong and Yu Jie to command on the battlefield, and all the soldiers fight bloody battles.
A rough calculation shows that this upcoming national war will take at least half a year to prepare. Without about a year's worth of food reserves, it would be difficult to accomplish anything.
After all, war is about logistics!
The rain could be heard outside the window, but there was silence in the palace. The topic returned to the Northern Expedition, and all the ministers gathered around the sand table, frowning in thought.
"The Guards Infantry and Horse Army Division, the Huainan Division, the Jiangnan Division, the Jinghu Division, and the Coastal Division. How many border troops are there now?"
After a moment, Zhao Hong looked at the sand table and asked softly, breaking the silence.
Without an army of 200,000 to 300,000 people, the Northern Expedition is really not reassuring.
"Back to Your Majesty, there are 20,000 infantry guards, 30,000 horse guards, 80,000 Huainan two roads, 80,000 Jiankang Dutongsi, 50,000 Ezhou Dutongsi, and 80,000 Jinghu Dutongsi. People; 20,000 naval troops from the Zhenjiang Prefecture’s Dutong Division, 10,000 naval troops from the Jiangzhou Dutong Division, and 50,000 naval troops from the Coastal Construction Department.”
Wei Liaoweng came one by one and made a summary.
"Your Majesty, excluding the 50,000 infantry and horse guards, there are 290,000 infantry, 50,000 cavalry, and 80,000 sailors along the Huai River and the Yangtze River, for a total of 420,000."
Wei Liaoweng's words shocked everyone.
There were actually 340,000 frontier troops gathered along the Jianghuai defense line. No wonder the emperor wanted to launch the Northern Expedition.
Zhao Hong nodded and turned to Yu Jie and others.
"The frontier troops in the northwest, including Sichuan, also came to listen."
Speaking of strong soldiers and horses, the Northwest Frontier Army has gone through great battles and should not be underestimated.
"Your Majesty, there are 50,000 troops stationed in Chengdu, 40,000 troops stationed in the Lizhou camp, and 30,000 troops stationed on each of the two roads in Lizhou. A total of 150,000 troops are stationed in Sichuan."
Cui Yu, the Sichuan envoy, was the first to report.
"Your Majesty, there are 50,000 troops stationed in Shaanxi!"
Chen Longzhi, the appeasement envoy of Shaanxi Road, continued to play.
"Your Majesty, there are 50,000 troops stationed on Lintaofu Road!"
Wang Jian, the governor of Lintao Prefecture, came forward to make a prelude.
Now the west of Fengxiang Mansion is Lintao Road. With the addition of Wang Shixian and other surrendered troops, the strength has been greatly increased.
"Your Majesty, there are 50,000 troops stationed on Hexi Road!"
"Your Majesty, there are 40,000 troops stationed on Xixia Road!"
Yu Jie, the governor of Hexi Road, and Cao Youwen, the governor of Xixia Road, came out one by one.
"Your Majesty, the entire northwest frontier army now has 340,000 troops, including 100,000 cavalry and 230,000 infantry!"
Wei Liaoweng, Minister of the Ministry of War, made a summary.
The ministers looked at each other and shook their heads in surprise.
With 340,000 and 100,000 cavalry, the strength of the northwest frontier army can be seen.
"Our army has successively recaptured Xixia and Shaanxi, and Sichuan has become the hinterland. It has mobilized 30,000 troops from Chengdu, 20,000 troops from Lizhou Camp, 20,000 troops from each of Lizhou Road, 10,000 troops from Lintao Road, and 10,000 troops from Hexi and Xixia and Xixia each mobilized 10,000 troops, a total of 100,000 troops into Shaanxi, along with 50,000 Shaanxi border troops, a total of 150,000 troops, to prepare for the Northern Expedition."
Zhao Hong made a decision instantly.
The 150,000 troops on the west route are enough to defend themselves and move north.
"Your Majesty, please lead the troops in the Northern Expedition!"
Yu Jie couldn't wait and asked for orders from across the sand table.
In several major battles, he acted as a partial commander and did not engage in major battles. This time, the emperor wanted to reuse him, and of course he didn't want to miss it.
"Your Majesty, I invite you to fight!"
"Your Majesty, please order us to go to war!"
The Northern Expedition and the National War were enough to leave a mark in history. Cao Youwen, Wang Jian, Lu Wende and others are not willing to miss it.
The generals were eager to try. Zhao Hong smiled softly and pointed to the sand table.
"Mazhong stayed in Hexi, and Lu Yuanting was in charge of Xixia. The two roads in Lizhou were classified as Lizhou Road and were controlled by Jiang Wanzai. The West Route Army marched northward, with Yu Jie as the commander, Cao Youwen and Wang Jian as deputy commanders, and led the West Route Army into Hedong. , and captured Taiyuan and Yunzhong in one fell swoop. As for the other generals, they have their own arrangements."
Yu Jie and Wang Jian were both smiling, while the other generals had no choice but to remain silent.
Someone must stay behind, or else there will be big trouble if the enemy invades.
"Your Majesty, our northwest frontier army is elite, but what about the southeast?"
Zhen Dexiu's heart was pounding and she couldn't help but ask.
There are 150,000 troops on the west route alone, and 300,000 warriors included on the east route.
This is really a national war that will go down in history!
"The Hebei Plain requires a large number of cavalry to gallop across the country."
Zhao Hong nodded, hesitated for a moment, and frowned:
"Cao Youwan and Lu Wende each led 20,000 elite cavalry, and entered Hebei from Hedong. They met up with the East Route Army in the area of Yanjing and marched directly to Yanjing. Every step of the way leads to wisdom. Cao Youwan is a fierce general, so give him a Give it a chance.”
If his prediction is correct, Yanjing will be a main battlefield. Cao Youyu was brave enough to win three armies in one battle, so he should be given a chance.
"I thank Your Majesty for your grace!"
Lu Wende smiled happily and quickly clasped his fists to obey the order.
Restoring the two rivers was a great undertaking that would last forever, and he didn't want to miss it.
"Your Majesty, I would like to thank you on behalf of my foolish brother!"
Cao Youwen felt a little relieved. It seems that the emperor still has high hopes for his younger brother.
"Your Majesty, since Duchong destroyed the Yellow River, the Yellow River diverted water from the Huaihe River and entered the sea. The canals were interrupted, the canals in the north were silted up, and the Bianhe River dried up, making it difficult to navigate. If the army on the east route goes north, it may have to take the land route. The transportation of grain and grass may be a problem. "
Wei Liaoweng's words made all the ministers nod.
If the canal is connected, the Song Dynasty officers and soldiers can move up the canal. Whether it is the transportation of grain and grass or the transportation of soldiers, it will be relatively easy to travel hundreds of miles a day to restore the northern land.
Water transport was impassable, so the infantry had to rely on hard work.
Zhao Hong smiled slightly. Going north by sea to avoid those pots and jars does not require hard work.
"Your Majesty, the army on the west route is strong and strong, and our army on the east route is also strong. Please order me to lead the troops north to restore Yanyun."
Du Gao's black face turned red and he couldn't wait to speak.
He has an army of 100,000 and considers himself an elite force. Just wiping out one Li Quan and defeating a few golden soldiers is really not worth mentioning.
"Your Majesty, I am willing to lead the troops north to restore Yanjing."
Meng Gong couldn't wait and asked loudly for orders.
In recent years, the credit for the battle at Shukou has been robbed by the northwest frontier army, and the fierce battle in Guanzhong has only been a spectator. This Northern Expedition cannot be missed again.
"The East Route Army is divided into two parts. One is led by Meng Gong, with 20,000 troops from the Jinghu Dutong Division; 30,000 troops from the Jiankang Dutong Division; 30,000 troops from the Ezhou Dutong Division; and 30,000 troops from the Ezhou Dutong Division. 20,000 people, and the bodyguard Ma Junsi dispatched 10,000 people to jointly settle in Jiankang Prefecture. The Coastal Planning Department sent 20,000 naval forces to transport a total of 130,000 people. They went straight up the coastal road, passed through Zhigu Village, Tongzhou, and went straight to Yanjing. !”
Zhao Hong pointed to the sand table and looked at Meng Gong with burning eyes.
"I obey the decree!"
Meng Gong's face turned red and he quickly obeyed the order, fearing that the emperor would change his mind.
Excluding the 20,000 sailors, 110,000 troops, and the 40,000 elite cavalry of the Northwest Army, the total is 150,000 troops. Together with the 150,000 Northwest Frontier Army, we can fly together on both sides.
Among the people's envious gazes, Zhao Hong turned to Du Gao.
"The Dutong Division of Zhenjiang Prefecture raised 10,000 naval troops, and the Jiangzhou Dutong Division stationed 10,000 naval troops in Xianghan, and together with the Jinghu Dutong Division 60,000 troops defended the Jin soldiers from going south, and the Minister of War, Wei Liaoweng, was in charge. Two routes to Huainan The 80,000-strong army was led by Du Gao, and the 10,000-strong navy from Zhenjiang was transferred northward to occupy the entire Huainan and restore Shandong. It would attack Meng Gong from the north and south on the east road and restore the entire Shandong and Hebei!"
Du Gao also beamed and quickly bowed and said yes.
Wei Liao and Weng Su bowed and saluted. It was just defense, not offense, and he could still do it reluctantly.
"Du Gao has occupied Shandong. At the same time, he must be careful of the Jin Kingdom's invasion. Don't be careless."
Zhao Hong never forgot to tell Du Gao.
"Wei Qing, the Hebei Canal is blocked. If it is dug out, there will be fierce battles. The soldiers will be lost, and it will also give the Mongolian army a chance to react. Our Song Dynasty navy is so elite, with a hundred thousand troops. It would be a waste to abandon it."
Zhao Hong said to Wei Liaoweng, which was regarded as an answer.
"Your Majesty, to restore the two rivers, Yuanjia must not be hasty and hastily visit the north. Before the troops and horses are moved, food and grass go first. Your Majesty, be careful."
Zhen Dexiu said solemnly with a serious face.
"Of course I know this. But I want to correct you. Xin Jiaxuan didn't say that Han Jingzhou was reckless, he was just reminding him. Han Jingzhou expected everything, but he lost to human nature and a traitor."
Zhao Hong said loudly, clearing Han Zhenzhou's name.
During Han Chunzhou's Northern Expedition, the defense at the mouth of Shu was solid, with 100,000 frontier troops and more than 10,000 cavalry. If Wu Xi, the "traitor of the King of Shu", had not treason, the Kaixi Northern Expedition would not have ended like this.
Who would have thought that the descendants of the anti-golden heroes would become traitors?
"The Ministry of Revenue and various roads prepare grain and grass. The east road uses Haizhou Port and Mizhou Port as transit places; the west road uses Chang'an to stock up and prepare grain and grass for one month. The Propaganda Department publicizes in newspapers to build momentum. This is a national war. , I am bound to win!"
Zhao Hong looked at Wu Qian and smiled slightly.
"Wu Qing, Duke Zhen is right. The Northern Expedition is a great cause. Before the soldiers and horses are moved, food and grass go first. Do you have no problem with the supply of food and grass?"
After all, the supply of the 400,000-strong army from the northwest is limited, so we still have to rely on the southeast and the rice supply from Nanyang.
"Your Majesty, if I can have half a year, I can mobilize 2 million stones, grain and grass from Nanyang. Overseas can provide saltpeter, sulfur and other materials, which is enough for my 400,000-strong army for half a year. Before the East China Sea freezes, there will be a continuous supply of grain and grass, enough for the army to stay for a long time. Stationed in Lianghe!"
Wu Qian's words were full of confidence.
The reclamation of Bo Ni, Guawa and other places, and the import of grain from Champa and Mayi are enough to ensure the supply of hundreds of thousands of troops.
"The Northern Expedition is related to the fate of our country in the Song Dynasty. This is a national war and requires comprehensive planning. Therefore, I plan to conduct the Northern Expedition in the autumn. It will take half a year or even longer to prepare. Food, grass and baggage, new firearms, soldier training, The supply of ships and horses, and the selection of supply lines must be properly prepared.”
For half a year, it is indeed a safer choice to escape the summer heat and go north in the autumn.
"Your Majesty is wise, and I obey your orders!"
All the ministers spoke in unison and worshiped together.
The emperor was thoughtful and not careless, which also made them feel at ease.
With the food baggage from overseas, logistical supplies are safe. The emperor's farsightedness and overseas colonization were indeed a big move.
"My lords, please make good preparations when we go down. We must mobilize the six armies. We must not slack off and miss the great cause of the Northern Expedition."
Zhao Hong looked at everyone and emphasized his tone.
"I still say what I said, the purpose of war is to kill the opponent to the maximum extent and make the opponent lose the ability to resist. Save people and lose land, and gain both people and land; save land and lose people, and lose both people and land. Do you all understand?"
"I will obey His Majesty's teachings!"
All the ministers bowed together and took orders.
"My lords, there were twenty-four heroes from the Lingyan Pavilion in the Tang Dynasty, who made great achievements in the prosperous Tang Dynasty. I intend to build a Zhaoxun Pavilion next to the Jinling Military Lecture Hall and set up portraits of the twenty-eight heroes from the Song Dynasty to praise and let the world appreciate and know Their great achievements will be remembered throughout the ages.”
Zhao Hong took out a list, and Dong Songchen quickly took it.
"Look, these are the sages and martyrs of our Song Dynasty. There are fifteen of them in total. I will choose the remaining thirteen for this dynasty."
The ministers circulated it one after another. Everyone laughed awkwardly and had evil intentions.
The two rivers were restored, the Western Region was recovered, and the country was conquered. The candidates for these thirteen Zhaoxun Pavilions will probably be decided.
