The army crossed the river, and several riders came from afar. When they arrived, the knights on their horses dismounted one after another.
"Intelligence Department Xiao Wu (Higher Thirteen) is here to report military information to Commander Yu!"
Xiao Wu and Gao Shisan saluted Yu Jie and handed over their official credentials from the Intelligence Department.
Yu Jie took over the official certificate, and the intelligence department staff accompanying the army came up to check that it was correct and returned the official certificate to the two of them.
"Brother Xiao, Brother Gao, thank you for your hard work! Welcome back!"
Yu Jie said solemnly, turning to the surrounding generals, his expression changed.
"The order goes down, all soldiers stop marching and salute the brothers of the Intelligence Department!"
The army stopped and all the soldiers were in awe. All the soldiers stopped advancing and stood up straight towards Gao Shisan and Xiao Wu.
"Everyone, salute!"
Wang Jian shouted, and all the soldiers in the army saluted the two men in unison.
The deeds of Zhang Yaozu, Song San, Liu Liu, and Chen Twelve were covered in newspapers, and all the officers and soldiers in the army had heard of them. These men who sacrificed their lives for the country and the people deserve a tribute from them.
Xiao Wu and Gao Shisan looked solemn and returned a somewhat unfamiliar military salute to Yu Jie and all the soldiers.
At this moment, all the patience and sacrifice paid off.
"The ceremony is over!"
Wang Jian shouted, and all the soldiers lowered their arms.
"Commander Yu, generals, thank you very much. To be honest, I won't have to worry or sleep well in the future!"
Xiao Wu's eyes were red, he laughed and said something self-deprecating.
Gao Shisan looked sad, as if thinking of his comrades who had not waited for the arrival of the Northern Expedition.
"It's time to end everything. It won't be long before the brothers can go home together."
Yu Jie nodded appreciatively and said softly.
The staff of the Intelligence Department are all carefully selected, and it can be seen from these two people.
"Brothers, please tell us about the situation in Taiyuan."
Several people rode forward, and Yu Jie started the conversation.
The Mongol army from Hedong gathered in Taiyuan, and a war was inevitable. Naturally, the more detailed the enemy's military information, the better.
"Commander Yu, Liu Heima and Xiao Zala of thousands of Han troops gathered heavy troops in Taiyuan, Tatar general Tachaer guarded Yanmen Pass and Daizhou area, Han Chijin, Meng Ge and other Tatar clan governors. The Tatar army We will garrison the big city, dig trenches on the east side of the mountain and outside the south city, and stand ready. There will be no Tatar army on the way to Taiyuan. The two of us are familiar with the terrain and are willing to lead the way. As for the details of the Tatar army in the east of the river, we can talk about it while walking. "
Gao Shisan spoke first and solemnly reported the matter to Yu Jie.
"Very good! Well done to you two brothers!"
The emperor strategized and deployed early in the two rivers, which was indeed foresight.
Yu Jie looked at Lu Wende behind him, and Lu Wende stepped forward to salute.
"Lu Wende, we have crossed the Yellow River. We need to divide our forces. Brother Xiao will be your guide and will take you on the march. If you encounter the Tatar army, don't hesitate to fight. Enter Hebei as soon as possible, join up with the army on the east route, and go straight to Yanjing."
"I will obey the order!"
Lu Wende enthusiastically clasped his fists to accept the order, and rode away with Xiao Wu.
In the Hebei Plain, cavalry charges are inevitable. This time, we must defeat the Mongolian cavalry in Hebei and recover Yanjing first.
After Xiao Wu left, Gao Shisan naturally became the guide of the West Route Army.
"Brother Gao, this time the army goes straight down in three directions in the Northern Expedition. Hedong is the foundation of the Northern Expedition and the top priority. Taiyuan is an important town in the east of Hedong. There should be a lot of Tatar troops, right?"
Yu Jie's thoughts returned to the military.
"Back to Commander Yu, in the important town of Taiyuan, the Tatars led 50,000 Han troops with Liu Heima, a Han army of ten thousand households. The Tatar prince Han Chijin united more than ten thousand Tatar cavalry to garrison. Tachaer led an army of thirty thousand in the Yanmenguan area of Daizhou. . There is also Gaochang Balshu leading an army of 20,000 reinforcements. Once our army goes north, Tachaer will definitely lead his army south. By then, there will probably be more than 100,000 people in Taiyuan. Commander Yu must be cautious."
"More than 100,000 people!"
Yu Jie was shocked. I was afraid that all the Mongolian armies in Hedong were concentrated in Taiyuan.
Excluding Cao Youwen's 70,000 rear troops, he only had 80,000 troops, including 30,000 cavalry and 50,000 infantry. Eighty thousand people, against the 112,000 Mongolian army...
Taiyuan is likely to be a fierce battle related to the success or failure of the Northern Expedition!
"Yu Shuai, why do you look a little nervous?"
Wang Jian's face was radiant and he teased Yu Jie, who was frowning.
The more they fight, the more excited he becomes. The more than 100,000 Mongolian troops can have a good fight.
"Restore the Central Plains and retake the Sixteenth State of Yanyun. There is no room for failure. Brother, I am under great pressure. Your Majesty is going to be the emperor for eternity, and I can't hold him back. A horse tramples on Yanran, and a wolf is sealed in Xu. You and I Brothers can’t miss it!”
Under pressure, Yu Jie said with emotion.
He suddenly remembered the emperor's famous saying:
The bigger the storm, the more expensive the fish!
"Won't miss it! Capture Taiyuan and Dading in the east of Hedong. Then send the army north to capture Yunzhong and Yanmen Pass. To be honest, I have long wanted to see what the Sixteenth State of Yanyun is like!"
Wang Jian laughed, his face darkly blushing.
He now has many children, wives and concubines, and his fighting spirit seems to have faded somewhat.
The emperor had great talents and great strategies, and the Song Dynasty's conquests were far from over. He had to continue his efforts, otherwise he would really be overtaken by those who came after him.
With more than 100,000 Mongolian troops, this is a tough battle. I can’t hold back even thinking about it!
"Vice Admiral Cao serves as the commander-in-chief of the rear army, and Zhao Qi supervises the transportation of grain and grass. Thank you for their hard work!"
Wang Jian said jokingly.
In fact, Cao Youwen heard that of the 70,000-strong army, only 20,000 were transporting grain and grass. Cao Youwen also had military affairs to send troops to the Central Plains. The commander Zhao Qi was actually responsible for the transportation of grain and grass on the back road.
"Vice Admiral Cao also wants to put pressure on Bianjing City to ensure that our army has a safe retreat. It is very likely that this time, three armies will attack together to restore the entire Central Plains. Your Majesty has placed such great trust on us, so we must not be embarrassed!"
Yu Jie exhaled and sighed secretly.
Having said that, with Cao Youwen in charge of the rear army and ensuring the food route, the two of them could concentrate on dealing with the Mongolian army east of Hedong with all their strength.
"Don't worry, Commander Yu! Hedong is the foundation of the Northern Expedition! Only by occupying Hedong can the Northern Expedition be invincible. Your Majesty has a far-sighted vision. As for capturing Hedong, I won't bother him!"
"Old Wang, let's pacify Taiyuan first, and then occupy the entire Hedong! Let's see if Meng Gong restores Hebei first, or we restore Hedong first?"
"And Cao Youwen, we must not let him take the lead and restore the Central Plains first. Otherwise, will we be overwhelmed by him again?"
Wang Jian and Yu Jie looked at each other and both laughed.
Gao Shisan stood aside and marveled at the "arrogance" of these two coaches.
The Mongolian army of 100,000 people was waiting for them. Instead of being afraid, these two men were full of fighting spirit.
Originally, he was a little worried about the Northern Expedition. After seeing the Song Army's lineup and hearing the words of these two coaches, most of his worries were gone.
Thinking about it, if he was not completely sure, how could the emperor make the Northern Expedition?
In the formation of the army in front of the army, Zhang Zhongxia, the deputy commander of Shaanxi Province, was mixed with thousands of troops and horses, beating the horses and marching, feeling full of emotion in his heart.
The former local ruffian in Lin'an City, a scum that the officials scorned, is now the former military commander of the Western Northern Expedition Army, commanding thousands of troops.
Hedong in thirty years, Hexi in thirty years. Time is also fate, Zhang Zhongxia finally lived like a human being.
Maybe next time he goes on an expedition, he will be the head coach of the entire army. But he Zhang Sanzhong Xia is only less than thirty years old.
Speaking of which, if he hadn't met the emperor on that winter day ten years ago, what would have happened to him in his life? He would be imprisoned and his body would be left lying on the street?
The emperor's kindness of knowing me and supporting me can't be repaid even to pieces.
"Zhang Zhongxia, you have shaved off your beard and you look much younger!"
Artillery commander Cao Erxiong and deputy commander Wu Feng rode by and greeted Zhang Zhongxia.
"Zhang San, Du Er, this time, we have to fight side by side. You and I, brothers, can't embarrass the face of the children of Lin'an!"
Wu Feng, one-handed, is still impassioned.
"Don't worry! Wu Yanei will not let you gain the upper hand!"
Du Er replied enthusiastically.
Cao Erxiong and Wu Feng rode away. Zhang Zhongxia looked at the two figures and said with emotion:
"Wu Feng lost one of his hands, but his pride remained intact throughout the battlefield. It's really enviable!"
The young man is an old man, and the pink beauty has spots on her temples. But Wu Feng is heroic and truly a born soldier.
"Third brother, that's right. Before you know it, you and I have been in the army for eight years and are already complete veterans."
Du Er also felt emotional in his heart.
To be honest, if he were to leave the army, he really didn't know what he could do.
"Du Er, do you still remember the first time you, my brother, and His Majesty met?"
Looking back on the past, Zhang Zhongxia subconsciously asked about his old brother.
"How could I forget!"
Du Er said seriously, with longing in his eyes.
"Third brother, if it weren't for His Majesty's support back then, we brothers wouldn't be where we are today! Speaking of which, brothers are all blessed by Third Brother!"
"Du Er, the Northern Expedition is a tough battle, are you afraid?"
Zhang Zhongxia nodded and returned to the Northern Expedition.
"Third brother, you have become the deputy commander, what should I be afraid of? There are a lot of wives, children, old and young, all supported by the imperial court. The emperor has treated our brothers with great kindness, and there is nothing to repay. If the game is really over on the battlefield, it can be regarded as repayment. Third Brother and His Majesty’s kindness is well deserved!”
Du Er looked generous, Zhang Zhongxia nodded.
"Du Er, you are right! His Majesty thinks highly of our brothers and has shown us great kindness. We all have to repay his kindness. We must wrap our bodies in horse leather to repay your kindness. This is the foundation of our brothers' life."
Du Er was speaking from his heart, and he thought so in his own heart.
"Third brother, you are right! Brothers will never forget His Majesty's kindness. But that guy Saburo... alas!"
As Du Er spoke, he couldn't help but sigh.
"Is Du San okay?"
Zhang Zhongxia asked, observing the words and expressions.
"That boy failed to live up to expectations. If His Majesty hadn't been nostalgic, he would have been beheaded long ago. He is now sent to Australia, where he can have enough food and clothing, and his wife has not been implicated. This is already a great blessing!"
Du Er said angrily when he mentioned his younger brother.
Lin'an's "Seven Wolves" and the other six people all became famous. As the emperor said, wars were frequent in the Song Dynasty, and there was no shortage of opportunities to make contributions. Among the brothers, only Du San was involved in the accident, which really made his brother lose face and feel heartbroken.
"Du Er, please keep your eyes open. After the Northern Expedition is over, we will ask His Majesty to go to Australia to see Du San. Now they are all steamships, and the trip can only take two or three months at most. By the way, we can also see my brother Song’s overseas territories.”
Zhang Zhongxia was full of ambition and comforted Du Er.
"Third brother, it's settled! Let's go together then to see what it's like overseas, and take a look at that brat!"
Du Er's mood immediately rose.
"It's a deal!"
Zhang Zhongxia said solemnly.
He already had a wife and children, and it was time to go back and see his brother.
"Third brother! Second brother!"
A large group of cavalry rolled past the queue, and a young officer on the horse waved excitedly to Zhang Zhengsi and Du Er.
"Gaohu!"
Zhang Zhongxia and Du Er both shouted excitedly.
"Gao Hu, are you going to Taiyuan too?"
Du Er asked loudly.
Although Gao Hu, Gao Guoshou and other brothers are all in the Northwest Army, they are busy with military affairs on weekdays, and it is difficult to see them except during holidays. I didn't expect that this time the army would encounter the Northern Expedition.
"Third brother, second brother, I will take my cavalry and follow General Lu Wende to Hebei. We may attack Yanjing City and restore Hebei! Take care!"
After Gao Hu finished speaking, he waved his hand and hurried away on horseback.
"Gao Hu, take care!"
Zhang Zhongxia looked at Gao Hu's retreating back, his heart filled with reluctance.
"Third brother, there is no such thing as a banquet that lasts forever. Brothers have become successful, you should be happy!"
Du Er said seriously.
Zhang Zhongxia was startled, then relieved.
He always treats Gao Hu and others as children. Unconsciously, they have become the backbone generals in the army and have grown up.
This time going north, I hope they will make great achievements and make a name for themselves.
