The military meeting was held in Kong Yanzhou's living room.
Because the summoning order was issued in a hurry, several generals came in disheveled clothes, with unusual flushes on their faces.
It can only be said that birds of a feather flock together and people flock together.
"The main force of the rebels is here. It is said that there are many people. It should not be easy for us to defeat. Our army only has 20,000 people. The strength of the rebel army is several times that of our army. We cannot confront them head-on. So, should we defend or retreat? ?”
Kong Yanzhou looked at his old subordinates.
Old subordinates, you look at me, and I look at you. Finally, a guy with a long, sinister eyebrow and rat-like eyes stood up to speak.
"Since the total strength of the rebel army is several times greater than that of our army, even if they are defending the city, it will not be a good thing for our army. Moreover, now that spring is approaching, the water volume of the Yellow River has increased. If the rebel army controls the river with water divisions, it can prevent our army from returning. road.
At that time, our army will be in a dilemma. Originally, Caozhou and Shanzhou were not necessary for me. Your Majesty just asked us to ensure that Nanjing is safe. If this is the case, then simply retreat. Defending Nanjing is more important than anything else. "
Kong Yanzhou thought for a while, nodded slowly, and then looked at the others.
"Does anyone else have anything to say?"
Everyone shook their heads in support of this view.
If that's the case, then that's it.
Across the Yellow River, many military operations will have inexplicable risks. It is better to retreat to the base camp to offset the risks.
In this case, the Liberation Army might not come.
Even if they do come, their logistics and transportation will be more difficult than their own, and they will be even less free during the war.
In order to increase the logistical difficulties of the Liberation Army, Kong Yanzhou felt that he could not just leave so simply.
The relatively intact land of the two states must not be left to the rebels. Even if they cannot take away anything they cannot take away, they will definitely not leave it to the rebels.
So Kong Yanzhou issued the order.
After burning, killing and looting, they destroyed roads and bridges, dug traps, and then quickly crossed the Yellow River back to the other side, leaving a tattered and scorched earth for the rebels.
Kong Yanzhou might not be the strongest when it came to marching and fighting, but when it came to burning, killing, and looting, few people dared to say he was stronger than him.
When he was fighting in the Southern Song Dynasty, he once turned the land of Hunan into a scorched earth. After so many years, the skill of tossing will only increase, not diminish.
Under his leadership, 20,000 robber-like bastards wearing official and military uniforms grinned and began a brutal and inhuman massacre.
The previous robberies were targeted at landlords with money, land, and beauties. They were targets of attack and harvest. He didn't bother to bother the poor people at all.
But this time is different. This is a scorched earth strategy. In order to better stop the liberation army from going south, the people of Caozhou Shanzhou will be sacrificed as sacrifices.
Don't blame me.
If you want to blame, blame you for being born in Caozhou or Shanzhou!
Kong Yanzhou smiled evilly, his heart filled with twisted pleasure.
The superior was like this, and so were his subordinates. Kong Yanzhou's 20,000 beast army sharpened their swords and began to indulge their desires.
They killed people when they saw them, plundered and took away pretty women when they saw them, snatched away property when they saw them, and either smashed or set fire to the good things that they couldn't take away.
Men, women, old and young, regardless of their identity, coming or going, they will be killed on sight.
See villages destroy villages, see towns destroy towns, see villagers kill villagers, see citizens kill citizens.
In short, as long as they are alive, they must be killed.
From the 23rd to the 25th, Kong Yanzhou's troops completely destroyed Caozhou and Shanzhou. In these few days alone, his beast army killed more than 40,000 people. On average, each person killed Two civilians were lost.
Of course, civilians will not just stand around waiting for them to kill them. As long as there is a chance to escape, they will definitely escape.
As a result, more people became refugees, looking for places to hide, dragging their families and fleeing in all directions, with cries and shouts resounding throughout the land.
Amidst the wails, Caozhou and Shanzhou were completely reduced to scorched earth.
Afterwards, the 20,000 beast army returned fully loaded under Kong Yanzhou's order. Before leaving, they did not forget to destroy roads, bridges, dig pits, and completely destroy the tactical value of the two states.
When Zhao Kaishan got the relevant report and decided to march into the army, all he got was scorched earth and dead bodies.
Zhao Kaishan was shocked by this situation. He personally went to the scorched earth of Erzhou to check the situation. Everything he saw and heard shocked him and deeply shocked him.
The mutilated corpses, headless bodies, and various horrific scenes stimulated Zhao Kaishan's nerves.
He is more or less a person with relatively normal moral concepts in line with this era.
Facing the horrific things done by an inhumane bastard, he felt disgusted from the bottom of his heart.
And that's not all.
If this bastard is allowed to continue to do such things, killing all the people in the states and counties that surrendered to the Liberation Army as revenge, and the Liberation Army cannot protect the places that have surrendered, then the future of the Liberation Army will inevitably be ruined. It’s getting harder and harder to walk.
This is politically very detrimental to the continued development of the Liberation Army.
"Kong Yanzhou!!"
Zhao Kaishan angrily chanted Kong Yanzhou's name, gnashing his teeth in hatred for this inhumane bastard, wishing he could catch up with him right now and cut Kong Yanzhou into pieces.
Unfortunately, Kong Yanzhou had already run away. Before leaving, he destroyed the road to Shanzhou in Caozhou and destroyed all the ferries and bridges. This was to prevent the Liberation Army from catching up with him and prevent the Liberation Army from obtaining any supplies that could be used in combat.
At this point, Kong Yanzhou had offended Zhao Kaishan to death.
Zhao Kaishan thought carefully and felt that the conflict with Su Yonglin was temporarily buffered by the financial backer Wan Yanliang, so it was a feasible strategy to put aside the conflict with Su Yonglin for the time being and use Su Yonglin to continue to protect him from disasters in Hebei.
But he and Kong Yanzhou had a close blood feud. As long as he went west with all his strength, he could threaten Kaifeng. There was absolutely no reason not to do so.
He also had to do something to let everyone see what the consequences would be if he offended the Liberation Army!
So Zhao Kaishan immediately ordered the rear to provide him with logistics support. He established large camps in Caozhou and Shanzhou, reorganized troops and horses, repaired roads, filled pits, and built naval warships and simple bridges to facilitate the passage of the army.
When everything is ready, he will cross the Yellow River and launch an attack on Kaifeng, making Kong Yanzhou pay the price for what he did.
But this time it was Zhao Kaishan himself who paid a greater price.
Because Caozhou and Shanzhou were completely destroyed, it was impossible to collect usable strategic materials on the spot, so everything had to be transported from the rear.
Officials in charge of the logistics department complained, and there was also great resentment among the people.
The Battle of Daming Mansion had just ended, and they didn't even remember taking a break before starting to take action again.
They are really tired.
