Tongzhou is located in the hinterland of the Songliao Plain. It is a key thoroughfare connecting Liaoning to Beijing and Tokyo. It is a key place. Under the background of the Han-Liao War and the direct impact of the Liaodong War, its status also changed in a short period of time. It skyrocketed in more than a month.
Today, on the Liao side, this city has succeeded Liaoyang and become the political and military center of the Liao's rule over the northeastern region. Of course, this elevated political status during the war seemed so illusory, a little desolate, and even ironic.
This is the direct impact of the defeat in the Liaodong battlefield. At the same time, the territory that it can directly control and maintain a certain degree of influence is already very limited, and it is even more of a corner compared to the vast Northeast. And Yelv Xiezhen could only rely on this corner of the country to resist the unrelenting and aggressive Han army.
The Haidong land in the rear that relied on it still belonged to the Liao Kingdom in name, but in fact, it was completely out of control. Those troubles in Shiwei and Jurchen that had never been completely eradicated, unsurprisingly took the opportunity to attack, and the old land of Bohai Sea was also full of rebellion. Various tribes and tribes rushed to revolt, resisted the rule of Liao Ting, and expelled those who massacred Khitan. The generals used simple, crude, fierce and cruel methods to destroy the Liao Kingdom's rule over the Northeast region.
Because rebellions have spread throughout the territory, many states and departments have lost contact. Among the officials and generals of the Liao Kingdom, there may be some who are loyal and waiting for help, but most of them directly change the king's flag, change their appearance, and take the opportunity to fight for power and profit. of.
Many tribes, officials, and generals under the rule of the Liao Kingdom have already established their own clans. They even took some letters of appointment from the Han Dynasty and started to seize territory and annex tribes under the banner of the Han Dynasty...
Counting from Yelu Abaoji's eastern expedition to the Bohai Kingdom, the Liao Kingdom has ruled the Northeast for almost fifty years. Half a century is not too short. The work of assimilation and rule of the local area has also been ongoing, and the effects have been good.
However, the facts have proven that the rule that originally seemed to be relatively stable was so fragile and collapsed so fast that people were completely unable to react. The failure on the frontal battlefield had such a huge impact that even through some careful spies, it caused chaos and was out of control. Yelv Xiezhen wanted to rely on him to defend the enemy's rear, but eventually collapsed first and became a thorn in his back.
Similar to Liaoyang, Tongzhou was also in chaos, with the army and the people in disarray, and all kinds of people gathered in Tongyuan City. There are local tribesmen and civilians, refugees who have suffered from war, nobles who have fled, and defeated troops who have broken up.
The influx of a large number of people directly exceeded the carrying capacity of this originally inconspicuous city. Even with Yelu Xiezhen's strong management, it was only a temporary solution but not the root cause.
The most basic point is, how can we fill and feed so many mouths? After the protracted battle with the Han army in Liaodong, various supplies had been severely consumed. The Battle of Liaohe River even caused the large amount of food and baggage that had been exploited and plundered from the cities in Liaodong to retreat northward to defend were completely destroyed.
Therefore, for the remnants of the Liao army that retreated to Tongzhou, although the threat from the Han army in the south was huge, the most urgent crisis was food and military supplies.
After retreating to Tongzhou, Yelv Xiezhen not only reorganized the army and strengthened the city defenses to wait for the Han army, but also focused most of his energy on raising military supplies. The situation was bad enough, but what troubled him the most was this matter. This was an urgent problem that had to be solved.
For this reason, Yelv Xiezhen also used all means, even more than before, leaving no escape route and regardless of the consequences. All people who fled to Tongzhou, regardless of their status, had their property, food and clothing confiscated. At the same time, troops were sent to plunder all the people's food, property and livestock. As long as they could be used, they were gathered in Tongyuan City.
Yelv Xiezhen sent several armies to the north and east, not only to wipe out the rebels, pacify the rebels, and try to restore stability in the rear, but also to "recruit" grain and livestock, so as to export grain.
At the same time, the refugees in Tongzhou were also selected, and the strong and strong laborers were incorporated into the army. All other old, weak, women and children were expelled, and they were sent with a small amount of rations and rushed to Shangjing. Life or death was no longer considered. In this way, it also alleviates a certain amount of logistical pressure.
There were also some nobles and officials who fled to Tongzhou, and they were also unlucky. Many of them had a destination other than Tongzhou, but wanted to flee and seek refuge in Beijing. However, Yelv Xiezhen refused. Not only were the people detained, but the property, cattle and horses they brought were also confiscated for military use.
Under such circumstances, it is conceivable that the people in Tongzhou City are distracted and complaining. The most unpleasant thing is the loss of military morale. Even though Yelu Xiezhen has tried hard to boost it and rewarded the looted gold, silver and jade, it has not restored morale.
That is to say, the troops sent out to quell the rebellion achieved some victories, brought back some captures, and gave the Liao army a good meal, which finally calmed the morale of the army a little.
However, the mood of failure and despair still spread among the Liao army and enveloped the city. No matter what, it would not go away. After the Battle of Liaohe, Yelu Xiezhen's lofty prestige also suffered a major blow. Many people in the Liao army lost confidence in Yelu Xiezhen and did not believe that he could lead them to victory again.
And the loss of confidence is also the most terrifying.
This year's autumn wind seems to be particularly cold. Although the sky is clear and the clouds are clear, the entire Tongyuan City seems to be shrouded in a haze. It was very quiet inside and outside the city. Apart from the sound of wind and animals, it was almost impossible to hear the sound of people.
On top of the city, the flag of the Liao Kingdom was still flying, but it gave people a shaky feeling. The soldiers were fairly well guarded, and patrolling Liao soldiers passed by from time to time, but everyone seemed to be restrained by an invisible pressure.
Tongyuan City was not only the last and most important base for the Liao Kingdom to defend the Northeast, but at the same time, it seemed to have become a cage, restraining Yelu Xiezhen and all the people he "kidnapped".
Standing on the city wall and looking around, you can see acres of farmland surrounded by two rivers, showing desolation and destruction. In the past season, birds and beasts were eating among them. However, this year, due to the war, the land was abandoned and the land was abandoned. Birds and beasts don't want to visit anymore.
Yelu Xiezhen stood solemnly at the top of the city, with the desolate wind blowing on his face, chilling his heart. He was not yet forty, but his age was evident and his hair was pale. Even compared with just a few months ago, he looked so much younger. It's almost two people.
Failure, especially heart-wrenching and unforgettable failure, is often a catalyst for time...and it was the same for Yelu Xiezhen.
Looking at the desolate scene below the city and feeling the gloomy atmosphere inside the city, Yelu Xiezhen's eyes were a little blurred, and his mood was hard to describe in words. No one understands the current situation better than him. The end is not yet over, but in the end there is no hope or way out. In a daze, he even saw the fate of himself, Tongyuan City, and the remnants of the Liao army.
Perhaps, there is still a way out, which is to lead the remaining troops and retreat westward to Beijing, but that is destined to be a difficult road. Whether it is because of personal face, pride or anything else, he has chosen to reject that decision.
Regarding the loss of Liaodong, Emperor Yelvxian of Liao still did not blame him. Even after receiving the battle report, they sent a consolation edict as quickly as possible, and still put him in charge of the Northeast War, coordinating military affairs, and defending the Han army.
Behind this magnanimity and trust, Yelv Xiezhen could clearly detect the mixed emotions of anger, disappointment and dissatisfaction.
Yelu Xiezhen himself also understood that he had no other way out. If he chose to escape back to Shangjing, he would probably end up facing death. After all, ignoring the imperial edict and abandoning Liaoyang without permission, which eventually led to the great defeat in Liaohe, was already a capital crime.
The reason why Yelv Xian handed over all the military and political affairs of the Northeast to Yelv Xiezhen was because Yelv Xian had already chosen to give up. He, Yelv Xiezhen, was the same as the huge Northeast, an object of abandonment, and he no longer held the Hope...
