July is a hot month, and as we enter July, the weather becomes cooler day by day. The chirping cicadas on the trees gradually disappeared, the crops in the fields gradually matured, and even the sky became exceptionally blue. There has been more rain, the river has swelled, and the river workers on the river have become busier day by day.
On the second day of July, Zhao Ding left Luoyang City and rushed to Jinzhou. He wanted to arrive before the Shaanxi Army arrived in Jinzhou to facilitate command.
Crossed the Yellow River from Mengzhou and arrived outside Jiyuan City. Riding on his horse, Zhao Ding saw an endless stream of vehicles coming from Huaizhou on the road, almost endless in sight. Qi Chongli said to Qi Chongli beside him: "This is war! The frontline has not started fighting, but supplies are being transported in a continuous stream from the rear. In the final analysis, war is about money and food!"
After saying that, he called a man from the roadside and asked, "What are the vehicles carrying over there? Food and grass?"
The man smiled and said: "In the past, we had to cross a mountain road from Jiyuan, and transportation was inconvenient. How far is Huaizhou from the Jinzhou front line? How is it possible to transport food from here! What is transported from here to the front line are artillery shells. Each car, It’s all about cannonballs!”
Zhao Ding was surprised: "So many cannonballs? The cannonballs can be recovered for use after being fired. Why do you need so many?"
The man said: "How do I know? I just heard people say it's a cannonball."
Zhao Ding thanked him. Looking at the vehicles over there, I feel even more terrifying. What I just said is right, this is war, and just looking at the scale of logistics is scary.
The car was certainly not full of shells. On the front line, after the war, artillery shells can be recycled, and the amount of use is not unlimited. In fact, the vehicles carry more landmines, grenades, etc. The villagers didn't recognize it and didn't know how to use it, so they just used it as cannonballs.
After passing Jiyuan and climbing over Wangwu Mountain, we arrived at Jiangxian County. Zhao Ding did not delay in Jiangxian County, rested for a night, and arrived at Zhengping County, Jiangzhou's residence.
As soon as we arrived in Zhengping County, we saw white sails stretching to the sky on the Fen River, and boats in a line, pulled by trackers on the shore all the way north. On the bow of the ship, the general in charge of the ship stood facing the wind and looked at the trackers on the shore.
Zhao Ding stood on the shore and watched for a long time. He sighed and said to the entourage behind him: "This scene must have been like this for several months. Wang Xuanfu has suffered too much in the Taiyuan battle and really cannot accept defeat. We must have the Shaanxi army participate in the war. Maybe we are wrong. .”
Xiang Ziyi said: "Now the arrow is on the string and must be fired! Why does the commander-in-chief say these words to shake the morale of the army?"
Zhao Ding nodded: "Yes, we can't shake the morale of the army! The further away I am from Luoyang, the more I feel that I am too harsh on Wang Xuanfu, and I feel a little ashamed. But now everything is ready, and we only need to wait for the war to start, and then we can shake the morale of the army."
After saying that, he was greeted by the Jiangzhou magistrate and Zhengping magistrate and entered Jiangzhou City.
When he arrived at the yamen and sat down, Zhizhou said: "Two days ago, Wu Zhizhi brought a message and asked the governor to stay for a day or two after arriving in the state. He was on the boat behind and would accompany the governor when he arrived in Jiangzhou. The lower official had prepared a carriage. , the road ahead has been repaired, and the governor can travel by car."
Zhao Ding said: "My back and back are really sore from riding horses these days. It would be better to ride in a car. I haven't ridden horses for many years. I am too old to ride anymore."
After chatting for a few words, Zhao Ding went back to rest. That night, Zhizhou held a banquet to welcome Zhao Ding, so he stayed in Jiangzhou Post House.
On the morning of the third day, as soon as Zhao Ding got up, he got news that Wu Jie had arrived. He hurriedly sent someone to pick him up and met him at the post house.
Wu Jie entered the post house and saw Zhao Ding sitting peacefully in the hall. He hurried forward to salute and greet.
Zhao Ding gave him a seat and said to Wu Jie: "Zhizhi came so quickly! It's mid-July now. Where are your troops now?"
Wu Jie said: "The forwards have already reached Jinzhou, and the rearguard is still more than a hundred miles behind. According to estimates, they will not reach the Jinzhou front line in August."
Zhao Ding said: "Time is tight. However, I see that the transportation of supplies is busy along the way. It is not easy for Wang Xuanfu to squeeze out the ship to transport you to the front line. Don't complain, it is difficult for everyone."
Wu Jie said: "How can we dare to complain? We know that Wang Xuanfu is not easy, and we are only grateful."
Although he said this, in his heart, Wu Jie still felt that Wang Xiaolie was different from others in that the frontline supplies were too abundant. They are all people who lead troops to fight. Wu Jie knows the general situation of the Song army. How can there be such a situation? It is rare for the soldiers on the front line to have enough to eat and not go hungry. How could it be possible that like Wang Xiaolie's army, they also pay attention to the combination of meat and vegetables, and pay attention to staple and non-staple food. They all go to the front line and eat whatever they can get.
Including the Shaanxi army, Jinzhou has a total of more than 200,000 troops. There were as many as 600,000 to 700,000 civilians participating in the transportation at the rear. The transported supplies include everything from weapons and equipment to daily necessities and even entertainment facilities for soldiers.
In this era, Wang Xiaolie was considered rich, so of course he would not suffer the hardships of the soldiers on the front line. Food: rice, millet, white flour, all available. There are all kinds of liquor, wine and rice wine to drink. Some troops even have juicers so that soldiers can drink pomegranate juice, peach juice and other drinks.
Compared with Wang Xiaolie's army, any other army is like a beggar. Along the way, Wu Jie saw the configuration of Wang Xiaolie's army on the boat and drooled with envy. Compared with this, his own army really looks like beggars.
The Battle of Taiyuan, under the rule of Wang Xiaolie, mobilized all states and counties. It was a battle that began to take shape as a general war. Under the power of money, materials from the rear are continuously transported to the front line, with little impact on people's livelihood.
Zhao Ding said: "How are the troops of Liu Qi and Guan Shigu? You can't attack Taiyuan in August without either of you."
Wu Jie said: "Liu Qi has arrived in Jinzhou, and Guan Shigu is still behind. However, their army is similar to mine, and they are still on the way. Liu Qi's army rushed faster, and most of them have arrived. Guan Shigu The army is slower and not two or three hundred miles behind."
Zhao Ding nodded. Then he asked: "Where will you station yourself after arriving in Jinzhou? There is no room for more than 200,000 troops in Jinzhou city."
Wu Jie said: "Wang Xuanfu arranged for us to be stationed in the three counties of Hongdong, Zhaocheng and Huoyi, and they will provide military rations. When attacking Taiyuan, it is convenient to start from these three places. However, they can only transport the military rations When we get to Huoyi, we have to rely on ourselves for the rest."
Zhao Ding said: "It is enough to transport food to Huoyi. There are mountain roads ahead, and there are not even people transporting food. It is one hundred and fifty miles from Huoyi to Jiexiu. This section of the road does not require many troops to transport food and grass. Now. It seems that Wang Xuanfu has supported everyone who can support us. Whether we can break Taiyuan depends on us."
Wu Jie nodded: "Yes, it depends on us. From Jiangzhou to Jinzhou, one hundred and fifty miles along the way, Wang Xuanfu's army is mainly stationed here. To the north of Jinzhou, the Shaanxi army is mainly stationed. It depends on Our victory is over."
