After Zhao Tai conquered Pi County, he did not stay in Pi County for long. The army continued southward, intending to clear out the Mongolian army on the north bank of the Huaihe River and capture Siyang, Shuyang, Haizhou, Lianshui and other places.
Because Mongolia will not be indifferent to the Jin army's attack on Shandong, and will definitely send a large army into Shandong. The Jin army may not be able to withstand the Mongolian reinforcements by then, so this battle must be fast, and the counties in Huaibei must be captured before the Mongolian reinforcements arrive.
At that time, the Jin army can rely on the city and the Southern Song Dynasty to the north to prevent the Mongolian reinforcements from going south to rescue Kuoduan.
If the Jin army could occupy Huaibei, it would separate the Southern Song Dynasty from contact with Mongolia on the eastern front, greatly reducing the threat from Mongolia to the Southern Song Dynasty.
In this case, Zhao Tai no longer has to worry about Mongolia, putting pressure on the Southern Song Dynasty and influencing the Southern Song Dynasty's decision-making.
On July 8, after Zhao Tai and Wuxian left more than a thousand men to guard Pi County, they led the army to continue southward. Soon they won another victory near Suqian and annihilated more than a thousand Mongolian troops.
At this time, the Mongolian army on the north bank of the Huaihe River had already learned about the Jin army's crossing of the river, and began to withdraw to Siyang, Lianshui and other places in the south to hold on.
On the west bank of the canal, the Jin Army on the South Road is advancing rapidly southward along the canal.
The cavalry of the armed guards attacked everywhere, looking for traces of the Mongolian army and inquiring about the situation to the south.
After experiencing the offensive and defensive battle in Pi County and another small victory in Suqian, the morale of the Jin Army on the South Road was high. Soldiers wearing armor and holding spears marched neatly along the river bank. Military flags were flying in the wind, and convoys transporting supplies stretched for several miles. It looks extremely spectacular.
Under the banner, Zhao Tai and Wu Xian were proudly riding their war horses. The soldiers beside them were holding maps and explaining the situation ahead to them.
"Commander, Prime Minister Xuan! Twenty miles ahead is Siyang! If we win this place, we can face Chuzhou!"
Zhao Tai nodded, "By taking Siyang, we can rely on Chuzhou and get supplies and support from the Southern Song Dynasty. Even if the Mongolian reinforcements enter Shandong, we can deal with them for a while."
Wuxian said: "Now the Mongolian army on the north bank of the Huaihe River will definitely stick to Siyang to ensure that Kuoduan's retreat is not cut off. I don't know if Siyang is easy to fight."
Zhao Tai smiled and said: "The Mongolian army is great in field battles, but its defense of the city is average. In comparison, I am more concerned about the progress of the Northern Route Army."
When it comes to the Northern Route Army, Wu Xian is also a little worried, "The official slave leads 40,000 troops, as well as the elite Zhongxiao Army. The progress should be smoother than ours."
Zhao Taidao: "I am worried about the Mongolian army from Hebei entering Shandong."
Wuxian nodded, "The Mongolian army in Hebei will not sit idly by when they see us attacking Shandong. However, if there are 40,000 soldiers and slaves, they can resist for a while, so there should be no problem."
Zhao Tai said: "To be cautious, we still have to clear out the Huaibei Mongolian army as soon as possible to avoid being attacked from both sides."
Wu Xian was convinced, "Then order the army to speed up and strive to capture Siyang within three days."
"Report!" The two were talking when a group of cavalry came galloping over.
Zhao Tai and Wu Xian turned around and saw the cavalry chasing them from the north, and felt a shiver in their hearts.
The cavalry team rushed forward, and the leader got off his horse, saluted and reported: "Xuan Xiang, Mr. Hengshang, I am General Fan Ze, commanding Liu Fu from a hundred households, and I have been ordered to deliver important news."
"Fan Ze?" Zhao Tai and Wu Xian both frowned.
Isn't Fan Ze guarding the pontoon crossing the river in the north of Xuzhou? What news does he have to report?
Wu Xian looked confused, "Why did General Fan ask you to come here?"
Liu Fu replied: "Reporting to Mr. Hengshang, two days ago, Pu Chaguannu suddenly led the Northern Route Army to withdraw to the ferry. He claimed that the Mongolian army from Hebei entered Shandong and was pursuing the Northern Route Army. He ordered the entire army to cross the Yellow River and withdraw to Xuzhou."
Zhao Tai's pupils dilated, "Pu Inspector Pu has withdrawn to Xuzhou?"
Wu Xian was also shocked, "The North Route Army retreated, why didn't anyone notify me?"
This news was too shocking. Once the Northern Route Army withdrew, the Mongolian reinforcements could kick the South Route Army in the butt without any hindrance.
Liu Fudao: "General Fan asked Pucha Guannu, and he said that he had sent someone to notify the South Route Army, but until the North Route Army all retreated to Xuzhou, General Fan did not see any trace of the South Route Army. At this time, Pucha withdrew across the river. Official slave, in order to prevent the Mongolian army from attacking across the Yellow River, he also said that he would burn the pontoon bridge, so General Fan could only lead his brothers to burn the camp and retreat to the south bank."
Zhao Tai realized the seriousness of the situation and heard that Pu Chaoguan Nu not only retreated to Xuzhou, but also burned the pontoon bridge, which would simply kill him.
Zhao Tai asked in a deep voice: "Is the pontoon bridge burned now?"
Liu Fudao: "Burn it. General Fan asked the subordinates to come here to inform Prime Minister Xuan and Duke Hengshang that the Mongolian reinforcements have moved south, and to ask the Southern Route Army to quickly withdraw to Xuzhou."
"Retreat! How to retreat?" Wu Xian was so angry that he was trembling all over, "Pu Chaguan slave, straight mother thief! I can't spare you!"
Zhao Tai also had a sullen face. The two Jin armies in the north and south originally had a division of labor.
The main task of the North Route Army is to create a buffer zone to the north, delay the Mongolian reinforcements from moving south, clear the Mongolian troops in northern Huaihe for the South Route Army, and cooperate with the Song soldiers to encircle and annihilate Kuoduan to buy time.
Now the North Route Army retreated to Xuzhou without saying a word, and the South Route Army's back was immediately exposed.
At this time, the Mongolian army moved south, and the Southern Route Army immediately fell into a situation where it was attacked from both sides.
Pu Cha Guan Nu said that he had sent someone to notify the South Route Army, but Zhao Tai and Wuxian did not receive the news. Only Pu Cha Guan Nu himself knew whether he had sent someone.
Now that Pu Chaguan's slaves have withdrawn to Xuzhou and burned the pontoon bridge, the South Route Army was unable to collect ships and enough materials to build a pontoon bridge in a short period of time.
Zhao Tai thought that after he arrived in Xuzhou, Pu Chaoguannu changed his previous attitude and was quite attentive to him. Thinking about it now, he might not have had good intentions at that time.
Zhao Tai was taught a lesson by Pu Chaguan slave, which made him understand the truth. When a vicious and vicious person is very attentive to you, he is probably plotting against you.
Zhao Tai tried to keep himself calm. The more times like this, the more the coach must not panic.
He looked at Liu Fu and asked, "Do you know the movements of the Mongolian reinforcements?"
If the Mongolian reinforcements are still far away, Zhao Tai may still have time to retreat.
"Reporting to Prime Minister Xuan, the Mongolian cavalry arrived at the ferry as soon as we withdrew." Liu Fu said, cupping his fists.
After Zhao Tai heard this, he knew that the Mongolian cavalry was very close to him.
At this moment, another horse came galloping from the north and shouted loudly from afar: "Report!"
Zhao Tai and Wu Xian turned around and saw a knight covered in blood and looking quite embarrassed running over. When they got closer, Wu Xian's expression changed drastically.
Zhao Tai was shocked when he saw the person coming. He was Qian Hu, a member of the armed guards who were staying in Pi County.
The knight galloped up to him, rolled off his horse, and said, "Commander, Prime Minister! Pi County has been conquered by the Mongolian soldiers. Woohoo~~~~"
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