In the wilderness, military tents were densely covered, and soldiers of all ethnic groups shuttled between them. The Mongolian army was extremely powerful.
Watching such a scene, Wokuotai couldn't help but sigh. Everyone around him also felt that no one could resist the powerful Mongolia.
Mongolia made careful arrangements for this southern expedition, and judging from the current situation, it seems that everything is going according to Ogedai's design.
This made Wokuotai full of expectations for this southern expedition, and at the same time full of confidence.
At this time, Wokuotai sighed, which attracted the support of the generals, and Subutai said: "The Great Khan was wise and used strategies to stabilize the southerners in Xiangyang and Hanzhong. Now the southerners are unprepared. This southern expedition will definitely arrive soon. Success."
Wo Kuotai nodded, turned around and asked, "Is there any news from Shandong?"
Yang Weizhong said: "After Prince Kublai Khan entered Shandong, he was invincible. Wuxian and Li Fen fled, and only Zhao Thief held on to the isolated city of Pizhou."
"Good!" Although Wo Kuotai was fighting openly and covertly with the Tuo Lei family, when he heard that Kublai Khan had wiped out Shandong, Wo Kuotai still exclaimed in admiration, "Pizhou is a small city that cannot be defended by the Zhao thieves. It seems that this Khan should Troops are dispatched!”
After Wokuotai finished speaking, Yang Weizhong did not agree. He immediately realized something and couldn't help asking, "Is there something unexpected?"
Yang Weizhong said: "Reporting to the Great Khan, the Zhao thieves are so stubborn that it will take some time to break through the city!"
Wo Kuotai frowned slightly and cursed in his mind, "It's Zhao Tai again!"
Wo Kuotai breathed out a breath, and after thinking about it carefully, he felt a little strange. Pizhou was not a fortified city, and Kublai Khan had Han troops who were good at attacking cities to help him. How could he be stopped by Zhao Tai, so he asked: "Kublai Khan What's going on? He can't even take down a small town in Pizhou. If he can't clear out Shandong, it won't affect this Khan's plan."
Wokuotai claimed that he would only attack Zhao Tai and not the Southern Song Dynasty. He intended to stabilize the Song army first and wait for Kublai Khan to clear Shandong before suddenly entering Jianghuai.
As a result, the Southern Song Dynasty's garrison in Kaifeng will lose supplies. When his army leaves Hulao eastward, it can easily destroy the elite Song army in Kaifeng.
By then, the Southern Song Dynasty's defense forces in the Jianghuai River would be wiped out, and the upstream rescue would be unable to reach them. If the Mongolian army crossed the Yangtze River, it would not be impossible for the Southern Song Dynasty to be destroyed.
Now Kublai Khan is stuck in Pizhou and cannot outflank Jianghuai, which undoubtedly affects Ogedai's plan.
Yang Weizhong said: "Great Khan, according to the news from Prince Kublai Khan, it is because there is a new trebuchet in Pizhou City! The trebuchet has a long range and is powerful. Prince Kublai Khan said it will take some time to break the city."
"Then Zhao Thief likes to tinker with some novel things, but I don't think a trebuchet can change the strength gap!" Subotai didn't care: "Khan, I think there is only one Pizhou City, even if Zhao Thief is made of iron , can hit a few nails. Our army is ready, and it will be a matter of time for Prince Kublai Khan to conquer Pizhou, so why not attack directly now."
Wo Kuotai had a sullen face and quickly calculated in his mind that Kaifeng was a fortified city and there were tens of thousands of elite Song troops in the city.
Last year, he besieged it for several months. It was not until the city ran out of food that the Mongolian army broke through Kaifeng and destroyed the Jin Kingdom.
The details of the Song Army's Wo Kuotai have not yet been fully understood. If he attacks Kaifeng now, he may not be able to capture it quickly.
If Kublai Khan was blocked by Pizhou and could not go south to outflank Jianghuai and defeat the psychological defense line of the Song army in Kaifeng, the Mongolian army might have a hard fight in Kaifeng.
Thinking of this, Wo Kuotai looked at Yang Weizhong and asked, "What do you think?"
Yang Weizhong said: "Report to the Great Khan! I thought that the Southern Song Dynasty has not sent troops now, so we might as well defeat them one by one and wait until Prince Kublai Khan takes Pizhou. We have been waiting for so long, and we don't care about waiting a few more days!"
Wokuotai nodded. He was not absolutely sure about sending troops now, but if Kublai Khan defeated Pizhou and he took action again, it would be a sure-win situation.
"Okay! Send someone to urge Kublai Khan, and I will wait for him for a few more days!" Wokuotai said loudly.
At this time, Yang Weizhong was about to salute and accept his order, when a group of cavalry came galloping from a distance.
Not long after, the cavalry galloped down the hillside, dismounted, hurried up the mountain, saluted and reported, "Great Khan! Information sent from the south."
Wo Kuotai raised his eyebrows and said, "Bring it over and let me have a look!"
The cavalryman walked up to the horse and presented the information to Wo Kuotai. After taking it, he glanced at it quickly and his brows immediately furrowed into the Chinese character "Chuan".
"Great Khan! What information is this?" Yang Weizhong couldn't help asking.
Wokuotai put away the information, but suddenly gave an order: "Send the order and immediately summon the generals of more than ten thousand households to go to the big tent to discuss matters. I am going to send troops to Kaifeng!"
Yang Weizhong was startled, wondering why Wo Kuotai changed his mind, but he immediately realized, "Did the Southern Song Dynasty take action?"
Wo Kuotai nodded and said in a deep voice: "The Southern Song Dynasty is sending more troops to the Jianghuai River. I can't wait any longer."
In terms of national strength, the Southern Song Dynasty and the Jin Kingdom had been at odds with each other for hundreds of years, and their strength was naturally equivalent to that of the Jin Kingdom.
It took more than twenty years for Mongolia to destroy the gold. During this period, it suffered many defeats and lost many warriors.
Therefore, Wo Kuotai does not dare to underestimate the Southern Song Dynasty too much at the moment. The success of his plan this time mainly depends on the results of the sneak attack.
If the Southern Song Dynasty was prepared, it would be more difficult to fight the Song Dynasty.
Knowing that his guess was good, Yang Weizhong stroked his beard and said in a deep voice: "It is already December, and in a while, the Huaihe River will thaw. If the Southern Song Dynasty was prepared and strengthened its defenses in the Jianghuai River, it would indeed affect The Khan’s plan.”
Wokuotai said solemnly: "That's why I want to attack Kaifeng and attract the troops sent to Kaifeng from the Southern Song Dynasty. By then, after Kublai Khan captures Pizhou, he can easily enter Huainan."
Yang Weizhong pondered and nodded, "In this case, the Song army in Kaifeng and the reinforcements will definitely be in chaos. Once Prince Kublai Khan captures Huainan, Kaifeng will become an isolated city, and the defenders will definitely have no intention of holding on. By then, the Great Khan will be surrounded by three and one missing, waiting for them Break through the encirclement and use your troops to cover it up, the Song army can break it in one battle!"
Wokuotai pulled the reins of his horse, turned its head, and rushed down the hillside while saying, "Send an order to Kublai Khan! Before the fifteenth day, he must capture Pizhou and then go south to attack Huainan."
Wokuotai led everyone back to the camp. Not long after, the Chinese army sounded the horn of gathering generals, and the leaders of all tribes and households gathered in the big tent.
The Mongolian army had gathered around Luoyang and had been preparing for several months. They were already ready for the expedition.
Therefore, when Wokuotai issued the military order, the generals of the various ministries had almost no objections and followed the order.
Not long after, the cavalry from each Mongolian battalion went ahead. The infantry packed up their tents and baggage, then marched eastward with carts and cattle and sheep.
"Great Khan! We in Mongolia have gathered our elite troops to attack the Southern Song Dynasty. We will win this battle!" Yang Weizhong looked at the army that stretched for dozens of miles and couldn't help but sigh.
Wokuotai stationed his horse at a high place and said loudly to the generals: "This battle is guaranteed to be won but not defeated. All troops must use their lives!"
After finishing speaking, he clamped his horse's belly, waved his whip, and led the generals into the team, heading for Kaifeng.
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