On the 28th, the Mongolian Communist Party encountered Kublai Khan. On the 29th, Kublai Khan took the lead in attacking.
On the 30th, Zhao Tai learned that there was a fierce battle between the Song Army and the Mongolian Army in Chuzhou.
At noon that day, Zhao Tai led nearly 100,000 troops across the canal, and the army rushed all the way to Changtian County within Xuyi Army territory.
At this time, the Tiger Cavalry Battalion galloped forward to keep an eye open for the army to avoid being ambushed by the Mongolian army, while the infantry army ran and advanced westward.
For a time, the land of Huaixi was densely packed with soldiers wearing armor, holding spears, or holding shields and carrying divine arm bows.
The battle flags of the Qi army were flying, and the team was huge. If the men and horses transporting grain, grass and baggage were included in the rear, the marching team would spread for dozens of miles in front and back, making the scene extremely spectacular.
The army was huge, and there were teams marching like long snakes on the official roads and along the paths.
Zhao Tai was stationed by the road on horseback, followed by Zhao Fan and others, holding a map and introducing the situation ahead.
"Your Highness, the investigation is clear!" Zhao Fan said: "It's the Chu army that's coming!"
After learning that there was a fierce battle in Chuzhou, Zhao Fan immediately sent people to investigate the situation, and soon received news that it was Chu soldiers who were supposed to attack the Central Plains.
Why did Chu soldiers appear in Huaixi? Zhao Fanyu could probably guess a thing or two after thinking about it.
Shi Songzhi, Zhao Fan and Zhao Kui were political enemies, and it was impossible for Shi Songzhi to be kind enough to help him. He came all the way, mostly to grab credit.
Yes, at this time, it didn't matter whether Shi Songzhi came to grab the credit. What mattered was to take this opportunity to severely damage Kublai Khan.
After this battle is fought, within a few years, Mongolia will not dare to go south.
Zhao Tai was surprised when he heard that it was the Chu army, "Do you know how many soldiers and horses there are and what their equipment is?"
Kublai Khan still had 100,000 troops, most of whom were Mongol elites.
On the Song Army's side, there were more than 70,000 Qi troops under Zhao Tai, and more than 70,000 Song troops controlled by the two brothers Zhao Fan and Zhao Kui, totaling nearly 150,000 horse infantry.
It seems that the Song army has an advantage in terms of strength, but in fact, nearly half of the Huaixi elite troops were lost when Duanping entered Luo. The remaining Huaixi elite troops were trapped in Kaifeng. The Zhao brothers had 70,000 Song troops and equipment. Although very sophisticated, they were pampered by the Central Forbidden Army of the Southern Song Dynasty.
These 70,000 people can still defend the city, but they will definitely not be able to fight a tough battle in the field, and they cannot expect too much.
Zhao Tai has more than 70,000 Qi troops under his command, and the Zhongyi and Wuwei troops are relatively stronger in terms of combat power. Li Fen has more than 30,000 Ning navy under his command, and their combat power can only be said to be slightly stronger than that of the Southern Song Dynasty Forbidden Army.
Therefore, among the 150,000 troops, there are actually less than 40,000 people who can actually carry the banner.
This is also the reason why Zhao Tai did not quickly go south after crossing the river to attack Kublai Khan with the Yangzhou defenders.
Now Zhao Tai needs to know what grade and strength level the Chu army has in order to decide whether to take a bite of Kublai Khan or eat up Kublai Khan's army in one go.
Zhao Tai was not clear about the Chu army's combat power, so he asked Zhao Fan.
Zhao Fandao: "According to the spies' report, the Chu soldiers who came have nearly 80,000 troops, with 30,000 forward troops led by the Meng Communists, and 50,000 rear troops, led by Shi Songzhi, the envoy of Zhizhi. Since Shi Songzhi has come, I It is estimated that the elite troops of the Chu army have arrived. The equipment and combat power of the Chu army should be on par with the elite troops of Huaixi among the armies of our dynasty."
Having said this, Zhao Fan turned slightly red, "There are several elite troops in the Chu army. One is the army under Yue Wumu, and the other is the Flying Tiger Army created by Xin Qiji. They are all very capable soldiers."
When Zhao Tai heard that 80,000 Chu soldiers had arrived, and the Meng Cong were the vanguard, and there were many elite soldiers, his eyes gradually became sharp, "It seems that the army that can participate in the siege of Kublai Khan can reach 230,000 people." Everyone, even more. This battle must be fought!"
What Zhao Tai is best at is using more to defeat less. This is how Wo Kuotai's son Kuo Duan fell into Zhao Tai's hands.
Zhao Tai didn't know much about the other Chu troops, but he had some understanding of Meng Gong and Xin Qiji's Flying Tiger Army.
With these two powerful forces, plus the Zhongyi and Wuwei armies, they should be able to fight with Kublai Khan in the field. In addition, there are more than 100,000 other Song troops shouting for help. Kublai Khan must be flustered.
Zhao Tai clenched his fists. Originally, he was only planning to bite Kublai Khan, but now he decided to eat Kublai Khan's army.
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If nearly 100,000 Mongolian troops were destroyed and Kublai Khan was captured, history would probably be rewritten.
"Ms. Zhao, where are we? How far are we from Chuzhou?" Zhao Tai asked immediately.
Zhao Fan took out the map and looked at it for a while, "The army has passed Tianchang. Eighty miles to the west, we can enter the boundary of Chuzhou."
"Eighty miles, two days left!" Zhao Tai's expression suddenly became solemn, "I wonder how the fight will go ahead?"
Zhao Fan said: "If the 80,000 Chu soldiers form a stronghold and fight together, they should be able to hold out for a few days without any problem."
Zhao Tai waved his hand, "Not necessarily. The Chu soldiers came all the way. They certainly didn't expect Kublai Khan to suddenly appear in Huaixi. I guess the Chu soldiers didn't have much preparation."
Zhao Fan nodded, with a hint of good looks on his face. If the army rushed over and the Mongolian army had defeated the Chu army, the situation would not be good.
By then, the morale of the army will definitely be shaken, and given the level of the Imperial Army, they may be so frightened that they turn around and run away.
At this time, Zhao Tai suddenly said: "When the order is given, the army marches with a roar, and then the cavalry is ordered to advance at full speed to reach the battlefield first."
Zhao Fan knew the soldiers well and immediately understood that Zhao Tai wanted to create momentum so that the Mongolian army could not attack the Song army with all its strength.
Zhao Fan turned his head and said, "Go! Do as His Highness wishes!"
Zhao Tai immediately said: "Where is Zhu Chaoyi!"
"The general is here!" A general clasped his fists on his horse.
Zhu Chaoyi and Li Chunzhu joined Zhao Tai and were very capable generals in the Zhongyi Army.
Zhao Tai looked at him and said in a deep voice, "Lead your troops and leave the brigade immediately, head north towards Haozhou, and collect all the ships on the south bank of the Huaihe River. The water camps in Chuzhou should have gone upstream now. Come on, you must prevent the Tatars from crossing the river before they arrive."
"Here!" Zhu Chaoyi immediately clasped his fists.
Zhao Tai then said to Zhao Fan: "Please also ask Mr. Zhao to arrange for several Huaixi troops to be guides to accompany Zhu Chaoyi!"
Zhao Fan understood that Zhao Tai had made many preparations. Now that the army was marching with great fanfare, Kublai Khan would most likely have two reactions after hearing the news.
The first is to continue to attack the Chu army and have a decisive battle with the main force of the Song army in Chuzhou.
The second is to rush north, cross the Huaihe River and escape to the Central Plains before the Song army encircles them.
If it is the second situation, if Zhao Tai sends this partial force, it will have a big effect.
Zhao Fan immediately made arrangements, nodded to everyone, and led a hundred people to accompany him.
After giving the instructions, Zhao Tai immediately gave the order, "Tell the soldiers that Kublai Khan is at the front! This prisoner must be captured alive in this battle, and the whole army speeds up."
"All troops, speed up!" The military order was passed on, and the officers on horseback shouted repeatedly.
The army marching in the wilderness, amidst the repeated military orders, spread their legs one after another, and started a wild ride on the land of Huaixi.
