On the morning of April 3, troops led by Zhao Kui and Wuxian arrived one after another. With their arrival, the Song army that besieged the Mongolian army had as many as 200,000 troops.
Zhao Kui was the privy envoy and the highest military officer of the Song Dynasty. When he arrived at the foot of Hengjian Mountain, the Song armies had a unified command in name.
When Zhao Tai learned of Zhao Kui's arrival, he immediately led his confidants to the Forbidden Army camp.
At the foot of Hengjian Mountain, the Song Army did not dare to attack the mountain rashly, but the Qi Army and the Huai Army all sent troops to patrol the foot of the mountain, constantly provoking the Mongolian army on the mountain. Only the Chu Army, after the attack was thwarted, the camp There was no movement inside.
Zhao Tai came out of the Qi army camp. Along the way, he could see various Song army units. They went to the village three or four miles away from the foot of the mountain. Several deep ditches were dug around them, and sharpened moso bamboos were arranged inside. The dug soil was not wasted. Behind the deep ditches Build an earth wall.
This forced Zhao Tai to admit that the Song Army's infantry was very good at setting up camp and preventing cavalry raids, and the camp strength was no less than that of the Qi Army.
After the Mongolian army defeated the Chu army yesterday, their morale recovered. Especially the arrival of Shi Songzhi's envoy rekindled the hope of Kublai Khan and the Mongolian generals.
When Zhao Tai came to Zhao Fan's camp on horseback, he saw the Mongolian army on the mountain. Hundreds of horses rushed out to attack the provocative Song army. The Song soldiers were frightened and hurriedly formed a formation. When the tiger cavalry camp came galloping over, the Mongolian army saw no chance. After taking advantage of it, we returned to the mountain.
At this time, Zhao Tai rode to meet Zhao Fan in front of his camp. When the two saw the scene just now, Zhao Fan couldn't help but frown.
"It seems that the Chu army suffered a defeat yesterday, which allowed the Mongolian army to regain its morale." Zhao Fan said with a stern face.
Zhao Tai sneered, "Does Zhizhi think it's just because Chu soldiers were frustrated in their attack on the mountain?"
Zhao Fan frowned and looked at Zhao Tai, "Your Highness, what's the reason for this difficulty?"
Zhao Tai did not go directly to Zhao Kui's camp, but came to find Zhao Fan first, hoping to inform Zhao Fan first and then inform Zhao Kui through him.
"I got news last night that someone sent an envoy privately to negotiate peace with Kublai Khan." Zhao Tai said: "The Tatars were originally in a desperate situation, but now that they have a way out, they naturally become arrogant."
Zhao Fan looked surprised, "Is there such a thing? Who has a personal opinion of Kublai Khan?"
Zhao Tai didn't answer. Zhao Fan thought about it calmly and knew who it was, "It's Shi Songzhi!"
Zhao Tai nodded, and then said earnestly: "Zhizhi Envoy! The Tartars have no faith. To them, the peace agreement is just a piece of paper. As long as they feel that they can take advantage of launching a war, they will tear it up without hesitation. At the beginning, This was the case between the Jin Kingdom and the Song Dynasty. They signed peace treaties many times, only to be torn up again and again. Until the offensive and defensive forces changed, the peace treaty could be maintained for a long time. If the imperial court wanted to negotiate peace, it thought it would destroy Kublai Khan and leave Mongolia injured. Only bones can negotiate peace, and we must not let go of the 30,000 Mongolians, otherwise there will be endless troubles."
Zhao Fan nodded and understood what Zhao Tai meant, "I understand what His Highness means. I will meet with the Privy Council later and I will advance and retreat together with His Highness."
Zhao Tai nodded with satisfaction, "The envoy of Zhizhi understands the righteousness."
While he was talking, a group of messenger soldiers came over from a distance, but it was Zhao Kui who wanted to summon the generals to discuss matters.
Zhao Tai was about to go to Zhao Kui camp, and then went to Zhao Kui camp to attend a meeting with Zhao Fan.
The two of them were riding horses. Along the way, they could see military camps spreading out at the foot of Hengjian Mountain, with countless soldiers passing through them.
On the road connecting the military camp to the outside, there are groups of people pushing wheelbarrows to transport grain and grass supplies to the army.
Zhao Fan said with emotion: "Those are the people of Lianghuai. They heard that we surrounded the Mongols. Under the organization of various counties, they came to send us military rations and equipment, just so that we could avenge them."
This time the Mongols invaded Huainan, causing extremely serious damage to the area. Wherever the Mongolian army passed, villages were burned and people were killed. The losses were incalculable.
Zhao Tai nodded slightly, "Zhizhi Envoy, we can't let the people down!"
Zhao Fan reluctantly nodded, "Let's go!"
The two of them continued to move forward, and soon arrived at Zhao Kui's camp. The forbidden troops in the camp were building a camp, and the two of them went directly to Zhao Kui's tent.
In the big tent, Zhao Kui was checking documents. When he heard that the two men were arriving, he immediately stood up to greet them, "Haha, I just sent messengers to summon all the commanders to discuss matters. How come His Highness is here?"
Zhao Kui asked the two of them to sit down. After Zhao Tai sat down, he smiled and said, "I happened to have something to discuss with the Privy Councilor, so I arrived first."
Zhao Kui asked his guards to watch tea and sat down to talk to the two of them, "Oh. But what about the siege of Hengjian Mountain?"
Zhao Tai shook his head, and Zhao Fan said: "Master Privy Council, Your Highness has received news that Shi Songzhi secretly negotiated peace with Kublai Khan!"
Zhao Kui was stunned when he heard this and his face darkened. Zhao Fan told Zhao Kui what Zhao Tai said again.
This time the Song army won a great victory in Chuzhou and surrounded the Mongolian army in Hengjian Mountain, sweeping away the haze for many days.
Zhao Kui was very happy at first, but after hearing the two people's accounts, his mood immediately hit rock bottom.
Zhao Tai and military advisor Wang Bin were able to realize that the policy of the Southern Song Dynasty court would change. As a senior member of the court, Zhao Kui was naturally not a fool. He thought about it and knew that the situation was changing.
However, as a minister of the Song Dynasty, even if he guessed that the main fighting faction would gradually lose power, he had no choice but to feel sad.
In an imperial society, if the peace negotiation was just the intention of a few ministers such as Shi Songzhi, Zhao Kui could fight, but if the emperor also wanted it and was determined, then Zhao Kui would be powerless.
After all, he was a minister of the Song Dynasty and was loyal to the Emperor of the Song Dynasty. He could not resist like Zhao Tai and go against the emperor's will.
As a minister of the Song Dynasty, Zhao Kui knew the Song Dynasty better than Zhao Tai and Wang Bin, so after listening to their words, he felt more pessimistic and helpless than Zhao Tai and Wang Bin.
Before Duanping entered Luo, the emperor still had ambitions. After Duanping entered Luo, according to Zhao Kui's observation, the emperor had already settled down and accepted the fact that he was in peace.
The Mongolian invasion of the south frightened the emperor. In order to pursue a stable life and stable rule, the emperor would probably insist on peace talks.
Zhao Kui was silent for a long time and said to Zhao Tai: "I know about your highness's worries. Now it's just Shi Songzhi privately suing for peace. As long as the court doesn't replace me, I will be the Privy Envoy of the court and will command all ministries to eliminate them." The enemies on the mountain seek peace for the people of the Song Dynasty for ten years!"
Zhao Tai stood up and solemnly raised his hands, "With these words from the Prime Minister, I can rest assured."
At this time, Shi Songzhi and others arrived outside the tent. After Zhao Kui got the report, he could only stop talking and let the generals outside come in.
"See you, Mr. Privy Council!" Shi Songzhi entered the tent and saw Zhao Tai and Zhao Tai already seated. He was slightly startled, and then led the generals of the Chu army to salute.
There was no expression on Zhao Kui's face. He glanced at everyone and waved: "Thank you for your hard work, please sit down without courtesy!"
