The Song army now has to make two preparations. One is to try its best to seek peace in order to preserve 300,000 troops, and the other is to make preparations for a breakout.
If Zhao Tai does not agree to negotiate a peace, or the conditions are too harsh, then the Song army will break through directly.
In short, after the various ministries have completed their deployment, the Song army must leave immediately.
After Zhao Tai led the army to Pizhou City, he made contact with the Pizhou defenders and set up camp not far from Song Camp.
At present, in Pizhou, there are only 30,000 Qi troops inside and outside the city. Including the Xuanwu Army crossing the west bank of the canal, there are only 40,000 Qi troops.
Now Zhao Tai wants to use these 40,000 people to capture hundreds of thousands of Song soldiers and civilians. He must have a careful plan.
After Zhao Tai set up camp outside Pizhou City, he immediately summoned his subordinates for discussion.
In the big tent, senior generals of the Qi army gathered together. Zhao Tai was about to give a lecture when Zhao Hu hurried in and said, "Your Majesty, the navy has good news!"
Zhao Tai quickly took it, unfolded it and read it again, with a satisfied smile on his face, waving to the generals and saying: "Everyone! The navy defeated the Song Army navy, not only controlled the Huaihe River, but also captured hundreds of grain ships in Chuzhou!"
Zhao Tai's voice gradually increased in decibels, and he was obviously extremely excited.
Previously, Zhao Tai had formulated a plan to lure the enemy deeper and cut off the enemy's retreat, but Zhao Tai was not completely sure whether the navy could cut off the Song army's retreat.
The Song Dynasty was a powerful naval power. How much the Qi army's gunboats changed naval warfare and whether they could defeat the Song army's navy will only be known after the battle.
Now that the Navy's victory report has arrived, the most critical link in Zhao Tai's plan has been closed, and this battle is truly a sure thing.
"Your Majesty, now we just need to wait for Song's army to run out of food and collapse." Li Fen said with a smile.
Zhao Taidao said: "It will be a long night and many dreams, so we must take action as soon as possible to speed up the defeat of the Song Army. In addition, if there is any news about the Xuanwu Army, we cannot let the Song Army escape from the west."
Zhao Tai left Hebei and returned to Shandong. Zhao Tai was very worried that the Mongols would not attack the city and risk a light cavalry charge, so he still wanted to end the battle as soon as possible.
Li Fen shook his head, "There is no news about the Xuanwu Army for the time being, but considering the distance, they should have reached the west of Pizhou."
Zhao Tai nodded slightly, and then ordered: "Okay! Send the order, all ministries will be more vigilant and monitor the Song army's movements. In addition, they will send soldiers to shout provocations outside the Song camp, inform the Song soldiers that the solitary king has controlled the Huaihe River, and allow them to surrender. "
There were at least more than 500,000 Song troops and civilians outside Pizhou City.
These people are Han soldiers and civilians, and many of them sympathize with Zhao Tai very much. They are the ones Zhao Tai can win over. Zhao Tai does not want to cause more killings, create hatred, and affect his ability to win the hearts of the people, especially those in Huainan.
Now that the Song army's food route has been cut off, it is a certain defeat. Zhao Taizi will take the opportunity to absorb the surrendered troops.
"Yes!" Li Fen and others immediately accepted the order.
At this time, the curtain was raised, and another person entered the tent and reported: "Your Majesty, there is an envoy from the Song camp."
"Oh?" Zhao Tai was a little surprised, but after thinking about it for a while, he felt that it was reasonable for Song Envoy to come.
After all, surrendering if you can't win is the consistent style of the Song Dynasty.
If Zhao Tai was the commander-in-chief of the Song Dynasty, facing the current predicament, I am afraid that the only way to minimize the losses of the Southern Song Dynasty is to seek peace.
Zhao Tai stroked his beard and asked, "Who is coming?"
"It is the Lianghuai system that established the envoy Shi's residence!" the general reported.
If the Southern Song Dynasty sent an unknown official over, Zhao Tai wouldn't even bother to meet him, but Shi Zhaizhi actually came over, and there would be no problem if he met him.
However, Zhao Tai has no plans to negotiate peace at the moment. The 300,000 Song troops are already fat on his lips, and Zhao Tai will definitely eat them up in one bite.
Zhao Tai stroked his beard, strode to the handsome seat and sat down, then shouted: "Go and bring him over."
Shi Zhaizhi didn't want to come, but the Song generals insisted and threatened mutiny, so he had no choice but to come to Qi Camp to seek peace.
Ever since Shi Zhaizhi took control of the Huaihe River, there had been constant friction with the Qi army.
Shi Zhai hated Zhao Tai so much that he was worried that Zhao Tai felt the same as him, but he obviously overestimated himself and Zhao Tai did not pay attention to him at all.
After all, there was friction between the two sides, and Shi Zhaizhi did not take advantage of Zhao Tai. Naturally, Zhao Tai would not take him seriously.
At this time, Shi Zhai was worried and came outside the Qi army commander's tent. He saw soldiers in full armor standing on both sides, each holding a spear in one hand and one hand on his waist, looking very majestic.
Shi Zhaizhi walked among the soldiers, feeling the murderous aura on both sides, and couldn't help but feel a little weak in his legs, and finally entered the tent bravely.
At this time, Zhao Tai was wearing armor and sitting on the commanding position with a big horse and a golden sword. The tiger generals of the Qi army on both sides were neatly dressed and sitting upright.
Shi Zhaizhi was so overwhelmed by the momentum of the generals of the Qi army that he forgot his purpose for a while.
In the big tent, Li Fen saw Shi Zhai entering without saying a word. He couldn't help but raise his voice deliberately and shouted: "What's the matter with the envoy? Why don't you bow to my king when you see him!"
The general's voice was already loud, and Li Fen deliberately raised his voice. After shouting loudly, Shi Zhai was so excited that he almost knelt down.
"I have appointed Shi Zhai, the envoy to the Huaihe River, and I have met His Highness." Shi Zhai sweated on his forehead and reluctantly saluted, "I am here to seek peace from Your Highness, hoping that the two families will stop fighting and make a truce."
】
Zhao Tai narrowed his eyes at Shi Zhaizhi and asked in a cold voice: "Seek peace? Why doesn't Shi Songzhi come in person?"
Shi Zhaizhi explained: "Prime Minister Shi is feeling unwell and has appointed me to discuss with His Highness. If His Highness is willing to negotiate peace, Prime Minister Shi can guarantee His Highness the title of King of Qi and resume trade between Shandong and the Song Dynasty."
Zhao Tai sneered after hearing this, "That's all?"
Shi Zhaizhi said hurriedly: "Your Highness can make any requests. As long as His Highness lets us go back to Huainan, we can agree to it."
Zhao Tai sneered and said: "The envoy of the Huaihe River system is also a frontier official of the Song Dynasty. I thought you would have anything to say, but I don't want to just have these empty words!"
Shi Zhai's face turned red when he heard this, and Zhao Tai continued in a cold voice: "Song's army's food route was cut off by Gu. Hundreds of thousands of your troops will disappear in an instant. What qualifications do you have to negotiate terms with Gu. Now Gu Give you a chance. When you return, immediately organize the soldiers to surrender and this way you can save your lives, otherwise we will wait to be destroyed!"
Even if Zhao Tai talks with the Song Dynasty, he must first eat the Song army and pull out the teeth of the Southern Song Dynasty, otherwise he will let the Song army withdraw to Huainan. What if they regret it?
The Qi army devoured the 300,000 troops of the Southern Song Dynasty. The Southern Song Dynasty's troops in Huainan and Jiangnan were wiped out, and Zhao Tai was not allowed to control the rest.
Zhao Tai decided to meet with Shi Zhaizhi, not to listen to his peace talks, but to give him an ultimatum and ask the Song army to surrender unconditionally.
After all, once hundreds of thousands of troops start running, it will be really difficult to catch them!
Zhao Tai's words made Shi Zhaizhi stand stunned on the spot. He didn't expect Zhao Tai to be so tough and let the Song army surrender directly.
