After Wokuotai failed to destroy Qi last year, he felt deeply that Mongolia lacked elite troops and was unable to suppress the rise of Zhao Tai, so he decided to recall the Western Expedition army to participate in the aligned operations.
This spring, after the Western Expeditionary Army captured the city of Kiev, they did not continue westward into Poland. Instead, they responded to Ogedei's call and took the Kipchaks and some Russian slaves with them on their way back east.
By June, Wokuotai led the Mongolian army to surround Langshan City and attack. After three months of trekking, the Western Expeditionary Army had left the Eastern European plains, crossed the Ural River, and arrived near the Aral Sea, where they were destroyed. In the territory of Khwarezm in the country.
In recent years, the Western Expeditionary Army has made quite a lot of gains in Eastern Europe. When the army returns eastward, it is natural that it needs to bring the captured trophies, as well as slaves, cattle and sheep.
Therefore, the Western Expeditionary Army moved relatively slowly. In four months, it had not returned to the Mongolian grassland, and it was even more than a thousand miles away from the Chagatai Khanate.
At this time, the Mongols were driving their cattle and sheep, grazing while heading eastward. In the Mongolian team, Yang You watched the Western Expeditionary Army getting closer and closer to the Western Regions, and his mood became heavier and heavier.
Because of Kublai Khan's loss of power, Yang You's status in the Western Expeditionary Army was very low. He only assisted Kublai Khan in managing the Han people and craftsmen in the Western Regions, and had no access to information from the top brass of the Western Expeditionary Army.
However, in the past few months, he had quietly observed and slowly figured out the strength of the Western Expeditionary Army. There were approximately 100,000 Mongolian troops participating in the Western Expedition, but the number of Mongolian troops returning this time exceeded 150,000.
Yang You observed that among the 150,000 Mongolian troops, there were 70,000 Mongolian troops, 10,000 Han troops, 10,000 Khitan troops, 50,000 Kipchak cavalry, and 10,000 Russian troops.
These 150,000 Mongolian troops are all elites who have experienced battles for a long time and have strong combat power. If they go to the Central Plains, they can immediately change the situation in the Central Plains, and the Qi army will suffer disaster.
On this day, the Mongolian army, which had been marching for a day, set up a temporary camp in the Syr Darya River Basin east of the Aral Sea.
At this time, the continuous trek made Yang You physically and mentally exhausted. He was just about to take a rest when the curtain was suddenly raised.
Yang You turned around and saw that it was Kublai Khan who came in carrying wine and meat.
"Your Majesty, what is this?" Although Kublai Khan was eliminated as the prince by Wo Kuotai, Yang You still called him Prince.
Mongolians revere the strong. After Kublai Khan was defeated, he was looked down upon by many Mongolian nobles. No one was willing to talk to him, so he liked to talk to Yang You to talk to him when he had nothing to do.
"Yang You, come have a drink with me." Kublai Khan raised the food in his hand as a gesture. Yang You originally wanted to rest, but was forced to pick up the guests.
"The prince seems to be in a good mood today!" Kublai Khan did not regard himself as an outsider. He sat on Yang You's bed and waited for him to bring the small table and put the meat and wine on the table. Then he smiled and said: "In a few days By the end of the day, we will be able to reach the Chagatai Khanate, which is close to the Central Plains." Yang You sat down opposite Kublai Khan, took the initiative to pour wine for Kublai Khan, and asked casually: "My lord, you said that the Great Khan will march to the west. Recalling all the troops, isn't it just killing a chicken with a knife?" Kublai Khan took a sip and seemed to remember the painful experience in the past. He gritted his teeth and said: "Now Zhao Tai is not an ordinary chicken. I just came from Prince Mengge's place. , the Great Khan's envoy has arrived again, urging us to rush to the Central Plains and prepare to fight together." Yang You was a little frightened.
"Why don't you go back to the grassland to rest first? Why go to the Central Plains?" Kublai Khan said with a smile: "Now that Mongolia is threatening Hebei, the Great Khan will attract Zhao Tai to Hebei. Shandong will be empty by then, and the Western Expeditionary Army will appear at this time. Central Plains, what do you think the outcome will be?" Last year, during the three-party war between Qi, Song and Mongolia, Zhao Tai broke through the Mongolian and Song Dynasty's pincer attack. The first wave of envoys from Wokuotai had already informed the Western Expeditionary Army of the situation.
Therefore, the Western Expeditionary Army has a relatively good understanding of the current situation in the Central Plains. Yang You learned from talking with Kublai Khan that Zhao Tai now occupied Shandong, Huainan, and half of Hebei.
In last year's battle, the Qi Army's territory doubled, and its strength could be said to have skyrocketed. However, the location of the Qi Army's territory was actually not that good.
Hebei, Shandong, and Huainan are arranged in a vertical line. They are vulnerable to attack everywhere and there is no depth at all.
The Qi army occupied half of Hebei, but there was no danger to defend it. Shandong directly faced the threat from the Mongolian army in the Central Plains. Huainan was restrained by the Southern Song Dynasty. It can be said that the strategic position was very passive.
If Wokuotai stationed troops in Youzhou and posed a threat to Hebei, the land in Hebei controlled by Qi State would be unsafe to defend, so it would be necessary to increase the number of troops to defend Hebei.
The Qi army in Huainan wanted to defend against the Southern Song Dynasty. The only force Qi could use was the Qi army in Shandong. As a result, if the Western Expeditionary Army suddenly appeared in the Central Plains, Qi would be in danger of being cut in half by the Mongols.
Once the Western Expeditionary Army invades Shandong and divides the Qi State, the newly acquired Huainan land of the Qi State may return to the Southern Song Dynasty.
By then, Zhao Tai would be trapped in Hebei, and there would be only one way to die. Although Yang You is not a general, he is very clear about the consequences of the Western Expeditionary Army's appearance in the Central Plains.
This made Yang You even more anxious, but he said with a smile on his face: "In this way, the Western Expedition Army will be able to catch the Qi army by surprise and divide the Qi bandits' territory into two parts, the north and the south."
"Hahaha!" Kublai Khan poured himself another drink.
"That's right! With the strength of the Western Expeditionary Army, even a hard attack can divide Zhao Thief's territory, not to mention the surprise this time!" Yang You took a sip from the wine glass and said with a smile: "Yes! This time Qi Thief will definitely be finished. "Although he did not defeat Zhao Tai with his own hands, Kublai Khan still felt the pleasure of revenge after seeing Zhao Tai's destruction.
"Then Zhao Tai is so powerful, but his vision is always limited." Kublai Khan was already drunk,
"He can only see what the Han people call the world, and ignores that the strength of Mongolia is not limited to the world they define. This time Zhaozhou will be destroyed. It's a pity that I can't personally command the army and avenge the shame with my own hands." Yang You picked up the wine jug and filled it for Kublai Khan.
"It is indeed a pity that the prince cannot take revenge with his own hands, but as long as Zhao Tai can be destroyed, it is worth celebrating." Kublai Khan picked up the wine glass and drank another sip. He was already in a tipsy state.
"Yang You, you are right. As long as Zhao Tai is defeated, it is worth celebrating." Yang You asked again: "Your Majesty, since the Khan is urging us, should we speed up the march?" Kublai Khan nodded: " That's right. After the army enters the Chagatai Khanate, its family papers and baggage can slowly return to the grassland, while the sergeants, after receiving supplies from the Chagatai Khanate, take the Hexi Corridor and enter Guanzhong, and then head to Henan." Yang You heard this and felt in his heart. Anxious, he went to the Western Expeditionary Army alone with Kublai Khan. He had cut off contact with the Jinyiwei. How should he send the news to Qi State.
Ever since he learned of the return of the Western Expeditionary Army in the spring, Yang You had been worrying about this issue. At this time, he looked at Kublai Khan, made a decision in his heart, and filled the wine glass for him.
"Come on, Your Majesty, keep drinking!"
