The Qi army captured Luoyang and attacked Hulao Pass.
Tasi did not have the confidence to fight, so he immediately decided to lead the army southward, bypassing Luoyang, going through Ruzhou and Nanyang, and then returned to Guanzhong through Wuguan.
Sixty thousand Mongolian troops hurriedly broke out of camp and rushed south.
Zhao Tai ordered the cavalry of the Qi army to pursue and kill Tasi. At the same time, he sent infantry troops to quickly leave Longmen Pass to the south and enter Ruzhou to intercept and kill Tasi who was detouring.
The Mongolian army ran in front, and the Qi army's cavalry chased behind.
Tasi ran all the way and took a detour into Ruzhou, where he was ambushed by the Qi army heading south from Luoyang.
Sixty thousand Mongolian troops fought desperately, but the Qi army beheaded more than ten thousand and captured eight thousand people.
Tasi did not dare to fight, so he led the Mongolian army to break out, but was chased and killed by the Qi army and the cavalry for fifty miles.
The Mongolian army finally got rid of the Qi army and fled to the border of Nanyang. When they were about to enter Wuguan, the scouts reported that Wuguan had been occupied by the Qi army.
This shocked Tasi. How could the Qi army occupy Wuguan.
Facing the Qi army with divine soldiers and heavenly generals, tens of thousands of Mongolian troops were suddenly in dire straits.
Now that the road ahead was blocked and there were pursuers behind them, the Mongolian army fell into despair for a while.
Wuguan was occupied by Guo Xiatu, and the Mongolian army fled with light cavalry. They would definitely not be able to break through Wuguan. At the critical moment, Tasi decisively ordered to run to the Southern Song Dynasty and return to Guanzhong through the Song Dynasty.
When it comes to borrowing roads, Mongolia is very experienced. When they first destroyed the Jin Dynasty, they used the Southern Song Dynasty to attack the Jin Kingdom, and then broke through the Jin Kingdom's Guanhe defense line and destroyed the Jin Kingdom.
Now Tasi decided to borrow the road again. Just like the last time, they did not intend to ask for the consent of the Southern Song Dynasty this time.
At that moment, Tasi hurriedly turned back and led the army back, then turned to Xinye and entered the Song Dynasty.
When the Mongolian army left Wuguan and rushed to the Song Dynasty, the Qi army who ambushed him in Ruzhou seemed to know that he would return and reach Xinye first.
Wuxian of the Qi army led his troops in the Baihe River Valley and formed a formation to block the Mongolian army.
When Tasi and the Mongolian soldiers saw the blocking Qi army, they almost collapsed one by one.
The exhausted and demoralized Mongolian army faced an obstruction and had no choice but to bite the bullet and launch an attack in order to survive.
In this battle, the Qi army once again beheaded 10,000 people and captured more than 10,000 people.
In the end, less than 20,000 of Tasi's 60,000 Mongolian troops fled into the Southern Song Dynasty.
At the moment, Qi State did not want to go to war with the Southern Song Dynasty. When the Qi army saw the Mongolian army fleeing into the Song Dynasty, it immediately stopped pursuing it.
At this time, after Tasi escaped, there was no main force of the Mongolian army in Henan. Zhao Tai immediately sent a message to the Central Plains, and many prefectures and counties in Henan announced the decision.
The Central Plains is a transportation hub in the world, and its geographical location is extremely important.
When the Mongols occupied the Central Plains, they only needed to put tens of thousands of troops in the Central Plains to contain the large Qi armies in Hebei, Shandong, and Huainan.
Because the Qi army didn't know which direction they would fight, they could only set up defenses everywhere.
Now that the Central Plains is owned by Qi State, the Qi army is stationed in the Central Plains, threatening Hedong to the north and Guanzhong to the west. It is time for the Mongols to divide their forces to defend.
At this time, with Zhao Tai occupying the Central Plains, Batu could only withdraw his troops and return to Xi'an.
He had just obtained Guanzhong and the Central Plains, and before he could warm himself up, he lost the Central Plains, leaving only Guanzhong, and he was extremely depressed.
In Hedong, Meng Ge violently attacked Taihang Baxing, hoping to put pressure on Qi, but his army was not ready to attack, so the attack was very difficult.
At this time, when he learned that the Qi army had occupied the Central Plains, he immediately withdrew his troops and returned to Taiyuan.
Yecheng, Qi Palace.
In the Central Plains, due to the massacre by the Mongolian army, the cities were in ruins and the population was depleted.
Now the Qi army's food still needs to be transported from Hebei, and Qi's logistics is under great pressure, so Zhao Tai did not stay in Luoyang or Kaifeng.
After Zhao Tai occupied the Central Plains, he left 100,000 troops stationed in Henan and led 50,000 people back to Yecheng.
At this time, in the main hall, Zhao Tai convened many ministers to discuss the next step after Qi occupied the Central Plains.
Zhao Tai said in a deep voice: "This time we, the Great Qi, captured the Central Plains in a very short time. However, the Central Plains is desolate and the army cannot be self-sufficient. What can you do?"
Wang Wentong said: "Your Majesty, now we have more than 300,000 troops in Qi. There are 120,000 troops stationed in Hebei, 100,000 stationed in Henan, 10,000 stationed in Shandong, and 70,000 stationed in Huainan. Among them, Hebei, Shandong, and Huainan can all support themselves in military food, and There is a surplus.”
Zhao Tai asked: "Sir, what you mean is to transport grain from these three places to Henan!"
Wang Wentong said: "Reporting to your Majesty, the cabinet means to divide it into two stages. Henan is currently desolate and cannot be self-sufficient in the short term. It can only be transported from the three places. However, such transportation is not a long-term strategy. We still need to develop and recover after all. Henan.”
Zhao Tai nodded: "The Central Plains, the Luoyang Basin, the Nanyang Basin, and the Eastern Henan Plain were all originally rich in food. If these places can be reclaimed, not only will the military food supply of the Henan garrison be solved, but it will also be greatly increased. I will strengthen the country's strength."
Wang Wentong said: "The cabinet means that there are so many wastelands in the Central Plains now that the king can issue a decree to encourage the people to open up wasteland. I think we can consider referring to the land equalization system in the Sui and Tang Dynasties. As long as the people who go to Henan to open up wasteland, men will be given twenty acres of land and women will be given ten acres. Acres. In addition, local governments can also lend cattle and seeds to the people. In this way, I think it can attract a large number of people to Henan, and even people from the Southern Song Dynasty and Mongolia."
Zhao Tai was very satisfied, "This matter will be handled according to your wishes."
After discussing the political affairs, the subject of the discussion returned to the military.
Zhao Tai asked the ministers, "In the battle to capture the Central Plains, our Qi State won quite easily. The army did not suffer any losses and captured the Central Plains in a very short period of time. Now, the autumn harvest is about to begin again, and the money in the national treasury is enough to support an army." A big battle. Do you think I should attack Hedong, or take advantage of the situation and take Guanzhong?"
Wang Bin said: "Minister, I thought it should be Hedong."
Zhao Taidao: "Tell me your reasons."
Wang Bin said: "I think that Henan has not recovered yet and cannot provide money and food for the attack on Guanzhong. If we attack Guanzhong, it will be difficult for us to supply and the food road is too long. In addition, if Guanzhong is captured, our borders with the Southern Song Dynasty and Mongolia will be lengthened at the same time. We do not have Enough troops to fill the increased borders."
Zhao Tai nodded slightly, "Keep talking!"
Wang Bin said: "If we attack Hedong, Hebei can provide food and grass, and the Central Plains can threaten the southeast of Hedong and form a pincer attack on Hedong. In addition, after taking Hedong, our defense line will not increase. On the contrary, it will be easier to defend. Mongol attack.
The terrain of Hedong came to Zhao Tai's mind. After the Qi army occupied Hedong, the only things they had to defend were the northern part and the Pujin Ferry in the southwest corner. They really didn't need many troops.
Moreover, after occupying Hedong, Qi's troops defending Taihang Baxing can be liberated and can be directly used to defend Hedong.
(Two updates will be resumed tomorrow)
