The judgments of Yelu Chucai and Yang Weizhong were correct. After Qi State completed its autumn harvest, Zhao Tai saw that the treasury was full of money and food, so he had the idea of taking Hedong and even Guanzhong.
In early October, Zhao Tai completed the deployment of his army and gathered 120,000 Qi troops in Zhending Mansion east of Jingxing, preparing to attack Hedong.
Of course, according to Zhao Tai's habit of using troops, if he fights in Hedong, the battlefield will definitely not be just Hedong. He will definitely launch provocations on other battlefields at the same time to contain and confuse the Mongolian army so that the Mongolian army does not know his intentions.
After the autumn harvest, the Qi army in Henan began to actively provoke the Mongolian army in Guanzhong, and the garrison troops at the eight passes of Taihang also began to actively create friction.
In view of Zhao Tai's preference to attack in the east and attack in the west, the Mongolian army had to set up defenses everywhere.
However, Zhao Tai didn't actually think about attacking in the east this time, but really prepared to force a breakthrough from Jingxing.
On the eighth day of October, after the Qi army that participated in the attack on Hedong was assembled, Zhao Tai immediately issued a proclamation announcing the recovery of Hedong.
Mongolia was numb to Zhao Tai's appeal.
Brother Meng read the message, cheered up, and ordered the Mongolian troops everywhere to strengthen their defenses, while he guessed which path Zhao Tai would take.
Because Zhao Tai was too cunning before, Brother Meng first excluded Jingxing, thinking that Zhao Tai's intention to gather the army in Zhending and enter Jingxing was too obvious.
At this time, just as he was tearing apart, news came from Mongolia's fine work. This time, Zhao Tai did not make any fake moves and went straight into Jingxing.
When Meng Ge learned that Zhao Tai's army had entered Jingxing, he sent troops to reinforce Yangquan and Pegasus to ask Guyu and Batu for help.
Guyou adopted the suggestions of Yelu Chucai and Yang Weizhong and gathered his troops in Monan early. When he saw Meng Ge asking for help, he immediately led an army of 50,000 and entered Hedong.
Fifty thousand Mongolian troops marched south in a mighty manner. Guyu, riding on his horse, couldn't help cursing: "I originally thought that Zhao Tai would use some conspiracy to advance into Hedong, but I didn't expect that he would directly attack Yangquan this time. This guy is really over the top. Getting more and more arrogant!"
To be honest, Guyu feels a little guilty now.
Previously, Zhao Tai would spread a lot of fog before the war and made many false moves to deceive the Mongolian army.
This time Zhao Tai directly forced a breakthrough, which showed that he no longer bothered to deceive the Mongolian army and believed that his strength was strong enough to easily defeat the Mongolian army head-on.
Yelu Chucai said: "Great Khan, now all our Mongol elite are going to Hedong. Zhao Tai only leads an army of 120,000 people. Can we still not capture him?"
Yang Weizhong also said: "Great Khan. Zhao Tai captured the Central Plains not long ago, but now he only leads 120,000 people and wants to capture Hedong. This shows that Zhao Tai is arrogant in his heart. Since ancient times, arrogant soldiers will be defeated, and I think Zhao Tai will be no exception. As a minister It seems that the more arrogant Zhao Tai is, the more beneficial it will be for us."
After hearing what the two said, Guyu reluctantly regained his confidence, "The two prime ministers are confident, so I feel relieved. By the way, in this battle, how do you think I should deal with Zhao Tai?"
Yang Weizhong said: "Great Khan, Zhao Tai decided to break through Yangquan, which shows that his heart is inflated. If he takes Yangquan and opens up the road to Hedong, he will definitely attack Taiyuan with a large army. I thought that as long as he comes, we can Set up an ambush near Taiyuan and annihilate Zhao Tai."
Guyuk couldn't help but asked: "How to ambush?"
Yang Weizhong said: "Let the Yangquan defenders hold on for a while first. When the armies of the Great Khan and Prince Batu arrive near Taiyuan from the south and the north, they can voluntarily abandon Yangquan and lead Zhao Tai to fight against Taiyuan. At that time, Prince Mengge will attack him head-on. , the Great Khan and Prince Batu fought out from the south and north, outflanking Zhao Tai's two wings, how could the Qi army be invincible!"
Guyu nodded with satisfaction after hearing this, "Okay, let's do as the Prime Minister wants! Write down the plan immediately and send a horse to send orders to Meng Ge and Batu!"
In Taiyuan City.
When Brother Meng learned that Zhao Tai had entered Jingxing, he became nervous.
While asking for help, he gathered elite soldiers from Hedong to Taiyuan to prepare for a decisive battle with Zhao Tai.
At this time, a group of cavalry galloped into Taiyuan and delivered Guiyu's letter to Meng Ge's palace.
Meng Ge received Guyu's letter, handed it to Kublai Khan, and asked, "What do you think?"
Kublai Khan's eyes flashed with hatred, "Brother, I
I think Khan’s plan can be implemented. If we can defeat Zhao Tai or even kill him, Qi will inevitably collapse. "
Brother Meng thought for a while, "In this case, we have to put Zhao Tai into Hedong. If we can't defeat Zhao Tai, then Hedong is in danger of being lost!"
Kublai Khan thought for a while, "The risks are indeed there, but the benefits are too great. If the Great Khan and Batu enter the east of Hedong and add our troops, our available troops will exceed 200,000. Against Zhao Tai's ten Twenty thousand, the advantage is still very obvious!"
Brother Meng was moved by him and nodded, "Okay, then set up a pocket for Zhao Tai and see if he has the guts to get in!"
Not long after Meng Ge received the letter, Batu, who entered Hedong from Guanzhong, also received the letter.
After Batu received Meng Ge's letter asking for help, he ordered Tasi, who had fled from the Southern Song Dynasty, to defend Tongguan and Wuguan, while he led 50,000 people across the river from Pujin.
At this time, he was walking on the road and received Guyu's letter. After reading it, he didn't say anything, but led his subordinates to continue heading north.
On the other side, Zhao Tai led 120,000 elite troops into Jingxing and soon arrived at Yangquan County, the western exit of Jingxing.
At this time, the Qi army set up camp outside Yangquan City, and he rode out of the camp to peek at the city defense of Yangquan.
Zhao Tai rode a charcoal horse and led many generals to stop two miles away from the city, looking far into the city.
After Zhao Tai looked at it for a while, he asked, "How is it?"
Wu Xiandao: "The defense of Yangquan is quite average. It seems that the Mongolian army is not ready for defense!"
Zhang Judao: "Before, Mongolia always attacked and we defended. Now Mongolia wants to defend and needs to strengthen the cities and passes, but this cannot be completed in a short time."
Zhao Tai nodded, "That's right. Reinforcing cities and passes requires not only time, but also money, food, and manpower. Mongolia cannot complete the transition from offense to defense in a short period of time. And this is why the lonely king wants to attack Hedong now. one."
Hearing this, everyone couldn't help but clasp their fists together, "Your Majesty is wise."
Zhao Tai waved his hand and continued to look at the city, and suddenly said: "There don't seem to be many defenders in the city, and Brother Meng didn't come over either."
Wu Xiandao: "What problem did your Majesty find?"
Zhao Tai said in a deep voice: "It stands to reason that Brother Meng should know that the lonely king entered Jingxing, and since he knew, why didn't he come to Yangquan to block the lonely king? Could it be that he wanted to rely on the small town in front of him to resist the lonely king? , or is he confident that he can defeat the lonely king in Hedong?"
After hearing the words, all the generals couldn't help but fall into deep thought.
If the Mongolian army wanted to defend Hedong, the best way would be to block the Qi army in Jingxing at Yangquan, but the Mongolian army did not put many troops in Yangquan.
This is indeed a bit strange.
