Guanzhong, Xi'an City. After the Mongolian army searched Guanzhong for several months, Batu had already obtained a large amount of money and food.
At this time, in the palace, Batu summoned many nobles to discuss the evacuation of Guanzhong. Batu said in a deep voice: "Zhao Tai has been controlling Hedong for several months. The Qi army has begun to increase its troops in the direction of Pujin Crossing. In addition, in Shaanzhou, east of Tongguan, the Qi army's strength has also increased to 30,000. Everyone, leave it to us. Time is running out." After hearing this, many Mongolian nobles couldn't help talking, and everyone became a little nervous.
Batu glanced at everyone and asked: "Xiban, how did you do what I asked you to do?" Xiban said: "I tested many princes in Guanzhong, and the Wang family agreed to follow us in the Western Expedition. However, several other princes did not express their positions clearly." Batu narrowed his eyes.
"Those who are unwilling to leave, keeping them will only strengthen the power of Qi State. I have decided to evacuate Guanzhong in the near future. Before leaving, you can find any excuse to eradicate all those princes who are unwilling to follow me in the Western Expedition." Batu If he couldn't get Guanzhong, he couldn't let Qi get a complete Guanzhong. He had to completely destroy Guanzhong before leaving.
Xiban nodded,
"Don't worry, Your Majesty, we will deal with anyone who is ignorant of current affairs!" Batu nodded, and then asked again:
"How did you do when I asked you to contact the Southern Song Dynasty?" Since the Northern Song Dynasty, the Guanzhong area has gradually declined and has not regained the prosperity of the Han and Tang Dynasties.
However, if Qinchuan, eight hundred miles away from Guanzhong, was given to Qi, it would definitely increase Qi's strength. Throughout the ages, once the Central Plains was unified and a powerful Central Plains dynasty emerged, life would not be easy for the grassland empire in the north.
Batu decided to abandon Guanzhong, but did not want Qi to capture Guanzhong easily. Therefore, in addition to destroying Guanzhong, he also wanted to introduce the power of the Southern Song Dynasty into Guanzhong.
For this reason, he sent someone to contact Zhao Yanna, the Sichuan envoy of the Southern Song Dynasty, hoping that he could send troops into Guanzhong to take over Guanzhong prefectures and counties when the Mongolian army retreated.
In this way, it can create certain troubles for the Qi army, making it impossible for the Qi army to quickly control Guanzhong.
Xiban said in a deep voice:
"Your Majesty, I have sent someone to contact the Southern Song Dynasty, but the Song Dynasty people are as timid as rats and have not given any reply."
"Huh!" Batu snorted coldly.
"These southerners are really useless! If the big Guanzhong was given to them for free, they wouldn't dare to take it. They are so timid. I think that when Zhao Tai takes Guanzhong, it will not take a few years to destroy them." At this time. While they were discussing, there was a rush of footsteps outside the hall.
Not long after, a person entered the lobby and reported urgently,
"Your Majesty, something bad has happened. Wang Shixian has united with many princes to rebel!" Batu was shocked when he heard this.
"What?" Xiban and others also looked at each other, suspecting that they heard wrongly. Meng and Qi have been at war for so long, and many people have surrendered to Qi. However, these surrenders are all Hans, Jurchens, and Khitans. There has never been a precedent for the Mongols to surrender to Qi.
Although this Wang Shixian was not a Mongolian on the grassland, his ancestors were from the Wanggu tribe of Mongolia after all. His surrender to Qi still gave everyone a huge shock.
"Your Majesty, many prefectures and counties in Longxi have rebelled with Wang Shixian. In the name of transporting money and food, the rebels deceived Xingqing City and captured Xingqing!" the visitor said.
The muscles on Batu's face twitched. He suddenly became furious and punched the table in front of him.
"How dare you do this, traitor!" In order to evacuate Guanzhong, Batu led his army on a westward expedition and transported the money and food collected to Xingqing Mansion in advance.
When the Qi army attacks, he can advance with a light force and flee to Xingqing. Then he can take the looted money and food and flee directly north into the grassland, leading his troops to march westward to create a new world.
Now that the rebels have captured Xingqing and taken away his money and food, how can he lead his troops westward? Xiban said in a panic: "Your Majesty, the traitors rebelled and seized our rations. What should we do?" Batu had a gloomy face and tried to calm down.
"If Wang Shixian dares to launch a rebellion, he must have the support of Zhao Tai." Batu gritted his teeth.
"Send the order and send reliable troops to Tongguan, Wuguan and Pujin Ferry to strengthen the defense. The Qi army is not allowed to enter the pass. I will personally lead the army to destroy Wang Shixian!"... Hedong, Taiyuan City.
After the Mongolian army withdrew from Hedong, Zhao Tai occupied Hedong. The land east of Hedong is surrounded by mountains and rivers and is easy to defend but difficult to attack. After the Qi army drove out the Mongolian army, they quickly established defenses in Hedong and restored order in Hedong.
Today, threats to Hedong mainly come from two directions. First, to the north, Guyu and Mengge retreated into the grassland. They have a large number of Mongolian cavalry in their hands, and they can go south to plunder at any time, posing a threat to the northern border of Qi.
The second is Guanzhong to the west. After Batu withdrew into Guanzhong, there were still more than 100,000 Mongolian troops in Guanzhong, and they held the pass. The Qi army could not attack it, but they could easily fight out, posing a threat to Qi's Hedong and Central Plains.
Although the Mongolian army withdrew from Hedong, its strength still existed. If Guyu, Meng Ge, and Ba can all work together, they can continue to confront Qi.
However, after Guyu and Mengge withdrew to the grassland, a conflict broke out between the two sides over the ownership of the grassland, and they were unable to go south to attack Qi in a short period of time.
Batu in Guanzhong does not have the support of Guyu and Meng Ge. It is difficult to support itself in Guanzhong and naturally has no ability to threaten Hedong and the Central Plains.
When Kublai Khan retreated from Taiyuan, he set fire to the city of Taiyuan. Now that several months have passed, the traces of burning in the city are still there, but reconstruction has begun in various parts of the city.
At this time, in Taiyuan City, Zhao Tai stood at the top of the city, inspecting the recovery situation in the city. He found that the ruins in the city had been cleared, and many new houses and shops appeared on both sides of the streets, showing a satisfied look.
Zhao Tai pointed at the rising buildings in Taiyuan City and smiled: "If Hedong can recover quickly, then it will be easy to capture Guanzhong." Wang Bin said with a smile:
"Now that the Mongolian soldiers have no fighting spirit, they will have no fighting spirit. If the king wants to regain Guanzhong, I think it will not be difficult." Zhao Tai nodded:
"After Gu received the news, Batu tried his best to exploit Guanzhong and win over the princes and wealthy families of Guanzhong to join him in the Western Expedition. Gu was worried that after Batu decided to retreat, he would destroy Guanzhong, leaving Gu with only a ruined Guanzhong." Wang Bin said:
"The king has got in touch with the princes of Guanzhong. With these princes here, we should be able to protect most of the states and counties from being destroyed by the Mongols." At this time, the two were talking, and one person hurriedly went to the city to report,
"Your Majesty, urgent report from Guanzhong!" Zhao Tai frowned slightly.
"Bring it here!" Zhao Tai took the information and started watching it. After a moment, he said in a deep voice: "Wang Shixian has raised his troops. It seems that Gu is about to enter Guanzhong ahead of schedule."
