Chapter 123: The Dangers of Ziwu Valley
Lai Chuanfang reported to him that there were 2,000 Mongolian troops guarding the Ziwu Pass in front of Ziwu Valley, and 5,000 Mongolian troops in Chang'an. Hubili was returning north with the troops of the Tulei family and had already left the Great Wall. There were 1,000 Mongolian troops and 10,000 Jin troops stationed in Lantian Camp, with countless baggage. There were 2,000 Mongolian regular troops and 8,000 Jin troops in Tongguan. The other counties in the front were all guarded by 500, 1,000, or 2,000 troops.
Fire Phoenix asked how to do it? Tell me quickly.
Zhao Yulin took a sip of tea and asked, "What's the hurry?"
Lai Chuanfang said that he had been guarding Ziwu Valley for three years, and the enemy had been spying on him all the time. The mountain road on the north was rugged, and it would be difficult to pass once the Mongolian army discovered it.
He planned not to alert the Mongolian army, but to take the hunter's road in front of his pass and go straight to the Lantian camp to obtain supplies and baggage, and then use the Mongolian army's weapons to attack the surrounding counties and Chang'an.
Huo Fenghuang said that the brothers were waiting for him to make a decision. She looked at Zhao Yulin anxiously waiting for him to speak.
Zhao Yulin said that Chuanfang had made a thorough analysis. At present, there were not many enemies in Guanzhong, which was consistent with his initial judgment. The key to this battle was to capture Tongguan and block the way for the Mongolian army to reinforce Guanzhong. After the first column attacked, if they could defeat the enemy, they would fight. If they could not defeat them, they would block them and hand them over to the third column to solve. They would go straight to Tongguan at all costs.
Lai Chuanfang said a little nervously that our troops are a little too few, less than 50,000 at most. The enemy is on the defensive, and we only need 1,000 soldiers to take over a city or a pond.
Fenghuang said categorically that we have morale, and those signed troops are not worth a fight. To save trouble, the army can bring more flags and iron loudspeakers, and let the teachers make leaflets to create momentum and do propaganda. When the people see that the Song Dynasty army is coming, they will definitely support us.
Zhao Yulin gave Huo Fenghuang a thumbs up and said with a smile, "Yes, we can raise more flags to bluff the enemy. The Jin people will definitely be more willing to follow us if they know that we are equal and treat each other equally."
After making the arrangements, he was about to set off with Lai Chuanfang. Chuanfang said that the team heading north only had iron barrel cannons, so he left ten mortars with short range for Sister Fenghuang.
Fenghuang still refused resolutely, so Zhao Yulin went forward, hugged Fenghuang and kissed her, and said, "Take it. The enemy will surely launch a crazy counterattack once they know our combat intentions. It will be difficult for you to capture the pass, so you must be careful."
He pushed Fenghuang away, ordered the team to set off, followed the team into the valley, and rested in Ziwu Town for the night. He was awakened by Lai Chuanfang in a daze. An urgent report came from downwind that Kuoduan had returned to Guanzhong immediately after the battle of Caizhou ended.
Zhao Yulin thought for a moment and said that since the Ture family had moved away and given up their territory, Kuoduan would naturally regard Guanzhong as his. Now there was a power vacuum, and he must be worried and rush back in a hurry. He had previously told Yang Xingyun of the Second Column to hold him back, and ordered the team to march at a rapid pace.
It was very cold in the mountains in the dead of winter, but everyone felt hot after a while. Some couldn't stand it and even unbuttoned their clothes. He told them to be careful not to catch a cold.
Two days later, the team camped at Xunyangba. As they moved forward, they were close to the ridge of Qinling Mountains. The mountain road became more and more difficult to walk on. Many places were cliffs. Fortunately, Lai Chuanfang and his team dug a tiger's mouth, but it was only wide enough for one person to pass through. Some passes required holding the iron chain hanging on the rock to ensure safety.
Zhao Yulin and the generals of the 1st Column were discussing the action in the tent. Lai Chuanfang asked him: Should the battle in Baoji start?
The closer Lai Chuanfang got to this point, the more cautious he became. He was also worried. The mountain path was rugged and if there was just a group of troops blocking the way, this surprise attack would become a desperate charge like a meat grinder.
Zhao Yulin glared at him and said: "Why do you ask? You can't even trust General Cao? The battle must have started."
Lai Chuanfang said that the enemy at the front pass should be on guard. Damn, why is there no news?
While he was yelling, Li Dagui from the Fourth Corps came with an urgent report: the Mongolian army suddenly added guards at the pass and sent a small team out for patrol.
Obviously, Cao Youwen has already started fighting in Baoji, and the gaps in the mountains have been tightened.
Zhao Yulin said that now it was not a matter of the arrow being on the string, but of the arrow having been shot, and there was no time for hesitation and the marching speed must be accelerated.
The team rested for only half an hour before starting to move again.
In Zhending Prefecture, Hebei, the Mongolian Khan learned that his brother's wife had taken the initiative to hand over Guanzhong, and was very happy. He was drinking and listening to music , and suddenly thought that the army was in the Central Plains. What if Zhao Qi'er attacked by surprise? This was a common trick used by Zhao Qi'er of the Shenwei Army.
Yelu Chucai said that the mountain road leading to Guanzhong requires crossing the mountains, especially in the middle of winter. The Baoji and Lantian camps are both in the hands of the Fourth Prince, so what is there to be afraid of as they are heavily guarded?
The Khan felt a little worried and ordered Kuoduan to return to Guanzhong to guard it. He still felt that the people there were not stable because they had just been occupied there. He was really afraid that Zhao Qier would come and do something to stop them.
No matter how smart this person is, he is afraid of being a hindsight cannon. No matter how good the cannonball is, it will be meaningless if it falls on the horse. At this time, Kuoduan is still hundreds of miles away from Tongguan, and Zhao Yulin is about to leave Qinling.
The 4th Corps of the 1st Column was in the front. Although Li Dagui sent out special warfare elites to clear the way, they were still discovered by the Mongolian archers who were lurking and observing. These elites were good at spying on the Mongolian army.
They saw through the telescope that two Mongolian scouts were running quickly down the mountain, but they were too far away to be stopped or intercepted.
Just when they were feeling helpless, the observer discovered a miracle. A man and a woman, dressed as Taoists and warriors, suddenly appeared in the ravine where the two Mongolian scouts were running like fairies. They took the enemy's head with just one encounter and dragged the body into the dense forest...
After receiving the report, Da Kui was overjoyed. He sent out more scouts, who went further afield. He also ordered them to search carefully and speed up their advance.
When Zhao Yulin arrived at Niubeiliang, Lai Chuanfang told him that two brigades had already gone out, and they were marching forward courageously, determined to achieve the battle objectives even at the cost of their lives.
Zhao Yulin said with a serious expression that the way down the mountain was all the hunter's trails we found ourselves. In fact, there is no road at all. It's difficult for us brothers.
Lai Chuanfang said that each squadron brought a large number of ropes, and they had to crawl over even if they had to.
Zhao Yulin rested inside the pass for a night. At noon, the Fire Phoenix came up and said with regret that just as three battalions of her Third Column arrived, a section of the Fox Rock with a length of ten steps collapsed. They were currently trying to find another way out, and the rear team had already returned to the old road.
Lai Chuanfang said solemnly that the alternative road was even more difficult to travel. Fox Rock was a shortcut newly opened during the earthquake. If one went back along the original route, it would take more than 30 miles, which would be even more difficult to travel.
Zhao Yulin thought for a quarter of an hour and said that he believed the Third Column could complete the task. No matter how many people came up, the battle must start at dawn tomorrow to seize the enemy's Ziwu Pass.
He pulled Fire Phoenix and said that the mortar shells could not be used up carelessly. She only had 300 shells, but she had to hit hard when trying to seize the level.
Zhao Yulin knew how difficult this task was, and he felt heartbroken as he held his woman in his arms.
Fenghuang looked at him with concern and told him with a firm gaze not to worry, that the Third Column would ensure the completion of the mission.
He didn't dare to look at the Fire Phoenix again, so he got on the road and followed Lai Chuanfang.
At this time: the entire Qinling Mountains were moving, and snowflakes were falling from the mountains.
Miao Gui, who was on the western front, had already set out with the 4th, 5th, 6th, 8th columns and the 1st cavalry column as well as the Qingyeyuan cavalry, all the way to Baoji. Kuoduan's general Hun Duhai had already learned that the Song army was attacking Fengxiang Prefecture from two directions, and sent a message to Chang'an to send troops to support him as if he was facing a great enemy. While he was adjusting his deployment, another batch of Song troops came out from Baoxiadao to attack his flank. Hun Duhai once again sent messengers to various places to mobilize troops.
The Emperor of Lin'an was worried and angry about the Mongolian army's refusal to exchange Henan for territory. The Imperial City Office sent a memorial from the Sichuan Administration Office, saying that the Mongolian army attacked Dasan Pass and the Song army was forced to fight.
The emperor was furious. The northern barbarians were so arrogant and unreasonable. Not only did he send 30,000 soldiers to Caizhou to fight the Jin people, he also provided 300,000 dan of military rations, which was equivalent to providing all the food and fodder for the war.
As a result, he was given half of the Jin emperor's corpse and a piece of remaining land in Dengzhou. The Henan land that was supposed to belong to him was gone.
He threw the memorial to the eunuch and said, "If you want to fight, then fight. Beat me hard."
The eunuch in charge of the Imperial City Bureau reported in a low voice, what if the Shenwei Army was looking for trouble and took the initiative to attack Guanzhong?
The emperor was stunned, and then said in a harsh voice, "Be it active or passive, beat him, beat him hard."
The censor in the palace saw that the emperor was angry and was not sure how to make an order. He only wrote down: The emperor ordered: "Give me a severe beating." He asked the Imperial City Office to send a pigeon to deliver the letter.
In the Mongolian army camp in Zhending Prefecture, Hebei, the grassland Khan quickly learned about the war in Baoji through a hawk message. He said with disdain, "It's just that they didn't give them the land of Henan. Damn, they can't sit still after killing a few border soldiers of the Song Emperor, haha. Let's fight and see who can win."
The Han army was confident that the Mongolian army could defend the city at all costs, so he sent a letter to Chang'an with a flying eagle: if the city was well defended, a handsome reward would be given to the beautiful concubine of the Jin emperor; if the city was abandoned, the enemy would be killed without mercy.
Prime Minister Yelu Chucai felt that it was not that simple. Several armies of the Song army attacked Fengxiang Prefecture with the intention of advancing into Guanzhong. It was obvious that they were determined to win. In this case, Guanzhong might be lost.
"Who dares to seize Guanzhong? Zhao Qier's Shenwei Army? Hahaha." The Khan just laughed three times and suddenly stopped.
He stared at Yelu Chucai and said slowly: Maybe it is really possible. Send a letter to Chang'an immediately, and fight against the small southern barbarians in an all-out way. Send troops from Shanzhou, Luoyang and Shangnan to help immediately.
He suddenly threw away the golden bowl of mare's milk in his hand and said that Shangnan could not be moved because there was a Shenwei army in the south. The flying eagle sent a letter to Gongchang Prefecture to threaten Qinzhou and rush to Baoji for help.
The thing that the Khan of the grassland was worried about was happening. Yang Xingyun of Jinzhou and Zhou Ping of Hanzhong Navy followed Zhao Yulin's secret order and escorted 3,000 infantrymen along the Zhejiang River to the north and wandered on the river to strengthen the land checkpoints. After learning the military situation, Kuoduan dared not take this shortcut again, fearing that something might happen, and rushed to Guanzhong via Shanzhou.
The snow on the ridge of Qinling Mountains was getting heavier and heavier, piling up on the ground and on the trees. Zhao Yulin's shoes had already been soaked, and his underwear was wet and dry, dry and wet. Looking at the snowflakes flying in the sky, he became worried about Fenghuang. Their Third Column was still walking on the ridge, which was too dangerous.
If the Third Column cannot leave Ziwu , it will be too difficult to carry out the mission of seizing Guanzhong relying on only the First Column.
