Chapter 520: The Northwest Wind is Really Strong
The muscles on Zhao Yulin's face twitched, and he said expressionlessly: This is because the Mongolian army only eats beef and mutton, and does not eat white flour buns and rice.
Miao Gui reported: The Mongolian army has now cut off the road to Yulin Village, but we have already stored enough food, fodder and weapons there to sustain the garrison for two years. Brother Guiqi will definitely be able to hold on.
But the current situation is too chaotic, and our people are suffering. Our brothers are watching with blood in their eyes.
Meng Gong believed that with the arrival of five columns of more than 100,000 troops from Guanzhong, it would be no problem for us to hold the pass and prevent the Mongolian army from advancing southward. What we are considering now is how to defeat Kuo Chuan and Gui You and drive the northern barbarians out.
Lao Cao laughed and said, "The northwest wind is really strong. It's just in time." Then he asked him what to do.
The northern barbarians did not fight us head-on. When they saw us concentrating our forces, they fled. They also specifically targeted weak points for attack.
While listening, Zhao Yulin flipped through the military documents in front of him and did not express his opinion immediately.
Seeing that he looked tired, Miao Gui said, "Let him take a rest first. The third young master has just arrived. We can discuss it tomorrow."
The southern province of Thang Long was also fraught with danger. Fire Phoenix received a secret report: Dali soldiers were gathering at the border between Thang Long, Bagan and Dali, intending to seize the entire jade mining area.
This made Fire Phoenix angry. Although she led her troops into Thang Long Province and destroyed the Kingdom of Yue, this place had a history of hundreds of years of independent founding, and many loyal ministers of the Chen Dynasty were still ready to plot a restoration.
Fire Phoenix has lived in the little emperor's palace in Thang Long for almost half a year, and only then did she realize that it would take more than a year or two to truly recover the Kingdom of Yue. As the old saying goes, it is easy to win the world, but difficult to win the hearts of the people, not to mention that there are many evil-minded troublemakers around.
However, none of these could stop this stubborn woman.
She knew that her troops were insufficient and it would be difficult to completely control the entire Thang Long area, so she concentrated her forces to control the northern part of Thang Long Province. Because the economy in this area was prosperous and the population was large, she intended to leave it open to allow the rebels to escape to the south.
Then, a letter from Yang Jin of the Chengdu Central Court arrived.
Yangjin proposed to her to clean up the household registration, and to clean up the household registration household by household like the mainland of Xinsong did. The areas that completed the household registration cleanup should be managed and assisted in accordance with our Xinsong system.
By doing this carefully, we can weed out the bad apples.
Fire Phoenix received the Central Financial's treatment prescription and immediately implemented it, and the situation is gradually improving.
Now, the Dali Kingdom has come out to stir up trouble again, and it is obvious that it is trying to bully the New Song Kingdom while it is concentrating on dealing with the Mongolian army.
Fenghuang was very unhappy and sent a letter of inquiry directly to the young emperor of Dali, demanding that Dali explain the reasons and withdraw its troops immediately.
Otherwise, the Shenwei Army would not mind entering the Dali Kingdom to investigate further.
Fenghuang did not relax at all and ordered the army to prepare for war. He quickly reorganized 50,000 troops of the original Yue State and sent them to the border.
The young emperor of Dali Kingdom became furious upon receiving the Fire Phoenix's statement of inquiry. He felt that as the ruler of a country, he was actually rebuked by a woman. His supreme imperial power was challenged and Dali Kingdom was humiliated.
A group of ministers were also very angry and clamored for the court to ask Chengdu for an explanation.
The Gao family and the Chai family thought that they had found a reason to send troops. They could just as well justify sending troops to seize the jade mining area, and it was not impossible to even occupy two or three counties in Thang Long Prefecture.
They believed that the New Song Dynasty was devoting all its efforts to fighting the Mongol Empire and would not dare to easily start another war with Dali.
Duan Xiaolin, the King of Zhennan, came out. He disagreed with the opinions of the ministers and argued that the Dali Kingdom could not withstand the turmoil and that the limited financial resources should be used to improve the lives of the people.
He said: Even though the grassland empire has a large number of troops and is coming in a strong force, the Mongolian army will definitely be the one to fail in the end.
Our Dali is far inferior to the grassland empire in strength, and we certainly cannot defeat the New Song. So why should we do something that will not only save our lives but also cost us a lot of money?
The court gradually became quiet.
Yes, the New Song Dynasty is about to recover all the territories of the Great Song Dynasty. If the Mongolian army is stronger, will the result be like this?
The Shenwei Army would definitely defeat the Mongolian Army if they fought with all their might. Even if they lost, they would not lose their country and their people. At most, they would lose Guanzhong , and the powerful neighbor of the New Song Kingdom would still be beside the Dali Kingdom.
So, they are just being petty by causing trouble in the south at this time.
Seeing that the gentlemen had calmed down, Duan Xiaolin continued: "We can't start a war casually. General Huo Fenghuang is the wife of Commander Zhao of the Divine Might Army. She has always been daring and resolute. If we anger her, maybe even the 20,000 Divine Might Army of Shenglongzhou will dare to attack our imperial city."
Everyone immediately let out a breath of cold air.
He said: The financial resources of Yue State are far inferior to those of Dali. The New Song Dynasty can completely give it up. After occupying Dali, it can also connect the country into one.
Besides, Fire Phoenix has conquered Yue State, and Shenglong State currently has more than 100,000 troops. She is worried that she can't find a place to use up those soldiers who have two minds. If we cause trouble on the border this time, she only needs to pull these troops to the front line to use up with us, and in that case, we will be helping Fire Phoenix a lot.
After hearing his analysis to this point, the gentlemen were speechless.
Duan Xiaolin's father gradually accepted Huo Fenghuang's reprimand. Huo Fenghuang was Zhao Yulin's woman, and a sister of Zhao Feiyan, the ruler of his upper country. Considering this identity, it was normal for her to scold him.
In fact, the little emperor knew very well that half of Dali Kingdom's military supplies and finances depended on the New Song Kingdom. He should follow the New Song Kingdom steadily and should not have any unrealistic ideas anymore.
After the young emperor figured it out, he reluctantly issued an edict: order the Prince of Zhennan to collect food and fodder and go to Shenglong to comfort the army of the superior country.
The court was dismissed.
The ministers in the hall shouted "Long live the emperor! Long live the emperor!" and then slowly dispersed.
At the Suide Prefecture government office, Zhao Yulin rested for a night and then discussed military affairs with his brothers. Everyone was surprised to see him fully armed and neatly dressed, coming out of the government office to get breakfast.
Lao Cao asked him: What's going on?
Aren’t you afraid of being exposed?
Zhao Yulin smiled and said: He just wants your friend to know, to let Kuan Duan know, that he is here.
After sitting down and taking a sip of hot tea, Zhao Yulin said: The enemy is fighting us like a cat playing with a mouse because they lack a piece of fat meat in front of them.
Last night, he thought all night long. We were short of manpower and always suffered losses some time ago. Now we have all the manpower. He decided to throw his own piece of fat meat to your friend and let the Mongolian army aim at his piece of fat meat to grab it.
Miao Gui didn't understand what Zhao Yulin meant. He looked at him in confusion and asked, "Master, what are you trying to do? Do you want the northern barbarians to know that you are in Suide?"
The young master only needs to take a circle around Suide City, or even half a circle, and that guy might know it immediately.
Zhao Yulin nodded and said, "There's more."
He stood up and walked to the battle map, pointed at Yulin Village and said: Let's concentrate 100,000 main forces to escort weapons and food to Yulin Village, which will definitely alarm your friend.
However, even if that guy knew that I was inside, he might not attack me. If the enemy still doesn't fall for it, we will leave Yulin Village and attack Linzhou directly.
Lao Cao and Meng Gong were both shocked at the same time. Meng Gong sat up straight and asked him: Brother Yulin, are you going to have a decisive battle with the Northern Barbarians?
Use the infantry and the cavalry of the northern barbarians to fight a decisive battle on the grassland?
Zhao Yulin nodded and said slowly: Guiyou and Kuoduan both want to fight us to the death. Kuoduan has suffered a lot from us and is timid. He may not make up his mind to fight from here to Yulinzhai's territory. If we go to the grassland, that will be their home ground.
Your friend and expansion are absolutely heart-warming.
Let’s fight them on the Mongolian army’s territory.
Everyone's expressions suddenly became serious.
He asked Miao Gui to prepare and bring all the weapons that were used in daily training to attack the cavalry, as he would personally lead the troops north and advance towards Yulin Village.
Then, Zhao Yulin pointed to the Jinning Army on the map and said to Meng Gong: Give Meng Gong 40,000 main cavalry and 20,000 infantry, and set out first to recapture Jialushai. After completing the mission, the cavalry must immediately withdraw and come under the unified command of Cao Gong, and follow the main army to attack the grassland.
He told Miao Gui: Meng Gong's troops must hide in the early stage, and after they leave Yulin Village, we will wait for an opportunity to cross the Yellow River to the east to seize Shizhou and seize Pingyang Prefecture. As long as we take Pingyang Prefecture, we will gain a foothold in Hedong.
He went on to say: Cao Gong will lead the cavalry to follow behind and protect the infantry. They will determine their own targets and conduct mobile operations. Once they decide to leave Yulin Village, they must bring twenty days of rations.
Lao Cao hesitated for a moment and asked him: This arrangement is too risky.
Meng Gong supported his strategy, believing that instead of being led by the nose by the Mongolian army, it would be better for us to take the initiative and lead the Mongolian army by the nose.
However, Meng Gong proposed to lead the infantry north in place of Zhao Yulin, on the grounds that the battle was extremely dangerous and he was an old man and his death was not a pity.
Zhao Yulin smiled and said: Everything will be fine.
He said: Lord Meng has a heavy burden. It is easy to capture Jialu Village, and there will be absolutely no problem in defending it. However, if the army wants to seize the opportunity to cross the river and advance eastward to expand the results of the battle, it will depend on General Meng.
He believed that the Eastern Expedition Army could increase its military strength and even mobilize Lai Chuanfang's Luoyang Group to attack Hedong together. He had made this assessment when he was discussing military affairs with Lai Chuanfang in Luoyang.
Meng Gong immediately perked up.
There is a huge variable in Zhao Yulin's move. If the eastward advance goes smoothly, he can make great progress and quickly recover the Hedong area.
At this time, Cao Youwen wanted to compete with him for the leadership of the infantry. They all knew that Zhao Yulin's move was a risky one and did not want him to take the risk, so they all came to compete for the leadership of the infantry.
Even Miao Gui and Lu Huacai came to compete with him.
Zhao Yulin said: What are we fighting for? We are here together. This time it is our New Song Kingdom and the Grassland Empire betting on the fate of our countries. We will definitely win.
Speaking of fighting for national destiny, the eldest prince of Goryeo, Wang Dian, is also fighting for the destiny of his country.
In the first half of the year, this guy moved his troops and administrative agencies at all levels to the mountains and islands to deal with Big Meng. Although the Mongolian army broke a little bit of the mountain city, it also trapped the Mongolian army in the quagmire of the three thousand miles of mountains and rivers of Goryeo, making this group of money wolves unable to move.
