The early morning mist lingers in the Jinming Pond. The palace maids are walking on the embankment carrying utensils, and the hanging willows are dipped into the water like a brush dipping in ink.
The hall in the center of Jinming Pond is filled with imperial guards wearing gold thread robes and gold belts.
The official reclined on the red lacquered and golden dragon bed in the palace, and the original dragon screen behind him was replaced by a map of the Xihe River. The official never forgot to take this map with him no matter when and where.
Soon someone came to report that Li Xian, the Secretary of the Imperial City, wanted to face the Holy Spirit.
When the officials heard that it was not a civil servant arriving here, they put their feet on the couch again.
The Imperial City Department has the function of spying on the language in Beijing. After the officials heard Li Xian's report, it was roughly the aftermath of Wang Anshi riding into the palace on the Lantern Festival this year and being stopped by the Imperial City's marriage officer and hammering his horse.
From last year's impeachment in Tang Dynasty to being beaten this year, Wang Anshi is very unpopular.
Wang Anshi resigned angrily.
In order to appease Wang Anshi, the officials replaced Li Xianguan and Gouhuang City Secretary.
After talking about other things for a while, the official said to Li Xian: "Is it feasible for Wang Zhongzheng to propose Zhang Yue Qiangong's strategy of advancing construction?"
Li Xiandao: "Reporting to your Majesty, every time our country has fought with Xia since Qingli, it has always been a shallow attack and fortification. Otherwise, it will be defeated."
"Zhang Yue stationed troops in Hezhou, and also built Kenuo City between Hezhou and Xizhou to protect the grain road from Xizhou to Hezhou. This is really a prudent way."
"Now it is built in Hezhou City. If our army can gain a foothold in Hezhou City, we don't need to specially supply supplies from Qinzhou and collect civilian services."
Officials remember that when Zhang Yue came to Beijing, he proposed to build Kenuo City between Hezhou City and Xizhou City, but now he is building Hezhou City forward, making his foothold even further forward.
The official said: "I am five thousand miles away from Hezhou. It is inevitable that I don't know the local situation. I can only ask my ministers to visit me or summon the right ministers who know the feelings of Xihe. I am afraid that someone will cover up, and I am afraid that I will be content with what I see.
But I don’t know what I don’t see.”
Li Xiandao: "Your Majesty, I believe that in order to control the border defense, we should first make a big plan and then implement it. We should not improvise on people's opinions... But if the general is left to his own devices, the court will not have a final plan."
The official said happily: "That's it. Now that Qin Feng Road is struggling financially to support it, how do you think we should urge Zhang Yue to advance his troops?"
Li Xiandao: "Your Majesty, if a general makes a decision before the battle, if he urges him to do so, he will lose his authority. Besides, there is also a king who supervises the military affairs. I think it is better to do this..."
Li Xian said a few words to the official, who nodded slowly and said immediately: "As you said, I will immediately issue an imperial edict to Zhang Yue!"
…
At this moment in Hezhou City.
Veteran general Zhang Shouyue and his generals went to the Jinglue Mansion to look for Zhang Yue. On the way, they heard someone say: "Qian Ju, a scholar leading an army is just a moji, which makes us very unhappy."
"When can I get this from Tabaicheng? How long do I have to wait?"
"It's up to you whether Qian Ji can convince the commander this time."
Zhang Shouyue nodded and led the generals straight to the Imperial Palace.
A brief tour of the mansion.
Zhang Yuezheng was chatting with Wang Zhongzheng. After Wang Zhongzheng arrived in Hezhou City, Shangshu spoke for him, which was equivalent to betting on the other party. However, he still tried hard to persuade Zhang Yue to send troops.
Wang Zhongzheng said: "Previously, the court was opposed to advancing troops because of the defeat at Tabaicheng, and now it is urging troops to advance because of the victories in Minzhou and Hezhou. This is indeed a repetition of what Jinglue said."
"But no matter what, it is a national policy to seize Xihe and cut off Xixia's right arm. The first person I entered the palace to serve was Emperor Renzong."
"Renzong's benevolence and kindness can be said to be profound among the officials. The Xia Kingdom insulted Renzong very hard, so repaying Emperor Renzong and humiliating the Xia Kingdom is the way to wash away the shame of Emperor Renzong. Such a great achievement lies in Jinglue
In front of my eyes."
Zhang Yue praised: "The loyalty of the envoy to Emperor Renzong is really touching."
At this time, Zhang Yue couldn't help but frown when he heard that Zhang Shouyue led his generals to ask for an audience. Wang Zhongzheng, who was standing by, also saw Zhang Yue's subtle expression and said nothing very wisely.
After a while, Zhang Shouyue led the generals into the White Tiger Hall.
Zhang Shouyue said in a low voice: "Commander Qi, now is the time for our Xihe Army to send troops to attack Baicheng."
Zhang Yue glanced at Zhang Shouyue, pondered in front of the map of Hezhou, and said after a moment: "Xia's reinforcements have just crossed the Yellow River and deployed on the Jiechuan line. If we send troops now, our army is in danger of being attacked from both sides."
When the generals heard this, there was a commotion. Zhang Yue had been dragging himself under the Hezhou City for nearly two months, but reinforcements from Xixia arrived.
In fact, many generals sought an opportunity to ask for orders. Zhang Yue was the military envoy before, so they would definitely not do this. But now that Wang Zhongzheng has come and brought official interests, it has given them a chance to express their loyalty.
However, Zhang Shouyue felt in his heart that the attack on Tabaicheng would not be delayed any longer and said: "Commander, at this critical moment, we should make a decision now."
Zhang Yue said: "You should not take this risk at this moment. Please restrain your troops and horses and do not act rashly."
Zhang Shouyue said: "Commander, I will definitely lead my three thousand men to attack Baicheng alone. If we fail, I will be willing to serve as a military judge."
Zhang Yue glanced at Zhang Shouyue and said, "Old General, when I am not in a mood of impatience at this moment, your three thousand men and horses rushing in alone is almost the same as committing suicide."
When all the generals heard this, they all looked at each other in shock.
Zhang Shouyue said: "Commander, I have been in the army for more than thirty years and have experienced more than a hundred major and small battles. I rely on my experience to say that now the morale of the army is strong and it is the most appropriate time to attack. If we continue to waste time in Hezhou City,
, I am afraid that it will be difficult for the soldiers to use their lives, and there will be chaos in the army."
Zhang Yue said: "I understand."
Wang Zhongzheng said: "Zhang Jinglue, now the general is using his life, it is the time when our army is advancing. I heard that after Gui Zhang killed Master Zhiyuan, Mu Zheng's generals turned against him. When the two sides were in internal strife, our army was in
Attacking at this time has a great chance of winning."
All the generals nodded. In fact, there was no need for a wooden levy. Since there was internal strife in Guizhang, the Song army's chance of winning by sending troops to attack Baicheng was more than 70%.
However, no matter what everyone said, Zhang Yue did not agree.
As a result, the Xihe army generals dispersed unhappy.
At this moment, at the foot of Lugu Mountain, a group of Song Army cavalry was approaching.
The leader of this Song Army cavalry team was Zhong Shidao.
Zhong Shidao raised his head and looked at the stretching, towering exposed mountain and said: "Bring me a picture!"
One of the soldiers took out the map, and the other turned his back to serve as a table for the map.
Zhong Shidao looked at the picture and said: "There is no mistake. Our army sent troops from Nanguanzhai, walked along the upper reaches of the Daxia River, and arrived at the foot of Nanshan Mountain. This wrongly carved city is right in front of us."
The Guizhang tribe occupied four villages in Hezhou, Nanshan, and Xishan, namely Jiamu Zhuo and Yigong. They were wrongly cut to mark the four cities.
Yigong City was called Bajiao City in the Han Dynasty and Diaowo City in the Tang Dynasty. It is now the headquarters of the Guizhang Department.
The Cuoche City is dozens of miles northeast of Yigong City.
As night fell, large groups of Song troops appeared on the horizon, and the troops and horses of the Song troops advancing side by side on the vast grassy beach surged out like a red tide.
The general Zhang Kai, whose face was covered with dust, jumped off his horse. His sight was blocked by the tall exposed mountain, and most of the exposed valley was shrouded in huge shadows as the sun set.
The spacious valley in front of us was covered with various reeds and red willows. Streams flowed across the valley. People and horses who had been walking for half a day came to drink water near the stream.
Zhang Kai breathed a sigh of relief and said, "This is it."
Not long ago, a cavalryman from the front came to report: "General Zhong has decided to attack Wozhuo City at night at the third watch!"
Zhang Kai said: "Don't be anxious. Our army is going to cut off Gui Zhang's way back to Nanshan. Now that we have captured Cuozhu City, Gui Zhang is going to fight us to the death."
At this point, Zhang Kai held the riding whip tightly, pondered for a moment and then said aside: "Immediately send someone to Hezhou to report to the commander-in-chief that our army has reached the foot of Cuoche City and can cut off Gui Zhang's return at any time!"
After the military official wrote the official document and sealed it, a dozen cavalrymen immediately galloped towards Hezhou City.
The next day all the generals in the Economic Affairs Office gathered for discussion.
Zhang Shouyue and the military generals raised objections again. They led half of their troops to attack Baicheng, while Zhang Yue and Wang Junwan stayed behind in Hezhou.
Zhang Yue's expression changed slightly when he heard this. All the generals felt that Zhang Yue was also torn between sending troops or not, but for some reason he took it back in the end.
The argument lasted until almost noon, when a clerk hurriedly entered Zhang Yue's side and whispered a few words. Zhang Yue's brows suddenly brightened.
Zhang Yue looked at the White Tiger Hall, and all the buzzing arguments suddenly stopped.
Zhang Yue's heart was pounding, he knew that the moment had come to decide the entire northwest war situation, and he was waiting for now after months of hard work.
Zhang Yue took out a document and said to the generals: "Our army's partial division has surrounded Cuozhuo City, cutting off Gui Zhang's way back to Nanshan!"
Wang Zhongzheng was surprised and happy after hearing this. The expressions of Zhang Shouyue and other generals also changed.
At this moment, Zhang Yue said calmly: "The three months of sharpening the sword have been used today! Gui Zhang knew that his way back was intercepted, so he would fight to the death to break out. I believe you have heard about the battle between trapped beasts, and the following battle must be extremely dangerous.
, but if we can capture and kill Mu Zheng Guizhang in one battle, then the river and Tao River can be settled, and our army can capture all the people in Nanshan!"
Baihutang seems peaceful, but a suppressed force is brewing.
Seeing that the generals were a little commotion and seemed to want to say something, Zhang Yue reached out and pressed it at this moment, as if the turbulent sea was being forcibly calmed down.
"Before we send out troops, I will make a three-part agreement with you all!"
"As soon as the troops are sent out, the military salary will be paid according to the superior imperial army, and the monthly payment will be the same, four pieces of plain silk."
"Those who advance twice will be rewarded, and those who retreat will be beheaded."
"Thirdly, you must not harass the people of the Tibetan tribe. Anyone who violates this will be killed."
"You all have strict military laws. Don't blame me for not remembering our old feelings when the time comes!"
The generals were all silent after hearing this, but at the same time, they thought that every one of the soldiers who could participate in today's battle would be classified as high-ranking imperial guards, that is to say, they would be treated like the fourth army. This moment was like a dream.
Can this be taken seriously?
At this moment, someone outside said: "Your Majesty's edict has arrived!"
Zhang Yue accepted the imperial edict and said: "Your Majesty's royal letter only has seven words. Those who use their lives to defeat thieves will be rewarded twice as much!"
"Yes!" Zhang Shouyue's generals suddenly accepted the order.
Sure enough, the emperor's edict is consistent with the reward mentioned by Zhang Yue. What else can I say? Just risk your life!
Zhang Yue immediately said: "Send me the command, Wang Junwan will lead his troops to attack the river, so that the Xia army cannot cross the river!"
"Zhang Kai, Zhongshi Dao led his troops to attack the wrong city and cut off the ghost Zhang Nanshan's return route!"
"The main force of our army has left Hezhou City. Zhang kept the promise, and Wang Hou and other generals followed the army to obey orders. The rest of the troops must arrive at Tabai City on February 27th to surround and annihilate Mu Zheng and Guizhang's troops!"
