This is actually a desperate move, taking huge risks and putting himself under coercion. But the fact that Wanyan Agu dared to launch the war to destroy Liao is not a big gamble. He dared to bet, and it was actually a big gamble.
I have accepted this coercion and the risks it brings.
The second is the difficulty of the battle itself. It is certainly not a problem to capture these small cities with little city defense. But once the Dading Mansion is attacked, the problem cannot be solved by simply charging and killing. Even if the Dading Mansion is empty of troops
Under such circumstances, if hundreds of thousands of cavalry want to attack the city, they will also need the help of a large number of siege equipment. The lack of siege equipment will make it an impossible task to capture Zhongjing.
Because of this, Wanyan Aguda needs to stabilize its footing and find a foothold. While ensuring that the supplies of soldiers and horses are not a problem and the safety of the army can be guaranteed, there will be enough time to manufacture siege equipment to prepare for the capture of Dading.
The government was ready. Zhou Dynasty had already sent a large number of siege equipment drawings after the new year, and sent hundreds of craftsmen to guide the manufacturing. These drawings and personnel were among the army and were strictly protected. The only
All it takes is some time and a stable place.
In view of the above reasons, capturing Xingzhong Mansion has become an inevitable choice. Once you capture this city, you will have a solid foothold. Xingzhong Mansion is a big city, and the labor and supplies in the city are enough to ensure the supply of the army. And the surrounding areas
There is inexhaustible wood on the mountain, and it only takes ten days and a half to create a large number of siege equipment and make the necessary preparations for the capture of Dading Mansion.
On April 12, on the large fertile field on the south bank of the Daling River east of Xingzhong Prefecture, 160,000 Jurchen cavalry rolled in like dark clouds in the sky, covering the wilderness below the city with darkness. At the same time, in the city of Xingzhong Prefecture,
, 50,000 Liao troops who came from Dading Prefecture have been in the city for half a day, and are nervously making preparations to defend the city. Fifty miles behind on the south side, Yelucai led 150,000 Liao cavalry and was about to arrive at the foot of Helong Mountain.
To the north, on the north bank of the Daling River, Yelvchun led 140,000 cavalry to arrive at Xingzhong Ferry.
In the small Xingzhong Mansion, half a million troops gathered inside and outside the city. A bloody battle was about to begin.
…
It took Lin Jue and others five days to rush from the vicinity of Xingzhong Prefecture to Helong Mountain south of Xingzhong Prefecture. This was a journey that originally took ten days to reach, but Lin Jue and others spent the night in Xiaoxing and hurriedly traveled in just 10 minutes.
half the time.
After entering the hinterland of Zhongjing Road, Lin Jue and others felt the panic shrouded in the clouds of war. Along the way, they saw people from the Liao Kingdom fleeing south with their families, horses and carts. From their mouths, they learned that the Jurchens had already
They invaded the hinterland of Zhongjing Road, conquered several prefectural cities, and massacred the cities and killed people with incomparable cruelty.
These people originally wanted to flee to Dading Mansion, but Dading Mansion began to close the city gates a few days ago to prevent anyone from entering or exiting. The people had no choice but to continue fleeing south. They just wanted to get as far away from the Jurchens as possible
, to avoid being poisoned.
To a certain extent, no matter which country it is, the common people are the most unlucky group of people. Once the war begins, they will always be the unlucky ones. The Great Zhou Dynasty
The people hated the Liao people to the core and thought that all the people in the Liao country were like tigers and wolves and would not die well. But in fact, the vast majority of the people in the Liao country were ordinary and kind-hearted people. Like the people of the Zhou Dynasty, they only wanted stability.
It was just one day. The flames of war burned over them, and they were still helpless and became refugees.
Lin Jue and others told these people that Xijin Prefecture in the south would also face a war, so it was meaningless for them to escape to the south. Their best escape route at the moment was to go north and escape to Shangjing Road. It was safe there for the time being.
.But no one paid attention to what Lin Jue said to them, so they would not go to Beijing. People who were used to living in the prosperous southern Liao Dynasty had already had prejudices against the people in the desert Gobi and grasslands in the north. They had been influenced by the Great Zhou Dynasty for many years.
The southern Liao people had already regarded the northern Liao tribes as inferior aliens, so they fled to Jingdao? It would be better to die.
Of course, Lin Jue and others would not compete with these refugees for this reason. They were responsible for their own choices, and there was no need to argue with them. However, the information obtained from their mouths made Lin Jue make a judgment: Xingzhong Mansion
There must be a big battle. For Lin Jue and others who came to observe the battle between the Jurchens and the Liao people, fully understand the fighting skills and methods of both sides, and be prepared to know themselves and the enemy, it was definitely a battle not to be missed.
As a result, everyone no longer made any delays on the way, and galloped from the plain wilderness south of Dading Mansion, all the way to Xingzhong Mansion. In the end, Lin Jue chose Helong Mountain as a place to live and watch the battle. Although Helong Mountain
It is not high, with the main peak being less than 500 meters above sea level, but its location is excellent, overlooking the fertile grasslands in the southeast of Xingzhong Prefecture and on both sides of the Daling River.
Everyone who had run up to this point and climbed the main peak was already exhausted and in urgent need of rest to regain their strength. However, out of curiosity about the situation on the battlefield, everyone only took a simple rest and then left their shelter in the pine forest.
Climbed to the top of the cliff on the east side of the main peak.
Looking down from the top of the cliff, the city outline and the fertile fields of the river under the setting sun are magnificent. The vast Daling River meanders from the northeast, passes through the square Xingzhong Mansion located between the mountains, and rushes to the west.
Wherever its watershed passes, there are fertile plains and vast grassy wastelands. This is an extremely rare open grassland in the eastern part of Nakagyo Province, where the overall terrain is undulating hilly terrain.
At this time, the sun was setting over the long river, the mountains were magnificent, the green fields were open, and the city was majestic. Although it was a land of Liao Kingdom, it was also a magnificent river and mountains. Everyone looked down at the scenery under the sunset, and they felt infinite emotion in their hearts.
.
Soon, Lin Jue used his telescope to search for a large number of Jurchen soldiers gathered in the river bend more than ten miles away. Although the distance was far away and the details could not be seen, the dark clouds shrouded the green plain like a dark cloud.
The soldiers and horses on the mountain are still quite eye-catching. It is like a pile of cow dung on the green grass, which is unsightly, and it is like a black scar on a plain white face, which is dazzling and distracting. That is
The place where the Jurchen army of 160,000 troops was stationed.
Soon after, Lin Jue searched through the telescope and found the Jurchen soldiers and horses about twenty miles northeast.
At the ferry on the north side of the Daling River, another soldier and horse, dark and squirming like ants, were slowly crossing the river.
Not long after, the sharp-eyed Bai Bing saw a yellow dust cloud rising from the sky in the southeast direction. It was a clear day in late spring. This yellow dust cloud was definitely not a naturally formed cloud. It should have been caused by a large group of cavalry galloping in.
To, the yellow dust cloud formed by stepping on the dust on the ground. That can only mean one thing. There are also a large number of cavalry from the southeast heading towards Xingzhong Mansion quickly.
The three armies are all extremely large in number. It is obvious that a brutal firefight is about to take place.
Lin Jue put down the telescope and had not yet spoken. Sun Dayong, who had also held up the telescope and watched for a long time, smacked his lips and rubbed his hands and said, "Hey, hey, a fight is about to begin. There is a good show to watch. I'm really looking forward to it."
Bai Bing and Gao Muqing were speechless. Sun Dayong was obviously just watching the fun and not taking it too seriously. You must know what kind of scene it would be if these hundreds of thousands of soldiers and horses fought in front of Xingzhongfu City. The magnificence in front of them
The scenery is probably going to become a hellish scene.
Lin Jue smiled and said to Sun Dayong: "Brother Sun, who do you think will win and who will lose in this battle? Can you make a bold prediction?"
Sun Dayong said: "It doesn't matter who wins or loses, it has nothing to do with us. We just hope that they fight more fiercely, and it is best to try out their ability to press boxes. Then the trip will be worthwhile."
Lin Jue laughed and said: "This is wrong. The victory or defeat of both sides will affect the overall situation and have a profound impact. How can we say that it has nothing to do with us. If the Liao people win, the Jurchen dream will be shattered. Even if Yang Jun wins the analysis in the south,
Jin Mansion will also inevitably lead to a fierce counterattack by the Liao people. If the Jurchens win, the Liao people may be really doomed. The subsequent situation... will be extremely complicated."
Gao Muqing frowned and said: "Husband, if the Jurchens win, won't it mean that Guo Xu will succeed? If the Liao Kingdom is destroyed and the Great Zhou Dynasty takes over the southern part of the Liao Kingdom, then Guo Xu will be very happy. Although I don't want the Liao people to win,
But when I think of the traitor Guo Xu succeeding, I still feel very unhappy."
Lin Jue said with a smile: "If the Jurchens win, the situation will become extremely complicated. I didn't say that Guo Xu will definitely succeed. The Jurchens' victory is the Jurchens' business, and that does not mean that Zhou will benefit from it.
"
Gao Muqing asked doubtfully: "How do you say this?"
Lin Jue said in a deep voice: "It is not a good thing for the Jurchens to grow stronger. I can only answer you with this sentence."
Sun Dayong frowned and said, "What do you mean, sir, is that the Jurchens have ulterior motives?"
Lin Jue said softly: "I'm not sure yet. Maybe the Jurchens will abide by the agreement between the two parties, maybe they won't. Things are changing. The only thing that is certain is... the uncertainty of the whole thing. In short
, in my opinion, no matter whether the Jurchens or the Liao people win, the Zhou Dynasty will not get any benefits. Maybe my guess is too arbitrary, and I really have no basis for the inference. You can just think that I am talking nonsense.
I don’t even know what will happen.”
Bai Bing smiled and said softly: "Is your husband unwilling to say it clearly? Or is it really 'the secret must not be leaked'?"
