Chapter 545 Don't even think about leaving when you come
Meeting an envoy is a break from a tense atmosphere.
No one really took it seriously, but it was reasonable to delay the envoy.
The flags on the sand table symbolizing the east and west armies are moving closer to the center day by day.
Based on the report, Zhao Xi roughly estimated the marching speed of the army... which was only thirty miles per day.
These thirty miles are placed in the stretching Taihang Mountains, and it does not mean that the thirty miles are hard.
Although everyone was anxious, no one thought of urging.
It might have happened before, but it definitely won't happen now. Officials have made it clear that Guo Kui's approach is the most correct and most suitable.
The vast mountains are high and densely forested. Not only do they have to march, but they also have to clear out thieves at any time. At the same time, they also need to ensure that no news is leaked.
Only by marching in this way can it be possible to achieve the above requirements.
At this time, Zhao Xi could especially understand how his father had trouble sleeping and eating. He had experienced wars, and his military strength today was not comparable to that of the past. There were also famous generals such as Di Qing, Guo Kui, and Zhong E who went to war, so he still went to war whenever he had time.
Stay in the council hall and look at the sand table.
"Your Majesty, the Liao and Xia envoys did not stay for a moment after their audience, and immediately left the capital..."
The same goes for all the officials in the political hall. Whenever there is nothing wrong, they will come to the political hall.
Sometimes you don’t have to do anything, just talking to each other can relieve the anxiety in your heart. It is indeed anxiety.
Even if there were firearms, after all, this time it was the Liao-Xia Alliance, and nearly 200,000 troops broke through Yanmen...~No one knew for sure!
According to the established strategy, the four armies converged, and together with the Hedong Road, the army of the imperial dynasty also numbered nearly 200,000. However, they were all still marching...
"In our territory of the Song Dynasty, apart from the urgent delivery of red feathers, war horses are not allowed to rush into the city. After the envoys leave the country and arrive at Shangjing and Xingqing Mansion in the Northern Liao Dynasty, they will discuss matters in their court, and perhaps there will be liaison and communication between the two sides.
The time to negotiate the distribution of benefits...this should be enough for the army!"
The imperial court has gone to the extreme level of cooperation and made full use of the lack of information.
At this time, I really feel like doing my best to obey fate.
Zhao Xi really would rather lead the expedition in person than wait in this palace gate, which is really frustrating.
Although it's not like he has blisters on his lips, Zhao Xi has been really anxious these days, and the redness in his eyes has never faded.
In the court, all the ministers and servants were paying close attention, and nothing could be separated from the war. Back in the inner garden, Tao Niang also had a look of resentment on her face, always staring towards the north.
The servants in the inner garden have been very nervous these days. Tao Niang has scolded the servants several times, which was rare in the past.
Zhao Xi couldn't say anything yet! He was very irritable.
"Your Majesty, according to the marching speed, the West Route Army should be able to reach the preset location today, right?"
Han Jiang originally wanted to use a positive tone, but when her words came to her lips, she turned into a question.
"What Zihua said is absolutely true. The West Route Army can arrive today. In this way, the east side is surrounded by mountains. Even if it is opened now, the middle route and the West Route can form a certain degree of encirclement and suppression of the Liao-Xia Allied Forces!"
Fu Bi is working hard to cheer up, for everyone and for himself.
Perhaps in the eyes of most people, this siege was the same as the last victory over Haoshuichuan, but Zhao Xi understood that these two times were very different.
The last time, it was said to be an encirclement and suppression campaign, but it was actually dispersed into many battlefields. The Xixia people were used to divide their troops to plunder food and grass, and formed a small area with more troops attacking fewer troops.
That time, the entire area from Shaniuling to Haoshuichuan was a battlefield. Each battlefield was unrelated, and there was no causal relationship between them.
Moreover, Zhao Xi took advantage of the terrain and ambush the team in advance, just waiting for work.
The last encirclement and suppression was basically a small fight with no connection, because Zhao Xi considered the combat qualities of the Western Army and the New Army and the reason for their cowardice against Xixia.
Judging from the results, it can be regarded as a decisive battle. In fact, the success or failure of any battlefield will not affect the entire battle situation.
But this time it was different. This time it was considered a real large-scale army battle, with hundreds of thousands of people concentrated in the Xinzhou Basin to fight.
Moreover, this time we are no longer just waiting for work, but we are working on an expedition. This is why Zhao Xi agrees with Guo Kui's steady march...
Even so, after more than ten or twenty days of marching, the soldiers were definitely tired. This was what Zhao Xi was most worried about.
"Don't worry too much about the east and west routes. The real difficulty is the army in the middle...and the defenders at Yanmen Pass!"
Zhao Xi seemed to be whispering or explaining to everyone.
"Your Majesty, what do you mean by this?"
The original strategy was formulated to require the central army to be launched when the east and west routes formed an encirclement.
Han Qi was a little confused by what the officials said. Once the war started, the Liao-Xia coalition forces, which were surrounded by enemies on all sides, would not be able to concentrate their efforts on attacking the middle road to the south. Instead, they would consider turning back and opening an escape channel.
Han Qi's questions made Zhao Xi extremely suspicious of where his so-called knowledge of military matters came from.
"After the envoy reports our court's attitude, what will the courts of Northern Liao and Xixia do first?"
Zhao Xi did not answer Han Qi's question, but just made some gossip.
When it comes to war matters, my husband may not be good enough, but when it comes to the tricks in the court, he is an expert.
"Your Majesty is saying that Liao Xia will immediately order the Liao Xia coalition forces that have entered the pass to go south?"
Fu Bi was not sure, but he was already nervous. Fifty thousand versus two hundred thousand! Di Qing is a famous general, so this comparison is quite difficult, and His Royal Highness the Crown Prince...
Fu Bi somewhat understands the anxiety of the officials. These days, he even feels that the officials are a little restless... The war situation is basically progressing towards the plan, and the officials are still staring at the sand table every day.
"That's for sure! If you want to mobilize troops within Northern Liao and Xixia to attack our border, it will take time."
"The court's attitude toward envoys will definitely arouse Bei Liao's anger, and Xixia will also respond. After all, our court has always been courteous to Bei Liao, and the sudden toughness will make them angry."
"This will definitely cause the army already in our territory to launch an offensive, with the intention of teaching us a lesson. We should launch the attack quite quickly and urgently."
"The east and west routes will not be attacked, just the middle route..."
I'm afraid what the officials say will become true.
Fu Bi began to look through the reports from the Central Route Army in the past few days...
"Di Hanchen has sent troops to Chitang Pass and Shiling Pass. I think he will be able to get in touch with the West Route Army today... Your Majesty, issue an edict and order the partial division of Zhongjie to be controlled by Di Qing's Middle Route Army..."
At this time, the Central Army can add ten thousand strength, even if it is the Western Army.
"I have already ordered Zhuanzhong to go north, join up with the defenders of Yanmen Pass, and recapture Yanmen Pass when the battle starts... If you dare to go deep into the hinterland of our Song Dynasty, don't expect to escape unscathed. Since you are here, please stay!"
"Your Majesty, but in the middle..."
"Prime Minister Fu, first of all we must have confidence in Di Hanchen. In addition...~The other thing is, we can only hope that when the Liao-Xia coalition forces attack southward, the east and west routes will launch an encirclement at the same time!"
The west road is definitely no problem, but the east road...the last few days, that is, the section of the road through Wutai Mountain is the most difficult.
This is why Zhao Xi is not sure that the Eastern Route Army will be ready before the war begins.