In front of Cao Wei, Zhao Zhen was more like a student, listening carefully to Cao Wei's plans.
After Cao Wei briefly explained his arrangements to Zhao Zhen, he said with emotion: "Since our Song Dynasty has deployed 500,000 troops at a time, there is no reason to only defend but not attack.
Gao Chugong is also a fool. Half a million troops were given to him, but he didn't know how to make good use of them.
He is not worried. If the Song Dynasty mobilizes 500,000 troops to compete with the Liao soldiers and only defends but does not attack, will others think that the Song Dynasty is easy to bully?"
Zhao Zhen heard this and smiled bitterly, "No wonder Gao Chugong is responsible for this. I gave him the order to only defend but not attack. My dear, you are seriously ill and are not suitable for going to the battlefield. There are people in the court who can command large armies in battle.
Now they are all in Hexi.
There is no one in charge of the troops in Zhending Mansion, so I can only use Gao Chugong.
Let him temporarily take charge of the army and guard the border of our Song Dynasty.
Wait until the Hexi side is free and then counterattack the Liao Kingdom."
Hearing this, Cao Wei pondered: "I'm afraid the pressure on Hexi is not small, right?"
Cao Wei knew Kou Ji well. Although Kou Ji was not good at military affairs, he was good at planning and layout.
Since Kou Ji dispatched two handsome men, Zhong Shiheng and Di Qing, to Hexi, it means that the war in Hexi is far more dangerous than the war in Zhending Mansion.
Zhao Zhen nodded and said: "There are 700,000 Black Khan soldiers and 100,000 Liao soldiers on the Hexi side. The only imperial troops facing the enemy are the Zhenxi Army and the Yongxing Army, and the rest are local soldiers and horses.
Previously, my fourth brother wrote that after the 700,000 Black Khan soldiers entered the Hexi territory, they were forced to retreat and fight on the side, at a cost of 300,000.
The Black Khan King Yusufu had no choice but to dispatch another troop of troops from the Black Khanate to Yumen Pass for reinforcements."
Cao Wei frowned slightly and said: "There are only two forbidden troops, which is a bit weak."
After the military reform of the Song Dynasty, the Forbidden Army became the main external force.
On the frontline battlefield of Zhending Mansion, the Song Dynasty dispatched five forbidden troops.
There are only two on the Hexi side, so naturally they appear weak.
When Zhao Zhen heard what Cao Wei said, he pondered for a moment and said, "This matter was decided by the fourth brother."
Cao Wei sighed and said: "He was also afraid that you would be in danger, so he left most of his troops with you. Otherwise, he should have brought the Tianwu Army with him when he left the capital.
Zhong Shiheng was able to retreat and fight at the same time after the Black Khan soldiers entered Hexi territory, consuming 300,000 of the opponent's troops. This shows that the Black Khan soldiers' combat effectiveness is very limited.
Therefore, no matter how many Black Khan soldiers there are, they will not pose much of a threat to our Song Dynasty.
Nowadays, the number of soldiers and horses in Hexi is increasing day by day.
However, Zhong Shiheng and Di Qing have yet to take action against the Black Khan soldiers.
They should be fishing."
Although Cao Wei has been staying at Wenchang Academy in recent years, it does not mean that he is ignorant of what is happening outside the window.
When he teaches students, he will not only analyze some past war cases for students to analyze, but also occasionally analyze some current situations for students.
Therefore, he has been paying attention to the military affairs of the Song Dynasty and the enemies on all sides.
Zhong Shiheng and Di Qing had the strength to defeat the Black Khan soldiers, but Kou Ji suppressed them and prevented them from fighting, otherwise he had other purposes.
Either he is guarding against others or he is fishing.
If he was to guard against others, Kou Ji would definitely leave some of his troops behind to keep an eye on the enemy.
But Kou Ji is now in Hexi and has not left any troops to keep an eye on anyone.
Then he must be fishing.
There are not many fish worth fishing in Hexi today.
"Qingtang?"
Cao Wei asked.
Zhao Zhen nodded slowly and said: "Qingtang Wolf is ambitious. In recent years, with the support of the Song Dynasty, we have continued to expand our troops. Now the number of troops under our command has reached 500,000.
Fourth brother means to lure them out and clean them up together."
Cao Wei said in a deep voice: "There are only two forbidden armies in Hexi, and they can barely deal with the Black Khan soldiers and Liao soldiers. If there is another Qingtang army, Kou Ji may not be able to deal with it.
Should he have other backup plans?"
Zhao Zhen nodded solemnly.
Cao Wei asked: "What back-up plan?"
Zhao Zhen hesitated for a moment, then asked Cao Wei to come over and whispered something in Cao Wei's ear.
After hearing what Zhao Zhen said, Cao Wei looked strange and asked incredulously: "Really?"
Zhao Zhen nodded and said: "Of course it is true, I have seen all those people."
Cao Wei nodded and said with a smile: "In this way, the war in Hexi will be interesting. Kou Xiaozi has created a big picture in Hexi, and I can't lag behind others."
Cao Wei knocked on the wall of the carriage, and Chen Lin opened the curtain and entered the carriage, asking, "What are your orders, Mr. Cao?"
Cao Wei said in a deep voice: "Send someone to convey the order to Wang Kai again. Before the Liao soldiers pass through Ruzhou, they cannot capture Dading Mansion, so I will come to see you. By the way, I will tell Gao Chugong and ask him to take the cavalry and rush there first."
Tongtai Pass, then led the soldiers and horses from Tongtai Pass, advanced fifty miles, and set the battlefield outside Youzhou City.
I want him, Yelu Longxu, to be able to get out of the Great Wall, but not Youzhou City."
Chen Lin carefully agreed and quickly exited the carriage.
As Cao Wei's military order was conveyed, Gao Chugong led the cavalry and was the first to break away, rushing all the way to Tongtai Pass.
Wang Kai at Yanmen Pass and Li Zhaoliang admiring the scenery at the Hanging Temple in Hengshan received Cao Wei's military orders one after another.
After the two men learned that the military order came from Cao Wei, they almost did not hesitate at all and led their troops and horses into Liao Tu.
Wang Kai's goal is Dading Mansion.
Li Zhaoliang's target is Feihukou.
The battlefield advanced from the first line of Zhending Mansion to the territory of the Liao Kingdom.
When Zhao Zhen and Cao Bin arrived at Zhending Mansion.
The news that Wang Kai bravely captured Dading Mansion and Li Zhaoliang outsmarted Feihukou reached Zhending Mansion one after another.
Liao Emperor Yelu Longxu led the army and was still on the way.
Dadingfu and Feihukou did not have heavy troops from the Liao Kingdom stationed there.
Wang Kai and Li Zhaoliang led the elite Forbidden Army in a surprise attack, and were naturally able to capture Dading Mansion and Feihukou easily.
It would be strange not to be able to take it.
After Cao Wei accompanied Zhao Zhen to read the good news, he smiled and said to Zhao Zhen: "Guan family, I'm afraid you won't be able to stay in this Zhending mansion."
Zhao Zhen smiled and asked Cao Wei, "Where do you think I should go, Aiqing?"
Cao Wei smiled and said: "Gao Chugong has led his army out of Tongtai Pass, so the officials should move to Tongtai Pass."
Now that the battlefield has extended to the territory of Liao Kingdom, Zhao Zhen's original plan of staying in Zhending Mansion will naturally change accordingly.
Zhao Zhen did not rush to agree, but asked: "Is it appropriate for me to go to Tongtaiguan?"
Zhao Zhen was mainly worried that if he went to the front line, it would affect the frontline generals' command of operations.
Cao Wei said with a smile: "There's nothing inappropriate. The officials don't intend to give advice on military matters. It doesn't matter where you stay."
Zhao Zhen nodded and said: "That's good..."
With a new place to go, Zhao Zhen did not stay in Zhending Mansion any longer. After taking a short rest, he led his troops and horses to Tongtai Pass.
After leaving Zhending Mansion, Zhao Zhen truly felt the enthusiasm of the people.
Although Zhao Zhen had given orders in advance that local officials should not greet him respectfully or disturb the people, but after he left Baozhou and entered Baozhou, he still met the people who came to welcome him respectfully.
The people came spontaneously to welcome Zhao Zhen.
Everyone regarded Zhao Zhen as a relative of their own family, and blocked the road with some gifts from their own property to give to Zhao Zhen.
In the eyes of Baozhou people, the emperor's statue standing in his or her family's temple means that he is one of them.
It's rare for someone of your own to return home, so naturally you have to entertain them well.
Elderly common people blocked the army one by one, and the soldiers of the Tianwu Army did not dare to rush forward, so they could only inform Zhao Zhen of the matter.
After Zhao Zhen learned about this, he ordered Chen Lin to help Cao Wei get out of the carriage and go to see the people together.
As soon as Zhao Zhen appeared, the people looked at him eagerly.
The leading old men first led the people to salute Zhao Zhen respectfully.
The great ceremony of kneeling three times and prostrating nine times.
It stands to reason that when the emperor of Zhao and Song Dynasties went on tour, the people did not have to perform the grand ceremony of kneeling three times and kowtowing nine times.
When Zhao Zhen went to other places, he rarely received the gift of three kneels and nine kowtows, but the people of Baozhou were extraordinary. They built a living shrine for Zhao Zhen and offered incense to Zhao Zhen's statue. When they saw Zhao Zhen, they would do it.
The great ceremony of kneeling three times and prostrating nine times is not allowed.
Zhao Zhen bravely accepted the gift from nearly ten thousand people.
After Zhao Zhen received the great gifts from the people, the people immediately presented the gifts they prepared to Zhao Zhen.
A basket of eggs for the east family and a bunch of dried meat for the west family.
Most of the things are home-grown and not expensive, but with nearly 10,000 people each having one, it is a great gift together.
Zhao Zhen refused to accept it, but the people insisted on giving it.
Not only that, the people also have a posture of forcing themselves on me if they don't accept it.
In the end, Zhao Zhen accepted the gifts under Cao Wei's persuasion.
After Zhao Zhen received the gift, the people did not stop Zhao Zhen anymore, because they knew that Zhao Zhen had important things to do when he passed by Baozhou this time.
Before Zhao Zhen left, he personally promised the people that he would definitely stay in Baozhou for a few days when his teacher returned to the court.
After the team left Baozhou.
Zhao Zhen was sitting in the carriage, holding a basket of eggs in his arms, and said with emotion: "I didn't expect that I would be so popular among the people."
Cao Wei laughed softly and said: "The situation in Baozhou is different from other places. In the past, Kou Ji was here to supervise the army and saw the suffering of the people in Baozhou. Through your will, he brutally killed a group of corrupt officials in Baozhou.
Officials, distributed fields to the people and taught them how to get rich.
Nowadays, Baozhou is one of the few prosperous places in the border areas.
Everything is given by you and Kou Ji.
They are naturally grateful for your merits."
Zhao Zhen pondered: "After Kou Ji returned to the court, no wealthy family cared about their land?"
Cao Wei smiled calmly and said: "Wealthy families don't have the courage. Your birth shrines are erected all over Baozhou. Eunuch Chen will also send people to Baozhou for inspections from time to time.
Unless the rich and powerful have become bold, they will not dare to make a move on you."
When Zhao Zhen heard this, he laughed and said: "This old guy Chen Lin has done a lot of things behind my back."
Chen Lin didn't know when she appeared in the carriage. After hearing Zhao Zhen's words, she smiled dryly and said, "This servant is also helping to spread some blessings to the official family."
Zhao Zhen glanced at Chen Lin and said, "You did a good job on this job."
Speaking of this, Zhao Zhen held the eggs in his arms and said with a smile: "Speaking of which, this is the first time for me to accept generous gifts from the people."
Cao Wei smiled and said: "The common people are simple. If the officials give them a mouthful of food to survive, they will work hard for the officials."
"I don't want them to fight for me, I want them to live well."
"Because we have dealt with all the enemies around us, the people can live well."
"..."
Zhao Zhen and Cao Wei enjoyed the offerings of the people, talked, and entered Zhuozhou.
The people in Zhuozhou are far more crazy than the people in Baozhou.
They blocked the road more and offered more gifts.
The people of Zhuozhou had lived like slaves under the rule of the Liao people.
After Cao Wei regained Zhuozhou, they returned to the Song Dynasty.
Zhao Zhen spared them money and food and gave them land.
Kou Ji once sent soldiers and horses stationed on the border to help them repair the bridge and make up the road.
Now the people of Zhuozhou can finally live like human beings.
They have truly experienced dire straits, so they cherish their current abundant life even more.
They knew that the Song Dynasty was going to war with the Liao Kingdom, and almost all their money came to help.
Almost everything I had at home was taken out and sent to the army.
Their idea was very simple. Even if they themselves were hungry, they wanted to feed their soldiers and horses so that they could take back the other eleven states so that the people in the other eleven states could live as prosperous a life as they did.
When they were crossing the border with Gao Chuang Gong before, they wanted to deliver something to Gao Chu Gong.
I dare not accept it from high places.
Now that Zhao Zhen was crossing the border, they could only stop him and deliver the things to Zhao Zhen.
At first, Zhao Zhen thought that the people in Zhuozhou were the same as the people in Baozhou and only sent some small gifts. But after he saw what the people in Zhuozhou sent, he knew that things might be different from what he imagined.
After he sent Chen Lin to make some brief inquiries, he found out that the people of Zhuozhou almost lost all their money to support him in the war against the Liao people.
After Zhao Zhen learned about this, he did not dare to accept anything from the people of Zhuozhou.
Not only did they confiscate the items, but they also sent officials to explain to the people that the imperial court was not short of food and that the imperial court would definitely take back the remaining eleven states of Yanyun's sixteen states.
Zhao Zhen did this mainly because he was afraid that the people would feel uncomfortable if they did not give him anything.
Zhao Zhen and Cao Wei arrived at Tongtai Pass and stood at Tongtai Pass, greeted by the people of Zhuozhou.
Zhao Zhen suddenly said something, "When I was in the court, no matter what I did, I would never explain it to anyone. Now that I don't accept gifts from the people, I actually have to send officials down to explain it carefully.
Did I think too much or was I soft-hearted?"
Cao Wei smiled on the side and said: "The officials are not overthinking, nor are they soft-hearted. The officials just feel that the common people who value love and justice should be treated kindly."
Zhao Zhen thought for a moment, nodded and smiled: "You are right..."
Cao Wei bowed slightly to Zhao Zhen and said: "Now that we have arrived at Tongtai Pass, it is time for me to part ways with the officials. The officials are sitting in Tongtai Pass, and I will go to meet Emperor Yelulong of the Liao Dynasty outside Youzhou City.
thread."
Zhao Zhen heard this and said seriously: "I will send a few maids to follow you."
Cao Wei slowly shook his head, "It is not appropriate to have female relatives in the army."
Zhao Zhen said in a deep voice: "Your body needs someone to take care of you. I don't worry about others taking care of you."
Cao Wei thought for a while and said: "If the officials really want to send one, they will send a few smart eunuchs."
Upon hearing this, Zhao Zhen immediately looked at Chen Lin.
Chen Lin said nothing and went down to select eight smart eunuchs and asked them to serve Cao Wei.
Cao Wei led eight eunuchs and 40,000 Tianwu Army soldiers to the battlefield outside Youzhou City.
Zhao Zhen led 10,000 Tianwu troops and 1,000 imperial guards to stay at Tongtai Pass.
After Cao Wei rushed outside Youzhou City, he saw 110,000 Forbidden Army soldiers and 240,000 local soldiers stationed outside Youzhou City.
In the past, Liao Emperor Yelu Longxu led a heavy army to attack Tongtai Pass, but now Cao Wei led 390,000 troops to attack Youzhou.
After Cao Wei arrived at the army, Gao Shanggong obediently gave up the tent of the Chinese army.
Cao Wei was angry, sitting in the Chinese army's tent, and asked: "Has Emperor Yelu Longxu of Liao arrived in Youzhou City?"
Gao Chugong said in a deep voice: "According to the scout's report, there are still two days."
Cao Wei said decisively: "Go, lead 40,000 soldiers and horses to attack Youzhou City first and test the water."
Gao Guanggong looked at Cao Wei in astonishment.
Cao Wei stared, "Why, are you afraid of attacking Youzhou City? You are afraid before Yelu Longxu arrives. Yelu Longxu has arrived with his army, and you are not scared enough to pee your pants?"
Gao Chugong said dissatisfied: "How could I be afraid of Yelu Longxu? I just don't understand the purpose of attacking Youzhou City now."
Cao Wei stared at Gao Chuanggong and snorted coldly: "Do I need to give you an explanation?"
Gao Shang Gong didn't dare to fight back anymore and hurried down to order troops to attack Youzhou City.
Forty thousand soldiers and horses went to attack Youzhou City. Naturally, they could not capture Youzhou City.
Although Emperor Yelu Longxu of the Liao Dynasty has not yet arrived at Youzhou City with his heavy troops, there are still many troops stationed in Youzhou City.
Youzhou City is not only Nanjing among the five capitals of the Liao Kingdom, but also an important military center of the Liao Kingdom.
There are more than 80,000 elite soldiers guarding it.
There are more than 80,000 elite soldiers, almost all of them drawn from all over the sixteen states of Yanyun.
Almost all of them are from the Han family.
Among them are the descendants of the rebel generals, as well as the descendants of some Han generals who were conquered by the Liao after Yanyun was ceded.
Very good fighting ability.
It’s just that the armaments were worse than those of the Song Dynasty.
Cao Wei sent Gao Chugong to attack Youzhou City, both to test and to put pressure on Liao Emperor Yelu Longxu.
Emperor Yelu Longxu of the Liao Dynasty led 500,000 troops south, and there must be certain arrangements.
Cao Wei first sent Wang Kai to defeat Dading Mansion, and then sent Li Zhaoliang to capture Feihukou. Now he sent people to attack Youzhou City, which would definitely force Liao Emperor Yelu Longxu to disrupt his previous deployment.
In addition, Dadingfu was captured and Feihukou was breached.
Attacking Youzhou City now would give Liao Emperor Yelu Longxu the illusion that Youzhou City would also be destroyed.
Liao Emperor Yelu Longxu will definitely step up his march.
There is a saying in the art of war: soldiers are valuable and quick.
But once it exceeds a certain amount, going too fast is not a good thing.
It's easy to get messy quickly, and it's easy to make mistakes if you're messy.
If something goes wrong, there will be holes to exploit.
"It's a pity that the promise made to Yang Wenguang may not be fulfilled."
After Cao Wei left the Chinese army's tent at Gao Gougong, he slumped down on his seat weakly and muttered to himself.
The last time he attacked the Sixteenth Prefecture of Yanyun, Cao Wei had promised Yang Wenguang that when he attacked Youzhou City, he would send Yang Wenguang over and let him take the lead.
It's a pity that we didn't hit Youzhou City last time.
This time they hit Youzhou City, but Yang Wenguang was in Xingqing Mansion, not here.
Yang Wenguang now shoulders the important task of guarding the northern border of the Song Dynasty, and Cao Wei has no way of dispatching him here.
Last time, Emperor Yelu Longxu of the Liao Dynasty sent Xiao Xiaomu, King of Yan of the Liao Kingdom, to sneak attack the northern border of the Song Dynasty.
This time, there is no guarantee that Liao Emperor Yelu Longxu will not send troops to attack the northern border of the Song Dynasty.
After all, the northern border of the Song Dynasty is now bordered by the Northwest Road and Southwest Road of the Liao Kingdom.
Cao Wei knew clearly what Yang Wenguang's purpose was in participating in the war to attack Youzhou City.
In order to welcome back the remains of his ancestor Yang Ye.
"If you really conquer Youzhou City, I will shamelessly ask the officials to help you remove General Yang's body and send it back to Bianjing City. This is not an insult to General Yang.
My loyalty and bravery in the Song Dynasty should be worshiped by the people of the Song Dynasty, not by the people of the Liao Dynasty."
Cao Wei talked to himself for a while.
Gao Chugong had already ordered 40,000 soldiers and horses to leave the military camp and headed straight for Youzhou City.
Although Gao Chugong is not very handsome, he is still more than enough to be a pioneer general.
In addition, the students he taught over the years have all entered the army and become basic officers in the army, and he has some prestige in the army.
Therefore, even if he is not familiar with the soldiers and horses under his command, he can use those students to control the soldiers and horses under his command as he wishes.
Gao Chugong led his troops to attack Youzhou City, which was purely a test.
So there are not so many twists and turns to talk about, just pull it out, lay out the battle, and just fight directly.
The roar of artillery fire rang out after Gao Gonggong arrived at Youzhou City.
Hundreds of artillery fired at once, bombarding the walls of Youzhou City. The walls shook and bricks and stones fell to pieces.
The Liao generals who were stationed on the city wall wanted to rush out of Youzhou City and devour the Song army alive.
What a bully.
Wouldn’t it be nice for everyone to play sword, gun, sword and halberd together?
We must create weapons of war like artillery to bully people.
I, the Liao soldiers, had just set up their stance and mounted their crossbows. You came over with a cannon and blasted them to pieces, including the men and the crossbows.
How to fight this?!
"Archers prepare!"
"Cum for me!"
The Liao general was furious and immediately ordered the archers to fight back.
After the archers began to shoot at the Song army.
The Liao general immediately sent someone to convey the news to Emperor Yelu Longxu of Liao.
"Go and report to Your Majesty that the Song soldiers have begun to attack Youzhou City."
The messengers galloped out of Youzhou City to report the news to Emperor Yelu Longxu of the Liao Dynasty.
After the artillery and crossbows fired at each other for a period of time.
Gao Chugong led his troops to formally attack the city.
Gao Chugong did not hold anything back, and all 40,000 soldiers and horses pressed forward.
The cry of killing instantly filled the entire Youzhou City and beyond.
In the Song Army's camp outside Youzhou City, the soldiers gathered around the camp, staring at Youzhou City full of fighting spirit.
Each and every one of them wished they could take the place of the soldiers who were attacking the city.
It's not that they are warlike, it's because after Kou Ji became the top boss in the military, the rewards he gave him were too generous, so they couldn't help but be wary.
After a great war, land was divided, money was rewarded, and some areas were given to the mother-in-law.
The soldiers all wanted to go up and fight.
If you lose, your parents and brothers will enjoy wealth and honor.
If you win, the whole family will enjoy wealth.
There is no reason not to fight.
The Song troops outside Youzhou City were all full of warlike intentions.