Tumeng: I am a national advisor in the Golden Family

This time I followed the Guanzhong army and finally understood what fast combat meant. If it weren't for the inconvenience of communication, the Guanzhong army would probably have advanced faster.

"Yes! I think so too. After breaking Changde Mansion and cleaning up the surrounding areas, I will lead you to attack Ezhou." Zhang Yong said.

It took him more than a month to march all the way from the Guanzhong area to Jiangling Mansion. The army was very tired now, and he needed to take a rest and consolidate the occupied area.

This time the war went very smoothly. Whether it was the war in Xiangyang or the war in Jiangning Prefecture, the losses were basically not large, except for the slight losses when attacking Fancheng.

However, this loss is basically negligible. After Xiangyang City was breached, there were tens of thousands. The Southern Song Dynasty army surrendered to itself. There were a lot of surrendered troops accepted along the way.

Zhang Yong's treatment of these surrendered soldiers was also very magnanimous. After the surrender, he first rewarded each of them with a meal of mutton dumplings to keep them full.

Zhang Yong directly distributed part of the grain to anyone over forty years old, and then asked them to return directly to their hometown.

Those over thirty-five years old did not participate in the war as civilian husbands, and the remaining people basically worked in logistics. Compared with their previous treatment in the Southern Song Dynasty army, their treatment was much better.

Especially the generals who surrendered to him, Zhang Yong seemed very magnanimous. These generals in the Southern Song Dynasty were powerful, but for some reason, the combat effectiveness of the armies they led was always low.

"During this period, you should rest your respective armies first, let the soldiers have a good rest, and requisition the shipyard in Jiangling Mansion.

Then transform their warships into units that can carry cannons and flamethrowers and integrate them into our army. "Zhang Yong said.

"King Guanzhong! All the shipbuilders of the water transport navy and some ship blueprint designers have been summoned by me and are now waiting for an interview." A soldier ran in and said.

After occupying Jiangling Mansion. The King of Guanzhong ordered all rescue personnel of the water transport navy to be gathered together, especially the craftsmen who built the ships, and some ship designers.

The monarchs and ministers of the Southern Song Dynasty did not know the value of these people, but Zhang Yong knew that they were the real treasures. These talents who were good at inventing and creating were the real pillars of the country.

Soon, a large group of shipbuilders from the Southern Song Dynasty were introduced to Zhang Yong. These ship designers and builders seemed a bit restrained, with dozens of them sitting together.

"Meet the King of Guanzhong." After Zhang Yong arrived, the dozens of designers and some shipbuilders knelt on the ground and said.

They really didn't know why the King of Guanzhong summoned them. They were just ordinary craftsmen.

They are not famous ministers or good generals. Even if there is a need, it is probably not the King of Guanzhong who personally receives them, but just sends one of his subordinates.

"You don't have to be polite, I have called you here because I want to ask you about shipbuilding." Zhang Yong showed a kind smile and asked.

"King Guanzhong! We will build all kinds of ships. As long as you give orders and provide enough materials and workers, we can start building immediately."

"Tell me in detail what kind of ships you can build." Zhang Yong asked.

If we want to take the path of expansion in the future, these shipbuilding craftsmen are indispensable.

Before traveling through time, Zhang Yong had seen an introduction. Hainan No. 800 was an ancient shipwreck from the Southern Song Dynasty more than 30 years ago. Its total length was about 10 meters and its width was about meters.

It has a displacement of more than 600 tons and a load capacity of 800 tons. It is the most complete preserved shipwreck at sea so far. It is also the largest and oldest trading ship.

Damn it, I have to say that the level of shipbuilding in the Southern Song Dynasty was really high. The ships built by these Western craftsmen had a maximum displacement of more than 400 tons. The ships built in the Southern Song Dynasty were completely incomparable.

"Can you build a huge ship that can carry five to six hundred people? Whether it is a merchant ship or a warship, you can talk to me about it." Zhang Yong asked.

"King of Guanzhong! The largest merchant ship we have built can carry more than 800 people.

If we build a merchant ship, we can build a merchant ship that can carry 10,000 stones of grain and grass. "A Southern Song craftsman said.

Nima's, loaded with 197 shi. Calculated according to Song Yishi, 985 shi of grain is million kilograms, approximately equal to tons, plus the accompanying crew.

In other words, it is possible to build a large ship with a displacement of about 800 tons. Damn it, this was 800 years ago! (Today I checked some information. The largest merchant ship built during the Southern Song Dynasty had a displacement of more than 800 tons.)
There is actually a ship with a displacement of 800 tons in the Southern Song Dynasty. Now there are design drawings and a group of skilled workers in Jiangling Mansion. If necessary, Zhang Yong can let them continue to build the ship.

Damn Southern Song Dynasty, you really deserve to die!

With such advanced shipbuilding technology, such excellent craftsmen, and firearms technology, you are beaten like a fucking dog.

But it doesn't matter, these shipbuilding blueprints will be carried forward by themselves. Using these blueprints left over from the Southern Song Dynasty, they can form a huge naval force.

Coupled with its own ship-based artillery and flamethrowers. Whether it is close combat or long-range combat, the navy under his own hands will form a crushing level.

"You will study more about building ships in the future. The bigger and more sophisticated the ships, the better. If you do a good job, I can make you an official and give you a title. Can you build a ship that can go to sea? ?" Zhang Yong said.

"King Guanzhong, we have designed these drawings, but we have never built them. There is a kind of treasure ship that, if built, can carry at least a thousand people." A craftsman stood up and said excitedly.

I didn’t expect that shipbuilders like them could also be knighted. Since ancient times, haven’t the knights been military generals and scholars?
“You are all talents, and your treatment in the future will naturally be better than before.

I need you to make better, bigger, and more powerful warships, as well as merchant ships.

I will give you a new ship design drawing. When we design this ship, we leave a gun port so that some artillery flamethrowers can be loaded on the ship. "Zhang Yong said.

I have a lot of sailboat design drawings here in the 15th and 16th centuries. Considering the current level of shipbuilding in the Southern Song Dynasty, it is not difficult for them to build these ships as long as they have suitable design drawings.

Those Western craftsmen from the Byzantine Empire were all sent away by Zhang Yong about a year ago. Zhang Yong did not show them the advanced sailing ship design drawings of the 15th and 16th centuries. After all, after these people returned, It’s totally possible to steal pictures!

Now, the Byzantine Empire has been restored and its national power is growing. If they were allowed to take these drawings back, the Western shipbuilding industry would probably develop rapidly, which would be detrimental to them, very detrimental.

Therefore, as long as the naval forces of the Southern Song Dynasty can be defeated, it is the most perfect choice to obtain the shipbuilding technology of the Southern Song Dynasty and then combine it with our own technology.

Although the ships built by this group of craftsmen were not as big as those built in the Southern Song Dynasty. But cooperate with yourself. Ship-borne artillery and flamethrowers could crush the Southern Song Dynasty navy.

"That's no problem, King Guanzhong. As long as you have the design drawings, then we can build the ship for you. If there are not enough workers, we can also recruit more workers in Jiangling Mansion.

If you can capture Ezhou, there will also be a shipyard in Ezhou. This shipyard belongs to the Quanzhou Navy. "A craftsman stood up and said.

The two largest shipyards here. One is in Jianglingfu. The other one is in Ezhou, which was the main gathering place for naval forces in the Southern Song Dynasty and one of the shipbuilding places.

The Water Transport Navy and Quanzhou Navy are concentrated in these two places. Jiangling Mansion is the shipyard of the Water Transport Navy.

In the upper reaches of the Yangtze River, there are suitable ports and shipyards in Qingyuan Prefecture and Pingjiang Prefecture at the outlet, and further south in Fuzhou, Leizhou and other places.

The King of Guanzhong actually valued them so much, so naturally they couldn't let the King of Guanzhong down. The same was true of the ships built by the Western barbarians. It was not built as well as they did, that is, it was equipped with cannons and flamethrowers to defeat the ships they designed.

If this kind of flamethrower and artillery can be installed on the ships they design, then they will build bigger and faster ships, and they will definitely not be afraid of these barbarian ships.

Zhang Yong nodded when he heard this. It's good that you have confidence. I'm afraid that you don't have confidence.

Now that my technology tree has been selected, the steel production has doubled. When they build ships in the future, they can also try adding some steel. It won't take long. Your own ship can exceed the displacement of 1000 tons. Only a displacement of more than 1000 tons can become an ocean-going ship. After being equipped with its own artillery, it will be the best warship.

At that time, some island countries will be in trouble. This time, I will prepare the best navy troops to attack you.

And not just some island countries, but also some Southeast Asian regions. The future is also Zhang Yong’s target. Even the Delhi Sultanate and the Indian mainland can be reached through the navy. The fastest and fastest way is to take the water route.

The land of the Delhi Sultanate is quite good. It is the best planting land in the world. Its future expansion direction is only secondary news, and expansion in the direction of South Asia is the most important.

After all, they are so close that even if there is a rebellion, their own army can quickly go over and suppress it.

"What kind of salary did you get for shipbuilding in the Southern Song Dynasty? Now I will give you double the salary. You immediately start to recruit workers, let Zhao Shipyard start operating again, and then start building ships.

In the future, I will move your shipbuilding base directly to the seaport. In the direction of Dengzhou and in the direction of Mizhou, there is also Pingjiang Prefecture. They are all excellent outlets to the sea. "Zhang Yong said.

The Southern Song Dynasty had too many outlets to the sea. Originally, relying on these high-quality outlets, a large naval force could be established.

Through the navy's continuous harassment of the Kingdom of Jin, you originally had a natural advantage and the most advanced technology, but you just lost. It's really strange.

Now all these things are cheaper for me.

"Thank you, King Guanzhong!" A large group of shipbuilders said overjoyed.

"Well! You guys work hard, I hope you can build a suitable ship for me soon." Zhang Yong said.

This group of talents can truly be reused. The previous Western shipbuilding craftsmen only played a transitional role.

"We will definitely live up to the trust of the King of Guanzhong." A group of shipbuilding designers knelt on the ground and said.

The King of Guanzhong valued them so much, so naturally they couldn't let him down and had to come up with something good.

"Hahaha! I am waiting for you to build a huge strong ship." Zhang Yong said.

In addition to these shipbuilding craftsmen, Zhang Yong also met with other craftsmen one by one and improved their treatment.

Those who design weapons, those who make armor, those who design agricultural tools, those who design fertilizers, and those who design cities—all these talents must be retained.

The Southern Song Dynasty did not know how to reuse you or give full play to your strengths, but I know that I know how to use you.

In the blink of an eye, half a month passed. During this half month, Zhang Yong had been repairing the army in Jiangling Mansion and met with some generals who had surrendered from various places in the Southern Song Dynasty.

After Jiangning Prefecture was captured and Lin'an Prefecture was besieged, Changde Prefecture, Tanzhou, and Chenzhou all surrendered to Zhang Yong one after another.

The defenders from various places surrendered to the Guanzhong army, further aggravating the situation in Ezhou. Now the direction of Ezhou has been completely surrounded, and both waterways and land have been surrounded by the Guanzhong army.

During this half month, Zhang Yong has been hoarding grain and grass in Jiangling Mansion. The grain and grass in Sichuan and Sichuan can be transported through the Yangtze River waterway through Chongqing Mansion and then transported to Jiangling Mansion.

In terms of speed, it is more convenient and faster than the land route.

It only takes ten days to transport hundreds of thousands of stones of grain and grass to Jiangling Mansion, and then transport them by water to the front line in the direction of Ezhou.

Now the Southern Song Dynasty has no chance to make a comeback, and this war is only a matter of time.

After handling the surrender of Changde Mansion, Zhang Yong took his own army of more than 200,000 people.

They fought towards Ezhou via water and dry roads, preparing to fight the final decisive battle with the Southern Song Dynasty and eliminate the last viable force of the Southern Song Dynasty.

"Alas! I really didn't expect that our army of the Song Dynasty would be defeated so quickly. Jiangling Prefecture surrendered, Changde Prefecture also surrendered, and Tanzhou also surrendered. Now we only have Jiangzhou in Ezhou to support us." Meng Gong He stood in his Ezhou camp and said.

It’s so helpless! The Guanzhong army, whether it is the quality of the army, the weapons and equipment of the army, or the command level of the generals, is far superior to that of the Song Dynasty.

It is completely different from the Mongolian army or the Jin army that we faced before. They are completely two concepts, even two levels.

Facing the Guanzhong army, he couldn't see a single flaw.

In such a favorable situation, the King of Guanzhong was able to rest in Jiangling Mansion for such a long time and was fully prepared before coming to attack him.

Meng Gong was not idle during this period. He gathered reinforcements from the direction of Jiangzhou and Jiangnan to Ezhou, gathering about 120,000 troops.

Longxing Mansion is also stepping up its defense as a new line of defense against the Guanzhong army. However, he has no idea how long this hastily established defense line can last.

The Jianghuai Defense Line, Xiangfan Defense Line, and Yangtze River Defense Line, which had taken several years of hard work to establish, were broken so quickly by the Guanzhong army, which was a huge blow to him.

According to Meng Gong's estimation, these three lines of defense should at least be able to hold on. It took several years, and it was under fierce attack by the enemy, but the real situation was that in just over a month, or even less than two months, it was directly defeated by the Guanzhong army.

"Marshal Meng, this is not your fault. Who would have thought that Liu Zheng, who is deeply trusted by you, would lead the Jiangling Mansion army to collectively surrender to the Guanzhong army." A navy general said.

“This ungrateful person has forgotten who promoted him back then.

If he does not surrender, with Jiangling Mansion and Ezhou, he can at least hold off the Guanzhong army for a while. "A military commander said.

"After Jiangling Prefecture fell, Changde Prefecture also fell. The prefectures and counties over there have now lost contact with us."

"No wonder he didn't let Marshal Meng go to Jiangling Mansion. He said that the water transport division of Jiangling Mansion was defeated by the Guanzhong army. I think he had already made up his mind to surrender."

The surrender of the Jiangling Mansion army was really shocking.

"Okay, stop talking. This time I misjudged the person. I really didn't expect Liu Zheng to surrender." Meng Gong said.

If it weren't for the generals under his command, he might have died in Xiangyang Mansion.

The current situation in Ezhou is worse than that in Xiangyang. Xiangyang Prefecture at least has a solid city, but Ezhou, even if he stepped up the construction of city defenses after arriving, is still inferior to Xiangyang Prefecture. But there is a huge difference.

How long can Ezhou City withstand the extremely sharp artillery of the Guanzhong army, as well as the thunderbolt rockets that strike from a distance several miles away?

"Shuai Meng, why don't you transfer the Anqing Prefecture and Luzhou Anfeng Army? The reinforcements from these two places together should be 50,000 or 60,000, and we can definitely fight the Guanzhong Army in a decisive battle." A general said said.

"This matter cannot be done. Yangzhou City has been breached and Jiankang Prefecture has also fallen. The army at Anqing Prefecture has to deal with another army in Guanzhong and cannot move." Meng Gong said.

The only good news now is that although Lin'an Mansion was besieged, the officials did not panic and did not call him back for rescue. Otherwise, there would be no need to fight the Ezhou battle.

At this time, on the Mongolian grassland, a group of envoys from the Southern Song Dynasty finally arrived at Haraholin after all the hardships. (End of chapter)