Yi Song

Chapter 263 Journey to Monan

The Khitan people are not Dangxiang people, and the Northern Liao people are not Xixia people. There is a huge difference in strength between the two. If the Song Dynasty wanted to regain the sixteen states of Yanyun, its own strength alone was far from enough. It had to join forces with the Northeastern Jurchens or the Mobei Tatars.

"Buddha, I originally thought that after Liu Erlang formed an alliance with the Zhenwu Department and surrendered the Tatars in Monan and Mobei, he would join forces with the Jurchens to kill the Khitans together. I never thought that the Zhenwu Department would become the lackeys of the Khitans, helping the Khitans Beat the Jurchens.”

Fang Tianbao said doubtfully.

Buddha Wang was also puzzled, "Could it be that the news was transmitted incorrectly?"

"Shopkeeper Xiang is a Han Chinese from the back of the mountain. He has lived here for several generations, for hundreds of years. He has contacts with various forces and is very well-informed. It is because of his well-informed information that he is valued by colleagues in the industry. We are very familiar with He has been dealing with me for nearly ten years, has he ever let go of false news?”

Wang Buddha asked hesitantly: "My boss, the news to the shopkeeper is true, but why did the Zhenwu Department do this? Did Liu Erlang have ulterior motives, or did the Zhenwu Department part ways with him?"

Fang Tianbao said solemnly: "If we part ways with the Zhenwu Department, Liu Erlang will be defeated on the Mobei grassland. But more than half a year has passed, and there is no bad news from Mobei."

"Does the Zhenwu Department have ulterior motives?"

Wang Buddha's face was full of disbelief, "After the great victory in Pingxia, everyone in the Song Dynasty was looking forward to attacking the Liao Dynasty with the Jin Dynasty and regaining the sixteen states of Yanyun as soon as possible. This behavior of the Zhenwu Department will only increase the variables and make people confused."

The younger son made meritorious deeds and became a householder. His family's pasture is on the other side of the mountain. Now I am following Jieshuai north to Mobei. I don’t know where exactly he is. "

"They belong to the third family of the 100 households in the left wing of the Eight Banners Wei Li Banner. This family is the head of Jia. He said that he used to be an ordinary herdsman from the Basimu tribe. After Commander Jie came, his two sons followed him. Handsome *** Xia. The eldest son was injured and came back. Now he is the chief judge and the judge of another hundred households. He takes two scribes and runs around the ranch to judge cases and cases.

Fang Tianbao squinted his eyes and asked, "In the Yinshan Hetao area, has the leader changed?"

Fang Tianbao shook his head, "Liu Erlang plans things first and then acts, and his intentions are far-reaching, and others can't see through them for a while. The Zhenwu Department goes back on his word, and I don't know how he will deal with it. After seeing him, I will have the opportunity to ask."

The two took their guide to the herdsmen's felt bags at the foot of the mountain.

"The eight trigrams are innate and acquired, and they change back and forth. They can be made up of eight or sixty-four hexagrams, which are enough to cover the whole world. Buddha, let's go and ask."

Fang Tianbao took a closer look and said, "Black characters on a white background, with two solid horizontal lines at the top and bottom, and an interrupted empty horizontal line, this is the Li hexagram. Wasn't Liu Erlang the Five Elements Flag before? Has it been changed now?"

It is clearly felt here that the Khitans have almost no influence here. The people who came and went were dressed in Tatar clothes and spoke Tatar and Song dialect. Only a few people spoke Khitan and Dangxiang.

Speechless all the way, the team soon arrived at the foot of Yinshan Mountain. This place belongs to the Fengzhou area of ​​Xijingdao in Northern Liaoning, with Yunnei Prefecture in Qianhetao to the west and Dongsheng Prefecture to the south.

"Master, look at these herdsmen's flags."

Wang Buddha nodded, "My boss needs to ask, if the affairs in the Northeast are not handled properly, we will not be able to deal with the affairs in the Southeast."

"Find a guide who speaks Tatar."

The guide was very familiar with them and the situation here, and replied in a low voice: "The largest tribes here used to be Bai Dadan, Basimu, Mogeshe and Dalidi. Liu Zhuxie Wing Chief came first and joined forces with Bai Dadan. Dadan defeated Basimu, Mogeshi and Dalidi.

After some communication, the guide told Fang Tianbao and Wang Buddha.

Most people here are herdsmen and live in valleys and grasslands everywhere. There are five or ten tents in a group, scattered all over the place, which looks very orderly.

"Is it because the Five Elements Flag is not enough, so we should change it to the Bagua Flag?"

Jieshuai came from the northeast of Hebei Province. Bai Dadan's tribe rebelled and were defeated. Many people were killed in the Fourth Division, and the Commander-in-Chief also took many people to Hexi. At the beginning of April, Commander Jie gathered troops from various tribes in Monan at the old place of Jiuyuan City, identified the tribes in Yinshan Mountain in Monan, and unified them under the Liqi tribe. Then he divided the left and right wings into two wings, and then divided them into ten days to cover thousands of households. Households, one to ten in length.”

"Liqi Department?"

"Yes, roughly starting from the Heishan Military Division of Xixia, all the way to Fengsheng Prefecture of Northern Liao in the east, and the north and south of Yinshan Mountain, they basically belong to the Liqi Department. Then Jiuyuan City is the base." "Jiuyuan City?"

"Yes, the city is being built over there. It is estimated that it will be completed next year and then become the headquarters of the Liqi Department."

"Oh, where did Commander-in-Chief go north?"

"I heard that Brother Richard went north to the Jiu tribe of Dadan to stir up trouble there. It is said that the leaders of the three tribes were persuaded by him and gathered tens of thousands of troops. After Commander Ji established the Liqi tribe in Jiuyuan, he led 30,000 red troops The tiger cavalry army went north and attacked the nine Tatar tribes. "

"Where are Dadan Jiubu?"

"It starts from Hanghai Ridge in the west and ends at Burhan Mountain in the east. There are many rivers there with fertile water and beautiful grass. The tribes occupying there are divided into nine tribes, all of which are Tatars. Everyone calls them the Nine Tatar tribes."

"Have you finished the fight?"

"Jie Shuai has 30,000 fine cavalry, and beating them is like chasing rabbits and killing chickens. I heard from business travelers going south that at the end of May and early June, Jieshuai led his troops in Wanggu River, Hulan Mountain, and Twu La River. After three battles and three victories, more than 15,000 people were beheaded, and the nine Tatar tribes collapsed and were said to be incorporated into the Gen Banner tribe."

Fang Tianbao and Wang Buddha looked at each other and swallowed involuntarily.

"Where is Commander-in-Chief now?"

"It doesn't seem to be here. I heard that the Khitans previously set up a northwest road there to recruit envoys, and also built Zhen, Fang, Wei, Zhaozhou and other cities. But now they are all in ruins. Jieshuai is over there in Wuhe He chose a good place to build Yanran City.

Before the work was finished, Brother Richard rushed north to the Meili Jibu. Then he heard that the leader of the Meili Jibu, instigated by Brother Richard, had linked up with tribes such as Menggu and Dilie Babu and gathered nearly 30,000 troops. After receiving the news, the commander of the army marched northward.

That's all I know, the rest hasn't been passed on yet. "

After thanking the guide profusely, and on the way back to the camp, Fang Tianbao couldn't help but sigh.

"Buddha, you said Brother Richard, do you have a tacit understanding with Liu Erlang? One is escaping in front, and the other is chasing behind. Escape all the way, chase all the way, and conquer all the way. Brother Richard escaped in a large circle on the Mobei grassland, and Liu Erlang Pulling from behind, it’s rewarding.”

"My boss, I thought it was strange before. During the Pingxia War, most of the Xixia clan dignitaries who stayed in Xingqing Mansion and Lingjing Prefecture either died or surrendered. Only Brother Richard ran away and ran away with his whole family. , neatly.

Now it seems that Liu Erlang was secretly showing mercy, and keeping him would be of great use. Now it really comes in handy. "

Fang Tianbao squinted his eyes and nodded: "Liu Erlang is as fierce as a tiger and as cunning as a fox. He is thoughtful and far-sighted in his actions."

The next day, Wang Yan led 3,000 men and horses to protect the transport team composed of thousands of high-wheel vehicles and thousands of camels, and began to cross the Yin Mountain.

On the fourth day, the team crossed the Yin Mountain and walked in the vast sea of ​​​​Gobi that separates Mobei and Monan.

After walking for more than ten days, I began to see grasslands, rivers and forests.

Gen Banner Department!
Fang Tianbao looked at the sheep like white clouds floating on the sea of ​​green grass. Each felt bag is like a mushroom, scattered among the mountains, forests and grasslands.

"Buddha, I discovered that Liu Erlang's greatest skill lies not in defeating the enemy, but in being able to stabilize the situation as quickly as possible, gather the surrendered tribesmen, and use them for his own use. Therefore, he was able to compile a plan in a short time The Red Tiger Cavalry can pacify Hexi and sweep across Monan and Mobei."

"What my boss said is that it is difficult to defeat the enemy, but it is even more difficult to surrender the enemy to one's own use."

The two of them sadly entered Yanran City, which was under construction, and accidentally met an old acquaintance.

(End of this chapter)