The struggle of the reborn prince

Zhaozhou was originally a small town called Chuhedian more than 30 years ago, and it became famous because Wanyan Agu, the leader of the Jurchen tribe who had long been bullied by the Liao Dynasty for four years in Liao Tianqing, fought against the Liao Dynasty. Attack Liao first to control the Jurchen's most outpost - Ningjiang Prefecture, and win in one fell swoop to open the channel to attack Liao.Emperor Yelu Yanxi of the Liao Dynasty summoned a group of ministers to mobilize more than [-] troops from all walks of life and led them out of Hedian to attack the Jurchen army from the north bank of the Yazi River to wipe out Aguda in one fell swoop.

A Guda decided to take the initiative to attack when he heard the news of the Liao soldiers' assembly.He personally led 700 soldiers along the right bank of the Songhua River and walked halfway along the right bank of the Songhua River. It was dark and the soldiers camped on the spot.After a comprehensive analysis of the military situation, he believes that if he wants to live and win, he must set off to cross the river overnight to attack the Liao army.

At that time, the winter was cold and the breath was cloudy.Standing among the lanterns and torches, the Jurchen soldiers, who were exhausted and depleted, all looked resentful. It was also heard that there were 3 Liao soldiers in panic.Seeing this, Aguda used the Jurchen's most trusted theory of Sa-wu-cuo-xiao-shuo-[-].--Manjiao's dream divination to stabilize and inspire the army's morale.He said that I got a hint from God in a dream that if we raise our troops overnight, we will surely win a big victory, or we will be wiped out. Hearing his words, the morale of the sergeants improved, and thousands of cavalry rushed out of Hedian on the wind and snow.At dawn, the Jurchen army marched to the river and found a few Liao soldiers destroying the road on the ice. Aguda immediately sent elite soldiers to seize the opportunity and rush over to destroy them. The army then launched a fierce attack on the Liao soldiers on the other side of the river.At this time, a strong wind suddenly blew up and dense fog filled the air, and the Liao soldiers were caught off guard. The Jurchen soldiers took advantage of the momentum to chase and kill them and won a complete victory, capturing a large number of supplies and armor.The strength of the army has also increased several times.

The Battle of Chuhedian can be compared with the Battle of Chibi in the Three Kingdoms Period and the Battle of Feishui in the Eastern Jin Dynasty.They are all glorious battles in history where fewer have won more, which makes the Jurchen army even stronger.The more prosperous military prestige created the prerequisites for the establishment of the Dajin Kingdom in the future.Therefore, Chuhedian is equivalent to Shangqiu in the Song Dynasty. It also became the place where the emperor's business was established after Zhao Kuangyin's yellow robe was added. It was first promoted to Yingtianfu and then to Nanjing.In the eighth year of Jintianhui, Wu Qimai decreed that "the Taizu army defeated the Liao Zhaoji king and built it as a state", and Chuhedian was changed to Zhaozhou, which became a place with a very special meaning...

The military is the product of political struggle, but once politics completely dominates the military, the result is often catastrophe.The strategy of "shrinking defense and exchanging space for time" proposed by Alubu at this meeting is supposed to be in line with the current military situation.By constantly dumping the burden on the Song army, it increased its logistical pressure, resulting in slow actions, and it was difficult to complete the Northern Expedition before the severe cold came.The soldiers of the Song Dynasty could not adapt to the bitter cold here, and their combat effectiveness dropped sharply. However, the Jurchens had fully adapted to the climate here, and they just took advantage of this to launch a counterattack and seize their logistics supply base, so that the Song army could retreat without success.According to the idea of ​​Alubu and others, they should voluntarily withdraw from Zhaozhou and station troops at the ferry along the Huntong River.Use the water as a risk to prevent the Song army from crossing the river.Fortunately, the Song Army on the West Road did not have a navy to assist in the battle, so they had to build a pontoon bridge to forcefully cross the Yazi River. In this way, it was difficult for them to take advantage of the artillery.At least Huining can be guaranteed temporarily.

Now Wushu suddenly proposes to keep Zhaozhou, the "land where the Taizu defeated Liao Zhaoji Wangji", which runs counter to the strategic policy agreed just now, and is completely a political battle.It is to fight for the face of the Kingdom of Jin.And Wushu's statement that he can only win but not lose determines that a large number of troops will be invested in this battle, and he will fight to the end with the enemy at all costs for a small city that does not have strategic and tactical value.It also overturned the military principle of using troops.

Fortunately, this victory can not only repel the West Route Army of the Song Army.Alleviating the pressure on the capital can also greatly boost the morale of the army and the people, which is beneficial to future operations; but if it loses, the consequences will be very serious, and the last elite of the Kingdom of Jin will be wasted in a tactical operation that will not benefit the entire battlefield Among them, the Song army can successfully cross the Huntong River and hit the old nest of Wanyan's tribe, forcing itself to give up its defense against the south and concentrate its forces to defend the capital.The problem is that the Song army came fiercely, and they never failed in their siege and plundering of land. Therefore, everyone is very vague about whether they can recreate the miracle of the past in Zhaozhou.

But now Dajin Kingdom's Wushu, which covers the sky with one hand, has spoken. Although several people know that they can't do anything, no one dares to raise objections. Entrepreneurship is difficult.So the Zhaozhou battle plan was introduced. This battle will be presided over by Wanyan Gouying, the deputy commander of the internal and external capitals, and mobilize elites from the vicinity of the capital to participate in the battle, in order to win a complete victory...

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Zhao Li Group has been wandering in the grassland area after defeating the enemy in the enemy's handsome mansion. After the rainy season came, because the roads were difficult and the river surged, they moved to Baimaluo near Changchun Prefecture to rest and recuperate. The water and grass here are rich and can be used for grazing, and it is convenient for supplies nearby. The armies were well rested.After the South Route Army captured Liaoyang Mansion, the post road between Shenzhou and Changchun Prefecture was opened, so that the two departments no longer had to go to Pingzhou and Dading to pass the news. Now it only takes three days to reach the eight hundred miles, and the two departments work together. more convenient.

After regaining the entire territory of Liaoyang Prefecture, the South Route Army has already started the battle to attack the Jin Kingdom's Xiangan Road after a rest, and the progress is very smooth.But the emperor thought that this was the Jin army's shrinking defense, concentrating its forces to prepare for a decisive battle with its own side, or adopting tactics to lure the enemy deep to extend its supply line, forcing them to slow down their marching speed.But now it is less than three months before the arrival of winter in the Northeast, so the West Route Corps is ordered to speed up its attack to threaten the enemy's capital, attract enemy troops, make them dare not move south, and reduce the offensive pressure of the South Route Corps.

At the same time, the emperor ordered Zhao Li to capture Zhaozhou, gain a foothold on the north bank of the Huntong River, and cross the river to capture Yichun as a bridgehead for capturing Huining Mansion.Then started the battle to clear the outer strongholds of Huining Mansion, and launched a decisive battle after the arrival of the South Route Army.This operation is still based on the principle of annihilating the enemy's vital forces, with the intention of weakening the enemy's defensive force, but also warned Zhao Lihui that the Ningfu is the place where the Jurchens made their fortunes and lived, and the resistance will be more tenacious. unnecessary loss.

After Zhao Li received the order, he left an infantry brigade of the Three Thousand Prefecture Army and the Lion Wing Army to stay in Changchun Prefecture. There is a large amount of food, grass, supplies and ammunition stored here, and it is the most advanced supply base for the West Route Army.As a reserve, the desert army entered the [-]-mile dry land in the south of Changchun Prefecture to prevent the enemy from infiltrating here, and at the same time protect the right wing of the army; then he used the lion as the vanguard.The Krupp Army, the rest of the Leopard Wing Army, the Dragon General, and the two artillery brigades formed the central army, and the Dragon Wing Army formed the rear; the Mughal Army and the Chasseur Army formed the left wing to expel and harass the enemy.Detect military situation.

After the army set off, most of the supplies accompanying the army were transported by water, paralleling the marching brigade on the north bank of the river, which ensured safety even for supplies.But it is doomed that this combat operation deep into the enemy's hinterland is destined to be different from the past. The army has just left Changchun City for less than a hundred miles, and the golden army rangers are constantly appearing around. They are like swarms of flies. It is even more rampant when camping at night, and it can be described as three surprises a night.

Zhao Li ordered the hunting cavalry army to launch a battle against the enemy's cavalry, and at the same time ordered all the troops to send patrols to strengthen their vigilance.The supply fleet on the waterway camped at night to prevent the enemy from intruding, and ordered the vanguard to clear the obstacles.In this way, the speed of the march did not decrease, and it quickly approached Zhaozhou City...

"Recently, the Jin army has been harassing our marching brigade more and more frequently. This is very different from their usual practice of active defense. We should be more vigilant." After several days of marching, the Song Army brigade was less than [-] miles away from Zhaozhou City, and the vanguard's scouts were already approaching the city. Within ten miles.After dinner, Zhao Li summoned all the generals accompanying the army to discuss matters.

"Marshal, the scouts have reported in the past few days that the Jin army in Huining Prefecture is frequently mobilized, and there are signs of going to assist Zhaozhou." Shang Hu, the commander of the intelligence department, confirmed in a speech.

"What's the change in Zhaozhou's military strength?" Zhao Li asked.

"The main defensive force in Zhaozhou is still Guo Erluosi, Wusu, and Jieshilie, three hereditary meng'an. They recruit young men from their respective tribes to join the army. The total force has reached 5000, and no reinforcements have arrived. "Shang Hu replied.

"Marshal, does the Jin army want to abandon Zhaozhou. Concentrate its forces on the south bank of the Huntong River to prevent us from crossing the river?" Zheng Ping, the governor of Dading, analyzed.

"If the enemy army retreats to the south bank and defends with all its strength, it will be very troublesome for us to cross the river without the support of the navy." Zhang Ting, the commander of the Dragon Wing Army, said.

"Yes. But if the enemy army wants to retreat to the south bank, why is there no sign of retreating in Zhaozhou, but is still strengthening the city defense and sending troops to harass it, isn't it too strange." Ba Zhouquanwu, the commander of the Chaser Army, said, Recently, he felt that the Jin army's raids were becoming more frequent and tenacious, often regardless of casualties, which was very different from the scene of fleeing in the wind in the past.

"I also feel that something is wrong. In the past, the Khitans, Xi people, and Hans and other miscellaneous troops who fought in the front line of the Jin army were often used as cannon fodder, but now most of the troops fighting are composed of Jurchens and Bohai people. It’s a little bit of the viciousness of the Jin army in the past, and they still dare to charge in the face of dense bullet rain, no less than the loyal bodyguards.” Jiang Wei, the commander of the lion general, nodded, and they fought dozens of battles with the enemy as vanguards. , the most empathetic.

"At the beginning of the Aguda's army, it was deeply lacking in military strength. In addition to continuously annexing other ministries, it also played the banner of 'Jurchen and Bohai are one family'. Now the Bohai people have almost completely integrated into the Jurchens, so these should be gold. It is the most effective force in the country. And the Jin army is willing to use the last elite to entangle us. It seems that it is not just a simple matter of delaying our attack, but more like preparing to fight us." Zheng Ping guarded the frontier of Song and Jin as the border commander For many years, I still know them very well.

"Zhaozhou was once the place where the Kingdom of Jin fought the mountain. Aguda defeated the Liao army with [-] and [-]. Wu Shu must consider that if he does not fight here, he will abandon the city and leave the city, which will damage the national prestige. If he can reproduce his father The glory of that year, the impact it produced is self-evident, so I think that the various abnormal behaviors of the Jin army are intended to fight us here." Zhao Li analyzed what the generals said.

"In that case, why didn't the Golden Army brigade cross the river and enter Zhaozhou, but just gathered on the river bank? Did they think that only [-] defenders in Zhaozhou could stop the attack of our [-] army? Thank you for showing the courage of the Jurchens, right? !" Zheng Ping shook his head and said, not agreeing with Zhao Li's analysis.

"Information from the intelligence department said that Yan Kuoying, the internal and external deputy commander of the Kingdom of Jin, was ordered to command the capital's pro-army and has already left the capital. Everyone thinks it is possible that he will preside over the battle of Zhaozhou this time." Shang Hu said when said.

"Well, Wanyan Guoying can be said to be the leader of the new generation of generals in the Kingdom of Jin. It is said that he is proficient in bow and horse, quite resourceful, and is deeply favored by Wushu. He put the army on the south bank and did not move forward. It is very likely that he has learned the lessons of the previous battles , I understand that our army is difficult to defeat in field battles and defensive battles, are you playing some kind of trick?" Zhao Li said while rubbing his chin.They know very little about Wanyan Kuoying. The only battle he fought against the Song army was in the battle to aid Goryeo when he chased the retreating Song army. In the end, he fell and left. Since then, he has never fought against the Song army, so he used troops against him. He knew very little about Zhi Ce, and he didn't know its combat characteristics, but he knew that the person who could make Wu Shu fall in love with him was definitely not a simple person.

"Commander, the general thinks that Wanyan Gouying's reluctance to cross the river must be because he is worried that if he loses the battle, there will be no way out, so he is sitting and watching the situation, or he has other plans." Zheng Ping thought for a while and said, For the Jin army, crossing the river to help is not the best policy, and surrendering without a fight is too detrimental.

"Now that my army of one hundred thousand is rolling forward, there is no room for us to take advantage of it. He can do nothing to me if he plays tricks. We just need to stay the same and go straight to Zhaozhou according to the plan to see how he responds. When the time comes, we will see what happens. That's fine, you can't stop moving forward just because you can't figure out the reality!" said Li Gong, the general in charge of the dragon.

"That's right, ten times with one force, we don't care what tricks he uses, it's just a punch to the chest, as long as he is hit by us, he will be killed, so what if he plays tricks?" Klu Military Commander Zhang Shengkui said that this method may seem stupid, but it is also the easiest way to solve the problem.

"Yes, even if he comes in various ways, I will only go to one place. When I meet a god, I will kill a god, and when I meet a Buddha, I will kill a Buddha!" ​​Bao Gang, the commander of the Lion Wing Army, agreed.

"Okay, then let's fight steadily, step by step, attack Zhaozhou first, and see their reaction," Zhao Li thought for a while and said, since we can't judge the enemy's intention now, let's try its depth.

The next day, the Song army went on the road again, narrowing the distance between the armies so that they could reinforce each other, sending additional scouts to expand the search range to hundreds of miles away, and strictly preventing the enemy from encircling from the two wings.At the same time, the Military Intelligence Division was ordered to closely monitor the movement of the enemy brigade on the south bank of the Duck River, and to find out the enemy's troop deployment and fortification at each crossing, so as to prepare for the next step of crossing the river...

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