Chapter 495 Confidence
According to Zhao Xing's original plan, he took advantage of the chaos in Liao and built the Great Wall in the north and found an opportunity to win Hehuang. Then send troops to destroy Xixia, slowly accumulate national strength, and then send troops to Liao.
But the development of the situation far exceeded his expectations.
First, the civil strife in Liao Kingdom was full of twists and turns, and coupled with the interference of Xixia, he failed to take over Hehuang.
The changes in the situation in Liao Kingdom far exceeded his expectations.
In order to persuade Zhao Xing to send troops to help her restore the country, Empress Dowager Xiao told in detail the current situation of the Liao Kingdom.
Although the overall military strength of the Liao Kingdom has not decreased much now, Yelu Chongyuan rebelled and attacked the capital. Nearly 200,000 troops died on both sides.
Yelu Yixin plotted against Yelu Chongyuan and launched a fierce attack on Shangjing City regardless of the casualties and injuries, with tens of thousands of casualties and injuries.
Later, the city was broken and Empress Dowager Xiao and others were hunted down, and many more were killed or injured.
On the side of Empress Xiao, the 70,000 to 80,000 imperial guards in the city, in addition to surrendering, and being chased all the way and sent out to resist the pursuers, there were tens of thousands of deaths.
In the past two years, more than 300,000 soldiers died in the Liao Kingdom.
You must know that although the Liao Kingdom has a million troops, this is the case when local garrisons are included.
Just like the Song Dynasty, there were more than one million soldiers, but the imperial guards only had 800,000.
The main combat force of the Liao Kingdom was about 600,000.
In other words, more than half of the elite troops were damaged in Liao.
The reason why the troops on the surface did not decrease was that Yelu Chongyuan had suffered too much damage before. He not only pulled reinforcements from various grassland units, but also added local troops into the army to make up for the losses.
In the words of Empress Xiao, the Liao Kingdom is now seriously injured, and although its military strength has not decreased on the surface, it has no elite troops.
Zhao Xing did not completely believe Empress Xiao's words.
First of all, the Liao Kingdom, like the Song Dynasty, had not had a large-scale war in many years.
The so-called elites have almost never seen any blood.
After more than two years of civil strife, although the casualties were severe, the soldiers had all experienced fighting.
The combat effectiveness of the Liao army is even stronger than before.
But Empress Xiao's words made Zhao Xu suddenly react.
Although the Liao Kingdom's military strength has not decreased and its combat effectiveness has even been stronger, the Liao Kingdom now has a fatal disadvantage.
That is, the military composition is too complicated.
There are those who are loyal to Yelu Yixin, those who are loyal to Yelu Chongyuan, and those who are loyal to the royal family.
If the army cannot be integrated well, it will be unstable internally and no matter how strong the combat power is, it will be useless.
In Zhao Xing's view, the individual quality of soldiers is one aspect, but the generals of the army are the most important.
The Yue family army can only be invincible under the leadership of Yue Fei.
After Yue Fei's death, the generals of the Yue family army were able to lead the Yue family army to win battles, but they could not have the glory of the past.
The combat power of the Liao soldiers has become stronger, but the upper-level generals are complex.
The time is too short, and even if Yelu Yixin changes his confidant, he has not been able to get through.
This made Zhao Xing want to destroy Liao first.
Even if he cannot destroy Liao, he must weaken the Liao Kingdom's strength as much as possible.
In this way, the Song Dynasty will be ready to destroy the Western Xia without worrying about being intervened by the Liao Kingdom.
Therefore, Zhao Xing was preparing to lead the imperial army in person, and boosting morale was actually just an excuse.
Zhao Xing's real purpose is to stand up for the British public.
Before, the Duke of England led an army of 100,000 to protect the smooth construction of the Great Wall. The Duke of England was the main one, and the civil servants in the court would not say anything.
But this time, nearly half of the troops from the Song Dynasty were dispatched, and civil servants were definitely unwilling to let the British Duke be the head coach.
Zhao Xing could be appointed by force, but those civil servants would also slander them behind their backs.
If there are any problems on the front line, they will magnify countless times and use them to attack the British Duke.
Zhao Xing would not believe it, but if the British Duke learned about it, will it be affected?
This kind of war is slightly affected or made mistakes, and may lead to great defeat.
Zhao Xing dared not bet. Only when he went to the front line could he support the British Duke, let him put down all his worries and fight with the Liao Kingdom.
What's more, Yelu Yixin was in charge of the army, and he didn't make any sense to go.
However, after he left, no one was in charge of Bianjing. Zhao Xing was really worried about handing it over to those ministers.
So I thought of asking my father to take charge of the government.
"No, I won't agree!"
The Supreme Emperor said with a ugly face: "The son of a thousand gold, I can't sit in the hall. I'm old this year, and I don't know how long it will take to live. Brother Yong My son is still young. What if you have any luck? "
"Father, my son is in charge of the army, and he will only be in the city and will not go to the battlefield in person." Zhao Xing Said.
"There is no such thing as you said? Emperor Taizong personally led the army to fight and was attacked by the Liao Kingdom. They were all separated by the chaos."
"I know you won't go to the battlefield in person, you go to the border It can boost morale, but if the front line war fails, will you not retreat? If you retreat, your morale will be gone, and you will not even be able to defend the city at that time."
The Supreme Emperor said seriously: "You have considered these things but haven't you ? "
"Father, my son will not be defeated." Zhao Xing said.
He understood what the father said. He was in charge of the army, just like before the two armies fought, sending generals to fight. Even if they win, they can certainly boost their morale, but if they lose, they will also damage their morale.
In "Romance of the Three Kingdoms", the two armies often fought against generals before the war, but in fact, in ancient wars, there were few cases of fighting generals.
This is why.
Zhao Xing was in charge of the battle. Once the situation was unfavorable, even if he did not leave, the generals and accompanying ministers would let him go.
In a rational way, this is right.
But ordinary soldiers do not understand these great principles.
"Are you sure you won't lose?"
The Supreme Emperor saw that Zhao Xing was not in trouble, and said angrily: "Even if Sun Wu is resurrected, he dare not say that he will win every battle. Where did you get the confidence?"
Even the father could not persuade him, and all the civil and military officials in the court would not agree.
Only by persuading the father to agree and with the help of the father, all officials can agree to his commander-in-chief.
"Huh?"
The Supreme Emperor was stunned when he heard this: "What are you looking at?"
" Just saying that, the son-in-law didn't believe it. The father-in-law followed the son-in-law to take a look. I understand." Zhao Xing said.
The Supreme Emperor was silent for a while and said, "What if I don't agree after seeing it?"
"Then I won't go." Zhao Xing said.
"You are so confident. Although I still won't agree to it after seeing it, I also want to go and see it." The Supreme Emperor said with a smile. "I believe my father will agree after seeing it." Zhao Xing said indifferently.
"Hehe, then tomorrow morning, I will go out of the palace to see you."
"Then let's say that."
………… >
The next day, Zhao Xing and his father left the palace together and headed south to the city.
On the way, the father asked several times, and Zhao Xing wanted to take him to see what he wanted to see, but Zhao Xing smiled without saying a word.
If it hadn't been passed on to Zhao Xing and had only Zhao Xing, the son, the Supreme Emperor would have doubted whether Zhao Xing wanted to murder him.
The carriage stopped for more than two hours. "Father, we're here." Zhao Xing said.
"Is this the Firearms Department?"
The Supreme Emperor lowered the curtains and said in surprise. "That's right!" Zhao Xing nodded. "I heard that you attach great importance to the Firearms Department. I want to see what makes you so confident." The Supreme Emperor stood up and said.
Zhao Xing stepped forward to support his father and smiled and said, "Father will know in a while."
Cao Mian was waiting outside and saw the Supreme Emperor and Zhao Xing get out of the car and come up. "I pay homage to the Supreme Emperor, my Majesty!" Cao Mian said with politeness.
"No gift!"
The Supreme Emperor smiled and said, "I looked a lot darker, but I was much more energetic. Is it hard to be in this wilderness for a long time?"
"Return to the Supreme Emperor, it's not hard." Cao Mian bowed.
"When your father was the chief inspector of the Palace Front Office, he stayed in the palace all day long and never came back home. How could you be like a father?" The Supreme Emperor said with a smile.
Cao An was the chief inspector of the Palace Front Office before he took power. At that time, Empress Dowager Liu had the intention to learn from Wu Zetian.
In order to protect the Supreme Emperor, Cao An spent half a year in the palace.
No mistakes, one poem, one post, one content, one in 6, one book, one bar, one read!
After a while of greeting, Cao Mian invited the Supreme Emperor and Zhao Xing to the tent.
"Are you ready?" Zhao Xing asked. "After receiving Your Majesty's order, I ordered someone to prepare, it's ready." Cao Mian said. "Father, then after drinking the tea, let's go there?" Zhao Xing said with a smile. "I won't drink tea, go now." The Supreme Emperor's curiosity is now drawn out by Zhao Xing.
"Then go now, Cao Mian leads the way." Zhao Xing stepped forward and helped his father up after hearing this. "Your Majesty, the distance is a bit far, you have to take a carriage." Cao Mian said after leaving the camp.
Zhao Xing helped his father get on the carriage again after hearing this. "I think these are all tents, why don't you build a house?" the Supreme Emperor said in confusion.
"Because it's too dangerous, the camp is convenient." Zhao Xing smiled.
The Firearms Department also built a house before. Later, something happened and the house was either shaken or ignited.
After the migration, Cao Mian wrinkled Zhao Xing and did not build a house, but only used a tent.
This way you can keep a distance, and once any problems arise, it will not easily affect other people. "Danger? What danger?" the Supreme Emperor said in surprise.
"The father will know in a while." Zhao Xing said with a smile. "I've been keeping my cover!"
The Supreme Emperor glared at Zhao Xing without saying anything.
The carriage stopped soon, and when Zhao Xing helped his father out of the car, the emperor was stunned.
He saw a section of city wall one or two hundred meters away. The city wall was not high and only one piece, which seemed very abrupt.
"Is this?" The Supreme Emperor looked at Zhao Xing in confusion.
Zhao Xing did not keep it in hiding the gunpowder and his power. "I have heard of gunpowder, isn't it just for ignition?" the Supreme Emperor frowned.
"The specific ministers can't explain it clearly, the father will know it when you look at it."
Zhao Xing helped his father get off the carriage and said, "Cao Mian, you and the father are you Let me introduce it. ”
"Yes!" Cao Mian bowed and said, "Report to the Supreme Emperor, this section of the city wall is a little shorter, and the rest are built according to the standards of normal city walls."
"Let's start." Zhao Xing said. "Yes!" Cao Mian responded, then saluted and trotted away. "My son said that he could forcefully destroy the city wall in an instant. Does the father believe it?" Zhao Xing smiled.
"You asked me to see this?" the Supreme Emperor frowned.
The eyes were filled with a hint of worry, and he was worried that Zhao Xing had become possessed. "I know my father doesn't believe it, and my father will know it later." Zhao Xing said.
After waiting for a while, Cao Mian ran back and saluted, "The Supreme Emperor covered his ears and opened his mouth a little, otherwise he would be injured. The noise was a little louder, so the Supreme Emperor should not panic." br>
"I understand." The Supreme Emperor said disapprovingly.
He already thought in his heart that it was Zhao Xing who was looking for someone to act for him.
It was not that mysterious to destroy a city wall in an instant.
In the distance, several soldiers were busy. After a while, they shook the flag and reminded him.
Seeing this, Cao Mian reminded him again, and then covered his ears.
The Supreme Emperor disagreed and did not take action.
After Zhao Xing's urging, he covered his ears.
"Boom!"
After a while, a loud bang came, and the towering low city wall collapsed with a loud bang, and smoke and dust filled, blocking its sight.
This is the first time Zhao Xing witnessed the gunpowder explosion. Although he was prepared, he was still shocked and it took him a while to come back to his senses.
Not to mention the Supreme Emperor who disagrees with it.
Zhao Xing came to his senses and went to see his father's expression. Seeing that his father's eyes were dull and his face was pale, he said anxiously: "Father, are you okay?"
I shouted a few times, Father, After only then, he came back to his senses from the shock and said incoherently: "Ah... what are you saying?"
Zhao Xing was shocked by his father's loud voice, knowing that his father should be loudly rumbling. He was so shocked that he could only speak loudly to his father.
It took a while for the father to return to normal. The dust and smoke had dissipated. The city wall, which was about ten meters long, had been broken from the middle and turned into ruins.
The Supreme Emperor glanced at Zhao Xing, then walked towards the city wall without saying a word.
Zhao Xing hurriedly followed and came to the city wall. The Supreme Emperor looked at the big pit on the ground and the broken city wall, and looked at Zhao Xing and said, "Is this really caused by gunpowder?"
Although the father's voice was still relatively Big, but much better than before.
Zhao Xing breathed a sigh of relief and said with a smile: "How dare I deceive my father?"
The Supreme Emperor looked at the ruins and did not speak for a long time.
He originally thought Zhao Xing was lying to him, but the loud noise just now forced him to believe it.
After a long silence, the Supreme Emperor said, "With such a magical object, any city is like a waste. No wonder you have such confidence."
The Song Dynasty could not defeat the Liao Kingdom, but Emperor Taizong took back nearly half of the Sixteen Prefectures of Yanyun back then. .
But once the Liao Kingdom cannot defeat it, it can defend the city according to the city. If it drags on for a long time, the city it has captured will not be time to digest, and the supply of food and grass will be extended.
"Gunpowder breaks the city, and cement can quickly cast the city. There are these two powerful tools. As long as the soldiers use their lives, even if they cannot regain the Sixteen Prefectures of Yanyun in one fell swoop, their ministers are sure to greatly weaken the strength of the Liao Kingdom." Zhao Xingxiao said. "Why don't you bring all the officials together? It's still a lot of trouble to convince me that all the officials don't agree." said the Supreme Emperor.
Zhao Xing was happy when he heard this and said, "Before not using it, the fewer people know, the better. As for the ministers in the court, my son wants to ask the father to help persuade him."
"I can promise you, but you I also have to agree to me with a condition." The Supreme Emperor said. "Father, please tell me." "The Duke of Wei will lead his troops to protect you, you can only stay in the city behind you. I will give him a decree. If you violate it, he will force you to do so. Take you back." said the Supreme Emperor. "Father, my son agreed." Zhao Xing agreed without thinking.
He cherishes his life very much. He will not go to the battlefield without his father saying that.
(This chapter ends)