Chapter 496: The momentum is unstoppable
Outside the city of Bianjing, flags are waving, and more than 100,000 troops are heading north.
Zhao Xing was riding on the horse, and beside him were Duke Cao An of Wei, Privy Councilor Zeng Gongliang and Zheng Jun, eldest son of the Marquis Zhongjing Hou.
Horse Zhongjing is old and no longer cares about the world. Even the things in the family are kept by the eldest daughter-in-law.
Zheng Jun came from a famous family and had been guarding the north for several years in his early years.
Zhao Xing followed a carriage, which was taken by Empress Xiao.
After he agreed to his father's conditions, he proposed to command the emperor in person in the morning court the next day.
The result was not as expected, and all the civil and military officials in the court opposed it.
The most important thing is that the father and the emperor came forward and supported him strongly, so that the ministers agreed.
The army mobilized before has been launched one after another. This time, the army of more than 100,000 is the last batch, of which 20,000 are the imperial guards in front of the palace.
These 20,000 soldiers are only responsible for Zhao Xing's safety.
The army of more than one hundred thousand was not fast, and it only traveled dozens of miles a day.
It was almost evening, so I could only stop and camp.
Zhao Xing summoned the accompanying civil and military officials, and after some discussion, he decided to take the imperial guards and cavalry first the next morning.
The civil and military officials did not object to this. There were hundreds of thousands of troops on the front line, and it was impossible for the Liao army to break through easily.
Along the way, there were 20,000 imperial guards accompanying him and 10,000 cavalrymen, so there was no danger. "That's it. Zeng Aiqing, you will be led by the army. When the day dawns tomorrow, I will lead the imperial guards in the front hall and the cavalry in the army first." Zhao Xing said. "I will follow Your Majesty to lead the army and make other arrangements." Zeng Gongliang said. "The imperial guards in the Palace Front Department are also cavalry. They have to speed up their journey along the way. How can Zeng Aiqing, a civil servant, bear it? Let's stay and lead the infantry." Zhao Xing said.
"Your Majesty!"
Zeng Gongliang bowed and said, "Although I am a civil servant, I can still ride a horse. I will not drag your majesty down." Seeing that he insisted, Zhao Xing pondered for a while, leaving Zheng Jun to command the army. .
After the discussion, after dinner, they went back to the tent to rest.
Not long after Zhao Xing returned to the camp, Sanshui led Empress Xiao in.
There can't be any women in the army. As the emperor, Zhao Xing had no restrictions on this. He brought a concubine and a few palace maids to serve him, and no one would say anything.
However, Zhao Xing still refused, but Empress Xiao did not count. After all, the next battle will require the sign of Empress Xiao.
Half an hour later, Zhao Xing hugged Empress Dowager Xiao, who was still savoring, and rubbed her hands carefully on her shoulders, telling her that he would lead the cavalry first tomorrow. "I am also with Your Majesty." Empress Xiao said. "It's very hard to ride a horse all the way." "Haha."
"Haha."
Empress Dowager Xiao covered her mouth and smiled, "Your Majesty underestimated me. I have been able to ride horses since I was a child, and my riding skills are much better than Your Majesty."
"You have good riding skills, but it doesn't mean you have good physical strength. Otherwise, what's wrong with it just now? Will you beg for mercy?” Zhao Xing teased. "Your Majesty is in good physical strength."
Empress Xiao's hand slowly slid down and she smiled, "I just got back to this point."
As she said, She sat up, stepped over Zhao Xing with one leg, and sat down.
"But I am not so easily conquered." Zhao Xing carefully felt Empress Xiao's 'riding skills', and it was indeed amazing, and finally agreed.
…………
As dawn the next day, Zhao Xing led 30,000 cavalry to advance.
It was fine at the beginning. After two days of travel, he couldn't stand it anymore and could only grit his teeth and persevere.
Although he has been practicing for many years, he is used to being pampered and enjoying himself. This is the first time he has experienced riding a horse for a long time.
Fortunately, I can ask Empress Xiao for riding skills every night to relieve my fatigue.
Seven days later, Zhao Xing finally arrived at Bazhou City.
The British Duke led civil and military officials from Bazhou City and the generals who arrived one after another to go out to meet him for ten miles.
After entering the city, Zhao Xing took a shower and changed his clothes, summoned the Duke of England and others to inquire about the situation on the border.
It was learned that although Yelu Yixin had added troops to the border cities, his people were in the Xijing City.
Zhao Xing pondered for a moment and said, "Three days later, launch an attack!"
"Your Majesty cannot!"
The British Duke was shocked and hurriedly said, "This is it." At that time, there were still troops and horses that had not arrived, and the military strategy was full of clarity, so three times as much as it was, and five times as it was attacked. The Liao Kingdom had been on guard for a long time, and it would be difficult to break through the city. It would be better to lure the Liao Kingdom to attack first. The Liao Kingdom could not capture it for a long time. , suffered heavy losses, his morale was greatly reduced, and he launched a counterattack again! "
When he learned that he was going to fight with the Liao Kingdom, the British Duke thought carefully about how to fight.
After thinking about it, it is a good idea to defend instead of attack.
Many soldiers and horses of the Song Dynasty have never seen blood. The city is damaged less, so the soldiers can see blood first. "I have decided my intentions, and the British Duke can obey the order!" Zhao Xing said lightly.
Although he didn't understand the art of war very much, he still understood the principles mentioned by the British Commission.
But the premise of all this is based on the fact that Yelu Yixin really wanted to go to war with the Song Dynasty.
But is Yelu Yixin there?
Yelu Yixin had to send troops this time.
Empress Xiao and others were in the Song Dynasty. If he did not send troops, it would only show that the Liao Kingdom is now weak, which would be even more unfavorable to the Liao Kingdom.
But he was in charge of the army and stayed in Xijing, obviously he did not want to fight with the Song Dynasty.
If the Song Dynasty chose to defend, Yelu Yixin would be happy to see it.
This can only be consumed and has no meaning.
And the Song Dynasty dispatched more troops and the pressure was the greatest.
With gunpowder here, it is better to start an attack first.
Although there are still 100,000 soldiers and horses not yet arrived, there are 400,000 soldiers and horses on the border at this time.
Putting aside the necessary defense, dispatching 300,000 troops and choosing several cities to attack.
Although the Liao Kingdom also arranged defenses on the border, as long as the Song Dynasty captured a few cities, the Liao Kingdom could only give up other cities on the border.
Because I can't keep it, I can't keep it.
The war must be spread to the territory of Liao as soon as possible. Fighting in Liao, regardless of winning or losing, the losses of the Song Dynasty can be minimized. "I obey the order!"
When the British Duke saw Zhao Xing insisting, it was not easy for him to refute in front of many officials.
Zhao Xing nodded and said, "All my dear friends are back and prepare, please stay with the British Duke."
"Yes!"
Everyone bowed and retreated, only Zhao was left in the hall. Xinghe British Duke.
It took more than half an hour before the British Duke left. As for what the two talked about, no one knew.
Three days later, the British Duke led an army of 300,000 out of the city.
Zhao Xing stood above the city wall and watched the army go away. When the army could not see it, he took out the telescope.
The telescope is not made of glass. He has tried it, but it has not been tinkered with. He can only use crystal to polish it manually and made several pairs of telescopes that are barely usable.
However, the border between Song and Liao is very long, and there is a big river in the middle. When the army is at the city, Zhao Xing can only see the army vaguely through the telescope, and cannot see the battlefield What happened.
The British Duke chose three most important cities on the Liao national defense line, dividing the 300,000 troops into three, and launching an attack at the same time.
The Song Dynasty has been preparing for war in the past few days, but it cannot be concealed by the Liao Kingdom. After Yelu Yixin received the news, he didn't care at all.
There are many soldiers and horses arranged along the border of the Liao Kingdom, and there are more than 100,000 troops in Xijing, which can be supported at any time.
Yelu Yixin was very happy when the Song Dynasty sent troops. "I'm young after all, but I dare to launch an attack on the initiative." Yelu Yixin originally thought that the Song Dynasty would be strictly guarded, and he wanted to send troops to harass him in a few days and act like a good example.
Unexpectedly, the Song Dynasty took the initiative to launch an attack.
He had already made plans. When the Song Dynasty could not conquer for a long time, he launched a counterattack, and it hurt the Song Dynasty and could negotiate.
At that time, the Song Dynasty was not allowed to hand over Empress Dowager Xiao and others.
He also wants to increase the annual monies of the Song Dynasty!
That night, Yelu Yixin was sleeping with two concubines who were originally the late emperor of the Liao Kingdom, and was awakened by a burst of rapid shouts.
No mistakes, one song, one content, one in 6, one book, one bar, one reading!
"What's the matter?"
The eunuch who was serving was lighting the lamp and replied after hearing this: "Your Majesty, I'm here to report it urgently. Say..."
" Come and report it urgently. I am here to report urgently, can't I say it tomorrow? Can the Song Dynasty still break the city? "
Before the eunuch finished speaking, Yelu Yixin interrupted angrily.
Attacking five times means that if the troops are more than five times the defending city, you can attack the city.
But it does not mean that five times the force can break through the city immediately.
In fact, let alone five times, even ten times, as long as the troops and equipment defending the city are sufficient, it may not be able to conquer it for several months.
It has only been two days since the news of the Song Dynasty sending troops to attack the city. He never thought that the Song Dynasty could break the city.
The eunuch who reported the news was almost crying when he heard this, and said, "Your Majesty, the city has been broken. The general who sent the urgent report said that the Song Dynasty did not know what it used to emit giant thunder like a giant thunder. Then the city collapsed. The Song army invaded the city, and the defenders were outnumbered and suffered heavy losses. Only a small number of people fled. "
"What?"
Yelu Yixin's mind turned pale, and it took him a while to come back to his senses and shouted, "Come on the urgent report."
………… br>
When Yelu Yixin learned the news, Zhao Xing learned the news the day before.
After all, he is on the front line, not in the rear.
After he left the British Duke that day, he told the British Duke about gunpowder.
The British Duke was still skeptical when he learned of the existence of gunpowder.
However, seeing Zhao Xing's promise and Zhao Xing had decided to send troops, he could only believe it.
After some discussion, the British Duke decided to pretend to attack the city first and wait until the night before someone bombed the city.
That night, although the three cities were very cautious, they could not help but touch the small groups of soldiers.
In order to ensure that the city exploded at once, the amount of gunpowder used was very large.
When the loud noise came, not only the city was blown up, but even the Liao army inside the city and the Song army outside the city were frightened.
If the British Duke had not been sent out to summon soldiers in the city bombing, and explained the situation in advance, so that they would have to be bombed.
When the Song army entered the city, the Liao army had not yet fully recovered from the loud noise. It was no match for the Song army.
Before dawn, the Song Dynasty solved the defenders in the city, and only a few soldiers fled and completely occupied three cities.
By the time Yelu Yixin received the news, the Song Dynasty had occupied all the cities along the Liao border.
The defenders of those cities knew the situation of the three cities, and they didn't know what methods the Song Dynasty used to blow up the city and did not dare to defend it.
However, because there are too many cities occupied, people need to be arranged to guard the people, so the attack can only be postponed.
Otherwise, the rear will be unstable and problems will easily occur.
Even so, the receipt of goods in the Song Dynasty was huge.
The Liao Kingdom had long been preparing to defend the enemy first and stockpiled a large amount of food and equipment to defend the city.
Those who abandoned the city and fled could still burn food and equipment, but the three cities that were destroyed were too late.
The food and grass of the cities where the Liao army fled were not completely burned down, and many of them were rescued. In this battle, the Song Dynasty obtained a lot of food and grass.
When Yelu Yixin knew the details, he was so angry that he killed all the soldiers who fled back.
He didn't believe what the soldiers said at all, how could there be such a thing?
If there was really a Song Dynasty, how could it be used until now?
He felt that it must be these people who were careless and lost the city, just an excuse.
But as the soldiers who abandoned the city returned, he had to believe it.
Yelu Yixin asked someone to ask all the soldiers and sent someone to investigate, but there was no clue.
He could only add troops to the city ahead and send people to mobilize troops from the rear.
At the same time, people were sent to Xixia to inform the situation, and asked Xixia to send troops quickly to launch an attack on the Song Dynasty and share the pressure for him.
The British Duke led his army to stop the attack, and only five days later did he continue to lead his troops to attack.
At this time, he could only use 200,000 troops.
There were not many casualties in the siege before, but if you take down more than a dozen cities, you need to keep people to defend.
This time he did not divide his troops, and the gunpowder was powerful, but he also had a fatal flaw, that is, he did not distinguish between enemies and was also very afraid of water.
Moreover, gunpowder is easy to use against cities, so head-on combat is not very effective.
Once the Liao Kingdom goes out of the city to fight, it will be difficult to use gunpowder.
If he divides his troops, he will easily be caught by the Liao Kingdom.
Get together, no matter whether it is siege or saying that the Liao army can deal with it when it comes out of the city.
However, the Liao Kingdom did not know this and did not dare to leave the city. After being destroyed by the Song Dynasty, Yelu Yixin had to give up all the cities north of Xijing.
Although he hasn't figured out what Da Song used yet, he doesn't know what the flaws are.
But after the city was exploded by the Song Dynasty several times, I also gained some experience.
The stronger the city, the harder it is to explode.
There was a relatively strong city before, but the Song Dynasty did not collapse once, but the second time it was exploded.
Which Xijing is a strong city, he wants to fight the Song Dynasty here.
…………
Li Liangzuo met the envoy sent by Yelu Yixin and did not believe what the envoy said at all.
However, he received the news that the Song Dynasty had already broken through the border of Liao and was attacking the hinterland.
So he sent Yelu Yixin's envoy and launched an attack on Hehuang.
Half a month later, Li Liangzuo received the news that the Song Dynasty had fought under the city of Xijing.
After Li Liangzuo learned the news, he immediately ordered the withdrawal of troops.
At this time, he had already captured two cities in Hehuang. Even so, he was very decisive and even gave up the city he had captured.
If he didn't give up, Dong Wen would definitely not give up.
But he attacked Hehuang and it took so long to capture two cities, and the Song Dynasty had already reached Xijing.
At this speed, the Song Dynasty destroyed the Liao Kingdom, and he could not defeat Hehuang.
And at this time he had already believed that the Song Dynasty had special means to easily break the city.
(This chapter ends)