bookrandom Chapter 1081 Under the Strong City
Chapter 1081 Under the Strong City
Chapter 1081 Under the Strong City
"Your Majesty has issued a battle formation map, stating that we must advance in the Pingrong Wanquan formation. We will all follow the map to ensure safety."
"There are three armies in Xihe and seven armies in Jingyuan Road, a total of ten armies. We should deploy them like this and advance slowly to prevent Xixia from cutting off our food supply."
Wang Zhongzheng said exactly what he said.
Zhang Zhi, Zhong Shidao, Liu Changzuo and other generals standing by all looked at Wang Zhongzheng sideways.
What era is this? Do we still have to advance our troops according to battle formations?
Also Pingrong Wanquan formation?
Did the Pingrong Wanquan Formation issued by Emperor Taizong ever win a battle?
Master Zhong said, "Your Excellency, according to the news from Fuyan Road, General Zhong has already taken over Xiazhou, Suizhou, Yinzhou, Youzhou, Shizhou, etc. This means that there is no one in Hengshan. Liang Yimai was recently defeated by us, and the prisoners he captured said that there are only a few hundred monks and Taoists in Lingzhou City. The entire army is marching day and night to get here. If we conquer Lingzhou first, then we will have contributed half of the credit for taking over Xingzhou."
Wang Zhongzheng shook his head and said, "No, His Majesty instructed me in the edict to advance slowly along the Huluchuan Road. How can I take risks? What if my troops advance deep into the enemy's territory and fail to wait for Gao, and General Zhong ordered the army from Fuyan Road to arrive? Wouldn't that mean we would be alone in advancing deep into the enemy's territory?"
Master Zhong said, "Your Excellency's words make sense, but if we leave Lingzhou empty, the effort will be 1000 times greater when the Xixia reinforcements arrive. I am willing to lead 18,000 soldiers and horses, with only ten days of food and fodder, to capture Lingzhou first. We will have good news of victory within three days!"
Wang Zhongzheng said dissatisfiedly: "I have said that everything should be done according to the order of His Majesty. We don't have many soldiers in the two routes. If you take 100 million and we are defeated, where will I get the reinforcements?"
"Besides, the 100,000 troops from Fuyan Road have already marched, and there are more than 100,000 civilians accompanying the army. It is estimated that they can cross the drought sea in a few days. Let's wait for news from Fuyan Road before making a decision."
All the generals felt that Wang Zhongzheng's words were unreliable. What Gao Zunyu said to Wang Zhongzheng a few days ago was the news from more than ten days ago. The two armies were separated by a dry sea and had no idea of each other's current position.
The government did not set up a camp in Shaanxi Road to command the troops, but instead issued orders from Bianliang, thousands of miles away. This was unreliable in every way.
Zhang Zhi said: "Your Excellency, I think what General Zhong said makes sense, but we must be very tired after defeating Liang Yimai in the previous battle of Moqi Pass. Why don't you let me lead the Xihe soldiers to attack Lingzhou first!"
Zhang Zhi was Zhang Yue's nephew. Wang Zhongzheng remembered the old hatreds and sneered, "Are the troops of Xihe Road going to compete with the troops of Jingyuan Road for the success of conquering Lingzhou?"
Wang Zhongzheng's edict was a blatant attempt to sow discord between Zhang Zhi and Zhong Shidao and Liu Changzuo.
However, Zhong Shidao was an old subordinate of Zhang Yue, and Liu Changzuo was a sixty-year-old veteran who was experienced and would not fall for Wang Zhongzheng's tricks.
Neither of them expressed their agreement with Wang Zhongzheng.
Seeing that the two were silent, Wang Zhongzheng said to his generals, "This military victory can be regarded as the greatest military achievement since the conquest of Northern Han. Who would not want to achieve great merit and extraordinary feat in battle? Lingzhou doesn't have legs, so he won't walk or escape. When our two armies arrive at the foot of the city, we will attack together."
The generals had no idea what was going on, and Wang Zhongzheng was the highest official in charge of the Xihe and Jingyuan armies, so they all agreed immediately.
Zhang Zhi sneered repeatedly. Wang Zhongzheng felt uneasy. He was not afraid of the generals, but he was afraid of Zhang Zhi. He thought again, fortunately Zhang Yue is now recuperating at home, otherwise I would have to look at your face.
Zhang Zhi said: "Your Excellency, we have no choice but to obey your orders. Mingsha City has more than 10,000 stones of Xixia military grain stored in cellars. Please arrange for a reliable and capable general to be stationed here to provide support. He can also transport grain to Lingzhou City when the grain and grass are insufficient."
Wang Zhongzheng asked, "Who do you recommend?"
Zhang said bluntly: "You Shixiong, the deputy transport envoy of Qinfeng Road."
"A civil official?"
Zhang Zhi said: "Not bad."
Wang Zhongzheng thought that there was no need to argue with Zhang Zhi over such a small matter, so he agreed.
That night, You Shixiong led his soldiers and civilians to Mingsha City with military rations.
Zhang Zhi asked, "Is the road safe?"
You Shixiong said: "It is peaceful, with only two or three groups of Western bandits appearing."
Zhang Zhi said: "I have already arranged with Wang Zhongzheng to arrange for you to guard Mingsha City."
You Shixiong frowned and said, "Mingsha City is small and dilapidated. It is not easy to defend it."
"That's why I appointed you as my general and asked you to guard our army's retreat route. My third uncle wrote to me a month ago and told me that if the matter of advancing is difficult to decide, I will trust Master Zhong, and if it is a matter of life and death, I will trust you."
You Shixiong smiled and said, "Thank you, Lord Jian'an, for your respect. In fact, Shen Jinglue has also seen it. He has led the people from Jingyuan Road and Huanqing Road to build a city at the mouth of the Shimen Gorge and the shadow of the Haoshui River. It is called Pingxia City."
Zhang Zhi asked, "Isn't it because there is not enough civilian service?"
You Shixiong said, "Shen Jinglüe saved this money by all means. Even if he fails to defeat Xia this time, he will still build this city. He said that in the long run, sending troops from Jingyuan Road to erode Xia is the right way, and the court will sooner or later understand Lord Jian'an's painstaking efforts."
Zhang Zhi sighed, "Shen Jinglie was very thoughtful. He took advantage of the fact that the Xia people did not dare to attack while the army was on the march, so he took the opportunity to build the city."
In fact, Zhang Zhi used to look down on Shen Kuo, thinking that he was so afraid of his wife that he could even abandon his own children, and that he was wavering in politics. But then again, Shen Kuo was very capable and had his own unique way of judging the overall situation.
You Shixiong said, "It's a pity that Shen Jinglie originally wanted to build two cities, but he didn't have enough civilians, so he built one first. He is indeed optimistic about this attack on Xia. He also asked me to tell you that although Xixia was defeated at the beginning, it has recovered and is gathering troops in eight or nine places, each with 20,000 to 50,000 troops near Xingling. I heard that even the troops in Lanzhou and Liangzhou have been transferred back."
"I guess the Xia bandits have already known our intention to attack Xingling and Lingzhou from two directions, so they have dispatched troops from all directions to protect the center."
Zhang Zhi said: "In that case, Wang Zhongzheng was right to ask us to slow down our attack on Lingzhou?"
You Shixiong said: "None of us can see the overall situation, and it is hard to say who is right. If our army is stuck under Lingzhou, it will give the Western bandits time to attack the troops in Fuyan first, which will be disadvantageous. If our army advances and is surrounded by the Western Xia under Lingzhou, it will also be dangerous."
Zhang Zhi was deeply troubled after hearing what You Shixiong said.
The next day, the two armies set out from Mingsha City. Zhang Zhi left a few letters and a sword to You Shixiong and said, "If anything happens to me, please give it to my family, Brother You."
You Shixiong said, "Sir, please don't say such things."
Zhang Zhi smiled and said, "Don't worry, I always try to survive when I am in danger, otherwise I won't be able to move freely when the time comes."
Wang Zhongzheng led his troops forward slowly, as if there were ambushes of Western Xia soldiers behind every pile of stones and every bush.
It took five days for them to travel less than half the distance. At this time, the emperor sent an imperial edict to the army, reprimanding Wang Zhongzheng for his slow progress and wasting the opportunity to fight, and ordered Jingyuan Road to capture Lingzhou within a time limit.
Wang Zhongzheng was in tears after receiving the imperial edict. You and I had repeatedly warned me not to take risks, so as not to be alone in the deep. I followed your instructions and did not dare to disobey a single word. Why did it suddenly become a delay in the war?
While Wang Zhongzheng tearfully submitted a petition to apologize, he ordered Zhong Shidao to lead light cavalry to attack Lingzhou City.
After hearing the news, Zhong Shidao immediately led his troops to Lingzhou City in one day and one night, but found that Lingzhou City was heavily guarded. Zhong Shidao fought a battle with the Xia army that went out of the city to inquire about the news. He captured the prisoners and interrogated them, only to find out that Lingzhou City was originally empty, but two days ago, the commander-in-chief of the two routes of the Western Xia army, Renduo Yading and his son Renduo Baozhong, led their troops across the Yellow River and stationed in Lingzhou.
When Zhong Shidao learned about this, he immediately cursed Wang Zhongzheng in his heart.
A day later, Wang Zhongzheng led the entire army to the scene and received an imperial edict. It took him two days to travel the distance that would have taken three days, but when he arrived, he learned that Western Xia had already strengthened the defenses of Lingzhou City.
And the ones stationed in Lingzhou were indeed the Xixia generals Renduo Yading and Renduo Baozhong.
The Song army was shocked when they heard the news. A month ago, Renduo Yading and Renduo Baozhong appeared in Liangzhou and fought against the Song army under Lanzhou. How could they appear in Xiazhou now? This showed that Xixia had seen through the intention of the Song army to join forces in Xingzhou, and had fully withdrawn the troops of the 12 military supervisors to defend Xingzhou and Lingzhou.
Wang Zhongzheng looked at Lingzhou and then at the surging Yellow River in the north. Only by conquering Lingzhou could he cross the Yellow River and reach Xingzhou (Xingqing Prefecture), the capital of Western Xia, on the other side of the river.
However, because he delayed the opportunity to fight, Lingzhou had already been defended. Now that the army has arrived, they have no suitable siege equipment at hand. How can they capture Lingzhou?
At this time, the Western Xia army in Lingzhou City challenged the enemy.
Renduoya Ding actually led his troops out of the city to fight against the Song army!
Renduoyading is now the number one general of Western Xia. Seeing him taking action, the Song army dared not be careless.
Zhang Zhi, Liu Changzuo and Zhong Shidao led three armies to engage in a fierce battle with the enemy. The two armies fought for half a day. Zhang Zhi commanded the Song army's Shenbi bows to shoot at Renduoyading's flag, immediately injuring Renduoyading's horse, causing him to fall off his horse and be rushed into the city by his personal soldiers.
Liu Changzuo and Zhong Shidao took advantage of the situation to attack from both sides, and the Western Xia troops retreated into the city.
However, the Song army that won the battle was not happy. The Lingzhou defenders were quite strong. It would take a lot of effort to attack the city.
However, Wang Zhongzheng was very optimistic to his generals. "For this mere Lingzhou City, I can order ten thousand people to build a fortress in the middle of the night, and we can break into the city at dawn the next day."
Military orders were as firm as a mountain, and Wang Zhongzheng immediately led his army to surround Lingzhou City on three sides and began to attack the city. When they captured Mingsha City before, they obtained a lot of Xixia's stored grain, and Wang Zhongzheng immediately urged people to transport grain to Mingsha.
At the same time, Wang Zhongzheng sent someone to ask Gao Zunyu where Zhong Yan's army was.
Wang Zhongzheng was eager for Gao Zunyu and Zhong Yan's army to send out a group of troops to join them after they crossed the drought sea.
But Shen Kuo had no news about the troops in Fuyan Road. Not only Shen Kuo, but also the emperor who was in Bianjing City at the moment had no news about them for several days after the army of Zhong Yan and Gao Zunyu crossed the drought sea.
According to intelligence, after the Song army advanced deep into Fuyan Road, Western Xia sent troops to continuously harass the Song army's food supply routes, ambushed and killed messengers, and actually cut off the entire Fuyan Road army from contact with the central government.
There was no news from the troops in Fuyan Road. At the same time, the two generals Shen Kuo and Yu Chong reported to the emperor that Western Xia had figured out the plan of the Song army to join forces in Xingling, and that the twelve military supervisors' troops of 300,000 to 400,000 men were all gathered in Lingwu.
Upon hearing the news, the officials were in a panic.
(End of this chapter)