The first thousand one hundred and fifty-four chapters are greedy
Wanyan Digunai led six thousand cavalry to attack Xuzhou. He had two tasks. One was to destroy the Western Army's Yellow River warships, and the second was to plunder grain, pigs, sheep, property and people.
Wanyan Digunai was the first to arrive in Xiao County. Xiao County is a small county with a small population, but its geographical location is very important. It is the gateway to Xuzhou from the Central Plains. Wars have broken out here many times. The people here are very alert to wars.
If there is any trouble, run away immediately, there is no need to mobilize again.
Like Chuqiu County in the north, Xiao County is also an empty city. The people in the city have fled completely, not even an old man is left behind. The Jurchen soldiers dug three feet into the ground and found not even a grain of rice or a copper coin.
Wanyan Digunai was so angry that he cursed, but he had no choice but to temporarily let go of the looting of people and property and destroy the Western Army's warships first.
Historically, Wanyan Digunai was able to become the King of Hailing not without reason. He had a strong sense of the overall situation and knew the priorities of things. Although plundering property and food was very important, it was not as important as destroying the warships of the Western Army.
It's nothing.
Destroying the Western warships is the real achievement, and since it freezes in winter, the warships are frozen in the river and cannot move. This is the best and only chance to destroy the warships.
Wanyan Digunai led 6,000 cavalrymen in the desolate Yellow River area. There was no human beings around, not even a tree could be seen, and the world was desolate.
Wanyan Digunai had better luck than Alu. When they passed through Feng County, they got more than a thousand stones of grain. Each soldier was given a few buckets of grain. They would not be like Alu who only had two days to replenish the army.
Wanyan Digunai has plenty of time and is not pressed for time.
In the evening, six thousand Jurchen cavalry arrived in Pengcheng County, which is where the Yellow River Navy's logistics station is located. In winter, hundreds of warships should be anchored on the water outside Pengcheng County.
Wanyan Digunai immediately sent out twenty teams of spies to search for the whereabouts of the Western Navy's navy within a fifty-mile radius of Pengcheng County.
Different from the plains to the north, there are many low mountains around Pengcheng County, and there are large forests on the mountains. Thousands of Jurchen cavalry were stationed in a mountain depression sheltered from the wind. They lit up more than a dozen fires and had no game meat. They could only warm themselves by the fire.
Eat rice with bacon jerky on the side.
At night, the teams sent to investigate came back one after another, bringing disappointing news to Wanyan Digunai. Not to mention warships, not even an ordinary small fishing boat was found.
At this time, a captain said to Wanyan Digunai: "General, it's normal for me to think that I can't find him. The Western Army has strengthened the walls and cleared the country, and moved all the people into the city. Naturally, the warships will not stay outside. I guess it's normal."
They are all at the city gate as well.”
"Can the warship enter the city gate?"
"The city gate is very high. If the masts of the ships are lowered, even a three thousand stone warship can enter."
Wanyan Digunai pondered for a moment and said, "We don't have any siege weapons, and we don't know how many Western troops there are in Xuzhou City. Is this trip in vain?"
"General Qi, I have a suggestion!"
Captain Shibulie encouraged: "Since we have plenty of food, why not go south. It is said that Yangzhou is the most wealthy place in the world, so why not plunder Yangzhou."
Wanyan Digunai came to the Central Plains relatively late. He didn't know that Yangzhou had experienced many wars and was looted many times by the Jin soldiers. Its wealth had long been plundered. In addition, with the blocked canal, Yangzhou had become a stagnant water. Where could there be wealth for them?
Rob.
Besides, the Song Army deployed hundreds of thousands of troops along the Huaihe River. They killed 6,000 people and it was not even enough to fill the gaps in the Song Army's teeth. You must know that the Song Army now is not the Song Army during the Jingkang period. Now it is all Jianghuai.
The disciples are very powerful in combat, and are led by famous generals Liu Qi, Wang Jian, Tian Shizhong, Zhang Zigai and others.
It can only be said that the suggestion of this commander is simply crazy. However, Wanyan Digunai is young and vigorous. He always yearns for the glorious history of the Jurchen cavalry who defeated hundreds of thousands of Song troops with 10,000 cavalry. He also hopes that he can
With this achievement, he was full of enthusiasm for a moment. Wanyan Digunai nodded immediately and said: "This is a very good plan. Early tomorrow morning, we will go south to Jianghuai!"
........
The captains of the Jurchen Army guessed right. Since the country is fortified and the country is clear, how can it be possible to leave the warship alone outside to be destroyed by the enemy? In fact, even if the country is not fortified and the country is clear, in winter, the warship will have to return to the port for repairs and maintenance, and to replace the damaged planks.
, brush with tung oil, replace ropes and sails.
Chen Qing positioned Xuzhou as a naval base on the Yellow River in order to find a harbor for hundreds of warships to cultivate. The gates of Xuzhou were very tall, and ships with a weight of three thousand stones could sail into the city. At this time, all warships were
After sailing into the city, even all the surrounding civilian ships also sailed into the city to take shelter temporarily.
The commander-in-chief of the Yellow River Navy of the Western Army was called Li Qingong. He was originally the commander of the Yangtze River Navy of the Song Army. When he was fighting against Wan Yanchang's invasion of Jingxiang, he took refuge with Chen Qing and followed him on his expeditions east and west. Later he became Yang Yuanqing's deputy general of the navy.
Following Yang Yuanqing to guard Jiangling, the Yellow River Navy was established the year before last. Li Qingong was transferred to serve as deputy commander of the Navy and concurrently as the commander-in-chief of the Yellow River Navy.
Niu Gao led the warships to attack the mutton supply ship of Daming Prefecture. Niu Gao was only the nominal commander, but the actual general commanding the battle was Li Qingong. Niu Gao returned to Taiyuan and continued to take charge, and Li Qingong became the real naval commander.
In the early morning, Li Qinggong was standing on the city wall, watching the movements to the west. He had already received news that six thousand Jurchen cavalry were stationed in a mountain col 20 miles away, and countless small teams were looking for warships around Pengcheng County.
Li Qingong was secretly amused. There was not even a single commoner outside the city, but how could they still find warships? I don’t know what they were thinking, but they actually wanted to destroy the Western Army’s Yellow River warships. When would the ships be frozen on the ice in winter?
There are 8,000 troops in Pengcheng County, all of which are naval troops. Although there are more people than the opponent, the opponent is cavalry. Moreover, the navy is not good at land warfare. If the 8,000 navy troops are sent out, they will only be wiped out by the opponent. It is better to defend.
county seat.
At this time, a scout cavalry rushed from outside the city, ran to the city and shouted: "Is Governor Li here?"
Li Qingong leaned out and asked, "I'm here, what do you want?"
"Reporting to the Commander-in-Chief, six thousand Jurchen cavalry have gone south."
"When did it happen?" Li Qingong asked anxiously.
"They set out an hour ago before dawn."
"Any idea where they're going?"
"I don't know their destination. I only know that they did not cross the Yellow River, but went south along the west bank of the Yellow River."
Going south along the west bank of the Yellow River, that is to go to Pizhou. Pizhou is divided into two parts by the Yellow River. The east bank belongs to the Jin Kingdom and the west bank belongs to the Song Dynasty. If the other party goes to the west bank, then it is not going back, but to harass the Song Dynasty.
Pizhou is also a Yellow River area with not many people. There is only one large county, Suqian County. Because this is the northernmost border of the Song Dynasty, the Song army stationed heavy troops in Pizhou.
Suqian County was garrisoned by Wang Jian's 20,000 troops. Since Pizhou was not under the jurisdiction of the Western Army and the country was not cleared, if the Jin soldiers looted people's property and raped women in Pizhou, Wang Jian would definitely send troops.
Li Qingong and Wang Jian have a very good relationship. Although Wang Jian is Li Qiong's rival, Li Qingong thinks that Wang Jian is kind and obeys the rules. Sometimes Xuzhou has no soldiers, and Wang Jian will never cross the boundary.
Wang Jian was especially kind to the people, which even King Yong admired Wang Jian for.
Li Qingong felt that he needed to remind Wang Jian that this army was not the Jurchen cavalry, but the Donghu cavalry, and the 20,000 Song troops could definitely fight against it.
Li Qingong immediately sent two scout cavalry to carry his personal letter and rode two horses to Suqian County to report the message.