In the end, Zhe Yanzhi only stayed in Jingzhao for two days, and held two talks with Jiang Yanxian. He basically completed the mission of this trip to Jingzhao. He reached an agreement with Jiang Yanxian and Zhou Kuan, and the imperial court spent one million yuan on military expenses.
, 500,000 shi of food to support the Western Army in attacking Xixia. This is one of the two autonomy granted by the imperial court to Zheyan, and he can sign the agreement on behalf of the imperial court.
Although Jiang Yanxian did not have Chen Qing's authorization, he had the signature of the Xuanfu Ambassador's wife, so he could reach an agreement with the court on behalf of the Xuanfu Ambassador.
In addition, the Sichuan and Shaanxi Xuanfu Envoys agreed to hand over two Jurchen nobles, Wanyan Helisa and Wanyanqi, to the court. As a reward for the victory over the Jin soldiers, and in exchange for the two Jurchen nobles, Chen Qing proposed three
First, he asked the imperial court to approve the promotion list of generals submitted by him as soon as possible; second, he requested the imperial court to recognize the qualifications of Jinshi in the Sichuan and Shaanxi imperial examinations; third, he requested the imperial court to confer the title of Fengxiang County Prince.
The first request is not a big problem. The imperial court has already approved it and the approval is already in the process of being approved. The second request is also discussed by the imperial court. It is mainly about the naming rights. It cannot be called the Sichuan-Shaanxi Imperial Examination, but can only be called the Sichuan-Shaanxi Branch Examination.
The examiner must be appointed by the imperial court, and of course he must be an examiner recognized by both parties.
The key is the third request, which is also the real purpose of Zheyanzhi's mission to Jingzhao. This must be decided by the emperor, and Zheyanzhi cannot give any answer.
Zhe Yanzhi immediately left Jingzhao and returned to Lin'an.
At the same time, Chen Qing's army also completed the substantial occupation of southern Xixia. Liu Cui's army spent a whole month and finally opened the southwest military road and arrived in Yingli County.
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They built seven cable bridges alone, repaired more than 150 miles of plank roads, and opened up the southwest military road. Lanzhou's grain and grass supplies began to be transported continuously by camels to Yingli County, but heavy trebuchets, siege ladders, and siege ladders
Large siege weapons such as city rams cannot be transported on cable bridges and plank roads. They can only be transported on the ice after the Yellow River freezes in winter.
At this time, the Song Army had assembled 200,000 troops in southern Xixia, mainly distributed in Yingli County, Mingsha County and Weizhou City. All the danger points in Xixia were lost, and the Song Army faced the vast Ningxia Plain.
There are only two hundred miles from Mingsha County to Xingping Mansion, the southern gate of the Xixia capital, and the cavalry can reach it in one day. Therefore, Chen Qing sent dozens of scout teams to the hinterland of Xixia to explore for information.
At this time, Chen Qing was inspecting the defense deployment at Shatuo Pass. Shatuo Pass is one of the most important strategic locations in Xixia. It consists of Shatuo Town and Shatuo Fort. Shatuo Fort is the entrance to the southwest military road. Xixia
A large military fort was built, and the military road had to pass through the city. Shatuo Fort was three feet high and made of large stones. It was extremely strong, easy to defend and difficult to attack. At most, the Xixia Army stationed 6,000 people here.
If the Song army had not captured Yingli County in the rear, cut off the logistics supply of Shatuo Fort, and forced the Xixia defenders to retreat after running out of food, Liu Cui's eastward advancing army might not have been able to capture Shatuo Fort in the end.
But the special thing about Shatuo Fort is that it is not only the entrance to the Southwest Military Road, but also the starting point of the Xixia Hexi Old Road. After passing through Shatuo Town in the north, you enter a large desert area, and further to the north is the boundless Tenge
In the desert, walking westward for hundreds of miles along the desert area on the edge of the desert, we arrived in Liangzhou.
Similarly, you can reach northern Xixia by walking northeast along the northern foothills of Henan Mountain on the edge of the desert and passing through the vast Gobi. Of course, this road is too far and too difficult, so the Xixia garrison at Shatuo Pass would rather risk it from
They retreated from the northern part of Huili County and were unwilling to take the Gobi Road.
Chen Qing led a large group of generals on horseback to the north of Shatuo Town. A few miles away was the dry Gobi Desert. The Gobi Desert alone stretched for dozens of miles, and there was no desert in sight.
Chen Qing pointed his horsewhip to the northeast and said to the general at Shatuo Pass: "Although it is unlikely that the Xixia people will come from the Gobi Road, we still have to be careful of their surprise attack. Once they capture Shatuo Fort, we will cut them off."
After entering the southwest military road, I suggest building two forts here to guard against Xixia's surprise troops."
Guan Tao quickly bowed and said: "I will arrange the construction as soon as possible!"
Chen Qing laughed again and said: "Another way is to only store supplies for three days in Shatuo Fort, and Yingli County will send a batch of supplies on camels every three days. The advantage of this is that even if Xixia's surprise troops capture Shatuo Fort,
Tuo Fort, but it cannot last for a few days. Once Yingli County does not find the camels returning, they will be vigilant and send troops to check."
Liu Qiong nodded and said: "This is a good idea, and I agree with it. I will send someone to be responsible for supply transportation."
At this time, Liu Cui asked: "We have assembled an army of 200,000 and have sufficient food and supplies. Why doesn't the capital continue to march north? Is it because the siege weapons are not in place?"
Valley
Chen Qing smiled slightly and said: "It actually has little to do with siege weapons. The previous capture of Yingli County was achieved with simple siege rams. The main reason is that Xixia now feels the crisis of national annihilation and is very united. In fact, they have internal conflicts.
Very deep, brother Richard did not hesitate to kill Chu King Tuoba Aqu's family in order to prepare money and food. Let's wait a few months, and when their sense of crisis gradually subsides, internal fighting will definitely resume. When they begin to collapse internally, that is Xixia
When the country is destroyed.”
After a pause, Chen Qing added: "Of course, appropriate provocation is still necessary, Liu Cui and Gaoding."
"The end will be here! The end will be here!"
Chen Qing took out his command arrow and ordered slowly: "You two can each lead 20,000 cavalry and go to various areas of Xixia to thresh grain and grass. All men, women and children, old and young, will be escorted south. Anyone who resists will be killed without mercy!"
"Obey the order!" The two took the order arrow and left.
At this time, a cavalryman came rushing over, cupping his fists and saying, "Commander the cavalrymen, three Qiang elders are here, waiting in Huili County!"
Chen Qing nodded, "Go back to the county first!"
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Chen Qing met three Qiang elders in Yingli County. They were all very old, at least seventy or eighty years old. Elderly people of this age are rarely seen anymore. Although they are not chiefs, they have high status among the tribes.
, many tribes recognized them, and they were escorted by hundreds of Qiang cavalry.
Since the founding of Xixia, the Qiang, like the Uighurs, Tubos, Hans, Khitans and other ethnic groups, have been oppressed by the Dangxiang people. The Qiang are also the second largest ethnic group in Xixia, and most of them live in mountainous areas. How can Xiao Heda's rebellion persist for so long?
, was so popular because it received support from the Qiang people.
Chen Qing did not intend to attack Xixia this time. The army of Huangtou Huihe Cao Changchun would attack Xixia from the north, where the Uighurs gathered.
The Han people are the most oppressed nation. They are basically slaves, plundered from all over the Song Dynasty. They are waiting for the rescue of the Song army.
The Qiang people have their own power. Their territory is mainly in the mountainous areas in the east and south. For example, the large hilly pastures south of Mingsha County were originally the pastoral areas of the Qiang people. Chen Qing had previously sent Hu Yanlei to Xiazhou, where
It is home to the largest tribe of Qiang people.
The Qiang people had already broken with the Xixia court because they supported Xiao Heda, but the Xixia court had not yet had time to deal with the Qiang people, so Huyan Lei came at the right time. The Qiang tribes responded to Chen Qing's suggestion and were willing to send troops to cooperate with the Song army to destroy Xixia.
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This time, the three elders were also entrusted by each tribe to come to meet Chen Qing and finalize the final cooperation plan. In fact, they wanted Chen Qing to personally commit to their interests.
The three old men all have white beards and hair and are thin in stature. They sit cross-legged on the futon like three clay Bodhisattvas. The first elder is called Hong, and he is also the oldest. Chen Qing calls him Elder Hong. The other two are called Elder Gui and Jiang.
Elder.
"As support for the Song army, we will send 200,000 sheep. In addition, we have prepared 30,000 warriors. They are good at fighting in the mountains and will be given to the Xuanfu envoys to command them."
Chen Qing likes to deal with the Qiang people on Xihe Road. They are obedient and have no ambitions. As long as they can live a peaceful life, they are very satisfied. Even if there is an army, they will not fight independently, but rely on the Song army.
Chen Qing said happily: "There are also 6,000 Qiang soldiers in my army. They are stationed in Lanzhou. I will treat your 30,000 troops equally without any discrimination. I will treat them as brothers."
