Six hundred and ninetieth eight chapters decisive battle (1)
Three days after Brother Richard's army entered Xingqing City, Chen Qing finally received a detailed report.
In the big tent, Xiao Yuan, a scout commander who had escaped from Xingqing City, reported to Chen Qing and the generals the situation in Xingqing Mansion.
"Brother Richard entered the city at night. There were 40,000 soldiers who followed him into the city. They burned, killed, and looted all night, and they did not stop until dawn. At dawn, the east city gate opened, and I don't know how many people fled out of the city."
"What's the situation with the powerful people?" Zhang Xiao asked.
"Reporting back to Sima, all the noble houses were hit hard, and almost no one was spared. Both Zuren Bali and Xia Jinfeng were killed, and their heads were hung at the door of the house. Their wives and concubines were all snatched into the military camp, and all their property was looted. Li Kan's house and
The same goes for Cao Mansion."
Cao Baozong, who was sitting in the corner, suddenly turned pale. Although his wives, concubines, and children had all escaped, the maids in the mansion were still there, and many of them had a romantic relationship with him. If they were still in the mansion, they would certainly not be able to escape.
"General Cao, why is Brother Richard so cruel to the powerful? Doesn't he want the powerful to support him?" Chen Qing asked from the side.
Cao Baozong smiled bitterly and said: "It should have something to do with a list asking the emperor to execute Brother Richard. Seventy-four ministers and dignitaries signed their names on the list. The emperor decided to impose a prison sentence on sheep disease and trick Brother Richard into returning to the capital.
Brother Richard should have gotten this list."
"What about the situation of Xixiazi?" Chen Qing asked Xiao Yuandao again.
Xiao Yuan quickly bowed and said: "Reporting to the capital, no one knows the specific situation, but there are many rumors that the emperor is dead. But at dawn, there is news that Brother Richard has proclaimed himself the supervisor of the country, but the prince has not ascended the throne. The prince's
I don’t know whether I’m alive or dead.”
Chen Qing nodded. It didn't matter whether Li Qianshun died or not. As long as the emperor was seriously ill forever, the prince would have no hope of ascending to the throne. Brother Richard would have the power. Even the emperor and the prince were dead, but the news was not announced.
This possibility is even greater. If it is announced at some point that the emperor and the prince were killed at the hands of the Song army, he could successfully ascend the throne.
"What is the situation of Li Kan's army?" Yang Zaixing asked.
This was also the main concern of everyone, and all the generals straightened their backs.
"There were only 40,000 troops entering the city at night. They were all the troops of Brother Richard, not Li Kan. The next day I went to the military camp outside the city and bribed a soldier to inquire about his relatives. He told
I, Li Kan's 90,000-strong army, surrendered about 40,000 people. The others were either killed or fled home. Li Kan and his son are dead, and their heads were displayed to the three armies."
At this time, everyone in the big tent turned their attention to Chen Qing. Chen Qing nodded and said to everyone: "As I promised before, I will ensure that the soldiers go home for the New Year. Now the time is ripe!"
Two days later, 200,000 Song troops began their mighty march north. If the 50,000 defenders in Lingzhou were included, then the Song army invested 250,000 troops in this decisive battle.
Thirty thousand camels carrying grain and fodder followed the army, and there were 5,000 camels pulling sleds on the snow. The sleds were equipped with various heavy siege weapons, as well as kerosene, gunpowder, armor, tents and other military equipment.
Materials.
From Mingsha County to the north, there are plains covered with thick snow, which are very suitable for sledding. There is no need to slide on the cold Yellow River ice.
The decisive battle is not to directly capture Xingqing Mansion, but to clear out the surrounding cities first, mainly the four cities of Jingzhou, Huaizhou, Shunzhou, and Dingzhou. These cities have a small population, some of which are ten to twenty thousand, and some of which are only
Thousands, the farthest is Dingzhou, with a population of 20,000.
In fact, except for Dingzhou, the Xixia court had already given up on all these cities. If they could not defend them, it would be a waste of troops. However, Brother Richard did not think so. He was opposed to giving up any city. After he took power, he immediately took over the four surrendered cities.
Ten thousand troops were placed in four cities, with ten thousand troops in each city. Even if he could not defend these cities in the end, he would use the army to contain the Song army and consume the Song army's strength.
In the morning, 200,000 troops arrived in Lingzhou, and food, grass and baggage also arrived at the same time.
With the arrival of an army of 200,000, Lingzhou City obviously cannot accommodate it, let alone the huge amount of supplies, and to prevent them from being destroyed, it is imperative to find a new logistics center.
In the Chinese army's tent, Liu Cui pointed to the sand table and introduced the situation of several cities to everyone.
"The closest city to our Lingzhou City is Jingzhou City. The city wall is about sixteen miles in circumference. It is only the size of an ordinary county town in the Central Plains. It has an even smaller population of only over 10,000 people, and there are also 10,000 garrison troops."
Chen Qing pondered for a moment and asked: "Is the small population the result of the small population itself, or is it the result of relocating the population?"
"They all have it. The original population was only more than 30,000 people. After moving 20,000 people, there are only 10,000 people left. But he is not the least. The least is Huaizhou, which has only more than 6,000 people."
"Wait a minute!"
Chen Qing smiled and interrupted Liu Cui's words, "Continue to talk about Jingzhou City. How difficult is it to attack?"
"Jingzhou City is not high, only two feet. There is no moat. The city wall is relatively old. It is made of rammed earth. I think I can just use a trebuchet to smash it down. Of course, I can also use a battering ram to break the city.
Door."
Chen Qing glanced at Liu Qiong, who immediately understood and stepped forward and said: "I am willing to lead the troops to capture Jingzhou City!"
Chen Qing said happily: "I will give you 30,000 horses, 20,000 infantry and 10,000 cavalry, one hundred siege ladders, twenty trebuchet chariots, a battering ram, one thousand barrels of kerosene and gunpowder each, two
Capture Jingzhou for me within a day, and you can accept prisoners of war!"
"I humbly obey the order!" Liu Qiong took the military order and left.
Everyone was anxious and asked for orders to attack the city. Chen Qing waved his hands and said with a smile: "Listen to Liu Tongzhi's introduction first, and I will give everyone a chance to attack the city."
Liu Cui continued: "Huaizhou City, Shunzhou City, Dingzhou City and Jingzhou City are about the same size, and the city defense composition is almost the same. I feel that they are all made from the same mold. The difference is the population. Dingzhou City
The population is the largest, about 50,000, Huaizhou is the smallest, only 6,000, Shunzhou is the same as Jingzhou, each of the four cities has 10,000 troops."
Chen Qing nodded, "Then follow the established plan, clear the surrounding areas, and finally besiege Xingqing City. Let's draw lots!"
Chen Qing wrote the words Huai, Shun and Ding on three slips of paper, mixed them with a bunch of blank slips of paper, and asked everyone to draw lots. Liu Cui got Shunzhou, Li Muqing got Huaizhou, and Tang Qian got Ding.
state.
Chen Qing said to the three of them: "You decide your own siege strategy. I still have two conditions. First, two days, and second, you can accept prisoners of war."
Seeing that everyone was a little confused, he explained: "Xixia has rich mineral deposits. We need manpower to mine them. Prisoners of war are the most suitable ones. We can even turn them into miners and make a living by mining."
Everyone saluted together, "I understand your humble position!"
"Of course, the premise is that the opponent is willing to surrender. If he is unwilling to surrender and stubbornly resists, then he will be killed without mercy!"
The three of them led the order and left. Chen Qing apologized to Gao Ding and Yang Zaixing on the side: "There are only three opportunities. We can only talk about it next time."
Zhang Xiao laughed at the side and said: "Actually, there is still a chance. When we attack Dingzhou, Brother Richard will probably send troops to support us, so it will be necessary to intercept and kill this supporting army."
Dingzhou is located to the north of Xingqing Mansion and is Brother Richard's home base. He is likely to send troops to rescue him, so intercepting his reinforcements is more important than attacking Dingzhou.
Chen Qing smiled at the two of them and said, "How about you two draw lots again?"
Gao Ding sighed, "Give this opportunity to Lao Yang! His eyes are about to spit fire. I'm afraid that if I draw him, he will kill me with a sword."
Yang Zaixing snorted, "As long as you know what you're interested in!"
Chen Qing smiled and nodded, "Yang Tongzhi will make a plan first and let's discuss it!"