Since Zhao Guangyi, Emperor Taizong of the Song Dynasty, launched an army to attack the Liao Dynasty in order to recapture the Sixteenth Prefecture of Yanyun, but was defeated miserably at the Gaoliang River, the Song Dynasty stopped the pace of unification, changed from active to passive, and focused on defense instead of progress.
To defend but not to attack seemed to be a trait engraved in the bones of the Song Dynasty.
Of course, there are always many generous people who strive to regain their homeland, but most of them end in tragedy.
The Song Dynasty's defense line retreated again and again. In the east, it retreated from the Hutuo River to the Yellow River, and then to the Huaihe River. In the west, it retreated from the Yellow River to Guanlong, then to Hanzhong, to Jianmen Pass, and almost to the Yangtze River...
Pu Zezhi knew that he could no longer retreat and could no longer just defend passively.
If he continues to guard it, he may be able to make achievements in his lifetime while he is in office, but the Song Dynasty will die sooner or later.
Yu Jie could still counterattack Hanzhong, but he had to counterattack Chengdu first.
Therefore, he fought against all opinions and ignored the more than 10,000 Mongolian troops who were attacking Chongqing Prefecture by Niulin, and resolutely attacked Jianmen Pass by surprise.
Pu Zezhi called this battle "beating the dog behind closed doors".
By laying down Jianmen Pass, the Mongolian troops in Hanzhong and Chengdu can be isolated, and then a strong attack on Atahu in Chengdu can prevent Wang Dechen from supporting him.
Jianmenguan is so dangerous that it cannot be broken easily, but it can be crossed by Jialing River in a roundabout way. The Later Tang Dynasty destroyed the former Shu, and the Song Dynasty destroyed the Later Shu. They were all defeated in this way.
On May 18, Pu Zezhi personally led a small force to the rear of Jianmen Pass under Wang Dechen's nose. Generals such as Zhu Wusun, Pu Fu, Yang Dayuan, Han Yong, etc. all attacked Jianmen Pass and recaptured the Jianmen Fortress in one fell swoop.
.
This was another great victory, and the morale of the Song army was greatly boosted.
But regaining Jianmen Pass is only the beginning. After closing the gate, the next step is to beat the dog.
This "dog" is Atahu, the commander-in-chief of the Mongolian army in Chengdu.
Pu Zezhi started the arrangement as quickly as possible, leaving his troops to garrison Jianmen Pass to prevent Wang Dechen from counterattacking.
He sent Liu Zheng to guard Suining and strangle the Jiantan Crossing of the Fujiang River to prevent Niulin from returning to join forces with Atahu.
Liu Zheng now established an envoy under the command of Li Zengbo in Jinghu, and followed Wu Yuan to aid Sichuan and Shu. He once conquered Xinyang with twelve bravery and became famous throughout the world. He is the most "talented" general in the Song Dynasty today.
Pu Zezhi admired Liu Zheng's talent very much, so he entrusted him with the important task of stopping Niulin.
June eighteenth.
Pu Zezhi made arrangements and personally led his troops to attack Chengdu.
At this point, he divided many troops and horses to guard Jianmen Pass, Jialing River, Fujiang and other places. In a hurry, he could only mobilize 30,000 troops.
Although more than 10,000 Chengdu Mongolian troops were taken away by Niulin, there were still more than 10,000 left.
Pu Zezhi must annihilate the Chengdu defenders before Wang Dechen and Niulin counterattack.
In everyone's eyes, this is something that is almost impossible to achieve.
Before setting off, Pu Fu persuaded Pu Zhezhi one last time.
Pu Fu was the son of Pu Zezhi, named Wenhua. He was thirty-four years old and became a Jinshi in the Gengxu year of Chunyou ten years.
Although he was a scholar, he was familiar with military literature and was not optimistic about Pu Zezhi's decision.
"Father, it's too risky! Once Wang Dechen enters Jianmen Pass, or Niulin returns to break through Jiantandu, we will be surrounded by the Mongolian army. Not to mention this, there are still ten thousand Mongolian troops in Chengdu.
They come and go like the wind, how can my father annihilate them?"
At this point, Pu Fu's tone became a little more serious, and he added: "From what I've seen, my father is making a huge bet on Sichuan, Sichuan, and the national affairs of the Song Dynasty."
Pu Zezhi said nothing.
I have said the truth over and over again countless times, but it is useless to repeat it.
He knew he was gambling, but there was still a chance to gamble. If he continued to defend passively, he might not even have a chance to gamble.
Seeing that his eyes were still determined, Pu Fu advised again: "Father, why don't we follow my child's suggestion... How about we attack Niulin first? We pretend to attack Chengdu, wait for Niulin to return to Jiantandu, and attack Niulin with Liu Zheng.
Wouldn't it be a hundred times safer to provide support from the Chengdu garrison and then destroy Niulin first and then attack Atahu?"
"Have you never thought about it as a father?" Pu Ze said: "But the Mongolian army's fine cavalry troops are so fast that they are difficult to annihilate in the wild. Before we could defeat Niulin, the Atahu cavalry came and attacked us with Niulin.
how?"
Pu Fu paused.
Being attacked by the Mongolian army in the wild, the consequences would be disastrous.
Only then did he realize that his father had already considered what he had considered.
"But my father has just been appointed as the new commander-in-chief of Shu, and he is not completely ready yet. Why not hold Jianmen Pass, reorganize the troops, and wait until the Sichuan army is exhausted?"
Pu Zhezhi shook his head and said: "We killed Wu Lianghetai last year, and the Mongolian army's offensive will only become more rapid in the future. If we don't seize the opportunity this time, there will be no next chance."
He sighed and then said: "Wenhua, we are against the trend. If we are sailing against the current, we will retreat if we do not advance. We must have the courage to overcome all difficulties. As a father, I understand your worries, but there are ten thousand worries and only one chance."
"Father, my son is not afraid of death." Pu Fu said with red eyes, "What my son is afraid of is that if we lose this battle, Sichuan and Shu will fall under the ravages of the Mongols, and you and I will be ashamed of our ancestors and our neighbors."
Pu Zezhi patted his son on the shoulder and walked out.
"Get ready to go to war. If you don't want your parents in your hometown to be trampled by foreign invaders, then don't think too much about it, just fight..."
The second day of July.
A group of Mongolian flying horses entered Chengdu City and rushed to Atahu.
"Marshal reported to the capital! Traces of the Song army were found in the northeast of Tuojiang River. They were all heavy armored infantry and numbered more than 30,000 people..."
Atahu laughed and didn't take it seriously.
He took a sip of wine and said: "Hahaha, even a cowardly lamb hiding in armor cannot possibly defeat the warriors blessed by the immortal God."
"Marshal Du, will you transfer back all the military commanders stationed in the garrison in western Sichuan?"
"What are you doing here?" Atahu glared and said, "There are only 30,000 people here. What if we scare them away?!"
"Haha, Marshal Du is right..."
Atahu is over fifty years old, still strong and strong, with a body as thick and round as a barrel, and a long beard that is unkempt and messy.
He has been in Chengdu for the past two years.
After Yu Jie's death, Yu Hui was appointed as the commander-in-chief of Shu in the Song Dynasty. Yu Hui was defeated by Wang Dechen one after another, and the Mongolian army captured the western Sichuan area.
Wang Dechen's strategy was to station troops, build cities, and encroach on the Song Dynasty step by step. Atahu was different. He didn't want to build cities. He only liked to send cavalry to attack cities and seize territory.
Chengdu's dilapidated city defenses had never been repaired by Atahu.
Defend the city?
How can the warriors of the Great Mongol Kingdom defend the city?! Of course, they will wait for the Song army to attack and go out of the city to defeat them.
Atahu looked at the map and frowned.
He felt that the Song army was coming too slowly. He still had several days to come from Tuojiang River, and he couldn't wait to kill them all.
"Exiute, a fool who wears heavy armor and walks on two feet is so slow."
Another Mongolian soldier came over there and reported: "Marshal Du, the governor of Dali sent a group of people north to meet the Great Khan and passed through Chengdu."
Atahu asked: "The news of Wu Liang Hetai's death has been reported, and Ashu has been appointed as the marshal. Why are we sending people here?"
"It's said that something happened in Dali."
"It's such a long journey, and everyone comes here to ask when it will be there. The Great Khan didn't even send Wu Hua to be the king of Yunnan. It's really annoying!"
Ah Da thought for a while and then asked: "Did you pay tribute?"
"I accepted it and brought a lot of gold and silver."
A Hui named "Manap" under Atahu stood up and asked: "Which way did these people come?"
"I came via Lingguan Road. I have checked all the checkpoints along the way."
"That's good." Manap said to Ahehu: "Marshal Du, that's no problem. I'm worried that it's a spy sent by the Song Army."
"Hahaha, I don't defend the city, so there's no need to be careful." Atahu laughed and said, "Bring those Dali people here..."
Half a day later, the team from Dali entered Chengdu and met Atahu...
Atahu threw Jiaozhi's credentials and A'shu's certificate to his counselors.
Because he himself is illiterate.
"Marshal Du, I have confirmed it. It is indeed true. Jiaozhi is willing to pay tribute for three years and become vassal to the Great Khan."
"Isn't that natural?"
Atahu said casually, looked at the Dali people, and said: "I don't think it is possible for Duan Xingzhi to rebel. I have seen him, and he is a coward..."
"Yes, the general feels the same way." Someone said first.
Atahu glared at him fiercely and said, "I haven't finished speaking yet, who asked you to speak! What's your name?!"
"Last General...Last General Yang Yuan."
"I remember you." Atahu said: "There is a war in Chengdu now. You wait here. When I kill the Song people, I will send someone to take you to Lizhou."
"Yes Yes."
Yang Yuan quickly agreed, lowered his head, and glanced at the entourage behind him, cold sweat dripping from his forehead again...