In the eighth year of Mengge Khan's reign, on the eighth day of the first lunar month, Niulin took advantage of the Song army's holiday slack and captured Jianzhou.
After retaking Chengdu, Niulin effectively controlled the upper reaches of the Min River and could move down the Min River to attack Xuzhou. However, he was cautious in marching and decided to capture Jianzhou first.
Jianzhou, also known as Jianyang, is known as the "Tianfu Xiongzhou". It is one hundred miles east of Chengdu and located in the middle reaches of the Tuojiang River.
By capturing this place, Niulin could control the Tuojiang River and reach Luzhou directly from the Tuojiang River, cutting off the communication between Xu and Lu, and then successfully defeat the Song army in Xu and Lu.
Another advantage is that the Tuojiang River is more convenient for transporting baggage than the Minjiang River and can be used for this year's war.
Niulin's strategic purpose was the same as Wuliang's Hetai, which was to follow the Yangtze River directly to Chongqing Prefecture and join other armies.
After winning the first battle, the Mongolian army occupied the Minjiang River and the upper reaches of the Tuojiang River. They began to make rafts out of cattle and sheep skins. They were eyeing the progress downstream...
This year was the sixth year of Xingchang in the Song Dynasty. It was not until the fourteenth day of the first lunar month that Xuzhou City received news of the fall of Jianzhou...
When Wei Wenbo, the governor of Xuzhou, received the news, his first reaction was to breathe a sigh of relief.
"So, there is no need for the Mongolian army to attack Xuzhou?"
Wei Wenbo had received news a few days ago that Niulin was planning to invade Syria and Lu. News came from all sides, even from Qingfu County in the south.
He was nervous for more than ten days, and finally learned that Jianzhou had been lost. If he wanted to come, the Mongolian army could go down the Tuojiang River, attack Luzhou directly, and then go to Chongqing... No, Luzhou was heavily garrisoned. It was the Luzhou defenders who had to repel the Mongolian army.
That's right, the war will not spread to Xuzhou.
Wei Wenbo was halfway through thinking, corrected his thoughts in time, and said seriously: "I'm going to fight to the death with Niulin."
Jiang Chun asked: "What Zhizhou said is true, but..."
"But what?"
"But the Mongolian army may not attack Xuzhou. Once they are allowed to gain a foothold south of the Yangtze River, Xuzhou will be too dangerous and will be in a desperate situation of isolation and helplessness."
Wei Wenbo was horrified at this, thinking that the Mongolian army in Chengdu in the north could move down the Minjiang River at any time. If the connection with Luzhou in the east was cut off, the Mongolian army would cross the Yangtze River again and completely surround Xuzhou.
"No way?" Wei Wenbo asked: "Zhang Dutong has already prepared and will attack the Mongolian army when the time comes."
Jiang Chun couldn't help but frown deeply, and carefully reminded: "In the fourth year of Xingchang, Zhang Dutong was defeated at Mahujiang."
Wei Wenbo stroked his long beard, feeling very distressed, and asked tentatively: "I lost once, so I won't lose again this time, right?"
"How dare you talk about winning?"
"In case of defeat, will the Mongolian army turn around and attack Xuzhou?"
Jiang Chun was really impatient.
After talking about it for so long, this Zhizhou still clings to luck and has been struggling with this issue.
This assistant officer is not as good as the chief officer.
"Zhizhou, even if the Mongolian army does not attack the city, it will definitely loot the territory of Xuzhou. How will the people under your rule deserve it?"
Wei Wenbo was convinced that this would ruin his official career, so he asked, "What do you think of Zai Yang's wishes?"
Jiang Chundao: "What does the governor think of sending troops to reinforce Luzhou?"
"Xuzhou has insufficient troops to defend the city. How can it spare the strength to reinforce Luzhou?"
Jiang Chun finally put forward his own idea and said: "Li Xia of Qingfu County has many military exploits. He can be mobilized to assist in the defense of Tuojiang River. What does the prefect think?"
Wei Wenbo twirled his beard and thought.
Jiang Chun was still secretly scolding Wei Wenbo as a fool, but Wei Wenbo suddenly asked a question that Jiang Chun could not answer.
"What if the Mongolian army pretends to go to the Tuojiang River, but actually goes to the Minjiang River to attack Xuzhou?"
Jiang Chun was stunned.
Wei Wenbo added: "If the Qingfu army is transferred away, and the Mongolian army marches out of the Minjiang River, cutting off Luzhou's support route, won't we perish?"
Jiang Chun opened his mouth and realized that this Zhizhou was actually not stupid at all.
If you think about it more carefully, the most likely outcome of this battle is that the Mongolian army defeated the Luzhou soldiers along the Tuojiang River and then went straight to Chongqing. Even if they wanted to plunder Xuzhou and there were reinforcements from the Qingfu Army, Xuzhou would suffer losses.
would be too much.
When the time comes to compare the merits and demerits of the various states, this one may still be considered meritorious.
Instead, the Qingfu Army was transferred there. If Zhang Shi was killed, Xuzhou would be truly isolated and helpless...
"What does Zhizhou mean?"
Wei Wenbo said: "We will strictly prevent the Mongolian army from going down the Minjiang River and mobilize the Qingfu army to strangle the south bank of the Yangtze River. What do you think of Zaiyang?"
The two old men said something to you and to me, and they both showed great respect for each other.
Jiang Chun felt vaguely that he was about to be persuaded by Wei Wenbo.
No matter how you look at it, this arrangement is more secure.
He unconsciously tilted his head slightly and said, "What Zhizhou said is very true..."
The word "but" lingered in his mouth for a long time, and Jiang Chun hesitated whether he should say it.
Wei Wenbo solemnly said: "Don't take it lightly just because the Mongolian army pretends to attack Luzhou. We, the officials of the Song Dynasty, have the responsibility to defend the territory and must protect Xuzhou."
"Yes Yes."
"I think tomorrow's Lantern Festival will be just that. At this time, the war situation should be our priority."
Jiang Chun asked: "In that case, the cost of the Lantern Festival..."
"Alas, the goods have already been handed over to the merchants. We just have to wait and see how much percent can be recovered."
Jiang Chun was stunned again.
It is true that the news of the fall of Jianzhou arrived today, but the news that Niulin was going south arrived ten days ago. This money...
After leaving the government office, Jiang Chun felt unlucky.
He knew that he was not as diligent as Fang Yankai, but he was still relatively clean. He didn't expect that this time he would be handed such a high salary that even made small profits.
"You can chew even this little bone, but you are also a lackey of the Ding Party, far worse than Li Feiyu..."
When he returned home that day, the sedan chair landed in front of the mansion. Jiang Chun heard the concierge come up and say, "Alang, we have a visitor. This is a greeting card."
Jiang Chun took it, took a look at it, and said, "Why do you still need to pay tribute, man?"
"We'll meet you in the side hall."
"Next time if someone comes from Qingfu County, please come to the lobby to meet me."
"I understand, villain..."
Jiang Chun went to change his clothes first, then went to the side hall and saw Li Zhaocheng sitting there upright.
The two met once before, at Li Xia's wedding.
"Haha, nephew Li Xian is here, how are you doing, sir?"
"My father is fine. I asked my nephew to come and give some Lantern Festival gifts to Tong Fan. He also brought a gift from Uncle Han."
"Sit, sit, no need to be polite." Jiang Chun looked at Li Zhaocheng again with a smile and praised: "Nephew Li Xian is a very talented person, has he ever been married?"
Li Zhaocheng was a little shy and responded: "Xie Tongpan cares about me. My nephew has been engaged to a baby since he was a child."
"Oh? I heard that the Li family hid in Hao Daochang's house because they were in trouble. Didn't the woman's family ever regret the marriage?"
Li Zhaocheng said: "My nephew is lucky enough not to be disliked by the Yue family."
Jiang Chun hid the disappointment in his eyes, touched his knees and said: "Okay, okay..."
Li Zhaocheng saluted again and got down to business, saying: "I heard that the Mongolian army captured Jianzhou and was building ships and building pontoon bridges along the Tuojiang River. It seemed that they were advancing on both land and water, and that their troops were attacking Luzhou. The county magistrate wanted to ask for orders to help defend the Tuojiang River.
I would like to ask the general judge what he thinks of it."
Jiang Chun was secretly shocked by Li Xia's quick intelligence and said, "I have discussed this matter with the magistrate today. However, what if the Mongolian army pretends to attack Luzhou but actually attacks Xuzhou."
Li Zhaocheng was obviously stunned for a moment.
"This... ship is built in Tuojiang River, how can it be moved to Minjiang River?"
Jiang Chun said: "Just in case."
"But this battle..."
Jiang Chun waved his hand and sighed: "I understand what my nephew wants to say. But this is the intention of Wei Zhizhou, so be careful and you won't make any big mistakes. Zhu appeased envoys and Zhang Dutong did not issue orders, so they must be confident in guarding Tuojiang River.
Why do you and I need to worry?"
Li Zhaocheng had no choice but to respond: "In this case, my nephew will reply to the county magistrate."
"Why don't you stay here to celebrate the Lantern Festival?"
"Xie Tongpan was kind to me. My parents are at home and it is inconvenient to stay for a long time, so I will say goodbye..."
Li Zhaocheng left Jiang Chun's mansion, but did not leave Xuzhou City. Instead, he turned into an alley, looked around, and knocked on a house door.
"Li Langjun is back, what should I say?"
"Wei Wenbo has no intention of dispatching Qing Fu's army to reinforce Tuojiang."
Jiang Fan was stunned and asked: "Why?"
"I'm afraid of losing Xuzhou."
Jiang Fan didn't understand, so he asked again: "It's obvious that the Mongolian army wants to attack Luzhou first, how could Xuzhou be lost?"
"Wei Wenbo didn't want to take risks. He was afraid that Zhang Shi wouldn't be able to trust him. Xuzhou was upstream. He bet that the Mongolian army would go directly to Chongqing after defeating Zhang Shi."
"Li Langjun, don't blame me for being stupid, but I still don't understand." Jiang Fan asked, "What should I do next?"
Li Zhaocheng said: "You and I don't dare to make the decision. Let's send someone back to Qingfu County to ask the county magistrate to make a decision."
The next day was the fifteenth day of the first lunar month. After Li Xia received the news, he immediately recruited Han Qian.
He casually threw the letter from Li Zhaocheng over.
"Thank you for your hard work, Mr. Yi Ning. I will ask Gao Nianfeng to lead the troops and go with Mr. Yi Ning."
"Do you want to take Li Xiling with you?"
"No need." Li Xia said, "Since Li Zhaocheng is involved, Li Xiling will not betray us."
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